I do not own F-Zero or its characters, nor do I intend to garner any profit from their use.

Zero Robin

Written by: Reizod

Chapter 1: Enter Jack Levin

He couldn't believe it. For the first time in five years, it happened: Captain Falcon was absent from the list of entrants in the F-Zero grand prix. Jack Levin's eyes widened as he reread the list of entries. There was no mistaking it. Falcon wasn't there.

Levin smiled to himself. He'd come to the F-Zero registry to check up on the competition, as he always did. Even though the thirty qualifying entrants changed with each grand prix, there were a few racers that usually made it in. Levin himself was one of them, as well as Blackbull, Goroh, and Gazelle. Even still, He and these other recurring racers weren't guaranteed entries. Falcon was different. He always made it in. Not only that, but he somehow always managed to win whatever grand prix he entered.

"With Falcon out of the race, I might have a chance" He remembered the first time he'd entered the grand prix. "Falcon was there then too. I'd qualified, but was no match for any of the veterans out on the course. If it weren't for my celebrity status, I don't think I would've gotten another chance." He frowned "But I did get another one. Several ones in fact. Each time I placed higher and higher, but no matter how I tried, I couldn't get into the top ten."

Looking up, Levin scanned the registry lobby. He was wearing a long brown overcoat, and wide brimmed hat to mask his appearance. He'd done this so he could have some peace to think about the upcoming race. Though Levin didn't mind being popular, harrowing crowds of fans didn't help his thought processes. Tilting his hat slightly, Jack made his way out of the registry to his casual car. It was deep green hover car with an arrow shaped build. It was not the most unobtrusive thing in creation. Most cars were less arrow dynamically built, intended for pedestrian travel and such. Levin, even when incognito, couldn't allow himself to drive something that slow. Racing was an intrinsic part of him. He couldn't just forget that when he wasn't on the track. He had to at least have the ability to move fast, whatever it was he drove.

Jumping into the front seat, Levin threw off his coat and hat, both landing in the back seat of the car. Pressing the ignition, Levin revved the engines. The car responded with a high pitched whine, as it lifted itself off the ground. Jack then hit the accelerator and started on his way home. "Even if she does get me from a to b in one piece" He thought "She'll never be anything like my Astro Robin"

Levin arrived at his condo on the edge of Mute City. At the moment there was no one else there. Not that he was expecting there to be. Other than his butler, Luke Jameson, Levin was the only one who lived in this house. It was too late for the fans to be crowding around the entry gates, and he had made sure not to book any deals during the grand prix. "I'd made that mistake once before" Jack thought as he pulled into his driveway "Couldn't focus on the race with that jazz in my head"

Gathering his coat and hat, the celebrity racer locked his car and headed into the mezzanine of his condo. The floors were a sparkling white marble, registering the crystal blue coloring of the walls. Marble white stairs extended up to the crimson carpeted second floor, where Levin's room resided. Not bothering to hang up the coat or hat, Levin made his way up the stairs, a mixture of emotions running through him. Ever since that first race he'd run with the man, Levin knew he could never beat Falcon. It was this knowledge that held him back. Jack just couldn't put himself fully into the race, knowing that he'd lose. Even with a conscious effort to be at his best, Falcon's presence would cause him to choke. In that moment, Levin would miss a crucial boost, mess up on a slide, or lean too much into a turn, forfeiting whatever lead he had. "But there's no Falcon this time. Just me and twenty-nine racers I know I can beat." He frowned "But what if I can't beat them? What if the reason I lost all those races was because I didn't have it in me?

"Something troubling you sir?"

Levin looked up to see Luke at the top of the stairwell. He was gesturing toward Levin's coat and hat. "I daresay it's odd for you look so downcast"

"It's the grand prix" Jack replied handing Luke his items "I'm not sure if I've got what it takes. Not sure if I ever did."

Jameson folded the coat across his forearm "It isn't my place to say, myself being more of a spectator" He spun the hat on his index finger "But, I believe you have more of a chance than many I've seen" He rolled the hat across his shoulder and into his coat bearing arm. "But chance is nothing without belief"

Jack smiled "You'll have to teach me how to do that."

"To believe?"

"No, that hat trick of yours. It's very fancy. My fans would love it."

The butler bowed with a flourish "Another time perhaps sir. You should rest now."

"Maybe you're right, Luke" Jack replied, yawning "Good night"

"Pleasant dreams Mr. Levin"

Entering his room and flopping on the bed, Jack stared up at the ceiling deep in thought. "Tomorrow's my chance. My chance to see just what kind of a racer I am. My chance to show everyone I'm more than just a pretty face." He closed eyes "My chance to show myself I'm more than just a pretty face." Slowly sleep overtook him, taking Levin to the phantom roads of his dreamscape.

"Hey, Jack."

"Wha?" Levin said opening his eyes, to an unfamiliar world. "Where am I?"

"On the track" said a voice.

"I know that voice" Thought Levin as he began to take in his surroundings. He was standing on a floating road, whose colors were in constant flux. The road itself had no guards on its sides and seemed to stretch forever into oblivion. Eventually, Levin's eye's set upon the source of the voice. Standing on the opposite side of the road was Captain Falcon. His F-zero machine, the Blue Falcon, lay just behind him engines already running.

"You think you can beat me?" Falcon challenged "You think you're the best?"

Levin didn't reply, not understanding what was happening at all.

"You're nothing compared to me." Falcon continued "I'm the best pilot, not you."

Suddenly, Levin recognized a soft mechanical hum behind him. He turned to see the Astro Robin hovering sedately. The stock car shaped machine seemed to be beckoning him to get inside. Turning back, Jack saw that Falcon had already leapt into his vehicle

"I'll show you how weak your racing skills are." Falcon said as the hood of his cockpit closed.

Finally composing himself Levin cried "I'll show you I'm better than you think!"

With this, he leapt into his own machine, gunning the engines and pressing the ignition. In an instant, the two racers were off, flying down the rainbow straight-away at a feverish pace. Levin slammed the Astro Robin's boost control, shooting forward in a burst of speed. He could feel the G-forces mounting from inside the cockpit, slowly pressing him deeper and deeper into his seat. While still in the throes of the boost, he could hear Falcon catching up to him. Jack checked the rear view computer just in time to see the Blue Falcon initiate its own boost. With a thunderous roar, the machine zoomed past, attaining the lead. "No! I can't let him get ahead of me" Hitting the boost once more, Levin felt his insides rattle as the Astro Robin jumped to an even higher speed than before. It was Levin's turn to shoot past his opponent, gaining a considerable lead. Then it appeared: A turn in the road. "Going too fast! I'll overshoot the turn like this" Fervently grasping both sides of the steering wheel, Jack activated the both the left and right air brakes in hopes of slowing to a controllable speed. It wasn't enough. The Astro Robin sailed off the track, spiraling into the oblivion below. Levin cried out, both in fear and frustration as he continued to plummet into the endless abyss. All the while, Falcon's voice was echoing in his head.

"You'll never be good enough"