I say we kill him now and get it over with.
Halt.
- Help me, Wilma! Distract him! - Buck, what's wrong?
It's Quince. He's frozen my controls.
[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.
[Narrator] In our last episode, Buck Rogers assumed the identity of a killer.
Argus.
And we all know 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.
[Buck] Get his gun, Barney!
Greetings, Mr. Argus.
I take it this means I passed.
Anyone who can hold his own against us deserves to be considered one of us.
I'm Kellogg.
Sherese and Quince and Varek.
We're being observed.
[Kellogg] Kill her, now!
Rafael Argus. I should have known.
- Is Rafael here yet? - Joella. It's been a while.
Look, I know we didn't part on the best of terms,
but give me a chance, will you?
You got a deal, Rafe.
The total destruction of the Terran capital... New Chicago.
To destroy a city that large, you'd need an earthquake or...
Or an antimatter explosion.
Barney?
I met Rafael Argus two years ago on Sutter's World,
and I can tell you for a fact, that ain't him.
You've got to be kidding. Who you gonna believe, someone you never met before today...
Or someone we never met before yesterday.
And, Joella,
you should have told us he was an impostor when you had the chance.
Leave her out of this. Stop him!
[All Shouting Indistinctly]
There!
[Buck] Not this time, Porky.
Go! [Beeping]
[Gasps]
[Sighs] You are something. We're not out of the woods yet.
We're gonna split up. I'll meet you in the main terminal of the spaceport in 10 minutes.
Right!
[Gasps]
We're just beyond the stargate, Doctor. I'm bringing Markos back with me.
Good. Good. And Buck's all right?
- Buck isn't with me. - What?
What happened? He was supposed to meet me at 1500 hours. I waited as long as I dared.
- You mean he's still on Aldebaran? - It's not as if I wanted to leave him there.
- No, no, of course not. - I'll explain everything back on Earth. Deering out.
Now, whoever you are, whom do you work for?
The stellar authorities? What's in that thing?
A chemical, that's all.
One that will act upon the thalamic regions of your brain.
But don't worry.
While it will cause a great deal of pain,
it won't do any physical damage.
All right, all right. I'll tell you!
I like my thalamic regions just the way they are. Thank you.
Who are you, and what did you do with Argus?
Wist.
Aron Wist.
- [Quince] Aron Wist. - You've heard of him?
[Quince] Just stories.
An assassin out of Alpha Centauri.
Strictly local. Small-time.
Not so small-time I didn't have all of you fooled.
No. But the question is, why?
I heard the four of you were getting together.
I thought Argus might be onto something big. I wanted a cut.
I didn't think I'd end up avenging one of your dead buddies for free.
And Argus? He didn't object to you impersonating him?
Argus was in no condition to object to anything.
Are you trying to tell us...
You killed Rafael Argus?
I never said that.
You never heard me say that.
I say we kill him now and get it over with.
Perhaps we should attempt to validate Mr. Wist's story.
Varek. Bring my transmitter case here... Quickly.
And how do we validate his story?
I have this friend...
Who happens to be a cataloger at the Earth Defense Directorate.
Not only is he keeping Elias Huer busy...
With pyrotechnical reminders that we do mean to avenge...
Deneva's death,
but he also has access to the Directorate's data banks.
With any luck, we should have positive identification within 30 minutes.
So, Mr. Wist,
if that is your name, you have nothing to worry about.
If not...
I think you're lying, Mr. Markos.
Take him to the lab. Have Dr. Nowlan prepare the mind probe.
Hooking me up to one of your machines isn't gonna do you any good, Huer.
Shortly, you and the rest of this city are gonna be blown to bits.
In case it hasn't dawned on you,
if and when this city is destroyed, you'll be destroyed as well.
I pray he is lying.
Unless we find out exactly...
How they plan to destroy New Chicago,
the best we can do is step up general security.
- Still no word from Buck? - No. None.
Since we lack concrete data, Dr. Huer, I suggest we analyze...
All known factors and attempt to develop a theory concerning the assassins' plan.
Twiki, please place me on the desk so that Dr. Huer and I can talk. [Chirping]
Here. Let me help you, Twiki.
