"'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.'" "Leaving stargate." "Destination on screen." "Punching in coordinates." "Engaging autopilot." " And that's it." " That's it." "Wilma, you ought to get one of these." "It's one thing to get one, it's another to have time to enjoy it." " What about the shuttle controls?" " They're identical to these." "You're learning to fly two ships." "Yeah." "Coming up on Theta Station." "Prepare for docking." " Thank goodness." " Bidibidibidi." "I heard that." "Are you upset because you're not visiting Genesia?" "Who, me?" "The last time you and Hieronymus Fox got together, he almost punched you." "Bidibidibidi." "Kid can't take a joke." "You need to get your microdisc repaired and Theta Station is the best compu-facturing facility." "You don't want to blow a tube next time you're out boogieing with Tina." "Bidibidibidi." "Give me a break, will you?" "Buttons and controls were confusing but once I got the hang of it..." "Bidibidibidi." "Uh-oh!" "Whoops." "Bidibidi." "Whee." "So, I finally get to meet the Buck Rogers." "Wilma's told me so much, I feel like I've known you for centuries." "She's warned me about you as well." "Oh?" " How are you, Commander Royko?" " I'm good." "It's nice to see you again, Wilma." "Bidibidibidi." "Oh." "This is our ambuquad Twiki." "You'll be working on him while we're gone." "Bidibidibidi." "Give me five, my man." "Yes, of course." "(Twiki) Be cool, big daddy." "He's not your average ambuquad, is he?" " No, he isn't." " How long will he be with us?" "Five days." "That should be enough to repair that faulty disc." "I could do it now, then you wouldn't have to leave him." "No, no." "We wouldn't want to rush you." "Besides, we may get tired of Genesia." "All that luxury and entertainment." "We might come back early." "You know what "fat chance" means?" "Commander." " Station to craft." "Do you read?" " How long have you been tracking it?" "Since it left the stargate." "I can't seem to raise it on subspace." "Keep trying." "If it doesn't change course, it's going to hit us." "Theta Station to approaching craft." "Do you read?" "Station to craft, come in, please." "'You are on a collision course for Theta Station." "'Modify your course and acknowledge." "'Approaching craft, please acknowledge.'" "It's gonna hit." "Divert power to the meteor deflectors in sectors G, H and I." "Secure the sectors." "'Alert!" "Collision imminent!" "Evacuate sectors G, H, I." "'Collision imminent!" "Alert!" "'" "Stand by for impact." "All Code Red units move to sector H with emergency equipment." "'Emergency!" "Code Red units report to sector H.'" "It's embedded itself!" "Our exterior hull has a self-repairing core." "We're in no danger of losing our atmosphere to space." "However, internal atmospheric integrity has been lost." "Which means the air from that ship is mixing with ours." "All we can do is assess the damage." " You need any help?" " All I can get." "You've got it." "Doc." "Casualties?" "None." "The sector was cleared just in time." "Dr Ecbar, Colonel Wilma Deering, Captain Buck Rogers." " Any life forms aboard?" " I can't be sure of my readings." "Could be a magnetic field interfering." "The best thing we can do is take a look." "If you're afraid of contamination, we've already been exposed." " We have nothing to lose by going in." " You're right, of course." "Put this on." "Twiki, you wait here till we get back." "You don't have to tell me twice." "Class-G cargo freighter, about 20 or 30 years old." "This must be the crew's quarters." "The bridge must be above us and to the right." "Hold it." " Servo-drone." " We'll pick it up later." "Let's go." "The hull seems to be secure." "Here we go." "Doc, number one." "Here's number two." "Doc, take a look at this." "We found number three." "I found a whole sickbay full of bodies back there." "Do you think a disease is responsible?" "I'll have to declare a quarantine." "Until we know what we're dealing with, no one leaves or enters the station." " I'm sorry Buck." "Wilma." " We understand." "Well, by the looks of things, she was the last to go." "Maybe this will tell us what happened." "(Tape rewinds)" "'This is the log of the IS Demeter, bound for Tazwell 'with eight crew, one passenger." "'Returning from Deneb V, having delivered a shipment of barbarite." "'Log update. 