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

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

"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..."