"'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 into an orbit which freezes his life-support systems 'and returns Buck Rogers to Earth 500 years later.'" "I came immediately, Miss Cosmos." "Your message sounded urgent." "Thank you, Captain." "I realise that being so far from my home planet creates its own anxieties, but since I've been aboard your cruiser, the Lyran Queen," "I sense that someone has been watching me." "That's very regrettable, Miss Cosmos, but this is, after all, simply a leisure ship." "We have no special safeguards for our passengers, no matter how valuable." "I just wanted you to know my concern." "Your quarters are comfortable?" "More forest scent, perhaps?" "Everything's fine." "I'm enjoying the cruise." "And we enjoy having you on the cruise." "We don't often have a passenger so..." "Promotable?" " You'll be at my table for dinner." " Thank you." " I'll see you at 1800 hours." " Captain." "Deploy a security unit to the stateroom area." "(Buck) 'Wilma, I'll see your 20 credits and raise you ten credits.'" "That's a very unusual game." " Where did you get these...?" " Cards." "Twiki made them." " I thought you'd enjoy it." " I think I'll... spindle." " Fold." " Fold." "Wilma, how about you?" "I could be here another 500 years at this rate." " Fold." " All right." "That leaves ol' lucky Buck with three - count 'em - three nines." "We all know what that means..." " Bidibidibidi." "Not so fast, bub." " What have you got, Twiki?" "Five pictorial units of the same subset, presented sequentially." "A royal flush." "Come to papa." " It's like losing to a typewriter." " Watch it, bub." " How about something to eat?" " Nice idea." "Er... what was all the commotion this afternoon at the Comm Centre?" "Something about a Lyran Queen?" "Oh, yes, the luxury liner the Lyran Queen took off from here two days ago with a highly publicised passenger aboard, a Miss Cosmos." " Miss Cosmos?" " Mm." "A beauty pageant winner?" "You still go in for that sort of thing?" "Beauty contests are much more sophisticated than they used to be." "It's what's inside that counts." "Literally." "Yes, indeed." "Genetically speaking, Miss Cosmos is closer than anyone to the perfect example of the female human." "What do Miss Cosmos and the Lyran Queen have to do with your job?" "Oh, well..." "Someone tried to rob or kidnap her yesterday." "A woman with extraordinary powers." "We haven't been able to get a positive identification but we believe her to be one of a pair of notorious thieves which up to now have specialised in inanimate objects of great value" " but now have turned to..." " Bodies." "Bodies." "Exactly." "And in this case, a body of staggering genetic value." "So, under the circumstances, the Stellar Authorities have asked for our help." "Would you like for me to intercept that ship and look after Miss Cosmos?" "Well, that would be very good of you, Buck." "After all, the prospect of meeting the perfect woman is fascinating." "Yes, I would think so." "Well, you'll be in charge of general security." "Not being one of our agents makes you less suspect." "Wilma, I'm gonna need your help." " How could I refuse?" " I play a mean game of shuffleboard." " Huh?" " Shuffleboard?" "Well... another tribal custom bites the dust." "(PA) 'Will arriving passenger Buck Rogers please report to the bridge?" "'" "The energy from that creature is tremendous." "Are you sure this device can stop her?" "Theo assures me it will." "It puts out coruscating light strong enough to stop an elephant." "You must understand, Captain Rogers, that whoever wants Miss Cosmos will stop at nothing." "They're after her genes." "They can freeze her body tissue and sell it at a staggering profit." "I understand your concern, Captain." "I'll do everything I can to keep her alive." "Shall we go and meet Miss Cosmos?" "(Buzzer)" "Miss Cosmos, this is Captain Buck Rogers." " I'm sure you know, he's from the..." " 20th century." "Of course." " Pleasure to meet you, Captain." " Buck." " The pleasure's mine, Miss Cosmos." " Call me Tara." "The Captain has volunteered for the Earth Defense Directorate to see to your safety, Miss Cosmos." " Thank you." " I'm sure you're in capable hands now." "If you'll excuse me, I have a ship to see to." "I'll leave you two alone." "Gammon, Marek, why don't you accompany the captain?" "You did say you wanted a tour of the ship, didn't you?" " Can I get you something to drink?" " No." "It's a little early for me." "May I?" "Very nice." "Been painting long?" "Excuse me for staring." "I've never met a 500-year-old man before." "I've never met a genetically perfect