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

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

"And apparently..." Proton, shrewdly...

"No, I just happen to be a red-blooded all-American boy and Munson is beautiful and when not fighting with me, surprisingly sweet. It was just a brief affair, though I'm fond of her despite our differences and I hope Phyllis will understand." Eyeing Proton. "Come on, Arthur. You love Amy, much as you try to keep it completely smothered under your lab coat. Grant me the right to have feelings for somebody..."

"Well, I wouldn't..." Proton frowned.

"And I wouldn't self-righteously condemn you for liking Munson, if you did." Smile to Proton's shocked stare. "I'm not accusing you. But...It wouldn't be that odd, given the way you bicker. And while I concede you've behaved better than I, you are in love with Amy. Phyllis and I still aren't sure yet. Lets just say, I've no business poking into you and Amy and you have no business asking about me and Munson, except as to what she might have gleaned from me and passed to Bwarry."

"And the Russians...Swift, you do realize she may have played you for a fool." Proton, sternly. "However good an actress she was earlier...She might be in this as much as her brother."

"I choose not to believe that without proof." Swift shrugged. "If it's so, so be it. I promise you it won't affect my judgment regards the ship."

Proton sighed. "Well, for what it's worth. If it's true, I'm sorry." He nodded.

"Thanks. Well, lets see what we've got. Thank God we kept an eye on Bwarry...And Munson... around the detector."

"Yes, the readings appear accurate and match up well with your megascope prober's views. Tom?" Proton, carefully. "You didn't hold back anything else? There's no way to control the ship's landing that you concealed?"

"Afraid not. If there were, regardless of Bwarry's presence I would have taken us up on the Challenger to stop that thing from landing. If I could get through to our alien friends and do so, I would."

"Well, at least we know why the jamming was so successful. Putinsky must be supplying Bwarry with everything the Russians have to do so."

"I rather suspected it. It was too powerful to be just some rogue scientist alone."

"It really may be war if Putinsky gets the cargo, won't it?"

"I think so. The UN and the US won't stand for him having that tech and those potential bioweapons alone in his hands. He's a dictator and a murderer. They'll strike as quickly as they can...And that could mean war even if they try to keep it limited."

"My God...We have to get that cargo first, Tom. Or..."

"Yeah." Swift nodded. "But only if absolutely necessary. And frankly, I'm not sure we could destroy it."

"Wyckcliffe has a sub at his disposal, he must be planning to let the ship crash and seize it on the surface or on the way to the bottom if it sinks..." Proton noted.

"I believe so..."

"But you can stop them...The way you used the ship's repelatrons before..."

"Maybe...And I do have a few other tricks. But I was sincere about the alien ship, there's no way to be sure it's safe to try to use even a broad spectrum repel on it. Though I have a couple of ideas...If you have a moment and for once, don't mind a little do-daddling with me..."

"In this cause, I'll do-daddle. So long as you tell no one." Proton insisted, Tom grinning.

...

"Welcome abroad the Lermontov..." the tall officer in braided uniform greeted the newly descended Wyckcliffs, both with blankets wrapped about their soaked clothes. "Sorry we had to take you aboard in such a fashion, though I'm glad you were unhurt. My lieutenant will escort you to your cabins so you can change."

"Thanks, comwrade officewr." Bwarry smiled.

"I'm a Captain in the Russian fleet, Dr. Wyckcliffe and my English is, I think, reasonably good. It ought to be."

"Yeah..." Munson nodded, eyeing the Captain shrewdly. "You were once a governor and a vice-presidential candidate, Mrs. Pulin. Before you and Crumpt were exposed and fled."

"Yeah...I could see Roosia from my front porch." The officer smiled, "But alls fair in global politics and war. Though my uncle, President Putinsky, prefers unfair."

"Well, we'wre pleased to see youwr uncle and his govewrnment have put theiwr best foot fowrward in this one." Bwarry beamed. "Nice to know the KGB...er...The FSB..." to her hard stare... "Has their best here, eh sis?"

"Sure." Munson, noncommittally grim.

"I prefer my naval status. I was never pleased to have to lie, especially to my running mate...Such a fine man he was...And portray such a loon as Governor Pulin." The Captain nodded.

"To each theiwr own." Bwarry smiled. "Awre we on couwrse?"

"To the coordinates you provided." The Captain nodded. "But you realize, surely, that the UN will be on its way...And Swift will likely beat us there. My government won't risk surface ships and planes can't stay out there without a carrier."

"That's fine...And I am counting on Tom Swift beating us thewre." Bwarry smiled. "Just sowrry I have to blow my covewr...And sis'..." Munson, slightly clouded look. "But it couldn't be helped, Dwr. Hofstadter wrefused to coopewarate."

"My cousin...But a bit of a radical as to idealism. I prefer patriotism as my career indicates."

"Sowrry, then. Captain Hofstadtewr?" Bwarry eyed the Captain who returned stare.

"Putinsky. Captain Sarafina Putinsky. The Sara at least was true, nickname wise." She gave slightest of smiles. "Though the husband and rather promiscuous daughter were phony. As I say..." shrug... "Global politics and war."

"Well, I'd say we wewre in good hands hewre." Bwarry beamed. "In case things with Swift and Proton get difficult."

"I shall hope not. Mr. Swift is a brilliant inventor and has made many contributions. Professor Proton likewise." Faint smile. "My real daughter loves his show on You Tube."

("And cut...And welcome back before the camera, 'Captain Putinsky'." Howard beamed to a pleased Penny. "And please get that uniform off, if it's stained in any way, including Nebraska farm girl sweat, we own it. Lesley? Very nice on the noncommittal angst." As Penny frowned a bit but complied.

"Sure...Thanks for not making me Dr. Absolute Ms. Evil, guys." Lesley, grinning. "I know it must have been tempting for both of you...Herr Direcktor und Herr Screenwriter."

"Yeah...Nice job making Lesley's character so complex, Herr Screenwriter." Penny eyed Leonard.

"Well, both yours are complex..." he noted. "Captain Putinsky is modeled on the Romulan commander in 'Balance of Terror'. A decent officer and patriot who's troubled by what she's doing."

I hate and love knowing who he means...Penny thought.

I thought we were modeling her on the Russian commander in "2010", Raj hissed to Howard.

"Too nice. We want her able to push the button or spend years as a sleeper agent in the US but still retaining a core decency." Howard noted.

"I thought Leonard came up with this one last night..." Bernadette frowned. "And you never told you consulted him on the new, complex character."

Ummn... "Bernadette Swift-Rostenkowski is very complex...Just staunch, ya know? And she hasn't died yet." Howard tried.

"She better not. Mr. Jones really does like me you know." Grim look.

"So...Exactly what is this film, Leonard?" a rather puzzled and troubled Wil Wheaton to Leonard, Wil in suit, looking about.

"There's my treacherous uncle Pyotr..." Penny beamed.

"I thought we were getting Brent Spinner..." Bernadette hissed to Howard. "The fireworks with Proton/Sheldon would have been..."

"I know, I know...But he was doing ' ' next week and said he couldn't get into another public brawl with, 'I quote' that loon Cooper.")

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