Galaxy Express 999 40

GE999 #40


p213
?

Don't you feel cold here, Maetel?
Just a bit!

The temperature is going down since we're going through a sea of clouds.
A sea of clouds?

Next stop: The Silver Valley...
It will last 3 hours and 22 minutes.

There are sea of clouds even in space?
Exactly... And clouds are really thick.

You just have to watch through the window, Tetsurou.
Huh?


p214-215
Oh!! These clouds have the same shape as bulb filament from ancient times!! They're filled with hot gas, right, Maetel?!
40th stop: Filament, World of Spirits


p216
Once, there was a planet here that exploded...

It occurs quite a lot.

A lot of people used to live here.

...

The explosion was so sudden there was absolutely no survivor...

...Really sudden...


p217
That's why they disappeared before realizing that they were passing away...


p218
I can see a lot of clouds, but no station in sight.
It will take some time to go through those clouds.

...

Where are you going?
Toilets!

Be careful!!!
I'm fine, I'm fine!

...

Warning from control office to ship #27886!! We are detecting life signs of several creatures in direction of the 999. Please proceed to their location immediately!!


p219
Ah! The train has slowed down?

Since when are there passengers in other wagons?

I'm gonna give it a look. I hope they won't get mad.


p220
[nada]


p221
Who the hell are these people?!

What are you doing? Get in!
Waah!!!

No, I just wanted to go to the restroom!!!

Let me gooooo!

Who... who... who the hell are you?
We are who we are!
A good thing you came...

Let's have some fun!!!!
Let me go, I have to go back to my seat!!!


p222
[nada]


p223
Let go of this child... He's mine!

Follow me, there is something I need to tell you...


p224
What's your name?

Me?
I'm a woman glad she hasn't got a name. [a woman has no name then]

A woman? You're a woman? Are you a robot?
Robot? We really have nothing to do with robots.

I am...

Doesn't matter! Where do you come from?
I'm from the Earth and I'm Tetsurou Hoshino!!!

What are you doing in this train?
I'm going to the place I can get a robotic body for free to live for eternity.

Is it that good to have a robotic body and eternal life?


p225
What are you doing?
If I don't go back to my seat, Maetel is going to worry.

Maetel? Ah, the woman you're travelling with.

Bring me to her!
No, no!! No way, no way!!

I insist, I need to speak with her.
Is that so?

Yes...

But I don't want you to follow me...
What will Maetel say?


p226
Maetel, this person wants to talk with you.
!!

I just want to inform you of something. I'm taking Tetsurou with me. Don't try to follow us.
What?!

Won't you take me instead of him?

Out of question...


p227
You will be no use for me, Maetel!

Come on! I'm taking Tetsurou!!!
Eh? No, I refuse!!

Let me go!
Dammit!!!


p228
Leave Tetsurou alone!!!
No way. This train isn't moving, no one can stop me...
Even you, Maetel!!!


p229
Galaxy Express 999 to 3rd division of Silver Valley, we had an accident in the Filament region!!

Got it, the squadron is leaving immediately!!


p230-231
This is a warning! We're forbidding you to get any closer!!


p232
Here's the squadron... We can't get closer. Going back to base!!
Roger that!!

It's terrible. The squadron is retreating!
We're omnipotent. Hahaha!

Where are you taking me?!
Where we live.

I'm taking Tetsurou with me...

And don't think you can find us!!!
But the planet Filament doesn't exist anymore!


p233
...

Where did these people get in?
I don't know...

But ever since they're on board, the train's driving power is like drained and we have stopped. You have seen it for yourselves.


p234
Is Tetsurou safe?
Hard to say...

Miss Maetel!! Look where the wagon is going!!
They're heading towards Filament's former position...

Before the planet blew up.


p235
[nada]


p236
Where are we? The light is so bright here...
You're on our planet: Filament...

But I thought...
that it had disappeared because of an explosion?

Once upon a time... we worked relentlessly, convinced of our future prosperity, but it exploded... and we were reduced to ashes...

But where are we then?

We're gathering where we used to live...
You're gathering?


p237
?
?
?
?
?


p238
Why have you brought me there?

To steal your body!

Wh... wh... what?
I'm going to enter your body.

I can move into objects and revive in human bodies.
Wah! Wait, wait!!!

I don't want to... Damn...!

...


p239
It seems like the light is fading!!
Yes, something is about to start.

Will Tetsurou be alright...?
Knowing him... it's possible that...


p240
[nada]


p241
????

Why am I here?
This person brought you back.

...!!

You said that you wanted my body, why have you given it up?!
...

Because your heart is like mine back when I was alive...


p242
I don't think at all that life can stop so easily...
and neither that my planet can explode so suddenly...

My heart was full of dreams and hopes... I believe in future, just like you right now.

See you later, Tetsurou... Farewell!

I have a question for you...
I'm listening...

Is that a good thing to have a robotic body or not?

It all depends on you...! If you think it's good, then do it, otherwise don't... No one can help you finding the answer...

But maybe Maetel is pretty knowledgeable on that matter?
...


p243
That ball of light is where gather people who lived on Filament.
It's also what I was thinking about.

The souls that lost their home planet and that don't know where to go, gathered and kept on living here...

Will Maetel tell me about robotization someday?


p244
An old space traveller once wrote that the sparkling of a star was due to the gathering of the souls of dead people. Thus, dimness of a star shows the endless sadness of its dead people. While watching the constellations that spread endlessly in front of him, Tetsurou thought that those sad stars were really plentiful...