Buck Rogers in the 25th Century s01e07 Episode Script
The Plot to Kill a City (2)
I say we kill him now and get it over with: Halt: - Help me, Wilma! Distract him! - Buck, what's wrong? It's Quince: He's frozen my controls: [Man Narrating.]
The year is 1987, and NASA launches the last of America's deep space probes: In a freak mishap, Ranger 3 and its pilot, Captain William "Buck'"Rogers, are blown out of their trajectory into an orbit which freezes his life-support systems: : : And returns Buck Rogers to Earth: : : [Narrator.]
In our last episode, Buck Rogers assumed the identity of a killer: Argus: And we all know Rafael Argus was about to be initiated into the ranks of the Legion of Death: However, because he always operated under a variety of names and appearances, none of the other assassins has any clear-cut idea of what he looks like: Which is fortunate for you, as you'll be impersonating him: Oh: [Buck.]
Get his gun, Barney:! Greetings, Mr: Argus: I take it this means I passed: Anyone who can hold his own against us deserves to be considered one of us: I'm Kellogg: Sherese and Quince and Varek: We're being observed: [Kellogg.]
Kill her, now:! Rafael Argus: I should have known: - Is Rafael here yet? - Joella: It's been a while: Look, I know we didn't part on the best of terms, but give me a chance, will you? You got a deal, Rafe: The total destruction of the Terran capital New Chicago: To destroy a city that large, you'd need an earthquake or Or an antimatter explosion: Barney? I met Rafael Argus two years ago on Sutter's World, and I can tell you for a fact, that ain't him: You've got to be kidding: Who you gonna believe, someone you never met before today Or someone we never met before yesterday: And, Joella, you should have told us he was an impostor when you had the chance: Leave her out of this: Stop him! [All Shouting Indistinctly.]
There! [Buck.]
Not this time, Porky: Go! [Beeping.]
[Gasps.]
[Sighs.]
You are something: We're not out of the woods yet: We're gonna split up: I'll meet you in the main terminal of the spaceport in 10 minutes: Right! [Gasps.]
We're just beyond the stargate, Doctor: I'm bringing Markos back with me: Good: Good: And Buck's all right? - Buck isn't with me: - What? What happened? He was supposed to meet me at 1500 hours: I waited as long as I dared: - You mean he's still on Aldebaran? - It's not as if I wanted to leave him there: - No, no, of course not: - I'll explain everything back on Earth: Deering out: Now, whoever you are, whom do you work for? The stellar authorities? What's in that thing? A chemical, that's all: One that will act upon the thalamic regions of your brain: But don't worry: While it will cause a great deal of pain, it won't do any physical damage: All right, all right: I'll tell you! I like my thalamic regions just the way they are: Thank you: Who are you, and what did you do with Argus? Wist: Aron Wist: - [Quince.]
Aron Wist: - You've heard of him? [Quince.]
Just stories: An assassin out of Alpha Centauri: Strictly local: Small-time: Not so small-time I didn't have all of you fooled: No: But the question is, why? I heard the four of you were getting together: I thought Argus might be onto something big: I wanted a cut: I didn't think I'd end up avenging one of your dead buddies for free: And Argus? He didn't object to you impersonating him? Argus was in no condition to object to anything: Are you trying to tell us: : : You killed Rafael Argus? I never said that: You never heard me say that: I say we kill him now and get it over with: Perhaps we should attempt to validate Mr: Wist's story: Varek: Bring my transmitter case here: : : Quickly: And how do we validate his story? I have this friend: : : Who happens to be a cataloger at the Earth Defense Directorate: Not only is he keeping Elias Huer busy: : : With pyrotechnical reminders that we do mean to avenge: : : Deneva's death, but he also has access to the Directorate's data banks: With any luck, we should have positive identification within 30 minutes: So, Mr: Wist, if that is your name, you have nothing to worry about: If not I think you're lying, Mr: Markos: Take him to the lab: Have Dr: Nowlan prepare the mind probe: Hooking me up to one of your machines isn't gonna do you any good, Huer: Shortly, you and the rest of this city are gonna be blown to bits: In case it hasn't dawned on you, if and when this city is destroyed, you'll be destroyed as well: I pray he is lying: Unless we find out exactly: : : How they plan to destroy New Chicago, the best we can do is step up general security: - Still no word from Buck? - No: None: Since we lack concrete data, Dr: Huer, I suggest we analyze: : : All known factors and attempt to develop a theory concerning the assassins' plan: Twiki, please place me on the desk so that Dr: Huer and I can talk: [Chirping.]
Here: Let me help you, Twiki: He's still not accustomed to subspace communication: Maybe he's using the wrong channel: We've kept all channels open ever since you returned, Colonel: And we've heard nothing: He's probably dead: [Kellogg.]
He's Aron Wist, all right: I say we kill him anyhow: [Kellogg.]
Stand by, Mr: Hartsteen: Now let's consider his story: He's here impersonating Rafael Argus: Argus is nowhere to be found: Circumstantial evidence does indicate: : : That he indeed has killed Argus: And anyone capable of eliminating: : : The legendary Rafael Argus is a formidable ally: He's an arrogant fool, Kellogg! Sherese, if arrogance were a capital crime, we'd all be dead long ago: I say he goes with us: : : In my ship: He goes in mine: Wait a minute: Don't I have anything to say about this? He goes with Quince: Mr: Hartsteen, thank you for relaying the vid-copy: I have one more request: We're about to leave for Earth, but before we do, I wanna be absolutely certain: : : That Huer suspects nothing: That could be very dangerous: That's what you are paid for, Hartsteen: I expect you to get back to me within 20 minutes: Kellogg out: I suggest you three head for the spaceport: Our transportation should be ready momentarily: And I suggest that if Mr: Wist gives us any trouble at all, we eliminate him: - Agreed? - Most definitely: Dr: Huer, have you heard from Buck? Well, not exactly: But Dr: Theopolis was just informed that information concerning Aron Wist: : : Has been extracted from the central data bank: Aron Wist? I don't understand: [Dr: Huer.]
