"The Adventures of Professor Proton, Jr: The Proton Express…"
Summary: In my first longer Proton Jr tale, can Prof Proton Jr. aka mild-mannered Sheldon Cooper and Dr. Amy aka Amy F. Fowler save the world at Christmas…And can Proton Jr. keep that blond sob of an engineering genius Tom Swift, Jr. away from his girl?
Equally important…Should Cameragirl Penny allow this thing to appear on her acting credits or just accept that all hope of a professional career is gone and just enjoy while peddling her drugs?
[For those curious about the Tom Swift adventures, of course much of this is taken from "Tom Swift and His Diving Seacopter", one of the best books in the series which got me into science long, long, long ago.]
Disclaimer: All is Chuck's…
Part XXIV…
Briefing room in the Arturo section of the Ocean Arrow…
"So, when we found the undersea city of gold, the capital of an ancient, lost civilization from all we've been able to determine…" Swift was continuing, images of said undersea city in dim light underwater, on projection screen, to an audience now reduced to Proton, Bernadette, and Dr. Amy…Bud Barclay at the ship's controls.
"You've stated in your official report it wasn't the Greeks' Atlantis…" Dr. Amy noted. "It sure seems…"
"It at least wasn't a continent, just a large island or close group, perhaps a bit larger than Crete in total area. People are free to call it 'Atlantis' if they like…But Dad and I felt there was no support for that."
"It would've been a long trip for the Greeks or the Phoenicians." Amy nodded. "Still not impossible that they were in contact ages ago."
"No way to be sure…I go with Crete as the Greeks' Atlantis but…" shrug. "Anyway, when we explored the area…" Swift clicked screen.
"We found a collection of central pyramids…Rather more like the Incas or Mexica's, intended for religious ceremonial rather than a tomb like the Great Pyramid in Egypt." The said group of temple pyramids now visible, if dim.
"Made of gold?" Proton peered at the screen.
"Not entirely…A fairly thick gold shell as you can see here, uncovered by the Arrow's thruster…" Swift pointed, with laser pointer to a brightly gleaming area. "But underneath, the core is another substance…Somewhat like gold but not quite." He clicked again, to reveal an image of a drill boring into a temple corner. Then another showing the drill core…With a bright gold top layer and a somewhat less shiny, but yellow-gold in color, majority layer…And finally a dark layer at bottom.
"Wood framing at bottom…Likely a variety of sandalwood. But the majority is that yellow metal…And we can't identify it as a known alloy. It does contain gold and nickel along with…"
"The same mystery element or elements in the alien ship…" Amy eyed him.
"Exactly. And that might help explain this…" Swift clicked again. "Just before the area became unstable and we took some damage from that mountain behind the main temple, due to vibration from the main rotors, we spotted this on what appears to be the main temple and managed to blast a bit of the debris away."
"And almost died, you and Bud…" Bernadette noted, rather proudly.
"The Arrow took a few boulders, but we managed to surface…" Swift shrugged.
"Mathematical symbols…And rather like the ones your 'friends' use in their communications." Proton, moving up close to examine the image.
"Here, let me show them close up." Swift clicked.
"Hmmn…I don't see the same patterns…Does it translate, using your codes?"
"No…Of course it's much older than our communications but Dad and I and Bernie…" smile to Bernadette. "Have concluded it's not a message per se…Likely it was carved by the human inhabitants to mark the site, but they didn't understand what the symbols they'd found meant and just carved random items."
"A landing site…" Amy noted. "Your friends made landfall on that island."
"In some form, possibly automated. It was long after they'd abandoned Mars, possibly after they'd set out on their interstellar travels. We've determined several possible landing sites on Earth…In the Yucatan, in Africa, and here, all somewhat in the same latitudinal plane."
"But you said they couldn't endure the atmosphere, and that they never tried to colonize Earth." Amy noted.
