Lap 39 - Mobile Task Force Breakup

Mobile Task Force Breakup is the 39th episode of the F-Zero Farukon Densetsu anime.

## Overview

Miss Killer reports to Black Shadow’s throne room, where a liquid Blood Falcon takes form. She is shocked to learn that he survived, and Black Shadow presents Blood Falcon’s new shapeshifting ability to her. The clone takes the form of a bullet, as Black Shadow instructs Miss Killer to kill the leader of the Mobile Task Force and the rest of the Force.

Rain falls during a race, as Tanaka and the Chief watch the Task Force’s performance, and the Chief commends Tanaka for shaping the Task Force’s progress. Tanaka is certain that they’ll win, but Ryu becomes distracted by Miss Killer on the final lap. Jody asks him why he hesitates, which prompts Ryu to use Boost Fire. Miss Killer avoids getting hit, causing the Dragon Bird to collide with the Astro Robin instead. The White Cat and Moon Shadow compete for first, but Miss Killer ultimately wins. Dr. Clash laments that it was a poor day for the Chief to visit, and Dr. Stewart plans to look around the area. Tanaka panics over the loss, but the Chief leaves without much complaint. As Tanaka nervously attempts to appease the Chief over nothing, he accidentally trips on a rain puddle, knocking his superior over. Jody and the others arrive, concerned about the Chief and Tanaka, asking if the Chief was injured. The Chief assures them that he is fine, before leaving. Tanaka still worries about losing his job as Jody apologizes for the loss.

At the Task Force meeting room, Jack scolds Ryu for getting distracted, but Lucy, Dr. Clash, and Clank attempt to defend Ryu. Mr. EAD also notes that the rain wouldn’t affect Ryu’s Boost Fire technique, but Jack continues to complain, stating that Falcon is missing, Dark Million has won, and the Task Force is “useless.” Lucy laments that Dr. Stewart and Jody are being scolded for the loss, as Clank runs off to the Chief’s office. The Chief informs Jody and Dr. Stewart that he doesn’t mind the loss, having seen the Task Force’s performance. From a distance, Pico fires Blood Falcon (in bullet form) into the Chief’s office, hitting a statue bust. Jody asks if the Chief is alright, and advises him to be careful near the windows. Dr. Stewart suggests that the attacker could still be nearby, and Jody urges Clank to join them in the search. However, Clank notices something odd about the bullet’s trajectory, and returns to the Chief’s office instead. Blood Falcon emerges from the statue, taking the form of the Chief, to Clank’s shock. Elsewhere, Ryu looks over Mute City, interrupted by Clank attempting to convince him of what he saw, but Ryu dismisses this. But when Clank informs him that a sniper attempted to attack the Chief, Ryu becomes alert and follows Clank. They come across Jody and Dr. Stewart, and Jody tells Clank that they haven’t found anything.

Ryu returns to his apartment to find the Galaxy Police searching through his belongings, and they arrest him. Jody demands the Chief for the reason behind Ryu’s arrest, to which the Chief responds that someone has been providing information to Dark Million. Tanaka assumes it is a joke, but the Chief insists otherwise before presenting Haruka’s diary, the group photo of Ryu, Haruka, and Rose, as well as the ring box. He claims that the girl in the photo is Miss Killer, but Jody retorts that the girl in the photo is Haruka. Tanaka’s comment about the shared likeness does little to help, as the Chief then targets Clank. In Clank’s defense, Tanaka states that he is a computer export, but the Chief disregards this and states that he has been thinking of replacing the Mobile Task Force entirely.

Jody informs the team about the recent events, and Dr. Stewart assures them that they will find out what is going on but that they will all have to comply for now. Jack storms off and causes mayhem in the streets, but his eyes glow red. As Dr. Clash and Lucy race together on a practice track, Lucy experiences the same phenomenon before the Elegance Liberty attacks the Crazy Bear. Ryu pleads for Jody’s help in his cell, but she tells him that he has to stay put for now. Jody and Dr. Stewart question the Chief’s odd behavior and the recent incidents, before agreeing to keep their discussion from Clank. Mr. EAD enters the room, informing them that Lucy attacked Dr. Clash. As Dr. Clash is taken to medbay, he assures them that the real Lucy was not responsible, and Dr. Stewart tends to him. Shortly after, Lucy arrives, unaware of what had occurred, and Clank defends her by saying she was at the Falcon House when Dr. Clash was attacked. The rest of the Task Force are called to Tanaka’s office, where he informs them that Jack’s street rampage has affected the housing district, and trying to inform the Chief has been pointless. Clank insists that every odd instance has been caused by a doppelganger, but Jody advises him to keep quiet.