Wist is a nonexistent criminal invented by the Defense Directorate: And Buck was instructed to use Aron Wist as a secondary cover: : : In the event his primary cover of Rafael Argus failed: So the fact that someone was trying to tap that information: : : Means that someone's trying to verify Buck's story: [Dr: Huer.]
And that Buck is still alive: Dr: Huer, request permission to return to Aldebaran immediately: - Denied: - But, Doctor No, he must get out of this himself: And your appearance could very well place him in more jeopardy: I understand: Wist is actually an agent? Are you certain? Positive: His real name is Rogers: Buck Rogers: And Huer, he still has no idea: : : Exactly how I plan to destroy New Chicago? No, he doesn't: Whatever it is you intend to do, it sounds like it's safe for you to go ahead: And if that's the case, I'll be signing off now: Got a shuttle to catch to New Phoenix: I take it you've established the credit account there as we discussed? Yes, yes, of course, Hartsteen: You've earned your money: Kellogg out: Played for a fool: : : Twice: : : In one day: I'll have Quince: : : Tear him to pieces: [Woman Over P: A:.]
Flight 723 to Altair 5 now boarding at Gate 20: Hey, wait a minute, you little worm! Greetings, my dear: Salutations: We meet again: You turned us in for the money, didn't you? I had no idea I would need such heavy bribes to get through Customs: I was bled dry: Ohhh: Moreover, I discovered that the credits with which my friend Kellogg paid me off: : : Were, shall we call, tainted: Hmph: Well, luckily enough I was able to pass them off on a less discerning fellow: : : For a well-equipped starfighter, which even as we speak: : : Is being readied for flight in hangar bay number nine: You little creep: There is a great, wide, potentially lucrative universe waiting out there: : : For an enterprising fellow such as myself: And a universe, I might add, which could prove equally lucrative: : : To an enterprising young woman too: Have you ever thought of leaving this primitive mud bowl and entering civilization? Oh! That's it: Don't make a snap decision: Take some time: Think about it: I can wait: [Woman Over P: A:.]
Arriving passenger Dr: Adam Strange from Alpha Centauri, please report to the reservations desk: There they are: All right, come along, Varek: Let's say good-bye to Buck Rogers, shall we? We'll pick up the l: D: Plates and wait for Kellogg at the ships: Any idea what he has in mind for us to do first? What we're gonna do first is get rid of you: Kellogg, we've been through this before: He's an agent for the Earth Defense Directorate: I do the honors: Put it away, my dear: You may have what's left: [Screams.]
After him! [Kellogg.]
Down there! [Groans.]
Varek, go in there and dispose of him: He'll think that was you: Why'd you do that? This is why: This is who I am: You can't imagine life on my planet: The children are afraid to look at their own reflections: Children with a touch of death: Children like myself: Kellogg is condemning your people to the same fate as mine: There's no hope for my world, but there is for Earth: Stop them: That's something you can do, isn't it? No: I have never belonged anywhere: : : Except with Kellogg: That's all I know: That's all I can do: That's why I'm freeing you: You stop them: Please: It's done: That's fine: Well, our ships must be ready: Let's retrieve Mr: Quince and be on our way to New Chicago: Uh, hello, Dr: Huer: Well, Hartsteen: You're, uh, making a rather short day of it, aren't you? I don't feel very well: I was just on my way to the clinic: Oh, I see: You know, if Dr: Theopolis hadn't already been onto your extracurricular activities, we might never have known it was you who tapped the data bank: : : For information on Aron Wist: What exactly does Kellogg have in mind for New Chicago? I don't know: - [Chirping.]
- Take him to Detention: But I do know they're wise to the agent you sent to Aldebaran: Buck Rogers is a dead man, Huer: Like all the rest of you, a dead man: [Chirping.]
Haul buns, Hartsteen: All subspace calls require two forms of identification: : : Regardless of what party is billed: [Clears Throat.]
Especially on this planet: Look, I have got to make that transmission: There are thousands of people who are in danger: So go to the police if it's that important: Are you kidding me? The authorities here are almost as bad as the criminals: [Chuckles.]
Maybe so, but they do know what to do with loiterers, if you get my drift, sir: Yeah, I get your drift: Remind me to give you a call the next time hell freezes over: Buck! Oh, Buck! Joella: Where have you been? I've been looking all over for you: I figured after what I did to Quince, I better lay low for a little while: By the way, thanks for what you did back there: You could have been killed: For the third time today incidentally: You know, it seems like ever since I met you, I've been making some very powerful people very angry at me: And you know something? I haven't had this much fun in months! You're out of your mind, you know that? No more than you: Thanks, Buck: For what, almost getting you killed? For letting me help you: : : And for not casting me aside after you were done with me: Come on: I've gotta find a ship and get to Earth as quickly as possible: Uh, look: The place we're going can be very, very dangerous: So if at any time you want me to drop you off Uh-uh: We've come this far together, we'll go all the way: Okay: As a matter of fact, I think I even know where we can find a ship: Terrific: Let's go: [Sherese.]
Just how do we break in to this generating plant? By using our combined abilities under my direction, of course: Not one of us could accomplish this task alone: Really? Quince, formidable as your telekinesis can be, you could only concentrate on one thing at a time: Inside the plant, there will be upwards from 20 barriers at any given moment: With my logistical skills, I can analyze any security system within minutes: You and Varek with your respective abilities: : : Can easily circumvent those security devices between you: And me? You, Sherese, will help us with the final key to our task - Mr: Richard Selvan: - Who? [Kellogg.]
We do need an Energy Directorate employee: : : To help us gain initial entry to the plant: Mr: Selvan is a respected employee, an engineer and a family man: - What makes you think he'll cooperate? - Show me one family man: : : Who can afford to be a hero: Take a look, my friends: Take a long good look: Tomorrow the picture will be different: [Woman Over P: A:.]
