{"id":1555,"date":"2016-07-15T09:33:55","date_gmt":"2016-07-15T14:33:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=1555"},"modified":"2016-07-20T07:24:57","modified_gmt":"2016-07-20T12:24:57","slug":"buck-rogers-part-15","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=1555","title":{"rendered":"Buck Rogers – Part 15"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

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

Part 15<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Buck exited the simulator and headed to the debriefing room along with several other recruits, most of whom already knew his name.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere\u2019d you learn to fly like that Buck?\u201d someone asked from behind him. He turned to see one of the recruits making his way down the hallway and Buck noticed the name on his uniform, \u2018Smith, Allen\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cWould you believe the air force, and computer games,\u201d Buck replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cMust be something from your time,\u201d Allen replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, computer games were big back in my day,\u201d Buck said, feeling like some old man discussing the past. He felt a sudden urge to say young whippersnapper for some reason but felt the man beside him wouldn\u2019t get the joke.\u00a0 \u201cWhat do you do for entertainment?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, we have our games, usually some interactive games, and every couple floors where I lived there was a place we could gather to play,\u201d Allen replied.<\/p>\n

Buck nodded, having seen some of those in the building he was in the past couple of days. The interviews had slowed down as most had talked to him and he was able to settle a bit more into learning the Thunderfighter.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did you do?\u201d Allen asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019d hop on our bikes and ride down the pathways, of course my mom would get mad because I was out of earshot, but as long as I had my phone she didn\u2019t mind as much,\u201d Buck said recalling those days so long ago.<\/p>\n

\u201cBikes?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTwo wheeled vehicles which were human powered,\u201d Buck said unsure how to explain a bike.<\/p>\n

\u201cReally, thought everything in your time was gas powered?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNope, myth and rumor,\u201d Buck replied having had that question several times. It seemed only the most extreme rumors and such made it making him wonder how much of the history he learned was correct or based on speculation.<\/p>\n

\u201cWas there really so much smog you couldn\u2019t breathe?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, that one, it was all based on where you lived,\u201d Buck replied recalling some news reports coming from China about bad air. \u201cFor the most part when I grew up the US was much cleaner than in the twentieth century.\u00a0 The worst areas were actually in China.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cProbably like the Middle East area today,\u201d Allen said as they turned to enter the debriefing room and sat down. A few more entered the room to total ten recruits as Wilma stood in the front.<\/p>\n

Buck gave her a quick smile watching her eye him before turning to the rest. He enjoyed trying to rile her up, and took every opportunity to try.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, you all did very well,\u201d Wilma said. \u201cIndividual scores will be handed out in a few minutes, but we\u2019ll go over the overall mission.\u201d<\/p>\n

Buck sat listening as Wilma broke down the dogfighting they had done. He took a few notes, having found a pad of paper and pens after a bit of searching.\u00a0 Everyone first stared at him for doing it, but he had his system, one he learned so long ago and he wasn\u2019t about to change it due to some technology that was now around.\u00a0 He felt this way he learned better.<\/p>\n

He also realized he had to mix his fighter pilot experience with his experience in flying space simulators in computer games, especially those old Star Wars games. He felt it was a bit ironic that an iconic game would help him out so much.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, get some rest before we have our next test,\u201d Wilma said as everyone filed out except him. He made his way on over to where she stood.\u00a0 \u201cYou know this is against the rules?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat, talking to a friend?\u201d Buck asked sitting on the corner of the desk watching as she stopped her packing and looked at him.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs that what you call it, we call it flirting,\u201d Wilma replied back to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell,\u201d he replied, taking a moment to look her over. \u201cYou are very beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSee, right there, that\u2019s not being a friend, that\u2019s I want to take you to bed,\u201d Wilma said.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, how about it?\u201d Buck asked watching as she stopped, blushed slightly before continuing to pack her stuff.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d have to say no,\u201d she said back to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo I even have a chance?\u201d<\/p>\n

