F-Zero: Falcon Densetsu

Synopsis

The episode starts at the back of the Dragon Bird, warming up to race. The F-Zero announcer announces that the Grand Prix is about to begin. Jody's voice is heard saying that the team must win, to stop the space pirates and to not try anything crazy. Rick asks how crazy with Jack Levin responding that Wheeler is crazy. The race then starts. Rick's engine power then gets in the green as he boosts forward into the lead, with Captain Falcon and Jack doing the same. The Big Fang, driven by Bio Rex sneaks up behind the Dragon Bird and bumping into it, with the Dragon Bird doing the same back that makes the Big Fang crash. Rick then says he's dealt with racers like that 150 years ago as a flashback happens.

The flashback shows a drag race car as it crosses the finish line. The racer gets out and takes off his helmet, revealing to be Rick. People then start to crowd him and a girl offers him flowers. The girl, revealing to be Misaki Haruka, grabs ahold of Rick's hand as he lets her stand on his car. He's now the Big Apple Grand Prix Champion for the second year in a row of 2051! The scene then changes to show Misaki waiting near a park for Rick. She then calls him and asks him if he's playing hard to get. Rick replies saying he'll be there soon and the connection is then lost. Rick wonders how the connection is lost and then says that Misaki won't care. He then opens a small box, revealing to be an engagement ring.

Suddenly, his reverie of an engagement was interrupted as he heard an announcement on his radio, saying there's an escaped convict, armed and extremely dangerous, heading for the Brooklyn Bridge. Rick recognized him as Zoda racing away in a stolen brown sedan. He goes on the pursuit, dropping the box. Through the alleyways, a couple cruisers give way revealing Rick. He mentions he's insane, the maniac thinks he'll be crazy enough to catch him. Zoda snickers he wins the door prize, shoots off the hinges and kicks the door toward Rick's windshield. As he sharply turned a corner, Rick was then shocked to see a slab head straight toward him, then shatter his windshield, covering him in lethal lacerations. Just seconds, Rick saw Haruka's smiling face, he remembered her, but he blacked out. He remained in a capsule covered in frost for 150 years.

In a Mute City lab, John Tanaka feels skeptical reviving someone from cold sleep, as the Task Force would get in trouble from The Commissioner. Dr. Stewart knows it won't be easy, and Jody Summer went beside him. John was still paranoid and the doc recommended him to stay in the capsule as a cover-up, to which he refused. The medico proceeded on reviving Rick and minutes later, he awakened unscathed. Dr. Stewart pointed out the pile of clothes he was wearing before he went into cold sleep, though he finds another set of clothing a bit more up-to-date. Rick looked at him quizzically, then Jody introduced herself as the leader of the Elite Mobiel Task Force; she's glad he's back, Dr. Stewart said it was touch and go. He examined himself and he turned out alright. He went for the engagement ring and gazed at it, then he stormed out as he grabbed the "wrong clothes with him," as he wanted to see someone. This began his cultural shock, as doc explained he's been in cold sleep for 150 years, and Jody said he's in Mute City formerly known as New York. He wondered how he slept for so long. Then Jack approached, thinking he'd missed his wake-up call. Doc offered him to show Rick the sights, but he refused, and Rick nearly knocked him over.

Meanwhile, Dr. Clash applauded himself on making his greatest creation, the Dragon Bird! Thinking it was an upgraded version of his destroyed cruiser, Rick demanded for the key, then he took off, not knowing how to use a highly-advanced F-Zero machine. Jack scolded he can't drive it since his license expired 149 years ago. He drove out of the base and into a busy street, gazing at the new buildings and lifeforms, thinking he's in cold sleep and it's just a nightmare. His machine began to lose power then he took the streets to Brooklyn, a location he recognized. At Memory Park, he met up with a woman who wasn't Haruka like he thought, he gazed at the ring again then Jack mocked if he wants to try it on. He guessed Rick'd be there as it's a pretty spot with pretty girls like in his day, just like those who're 150. Rick may be old, but old enough Jack's a selfish brat; even if people did, they won't care since Jack bragged he's an F-Zero superstar. He then showed him to the hottest club in the city and watch the ladies lose it!

They got Jack's attention, though they quickly gathered around Rick as he's a new face in the competition. Though Rick stormed out, and Jack was impressed he won't have that kind of attention if he's 175; which was an error since Rick's technically 173 since he was 23 when he crashed. Jack then intimidated Rick he doesn't have what it takes to pilot the Dragon Bird, even though Rick defended he's been racing before his great-great-grandpa was born. Jack then challenged him to a race on a desolate circuit, and the winner takes the Dragon Bird. Rick starts the engines as he calls out the pretty boy!

As the crossed over the white line, the race was on. Rick's machine began to lose power again as it left the green zone. The Astro Robin sped ahead, then Rick used his Booster and never let up! He lost control, even as he got into a sharp curve, resulting in a huge wreck! Rick was injured and the Bird was smoking. Though Jack demanded Rick to fix the thing before he should give it to him. Little did he knew that Jody watched the ordeal.

At the garage, Rick heard an alarm and ran out to see a more monstrous form of his old nemesis; even he survived after 150 years, his face was different but his laugh was the same as he reveled in his destruction. Jody pointed out that Zoda and his gang struck again, and they must stop him. She asked where Rick was, Jack answered he's fixing the Dragon Bird. Dr. Stewart queried what's wrong with it, then Levin lied that it was too much of a machine and that Jack should use it instead. Although, Rick wasn't backing down; in his new attire he said he's going with him and taking the machine. Jack said they had a bet, but Rick stated the bet's off. Now that the quarrel was settled, Jody ordered them to get moving.

As the flashback ended, Rick was still in his cockpit racing.

"That was the day when I joined the F-Zero team. And the day my future...began."

(Source: F-Zero Wiki)