Return to Zero

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"Return to Zero" ゼロへの帰還 (Zero he no Kikan)
Publisher	Kodansha
Published in	Comic Bom Bom
First published	September 1999
Cover date	October 1999
Script	Shōji Imaki
Artist	Shōji Imaki
Continuity	Beast Wars manga

To defeat Unicron, Big Convoy must make the ultimate sacrifice.

Synopsis

As Big Convoy and his crew prepare to fight Unicron, a united Maximal-Predacon fleet arrives to battle Unicron. However, the fleet is completely powerless against Unicron and is destroyed soon after the engagement. Big Convoy catches Unicron's attention and warps away with the Gung Ho, tricking Unicron to Georgian, a star system crowded with planets.

Big Convoy orders NAVI drive the ship into the nearest planet. When Unicron attacks the ship, he not only misses the target, but also smashes the planet accidentally, causing explosions that destroy his limbs. Seeing Unicron in a weak position, Big Convoy and his crew charge at Unicron. Unicron releases a Blentron army out of his mouth, but they are defeated by the Maximals. Big Convoy focuses Magmatron's grudge and his rage into the Angolmois energy within the Magma Blade, and uses it to stab Unicron's right eye, destroying his physical body.

Just as they think Unicron is dead, Unicron's black essence emerges from the eye and bonds with Big Convoy's body. Unicron tries to possess Big Convoy as a new vessel, telling Big Convoy that he should be happy to have a new life since he hates his present existence so much. Big Convoy admits he did hate what he is, but he has accepted himself now and he decides to sacrifice himself to destroy Unicron. Big Convoy takes the Matrix out of his chest and unleashes its power, sacrificing himself and successfully destroying Unicron once and for all. In his last moments before dying, Big Convoy sees Lio Convoy come to take him to a place where his soul can rest in peace.

After their graduation, Break, Stampy, Longrack, and Colada gather in the front of Big Convoy's tombstone and grieve over their instructor. Heinrad suddenly shows up in his agent uniform in front of the four. He takes them on a journey to a snowy planet similar to Big Convoy's birthplace. There, the Maximals meet their instructor again. However, Big doesn't recognize them at all. Heinrad explains that Big's spark was recycled by his crew and ultimately resurrected as a normal mammoth without any memory of being "Big Convoy". The Maximals are angry with Heinrad, except for Colada, who thinks it is probably best for Big to forget those painful memories. The Maximals transform into robot mode, showing Big that they have all become Convoys. As Big leaves to his newfound life, his former subordinates salute him.

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Quotes

"Since we've now warped here, how should we fight?"
"Well, you tell me."
"You are really a true instructor to the end!!"

—Break doesn't enjoy Big Convoy's dangerous tactics before he learns more about it.

"With the Angolmois flame formed from Magmatron's grudge and my rage, I shall break you!!"

—Big Convoy, avenging Magmatron and giving Unicron the fatal blow

"I did consider myself as cursed to have a sad life as Big Convoy. However, now I think it is good to be Big Convoy, thus I've decided to die as Big Convoy."
"Stampy, Longrack, Colada, and Break... thank you for accompanying someone like me for so much."

—Big Convoy prepares to sacrifice himself

"Though he was really an unpleasant instructor during training, I've missed him since his departure."

—Break

Notes

• It is revealed that it has been millions of years since Big was born.
• It is unknown how Cybertron was restored to its original location, since Unicron travelled to Georgian with it as his body.
• Break and Colada's third modes are shown in the manga for the first and the last time.
• Unicron's horns have some degree of prehensility.

Transformers references

• Despite it not being the true Matrix of Leadership as oftentimes used to destroy Unicron, Big Convoy is able to use his Energon Matrix to destroy Unicron.

Real-word references

• Unicron's "Teiō Mueikyaku" is a reference to the Shadowless Kick as seen in various kung fu films.