He's still not accustomed to subspace communication.
Maybe he's using the wrong channel.
We've kept all channels open ever since you returned, Colonel.
And we've heard nothing.
He's probably dead.
[Kellogg] He's Aron Wist, all right.
I say we kill him anyhow.
[Kellogg] Stand by, Mr. Hartsteen.
Now let's consider his story.
He's here impersonating Rafael Argus.
Argus is nowhere to be found. Circumstantial evidence does indicate...
That he indeed has killed Argus.
And anyone capable of eliminating...
The legendary Rafael Argus is a formidable ally.
He's an arrogant fool, Kellogg!
Sherese, if arrogance were a capital crime, we'd all be dead long ago.
I say he goes with us... In my ship.
He goes in mine.
Wait a minute. Don't I have anything to say about this?
He goes with Quince.
Mr. Hartsteen, thank you for relaying the vid-copy. I have one more request.
We're about to leave for Earth,
but before we do, I wanna be absolutely certain...
That Huer suspects nothing.
That could be very dangerous.
That's what you are paid for, Hartsteen.
I expect you to get back to me within 20 minutes. Kellogg out.
I suggest you three head for the spaceport.
Our transportation should be ready momentarily.
And I suggest that if Mr. Wist gives us any trouble at all, we eliminate him.
- Agreed? - Most definitely.
Dr. Huer, have you heard from Buck?
Well, not exactly.
But Dr. Theopolis was just informed that information concerning Aron Wist...
Has been extracted from the central data bank.
Aron Wist? I don't understand.
[Dr. Huer] Wist is a nonexistent criminal invented by the Defense Directorate.
And Buck was instructed to use Aron Wist as a secondary cover...
In the event his primary cover of Rafael Argus failed.
So the fact that someone was trying to tap that information...
Means that someone's trying to verify Buck's story.
[Dr. Huer] And that Buck is still alive.
Dr. Huer, request permission to return to Aldebaran immediately.
- Denied. - But, Doctor...
No, he must get out of this himself.
And your appearance could very well place him in more jeopardy.
I understand.
Wist is actually an agent? Are you certain?
Positive. His real name is Rogers. Buck Rogers.
And Huer, he still has no idea...
Exactly how I plan to destroy New Chicago?
No, he doesn't. Whatever it is you intend to do,
it sounds like it's safe for you to go ahead.
And if that's the case, I'll be signing off now.
Got a shuttle to catch to New Phoenix.
I take it you've established the credit account there as we discussed?
Yes, yes, of course, Hartsteen. You've earned your money. Kellogg out.
Played for a fool... Twice...
In one day.
I'll have Quince...
Tear him to pieces.
[Woman Over P. A.] Flight 723 to Altair 5 now boarding at Gate 20.
Hey, wait a minute, you little worm! Greetings, my dear. Salutations. We meet again.
You turned us in for the money, didn't you? I had no idea I would need such heavy bribes to get through Customs.
I was bled dry. Ohhh.
Moreover, I discovered that the credits with which my friend Kellogg paid me off...
Were, shall we call, tainted.
Hmph. Well, luckily enough I was able to pass them off on a less discerning fellow...
For a well-equipped starfighter, which even as we speak...
Is being readied for flight in hangar bay number nine.
You little creep.
There is a great, wide, potentially lucrative universe waiting out there...
For an enterprising fellow such as myself.
And a universe, I might add, which could prove equally lucrative...
To an enterprising young woman too.
Have you ever thought of leaving this primitive mud bowl and entering civilization?
Oh! That's it. Don't make a snap decision.
Take some time. Think about it.
I can wait.
[Woman Over P. A.] Arriving passenger Dr. Adam Strange from Alpha Centauri,
please report to the reservations desk.
There they are.
All right, come along, Varek. Let's say good-bye to Buck Rogers, shall we?
We'll pick up the I. D. Plates and wait for Kellogg at the ships.
Any idea what he has in mind for us to do first?
What we're gonna do first is get rid of you.
Kellogg, we've been through this before.
He's an agent for the Earth Defense Directorate.
