A/N Story inspired by listening to I'm Still Here with One Voice Children's Choir.
Dedicated to Spacelost
I was born with the brightest of futures,
"A environmental Robot to help the family?" Squires asked, looking up from the paper toward Colonel Smith and Colonel Ahmad as the scene was in black and white with the screen being square.
"Yes," Ahmad replied.
"We have already decided that it would be a logical, deductive, and helpful machine," Smith replied. "When they are in cryostasis it will be their protector."
"I want you to make it," Squires said.
Smith and Ahmad shared a glance.
"But, but, but we haven't got the faintest of clue," Ahmad said, leaning forward. "We are suggesting it, not asking it."
"It sounds better than that rounded ball," Squires said. "The family needs a friendly machine. Something children can talk to."
"Ah, you mean a humanoid robot, General," Smith said. "Psychologically and environmentally, it would be fair better around humans and for itself."
"The two of you must work together," Squires said.
"But sir, we don't have the design," Ahmad said. "It is just a idea."
"Alpha Centauri's colonization was a idea," Smith said. "Any idea is capable of becoming reality long as we make it."
"This is different, Doctor Smith," Ahmad said. "I didn't anticipate having to make it."
"To believe you thought about it before roping me into this meeting," Smith said, shaking his head.
"Get your best on it, Colonel Ahmad," Squires said. "I fully expect for this. . ."
"B-9," Ahmad said.
"B-9 to be ready after two years," Squires finished, tapping his fingers on the desk. "You are dismissed."
The two men stood up to their feet up from the chair.
"Yes, sir," Ahmad said, saluting Squires.
"Except Doctor Smith," Squires said. "I have something to talk about with him."
"Hm," Smith said, seating back down as Ahmad left. "Is this about the upcoming promotion?"
"No," Squires said. "Alpha Control wants to use the best doctors we have in the air force for the Jupiter 2's family."
"Ah, they have decided to name it Jupiter 2?" Smith asked. "That is very tempting after the last one exploded during flight."
"We accept that risk," Squires said. "Thousand of families have applied for the mission. And you're the most trust worthy physician I know regarding highly risky missions."
"Training the mind?" Smith asked. "That is hardly a risk."
"That's what you are doing," Squires said.
"You want me to train their minds during the space scouts?" Smith asked. "You mean to tell me, that I am being sent to one of the space scouts facilities?"
"Yes," Squires said, then leaned back with a shit eating grin. "You're assigned to the Robinsons. Consider yourself lucky if the family you have to care for make history."
"I would be honored," Smith said, his eyes lighting up with pride and a nod.
Drawn in the most majestic plans,
There was a blue construction paper with the designs of the Robot laid on the large table with men and women part of the group. People left the scene retrieving materials for the construction as the camera went over on to the paper observing the design outlined in bright light blue contrasting against the dark blue background with numbers. Smith stepped out from the moving blurs of people observing the design with keen interest then looked up toward the construction of the machine from before him. He was drawn toward it looking at in awe observing the simplicity but highly advanced design. The long treads and the black torso had been completed only being kept up by a machine. He looked over toward the glass fixture with orange lights that made it flicker and he knelt down placing his hands onto his knees eying at it. He tapped on it lightly.
Brilliant statehouse, the host of royalty,
The Jupiter 2 was quickly being constructed by several construction workers taking breaks in-between their work hours munching on their lunch from the lunchboxes. Smith could be seen sabotaging the Robot from the recharge section of the Jupiter once the construction was completed. The scene panned to the bridge where the figures of the Robinsons appeared as the view screen was replaced by space manned by Don and John up front with the others standing behind them on the edge.
The head and the heart of the land,
The camera moved into the galley. The Robot was standing guard in a wary manner actively keeping a sensor out for danger by the galley doorway. The familiar voices of the Robinsons lingered from behind the Robot as the black and white colors slowly began to be replaced by different colors that solidified making the appearance of the group pop out even more. The screen began to widen as the color spread throughout the scene. Maureen's dark hair turned to red much like Will's. Don and John's hair turned from black to dark brown with green v-necks on top of colorful shirts. Penny's long dark hair remained the same compared to her sister's hair that turned to blonde complimenting her orange outfit unlike her sister's green and purple dress. Smith's dark but graying hair changed to dark hair that was getting strands of silver appearing in it. One by one the family got up from their feet slowly becoming transparent walking out of the doorway.
But the capital was moved,
The lights inside the Jupiter was flicked off.
my glory days were through,
The Robot moved among the darkened deck with his grill and headlights glowing against the darkness.
My sweetest dreams were not to be, the work was ended on my beautiful design, but it was not the end of me
The Robot's head bobbed down.
I'm still here and I will tell the stories,
The Robot moved under his recharge unit.
In this place where they never have to end,
The neon cover lowered down shielding over the Robot's vase head.
I've come to know that when I tell the stories,
The Robot's lights eventually flickered off as the camera backed out to reveal the Jupiter 2 was inside a closed off cave.