Flight 262 to Regulus 5 You like? [Buck.]
She's nice: I really hate the idea of stealing some poor schlep's starfighter, though: I wouldn't worry about that: Wait till you meet the owner: As a matter of fact, there he is now: Thank you: [Woman Over P: A:.]
Flight 666 to Lavas Planet will be leaving from Gate 6 in 30 minutes: Hello, Barney: [Groans.]
Well, my friends! I am happy to see that you have managed to escape the tendrils of disaster, as it were: No thanks to you: You were more than happy to sell me out for a few thousand credits: Oh, my friend, I feel insulted: Do you think that I would sell you out for a few thousand credits? A few hundred thousand: I see: And with that money, you bought yourself a very nice starfighter: Oh, it's beautiful, isn't it? A real beauty: A steal, if you'll pardon the expression: Yeah, she is: I'm looking forward to flying her: Actually, it's cosmetic: The engines are in terrible shape: Terrible disrepair: Nobody's [Chuckles.]
My friend, you are joking: I mean, you're not going to let: : : A momentary lapse of judgment on my part affect your sensibilities: Give me your l: D: Plate, Barney: [Sighs.]
Just who are you, anyway? I mean, who do you work for? Barney, if I don't get to Earth, a very sizable chunk of a planet I'm very fond of is gonna be destroyed: Who cares? You could buy a new planet: My friend, I'm talking heavy credits here: Give me your l: D: Plate, Barney: [Groans.]
There's a law against this, you know: How do you propose I get off this celestial mud ball? A word of advice, Barney: Learn to like mud: Wait: Come on: Step back: Enough, Matt: Enough: I'm dying: Go over and play with your sister Katrina and let me rest: [Chuckles.]
[Quince.]
That's a fine, healthy-looking boy you have there: His name is Mateo, isn't it? He was named after your wife's father: Your wife being Therese, of course: And the little girl: : : Playing next to our friends there, that must be Katrina: What is this? Who are you? You have something we want: But I have no money: I'm not rich: I'm just an engineer: It's not money we want, Mr: Selvan: You have access to the contra-terrene generating plant: We want into that plant: It's just that simple: You're smugglers: That's it: You're trying to steal some sort of hardware: - Something like that: - But that place is a fortress: I'll never be able to get you past all the security devices: Don't flatter yourself, Mr: Selvan: We don't expect you to: You're a key: Nothing more: Just get us inside and we'll do the rest: No: I won't do it: It would mean my job: I won't do it! That's very noble, Mr: Selvan: Your job: Hmm: Are you as brave when it comes to the lives of your family? [Katrina.]
Mister? Why are you wearing that mask? It's sort of a game: Do you like magic? Give me your hand: Take these pebbles: Drop them in my hand: Take 'em back: And do it again: Oh! Do it again:! Do it again:! Okay, I'll get you in: But just don't harm my family: Don't harm my family: Don't worry, Mr: Selvan: You do your job, and they'll be fine: - Sure? - We may be smugglers, but we do know the value of a contract: [Children Shouting.]
[Varek's Voice.]
You can't imagine life on my planet: The children are afraid to look at their own reflections: Children with a touch of death: Children like myself: Buck, you okay? Boy, do I hate to go through those things: [Sighs.]
Earth Directorate, this is Buck Rogers: Do you read? Yes: Buck, where are you? About 40 minutes from Earth: The assassins are on their way to Earth now: Kellogg's plan is to sabotage the reactor outside New Chicago: That's impossible: The security around that reactor is impregnable: Doc, do you really think anything is impregnable to these people? You're right: Of course: Very well: I'll lead a ground squad to the reactor myself: Colonel Deering will meet you on the flight deck when you arrive: Huer out: You're, uh, taking me to a city that may be wiped off the map at any minute? I told you it might be dangerous: You have a real gift for understatement: [Chuckling.]
Why do all the good-looking ones have to be crazy? [Kellogg.]
The plant is only a few kilometers away: We'll land behind the rock formations at its northern perimeter: It's won't be long now: Well, they're very clever: Even the identifying sensors are hidden: But you know where they are: Do you not, Mr: Selvan? [Quince.]
But why not send Varek in ahead and let him open the doors from the inside? It doesn't work that way, Quince: The portal can only be opened from the outside, not without the correct identity code: Mr: Selvan here is our only key: This is insane: There are literally dozens of security baffles inside of this plant: And besides, you'll never make it beyond the maintenance androids: [Door Buzzes.]
[Kellogg.]
Ah: After we enter, the sensors will pick up five heartbeats, notjust one: An alarm will go off, so be prepared: If you will, Mr: Selvan: Halt! There is no trespassing! You are in violation of statute 0605 [Alarm Beeping.]
Androids, as you can see: Shall we continue? [Alarm Continues Beeping.]
- Buck! - Wilma! You're all right! Oh! Yeah: I was caught between a rock and a hard place for a while, but I'm okay: I don't understand you, but it feels good not understanding you again: [Chuckles.]
Oh! Joella, Wilma: Wilma, Joella: - Hi: - How we doing? Fine: Dr: Huer is on his way with the ground forces, and I've got three starfighters fueled up and ready to go: Terrific! Joella, I'm gonna leave you: : : In two of the most capable hands in all of New Chicago: - Theo, Twiki, this is Joella: - [Chirping.]
They will introduce you to sights you never dreamed existed: [Chirping.]
I thought you'd feel that way: Let's go: [Chirping.]
What a fox: [Theo.]
Now wait a minute, Twiki: I have a great deal to do in my office: [Twiki.]
I'll drop you off: [Chuckles.]
[Selvan.]
That is a neutronium vault door: You will never be able to make it past it: Now, one more step and we activate the defense laser: The sensor web picks up any changes in air density: The sensor switch is on that far wall: Varek will turn it off: Varek, don't you hear me? Put that grotesque body of yours to some use: : : And turn it off: [Alarms Beeping.]
[Alarm Stops.]
