"'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 500 years later.'" "(♫ Electronic rock)" "I was afraid you were too good to be true, Tarkas." "Your report to New Chicago will have to be delayed, permanently!" "Remarkable." "When the evacuation system opens, trash from all over Musicworld will be swept into space." "This time it will include Tarkas." "When does it evacuate?" "Any second now." "That's Andromeda, the most popular group in the galaxy." "They have an incredible influence over young people." " Sounds like The Beatles." " The who?" "No, not The Who." "The Beatles." "A group that was popular in my time." "Andromeda is a phenomenon, and possibly a disturbing problem." "Problem?" "Why?" "Captain Rogers, data has shown that within minutes of an Andromeda concert broadcast from Musicworld, there is a 55 per cent surge in youth crimes." "Frankly, we're puzzled, and more than a little concerned." "Were there similar problems in your time?" "Not really." "Usually, music gave kids something to believe in, identify with." "It was a powerful force but a good one." " What is Musicworld?" " An abandoned military orbital fortress." "It's been renovated by a conglomerate of music promoters." "And totally outside of Directorate jurisdiction, I regret to say." "Dr Theopolis said something about crime." "What kind?" "Why, almost anything." "Rioting, looting, wanton destruction." "We've been seeing this sort of thing." " It looks like some kind of uniform." " Disturbingly so." " Is an organisation behind this?" " We don't know." "We are investigating." "We've inserted an agent in Musicworld." " Our actions are unilateral." " Off the record?" "If you mean unauthorised, yes." "What has your agent come up with?" "Nothing specific yet but Tarkas's report indicates he's onto something." "His cover is as Andromeda sound tech." "He sends coded reports as part of the concerts' transmission." "Yes, we'll be receiving something later." "Yarat, help me install this." "Now we tighten the screws." "(Laughing)" "Whooo!" "Let's go!" "We have the message from Tarkas." "Decoding is complete." " Veck?" " What's the rest of the message?" "The message broke off in mid-transmission." "Maybe it wasn't safe for Tarkas to continue." "We'll get the rest later." "(Alarm beeping)" " What is it, Doctor?" " I have a report." "Disruptions have broken out at the youth centre." "More information, Doctor." "New Chicago Spaceport informs me that two young people have stolen a starfighter, numerals 1314." " That's my ship!" "Those kids will be killed!" " I'll dispatch intercepts." "Cancel that." "I'll go myself." "Have a ship stand by, Wilma, while I change into my flight gear." "(♫ Andromeda on radio)" " What's this thing doing?" " Almost half light speed." "Half light speed?" "We're standing still, Elaine!" "OK, gang, the ride's over." "What are you talking about?" "We're just beginning to fly." " Not in my ship, you're not." " He's gonna have to catch us first." "Back off the power." "At that speed you're going to start phasing." "(Laughing)" " Mark!" "What are we doing?" " I don't know." "How do we stop this thing?" " Maybe if I cut the power..." " Don't." "The controls will freeze." " Nothing happens." "We're accelerating." " What do we do?" "Reach below the seat." "There's a red emergency box." "Pull the switch, and hurry." "Just sit back." "Keep your hands off everything." "I'm taking over by remote." " What exactly is going on?" " I don't know." "It was so strange." "We were at the youth centre watching Andromeda." "Suddenly everybody went crazy, like someone pulled a switch." "I don't buy that. "The devil made me do it" was obsolete in the 20th century." " We really couldn't stop." " That's right!" "I could see what was happening but it was like watching two other people." "Have they ever been in trouble before?" "No." "That's the intriguing thing." "They're two fine young people." " The music again?" " Yes, that had crossed my mind." "Mine, too." "Look, about these two, I don't want to press charges." " What are you going to do?" " You're not gonna take us to rehab?" " Oh, no." "Worse." " Worse?" "We're going to send you home to your parents." "Dr Huer, a starfighter patrol has found Tarkas's body floating in space." "He's been murdered." "That's why the transmission was interrupted." "Well, that settles it." "Something is seriously wrong in Musicworld." " If only we didn't have so little to go on." " Shall I take a closer look at Musicworld?" " Maybe I can come up with something." " Maybe." "Except you could cause a great deal of suspicion." " Not if there's a reason