The news of the Jupiter 2′s return spread like wild fire among the general public. Doctor Smith was taken into custody to face numerous charges and was slated to be dishonorable discharged from the united space corps. Stripped of rank. It was perhaps the most honorable thing to happen to Smith who was more than pleased that he would never have a thing to do with space again. While awaiting for his trial, he was happy and not in the mood to complain. It had been decided before getting off the Jupiter 2 that he never see the Robinsons again or Don. Smith was happy to agree to that term. Of course he could paint himself as a hero but the sentence would have been increased or changed from no jail time. It was unfortunate that someone else would attempt to do what he tried. And after the trial was over, he was Doctor Smith.
No rank.
Smith and his new found partner, Frank, were relaxing on the beach.
The sand between his toes made him feel warm and fuzzy inside.
He never wanted to return into space, ever, not ever again.
Space was dangerous and threatening and a aimless place where flying green women lived in.
"Sure that it's all over?" Frank asked.
"Dear, dear," Smith said. "It is over," he smiled looking over toward the grayed man beside him. He took Frank's larger hand. "I am never stepping foot into the territory of espionage on a spacecraft ever again."
"I still find it hard to believe that you're physically here," Frank said. "I just expect to wake up and this all to be a dream."
"Almost two years of radio silence, I can't blame you," Smith said, turning his attention away. He clasped both hands onto his lap.
"Asides about the nightmares," Frank said. "Do you?"
"Sometimes I expect it all to be a hallucination brought on by the alien visitor of the week," he watched a bird fly over head. He wore a pair of sunglasses shielding his eye. "But when I look at you?" he smiled looking toward the younger man. "It is all real."
"Remind me how real you are tonight," Frank said.
"I will," Smith said, with a nod. "We will need to purchase a new bottle of lube."
"We're not out, yet," Frank said.
"You don't realize how fast you run out of necessities . . . until you've reached space," Smith said. Smith stroked the side of his partner's chin admiring the man.
"True. . . True. . ." Frank said, then planted a kiss on Smith's lips.
Smith's heart fluttered then returned the kiss. Frank smiled, gazing into his partners eyes. Then closed his eyes returning the slow kiss. It was Smith who drew out of the kiss slinking his hand off Frank's cheek. Frank placed his larger hand on Smith's smaller hand. The pair looked over hearing a commotion. People were pointing in the direction of a gray blip in the sky. The new ship was soaring though the air heading toward space. Smith picked up his newly received visor device placing on the bridge of his nose then slid it up. He adjusted the sliding part to get a closer look at the ship. He was curious, naturally. The Grimlin was a circular shaped flying object that had a ice cone like bottom below.
"Let me see," Frank said.
"It's ugly," Smith said, in disgust handing the visor to Frank.
"Actually," Frank said. Frank paused raising his eyebrows. "That's something . . . unusual."
Frank lowered the visor. They watched the ship fly up and up. Until, abruptly, the ship exploded in the sky. Smith stared at the spectacle happening before him. He had read in the news that the robot was set to be part of the two grouped pioneer expedition to Alpha Centauri. There was a long sad look beginning to spread on the man's face. Never again would he get to say "and that mechanical bubble will correct me" in the present tense. Never again. . . The robot had been there to attend the court martial which also lead to not getting jail time due to the testimony. It was like he lost a good friend.
"Goodbye, metallic monstrosity," Smith said.
Frank looked over.
"Didn't you visit the ship last week?" Frank asked.
"I was being watched, honey," Smith said. "I could possibly not gone into the robot's room or done sabotage."
It became night. Frank had fallen asleep after a hour of love making with Smith. Smith looked over toward the neon green text on the black screen to the microwave. He anticipate Don's arrival at any moment. The news reported a aerial view of where all the pieces of the new ship had fallen. Pieces of junk. The Robinsons had done all they could to prevent Don from going after Smith, that Smith was sure of, since Don hadn't arrived yet. In all retrospects, being killed by Don was a nice way of finishing his employers loose ends. He had known the risk of being back stabbed by them and took it. He came to his computer then turned it on to access his inbox. Emails of save the date from his old space corps 'friends', cat videos sent by his robotology department colleagues, and advertisements written in text. He clicked on the most recent cat video.
It wasn't a cat video. It was showing how the cold blooded murder was done. There was nothing Smith could do. He watched the sabotage being done. He watched the view go over to the robot then a panel be opened. The robot was given new internal systems, last that he had heard, in order to give him more memory and knowledge. Updated, in fact. His heart felt like it was lifted then dropped off a cliff. Like he had no heart. He watched the machines program be changed to not act when noticing a flaw in its system or in the Grimlin's computer system. Smith appeared to be utterly destroyed watching the video go on. He slammed the computer shut then rubbed his forehead. He was seated into the chair with his hands cupped together. He found himself wishing that he never came back in the first place to Earth. The audio indicated that his return had given encouragement to the saboteur.
