The Space Croppers Challenge

This was written for a challenge on another site. The challenge was what if Judy had seen Effra's second temptation of Don when she was dressed in her formal gown. It leads directly into the Space Croppers Alternative Universe story I've already started to post. It helps to have read the Lost Back Story for background. The bolded is dialogue taken directly from the episode that was written by Peter Packer.

Chapter 1

Meet the Croppers

Don leaned against the hydroponics table after being dropped to the ground by Keel, the big guy. He was still trying to catch his breath when Effra went into panther mode. "Hey, uh, you know, you're a real handsome one," she said as she stepped closer to him.

He couldn't stop himself from sweeping his eyes down and back up her fine form. 'You're not so bad yourself,' he thought, but she kept coming closer… and closer… 'Uh… ok… close enough…' He leaned back and back... 'Ah… uh… too close!' His mouth was in mush mode.

Judy looked on in consternation. 'If she gets any closer to him, she'll be on top of him!' she thought. She observed them for two more seconds. 'That's it.' She put the equipment down and strode over to confront the temptress.

Effra's hand went to Don's ear and she ran her fingers through his hair. Don's brain seemed to have left him. 'Uh-oh... Ah… ooo… feels kinda good… but… uh… Man it's hot!' His mouth wouldn't engage.

"Ohh. Does your face always hot up and turn red when you're spoken to?" she asked him.

'Eh… um… Well, uh… only when strange women caress my face… ha…' His tongue was still tied.

Judy reached them. "I'll answer that," she said, as both Don and Effra turned towards her. Judy took Effra's hand away from Don's face. "And the answer's to keep your hands to yourself, whoever you are." Judy crossed her arms and in her mind added, 'You… you… hussy!' as she and Effra took stock of each other.

'Whew!' Don thought as he looked from Judy to Effra to Judy… 'I think I'm in trouble.'

John and Maureen came out of the Jupiter, wondering what in blazes was going on out there. 'The cavalry!' Don cheered and he pulled the zipper of his shirt down a few inches to cool off and breathe, but saw Judy switch from 'jealous girlfriend' to 'dutiful daughter' mode.

"We're your new neighbors," Effra explained."Ran out of, uh, seasoning powder for our stew."

'Sure she did,' Judy thought while Don held his stomach and mused,'That's not all she came for…'

"Be much obliged if you could loan us a mite till we get us a crop of vittles," Effra asked.

Maureen, always gracious, said, "Certainly. Judy, please go and get her some more seasoning, will you?"

'Oh, Mother, I can't believe you're sending me in to get it,' she thought.'Well, I'm not going to let Effra think she can get away with this… even with my parents here,' she added to herself as she accepted the pot from Effra on three fingers. She kept her eyes on her rival and almost said, 'You're in for a battle if you think you can snare him from me.'

Effra sized up her competition. 'Still mama's little girl,' she thought as she watched Judy sway her way into the Jupiter, swinging the little pot over her shoulder.

Don watched her leave. 'Hoo, boy. I'm really in trouble.' Don's brain was fully functioning again.

"Is there anything else we can do for you, uh, until you get your own vittles? Uh, we don't have very much, but we'd gladly share what we do have." Maureen offered.

Effra declined and went on to ask John about the space ship "Must've been to a heap of places."

"No, just, uh, Earth and here. But we do hope to get off soon," John replied.

Effra lost her composure for a second. "Well, I hope not before we get us our crops raised," she said, but recovered. "What I mean is, uh… well you can all come over and join us for a meal. Ma's a right good cook."

"Oh, well, that's wonderful. Perhaps we could trade recipes," Maureen stated.

"I don't know about that. You might have a little trouble following Ma's directions."

Judy came sauntering back, still swinging the pot with a small amount of seasoning in it, and then stood beside Don. Effra accepted it, dipped her index finger into the seasoning and sucked the spice seductively off her finger. "Tastes right sharp. Much obliged."

Dr. Smith peeked out of the Jupiter and then walked out of the hatch and said,"Effra, my dear girl! Well. What a pleasant surprise."

'What are you up to now, Smith?' Don thought, while Judy commented to herself,'Pleasant? I don't think so.'

"Have you all met this charming young lady and her… stalwart brother?" Smith asked.

"We have," Judy replied for everyone, as Don stretched and leaned closer to Judy while he thought, 'Yeah… a too close encounter of the third kind…'

Not wanting to engage Smith in conversation, Effra stated, "Yes, well, I guess we'd better get going now." She turned to her brother. "Keel. Keel!" she said and slapped him to get his attention.

'Ouch!' Don thought and he jerked back as if he had been slapped himself. The group chuckled at their antics. Dr. Smith put on his biggest smile and said, "Give your dear mother my kindest regards. I did so much enjoy meeting her."

'You slimy creature,' Effra thought and said, "Didn't look like you enjoyed it." She turned her attention back to Don and caressed his cheek. "Aw… You done cooled off."