to be there." " Musicworld?" "Andromeda give their first galaxy-wide concert in two days." " How can that help?" " It's a natural!" "A man from the 20th century, when rock and roll was born, goes to Musicworld, introduces Andromeda to the rest of the galaxy." " It's a great promotion." " And a great cover." "That's brilliant, Buck." "Absolutely brilliant." "The person who promotes most of the concerts on Musicworld is a friend." " He could get you in." " I'll prepare to leave." " You're going to need some company." " Absolutely." "Take Twiki." "It's possible I could be of some assistance as well, Dr Huer." "I agree, Doctor." "Colonel Deering and I can coordinate from this end." "OK, great." "Let's get going, guys." "You kids were fantastic!" "Every broadcast is like seeing you for the first time." "Oh, come on." "You say that all the time." "Because it's true!" "Cirus, those double-looped afterbeats on Stardrift were fabulous." "I didn't think it would work." "As usual, you were right." "I may have an idea once in a while, but if it weren't for this group..." "If it wasn't for you, where would we be?" "That's right, Mangros." "You made us." "That may be a bit overstated, Rambeau, but thank you." "Karana, are you going to include Timewalk on the galaxy-wide broadcast?" "Why?" "The mood of that song is so quiet, so thoughtful." "On that broadcast, we want to be always building, climbing to a climax never reached before." "Yeah." "Well, listen." "If you think that's best, then we'll drop it." "It's not what I think." "It's what we all think together." " Give it some thought." " Anything you say, Lars." "'Everything is set on Musicworld.'" "Wesland has agreed to feature you as the MC." " He's contacting Andromeda's manager." " What's his name?" "Mangros." "He's one of the best in the music world." "What do we know about him?" "Nothing." "Colonel Deering is preparing a bio-file." " Then he'll be expecting me?" " 'Oh, yes." "I'm sure of it.'" " I don't like it, Yarat!" " Wesland is the promoter." "He insisted we use Rogers on the broadcast." "I suppose he's harmless enough." "No one close to New Chicago's leadership is harmless." "Sir, one person can hardly be a threat to you." "True." "I always knew I was destined for greatness." "The particle ioniser is my assurance." "When the transmission begins at 1900 hours, everyone in the galaxy under 30 will be in the entertainment centres." "With the ioniser at full power..." "Instant, uncontrollable riots among young people on every planet." "All authority will collapse within a few hours." "Afterward, the heads of the galactic governments will have to come to me." "Then, and only then, will I restore order." "What about this Rogers?" "Rogers will be returning to New Chicago an hour after he arrives... on a hospital shuttle!" " That's some welcoming committee, Twiki." " I thought we were stars." "I guess not." "Let's see if we can find someone to point us in the right direction." "'Will the sonic engineer for Entro-Beat please call control room K?" "'" "And I wanted a welcoming committee!" "Right behind you, Buck." "Bidibidibidi.Take that, you bozo." " Thanks, Twiki." " Bidibidi." "Glad to help, Buck." "There's a Captain Rogers to see you." " Is something wrong, Lars?" " Just show Rogers in." "About tonight, we'll still be able to have dinner, won't we?" "We'll see." "Captain Rogers is waiting, Joanna." "Captain Rogers!" "Come in." "Lars Mangros." "How good of you to come to Musicworld!" " I wouldn't have missed it." " I can't apologise enough." "First, I miss your arrival." "Then the incident with those hoodlums." " Does that happen often?" " Not to Musicworld natives, but some of these kids think of strangers as their legitimate prey." " Well, I'm willing to forget about it." " It's best forgotten." "Now, listen." "About the concert." "Mr Wesland felt I'd be a perfect MC, but I haven't had much experience of this sort of thing." "I assumed you weren't a professional entertainer." "I've arranged for some writers." " We'll make it as easy as possible for you." " Thanks." "That'll be great." "I'll have you escorted down to meet Andromeda." "They are recording now." "Fine." "Thank you." "All right, let's try that one." "So, you must be the famous Buck Rogers." "You must be the famous Karana." " And you are?" " Rambeau." " Cirus." " Hiya, Cirus." " 'Do you want to hear it back?" "'" " Not especially, but go ahead." "(♫ Song playing back)" "Enough." " What was the matter?" "Sounded great." " We have a new sound man." " He's not quite there yet." " What happened to the old one?" "He disappeared, drifted