"'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.'" "(♫ Up-tempo electronic on jukebox)" "Hi." "Come here often?" "I guess you do." "Rafael Argus?" "I don't know you, do I?" "Harper V. Three months ago you killed a man named Gleeson." "Let me guess, he was your...?" " Brother." " Right." "I knew it would be something like that." "Not good." "(♫ Music stops)" "(Buck) I think you're about to see the light." " What took you so long?" " Long?" "That guy's a hired killer." "One wrong move, I'd look like a grilled cheese sandwich right now." " A grilled what?" " Forget it." "Those customers will be coming back any second." "Hurry up and take your clothes off." "You know what I mean." "With any luck they'll think Argus zapped me and split before the cops arrived." " "Split"?" " Come on, Wilma." "Just what have the probes found out, Doctor?" "They've confirmed our worst suspicions." "Rafael Argus was about to become a member of the league of interstellar mercenaries, specialising in political assassinations." "One member of this Legion Of Death - named Morgan Deneva - was killed by Directorate personnel last month." "The legion has a code when it comes to such things." "Deneva's buddies have it in for you and the Director because you wasted him." "If I understand you correctly, yes." "(Twiki) Fourth floor, ladies' clothing and lingerie." " Twiki, what's lingerie?" " (Chuckling)" "These are skilled professionals, not hired guns." "(Klaxon)" " You guys all right?" " Anyone hurt?" "Come on." " (Theopolis) I am undamaged, thank you." " Put those flames out!" "(Twiki) Bidibidi." "I'm dead, I'm dead." "It's all gone black." "That's because your visual inputs are face down on the floor." " Pull yourself together." " Let me help you up." "(Twiki) Why is it the good die young?" "Steady." "You all right?" "Bidibidibidi." " Anyone hurt?" " Not this time." " This has happened before?" " It's a gruesome game with them." "They want to frighten us and keep us off balance." " Buck, if only you could help." " (Twiki) Yeah, what about it?" "I realise you helped us capture Argus and I appreciate it." " If you'd like to end it there..." " Sure, I'll help." "Thank you." "We all know that Rafael was about to be initiated into the Legion Of Death." "However, because he operated under various names and appearances, none of the other assassins has any idea what he looks like." "Which is fortunate for you, as you'll be impersonating him." "Their upcoming meeting on Aldebaran II marks the first time all these people have gathered in one place, so we must assume that their discussions are of staggering proportions and no doubt directly concern us." "These are the people you'll be meeting." "Jolon Quince of Cygnus III, the heavy-gravity planet where humans have developed telekinesis to survive." "Seton Kellogg of Rigel IV, a brilliant scientist who has engineered the deaths of a dozen planetary leaders, and Markos Marcilka of Vega XII, a martial arts expert." "He's rumoured to have partially severed nerve endings to reduce his ability to feel pain." " And lastly..." " (Buck) Very nice." "See if you think so after you meet her." "She calls herself Sherese, planet of origin unknown." "She's an empath - almost telepathic in her ability to detect people's emotions." "Their vibrations, as you would say." "She's almost pathologically suspicious so you'll have to be on your guard against her every moment." "While you're memorising the Argus data," "Colonel Deering will go on ahead to Aldebaran II." "Why do we both have to go?" "We must find out what the assassins are planning against the Directorate." "It's too important a job for one person." "Considering the circumstances, the odds are one of you will not succeed." "(♫ Up-tempo electronic)" "Watch where you're going!" "Well, aren't we a big one?" "Sir?" "You owe me an apology." "The apology?" "Yeah, sure." "I didn't mean nothin'." "It was my fault." " Sorry." " I rather thought you would be." " Hello, Quince." " Sherese!" "I was just thinking of you, you look as lovely as ever." "Save the bull for those vacuum-heads you go out with." "I'm not impressed by your mindless flattery." " Well, then, I'll buy you a drink." " I never drink." "It slows the reflexes." "Yes, of course." "Have you heard from the others?" "Kellogg is on his way in from Tau Ceti and Argus was on Earth last I heard." "All I know about Markos is that he'll be here..." "Somebody I know is in this room." " And you know what I did?" " Bored them to death?" " Go