Buck Rogers in the 26th Century Episode 217x "Thunder" Written by: Erin Weinstock and Anthony B. I don't hold any of the copyrights in this story, and this story was made without profit. Teaser: int: Backroom: No detail is here to show anything distinctive but the wall meeting the floor in dim light. All we see is in one camera focused in area with nothing going on until ... A pair of hands, Buck's, are setting down a bomb to the floor counting down on a digital readout that says it has a minute until it carries out its job. Sixty seconds left. The camera's focus on the room cuts to showing more of it. As Buck moves to make his way quickly out of this place, we see there isn't much room for him to move around because this place is only twice his size. Cut to: int: Corridor: Having just come from the Backroom, Buck moves quickly forward to being nearly side by side with the camera. Buck: "Wilma, we need to go NOW!" But unseen to Buck, approaching from behind him out of this dimly lit place is an alien we've never seen before: a Garuth. Its face, its head looks like a marigold made out of bone. Two black eyes rest in the center of its face, placed close together. Its mouth looks to be two thin whips of pinkish flesh hanging down with two horn-like pinchers to either side of the pinkish whips. It's wearing a black outfit with a metallic sheen to it. It should also be noted at this time Buck isn't wearing his standard Defense Directorate uniform or civilian clothes. He's wearing a suit we can tell was supplied by the Defense Directorate by the directorate's symbol embedded in one of a set of two chest plates. It's bulky and completely sealed up from the feet to the hands to even a plate of glass covering Buck's face coming from a false fur lined hood. Over the suit to his knees are his boots: tan with a bar of thin metal on each running vertical tightly up the front to both. It should also be noted Wilma throughout the episode will be wearing the same outfit as Buck. The Garuth, Garuth One, makes some noises out of its throat that make Buck aware of its presence behind him. Buck turns to see Garuth One direct an object somewhat shaped like a front bulbous-ended flashlight at him. Garuth One then clicks down a button on it and the object then proceeds to pulse gently with light before, out of thin air protruding from the end of it pointed at Buck, it creates a foot long claw-like blade. Buck (softly to himself): "For the love of bad timing." Garuth One takes a swing at Buck with the weapon. Due to quick reflexes on Buck's behalf he ducks the purposed blow to him, which is a very good thing of not only missing Garuth One's strike but ... Blaster fire streaks over Buck's head as he ducks, the weapon's energy hitting the Garuth full blast in the chest, knocking him down backwards. In shock Buck turns to look behind himself now to see Wilma. Wilma: "You were saying about bad timing?" Shortly after Buck begins to say this line he holds one of Wilma's shoulders and breaks into a run to off camera from whence she came. Buck: "Yours was terrific but we need to leave this place now so our time doesn't run up! The bomb is armed!" Wilma in a snap takes after Buck in running too out of the camera's range. Cut to: int: Backroom: The camera is focused in tight on the bomb. Its digital readout tells us in counting down there are only 25 seconds left until it explodes. Cut to: ext: Garutheian Base: It's a dark colored structure defined by ridged lines that help define its shape but not for long. For now Buck and Wilma are running for their lives out of it across a snow covered landscape on a planet named Eelta. Once at twenty or so yards away the couple stops to look back at the base. The reason for doing so is as plain as day as the building erupts into balls of flame and debris of its interior and exterior. Wilma: "Flawless." Buck: "And the Onack are free again." Pre-Credits: End of Teaser: Beginning of Act One: ext: Landing Site: This area in its center contains a standard size Defense Directorate shuttle. But the camera isn't focused on that at the moment. It's focused on the ice that surrounds the shuttle some eight feet away: lattices of ice that look like they could have been spun by artistic spiders. Their beauty in their complexity looks of heaven and not of Earth. The camera pans through the webbed ice to Buck and Wilma walking towards the ship. Buck: "If you want, but I want to be in a place where my air supply isn't limited to what I can take with me." Wilma: "You don't like this place do you?" The two of them are