{"id":1583,"date":"2016-08-06T07:21:55","date_gmt":"2016-08-06T12:21:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=1583"},"modified":"2016-08-10T07:23:48","modified_gmt":"2016-08-10T12:23:48","slug":"buck-rogers-part-21","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=1583","title":{"rendered":"Buck Rogers – Part 21"},"content":{"rendered":"

Buck Rogers<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

by AJ Marks<\/span><\/p>\n

Part 21<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Buck looked around at the many different stores and such wondering where he should go first. He had come here on a whim and now had no idea what to do.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, never thought I\u2019d see you in a place like this,\u201d A very familiar voice said causing him to look over to see Princess Ardala walking towards him. He glanced around seeing a few of her guards but no one else seemed to have even looked their way at her loud voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cPrincess,\u201d Buck said mindful of her title.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo respectful, its nice,\u201d Ardala said stopping next to him. \u201cSo, what are you doing here?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, just getting out of the apartment,\u201d Buck replied to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood, you can have a bit of lunch with me, I was looking for someone to have it with,\u201d she said wrapping an arm around his and heading off towards one of the restaurants before Buck could even squeak a protest.<\/p>\n

The two guards didn\u2019t seemed fazed by it at all and Buck wondered about Ardala\u2019s reputation as she was quickly seated by the staff and even were welcomed back.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll love this place, some of the best food in the galaxy,\u201d Ardala said to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are too kind madam,\u201d the seater said to her. \u201cLeslie will be over shortly.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks,\u201d Ardala replied as they watched him walk off as a young waitress walked over to them.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you having your regular drink princess?\u201d the waitress asked Ardala.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, that sounds fine,\u201d Ardala replied looking over at Buck.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh,\u201d he replied, caught a bit flat-footed by the sudden rush of events. \u201cIce tea?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSweet or unsweetened?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cSweet,\u201d Buck replied watching as she took off.<\/p>\n

\u201cBit of a prude thing to have,\u201d Ardala replied. \u201cYou need to loosen up a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI am, I just like tea,\u201d Buck replied, though he really wanted a soda, but those had gone away over the years and he was still getting used to the different types of beers served. \u201cYou don\u2019t seem at all fazed by the fact your own father named you the one responsible for the recent attack on Earth.\u201d<\/p>\n

He watched as she suddenly grew slightly angry.<\/p>\n

\u201cMe, attack Earth,\u201d she replied. \u201cHow preposterous, absolutely shameful.\u00a0 I know many good people here, and why would I want to make war, making love is so much better,\u201d she said leaning closer to Buck.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, you do seem like that type,\u201d Buck said. \u201cI didn\u2019t believe it either.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSee, though I do have an idea on who did it,\u201d she said, her voice becoming harder, more like her father.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe apple didn\u2019t fall far from the tree I see,\u201d Buck said watching her frown at the expression. \u201cIt means you\u2019re very much like your father sometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA compliment and insult all at once, interesting,\u201d Ardala replied as the server returned with their drinks, Ardala\u2019s some sort of mixed drink with a pink liquid.<\/p>\n

Buck glanced down at the menu trying to figure out what might be good, and received several suggestions from Ardala. He figured no matter her attitude, she really wasn\u2019t much for being secretive.\u00a0 If she wanted something she went for it and made no attempt to hide that fact.\u00a0 He had a feeling she probably desired other people more than anything else which was why it was so hard to see her as a mastermind behind the attack.<\/p>\n

He ordered a sandwich and watched as Ardala orders a larger meal and with a wink at the waitress who blushed a bit by the attention but went to place the order.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs there anyone you don\u2019t flirt with?\u201d Buck asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnly handsome guys or cute girls,\u201d Ardala replied. \u201cIt\u2019s a thrill unlike anything else in the universe.\u00a0 I don\u2019t ask for any commitment, only a night of fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not worried about something like AIDS or anything like that?\u201d Buck asked her, wondering if he should be checked for some sort of sexually transmitted disease or something.<\/p>\n

\u201cMedicine has advanced tremendously in the years you\u2019ve been gone, AIDS was cured a long time ago, and I have regular check-ups,\u201d she replied back to him.<\/p>\n

Buck pondered that for a few seconds, realizing that she could have the best doctors and medicine they could provide.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, what about you? I\u2019ve heard you\u2019ve enlisted in the defense force here?\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d Buck replied, not that it was a secret, but she kept up with information rather well.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow boring,\u201d she replied almost typically. \u201cI guess that\u2019s what you do though, being an ex-military man from the past.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt has it\u2019s moments, and I\u2019ve always been one with the need for speed,\u201d Buck said knowing he said a typical movie line but figured she had probably never heard of it before.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs that what they call it?\u201d Ardala replied.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve met some who are like that, always in a rush, they typically don\u2019t make good lovers.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd how\u2019d I do?\u201d Buck asked and quickly regretted saying anything as she seemed to think about it.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou, above average,\u201d she finally said with a straight face.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I guess that\u2019s good,\u201d he finally said a bit thankful she didn\u2019t say bad. Their food arrived and he focused on the food, which was very good.<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

Buck walked out of the restaurant with Ardala wondering what he would do next when he spotted a familiar face in the crowd.<\/p>\n

