Tetsu No Kyojin

[Tetsuwan Penguin]

Mustachio dropped the chalk from his hand at the sight of the robot staring into the third floor window. The giant horned head of Pluto smiled and the robot gently knocked on the glass.

The teacher walked over to the window and pulled it open.
“You're interrupting my class, Pluto!” he complained. “Is this important?”

“Didn't Dr. O'Shay tell you I'd be coming by today, Mr. Mustachio?” Pluto asked.

The teacher face palmed. “You're right, he did. I forgot all about it!” he said. “I'll leave the window open since you're too big to fit into the classroom”

Astro turned to face the window and gave Pluto a thumbs up, which the giant robot returned. It had been just about a year since Pluto had gone on a rampage and had destroyed several of the greatest robots in the world on the orders of his mad master. He and Astro had nearly fought a battle to the death, but Uran had intervened once, and a natural disaster another time. In the end Pluto rebelled against the tyrant that controlled him, and Dr. O'Shay was able to adjust his AI to allow Pluto to be a useful robot.

“Class, for those of you who don't know who this is,” Mustachio began, “This is Pluto. He was once a very bad robot, but now he works for the ministry of science doing large, heavy work.”

“He means I often dig up mountains and look for buried objects” Pluto laughed.

“You know class, Pluto is one of a small number of giant robots.” Mustachio said. “A long time ago, shortly after Astro was first born, the ministry of science had built a huge robot to work on the moon. It was accidentally activated before its main brain was installed and the criminal Skunk Kusai got a hold of it and used it for criminal activity. Astro even got blamed for some of that!”

“I remember that!” Kenichi said. “That was Colossus wasn't it?”

“Yes, though the press called him Frankenstein.” their teacher replied. “Colossus is now working on the moon base, and is doing well”

Astro raised his hand.

“Yes, Astro?” Mustachio asked.

“There was also Garron.” Astro volunteered.

“That's true.” Mustachio said. “Garron fell here from outer space, he was built by an alien civilization to help them colonize other planets. He was dangerous because the life kinds that created him were so different that the atmospheres of their worlds were poisonous to human beings. It was a very good thing that you were able to trick him and defeat him. We sent Garron back into space, and hopefully he was found by the beings that built him.”

“Were there any other giant robots?” Tamao asked.

“Well, there were a few others.” Their teacher explained. “Way back during the second world war, a Japanese scientist tried to build a secret weapon in the form of a giant robot, under the Tesujin project. He finally did succeed, but not until we had already lost the war. The robot didn't have any artificial intelligence, it was intended to be a remotely controlled weapon, or might have a man inside of him.”

“So it was really just a kind of tank that looked like a robot” Tamao said.

“I guess you could call it that.” Mustachio laughed. “Real robots that could think for themselves totally independent from humans are a very new thing. Some people have said that Astro here is really the first robot of that kind.”

“Japan was the first country to know about robots, right teacher?” Astro asked.

“No, not at all.” Mustachio said. “The word robot was coined in Czechoslovakia by playwright Karel Capek. The idea of an artificial man has its roots in many legends, including that of the Golem from ancient Hebrew.”

The bell rang and the students quickly got up and ran for the door.

“Would you mind staying, Astro?” Mustachio asked.

“What's up, teacher?” Astro asked. “I do something wrong?”

“No Astro, you're not in trouble.” Mustachio said. “I think Pluto has something to tell us though.”

“Yes Astro,” Pluto said. “I just got back from an expedition with the Ministry of Science, and the American department of defense. They've asked for your assistance, Astro.”

“What's going on?” Mustachio asked.

“Well, it seems that your talk about giant robots was quite the coincidence, sir” Pluto said. “I just helped the Americans dig up the remains of one that had been missing since the 1950's.”

“The American's had a giant robot back in the 1950's?” Mustachio asked.

“Well, they had to deal with one back then.” Pluto said. “As far as I can find out, the American's are still keeping the old records top secret even today, this robot came to Earth from another part of the galaxy just like Garron did.”

[Angel of the Stars]

Suspenese!!!
I can't wait for the next part, Tetsuwan Penguin!!

[Tetsuwan Penguin]

If I got the translation correct for the title, someone might figure this out!

[Angel of the Stars]

Hmm... something to do with "giant" and "iron"... Is it maybe The Giant of Iron, or something close to that?

[Windswept Cloak]

Pretty cool story here

[Tetsuwan Penguin]

It's a crossover with an "Anime" from a few years ago. I use the word "Anime" loosly since it was NOT made in Japan.