now at the entrance to the shuttle. Buck, pressing the access panel: "It's too barren for my taste." Cut to: int: Shuttle: In the center of its floor sits an alien bomb doing a countdown. The camera is focused on its readout which states two seconds till it detonates. Cut to: ext: Landing Site: Buck and Wilma are ready to go through the Phasoft-door. Wilma: "And that's the way the Onack want it to remain." Both Wilma and Buck step into the shuttle at the same time. The camera snaps to focusing on the webbed ice as it quickly rings in the sound of the shuttle exploding. The ice reflects the light of the destructive action and shatters and whips out lines and droplets from its liquid form. This scene is held on for a couple beats before ... The scene is cut into being black and no noise is heard. Cut to: int: Ice Palace: This place the room we're in should remind us of the Landing Site, only this place has defined walls to it. A sensory drone is floating over the camera, buzzing lightly and making mechanical clicks. Its appearance is the eye of a camera with solar panel wings beating the air all around it. This is Buck's POV at the moment and he moans. The drone's noises pick up and it moves in closer on Buck and stays close on him until… It turns tail and races out of the room. The camera cuts off Buck's POV and now we see more of the room. Buck is still in the described outfit mentioned in the teaser. It looks charred all over but it's still fully intact. He's on a bed that's lightly padded with no blankets. Buck looks around himself. Buck (softly): "Wilma?" An Onack moves into view and all we can see is the hump of its back for now. Buck noticing his visitor, Cont: "Where is Wilma?" The camera pans to moving around to be beside the Onack as it moves over to Buck. An Onack is a large alien; its width is the main factor to that fact because its whole body is a thick furry hump. Its legs end in stumps, its arms which it has two sets of are bare of fur with skin as white as the snow beneath it. Its face is dead center in the front of the hump, devoid of fur like the arms but on its edges there is a mane. Its mouth is wide and above and below that is a double face: one set of nostril holes above the mouth and one set below, one set of eyes above and one below. Onack One: "One room over. We are trying to tend to her." Buck (fast): "She was hurt? How badly was she hurt?" He jumps out of the bed and begins to make his way around Onack One. Onack One: "She is becoming hurt." Stopping in his tracks and looking at Onack One, Buck: "Wait One, you guys are the good guys? You're - you're hurting her?" Onack One: "No one is hurting her." The camera follows Buck who now shows a face of intense worry. It follows him move out of the room into a hallway. He looks to one side only to find a blank wall. He looks to the other side. That side has the entrance to the room Onack One spoke of. Cut to: int: Wilma's Room: Two Onack are in here, one that notices the arrival of Buck, the second by Wilma's bedside. Her outfit looks to be in as bad a shape as Buck's if not worse, as she lies unconscious on a bed like what Buck was on in the other room. The Second Onack is forming an intricate lattice shell of webbed ice over her using a cone-shaped tool that it's holding one of in each of its four hands. As this scene begins, in shock Buck sees the Second Onack has just reached her head in its weaving of the ice crystals. Buck: "Stop! What are you trying to do to her!? Murder!?" Buck begins to rush over to Wilma but the Onack who noticed Buck enter the room, Onack Three, halts him in his tracks. Onack Three: "Do not interfere, my companion is helping her." Buck: "By encasing her in ice! No, that isn't helping her!" Buck then attempts to make his way past Onack Three but all four of its arms are too much for him to put up much of a fight against. Onack Three: "Will you stop fighting me? Without the ice shield she will die faster." Now Onack Three has his full attention as Buck goes wide-eyed in revelation. Buck: "She's dying?" Buck's fighting against Onack Three has now ceased. Onack Three, bringing its arms back towards itself to no longer hold Buck back: "Her suit became punctured in the explosion; it cannot hold oxygen long." Slowly Buck makes his way over to Wilma. Watching the Second Onack in its work of creating the webbed shell of ice over Wilma, Buck: "How does this help?" Onack Three: "No further harm can come to her within the bounds of her shell and it will keep her oxygen in with her." Turning to Onack Three, Buck: "She can't