Lap 07 - The Trap Of Michael Chain

The Trap Of Michael Chain is the 7th episode of the F-Zero Farukon Densetsu anime.

## Overview

The episode opens with the Little Wyvern, Mad Wolf, and Panzer Emerald in a race before switching to a shot of the Falcon House. Inside, Ryu Suzaku is watching a news report about another missing F-Zero pilot named Asherton Zona, the third of which is causing concern in the general public. Bart Lemming is seen cleaning a glass.

A young woman serves Ryu his coffee, much to his surprise. Bart notes that it would be the first time Ryu is meeting her, as he hadn't been to the Falcon House in 2 weeks. The woman introduces herself as Dream and says she watches Ryu's races with her boyfriend. It turns out that she also has a ticket for the next Mute City Grand Prix and encourages Ryu to do his best. Bart warns Ryu to be careful due to the recent news reports about the missing pilots, but Ryu assures him there's nothing to be worried about, just as he almost blows his cover as an Mobile Task Force member.

In the Mute City Grand Prix, Super Arrow's King Meteor is seen beside Ryu's Dragon Bird but falls behind for a short moment. To catch up, Super Arrow attempts to spin to gain the upper hand, but ends up hitting a wall, missing Ryu entirely as the Dragon Bird wins the race. The Task Force congratulate Ryu on his victory, with Jack Levin teasing Ryu if he won for a girl, followed by Dr. Clash stating that Ryu isn't like Jack. Mr. EAD notes that Ryu was determined, and Dr. Stewart notes that Ryu was probably attempting to lure out the culprit behind the missing pilots. Ryu simply says "If he comes out, so be it," then steps away from the celebration.

Sometime later, Ryu sees an old-fashioned car drive alongside his Dragon Bird. He then notices the passenger and driver as Dream and her boyfriend respectively. Moments after, the Bloody Chain arrive to cause trouble for the couple by sticking close to their car, while Ryu drives another way. The gang members are later seen trashing the car, then dragging Dream's boyfriend out from it. Super Arrow arrives on the scene with his owl and makes a bold introduction, much to the confusion of the Bloody Chain as to who he even is. Super Arrow falls off of his machine afterwards, causing the gang to laugh at him. His wife, Mrs. Arrow, helps him up and encourages him by saying that he is a hero and that he shouldn't listen to them. The owl makes a remark about the gang looking bad, and flies away upon being threatened. The gang then moves in on the Arrow couple who hold each other in fear. Fortunately for them, Ryu shows up to the scene, fighting off the members of the gang and making them retreat. Dream thanks Ryu, while Super Arrow's owl berates him for being "useless." Dream then introduces her boyfriend, Truecome (Truman in the 4Kids English Dub), to Ryu. He thanks Ryu as well.

Sometime after, at the Galaxy Police headquarters, Ryu reveals that Dream and Truecome have invited him over for dinner, as it is also Dream's birthday. Ryu informs the rest of the Task Force that they were also invited, and encourages them to come along. Lucy Liberty sees it as a good time off of work, but EAD is hesitant, concerned that he'll "ruin the party." Jack also declines, saying he isn't good at specialty parties. Dr. Stewart suggests inviting the Arrows, from the Mute City Grand Prix, to the dinner as well.

At the dinner party, Ryu is surprised to learn that Truecome's fancy house was inherited from his grandfather. Mrs. Arrow playfully wonders if Dream was also "part of the inheritance." Truecome then reveals he met Dream 10 days prior (changed to a couple of months in the 4Kids English Dub). Dream found him unconscious after his car was wrecked, and she stayed by his side at the hospital. According to Truecome, he fell in love at first sight. Super Arrow notes that Truecome seems like a good man and that he'll be happy, though Mrs. Arrow and Lucy ask what Dream saw in Truecome. Dream simply says she just wanted to be with the man she loves, and that riches don't matter to her.

As the sun sets over the Galaxy Police headquarters, Jody Summer's lack of information on the missing pilots makes Director John Tanaka panic over not having any lead, not helped by the fact that the Chief has been pressuring him. Tanaka then receives a message that the Chief is calling for him, leading him to panic again as Jody tries to tell him to relax. Nervously making his way to the Chief's office, Tanaka enters. He apologizes for not having anything about the ongoing disappearances, and pleads for more time, albeit facing the bust statue of the Chief rather than the real one. However, the real Chief is seemingly concerned with another issue and introduces the President of the Catherine Consortium (Mute City mayor in the 4Kids English dub), Mr. Robert. Mr. Robert states that his daughter came to Mute City 20 days prior but disappeared. Tanaka assumes that she simply didn't want to be found, but Mr. Robert says that his daughter came to the city in order to avoid marrying the man that he chose for her.