on." "You know how these people are." "So, we have you on Musicworld for a couple of days?" " Looks that way." " I'd be glad to show you around." "I'd like that very much." " See you back at my quarters, Twiki." " Bidibidi." "Gotcha, boss!" "Your group's got a great sound." "It's like 20th-century rock and roll." " Oh, yeah?" " Yeah, really." "(Excited squeals)" "Hello there." "There you go." "Thank you." "Every time I go out, I need a hand transplant." " Everybody wants to touch a hero." " And autographs, pictures, advice, words of wisdom." " All I am is a musician." " Not to them." "They're crazy about you." "Sometimes I think that's exactly what they are." "Crazy." "Look, they're the kind of fans we'd like to do without." " Those people in the black uniforms?" " Mm." "It's strange." "We've got a huge following among those gangs." "Who they are and what they do is opposite from everything we believe in." "Have you tried talking to them?" "We tried, but then Lars said no one wanted to hear us sermonise, so we quit." " You do everything Lars Mangros tells you?" " We owe him a lot." "He made Andromeda into what it is." "Without him..." "That pendant - everyone in the group wears them." "What for?" "Good luck, I guess." "Lars gave them to us before our first concert." "He said if we never took them off, nothing could go wrong." " And?" " And so far, so good." "Oh, things couldn't be better." "He's a wonderful person, Buck." "He really is." " 'Anything new from your end?" "'" " No reports of youth-related violence." "And no Andromeda concerts recently, either?" "Right." "Colonel Deering has completed part of her research on Lars Mangros." " What have you got, Wilma?" " 'Actually, very little." "'Lars Mangros is some sort of musical genius." "'He's generally credited for creating the Andromeda sound.'" "The Andromeda sound?" "Rock and roll?" "'Exactly." "'Before he got into music, he was a research engineer." "'He wrote some highly respected papers dealing in particle movement theory." " 'Ring any bells?" "'" " No, I'm afraid not, Wilma." "I'm going to the control room later." "I may find something." " 'That doesn't sound safe.'" " I don't think there'll be problems." " It's been pretty quiet." " 'Be careful." "'We still don't know what or who we are dealing with up there.'" "So, Captain Rogers is not an entertainer after all." "An actor, perhaps, but not an entertainer." " Shall I send a squad to his room?" " No." "We need something more subtle." " You wanted me, Lars?" " Leave us." "I wanted to apologise to you for last night." "I've let business interfere with our relationship." "I was afraid you didn't find me attractive any more." "Joanna, you know I think you're the most beautiful woman in the galaxy." "A toast." "To our new togetherness." "Darling, there is one thing I have to ask of you." " Anything, Lars." " You do love me, don't you?" " Yes, of course I do." " I want you to prove it." " How?" " Very simple." "Tonight, I want you to entertain Captain Rogers." "I don't even know Captain Rogers." "Trust me, Joanna." "And do this for me, just this once." "Please?" "All right." "Let's hope this microchip I found in the office can tell us something." "There's "Veck" again." "Doctor, what are we looking at?" "This is the brainwave pattern of an adolescent human." " What are those high peaks?" " Severe disturbance, externally caused." " By what?" " I can't determine that." "Physical shock, perhaps stimulants." "How long to analyse one of Andromeda's recordings?" "A few moments." "Their music has been logged in the archives." "Great." "Let's do it." "'How are things going up there, Buck?" "'" "We may have a connection between the music and the riots." "We've come across some disturbing information." "'What is it?" "'" "Directorates on other planets have had problems with youth violence similar to ours." "Without exception, each outbreak has followed a concert by Andromeda." "'I've met the group." "They seem all right.'" "Maybe." "But can you imagine what it would be like after the galactic transmission?" " 'We're still not certain it's the music.'" " We can't take a chance on that." "The Earth Council has voted to block the broadcast with a jammer satellite." "'If you block that broadcast, I guarantee you'll have riots all over the galaxy.' why?" "'The kids will take it as a move against them." "They won't like it.'" "Doc, have you ever heard the expression "Veck"?" "'It's a contraction of the word "vector"." "It's used in biology, principally, 'and has to do with a microorganism which carries another.'" "Bidibidibidi." "Piggyback!" " But