Twin Signal Fan Fiction ❯ Chasing Winter ❯ Hajimemashite! A-Sa Signal Imasu! Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu! ( Chapter 1 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Welcome to my Twin Signal fanfic! Don't be bothered by strange things that seem totally wrong - they'll all become clear eventually. My favorite characters being, Code, Karma, Signal, Oratorio, and Emotion, you can be sure this is a Manga-version fanfic. If you don't know about the Twin Signal manga which is much longer and much better than the OVAs, you can go to Chibi Mokona's TS site which has character profiles with images and manga translations. Till then, read on!
 
Disclaimer: I own not Twin Signal!
 
 
Chasing Winter
 
 
Dai 1 Wa:
Hajimemashite! A-Sa Signal Imasu! Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu!
Nice to meet you! I am A-Sa Signal! My Best Regards!
 
 
Kinyoubi, Hachigatsu Juusannichi Friday, August 13
 
The island city of Leukyon, dimly lit by the morning sun, rose through the mist on the glassy surface of the water. Within the city the people were slowly waking, energized by the damp, cool air. Markets laden with fruits, meats, and dairy opened their doors by 9 o'clock, and the neatly paved streets were packed with cars and bicycles battling for the open road. As was the norm, the sky quickly became clouded over, the threat of rain looming just over the horizon. Many pedestrians grabbed a newspaper early in the day for the weather forecast and kept an emergency umbrella on hand.
 
Professor Shinnosuke Otoi opened his black umbrella just as the first drops of rain began to fall, pelting the hardy nylon. He walked briskly down the sidewalk, dodging reckless cyclists and making a quick stop at the ATM for some cash. He made an odd sight with his frazzled, receding hair, starched white labcoat, and leather briefcase swinging haphazardly at his side.
 
“Hey there, perfessor!” A white-haired, portly man with beady eyes that twinkled through pinched crow's feet lifted his cap to Otoi and joined him as he walked.
 
Otoi tried not to groan. “Good morning, George.” His colleague, Professor George Humpty, laughed heartily and slapped him on the back.
 
“Say, perfessor, I've been thinking.” He pointed to the spectacles balanced on his crooked nose. “Why is it that we can build functional robots, but can't come up with window-wipers for glasses? In this city of rain, we could really use it!”
 
He belted laughter again, adding a revolting snort for the finale. Otoi shook his head and grumbled inaudibly. George Humpty was a good man and a brilliant scientist, but often his facetious comments and rolling chortles became tiresome.
 
The two robot scientists took the bus to the very edge of the city, where the towering gray skyscrapers were like miniatures in the distance. Out in the backwoods there was only one huge building of cold metal surrounded by a fence of electrical chickenwire. At first glance it looked like a prison camp, a dark and empty place where lonely, bare trees were the only foliage. This was the Thinktank Atrandom Laboratory, where robot scientists like Otoi and Humpty worked day by day to construct powerful sentient robots.
 
Leukyon City was entirely run by machines, so naturally it was a haven for technical engineers of all professions. Consequently it attracted a variety of unwanted hoodlums bent on gaining as much power and affluence as they could. To prevent any crisises with these troublemakers, the Thinktank Atrandom Military Division had been constructed for the protection of Leukyon's citizens. The TAMD's chief enemy at the time was a man by the name of Hitoshi Onozaka, a brilliant robot scientist in his own right but whose values had gone awry. Several years earlier a huge fire of Onozaka's making had swept the TAMD and even entered civilian areas before it could be stopped, and much valuable material had been lost. To ensure devastating situations like the fire would never happen again, Thinktank had created new safety measures and enhanced military capabilities. Additionally, Professor Otoi had been working on a secret project that could possibly further robotic technology in a huge way. Today was the day of truth - if his project was a success, he would be an honored scientist throughout history. But if he failed…
 
“Shinnosuke,” Humpty began as the two men used their key cards to gain entrance into the exclusive lab, “there are rumors flying around about this new project of yours. Clust has been leaking to the rest of us that you'll be revealing your newest robot today.”
 
Otoi frowned, the lines around his mouth deepening. “Humpty, you know that project is classified. Anything Lieutenant Murdoch says about it is not to be repeated in public.”
 
“You don't count as public. After all, perfessor, you of all people certainly already know whether or not it happens today.”
 
