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I'm not trying to blame you. Logic, reason... they can bring about death. Happens all the time.

Andrew Cherenkov (アンドリュー・チェレンコフ, Andoryū Cherenkofu) is first introduced as a Federation Marine commander from the Tessedora division, riding aboard the Woglinde on its trek towards the planet Ariadne. However, like many aboard, he is not without his own secrets, which are forced to come to light.

Personality[]

CherArt

Andrew Cherenkov is a serious man, generally observed to be stuffy and quick-tempered. As a leader, he is fair to his subordinates, loyal, and is not too proud to apologize to Shion for losing his temper at her on the Woglinde.

Judging by the reactions of the U-TIC soldiers when Albedo insults him in front of Margulis, as well as Margulis's reaction to his death, it can be surmised that he was well-liked among his peers.

Before he met Margulis, Cherenkov had made multiple attempts to adapt himself to society, but he found himself unable to find value or meaning in it. He was not haunted by his past as a soldier of war, but by the present and future as a citizen.

Cherenkov struggles with finding meaning to his life beyond his instincts and programming as a super soldier. He has a fear of life beyond battle, and finds himself unable to operate in a peaceful society that has little need for the abilities and conditioning he was built with.

Bloodshed

Cherenkov as a soldier.

It is inferred that Cherenkov suffers from PTSD and post-traumatic growth, due to his experiences as a soldier, his disastrous attempts at integrating into civilian society, and his time working for Margulis.

Biography[]

Zoar Incident[]

Andrew war

Cherenkov as a soldier in the war.

Created as a tool of war of the Life Recycling Act by the people behind the Zoar Incident, he came into the original conflict at the tail end of it, unable to add significant assistance to the fight. He was unable to find meaning in his life, even on the battlefield.

Genetically engineered with a brain hardwired to kill, Cherenkov has a naturally aggressive attitude. Killing was his sole reason for his living and existence. Cherenkov later claims the fortunate soldiers were the ones who adapted, while the lucky soldiers were the ones who died on the battlefield.

Life on Ariadne[]

When the Zoar Incident ended, provisions by the Federation were made for the Super Soldiers to rejoin into civilian society. However, there was little effort to reintegrate these soldiers in terms of mental transitioning to help them adjust to their new life as civilians.

Cherenkov tried to adapt himself to society on planet Ariadne, but he was unable to find value, or meaning in it. Having been a Super Soldier his whole life, that role was the only one he ever knew.

Eevntually, Cherenkov was unable to control his instincts, and killed someone out of anger.

Personality Reconditioning[]

Personality_Reconditioning

Personality Reconditioning

Cherenkov's personality reconditioning.

While on trial, Cherenkov's lawyer, who would go on to become his wife, defended him to avoid capital punishment. After he is imprisoned on Ariadne, his lawyer classified him as being a victim of the Life Recycling Act. Cherenkov was sentenced to undergo Level 7 Personality Reconditioning, which involved nanomachines implanted into the brain to control his behavior, and then drugs and medication to maintain the effect of the personality corrective procedure. When his personality reconditioning is under stress and the nanomachines are working vigorously to suppress his bad behavior, a Hebrew character would appear on his forehead.

Love

"I can get all the love I need with this!"

Soon after, Cherenkov discovered that his wife was having an online affair, that she married him not out of love, but simply so she could obtain a license to have a child by cloning herself. After obtaining the cloning permit, she threw her virtual reality headset at him. Realizing he was used as nothing more than a tool, in a fit of anger and desperation, Cherenkov killed her.

In an attempt to prevent him from killing again, Cherenkov was made to undergo Level 8 Personality Reconditioning. Moreover, his human rights were revoked and he was classified as a living being belonging to the Galaxy Federation, thus having the same legal recognition of a Realian.

Cherenkov, for a period, returned to normal. However, while walking one day, he encountered a girl that looked familiar. It was the clone of his wife. As he looked at the girl, she turned to him and uttered one word: "Garbage". In a frenzy, he strangled her neck and killed her.

Cherenkov was made a test subject for the new Level 9 Personality Reconditioning procedure. Nevertheless, it failed to control his instincts, and he murdered everyone in the testing facility.

U-TIC Organization[]

Deceut

"Look at this light of humanity's deceit. You rejected this false light and refused to succumb to their lies."

