"Welcome to man's most magnificent achievement in the conquest of space," Gampu said, as the Robinsons followed behind him. "the man-made planetoid Space Academy, founded in the Star Year 3732. Here we have gathered young people from the farthest reaches of all the known worlds." Will and Penny looked over toward varying humanoid like species ranging from familiar blue skinned pig faced beings with wild orange hair passing by them in white and black two piece uniforms. From the background Peepo was calling back, "Wait for me!" as he was largely ignored. "They have been chosen for their unique abilities, and are being trained to cope with the mysterious, the unknown, the unpredictable dangers lurking in the vast darkness of space!"
They came into the center room of the space academy where a small group of young people stood attention with bright eyes and big smiles. A young Asian man stood alongside a blonde man in the same uniform similar to the uniform that Paul was in. The other officers on the bridge were tending to their stations. Don and John looked around in awe listening to the soft sounds of tech from around them. There were red panels in the shape of a circle with gaps in between and colorful buttons accompanied by small, glowing screens.
"Commander, I have some bad news," Laura said.
"Did Tee Gar make a mistake with another invention?" Gampu asked, glancing toward Tee Gar, warily.
"No," Laura said. "We just had a little incident with Dragos while you were out."
"The Seeker didn't detect the Red Dragons," Gampu said, sharing a bewildered look as did Paul.
"They came from behind," Laura said. "And the quarters sector were hit this time."
"Instead of the power modules on quadrant five as usual?" Gampu said. Laura shook her head. "Lay it on me."
"Jason and Wiki were able to get the fire out before it consumed everything," Laura said. "Unfortunately, it is going to take a few hours to get rid of the burns from your quarters, you're going to need new carpeting, your bedroom is being attended to by the clean up crew, and your favorite observation window was destroyed," Gampu's eyes grew large and larger as she went on. "And Parsafoot would like Wiki 2 back."
"I might have broken it," Gampu said, sheepishly, taking out a small machine from his pocket earning laughs from the small group. "A little."
Gampy handed Laura the device and then it broke apart in her hand.
"Not to worry," Laura said. "Looks like it can be salvaged."
"You're a savage to Wiki," Chris said. "Savage? Get it?"
"I get it, Chris," Gampu said. "However, the Robinsons don't."
"The Robinson-" Chris looked up toward the small group.
Laura and Chris looked at the group in awe then exchanged looks of shock with each other.
"The academy thrives on Zomunium," Paul said. "Nothing like that Nuetrolli-"
"Duetronium," Gampu corrected, patting on Paul's shoulder.
"Right," Paul said. "Before these," Paul held up his wrist to reveal a high tech advanced object. "Life support badges. You came before the hand lasers. Seekers, the star wars, and space farms."
"You should consider yourself lucky that space wasn't as dangerous back then," Adrian said.
"If it's dangerous then it was just as dangerous as it was back in 2001," John said. "A lot less advanced."
"Did you get fired at by drones?" Paul asked.
"No," John said.
"A lot less advanced, indeed," Gampu said.
Will's saddened expression flickered looking toward Gampu with a strange look.
"How did it come up down to this?" John asked. "When we left, we still had big computers."
"After Earth lost the quarantine status, technology exploded from there," Chris said. "And computers became smaller. It still is being felt to this day."
"This is my part of space academy that I oversee," Gampu continued. "There is also Star Command that is the source of daily threats."
"Star Command looks like this," Chris said. "except we're not there."
"We don't go there and you shouldn't be there either," Gampu said. "unless you want to be drawn in to the fate of the space academy todayy."
"You know I faced enough of that to know I don't want to go there," Don said.
"Very wise, Don," Gampu said. "Would you like to see the other quadrants? We have everything that anyone could need."
"If you got a swimming pool, I am all in," Don said.
"And a fashion store," Judy said. "Just to fit in with the current style."
"And a good massage spa," Maureen added.
"That happens to be near the cadet quarters," Gampu said. "Chris, inform Earth that the Robinsons will be reaching their destination a couple thousand years late."
"Oraco," Chris said, earning raised eyebrows from John and Don at the reply.
"Come along, Robinsons." Gampu walked off from the bridge with the Robinsons tailing behind him. "Did I mention about the aquarium? We have fish from everywhere being studied-"
The small group laughed once the doors closed.
"Good to see that Gampu is happy," Laura said. "Doesn't get enough of it."
"I haven't seen that kind of light in his eyes before," Paul remarked. "I have seen it in others but him. . . He actually looked younger."
"Relieved, overjoyed, truly happy," Chris said. "Positive feelings does that to someone like our Gampu."
"I don't know about him, but I rather that last for as long as it can," Laura said
"I am sure it will," Tee Gar said. "It might last as he does."
"He deserves it," Laura said. "Go on, Chris," she sent him forward on his shoulder with a tug of her hand. "Prepare that message."
"I don't know where to start," Chris said. "Paul, think you can help?"
"I can do that," Paul said. "got a hour to finish using after all." Paul and Chris walked off leaving Adrian, Tee Gar, and Laura in the center of the room.
The three returned to what they had been doing before Gampu had entered. They were that way for several minutes as though nothing had happened at all except for the hushed talking of other teams regarding the Robinsons. Laura noticed a strange abnormality on the space monitor then called over Tee Gar. They stared at it for a good while then exchanged puzzled looks. They looked over toward the door drawing Adrian's attention then they were all looking at the screen. There was a distant planetoid that seemed older, abandoned, similar to the space academy but the design was off. Planetoids were capable of lasting for thousands of years.
"Perhaps someone is there who needs some psychological help," Laura said.
"And a doctor," Tee Gar said.
"I can connect to the planetoid and navigate it away from the space academy," Peepo said.
"I can find Gampu and tell him what is going on," Adrian said. "He'll authorize the trip."
"Let's go!" Laura said, then they left the bridge.
"Wait for me!" Peepo called, slowly flying after the cadets. "Why do I bother."