KOS-MOS

A character/reference from the "Xenosaga" series.

Xenosaga: EPISODE I

KOS-MOS is an armored female android, developed by the interstellar conglomerate Vector Industries. She is comprised of entirely mechanical parts (possibly from a superior breed of complex nanomachines), a rarity in the age of advanced Realian technology. The basic tenet to which she adheres is based on logic, probability, and completion of her mission above all else. She also unconditionally protects Shion, her co-creator. She is equipped with a "Simulated Personality OS" to aid in communication, and though her speech conveys her role as an android in service to humans, her tendency to put logic and probability first makes her quite difficult to manage at times. The name 'KOS-MOS' is a recursive acronym used to denote an anti-Gnosis tactic system. It stands for "Kosmos Obey Strategical Multiple Operation Systems". Her development name is "KP-X", and she is self classified as a "Special Humanoid Anti-Gnosis Annihilation Weapon". Her serial number is "000000001". She appears to be emotionless, but throughout the series, evidence indicates that this is not entirely true.

Basic information

Sex: Female

Height: 5'3" (5'6" with heels)

Weight: 184 lbs (92 kg)

Age: Unknown; looks 18 (built 2 years prior to Xenosaga Episode I)

Background

Design and functions

KOS-MOS has significant powers. In addition to superhuman strength and speed, her body is formed from some sort of highly advanced nanomachines that allows her to morph parts of her body (specifically her arms) into various energy projectile and melee weapons. This body is also able to self-repair but is very durable though not indestructible, and she is also protected by a force-shield. She also possesses the ability to summon weapons such as chainguns and her famous F-scythe and equipment either from some internal chamber that compresses space or from another location via teleportation. She also has a long-range sensory array, the D.S.S.S. system and CPU that either rivals or exceeds even those possessed by Observational Realians.

KOS-MOS possesses several Black Box components left behind Kevin Winnicot since the current KOS-MOS is essentially the archetype resurrected. There are still many 'black boxes" to be revealed but two include her potent "X-buster" a weapon that fires powerful energy beams from her abdomen as well as absorb Gnosis, and components that her give her some kind of self-awareness. KOS-MOS also has some form of energy manipulation tied to the Zohar.

Blue-Eyed KOS-MOS

File:BlueEyeKOSMOS.jpg

"Blue-Eyed KOS-MOS"

An almost human alternate persona tends to come out from time to time in the form of a blue eyed KOS-MOS. Blue eyed KOS-MOS appears to be more powerful than red eyed KOS-MOS and talks in a more human sounding voice. This form of KOS-MOS only seems to appear at times when Shion is in extreme danger. Therefore, this version KOS-MOS plays the role of Shion's guardian.

Blue eyed KOS-MOS has made three appearances in Xenosaga so far; wiping out a fleet of Gnosis surrounding the Cathedral Ship with her X-Buster attack, saving the Elsa from burning up in the Second Militian atmosphere (although some speculate that chaos may have possessed her at that time to help her from getting burnt up by the atmosphere, which supports this speculation when the wings formed around the ship), and saving Shion and Allen from being destroyed by Voyager, the Black Testament. Blue-eyed KOS-MOS also asked Shion during her first appearance in Episode I "will feeling pain make me complete?", though Shion couldn't give her an answer because she could not hear KOS-MOS' voice in the vacuum of space. Shion has not directly seen KOS-MOS in her blue eyed form and is oblivious to this second persona's existence.

Xenosaga's final chapter, Episode III: Also sprach Zarathustra may shed some light on this version of KOS-MOS, based on the fact that the episode will be the final one of the series. A trailer for the game showed a curious scene of Shion opening a stone casket revealing KOS-MOS lying in a grave of flowers. For a brief moment KOS-MOS appears as a human woman with short brown hair and dressed in humble clothes. It is possible that this is a further manifestation of the so-called "Blue Eyed KOS-MOS".

In some leaked production notes it states that KOS-MOS is a physical prison used to house part of the Wave Existence that is called Mary Magdalene.

Trivia

Xenosaga co-creator Soraya Saga has also stated that along with Shion, MOMO, and Sakura, KOS-MOS's name is a reference to a flower. The word "kosmos" comes from Greek for "Order".
The limited edition of Xenosaga: EPISODE II includes an action figure of KOS-MOS, considered by many to be poorly constructed. In light of this, some have named it "Death MOK-KOS.
In EPISODE III, there have been reports of another android named T-elos, who was developed by Vector Industries as well and looks very much like KOS-MOS.
Nearly every element of KOS-MOS' outfit, from her hair to her boots, is available as items for created characters in Soul Calibur III.
Episode 1 KOS-MOS, as well as Shion Uzuki and MOMO, appears in Namco X Capcom.
KOS-MOS may have been designed to pay to homage to or may have been inspired by Rei Ayanami from the hit anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion. The two are nearly identical in every aspect.