Upon reaching the Andromeda Galaxy, Tetsuro discovers a terrible secret about the Machine Empire and Maetel's true purpose. In a climactic battle, the boy who once wished to be a machine chooses to remain human. The story concludes with the two separating as "the boy becomes a man," leaving the 999 to continue its eternal journey through the stars. “Galaxy Express 999” by Rintarô (Review) - Opus
Tetsuro meets , a tall, enigmatic woman in dark winter clothing who bears a striking resemblance to his late mother. She offers him a priceless, unlimited-use pass for the Galaxy Express 999 —a space vessel designed to look like a 19th-century steam locomotive—on the condition that he takes her with him. Journey Through the Sea of Stars The Galaxy Express 999
Tetsuro lives in a world where humans are hunted for sport by mechanical elites. After witnessing his mother's murder at the hands of the ruthless , Tetsuro vows to reach the Andromeda Galaxy. Legend says that there, on the Mechanization Planet , eternal machine bodies are given away for free. A Mysterious Companion Upon reaching the Andromeda Galaxy, Tetsuro discovers a
: Through these encounters, Tetsuro's perspective shifts. He begins to realize that mortality is what gives life meaning and that a machine body does not guarantee happiness. “Galaxy Express 999” by Rintarô (Review) - Opus
: On their travels, Tetsuro encounters people who have already sacrificed their humanity for machine bodies, only to find themselves plagued by loneliness, displacement, and a desperate craving for the warmth they lost.
As the 999 traverses the cosmos, it stops at various planets and moons, each serving as a self-contained story about the human condition.
: In the 1979 film adaptation , Tetsuro finally confronts Count Mecha at his Time Castle to satisfy his lust for revenge. The End of the Line