Buck sauntered along the corridor casually flipping a small ball up in the air and catching it. He was dressed in a maintenance coverall. At one point, as he walked along, he apparently dropped the ball on the floor. He knelt down to pick it up and unobtrusively placed another small item against the door and jamb directly next to him. He straightened up and continued casually down the hallway until he reached a corner. Here he turned and flattened against the wall while listening carefully. Shortly he heard what he was waiting for, the door open and close and the steps of the occupant moving away in the other direction. When he peeked around the corner and saw the retreating figure he hurried to the door. He checked to make sure no one was around. The small item he had placed on the floor had fallen in the doorway unnoticed. Buck carefully kicked the small item, and the door slid open.
"Now if you were an orb where would you hide" Buck whispered, and he began to carefully search the cabin.
Wilma arrived at the conference room early to make sure everything was set up, and soon the various department heads arrived. Admiral Asimov arriving last. He looked around the room and said to Wilma, "I think Captain Rogers should be here also, I would like his opinion on the attack"
"Certainly, I'll contact him now" replied Wilma as she rose and walked over to the Vid screen smiling. Thank you, Admiral, for the inadvertent assistance she thought. She punched in the numbers and Buck appeared on the screen, his Hawaiian shirt on but unbuttoned.
"Hello Captain Rogers, we were wondering if you could join us here in the conference room to discuss the attack yesterday?" said Wilma
"Now? Well, I guess so" said Buck as he looked down at his open shirt. "Give me a couple of minutes to finish getting dressed and I will be there. "
"Thank you, Captain Rogers,"
"Rogers out" he said, and his screen went blank. Wilma closed out the screen in the conference room and returned to her seat.
And in Buck's cabin after 30 seconds the vid screen showed "recorded message complete"
Buck, still in the maintenance coverall exited the cabin he had searched, a grim look on his face. He walked purposefully down the hall to the corner. Once around the corner he removed the coverall revealing his bright Hawaiian shirt. He stuffed the coverall in a nearby trash chute and walked towards the lifts to the bridge. Shortly thereafter he arrived at the conference room.
"Good morning, Captain, Rodgers, I see you are bright this morning. Now we can begin our meeting," said the Admiral.
Only Wilma noticed the brief nod Buck gave her.
The next 48 hours were busy ones for Wilma. She was co ordinating with Zebra Station, their docking facilities, and the repair facilities there, as well as with most of the different department heads on board. The Admiral did not want too many of the people on board to venture into the station, and he wanted to limit the amount of time spent there.
When the huge ship arrived at the station, a long telescoping bridge was extended out to couple with the Searcher's airlock. The repair was expected to take at least 2 days.
Buck and Wilma were standing on one side of a large open hall on Station Zebra apparently arguing. Buck was gesturing, beating on his chest. Wilma was standing with her hands on her hips shaking her head. But if someone had been close enough to hear they wouldn't hear an argument. Instead, the two were detailing the scene in the hall. Buck was facing the entrance while Wilma was facing the other direction watching Col. Bauer who was sitting on a bench also watching the entrance.
"I don't see anybody coming in right now," said Buck
"Bauer is just sitting there waiting and I bet the orb is in the case at his feet." Replied Wilma.
Suddenly Bauer sat up straight as a group of 3 men entered the hall and advanced towards him.
"Okay he is reacting now," said Wilma
"And the 3 guys that just entered look pretty sketchy, bet that's his contact." Replied Buck.
Buck walked away from Wilma with a parting gesture of exasperation towards the entrance while Wilma slipped quietly away in the other direction.
Suddenly several armed men in Federation Security uniforms surrounded the 3 newcomers and marched them back out the door.
The effect on Bauer was obvious. He had risen and was watching as the men were removed from the hall. He reached down and picked up the case at his feet and turned to leave. But he was blocked by Wilma Deering discretely displaying a weapon.
"Going somewhere Col?" she asked.
Before he could answer Admiral Asimov joined them
"I don't understand why Tom, why would you do something like this? When they told me I was sure they were wrong." ask Asimov
Bauer turned to him and snarled "No I bet you don't understand at all. You have no idea what it's been like all these years living in your shadow. Being dragged all over the universe. Well, I have no intention of dying in some out of the way world. This is my ticket to the good life without you!"
Asimov was visibly shaken by these words. He and Tom Bauer had been friends, he thought, for over 30 years. The Admiral took a step towards his friend his hand outstretched, and it was all the distraction Bauer needed. He shoved Asimov in the chest, which knocked him back into Wilma. They both fell to the ground while Bauer, with the case, took off running across the hall towards the exit.
Buck saw the exchange while he was heading back over the group and when he saw Wilma hit the ground, he started running followed by some of the federation security.
By the time he reached Wilma she was getting back to her feet. She was annoyed with herself. "Dang I am out of practice! I should never have allowed that to happen!"
"I'm fine, go get Bauer!" she told Buck as he got closer. She turned to help the Admiral up.
"You go on Deering, I am too old to be running around." Said the Admiral as he dropped dejected into the bench.
Wilma didn't need any more encouragement and took off running after the others.
Bauer ran through the hall with no regard for the people there, knocking over anybody that got in his way. He was trying to make it to the corridor that led to the flight deck, but the orb was definitely slowing him down. Buck was much more physically fit and was unencumbered. Just as Bauer reached the doorway Buck launched himself in a dive and was able to tackle him. The two men scuffled on the floor banging into pieces of furniture. At one point Bauer tried to hit Buck with case containing the orb but Buck was able to block it and knock the case out of Bauer's hands. The two men rolled around on the floor, exchanging jabs and kicks. About this time the security detail arrived, followed by Wilma. Bauer realized he was outnumbered and collapsed. Security roughly drag him to his feet. Buck popped up and picked up the case. He handed it to one of the security agent. "I think this is what all the fuss is about. You guys can make sure it gets back to its home I am sure" he said.
"Great job Roger, the people of Odin owe you a big thank you that's for sure" said the security officer as he opened the case to display the orb inside.
"Come on you, you need to join your friends in the brig. Nothing to see here folks nothing to see, move along now everyone' as they disbursed the small crowd that had gathered. The security led Bauer away leaving Wilma and Buck.
Buck dabbed at the blood on his lip as he turned to Wilma. "You took your time getting here, I could have used your help sooner" he said.
"Why Buck Rogers" Wilma said in surprise. "You mean you needed help from a mere female?" she said as she batted her eyelashes at him.