stay that way forever." Onack Three: "That is a fact we are well aware of but do not know how to remedy. Your space ship is gone so how she can be removed from this planet; Eelta to another -." The statement ends with Onack Three putting up all of its hands in a gesture that if it were Human would look to be a shrugging of the shoulders. Buck: "The Garuthians tried to kill us." Onack Three: "With good reason." Buck: "Yes, because they invaded this planet and we were sent in to get rid of them." Looking down, Cont: "I wonder if that bomb was set before or after we got rid of their base?" Onack Three: "Before." Buck: "The Garuthians were trying to invade, to take dominance over this planet. One base? There might be another that was unknown to Wilma and I at the time we were told of the threat they pose to this planet. [ beat ] Can your robots be programmed for a reconnaissance mission?" Onack Three: "They were designed to monitor and report physical status not terrain status. They can not be re-programmed." Buck is now starting to take on an air of desperation. Buck: "There must be a way I could discover if there is a second base nearby?" Second Onack, finishing up its work: "The highest point to the palace should provide a good view of the near and far away terrain." Buck: "Thank you." And with that having been said Buck jets from the room. Onack Three glares at the Second Onack. Cut to: ext: Ice Palace / Stairway: As this scene begins Buck is ascending a free standing stairway made of countless sheets of ice that tower beyond the towers of this fortress of crystallized liquid. He looks outwards around at the landscape as it slowly comes into better sight as the towers disappear from sight. Buck almost falls from the stairs as one foot goes over the edge of one step. In a snap he falls on to the steps he's on, clutching them and pulling his overhanging foot back on to the steps. Slowly he picks himself up and resumes his ascent not watching anything now but the steps he's going up. The camera cuts to his feet as he makes his way to the end of the stairway and we see around this looking down at the depths from which he just ascended from. The camera cuts to Buck looking out at the landscape spread out before him of what lies beyond the Ice Palace. His face is expressionless. Then the camera cuts to being Buck's POV. Off in the distance we can see the same Garutheian Base that was destroyed in the teaser. Buck (softly): "Well I'll be darned." Cut to: int: Grand Hall: As this scene begins Buck is racing down to the end of the stairway we saw in the last scene. He almost falls at the second to last step due to, remember the steps are made out of ice. But he catches himself; the floor here isn't ice but slate with a dusting of snow. Several Onack are moving through the room but only one takes notice of Buck's presence. Buck notices the one onlooker Onack and goes over to it. Motioning as he talks, Cont: "The Garutheian Base, it's back as if never damaged or destroyed." Looker Onack: "Then we are in danger again." Buck: "You called upon the Defense Directorate to rid you of the threat of the Garuthians, [ beat ] can't you aid me in finding out how this has happened?" Looker Onack: "I have no weapons." Buck: "But you do have a transmitter in this place, it's how you called for us. You could make a call to the Scientific Research Directorate; they have observation satellites throughout this galaxy. They could relay us better information, tell us what we need to know." Looker Onack: "The transmitter is in use by Xiber." Buck: "But this is urgent!" Looker Onack: "To you. [ beat ] If the Defense Directorate can't destroy one base then why would your information of why help our predicament?" Buck: "There are other alien forces of great power that could help you possibly better than the Defense Directorate in this universe. They with given information could -." Cut off by ... Looker Onack: "The transmitter is in use by my superior Xiber. We have no right to ask of its use." Buck: "But for the love of your race and your world?!" The Looker Onack just stares at Buck with a look of helplessness. In turn Buck gives a look and storms off. Cut to: ext: Garutheian Base: Buck has just reached this place and is staring at it in wonder. The camera cuts in on him touching it as its surface reflects not only himself but all behind him including some distance behind, the Ice Palace with only its towers and stairwell visible. Buck: "Ice." Cont: "The Garuthians aren't masters of its forming, the Onack are. What's going on here?" Black