on, go on." " Joella." " Joella Cameron." " Sherese." " Excuse me a minute." " Come back or I'll just go looking for you." "One more drink and he won't be able to find his own shoes." "Still hanging out with losers?" "Like that Beechim creep from Rigel?" " I don't see him any more." " Why?" "Is he in detention?" "Jo." "You know Rafael Argus, don't you?" " Do I!" " He's going to be in port tomorrow." "I've never met him but from what I understand he'd be better company than that slime." "How about I let you know when he's coming in?" "Marvellous." "We've reprogrammed the computer on Argus's ship to respond to your voice." "Remember, use those items on your belt sparingly." "Black-light bombs are experimental - they only provide covering darkness for 30 seconds at most." "We can't give you much help with the local authorities." "They'll believe you are Argus." "Deal with them as best you can." "You know how to make a trip sound appealing." "Well, good luck to you, Buck." "Thanks, Doc." "Cheer up, Doc." "I'm not dead yet." "(Beeps)" "(Female voice) 'Welcome home, Argus.'" "Hi." "How are you?" "'All fuelled up and ready to serve you, Rafe.'" "That's nice but I've got to be going pretty soon." "'That's what I'm here for." "All systems engaged." "'Reaching escape velocity." "Artificial gravity engaged.'" "I don't know if I've ever said this to you before but you are the sexiest on-board computer I've ever known." "'Why, thank you, honey." "I'd like to think so." "'Stargate coming up in 20 minutes.'" "(Humming)" "'Sorry to disturb you 'but I'm tracking a squadron of starfighters on an intercept course with us.'" "Oh, no - police cruisers." "'Message coming in.'" "(Man) 'M2453, you have been identified as Rafael Argus of Altair V." "'Prepare for boarding." "'Prepare for boarding." "'Your ship will be towed by tractor beam to the nearest space station.'" "Go to maximum velocity - now!" "'Sorry." "We can't go any faster without rupturing the star drive.'" " Give me manual control." " 'Manual control?" " 'You never wanted manual control before.'" " I want it now!" "Without evasive manoeuvres, we're sunk." "Engage manual control!" "'Direct hit to our starboard force shield." "'Another one like that and we'll be completely defenseless." "'If I might make a suggestion - 'the pulsar cannons are operational, why not use them?" "'" " I can't fire on the police." " 'That doesn't quite compute." "'Decelerating to sublight speed, star drive phasing out.'" " I know, tractor beams, right?" " 'I'm afraid so." " 'Do you have to be anywhere real soon?" "'" " As a matter of fact, I do." "(PA) 'Flight 723 to Altair V is leaving from gate 20 in 15 minutes.'" " Mr Kellogg." " Quince." "I don't believe you've met my bodyguard, Varek." "Forgive him for not meeting you face-to-face but he doesn't have one to speak of." "You see, Quince... several generations ago, the people of Varek's planet thought they'd won a nuclear war." "That was before the unfortunate effect radiation has on genetic materials manifested itself." "The deformities became worse with each generation." " He's a mutation?" " A human mutation." " My people were human." " Yes, they were." "Once." "Varek, be a good man and check the terminal for police." "Yes, of course." "A wretched creature but not without certain advantages." " He seems to alter his molecular density." " Precisely." "The effects of nuclear radiation never cease to fascinate me." "Never." "'No, Buck and I have not rendezvoused.'" "He hasn't arrived yet, I checked with the spaceport." "We can only assume he was intercepted en route to Aldebaran." "We'd best go to our alternate plan and make contact with Quince as soon as possible." "Yes, Doctor." "'If Quince doesn't know their plan, use surveillance equipment.'" "But only if Quince doesn't know." "Kellogg probably has jamming devices on his person." "Your equipment can circumvent them but you'd need direct line of sight and that could be dangerous." " I understand." " Good luck, Colonel." "Huer out." "Dr Theopolis, it has become obvious that the Legion has an operative here at the Directorate." "Perhaps you and Twiki could investigate." "An excellent idea, Dr Huer." "That will afford me an opportunity to engage in what Buck likes to call "old-fashioned deductive reasoning"." "Twiki, take me to the personnel computers." " Bidibidi." "I want a vacation." " Quiet, Twiki." "OK, easy!" "I have an important meeting to attend, couldn't we...?" "What are you looking at?" "Nothing, my