what's it got to do with music?" " 'l can't answer that.'" "All right, Doc." "Look, we've got a few hours left before the broadcast." "Maybe I can fit these pieces together before then." "'I hope so." "Good luck.'" "Thanks, Doc." "Theo, what have you got?" "My analysis shows that the music could have no adverse effect on anyone listening." "That means we're right back where we started." "Wilma mentioned something about Mangros working with particle movement theory." "That might tie in with this vectoring." "Check it out." "Certainly, Captain." "Captain Rogers?" " May I talk to you?" " Sure." "Privately?" "It's very important." "Would you guys mind?" "I'll only be a little while." "Bidibidi." "Not if she can help it." "See you, babe!" "I think this will add something to Joanna's visit with Captain Rogers." "Now, what is this all about?" " You probably think I'm being silly." " Not if it's important to you." "I just wanted to spend some time with you." "Well, maybe later we could..." "I just couldn't keep away any longer." "Joanna, that's all very nice, but..." "No, Buck." "You don't understand." "Joanna, really..." "Look, really..." "I think you got the wrong guy." " Don't you find me attractive?" " Certainly." "Then hold me, just for a moment." "Please!" "(♫ Andromeda)" "(♫ Andromeda)" "Oh, Buck." "Let go." "(Music stops)" "What am I doing?" "Captain Rogers!" "Nothing much." "Just trying to kill me." "I did?" "I don't know why." "It was like I was on the outside, watching." "A lot of people seem to be having that problem these days." "You've got to get out of this place." "Leave Musicworld?" "Lars is here." "He may be a very large part of the problem." "Listen to me." "Go straight to the hangar." "I'll arrange a shuttle to take you to Earth." "What if Lars finds out?" "Look, if I put you on the shuttle myself, will you go?" " OK." " All right, I'll meet you there in half an hour." "Bidibidibidi." "Somebody rain on her parade?" "And almost on mine!" "Anything on Mangros?" "Quite a bit." "He authored a highly classified monograph on The Effects Of lonised Wave Particles To Regulate Human Behaviour." " May I quote?" " Go ahead." ""It is essential that any ionised particle transmission be amplified" ""by carrying it on a highly charged wave, such as sound." ""In that event, the emotions of any human may be readily controlled."" "The piggyback method!" "Mangros is transmitting ionised particles in music." "Correct, Captain." "I did find an ionised particle transmission in the music." "There can't be a concert tonight." "Let's go see the group." " I don't believe it." " Neither do I." "Buck, I realise you're trying to solve this problem but you're missing something." " Why doesn't the music affect us?" " I'll show you why." "Rambeau, would you play back your last concert for me, please?" "(♫ Music starts)" "Well?" "None of us are tearing anybody's throat out." "Take off your necklace." " (Screaming)" " Rambeau, shut it off." "I don't believe it." "I tried to kill you." "Your necklace acts as a filter." "Can you imagine that happening to millions of kids when Andromeda plays tonight?" " We've got to talk to Lars." " I don't think that's a good idea." "What can he do?" " If we go, he's got nothing." " That's right." "Besides, he's been more than just a manager to us." "We owe it to him to talk to him ourselves." " It's the way it's got to be, Buck." " All right." "I've got to put Joanna on a shuttle to Earth." "I'll do that while you talk to Mangros." "I want you back in my quarters in an hour." "We'll be there." "Thank you." " You aren't going to deny this?" " Why should I?" "It's all true." "Besides, my plans hardly require your approval, or even your presence." "I've got a vid library of all your performances." "Andromeda will appear tonight at 1900 hours, exactly as scheduled, and none of your mindless fans will know it's not a live transmission." "Put them somewhere safe." "I'll think of a suitable accident later." "It's been almost two hours, Twiki." "Mangros must have Andromeda." "He'll force them to play." " Bidibidi." "That's not music to my ears." " It's not to mine, either." "If we can find that ion transmitter and destroy it, Mangros can't do anything." " But where is it, Buck?" " I believe I can help, Captain." "My sensors indicate at this moment it is in Mangros' office." "This is an old military satellite." "Do you have the plans stored, Theo?" " Yes." " Can I get to his office without being seen?" "The only possibility is through the waste disposal system." " That's a way?" " The only way, Captain, but unfortunately the duct is too