stars appear reflecting in the sky over the Ice Palace. Taking on a confused look Buck turns around to look at the black stars. The camera switches to being in front of Buck, Cont: "What's going on here?" End of Act One: Beginning of Act Two: ext: Garutheian Base: Buck watches the twinkling black stars for a beat over the Ice Palace before in a snap... The black star field begins to quickly move towards him, still staying high over head. Cont: "You take up the sky and this base is a false, a sentinel that can provide no shelter as compared to its predecessor." Closing his eyes with the camera focusing in on him, Cont: "Please be friendly." A blast can be heard very close by; Buck opens his eyes and the camera pans to the view behind him. Debris of ice crystals are falling down from the false base. Buck looks back to the black stars; they're right overhead and well around the base. The black stars shoot out an energy blast at the base making yet another explosion of ice shooting outwards from the target. Another shot and yet another after that come from the black stars to the base inflicting more damage upon it. Buck walks a few feet away from the base, watching it and the black stars. Walking away further, Buck watches the black stars completely destroy the false base. Cont: "Friendly [ beat ] but dumb." The black stars hang in the air for a beat before sending out a tendril of energy to the ground that is just as brief in its sight as the blasts we saw a moment ago. Now the black stars are coming towards Buck, lashing out more tendrils of energy at the ground that act like the first witnessed. Buck breaks into a run, watching the black stars fire away as they move towards him. Cont: "NOT friendly." He runs for a while missing the tendrils of energy left and right. But his luck runs out. One tendril catches him, lights him up like a light bulb and vanishes him out of sight. The camera cuts to looking up at the sky so all we see is that and the black stars. Cut to: int: Space ship: This is a Garutheian ship and why I have its description as just a space ship is something you'll soon find out. Buck upon noticing the crew immediately acts defensive and also shows he's ready for a fight. Crewman One taps at one wall in a little display of rhythm, and a beat later as Crewman One backs away from the wall, the wall in a brick-like section extends itself out to Crewman One by a few feet. Cont: "Wilma and I destroyed your base, you nearly took her life with mine and you've done something with the Onack! I swear if you've taken me as a prisoner of war I'll -!" Crewman One then taps at some buttons now visible to him from the protruding wall. It's the snap of a force field surrounding Buck that just stopped him in his track of speech. The ship's Captain begins to come towards Buck but stops a few feet shy of him. And in a strange sounding tongue, Captain: "You do not represent this planet, its people. You are an outsider. Its protector?" Buck (snapping): "That's exactly what I came here to do!" The Captain comes a little closer to Buck. Captain: "What are we to you?" Buck: "Invaders of this planet and would-be conquerors of its people." Captain: "What were you told by the Onack we were?" Buck: "Invaders! So help me when I get out of this containment you've put me in I'll -!" Cutting Buck off now, the Captain coming a little closer: "You do not want our oxygen?" Catching Buck off guard: "What?" Captain: "The force field around you does more than keep you in place; it creates oxygen so you can breathe on my ship." Buck: "I can BREATHE in here? So you didn't put it around me as a hostile act?" Taking a step to Buck, which now puts him eye to eye with Rogers, Captain: "You said, you admitted you and your fellow named Wilma destroyed our base. That now shows to us you are hostile, so to keep you from harming us, not as an act of hostility but as for my crew's protection, you will stay within the force field." Buck: "But you're the bad guys." Captain: "As who told you?" Now Buck is puzzled, Buck: "The Onack - the Onack called us here. We did as we were told but the base came back but as a false image made of ice. [ beat ] I - I'm confused." Captain: "I suppose that is normal. You would not be aware of the recent history of Eelta." Buck: "Could you explain what happened, then?" The Captain steps back, and while they are still looking at each other, they are not staring each other in the eye. Rather, the Captain appears to be reminiscing, looking past Buck while thinking of the past. Captain: "We and the Onack used to be at peace