Back at the dinner party, Truecome announces he has something special prepared for his guests, but tells Dream to stay at the table. The Arrows, Ryu, and Lucy follow Truecome down the stairs. Uneasy, Dream stands up for a moment from the table, but a servant tells her not to move. Sitting on some couches with the rest of the group in the basement, Lucy asks Truecome what he has planned. Truecome then locks the group in a laser beam cell, and reveals that he was behind the missing pilots, under Michael Chain's orders. A flashback shows Michael, who runs the Bloody Chain gang, confronting Truecome one night when the latter no longer wanted a part of the kidnapping operation because of Dream. Michael then made an offer to Truecome to continue kidnapping F-Zero pilots in exchange for giving Truecome the fancy house and the chance to marry Dream. Ryu tells Truecome that he is foolish for thinking that this would bring happiness to Dream. Truecome returns upstairs to see Dream tied to a chair by the servants, who were also part of Michael's gang. He tells them to go downstairs to see that he has fulfilled his mission, before untying Dream, and the couple shares an embrace. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Police and the Task Force search the city for Dream, while also seeing some Bloody Chain members in the mix. Jack visits the Falcon House during its closed hours, and asks Bart if he has seen Dream.

At the fancy house, Truecome confesses his crimes to Dream, which upsets her. She reminds him that she doesn't love him for money or the fancy house, but because he loves her and treats her with kindness even though she is poor. Truecome remarks that he was also poor, but Dream threatens that she won't marry him if he continues down this path. Downstairs, Ryu asks Super Arrow if his owl can find a way out of the cell, which is followed by several failed attempts as Super Arrow and his owl are shocked by the lasers. In the midst of this, Michael's Wild Boar and the rest of the Bloody Chain's machines make their way to the house. In the cell, Super Arrow somehow gains a sword and attempts to slice through the beams repeatedly. It appears to be successful, and Mrs. Arrow embraces him, but Super Arrow then sees himself asleep on the floor. He realizes that he was only dreaming, having become so exhausted from earlier escape attempts, that he fell asleep.

Truecome and Dream come down the stairs to free Ryu and others. The Bloody Chain members who were in disguise as servants also come downstairs, witnessing Truecome's betrayal, but Ryu defeats them. Outside, the group is blinded by the lights of the Bloody Chain's machines, as Michael reveals that he was the true culprit behind the missing pilots. Swinging a chain around, he aims to strike Ryu, but hits a pillar instead. Ryu then manages to land a punch on Michael, while Super Arrow also fights off members of the Bloody Chain. Michael fires several shots at Ryu with his gun, but Super Arrow sends his owl to attack Michael, allowing Ryu to kick him in the face. The Galaxy Police's sirens are heard as the Bloody Chain retreats. Truecome falls to his knees and apologizes to Dream for not being able to keep the house and not being able to make her happy. However, Dream reassures him that while he might not have the house, he still has her, and that they'll work hard to earn the money they need for their future together.

The Galaxy Police arrive to the house at last, as Mr. Robert approaches his daughter and Truecome. Dream is surprised to have been found by her father, and Jody explains that the Galaxy Police were able to determine that she worked at the Falcon House. Dream defensively states to her father that she wants to marry Truecome, but Mr. Robert calmly states that he already knew and respects her decision. His daughter's face lights up with happiness, knowing that he has accepted her choice. Later, Dream and Truecome have their wedding in a chapel. Ryu, Lucy, and the Arrows appear at the wedding as guests, with Ryu's internal monologue saying "So sometimes, dreams do come true."

The next episode preview starts with Ryu stating that his chest feels strange. Jack comes to the conclusion that it is because of a curse, and that the only possible way to undo it if he kisses Ryu. Ryu, however, refuses.

Bart's Classroom segment briefly talks about the Mobile Task Force, stating that they are a secret division of the Galaxy Police, with the goal of winning F-Zero races and stopping dangerous criminal organizations, but without the public knowing of their existence. Bart also notes that they are "great racers" and "keep cool even in dangerous situations." He also thinks that Lucy was allowed to join the Task Force because Jody knew Lucy would make a good mechanic.