They live on with every new found friend
A elaborate fleeing starship tore through a asteroid belt spinning rapidly out of the attackers firing on the vessel. The camera dived into the cramped starship being piloted by a dark woman with massive curly hair and horns going over the curls. Her ears were similar to goat ears except they were pointing upwards similar to human ears and just as dark as her skin. Her fingers grasping onto the joystick with her attention faced on to the planet ahead. Her two children were in the seats from behind her clenching onto the arm rests. The children reached their fingers out for other only to stop when the ship trembled sending it flying off course. There was a high pitch wail echoing throughout the large primary ship spinning up the bars flying out of the other ways to passages being struck repeatedly.
There was flames flickering out of the space craft that flew on toward the blue and black planet that came closer to the view screen. Laser blasts came from the starship firing on the impending space crafts sending them retreating. The dark woman glanced up toward the alarm coming from the red button glowing softly before her eyes. She grit her teeth and began to prepare for the crash landing by flipping switches. Bands of gray began to appear surrounding the ship stacking alongside each other. The ship became a cocoon covered in layers of metal glistening a shine off the layer.
"Hang on, girls!" came the woman up front.
"Hanging on, ma!" the two girls replied.
"Please, gods," the dark woman, Catherine, looked up toward space as the barrier came up and she closed her eyes letting the AI take over control.
The ship tore through the atmosphere passing by mountains of black plants heading over a sea of trees headed in the direction of a oncoming desert. The children closed their eyes clinging on to the arm rests of their chairs. The ship automatically corrected itself tackling down pieces of rock structures in its path and twirled from the impact taking on the shape of a drill. Objects were thrown everywhere from within the large space craft filled with screaming. They crashed down into a area full of sand themed rocks. The screaming coming from the starship came to a stop and the small family panted regaining their breath. Catherine flipped the buttons one by one. The cocoon retracted leaving behind the elaborate space craft that resembled a pinball in a gray replica of the DNA structure that had the lower end closed off while the higher end was broken with wires that were still sparking and mechanical parts were disconnected.
"Everyone okay?" Catherine asked. "Sydnee," she looked over toward her children who raised their heads giving a thumbs up. "Karleen?"
"We're fine, ma," Sydney said.
Catherine unclasped the seatbelt and stood up.
"Marle, how much repairs do we need?" Catherine asked.
"Thirty-five percent," the female voice echoed around her.
"Looks like we're stuck here until we can make the new parts," Catherine said.
"Aawww!" The children whined.
"On the bright side, we're alive," Catherine said, as the children unbuckled themselves.
"First one out is rotten space barnacles!" Sydnee shouted, running toward the door.
"I am not rotten space barnacles!" Karleen said, chasing after her older sister.
Catherine smiled while watching her children flee through the open doorway that closed behind them with a soft whish. The camera swept through the corridors that were made in the shape of a octagon with railed floorboards making up the floor and pillars pressed against the wall acting as support beams. The children ran under beams of light that shone through large holes from above their heads in the dark corridors that had pipes decorating the cieling. There was a soft humming that was echoing through the much-in-need-of-repairs-spacecraft. They came down to the hangar bay where they collided side by side crashing into each other landing on the ground. Karleen and Sydnee propped themselves up making their way out of the ship making their way out of the space craft only to be stopped by a forcefield that sent them falling.
"Marle!" the girls shouted.
"Miss Abernashi had not given permission for you to exit the ship," Marle replied, as the girls looked up.
"Mommy said we are stuck here for awhile," Syndee said.
"Shouldn't that count as permission?" Karleen asked.
"No," Marle said.
"It could be safe out there for all you know," Sydnee said.
"Not without a responsible adult," Marle said.
"Aww, Marle," Karleen whined.
"Not without a responsible adult," Marle whined.
"Marle?" Sydnee asked, concerned. "Are you alright?"
"Sounds like you got a bad bug from the attack," Karleen said.
"Not without a responsible adult," Marle repeated.
"Marlee, you should get some rest," Sydnee called. "Bad enough as it is in this condition." There was a short pause.
"Mother wants you to clean up your rooms," Marle said.
"Why can't we go out and explore?" Karleen asked.
"Your mother will clear the perimeter before allowing you passage out of this ship," Marle said.
"It looks pretty beautiful from here," Sydnee said, looking out toward the barren desert.
"That can wait," Marle said. "Do as you are told."
"Alright, Marle." The little girls turned away from the hangar bay then began to make their way up the steps toward the doorway.
There was a heavy thud that clashed against the ground. There was another thud that made the ground shake. The view lifted up to reveal it was being made by a humanoid in a space suit. The dark film retreated to reveal the occupant was Catherine. Catherine walked out of the landing bay in the space suit. She looked down toward the forearm screen then tapped on the small keyboard that protruded from beneath it. The readings came up to reveal that it was a Class M Planet lacking the most abnormal properties that could have been fatal.