Margulis found out about Cherenkov and took him under his wing into the U-TIC Organization. He became Cherenkov's mentor, and Cherenkov found a sense of value and meaning in Margulis.

Margulis taught Cherenkov about the importance of viewing "humans" by their level of consciousness. He felt it was crucial to focus less on their physical appearance, and voice, and instead, focus solely on their message and look for the consciousness and being deep within. He instructed Cherenkov not to become a mindless shell, and how such people were automatons with no self-will of their own.

Xenosaga_Episode_I_HD_Cutscene_056_-_The_KOS-MOS_Incident_-_ENGLISH

Xenosaga Episode I HD Cutscene 056 - The KOS-MOS Incident - ENGLISH

KOS-MOS Archetype killing Vector employees.

One of Cherenkov's first missions was to steal KOS-MOS, an android being developed by Vector Industries on planet Carioca. In T.C. 4765, he was given a remote control device by a shrouded Kevin Winnicot. Being only partially complete, KOS-MOS malfunctioned when Cherenkov activated her and murdered nearly all of the people in the room at the time, including Shion Uzuki's boyfriend Kevin.

Xenosaga_Episode_I_HD_Cutscene_082_-_Cherenkov's_Mission_-_ENGLISH

Xenosaga Episode I HD Cutscene 082 - Cherenkov's Mission - ENGLISH

The Zohar Link Experiment.

Two years later, in T.C. 4767, Cherenkov was involved in an experiment on Ariadne called the Zohar Link Experiment. The project ended in a catastrophic failure and the planet vanished, killing 1.5 billion people in the process. Just before Ariadne disappeared as a result of the Zohar Link Experiment, Cherenkov saw Mrs. Cherenkov and her clone looking at him.

The Federation Government, keen to retrieve the Zohar Emulator, sent the battleship Woglinde to retrieve it, as well as investigate the disappearance of Ariadne. In order to secure the Zohar Emulator for themselves, the U-TIC Organization installed Cherenkov and a few others as spies on the Woglinde, masquerading as Federation Marines from Tessedora to secure it and send it back to them.

Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht[]

Cherenkov

Andrew Cherenkov on the Elsa.

Andrew Cherenkov is first seen on the Woglinde's bridge. He asks Shion about KOS-MOS's field data, and when Shion tells him it's not ready yet, Cherenkov berates her for it, saying there's no point in a weapon that can't even get out of bed. Captain Kazuichi Moriyama defends Shion, and Cherenkov briefly excuses himself to go cam-chat with Margulis.

Unfortunately for U-TIC, the Gnosis attacked the battleship and took the Zohar Emulator with them, but not before KOS-MOS identified it as merely being a Zohar Emulator. By clinging on to the side of Shion Uzuki and Allen Ridgeley's escape pod, he was able to survive the destruction of the Woglinde and was rescued along with Shion and Allen by the Elsa.

Secretly intending to make contact with the nearest U-TIC facility, Cherenkov asks Captain Matthews if he can be dropped off on planet Senir. Shortly after their arrival onboard, a remaining Gnosis attacked the Elsa and almost killed Cherenkov by turning him into salt, before it was neutralized by chaos.

Cherenkov's_Bad_Habit

Cherenkov's Bad Habit

Cherenkov contemplates shooting KOS-MOS.

After being grabbed, Cherenkov makes himself scarce. Out of the Elsa crew and the player characters, only Shion manages to connect with him briefly over bringing him curry dinner. In the process, Shion almost stumbles onto another failed attempt to kidnap KOS-MOS, which is thwarted by Cherenkov's previous trauma regarding the incident with the KOS-MOS Archetype. Bio-engineered as a weapon himself, he tells an obviously still unnerved Shion that what happened to Luis Virgil was an honest accident.

Shortly after this, Ziggy and MOMO end up on the Elsa after having escaped Margulis himself. Cherenkov reports this to Margulis, but since he doesn't have the strength or stealth to take on the Elsa's crew by himself, let alone find a vehicle to abscond with MOMO, Margulis sternly orders him to concentrate on getting back to Pleroma. Additionally, with Margulis' goals to ensnare the Kukai Foundation in a political trap, Margulis could not afford for Cherenkov to deviate from the plan even further.

