Original subtitles

In the year 1987, NASA launched the last of America's deep space probes.

Aboard this compact starship, a lone astronaut, Captain William Buck Rogers,

was to experience cosmic forces beyond all comprehension.

In a freak mishap, his life support systems were

frozen by temperatures beyond imagination.

Ranger 3 was blown out of its planned trajectory

into an orbit 1,000 times more vast,

an orbit which was to return Buck Rogers to Earth 500 years later.

¶¶

Here are scenes from part one of Journey to Oasis.

Since I'm to be escorted to the conference by humans,

I would like to minimize any obvious differences in appearance between us.

Thank you, Roland. I hope they realize that if anything

prevents me from attending that conference,

the consequences for them will be devastating.

You will note that the only civilized place on the planet is the city of Oasis.

It exists exclusively as a neutral meeting place to negotiate galactic disputes.

This is typical R4 terrain. Before OASIS,

the only use of this planet was as a depository for failed genetic experiments.

Ambassador DeVoe, this is Captain Rogers, commander of your escort team.

And team members Hawk and Colonel Wilma Deering.

Ambassador.

I prayed that I would find you here.

Did you know it would be on?

I wasn't sure, but I hoped it would.

Well, shall we get underway?

The ambassador and I met at a planetary conference seven years ago.

Lord Duvaux was kind enough to make things less difficult for me.

You were the one who was kind.

Even allowing me to escort you to the Grand Ball.

I was the envy of every delegate there.

My word, I think we've flown into a magnetic storm.

Looks like St. Elmo's fire.

It doesn't act like it.

Controls don't respond.

Buck, what is it?

I don't know, but every circuit we've got is jammed. Are we in danger of crashing,

Captain? Hopefully we can call it a forced landing, Ambassador.

Oh, no.

Oh, my goodness. Look at that.

If that ship disappears entirely from sight,

the sensors on board the searcher won't be able to tell that we've been grounded.

Admiral Asimov. Admiral Zeit requesting visual communication.

Have you re-established communication with your shuttlecraft?

Unfortunately, I have not.

I see.

We have a problem, Asimov.

I'd like to discuss it face to face right away.

Let me down, you overgrown chicken! Let me down!

This is ODX.

The Invincible.

Invincible?

Doesn't seem like much of a threat to me.

Hasty judgment, human.

It is the voice of the laughing one. Nice trick.

We are extremely concerned for the safety of our ambassador, Admiral.

Just what measures have you taken to re-establish contact?

I assure you, everything possible has been done. Everything?

ODX must stand for Ocular Dynamics Experiment,

the first shipment sent here from Saturn.

But how could the geneticists have discarded such a revolutionary development?

Questions, questions, twiddle, twaddle, and hyperbole.

ODX, we can make no demands on you,

but it would please us very much if you could tell

us if we're taking the shortest route to Oasis.

Of course it's the shortest route, but you will never get there. Why not?

Because the sands of the desert become quick.

That is why not.

A riddle.

Quick sand in the way?

Exactly.

There is only one traversable route to Oasis from here.

You must pass through the Dreadful Cave of the Winds, the home of the Edivars.

If the Edivars live there, will they allow us to go through?

Probably not.

You will doubtless be caught in the first trap you come to, a trap you can't avoid.

Why can't we avoid it?

Because it isn't there, that's why. Pay heed now that it may benefit you.

To reach the paw that frees the lock, conscious thought avails you not.

Look, ODX, we're running out of time, and we've got to get to Oasis.

So why don't you just tell us, what is the route to the Cave of the Winds?

You travel straight that way.

I find this situation intolerable, and the longer it continues,

the more intolerable I'm going to find it.

I suggest you locate our Ambassador Duval before

I am obliged to take punitive action.

Ambassador Duval?

Hurry.

He's coming this way.

Why do you look at me as if I were some sort of monster?

The Zakarians might well consider you strange and an undesirable

being because you cannot remove your head.

Got no argument with that.

Ambassador!

Where are you?

Are you all right?

Yes, Wilma, over here. Is Wilma no?

Oh, there you are.

We thought you might have been hurt.

Is anything wrong?

Is anything wrong, Captain?

Nothing that can't be remedied.

This Admiral Asimov, one does want to believe him.

