Charlie Pizer

“*V.I.N.CENT were you programmed to bug me?*”
―Asking V.I.N.CENT after hearing another of the robot's lectures.
Lieutenant **Charlie Pizer** is the First Officer aboard the U.S.S. Palomino.

## Background

### Character

Pizer is the youngest member of the Palomino crew. He is depicted as often rebellious, especially against the orders of his superior Captain Holland. He is often told off and lectured by V.I.N.CENT much to the young officer's annoyance. Despite this, it is shown he has an affection for that robot. Pizer is skilled in piloting space crafts and firing laser pistols.

## In the Movie

Pizer first appeared when V.I.N.CENT detected the black hole and called him up. After the robot detected the USS Cygnus and failed to receive any radio reply, Pizer suggested that they both board that ship on tethers. V.I.N.CENT countered, quoting Cicero, saying "discretion the better part of valor." Pizer helped Holland steer the Palomino but the damage was severe. V.I.N.CENT floated away as his security cable broke and Pizer wanted to head out to rescue the robot, however, Holland ordered him to stay inside. V.I.N.CENT however successfully extended a magnetic line drawing him back. Suddenly, the Cygnus' light came on and

Pizer remarked why that ship didn't "roll out the red carpet for them earlier." He also apologised to Holland for trying to go after V.I.N.CENT and nearly risking his own life.

The whole crew entered the Cygnus but at the dock bay, Holland told him to stay with their spaceship. He protested, but V.I.N.CENT again told him off using a quote. Annoyed he questioned if the robot was programmed to bug him with a reply saying "no sir, to educate you." Pizer still annoyed, added he never thought he would "play straight man to a tin can" when volunteering for this mission. Holland's team came under laser fire and the Captain radioed him but there was no reply, indicating jamming. Later, the audience sees four eerie looking Sentry robots advancing towards the docking bay. These would disarm Pizer and take him up to the Cygnus bridge to join his friends and meet Reinhardt and Maximilian. Pizer had to knock on the menacing and unfriendly Maximilian or Max who initially did not want to open up the shelves for spare parts. Later while fixing their spaceship, Holland recounted what he saw to Pizer and V.I.N.CENT. Pizer thought maybe Reinhardt lied and the crew was still onboard. Later the two officers travelled with V.I.N.CENT. to dinner then a hatch opened showing a shooting gallery and Pizer thought V.I.N.CENT. would have a time of its life there. V.I.N.CENT. disagreed again using philosophical quotes.

After Reinhardt left the Palomino crew alone, Pizer characterized Reinhardt as "cuckoo as a Swiss clock." He asked Dr. McCrae what she thought and the junior scientist said the mad scientist was "walking a tight rope between genius and insanity." Pizer and Holland were recalled to the ship by V.I.N.CENT who informed them via ESP through Kate. At the meeting room near the docking bay, B.O.B. told the humans the truth about the Cygnus crew and Reinhardt. Understanding the danger they were in, Holland order Pizer to start the countdown for the Palomino. V.I.N.CENT told the First Officer that their ship's systems were all ready. As V.I.N.CENT informed Holland Kate was taken to the Cygnus hospital, all of the remaining Palomino crew rushed down. Holland again told Pizer to stay with their ship no matter what and V.I.N.CENT cynically told the First Officer that it wished him a safe journey home. Pizer, in despair, shouted at V.I.N.CENT, Holland and B.O.B that they should hopefully return in one piece. While Pizer and Booth waited in the Palomino, Booth cried that Reinhardt really was moving the Cygnus towards the black hole. Pizer told him to wait. Holland radioed that Kate was ok but Booth was still annoyed. Da, after a successful firefight with a lot of Sentry robots, told Pizer via radio to stay at the Palomino's controls and post Harry at the docking bay hatch. Dan later reversed that order and told Pizer to take off as his group was pinned down. Charlie defied that and instead rushed to their aid along with Booth. Pizer destroyed the Sentry robots blocking Holland and his team and helped carry B.O.B. . Booth, however, faked his sprain, returned to the Palomino, try to launch the ship but couldn't steer it successfully. It was shot down down on the orders of Reinhardt.

Pizer moaned and screamed at Harry but V.I.N.CENT told him again through quotes that it was useless to complain and that the probe ship was their alternative. Pizer ran with the others and nearly was hit bit a meteoroid rolling down the Cygnus superstructure. The group made it to the garden but at least four Sentry robots chased after them. Pizer and Holland shot at them but a meteoroid struck the top of the greenhouse. The dumb robots while freezing for the temperature of space, still fired but Pizer and Holland finished them off. B.O.B. started to float up towards space but Holland caught his extended leg and Pizer caught Holland's legs. B.O.B. was brought down but the group faced more challenges as meteoroids continued to damage the ship. Pizer and the group reached the walkway lead to the probe ship but Maximilian appeared. B.O.B. was immediately shot and while they shot at the red robot, no damage was made. V.I.N.CENT rammed Maximilian with its head pushing it to a corner allowing Pizer and the others to reach the probe ship. As Pizer climbed the probe ship, he lost control and was sucked away towards the black hole. V.I.N.CENT bravely flew after him and rescued him. Inside the probe ship, the survivors found that the probe ship's controls were not responding and V.I.N.CENT found it was programmed. Pizer exclaimed, "You mean we're going into the black hole?" As they shot out through the black hole and beyond, sunlight shone through the probe ship and Pizer exclaimed with delight, "Christmas morning" with Holland adding "our mission is finished."

## Gallery

Captured by the Sentry RobotsBehind the scenes armed with laser gunsDinner with ReinhardtEscaping with VIN.C.E.NT. and B.O.B.