"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?
Disclaimer: All is Chuck's…
Part XXVIII…
"And we're at 4000 feet. Tom?" Barclay turned to Swift who nodded. All peering out the huge windows of the Suburo compartment to see the dark waters of the South Atlantic before them, only lit a few yards in the distance by the Ocean Arrow's forward floodlights.
"Hold her at this depth for now and bring her up to 1000 when we get within the approximate radius. Maintain full speed." Swift commanded.
"I can't believe it…Arthur…" Dr. Amy beamed at Proton who frowned at her as he somewhat nervously looked out at the water before him.
At least so far, no nasties…And bit overuse of the given name there, even if we are romantically involved. Tom Swift Jr may be inclined to short-sleeves and first names, but I bet Dr. Swift still calls his mom "Mrs. Swift" in public.
(Heh, heh, heh… "Very funny line…" Mr. Jones noted to Leonard who beamed. "And yes…I would." Cool look to Sheldon who blanched a bit.
"After all, Dr. Swift was always a man of gravitas and dignity in the books." He smiled. "Loved those books when I was a kid."
Ah! James Earl is a brother! Howard hissed proudly to Bernie, beaming.)
"…in just a few hours, we'll be studying specimens from Mars, even across the Galaxy." Amy sighed.
"If we avoid destroying the world." Proton noted, a bit bemusedly. "What does happen if we have a containment breech, Swift?" he turned to Swift. "What plan do you have?"
"If it's an accidental one…We've some options, including sealing the affected area in Tomasite acrylic. If it's intentional…" Tom shrugged. "We may not be around long enough to do much."
"You mean if the Russians attack?" Bernadette eyed him. "You did say you have some defenses…?"
"Some…" nod. "We'll have to hope for the best, especially that they and Wyckcliffe will be cautious. They don't want the ship and its cargo destroyed."
"Munson might…" Proton reflected, eyeing Swift who nodded… Yeah.
"She might…But I'm still hoping she's not onboard with the rest."
"She seemed genuinely upset by the murder of Dr. Hofstadter…" Proton noted. "And while she's a fanatic, I've never known her to condone violence."
"I hope so…But I'm afraid it's the Russians and her brother whom we need to worry about." Swift sighed.
"You really think we'll beat the Russians in, Tom?" Bernadette asked.
"I doubt they can match us for speed and there's no indication from the UN forces that Russian vessels were posted in range. Though they must have the landing location from the Wickcliffes. They may have subs there already, though the UN should be able to detect such."
"Can the UN assist us if the Russians attack?" Dr. Amy eyed Swift.
"Depends…If it's an open attack, yes, but they're required to maintain distance as per international agreement. Plus, most of the UN ships aren't armed."
"Naturally…" Proton frowned. "But isn't the good ole USofA navy out there with them? Oh, right…International agreement, so only unarmed vessels, right?" mocking tone.
"Proton, these negotiations had to be very delicate…Of necessity." Swift shrugged. "It wasn't just the Russians who were skeptical of our motives."
"But what about the ship?" Bernadette interrupted. "Can you tell us now how you plan to recover it?"
"In a bit…We've swept the ship for bugs, but I prefer not to underestimate the Wyckcliffes or the Russians…" Tom noted.
…
"That would be wise, ole buddy." Bwarry Wyckcliffe listening on headphones. "Hmmn…" as he pulled headphones off. "It was clwever of me to put the monitor in the rotor compartment but sure is noisy even with the baffling system. No, nothing of imporwtance yet." He noted to Commander Putinsky and Munson Wyckcliffe eyeing, as a Russian tech took the headset from him at his proffering.
"Swift is too good to give away his plans this easily." He shrugged. "But so long as we're ready for him…"
"Maintain a fix on the Swift wessel…" Commander Putinsky ordered. "And keep us at full speed, current depth."
"He's going to beat us to the site." Munson noted, with frown. "If he secures the ship and the UN moves in…Or he takes off with it in that flying sub of his…What can we do?"
"Doctor? A good question, yes?" the Commander eyed him.
"If he secuwres it, he'll need time to do so. And I can assuwre you this thing is too lawrge to just cawrry off. We'll have time enough to wreach him."
"If we do, I don't want any more blood shed, Bwarry. Commander?" Munson turned to her.
"So far as it is possible, Dr. Wyckcliffe. But I have my orders to secure the cargo whatever means are necessary." Commander Putinsky, firmly.
"It's no time to be squeamish, sis." Bwarry eyed Munson. "We're playing for big stakes hewre. The wowrld itself."
"To save the world, Bwarry. That had better be the cause." Munson, grimly.
"Do you doubt me? My own sis? I am good." He beamed. "I've got evewryone convinced I'm nothing but a gwreedy son of a bitch without pwrinciples or a mowral sense."
"I know you mean well, Bwarry." Munson sighed. "I wouldn't have gone along with this if I didn't."
("Cut!" Lesley called. Bernadette, Howard, Penny frowning…
"HEY, WE GOT A FIRST-RATE DIRECTOR HERE!" Bernadette, in her best Mrs. Wolowitz.
"It's all right, Mom!…Uh, Bernie… Fine, cut. What now?!" Howard glared.
"Just this." Lesley, kissing Barry. "I always knew…" she breathed, beaming.
