KOS-MOS
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- A character/reference from the "Xenosaga" series.
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 Uzuki, 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 "00-00-00-00-1". She appears to be emotionless, but throughout the series, evidence indicates that this is not entirely true.
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Basic information
- Sex: None, but appears to be female
- Height: 5'3" (5'6" with heels)
- Weight: 203 lbs (92 kg)
- Age: Unknown; looks 18 (built 2 years prior to Xenosaga Episode I)
- Voice Actress (Japanese): Mariko Suzuki
- Voice Actress (English, Episode I): Bridget Hoffman
- Voice Actress (English, Episode II): Colleen O'Shaughnessey
Background
Design and functions
KOS-MOS has significant powers believed to be superior to all other party members. 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 the F-GSHOT 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.
She also possesses the Hilbert Effect but its power is easily thousands of times greater than that achieved by even the largest spaceships.
KOS-MOS possesses several black box components left behind by 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.
KOS-MOS has one last weapon system called the Tertiary Weapon System, which is seen periodically throughout the series. They consist of a set of energy wings, a pair of energy cannons and other attachments meant to be fitted onto her. The wings and cannons are part of a Phase Transference Cannon. While wearing this gear she is shown in a premonition flying through space at sub-light speed and then confronting U-DO above an unknown planet. The exchange that follows destroys several galaxies. The "Third Armament" as its also known makes a real-time appearance in Episode II on the Omega System. KOS-MOS uses this equipment to protect Shion and the party from a Phase Transfer blast by Proto Omega.
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 of 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, and saving Shion and Allen from being killed 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 will develop KOS-MOS' character and answer fan speculation. 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. A recent trailer shows a woman with long brown haired and white clothes standing amidst a sea of flowers briefly changing into a black and white KOS-MOS, reminiscent of Episode 1 with some features from Episode III.
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. The action figure is called "Jashin MOK-KOS" ("Jashin" stands for "evil god" in Japanese), because its shape is terribly ugly.
- In Episode III, there is 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 (Known as the "Type X" outfit). One might say she made a cameo in that game, because if you use each piece of Type X clothing with original colors, KOS-MOS is created.
- In Tales of the World: Narikiri Dungeon 3, you can find an item that allows you to make a KOS-MOS costume which allows her to be used in battle: interestingly, she is the only character not from a Tales game with a desperation move that requires low life to use, namely her X-BUSTER.
- In Baten Kaitos: The Lost Ocean one can acquire a magnus entitled 'Rare Action Figure' by restoring a section of the game's star map. The action figure in question is KOS-MOS as she appears in Xenosaga Episode I. The magnus' description asks the question 'what does the future hold for this android?'
- KOS-MOS, as well as Shion Uzuki and MOMO, appear in Namco x Capcom.
- As noted above, KOS-MOS' serial number is 00-00-00-00-1. Of interesting note is, in the anime "Neon Genesis Evangelion" a success rate of .000000001% (Unit-01's activation rate prior to Shinji piloting it) is called an "Oni" or O-nine factor. Oni are demons in Japanese folklore.
- KOS-MOS as a character also shares similarities with Evangelion's second female lead, Rei Ayanami. Both characters are females with blue hair and red eyes. Both characters are souless vessels seeking to become human or at least understand humans better. Both characters are intergral parts of projects designed to "save" humanity from an alien threat (Angels, Gnosis). Both characters are also routinely depicted as angelic in nature in media related to their respective projects. Of further interesting note, Xenosaga's predecessor, Xenogears also shared many similarities to "Neon Genesis Evangelion".