Lap 11 - The Boy From Planet Heru

The Boy From Planet Heru is the 11th episode of the F-Zero Farukon Densetsu anime.

## Overview

In the midst of a race, the Skull bashes his Sonic Phantom into Ryu's Dragon Bird. The Mobile Task Force watch Ryu's performance, with Jody telling Ryu his booster has suffered too much damage to continue, and tells him to let Jack handle the rest. Ryu refuses to let Jack win, turning off Jody's transmission. As the Sonic Phantom continues its attack, the Dragon Bird boosts, making the Sonic Phantom ram into the side of the track. Jack takes the lead in the race, approaching the finish line in his Astro Robin. Ryu tries to boost again, causing his engine to overload and his machine to be retired. Captain Falcon then beats Jack to first place, in the Blue Falcon.

Elsewhere, Clank Hughes watches the race. At the Galaxy Police headquarters, Jody reminds Ryu that their purpose isn't to only win races, but to stop Zoda from obtaining the prize money. She warns him to think before he acts before leaving.

Lucy offers Dr. Clash and Jack a drink, as Ryu enters the main room. Jack teases Ryu, and in turn Ryu teases him back, causing EAD to break up what was almost a fight. Dr. Clash reminds the two that Captain Falcon is an accomplished pilot and that the two could learn something from watching him.

Zoda beats on the Skull for failing to win the race, while Miss Killer's attention shifts to Black Shadow's hologram. He reprimands Zoda and informs the three that they should focus less on Falcon and instead on Ryu.

At the Galaxy Police headquarters, Ryu asks Dr. Stewart about Captain Falcon. Dr. Stewart mentions a rumor pertaining to a smuggler ship 5 years prior to 2021, in which Captain Falcon was responsible for its destruction. Later, on the Galaxy Runner's route to the planet Heru, Jack expresses his boredom. Lucy reminds him that the people of Heru are too poor to afford a warp gate hence the travel time by ship. Jody provides a brief overview of the planet and its inhabitants; Heru was ravaged by a war that left orphans and poverty in its wake, with the children looking F-Zero as a form of escapism in an era of peace after the war. Dr. Stewart notes that both Ryu and Jack have been invited to a charity event Grand Prix.

On a Dark Million battleship, Zoda discusses plans to steal the Dragon Bird with a hacker. Unbeknownst to Zoda, the hacker is a young boy from Heru. As Clank leaves his room, he runs into the other children. They ask if he'd like to play, but he states he has work to do. Two of the children begin to bully Clank, calling his father a traitor. In the shadows, Falcon watches this unfold.

At the charity event, Mr. Zero announces the arrival of Ryu and Jack, to the excitement of the children who hold out their autograph cards for the pilots to sign. Through the crowd, Clank manages to sneak to the Dragon Bird and hijack it. Ryu borrows Jack's Astro Robin to pursue Clank. The Blue Falcon also speeds by not long afterwards.

Clank drives off the course, with Ryu giving chase. He notices the Blue Falcon in his rear view, questioning Captain Falcon's presence at the scene. The Blue Falcon manages to stop the Dragon Bird, though Clank is temporarily rendered unconscious. Falcon checks on Clank, noticing his locket. Within the locket, there is a video of Clank and his father, Roy Hughes. Falcon then has a flashback of the day he infiltrated the smuggler ship, bumping into Roy and questioning him. Roy expresses confusion upon Falcon knowing his name, but this is cut short by Zoda's arrival, calling Roy out on being a spy. Roy tackles Zoda and tells Falcon to escape, but Zoda shoots him. While downed, Roy detonates some bombs in the ship, leaving Falcon with no choice but to flee.

In the present, Clank wakes up and snatches his locket back. Falcon questions him for stealing the Dragon Bird, but upon hearing the sound of the Astro Robin approaching, Falcon warns Clank about being arrested and takes him to safety. The Dragon Bird is left behind.

Elsewhere, Falcon tells Clank that his father was "a good man," to the surprise of Clank. Falcon then encourages Clank to leave Heru and find his way to Mute City, for a better future. The Blue Falcon then drives off.

During the charity event Grand Prix, Ryu, Jack, and Falcon all cross the finish line at what appears to be a close 3-way tie in the final lap, but Falcon turns out to be the winner. Clank watches the race, with Falcon's previous words echoing in his mind. Ryu thanks Falcon for retrieving the Dragon Bird, but receives no response.

Zoda expresses his dismay at having failed his objective, shortly before Miss Killer informs him that Black Shadow wants to see him.

On the Galaxy Runner, Ryu and Jack briefly discuss Falcon's demeanor in the winner's circle, with Jack suggesting that he's a "silent hero type."

In the Galaxy Police headquarters, Ryu enters the machine hangar and finds Clank asleep in the Dragon Bird. The two then head to the Falcon House, where Ryu and Clank get to know each other better. Bart serves Clank a plate of food and commends him. Ryu reminds Clank that hacking is illegal, but Clank instead notes that the Falcon House's costs are too high, utilizing Ryu's computer for the information. Clank then asks Bart if he can work at the Falcon House, to which Bart agrees.