YEAH! The Final Lap!
Avenging My Family
Well that's it isn't it? Everyone close to me now knows that I am Captain Falcon. Jody spent the night in the Falcon Lair where I and Aunt DJ filled her in on the history of Captain Falcon. She even relayed stories about my dad that even I didn't know. Soon enough, the memories of her little brother did get to her and she had to stop. Didn't stop her from giving me such a loving hug, it reminded me of my mom. After that night's events, stuff pretty much almost went back to normal, until my wonderful girlfriend surprised me with something. No, not that. I was far from in the mood for that right now as there was a lunatic running amok with my dad's face. She had somehow managed to obtain the actual security footage of Blood Falcon sabotaging Roy's vehicle. Oh right! Roy! From what I gathered, he did eventually return to Lisa at least that's what I'm assuming. Lisa's messages were extremely frantic so it was hard to tell if she was telling the truth at the moment. Anyway back to what Sam did. As you remember, the footage showed Blood Falcon tampering with Roy's machine but his image was doctored to look a little more like me than himself.
"How in blazes did you get this?!" I asked one night after she showed me.
"Officer Taylor," Sam said. "She got it for us as a thanks for saving her favorite Cadet."
"Send her a gift of some kind will you?" I said. Sam nodded.
"Of course," she replied. "I just sent it over to the F-Zero Committee a few hours before you got here. They said they're gonna make a statement shortly. Fal, can you switch to the local news station please?" Fal did as instructed and the computer displayed the nightly news anchor spouting something about a local charity having a fundraiser next weekend.
"In other news, we have just been informed that the F-Zero Committee has an update regarding the whole Captain Falcon caused accident. We'll be switching to a live feed momentarily," she said. The feed switched to the same person who originally condemned my actions standing in front of the same podium. They adjusted some papers and began to speak.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, we have an update to our investigation into the Emerald Cup Tragedy. Originally, we reviewed footage that showed Captain Falcon tampering with Pilot #1's, Roy Hughes, machine which was the main cause of the crash. Upon closer inspection, we concluded that the footage was doctored and as such falsely blamed Captain Falcon as the main culprit. The real culprit has been identified as Blood Falcon, an impersonator of the virtuous Captain Falcon. A warrant is out for Blood Falcon's arrest. Dead or alive. We hereby reinstate Captain Falcon's Emerald Cup title and winnings which I've been told by his representative will be given to Roy Hughes and his family. We are extremely sorry Captain Falcon and hope to see you race again in the upcoming Diamond Cup. Thank you and have a nice evening." I breathed a sigh of relief and then was immediately hugged by Sam.
"Thanks hon," I said. Sam pecked my cheek.
"Anytime cutie," she replied. I noticed Muffins was perched on her shoulder again. "Where are your aunts?"
"I think they're having a date night," I answered, knowing that it was true. I had seen them eating at a nice restaurant on my way over. Plus I had sent an expensive bottle of wine to their table. I should be getting the "Stop spoiling us" text within a few moments.
"Hmm, that sounds like a good idea," Sam said a little seductively. I gulped. Usually when she acted like this, there was no escape for me. Sam Narasu got what she wanted 100% of the time. And right now, she wants Andy Lemming. Muffins mewed indignantly when Sam had started kissing me and jumped off her shoulder to go lie in her kitty bed. I was only able to enjoy the closeness of my girlfriend for a few moments before an absolute menace from my past appeared on my screen
"FALCON!" a voice shouted and echoed through the room. Muffins got so scared, she flew under my bed and started shaking. Sam went to go comfort her while I looked at the new figure on my screen in complete and utter terror. It was him. The guy who killed my parents. Still in the same getup holding the weapon that had murdered my mom.
"You have been a thorn in my side for a long long time ever since you resurfaced. We still know who you are Douglas Lemming. We know you have a sister too. Would you like to say hi?" the murderer said.
"How the hell did you get this number?!" I shouted. The figure laughed as if he couldn't hear me. Wait…Andy this was on the local stations. It must be being broadcast to everyone. Fal's security protocols were top notch thanks to Aunt Kathy and Sam. The image then shifted to something that nearly made me destroy my nice keyboard. Aunt DJ and Aunt Josslyn currently bound and gagged in the ruins of…
"No…no way…" I muttered, barely able to shield my anger. This guy was in the ruins of my parent's house. Ever since then, that neighborhood had been uninhabited. It was kept that way as a memorial to the fallen GSF officer Douglas Lemming and his wife.