friend, nothing." "I merely wish to make your acquaintance." "Barnard Smith is my name." "My friends call me Barney." "Rafael Argus." "The Rafael Argus." "This is an honour, my friend, to be sharing a cell with so illustrious a figure." "Yes, I suppose it is." "However, there's no need to share any cell if I can get them to lower that force field." " You have a plan?" " Let's say I need an opportunity." "Follow my lead, my friend, opportunity is about to knock." "Guards!" "Help!" "Get me out of here!" "Help!" "Help!" "Guards!" "Help!" "Get me out of here!" "Ohhhh!" " What's the matter with you?" " You fool!" "Don't you recognise an Arcturan when you see one?" "He tried to have psychic commune with me!" " He's out of his mind, I never touched him." " He wants my mind!" "Don't you know enough to separate the species?" " Get me out of here!" " All right, all right." "Corrin, move this joker to another cell." "I got his gun." "Come on, Barney." " We wanna go that way." " We'll discuss it later." " (Computer) 'You're still alive!" "'" " Not for long unless you get us out of here." "Did they check your memory to find out where we're heading?" "'No, and once we're through the stargate, 'we'll be beyond their jurisdiction.'" "Pure Denebian silk, isn't it?" "Absolutely nothing attracts my attention faster than pure Denebian silk." " Is that right?" " You did want a drink, didn't you?" "Yes, thank you." "That was an interesting trick." "Is it true what they say about telekinetics?" "And what's that?" " Do you like it?" " What does that matter?" "Let me fix you something." "You know, I was beginning to think that this trip to Aldebaran was going to be something of a bore." "Oh?" "So why did you come?" "Well, you see, I have a meeting... with some friends." "A little private business." "What's a sweet young thing like you doing with a subspace transmitter in her closet?" "What are you doing?" "(Chuckling)" "There." "Feeling a little less nosy now, Mr Quince?" "(Still chuckling)" "Tell me about those friends of yours." "Who called this meeting?" "Kellogg called it." "For what purpose?" "We're gonna teach the Earth people a lesson." "How?" " What are your plans?" " I don't know." "Kellogg's the strategist." "It's up to him." "Look, why do you want to talk so much when we can..." "Because I find you so disgusting and repugnant." "One last question." "Where are you meeting to discuss the details of this plan?" "Solar collector," "1400," " tomorrow." " The one in this hotel?" "Yes." "Very good." "I want you to close your eyes and when you wake up tomorrow, all that you'll remember about tonight is that you had a wonderful time." "I cannot believe this is a parting of the ways." "Don't get sentimental." "It was fun but nothing I'd want in my scrapbook." "I have a marvellous idea." "What do you say to a liaison, a partnership between you and I against the galaxy?" "With my brains and your more brains, there's nothing we couldn't do." " I work alone." " As do I, my friend." "But I can't help thinking what a terrific team we made breaking out of that space station." "We'll discuss it later over dinner." "You got something there." "I like that." "I have to go to Customs, I'll meet you at the gate in 20 minutes." "Excellent, my friend." "(PA) 'Government regulations prohibit 'the transport of subhumanoid life forms to Aldebaran." "'For more information, contact the Department of Alien Immigration.'" "Now, Mr Argus, if that is who you are." "Greetings, Mr Argus." " I take it this means I passed?" " Indeed you have." "This was as much fun as initiating Morgan Deneva." "Anyone who can hold his own against us deserves to be considered one of us." "To the Legion Of Death." "I'm Kellogg." "Sherese and Quince and Varek." "Our mysterious friend Markos has arranged for us to meet at the solar energy collector at 1400 hours, at which time we shall discuss the full scope of our plans." "Something I can do for you, Sherese?" "You're not what I expected, that's all." " Disappointed?" " Not yet." "There's an old friend of yours waiting back at the hotel." "Joella Cameron." "Sound familiar?" "Not particularly." "But then I meet a lot of women." "This one very definitely remembers you." "(Klaxon)" "(PA) 'Emergency." "All personnel evacuate Hangars 3, 4 and 9 immediately.'" " What's happening?" " The whole hangar system is misfiring." "Can it be fixed?" "If we can't, this entire hangar's going up in five minutes." " Dr Theopolis?" " Here, Dr Huer." "'Fire control to launch tubes 