In the split second before his head slammed into the wall, Smith wondered what could have set the Professor off into such a fit of rage. One minute, he had been looking out the viewport, watching the planet they'd just left fade into the distance. The next minute, he found himself being flung across the upper deck by a man who rarely lost his temper. He'd expect such irrational behavior of the Major. The fact that it was the Professor thoroughly confused him.
Dazed and barely conscious, he felt strong hands pulling him… somewhere. Before he could determine where, he blacked out. When he came to, he was in a dark, cramped space. A small shaft of light shone in above him, through a porthole. Panic seized him. "Oh god, the airlock…"
Smith scrambled to look through the porthole. On the other side, the Professor was waiting.
"Professor Robinson! What is the meaning of this?!" the doctor howled.
"The Tholiss knew our every move. They knew about the Jupiter 2. They wanted it. The way I figure, there's only one person who would have tipped them off." The Professor's eyes narrowed, wordlessly accusing his captive.
Smith lowered his gaze, unable to look the other man in the eye. The Professor knew the truth. One wrong word and that was it. "Oh," was all he could manage.
"What did they offer you, Smith? The Jupiter 2 in exchange for… what?"
"I changed my mind, Professor! I didn't go through with the deal. I…"
"WHAT DID THEY OFFER YOU!?"
Smith cringed at the hostility directed at him. "Does it really matter now?" he asked timidly.
"Before I flush you out this airlock, I'd like to know what you would betray my family for! Money?! Power?! A trip back to Earth?! What?!" He slammed his fist against the door. "And was it worth it?!" The Professor's rage was palpable and if Smith didn't know any better, he would've thought it was radiating through the airlock door, causing droplets of perspiration to roll down his back.
"All of the above," Smith admitted. Guilt prodded him to get it all out in the open. Continuing to hide it now would do him no good. Not in the situation he was in. "They wanted the secret of atomic energy. They offered to pay me handsomely if I delivered it to them. And to take me back to Earth once they had successfully integrated the technology into their society. But I couldn't go through with it," he admitted, with a voice so sincere that the Professor actually did believe him. "Not after I learned what they planned to do with you!"
"That doesn't matter one bit, Smith! You betrayed us and nearly got us all killed! We're lucky to even be standing here. I can't let you put my family in danger again!"
The Professor turned and took a few steps away from the door. Smith watched him for a few moments as he paced back and forth, deep in thought. The doctor's panic slowly transformed into calm. No, not calm. Acceptance. There was no escaping his fate. The Professor was a fair man. Whatever punishment he saw fit for him was what he truly deserved. He'd used up his second chances long ago. He'd exhausted the last of the Professor's patience. He had only himself to blame. When the Professor returned to the porthole, he saw Smith staring blankly at the outer door. The doctor wondered what it would feel like, how long he'd be conscious, how long it would hurt, how long until he didn't feel anything anymore.
"Smith?"
The doctor quickly returned to the porthole. "What are you going to tell them?"
"About what?"
"About why I'm… gone," Smith asked.
"I hadn't thought about it."
"Tell them it was an accident," Smith pleaded. "Professor, please don't tell them what I did."
The doctor's demeanor unnerved the Professor. He wished he would lie to save his skin, beg like a coward, make it easier for him to push that button to open the airlock and save the rest of them a lifetime of trouble. Instead, he pitied the man.
"Smith, give me one good reason why I shouldn't flush you out the airlock," the Professor asked, hoping the doctor's silver tongue could successfully dissuade him from a course of action he felt bound to, but really didn't want to take.
"Professor, if a man of your moral character cannot find a good reason, what makes you think a man like me can provide you with one?" He paused a moment. "I don't want to die. I wish I had another chance, but… we both know what I would do with it. I am a weak man and I fear that will never change." Smith turned to look at the outer door once more, then sat down to await the Professor's decision. "It wasn't worth it," he mumbled.
"What did you say?" the Professor asked.
"I said it wasn't worth it," the doctor reiterated a little louder. "I don't know what made me think it would be," he admitted. "I'm sorry for all the trouble I caused you." His voice faltered as he made one last request, "Please, Professor, if you're going to do it, have mercy on me and get it over with quickly." Smith sat with his back against the wall, hugged his knees to his chest, and put his head down.
He heard the Professor's hand slam against the wall. He tensed as he heard the mechanical sound of the airlock door releasing. He hugged himself tighter and trembled as he anticipated a violent and messy end. But it didn't come. Instead, the darkness retreated and the compartment was flooded with light. He looked up and saw the Professor standing over him.
"Damn. Seems I hit the wrong button… this time." The Professor left without another word.
The doctor took in a deep, shuddering breath. As the Professor descended the ladder, he heard a meek "thank you" behind him.
Some two weeks later, the Jupiter 2 made planetfall again to replenish the deutronium and other supplies they'd lost to Tholiss raids. As the Major and the Professor set up the forcefield, Smith walked by toting a stack of boxes toward the girls and the hydroponic garden.
"I never would have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes," the Major remarked.
"What?" the Professor inquired.
"Smith. I have never seen him so… helpful. He's been on his best behavior since we left the Tholiss homeworld. I wonder what got into him."
"We had a little talk," the Professor admitted.
"Is that all it took?" the Major laughed.
"That's all it took."
"Perhaps you should have had a talk with him a lot sooner," the Major suggested.
"Perhaps I should have," the Professor agreed.