52 hours from Stargate 9." "'The passenger, Helson, has been found dead in his quarters." "'Cause of death unknown." "'His servo-drone, a personal data storage unit, 'was found beside him, deactivated." "'Update, 37 hours from Stargate 9." "'Three crew members are dead." "Cause unknown." "'The rest of the crew is tense." "Irritable." "'We're experiencing some power shortages." "No explanation." "'24 hours from stargate." "Two more dead." "'They exhibited bizarre behaviour and suffered hallucinations." "'The paramed thinks the deaths are due to EL-7, 'although I'm certain we decontaminated properly." "'17 hours from stargate." "The paramed's dead." "'There are only two of us left and we've got to stick together." "'I've set the autopilot for Stargate 9." "'It's the only thing we can do." "'Pierson is dead." "And now it's after me." "'I think it's coming." "Stay away!" "'Please!" "Who are you?" "'No!" "Please, no!" "'" "What is EL-7?" "A virus." "It was rampant in the Deneb system till they discovered a vaccine." "It's highly contagious and works fast." "Fever, mental deterioration, hallucinations, convulsions... death." "She wasn't hallucinating." "She was terrified." " What do you say, Doc?" " I'm sorry?" " Do you think it is EL-7?" " I can't tell without running more tests." "But we'd best assume the worst." "I have serum here to counteract the virus, but I'll need more." "If it's not already too late." "Start inoculating with what you've got." "I'm going to contact Earth for more serum." "Hey..." "Wilma, are you OK?" "Mm-hm." "Fine." "Why don't you get something to eat?" "I'll join you later." "Sure." "Go pick up that servo-drone and take it back to my cabin." "Try to get it working again." "Maybe it can tell us what went on on the Demeter." " I'd better start the inoculations." " Wait." "You aren't telling us everything." " It sounds..." " Crazy?" "Doc, no virus works that fast, and you know it." "Now, tell me." "The people on this ship are not dead." "They're not alive, of course, but they're not dead either." "It's as if their spirit... the energy force, if you will... is drained from them." "These discolorations." "They're on all the bodies." "You're saying they're victims of some kind of vampire?" " Vampire?" "I don't understand." " I'm not sure I do either, Doc." "It doesn't like me." "That's all there is to it." "If it's possible for a botanical organism to feel, then this plant knows hate." "Come now, Doctor." "Surely you're overstating the matter." "No, I don't think so." "I've fed it, I've watered it, I've done everything that Buck told me to do." "I've even begun to talk to it." "And this is how it shows me its gratitude." "'Subspace message coming in from Theta Station, Dr Huer.'" "That must be Buck and Colonel Deering." "You'd better hide the plant." "Good heavens!" "'Hello, Buck." "Colonel Deering." "Are you enjoying your trip?" "'" "Not quite, Doc." "We stopped over on Theta Station to drop Twiki off." "Now the whole place has been quarantined for something called EL-7." "'EL-7?" "ls the station's medical complex working on a vaccine?" "'" "There's some on the way." "Doc, would you do me a favour?" "The quarantine was caused by the IS Demeter hitting the space station." "There's something not kosher about it." "A small drone in the freighter was shut down for some reason other than EL-7." "Twiki's trying to repair it now." "The drone belonged to a passenger named Helson " "William Helson, of New London." "Could you run an ID scan on him and get the data back ASAP?" " No problem at all, Buck." " 'Great." "'You can contact us through Royko's office." "Rogers out.'" "If you have no objections, I'll take you to the data banks for that information." "No objections at all, Dr Huer." "Oh." "If I might make a suggestion, perhaps you'd consider having an agro-drone come and look at your rather depressed piece of flora?" "Dr Theopolis, I'm surprised at you." "Buck left that plant in my care." "Bringing in an agro-drone would be a blatant admission that I can't cope with Buck's 20th-century naturalism." "Yes, sir." "When would you like the drone to look at it?" "Immediately." "How do you like your food discs - fried or sautéed?" " Not very hungry." " I can't say I blame you." "Sauteed food discs are not my cup of tea either." "That's the fourth joke you haven't smiled at." "You're destroying my self-confidence." "I'm sorry." "I don't understand why I feel this way." "Ever since we entered that freighter, for the first time in my life, I could feel death as a tangible presence." "I wasn't going to say anything about this till we had more evidence, but Dr Ecbar feels those bodies on board that ship are not really dead." "He thinks they're in cellular suspension." "I think a being, not a disease, is responsible." "Maybe that's what you're picking up." " Or maybe the effects of EL-7." " Don't start thinking like that." "I'll get you another drink." "Here we go." "What?" "This is Dr Ecbar." "Please have Commander Royko join me at sickbay." "What are you doing here?" "Who are you?" "Who are you?" "Aahh..." "Go away!" "Dr Ecbar just paged me." "You care to join me?" "Sure." " Oh, my God." " Ls he dead?" "The disease must have killed him after he called for me." "He may have been attacked." "Look at his body." "He died of cellular disruption like the others." "How do you explain the discolorations?" "I can't." "Neither could he." "He told me about your theory." "Vampires?" "Keep them to yourself, Captain." "Your