A malfunction.
I am KOS-MOS. I am Vector Industries pride and joy. I am not supposed to have... malfunctions.
Yet when he stepped through that door, I knew I was malfunctioning. I must be.
chaos. Without a capital 'C'. You can even hear the lower case, the way they pronounce it. As if that's not really his name, just something to go by, for the time being.
Sort of like me.
I didn't hear the doors open, or close. I didn't even hear him until he started speaking.
A malfunction. It has to be.
And my scanner... Everyone else comes up normal. Everyone else scans like they're supposed to. Except chaos. He is different, and I do not know why. It bothers me, and it shouldn't.
When I saw him, I knew him, as I knew my creator the first time I laid eyes on Shion. chaos is... important to me, somehow. Yet, I just met him.
"...That reminds me... Hey, KOS-MOS!"
I am broken out of my thoughts by Shion's voice. She has turned towards me, and is now walking over.
"And just what do you think you're doing?! You left us and then tried to go to Second Miltia by yourself!"
Is this how it feels to be scolded by your parent? Shion has never acted like this towards me. Her emotions read 'worry', though, so I pass it off as some illogical human process.
"Maybe your OS is malfunctioning or something?"
A malfunction.
"Yes, that is possible." I keep my eyes on Shion and fight the strange urge to look over at chaos. Very, very possible.
"By the way... what were the orders from HQ?"
Orders?
Oh. Oh... Orders. Yes. Must think of a quick distraction...
"Captain Matthews... May I use the maintenance lab next to the hangar?"
"Just a second, KOS-MOS...?"
Captain Matthews breaks in before Shion can get any farther. Thank you, Captain Matthews. "Yeah, sure. What for?"
"KOS-MOS!"
I nearly wince at the tone of Shion's voice. Not only is it high-pitched, but it bodes of trouble for me. However, this distraction has a 95.7% chance of succeeding.
"Due to the limitations of the test-use condenser, my energy reserves are almost depleted. I wish to recieve a co-generator bypass in order to replenish them."
"Hey! What is wrong with you? Answer me, KOS-MOS!!"
I wonder if Shion even listens sometimes...
"So, you'll cover the bill, right?" Ah, yes. Reliably greedy Captain Matthews.
"Yes."
"KOS-MOS!"
I finally get tired of her yelling my name, and turn my attention back to her. I can see Allen and chaos behind her. Allen looks like he's about to bust out laughing, and chaos is smiling gently at me. ... Wait. At me? I blink, then turn my gaze to Shion, who is far less off-putting than the silver-haired boy.
"Shion."
She looks shocked. Good. "Y-yes?"
I look at chaos again, and he's still smiling, only a little wider now, as if he knows something no one else does.
"My sensors appear to be malfunctioning. Please adjust them before we disembark at our destination."
A malfunction.
I only hope that's all it is.