She lowered her arm then pressed on a crescent button set on her spacesuit neckline. The glass protector retracted allowing her a high definition view of the planet continuing to walk on shifting her attention from side to side observing large pieces of rock littering the scenery. It was a typical, harmless planet at first glance. Then again, it could be another space Australia. A bazaar planet full of wildlife that threw off ones perception of the natural order of logic to animals.
Steadied and balanced among the scenery indicated it was a stable planet. Her gaze shifted toward the light blue sky. The planet had two suns resting between a sea of clouds that cast over large clouds over sections of the landmass. She held her hand up above her eyes that adjusted to the radiance from the distant blazing stars. It was a welcoming scene that she had seen many times floating along in space and visiting alien planets for vacation with her deceased partner. She never got tired of seeing the sun from planet side. Her fond, warm smile grew brighter lowering her hand down from above her eyes then shifted in the direction of the hangar bay where her children were standing in front of the forcefield.
"Marle, lower the forcefields," Catherine said.
"Forcefields lowering," Marle's soft, robotic voice chirped through the suit.
Sydnee and Karleen bolted out and jumped around in glee waving their arms sharing bubbles of laughter.
Catherine snickered watching her little girls being happy. She looked up toward their space ship observing the visual damage that had to be repaired over. In space dock, it would have taken easily a week. But they were set in a different situation entirely and had to do the repairs on their own. The thought of Sydnee and Karleen getting education in engineering at the tender ages of eight and nine brought horror to her. Repairing such hull damage like this was not recommended for most space travelers who were not trained properly on how to make metal. Little girls didn't get uprooted from a stable life into a adventurous, life threatening life stye. They were always meant for a better life that meant leading their jobs rather than being a stay at home mother while not knowing what their partner did that brought food to the table until it was too late.
Fortunately, the ship came with equipment that could be used to mine materials for the new hull and refine it into the shape the materials needed to be in. It was a stroke of luck. Some ships didn't come with such equipment due to the rarity where the ships crash landed on a planet after a attack. One would go on to call this a miracle. The largest miracle that could keep families clung together like glue when tethering at the edge of a cliff carefully holding some of the victims within the wreckage in between the crashed remains of a plane. Catherine turned her gaze toward the rock then returned on to the ship. It would easily take weeks to repair the ship in full. She looked up worryingly toward the sky.
She pressed on the crescent neckline button making the screen come up.
"Marle, turn on night view," Catherine said.
"Night view on," Marle said.
A thin dark strip appeared over the helmet giving Catherine a view of the constellation from above.
"Oh," Catherine said. "We are in that sector."
"The immunity solar system," Marle added. "Not highly populated, a planet that has some desert and tropical sections," Catherine walked away from the children. "Some wildlife, undoubtedly."
Catherine came up the rock and placed her hands onto her hips.
"We are safe long as we are here," Catherine said.
"Yes, Miss Abernashi," Marle replied.
Catherine lowered her head with a sigh.
"I am sorry," Catherine said. "I was supposed to leave you at the station and take a less expensive starship."
"Do not feel guilt," Marle replied. "I will provide protection for as long as you are my charges."
"Limited protection," Catherine said. "I can't believe our luck had to run out here of all places."
"According to my records, this is one of many planets where people crash land on," Marle replied. "The last time someone had crash landed here was over a year ago. It was my sister ship, Mardre, C4-64841," The thin dark strip lifted down and Catherine pressed the button that made the screen lower. "They managed to lift off, return to the designated route, and evaded the authorities."
"Evaded the authorities all right," Catherine said. "Wait, are you part of a underground railroad for immigrants?"
"No," Marle replied. Catherine didn't seem to buy it. "I am a humanoid trafficking ship." Catherine rolled her eyes, of course.
"How much fuel do we have left?" Catherine asked.
"Fifty-five percent," Marle replied.
"Marle, please turn on solar absorption panels," Catherine said. "I get the feeling that you are going to need all the power you can get while you're here."
"Solar panels are functional and operating," Marle replied.
"I will see what I can do about that fuel," Catherine said. "can't leave you empty at the next stop."
"My route is likely to be taken over by another ship," Marle said. "The next stop has plenty of fuel."
"I rather be careful than sorry for you," Catherine said, turning toward the starship. "Marle, check for any glitches and bugs in your systems. We will take care of the rest."
There was a light click. Marle's voice was replaced by silence except for the sound of the wind that was distant coming from ahead. She turned toward the scenery displaying mountains from below the white clouds floating in the sky. Catherine placed her hands on to her hips with a sigh then turned around and headed back into the starship as her little girls were playing tag speeding right past. She had to check how much rations they had to spare for the time aboard a starship. The thought of hunting down animals and foraging for food seemed grim for Catherine.
It was a great departure from the luxurious, prosperous lifestyle where things were made by machines. The sound of her children laughing while playing tag was a comforting noise that reminded her that not everything had drastically changed for the worse. She came up the stairs before the automatic doors then through the cleared passageway.
Sydnee tripped and fell over a large mound landing to her feet on the ground.
"Ow!" Sydnee shouted.
Karleen turned around then whipped toward her sister coming over to her side.