"They didn't or we probably wouldn't be here. Unlike Mr. Musk and the Mars Society, the ancient Martians didn't feel right Marsaforming a planet they hadn't studied thoroughly and didn't push on regardless of whatever life was there." Swift noted, frowning.
"But they did make attempts to study Earth and we do believe a few of their explorers landed or tried to but did not survive." He sighed. "They may have made some sort of first contact here, possibly hoping to avoid serious social contamination of our culture as well as biological and the inhabitants created a cult around that from whatever items they found and any legends passed on. Dad suspects they became concerned they'd damage our development so they withdrew until they felt we could handle contact."
"Meaning they're a bit like us…But maybe, better." Bernadette noted with wan smile.
"They could have conquered us, devastated the planet and wiped out much of the ecosystem to make it suitable. We might've done it, they didn't." Swift noted. "That makes them rather noble, in my book."
"But now this…" Amy frowned. "Surely they knew the danger of sending such a cargo."
"I'm sure they did and only considered it after surmising we could handle it." Swift nodded. "It's a great compliment in a way, I believe they hope we'll have some interesting insights to offer. Meaning they respect us as fellow intelligent beings."
"Cousins, as you've said." Proton eyed Swift.
"Children of the same sun…" Swift smiled. "That's what they call us in our communications."
"And you think that this being a previous landing site, at least by some of their ancestors, they accepted it as the new contact site?" Dr. Amy asked.
"I think Bwarry expected it would seem more believable and confirm it was a request from Dad and me."
"I see…" Amy pondered.
"Is there…?" Proton began. Amy eyeing him as if to cut him off.
"Anything left? Alienwise, there? Not that we know of unless you consider that strange alloy in the temple complex buildings. No signs of generated power or advanced technology that we could determine in our initial time there and surveys since." Tom nodded thoughtfully.
"But you do plan to do a more complete survey and excavation of the site?" Amy asked, a bit hastily… "The report and articles I've read on your expeditions said you were seeking UN permission to set up a base there, underwater, using your repelatron system? Didn't mention aliens of course…"
"Yes, we are planning to set up an underwater base there after we work out some bugs in the system using a repelatron-created environmental sphere around the area. I call it my deep-sea hydrodome. Wait, here it is…In concept…" he clicked ahead to show an image of a plastic domed area on the sea floor with a crew at work on a mockup of the ruins of the undersea city complex.
"Nice…" Proton eyed the image. "The repelatron holds the sea water back and you can pump in air and all that…"
"Exactly. The Tomasite plastic dome is just to prevent gas diffusion and keep some of the more inquisitive sea creatures out. But there are concerns with the specific repulsion of the sea water and the pressure needed. I don't want my people dying of repelatron-induced dehydration for example…" Swift shrugged.
"Bud nearly died a couple of years ago from that…" Bernadette noted.
"But we should have it worked out soon. Just unfortunate we're not quite ready yet."
"Interesting…" Amy nodded. "I hope you let Proton and I tour the site when you're set up."
"Glad to…" Swift smiled.
"But there could be alien equipment buried there…" Proton noted.
"It's possible but we have no way of knowing…It's inactive at best and our sweeps by robot submersibles haven't found anything since Bud and I tried to probe the site. And our alien friends haven't indicated any knowledge of working equipment there."
Hmmn-hmm…Amy nodded. "Well, maybe we'll find out today…Professor? Proton?" she eyed Proton who was regarding the image on projection screen. "We should go and get our stuff together, check out our equipment…"
"What equipment? We only brought the detector and some small and insignificant neurobiology stuff for you."
"Yes, that equipment. Come on, Proton…"
"Well, since it's your equipment, can't you just go and…"
"ARTHUR!" startling the rest. "I need your help! Come on, please…" attempt at casual tone.
"All right, all right…Neurobiologists…" he shrugged to Swift who shrugged and smiled back. "We'll continue with what we were doing later, Tom. The old ball and chain of a TV cohost beckons." He rose, Amy frowning.
"That's fine. I want to check on things with Bud and review the ship's status." Swift nodded.
