We must discover what final retribution the assassins are planning against the Directorate:
Now:
- We're gonna teach the Earth people a lesson: - How?
The total destruction of the Terran capital:
[Twiki Chirping] [Alarm Blaring]
The entire hangar's going up in five minutes!
[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: : :
500 years later:
[Disco]
Hi: Come here often?
I guess you do:
Rafael Argus?
- I don't know you, do I? - Harper 5:
Three months ago, you killed a man named Gleeson:
Let me guess: He was your, um...
- Brother: - Right:
I knew it'd be something like that:
Not good:
I think you're about to see the light:
[Exhales]
What took you so long? "Long"?
That guy's hired to kill people: You know, one wrong move,
I'd look like a grilled cheese sandwich right now:
- A grilled what? - Forget it:
Those customers'll be coming back any second:
Hurry up and take your clothes off:
You know what I mean:
Now 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?
I'm afraid they've confirmed our worst suspicions:
Rafael Argus here was about to become a member of the League of Interstellar Mercenaries,
specializing in political assassinations:
One member of this Legion of Death,
a mercenary named Morgan Deneva,
was killed by Directorate personnel last month:
And the legion has a code when it comes to such things:
I see: Deneva's buddies have it in for you and the Directorate because you wasted him, huh?
If l... If I understand you correctly, yes:
Fourth floor: Ladies'clothing and lingerie:
[Theo] Twiki, what's lingerie? [Chuckling]
[Wilma] These are highly skilled professionals, not hired guns:
[Screams]
[Alarm Blaring]
Get some fire extinguishers! You guys all right?
Quick:! Anyone hurt? Come on:!
[Theo] I'm undamaged, Buck: Thank you:
[Twiki Chirping] I'm dead: I'm dead: It's all gone black:
That's because your visual inputs are facedown on the floor, Twiki:
Now, pull yourself together:
Here, let me help you up:
[Twiki] Why is it the good die young?
Steady: You all right?
[Chirping] Anyone hurt?
Not this time: You mean, this has happened before?
It's just a gruesome game with them:
They want to frighten us and keep us off balance:
Buck, if only you could help: Yeah, Buck: What about it?
Buck, I realize you helped us capture Argus, and I appreciate it very much:
If you'd like to end it there, then... Sure, I'll help:
Thank the Lord:
And we all know that 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:
Now, their upcoming meeting on Aldebaran 2:: :
Marks the first time all these people have gathered together in one place:
So we can only assume that the subject of their discussions is of staggering proportions: : :
And no doubt directly concerns us:
Now, these are the people you'll be meeting:
Jolon Quince of Cygnus 3: It's a heavy gravity planet: : :
Where humans have developed telekinetic abilities to survive:
Seton Kellogg of Rigel 4:
A brilliant scientist whose strategies have engineered the deaths of a dozen planetary leaders:
And Markos Marcilka of Vega 12:
He's a martial arts expert: Rumor has it that: : :
He's had his nerve endings partially severed to reduce his ability to feel pain:
- And lastly... - Very nice:
[Dr: Huer] 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 pick up on people's emotions:
Their vibrations, as you would say:
And she's almost pathologically suspicious:
So you'll have to be on your guard against her every moment:
Now, while you're memorizing the data we've obtained for you on Argus,
Colonel Deering here will go on ahead of you to Aldebaran 2:
Wait a minute, Doctor: Why do we both have to go?
Because we must discover what final retribution: : :
The assassins are planning against the Directorate:
It's too important a job for one person, Buck:
Considering the circumstances,
the odds are that one of you will not: : : Succeed:
[Disco]
Hey, watch where you're goin'!
Well, aren't we a big one!
Sir?
You owe me an apology:
The apology?
Yeah, sure: Hey, I didn't mean nothing: It was my fault:
- Sorry: - I rather thought you would be:
- Hello, Quince: - Sherese: I was just thinking of you:
You look just as lovely as ever:
Cut the bull, Quince: Save it 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: 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 the last time I heard:
All I know about Markos is that he'll be here...
Somebody I know is in this room:
[Man] And you know what I did?
You opened your mouth and bored them to death?
Go on: Go on: Joella:
Joella Cameron: Sherese:
Excuse me a minute, will ya? Hey, you come back, Joella, or I'll just go lookin' for ya:
One more drink, and that clown won't be in any condition to go looking for his left shoe:
Still hanging out with losers, huh, Jo? Like that Beechim creep from Rigel?