Of course.

But your decision to call in a battlecruiser was a very wise one.

Perhaps.

But if I were in Asimov's shoes,

I would be more than a little offended by the arrival of a warship off my bow.

Particularly if I were simply an exploration vessel

with limited armament and on a peaceful mission.

Supposedly searching for the lost tribes of Earth.

Exactly.

One of the first things you learn as a commander is not to

put a finger on a trigger unless there is no alternative.

Damn it, Rocker, that cruiser is a trigger.

No, sir.

That cruiser is a gun.

Here is the trigger.

Sealed orders?

Why didn't you give me these when you came aboard?

I was instructed to give them to you only if, in my opinion,

the circumstances called for it.

I believe that time has come.

My God.

Do you know what is in these orders? Yes, sir.

If Ambassador DeVoe does not reach the OASIS conference at the appointed time,

you are to destroy the searcher and launch an immediate attack on Earth.

And now, the exciting conclusion of Journey to OASIS.

Where do you follow a small one?

I had nothing better to do. Did you see who sent the pikes down on us?

I saw.

You're getting sleepy, Birdman.

Sleep, Birdman.

Sleep.

Sleep, Birdman. Sleep. The morrow brings adventure anew. Pleasant dreams.

Why won't you tell me what happened between you and Ambassador DeVoe today?

You know him well, do you?

Does how well I know him have something to do with it?

In a way, yeah, it does.

Oh, in what way?

What do you really know about him?

Is there something I should know?

Is it serious between the two of you?

If you tell me what you're getting at, Puck, I'll back off.

You're trespassing.

Is it his politics or the fact that he says I carry him?

No.

Just thinking about you, Wilma, I don't want to see you get hurt.

You talk as if I need a guardian.

Your attitude towards that man,

because I might be fond of him or because he cares about me.

Maybe we ought to just forget it.

Yes, I think so.

We'd better.

With one final word from me, I think Ambassador Ram Duvaux is quite a man.

We all have got to stay on our toes tonight. A lot could depend on this dinner.

Admiral Asimov, your presence is requested on the bridge.

Ensign, the zykarians are due to arrive at any minute. This had better be important.

It is important, sir. New arrivals.

Two more are carrying cruisers off our right flank.

That makes a total of three, sir.

All targeting us with photon cannons.

Admiral Zion and party are coming aboard.

I wish our chef had the recipe for that sauce.

I think that can be arranged.

Now, there's an example of cooperation at work.

We need more of that.

Perhaps.

In fact, our joint mission out here was conceived in a spirit of cooperation.

Something on your mind, Admiral?

Yes.

I would like to remind you, sir, that we are a search vessel, not a ship of war.

We are no match for one Sicarian cruiser, let alone three.

The warships are merely a precaution, Admiral.

You do have the ability to summon aid. Yes.

But if I did that, I might provoke the very

conflict your ambassador came here to avoid.

I point out to you, Admiral, it was not I who began the provocation.

And I point out to you, Admiral, that it is not your ambassador who is missing.

I would appreciate it.

We have evaluated the situation and have concluded that you

abducted Ambassador Duveau and are holding him hostage.

What?

Your shuttle disappeared from all our scanners,

meaning it had to go into an underground landing pad.

All well planned in advance.

That is a ridiculous assumption.

If it had crashed, Admiral,

our sensor would have picked up residual radiation from the wreckage. We get now.

We believe you intend to blackmail us with our ambassador's life at some critical

moment to keep us off balance and give your forces a first-strike capability.

It is not only preposterous, it is illogical.

We both know that war is a world with its own special logic, Admiral,

and very grim logic it is.

Destroying a city to save it from the enemy makes perfect sense to a soldier.

And I am a soldier.

Will you accept my guarantee on my honor as an officer?

That if anyone survived the crash of that shuttle,

they're at this very moment struggling to reach Oasis.

I will refrain from opening fire until the conference

begins and my ambassador is reported absent.

Oh, and...

My compliments to the chef. The dinner was excellent.

Well, Birdman, it looks like another beautiful day.

Ah! Ah! Ah!

Oh, I say, no wonder she screamed. Look, look at these severed heads.

I can tell you what they are. Do you know what they are?