7 and 12.'" " How are you progressing?" " We shall soon see." "That's it, sever the input rods." "Carefully." "We want a gradual loss of power, not a complete break." "That could do more harm than good." "Bidibidibidi." "Can't we just phone this in?" "Quiet, Twiki." "One more rod." "Carefully." "There." "With the power bypass in effect, the overload is effectively neutralised." "Excellent." "Thank you, Dr Theopolis." " You were brilliant." " Of course." "You do realise that this near-tragedy was no accident?" "As soon as you feel up to it, I'd like to see you in my office." "'Hello, it's me." "I guess I arrived a little early." "'I'll try you again at 1340 hours." "See you then, Rafe.'" "Just five minutes from now." "Perfect timing." "We meet Markos at 1400 hours." "We really don't have time to socialise." "We can wait for Argus's acquaintance to arrive." "I, for one, love to watch reunions of old friends." " Varek, get these people some drinks." " I'll get them." "Name your poison." "Varek will do it, won't you?" "Yes, of course." "(Ice cubes clinking)" "Why do you let him treat you like that?" "I deserve no better." "Why would you say something like that?" "My people were a proud race." "Too proud." "It wasn't enough that we had tamed our planet, built a great culture, reached out into space." "We had to have other worlds too." "We abused our freedom and so we lost it and deservedly so." "Your world wasn't the only one that suffered a holocaust." "Earth did its best to destroy itself too." "No." "Earth was fortunate." "It didn't see its children twisted and deformed." " Mutated." " Is that what you're afraid of?" "What people will see behind that mask?" "(Buzzer)" "Varek." "Varek!" " Get that." " Excuse me." "Argus, that must be your friend Joella." "Hi." "Is Rafael here yet?" "Joelle!" "It's been a while." "I know we didn't part on the best of terms but give me a chance, will you?" "You got a deal, Rafe." "Sherese." "You're satisfied?" "Good." "Good." "Shall we?" "Remember, we're all to meet Markos in ten minutes." " Thanks." " You're welcome." "Er...?" "Buck." "Buck Rogers." "You are taking an awfully big chance, Buck Rogers." "Trying to fool Sherese and her friends is risky enough but how do you know I won't blow your cover?" "You looked like somebody I could trust." "I just look like somebody you could trust?" "Boy, you must get hurt an awful lot." "Sometimes you get hurt no matter what you do." "You can't let that stop you trusting people." "Sure you can." "After you hear the same old lines, year after year?" "Asking you to trust and to care." "For as long as they need you and then they leave you alone on some godforsaken planet and you don't even know where home is any more." "Sure you can!" "Joella, everybody gets hurt but everybody doesn't hurt everybody." "I'll hold you to that, Buck Rogers." "Count on it." "I've gotta go but I'll be back." "Oh!" " Where will I find you again?" " Downstairs in the bar." "I'll be around." "This is all very impressive." "Where are we?" "The superstructure of the hotel's solar energy collector." "Which explains the heat but where's Markos?" "You needn't worry about Markos." "If he's anything at all, he's punctual." "I try." "Markos!" "Good to see you again." "You'll remember Varek, Sherese, Quince and he is Argus." "Argus, Rafael Argus." " I've heard about you." " Same here." "All of you know why we are here." "The Directorate must be reminded that the Legion Of Death is a most special group of people." "A group to be respected, feared and left alone." "And they must be taught a lesson for murdering our colleague Morgan Deneva." "A lesson the entire planet will never forget." "I think we're all in agreement." "What did you have in mind?" "The total destruction of the Terran capital, New Chicago." "A challenging idea, Mr Kellogg, but that's a city often million people." "It would take a fusion bomb to destroy a city of that size." "Not necessarily." "There are simpler ways of annihilating ten million people in one stroke." " Perhaps." " Perhaps?" "Perhaps?" " How do we keep from being caught?" " It's been carefully conceived." "I plan to utilise each of your particular talents." " Now, to the logistics of the problem." " We're being observed." " Observed?" " Are you sure?" " Positive." " Where?" "Up there." "A woman, a dangerous woman." "Kill her now!" "Kill her now!" " I'll get her." " Take Markos with you." " I work alone." " Not when I'm in charge." "Kill her!" "(Clattering)" "Hold it." " I'll