Galaxy Express 999 23

GE999 #23


p79
Sometimes, clouds of bright gas are floating in the void. The beauty of these places bathed in light is unique, but travellers who're going through them are all overwhelmed by a insecure feeling while thinking that, behind that beauty, there might be something hiding. The terror is making their bodies uncontrollably shiver.
23rd stop
The Armor Planet


p80-81
[nothing]


p82
What was that?!
An artificial satellite launched by this planet's people.

It is rotating for more than 3000 years.
3000 years?!

The inhabitants must be really advanced to be able to build something like that for more than 3000 years!!
Indeed! Their civilization is quite advanced.

The train is about to land on the Armor planet!!!
The Armor planet?

You mean that this planet is fortified or is some sort of stronghold?
No, this planet is totally normal...

It just looks like the Earth.
What about the inhabitants?

There are barely any.
Barely?


p83
Though there's nothing wrong about this planet.
Yes, the nature is even pretty luxuriant.


p84
It's not too hot, nor too cold. The climate is pleasantly mild.
Yes, it's a beautiful place.


p85
I can't believe this planet has so few people.

??

I got hit!!!

What was that?!

Oh my, it's coming back!!!
On the ground, quick!!

The station is fortified, let's hide in here...
It's useless, quick, get down!!

Waah!!


p86
I can't believe it...
It's a beetle!!!

It's coming back!!
Get down!!!

Ah...

Maetel!!!


p87
Maetel...!!

Dammit!!

Hurry up, the train protection field is active!!

Is there any doctor here?
Well, the population is already really reduced...

Then ask the locomotive!!
I'll do that!

Yes, there is a doctor at 10 km to the East, at the foot of some mountains.

At 10 km to the East, at the foot of some mountains... Are you going to go there, Tetsurou?
I'm going to bring him here. He will take care of Maetel!!


p88
Don't go, it's no use!
Let me go, didn't you see Maetel's condition?!!


p88
Where is Tetsurou?!
He is fetching a doctor.

You shouldn't have let him go, I explained to him why this world was called the Armor planet though!!

Tetsurou is in danger!!
You are in no condition to go anywhere.

Conductor! Please leave this wagon right away!! Go back to your cabin and don't leave it!!
Who's talking?

You mustn't see what is going to happen in this wagon!! Or you'll die!!
Err... Yes.
I'm begging you, Mr. Conductor.

This voice isn't belonging to any passenger of the train...

Maetel... Why can't you see me?! Hm... Hm... I know...
...


p90
And Tetsurou? Hm... I understand... You let your guard down, Maetel...
... But you won't die... I will let you live. You can never die.

Undress, Maetel!!!

There, perfect!! You have to protect Tetsurou!! Your life is extremely precious, you mustn't die...


p91
[nothing]


p92
10 km to the East...?

I must be at 2 or 3 km.

Apart for the beetle that stabbed Maetel, I can't see any insect...
The nature of this planet is so rich tough, it's strange.


p93
?!

What's that?

It looks like a robot...
but it seems too natural to be a machine...

Even if the inside is empty, it isn't a simple device.

It feels like those threads are blood vessels or nerves.


p94
?!?!

What about that?

Is it an android? No! A human, considering the smell...
But it's so heavy...

It's definitely not a robot... He even has biological organs.

No machine can be like that!!

My pocket radar is detecting something... A living being!! It can't possibly be Maetel...


p95
He's right in front of me!!

A human...

What are you doing in my garden?
Strange! The radar is telling that he's a human being... Though, visibly, he's an android, a robot!!


p96
I forbid you to insult me. I'm a being made of flesh!! I have this body since my birth!! I'm nor an android, nor a robot, nor even a robotized human. My name is Nutal, I am the son of Doctor Subari.
You're really a human made of flesh?


p97
Oh well, I don't care who you are really, I need help.
Maetel is going to die.

Maetel? Is she one of your friends? What happened to her?
Do you want me to weld her back?

Who said anything about welding?
You should see a doctor...

Hm... But you've entered a private estate and since you don't want to leave, you're going to die!!
Wait, I'm only here to fetch a doctor.


p98
Silence, you're dead!!
Those who break the law must die!!

Do you think it impresses me?!
Not a single weapon in the universe can destroy my body.

Is that all?

What's going on?! My cosmogun has no effect on him!


p99
Waah! Damn, I'm trapped!!


p100
Waah!!!

...

I thought I was going to die.
The scenery is really uneven. I was really scared.

There's no doubt about it, he's human. If he wasn't, he wouldn't have lost me after my fall.


p101
I'm less scared now that I know that.
There is all the advantages of modern life.

I'm sure I'll find some doctor here.

... I hope it's not too late.
How is going Maetel right now?

I'm begging you... Hang in there...!

I shouldn't think about the worst outcome... I need to find a doctor, and quick.
?

What's going on again?!


p102
Oh!

Ouch, they were iron fireflies?

This place is really scary...

There it is!! I've found it!!!


p103
...

!!

Who are you...?
Er, are you a doctor?


p104
I have a favour to ask you... Please save Maetel!
Save someone? Me...?

I can't even move.
My look hasn't changed, but inside, I'm almost completely dry...
Why?

I'm the one you should save.

Go home, young lad, before you meet Nutal, my son...

And don't ever come back to this planet!!!
Living beings will soon completely disappear.

Only plants will survive in this silent hell.

But why's that, you had such an advance science though!! Before landing here, I saw this satellite that is rotating around this planet for more than 3000 years.


p105
With this rigid body, I can't heal as easily as you...
I can merely weld my armoured skin back.

...

So you've came here, you fool!!
!!

I'm going to kill you this time!!

You won't escape!!
Let me go! You're really stubborn!


p106
Ah, I came back here!!

You can't run away anymore.

Tetsurou, get down!!
Maetel!!

Who the hell are you?


p107
Waaah!!!


p108
[nothing]


p109
I didn't think that any weapon could work on him!!

Dimensional reaction weapons are different.
There's nothing that can resist them.

However, since they are only two persons left on this planet, I didn't want to kill him...
I've just injured him on the leg, but he won't die!

But how come you're here, Maetel?!
Ah, it's alright. Please forgive me for all the troubles I caused you.

But the beetle stabbed you on the chest.
The conductor called another doctor.

Another doctor?!
I thought there were only two persons on this planet?!


p110-111
Well, whatever! As long as you're healed. This is also a living being?
Yes, like all the others, he died from starvation.


p112
He couldn't find anything to eat?
Yes...

They are all covered by an armour, and they became strong. Then, they couldn't find anything to eat anymore.

Gradually, their number decreased and the rare remaining living beings who survived are insects...

To survive, some sacrifice is needed.
If the society doesn't include any weaker beings, then it's doomed.

Sacrifices...


p113
Maetel... In order for a living being to live, he needs some other to sacrifice themselves?
Yes! And they are feeding him.

If no other living being is the prey, then nothing can be born on this world?

Civilization is built on the blood of the weakest...
From what we could judge until now...

If it's a law of the universe, all this world is really sad.
Yes...

For the sake of those two, how many living beings were needed to be sacrificed?
No clue...


p114
The law of the strongest. Sadness is overflowing Tetsurou while he's realizing the existence of all the living beings is lying on the blood of victims. He didn't want any more sacrifices, but the idea of being a victim was even more unbearable to him. Meanwhile, Maetel was wordlessly looking through the window.