These severed heads, they must be objects of worship

to the Atifars the little ODX told us about.

This makes him every bit as murderous as he said, too. Oh, follow off.

Oh!

Marvelous. Look, those tones. The patterns of those tones.

It's a shrine of some sort.

Come on, Doctor, we'd better get out of here. Just let me touch. No, no, come on.

Come on, let's get out of here.

Oh, dear. Oh, dear. Don't you want to know more about it?

I'd love to, but some other time.

Thank you for watching!

Small one?

Nothing before has tracked me as you do. You give me no rest.

Why do you not join the others?

I want to talk to you.

Stay back!

I have watched you.

You had a lot of problems obliterating the footprints.

Your power has gone.

Perhaps it amuses me.

You could help us.

I have already helped you.

Besides, you were on the trail.

We need your help.

If you will not come willingly, I will carry you.

You're too late!

Energy Birdman, storms of radiation.

They destroyed your ship, but they fill me with power and glory.

Big storms and little ones dance constantly across my planet.

I know where to find them.

You can't touch me now. And after I'm through here, I'll be even stronger.

And you can't touch me dead either.

You win.

Goodbye.

Small one.

Good luck.

It is you who needs luck. There are many dangers in the Cave of the Winds.

Of them all, Ezer Hardin is the deadliest.

To best Ezer Hardin and seal his fate, give him the point of your argument straight.

You talk in riddles again.

What do you mean?

It means you'll have something to think about while you catch up to your friends.

Goodbye!

Captain?

Captain Rogers?

I want to... I want to thank you.

Thank me for what, Mr. Ambassador?

It was decent of you not to tell Wilma.

I'm not gonna tell her.

But I think you should.

I understand.

Of course, she has a right to know.

But considering the way you humans view our symbiosis, it will not be easy.

Or either of us.

I prefer to tell her when we are alone, prepare her, if that is at all possible.

Can you understand that, Captain?

Sure.

There you are. Where were you all last night? What happened? It was the small one,

ODX, who had been following us.

Where is he? I could not persuade him to come,

but we are on the trail to the Cave of the Winds.

He has given us another warning, and...

Another riddle.

Ah, the first riddle. Now, how did it go?

To reach the pall that frees the lock.

Conscious thought avails you not.

This one makes as little sense. To best as a horden and seal his fate.

Give him the point of your argument.

Straight.

Let's move out.

Well, at least the cage lives.

A tape of winds.

It's not bad.

Not up till now, no.

I think I spoke too soon.

It's coming from other tunnels.

I wonder what would happen if that terrible wind came into this tunnel.

Good heavens, something like that, Paps. Look at that.

Someone's bones are embedded in the rock by the force of the wind.

It doesn't seem possible.

What's happened?

There's no sound coming from the tunnels. As if we walked into a tomb.

Very strange.

Most unnatural.

Pike goes right through it. Let me check over here.

It will not move.

It's solid all around.

Let's try digging down a few feet.

Doesn't look good, Captain.

Perhaps we should go back and try another tunnel.

You're right, Mr. Ambassador.

It's another invisible wall.

Trap between them.

Yes, that's why there's been no sound from the tunnels.

Why is it this pipe will go through, but we can't?

It's an exquisite trap, Buck, really most ingenious.

Oof.

I say, doesn't it seem rather close in here?

As a matter of fact, it does.

The torch. It's dying.

We're running out of air.

Doctor, do you have any idea how these force fields are generated? No, no, no idea.

I haven't the remotest idea. I've never encountered anything like it before.

Of course, it is possible.

It's not... It isn't going on.

I mean, it's not physical. It's just existing in our minds.

Doctor, the logical extension of your hypothesis

is that we are caught in a trap that isn't there.

Now, if you persist in this absurd position... The trap that isn't there.

ODX said we couldn't avoid the trap.

You're quite right, you clever girl.

Now, what's the rest of that riddle?

To reach the pole that frees the lock, conscious thought avails us naught.

Conscious thought avails us naught. Paul.

Paul.

There's a lever.

Maybe that's our call.

Oh, it's too far.

Conscious thought avails this note.

Well, that's just gibberish, isn't it, Doctor?

No, not necessarily, my dear, not necessarily.

The operative words are conscious and not.

Doesn't that lead us to unconscious thought?