It's done: We're not handing out medals, Varek: If I'm not mistaken, this should be the final obstacle: - Is that correct, Mr: Selvan? - I wouldn't know: Of course you would: One of these buttons gives us direct access to the main control room: The other, should we press it, releases a potent nerve gas: : : That will paralyze all of us instantly, yes? So you see, Mr: Selvan, it's up to you: Choose the wrong button, and I'm afraid our associate in New Chicago will have to eliminate your family: Despite his growing fondness for your lovely wife: - The top one: - The top one? Well? He's lying: Thank you, Mr: Selvan: You did exactly as I expected took a chance that we couldn't notify our associate before the nerve gas took effect: For whatever it's worth, you would have been right: Dr: Theopolis says that the Energy Directorate has been receiving: : : Automated distress signals from the contra-terrene plant for over 20 minutes now: How far are Dr: Huer and his people from the plant? He should be closing in in about ten minutes: - Have the people at the plant been alerted? - Well, there are no people out at the plant: Only a few maintenance androids that also double as guards: The plant's major operations are remotely controlled by technicians at the Energy Directorate: - Almost everything else is - Computerized: - [Hum Resonating.]
- And this must be the vacuum chamber: Correct, Quince: The antimatter is held in an electromagnetic bottle which, of course, is invisible to us: What are you doing? If you keep that up, the magnetic bottles containing the antimatter will start to erode: [Kellogg.]
Mr: Selvan, I know exactly what I'm doing: I've done a great deal of research on contra-terrene reactors: It has always been a pet conceptual project of mine: But if the bottles erode, the antimatter will start leaking into the atmosphere: : : And everything within 200 square kilometers will be destroyed:! Mr: Selvan, I'm afraid we misled you: : : About our motivation: [Sherese.]
You can hardly blame us, Mr: Selvan: If you knew we were gonna wipe out the city in which your family lives, you wouldn't have cooperated: You murdering liars! [Grunts.]
No one ever strikes me! Nobody! You do know you'll have to die: Kill him, Varek: You heard me: Dispose of him now! No: No? You dare say no to me? I will not kill him: I will not allow you destroy this city: [Shouting.]
You won't allow us? What was that? Something I thought I'd never have to use: Now, if you would be so kind as to use that on this: [Man Over P: A:.]
Alert:! Alert:! This is a code five emergency: In five minutes, the chain reaction shall begin: So, until we meet again on Sutter's World, To claim credit for this to the Legion of Death: Terminal reaction will occur in five minutes: All maintenance androids report to vacuum chamber immediately: Erosion has begun in the antimatter containment vessels: Alert:! [Dr: Huer.]
They've destroyed the guard androids: This is Huer: I'vejust arrived at the plant: [Wilma.]
We're only 30 seconds from joining you, Doctor: Unfortunately, it looks as though the assassins have already been here: - Maybe they're still inside: - Not anymore: Dr: Huer, the assassins are trying to escape: We're going after them: Deering out: Come with me: [Man Over P: A:.]
Three minutes, How bad is the damage? Magnetic bottles eroding: We have to get them back to full strength before chain reaction: Good Lord: No, no, no! He tried to stop them: Good Lord: They've destroyed the controls: The only possible way I can repair the damage is to go inside the vacuum chamber: You can't be serious: These containers are eroding: There's probably stray atoms of antimatter floating around in there: One step inside and you could be annihilated before you made a single move: Sir, we have no other choice: What about the maintenance androids? Kellogg destroyed them: Someone has to go in there: I'll go: I don't want to mislead you: I know what you can do, but even you may not be able to survive in there: Just tell me what to do: All right: [Man Over P: A:.]
Two minutes, What's shakin', Porky? - You! You still alive? - I sure am: One minute, 45 seconds to terminal reaction: One minute, 30 seconds to terminal reaction: Oops: - Buck, what's wrong? - It's Quince! He's frozen my controls! Help me, Wilma! Distract him! Break his concentration! [Beeping.]
- Wilma, are you all right? - Fine: Thanks, Buck: Thank you: Dynamite, Lieutenant Murphy: Lieutenant Murphy, tow what's left of our friends back to Earth: - Buck, let's head down to the plant: - I'm with you: - Sixty seconds to terminal reaction: - I feel so helpless: He'll do fine, if he just remembers the correct sequence: Forty-five seconds to terminal reaction: Dr: Huer, what's happening? That man in there is trying to repair the damage the assassins did: - Thirty seconds to terminal reaction: - Varek: He's restoring the magnetic bottles they almost destroyed: He's taking an awfully big chance though: [Man Over P: A:.]
Fifteen, fourteen, thirteen, twelve, eleven, ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three - [Man Over P: A:.]
Erosion terminated: - He's done it: Code five emergency is no longer in effect: The bottles are back to full strength: Varek, you did it: - What's happened to him? - A few last atoms of antimatter must have escaped: He was annihilated instantly: I wonder if he even knew he saved us: Varek! We thought you'd been killed: When the first atom of antimatter struck me, I dropped down through the floor: As you can see, I'm not entirely undamaged: Let's get you to the Directorate clinic: - Varek, you okay? - Yes, I'm fine: No, you're not: Let us help you: Thank you: [Softly.]
Thank you: Ah: Buck, what was it you said this liquid is again? Wine: Wine: Burgundy, to be exact: I filched some fruit that looked like grapes from the hydroponics lab, squeezed 'em into juice, had Theo hit it with a little delta radiation: : : To speed up the fermentation process, and, uh, well, here we go: That's not bad: So, Theo, any luck tracing down Sherese? None, I'm afraid, Buck: She's probably halfway to Arcturus by now: What do you think Varek will do now without Kellogg? He's asked me to take him back to his own planet, or what's left of it: I can understand that: It's the only home he's known: - You going to take him back then? - It's the least I can do for a fellow survivor: [Door Beeping.]
Ah, Joella, Twiki, come on in: Well, what'd you think of him? He is everything you said he'd be, Buck: [Chirping.]
[Laughing.]