I do the honors.
Put it away, my dear. You may have what's left.
[Screams]
After him!
[Kellogg] Down there!
[Groans]
Varek, go in there and dispose of him.
He'll think that was you.
Why'd you do that?
This is why.
This is who I am.
You can't imagine life on my planet.
The children are afraid to look at their own reflections.
Children with a touch of death.
Children like myself.
Kellogg is condemning your people to the same fate as mine.
There's no hope for my world,
but there is for Earth.
Stop them. That's something you can do, isn't it?
No.
I have never belonged anywhere...
Except with Kellogg.
That's all I know. That's all I can do.
That's why I'm freeing you.
You stop them.
Please.
It's done.
That's fine.
Well, our ships must be ready.
Let's retrieve Mr. Quince and be on our way to New Chicago.
Uh, hello, Dr. Huer. Well, Hartsteen.
You're, uh, making a rather short day of it, aren't you?
I don't feel very well. I was just on my way to the clinic.
Oh, I see. You know,
if Dr. Theopolis hadn't already been onto your extracurricular activities,
we might never have known it was you who tapped the data bank...
For information on Aron Wist.
What exactly does Kellogg have in mind for New Chicago?
I don't know.
- [Chirping] - Take him to Detention.
But I do know they're wise to the agent you sent to Aldebaran.
Buck Rogers is a dead man, Huer.
Like all the rest of you,
a dead man.
[Chirping] Haul buns, Hartsteen.
All subspace calls require two forms of identification...
Regardless of what party is billed.
[Clears Throat] Especially on this planet.
Look, I have got to make that transmission. There are thousands of people who are in danger.
So go to the police if it's that important.
Are you kidding me? The authorities here are almost as bad as the criminals.
[Chuckles] Maybe so, but they do know what to do with loiterers,
if you get my drift, sir.
Yeah, I get your drift.
Remind me to give you a call the next time hell freezes over. Buck!
Oh, Buck! Joella.
Where have you been? I've been looking all over for you.
I figured after what I did to Quince, I better lay low for a little while.
By the way, thanks for what you did back there. You could have been killed.
For the third time today incidentally.
You know, it seems like ever since I met you, I've been making some very powerful people very angry at me.
And you know something? I haven't had this much fun in months!
You're out of your mind, you know that?
No more than you.
Thanks, Buck. For what, almost getting you killed?
For letting me help you...
And for not casting me aside after you were done with me.
Come on.
I've gotta find a ship and get to Earth as quickly as possible.
Uh, look. The place we're going can be very, very dangerous.
So if at any time you want me to drop you off... Uh-uh.
We've come this far together, we'll go all the way. Okay.
As a matter of fact, I think I even know where we can find a ship. Terrific. Let's go.
[Sherese] Just how do we break in to this generating plant?
By using our combined abilities under my direction, of course.
Not one of us could accomplish this task alone. Really?
Quince, formidable as your telekinesis can be,
you could only concentrate on one thing at a time.
Inside the plant, there will be upwards from 20 barriers at any given moment.
With my logistical skills, I can analyze any security system within minutes.
You and Varek with your respective abilities...
Can easily circumvent those security devices between you.
And me? You, Sherese,
will help us with the final key to our task...
- Mr. Richard Selvan. - Who?
[Kellogg] We do need an Energy Directorate employee...
To help us gain initial entry to the plant.
Mr. Selvan is a respected employee,
an engineer and a family man.
- What makes you think he'll cooperate? - Show me one family man...
Who can afford to be a hero.
Take a look, my friends.
Take a long good look.
Tomorrow the picture will be different.
[Woman Over P. A.] Flight 262 to Regulus 5... You like?
[Buck] She's nice.
I really hate the idea of stealing some poor schlep's starfighter, though.
I wouldn't worry about that. Wait till you meet the owner.
As a matter of fact, there he is now.
Thank you.
[Woman Over P. A.] Flight 666 to Lavas Planet will be leaving from Gate 6 in 30 minutes.
Hello, Barney.
[Groans]
Well, my friends!
I am happy to see that you have managed to escape the tendrils of disaster, as it were.