Of course. Now, let me see.

Colonel Dearing, I think it must be you.

Be me what, Doctor?

You will be our unconscious thinker.

On that torch.

Yes, don't take your eyes off it, child. Just relax. Watch the torch.

Now your eyelids will get heavy.

They're getting heavier, aren't they?

Yes, they'll get heavier and heavier.

Now get some toes. That's a good girl.

Very good, child. You're going into a deep, deep blissful state of unconsciousness.

I want you to open your eyes in a minute. Not yet.

Open your eyes, but you remain sound asleep. Do you understand?

I understand.

Open your eyes.

I want you to go over to that lever. See it over

there? Yes, you can see it? Yes, I see it.

Good, good. Fine. Go over to that lever and pull it down.

Ah! Ah!

There's the wind again. You did it, Doctor.

Fresh air.

Thank you, thank you. At the count of three, Colonel,

you'll wake up and feel absolutely fine. One, two, three.

We're out of a trap.

That was brilliant, Doctor.

By mind trance, he deprived you of conscious thought.

Oh, you're a genius, Doctor.

Oh, I must say I agree with you. Thank you, Frank.

Come on, let's move out. We've lost a lot of time.

Genius indeed. I give her the answer. I must make my riddles more obscure.

Oh, snakes.

Yes, and a very poisonous species, my dear Cal.

Looks like the bridge is the only way over.

Oh, no, here it comes again.

Stay here. I'm gonna try and cross it.

Careful, Buck.

Are you sure I can support you?

I'm not sure of anything at this point.

Try not to move too quickly, Captain.

I'll keep that in mind.

Steady, dear boy, steady.

Easy, Buck, easy.

Oh, my goodness, it's coming up again, Captain. You

can hear it. Hang on there, boy. Come faster now.

Hold on, please. Try to hear the wind. Hold on.

Beware, everyone! Oh, my word!

It's a sword!

He needs help.

I am Ezra Hardin, sword of death, guardian of the place of the Antifas.

The cavern there is dark and deep. Who falls within forever sleeps.

We're with you, my boy. Don't despair.

Give him a good fight.

Oh, no, Buck! Ezra Houghton!

Ezra Houghton!

You, ODX!

Yes, you demon, you ogre!

You dismal coprolite, you crapulous misanthrope!

Oh, you missed!

You hideous... The noisy one has met his fate.

Come, Earthman, now, and feel the weight of Ezra Hardin's blade of hate.

The riddle, when we had to get past Ezra Hardin...

To best Ezra Horton and seal his fate, give him the point of your argument straight.

Point of your argument?

Try for the heart, Captain! Fuck! Go for the

heart! There's no heart in our head, nobody!

Now, Earthman, now.

You two will find the cavern dark and deep and end in its depths forever asleep.

You ODX, now prepare to die.

Bob, it's the point of that pipe! Use the point!

Another point, the Windy Argument! Another point!

You got him.

Well done, Captain.

You all right? Go away.

Tell me if you're all right.

I'm all right.

Never thought I'd be sorry to see the Zakarians pull away.

I do not comprehend how the move in and of itself is particularly significant.

Well, it's significant enough for me.

They've moved off to give their cruisers a clear field of fire.

Any change in deployment?

No, sir. The three cruisers are still standing by in firing position.

Distance?

Eighth of a quad.

Eighth of a quad.

Tell Lieutenant Devlin to meet me in the engine room.

Yes, sir.

Lieutenant Devlin to the engine room.

ODX, why didn't you use your powers to defeat Esra Hardin?

Why didn't I indeed? Could you see Esra Hardin?

No.

Nor could I. Since my power is in my eyes, my eyes were useless against him.

He was my nemesis.

That's why I needed a champion.

As you can see, I'm very good at picking champions.

What I'd like to know is why you didn't tell me straight out what I was in for.

Why that riddle?

You almost got me killed.

But that would be taking unfair advantage of Ezerhaddon.

Not to mention my riddle's going to waste.

We must not dull the appetite for a zestful life, Captain.

You are really something.

Thank you.

I think you know what's on my mind, Devlin.

Yes, sir. You disapprove?

No, sir.

A very long time ago, when I was a lieutenant like yourself,

I commanded a squadron of seven ships off the tip of a quadrant.