@Angel of the Stars: reverse the two words and you got it.

To continue:


“Come with me Astro”, Pluto said. “they're waiting for us back at the excavation site.”

Pluto used to fly by whirling his upper body around like a tornado creating a vortex that lifted him into the air. He had been retrofitted with leg and back jets so he could do useful work hovering in mid air when necessary. He stuck his hand into the classroom window and Astro allowed himself to be picked up and deposited onto Pluto's shoulder.

“You do realize I can fly there myself?” Astro said.

“Well I do enjoy your company” Pluto said. “and this is going to be a long flight. Save your energy, I have lots to spare!”

“OK.” Astro said. “Let's go”

It took them most of the afternoon and into the night to get where they were going. Pluto took a great circle route from Japan over the north pole and into Northern Iceland where he landed in a valley that had once been covered by glaciers. Dr. O'Shay was waiting by a camp site, along with several members of the American military and officers of the Icelandic military.
“Welcome back Pluto.” Dr. O'Shay said. “Thank you for going to get Astro. I'm sure his assistance will be required before we are done here.”

“What's up Sensei?” Astro asked.

A large, heavy set man wearing a three star General's uniform pulled up in an old Jeep and walked over to where Pluto Astro and O'Shay were standing.

“Astro, this is General Hayes of the US Air Force. He's in charge of the American side of this expedition.” O'Shay said. “Perhaps the General can explain things better than I can.”

“Thank you O'Shay Sensei” The general said. “I'm very glad to meet you Astro. This whole thing started several weeks ago when the ice sheet up here started to break up. Back during the cold war days following the second world war, an object crashed into the ice and was buried. We've known that it was out here for some time, but the fact of its existence has been kept secret, for some very good reasons. When we got word of its rediscovery we asked the Japanese Ministry of Science for their assistance, since they have expertise with giant robots.”

“You mean you knew there was a giant robot buried here?” Astro asked.

“Yes.” General Hayes said. “We didn't know exactly where it was, only that after it had disappeared back in the 1950's, it was last tracked to this region before being lost on radar.”

“I dug up quite a bit of the area surrounding the discovery site.” Pluto said. “I found traces indicating it had been here, but no sign of the robot.”

“I don't understand.” Astro said.

“Our AWACS aircraft picked up a strange signature a few days ago, that originated from this area.” General Hayes said. “It took a while to dig though some very old recordings before we identified the signal. It was the radar beacon from a robot that had come from outer space and had landed in Rockwell Maine back in 1957. The aircraft identified this area as the source of the signal.”

“The US Air Force contacted the Ministry immediately.” Pluto said. “I got here as quickly as possible, but the signal was gone by the time I arrived. All I was able to do was to find where the robot had been buried, but it was already gone.”

A thin man wearing glasses in a civilian coat pulled up in an old VW bug. The 70 year old car was rusty, but still running. He got out and approached the general.

“I've located him sir!” the man said.

“Thank god he's still alive!” the general said.

“Who's still alive?” Dr. O'Shay asked.

“The only person that ever communicated with that robot.” General Hayes said. “If Astro can't make peaceful contact with him, maybe Mr. Hughes can.”

[Angel of the Stars]

How long does it take you to type up these parts~? I really love the detail you use in your fanfictions!

[Little Brown Fox]

The Iron Giant came out more than just a "few" years ago. Also, "sensei" is for teachers; the term you're looking for is "hakase". And why O'Shay? His name is Ochanomizu; since he's from Japan, it should be kept, don't you think? Only O'Shay sounds a bit too Irish.

[Tetsuwan Penguin]

The Iron Giant came out more than just a "few" years ago. Also, "sensei" is for teachers; the term you're looking for is "hakase". And why O'Shay? His name is Ochanomizu; since he's from Japan, it should be kept, don't you think? Only O'Shay sounds a bit too Irish.

Yeah it was like about 14 years ago I can't believe that, I remember seeing it like it was yesterday (I have the DVD). That film won a Hugo award BTW.
Sensei means more than just teacher, though that might be the most common use of the word. It also means Doctor (listen to the Blackjack anime!), and can be used as a general honorific for a person in authority. It literally means "someone born before you".

I've been bouncing back and forth between various canon settings, I seem to be wrapped around the 2003 ELV at the moment (except I won't use Zoran for Uran!) Just be glad I also won't use Elefun for Ochanomizu. O'Shay is sort of a contraction on Ochanomizu.

