Lap 08 - Miss Killer Puzzle

Miss Killer Puzzle is the 8th episode of the F-Zero Farukon Densetsu anime.

## Overview

The episode starts out with a race, as Bio Rex's Big Fang is seen in the lead, with Octoman's Deep Claw and Ryu Suzaku's Dragon Bird coming up behind. A machine that appears to be the Wild Boar misses the jump and explodes on the edge of the track, but its pilot manages to eject in time.
Jody Summer's voice is heard talking to Ryu on his communicator, urging him to pass Bio Rex and Octoman as they've reached the final lap. Ryu turns off the communicator and makes his move. However, Octoman defends Bio Rex, forcing Ryu's machine to the side of the track. Ryu slows down for a moment as Octoman's intended attempt to attack Ryu sends the Deep Claw off the track instead. Although Bio Rex attempts to block Ryu, Ryu finds an opening and makes the pass with Jack Levin's Astro Robin behind him as the Elite Mobile Task Force watch his victory on a screen.

Ryu then has a flashback about his F1 days, after winning a race and being greeted by his girlfriend, race queen Misaki Haruka. In the present time, Ryu has successfully won first place for the second time in a row with only 3 points behind Jack, with Jack in second place, and Bio Rex in third place.

At the Galaxy Police headquarters, Lucy Liberty is seen holding an issue of the F-Zero Fan magazine with Ryu's victory on the front cover. Jack takes it from her and expresses his disdain for Ryu, to which Lucy remarks that he's just jealous. as she takes back the magazine. She notes that Jack only managed to win second place due to Ryu's help. As Ryu steps into the headquarters, Jack sarcastically welcomes him. Ryu responds that he didn't agree to the picture on the cover and that Jody had sent it in instead. Jack notes that Ryu seems upset even if he won, but Lucy thinks he's being modest. She then holds the magazine close to her and blushes.

Meanwhile, Director John Tanaka is seen in the trophy room, admiring another trophy won by the Task Force, as Jody expresses her concern over the possibility of another racing team trying to win the prize money, but there aren't any solid leads. She explains that Black Shadow is rumored to be running his own organization, and because of Ryu's victories, the organization will eventually make a move. Tanaka urges Jody to tell the others to stay alert, and she leaves the trophy room.

Zoda is then seen driving his Death Anchor through some rocky terrain as he approaches a Dark Million ship. As he enters the hangar, he notices two machines he doesn't recognize. Upset by this, Zoda trudges into a room and sits impatiently in a chair, demanding for an chocolate ice cream. Zoda is then greeted by a hologram of Black Shadow who points out that Zoda has been losing more races than winning them, and won't accept any excuse for failure. Black Shadow then explains that if they get rid of Ryu, they'll achieve their victory. Two cloaked figures then appear behind Zoda. A feminine voice from the second figure introduces the first figure as The Skull, who removes his cloak, revealing a skeletal face underneath. As a black magic practitioner, The Skull announces his plan to put a curse on the competition to ensure victory. Black Shadow dismisses Zoda, saying he can fix the machines instead, and leaves the mission to The Skull and the feminine figure beside him.

As the sun sets, Ryu has another flashback to his past, briefly replaying his F1 victory and embracing Haruka. Ryu and Haruka are then seen on a date in the evening, next to a view of the city skyline. He makes a promise to her that he'll win the next race for the both of them. In the present, Ryu sits on a bench in the same location and time of day as his flashback date with Haruka.

Ryu then pulls into the Falcon House, unaware that The Skull was watching him. Ryu asks Bart Lemming for a coffee, though as Bart serves him, he notices Ryu appears to be bothered by something. A trio enters the Falcon House, but Bart tells them that the Falcon House is closed. They leave, allowing Bart to give Ryu some time to talk about what's bothering him. Ryu admits he has been thinking about Haruka, and reflects on his past once more. He explains that he was going to propose to Haruka but responded to police reports that Zoda had escaped from prison and was heading to the harbor. A grayscale flashback sequence plays out and ends with the car door from Zoda's stolen car hitting Ryu's windshield. In the present, Ryu regrets not having fulfilled his promise to Haruka, and not being able to spend his life with her.