At night, Clank returns to the Chief’s office and analyzes the statue. The Chief confronts him, but it becomes apparent that the Chief is not who he claims to be. Jody and Dr. Stewart are soon called to report to the Chief’s office because of Clank. The Chief states that Clank was investigating him without permission, and Clank retorts that the Chief is a doppelganger. As Jody begins to speak, the Chief declares that the Galactic Space Federation has approved the disbandment of the Mobile Task Force. Soon after, an alarm goes off, announcing that Dark Million has invaded an energy plant in Mute City, but the Chief states that the Task Force doesn’t have to act due to its disbandment. In the hangar, Jack asks if anyone has used his machine, noting a residue on the seat. Lucy then notes the same residue on her machine’s seat.

Clank breaks Ryu out of his cell and informs him of the Mobile Task Force’s disbandment. Two Galaxy Police officers attempt to stop them, but Jody disarms them. The Chief confronts them, as Jody realizes that he isn’t the real Chief and attempts to deliver an arm chop, which does no damage. The Chief then transforms into Captain Falcon, kicking Jody to the ground. Captain Falcon then transforms into Blood Falcon, the shapeshifter’s true form, shortly before Jody gets up and fires rapid shots at him. The lights flicker, as Jody informs Clank and Ryu that Dark Million is attacking an energy planet, urging them to hurry to the scene. Meanwhile, the Astro Robin, Great Star, and Elegance Liberty clash with a Soldier Anchor, the Big Fang, and the Sonic Phantom at the plant. The Galaxy Runner and the Dragon Bird arrive to provide support, while Blood Falcon seeps into the Dragon Bird. Blood Falcon attempts to pierce through the Dragon Bird’s windshield as the machine’s Reactor Might activates, prompting Ryu to use Boost Fire as the machine traverses through the flames. This ultimately kills Blood Falcon as the Dragon Bird escapes unscathed.

Returning to the Chief’s office, Tanaka inquires for his superior’s whereabouts, before Jody shoots the statue bust. At the base, the Chief is revealed to have been tied up and gagged. Ryu later meets with Jody at sunset, assuming that Falcon is on her mind. She confirms, wondering if her brother managed to escape Dark Space with Blood Falcon. Just then, the rest of the Task Force burst into the room, with Tanaka announcing that they’ve received permission from the real Chief to reinstate the Mobile Task Force. Dr. Stewart adds that they’ve not only been allowed to enter races again, but the Mobile Task Force has achieved elite status. Jody addresses her team, asking if they’ll still follow her through the tougher battles ahead, to which they all oblige.

In the preview for the next episode, Ryu and Jack mimic Bart’s Classroom segment with their own puppets. Ryu begins with Bart’s usual introduction to the segment, asking the viewers if they thought the current episode was interesting. Jack adds that the next episode will be “even better” and Ryu states that they will both be very busy. The merry-go-round music that usually plays during the classroom segment then changes to Mute City’s theme, as Jack notes that the Astro Robin will be in the next episode. Ryu states that “The Super Idol” will be on stage and Jack claims the show will be “1.5 times better” than it was before, with Ryu adding that they won’t let Bart beat them. Jack then says farewell to the viewers until next time.

## Bart’s Classroom

Bart welcomes the viewers to the real classroom segment, before answering another viewer’s question about how big the Mobile Task Force is. He introduces the team members using exaggerated illustrations.

* Jody Summer, Bart’s sister and Captain of the Mobile Task Force.
* Ryu, "our hero."
* Jack, driver of the "other blue machine" and "immature."
* Dr. Stewart, calm and charming.
* Dr. Clash, mechanic.
* Mr. EAD, powerful.
* Clank, intelligent.

Bart concludes his introductions by stating that there are 8 people, forgetting about John Tanaka's role as the Galaxy Police director.