Buck Rogers: Somewhere Beyond the Heavens Part 4
The Draconian Star Fortress idled through space using only minimal power for its thrusters. Deep within the bowels of the Royal Battleship, Princess Ardalla waited patiently for Killer Kane's next report. Her executive officers previous report had given her high hopes that they had at last overtaken the Earth ship Searcher and one Captain William "Buck" Rogers.
She poured herself a celebratory drink and slinked back to her enormous bedchambers to await final confirmation. Her door alarm buzzed as she made herself comfortable against the large pillows on the bed's headboard.
"Enter", she said eagerly.
First officer Kane, "Killer Kane" to many of his enemies and allies alike, entered the chamber. Even though he had served with the Princess since she was a young girl, he was still awestruck by her beauty every time his eyes fell on her form. He especially liked these reports when he had to debrief his Princess in her private chambers. She was usually scantily clad and slightly intoxicated. Kane would not be disappointed today. The Princess lay on the bed in a skimpy nightgown, which left little to the imagination.
"Well?" said the Princess, jarring Kane out of his fantasy. "Are you going to just stand there? What do you have to report, Kane?"
"I'm sorry, my lady. Forgive me. I bring good news", said Kane as he stumbled ever closer to Ardalla's bed.
"Well?" said Ardalla before finishing her drink and rising from the bed.
"One of your father's spy satellites has determined the Searcher's exact coordinates", reported Kane happily.
"Excellent!" exclaimed the Princess. "I want you to proceed to those coordinates at full speed, Kane! I will have Buck Rogers and Wilma Deering's head on a platter by the end of this day!"
Kane was beside himself with joy. Ardalla, the passion of his life, had finally given up on her lustful hopes of seducing the 534 year old Earthling. At last, the only thing she wished of Buck Rogers was his death, but not before she saw the pathetic Wilma Deering begging for her life as well.
"Princess, there is other---disquieting news to report", Kane said almost sheepishly. He really didn't want to spoil the moment, but he had no choice.
"What is it?" the Princess demanded.
"The data sent from the spy satellite was incomplete, however, it appeared as if the Searcher had engaged a large number of hostiles", reported Kane dutifully.
"Hostiles? Out here? We're in the middle of nowhere", said the Princess before pouring herself another drink.
"I can't explain it, Princess, but telemetry indicates that there was a very large battle waged in that sector."
"So, what do you suggest, Kane?"
"I highly suggest we call up the Royal Star Fleet. They could be here in a day's time", explained Kane.
Ardalla paused, sipped her alcohol, and approached Kane. "Very well. Do as you must."
"I believe it is the prudent thing to do, your highness", Kane said before turning to exit.
The Searcher took up a position alongside the gigantic Battlestar Galactica, ahead of the other 200 ships that made up the rag tag fleet. The Searcher was about three quarters of the size of one of Galactica's pontoon like launching bays, yet to the crew inside Searcher, the Galactica may as well have been a small moon. It was simply awe-inspiring.
"Have you ever seen anything like it?" asked Admiral Asimov to no one in particular.
"Not even in my dreams", answered Hawk.
"Well, I'll tell you something", offered Dr. Goodfellow, "They must be using some unknown power source, because nothing we have could sustain that monolith."
"Beeda beeda beeda", added Twiki.
"I can not identify the fuel source that I am scanning. It does not compute", said the always-monotone voice of Crighton.
"Don't feel bad, Crighton", said Buck with a pat on the robot's metallic shoulder. "No one from our corner of this universe has ever seen the likes of the Galactica."
As the crew of Searcher continued to star at their main viewer in complete awe, Devlin decided that he could not remain quiet any longer.
"What about the pilots that we lost today? Four men and three women. We don't even know what they died for", said Devlin emotionally.
"I think we're about to find out, Devlin", said Wilma with a reassuring pat on her comrade's shoulder.
"Yes. Yes, it's time we got our answers. Let's proceed to the launch bay", said Asimov. "Our command crew has been invited to Galactica for a summit of sorts. I suppose it's time we get under way."
"Beeda beeda. What about me, can I come?" asked Twiki.
"Well, I don't see why not Twiki", answered Buck.
"Yippeeee! Right on, daddy-o!" exclaimed the little drone.
"Well, if Twiki is going, I must go as well", said Crighton. "We would not want these Galacticans to think that Twiki is our worlds highest form of AI android."
"Hey, watch it bub", Twiki retorted angrily.
"C'mon", laughed Wilma. "Let's go."