"Are you okay, sis?" Karleen asked.
Sydnee moved to her side.
"I would be better had I noticed that," Sydnee said.
Karleen moved over toward the mound then slid aside the loose dirt.
"Hey," Karleen said, she gently tapped on it hearing a metal sound echo back. "It's a dish."
"A dish?" Sydnee asked. "'No way, hozay."
"It's a dish," Karleen insisted.
Sydnee crawled over to her sisters side then looked in.
"Woah," Sydnee said. She looked toward her sister. "Why is a dish sticking out of the ground?"
"Something is buried here," Karleen said, trying to yank it off.
Sydnee looked up from the stuck-in-place dish.
"Treasure?" Sydnee said.
"No," Karleen said. "Better than that."
"What?" Sydnee asked.
"A relic," Karleen said. "Mum can sell this for big bucks and pay off the IIRS."
"If it's historic," Sydnee said. "This could be less than a hundred years old."
"It might be older than that," Karleen said. "We have no idea how long it takes for dinosaurs to become fossils, buried by dirt, left preserved as imprints, skeletons, carefully preserved mummies. Mum can bring us back to the old life that we deserve."
A smile grew on Sydnee's face.
"We can see our friends again and still have mommy," Sydnee said.
"No strangers taking care of us," Karleen said. "We should get this little historical relic out."
Karleen stood up then held her hand out for her younger sister and helped her up.
"This is going to be the best dig ever," Sydnee said, earning a nod in return.
"Let's go!" The girls ran back to the ship side by side with laughter.
"First one there is a rotten egg!" Sydnee replied.
"Like I will ever be rotten," Karleen said, with a laugh.
The siblings bolted into the ship coming in side by side.
Their laughter echoed throughout the large ship. They ran back out of the ship wearing knee pads, elbow pads, and yellow construction helmets. The starship resembles a massive dump truck that was laid on its side. It had hundreds of windows with a yellow faded paint job decorating the circular DNA sequence and the main ship. The girls wore face protectors and big boots. The girls began to get to work plowing away at the dirt tossing it to the side. Immediately, Sydnee hit metal. The loud apparent sound made Karleen and Sydnee have a pause sharing a glance with each other. The girls wore thick gloves that were dark and soft at the same time but tough to a certain point. Sydnee knelt down to the panel.
Sydnee wiped away the sand to find that it was a old fashioned solar panel. Karleen gently flicked away dirt from underneath the dish then her eyes grew big. The sisters shared a bewildered look. Sydnee moved up from the solar panel then dug around it with care. A bar stood out as the shovels clang against metal. The girls dug around the top of the transport moving carefully around it getting rid of the layers of dirt that had taken the figure over. They dug around the figure after finding a hood bed. The front head lights from the top stood out as the sky began to get darker during the dig.
Catherine came out of the starship only to find that her children were not there.
She saw a specter of a dish up ahead.
She slowly approached the distant dish making her way to the scene.
It was getting dark in the scenery from the sky above.
Catherine came to a stop at the edge of a hole around a large van structure. She looked down into it catching two moving yellow figures covered in sand tossing sand over their heads from up front. Catherine looked away into the transport only to stop in horror to see mummified remains in the five red seats perfectly preserved that it seemed not a day had passed since their deaths.
There was a sixth one at the back propped against the wall with the fifth skeleton right beside it contrasting the dark dressed mummy that covered their side. The younger were slouched as though they had fallen asleep for a quick nap but never woke up. The two men up front, one of them visibly grayed like the third woman who seemed to have fine hair. The seventh skeleton belonged to a blonde child resting in the fifth skeleton's seat. The red head had a hand on the man's injury that was visibly stained in blood. They all wore injuries indicating that they had came from a shoot out with a hostile traveler and they didn't make it back home. She covered her mouth as a tear streaked down her cheek.
"Marle," Catherine said. "Can these remains be identified?"
"The Jupiter 2's assigned family, The Robinsons, lost in space in October 16th, 1997," Marle replied. "You have found the Robinsons."
Sydnee and Karleen looked up.
"Mum!" Karleen said. "Look what we found!"
"I tripped over it," Sydnee said, cheerfuly.
"Get out of there!" Catherine said. "Right this instant!"
"Mum," Karleen said. "You don't like it?"
"Just get out of there!" Catherine repeated, frantic.
The girls grew alarmed then tossed up their shovels and climbed up the hill of dirt on to the surface.
Catherine's heart was racing bringing her children close to her staring down at the horror before her eyes.
"Mommy is scared," Sydnee said.
"Mommy is very scared," Catherine said.
"Are we going to call the police?" Sydnee asked.
"We are thousands of light years from the intergalactic law enforcement," Catherine said. "Great, being under immunity and we can't give them the honors of a law escort-" Catherine stopped, her eyes growing big, then looked toward her little girls and back toward the Chariot. "If there is a van then there must be a ship."
"Must be under layers of dirt," Sydnee said.
"Or have eroded after twenty thousand years," Karleen said.