long ago, back when I was but a mere child. You were informed, were you not, that the government of the Onack people is a monarchy?" Buck: "Yeah, I remember that." Captain: "About twenty years ago, a new king ascended to the throne. King Orgon. While his father respected us, Orgon despised us..." Buck: "Why the sudden change of heart?" Captain now turns his back to Buck, and the camera is now looking at Captain's angry face. If he were a human, his face would probably be beet red. However, his voice remains just as stable as the rest of the conversation. Captain: "Because Orgon wanted our technology. Do the Onacks have advanced technology in their domain?" Buck: "Yes..." Captain: "That's because they stole it from us! Orgon launched raids against our territories, taking everything he could. He knew that while we were superior on the technologies, they had a better military. The surviving Garuthians fled, seeking out a living where we could find one in this harsh, unforgiving terrain." Now, Captain turns around again, looking at Buck. He doesn't look as mad anymore, and the faintest hint of a smile seems to be on his face. Buck: "Then what happened?" Captain: "Deep in these mountains, we found an oasis of sorts. It contained fertile ground, and fresh water available to us. Best of all, it was far too deep in the mountains for the Onacks to stumble across. We were safe! We could regroup, and begin to plot revenge against Orgon." Buck: "But that base. That was your base we destroyed. How could you build one so quickly, without being spotted?" Captain: "Many of the Onackan territories once belonged to us. In a sense, we took back what was ours, and then were blamed on the premise that we were 'invading' them. We were merely taking back what was ours." Buck now looks more confused than ever, as Captain takes a step towards him from where he is. Buck: "I don't know who to believe. Why would the Onacks call the Defense Directorate if they took those bases in the first place?" Captain: "Most likely because they knew they were going to lose unless someone intervened." Buck looks Captain straight in the eye, and then a look of shock appears over his face. Buck: "Wait a minute! Wilma's with them!" Captain: "You can put your mind at ease. They wouldn't hurt her. They still need the Defense Directorate's help, correct?" Buck nods. Buck: "Good point." At this, Captain begins to head for the only door in the room. Captain: "We would like to cease this fighting, and live in peace with the Onacks once more. The only way to do this is by ousting King Orgon. I could use your help in this." Buck looks like he is about to say something, but he is interrupted by Captain. Cont.: "I have other business to attend to, and will be back shortly. For now, you will remain in your confinement." The Captain leaves, and as he does, what looks like a guard comes in, standing by the door as though standing sentry. The camera closes in on Buck's face, who has a look on his face to say "What have I gotten myself into this time?” End of Act Two Beginning of Act Three ext: Ice Palace int: Medical Wing Two of the Onacks that were with Buck and Wilma the first time are now standing near Wilma, who is still encased in ice. A third Onack, Xiber, nears. Xiber: "Does the girl still live?" Onack One: "She does. Have you prepared it for her?" Xiber nods, walking towards where Wilma is. We can now see that he is carrying a type of helmet that looks like what scuba divers would wear, only it is more form-fitting to a human head. Onack Two: "Is this safe. If we release her from this protection, she will die. Humans need oxygen to breathe." Xiber: "I'm well aware of this. However, the one with her is missing. We can't let this one die, or the Defense Directorate will become suspicious. Besides, I believe that humans can go thirty seconds or so without oxygen, more than enough time for me to put the helmet on." Both the Onacks look hesitant, but one takes what looks to be a small pick axe, and smashes the ice above Wilma's head. At this, the whole ice shield shatters, and Wilma is beginning to come to. At this, Xiber quickly places the helmet over her head. The helmet has a see-through film between her eyes and mouth, but nothing more. Wilma takes in deep gasps after this happens. Wilma: "What did you do to me?" Xiber: "We merely gave you a device that allows you to breathe. I assumed that you didn't want to remain in an ice sheet." Wilma looks around for a beat, while the rest remain silent. Wilma: "Where's Buck?" Onack One: "We do not know. He went to