- What's so funny? - He is: Didn't you hear? [Chirping, Chuckling.]
Twiki-wiki, really, now: [Laughing.]
The year is 1987, and NASA launches the last of America's deep space probes: In a freak mishap, Ranger 3 and its pilot, Captain William "Buck'"Rogers, are blown out of their trajectory into an orbit which freezes his life-support systems: : : And returns Buck Rogers to Earth: : : [Narrator.]
In our last episode, Buck Rogers assumed the identity of a killer: Argus: And we all know Rafael Argus was about to be initiated into the ranks of the Legion of Death: However, because he always operated under a variety of names and appearances, none of the other assassins has any clear-cut idea of what he looks like: Which is fortunate for you, as you'll be impersonating him: Oh: [Buck.]
Get his gun, Barney:! Greetings, Mr: Argus: I take it this means I passed: Anyone who can hold his own against us deserves to be considered one of us: I'm Kellogg: Sherese and Quince and Varek: We're being observed: [Kellogg.]
Kill her, now:! Rafael Argus: I should have known: - Is Rafael here yet? - Joella: It's been a while: Look, I know we didn't part on the best of terms, but give me a chance, will you? You got a deal, Rafe: The total destruction of the Terran capital New Chicago: To destroy a city that large, you'd need an earthquake or Or an antimatter explosion: Barney? I met Rafael Argus two years ago on Sutter's World, and I can tell you for a fact, that ain't him: You've got to be kidding: Who you gonna believe, someone you never met before today Or someone we never met before yesterday: And, Joella, you should have told us he was an impostor when you had the chance: Leave her out of this: Stop him! [All Shouting Indistinctly.]
There! [Buck.]
Not this time, Porky: Go! [Beeping.]
[Gasps.]
[Sighs.]
You are something: We're not out of the woods yet: We're gonna split up: I'll meet you in the main terminal of the spaceport in 10 minutes: Right! [Gasps.]
We're just beyond the stargate, Doctor: I'm bringing Markos back with me: Good: Good: And Buck's all right? - Buck isn't with me: - What? What happened? He was supposed to meet me at 1500 hours: I waited as long as I dared: - You mean he's still on Aldebaran? - It's not as if I wanted to leave him there: - No, no, of course not: - I'll explain everything back on Earth: Deering out: Now, whoever you are, whom do you work for? The stellar authorities? What's in that thing? A chemical, that's all: One that will act upon the thalamic regions of your brain: But don't worry: While it will cause a great deal of pain, it won't do any physical damage: All right, all right: I'll tell you! I like my thalamic regions just the way they are: Thank you: Who are you, and what did you do with Argus? Wist: Aron Wist: - [Quince.]
Aron Wist: - You've heard of him? [Quince.]
Just stories: An assassin out of Alpha Centauri: Strictly local: Small-time: Not so small-time I didn't have all of you fooled: No: But the question is, why? I heard the four of you were getting together: I thought Argus might be onto something big: I wanted a cut: I didn't think I'd end up avenging one of your dead buddies for free: And Argus? He didn't object to you impersonating him? Argus was in no condition to object to anything: Are you trying to tell us: : : You killed Rafael Argus? I never said that: You never heard me say that: I say we kill him now and get it over with: Perhaps we should attempt to validate Mr: Wist's story: Varek: Bring my transmitter case here: : : Quickly: And how do we validate his story? I have this friend: : : Who happens to be a cataloger at the Earth Defense Directorate: Not only is he keeping Elias Huer busy: : : With pyrotechnical reminders that we do mean to avenge: : : Deneva's death, but he also has access to the Directorate's data banks: With any luck, we should have positive identification within 30 minutes: So, Mr: Wist, if that is your name, you have nothing to worry about: If not I think you're lying, Mr: Markos: Take him to the lab: Have Dr: Nowlan prepare the mind probe: Hooking me up to one of your machines isn't gonna do you any good, Huer: Shortly, you and the rest of this city are gonna be blown to bits: In case it hasn't dawned on you, if and when this city is destroyed, you'll be destroyed as well: I pray he is lying: Unless we find out exactly: : : How they plan to destroy New Chicago, the best we can do is step up general security: - Still no word from Buck? - No: None: Since we lack concrete data, Dr: Huer, I suggest we analyze: : : All known factors and attempt to develop a theory concerning the assassins' plan: Twiki, please place me on the desk so that Dr: Huer and I can talk: [Chirping.]
Here: Let me help you, Twiki: He's still not accustomed to subspace communication: Maybe he's using the wrong channel: We've kept all channels open ever since you returned, Colonel: And we've heard nothing: He's probably dead: [Kellogg.]
He's Aron Wist, all right: I say we kill him anyhow: [Kellogg.]
Stand by, Mr: Hartsteen: Now let's consider his story: He's here impersonating Rafael Argus: Argus is nowhere to be found: Circumstantial evidence does indicate: : : That he indeed has killed Argus: And anyone capable of eliminating: : : The legendary Rafael Argus is a formidable ally: He's an arrogant fool, Kellogg! Sherese, if arrogance were a capital crime, we'd all be dead long ago: I say he goes with us: : : In my ship: He goes in mine: Wait a minute: Don't I have anything to say about this? He goes with Quince: Mr: Hartsteen, thank you for relaying the vid-copy: I have one more request: We're about to leave for Earth, but before we do, I wanna be absolutely certain: : : That Huer suspects nothing: That could be very dangerous: That's what you are paid for, Hartsteen: I expect you to get back to me within 20 minutes: Kellogg out: I suggest you three head for the spaceport: Our transportation should be ready momentarily: And I suggest that if Mr: Wist gives us any trouble at all, we eliminate him: - Agreed? - Most definitely: Dr: Huer, have you heard from Buck? Well, not exactly: But Dr: Theopolis was just informed that information concerning Aron Wist: : : Has been extracted from the central data bank: Aron Wist? I don't understand: [Dr: Huer.]