passenger Helson was a bounty hunter from Cygnus V, specialising in alien fugitives." "Could make a lot of enemies." "'Yes." "Here's the curious part." "'He only became a bounty hunter in the last five years." "'Before that, he was an agro-station farmer 'until his wife and family died under rather mysterious circumstances.'" "How, er... mysterious?" "'They died in a shuttle accident." "Their bodies were never recovered." "'Helson was the only survivor." "He was tried and acquitted for their murder." "'Afterwards, he vowed vengeance on what he said killed them." "'Something called a Von/on.'" "(Buck) Vorvon?" "What kind of language is that from?" "'Dr Theopolis is continuing his computer search.'" "'Thanks, Doc." "Try to get back to us as soon as possible, OK?" "'Rogers out.'" "I can't get over it." "The agro-drones told me there was no hope for that plant, but you've managed to nurse it back to full health." "I didn't know you had it in you." "Yes." "Well, thank you." "You, er... purchased a new one, didn't you?" "Yes, I did." "Well, one philodendron looks rather like any other philodendron." " At least I certainly hope so." " Let's hope Buck thinks so." "Helson may be the key." "I'm going to see how Twiki's coming along with those repairs." "He may be able to tell us what happened to the crew on the Demeter." " You OK?" " I was thinking..." "Buck, have I been acting rationally?" "Of course you have." "You don't have EL-7." "There has to be another explanation." "A psychotic killer?" "I think I'd prefer EL-7." "That's the Wilma I know." "I'm glad you think so." "I'm not even sure I recognise myself." "Boo!" "Bright, Twiki." "Really bright." "Bidibidibidi." "I'm sorry, Buck." "Apology accepted." "Did you get this thing fixed?" " Yep." "I got the little twerp fixed." " How does it work?" "Top button on the left." " Now we're getting someplace." " We are?" "This has to be the last thing the drone recorded." "'So, after all these years we meet face to face, Von/on.'" " Bidibidibidi." "Who's he talking to?" " Quiet, Twiki." " 'You killed my family.'" " He's hallucinating." "Royko was right." "It was EL-7." "'But..." "Aagh!" "'" " That wasn't an hallucination." " 'If you die, I die." "Aagh!" "'" " He sure wasn't killed by the flu." " He certainly wasn't." "He was murdered." "By something invisible to electronic surveillance." "A Vorvon?" "He was using something to ward it off." "I'm gonna find it." "I'll be right back." "Bidibidibidi." "I hope so." "(Rattling)" "(Banging)" "You stand between me and something I want very much." "Don't worry." "This won't be very painful." "(Screaming)" "Take it from him!" "(Hisses)" "(Alarm)" "(Hisses)" "Take it easy, Buck." "You're all right." "Hey." "Don't try to sit up." "How do you feel?" "Oh..." "Like I just went the distance with Muhammad Ali." "They're here." "Ecbar and the people from that ship attacked me." "You were attacked by corpses?" "None of them are really dead." "Ecbar was right." "Something is draining their souls." "Making them into puppets." "Commander, I must be bruised over every square inch of my body." "Are you saying that I hallucinated a fight with these people?" "Convulsions and blackouts are pretty common with EL-7." "Twiki!" "He can bring that servo-drone." "We'll play its recording for you." "Bidibidibidi." "Uh-oh." "Oh, no." "He got to it." "Bidibidibidi." "I only left it for a minute." "You can believe what you want." "I don't really care." "All I want right now is an aspirin." "I've got a headache down to my toes." "He's asking for a painkiller." "I'll get it." "Look, Buck, I'm responsible for this station." "I've got 100 people under me." "It's my job to know what's going on around here." "EL-7 is the only thing that makes any sense." "I'm going to contact Earth again." "Maybe Dr Huer can come up with something else that makes sense." "OK." "You do that." "I've got some unpleasant work to do." "They discovered three bodies in sector G." " What's that?" " If my hunch is right... the 25th-century equivalent of a cross." " I'm going back to my cabin." " I'll go with you." "It's all right." "I'll be fine." "I'll meet you later in the lounge." "OK." "'According to Dr Theopolis, 'the word "Vorvon" originated on a planet in the Romaine star system." "'It refers to a...'" "Spit it out, Doc." "I asked for it, remember?" "'Yes." "Well, it refers to a half-dead creature 'who drains the living soul from its victims.'" " Space-age vampire." " 'It's only a myth, you know." "Don't I wish?" "Did you come up with anything about this?" "Yes." "It's an ancient power lock." "Legend says it's the only thing that will ward off the Vorvon." " But it doesn't seem to be a legend." " 'No, it doesn't." "'I've seen it, Doc.'" "That's him." "'It's said that it only appears in this form to its intended victims." "'Buck, I'm going to dispatch a fighter squadron to Theta Station.'" "They'd get