the observation deck, and when we went to summon him, he was gone. Pretty foolish to run out." Wilma begins to pull herself up, but the Onack pushes her down on the bed again. Cont. "You healed rather quickly in that ice sheet, but you're still wounded. You need rest." Wilma looks like she's going to argue, but her face is showing how tired she is. "But..." Xiber: "No buts. When we find him, we'll tell you." Wilma: "But what if he got caught by the Garuthians? They seemed pretty mad that we destroyed their base." Xiber: "In that case, we may have to ask for the Defense Directorate's help again. I don't think we can win this war on our own." Wilma: "Do you mind if I ask a question?" Xiber: "You can ask, but you may not get an answer." Wilma: "Why are you at war?" Xiber: "I can answer that question. Long ago, about twenty years or so, King Orgon ascended to the throne. Back then, we and the Garuthians were at peace. However, Orgon and the leader of the Garuthians were to have a meeting to sign an official peace treaty. Before Orgon attended the meeting, he wanted a first hand look at the Garutheian society, and deployed a spy to scope out any secrets that he felt the Onacks should be aware of before we signed a peace treaty." Wilma: "Did he find something bad?" Xiber at this point sighs. "Yes, he did. He found many bases filled with weapons, powerful weapons that could destroy a whole kingdom. One such base was what you destroyed. At the signing of the peace treaty, Orgon demanded that a clause be added limiting the amount of destructive weapons each nation could have. However, the savage Garuthians refused. In defense of his people, Orgon took the preemptive strike, destroying the bases that contained weapons, before they could use them to attack us. Had they signed the peace treaty, and not tried to hoard weapons, we wouldn't be in this mess." At this, Xiber begins to leave, with the other two Onacks with him. Cont.: "You need rest. A man shall be stationed outside your door, so let him know if you need something." At this, the three exit, leaving Wilma all by herself. She is still lying on the bed, and tries to sit up, but a grimace of pain crosses her face, and she is forced to lie back down. Wilma: "Buck, please be safe." Cut to: ext: Garutheian Base int: Buck's Containment Room Buck is still in the force field, and is sitting on the ground. At this, the Captain walks back in the room, with two guards behind him. The captain is holding a helmet that looks just like the one Wilma had to wear. Captain: "I forgot, what was your name again?" Buck: "Captain Buck Rogers." Captain: "I see. Captain Rogers, we need your help in ending this war without any more casualties." Buck: "But I still don't know for sure if you're telling the truth. What if I refuse?" Captain: "Then we will raid the Ice Palace, and we cannot ensure Wilma's safety." Buck sighs, knowing that he has no other choice but to help. Buck: "Alright, then, I'll help you. What do you want me to do?" The Captain walks towards Buck in the force field, while one of the guards walks towards the control panel of a strange machine inside the room. Captain: "First, I want you to equip yourself with this helmet. The guard is going to remove the force field, which will leave you without oxygen for a few seconds." As he says this, the force field vanishes, and the camera focuses on Buck. He is now holding his breath, and his face is turning a bit blue. At this, one of the guards puts the helmet around Buck, and like Wilma's helmet, a transparent film allows one to see between Buck's eyes and mouth. Captain: "Does the helmet fit correctly?" Buck nods, still gasping for air. Cont.: "Good. In that case, follow us. Be warned, though, that if you draw your weapon at us, there shall be no hesitation to kill you. Understand?" Buck: "Don't worry. I think I'm too outnumbered to think about that." Captain: "I'm glad you understand that." Silently, the walk out of the room, with the guards both keeping an eye on Buck as they exit the room. Cut to: int: Strategy Room Buck and the Captain enter a room that looks like strategy meetings take place there. There is a large table in the center of the room, and there are many maps on the walls, all that look like world maps. However, the camera pans across the map on the table. The map is of the surrounding areas, with the Ice Palace and the base clearly labeled. The two walk over to the map, while the two guards wait by the door. Captain: "Rogers, I have found a vital use for you in ending this war. Do you remember when I said