Wist is a nonexistent criminal invented by the Defense Directorate: And Buck was instructed to use Aron Wist as a secondary cover: : : In the event his primary cover of Rafael Argus failed: So the fact that someone was trying to tap that information: : : Means that someone's trying to verify Buck's story: [Dr: Huer.]
And that Buck is still alive: Dr: Huer, request permission to return to Aldebaran immediately: - Denied: - But, Doctor No, he must get out of this himself: And your appearance could very well place him in more jeopardy: I understand: Wist is actually an agent? Are you certain? Positive: His real name is Rogers: Buck Rogers: And Huer, he still has no idea: : : Exactly how I plan to destroy New Chicago? No, he doesn't: Whatever it is you intend to do, it sounds like it's safe for you to go ahead: And if that's the case, I'll be signing off now: Got a shuttle to catch to New Phoenix: I take it you've established the credit account there as we discussed? Yes, yes, of course, Hartsteen: You've earned your money: Kellogg out: Played for a fool: : : Twice: : : In one day: I'll have Quince: : : Tear him to pieces: [Woman Over P: A:.]
Flight 723 to Altair 5 now boarding at Gate 20: Hey, wait a minute, you little worm! Greetings, my dear: Salutations: We meet again: You turned us in for the money, didn't you? I had no idea I would need such heavy bribes to get through Customs: I was bled dry: Ohhh: Moreover, I discovered that the credits with which my friend Kellogg paid me off: : : Were, shall we call, tainted: Hmph: Well, luckily enough I was able to pass them off on a less discerning fellow: : : For a well-equipped starfighter, which even as we speak: : : Is being readied for flight in hangar bay number nine: You little creep: There is a great, wide, potentially lucrative universe waiting out there: : : For an enterprising fellow such as myself: And a universe, I might add, which could prove equally lucrative: : : To an enterprising young woman too: Have you ever thought of leaving this primitive mud bowl and entering civilization? Oh! That's it: Don't make a snap decision: Take some time: Think about it: I can wait: [Woman Over P: A:.]
Arriving passenger Dr: Adam Strange from Alpha Centauri, please report to the reservations desk: There they are: All right, come along, Varek: Let's say good-bye to Buck Rogers, shall we? We'll pick up the l: D: Plates and wait for Kellogg at the ships: Any idea what he has in mind for us to do first? What we're gonna do first is get rid of you: Kellogg, we've been through this before: He's an agent for the Earth Defense Directorate: I do the honors: Put it away, my dear: You may have what's left: [Screams.]
After him! [Kellogg.]
Down there! [Groans.]
Varek, go in there and dispose of him: He'll think that was you: Why'd you do that? This is why: This is who I am: You can't imagine life on my planet: The children are afraid to look at their own reflections: Children with a touch of death: Children like myself: Kellogg is condemning your people to the same fate as mine: There's no hope for my world, but there is for Earth: Stop them: That's something you can do, isn't it? No: I have never belonged anywhere: : : Except with Kellogg: That's all I know: That's all I can do: That's why I'm freeing you: You stop them: Please: It's done: That's fine: Well, our ships must be ready: Let's retrieve Mr: Quince and be on our way to New Chicago: Uh, hello, Dr: Huer: Well, Hartsteen: You're, uh, making a rather short day of it, aren't you? I don't feel very well: I was just on my way to the clinic: Oh, I see: You know, if Dr: Theopolis hadn't already been onto your extracurricular activities, we might never have known it was you who tapped the data bank: : : For information on Aron Wist: What exactly does Kellogg have in mind for New Chicago? I don't know: - [Chirping.]
- Take him to Detention: But I do know they're wise to the agent you sent to Aldebaran: Buck Rogers is a dead man, Huer: Like all the rest of you, a dead man: [Chirping.]
Haul buns, Hartsteen: All subspace calls require two forms of identification: : : Regardless of what party is billed: [Clears Throat.]
Especially on this planet: Look, I have got to make that transmission: There are thousands of people who are in danger: So go to the police if it's that important: Are you kidding me? The authorities here are almost as bad as the criminals: [Chuckles.]
Maybe so, but they do know what to do with loiterers, if you get my drift, sir: Yeah, I get your drift: Remind me to give you a call the next time hell freezes over: Buck! Oh, Buck! Joella: Where have you been? I've been looking all over for you: I figured after what I did to Quince, I better lay low for a little while: By the way, thanks for what you did back there: You could have been killed: For the third time today incidentally: You know, it seems like ever since I met you, I've been making some very powerful people very angry at me: And you know something? I haven't had this much fun in months! You're out of your mind, you know that? No more than you: Thanks, Buck: For what, almost getting you killed? For letting me help you: : : And for not casting me aside after you were done with me: Come on: I've gotta find a ship and get to Earth as quickly as possible: Uh, look: The place we're going can be very, very dangerous: So if at any time you want me to drop you off Uh-uh: We've come this far together, we'll go all the way: Okay: As a matter of fact, I think I even know where we can find a ship: Terrific: Let's go: [Sherese.]
Just how do we break in to this generating plant? By using our combined abilities under my direction, of course: Not one of us could accomplish this task alone: Really? Quince, formidable as your telekinesis can be, you could only concentrate on one thing at a time: Inside the plant, there will be upwards from 20 barriers at any given moment: With my logistical skills, I can analyze any security system within minutes: You and Varek with your respective abilities: : : Can easily circumvent those security devices between you: And me? You, Sherese, will help us with the final key to our task - Mr: Richard Selvan: - Who? [Kellogg.]
We do need an Energy Directorate employee: : : To help us gain initial entry to the plant: Mr: Selvan is a respected employee, an engineer and a family man: - What makes you think he'll cooperate? - Show me one family man: : : Who can afford to be a hero: Take a look, my friends: Take a long good look: Tomorrow the picture will be different: [Woman Over P: A:.]
Flight 262 to Regulus 5 You like? [Buck.]
