Lap 45 - Zoda

This article is about the 45th episode of the F-Zero Farukon Densetsu anime. For other uses, see Zoda (disambiguation).

## Zoda

### Episode

45

Zoda is the 45th episode of the F-Zero Farukon Densetsu anime.

## Overview

Roger and Draq’s transport ship is attacked by Dark Million, prompting them to send out a distress signal. As they try to escape the pull of the enemy’s tractor beam, Zoda boards their ship and holds them at gunpoint. Roger and Draq are taken aboard the Dark Million battleship as hostages, as Zoda inquires about their cargo delivery to a base on the planet Lightning. They claim they don’t know, as Zoda grabs Draq, who only can add that they were told to put the cargo in a warehouse. A Dark Soldier provides Zoda with the duo’s delivery records, and Zoda reads off the recent list of delivered items; Combined egg whites, a DNA converter, and micromachine biofluids. He then realizes that Black Shadow may be planning to create an army of bioweapons similar to Blood Falcon. Draq declares that they won’t forgive Zoda, and that they know Ryu and the Mobile Task Force, to which Roger urges Draq to keep quiet, but the comment intrigues Zoda.

The Galaxy Runner receives the distress call and heads to the location, before Dr. Clash notes that it is an electronic signal. Zoda appears on the screen, revealing that he has taken Roger and Draq as hostages due to their recent deliveries for Black Shadow, albeit without them knowing. Jody questions what Zoda has to gain from this, and Zoda explains that they went to a base on Lightning, but Zoda himself doesn’t know what lies inside. He “requests” for the Task Force to investigate. Jack notes that it’s definitely a trap, but Dr. Stewart suggests that Black Shadow hired a third party to help Dark Milion, with the intention of keeping Zoda from finding out.

Zoda throws Roger and Draq into a cell, informing them that Ryu will arrive soon. Miss Killer informs Black Shadow of Zoda’s scheme before questioning him on what was sent to Lightning. He interrupts her, and tells her to mind her own business. She then overhears Zoda in the garage. Roger and Draq find that their cell door has been opened, and they manage to escape.

The Galaxy Runner then arrives on the planet. Dr. Stewart presents a layout of the underground base, informing the team that any base belonging to Black Shadow will naturally have strong defenses. They are attacked by an onslaught of missiles, bringing their shields down to 15 percent. Dark Million ground units surround the Galaxy Runner, as Zoda tells them to “have fun” with the defenses while he investigates the base. Clank notes that the defenses are an automatic system, and the Galaxy Runner fires back. Ryu recommends using their machines to navigate instead, as they are smaller and faster than the ship. The Dragon Bird, Astro Robin, and White Cat then head to the base.

At the base, Black Shadow greets Zoda at the entrance, to the latter’s surprise. He teases Zoda about running away, and follows the Hyper Death Anchor in the Black Bull. Miss Killer uses the opportunity to enter the base in the Moon Shadow. With their boosters almost running out, Jody recommends Jack and Ryu to use the Sandwich burst. Ryu is propelled forward as the White Cat and Astro Robin are left behind to deal with more ground defenses. The Mighty Typhoon and Mighty Hurricane arrive to help Ryu, as Roger tells him that someone freed them from their cell, and offers to take him to the base. Meanwhile, the Black Bull continues to chase the Hyper Death Anchor. Zoda then notices Ryu and Draq on the converging road, and boosts into the Mighty Hurricane, making Roger temporarily lose control of his machine. As Zoda enters the base, the Black Bull blocks the Dragon Bird, but the Mighty Hurricane rams into the Black Bull. Roger remarks that Black Shadow tricked him and Draq into helping him, but Black Shadow uses his booster to knock back the Mighty Hurricane and pursues the Dragon Bird into the base.

Miss Killer enters a research lab, before realizing that Zoda was created there, possibly with the use of a Reactor Might. Zoda soon enters, shocked to see a hologram of himself. Black Shadow confronts his subordinates, and Miss Killer claims she was trying to stop Zoda. Zoda grabs Black Shadow by the shoulders, asking to verify his origins. Black Shadow informs Zoda that he is merely a tool, created in order to defeat Ryu. He then explains that Ryu is the biggest obstacle in his plans, and so he created Zoda in the present, sending him back to the past in order to defeat Ryu. Zoda refuses to believe it and attempts to land a punch on Black Shadow, but Black Shadow knocks him down. He adds that Zoda was a failure in the past, and so he was given a Reactor Might to compensate. Miss Killer looks to Black Shadow, as the latter thanks Ryu for doing him a “great favor,” before stating that both Miss Killer and Zoda are his tools. Ryu enters the room, confronting Black Shadow. Black Shadow calls the Black Bull and flees, with the Dragon Bird in pursuit. Miss Killer then leaves, while Zoda kneels on the ground, reflecting on everything he was just told.

The Dragon Bird and Black Bull clash with each other, but Black Shadow snaps his fingers, and multiple explosions detonate along the base. Miss Killer flees the area in her Moon Shadow. The Dragon Bird follows the Black Bull through a series of closing gates, with another explosion detonation behind them. Ryu uses Boost Fire to escape, but Black Shadow flees. Lightning strikes as Ryu declares that he will defeat Black Shadow. However, Zoda interjects, stating that Black Shadow isn’t Ryu’s rival, and that he himself will be the one to defeat him. He tells Ryu of his own origins, as Ryu asks for confirmation. Zoda insists that he will get his revenge, controlling Dark Million and ruling the galaxy some day, but Ryu declares that he will stop Zoda. The Galaxy Runner arrives, and Zoda flees the area in the Hyper Death Anchor. Ryu turns to see his fellow Task Force members running towards him, along with Roger and Draq.

In the preview for the next episode, Jack welcomes the viewers to his class and introduces Ryu as the galaxy’s savior. Ryu announces that he has returned from Mute City, with Jack noting that Ryu’s head “looks strange.” As Ryu apologizes, Jack tells him to take his jacket off, making a remark about Ryu’s shirt being out of fashion. Ryu tells him to mind his business, and Jack questions why Ryu is even present.

## Bart’s Classroom

Bart answers some questions from the viewers about Zoda’s fondness for sweets. He notes that Zoda even received chocolates on his birthday. According to Bart, Zoda once worked in a cake factory 151 years prior and developed a sweet tooth. He was then fired due to stealing and eating the food, eventually becoming a criminal. Bart also suggests that due to the Reactor Might strengthening Zoda’s craving for sweets, it may have affected Ryu as well, as he used to drink black coffee, but began to add milk and sugar over time.