Lap 11

Save Jody

I spent most of my time hunting down Blood Falcon for the following few weeks. Both of my aunts, as well as Muffins, had since relocated to the Falcon Lair for the time being. Just in case Blood Falcon happens to know who they are. Sam and I usually spent most of our nights in the home Aunt DJ had generously built for us. Most of the time, Muffins would be found sitting on Sam's lap begging her for pets. The bad news was that Blood Falcon always seemed to be one step ahead of me. Everytime I believed I had him cornered, he got away. Usually followed by a high cold laugh that didn't even sound remotely like my father's. I did have good news though, most of the GSF officers pretended to not see me AND I had figured out how Blood Falcon even came to be. Remember that crash I told you I witnessed when I was a kid? Yeah, THAT'S how they got my dad's DNA. Why it took them over a decade to develop a clone is something I don't understand but I'm trying not to think about it. A few weeks after my first encounter with Blood Falcon, I finally think I cornered him. Sam and Aunt DJ hacked into a security camera (along with Fal) and the feed showed that Blood Falcon was outside of the Lightning area. Knowing that might not be good, I geared up, kissed Sam, my aunts and Muffins goodbye (Muffins mewed in response) and sped off towards his location. Getting there was no problem. My team back at the Lair typically kept the corrupt members of the GSF off my tail.

"Andy," Fal's voice said as I was speeding along the ground. She sounded worried.

"Yes?" I answered.

"Officer Taylor would like to speak with you." Uh oh. That's Jody's superior.

"Patch her through," I responded. Fal did so. The image of Officer Taylor appeared on my helmet visor.

"Captain Falcon?" she asked.

"That's me," I said.

"That Blood Falcon character you told me about?"

"Yes? What about him?"

"He…he attacked me…and I was with a Cadet…" I froze in complete shock. Fal had to assist the Blue Falcon into not smashing into a building.

"Which Cadet," I asked, doing my best to hide my fear. Officer Taylor's image looked pained.

"A young one. Mason Summer's girl. Jody," she responded. Unimaginable rage erupted from deep inside me. You have no idea. I ended the call with Officer Taylor after answering a few more questions that I've already told you. Basically, where Blood Falcon was and what he was doing. I could honestly barely think. What the hell was this bastard planning to do with her?! I arrived at the Lightning area a few moments later and I located Blood Falcon just hanging outside one of the power plants. I had Fal take over the Blue Falcon's controls as I jumped out to confront him. Blood Falcon turned at the sound of my footsteps.

"Ah, hello inferior me!" he stated confidently. In his hand I could see that he was holding something.

"Where. Is. She?" I growled. Blood Falcon laughed.

"Oh ho! You must be referring to the GSF Cadet I snatched earlier! Quite the screamer she is. Weirdest thing was that she kept referring to me as her father. As if, my child would be that much of a little bitch," he said. What he didn't know was that my internal rage was reaching the boiling point. Plus he hadn't answered my question.

"Yes. Where is she?!" I growled again. Blood Falcon threw the device he was holding to his opposite hand, pushed the button and then pointed to the power station.

"In about 10 or so minutes, she's going to be pretty much all over the place!" he exclaimed and then laughed maniacally. Wait…THAT WAS A BOMB! The resulting muffled explosion confirmed that. Son of a bitch! Blood Falcon continued to cackle while Fal was telling me to leave him and save Jody.

"Chase me if you must, Falcon! But doing so will cause the death of that girl that you seem so fond of. Weird, didn't expect you to like women that young," he said. Again. Rage. A lot of it. Blood Falcon then hopped into his own machine while still laughing.

"Welp, it's been a blast! Or well, not quite yet but still! Buh-bye now!" he said and sped off. I could either chase him or save my little sister. You've got to be an absolute moron to not realize which one I was going to do.

I sprinted back to the Blue Falcon and hopped in the open cockpit. I gunned the engine forward towards the power station. I had lost my parents years ago while I was unable to do anything, I was NOT going to lose Jody too. She'd been dragged into this mess because of me. I knew it. Blood Falcon knew that most of the GSF was not trying to arrest me despite multiple attempts by the F-Zero committee to do so. Attacking a cadet was low and cowardly. He needed to face me in combat rather than dangle an innocent girl in front of me, laugh and run like a coward. My dad would have never done that. I used a little boost in order to clear a small gap in order to get into the building. Most of it was already on fire. Crap. I needed to find Jody. Now.

"Fal!" I shouted while rapidly scanning the area. "Call Jody and track the signal!" Fal did and showed me the location of Jody's phone….in her locker at the GSF. Dammit!

"Andy, I'm also scanning for life for- THERE! OVER THERE!" Fal exclaimed. Her avatar on the Blue Falcon's computer pointed at an area in front of me. I saw a body lying on the ground.

