F-Zero: Falcon Densetsu

Synopsis

Rick is taking a beating during his latest race, The Skull's Sonic Phantom repeatedly ramming him into the walls. Jody Summer, monitoring this back at HQ, tells him to quash his hopes of making first place; his booster is heavily damaged and Jack Levin is already in first place, they can leave it up to him. Rick is devastated - what's the point of racing if not to win? Just before he shuts off the communicator, Jody reminds him of their mission and that The Skull is under Dark Million's employment; well, that sounds like a good reason to beat him, doesn't it? Rick boosts at the last second, leaving the Sonic Phantom to grind to a halt against the barriers. A sweet move, for sure, but the Platoon are doubtful he'll make it to the finish line.

Jack makes it to the final lap and is enjoying the solitude of first place, until the Dragon Bird comes roaring up behind him. The Astro Robin boosts to increase the gap between them, and Rick does the same...only for his booster to fail, causing his machine to conk out. The Dragon Bird drifts limply to one side, slowing to a creaky halt as the rest of the racers pass him by. What a time to lose.

The race isn't over yet - Jack is still far ahead of the pack, but one racer is quickly creeping up on him. If Rick's already wiped out, then it can only mean...Captain Falcon! He slowly catches up on the poster boy racer, the two fighting for first place, but in the end the Blue Falcon snatches victory by a nosecone. The crowd gets hype, and in an unknown location, a figure in green applauds Falcon's success.

Jody gives Rick an earful once he returns to the station - he disobeyed her orders while still being on probation, and he just got assigned for laundry duty the rest of the month. He was outraged it isn't fair, after all, what kind of pilot would he be without winning?? Jody responded he should be a team player instead of a glory hog; they would've won that race if he wouldn't put his ego ahead of himself. She always thought he was a valuable asset to the team, but now she's not so sure anymore.

Rick meets up with the rest of the Platoon and tells Jack that Jody's scheduling a meeting with him: he hopes it's her commenting of his driving, to which Rick responds he does a good job driving everybody crazy. The two get violent, but EAD is there to break it up. Lucy assures them to fight Dark Million instead of each other, though Clash comments that Captain Falcon has beaten the two of them every time he's shown up. Face facts, that guy's a better driver; as he stays steady till the last lap, then he steps on it! Rick asks who he is, and nobody gives a solid answer: his identity is a mystery, and his spending habits an enigma. Clash said the man's techniques could teach them a thing or two!

At his battle station, Zoda clobbers The Skull for his incompetence, but is interrupted by a surprise transmission from Black Shadow. Zoda vows to defeat Captain Falcon next time, but that's not who Black Shadow's concerned about; it's the runt, Rick Wheeler, he wants rid of. Zoda is sure he can think of something for the next race.

While reflecting in the police station's observation deck at sunset, Rick is visited by Dr. Stewart, making sure he's keeping all right; he says that Jody still believes in him, and he must stay focused on their mission. Still curious, he asks the doctor if he knows anything about Captain Falcon. All he knows is a story that supposedly happened five years ago: A transport ship docked on planet Forno, Heru in Japanese, was suddenly attacked, but before the police could arrive it had been left a smoking ruin. The investigation revealed it was a smuggler ship, possibly under space pirate control. Rick asked if they'd worked for Dark Million. It's possible. Rick is pretty hyped up: Captain Falcon destroyed such a huge ship singlehandedly! This could mean he's on their side! Stewart is quick to remind him this is only hearsay; they don't know the true story behind the attack, and whether or not Falcon is friend or foe. Maybe he had a grudge with the pirates or made some deal that went bad; but by the time the police showed up, it was all over, and no one was talking. So, Capt. Falcon still remains a mystery...

The Galaxy Mobile Platoon make the long flight to planet Forno; Jody said the planet is too poor to afford a warp gate, but F-Zero means a lot to the populace. Once ravaged by civil war, it has since had the chance to rebuild, though there is still a large population of orphans. Rick and Jack have been invited to a charity event at a local orphanage, so they'll have to bring their biggest smiles, according to Stewart.

Hovering above Forno's forest, Zoda communicates with a freelance computer cracker who has devised a key that'll allow them to steal the Dragon Bird. They confirm the payment and sign off, but what Zoda doesn't know is the man on the other side of the transmission was a mere boy! Miss Killer snoops in on Zoda's plan: he aims to steal the Dragon Bird and discover its secrets...and failing that, they might just steal it so he can't take part in the race! The boy, Clank Hughes, leaves to head for the race track, only to walk into a football game between other orphans: they tease him that he'll never be an F-Zero pilot since he's too young, especially when his father is a traitorous criminal. Clank is furious, cursing their lies and claiming his dad was a renowned hero, a Galaxy Police officer, but without any proof he gets mocked some more. He kicks their ball away and runs away in a huff...oblivious that Captain Falcon witnessed the whole thing.