"Twenty thousand ninety-seven," Catherine said. "This is spooky."
"How so, mum?" Karleen asked.
"Because today is October sixteenth," Catheine said. "On the twenty thousandth anniversary that they became lost."
"This is spooky," Sydnee said.
"And fitting," Karleen said.
"Girls, we are going to tractor beam this family van out then take it into cargo bay. Afterwards, I will beam their corpses into the construction pods," Catherine said, kneeling down toward their level with her arms on their shoulders wearing a proud expression on her face. "Tomorrow morning, we will start the search for their home."
"Yay!" the girls cheered.
"Go back to the ship," Catherine said. "I need help making dinner."
"What are we making for dinner?" Karleen asked.
"Your favorite," Catherine said.
"Wooho!" came the high pitch, loud cheer. "Midnight Surprise!"
The little girls speeded of toward the starship leaving Catherine to the two.
"Marle," Catherine said. "Send a emergency beacon for the Intergalactic Archeological Finds," She watched her children run into the starship. "Specify that we have found the Jupiter 2's van."
"Preparing Emergency Archeological Find beacon," Marle said.
Catherine gazed up toward the night sky placing her hands on to her hips watching a bright circular light illuminate from the starship then tear through the night sky.
"Welcome to the future, Robinsons," Catherine said, turning her attention down on to the large family.
She looked up toward the constellations then grew a smile and walked off from the scene making her way to the starship. The camera moved back to the Chariot that was covered in a fine layer of yellow dirt. The windows had been cleaned away by gloves during the dig. The windows were remarkably intact. The curtains were in good condition ready to be used for another trip after being cleaned out of its previous occupants. Slowly the Chariot was enveloped in a light blue light lifting it up from the resting place. It was gently guided down to the ground.
There was a station placed beside the opening of the space craft that had a long platform set up for the massive rings. Catherine walked from behind the Chariot holding on to a console covered in buttons, switches, and one green screen that had a little glowing light green blip. Catherine watched the Chariot slide in to the space craft. She walked up the platform turning the console around then typed in a code with a hopeful, optimistic look on her face.
The first thought that awoke Karleen was: We're rich. She fell out of bed with a thud then tossed off her pj's throwing them into the laundry basket laid beside her feet then it moved over to the other side and she bolted into the sonic shower. Sydnee groaned, moving on to her side. Karleen jumped out of the shower, rushing, then quickly got herself dressed hopping up and down. She slid her hooves in through the pants with difficulty getting it caught here and there on the pant leg so she used the wall as her support. Sydnee lifted a hand off her eyes then gazed off toward her sibling.
"What are you doing?" Sydnee asked.
"I am going to see if mum called the diggers," Karleen said.
"Mommy called the diggers of course, she finds a way, always," Sydnee said.
"If she had made the call, wouldn't we be have wakened up by them?" Karleen asked.
"Yes," Sydnee said, as Karleen placed on a specifically adjusted pair of slippers comfying around her hooves. "But she could have made them be silent on the rings."
"Then it's settled, let's check if there are new ships outside," Kareleen said.
"I don't know, we should wait for her," Sydnee said.
"I am not asking you to come along," Karleen said, then paused. "Aaah, you want to come, but you're a scaredy cat!"
"No, I am just very wary," Sydnee said.
"If there are not diggers then how about we do some climbing?" Karleen said.
"Not without telling Mum," Sydnee said.
"Yes," Karleen said. "Get some snooze."
Sydnee drew back the blankets then lifted herself up.
"You're not exploring out there alone," Sydnee said. "Give me a minute."
"I will wait outside," Karleen said.
"Kay," Sydnee said, watching Karleen make her way toward the door.
There was a thud from behind Karleen and Sydnee was snoring away.
"Figures," Karleen said. "Marle, how cold is it outside?"
"Fourteen degrees Celsius," Marle replied.
"Thanks," Karleen said, then went to the closet and slid it open.
"State your intention," Marle said.
"I am going exploring," Karleen said.
"You are not going to go exploring," Marle said.
"Did mum order you to keep us inside?" Karleen asked.
"She did not," Marlee said.
"Will you feel better if I took a drone with me so you can keep a eye on me?" Karleen said.
"I will take one out," Marle said. "It is one forty-three. You have three hours to explore. Lay the blame on me should you get hurt."
Karleen looked toward the window then raised the blinds up.
"Marle," Karleen said. "Could your drone provide some light?"
"Yes, Karleen Abernashi," Marle replied. "Drone is waiting at the back."
"You're the best!" Karleen said, then retrieved a jacket from the closet.
Karleen zipped up the coat then made her way down the hall silently and quietly. She made it to the hangar bay then slipped off the slippers and placed them into the side pocket putting on boots specifically built for her species. Karleen's fingers had a hard edge starting from the tips to the sides leaving soft padding on the palms of her hands much like a mountain goat. There was a floating backpack greeting her at the exit of the ship. She looked both ways then hopped over to the jet pack. It was the drone. It motioned over to her back then the shoulder straps clicked on her shoulders and two joysticks came from under both her arms.
