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
: 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. The Galaxy Express 999
: 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. Tetsuro meets , a tall, enigmatic woman in