Buck Rogers
by AJ Marks
Part 18
Buck made his way to the council room once more unsure why they wanted to speak with him this time. He had no other information they might need and walked in seeing several familiar faces already sitting down.
“Thank you captain, have a seat,” the Chancellor said, which Buck walked over and sat down. It was becoming almost routine and this time he felt none of the nervousness of the past couple of times. “Its been an exciting twenty-four hours.”
“Yes sir,” Buck replied, going for respectable for now.
“We had contact with the Rizonian Empire regarding your appearance. They are satisfied with the findings, and it seems the scientific community is more than excited over what happened once the information was released. We haven’t seen so much chatter in years,” the Chancellor said.
“Well, the test was to improve our scientific understanding of the universe,” Buck said wondering if the people involved ever knew the excitement they produced.
“Yes, it appears you have now become a celebrity beyond Earth,” the Chancellor said surprising Buck a bit by that statement. He never expected to hear those words in his lifetime, he also had a feeling something else was up.
“It seems that another race is asking to see you,” another senator said and Buck saw the nameplate as Iris Smith. The comment left Buck a bit speechless.
“We were hesitant to accept on your behalf, but this could be an opportunity again for us,” the Chancellor said.
“More spying?” Buck asked, not really wanting to do that.
“Ah, no, this one is different, as an ambassador to strengthen ties between our two races,” the Chancellor said.
“Are you sure this cave man can be civil?” Mark said.
“I’ll just be sure to act the opposite of you,” Buck replied looking over at Mark watching as the man’s face reddened in anger.
“Captain Rogers is more than capable of being a good ambassador,” Doctor Theopolis said from where he sat off to the side.
“I concur, everything he’s done has been exceptional,” another robot adviser said.
“I wanted to ask you before accepting, you’ll be going again with Doctor Theopolis, as your advisor and Colonel Deering,” the Chancellor replied.
“I don’t see a reason who not, and I’ve always wanted to see another planet,” Buck said.
“Then I can inform them to expect you,” the chancellor said.
“Who am I going to be seeing?”
“The Tsandrians, very likable,” the Chancellor said. “I’ll send the information over to you before you leave so you can review it.”
“Thanks,” Buck said before being dismissed. Another trip to another planet. Never before the experiment did he think he would actually be heading to other planets and visiting other races and yet here he was doing exactly that.
*****
Buck walked over to where there were several aliens standing waiting for them. Wilma and Twiki were already making their way over as well and he hoped they spoke English, or had a translator ready. Theopolis said they would as Buck knew he could not speak a word of their language.
“Welcome to Tsand,” one of the aliens said, looking a bit like the drawings of ‘grey’ aliens, grey skin, large eyes, and about the height of a human though the clothing seemed a bit odd to him.
“It’s a pleasure to be here,” Buck replied, already feeling it different than when he visited the Rizonians, the Tsandrians were much more social already.
“So you’re the remarkable pilot who managed to survive the Thu’lue drive,” another one said speaking up.
“Ah, yeah, that’s me,” Buck answered knowing that much. The drives were considered very unstable and dangerous, and he had done some reading up on the subject and realized how close to death he had come to.
“We’re read up on what happened from the Rizonians, simply amazing,” the Tsundrian said.
“We had always assumed the first flight had ended in tragedy, until we received the call from the Rizonian government,” Theopolis stated. “It was a tremendous shock to learn what really happened.”
“I can imagine, its even more surprising that you were not blown up right away,” the Tsandrian said looking right at Buck. “They don’t allow many visitors.”
“I think that was probably due to my sending out a signal for Earth right away, doubt a spy should would do that,” Buck said.
“Yes, gave them some hesitation to allow their curiosity to come forth to figure out who you were,” the Tsandrian replied back to him.
It wasn’t the first time Buck wondered how close to death he came during that test flight, and how many different ways he could have died. The ships itself had several, add in the Rizonians, it really was a small miracle he was even standing there.
“Well, shall we give you a small tour,” the Tsandrian said.
“Sure,” Buck said as they were led away from the hanger.
*****
Buck sat down on the bed wondering if somehow all advanced societies somehow evolved along the same lines. The Tsandrians had a similar transportation system as Earth, and the Rizonians, in high speed transports which allowed them to move quickly between different cities and buildings. Even how things were set up within the buildings were similar, living areas, shopping and recreational and other things all housed in a close knit society.
The Tsandrians had a schedule for him, he would do a couple of interviews which seemed a bit different, he had never done such a thing for another race and wondered what type of questions they might ask. The door opened allowing Wilma and Twiki to enter the room.
“So Captain Rogers, how’s your first official visit to another race going?” Theopolis asked.
“Interesting,” Buck replied back to them.
“I received word from Earth on the attackers,” Wilma said gaining Buck’s interest. “It appears all the fighters were drones of some sort.”
“Drones?” Buck replied.
“There were no organic remains, and we have yet to encounter a race made up completely of robots, it’s the most logical conclusion. They are working on getting more details through the computers on board the ships to see if we can figure out better who they might have been,” Wilma stated, leaving Buck wondering who might have set something up like this.
“That would explain why one was flying erratically, probably the brains behind it all,” Buck replied thinking about it.
“And the signal was telling the others to retreat,” Wilma said.
