Lap 13 - Justice

Justice is the 13th episode of the F-Zero Farukon Densetsu anime.

## Overview

Samurai Goroh’s Fire Needle steadily trails after a Dark Million transport ship. At the controls, Sasuke, Gensai, and Hakuun are seen with Tsukikage at the wheel. Alongside Goroh, his right hand man, Antonio Guster observes the screen. Goroh’s crew then board the ship, encountering the Skull, Octoman, and Bio Rex. A door closes and separates the two groups, before Guster blows it up, allowing access to a wall of gold. Guster then tells Goroh to “give him a second” before scaring off some Dark Soldiers with a grenade.

Hakuun stays behind to deal with the Skull, Octoman, and Bio Rex, while the rest of Goroh’s crew load the ship’s content onto the Fire Needle. Guster arrives shortly after to regroup. On the ship, the crew witness the explosion of the transport ship, an action that Goroh finds completely uncalled for. Goroh then leaves the bridge, telling Guster to leave.

At the Galaxy Police headquarters, the Mobile Task Force investigates the transport ship explosion, with a news report claiming that Goroh was responsible. Ryu comes to Goroh’s defense, claiming it isn’t his style.

On a Dark Million battleship, Zoda reprimands his men for not being able to secure the treasure and for the loss of the transport ship. The Skull informs Zoda that they weren’t a match for the likes of Guster, who Octoman notes is regarded as the “Powder Keg of the Galaxy.”

Determined to find the truth, Ryu heads to Cryton, reflecting on the events of Lap 4. Cryton’s inhabitants stare Guster down as he walks through a town, until he bumps into one of them and yells at him. Dark Million’s henchmen, from the earlier encounter on the ship, approach Guster, but back away immediately upon being intimidated. Guster even threatens them by revealing the explosives under his coat. They fearfully attempt to explain that they were only trying to recruit him for Dark Million, which seems to pique his interest.

On a Dark Million battleship, Zoda is seen eating a dessert before his men enter the room and present Guster to him. Not wasting any more of Guster’s time, Zoda attempts to coax Guster into working with him by comparing him to Goroh. In response, Guster calls him a fool and approaches the other henchman, knocking off the lid of his grenade.

Ryu enters a Cryton bar, with all eyes on him. Goroh is seen eating a meal by himself as Ryu approaches. Sasuke and Hakuun step forward in defense, but Goroh dismisses them. Ryu confronts Goroh by directly getting to the point about the explosion, but Goroh avoids answering directly. Goroh then exits the bar, greeted by the sight of Lisa Brilliant in her Panzer Emerald. Though the walk through their base is quiet, Lisa suddenly pulls her knife out on her husband, but he retaliates quickly with his katana, knocking the knife out of his wife's hand. Goroh questions Lisa's actions, with Lisa claiming that he let Guster off almost too easily despite his actions. Goroh defends Guster continually, deterring Lisa from attempting to further convince him otherwise.

Mr. Zero surveys the race venue taking place on Multiplex, starting with a jumping grid, 90 degree turns, a large loop, and mines in the second half of the track. After the machines do a practice lap, the race officially begins. Though Baba does not make an appearance in this episode, the Iron Tiger is one of the first machines to wipe out.

A green recolored Space Angler wipes out moments later on the mine strip and explodes, but its pilot escapes in time. The Fire Stingray is followed by the Dragon Bird on the way to the loop, but the Green Panther cuts in between them. Goroh assumes that Guster will follow their set plan, but Zoda’s words echo through Guster’s head. With the Dragon Bird and the Fire Stingray in the lead, Guster sets off an explosive in front of them. Jack wipes out in the Astro Robin, but shows the Task Force that he’s alright.

Goroh realizes Guster has turned against him, but now attempts to avoid the rest of Guster’s explosives along the course of the track. Jody informs Ryu that Guster is behind the explosives and is the pilot of the Green Panther, which makes Ryu realize he was responsible for the transport ship explosive. A red flag is issued to stop the race, but the Dragon Bird, Fire Stingray, and Green Panther continue on. The Dragon Bird manages to force the Green Panther to the side of the track in order to stop Guster, before both pilots exit their machines. Guster quickly confronts Ryu, but Goroh returns in his Fire Stingray. Guster attempts to throw a grenade his way but Goroh slices it in half with his katana. Though having it drawn at Guster, he refuses to kill Guster. The two head their separate ways, but Ryu states he can’t let Goroh off free. Instead, Lisa arrives on the Fire Needle, retrieving Goroh on his Fire Stingray as the rest of the Task Force arrive on the scene.