Twin Signal
Volume 7 Version alpha-1.11
Chapter 34: Karma Awakens
By Chibi Mokona
Disclaimer: Twin Signal is the property of Sachi Oshimizu and this
translation was done without his permission. This translation is translated
into English using the Chinese version of Twin Signal. So of course, there
are discrepencies due to the translation from the original manga script to
Chinese and from there to English. I also took some liberty with
translating some things that just can't be translated correctly to English
so please forgive me if I get it totally wrong. If I have made any booboos,
please point out it out by emailing me at chibi-mokona@geocities.com.
Oh yeah, this thing is mine so don't copy it and put it up somewhere else.
[ ] - words on a sign or thoughts.
( ) - words that I am not sure of or have no idea how to translate
and are approximations.
< > - sounds (ones that I bother to put in)
pg 6 - Comic
NOBUHIKO
Hey, why did Signal and Pulse change their clothes when we left?
SIGNAL
? [Now that you said that...]
I don't know either.
KRIS
I know! If they didn't, the police would arrest them on sight because
they're too dangerous-looking in their regular outfits.
NOBUHIKO
Yeah, how could we get on the train if Pulse still had his blades on?
PULSE
WHAT?
How am I dangerous-looking?
SIGNAL
I can't say anything about Pulse, but why would anyone think that I...
KRIS
Anyone who talks like that must be dangerous!
p7
SIGNAL
I am Professor Otoi's newest human-shaped robot Signal. We found ourselves
in peril at Leukeyon, but we were victorious in the end. A chapter in our
lives is now over...
p8
NOBUHIKO
I'm back! Home at last! I've missed it so much!
MASANOBU
Homesick already? It's only been two weeks.
PROFESSOR
That's a long time for a little kid.
p9
OMAWARI-SAN (#2?)
Oh, it's you!
OMAWARI-SAN (#3?)
Welcome home.
NOBUHIKO
Omawari-san #2, #3!
OMAWARI-SAN (# ?)
Since there was no one home,
OMAWARI-SAN (# ?)
We thought we would keep the house tidy for you.
NOBUHIKO
Thank-you!
KRIS
Boy, you must have had nothing else to do.
OMAWARI-SAN
Was the competition fun?
NOBUHIKO
Umm, it....
KRIS
Pulse, don't fall asleep on the sidewalk!
HARMONY
You ought've let us out the second we came home!
PULSE
Aha...Sorry...
HARMONY
Just because we're small robots, you guys wouldn't buy adult fare tickets
for us on the trip back here. It's unfair. [On the train and airplane
too...treating us like luggage...]
p10
OMAWARI-SAN
Oh!
HARMONY
Huh!
OMAWARI-SAN
Harmony-niisan, it's been so long since we last met!
HARMONY
Hey, it's Omawari #2 and #3. How are you?
OMAWARIS+HARMONY
We three were made with similar computerized robotic components.
(note: The above lines implied that the omawari-san were Harmony's prototype
models.)
HARMONY
You don't believe us, don't you?
PULSE
No, of course not. [Not at all.]
OMAWARI-SAN
Harmony-niisan is neither male nor female, calling him "oniisan" is rather
strange.
HARMONY
But calling me a neuter will attract unwanted attention.
OMAWARI-SAN
Let's think about what to call you!
p11
OMAWARI-SAN
If we combine the words, "oniisan" and "oneesan," could we call you ("big
brother-sister")?
HARMONY
("Brother-sister")?
OMAWARI-SAN
How about ("sister-brother")?
PULSE
[My head really hurts.] I'll go inside first.
ELARA
I'ld better go home now. [My foster father must be really worried about
me.]
MINORU
Elara. Thanks for all your help.
SIGNAL
AH! Elara, why don't I escort you...
OMAWARI-SAN (both)
We'll be glad to escort you home.
ELARA
Okay.
OMAWARI-SAN (both)
We'll be going now!
NOBUHIKO
Bye Bye!
SIGNAL
p12
SIGNAL
Now this is more like it.
PROFESSOR
Signal, your clothes are torn. It needs to be replaced.
SIGNAL
But Elara-san made this for me.
PROFESSOR
It's up to you.
p13
PULSE
Professor. My blades, face, and hair...
PROFESSOR
Hmm, I almost forgot.
MASANOBU
You don't have to ask me because I'll also lend a hand. It's just too much,
isn't it, , to have a wounded person fix you.
Dad, this is...
PROFESSOR
What is it?
MASANOBU
It's about how to fix Karma...
p14
SIGNAL
They're really fixing Karma?
PULSE
They already told us they would last time.
SIGNAL
But Karma was the one who broke the young master's(meaning Masanobu) arm.
Doesn't he hate Karma?