Following in his ill-advised footsteps and this time came out of the ship intact. Smith had been filled with revenge when he accepted the mission. A past love lost in the previous launch before the Jupiter 2. A reason why he had accepted the employment to prevent the Jupiter 2's successful mission. He scrolled down to see a message that had been sent during the court martial. He hadn't accessed the email in almost two years. It was requesting his presence aboard the ship once again. He rubbed his forehead with a groan.
"What have I done?" Smith asked, looking utterly heartbroken.
The doorbell rang.
It was Don.
Smith knew it was Don.
That was the only person Smith knew would come at this night.
Smith was dressed for the occasion, white shirt, colorful pants that acted like a rainbow. It was reminiscent of the 1970′s. A style that fell in line with Smith's questionable perception on telling the truth. Smith had given his partner a heavy sedative before their love making. So even if he overheard, it would take more than ten minutes to wake up. It was put into the glass of water. He stood up then straightened himself. He was going to do the classic full yard Smith truth. No lies. But admit that he had a part in the demise of the Johnsons, Edwardsons, and Esteps. Don would take that as a yes. With that Smith expected the interrogation. No one being there to stop Don this time from attacking him didn't help. Don had been part of the newspapers regarding the three families. The news station indicated he was very close to them. And with that, Smith came toward the door.
It wasn't Don.
It was a relative of the Edwardsons, apparently
Now, this was very insulting enough to stop in its tracks as he observed the man lacked a gun.
Smith stared the furious, threatening individual as he shook his head.
"I am not going to make it easy for you," Smith said, placing a hand on the edge of the door while glaring back.
Frank sat by Smith's bedside. It had been three weeks since a stranger came flying into his life, rudely, and destructively. Frank hadn't known what happened between his partner and the stranger. The fight had only been stopped by a next door neighbor ripping the man off Smith's unresponsive body. The strangers knuckles coated in crimson red. The doctor told Frank that Smith had been unable to defend himself. Missing a left eye. Scratches along the stranger's neck. A finger was bitten off. Frank didn't need to be told that as he saw a mean right hook on the stranger's face and everything else that likely didn't happen in order. Smith was found near where Frank kept a gun. The stranger - will remain nameless - agreed because it was part of a plea deal to prevent him from going into prison. They didn't know when Smith would wake up. If he would ever wake up from it. Smith had hit his head on the edge of the counter behind him. Frank's hands were clasped together.
A woman with red hair entered with a young boy who had matching hair and they were in colorful attire.
Frank stood up.
"Get. . . .get out," Frank said, gesturing toward the door.
"I am sorry-" Maureen started.
"I do not need apologies, Mrs Robinson," Frank said. "I really don't want to see a reminder of why my husband is on this bed." the words came out, furiously, bitterly, and hurtfully.
"Husband?" Maureen asked, clenching onto Will's shoulders.
"Yes," Frank said, exasperated. "husband."
"I didn't know he was into men and women. . ." Maureen said. "Nor that he had someone down on Earth. Never talked about having a partner." Will was looking toward the older man laid on the bed covered with a blue-gray fabric. The lifesigns on the box indicated he was there. His brain activity was non-existent. "Penny was unable to come. . . She is sick."
"Most fortunate for her to remember Zachary the way he was before," Frank said.
"I am not here to visit Doctor Smith," Maureen said. "Will is."
Frank's eyes glanced over toward the young boy.
"He is brain dead," Frank said. "He can't come back. The lights are on. But no one is there."
"Then why are you here?" Will asked.
"I am just hoping that they are wrong and he wakes up . ." He started to grow emotional. "telling me to spare him the husbandly concern." He gazed up toward Maureen. "I don't want any of your family visiting after today."
Maureen nodded.
"That we can do," Maureen said, letting go of Will's shoulder.
Will came to the side of Smith's bed.
"Doctor Smith," Will said. "it's me. . ." the camera directed over toward Will. "Will Robinson." there were only beeps from the monitor. There was no reply. "They rebuilt the robot and he is living with us temporarily. The robot asks about you often. . . We don't have the heart to tell him about you." Will fiddled with his hands. "Is it selfish to wish that we never came back?"
Will lowered his head as a tear came down his cheek.
"It's all right, Will," Maureen said.
Frank looked on sadly toward Smith hearing the echo of his partner's voice in his mind.
Oh, the pain. . . the pain.