The Adventures of Professor Proton, Jr.: "The Proton Express..."

The Adventures of Professor Proton, Jr: "The Proton Express..." Part XXV...

"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 XXV...

"So splashdown in eight hours?" Bernadette asked Bud as they sat in the Arturo control cabin.

"According to the space prober and Proton's estimates via his dark matter detector, yeah." Bud nodded, eyeing controls.

"And we'll get there with at least five hours to spare...Probably six." she frowned at the controls.

"Less, we go down in about an hour...I'd say at full underwater speed we'll have about three hours. But in any case we'll want to be in position, you know. Tom can't be sure Wyckliffe's new coordinates put the ship at the old alien site precisely, it's just his best guess."

"I suppose." She sighed.

"Eager for a crack at the contents are we?" he grinned.

"You know it..." she smiled. "Bud, this could make my career...The first alien life studied by Humanity."

"Or end it...And all Humanity if we don't get this right." He noted. "Not meaning you, sweetie." To her look.

All the Swift girls at least take after their dad in that respect...They've all got a bit of his terrifying glare down pat. Sandy's the same way, he thought.

"I know you're as ready as anyone can be..." he concluded, a bit lamely.

"That's just it..." she shrugged. "Who can be...? Bud, you're right. If we screw this..."

"Well, Tom will have the UN team right in..."

"But if Wyckcliffe gets the chance to crack the thing open..."

"She wouldn't do that...She can't be that crazy. She wants it intact."

"She may...I dunno about her crazy brother." Bernadette shook head. "I know we all thought he was just out for money and maybe he is but...He murdered poor Dr. Hofstadter."

"Maybe he just is...Out for money here...The doc just got in his way. In any case, we're still hoping to reach it first."

"I know...I'm just worried. Plus..." wry smile. "This is the first time Tom's put a big chunk of one of his expeditions on me. I'm used to just reviewing the stuff he brings back..."

"And listening to us go on about our latest adventure...I know." Bud smiled. "But I'm glad you got to go on this one. Probably the best of all."

"Glad to be here...Though make sure you get me home safe. You know Dad."

"I know." Mock panic. "And that look of panic isn't entirely kidding."

"It shouldn't be."

"But Tom's robot won't let us down...The earlier boys never have."