Another flashback shows Haruka and Ryu passing by a store in the evening, but Haruka stops to look at a ring before looking back at Ryu with joy. A sequence of Ryu placing the ring on Haruka's finger occurs, but this turns out to be imagination, as Ryu simply smiles and continues walking with her. Bart then serves Ryu another coffee.

After leaving the Falcon House, Ryu has an encounter with The Skull, but manages to grab him. The Skull speaks in a cryptic manner to him, saying that Ryu is cursed by his past. Ryu then speeds off in his Dragon Bird. At his apartment, he is awakened by an incoming message from Jody, stating that a woman has defected from Dark Million and needs help. She also notes that Ryu is closest to the woman and that she may have important information.

Ryu follows a map on his Dragon Bird's screen and spots the woman on the side of the street, but upon asking for her identity, he is stunned by the striking similarity she bears to his girlfriend. Their conversation is cut short by The Skull firing shots at them from a rooftop, urging Ryu and the woman to run and drive off in the Dragon Bird. Ryu takes her back to his apartment and offers her a drink. She then introduces herself as Sofia, and that her family traveled the universe due to her father being the captain of a trade ship. Black Shadow then attacked their ship, capturing her family and forcing them to work for him. Two years afterward, her father died, with her mother also dying not long after.

Ryu still can't help but stare at Sofia, but she notices and asks if something's wrong. Ryu outright admits that she looks like his girlfriend and panics upon realizing he has to inform Jody that he has retrieved the woman. As Ryu struggles to figure out how to contact Jody on his computer, Sofia approaches him from behind, asking him what his girlfriend's name was. The Skull is then seen elsewhere, burning a card with Ryu's image on it to inflict a curse on him once he says Haruka's name.

Ryu then says Haruka's name, and nearly drops to the floor. Sofia reveals her malicious intentions as she taunts Ryu about Haruka. She then removes her costume, revealing herself to be Miss Killer (although she never outright says her name in this episode, her pilot card is shown earlier) and pulls out a dagger, attempting to attack a weakened Ryu. Ryu's ring box falls to the ground as he tries to avoid her attacks, and a beam of light hits the ring's gem for a moment. Miss Killer seemingly is distracted by the ring, giving Ryu a chance to knock her off of him. She makes her escape in the moonlight by jumping out the window, but not before glancing back at Ryu. She then drives off in the Moon Shadow as Ryu picks up the ring box, wondering if Haruka somehow saved him.

On board a Dark Million ship, Black Shadow scolds The Skull, disappointed in his black magic not working as intended. The Skull tries to explain that he could conjure a stronger spell that requires the target's hair, but Black Shadow silences him before he can continue. Zoda makes a remark about the failed plan as Miss Killer vows to defeat Ryu. Black Shadow addresses The Skull and Miss Killer before warning them about the price of failure.

At Ryu's apartment, the Galaxy Police and the Task Force arrive to investigate the scene. Lucy is seen patching up Ryu's arm, assuming Ryu must have provoked the woman somehow, but Ryu says he didn't do anything.

Jody notes that the woman still works for Dark Million, and urges her team to be careful as the enemy will continue to attack so long as the Task Force continues to win F-Zero races. Ryu then steps to the broken window from the previous night, staring at the ring as the gem gleams, and ponders if the woman he encountered was actually Haruka.

The next episode preview starts with Jack stating that Ryu doesn't understand women and that he should leave them to Jack instead. Ryu retorts by stating that Jack has been tricked before, while Jack tells him not to talk about it. Ryu then wonders what Jody is hiding, to which Jack responds that it's a secret.

Bart's Classroom segment covers a question a viewer named Sakura; "Why are people like Zoda allowed to join in F-Zero races?" Bart explains that, according to the law, anyone can participate in F-Zero so long as they have a valid ID. If the audience is enjoying themselves, criminals can be allowed to race. However, the criminals will be arrested after the race, which is a quick process. Bart then encourages the viewers to send more questions to the Falcon House mailbox.