I don't see him anymore: Oh, why?
Did he get tossed into detention?
Jo, you know Rafael Argus, don't you?
[Chuckles Softly] Do l:
Well, he's gonna be in port tomorrow:
Now, I've never met him, but from what I understand, he'd be better company than that slime:
How about if I let you know when he's coming in? How would that be?
Marvelous:
We've reprogrammed the computer in Argus's ship so that it responds to your voice:
And remember to try to use those items on your belt sparingly:
These black-light bombs are still in the experimental stages,
and they can only provide a covering darkness for 30 seconds at most:
And one more thing: We won't be able to give you much help with the local authorities:
They're going to believe that you are Rafael Argus:
You'll have to deal with them as best you can:
Well, you certainly know how to make a trip sound appealing, Dr: Huer:
- Well, good luck to you, Buck: - Thanks, Doc:
Cheer up, Doc: I'm not dead yet:
[Female Computerized Voice] Welcome home, Argus:
Hi: How are you?
All fueled up and ready to serve you, Rafe:
Oh, well, that's nice, but I've gotta be going pretty soon, so...
That's what I'm here for: All systems engaged: [Engines Powering Up]
Reaching escape velocity: Artificial gravity engaged:
You know, I don't know if I've ever said this to you before or not,
but I think you are the sexiest onboard 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 again, Rafe,
but I'm tracking a squadron of starfighters on an intercept course with us:
[Buck] Oh, no: Police cruisers:
Message coming in:
[Man] N2-453, you have been identified as Rafael Argus of Altair 5:
Prepare for boarding:
Your ship will be towed by tractor beam to the nearest space station:
Go to maximum velocity! Now!
Sorry, Rafe, we can't go any faster without rupturing the star drive:
All right, give me manual control: Manual control?
You never wanted manual control before: Well, I want it now!
If I don't perform some evasive maneuvers, we're sunk! Now, engage manual control!
Direct hit to our starboard force shield, Rafe:
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, Rafe:
Decelerating to sub-light speed:
Star drive phasing out: I know: Tractor beams, right?
I'm afraid so:
You don't have to be anywhere real soon, do you, Rafe, honey?
As a matter of fact, I do:
[Woman Over P: A:] Flight 723 to Altair 5 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, of course, 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:
[Wilma] No, Doctor, 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:
You'd best go to our alternate plan and make contact with Quince as soon as possible:
Yes, Doctor:
If Quince doesn't know the full details of their plan, use your surveillance equipment:
But only if Quince doesn't know:
Kellogg probably has any number of jamming devices on his person: Your equipment will circumvent them,
but it will require a direct line of sight, and that could be dangerous:
I understand:
Good luck, Colonel: Huer out:
Doctor Theopolis, it has become obvious: : :
That the Legion has some sort of operative working here at the Directorate:
If you're feeling up to it, perhaps you and Twiki could begin an investigation:
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:
[Chirping] I want a vacation:
Quiet, Twiki:
Okay, okay, easy:
Look, I have a very 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?
Why, this is an honor, my friend: An honor: : :
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, uh, plan?
Let's just say I need an opportunity:
Well, follow my lead, my friend: Follow my lead:
Opportunity is about to knock:
Guards! Help! Get me out of here!
Help! Help! Guards!
Help:! Get me out ofhere:!
Oh!
Ah:! What's the matter with you?
You fool!
Don't you recognize an Arcturan when you see one?
He tried to have psychic commune with me! Aah!
- He's out of his mind: I never touched him: - Don't listen to him! He wants my mind!
You idiot:! Don't you know enough to separate the species? Aah:!
Get me out ofhere:! All right! All right:
Colin, move this joker to another cell:
I got his gun:! Come on, Barney:! Come on:!
Wait a minute! You don't wanna go... We'll discuss it later!
Oh, Rafe, you're still alive!
I won't be long if you don't get us out of here fast:
Did they check your memory tapes to find out where we're heading?
Uh-uh, Rafe:
And once we're through the stargate, we'll be beyond their jurisdiction:
[Jazz]
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?
[No Dialogue]
[Both Laughing]
Do you like it? Does it matter?
Hmm?