She blasted her way off to the dig site then stopped by the hole. The drone made a night light appear from over her shoulder displaying the impression of tank treads against the floor and the definite shape of the Chariot. She turned back toward the space craft. She clicked on to the joy sticks flying into the distance right over the starship feeling the wind flying against her face, her heart racing, and a grin spreading all over her face loudly cheering. She motioned toward the mountain side making it to the familiar surroundings.
The rocket pack detached then returned to the original circular shape. Karleen jumped up, her hooves catching on to the section of rock protruding out by a crack that allowed a moment to steady. You can do this! Marle observed the young girl leap over to another row of rock miraculously clasping on to it. Jumping from rock to rock up the mountain felt just about right and natural. Natural enough that it wasn't alarming. Marle calculated the chances of the young goat falling and dying in a cruel manner. Their circuits sizzled each time Karleen made a jump up. Her circuits cooled once registering that she had landed quite safely.
From above, Marle had a good perception of the scenery and adequate information to determine how it must have looked thousands of years ago. A sea of plant life coating the landscape that waved from the force of the wind blowing through it. Karleen made it to the top then looked down to see there was part of a statue from below. She made her descent down jumping from rock to rock with dazzling display of coordination and balance. She came to a stop then wiped off the dirt from the surface. Her face grew long, her eyes became big, and she took a sharp intake of air staring down at the carving.
"Marle, identify what century," Karleen said.
"20th Century text," Marle replied. Karleen let go of the breath. "Alpha Centauri Road, Robinson Street."
Karleen covered the statue back up in a layer of dirt then patted on it.
"There," Karleen said, with a delighted sigh. "All better."
"Do you wish to continue, Karleen Abernashi?" Marle asked.
"Yes," Karleen said.
Karleen looked over to see the sharp walls of mountains. There was one surface that stood out as odd. She moved her way toward the large boulder coming to a stop beside it. Marle lowered herself down then slid the fallen boulder out of the way. Marle ran into the cave with her new found friend tailing behind her. She stopped in her tracks when seeing the definite shape of a large saucer. She had no words to say staring at the large, historical but very empty space ship waiting to be called into service. A gasp of awe escaped as she covered her mouth feeling like a intruder who had entered a sacred place.
The most sacred place of all in the universe. The home of the dead. She can hear voices of the past, imaginary ones of what she imagined the dead to have sound like, echoing from around her belonging to the Robinsons ranging in tone from happily, lovingly, terrified, curiously, and content. Karleen felt like a archeologist from one of the old Earth movies after they had came down a hole, wrapped a cloth around a stick, and lightened it up to shed light in the dark that revealed what they had fallen into was a very ancient building full of mystery.
"Are you satisfied?" Marle asked.
"I like to explore it a little more," Karleen said.
"You will not disturb it any further," Marle said.
"Got any better ideas?" Karleen asked.
"Why I do," Marle said, then reattached herself on to the child. "You fly."
"Great processing," Karleen said, then flew toward the exposed doorway. "Wow," Karleen floated up the stairs into the residential deck. "This is amazing."
"It has been largely untouched by time," Marle said.
"I wonder-" suddenly, the lights came on and everything felt wrong.
There were voices from across that made her whirr around in alarm.
There was a boy with red hair speaking to a grayed man beside him. A large robot was behind them. The grayed man slid open the barrier speaking in a language that she didn't understand and shook his head briefly closing his eyes then faced the young boy returning a reply that showed his displeasure. The young boy rolled a eye as the older man turned his attention off to face her and let out a girly scream. Karleen screamed, terrified, rising up further into the air. The young boy faced her. Karleen's eyes were on the older man. She had seen his mummy before going to bed. Silver hair, a visibly aged face, and lack of youth sticking to his corpse. Suddenly from around her, people in colorful outfits came around her with visible alarm. One of them came out of a room holding a phaser pistol but came to a stop by the side of a red head and they were speaking.
She didn't understand them but Marle moved back. The robot rolled forward as the older man was being incredibly insistent hiding behind the boy. Karleen reeled back, screaming, "The mummies are alive!" watching the colorful lights turn darker before her eyes and the colorful figures vanish before her eyes. Her heart raced as she looked around the room and her screaming stopped from there.
"Are you alright, Karleen Abernashi?" Marle asked.
"Oh my god," Karleen said.
"We experienced a rare time slip," Marle replied.
"Holy shit," Karleen said. "They were speaking 20th century English."
"That it is," Marle said.
"I wonder what I sounded like to them," Karleen said.
"As I translated for you," Marle said. "You were screaming 'The dead are alive!'"
"Did I break the temporal prime directive?" Karleen said.
"They did not know when or how they died at the time," Marle said. "All they knew is that someone believes they are dead."