PULSE
I heard that in the past, Karma and the young master were like brothers,
just like you and Nobuhiko are.
SIGNAL
So it's like that.
PULSE
Karma also broke my blades. [And scarred my face.]
SIGNAL
Then do you hate him? Pulse.
PULSE
Well, you and I have no right to blame Karma for the things he did.
SIGNAL
Why?
p15
PULSE
When I was being controlled by Atrandom, I had attacked everyone. The same
thing also happened to you and Karma.
NOBUHIKO
Signal, Pulse.
SIGNAL
Nobuhiko.
FLAG
Pulse.
NOBUHIKO
Have you finished changing yet? Come play me! (note: He's holding a Super
Famicon in his hands.)
SIGNAL
That again. [Can we play a fighting game?]
PULSE
I want to take a nap.
SIGNAL
Oh yeah, Nobuhiko.
NOBUHIKO
Hmm?
p16
SIGNAL
Your father and the Professor want to fix Karma.
NOBUHIKO
Really? Well, I hope they can fix him quickly. He looks so pitiful in his
current condition.
SIGNAL
~~~~~~
NOBUHIKO
Come on, let's play!
SIGNAL
Okay!
PULSE
Signal. There's always a possibility that we robots hurt innocent people as
Karma did. We were made to be controlled, by humans or in Karma's case, by
Atrandom. That's why we can't blame Karma for his actions.
p17
PULSE
The question is ... Karma, himself. When he wakes up, will he be able to
forgive himself?
But of course, that is Karma's problem.
p18
NOBUHIKO
Signal, don't stand there like a dummy. You're my big brother so you will
have to let me win.
SIGNAL
Ha! Sure! I'll only use my right hand.
PROFESSOR
It's finished. Kris, do the last tests.
KRIS
Hai!
SIGNAL
Hmm...I feel fine.
p19
PULSE
? What are you looking at?
SIGNAL
You haven't changed at all!
PULSE
It's just that you have changed too much!
SIGNAL
If you want to be improved, why don't you call the young master to help you!
PULSE
Never! I'll die before that ever happens!
KRIS
Hey, how am I going to do the last tests if you're fighting like this?
MASANOBU
If you keep using any excuse to fight, I'll reprogram both of you.
PULSE
Young master, your arm's healed?
MASANOBU
Ha ha! Don't underestimate the power of modern medicine. [Of course, I
haven't healed completely yet...]
p20
MASANOBU
Karma's data program is ready.
PROFESSOR
Thanks. Let's begin then!
KRIS
Huh? Begin what?
MASANOBU
Waking up Karma!
KRIS
Oh! I almost forgot.
SIGNAL
Can I come with you?
PROFESSOR
Sure, we'll be in Lab #2. That's strange.
SIGNAL
Huh?
PROFESSOR
Don't you usually hate being in the lab? You said you despised the place
because you had to sit there and not move.
SIGNAL
ha ha...!
p21
SIGNAL
[Strange? Why am I keeping a close eye on Karma? That's right, I remember
that Karma cut off my hair. I almost forgot about it.]
[Lab #2]
[It's just that I feel like I have to talk to Karma, but I don't know what
to say...]
p22
PROFESSOR
Ending hibernation.
MASANOBU
Starting operation.
p23
KARMA
Huh...
MASANOBU
K...Karma?
KARMA
Ermmm...Masanobu! I so sorry!
And Professor Otoi, I sincerely apologize to you both!
p24
KARMA
Why...I wounded Masanobu and many others as well...Why did you still fix a
malfunctioning piece of trash like me? I don't deserve to be here.
MASANOBU
Karma!
SIGNAL
Karma! You...
NOBUHIKO
Karma woke up?
KANTO
Meow.
NOBUHIKO
Ah...ah...
SIGNAL
NO.....
p25
NOBUHIKO
Achoo!....
SIGNAL
[It's difficult for people to tell to Karma what they really mean so that he
truly understands...]
PROFESSOR
Ookii Signal seemed like he wanted to say something...
PROFESSOR
Karma, don't get excited. You just got out of hibernation sleep and we had
cut you off from Leukeyon City's computer network. That's why you're
sleepy. Relax and rest for a while.
KARMA
Hai.
p26
PROFESSOR
I wasted my breath. Karma's usually very calm. His creator programmed him
really well; I admire her for that. He acts just like a human being.
MINORU
Let me talk to Karma. Robot psychology is my field of expertise!
MASANOBU
Minoru-san, we're counting on you.
p27
MINORU
Karma.
KARMA
Minoru-san.
MINORU
Come shopping with me! Okay?
KARMA
But Pulse or Signal would be better company than me...
MINORU
Pulse is sleeping and Signal transformed into Chibi.