here too late." " I can hardly sit here while you..." " Doc, there just isn't time." "According to legend, is there any way to destroy this creature?" "'The power lock can hurt it 'but the only thing that can destroy it is a tremendous power overload.'" "Like Dracula couldn't stand the light of day." "'Creating an explosion that large on a space station is out of the question.'" "Light of day..." "Doc, I've got an idea." " 'I was rather hoping you'd say that.'" " Rogers out." "I've had better conversations with a roto-rooter." "(Buck) All right." "To leave, Mr Vorvon, you'll have to take the first ship in launch position." "This one." "When you do, you're gonna be in for a little surprise." "They don't call them "stargates" for nothing." "Bidibidibidi." "Now What?" "I've come for you." " What's with you?" " Don't you see him?" "I want you." " See who?" " (Vorvon) You're the only one I want." "Twiki, can't you hear him?" "I'll kill them all... to get you." "No!" "Leave them alone!" "Leave me alone!" "Bidibidibidi." "Wilma!" "Buck?" "Buck?" "Buck?" "You may come to me now." "No!" "(Wilma) Aagh!" "Buck!" "Royko!" "Buck!" "Royko!" "Buck!" "Now you're all mine." "Stay away from her!" "Wilma, watch it!" "Drop it, Buck." " Commander, I..." " Drop it." " Commander..." " Stay there." " The creature..." "The Vorvon..." " It was after me!" "Buck scared it off." "I'm sorry, Buck." "I know it's not your fault." "It's the virus." "But you're becoming dangerous." "I can't have you running around loose." "If you lock me up, it will kill all of us." "You don't understand what you're doing!" "Commander, listen to me!" "Please, this is serious!" "Please!" "Commander, you're making a mistake." "He was telling the truth." "Something did attack me." "I'm sure you believe that." "I'm really sorry, Wilma, but your friend has become a danger to us all." "And so have you." "I'm not going to lock you up with him." "But I will have to confine you to quarters." "Sure." "Maybe I am dreaming all this." "I don't know." "Maybe it is up to me to end this nightmare." "Come on." "Let's get some rest." "It's OK, Buck." "It's only a sedative." "It'll make you feel better." "Commander, before you use that thing, just do me one favour." "Just one." "Please talk to Dr Huer." "Just talk to him." "That's right." "There's no need to run." "You'll let them go?" "Buck?" "Royko?" "You won't hurt them?" "Once I have you, I'll need no one else for a long, long time." "(Deep and husky) Buck?" " Buck, can you hear me?" " Wilma!" "You're all right!" "There is an alien on board." "A Vorvon." "I know." "Wilma..." " How did you get past the guards?" " I drained them." "Stole their essence." "It felt so good." "It was so easy." "Wilma, no!" "Oh, yes." "Plead with me." "I like the taste of fear best of all." "Aagh!" "You tricked me!" "Wilma, please." "Let me help you." "I don't want your help." "I like being this way." " I'm gonna stay this way." " Wilma..." "I failed." "Buck knows about us now." "What are we going to do?" "Nothing more we can do." "There are other worlds." "Ripe, living worlds that could be ours for the taking." "Think of it." "Millions of souls withering in your hands." "Remember how sweet their fear can taste?" "How strong it makes you feel?" "Yes." "Oh, yes." " What happened to her?" " The Vorvon got to her." "Come on." "Wait." "I may need this." "(Hisses)" "Let's go." "Wilma!" "We're going to need reinforcements." "Come on." "So much for reinforcements." "Let's go." " You know how to operate the ship?" " Yes." "He showed me how." "Considerate of him, wasn't it?" "'Security to corridor 12, sector A.'" " They've gone." " We've got to stop them." " I'll send a squadron after them." " I booby-trapped my ship." "If we don't stop them before the stargate, they'll both die." " Starfighter in pursuit." "The fools." " Destroy it." " It could be Buck." " I said destroy it!" "(Von/on) No." "No." "No!" "Aaagh!" "What's happening?" "Wilma, can you hear me?" " I've lost control of the ship!" " I pre-programmed the computer." "'You're gonna crash if you don't hit the separate switch." "'You'll have 20 seconds to get into the shuttle compartment." "Now, hurry!" "'" "Buck, it's been a nightmare." " I feel so ashamed." " Forget it, Wilma." "It's over." "Let's go home." "For a man just back from the undead, you're looking good, Doc." "'Thank you, I think." "'When the Vorvon was destroyed, 'his victims were freed from cellular suspension." "'I feel like that Lazarus person you told me about, Buck.'" "Thank you for checking in." "I'll speak with you later." "Huer out." "Well, I don't know about you people, but I'm stewed." " If you're interested, dinner's on me." " Thank you." " We'd love to." " Good." " There is one thing I'm curious about." " What is it?" "How did that India-rubber plant turn into a Ficus benjamina?" "I've been raising plants for years and I've never been able to do that."