Mr. Zero, the announcer, is present at the charity event to proclaim the arrival of Rick Wheeler and Jack Levin, to the cheers of the children. They're quickly mobbed by adoring pint-sized fans, all clamoring for autographs, but in the excitement, no one notices Clank sneaking passed them all and into the cockpit of the Dragon Bird! His homemade key quickly cracks the machine's password, and he zips away before Rick can catch him. He borrows the Astro Robin to chase after, the kids thrilled by this turn of events. What's even more exciting is the surprise appearance of the Blue Falcon, zipping passed them in the same direction!

Rick tries to keep up, struggling with how differently the Astro Robin handles. Just when he thinks he's caught up, the Dragon Bird flies straight off the track and into the foliage below, to see how it can handle off-road! He does the same and drives through the forest path, mouthing off the kid. Captain Falcon appears out of nowhere behind him and quickly overtakes, boosting down the path. Now what's he doing here?

Clank is having a ball in his F-Zero machine, and exits the forest into an open field, only for the Blue Falcon to overtake and get in his path. Shocked, Clank pulls the brakes on the Dragon Bird, spinning it wildly before coming to a sudden stop. Captain Falcon opens the cockpit, finding the boy has fainted. Noticing the boy's pendant, he opens it up to see a photograph of the boy and his father. This triggers a memory within Falcon...

Back to when he assaulted that Dark Million smuggler ship. Ploughing his Blue Falcon through waves of robot sentries, he travelled to the ship's supply deck and exited his ship...only for a human guard to step out. The guard knew the Captain no more than anyone else, but Falcon knew the guard personally: Roy. Shocked he was still working undercover, the guard believed he knew who the legendary racer truly was and why does the captain know him, only for Zoda to appear. He knew of Roy's treachery as a spy, and pointed a gun at him. Roy leapt at Zoda to give Falcon a chance to escape, but only won himself a laser blast in the gut. With no one stopping him now, Zoda pointed his blaster at the Captain, mocking why he should never be a hero...only for Roy to trigger hidden explosives he had planted. Falcon had no option but to escape the detonating vessel on his lonesome...

Clank snatches back his pendant, and Falcon quizzes him on why he stole this machine, but gets no answer. Hearing the Astro Robin approaching, Captain Falcon grabs Clank by the waist; he's committed a crime, and children should never be allowed to drive; it's illegal and extremely dangerous! He stuffs him in the Blue Falcon and leaves before Rick arrives, finding his machine abandoned in the field.

After being returned to town, Clank wishes to know why the Captain didn't take him to the cops. He tells him he knows his father, to which Clank retorted he better not say he was a traitor. His father was a good and honest man, but refuses to acknowledge if he knew him. Falcon tells the boy there's nothing left for him on planet Forno; he should travel to Mute City, and there he will follow his dreams and find his future. Clank still wants to know more, but the Blue Falcon speeds away, leaving him with his thoughts.

The Grand Prix is underway, and the Dragon Bird, Astro Robin and Blue Falcon are battling for first place. Rick believes he has an advantage along with Jack - but Captain Falcon seals first place, though the two others were behind by only a hair. Clank is in the audience watching the incredible win, and thinking on what he was told yesterday, gets up and leaves. While on the podium Rick expresses thanks to Captain Falcon for helping to get his machine back, but he leaves without saying a word.

Zoda is naturally upset - that cracker failed him! He was robbed! He was swindled! He...has an incoming message from Black Shadow thanks to Miss Killer. Oy.

Rick regales this to Lucy and Jack on the long flight home. Jack comments if he would've gotten a longer hood, he would've won. He also said the Captain must have an attitude problem, though Lucy remarks it reminds her of someone she used to know. Jack asked who, but she and Rick just chuckled.

While checking in on his Dragon Bird, Rick finds an unexpected surprise: Clank has stowed away and he's starving! The two visit the Falcon House over a fourth plate of chili and he may go broke at this rate. Burt learns the kid is a self-proclaimed computer expert, though Rick lectures him on the criminality of hacking and hijacking his car! Clank subsequently hacks the café's computer to tell Burt he could be going bankrupt soon. But Burt offers him to stay as Clank claimed he can turn this place into a gold mine!

Burt is quick to praise the kid as a bright young spark, and Clank asks if he can get a job in the café. Burt is happy to offer one, and he'll give him room and board as well as long as he doesn't do anymore joyriding, otherwise it's back to the orphanage. Clank immediately accepts the offer, following Falcon's advice on moving to Mute City, and one day become a gifted F-Zero racer!.

(Source: F-Zero Wiki)