woman before." "Think of the permutations." "I'd..." "love to think of the permutations." "Maybe later, after we're sure the danger's over." "(Buzzer)" "Come in." "Hi." " Ready for lunch?" " Almost." "Jay, what are we going to do on this ship for three weeks?" "What we have been doing." "Enjoying ourselves." " Mixing with the other passengers." " You've seen how bad I am at that." "Alison, this trip wasn't my idea." "It was the neuro-med's." "All she said was I needed a rest." "Couldn't I have rested in New Chicago?" "Jay, I'm sorry." "It's just that I'm always so scared to try new things." " Why do you stay with me, anyway?" " Because I love you." "Now, I'll meet you up at our table in ten minutes." "We're going to eat and we're going to have fun." "'This is your captain speaking." "'You're all aboard so we're accelerating to light speed 'for a slow, leisurely cruise to Stargate 1." "'After that, we'll enter the Vega system, 'where we'll make our first stop on Sutter's World, 'a planet renowned for its fair climate, colourful indigents 'and remarkable hospitality.'" "Bidibidibidi." "Wilma's looking real foxy." "Hold it right there." "You are everything I've ever wanted out of life." " And couldn't have." " Hold on." "I'm Gurney Langston Jr." "I'm from the Boston Complex." "Rhea Durant." "New Manhattan." "The Durants of Manhattan?" "This is remarkable!" "Your family owns Regel II, my family owns Regel III." "We're practically neighbours." "We must have dinner tonight." "Buck, I don't understand what Colonel Deering is up to." "Wilma is setting herself up as a target no thief or kidnapper can pass up." "When you put out the honey, you get as many flies as you do bees." "I wish you would refrain from using such antiquated verbiage." "It makes it so difficult to follow you sometimes." "Boodiboodi." "Something from the bar, sir?" "Bidibidibidi." "Hold the phone." " Nothing for me, thanks." " Boodiboodi." "Bidibidibidi." "Boodiboodiboodi." "Bidibidibidi." "Boodiboodiboodi." "Bidibidibidi." "Twiki?" "Twiki, where are you going?" "Don't ask." "It looks as if Miss Cosmos is packing it in for the day." "Soon I'll start patrolling the stateroom areas." "'There will be a lecture tonight on the origins of Sutter's World 'in observation room 3 on level J.'" " Excuse me, are you all right?" " Yeah, I'm fine." "You don't look fine." "I'm all right, really." "I'm very sorry to bother you." "That's OK." "My name's Buck Rogers." " Alison Michaels." "Thanks, Buck." " Don't mention it." "Have you been ill?" "Well, um..." "Jay, my boyfriend, took me to a neuro-med in New Chicago and she found nothing really wrong, just hypertension." "She suggested a rest and that's why I came on this cruise." " But it's not working." " You'll be fine." "I'll help you back to your cabin." " Alison, are you all right?" " Oh, Jay!" "It happened again!" "I went to sleep and when I woke up I was wandering around." "Honey, you've just got to relax." "This is Buck Rogers." "He helped me back here." "Buck, this is Jalor Davin." " I appreciate your help." " My pleasure." "Why don't I have the ship's doctor stop by?" "We've been to the best neuro-meds." "I doubt a ship's doctor could tell us anything new." " But thanks again, Buck." " Sure." " Take care of yourself." " Maybe we'll see you at the banquet." "Yeah." "I'll drop by your table." "Bye-bye." "I don't like him." "You don't like any of my friends." "Why do you do this to me?" " Do what?" " Treat me like a child." " Like I can't take care of myself." " Alison..." "You're sick." " I'm just trying to look after you." " I'm not sick!" "Yes, you are." "You're very sick, Alison." "I'm not!" "I'm not sick!" "(Laughs)" "Stupid, weak, snivelling little creature." "How do you put up with her?" "I like part of her." "My part, you mean?" "Something happened in the stateroom area?" "Somebody installed some kind of energy curtain down there." "The closer I got to it, the more it drained my power." "I can't get past it." "I'll take care of it when Miss Cosmos is at dinner." "Good." "Then after dinner, I'm going after those Denebian moon crystals." " The woman from New Manhattan?" " That's right." "Why do we go through this every time you see a pretty jewel?" "We're here for Miss Cosmos, Sabrina." "I want them." "Go after all the Denebian moon crystals you want." "Another time." "Now just concentrate on Miss Cosmos." "No." "We'll do it my way." "I want them and I'm going to get them." "All right." "Just let me check her out." "We'll see about relieving this Rhea Durant of her walking jewellery collection." "Dinner's in 20 minutes." "I need Alison