"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...
[Special note. Sorry for the delays on this and several others in progress but too many ideas at once and too much going on in real life these days. But, will see if we can move her along...]
Part XIX...
"I haven't much time before I relieve Bud..." Swift noted to Munson Wyckcliffe who nodded, stepping aside to let him in as the door unlocked and opened.
"Thanks for coming..." she smiled faintly.
"I'm assuming this is a plea for Bwarry..." he eyed her.
"He had no reason to kill Dr. Hofstadter except self-defense..." she insisted, pleading look. "Tom..." she took his hand.
"I'm giving him his chance to clear himself. Though if the Russians demand he be turned over..." careful stare.
"Putinsky might be behind all this, you know. His people...Even Hofstadter...Could've learned you were in contact with your space friends. They could have issued the message that diverted the ship. Tom...I know you don't trust me anymore..."
"Munson." Tom sighed. "You used me to get the codes to contact my friends and to learn about their gift to us. You are likely the one who diverted the ship. I'm trying not to be unfair but all the evidence points to it..."
"I begged you not to let the ship and its cargo fall into government hands..." she noted firmly. "You know they can't be trusted, they'll exploit the ship and its contents."
"I'm trying to see everyone gets a fair chance to study everything that comes in...No favorites..." he insisted. "Why would it be more fair to keep it to you and me and your friends."
"We wouldn't let it be exploited."
"So said the Bolsheviks about the Revolution..." Swift smiled. "The US about the A bomb. No, Munson. I said it when I admitted to you Dad and I had made contact with another civilization. I stand by it. Transparency is the only way. We can't hide this...Eventually someone will ferret it out or even one of us would let things slip or even make use of it, with God knows what consequences even if well-intentioned. If we see the world, the UN, gets control, no single group or power will gain."
"You're foolishly naïve. I've always said so." She frowned. "Tom, why can't you have faith in me?"
"To start? You lied to me. You stole my codes book. Is not putting faith in you now, naïve? And I have to believe..." he paused.
She eyed him coolly... "What? That I seduced you to get the code book?"
"I don't want to believe that..." he returned stare.
"I love you...But I did what I did because I had to know what was happening. You wouldn't tell me."
"I was pledged not to..."
"By a government..." she noted coldly.
"By the UN as well as yes, the US government." Firmly. "But lets leave that. This is about your brother. Munson, I believe he's using you."
"To sell off the cargo and ship to the highest bidder...I know everyone thinks Bwarry is utterly corrupt... But the truth is, he shares my ideals, just in his own way. And, above all...My brother is not a murderer."
"He killed a woman, for whatever reason. I have no idea what his motives are here, he could be an idealist like you for all I know...But if he is, he's a fanatic and he's using you."
"What reason would he have to kill Dr. Hofstadter?"
"The best reason of all...To protect himself...And his allies..."
She stared at him.
"His Russian allies." Tom noted firmly. "Penova told me she knew her government was dealing with him and maybe you, and she didn't approve. It makes sense that he would kill her if he'd learned she was trying to tell me."
"So, I'm dealing with the Russians?" she glared at him. "I'm a total hypocrite selling out to the highest bidder?"
"Even he might not be doing that...But whoever is behind the diversion needs a strong backer to stop me and the UN from securing that ship."
"Right." Icy stare. "Well, thanks for your visit, Tom. Tell that girl of yours, Phyllis, I give her my best and I'd be happy to exchange notes sometime."
He reddened. "I did you both a wrong...Phyllis in betraying her...Though we're not committed beyond stead dating...And you in not being sure first."
(Don't be mean...Don't be mean...Stuart's a nice guy and doing a fine job here, Penny thought.)
"Nice to know you never trusted me." Munson nodded. "Please go."
He nodded and paused by the door..."I didn't reveal I knew you'd stolen my code book. I'll stick by my promise. Bwarry will be left alone till the UN and the Russians decide what to do. But if he makes any trouble..."
"Or, if I...Given I'm such a criminal manipulator...?" icy sneering look.
"Or you." He eyed her. "But I want to believe you're not involved beyond trying to learn what was going on earlier."
"So much for my being your 'Dr. Munson' on your kiddie You Tube show." She eyed him. "Good night."
"Good night. Munson? At least be careful with Bwarry. Don't put too much trust in him..." he closed the door.
She frowned at the closed door which automatically locked her in again, then sat on the bed, pondering...Tears starting to run.
("That was perfect." Howard beamed. "Nice job."
