Chapter 2

When Buck and Wilma walked into Doctor Huer's office, Huer took one look at Buck's forehead and rose to his feet slowly. "Good Heavens, what happened to you?" he asked incredulously.

"Beep-be-de-de-beep: Wilma hit him with a ball."

Doctor Huer looked at Wilma. "Colonel Deering, I merely sent you to find Captain Rogers; not to disable him."

"I didn't mean to!"

"No, no, it's alright," Buck interrupted. "Really. I have a hard head, fortunately! So what's up? Wilma told me you've got a job for us."

"Yes, indeed I have. Our research and development team has been working on a particular project for a very long time and they believe they have a working prototype."

"That's great!" Buck said. "What type of prototype?"

"They have been working on a device which would render our starfighters virtually invisible to enemy ships, both visibly and on radar."

Buck nodded. "Sounds great. Is that possible?"

"In theory, it is possible," Doctor Theopolis announced. "In fact I myself have been on the development team since its inception."

"That'd be awesome if it worked. So what do you want us to do?"

"We have outfitted a starfighter with the new device," Doctor Huer said. "There is an element of risk involved. Of course, I can not order either of you to test it."

Buck smiled, waved his hand. "You won't need to. I'm in!"

"Me too," Wilma smiled.

"Splendid. I'll inform the team to make final preparations. Meet them on the flight deck tomorrow morning at o-eight hundred."

"Sounds good. Oh, and Doc: just one thing," Buck said. "Please don't say, 'Final' preparations."

Doctor Huer grinned, nodded. "Of course. I'll see you tomorrow morning."

Buck stood at the balcony and silently stared westward into the "setting sun". He closed his eyes briefly to remember a real sunset. Somewhere in the back of his mind, synapses were comparing the two images. He sighed heavily as he glimpsed the crowd of people visiting "Sunset Balcony" as this place was known. Once again he gazed out across the sky.

A pair of metal footsteps sounded on the balcony and almost immediately Buck recognized the pattern. However, he did not turn to confirm it.

"Good evening, Captain Rogers."

He finally turned to face Twiki and Doctor Theopolis who hung from the small drone's neck. "Hi, guys," he said dryly.

"Beep-be-de-de-beep: Howdy, Partner."

"It seems to be a fine turnout for this evening's sunset," Theo said almost proudly. "Are you enjoying the colors?"

"Mauve with a hint of cinnamon?" Buck asked.

Theo did not answer. Buck could almost imagine Theo smiling proudly.

Buck shrugged his shoulders once, turned back to face the sky through the transparent dome. "You know, I've been here almost a year now and I just can't get used to these… fake sunsets."

"Beep-be-de-de-beep: what's wrong, Buck?"

"Nothing. Just thinking."

"Where's Wilma?"

"Don't know. I told her I probably wouldn't be good company tonight."

"What's wrong, Captain Rogers? Does your mood have something to do with the flight of the prototype starfighter tomorrow morning?"

"Huh? Oh, no. Nothing like that. I'm looking forward to that. I've always enjoyed test flying new planes."

"Then what is it, Buck?"

Again he shrugged. "What's today's date?"

"May twelfth," Theo replied.

Buck nodded. "That's what I thought."

"What's the problem?"

Buck hesitated for a long moment. "Today was Jennifer's birthday."

"Beep-be-de-de-beep: Bummer."

Buck simply nodded.

Twiki placed his small metal hand on top of Buck's on the balcony railing. Buck looked down and grinned slightly at the ambuquad. "Thanks, Twiki. I'll be alright. I was just thinking about the last time I saw her. It was the night before I launched." He took a deep breath and held it for a moment. At last he sighed heavily. "Maybe I'll just go back to my apartment and lie down."

"Have you had dinner yet?" Theo asked.

Buck shook his head. "No. I'm not really hungry. Maybe I'll go back and make some spaghetti. That was one of her favorite meals. Spaghetti and classic rock."

"Speaking of music," Theo started. "Were you able to have someone look at your computer yet? You mentioned the other day that it wasn't working right."

He shook his head again. "No, not yet. I haven't had time to work on it."

"Then we have something that may be helpful to you. Twiki…"

A small panel opened on Twiki's chest. He reached in and pulled out a small, pen shaped object and handed it to Buck.

"Hey, great!" he said sarcastically. "What is it?"

"This is an electronic manipulator. This may help you get your computer working again."

"Great. How does it work?"

"There is a button at the top. When you depress the button, tiny sensors inside the device recognize your DNA and relatively accurately deciphers your thought processes."

Buck furrowed his eyebrows. "This thing is going to read my mind?"

"Not exactly… but something along those lines."

"You said 'relatively accurately.' How accurately?"

"It is still in the experimental stage so individual trials may vary depending upon the individual but initial tests indicate a success rate of eighty-one percent."

Buck looked at the pen dubiously. "Nothing wrong with trying it. Thanks, Theo. I'll let you know if it works." He stuck the pen into the breast pocket of his flight jacket. "It looks like the show's over," he said as he used his thumb to indicate the fading sunset. "I'll see you guys later. Good night."

"Good night, Captain Rogers."

"Beep-be-de-de-beep: Buck?"

Buck paused for a moment and rested his hand on the top of Twiki's head. "I'll be okay Twiki. I'll see you guys tomorrow."

Slowly Buck turned and followed the crowd back into the inner city.

Buck stepped into his apartment and went straight to the computer on the wall. He pulled out the pen and hesitated for a moment. He tapped the top.

"Computer: play me some music."

Almost instantly the room was filled with the sound of a rhythmic beat underlying a hard rocking synthesizer. Buck winced slightly. "No, no, I'm not in the mood for Andromeda tonight. Sorry guys. Try again."

The music instantly changed to the sound of rap music. Buck's eyes widened and he cocked his head. "What the-? No, not that!"

He tapped the pen's button again. When the music started playing again, Buck smiled and nodded his approval. "Yeah, some Bad Company. That's much better." He looked at the pen, the electronic manipulator. He smiled and nodded. "Not bad. I'm gonna have to tell Theo that you worked."

He turned to face the small kitchenette in the apartment. "Now to find out if the replicator can make some decent spaghetti sauce."