No thanks to you.
You were more than happy to sell me out for a few thousand credits.
Oh, my friend, I feel insulted.
Do you think that I would sell you out for a few thousand credits?
A few hundred thousand.
I see. And with that money, you bought yourself a very nice starfighter.
Oh, it's beautiful, isn't it? A real beauty.
A steal, if you'll pardon the expression. Yeah, she is.
I'm looking forward to flying her.
Actually, it's cosmetic. The engines are in terrible shape.
Terrible disrepair. Nobody's... [Chuckles]
My friend, you are joking. I mean, you're not going to let...
A momentary lapse of judgment on my part affect your sensibilities.
Give me your I. D. Plate, Barney.
[Sighs]
Just who are you, anyway? I mean, who do you work for?
Barney, if I don't get to Earth, a very sizable chunk of a planet I'm very fond of is gonna be destroyed.
Who cares?
You could buy a new planet. My friend, I'm talking heavy credits here.
Give me your I. D. Plate, Barney.
[Groans] There's a law against this, you know.
How do you propose I get off this celestial mud ball?
A word of advice, Barney.
Learn to like mud.
Wait. Come on.
Step back.
Enough, Matt. Enough. I'm dying.
Go over and play with your sister Katrina and let me rest. [Chuckles]
[Quince] That's a fine, healthy-looking boy you have there.
His name is Mateo, isn't it?
He was named after your wife's father.
Your wife being Therese, of course.
And the little girl...
Playing next to our friends there, that must be Katrina.
What is this? Who are you?
You have something we want.
But I have no money. I'm not rich. I'm just an engineer.
It's not money we want, Mr. Selvan.
You have access to the contra-terrene generating plant.
We want into that plant. It's just that simple.
You're smugglers. That's it.
You're trying to steal some sort of hardware.
- Something like that. - But that place is a fortress.
I'll never be able to get you past all the security devices.
Don't flatter yourself, Mr. Selvan.
We don't expect you to.
You're a key. Nothing more.
Just get us inside and we'll do the rest.
No. I won't do it. It would mean my job. I won't do it!
That's very noble, Mr. Selvan.
Your job. Hmm.
Are you as brave when it comes to the lives of your family?
[Katrina] Mister?
Why are you wearing that mask?
It's sort of a game.
Do you like magic?
Give me your hand.
Take these pebbles.
Drop them in my hand.
Take 'em back.
And do it again.
Oh!
Do it again! Do it again!
Okay, I'll get you in.
But just don't harm my family.
Don't harm my family.
Don't worry, Mr. Selvan. You do your job, and they'll be fine.
- Sure? - We may be smugglers,
but we do know the value of a contract.
[Children Shouting]
[Varek's Voice] You can't imagine life on my planet.
The children are afraid to look at their own reflections.
Children with a touch of death.
Children like myself.
Buck, you okay?
Boy, do I hate to go through those things. [Sighs]
Earth Directorate, this is Buck Rogers. Do you read?
Yes. Buck, where are you?
About 40 minutes from Earth. The assassins are on their way to Earth now.
Kellogg's plan is to sabotage the reactor outside New Chicago.
That's impossible. The security around that reactor is impregnable.
Doc, do you really think anything is impregnable to these people?
You're right. Of course.
Very well. I'll lead a ground squad to the reactor myself.
Colonel Deering will meet you on the flight deck when you arrive. Huer out.
You're, uh, taking me to a city that may be wiped off the map at any minute?
I told you it might be dangerous. You have a real gift for understatement.
[Chuckling]
Why do all the good-looking ones have to be crazy?
[Kellogg] The plant is only a few kilometers away.
We'll land behind the rock formations at its northern perimeter.
It's won't be long now.
Well, they're very clever. Even the identifying sensors are hidden.
But you know where they are. Do you not, Mr. Selvan?
[Quince] But why not send Varek in ahead and let him open the doors from the inside?
It doesn't work that way, Quince. The portal can only be opened from the outside,
not without the correct identity code.
Mr. Selvan here is our only key.
This is insane.
There are literally dozens of security baffles inside of this plant.
