I always thought you could read those panels more than once. I might be wrong since it has been a long time since I've played Chrono Cross. If you can only read that panel once though, you could skip it (since it isn't required to read to advance further in the game) and come back to it later when you have Kid in your party, and read it with her in your group.
About the Cybots looking and acting like Gato:
Queen Zeal, the Mammon Machine, and the Black Omen were all part of Lavos. Lavos copied the DNA from every living creature on the planet, and I think the planet itself. I'm guessing the Black Omen also did the same, by copying the DNA of every living creature. So, because of this, the Cybots look like Gato. I also agree with Peaceman's theory on getting info from Lucca and finding out about Gato.
About the disappearance of the ghosts in Chronopolis after Fate's demise:
I'm guessing that Fate had something to do with the ghosts and monsters in Chronopolis, one way or another. Notice how, when you kill Fate, and go back to Chronopolis, you don't see any of the ghosts or any monsters? Well, with Fate gone, they ceased to live. Fate had something to do with them all one way or another. Seeing as how Fate had main control over Chronopolis too.