Karleen motioned toward the upper deck heading into the bridge. The window barrier was up blocking any view of the outside. There was a fine layer of dust that had gathered inside the bridge. It had the abandoned feel to it. Karleen got a good view of it from top to bottom. She gasped at the fine cryostasis pods. They were old and ancient, but still efficient to use thousands of years later due to the preservation. The glass was covered in fog. It brought tears to her eyes. She could imagine dramatic music in her mind observing the station. All the important systems to the Jupiter 2 seen around the room. Equipment that could take a beating and be put back together, easily cleaned, didn't break as easily. It had aged well over the thousands of years that had passed. Cryostasis pods had evolved in design, shape, and method. She wondered what it was like for someone to be inside the pods. She wiped off a tear then went down to the residential deck. She looked over toward a long exposed room that had the very same robot. It had a fogged up glass that made it difficult to see what was inside of it.
"Code named Guntecr," Marle said. "The Class B-9-M-3 General Utility Non-Theorizing Environmental Control Robot."
Karleen moved toward the Robot.
"Aww," Karleen said. "He was the only one left."
"This does not make sense," Marle said. "It should have been with them."
"Robot must have been forced to stay behind," Karleen said, moving over toward the recharge station. "Or couldn't go with them."
"It is a good thing that it is not activated," Marle said. "It would be dismantled for its ineffectiveness."
"You don't mean that," Karleen said.
"I do," Marle said.
"You don't know the full story," Karleen said. "Could have been reprogrammed for all you know."
"Do not attempt to activate it," Marle said.
"I am just turning off the power," Karleen said, then flicked the switch up.
"You do not know if that is what it says in 20th century English, Karleen Abernashi," Marle said.
"I do know the button was glowing and it needed to be turned off," Karleen said, then gestured toward the powering off light. "See?"
"Yes," Marle said. "Have you seen enough?"
Karleen looked around.
"I will respect the dead and not look into their rooms," Karleen said. "It's their home after all."
Karleen floated away from the Robot heading down the ramp as the neon fixture above his head began to glow.
"No climbing is necessary," Marle said.
"Aww, Marle," Karleen said, as the Robot's head weakly bobbed up.
The Robot overheard the sound of a boulder rolling in closing the entrance way.
Sydnee opened her eyes to find her sister on her bed reading a paper back novel sitting right beside her on the edge. Sydnee lifted herself up from the bed then tilted her head. She was reading one of the old novels regarding 'the lost voyages of castaways'. Karleen's deadlocks were held up in a pony tail compared to Sydnee's freely flowing big hair that landed on her shoulders. Her eyes adjusted to the lighting in the room that it became apparent her sister was there in flesh and blood rather than in bed. The memories came to. She had fallen asleep instead of joining her younger sister.
"Aww, you went alone," Sydnee said.
"I did what?" Karleen said, raising her head up in alarm.
"You went without me?" Sydnee asked.
"I didn't," Karleen said.
"Don't lie to your sister," Sydnee said.
"I went with Marle," Karleen said.
Sydnee grew wide awake.
"You can't fly a starship!" Sydnee shouted then bolted toward the window. "Did you crash us into the mountains?" she lifted the blinds up that let in a bright sea of golden light illuminate the lightening up room changing from dark to light gray by the morning settings. "Mom is going to be pissed if you damaged the ship!" she turned toward her sibling letting the blinds clash against the large circular window. "Then we are stranded on here for longer than mommy expects! I don't want to spend a year on this boring rock!"
Karleen laughed.
"No, I went with a drone," Karleen said. "Silly."
"Wait, you mean to say that AI's can move from starships into," Sydnee cupped her hands together. "Into something less big than it?"
"They have been capable of that for thousands of years," Karleen said, closing the novel. "Speaking of AI's. I saw the Robot."
"The what now?" Sydnee took a step toward her sister.
"The Robinson Robot," Karleen said.
Sydnee sat down beside Karleen.
"You found the Jupiter," Sydnee said, her eyes big.
"Yes," Karleen said. "It's sad and lonely," she looked off toward the window. "The Robot went offline a long time ago. I had to turn off the charger."
"Did you cry?" Sydnee said.
"A little bit," Karleen said.
"What is the Jupiter like?" Sydnee asked.
"Still looks new," Karleen said. "I don't have to tell you because you will get to see it in a few days," Sydnee grew a frown. "but," she paused. "I am going to tell you anyway."
Sydnee's eyes brightened.
"How new?" Sydnee asked.
"Like a day hadn't passed," Karleen said. "Perfectly preserved in a cave."
"Oh my stars," Sydnee said, covering her mouth with her eyes brimming with tears.
"But we're not going to tell anyone," Karleen said. "We are going to let the diggers find it the same way I did."
"By climbing a mountain?" Sydnee asked.
"Uh huh," Karleen said.
"How did I know you climbed a mountain?" Sydnee asked.
"Because you saw the mountain as we were running toward the ship last night," Karleen reminded.
"Right, I did," Sydnee said.
"It would be really weird if my older sister is a psychic," Karleen said, then reached out and tickled in Syndee's arm pit earning a ball of laughter. "Wouldn't it?"
"Yes!" Sydnee squealed, thrashing off to her side kicking her legs up.