ZigCorpses

Cherenkov nearly kills a gang.

The closest Dock Colony was under Ormus influence, so catching a ride to Senir from there should have been easy, but since his Federation Marine getup was so airtight, he was spotted by some street punks before he could explain. Cherenkov retaliates with brutal force, and later claims that the gang fought among itself instead.

After Matthews points out that the area was abandoned by the government and never properly restored after the war, and that the people there haven't forgotten how violent the military was, Shion becomes concerned for Cherenkov's safety and goes looking for him with Allen, Hammer, and Ziggy. Hammer witnesses the fight between Cherenkov and the Dock Colony residents, and when Shion and Ziggy arrive, Ziggy assesses the scene and urges the others to get the injured people to a hospital for their critical injuries. Hammer leaves to call an ambulance.

Back on the Elsa, MOMO tries to treat Cherenkov's injuries with nanomachines capable of cellular restoration. However, he adamantly avoids this treatment, for fear that it would trigger a violent reaction to the chemical which controls his emotions. Soon afterwards, he begins to suffer strange bouts of intense pain and hallucinations of himself disappearing, due to being touched by that Gnosis earlier.

Xenosaga_Episode_I_HD_Cutscene_083_-_The_Commander's_Transformation_-_ENGLISH

Xenosaga Episode I HD Cutscene 083 - The Commander's Transformation - ENGLISH

Cherenkov transforms into Gargoyle.

At the giant Gnosis mothership "Cathedral Ship", Cherenkov is separated from the group. He begins having traumatic flashbacks of his time on Ariadne, and begins to see the ghosts of Ariadne. When Shion and the rest of the party reach the Emulator facility, Cherenkov is already there, his physical form phasing in and out of the party's sight.

Ⓦ_Xenosaga_Ep._1_Walkthrough_-_Gargoyle_and_Oudogogue_x2_boss_fight

Ⓦ Xenosaga Ep. 1 Walkthrough - Gargoyle and Oudogogue x2 boss fight

Gargoyle and Oudogogue x2 boss fight.

Shion is alarmed, and Cherenkov snaps at her. He admits his involvement in Ariadne's disappearance and expresses his doubts at the party, before being set upon by lights. Before the party's eyes, he raises into the air and is transformed in a bright light into a giant Gnosis called Gargoyle, assisted by two Oudogogues. Reluctantly, Shion and the others are forced to fight and eventually kill him.

The_Beach_of_Nothingness

The Beach of Nothingness

Shion and Cherenkov on the Beach of Nothingness.

I like it here. I’m the only living thing that exists in this place. There’s nothing else. No anger, no sadness, no happiness, not even a future… The only thing that’s here…is me. And that’ll eventually fade away… It feels good… This is exactly what I’ve been searching for all this time…

Shortly before he dies, Shion "visits" Cherenkov one final time in his consciousness, where he is sitting on a surreal monochrome beach - the Beach of Nothingness. He confides in Shion how decades ago, killing was his and other humans' sole reason for existence, and how after the wars ended, he was unable to live a normal life.

Cherenkov tells Shion that he likes it there, and that she will be there soon as well, vaguely referencing the fact that Shion was almost killed by a Gnosis when she was onboard the Woglinde, and may suffer the same fate as Cherenkov.

When he fades away, Shion is overwhelmed with emotion, and collapses in tears.

Quotes[]