\u201cSomething wrong?\u201d Ardala asked him.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat, no, just thinking to myself,\u201d Buck replied. \u201cThank you for the meal, I had a wonderful time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGlad to hear it, I excel at good times,\u201d she replied back to him. \u201cIf you\u2019re lonely tonight, you can find me at the Grand Trinity hotel, the grand suite.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll keep it in mind,\u201d Buck said, knowing he already had plans this evening. He watched her walk off with the guards and turned back to the man who was nearby, and looking at the retreating form of Ardala with some disgust in his eyes.\u00a0 Buck moved off hoping to blend in with the crowd and to get closer to the man to figure out what he was doing.<\/p>\n

He noticed another man walk up to him, both of whom looked around before heading into a restaurant. If this wasn\u2019t type typical suspicious behavior Buck had no idea what wasn\u2019t.\u00a0 It all seemed like something out of a cheesy low rate movie.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, aren\u2019t you that man from the past, Rogers?\u2019 someone asked causing him to turn to see a group of youngsters standing there looking at him.<\/p>\n

\u201cUm, yeah, that\u2019s me, Buck Rogers,\u201d he replied wondering what they wanted.<\/p>\n

\u201cSee, I told you it was,\u201d one of the girls said. To Buck they appeared to be teens, probably fifteen to seventeen.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you really from something like five hundred years old?\u201d another one asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cSomething like that,\u201d Buck said not wanting to get into the actual age.<\/p>\n

\u201cA living fossil, though you don\u2019t look that old,\u201d one of the girls said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I feel more like thirty,\u201d Buck replied wondering how they would take that age.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy dad looks older, are you sure you\u2019re that old?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I was born in the twentieth century,\u201d Buck said wondering where they would go from here but he had a good view of the interaction between the two men in the restaurant, they had received a window seat for some strange reason.<\/p>\n

The group seemed interested in him even as he continued to look over at the two men. The kids continued to ask some questions before one looked at the time and said something about having to be somewhere and they took off talking about everything and nothing.\u00a0 Teens hadn\u2019t changed much in the centuries he thought to himself even as he looked back over at the two men, almost jumping when a hand fell on his shoulder.<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry, didn\u2019t mean to surprise you,\u201d a voice said as he turned to see a young woman and wondered what she wanted.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, not used to such things,\u201d Buck replied honestly.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve noticed you watching our targets,\u201d she said to him. \u201cWe need you to make sure they don\u2019t know they are being followed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, he has attracted attention, who is he talking to?\u201d Buck asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s who we\u2019re trying to figure out, we have intelligence working on that aspect,\u201d the woman replied back to him. \u201cWhy are you watching them?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe reminds me of the man in the rebel compound when I was kidnapped in the UAC,\u201d Buck replied back to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, that\u2019s why we\u2019re watching him,\u201d she said. \u201cIt was a bit unusual to follow someone of Princess Ardala\u2019s entourage.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou trust her that much?\u201d Buck asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, not really, but he was a new person,\u201d the woman replied back to him. \u201cLucky for you those teens began talking to you, you stand out where ever you go.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I figured,\u201d Buck said. \u201cSo, why are you talking to me, doesn\u2019t that blow your cover?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNope, allows me an excuse to be out in the open, talking to the man who is the oldest human alive.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGreat, you too?\u201d Buck said wondering if he would ever live that aspect down.<\/p>\n

\u201cAny excuse I can get to get closer to my target,\u201d the woman replied back to him.<\/p>\n

Buck noticed that the two men and gotten up and were now leaving the restaurant.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey are on the move,\u201d the woman said obviously listening in on some conversation Buck couldn\u2019t hear. Some sort of high-tech communications device which they used as she looked up at him.\u00a0 \u201cWell, gotta go, stay out of trouble will you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure,\u201d Buck said taking a look around wondering what he might do next. He still had a lot of time to kill before he probably would hear from Wilma and headed towards the theater, probably a good way to see the entertainment of today and stepped into line a bit shocked when the man entered the line right behind him.<\/p>\n

He decided to try an act natural as he reached the front of the line and suddenly realized he had no idea what to watch.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, you want to speed it up or not?\u201d the man suddenly asked causing Buck to turn to look at him. For a second the man froze almost as if he finally realized who he was talking to.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou want to go ahead, go on,\u201d Buck said to the man.<\/p>\n

\u201cFine,\u201d the man said butting ahead of Buck and not even bothering to be polite.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou could use some of those same manners your princess has,\u201d Buck murmured, more to himself than anyone else and didn\u2019t intend for the man to overhear but he did.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat slut, has the brains of a man\u2019s dick,\u201d he said turning back to the teller and ordering his movie and taking off with no more words leaving Buck standing there a bit stunned at what happened. Privately he wondered how Ardala would react to his words.<\/p>\n

Looking at the selection he finally went with one which looked good and walked into the main lobby of the theater determined to relax.<\/p>\n

End part 21<\/p>\n

Continued in part 22<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Buck Rogers by AJ Marks Part 21 Buck looked around at the many different stores and such wondering where he should go first. He had come here on a whim and now had no idea what to do. \u201cHey, never thought I\u2019d see you in a place like this,\u201d A very familiar voice said causing […]
Continue reading…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[3,66,53,10,67,5,12],"class_list":["post-1583","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fanfiction","tag-aj-marks","tag-buck","tag-buck-rogers","tag-fanfiction","tag-rogers","tag-sci-fi","tag-story"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1583","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1583"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1583\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1597,"href":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1583\/revisions\/1597"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1583"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1583"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1583"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}