"Fal, you better tell me she's alive," I said after I hit the brakes and jumped out.

"Yes. But barely. She needs medical attention. I can see she's been burned," Fal informed me. This was confirmed when I turned Jody over. Her face was red along with most of her left side. The body suit she usually wore while on GSF duty was burned away revealing her underclothes which was a blessing. I did not want or need to see my sister without any clothes on. That's disgusting. She stirred when I lifted her off the ground.

"Jody?!" I said.

"Falcon?" she replied weakly. She was barely conscious. Most likely due to her injuries. I carried her over to the Blue Falcon while alarms were blaring all over the area. I placed Jody in the seat where I once placed Chisato and climbed into the pilots chair.\

"Fal, what's the quickest way out of here," I asked. Fal pulled up a map showing me a straight line. No way. It wasn't that easy was it? Whatever, it apparently was the quickest. I started making my way down the route at a high speed. Ahead I saw the station's airtight doors closing rapidly. Crap. I increased my speed by sacrificing acceleration. One slip up and Jody and I would both be dead. It was great that I had a natural ability for piloting F-Zero Machines as the doors tricked me at one point and I needed to go up the side of the 360 degree tube I was speeding down. Then as if it couldn't get any worse, random cylinders just started appearing out of nowhere and I had to dodge those too. I barely even noticed the messages everyone was sending me. Most of them were telling me to abandon Blood Falcon and save Jody which I was going to do regardless. I kept driving with intense focus. Dodging everything in my way. Squeezing through each of the doors before they closed. If I were to warrant a guess, I had 40 seconds MAX to get my ass out of here with Jody. There were 2 final sets of 2 doors which I made it through effortlessly. I then saw that there were some conveniently placed boost pads in a straight shot leading to a ramp which would shoot me out one last door. That door was closing fast. I hit all of the boost pads in rapid succession. I hit the ramp a millisecond later just as the fire behind the Blue Falcon was going to engulf us. The Blue Falcon shot out of the exploding building and landed safely on the track nearby.

"Holy mother of-" I began as I fought to regain control. I looked back at Jody who I saw had passed out again. I breathed a quick sigh of relief after making sure she actually was alive and then sped off towards the Falcon Lair.

I arrived within minutes, pulled into the underground garage and killed the engine. Almost instantly, Aunt DJ was there with medical supplies. First, she had given me a rib cracking hug for saving Jody and then she assisted me with getting Jody into the Lair. I saw that Aunt Kathy and Uncle Mason were there too. Sam was also nearby with Muffins perched on her shoulder.

"Is she alright?! What happened?!" Aunt Kathy asked me loudly. I quickly explained the situation and moved away from Aunt DJ who was administering some burn cream to Jody's face and body. I sat down at the chair in front of the computer, took off the helmet and rubbed my face. The rage had dissipated but my heart was still pounding so fast that I felt I was going to have a heart attack soon. After a few moments, a gentle hand rested on my shoulder, followed by the purring of a small black cat.

"Good job Andy," Sam said softly and pecked me on the cheek. Muffins mewed indignantly. Basically saying "Hey! No one kisses him but me!" I looked up at her and saw that smile I've grown to love.

"She's…" I began. Sam silenced me.

"I know. We'll get Blood Falcon later," she said. At that moment, I heard Jody's voice from behind me.

"Wha…what? Aunt DJ?" she said.

"Yes honey, it's me. You're safe," Aunt DJ answered.

"Where am I?" she asked.

"Captain Falcon's base of operations," Aunt Kathy answered.

"Captain Falcon saved me?" Jody asked. "Where is he?"

"I'm over here Jody," I said in my regular voice.

"Andy? Why are you here," Jody asked. I smirked before getting up, picking up the helmet and walking over to her side. She looked up at me and her eyes widened in amazement.

"Wh…what?! WHAT?!" she said and tried to sit up. Aunt Kathy eased her back down after Jody groaned in pain.

"Yes little sis, I'm Captain Falcon," I said and kneeled down to her level. "That's 2 times I've saved you from a burning building." Jody reached over and attempted to grab my hand.

"It's been you? You saved me from that Chain guy too?" she asked. I nodded.

"Dad…Dad was Captain Falcon before me," I said.

"He...he was?" Jody asked. Aunt DJ took this one.

"Yes, he was. Right before he…died. He made Andy his successor and every day, I can't even imagine a better man to have that title," she said. I had noticed that everyone in the room was looking towards me with pride in their faces. Even Muffins. AND Fal. Her avatar was visible on the computer screen. I myself glanced at the old photos of my dad and grandpa. Don't worry Dad, I'll take down that complete lunatic running around pretending to be you. I promise.