take care of her." " Rafael Argus, I should've known." " You know her?" " Yeah, we met." "I'll try to make this as painless as possible." "Uh-oh!" "About the painless part." "Why didn't someone tell me those stun guns only work on a person's nervous system?" "This bozo doesn't even have one." " Did you hear Kellogg's plan?" " What little there was of it." "We can't go back to Earth without knowing how they'll destroy New Chicago." "I was afraid you'd say that." "What are we going to do with our friend here?" "Listen." "This is the ID to Argus's ship." "Take it and hide there with him until I can join you." "Listen, if I'm not there by 1500 hours, you leave without me." " You hear?" " OK." "Hey." "Good luck." "All systems in Flight Hangar 5 have returned to equilibrium." "Starfighter patrols are double-shifting in Hangars 3 and 7 until repairs can be made." "You've no idea who sabotaged the launch tube?" "There is no internal evidence to suggest a culprit." "However, I have had the personnel computers give me a list of all Directorate employees with a ninth-level clearance." "Anyone who would have had access to the locations that were bombed." " How many employees would that be?" " 1,227." "I am pursuing other avenues of investigation and expect to have a hypothesis soon." " Still no word from Deering or Rogers?" " No." "No, Doctor." "Not yet." "(Beeping)" "Nighty-night." " (Computer) 'Welcome back, Argus.'" " I'm not Argus." "'Who are you and what are you doing in here?" "'" "I'm a friend of Argus and he told me to meet him here." " 'Rafe wouldn't do that without telling me.'" " He didn't have time." "We're leaving at 1500 hours and if I don't warm up these engines..." "'I do the warming up around here, sweetie, and don't you forget it.'" "You were successful?" " In a matter of speaking, yes." " What's that mean?" "Where's Markos?" "Dead." "The woman was a member of the Earth's Defense Directorate." "She killed Markos before I could kill her." "That damnable Huer!" "First Deneva, now Markos." "He'll pay for this." "They'll all...!" "They'll all pay." "Sit down, Argus." "We were discussing the logistics of our mission." "As I was saying, our biggest problem is keeping Earth's entire star fleet off our tail while we make our escape after destroying New Chicago." "But if we can destroy New Chicago and make it seem like an act of God, no one will be looking for us during our escape." "Subsequently we claim full responsibility for the deed." "To destroy a city that large you need an earthquake or a tidal wave." "Or an antimatter explosion." " You're joking, of course." " Far from it." "New Chicago receives its power from a contra-terrene energy plant just outside the city." "Contra-what?" "Contra-terrene." "It's a reactor that uses matter and antimatter to create energy." "And if someone were to sabotage that reactor, allowing the matter and antimatter to mix uncontrollably?" "Everything for 200 square kilometres would be atomised instantly." "Very good, Kellogg." "I know a little about uncontrolled reactions." "We can't know the aftereffects of such a large antimatter explosion." "The area could be uninhabitable for centuries." "An interesting experimental situation, wouldn't you say?" "After all, it's not our planet, is it?" "So, when do we leave for Earth?" "Unless anyone has a better idea, I suggest we leave tonight." "In that case, I have a protracted goodbye to deliver to someone." " Joella?" " You got it." "(Sniggering)" "(Beeping)" "Yes?" "'What are you doing?" "My sensors show contact with their outer casings.'" "Just doing a little home repair, sweetie." "(Voice slowing and deepening) 'You little witch.'" "Thank you." "(Engines firing up)" "(Rapid beeping)" "Buck, where are you?" " Where were you?" " We have to get off-planet right now." " Wait!" " I don't have time to explain." "Let's go!" "Ah, Jo." "Still hanging out with losers, huh?" "Look, can we talk this over?" " I'm afraid not." " Talk about being light on your feet!" "(Engine revs increasing)" "Buck, don't you dare get yourself killed." "Don't you dare." "What's the idea of having Porky and Baby Doll kidnap us?" "Argus..." "Shut up." "We've been approached by a local informant who says he's selling information that might be very interesting." "I believe you've met him." "Barney." "This would not have happened had I not had a sudden reversal of fortune." "Get on with it." "I met Rafael Argus two years ago on Sutter's World and I can tell you for a fact, that ain't him."