that you were an outsider, one who was not a representative of the tribes of Eelta?" Buck: "Yeah, you said something like that." Captain: "That means that you are inheritably neutral in Eelta's affairs. It is the birthright of a Garuth to remain loyal to his people. You, however, have no such bond." Buck: "What are you asking me to do?" Captain: "I want you to return to the Ice Palace, and mediate peace talks between us and the Onacks." At this, Buck looks quite shocked. Buck: "Are you serious? I've never done anything like that before. I think the Defense Directorate has mediators, though. They could help resolve your differences." The Captain narrows his eyes, almost glaring at Buck. Captain: "You destroyed one of our bases, did you not. That means that the Onacks trust you. However, that also means that you must repay us for our damages. There are some among us who want your head for what you did to us; I will grant their request if you do not cooperate." At that, Buck looks a tad angry, but gets over it very quickly. He then nods his head. Buck: "Alright, I'll do my best." At this, the Captain smiles. Captain: "Excellent. Now, take this map with you, and return to the Ice Palace. Tell King Orgon that the Garuth tribe is willing to have peace talks, and that we await a messenger to enter our camp." Buck begins to roll up the map, but looks up at Captain half-way through this. Buck: "What if they refuse?" Captain: "Then tell him that we will attack in full force." Cut to: ext: Ice Palace int: Grand Hall The camera sees Buck walking through the door entering the Grand Hall, where Onack One that was with Wilma approaches him. Buck is still wearing the helmet, but there is some frost on his outfit. Onack One: "Captain Rogers? We were about to send out a search party for you!" Buck: "I got... uh... lost." Onack One: "Captured would probably be the better word." At this, Buck looks surprised. Buck: "How did you know that?" Onack One points to Buck's helmet. Onack One: "You had to have gotten that helmet from somewhere, and it has the insignia of the Garuthians on it." Buck tries to look at his helmet, but since he is wearing it, the attempt is in vain. He looks back at the Onack, smiling sheepishly. Buck: "Well, I got lost when they captured me." Onack One gives Buck a look that indicates he is aware Buck is not telling him something. Onack One: "After you were gone so long, and you would have been dead due to the lack of oxygen, we made the assumption you were captured. To that end, Xiber would like to speak with you." As the Onack finishes this line, Xiber walks into the hall. Xiber: "I assume you are Buck Rogers, the one sent from the Defense Directorate to fend off the invasion of the Garuthians?" Buck nods. Buck: "I'm Buck Rogers, but I heard a different story from them than I'm hearing here." Xiber only smiles at this comment. Xiber: "Of course they would want to turn you against us, knowing the connections you have with Earth. But surely you don't believe them?" Buck: "I don't know who to believe." Xiber: "Hmm." Onack One: "Perhaps, sir, you should tell him about his friend." Buck: "Wilma! Is she doing better?" Xiber: "She is recovering quite quickly. We were able to give her an oxygen helmet after releasing her from her ice barrier, and she now rests in our medical wing." Buck looks very relieved to hear that. Buck: "She's pretty strong." Onack One: "We agree with your analysis. We thought she was going to die, but she should be fine in a few days." Buck: "Actually, I almost forgot something too. The Garuthians wanted me to give a message to King Orgon." Xiber: "A message? What is the nature of this message?" Buck: "They want to hold peace talks." Xiber: "Peace talks? After what they did to us? Knowing what snakes the Garuthians are, it may be a trap." Buck: "I would really like to tell King Orgon this myself, and let him decide this for himself." Xiber: "Give me one reason why I should allow you to waste our monarch's time with something as ridiculous as this?" Buck: "Because I'm sure the Defense Directorate would encourage peace talks, and they may withdraw their help if you don't." Xiber sighs, and you can see him turn around. Xiber: "Follow me..." Buck: "On the way, can you explain what started this feud between you and the Garuthians?" End of Act Three Beginning of Act Four int: Throne Room: The camera pans over the throne room, which looks the same as the rest of the palace, except there is a large throne on in the back of the room. The camera pans across King Orgon. He looks just like the rest of