There was sounds of gunfire. It was loud and silencing. They were deadly, fatal booms that made the siblings jump at once landing to the floor being stiff until the sounds were over with their eyes closed. They hung on to each other praying to their god that the right person came out of the attack. There were screams, shouts, swearing, and shrieks until it were replaced by complete silence. Karleen was trembling holding on to her older sister. Tears were streaming down her cheeks. Karleen squeezed her eyes shut, the guilt eating away at the contents in her stomach, and sobbing.
The fear that was threatening to take them over for what could be the final moments of their lives was overwhelming. It paralyzed them to the point that the last request from Smith did nothing to make them get on their feet and run further into the cave. And it was all Karleen's fault that it was happening at all. Her sister, herself, and her mother could be on the way to Earth just now approaching the planet as a family. If she had only left the Robot alone then things would have been on better standing. Her sister and her were going to die on Gamma because of her mistake. The resurrected colonist and his friend would still be alive. The sounds ceased and the stiffness in their limbs retreated.
Karleen opened her eyes.
It was all her fault.
"I am sorry," Karleen said.
"I forgive you," Sydnee said.
"I miss mum," Karleen said.
"I wish she were here," Sydnee said.
"Me too," Karleen said.
A figure appeared in the entrance so Sydnee screamed closing her eyes clinging on to Karleen.
"Karl, Syd," Smith's voice came from the entrance rather soft and low. "The danger has passed."
Sydnee began to open her eyes with a racing heart.
"Doctor Smith?" Sydnee asked.
Karleen looked over.
"Are you certain?" Karleen asked.
"He is certain," The Robot said, joining the man's side. "There are no more lifeforms standing in the way to the ship."
"Come out," Smith said, reaching a hand out for the girls.
Karleen was the first one out of the cavern to take the older man's hand.
"We have determined a path to the ship," The Robot explained, helping Sydnee out of the cave and she joined Karleen's side.
"But you need to have your eyes closed," Smith said.
"And to trust us," The Robot added.
"Long as you do that," Smith said. "You will be safe."
"We trust you," Sydnee said.
"Good," Smith said, then looked off toward the Robot and back toward them. "One of you will have to ride on the Robot and the other gets to either walk or be held."
"I call for the Robot!" Sydnee announced.
"That leaves you and me, Karl," Smith looked toward Karleen, rather amused.
"I rather walk," Karleen said.
"Now, children, when we get to the path then we start our arrangement," Smith said.
"We will," Sydnee said, holding her sibling's hand.
The sisters followed Smith's moving figure in the dark. The Robot's glowing head made it easy for him to stand out among the darkness. The comforting color allowed his chest plating and neck collar stand out in the night. They came to a stop abruptly then Sydnee jumped on to the Robot's back. The Abernashi children closed their eyes then the men went through the scenery.
"Take big steps, Karl," Smith said. "Like you are walking over things."
"Yes, sir," Karleen said.
"Good, good," Smith said, holding her hand with one free hand holding on to the phaser rifle handle.
The Robot rolled around the corpses following behind the doctor. The dead were silent. Eeriely silent. Some were still in the process of dying. The lifeforms were fading before the Robot's processors. The Robot chose to ignore the fading lifeforms being detected only focusing on the present, persistent lifeforms around him. The path had became more familiar to the doctor who grew a smile on his face. He felt along the wall that he had carved in unique designs.
"Robot," Sydnee said. "Could you tell us another story?"
"Affirmative," The Robot said.
"About Penny," Sydnee said.
"Tell them about the Deutronium flowers," Smith said.
"Please do," Karleen said.
"As you wish," The Robot said.
Smith can hear the children snoring from behind him during the long trek after the tale had been told. He ended up having to pick up Karleen during the tale over the loud sounds of her yawning. She was slumped in his arms. The phaser pistol dangling on the hook to the backpack. Hours were passing, that Smith was very aware of over the sounds of his stomach, moving in the dark following a path that he and the Robot believed was the very same one marred by time. Smith and the Robot walked over a thin bridge making it to the other side without making it collapse beneath them.