Let me fix you something:
You know, l-I was beginning to think that this little trip to Aldebaran: : :
Was going to be something of a bore:
Oh? So why did you come?
Well, you see, l...
I have a meeting with some friends:
A little private business:
Now, what's a sweet,
young thing like you: : :
Doing with a subspace transmitter in your closet?
What are you doing?
There: Feeling a little less nosy now, Mr: Quince?
[Laughing]
Now, tell me about those friends of yours:
- Who called this meeting? - Oh: Kellogg:
Kellogg called it:
- For what purpose? - Oh:
We're gonna teach the Earth people a lesson:
How? What are your plans?
Oh, I don't know:
Kellogg's the strategist:
It's up to him: Hey, look:
Why do you wanna talk so much when we...
Because I find you so disgusting and so repugnant:
Now, 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:
Now, I want you to close your eyes,
and when you wake up tomorrow morning, all that you'll remember about tonight: : :
Is that you had a wonderful time:
I cannot believe we are reaching a parting of the ways:
Don't go getting sentimental on me, Barney:
I mean, it was fun, but nothing I wanna press into my scrapbook, if you know what I mean:
Look, I have a marvelous idea:
What do you say to a liaison? A partnership: : :
Between you and I against the galaxy?
Why, with my brains and your... more brains, there's nothing we couldn't do:
Well, I work alone, Barney: As do I, my friend:
But I can't help thinking what a terrific team we made breaking out of that space station:
Look, we'll discuss it later over dinner:
You know, you got something there: I like that:
Listen, I've got some stuff to pick up at Customs:
I'll meet you at the gate in 20 minutes, okay? Excellent, my friend: Excellent:
[Woman Over P: A:] Government regulations prohibit the transport of sub-humanoid 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, Argus:
I haven't had this much fun since we initiated 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 all of us: : :
To meet inside 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 just not what I expected, that's all: Disappointed?
Not yet:
By the way, there's an old friend of yours waiting for you back at the hotel:
Joella Cameron:
Sound familiar? Not particularly: But then, I meet a lot of women:
Well, this one very definitely remembers you:
[Alarm Blaring]
[Man Over P: A:] Emergency: Emergency: All personnel: : :
Evacuate Hangars 3, 4 and 9 immediately:
What's happening? There's an overload in one of the launch tubes!
The whole hangar system is misfiring: Can it be repaired?
Well, if we can't, this entire hangar is 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:
[Chirping] Can't you just phone this in? Quiet, Twiki:
Now, one more rod:
Carefully:
[Alarm Stops] There:
With the power bypass in effect, the overload is effectively neutralized:
Excellent: Thank you, Dr: Theopolis:
You were brilliant: Of course:
You do realize, don't you, that this near-tragedy was no accident?
As soon as you feel up to it, Dr: Theopolis, 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 socialize:
We can wait for Argus's acquaintance to arrive:
I, for one, love to watch reunions of old friends:
Varek, be a sport and get these people some drinks:
[Buck] Oh, I'll get 'em: Name your poison:
Varek will do it: Won't you?
Yes, of course:
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 through a holocaust, you know:
Earth did its best to destroy itself too:
No:
Earth was fortunate:
It didn't see its children twisted,
deformed, mutated:
Is that what you're afraid of?
What people will see behind that mask? [Beeping]
Varek:
Varek, get that:
[Varek] Excuse me:
Well, Argus, that must be your friend, Joella:
Hi:
- Is Rafael here yet? - Joella:
It's been a while:
Look, I know we didn't part under the best of terms,
but give me a chance, will you? You got a deal, Rafe:
Sherese: : : You satisfied?
Good: Good:
Shall we?
Remember, we're all to meet Markos in 10 minutes:
Thanks: You're welcome, uh...
Buck: Buck Rogers:
You are taking an awfully big chance, Buck Rogers:
Trying to fool Sherese and her friends, that's risky enough:
But, uh, how do you know I won't blow your cover?
You look like somebody I can trust:
I just look like somebody you can trust? [Chuckles]
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:
[Chuckles] 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, and you're alone on some godforsaken planet,
and you don't even know where home is anymore:
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 do I find you again?
Downstairs in the bar: I'll be around:
[Buck] Yes, well, this is all very impressive: Where are we?
The superstructure of the hotel's solar energy collector:
Which explains the heat, of course: But then where's Markos?