"Thanks." He beamed. "I love you too."
Oooh…Penny, blinking. "Leonard? Are you getting this? It's great dialogue. Perfect for the next one." She hissed.
"For 'Serially Apeist'? I thought you wanted it to be a comedy." He noted.
"Comedy-romance. Write." She ordered.
"This would be a good time to fetch my tangerine chicken…" Sheldon noted to Amy.)
"If these specimens and that ship fall into the contwrol of Swift's choice of wowrld govewrments, you know the consequences, sis." Bwarry cautioned. "Only by insuwring all have access can we avoid that."
"I'd prefer to see it all destroyed, frankly." Munson shook her head. "Even if it's a great loss to Science, the dangers are too great. I still can't believe Tom could be so foolish as to think he could secure it and control the flow of information."
"Swift's ego is as healwthy as anyone's…" Bwarry shrugged. "And who knows what he hopes to fewrret out of the ship for the greatewr glowry of Swift Entewrpwrises."
"Tom's not that way, Bwarry. I know he means well."
"Suwre he does, so long it wremains undewr his and his dad's contwrol."
"I trust your concerns do not include my government, Doctor." Commander Putinsky noted, sternly.
"Our agreement is you get your fair chance to study the samples and the ship." Munson, calmly. "But only in so far as we see the information gets out to the world."
"Yeah." Bwarry smiled, nodding. "And that's a big 'No'. But, after all, only we and Swift have the ship schematics."
"Clever of you." Commander Putinsky frowned. "But since you refuse to share them, how can we be sure you have them?"
"We have them." Bwarry, firmly. "Thanks to my sis' 'espionage' skills we secwretly monitowred Swift's communications with his space pals long enough befowre I appwroached youwr govewrment. Besides, youwr Pwresident believes us and that's all you should need. When the time comes, we'll pass them on."
Munson looking a bit distressed at Bwarry's mocking look on "espionage"…
Can we stop discussing how I betrayed my lover? It was for the Cause of Humanity, for cryin' out loud.
"Indeed." The Commander frowned again. "But I will keep an open mind as to your trustworthiness, if you'll pardon me. Gregor?" she turned to the tech monitoring the listening device. "You'll stay at this post till we reach the site coordinates. You may furnish the Drs. Wyckcliffe with a transcript of all you overhear but after me, understood."
"Da, Commander!" Gregor nodded. (Great job, honey…Penny cooed to a pleased Leonard. "Yeah, lets get you out of that uniform before we gotta pay for it." Howard hissed.)
"Fine by me." Bwarry smiled as Munson frowned. "I think I'll tuwrn in for a bit, I'm bushed and I want to be fwresh fowr ouwr wrendezvous with destiny. Night, sis. Don't blow the thing up befowre I get to see it." He patted her, she, with troubled look, watching him head off down the compartment to the exit hatch, then regarding Commander Putinsky's stare.
"I won't, even if I could, if you keep your agreement." She noted to the Commander's grim stare.
"And I won't have you and your brother shot if you keep yours, Doctor." Cool stare. "But if you violate our agreement or endanger my wessel and crew…?"
"I get it." Nod. "And I am sorry about your cousin."
"She knew what she was risking when she violated her orders to warn Swift. Like you and perhaps your brother, she answered to a higher purpose…" the Commander shrugged. "Such people can be admirable. Some can change the world. But they are very dangerous."
"You've no desire to change the world, Commander?" Munson asked.
The Commander smiled…"My world is my wessel, my crew, my oath to my country, and my family, Doctor. If your project helps these, I am willing to risk or sacrifice my life. If not…" eyeing her.
…
"We've confirmed it, Skipper. Moving now at about 100,000 per and decelerating but not fast enough for us to try an encounter." The voice on screen belonged to a thirtyish man in shirt and shorts, floating about a chamber with several others engaged in various tasks, likewise floating. "And our friend Proton is right on the money as to size. It's a big one. About three times your size."
"Thanks, Ken." Swift nodded. "Keep the Outpost on alert and we'll let you know as to any help we need. And I'll see you get pictures." Grin.
"Thanks, Skipper. You got a gaggle of fellas up here who'd give their eyeteeth to be with you down there. Good luck. Outpost, out." The image on screen went blank.
"There we go, final confirmation and our first closeup." Swift noted to Proton, Dr. Amy, Dr. Rostenkowski-Swift, and Bud Barclay as they sat in the cabin. He indicated a second screen on which an image was displayed, a black, gleaming structure.
"She's a beaut." Barclay, whistling. "But no signs of any propulsion or even power systems."
"Dark matter power would be undetectable by most means." Proton noted.
"And it's looking like that's got to be it." Swift nodded. "Even the deceleration is amazing, she's gone from near light speed to 100000 in just a few hours."
"I hope the ship'll slow down more than that…" Amy, peering. "It'll just be a big crater if it doesn't."
"I think we can be assured it will, but we'll be standing by…" Swift nodded.
"Right in the path of any shock wave a crash produces…" Barclay eyed him. "I hope the Wyckcliffes' course change instructions were clear. That thing's the equivalent of a good-sized asteroid. If it doesn't slow a lot more, it'll produce an explosion close to what killed the dinosaurs…"
"Oh, the dark matter power system'd probably do far more damage if destroyed in a crash." Proton noted.