He watched as she paused in what she was doing before giving him a reply. \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou hesitated,\u201d he said with a smile, then realized she didn\u2019t know the movie.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s that mean?\u201d she asked frowning.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, an old movie from when I was growing up, called Frozen, you see a snowman which comes to life say it,\u201d Buck said.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrosty?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFrosty?\u201d Buck said confused for a second. \u201cNo, his name was Olaf, you see, well, ah forget it, it would take too long to explain.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnother twenty-first century mystery,\u201d Wilma replied back to hm.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, something like that,\u201d Buck said back to her. He found himself doing such things, quoting movies which no one got, or even replied back with.\u00a0 In a way it was very frustrating.\u00a0 \u201cSo, what are you doing later?\u201d he asked finally.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy?\u201d Wilma asked, turning to look at him again, this time with a bit more interest.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was thinking of maybe getting some supper, perhaps you\u2019d like to join me?\u201d Buck asked her trying for the direct route.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we can fit that in, I\u2019ll come by and pick you up, six,\u201d she said to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI look forward to it.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Buck looked in the mirror one last time, straightening his shirt out as the doorbell rang. This time he looked at the screen, seeing Wilma standing there, not in her normal uniform, but a lovely black dress and her hair was brushed back and appeared slightly nervous.<\/p>\n

Walking over to the door he opened it, even knowing he could have done so in the bedroom, but he still had that old fashioned manners in him.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome on in,\u201d he said to her, moving aside to allow her inside.<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks,\u201d she replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, where are we going?\u201d he asked, wondering where she was going to take them.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think you\u2019ll like it,\u201d she replied. \u201cAre you about ready?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d he replied. \u201cYou look great y the way, never seen you outside of that uniform.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t have many days to actually wear such cloths,\u201d Wilma replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose we should get going then,\u201d Buck said to her.<\/p>\n

They moved to the transportation deck, Buck walking beside Wilma had a good feeling about tonight as they moved into a transport.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, you have any family?\u201d Buck asked her.<\/p>\n

\u201cMother, my dad was killed in battle when I was five,\u201d Wilma answered, and wasn\u2019t the answer Buck was expecting at all. He expected the normal and was at a loss for words when she continued.\u00a0 \u201cNo brothers or sisters, though I have a large extended family, lots of aunts, uncles and cousins.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI see,\u201d Buck said, then wondered if he had any family still around, or more precisely any great-great, or however many greats it was, kids or nephews or nieces. \u201cMust have been a blast during the holidays.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had fun,\u201d Wilma said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe holidays are still around?\u201d Buck said, fully having expected the PC groups to have destroyed the holidays he knew.<\/p>\n

\u201cChristmas and New Year\u2019s, yeah,\u201d Wilma said. \u201cI am a practicing Christian you know.\u201d<\/p>\n

That really surprised Buck, something he never expected to hear from a race which was now space faring.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know most races in the universe do believe in some being,\u201d Wilma said. \u201cActually I\u2018m a Trans-Christian.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot sure I\u2019m familiar with that one,\u201d Buck said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWas a result of the fractures in the twenty-second century, and then our first meeting with an alien race,\u201d Wilma said as the transport raced through a building and continued on, heading to another building, this one was smaller and one Buck was not familiar with.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, where are we going?\u201d Buck asked, hoping to change the conversation to something he felt a bit more comfortable with.<\/p>\n

\u201cA steakhouse, it\u2019s on the ground floor of the centennial building,\u201d Wilma said. \u201cIt\u2019s a building which houses larger entertainment, like sports and has quite a few restaurants and a nice mall.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSounds nice,\u201d Buck replied, looking forward to a steak and then wondered if they would have chicken fried steak and figured probably not. It was something from the South it seemed, and it had been four hundred years.<\/p>\n

The transport slowed down at another building allowing them to enter and maintain space between transports. Buck was impressed with the interior, nicely done and looked to be more upscale than most places with a lot of activity.\u00a0 He spotted groups of people walking all over as they walked in and down a corridor.<\/p>\n

Inside the restaurant they were given a window seat allowing them to look out over the tree tops and into the distance and a nice view of the sitting sun.<\/p>\n

\u201cGoing to start getting cold,\u201d Wilma said.<\/p>\n

Buck looked out seeing a long high speed transport approaching but this one looked different than the others. \u201cSo, what\u2019s up with that transport?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCargo transport,\u201d Wilma said, which made sense, even though they were self-sufficient some resources needed to be brought in from further away.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course,\u201d Buck replied, he also knew the NAA took up almost the entire North American continent, along with the upper part of what used to be Mexico. \u201cNice sunset.\u201d<\/p>\n