"Say hi to your brother, Deborah Jo," the murderer ordered. Aunt DJ was staring at the camera and I know she was saying "Don't. Don't risk your life for us." A boot suddenly kicked her in the stomach. That caused me to leap out of the chair in utter fury. Flames engulfed my hands when I did so too. That son of a BITCH. The camera then shifted to show Blood Falcon standing there without his helmet on. Basically revealing to the entire city that Douglas Lemming was Captain Falcon.
"Come alone Falcon. You and I will be able to see who the real Falcon is! If you win, we will let you pick between my sister and her wife to save!" Blood Falcon taunted. The camera went back to the murderer.
"You have an hour. After that, they will be delivered to you in pieces. Just. Like. Your. WIFE. We know about your son too, Lemming. He's next," he exclaimed. The feed went dark for about a second before going back to the shocked news anchor. Fal's avatar appeared looking worried.
"Andy," she began.
"I know!" I shouted in anger and punched my chair which caused it to go flying into the wall. Sam appeared at my side.
"Andy," she said. I rounded on her with flames in my eyes. Don't you even tell me to not go after this son of a bitch Sam. I swear to GOD!
"That was the man who killed your parents, wasn't it?" she instead said calmly. I nodded still with rage in my eyes. Sam put a gentle hand on my shoulder.
"Go." she said. My rage subsided a little in my confusion.
"You lost enough to this man. I'm not going to watch you lose the closest thing you had to replacement mothers," Sam said. I could hear a tinge of fear in her voice. If this guy had survived his attempt to kill my father, I was almost no match for him.
"He doesn't know about Roy. I'll talk to him. I know he'll help you," Sam said. "Go Andy. Avenge your parents." I nodded and followed her order. Tonight was the night asshole. Savor every single breath because I am going to ram my fist into your face repeatedly until it breaks.
I arrived at the meeting point within 30 minutes of Blood Falcon and the murderer's challenge. Sure enough, I saw some lights coming from the former place I called home. I parked and began to walk over letting old memories wash over me for what I believed was the final time. I knew this was going to be my last night as Captain Falcon. I knew I was going to die. Sam believed differently and that kept me going but it was no use. I was a dead man. A dead man walking along his former street reminiscing about what it was like when I was a kid. I remembered running out of the house at 6 years old when Aunt DJ came to visit me for my birthday that year. I remembered sitting outside with my mom and watching the clouds go by. I remembered eating ice cream we had just bought that day too. I remembered waiting for my dad to come home so I could tell him all about the things Roy and I did at school. I approached my former house and saw that Aunt DJ and Josslyn were still tied up and on the ground. Aunt DJ spotted me and started shaking her head vigorously. No Aunt DJ, I'm not going to just watch you die. But then I realized what she meant, I was completely blindsided by a flying kick that connected with my back. I flew forwards a few feet into the clearing among the wreckage. Before me stood the murderer of my parents. Standing there with his arms crossed.
"You've arrived," he said. Blood Falcon proceeded to walk in front of me and crossed his arms.
"I have," I replied. "I assume your name is also stupid. Like Scythe?" The murderer nodded and then motioned to Blood Falcon. I then struck up my fighting stance in front of Blood Falcon. For the first time, he looked confused as did Scythe.
"What?" he said before my kick connected with Blood Falcon's helmet. The force I put behind it was so great that I felt it shatter and fly off his head. Blood Falcon rounded on Scythe.
"YOU SAID HE FOUGHT LIKE ME!" he shouted. Scythe didn't answer. Instead he gestured at Blood Falcon to continue. The man with my father's face rounded on me and started to engage me in furious combat all while throwing taunts about Aunt DJ at me.
"How will she react when I KILL you in front of her Doug?!" Blood Falcon snarled after he missed an ax kick.
