EPISODE CXXXV - THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY MOVIE: RUEBEN'S REVENGE
Reed strode onto the bridge, inhaling deeply, as he entered. His gaze swept over the personnel in the area, noting the air of complacency that surrounded them. He cleared
his throat and took another step into the room.
"That's right", he stated loudly, "I'm back."
Two or three heads turned at his statement, but most remained locked in their gloom as they were. Reed pretended not to notice. He walked briskly to his command chair, and patted its current occupant
on the shoulder.
"Mr. Schultz", Reed said, hoping his voice didn't betray his surprise at the science officer's appearance, "it's...uh...good to see you."
Schultz looked up at him blankly through heavily lidded eyes, a patch of dried saliva adorning his right cheek. "Wha...", Schultz began, seemingly just noticing the others presence. "Oh, hey
Commander", he stammered, bolting out of the chair, "it's great to see you. How...I mean, when did you get back?"
"Just now.", Reed replied, looking at his second in command skeptically. "How are things around here?"
"Oh, you know", Schultz explained, leaning casually on the weapons console, "just taking it day by day." He seemed uncomfortable under the commander's scrutiny, and pretended to study the schematic
beside his elbow.
"Day by day", Reed growled quietly. "We don't do things day by day in Space Command, Mr. Schultz", he seethed, "we do things to the best of our abilities." He stepped closer to
his Huckster crewman. "Go clean yourself up", he ordered, motioning toward Schultz's rumpled and somewhat soiled uniform, "and then get back here to file your report!"
"Aye aye.", Schultz murmured, rendering a sloppy salute. He hastened to the door, silently passing by Lt. Scott as he entered the bridge. Number Two followed the science officer's retreat with
his eyes then looked around the command center. "What the hell's going on here", he blurted out before he could catch himself.
Reed motioned him over. "It seems as though they decided to take a little vacation while we were eating dirt on the surface", the commander replied grimly.
"Gee whiz", Lt. Scott exclaimed, "that really chaps my a..."
Just then, the ship's proximity alarms began to sound. Lt. Scott ran to his chair as Reed slid into his.
"What's out there, Number Two?"
Lt. Scott's brow furrowed in confusion. "I'm not sure, Commander.", he said, desperately attempting to understand the data. "It's a ship, but it's so antiquated I'd guess it doesn't even have
an RF Drive."
"An Earth ship?", Reed queried.
"Negative", Number Two observed, "the readings I'm getting from its crew are anything but human. In fact", he paused for effect, "physiologically they bear a striking resemblance to..."
"To what?", Reed asked urgently.
Lt. Scott turned to look at him, increasing the drama of the moment considerably. "To the Wyzenhymers."