They both looked out as the waiter came up to take their orders. Buck quickly ordered something to drink as did Wilma before the waiter took off to fill their order.\u00a0 Buck quickly scanned the menu to see what he wanted, before selecting a nice steak.\u00a0 There were a few items he didn\u2019t recognize and realized those were items from off-planet.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou seem to be adjusting nicely,\u201d Wilma said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, it\u2019s not quite Star Trek, but the future had a lot of nice ideas,\u201d Buck replied. \u201cStill getting used to all the politics of everything.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI would have thought it was more difficult back in your time?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, yeah, probably was, but I knew society better and the policies of the nation a bit more and where I stood in all of it,\u201d Buck replied. \u201cNow, I\u2019m like a boat drifting in an endless sea.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPoetic,\u201d Wilma replied back to him as the waiter came over with their drinks, took their order and left.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot much of a poet, never learned how to do that,\u201d Buck replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are sure of yourself, I see that whenever you sit down in the simulator,\u201d Wilma said.<\/p>\n

\u201cPart of being a fighter pilot,\u201d Buck said. \u201cWe had some interesting days, ever gone on alert drunk?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUm no.\u201d<\/p>\n

Buck smiled, giving a laugh, \u201cyeah, those were the days. I was stationed in Alaska for a short tour, and boy would we get smashed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSmashed?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDrunk,\u201d Buck said. \u201cThere were times we could barely walk and the alarm would sound, the drivers would come, pick us up, we\u2019d be on oxygen and coffee on the way over, hop into the fighter and take off.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUm, isn\u2019t that dangerous?\u201d Wilma asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo an outsider, probably, we did what was needed, though most times it was nothing,\u201d Buck said. \u201cMany times it was a practice alert by the commander, only a few times was it for real.\u00a0 We had a lot of fun, going into town, drinking it up at the local bar.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMeeting the women?\u201d Wilma asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course,\u201d Buck replied. \u201cWe were young, cocky, and damn lucky sometimes, unless you met up with some of those navy pilots, cockiest S.O.Bs out there.\u201d<\/p>\n

He looked up to see Wilma looking back at him confused.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey figured that because they could land on a carrier it made them superior,\u201d Buck said. \u201cThough, didn\u2019t run into them very often, mostly when I went into NASA training, went up against a few of them for the mission.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you volunteered for that mission?\u201d Wilma asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, who wouldn\u2019t, exciting stuff, be the first man to fly faster than light, right up there with Buzz Aldrin,\u201d Buck said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBuzz Aldrin, first person on the moon.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou mean Neil Armstrong,\u201d Wilma said.<\/p>\n

Buck paused with the realization she was right. \u201cYeah, him,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cProbably thinking of Toy Story and Buzz Lightyear, Aldrin, Lightyear.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnother movie you saw when you were young?\u201d Wilma asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, \u2018to infinity and beyond\u2019 was something he would always say,\u201d Buck said.<\/p>\n

\u201cInteresting phrase,\u201d Wilma said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the one that got me interested in space exploration, heading out to see the unknown,\u201d Buck said thinking back to those days. \u201cAnd what I did was cutting edge, even if the risk was never making it back.\u00a0 The test was to go to Mars and back, take up half the fuel, but it didn\u2019t quite work out that way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t think I could volunteer for something like that,\u201d Wilma finally said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy, you do it more than I do, I\u2019ve already gone faster than I ever expected, of course never expected to find myself so far into the future. \u201cThere was some thought it might take a year to complete the journey.\u00a0 If that was the case my return would be very difficult.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMust have been a shock to see something you were not expecting,\u201d Wilma said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, another world which was green and not the red I expected to see, then a huge spaceship. Not sure what shocked me more, that or the fact whoever spoke to me spoke English,\u201d Buck said recalling that flight.<\/p>\n

Their meal arrived and Buck dug in, tasting a steak as good as what he had back in his time.<\/p>\n

End part 15<\/p>\n

Continued in part 16<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Buck Rogers by AJ Marks Part 15 Buck exited the simulator and headed to the debriefing room along with several other recruits, most of whom already knew his name. \u201cWhere\u2019d you learn to fly like that Buck?\u201d someone asked from behind him. He turned to see one of the recruits making his way down the […]
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