[Tetsuwan Penguin]

The Gulfstream C-38 Courier landed on the icy runway. General Hayes drove the old Jeep himself, his aide sat next to him, Dr. O'Shay and Astro sat in the back seat.

“Mr. Hughes agreed to met us here, if I provided suitable transportation.” The General said. “I had my personal aircraft dispatched to Rockwell Maine to pick him up. Can you believe the guy has lived there all his life?”

The aircraft pulled up to the end of the taxiway, and parked next to an olive drag RV. The General parked his Jeep next to the motor home and jumped out, followed by his aide. Astro got out of the vehicle and walked around to the other side to open the door and help the doctor out. The rear door of the aircraft opened up and folded down into a stairway to the ground. The man who got out was at least in in 80's, and walked with a slight limp, assisted by a cane.

“How was the trip, Mr. Hughes?” The General asked.

“Top Drawer.” the man said. “Your people treated me with silk gloves. But please call me Hogarth, you make me sound like some sort of VIP addressing me by my last name all the time.”

“Sorry, Mr. Hu … Er Hogarth.” The General said. “It's my training, you know.”

Astro placed Hogarth's left arm over his shoulder and helped the gentlemen into the RV. The General, his aide, and Dr. O'Shay followed.

“Thank's son.” Hogarth said. “My bones creak a lot in the cold and my legs don't always work the way I'd like them to anymore.

“Just in case my aide didn't bring you fully up to date, Mr. Hughes,” the General said, “a few days ago US Air Force AWCS aircraft picked up a radio return signal that didn't identify. We searched some really old records and found a match to a recording from back in 1957 in the vicinity of Rockwell Main.”

“The Iron Giant.” Hogarth said.

“We think so.” General Hayes said. “The signal was traced to the area of Langjökull, not far from here. The glacier has been breaking up as of recent due to global warming, and an object that had been buried there since the late 50's emerged. Several photo passes by ground imaging satellites captured a picture of this outline.” The General produced an 8x11 B&W photo and showed it to Hogarth.

“That looks like him, alright.” the old man said.

“The US military doesn't have very much experience with large robots, so I decided to call in for help.” General Hayes explained. “I contacted Dr. O'Shay from the Japanese Ministry of Science, and he sent over Pluto, one of their larger service robots, here to help us with the expedition. We also got the approval of the Icelandic authorities. I specifically asked for the assistance of Tetsuwan Atom, who's usually referred to as Astro as well.”

Hogarth looked at Dr. O'Shay. “That doesn't sound much like a Japanese name, no offense intended. Also, I'm not familiar with this Astro.”

Dr. O'Shay laughed. “My family name is really Ochanomizu. On my first trip to the US, the state department butchered my visa papers and seemed to change my name to something shorter that they could pronounce. I've used it ever since when dealing with the American government. As for Astro, you've already met him.”

“Hello” Astro said.

Hogarth reached into his pocket and removed a case containing a pair of bifocals. He put the glasses on and took a better look at Astro.
“My God, you are a robot, aren't you! But you look so ... human!” he gasped.

“Astro was created by a scientist as a replacement for his deceased son. He made him to resemble the departed boy as closely as practical.” Dr. O'Shay explained. “But Astro is no ordinary robot. He may be small, but he has the strength of 100,000 horsepower. He can fly with built in jet and rocket power, and has a few weapons systems to boot.”

“He's like a miniature version of the Giant.” Hogarth said. “Speaking which, where is the Giant?”

“We don't know.” General Hayes said. “Pluto found the site where the Giant had been buried, but it seems he has left, without a trace. He must have flown since no footprints of his were found far from the glacier.”

“Wouldn't your radar have tracked him if he was airborne?” Hogarth asked.

“We thought so, but it seems there were no radar tracking records of him flying back in '57 either. We suspect he has some sort of stealth ability.” the General said.

“I have an idea.” Astro said.

“What?” General Hayes and Dr. O'Shay asked together.

“Maybe the Giant is trying to head back to where he thinks home is.” Astro guessed.

“You mean his home planet?” O'Shay asked.

“No, his memory was wiped when he landed on Earth.” Hogarth said. “He never remembered just where he came from.”

“Then I bet he's heading back to Rockewell.” Astro said.

“Makes sense to me!” General Hayes said.

“Looks like bringing me here wasn't such a good idea!” Hogarth said.

“No problem.” General Hayes said. “I'll radio ahead and have my people get there ASAP. Meanwhile, I'll order that my C-38 be refueled and turned around at once. Gentlemen, our plane to Maine awaits us.”