"Ask him," I said and motioned my head at Scythe. "He already killed Douglas Lemming. I'm here to avenge his memory." Blood Falcon faltered again and I was able to get a few solid hits in. He retaliated. And in a big way. I misjudged a kick and it connected with my face. It was so hard that the force shattered the visor in front of my eyes. The circuitry in the helmet shorted out and I ripped it off before it could shock me. Blood Falcon and Scythe then stared at me in amazement.
"The boy," Scythe growled menacingly. "Kill him, Blood Falcon. Kill him now. In front of his precious auntie."
"RAHHHH!" Blood Falcon shouted and charged at me. Right before he got to me, I gave a short hop and unleashed a devastating knee right to his face. I totally heard his nose shatter. He yelled in agony and I followed that attack up with a spinning roundhouse kick to his face again. I wasn't aiming to disable this time. I was aiming to kill. You think you can run around as my father and desecrate his legacy? Not on my watch pal. My kick connected with his face and it sent him sprawling on the ground. I walked over and picked him up by the back of his jacket, slammed my boot into the back of his knee and wrapped my arms around his head. Blood Falcon attempted to break free of this grab but his efforts were useless. I forced him to face Aunt DJ and Josslyn. Aunt DJ was looking at Blood Falcon with utter rage in her eyes. No recognition of her beloved little brother. My father.
"Deborah. Please," Blood Falcon pleaded. "He's going to kill me! He's going to kill your brother!" Rage bubbling through me again, I wrenched Blood Falcon's neck to one side. A loud cracking sound echoed through the area and his flailing arms went limp. I placed my boot on his back and pushed his now lifeless body to the ground. I slowly turned to face Scythe and the moment I did, he hurled his weapon at Aunt DJ and Josslyn. NO! It was going to end up hitting and killing both of them! NO! Aunt DJ and Josslyn looked at me for what I thought was going to be the final time. I saw pride there and looks that clearly read "We love you Andy." NO! I couldn't watch. I couldn't do anything to stop it either. CLANG! A new sound echoed throughout the clearing.
"WHO DARES?!" Scythe yelled. I opened my eyes to see….Roy. He blocked the spinning blade with his metal frame. The energy blade must have simply bounced off of him.
"The Mighty Gazelle," Roy said and raised his metal fists. I noticed his voice sounded closer to his actual voice rather than a machine's.
"I told you. To come alone Falcon," Scythe growled at me. I shrugged.
"Tough night for you huh?" I answered. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Roy begin to untie my aunts. Scythe didn't like that and tried to throw another blade at the 3 of them. That one I was able to counter with a carefully aimed and timed kick.
"Gazelle, take them and run!" I ordered. Roy looked over at me.
"He'll kill you without me!" he shouted back while helping Aunt DJ to her feet. I was barely able to dodge the next attack Scythe threw at me.
"Just go!" I shouted and took a nasty blow to my shoulder. "Get them to safety!"
"NO! PUT US DOWN!" Aunt DJ shouted as Roy reluctantly obeyed my order.
"ANDY! NO!" Aunt Josslyn shouted as she was lifted onto Roy's metal shoulder. I was able to watch as Roy carried them away all while both of them shouted in protest. Good. They were safe. As for me, this was it. I was going to die. Good thing I had secretly recorded a message to Jody before coming here and without anyone else's knowledge. Fal knew that if she saw my vital signs disappear, that she would relay my message to Jody. She was to be the new Captain Falcon when she came of age. I kept my thoughts on my family as I got my ass kicked. I knew all of them were safe. Scythe was most likely still thought to be dead by the Dark Million Organization and as such, the Organization believed Douglas Lemming was deceased and had no relatives. I took an absolutely devastating punch to my face just as that thought entered my mind. It sent me flying into some nearby debris and I nearly passed out from the impact. Scythe sprinted over and lifted me in the air with one hand and proceeded to punch me in the face repeatedly with the other. In the distance I could hear women shouting. Stand out phrases included "NO!", "STOP HIM ROY!", "NOT HIM TOO! PLEASE!" It was no use guys. I had no chance. My only shot would be if Roy alerted the GSF at this precise moment.
"You are nothing Falcon!" Scythe shouted in my face. "NOTHING! JUST LIKE YOUR FATHER! HE WASN'T EVEN STRONG ENOUGH TO SURVIVE AN EXPLOSION!" Scythe threw me to the side again. I rolled a few feet and this time I could see Roy and another figure dressed in yellow holding at least 4 women back from the wreckage of my old house. I was then kicked in the stomach. Hard. It nearly made me throw up.