small to accommodate a man in certain areas." " How about a little squirt like me?" " A little squirt?" "It's got to work." "We don't have any alternatives." " Bidibidibidi." "So give me a boost, Buck." " Come here." "All right, Twiki, when you find that transmitter, destroy it." "Bidibidibidi." "Gotcha, boss!" "I'll try to locate Andromeda before Mangros takes some action we might all regret." "Good luck." "Going somewhere, Captain?" "Pity." "We were coming to visit you." " I was gonna run over my speech." " I'm sure you were." "Put him with Andromeda." "Why not just kill him now?" "Because we want to arrange a spectacular martyr's death for everyone after the concert transmission." " Buck!" "What happened?" " I zigged when I should have zagged." "I should have brought my stilts." "Keep going, Twiki." "The next hatch should enter into Mangros' office." "There it is." "This is unacceptable, Mangros." "I demand to know where Captain Rogers is." "'We all do, Dr Huer." "After all, the concert is due to begin in minutes.'" "That concert must not go on!" "'I'm surprised at you, Doctor." "'Young people all over the galaxy are waiting to hear Andromeda.'" "Mangros, Earth Directorate has placed a jammer satellite in orbit around Musicworld." " You give me no alternative but to utilise it." " 'Don't be foolish, Doctor.'" "You're the one that's being foolish." "(Tutting)" "'How unfortunate, Doctor." "'Some vandals must have booby-trapped your satellite." "'I assure you, I'll open an investigation..." "after the concert." "'Good night, Doctor Huer." "Enjoy the concert.'" "Bidibidi." "I can't reach it!" "Bidibidi." " Whirring." " What's happening?" "We will be blown into space." "Uh-oh." "I think I'm in trouble!" "Bidibi." "Bidibidi." "Is this what they mean by "hanging out"?" "Bidibidbidi." "You didn't tell me we could get flushed." "It was not in my files." "They must have modified the system." "Let's get outta here!" "No, the evacuation will be periodic." "We have time to try again for the transmitter." " It's like 10-point steel." " Well, it's cronide." "We have to figure a way out, and hope Twiki and Theo can get to that transmitter." "Alert all security units." "Full emergency status!" "(Lively disco, chatter and laughter)" "How many cycles per second can you get out of this?" " There's no limit." " What effect would that have on cronide?" "First, we'd have to disconnect the CPS governor." " But then we can connect the speaker to it." " Right." "Well, let's get to it." "The lug beat us to it." "Hello." "How is everybody?" "We have the entire galaxy wired for audio response, and I can't hear you." "Now, one more time, how is everybody?" "(Shouting, whistling and cheering)" "That's better." "All right, here they are, in their first galaxy-wide broadcast, a performance you will never forget..." "Andromeda!" "(Cheering and whistling)" "Roll vid version." "(Kids) Andromeda!" "We want Andromeda!" "'It's hopeless, Doctor." "Their transmission is too powerful." "We can't block it.'" " Ready here." " Got it?" "All set." "OK, guys." "Here, I think you'd better put these on." "(Pulsating, growing in intensity)" "(Abrupt explosion)" "(Buck) Let's get to the broadcast stage." "When I go on stage, turn the transmitter to full output." "Yes." "Is there any other way backstage?" "Fingers crossed." "I'm going to try to draw them off." "Bidibidibidi." "These ducts are much larger, Buck, and lead directly backstage." "When we get to the youth centre, keep a low profile." " Those kids won't listen to you." " We have to try." " What are the reports from other planets?" " Riots breaking out all over the galaxy." "I'll take out Yarat and the transmitter." "When the vid version of Andromeda stops, take its place." "Give the galaxy a real concert." "And give Mangros a big surprise!" " We'll be there, Buck." " Let's go, Twiki." "(Pulsating)" " All right, Twiki." " Bombs away!" "(Pulsating stops)" "(Music stops)" "(Anxious chatter)" "Youth of the galaxy, listen to me." "The time has come to demand your freedom, to create your own lives." "I will show you how." "Andromeda will show you the way!" "The time is now!" "Go into the streets." "Let nothing, let no one stop you." "Destroy, so we can begin rebuilding a new galaxy, our galaxy!" " Who's that whacko?" " I don't know." "Follow me, people!" "Andromeda and Lars Mangros will show you the way!" "(Laughing)" "(Laughter echoes)" "(Laughing)" "Oh!" "Well, let's do it!" "(♫ Music resumes)" "Arrange for the Directorate to pick up Mangros." "Yes, sir." "Thank you, Buck." "Bidibidibidi." "Long live rock and roll, Buck!" "All right!"