“Lose lips sink ships,” Otoi mumbled, pushing open the heavy iron doors. The two men strode across a wide warehouse full of buzzing and whirring machines manned by uniform robots absorbed in their tasks. These robots were not cognizant and numerous throughout the world. The pride of Thinktank rested in their conscious, thinking HFRs - their human-form robots.
 
One of these HFRs was currently approaching the two professors at a brisk pace, his blonde ponytail swaying behind his back. Dressed smartly in a brown vest and sharp red tie, he appeared no less human than Otoi and Humpty, but for the lack of imperfections on his face.
 
“Good morning, Dr. Otoi, Dr. Humpty,” the HFR greeted them with a sweeping bow. “I trust you are well?”
 
“We're fine, Karma,” Otoi replied in his usual gruff manner, while Humpty nodded cheerily and spoke to the robot about the weather. How can he bear to talk about the weather, when it's our company's very activities that cause the skies to pour nearly every day? Otoi mused, disgruntled. He sought an opportunity to break into Humpty's idle prattle.
 
“Karma,” he interrupted loudly, startling Humpty enough to shut him up. “What did you need to talk to us about? I hardly think you left your quarters of your own volition.”
 
The robots of Thinktank were highly monitored, their every move based on a special daily schedule. Rarely did a robot find a chance to escape from the routine unless given explicit orders by their superiors to do so.
 
Karma bowed again. “My apologies, professors. I was sent by General Rolaryo to escort Dr. Otoi to his office, where Dr. Cassiopeia awaits his arrival. I believe it has something to do with your latest project, Professor Otoi. Dr. Humpty, General Rolaryo requests that you join them as well, as all the robot scientists are asked to be present for Dr. Otoi's presentation.”
 
“See that?” Humpty thumped Otoi on the back, much to the man's displeasure. “I knew something was up! Clust is never wrong.”
 
Otoi grumbled as he followed Karma toward the General's office. “Lt. Murdoch is Lt. Gossip,” he hissed. Humpty stifled a chortle.
 
Karma led them up the winding metal staircase toward the door that provided the entrance to the much more comfortable section of TAMD. Inside that door the halls were covered with soft red carpet and the walls decorated with photographs of famous robot scientists and militia and papers describing each man's achievements. The enormous windows through which the smallest ray of sunshine glimpsed through were adorned with heavy scarlet drapes with gold tassels. The TAMD staff were all accounted for by this time. Lieutenants went over paperwork at their desks in their individual offices, sergeants waiting to carry out their orders. Other professors were either going over documents in their rooms or already at work in the labs. Maids and servants were available at all times for cleaning, serving meals, and sending messages. Apparently, however, the General had thought this message to important to reveal to a servant, and so had entrusted Karma with it. Otoi was not surprised - Karma was a very calm and collected robot devoted to his duties. Ordinarily, though, the robots had little contact with the humans outside of their daily training.
 
A guard stepped aside for Karma to open the large mahogany door to the General's suite. Inside several other robot scientists and other personnel were already gathered. Dr. Margaret Cassiopeia and her brother, Dr. Elliot Quesar, stood primly by the General's desk. Otoi's son, Dr. Masanobu Otoi, and his wife, Lt. Minoru Otoi, the only regular female member of the staff, waited not far behind. A major and two sergeants, Major Edward Neuken, Sgt. Sim Delano, and Sgt. Avidan Gerstein, stood straight-backed and at attention by the farthest wall. Otoi's and Humpty's old-time colleagues, Dr. Glendon Erskine and Dr. Sou Nishiyama, looked up in surprise at their entry and hurried to meet them at the doorway. Sitting behind the massive redwood desk was none other than the General himself, Dietz Rolaryo.
 
A tall and intimidating man, General Dietz Rolaryo had been in charge of Thinktank Atrandom's military division for quite a few decades and knew what he was doing. He was muscular with a thick mustache and neatly gelled dark hair, and consistently wore the navy uniform befitting his position in and out of work. He stood as Otoi and Humpty approached and nodded briefly to Karma.
 
“A-Kb Karma, thank you for your assistance,” he said in a deep voice that seemed to resonate throughout the circular room. “Please return to your partner in your usual quarters.”
 
Karma gave a hasty bow, seeming all too relieved to be leaving the General's office. He turned and brushed past the two professors, making sure to securely close the door behind him.
 