We had this accident, if you will.

A laser punctured our cruiser, holed the engine room.

We had to abandon ship.

From a quadrant and a half away, we saw what happened.

The loss of seven of our vessels.

An entire quadrant vaporized.

You lost all those ships?

Strange how we look back.

Keep something in our minds, hoping we'll never have to use it.

And yet, Devlin, we are going to rig the searcher to become a booby trap.

I've waited 400 years to do that.

Small one.

You must come.

You will come with us.

You must have help.

Fiddle, Fatto, and Falderall.

Do you think in the hundreds of years I've been here, this is my first wound? Tch.

Rest in quiet for a few minutes or a few years.

I'll be good as new.

At least I shall live, which is more than I can say for you.

What are you talking about, Odie?

When death is sure, no way out, an angry god puts death to rout.

More riddles.

I swear, if you weren't hurt, I'd throw you in there after that sword.

Just because you championed my cause does not entitle you to take liberties.

ODX, excuse me, does this new riddle pertain to... No more, go!

If I ever amend, I must do it right now. Go! Not without you, my little friend.

Touch me now, you'll lose a lot more.

Have it your way.

Are you sure you're going to be all right?

Thank you.

Wee, wee, you're so pretty. To save your lives,

remember me, and most of all, my riddle three.

Let's go.

Oh, power that sweeps oasis dread.

My strength is gone, my magic fled.

I hurt, I weep, I need my bed.

Please help me soothe this aching head.

This is the relay detonator to our photon core? Yes, sir.

The moment you order it activated,

the searcher will become the equivalent of a star exploding,

incinerating everything within the quadrant.

Deadline is only hours away.

Yes, sir.

The warship awaits your command to open fire.

And I do have my orders.

I trust and yet distrust.

I will follow orders.

There are the spires of Oasis.

Looks like we're going to make it in time after all.

The spires of Oasis.

Aren't they beautiful? Oh, my.

Are they bluffing? Not two bits worth.

They're just working up their courage.

What do you think, Hawk?

Without any weapons, there's no way we can all get through.

ODX said, to save your lives, remember me and most of all my riddle three.

Riddle three, the third riddle, my dear. An angry god puts death to rout.

We happen to be a little short of angry gods right now, Doctor.

We're gonna try to force an opening.

You and Dr. Goodfellow, grab the ambassador and make a run for it.

Ready, Hawk? Ready, go!

Stop! I command you, you who worship heads, bow down!

Bow down before an angry god.

Bow down before the living head.

Lest the wrath of this god visit you with fire and destruction.

Back. Go back.

I command you, heed, heed, or you will burn.

Go.

Now.

Now.

And trouble no more strangers to your world.

I had hoped you would not have to see this.

Not this way.

We go on to Oasis now.

You knew?

That's what you...

You wouldn't tell me.

Working together with these humans to get me to this conference...

Has shown me that the gulfs which separate us can be bridged.

That understanding comes with communication.

And that war is not in any sense...

A viable alternative.

I agree.

Let's never come so close again. Amen.

That was profound, Ambassador.

Any credit must be shared with my escort, Admiral.

It was truly inspirational, Mr. Ambassador, being present while history was made.

I'm seldom present in the present, you know. Usually by the time I get to it,

the present's past, into the past.

I believe I understand, Doctor.

We must forgo once and for all this policy of isolation,

which has bred mistrust and suspicion between

Zakaria and the other nations of the system.

We must live in peace and learn to know each other. Ignorance breeds suspicion.

With communion comes knowledge and understanding.

Ambassador, your ship is ready.

Gentlemen.

I was hoping that you would be here to at least say a goodbye.

Instead of goodbye, I'd rather say, until we meet again. Of course.

I hope you understand.

It was only the shock. It wasn't a judgment.

Good friends made me question.

I meant it.

It will never shock me again.

Very big step, isn't it, for both of us?

Perhaps another time there will be a grand ball.

I'll be escorting you to the envy of all there.

Another time?

Dreams aren't only for children, are they?

No, they aren't.

For all of us.

I'm very glad to have known you, Captain. And I do hope that you feel the same.

I most certainly do, Mr. Ambassador.

You're right.

He was quite a man.