Cheyenne, The Nation of Water

Cheyenne, The Nation of Water

Manga Chapter 12-2

TV Episodes 75-76

Manga Chapter Summary:

Tetsuro and Maetel notice the 999 making strange noises as it approaches its next station and the Conductor notices that the speed has dropped. Suddenly the 999 goes off its rails and a stop request is received by the Locomotive. The Locomotive claims it is a landing request being demanded by a nearby planet. The 999 heads there, to a planet covered by a giant ocean. The 999 heads under the water and the train’s shield breaks, with water leaking through. Sensing that things are out of order, the 999 ascends out of the ocean and lands on a nearby island where it comes to a stop. Tetsuro and the others notice that the island, while containing some destroyed machinery, has clean air and fresh fruit; it is like a paradise, although they are completely surrounded by water.

Looking into the water, Tetsuro and Maetel find there is a giant civilization there, with numerous tall buildings. A craft starts ascending from the water, causing warning messages from the Locomotive to go off. We see the craft head all the way out into space, then descend towards them. Maetel compares it to a satellite sent to space that fell to Earth. Suddenly several people wearing scuba gear come out of the water. They claim to have been sent by the Prime Minister and President, Waterpress, who told them to invite whoever had landed. Tetsuro and Maetel are worried about being able to survive underwater, but they have brought special underwater suits for them. While they feel a bit heavy, the suits are able to be worn by them and they get on the craft and head underwater.

Tetsuro and Maetel realize that water for this civilization is like air to them. As they make it into a building, they spot an attack outside by natives. The men claim that this is those from the Cheyenne Fish that are rebelling. They tell Tetsuro and Maetel to come with them as they have a party prepared. Along the way Tetsuro and Maetel are introduced to Waterpress, who is revealed to be a small, old man. He asks them how their underwater suits are and brings them to a large room where they are served a large banquet! While they can’t remove their underwater suits, Tetsuro and Maetel are able to consume drinks by inserting them into slots in their helmet.

Tetsuro drinks too much and passes out. He and Maetel wake up in a translucent sphere in Waterpress’ laboratory where they are able to breathe air. Waterpress pulls a switch causing the room to be filled with air, and he puts on a water suit so he can keep breathing. Maetel asks why they have invented such a thing and he says they need to escape from this area, into space. Suddenly there is a big explosion; it is an attack from the Cheyenne Fish. Waterpress leads Tetsuro and Maetel to a long vehicle where he claims important things are stored. The craft departs the building, then the water itself. The underwater city collapses as they depart.

Along the way Waterpress tells Tetsuro and Maetel that they sent a rocket into space several times but it failed, causing him to force the train here. His people are going to escape on the 999, which he claims is now their property. They make it to the island and many people get out of the craft, into the 999. One of the men in a watersuit decides to attack and threaten Waterpress, blaming him for making the ocean such that life can’t live it in any longer. The man, a Cheyenne Fish, claims that Waterpress’ people invaded this planet, coming from another marine based planet. The Cheyenne Fish helped them and taught them, but were taken advantage of. He is angry about Waterpress and his people leaving now, saying they should stay and help them make the water clean.

Waterpress signals to his people on the train, who shoot the Cheyenne Fish man in the head. Waterpress then threatens Maetel, forcing the Conductor to have the 999 take off.  Several of the Cheyenne Fish watch from the water, hoping that Waterpress’ people end up going to hell. The 999 makes it into space. Waterpress asks Tetsuro to head to the other train car, as he and his people want to talk about where they’ll be going, and says they’ll have the 999 go there. Suddenly there is a large explosion of water coming out of the train car! Tetsuro looks inside and discovers everyone dead, their water-tight suits burst open. Maetel says it must have been the change in the atmosphere and air pressure that did it. Tetsuro, the Conductor and Maetel talk about if a water based planet like this was destined for those who polluted their world. Tetsuro wonders if the Earth will be clean if only mechanized people live on it.

TV Episode Summary:

This chapter is spread across two episodes in the TV adaption. In the first episode, the island that the 999 lands on doesn’t appear to have any plant-life to it. Tetsuro and Maetel see what appears to be a track to launch a rocket. The Conductor comes out and says the train detects life on this planet. When the craft is launched from the water, it just lands on the island; nothing goes out into space. The men who come out from the craft admit it was they who forced the 999 here. There is less friendliness between the parties in the episode, Tetsuro in particular seems quite angry. Along their way to the underwater city, Tetsuro and Maetel notice a total lack of any other life such as seaweed or fish. The Cheyenne Fish launch an attack while they are still in the craft and one of the men accompanying them is killed by them.

