F-Zero: Falcon Densetsu

Synopsis

While Lucy runs some practice laps on the track on planet Clifoto, Jody and Stewart fill the others in on the potential dangers during the race: it's a popular track so the prize money will be huge, but the planet is extremely hot, so making sure their engines don't overheat is crucial. And this has nothing to do with Fire Field.

Lucy finishes her practice and brings her own recordings to the table: they'll want to keep their power gauge within the green to avoid burning out, and spend it on speed for the final lap. Jody introduces her to the rest of the team, and due to her mechanical expertise, she'll be serving as Clash's apprentice.


Planet Clifoto

Rick heads out for a bit of practice while the rest study how his machine behaves: at the moment the temperature's not too bad, but it could rise when the real race begins. Lucy reminds everyone that the coolant doesn't work effectively in high temperatures, so avoid boosting where it's hottest. EAD's attention lies elsewhere: there's an unknown racer following Rick

The mysterious pilot is Baba, the pilot of the Iron Tiger and he's been sent by Zoda to keep a close eye on Rick after his near-victory last time. Zoda is in no rush to act just yet, but if Rick ever becomes a bother, he'll think of something to put him in his place.

He returns to the hangar drained from the heat, only for Jack to swoop in and gloat over what an easy race this is going to be. Rick's keen to challenge him, especially after Clash's new modifications to the Dragon Bird, but his practice has left him exhausted; he's in no condition to race. Lucy offers to try it in his stead, and record her findings when she's done. Everyone is surprised by the suggestion, though Rick is the only one to object. Lucy hops in the Dragon Bird and is out on the track before he can stop her. She's excited to be handling a machine with more power behind it, though Rick tries to implore her to return as he claims he's better...but it's no use, the heat must be affecting the transmissions. While sitting in on the F-Zero Committee meeting, Jody and Stewart catch footage of the Dragon Bird driving wildly on the track - Lucy's having difficulty adapting to how Rick's machine handles. She approaches Baba's Iron Tiger from behind, who's in no mood to race, and slows down to let her pass...but upon seeing who's behind the wheel, can't stand the thought of being beaten by her. He catches up and begins boxing the Dragon Bird in against the wall; Rick borrows Jack's Astro Robin to get close to the action.

Lucy tries accelerating to escape, but the machine grows unstable once it rises above green, and has to slow again. Rick tries to tell her she can't handle the Dragon Bird's power, but the radios are still malfunctioning. Refusing to lose to this racer and eager to prove herself a member of the Galaxy Mobile Platoon, she hits the booster, but the Dragon Bird grinds the walls before hurling right off the track, crashing onto the rocks below. Rick catches up to her and brings her back to base, and she eventually wakes up mostly unharmed.

She explains she was eager to impress the group, and they're just happy she didn't injure herself. The Dragon Bird is pretty banged up, though. Jody enters, angry for the colossal screw-up out on the track; Lucy tries to explain, but is told this doesn't concern her, and if she interrupts she'll be an ex-trainee. What's worse, they've learnt that Zoda has signed up for the race, but if Rick's machine is out of commission, he's missed his chance to get even. This strikes a nerve in the pilot; he has to confront Zoda. He storms into the exhibition area shouting his name, desperate to find the man who killed him 150 years ago. He's just about to climb onto the track before Jack pulls him down. What use is he to the Platoon if he should wind up back in cold sleep again?

Jody, Jack, Stewart and EAD retire to the mess room for a bite to eat, a trifle upset about the situation with Rick. They hope he's cooling down from his outburst...but realizing he's not at the table getting his meal, they worry that he's up to something foolish. While Clash is busy fixing up the Dragon Bird, Lucy apologizes for pushing it too hard, but the mechanic's not concerned about that: they're going to be up all night repairing this thing, so they've gotta put their backs into it!

Rick returns to lend a hand, and the others find him shortly after, sympathizing with Lucy he would've done the same trying to impress the members of the force, as he has done so previously. Jody looks like she's about to clobber Rick as Dr. Stewart warned of her temper...but she's there to also offer her support. If they all pitch in, the Dragon Bird will be fixed in no time! Clash joked, "Now we can all play mechanic!"

Baba reports in to Zoda's garage, telling him the woman isn't worth worrying about. Zoda reminds him there's plenty of other skilled pilots taking part, and if they're even remotely troublesome, he wants them taken out. He approaches his machine to find a warning light in the cockpit; he was alarmed something's wrong with his machine, Baba tells him he's been having trouble getting enough parts to finish building it. Zoda points his gun at him...and fires, blasting apart the robot behind him. "Now you've got plenty of spare parts."

The Platoon finally finish fixing up the Dragon Bird in time for the race, and Lucy is praised for her hard work; they wouldn't have finished it so quickly without her.

The starting grid slowly fills with racers, with all of the Platoon bar Jody, Clash and Lucy taking part. Rick sees Zoda's machine for the first time: the Death Anchor. There's no way he's going to lose to him. "Watch out, Zoda. Here I come."

The race begins, and Zoda is quick to make his mark by crushing another machine against the barriers. Rick zooms after him, eager to settle his score, but the Death Anchor boosts ahead, leaving them in the dust. Jack boosts after him, but Rick feels his engine isn't up to the pursuit, and hangs back for the time being. By the end of the first lap, Jack's engine temperature is at critical; if he pushes it any further, it's in danger of exploding! Zoda begins playing with his prey, circling the Astro Robin before getting right behind it and boosting: the Death Anchor zooms right through, leaving the Astro Robin as nothing but scrap. Jack parachuted out to safety just in time, but this race is in Rick's hands now.

He begins to notice something within the Dragon Bird, and realizes it must be Lucy's handiwork as it kept losing speed: noticing the slowdown, she found steering the machine got increasingly difficult at high speeds, but by reducing the thrust just a little, she's given it overall superior steering at all speeds. Dr. Clash figured it was necessary to defeat Zoda, so this is just what Rick needs, and he's right on his tail!

Fearing his machine is overheating, Zoda slows down to let it mellow...giving Rick a chance to slow down while in front of him, twisting his machine to batter the Death Anchor clean off the track. He follows after him. With the two leading racers now off the track, Dr. Stewart's Golden Fox and Baba's Iron Tiger are competing for first place. The two put all their power into the boosters for the final stretch, going neck and neck...but it's the Golden Fox that crosses the finish line first. You're never going to beat an A-class booster, pal.

On the rocks below, the Death Anchor is a flaming wreck, but Zoda himself is unscathed and up for a scrap. Rick was shocked at the spectacle as well, but was never shaken. Zoda said he's glad to have the chance to beat him, to which he responded, "Zoda? I've waited 150 years. For this!" He lands a few solid blows on him but it doesn't seem to slow him down any. As the smoke on the wreck thickens, Zoda uses it to make his escape, vowing to meet Rick again at the next race, loser! Rick screams his accursed name afterwards.

After the race, the group return to the police headquarters. Lucy meets up with Jody, thinking she was in trouble again. Instead, she's fully inaugurated into the Galaxy Mobile Platoon. She's offered the choice to return to her ordinary life if it's too difficult, but she wouldn't want anything less. The group salute her as she is granted her new insignia-adorned shoulder plate.

(Source: F-Zero Wiki)