CHIBI SIGNAL
Minoru-kaasan, where are you going?
MINORU
Shopping!
CHIBI
I wanna go too! To buy chocolate!
MINORU
Sure!
p28
MINORU
Let's go in that store. Chibi, go find what you want to buy.
CHIBI
Hai!
MINORU
Masanobu loves drinking this brand of wine. Let me tell you a
really funny story!
KARMA
?
MINORU
Once I took his most treasured wine and accidently used it for cooking. It
hurt him so much that he was crying and eating at the same time.
p29
KARMA
I can picture it now...
CHIBI
Umph...
MINORU
Masanobu never got angry. He said that everyone makes mistakes.
CHIBI
AH!
KARMA
Minoru-san...Are you saying that I just made a mistake? I can't do it!
Even though everyone forgives me, there is still no way I can forgive
myself! Things like me can't live with humans.
MINORU
Karma!
p30
MINORU
Look at you!
CHIBI
Waaahhh......I'm sorry. I didn't do it on purpose!
MINORU
Shh, does it hurt? Don't do it again next time, okay?
CHIBI
I'll never do it again!
MINORU
Okay!
CHIBI
I just want this one and this one.
MINORU
Chibi, you take advantage of every opportunity!
p31
MINORU
Karma doesn't know where he stands. He was separated from the city's
computer and now he feels that he has suddenly lost everything. It's as if
a part of his body is gone...
MASANOBU
In human terms, it's like he suffers from an anxiety illness.
MINORU
I think we should go slowly with him. You can't rush his recovery.
p32
CHIBI
Karma! Excuse me, could you help me open this?
KARMA
Chocolate? Here.
CHIBI
Yay!
p33
CHIBI
Karma, here, I'll share some with you.
KARMA
No thanks, I...
....
CHIBI
Karma, did you do something wrong?
KARMA
Huh? Ah...yes.
CHIBI
Then did you say you were sorry yet?
KARMA
Yes...
CHIBI
All you have to say is "I'll never do it again." Everyone will forgive you.
KARMA
If that were true, then everything would be fine...
CHIBI
Then whose forgiveness do you want, Karma?
p34
NOBUHIKO
Ah! Chibi! You ate all the chocolate by yourself!
CHIBI
No I didn't. Karma had some too.
KARMA
Are you hungry?
NOBUHIKO
I'm about to faint from hunger.
KARMA
How about I cook something for you?
NOBUHIKO
Really?! Karma, you can cook?
KARMA
When Masanobu-san was about your age, we lived together and I learned to do
domestic chores.
p35
NOBUHIKO
Really? Then, Karma, were you dad's "big brother"?
KARMA
Huh? I guess you could say that...But I don't think I qualify as that anymore.
NOBUHIKO
A big brother doesn't need any kind of qualifications. This guy's my big
brother and look at him... Eehh!
p36
NOBUHIKO
Chibi drank all the wine!
CHIBI
That was really good!
NOBUHIKO
Don't you feel anything?
CHIBI
Ah ha ha ...
KARMA
Signal can get drunk?
NOBUHIKO
Some time ago he ate too much chocolate and became wild for several days.
CHIBI
NOBUHIKO
...
KARMA
He seems very happy.
p37
KARMA
It's almost ready.
CHIBI
Ah-----Aren't you Kanto-san? How are you? The weather today is quite
pleasant, isn't it? Aaaa...whatcha doin'?
NOBUHIKO
Chibi! Ah, ah, achoo!
p38
p39
PROFESSOR
Pulse! What happened... Eh?
Signal?
p40
NOBUHIKO
Wow! That nearly scared me to death.
KARMA
Signal suddenly exploded.
MASANOBU
Nobuhiko! Karma! Are you alright?
NOBUHIKO
We're fine. Karma protected me from the explosion.
KARMA
No, I just did what I had to do...
MASANOBU
Thank you Karma. You really are my big brother!
p41
PROFESSOR
You drank wine while you were Chibi? Perhaps the power of your
transformation was affected by the wine, causing an explosion. Sorry, there
isn't any medicine for robots with hangovers.
SIGNAL
KARMA
So you want some water?
SIGNAL
No thanks. ----? Karma...
p42
SIGNAL
Your personality seems to have changed.
KARMA
That's because everyone gave me their concern and encouragement, especially
you. If you make a mistake you can't undo it but next time I'll make sure
that it won't happen again.
SIGNAL
[I understand now...Because Karma and I are the same since we both are older
brothers, that's why I understood his feelings---That's great. I never
thought that I could help him out as Chibi.
PULSE
What's wrong with the young master?
PROFESSOR
Chibi drank all of his wine...
KRIS
I feel sorry for Signal.
Finished February 1998 By Chibi Mokona
Revised March 23 1998.