“Very interesting,” Theopolis said. “I have no knowledge of any race which would create something like this, but every single one is capable of deploying such a group of fighters. Why any of them would is questionable at best due to the fact such drones re easily jammed and hacked to give new instructions to.”
“What about you, you’ve been away several times,” Buck said looking at Theopolis.
“I go through an extensive program check upon returning,” Theopolis said.
“Biggy, biggy, as do I,” Twiki replied.
“Of course you do Twiki,” Theopolis said.
“Are you going to share that information with the Tsundrians?” Buck asked finally after several seconds of silence.
“Our government is already sending the information to them through official channels,” Wilma replied.
“Right, the official way,” Buck said.
“All you have to do is give the interviews,” Wilma said. “That’s the only reason why we’re here”
“I know, just feels like I should be doing more, that’s all,” Buck replied back to them.
“You’re doing enough, allow the others to do their jobs as well,” Theopolis said back to him.
“Well, should we try out the food?” Buck finally said,
“I think you should allow me to order,” Theopolis said. “I have a vast knowledge of what is most similar to Earth food, and what isn’t poisonous to you.”
“By all mean, go ahead,” Buck said, wondering what type of food they would get.
*****
Buck stood next to Wilma in the middle of the party which was hosted by the Tsandrian government. Buck was actually surprised at the number of people who spoke English on the planet and had asked about it. It seemed due to the fact Earthlings were so social, their language was picked up as the language of business even among other races. He wouldn’t complain about it as it made things easier.
“Captain, I’m so glad you could make it,” another Tsuandrian said walking over to him. Buck had no idea this one was, and without the clothing he doubted he could tell them apart.
“Thanks,” Buck said.
“I’m the official aide to the Senatehead,” he said, which Buck understood as equivalent to being the President of Chancellor of the planet.
“Ah, how’s that going?” Buck asked watching as the Tsandrain paused to think about it for a second.
“It is a position of great importance,” he finally replied. “I enjoy it a lot. I am to inform you that he is running a bit late, something with your government, an attack or something?”
“Ah, yeah, we were attacked not long ago by some unknown race,” Buck said.
“That would explain the numerous meetings lately,” the aide replied. “And why things are so secret for now, but I think it will be let known shortly.”
“Yes, I’ve heard the NAA is asking other races if they know anything about them,” Buck said.
“I’m not a military person, so I wouldn’t have that information,” the aide said.
Buck nodded as the aide then made his way over to Doctor Theopolis. It was an odd aspect of the Tsandrian race, they didn’t introduce themselves, which made things even harder for Buck as he had a hard time telling the difference between them. He briefly wondered if they had two sexes.
“You look worried about something?” Wilma’s voice asked.
“I’m afraid I’ll say something and not recognize I’ve talk to the Tsandrian already,” Buck said. “How do you tell them apart?”
“Clothing,” Wilma said.
“Works until they change their clothing,” Buck replied back to her.
“Never said my system was perfect,” Wilma said. “Besides, I only have to stand here and watch, everyone wants to talk to you, not me.”
“Oh, yeah, lucky me,” Buck replied back with a bit of sarcasm.
Everyone looked up at the gong, and then he heard an announcement made in the Tsandrian language which he didn’t understand before the translation to English.
“Announcing the Senatehead Urlic Uvollert.”
“Well, at least I’ll know his name, I think,” Buck said to Wilma as they watched a Tsandrian walk through the doors dressed in what could pass as a dress, but normal for them, colored purple.
They watched as he greeted a few people before making his way over to where Buck stood.
“Ah, the man of honor,” Urlic said.
“Sir,” Buck said. “Pleasure is all mine.”
“I caught your interview this morning, very interesting,” Urlic said. “I can’t imagine how my life would be if I suddenly found myself so far into the future.”
“Its been an adjustment, that’s for sure,” Buck said. “A lot to learn and then trying to fit back into society which has changed, yet hasn’t.”
“I’ve heard an old Earth saying, the more things change the more they stay the same, is it true?”
“Well, yeah, somethings change in how its done, but it still has to be done, like farming and such. We can’t live without eating so someone has to farm the fields,” Buck said.
“I see, yes, I can see that,” Urlic said turning to Wilma. “I told your government this, but we do not know who attacked you. The technology is not familiar, nor are the computers used.”
“Didn’t think so, but we’re asking everyone,” Wilma said.
“We’ve put our military on alert just in case, and reached out to the races on the outer edges of known space if they know anything,” Urlic said. “We are working with your government to try and solve this mystery. Speaking of mysteries, you’re arrival in Rizonian space must have some to a huge shock to them.”
“To them, it was a bigger one to me, suddenly finding myself close to a planet which looked very much like Earth instead of a dead, red planet,” Buck replied back. “Then seeing that ship, it was like something out of a sci-fi novel of my time.”
“Of all the races to end up near, you had the worst luck,” Urlic said. “We would have treated you much better.”
“Thanks,” Buck replied, unsure what type of reception he would have received here, but it might not have been at the end of drawn weapons and tossed into a cell.
Another announcement indicated the food was being delivered and they went to head to their tables. Buck had a flashback to the last time he was in such a situation back on Earth. That dinner was interrupted by a bombing, and hoped this time it would be more peaceful. Of course the intelligence reports did not indicate any problems within the Tsandrian government.
He settled back to enjoy the meal and look forward to what might happen next and the food they were about to be served which he hoped was edible to humans.
End part 18