And besides, you'll never make it beyond the maintenance androids.
[Door Buzzes]
[Kellogg] Ah. After we enter,
the sensors will pick up five heartbeats, notjust one.
An alarm will go off, so be prepared.
If you will, Mr. Selvan.
Halt! There is no trespassing!
You are in violation of statute 0605...
[Alarm Beeping]
Androids, as you can see. Shall we continue?
[Alarm Continues Beeping]
- Buck! - Wilma!
You're all right! Oh!
Yeah. I was caught between a rock and a hard place for a while, but I'm okay.
I don't understand you, but it feels good not understanding you again.
[Chuckles] Oh! Joella, Wilma. Wilma, Joella.
- Hi. - How we doing?
Fine. Dr. Huer is on his way with the ground forces,
and I've got three starfighters fueled up and ready to go.
Terrific! Joella, I'm gonna leave you...
In two of the most capable hands in all of New Chicago.
- Theo, Twiki, this is Joella. - [Chirping]
They will introduce you to sights you never dreamed existed. [Chirping]
I thought you'd feel that way.
Let's go. [Chirping] What a fox.
[Theo] Now wait a minute, Twiki. I have a great deal to do in my office.
[Twiki] I'll drop you off. [Chuckles]
[Selvan] That is a neutronium vault door.
You will never be able to make it past it.
Now, one more step and we activate the defense laser.
The sensor web picks up any changes in air density.
The sensor switch is on that far wall. Varek will turn it off.
Varek, don't you hear me? Put that grotesque body of yours to some use...
And turn it off.
[Alarms Beeping]
[Alarm Stops]
It's done.
We're not handing out medals, Varek.
If I'm not mistaken, this should be the final obstacle.
- Is that correct, Mr. Selvan? - I wouldn't know.
Of course you would.
One of these buttons gives us direct access to the main control room.
The other, should we press it, releases a potent nerve gas...
That will paralyze all of us instantly, yes?
So you see, Mr. Selvan, it's up to you.
Choose the wrong button,
and I'm afraid our associate in New Chicago will have to eliminate your family.
Despite his growing fondness for your lovely wife.
- The top one. - The top one?
Well?
He's lying.
Thank you, Mr. Selvan. You did exactly as I expected...
took a chance that we couldn't notify our associate before the nerve gas took effect.
For whatever it's worth,
you would have been right.
Dr. Theopolis says that the Energy Directorate has been receiving...
Automated distress signals from the contra-terrene plant for over 20 minutes now.
How far are Dr. Huer and his people from the plant?
He should be closing in in about ten minutes.
- Have the people at the plant been alerted? - Well, there are no people out at the plant.
Only a few maintenance androids that also double as guards.
The plant's major operations are remotely controlled by technicians at the Energy Directorate.
- Almost everything else is... - Computerized.
- [Hum Resonating] - And this must be the vacuum chamber.
Correct, Quince.
The antimatter is held in an electromagnetic bottle which, of course, is invisible to us.
What are you doing? If you keep that up,
the magnetic bottles containing the antimatter will start to erode.
[Kellogg] Mr. Selvan, I know exactly what I'm doing.
I've done a great deal of research on contra-terrene reactors.
It has always been a pet conceptual project of mine.
But if the bottles erode, the antimatter will start leaking into the atmosphere...
And everything within 200 square kilometers will be destroyed!
Mr. Selvan, I'm afraid we misled you...
About our motivation.
[Sherese] You can hardly blame us, Mr. Selvan.
If you knew we were gonna wipe out the city in which your family lives, you wouldn't have cooperated.
You murdering liars!
[Grunts]
No one ever strikes me! Nobody!
You do know you'll have to die.
Kill him, Varek.
You heard me. Dispose of him now!
No.
No?
You dare say no to me?
I will not kill him.
I will not allow you destroy this city.
[Shouting] You won't allow us?
What was that?
Something I thought I'd never have to use.
Now, if you would be so kind as to use that on this.
[Man Over P. A.] Alert! Alert!
This is a code five emergency.
In five minutes, the chain reaction shall begin.