General Rolaryo motioned for Otoi to come forward. Adjusting his collar as nervous sweat began to pour down his face, Otoi approached the desk like he was about to receive his death sentence.
 
“Professor Shinnosuke Otoi, you were assigned a classified project following the tragic accident that shattered our city twenty-five years ago,” he declared. “Back then our pilot Thinktank Atrandom Military Division malfunctioned due to the tampering of Professor Hitoshi Onozaka and lost control of himself. To ensure that such a disaster never occurs again, you were assigned to Project MIRA with help from Professor Margaret Cassiopeia.” He nodded at the elderly professor whose still abundant silvery hair shook itself loose of its bun as she bowed in response. “Today, after over two decades of painstaking research, you are to present your accomplishments for the council to assess. Your career and the survival of Thinktank Atrandom Laboratory rests on your shoulders.”
 
Neat way to pass along the burden, Otoi inwardly snarled. He saw his son's face contort into a mixed expression of amusement and pity. His wife, Lt. Minoru, pinched him to keep him in line. Taking a deep, shuddering breath, Otoi gave a curt nod in response to the General. “All my recorded research and activities have already been supplied to you, General. It is my great honor to exhibit the fruit of our efforts before the council.”
 
“Proceed,” commanded the General.
 
Otoi had already taken care to guarantee that there would be no mishaps with his presentation that day. In a small room adjoining the General's office he had set up all his equipment and Project MIRA itself. He opened the door to that room and stood gazing into the pitch darkness illuminated by the blinking lights of the machines. Wearing a mask of determination, he moved to the computer and began expertly activating his task.
 
“Initiating program,” stated the computer voice. “Formulating program statistics.”
 
The whirr-click of the machines and swiftly growing light intrigued his colleagues, and they simultaneously moved closer to the door.
 
“Ending hibernation. Process completed in 5…”
 
Otoi's hand trembled as he pushed a lever to the correct position and punched certain buttons.
 
“4…”
 
Quickly he jumped out of his chair and began removing wires from a tall, strange object glowing in the center of the room.
 
“3…”
 
The mysterious object moved slightly, gangly limbs jerking as if being tugged by some invisible force.
 
“2… 1… Process completed.”
 
Each pair of eyes lit up with a strange glow unassociated with the full light that now flooded the room. In the center a tall HFR was slowly blinking into awareness, his perfectly formed fingers twitching with nervous energy. It opened its eyes and gazed at the figures surrounding it. Instantly its program jumped into action.
 
“Hello,” it said in a clearly masculine voice. “I am Thinktank Atrandom Laboratory's newest Human-Form Robot, A-S Signal.”
 
“General Rolaryo, friends and associates,” Otoi began with an edge of pride in his voice, “may I present to you Project MIRA, A-Sa Signal!”
 
 
Choko o tabetaaaai!
 
 
I know what you're thinking - “WHAT! That was only 3 pages long!” Lol! I'm making it a point to have shorter chapters this time around. That way I can update more often. I know you're all wondering why the heck I called Karma “A-Kb Karma” but bear with me - it'll all get explained very very soon. By the way, if you didn't know, a is the Greek letter “alpha” and b is “beta.”
 
Although I'm kind of sad… the only robots I got to involve this chapter were Karma and Signal. Oh, I love them, but they only had like four lines in total… sob But this shall be exciting in time! Please keep reading, Twin Signal fans!
 
And like always, GIVE CHIBI CHOKO!
 
Chibi: `Cause I'm not in this storiiiiieee…. WAAAAAAAHHH!
 
Japanese words used in this fic:
 
Oniisan, Oniichan, Oniisama, Aniue, Aniuesama - all mean “ big brother.” The last one is VERY respectful.
Oneesan, Oneechan, Oneesama, Aneue, Aneuesama - all mean “big sister”
Otouto, otoutosan - little brother Imouto, imoutosan - little sister Chibi, chibi-chan, ochibi-chan - pipsqueak, little one, kid, etc.
Shishou - master (what Oratorio jokingly calls Code)
 
I'm refraining from using over words like kyoujuu, hakase, and wakasensei because they do sound already in English. But it would be weird for Elara to say “Big brother Code” rather than “Code-niisama.”
 
Review!