the Onacks, except he is much larger, and is wearing a regal- looking cape. Orgon and Buck are sitting at a rather small rectangular table, while Xiber is standing to Orgon's side. Orgon: "Hmm. My question, human, is why does the Captain of the Garuthians want peace talks?" Buck: "He told me that he doesn't want to see any more fighting or destruction like the base." Xiber: "My king, they are probably just trying to lull you into a false sense of security!" Orgon: "No offense, but Chancellor Xiber has made a valid point." Buck: "I promise that you will be safe. The Garuthians know that I was sent from the Defense Directorate, and they understand what would happen if they killed you in an assault." Orgon and Xiber look at each other. Then, they both look at Buck again. Orgon appears to be in thought, while Xiber looks a tad angry. After a beat, Orgon speaks. Orgon: "Fine. I will agree to sit down with the Garuthians. However, I want the meeting to be at the Ice Palace." Buck: "I'm sure that can be arranged. But I'm sure that they'll want protection." Orgon: "They may bring twenty armed men with them, but no more." Buck nods. "That sounds reasonable." Orgon: "Xiber, dispatch a messenger immediately and sent him to the Garuthians." Xiber nods, though he still looks opposed to the idea, and then he exits the scene. With that, Orgon rises from his chair. Orgon: "In the meantime, you may use the transmission and contact Earth." Buck: "Thank you." Orgon: "I am not opposed to peace with them. I simply don't think that such powerful weapons should exist. If they must, they should be limited." Buck: "I can understand your point. Weapons of mass destruction almost destroyed my home planet of Earth a long time ago." Cut to: int: Throne Room: We are in the same room as before, but now there is a large table in the center of the room, with Orgon, Xiber, and a few other Onacks on one side, and the Captain accompanied by Garuthians on the other side. In the center is Buck. Captain (directed at Orgon): "Have we reached an agreement?" Orgon: "I believe that we have. Would the mediator confirm our demands?" Buck is now holding a piece of paper, and is reading from it. Buck: "The Garuthians agree to limit their weapon stock by fifty percent, and not begin development on any new weapons without informing the Onacks. The Onacks agree to return all occupied areas that were invaded during the reign of King Orgon, and pay for the repair of the base that was destroyed yesterday." As he finishes this, he looks up, first turning to Orgon, and then to the Captain. Cont.: "Do both parties accept?" Orgon: "I will agree to those demands." Captain: "I also agree to those demands." Orgon: "May the words spoken here on this day be honored for all time. I will have a formal treaty prepared to be signed tomorrow. Until then, you and your men are welcome to stay in the guest area." Captain: "Thank you for your kindness. And you, Rogers. I appreciate your help in dissolving the feud that lay between us." Buck: "I was happy to help." Orgon: "If our business is concluded, then we shall adjourn." As he says this, the people sitting around the table begin to get up and move. Cut to: int: Medical Wing Wilma is still lying in bed, and Buck is sitting in a chair next to her. Wilma: "I'm glad you managed to resolve their differences, Buck." Buck: "I thought that was a better solution than bombing another base." Wilma: "I was thinking, after I heard what you did." Buck: "About what?" Wilma: "It seems like everywhere you go, you end up helping people. I don't say this enough, but I think that this century is very lucky that you landed in it." Buck: "I just do what I have to. Isn't that my job as a member of the Defense Directorate?" Wilma: "You know what I mean. Most of the time, the Defense Directorate defends Earth from attacks. But you seem to go out of your way to put things right. I and a lot of people appreciate you, Buck. I don't think it's an accident that you always end up in a place of conflict." Buck: "Maybe it is, and maybe it isn't. But I have to say one thing, Wilma. I may not be able to solve every problem, but I'd like to help as many people as I can." Wilma sits up. Wilma: "How much longer until a shuttle comes to pick us up?" Buck: "Probably another hour or so. It shouldn't be too much longer." Wilma: "I'm just sorry that we have to leave before the two sides sign the treaty. Do you think that they will honor it?" Buck smiles as he answers the question. Buck: "I really do think they will, I really do." End of Act Four The End Roll Credits