"Sure. Thanks." Lesley nodded. Leonard offering thumbs up. Penny nodding.
"Gwreat job, Lesley." Kripke smiled. "Ya had me goin'. I don't know if you're innocent or no, now."
"Yeah, thanks." Lesley, carefully, at his fond look.
It's ok...He mouthed, wry smile. I get it. You love me, just not quite...
"Penny?" she had come over to her and Leonard...
"Yeah, say, that was great...Really." Nod. "Right, honey?" to Leonard.
"It was...Thanks, Lesley. I really appreciate the effort."
"Just keepin' my end up in front of Cooper. Penny? Can I borrow you a minute? I won't steal her away, Hofstadter."
"Not a chance, I'm afraid." Penny nodded. "Sure. Leonard? I'll be back..."
Don't get all fretty...She hissed to him. If Amy's offers couldn't win me over...Grin.
"Great...I'm more attractive than Amy Farrah Fowler to straight women." He mock-groused.
"Absolutely." She kissed him. "Though don't sell my bestie short. Ok, Les...")
...
Just after 8 that morning...
"Ah, fwree at last..." Bwarry Wyckcliffe beamed as he emerged from his newly unlocked cabin door.
"Hey, sis." He waved at Munson, now dressed, as she stepped out into the corridor of the Arturo cabin section.
"Hows about some brweakfast? You sleep ok? You looked tiwred still." He smiled at her, she eyeing him a bit blankly.
"Fine...Breakfast. Are the others up?"
"Thewre's one!" he noted cheerily... Waving to an emerging Dr. Amy at her cabin door. "Hey, Amy!"
"Hello." Amy stared over...Munson nodding to her...
Amy.
He seems pretty chipper for an accused murderer who definitely did kill a young woman last night...Dr. Amy thought.
Proton hurriedly coming over from his cabin... "Dr. Amy?! Oh, hello Wyckcliffes."
As if he hadn't spied us from his open door before running over to protect his girl...Munson thought.
Must be nice...Having someone running over to protect you, rather than...She eyed Bwarry.
Did he violate his bathroom schedule to come over here...Protecting me? Amy stared at Proton's anxious face.
"You're all right. I mean, you slept well." He asked her.
"We did, Pwroton." Bwarry, arch smile. "Thanks."
"A woman is dead at your hands, Bwarry." Munson looked at him. "How's about you cut the mockery of everything for one morning?"
He eyed her grim expression... Sardonic smile...
"Fine, whatever you say, sis. Well, shall we head in to bwreakfast or am I too dangewrous to be in your pwresences, folks?"
"Knock it off, Bwarry." Munson fumed.
"I told you people, I'm not a muwrdewrewr." He glared. "I thought at least, my own sistewr..." pause.
"You're innocent till proven guilty, Wyckcliffe." Proton noted calmly. "Lets leave it at that."
"Fair enough, thanks Proton." Bwarry nodded. "If my own sis can allow me that much...?"
"Just don't joke about it, Bwarry." Munson sighed. "Lets go. Proton, have you or Tom had a chance to check your detector and the ship's position?"
"Tom just confirmed Barclay's observation. The ship is continuing to decelerate, it's now about ten million miles away and will land at the target site as per the new coordinates."
"Meaning it'll plunge into the sea..." Munson noted. "Is Swift planning to prevent that?"
"Hard to say if he can...Though his repelatron device might do the job. If the ship's composition doesn't defy analysis."
"You think he plans to catch the thing that way?" Bwarry asked.
"He hasn't yet confided that to me." Proton shrugged. "But it would be one way. And your sister has a point. It might be dangerous to let it enter the sea, especially at high speed."
"You mean it could disintegrate?" Amy stared.
"Or the hull might simply be ruptured...Either way the contents are released." He nodded.
"He must have some plan..." Munson, a bit anxiously.
"Lets go to bwreakfast and see..." Bwarry suggested. "I know I'm stawrved..."
"'Shadow of A Doubt'...Hitchcock film." Amy hissed to Proton as they headed for the galley. "Uncle Charley the murderer was ready to enjoy a hearty breakfast as soon as he felt safe about his murder."
"Well, that's a disturbing image for breakfast but what does it have to do with...?" Proton began.
Oh...He eyed Amy's glance Bwarryward.
"Not exactly a troubled soul feeling guilt over a murder in self-defense..." she noted.
"Yes, indeed. Still, I let you watch too many movies, even on your own time." Proton shook head.