Postby Fauna » 8 years ago
I'm not sure who the real minister is! It might be explained later in this book; I can't remember at the moment if there was a separate minister...the Ministry of Science in the French text is literally the "Centre of Research", so it's presented as an elite laboratory instead of a government department.
CHAPTER 3
As emotional as he was excited, Professor O'Shay bent over the little robot.
Hello, Astro Boy, he said. Welcome to this world.
Astro here is more humanoid than in the 2003 series: he has "big dark eyes and brown hair", and looks very cute and calm. He seems surprised to be there, and listens to O'Shay.
Are you okay? continued the professor. Now that your life begins in earnest, you 'll be able to discover everything that makes up our universe. You'll see, it has many fascinating things. You'll make friends, read all the books you like, smell flowers, play in the snow! What do you say?
The little boy grinned. The activities program seemed to please him.
The next morning, one of the lead robots working in the Magnamite power station calls the research centre director with an urgent alert: portions of energy packages haven't been flowing properly since they diverted the flow to the centre. This has built up into an energy stowaway of eight billion megawatts. The director is horrified, and launches an immediate investigation.
Meanwhile, O'Shay is teaching Astro in his own special room, filled with toys and wall-to-wall books with a perfect view of the cityscape. Astro has spent almost two hours scanning every single book he can get his hands on, from entire dictionaries to 17 volumes of a general encyclopedia. He eventually gets tired, and turns to a box of building blocks. O'Shay the entire time has been studying Astro's behaviour, and is intrigued by what Astro seems to be building. Oddly enough, the boy hasn't said a single word in the time he's been active.
What are you doing, Astro? You're building a wall?
The boy shook his head and pointed to the window with a quick movement, without ceasing to stack his bricks. O'Shay then realized, amazed; Astro was recreating the skyscraper he saw through the window, to the last detail and with incredible speed!
Yuko, O'Shay's assistant, comes by. In this version, she's a bit younger, and more formal and timid. She lets O'Shay know that three government scientists have arrived, and he excitedly tells her to bring them in. The three are staunch and serious-looking old men.
O'Shay introduced Astro as being the new generation of robotic "ultraperfection", and a leap forward in technology. The geezers aren't amused, and I just have to post this whole scene:
The oldest of the experts, a little bald man who looked like an old plucked owl, leaned toward Astro. This is a technological wonder? he said in a contemptuous voice. He looks particularly like a big doll that plays alone. Show us a little of what you can do, child... "
Astro did not even look up from his building set. The second expert, tall and thin, grimaced: O'Shay, is this it, the most advanced robot that science has ever created? Where are its powerful weapons? His mega lasers? His rays able to pierce any material? I don't see a little boy, and it can't even talk. You must be kidding us!
But, gentlemen... protested the professor. You haven't seen anything yet! He learns an amazing pace! And his mind works like that of a human. So saying all that will hurt him!
Astro looked at the professor and let go of his construction set to take a silver model rocket.
Oh yes? Well, all we see is a kid, growled the third expert without even paying attention to the little one who held out his rocket. Remind us when it'll do something useful!
Mocking Astro, the three scientists left.
I'm all too glad they left! exclaimed Astro. Good riddance!
But you talk! exclaimed the professor, surprised. Why didn't you say anything to them?
Because I didn't want to talk to these old nasty villains.
O'Shay laughs,and promises to teach Astro a bit more about etiquette. He isn't mad at all; he's just too excited to hear Astro speak.
Yuko calls over to O'Shay on his mini videocom, warning him that he's late for one of several appointments. O'Shay wants to stay and teach Astro, but knows he can't neglect his work, so he requests for Yuko to send the teaching robot Nora.
You'll see, Astro, Nora is a robot teacher. She is very nice and will help you discover many things. I, during this time, have to go to work. Behave well!
Good luck, professor, and come back soon!
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