again." "No!" "Not so soon!" "Someday you'll take her over completely." "But now..." "I hate her!" "I hate her." "I hate her." "Hurry up, honey." "We'll be late for the banquet." "(Snickering and laughter)" "This is comfortable enough, but I think we might have updated." "Bidibidibidi." "It's the latest fashion on Klausa Three." " How am I supposed to eat with this?" " Just point it at the food." "Activate the switch at the base of the fork." "A null-gravity fork." "The latest word in dining accoutrements." "It's great if you like your food on the hoof." "Where's your girlfriend?" "I thought you had a date." " Bidibidibidi." "She gets off work at ten." " What's her name again?" "Her name is Tina, and I think her interest in Twiki is purely physical." " Physical?" " You'd better believe it." " Physical, huh?" " Bidibidibidi." "Twiki, I'm gonna give you your first assignment." "I want you to contact Wilma and tell her to meet me in my cabin at 2200 hours." "Bidibidibidi." "No problem, Buck." " Hiya, Twiki." " Hiya, babe." " Boodiboodi." " Bidibidi." "Tina, this is Buck." " Pleased to meet you." " Charmed, I'm sure." " Are you hot to trot?" " Ready when you are." "Twiki, are you actually going down to the dance chamber?" "Bidibidibidibidi." "Right after I see Wilma." " Bidibidibidi." "Bidibidibidi." " Boodiboodi." "Now I've seen everything." "Excuse me." "I've got business to attend to." "Why, yes." "By all means, Buck." "But before you go, would you please turn me 60 degrees to the left?" "Sure." " How's that?" " Perfect." "My circuitry periodically needs a touch realigning." "Sure, Theo." "Oh." "I hate to say it, but now I don't feel very well." "I'm gonna lie down for a while." "You just stay here." " Not by myself." " Hello, everybody." " Leaving so soon?" " I've developed a headache." "Do you mind if I keep Alison company while you take something for it?" "Fine." "Alison, I'll see you back at your cabin." "I'll be up as soon as I'm finished." " Please sit down." " Thank you." " How's everything going?" " That's none of your concern." "Mind your own business." "It's my neck if you get caught." "All I have to do is make a life scan of the ship and they'll find her." "All you have to do is make sure everything operates normally." "We're going to install an anti-spectrometer." "The scanners will never know anyone was in here." "What happens when you leave?" "You can't just walk off the ship with Miss Cosmos under your arm." "That's exactly what we're going to do." "You and Jay seem to have a nice thing going." " How long have you known him?" " A year." " Yeah?" "How did you meet?" " How does anybody meet anybody?" "We met at a bar." "I've forgotten exactly where." "I've been so many places." "But he's very good to me." "He's strong." "I like that in a man." " You enjoying the cruise?" " Honestly?" " Yeah." " No." "Come on." "Eat." "That stuff is good for you." "Or so they tell me." "You're joking." "I haven't heard that..." "Alison?" "Are you all right?" "Yeah." "I'm fine." " You were saying?" " My parents died when I was little." "My mother used to tell me to finish my food." "I haven't heard that in a long time." "I'm sorry." "I didn't mean to upset you." "No, you didn't." "I don't know how we got onto it." "She's a very attractive lady, isn't she?" "Yes, she's absolutely gorgeous." "'The formal dining room will be available for seating after 1830 hours." "'Repeat, the formal dining room will be available for seating after 1830 hours.'" "An electro-mag sensor programmed for only a few specific patterns." "As soon as I recover from whatever it is I have," "I'd like to see New Phoenix, maybe even move there." "I'm really sorry, but I've got to go." "I just remembered something." "That's OK." "Maybe we can talk again sometime." "Sure." "'Please join us for cocktails in the Astral Lounge on F Deck." " Here we go." " Hold it, fella." "What do you think you're doing?" "You still don't know who's responsible for the attempts on the beauty queen?" "No, but I think your pair of super-thieves are involved." "How do you mean?" "The captain told me of a super-strong woman with psychokinetic powers." "'We'll need some heavy-duty defences.'" " What do you have in mind?" " Just to be on the safe side," "I'd like you to send me a few sonic pistols on the next cargo run." " 'And some earplugs.'" " I'll send them as soon as possible." "Buck, I can't tell you how much I appreciate what you're doing." "It must be difficult working so hard when others are enjoying themselves." "If living my life vicariously through Twiki counts, I'm enjoying myself." " Twiki?" " Remember