We have a new scene with the Cheyenne Fish where they live. Geronimo, the one who led the attack is criticized by his brother Navarro, who claims they need the technology of the others. Geronimo is not willing to forgive them, although he is told to give up his weapon. Geronimo refuses and the two fight. Geronimo goes says he will go and tells his brother to take care of Suzie, one of the women there. While in his lab, Waterpress tells Maetel and Tetsuro that their ocean has run out of fish and other life which is why they want to leave. They created a rocket and sent it into space, but it blew up, hence them forcing the 999 to come here (this is explained a bit earlier than it is in the manga). Tetsuro refuses to cooperate so Waterpress has water start pouring into the sphere. Maetel says they’ll do what they want and the water is drained.

While Waterpress brings Tetsuro and Maetel to a long craft that enables them to leave, the Cheyenne Fish-led attack that causes them to flee there is cut. While the underwater city is destroyed in the manga too, here we see Waterpress pushing a button to cause it to blow up and he claims it is because he doesn’t want the Cheyenne Fish having it. The Cheyenne Fish watch and are angry as they helped build the city.  Navarro has decided that now is the time to fight against Waterpress’ people. Suzie wants him to make up with Geronimo, but he refuses. Geronimo takes the role of the man who wore a watersuit and attacks Waterpress on the surface. He speaks of how his parents helped build their city, then Waterpress had them killed. Waterpress’ people ate everything edible in the ocean until they went extinct. Waterpress begs for him to spare him and says he’ll return things to the way they were. He shakes hands with Geronimo, but his hand has electricity running through it, causing Geronimo to be killed. The first episode ends as the 999 takes off from the planet. We see Navarro holding the body of Geronimo, with Suzie behind him.

The second episode throws out the original ending of the manga and is entirely new footage. Tetsuro, Maetel and the Conductor are held at gunpoint in the 999. Waterpress comes into talk to them, saying they’ve found another water-based planet they can head to. Tetsuro angrily yells and is threatened with death. The 999 Locomotive sends out a distress signal and the Galaxy Express administration sends out an armored train car. We return to the Cheyenne Fish who are mourning the death of Geronimo. Navarro speaks to his people, telling them he was naïve about them being able to use Waterpress’ technology. He swears to chase them down and avenge his brother. The crowd around him all agree and promise to join in. They are concerned by their lack of any ability to fly into space though. Navarro isn’t concerned. He and his people get in water-tight suits and prepare a shuttle for launch into space, a spaceship left behind by Waterpress. His people are worried as they always failed trying to launch into space in the past. Navarro considers this their only option and says they don’t have to join him. Suzie says she’ll head with him and although he wants her to stay behind she eventually convinces him. Others join behind them.

The rocket blasts off into space and the equipment starts going out of control once they make it there. Navarro isn’t worried and says he’ll pilot the rocket manually. Things soon calm down and he says they’ll head right after the 999. Meanwhile the armored car makes its way close to the 999 and fires a shot off at it. The 999 starts shaking and is temporarily knocked off its track before resetting itself and continuing on. The armored car’s crew looks at camera footage of the 999, realizing its passengers are held hostage. Waterpress tells the Conductor to warp the 999 or he’ll kill the passengers. The Locomotive refuses the request at first but continues on. The armored car crew decides to stop the 999 by destroying its Locomotive, but the 999 is able to activate the warp. This ends up only altering the direction of the 999 though.

The Conductor is able to surprise Chaward, one of Waterpress’ men and grab his gun. He heads back to the train car and points his gun at Waterpress, forcing the others to give up their gun. Maetel spots the rocket piloting by the Cheyenne Fish approaching. The armored car crew orders them to stop, and to not board the 999, but they do so anyway. Navarro and several other men board the 999, surprising Waterpress that they were able to use his rocket. Navarro says he regrets not going with the actions of his brother. Chaward wakes up and heads back towards the train car. Navarro is about to kill Waterpress, but Tetsuro tells him he’ll be punished if he kills someone on the 999. Instead, Maetel suggest they hand them over to the armored car. Navarro says their planet is destroyed and he doesn’t care what happens to him now. Tetsuro tries to stop him.

Meanwhile, Chaward comes up behind the Conductor and knocks him out, taking back his gun. Shots are exchanged between the Waterpress and Cheyenne Fish people. Waterpress grabs Suzie and runs out of the train car with his men. The armored car again issues warnings to the 999. Waterpress and his men demand the Conductor cut off the train car that the Cheyenne Fish are in. Back in their train car, Maetel bandages Tetsuro. Navarro’s mean realize the plan of the Waterpress people. The Conductor works on cutting off the train car. Navarro wonders what they should do with Suzie held hostage. Tetsuro wants to attack from outside the train car. Despite how dangerous it is, he feels this is his only way to continue his journey to get his mechanical body. He tells Navarro he wants to return to Earth and help make it a better planet for everyone.