So, until we meet again on Sutter's World, 36 hours from now...
To claim credit for this to the Legion of Death.
Terminal reaction will occur in five minutes.
All maintenance androids report to vacuum chamber immediately.
Erosion has begun in the antimatter containment vessels. Alert!
[Dr. Huer] They've destroyed the guard androids.
This is Huer. I'vejust arrived at the plant.
[Wilma] We're only 30 seconds from joining you, Doctor.
Unfortunately, it looks as though the assassins have already been here.
- Maybe they're still inside. - Not anymore.
Dr. Huer, the assassins are trying to escape. We're going after them. Deering out.
Come with me.
[Man Over P. A.] Three minutes, 30 seconds to terminal reaction. How bad is the damage?
Magnetic bottles eroding.
We have to get them back to full strength before chain reaction. Good Lord.
No, no, no! He tried to stop them.
Good Lord. They've destroyed the controls.
The only possible way I can repair the damage is to go inside the vacuum chamber.
You can't be serious. These containers are eroding.
There's probably stray atoms of antimatter floating around in there.
One step inside and you could be annihilated before you made a single move.
Sir, we have no other choice.
What about the maintenance androids? Kellogg destroyed them.
Someone has to go in there.
I'll go.
I don't want to mislead you.
I know what you can do, but even you may not be able to survive in there.
Just tell me what to do.
All right. [Man Over P. A.] Two minutes, 30 seconds to terminal reaction.
What's shakin', Porky?
- You! You still alive? - I sure am.
One minute, 45 seconds to terminal reaction.
One minute, 30 seconds to terminal reaction.
Oops.
- Buck, what's wrong? - It's Quince! He's frozen my controls!
Help me, Wilma! Distract him! Break his concentration!
[Beeping]
- Wilma, are you all right? - Fine. Thanks, Buck.
Thank you.
Dynamite, Lieutenant Murphy.
Lieutenant Murphy, tow what's left of our friends back to Earth.
- Buck, let's head down to the plant. - I'm with you.
- Sixty seconds to terminal reaction. - I feel so helpless.
He'll do fine, if he just remembers the correct sequence.
Forty-five seconds to terminal reaction.
Dr. Huer, what's happening?
That man in there is trying to repair the damage the assassins did.
- Thirty seconds to terminal reaction. - Varek.
He's restoring the magnetic bottles they almost destroyed.
He's taking an awfully big chance though.
[Man Over P. A.] Fifteen,
fourteen, thirteen,
twelve, eleven,
ten, nine,
eight, seven, six,
five, four,
three...
- [Man Over P. A.] Erosion terminated. - He's done it.
Code five emergency is no longer in effect.
The bottles are back to full strength.
Varek, you did it.
- What's happened to him? - A few last atoms of antimatter must have escaped.
He was annihilated instantly.
I wonder if he even knew he saved us.
Varek! We thought you'd been killed.
When the first atom of antimatter struck me,
I dropped down through the floor.
As you can see, I'm not entirely undamaged.
Let's get you to the Directorate clinic.
- Varek, you okay? - Yes, I'm fine.
No, you're not.
Let us help you.
Thank you.
[Softly] Thank you.
Ah. Buck, what was it you said this liquid is again?
Wine. Wine.
Burgundy, to be exact.
I filched some fruit that looked like grapes from the hydroponics lab,
squeezed 'em into juice, had Theo hit it with a little delta radiation...
To speed up the fermentation process, and, uh,
well, here we go.
That's not bad.
So, Theo, any luck tracing down Sherese?
None, I'm afraid, Buck.
She's probably halfway to Arcturus by now.
What do you think Varek will do now without Kellogg?
He's asked me to take him back to his own planet, or what's left of it.
I can understand that. It's the only home he's known.
- You going to take him back then? - It's the least I can do for a fellow survivor.
[Door Beeping]
Ah, Joella, Twiki, come on in.
Well, what'd you think of him? He is everything you said he'd be, Buck.
[Chirping] [Laughing]
- What's so funny? - He is. Didn't you hear?
[Chirping, Chuckling]
Twiki-wiki, really, now.
[Laughing]