  • "Aren't you just making excuses? Listen, Chief Uzuki. Why do you think you're on this ship? Think about that for a moment. This fleet may be newly outfitted, but it was assembled under major time constraints. And we have A.G.W.S. units, but the 100-Series Observational Units that go with them aren't available until later. What would happen, if by some chance, we were attacked by those things? I don't think I need to describe the outcome to you. The purpose of KOS-MOS' deployment was to address this issue. Or am I mistaken?"
  • "Listen, you're not in a laboratory anymore. You're on a warship. This is a battlefield! KOS-MOS was supposed to be our frontline defense here, and now you're telling us it hasn't even woken up yet?! There's no point in having a weapon that can't even get out of bed! That thing's only meaningful to us when it's fully operational! Why can't you...!"
  • "That's right... I... I was the one behind the disappearance of the planet Ariadne… All that mattered was the recovery of the Emulator. That was the reason behind the deployment of Vector and the military. They were really only pawns... But in spite of all that..."
  • "G-go away!! Don't come near me! You were the ones who rejected me! So why are you bothering me now?!"
  • "I never really existed at all... I... 36 years ago... The year after the Zoar Incident, which led up to the Miltian Conflict. I was brought into this world as a weapon of warfare... It happened all the time back then. Killing was my... no, our whole reason for existence. The fortunate ones were those who could adapt to that way of life. Even luckier were those who died on the battlefield. But I was never granted that opportunity. Before I could find some significance to my own life, the war ended, and I was left behind while the world went on."
  • "I tried to adapt... But the language I spoke was so different from the rest of the world. I thought the entire world had rejected me. But the Commander... It felt like he really needed me. I saw a future for myself in the Commander... Or, I wanted to, at least. But I had to rely on the drugs to communicate with the rest of the world. It was because I hadn't changed... After everything that happened, I hadn't changed at all. Now I finally understand. The world didn't reject me. I rejected the world."
  • "The world didn't reject me. I rejected the world. Shion, I like it here... I'm the only living thing that exists in this place. There's nothing else... no anger, no sadness, no happiness... not even a future. The only thing that's here... is me. And that'll eventually fade away. It feels good... this is exactly what I've been searching for all this time." (Cherenkov, to Shion on the Beach of Nothingness)

Etymology[]

  • Considering the Christian symbolism in the series, he may be named after Andrew the Apostle, who is one of the Apostles of Jesus Christ, who is namedropped as Shion examines the Zohar emulators.
XSIAndrewCherenkovCourtroom1

Japanese subtitles showing Andrew Cherenkov's full name, アンドリュー・チェレンコフ.

  • The surname "Cherenkov" is used more frequently in the North American release of Xenosaga. In the Japanese release, he is usually referred to as Lieutenant Colonel Andrew (アンドリュー中佐, Andoryū chūsa), although his surname is spoken in the courtroom scene[1]. "Commander" is also a North American designation.[citation needed]
  • His name may be referencing Cherenkov radiation, which provides the characteristic blue glow of an underwater nuclear reactor. It can be generated in the eye by charged particles hitting the vitreous humour, giving the impression of flashes, as in cosmic ray visual phenomena and possibly some observations of criticality accidents. Given Andrew's involvement in a series of crises during various experiments, this could be an allusion to such catastrophic real-life events.

Trivia[]

Andrew

Cherenkov in Xenosaga: The Animation.

  • Xenosaga: The Animation nearly omits Cherenkov's story. In The Animation, he dies on the Woglinde by a Gnosis and is never mentioned again. His role as a survivor of the Woglinde who lives for a while later is replaced by Virgil.
    • The official website for Xenosaga: The Animation dedicates a page to remembering Andrew (アンドリュー・覚えていますか), in which it states that the editorial board would like to think that he could've not died (彼が死んでしまうはずがないと、編集部は思いたい。), and that they believe he's still alive somewhere and are presenting this small feature about him (彼がどこかで生きていることを信じて、アンドリュー小特集をお送りします。). One of the captions states that he always has a stern expression, and that he has eyes like an abandoned puppy (いつも険しい表情のアンドリュー。捨てられた子犬のような目をしているようだね?).
  • The symbols on his forehead are Hebrew characters, which show up when his personality reconditioning is under stress. א is aleph. ח is heth. Aleph and Heth also have the numerical values 1 and 8. Since heth appears on his forehead after he's slated to undergo Personality Reconditioning Level 8, it corresponds, but Levels 7 or 9 aren't shown.
  • Some come to the conclusion that Cherenkov was born on Ariadne, but his origins are tied much closer to the planet Zoar, as he was created as a soldier to fight in the Zoar Incident, which led up to the Miltian Conflict. However, the official record is that his origins are unknown, as stated in in-game dialogue during the flashback sequence that shows his trial.
  • Upon meeting Betty, Ziggy mentions hearing stories about people turning into Gnosis, but he had never seen it before, despite seeing Cherenkov turn into one a day ago.

References[]

Gallery[]

Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht[]

Xenosaga: The Animation[]

Xenosaga: The Manga[]

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