Markos? You needn't worry about Markos:
If Markos is anything at all, he's punctual: I try:
Markos: Good to see you again:
Markos, you remember Varek, Sherese, Quince:
And he is Argus:
[Markos] Argus: Rafael Argus:
I've heard about you: Same here:
[Kellogg] All of you know why we are here:
The Earth Defense Directorate must be reminded that: : :
The Legion of Death is a most special group of people:
A group to be respected, to be feared, to be left alone:
And they must be taught a lesson: : :
For the murdering of our colleague, Morgan Deneva:
A lesson: Yeah:
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:
[Quince] A challenging idea, Mr: Kellogg:
But that's a city of 10 million people:
It would take a fusion bomb to destroy a city of that size:
Not necessarily, Quince:
There are simpler ways of annihilating 10 million people in one stroke:
- Perhaps: - Perhaps? Perhaps?
How do we keep from being caught? It's all been carefully conceived, Argus:
My plan is the utilization of each one of your particular talents:
Now, to get down 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!
Hold it! I'll take care of her:
Rafael Argus: I should have known:
You know her? Yeah, we've met:
I'll try to make this as painless as possible:
- [Groans] - Uh-oh!
About the painless part...
Why didn't somebody tell me that those stun guns only work on a person's nervous system?
This bozo doesn't even have one:
- Did you hear Kellogg's plan? - Yeah, what little there was of it:
Buck, we can't go back to Earth without knowing how they're gonna destroy New Chicago:
I was afraid you were gonna say that:
What are we gonna do with our friend here?
Well, listen: This is the l: D: To Argus's ship:
Take it and hide there with him until I can join you:
All right? Oh, and, listen:
If I'm not there by 1500 hours, you leave without me:
You understand? You hear? Okay:
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:
And you have no idea who sabotaged the launch tube?
There is no internal evidence to suggest a culprit:
However, I have had the personnel computers provide me with a list: : :
Of all Directorate employees with a 9th-level clearance...
anyone who would have had access to the locations that were bombed:
How many employees would that be?
1,227:
I am, however, pursuing other avenues of investigation: : :
And expect to have a hypothesis soon:
Still no word from Colonel Deering or Captain Rogers? No:
No, Doctor:
Not yet:
Nighty-night:
Welcome back, Argus: [Engines Power Up]
I'm not Argus: [Engines Power Down]
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 would never do that without telling me:
Well, he didn't have time, and we've gotta get off this planet at 1500 hours:
And if I don't get these engines warmed up soon...
[Electrical Zap] [Groans]
I do the warming up around here, sweetie: And don't you forget it:
Ah: You were successful?
In a manner of speaking, yes:
What does 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:
Damnable Huer!
First Deneva, now Markos: [Groans]
He'll pay for this one:
They'll all...
[Sighs]
They'll all pay: Sit down, Argus:
We were discussing the logistics of our mission:
Which, as I was saying, our biggest problem is: : :
Keeping the Earth's entire starfleet off our tail: : :
While we make our escape after we've destroyed New Chicago:
Yes: But if we can destroy New Chicago: : :
And make it seem as though it were an act of God,
no one will be looking for us during our escape:
Subsequently, we will claim full responsibility for the deed:
To destroy a city that large, you'd 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,
a generating plant located in the wasteland 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 kilometers would be atomized instantly:
Very good, Kellogg:
[Varek] 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:
Well, in that case, I have a protracted good-bye to deliver to someone:
- Joella? - You got it:
[Chuckling]
[Beeps]
Yes?
What are you doing? My sensors show contact with their outer casings:
Just doing a little home repair, sweetie:
[Powering Down] You little witch:
Thank you:
Buck, where are you?
I was wondering where you were: Joella, we have got to get off-planet right now:
Wait a minute: I don't have time to explain: Let's go!
Ah, Jo: Still hangin' out with losers, huh?
Uh, look, uh, can't we talk this over?
I'm afraid not:
I've heard of being light on your feet, but this is ridiculous:
Buck, don't you dare get yourself killed:
Don't you dare:
All right, Kellogg, what's the idea of having Porky and Baby Doll here kidnap us?
Argus, shut up!
We've been approached: : :
By a-a local informant: : :
Who says he's selling some information that might be very interesting:
I believe you've met him:
Barney?
I, uh, hope you believe, my friend,
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: