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.