She's nice: I really hate the idea of stealing some poor schlep's starfighter, though: I wouldn't worry about that: Wait till you meet the owner: As a matter of fact, there he is now: Thank you: [Woman Over P: A:.]
Flight 666 to Lavas Planet will be leaving from Gate 6 in 30 minutes: Hello, Barney: [Groans.]
Well, my friends! I am happy to see that you have managed to escape the tendrils of disaster, as it were: No thanks to you: You were more than happy to sell me out for a few thousand credits: Oh, my friend, I feel insulted: Do you think that I would sell you out for a few thousand credits? A few hundred thousand: I see: And with that money, you bought yourself a very nice starfighter: Oh, it's beautiful, isn't it? A real beauty: A steal, if you'll pardon the expression: Yeah, she is: I'm looking forward to flying her: Actually, it's cosmetic: The engines are in terrible shape: Terrible disrepair: Nobody's [Chuckles.]
My friend, you are joking: I mean, you're not going to let: : : A momentary lapse of judgment on my part affect your sensibilities: Give me your l: D: Plate, Barney: [Sighs.]
Just who are you, anyway? I mean, who do you work for? Barney, if I don't get to Earth, a very sizable chunk of a planet I'm very fond of is gonna be destroyed: Who cares? You could buy a new planet: My friend, I'm talking heavy credits here: Give me your l: D: Plate, Barney: [Groans.]
There's a law against this, you know: How do you propose I get off this celestial mud ball? A word of advice, Barney: Learn to like mud: Wait: Come on: Step back: Enough, Matt: Enough: I'm dying: Go over and play with your sister Katrina and let me rest: [Chuckles.]
[Quince.]
That's a fine, healthy-looking boy you have there: His name is Mateo, isn't it? He was named after your wife's father: Your wife being Therese, of course: And the little girl: : : Playing next to our friends there, that must be Katrina: What is this? Who are you? You have something we want: But I have no money: I'm not rich: I'm just an engineer: It's not money we want, Mr: Selvan: You have access to the contra-terrene generating plant: We want into that plant: It's just that simple: You're smugglers: That's it: You're trying to steal some sort of hardware: - Something like that: - But that place is a fortress: I'll never be able to get you past all the security devices: Don't flatter yourself, Mr: Selvan: We don't expect you to: You're a key: Nothing more: Just get us inside and we'll do the rest: No: I won't do it: It would mean my job: I won't do it! That's very noble, Mr: Selvan: Your job: Hmm: Are you as brave when it comes to the lives of your family? [Katrina.]
Mister? Why are you wearing that mask? It's sort of a game: Do you like magic? Give me your hand: Take these pebbles: Drop them in my hand: Take 'em back: And do it again: Oh! Do it again:! Do it again:! Okay, I'll get you in: But just don't harm my family: Don't harm my family: Don't worry, Mr: Selvan: You do your job, and they'll be fine: - Sure? - We may be smugglers, but we do know the value of a contract: [Children Shouting.]
[Varek's Voice.]
You can't imagine life on my planet: The children are afraid to look at their own reflections: Children with a touch of death: Children like myself: Buck, you okay? Boy, do I hate to go through those things: [Sighs.]
Earth Directorate, this is Buck Rogers: Do you read? Yes: Buck, where are you? About 40 minutes from Earth: The assassins are on their way to Earth now: Kellogg's plan is to sabotage the reactor outside New Chicago: That's impossible: The security around that reactor is impregnable: Doc, do you really think anything is impregnable to these people? You're right: Of course: Very well: I'll lead a ground squad to the reactor myself: Colonel Deering will meet you on the flight deck when you arrive: Huer out: You're, uh, taking me to a city that may be wiped off the map at any minute? I told you it might be dangerous: You have a real gift for understatement: [Chuckling.]
Why do all the good-looking ones have to be crazy? [Kellogg.]
The plant is only a few kilometers away: We'll land behind the rock formations at its northern perimeter: It's won't be long now: Well, they're very clever: Even the identifying sensors are hidden: But you know where they are: Do you not, Mr: Selvan? [Quince.]
But why not send Varek in ahead and let him open the doors from the inside? It doesn't work that way, Quince: The portal can only be opened from the outside, not without the correct identity code: Mr: Selvan here is our only key: This is insane: There are literally dozens of security baffles inside of this plant: And besides, you'll never make it beyond the maintenance androids: [Door Buzzes.]
[Kellogg.]
Ah: After we enter, the sensors will pick up five heartbeats, notjust one: An alarm will go off, so be prepared: If you will, Mr: Selvan: Halt! There is no trespassing! You are in violation of statute 0605 [Alarm Beeping.]
Androids, as you can see: Shall we continue? [Alarm Continues Beeping.]
- Buck! - Wilma! You're all right! Oh! Yeah: I was caught between a rock and a hard place for a while, but I'm okay: I don't understand you, but it feels good not understanding you again: [Chuckles.]
Oh! Joella, Wilma: Wilma, Joella: - Hi: - How we doing? Fine: Dr: Huer is on his way with the ground forces, and I've got three starfighters fueled up and ready to go: Terrific! Joella, I'm gonna leave you: : : In two of the most capable hands in all of New Chicago: - Theo, Twiki, this is Joella: - [Chirping.]
They will introduce you to sights you never dreamed existed: [Chirping.]
I thought you'd feel that way: Let's go: [Chirping.]
What a fox: [Theo.]
Now wait a minute, Twiki: I have a great deal to do in my office: [Twiki.]
I'll drop you off: [Chuckles.]
[Selvan.]
That is a neutronium vault door: You will never be able to make it past it: Now, one more step and we activate the defense laser: The sensor web picks up any changes in air density: The sensor switch is on that far wall: Varek will turn it off: Varek, don't you hear me? Put that grotesque body of yours to some use: : : And turn it off: [Alarms Beeping.]
[Alarm Stops.]