Navarro thinks back to a conversation with his brother about how they’ll make their planet a better place. Navarro tells Tetsuro he wants to help him, and help uphold a promise to his brother. Maetel hands Tetsuro an earring to use. Tetsuro and Navarro head outside and crawl up over the train car. Tetsuro makes faces, distracting Waterpress’ people long enough for Navarro to come in and kill Waterpress’ men. Waterpress starts begging like he had towards Geronimo but Navarro says he’s not buying it. Waterpress lunges for a gun and Navarro shoots him. Another of Waterpress’ soldiers comes in and through the help of Maetel’s earring they are able to take him down. Navarro thanks Tetsuro for being able to avenge his brother. He says they’ll return to the Nation of Water after the armored car’s investigation. They will work hard to return the ocean to how it was. Tetsuro waves goodbye to the rocket as it takes off. Maetel tells Tetsuro how his courage was able to save other’s lives. Tetsuro says he just did what came natural to him. Maetel says things like that don’t come natural to everyone. Life in space is extremely difficult.

TV Episode Cast:

Tetsuro Hoshino – Masako Nozawa

Maetel – Masako Ikeda

Conductor – Kaneta Kimotsuki

Geronimo – Hiroya Ishimaru

Navarro – Akio Nojima

Suzie – Sumi Shimamoto

Waterpress – Isamu Tanonaka

Chaward – Hiroshi Masuoka

Narrator – Hitoshi Takagi

Akio Nojima played Young Man in episode 26. Isamu Tanonaka has had several previous appearances, typically as old men. This includes Hanako’s Father (episode 10), Subari (episode 17), Delmukade (episode 38) and a Cook (episode 53). Hiroshi Masuoka previously played a policeman in episode 40, Gudara in episode 59 and Gandel in episode 69.

Non-Spoiler Analysis:

This chapter features a rare instance where the 999 doesn’t go to a scheduled stop, but rather is forced to land on a planet, called the Nation of Water (as named in the episode). Here we find two different civilizations, a technologically advanced race led by a man named Waterpress, and the local “natives” called the Cheyenne Fish. The parallel to real life is incredibly obvious. Waterpress’ people are an analogy to imperialistic colonizers such as the British, Spanish or French while the Cheyenne Fish are the native people. Much like in real life, Waterpress’ people have completely taken advantage of the Cheyenne Fish. Although at least unlike in real life they haven’t completely wiped them out as often was the case, albeit at times unintentionally (such as through the spread of disease). Waterpress and his people are incredibly selfish. They come off as parasites, having completely used up all the resources on this planet and now that they’re done with it, they plot to simply go to another planet to do the same. Matsumoto helps show his disdain for the character by making Waterpress very short and ugly; he also has a high pitched cartoonish voice in the episodes.

Ultimately, the fate of Waterpress and his people ends fairly quickly though. Intent on going to another planet, the change in air pressure by heading out into space causes all of their water-filled suits to rupture, causing them all to immediately suffocate and die. This is an ending that is really similar to one we saw in “A Tale of Endless Summer” not all that long ago, which is quite unfortunate. It seems like Matsumoto knew the plot he wanted to build up, but not how to end it, so he resorts to an ending so similar to one we had only around 10 chapters back or so.

The TV episode makes radical changes. I was surprised to see just how fast the first episode made its way through the material, basically covering all but the last 10 pages or so of the manga. The second episode thankfully throws out the original ending and instead has the 999 pursued by multiple parties, both the Cheyenne Fish and the Galaxy Express Administration. The net result is a somewhat tense stand-off, similar in nature to what we got in the TV version of the “Rebellion of C62” chapter. Alas, that was just 7 episodes prior, so again we kind of get a repeat of a previous storyline here. The fact that the Cheyenne Fish were able to use the rocket that Waterpress and his people were unable to comes off as a bit ridiculous, although we do at least have some support earlier on that the Cheyenne Fish helped Waterpress’ people build up their civilization here before being betrayed.

The episode provides us a nice moment when the Conductor is able to at least temporarily play the hero, outsmarting Waterpress’ subordinate Chaward and seizing his gun, although the tables are eventually turned. We do get the oddity of Tetsuro going outside the 999 without a space suit in the final attempt to defeat Waterpress, although I assume the unsaid explanation is that it was within the 999’s barrier; basically what also enables Tetsuro to open the window of the 999 without being suffocated.

I think the net result is that this was a story, both in the manga and the TV episode that had some promise to deliver an environmental message but relies too heavily on previously used plot concepts to be all that effective.