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.
The entire hangar's going up in five minutes!
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.
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.
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 I... If I understand you correctly, yes.
Fourth floor. Ladies'clothing and lingerie.
Twiki, what's lingerie?
These are highly skilled professionals, not hired guns.
Get some fire extinguishers! You guys all right?
Quick! Anyone hurt? Come on!
I'm undamaged, Buck. Thank you.
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.
Why is it the good die young?
Steady. You all right?
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.
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.
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.
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?
Do I.
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.
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.
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.
Sorry to disturb you again, Rafe,
but I'm tracking a squadron of starfighters on an intercept course with us.
Oh, no. Police cruisers.
Message coming in.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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? Does it matter?
Hmm?
Let me fix you something.
You know, I-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, I...
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?
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.
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.
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.
Can't you just phone this in? Quiet, Twiki.
Now, one more rod.
Carefully.
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.
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?
Varek.
Varek, get that.
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?
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, 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.
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.
Argus. Rafael Argus.
I've heard about you. Same here.
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.
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.
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 I. 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.
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 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...
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.
He'll pay for this one.
They'll all...
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.
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.
Yes?
What are you doing? My sensors show contact with their outer casings.
Just doing a little home repair, sweetie.
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.