him?" "The little silver guy?" "He's developed a very active libido." "I should have a talk with his programmers." "That's not a bad idea." "It's too late for that." "Prepare for the patter of little metal feet." " The what?" "I beg your pardon?" " Never mind." "I'd better sign off." "If I come up with anything, I'll get back to you." "Out." "Little metal feet?" "(♫ Disco)" "Boodiboodiboodi." "What a good dancer you are, Twiki." "Bidibidibidi." "Buck taught me all I know." "They call this one The Bump." " Bidibidi." "Uh-oh!" " I've never seen a dance like that." " I'll take the jewels, if you don't mind." " Actually, I do." "Denebian moon crystals." "For an impostor, you have very good taste." "You see, to become good at this, which I have, one must always be sure of one's intended victim." "There's a Rhea Durant in New Manhattan, all right, but she's very reclusive." "She's also 82 years old." "'Make your reservations now for the sightseeing shuttle.'" "Wilma!" "The Denebian crystals your attacker stole have a highly distinctive molecular structure." "Buck's monitor should be able to pinpoint their location, and therefore the location of our unusual thief." " Except I'm not getting any reading." " Let me see." "Oh, dear." "This is unfortunate." "There seems to be some interference, something jamming the signals." "Could it have something to do with the woman?" "She was physically powerful and able to fire those blasts of energy." "She's probably a mutant, so she'd give off a tremendous energy field strong enough to block our tracer." "That, unfortunately, seems all too likely." "Wilma, if that woman is a mutant, can't she carry protective colouring, like a chameleon?" "If she can become anyone she wants to, how are we going to find her?" "No, wait a minute." " Suppose she's two people." " That doesn't make any sense." "I think it will." "There's someone I want to do some checking on." " Hiya, Twiki." " Bidibidi." "Buck." "Bidibidibidi." "Hi, guys." "What's the matter, Twiki?" "It's only 0300 hours." " I'm bushed." " (Theopolis) Now, just a minute, Twiki." "If you think you're going to retire without hearing from me, you're incorrect." "Your behaviour since you set foot on this ship has been abominable." "Twiki?" "Twiki?" "Twiki?" "Twiki!" "'This is your captain speaking." "'It's 0900 hours." "Breakfast is now being sewed on the observation deck, 'where you'll be treated to a spectacular view of William's comet, 'something you won't want to miss.'" " (Alison) Yes?" " It's Buck Rogers." "Come in." "Hi." "You're not going to breakfast?" "No." "But I'm glad you dropped by." "I didn't know who else to turn to." " I think I'm going insane." " I doubt that." "No, I am." "I used to just get tired and have these dizzy spells." "But now..." "I'm having nightmares with my eyes open." "And it's like I'm hurting people." "I have never wanted to hurt anybody in my life, and maybe that's why people have taken advantage of me." " But I'm scared." " Tell me about these nightmares." " I don't want to think about it." " Please try." " No." " OK." "Take it easy." "Come on over here and sit down." "Now..." "I think I may know what's wrong with you." "I'd like to try to help." "You promise me to stay right here." " Let me go get a friend of mine." " A doctor?" "Well, sort of." "Trust me." "No!" "Go away!" "No doctor for me, Buck Rogers." "Hello, Buck Rogers." "My name is Sabrina." "I wouldn't if I were you, Captain." "If you'll take care of the light curtain, we'll get on with this." "And do it quietly." "Miss Cosmos is dining inside her room this morning." "Forget it, Sabrina." "I suggest you think about the welfare of your friend." " What friend?" " The brunette with the fancy jewellery." "The one who tried to trap me." " The one I nearly killed last night." " I don't know what you mean." "Fine." "Then you won't mind when they find Rhea Durant dead later today." "Kill her." "Wait!" "All right." "If anything happens to me, you first, and then your friend, will die." " Thanks, Buck." " Don't mention it." "Let's get her." "This is what you were supposed to prevent." "Miss Cosmos is gone." "Issue an order that no vessel is to leave until it's searched." "Shuttles arrive every day." "All of them will undergo a life-form scan." "The pilots will ask questions, spread rumours." "Stop worrying about bad publicity." "This woman's in danger." "Yes, of course." "Let me go." "Where am I?" "Where's Buck?" "Call for him." "He won't come." "Sweet dreams." " What's gonna happen?" " Not a drop of blood will be spilled." "Microtomic lasers are neat and tidy." "The anti-spectrometer." "Put it over there, just by the door." "I know where it goes." "What is that thing?" "(Jay) Something that will fool any scanner they might use to find her." "Let's get on with it." "That's all we can do." "The laser will draw power from the ship very slowly so that the monitors will not detect." "When it peaks, the laser will be in full effect." "Its blade will start dissecting her quite automatically." "Sleep well, dear." "We have a big day tomorrow." " You'll have my payment tomorrow?" " When we leave." " I want it sooner." " Fine." "We'll pay you tomorrow morning, then you can leave." "OK." "We'll have to kill him too." "Come on." " What's wrong?" " No!" " Go away!" " Not now!" "Leave me alone." "I want to stay!" "Alison, I've been looking all over for you." "You poor thing." "You're ill, that's all." "Yes, I am." "I'm sick and I need help." "I want help and I'm not getting it on board this ship." "We're at Sutter's World in three days." "You can catch a cruiser back to Earth." "No!" "I'm going to New Chicago tomorrow, with or without you, Jay." "Whatever it is that happens to me, I'm no longer gonna let it run my life." "(Theopolis) What you are suggesting is that Alison Michaels is a transmute - a split personality with the genetic ability to transform itself in times of stress into one of two or more separate entities." "All we have is a theory." "We can't act without evidence." "Then we have to capture her as Sabrina." "Dr Theopolis, the light curtain in the stateroom." "Can it be intensified?" "Why, yes." "Easily." " Bidibidibidi." "Mail call." " Thank you, Twiki." " What is that?" " It just came through the shuttle bay." "Sonic pistols plus earplugs to protect those using them." "I'll tell you how to beat Sabrina and bring Alison to her senses." "(♫ Disco)" "Do you mind if I cut in?" "Is that a promise or a threat?" " Take your choice." " Oh, yeah?" "They have a policy against letting passengers leave except at authorised stops." "I'm sure they make exceptions for medical emergencies." "You don't really want to make a scene, do you?" "I want to get well!" "Let's go." "Hi, Alison." " Hello." " Mind if we join you?" " Actually..." " Please do." "Tina." "Drinks for everybody, on me." "Right away, Buck." "Nothing like a little chat among friends, is there?" " Depends on the subject." " Let's try the past." "Yours, specifically." "I made some enquiries today." "I know about your conviction for selling stolen property." " Let's get out of here." " I want to hear this." "Your boyfriend's just using you, Alison." "He doesn't care about you." "Only what you can steal for him through someone you become." "The blackouts?" "I turn into someone terrible, don't I?" "Someone cruel." " Someone who steals for you." " Don't get yourself excited." "Why?" "Are you afraid of her?" "Maybe I ought to let her show you what I think of you." "Would you like that?" "Would you?" "Yes, Jay." "Let me show you." "Let me show all of you." "Little Alison was right about one thing." "She doesn't need you." "She doesn't need anybody." "Let's get to our posts." "(Shrill tone)" "Bidibidibidibidi." "Far out." "(Shrill tone)" "(Shrill tone)" "(Shrill tone)" "(Shrill tone)" "(Shrill tone)" "No!" "No." "Please!" "I don't want to go back!" "Don't make me." "I won't go!" "Won't!" "(Groaning)" "Alison?" "Alison, can you hear me?" "Alison?" " Are you all right?" " I think so." "Good." "Can you tell me where Miss Cosmos is?" "Can you remember where she is?" "I can't." "Alison, try." "She's in the disposal room on level B." "Take good care of her, Wilma." "(Tara) Help me!" "That was a little close for comfort, Tara." "(Sobbing)" "(Huer) 'Alison Michaels checked in to the Directorate clinic.'" "Reports indicate she'll be just fine." "Just a modicum of therapy and all Sabrina's powers will be gone forever." " 'Alison says thank you, Buck.'" " Tell her it was my pleasure." "Is there any word on Jay and his accomplice?" "'They were picked up by Directorate police." "'How's Miss Cosmos after her ordeal?" "'" " Quite all right, Dr Huer." " 'I'm glad to hear it.'" "I owe Buck my life." "I'll never be able to repay him." "We'll work something out." "'I imagine you and Colonel Deering are anxious to get back to Earth.'" "Oh, yeah." "Right." "You bet." " 'You can catch the next shuttle back.'" " What was that, Dr Huer?" "'I said I'd...'" "There's an awful lot of subspace static." "You'll have to speak up." "'Buck?" "Colonel Deering?" "'" "Come in, Dr Huer." "Dr Huer, can you hear me?" "Can you hear me?" "I guess not." " Now, how about dinner?" " Bidibidibidi." "Now we can get it on."