"I could help you, Amy." Bernadette offered. "And you can help me check over my stuff afterward. Then the boys here can go on playing with their toys." Grin at Swift who grinned back as he shut off the conference room projector and computer.
"No!" Amy cried. "Uh, no…Thanks…" to the startled faces. "I really think we should do our review together, Proton."
"Ooookkk…" he eyed her.
"I'll be glad to come by later and help you, Bernadette." She hastily added.
"Ok." Shrug. "Sure, whatever works. I'll go with Tom and see how Bud's doin'." Bernadette rose.
"Check in with you later, Proton." Swift called to him, leading Bernadette out of the room.
"What's…" Proton regarded Dr. Amy who put up a hand
"Quiet!" she hissed. "Lets go…" she held him out.
Outside, in the hallway, she pulled him into the doorway to the main rotor midsection of the ship…
"This may not be bugged, from the rotor noise…" she noted, loudly in his ear, as he looked glumly about.
I mean it's been wiped up but this is where somebody's body was lying not too long ago he thought, nervously.
"Sorry but she's been moved. It's ok." Amy hissed.
"Why are we here? What is it?" he asked.
"Don't you wonder why Swift didn't tell us the details about the landing site? Now we learn he's been there before…"
"He was keeping things from Munson and Bwarry…" Proton noted.
"And us…Arthur? What if there's a reason for that?"
"You don't trust Tom?"
"I don't know…" she shrugged. "But he could have told us. What if he always intended to have the ship land here."
"But…If Bwarry diverted the ship?"
"Your new friend Tom was Munson Wyckcliffe's lover and covered for her stealing his codes book…" she noted.
"You think they're working together?"
"The Russians didn't shoot us down…They could have." Amy noted.
"But Bwarry and Munson had to escape…"
"I doubt Putinsky much cares about their survival…" she shrugged. "It's just a bit convenient Tom seems one step ahead at each corner…I'm not saying I'm sure, but Munson could be right that Swift Enterprises has got a large interest here…"
"Tom told me…" Proton, hesitant. "About the landing site…While we were working on some things earlier today."
"Did he?" Amy eyed him. "And you didn't feel the need to mention it?"
"He was going to do the presentation about it right after we stopped working…And he did, didn't he?"
"I see…Anything else your good pal told you you haven't felt I needed to hear?"
"Amy?"
"Sorry I'm not in the ole boys club loop. Should I fetch you two coffee when you get back together?"
"Amy…Well, tea would be nice…Amy? Amy?!"
("Oooh…Life so imitates Art, doesn't it?" Howard joked.
"You were really good there, Sheldon." Amy, fondly.
"I don't know why we need to be fighting here…" Sheldon frowned. "It makes me feel uncomfortable."
"It's for dramatic tension, Sheldon." Penny noted. "Leonard is trying to create an atmosphere of distrust and murkiness…Sorta film noir style."
Sheldon eyeing her…
"What? I was an actress…I know stuff about acting…" Penny frowned at his steady stare.
"Ok, he told me…" she sighed. "But I got it right away…"
"Ok…Well, if it's to do things right…" Sheldon, nodding.
"Well, we may as well go for lunch in a few." Howard noted. "We'll need time to set up the next scenes and sets…We're approaching the climax, people!"
"Wouldn't mind a little 'climax' myself…" Bernadette hissed to him.
"Yes, indeed, Lunch!" Howard cried.
"Leonard…I don't do…Anything…To Amy?" Sheldon, quietly to Leonard, pulling him away as Penny and Amy chatted, walking in front of them.
"What? No…" Hmmn…Leonard pondered. Of course, for real dramatic tension, even a bit of tragedy…
And Amy would probably love a big dramatic tragedy scene…
"What?" Sheldon eyed him.
"I still don't get what's going on here?" Wil Wheaton to Raj as they walked.
"You're getting lunch, and you've got lines coming, what's the big deal?" the grousing reply.)
…
