The Skull

A Legend Raised from the Grave
The Skull
Species	Human (Undead)
Age	241 (Died at 41)
Debut	F-Zero X

The Skull, once known as Sterling LaVaughn, is a pilot in the F-Zero series that was revived by science and black magic.

Background

Sterling LaVaughn was once the greatest pilot in the F-Max Grand Prix two hundred years ago. The F-Max was a competition that preceded the F-Zero races and was one of its spiritual predecessors. For a long time Sterling was able to win race after race without ever suffering a single injury, despite how bloody the F-Max was in that time. Realizing he could not avoid death forever, he used a combination of science and black magic to arrange his own immortality. His plan worked and during one horrendous accident, the Grand Finale of the F-Max Grand Prix, he and several others were burned alive.

What happened next is unknown, but two hundred years later he emerged as a figure composed of only his original skeleton. He joined the F-Zero Grand Prix to compete yet again, as nothing else in life but racing held any meaning to him anymore. He's become an even better pilot than before, as he now no longer fears death and can make split second decisions better than ever before. He now goes by the name "The Skull".

Sonic Phantom

• Number: 16
• Creator: Abinus Company
• Engine: CY97-X4x1
• Weight: 1010 kg
• Body: C
• Boost: A
• Grip: D

The Sonic Phantom was developed by Abinus, an entertainment company known for mixing black magic and science (and possibly responsible for Sterling's return). The machine is truly unique among the Grand Prix for being the first to use Aura Engines that operate off the reactive power of living organisms. However there is a rumor lurking that The Skull uses black magic to suck the energy for his engines from the race spectators.

Other Appearances

• In the Super Smash Bros. series, he has appeared as a trophy in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, and as Novice-Rank Support Spirit in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, with the Support effect of boosing PSI Attacks. In Spirit battles, The Skull's Spirit possesses Robin.

Trivia

• The Skull's background is a source of confusion for the F-Zero timeline. In the F-Zero games, his background seemed to indicate his involvement in the Grand Finale that took place three years before F-Zero X. His revised background in F-Zero GX dates this accident to two hundred years ago in a completely different race.