Duke Freed & Koji Kabuto

 

A bitter rivalry that turned into a strong brotherhood bond !

 

Koji saw Duke Freed for the first time when Dr. Umon called Duke to come and say hello to Koji.  Duke Freed in the first instance saw Koji's TFO land, gave a faint smile, and then continued his work; Duke Freed knew that this wasn't something from Vega.  When Duke Freed approached, Dr. Umon introduced him to Koji, and Koji found him quite strange in the first place.  As soon as Koji said that he came to explore UFO's, Duke Freed excused himself and left.  Koji already began not to like Duke Freed because he showed absolutely no interest in Koji's ship the TFO, while everyone else did.

 

 

Things continued to heat up when Koji came to Shirakaba farm to try and ride the roughest horse they have.  Koji fell off and it was Duke Freed who jumped on the horse and stopped it.  Later, Duke Freed stands in the Space Science Centre, and tells Dr. Umon that the red moon is the sign of alien enemy invaders who will soon attack Earth.  Koji of course challenged what he saw as a conspiracy theory, then Duke Freed will sarcastically leave Koji in anger.

 

 

Later, Koji will see the Vegan Minifo saucers and go to see them; against Duke Freed's warnings.  Koji in that instance will tell off Duke Freed and fly in TFO to meet the aliens.  When Koji gets into trouble Duke Freed will launch the Grendizer super robot for the first time in two years and save Koji, and surprise Vega.  During the save, Koji will see Duke Freed's eyes in the mask.  This will make Koji suspicious about Daisuke Umon's true identity; Koji recognized the eyes.

 

 

 

In the second episode Koji will punch Duke Freed and get ready to fight him as he tries to figure out his true identity.  Duke Freed simply leaves and does not do anything.  Later, Koji will witness Daisuke Umon jumping a humanely impossible jump to save Danbi, who nearly crashes into the mountain in Koji's TFO.  This will lead Dr. Umon to tell Koji the truth about Duke Freed.  From that point on, the bond grew stronger between Duke Freed and Koji Kabuto, but there were times in the beginning where they argued or even fought.

 

 

In later times, Koji developed love and respect for Duke Freed and eventually became his right hand.  Koji will pilot the Double Spazer that connects to Grendizer, and will put his life on the line to help Duke Freed to beat the ever-growingly dangerous Vegan attacks.

 

 

At the end of the series, Koji would not bid Duke Freed farewell face-to-face as he could not bare it.  When Duke Freed launched Grendizer towards outer space, Koji shows up in Double Spazer and signals Duke Freed and Maria good-bye.  I am sure if there was a continuation of the series, Koji would visit planet Freed to meet his dear friends again.