CHAPTER 7: The F-ZERO Grand Prix

His death averted, Falcon visits
the F-ZERO competition grounds...

"Ladies & gentlemen, the contestants," said the announcer. The Mute City crowd went wild.

"The high-flying medico-Dr. Stewart!"

Stewart gave a graceful bow and climbed into his late father's racer, the Golden Fox.

"The hitman who flies at the speed of sound-Pico!"

The turtle got into his Wild Goose and powered up.

"The Japanese warrior-Samurai Goroh!"

The crowd booed slightly.

"Huh?" grunted Goroh, not quite sure what to make of the crowd. He got into his Fire Stingray.

"The cyborg returned-Mighty Gazelle!"

Gazelle was given a nice round of applause, and climbed into his vehicle.

"The Emperor of Brutality-Black Shadow!"

Black Shadow chuckled to himself, but just as he was climbing into the Black Bull, the announcer called out the final contestant.

"And the Bounty Hunter-Captain...Falcon!"

The crowd came unglued as Falcon emerged. He waved at the fans and made a pit stop at the Black Bull.

"Well, still alive, it seems," said Black Shadow. "But I won't miss this chance to make mincemeat of you!" He laughed.

"Black Shadow! I'll show you, you'll never beat me!" called Falcon as Black Shadow sat down. After Falcon was strapped in, the announcer made the call they had all been waiting to hear.

"Ladies and gentlemen...START YOUR ENGINES!"

The crowd roared. Tension was mounting; you could cut it with a shaving razor.

The triple monitor dropped down in front of the starting grid.

"3...2...1...GO!"

They darted from the starting line and out onto the track. Captain Falcon was left behind early, but slowly he began to pass people-one by one by one. During the second lap, he was in first place when he slipped on the ice section near the start. He almost fell off the track. However, man & machine passed the test yet again.

Eventually, he and Black Shadow were bumping each other for first place. But Falcon was able to put Black Shadow upside down and win the race. As he got out of his racer, the announcer yelled, "Our champion, Captain Falcon!" The crowd exploded, and Falcon took it all in.

"The F-ZERO Committee will now present the champion's prize belt," said the announcer.

Falcon picked it up from its pedestal and held it high, for all the world to see.

Black Shadow was on all fours: He knew what was coming, but he still wasn't prepared for it. Suddenly, a being who looked like a robot with a human brain clearly visible appeared in the air above and in front of Black Shadow.

"Black Shadow!" it growled. "You failed AGAIN! You good for nothing..." With that, it pointed a finger at Black Shadow.

"NOOO! Forgive me, Lord Death-AAAAAHHHHH!" And Black Shadow disappeared.

Falcon could not believe his eyes.

"Ju-Just who are you?"

The robo-being answered him:

"I am Deathborn, the Grand Prix Champion of the Underworld!"

Oh, crap. I've heard of this guy. He makes Black Shadow look like a teddy bear.

"Why don't you and I race each other tomorrow? Surely, as champion, you have to accept!"

And he, too, disappeared.

Everyone was in shock, even Falcon. Eventually, however, he snapped out of it, darted to the Falcon, and fired it up. He turned around, belt and all, and blasted away to the Underworld to face Deathborn. He knew he had to win, otherwise the "insert-four-letter-word-for-excrement-here" would surely hit the fan.

TBC...

NEXT: Secrets of the Champion Belt