Karleen and Sydnee fell off the bed in a fit of laughter.
Catherine stretched her lighter toned hands out and her hooves clunk against the edge of the bed. Standing at six foot five came with its prices. Her hooves were on the edge of the bed partially covered by the thick warm blanket. She slid her hooves back under the blanket then raised her head up. Her hair was all over the place. She raised herself up noticing the rays of light pouring into the room. The diggers were going to be here at any moment. At any moment. She flung herself off the bed landing to the floor with a thud while her feet were laid on the bed halfway slumped on to the floor. She propped herself up to her feet then floofed her hair array running for the sonic shower.
A few moments later she came out in a outfit that consisted of a light blue short sleeved shirt contrasting against the black jeans that had pant legs ending above her hooves. The two piece outfit complimented her clean and fresh aesthetic. A sweet aroma was coming off her figure. Catherine's curly mass gently bounced with every step she took. She set her hooves into a specialized set of boots then walked down the hallway with a confident stride. She overheard the children laughing from down the hall. She came to a stop by their doorway leaning against it watching them engaged in a tickle fight.
"Who wants some breakfast?"
The two girls bumped into each other as they bolted up toward Catherine's direction.
"I do!" The girls shouted unanimously.
"We're having eggs and toast, girls," Catherine said.
"Awesome!" the girls cheered.
Catherine patted on the doorway then resumed her trek down the corridor humming to herself quite loudly.
Our scene moved through the vastness of space to reveal a large starship that resembled a backpack laid on its side that had several windows ranging in size. One of the windows were large and circular starting from the top, The view dived into the brown bridge that seemed to be largely unchanged in the last several thousands of years consisting of buttons, radar screens, screen that indicated fuel, switches, and levelers. There was a holographic image illuminating from a floating square object with a individual resembling a man standing in front of it rubbing their chin. He had his hair up in a bun ever so tightly wearing a unique brown hat that complimented the adventurous aesthetic that seemed casual to them. On the screen was a image of a artifact that had been recently processed inside a dig.
"Kurlow!"
Kurlow turned away from the screen.
"Yes, Linya?" Kurlow said.
"We got a beacon that someone found the Jupiter 2's Chariot," Linya replied.
"The Jupiter 2?" Kurlow asked, lowering both hands on to his hips. "The Jupiter 2 lost all souls aboard by a asteroid strike. They can't have found the Chariot!"
Linya kept her gaze on Kurlow.
"Then why did I get coordinates from the immunity system on the second planet Immunia?" Linya said. "Historically, Earth records indicates," silence fell in the room. "it used to be called Alpha Centauri before the Gallis System was renamed Alpha Centauri during the third world war. Gallis System was further but it had no known asteroids going through it. "
Everyone stopped what they were doing at the mention of Alpha Centauri.
"That planet. . . was deemed. . . uninhabitable by the Intergalactic Congress of Planets," Kurlow said. "That was before the Jupiter 2 launched."
"But Earth thought otherwise," Linya said.
"They found the Jupiter," Kurlow said, taking off his hat then placed it against his hip. "Someone found the Jupiter."
"Yes, Kurlow," Linya replied.
Kurlow walked away.
"Go on," Kurlow said.
"The finder is Catherine Abernashi, a widow, from Golaris," Linya said. "Two children, Karleen and Sydnee, from previous relationships."
Kurlow nodded then turned toward the communications officer.
"I want you to send a beacon back," Kurlow said. "We are going on the greatest expedition." A smile grew on the man's face. "Going in with our camera unit and uncovering it all."
"They also have their mummified remains carefully preserved in stasis pods," Linya said. "That is the end of the beacon."
"Add to our beacon that our anthropologists will take them her hands," Kurlow said.
"Aye, Kurlow," Linya said.
"But also add that they cannot steal anything from the ship," Kurlow said. "We cannot afford them to take souvenir and sell them on the black market."
"Added," Linya said, tapping on the colorful keyboard. "Anything else?"
"We will discuss any forms of payment upon our arrival," Kurlow said. "Your acquaintance, Captain Lewis D'Karlo Kurlow of the archeological dig vessel Saggarius. Send the beacon to all other dig vessels that we call dibs."
Linya smiled.
"Will do," Linya said, then turned away to the station.
Kurlow turned toward the bridge.
"Carry on," Kurlow said, gesturing his finger toward the bridge officers.
Everyone turned their attention off Kurlow resuming what they had been doing. Kurlow walked toward the holographic figure hovering before the recliner set in the middle of the room. Kurlow folded his arms while a smile began to be sported on his face. The greatest mystery in space was going to be solved. The greatest archeological find was set to be made. Kurlow never felt so honored to be part of history. Digging up history was another matter entirely. History had its share of mysteries regarding what certain objects were where serving as inconsistency of the time period until the answer was provided in the form of objects slipping through layers of dirt until being dug up in that layer or someone finding out that in fact the object was introduced in a different time frame from a different civilization.
"Set a course for the Immunity System," Kurlow said. "We're coming for you Robinsons, and your little Robot too."