He kept his wits about him this time and told himself, 'That's right… and it's gonna stay that way.'

'Oh, she's at it again,' Judy mused.

Don looked away from Effra to Judy. 'Trust me, you've got nothing to worry about…'he replied in his head as if he had heard her.

Effra softly slapped his face and gave Judy a final stare, thinking, 'Don't think I've given up. I'll be back for him.'

'Go ahead… Try it… I can take you…' Judy wordlessly replied.

Effra turned and sauntered away with her best seductive stroll and called her brother to follow, "Keel!" The group watched her leave.

Judy smiled as both she and Don thought, 'Thank God that's over with.' Judy craned her neck to be sure they were out of ear shot as Don shook his head to clear it.

"Well, my goodness, that was quite an encounter," Maureen stated.

"Yes, yes… they are a lovely family, are they not?" Dr. Smith asked.

"I wouldn't say that, Dr. Smith," Judy said.

"Oh, come now, Judith. Surely you're not concerned about Effra. She was just being friendly."

Don glanced at Judy. "A little too friendly, if you ask me," he commented.

"You can say that again," Judy added as she caught his eye. He smiled at her in gratitude. He wasn't sure, but he thought that maybe he had redeemed himself in her eyes.

"Speaking of which," John stated, "Judy, you were somewhat 'inhospitable' to our visitor."

Judy wasn't sure if she was in 'daughter' or 'girlfriend' mode and wasn't able to reply. Maureen came to her rescue and told John, "It's all right, dear. I'm sure she meant nothing by it. Let's go inside and give Don and Judy a little space, shall we?" Maureen suggested. John tilted his head and raised his eyebrows at his wife. It wasn't like her to let any of the children get away with being impolite. He shrugged and followed her. "Dr Smith?" she called over her shoulder.

"Coming!" Dr. Smith responded. He shot Don a sly look and added, "I'm sure we'll meet them again." He nodded to Judy and entered the ship.

Don hadn't moved from his spot and kept his eyes on Judy as Smith left them. Judy looked up at him and said, "Let's go for a walk."

He stepped away from the hydroponics table and took her hand. "Sounds good to me."

They walked in silence until they were approaching their private spot. "So…" Judy said, "she certainly advertised her wares."

"Yeah, but I'm not buying," Don stated.

"I don't know…" Judy felt that she had to test him. "You looked quite… hot and bothered to me."

He chuckled. "Bothered is the right word."

Judy stopped and pulled his hand to turn him towards her. "You mean to tell me that you weren't the least bit tempted?"

Don turned his eyes to the sky and thought, 'How do I get out of this one?' He sighed and looked her square in the eye. "Did I react by getting 'hot and bothered'? Yes. Was I tempted?" He caressed her cheek and his eyes softened. "No." She lifted her shoulders towards him and he let go of her hand to put his arms around her. "You know how I am when I'm hot, bothered and tempted."

She put her hands around his neck and leaned into him. "Show me."

'Oh, is 'passionate lover' back?' he asked himself and decided to find out. He kissed her lips and she moved her fingers through his hair. Their kiss deepened… and deepened… until there was no place else to go. He trailed his lips along her cheek to her neck, but the collar of her top was in his way. "Oh, what I'd give to get rid of your turtleneck," he murmured.

She licked his ear and whispered, "Go ahead. Get it out of the way."

Did he hear right? "What?" he asked.

"Get it out of the way," she repeated.

He just stared at her. She took his hand and placed it on the top of the zipper to her tunic. "Uh, Judy… you don't have to do this," he said.

"Yes I do," she replied.

"I'm, uh, tempted enough…" He put his hands on her tush and pushed her hips against his. She could feel just how tempted he was.

She pressed herself against him and wiggled her hips as she kissed him again. His 'other brain' started to take over. 'Oh, now this feels good… mmm…' His mind gave him one final warning,'…Too good…' He broke their kiss so they could come up for air. "Ah, Judy, I'm, uh, not ready for this today," he confessed.

"What do you have to do to get ready?" she questioned.

"Come on, Judy… For me, sex has to come out of love, not jealousy."

"It wasn't always that way with you," she said.

He frowned and felt like she had slapped him in the face… hard. He remembered the last time he had been physically intimate with a woman. "Yeah, well… I guess I deserved that one."

She immediately regretted what she had said. "I'm sorry, Don. I didn't mean it that way."

He placed his hands on either side of her hips and pulled her away from him. Their moment had passed. He couldn't look her in the eye and turned away. "You know, I still feel guilty about Lynn."

"Don't feel guilty, Don. It was before you met me."

"I know, but… the memories… the memories with her… with you… still hurt."

She came up behind him, rubbed his back and hugged him. She leaned her head against him and said, "I didn't mean to bring the memories back."

He shook his head. "Look, it's my problem, not yours."

She closed her eyes and held him a moment longer. Then she walked around to face him and whispered. "It's our problem." She reached out for his hand and said, "Let's go back to the ship."

He nodded and let her lead him back home in silence.