It's done: We're not handing out medals, Varek: If I'm not mistaken, this should be the final obstacle: - Is that correct, Mr: Selvan? - I wouldn't know: Of course you would: One of these buttons gives us direct access to the main control room: The other, should we press it, releases a potent nerve gas: : : That will paralyze all of us instantly, yes? So you see, Mr: Selvan, it's up to you: Choose the wrong button, and I'm afraid our associate in New Chicago will have to eliminate your family: Despite his growing fondness for your lovely wife: - The top one: - The top one? Well? He's lying: Thank you, Mr: Selvan: You did exactly as I expected took a chance that we couldn't notify our associate before the nerve gas took effect: For whatever it's worth, you would have been right: Dr: Theopolis says that the Energy Directorate has been receiving: : : Automated distress signals from the contra-terrene plant for over 20 minutes now: How far are Dr: Huer and his people from the plant? He should be closing in in about ten minutes: - Have the people at the plant been alerted? - Well, there are no people out at the plant: Only a few maintenance androids that also double as guards: The plant's major operations are remotely controlled by technicians at the Energy Directorate: - Almost everything else is - Computerized: - [Hum Resonating.]
- And this must be the vacuum chamber: Correct, Quince: The antimatter is held in an electromagnetic bottle which, of course, is invisible to us: What are you doing? If you keep that up, the magnetic bottles containing the antimatter will start to erode: [Kellogg.]
Mr: Selvan, I know exactly what I'm doing: I've done a great deal of research on contra-terrene reactors: It has always been a pet conceptual project of mine: But if the bottles erode, the antimatter will start leaking into the atmosphere: : : And everything within 200 square kilometers will be destroyed:! Mr: Selvan, I'm afraid we misled you: : : About our motivation: [Sherese.]
You can hardly blame us, Mr: Selvan: If you knew we were gonna wipe out the city in which your family lives, you wouldn't have cooperated: You murdering liars! [Grunts.]
No one ever strikes me! Nobody! You do know you'll have to die: Kill him, Varek: You heard me: Dispose of him now! No: No? You dare say no to me? I will not kill him: I will not allow you destroy this city: [Shouting.]
You won't allow us? What was that? Something I thought I'd never have to use: Now, if you would be so kind as to use that on this: [Man Over P: A:.]
Alert:! Alert:! This is a code five emergency: In five minutes, the chain reaction shall begin: So, until we meet again on Sutter's World, To claim credit for this to the Legion of Death: Terminal reaction will occur in five minutes: All maintenance androids report to vacuum chamber immediately: Erosion has begun in the antimatter containment vessels: Alert:! [Dr: Huer.]
They've destroyed the guard androids: This is Huer: I'vejust arrived at the plant: [Wilma.]
We're only 30 seconds from joining you, Doctor: Unfortunately, it looks as though the assassins have already been here: - Maybe they're still inside: - Not anymore: Dr: Huer, the assassins are trying to escape: We're going after them: Deering out: Come with me: [Man Over P: A:.]
Three minutes, How bad is the damage? Magnetic bottles eroding: We have to get them back to full strength before chain reaction: Good Lord: No, no, no! He tried to stop them: Good Lord: They've destroyed the controls: The only possible way I can repair the damage is to go inside the vacuum chamber: You can't be serious: These containers are eroding: There's probably stray atoms of antimatter floating around in there: One step inside and you could be annihilated before you made a single move: Sir, we have no other choice: What about the maintenance androids? Kellogg destroyed them: Someone has to go in there: I'll go: I don't want to mislead you: I know what you can do, but even you may not be able to survive in there: Just tell me what to do: All right: [Man Over P: A:.]
Two minutes, What's shakin', Porky? - You! You still alive? - I sure am: One minute, 45 seconds to terminal reaction: One minute, 30 seconds to terminal reaction: Oops: - Buck, what's wrong? - It's Quince! He's frozen my controls! Help me, Wilma! Distract him! Break his concentration! [Beeping.]
- Wilma, are you all right? - Fine: Thanks, Buck: Thank you: Dynamite, Lieutenant Murphy: Lieutenant Murphy, tow what's left of our friends back to Earth: - Buck, let's head down to the plant: - I'm with you: - Sixty seconds to terminal reaction: - I feel so helpless: He'll do fine, if he just remembers the correct sequence: Forty-five seconds to terminal reaction: Dr: Huer, what's happening? That man in there is trying to repair the damage the assassins did: - Thirty seconds to terminal reaction: - Varek: He's restoring the magnetic bottles they almost destroyed: He's taking an awfully big chance though: [Man Over P: A:.]
Fifteen, fourteen, thirteen, twelve, eleven, ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three - [Man Over P: A:.]
Erosion terminated: - He's done it: Code five emergency is no longer in effect: The bottles are back to full strength: Varek, you did it: - What's happened to him? - A few last atoms of antimatter must have escaped: He was annihilated instantly: I wonder if he even knew he saved us: Varek! We thought you'd been killed: When the first atom of antimatter struck me, I dropped down through the floor: As you can see, I'm not entirely undamaged: Let's get you to the Directorate clinic: - Varek, you okay? - Yes, I'm fine: No, you're not: Let us help you: Thank you: [Softly.]
Thank you: Ah: Buck, what was it you said this liquid is again? Wine: Wine: Burgundy, to be exact: I filched some fruit that looked like grapes from the hydroponics lab, squeezed 'em into juice, had Theo hit it with a little delta radiation: : : To speed up the fermentation process, and, uh, well, here we go: That's not bad: So, Theo, any luck tracing down Sherese? None, I'm afraid, Buck: She's probably halfway to Arcturus by now: What do you think Varek will do now without Kellogg? He's asked me to take him back to his own planet, or what's left of it: I can understand that: It's the only home he's known: - You going to take him back then? - It's the least I can do for a fellow survivor: [Door Beeping.]
Ah, Joella, Twiki, come on in: Well, what'd you think of him? He is everything you said he'd be, Buck: [Chirping.]
[Laughing.]
- What's so funny? - He is: Didn't you hear? [Chirping, Chuckling.]
Twiki-wiki, really, now: [Laughing.]