TO BE CONTINUED
The Draconian Star Fortress idled through space using only minimal power for its thrusters. Deep within the bowels of the Royal Battleship, Princess Ardalla waited patiently for Killer Kane's next report. Her executive officers previous report had given her high hopes that they had at last overtaken the Earth ship Searcher and one Captain William "Buck" Rogers.
She poured herself a celebratory drink and slinked back to her enormous bedchambers to await final confirmation. Her door alarm buzzed as she made herself comfortable against the large pillows on the bed's headboard.
"Enter", she said eagerly.
First officer Kane, "Killer Kane" to many of his enemies and allies alike, entered the chamber. Even though he had served with the Princess since she was a young girl, he was still awestruck by her beauty every time his eyes fell on her form. He especially liked these reports when he had to debrief his Princess in her private chambers. She was usually scantily clad and slightly intoxicated. Kane would not be disappointed today. The Princess lay on the bed in a skimpy nightgown, which left little to the imagination.
"Well?" said the Princess, jarring Kane out of his fantasy. "Are you going to just stand there? What do you have to report, Kane?"
"I'm sorry, my lady. Forgive me. I bring good news", said Kane as he stumbled ever closer to Ardalla's bed.
"Well?" said Ardalla before finishing her drink and rising from the bed.
"One of your father's spy satellites has determined the Searcher's exact coordinates", reported Kane happily.
"Excellent!" exclaimed the Princess. "I want you to proceed to those coordinates at full speed, Kane! I will have Buck Rogers and Wilma Deering's head on a platter by the end of this day!"
Kane was beside himself with joy. Ardalla, the passion of his life, had finally given up on her lustful hopes of seducing the 534 year old Earthling. At last, the only thing she wished of Buck Rogers was his death, but not before she saw the pathetic Wilma Deering begging for her life as well.
"Princess, there is other---disquieting news to report", Kane said almost sheepishly. He really didn't want to spoil the moment, but he had no choice.
"What is it?" the Princess demanded.
"The data sent from the spy satellite was incomplete, however, it appeared as if the Searcher had engaged a large number of hostiles", reported Kane dutifully.
"Hostiles? Out here? We're in the middle of nowhere", said the Princess before pouring herself another drink.
"I can't explain it, Princess, but telemetry indicates that there was a very large battle waged in that sector."
"So, what do you suggest, Kane?"
"I highly suggest we call up the Royal Star Fleet. They could be here in a day's time", explained Kane.
Ardalla paused, sipped her alcohol, and approached Kane. "Very well. Do as you must."
"I believe it is the prudent thing to do, your highness", Kane said before turning to exit.
The Searcher took up a position alongside the gigantic Battlestar Galactica, ahead of the other 200 ships that made up the rag tag fleet. The Searcher was about three quarters of the size of one of Galactica's pontoon like launching bays, yet to the crew inside Searcher, the Galactica may as well have been a small moon. It was simply awe-inspiring.
"Have you ever seen anything like it?" asked Admiral Asimov to no one in particular.
"Not even in my dreams", answered Hawk.
"Well, I'll tell you something", offered Dr. Goodfellow, "They must be using some unknown power source, because nothing we have could sustain that monolith."
"Beeda beeda beeda", added Twiki.
"I can not identify the fuel source that I am scanning. It does not compute", said the always-monotone voice of Crighton.
"Don't feel bad, Crighton", said Buck with a pat on the robot's metallic shoulder. "No one from our corner of this universe has ever seen the likes of the Galactica."
As the crew of Searcher continued to star at their main viewer in complete awe, Devlin decided that he could not remain quiet any longer.
"What about the pilots that we lost today? Four men and three women. We don't even know what they died for", said Devlin emotionally.
"I think we're about to find out, Devlin", said Wilma with a reassuring pat on her comrade's shoulder.
"Yes. Yes, it's time we got our answers. Let's proceed to the launch bay", said Asimov. "Our command crew has been invited to Galactica for a summit of sorts. I suppose it's time we get under way."
"Beeda beeda. What about me, can I come?" asked Twiki.
"Well, I don't see why not Twiki", answered Buck.
"Yippeeee! Right on, daddy-o!" exclaimed the little drone.
"Well, if Twiki is going, I must go as well", said Crighton. "We would not want these Galacticans to think that Twiki is our worlds highest form of AI android."
"Hey, watch it bub", Twiki retorted angrily.
"C'mon", laughed Wilma. "Let's go."
TO BE CONTINUED