"Daddy can't save you now boy," Scythe taunted again. "I remember when I killed your mother. The sound she made when hitting the ground was cathartic!" Another kick connected with my stomach.
"Get up!" Scythe shouted. "Get up so I can smash you to the ground again! You will never be like your predecessor boy! No matter how much you resemble him." Hearing Scythe mention my father seemed to awaken something inside me. Flames engulfed my entire body.
"What?" Scythe asked and tried to kick me again. The flames blocked the boot and he fell backwards a few steps. I got to my feet slowly and I saw a whole host of figures standing behind Scythe. They were ethereal. At the forefront were 2 people I recognized at once. The image of my father nodded once. I grabbed Scythe's punch out of the air and broke his wrist with one motion. He screamed in pain.
"It seems hell is a fate destined for you this time," I said confidently.
"NO! My dream of killing you will NOT be squashed again!" he shouted and threw another punch. Again I blocked it. Scythe reeled backwards several feet and proceeded to stare at me dumbfounded. I motioned for him to do one thing. Show me his moves. Scythe crouched and launched himself in the air and for some reason, I felt the need to follow him. I matched his speed and trajectory as well.
"I WILL NOT DIE! NOR WILL MY DREAM!" Scythe shouted and pulled out yet another weapon. I pulled my fist back and shouted the first thing that came to mind.
"FALCON. PUNNNNNNNCH!" I launched my fist forward with such speed and power, a large falcon made of my flames erupted around my entire hand and arm. It connected with Scythe's head and it straight up obliterated him. He was completely vaporized by this attack. I saw him scream in utter agony before his entire body vanished from existence. I landed back on the ground a little clumsily. I regained my footing just in time to see the image of my parents and all the Captain Falcons before me, including my grandpa, salute me before disappearing. I felt myself about to pass out and fell forward. I was caught by a large metal man.
"Gotcha bud," Roy's voice said.
"Roy?" I asked, still fighting the urge to pass out. I was winning. Why? Because it just realized that I had avenged the bastard that killed my parents.
"Yep. Sam called me and said you needed help," he said. "C'mon. They're waiting." Roy led me over to the area where he had taken my aunts. I managed to see that Sam and Jody were there too before Aunt DJ had wrapped me in her arms and cut off my vision to everyone else. She, of course, was bawling her eyes out. As was Aunt Josslyn, Jody and Sam. Eventually she looked me in the face and kissed my forehead. Just like when I was a kid.
"I got him DJ. He's gone. Dad can rest easy now," I said.
"You think we didn't see that?" Dr. Stewart's voice asked. It was Aunt Josslyn's turn to hug me.
"Don't you ever do that to us again," she ordered. "Do you hear me young man?!"
"Yes Auntie," I said. "Can I hug Sam now? She looks antsy."
"She didn't raise you for 8 years!" Aunt DJ and Josslyn said at the same time. Eventually they did allow Sam to hug and kiss me.
"I love you so much Andy," she whispered.
"I love you too," I responded.
"How's Lisa Roy?" Dr. Stewart asked.
"Good. She forgave me for being a complete psycho so that's good. I was reluctant to leave her and little Heather Hughes to potentially die but my best friend needed my help," Roy explained and held out his hand for me to shake. I pushed Sam off me and shook my best friend's hand.
"Heather huh? So your daughter's here?" I asked. Roy nodded while everyone else gasped.
"Little girl's…not even afraid of her cyborg daddy…" Roy said softly.
"We're working on getting your body back Roy," Dr. Stewart said. Roy nodded.
"Can…Can we go now?" I asked. Everyone else nodded. Jody pulled out her phone and began speaking to the GSF about cleanup and to tell them that Blood Falcon was dead. As I climbed into the Blue Falcon with Sam in the passenger seat, I gazed to the sky one more time. I knew my mom and dad were smiling down at me, proud of the legacy I had taken up. I gave one final salute to them in the heavens before speeding off towards the Falcon Lair to get a good night's sleep.
My name is Andrew Douglas Lemming and I am Captain Falcon.