Light was pouring into the cavern.
"We are close, Robot," Smith said. "So very close."
Smith shifted toward the Robot.
"My sensors detect no lifeforms ahead," The Robot said.
Smith grew a smile at the reply.
"Excellent," Smith said, then turned toward the direction of the light.
Bright light stirred Karleen out of the darkness then she stretched her arms and legs until there was a satisfying pop with her hands closed into the palms. Sydnee was getting up to her feet when Karleen had started to wake up. Karleen reached her hand out for the well white hand that was reached out for her then got up to her feet. She looked ahead to see the familiar starship waiting among the sand while shining against the sun. She looked over to see the big smile on the doctor's smile and a small nod.
"First," Smith said, taking out a see through box. "Time for some breakfast."
"Aww," Sydnee said. "We can eat when we get there."
"Nutrition is recommend at a standard time for children," The Robot said.
"Don't need to be running on a empty stomach, dears," Smith said.
The boxes were popped open as the group sat around a makeshift table.
"This is a nice picnic," Sydnee said.
"I haven't had a nice picnic in what. . ." Karleen started, looking toward Sydnee.
"Two years?" Sydnee said, raising her brows.
"About that time," Karleen nodded, turning her attention off Sydnee.
"Uh huh," Sydnee had the same nod.
"I remember the last time we had picnic with the Robinsons," Smith said, fondly. "It was for Joshua's eleventh birthday."
"Joshua who?" the siblings said at once.
"Joshua Robinson-West," Smith said. "It was a pleasant picnic."
"That it was not," the Robot said. "We were interrupted by a space serial killer on the run from intergalactic law enforcement."
"Near toward the end of the picnic, you bumbling cricket," Smith said.
"You had a run in with a space serial killer!" Sydnee exclaimed.
"Oh my space gods," Karleen said.
"It is nothing to be too concerned about," Smith said. "She was a polite fellow. Only killed people when they gave her a very good reason to do so. . . such as stealing her belongings or insulting her house."
"TELL US EVERYTHING!" The girls demanded at once.
"That's for another bed time story for another day," Smith said.
"Yes, but you were theeeereeee!" Sydnee drew out.
"I was," Smith said, then looked off fondly. "We had the picnic from above the beach. There used to be a picnic table over there," he pointed in the distance. "Made of wood."
"That must have become part of the sand itself," The Robot said. "And I recall that it was made out of metal."
"It was made of wood," Smith repeated.
"Where did the wood come from?" The Robot asked.
"You should have it on your tapes," Smith said. "You were there."
"But I was unaware that they were making anything out of wood," The Robot said.
"That metal was for your treads, booby," Smith said, gesturing his finger toward the treads. "And to replace the door."
"What happened to the space serial killer?" Sydnee said.
"Next bed time story is that," The Robot said.
"Why?" Karleen asked. "Not like you will quickly run out."
"I can," The Robot said, quite darkly.
"Hey," Sydnee said. "We like to hear old stories being retold over and over again."
"Especially when they are new to us," Karleen said.
"And very different," Sydnee added.
Smith munched away at his breakfast then lowered it on to the slab of rock.
"Would you like to hear a epic?" Smith asked.
The girls leaned forward.
"A epic?" Sydnee asked.
Smith silently nodded.
"We love to!" Karleen and Sydnee replied at once.
Smith had a smile that reeked of evil.
"I will tell you that story . . ." He had a low, small bemused laugh. "on the way to the intergalactic tree of knowledge."
The children frowned.
"You're no fun," Sydnee said.
Smith took a sip from the small packet.
"The best part is always saved for the rewarding occasion," Smith said, lowering the packet then looked toward the girls and added rather meaningfully. "Beauty and happiness always comes out the right way when it is not spoiled."
Smith took another bite out of his egg salad sandwich. The children followed suit eating away at the breakfast dropping some crumbs to their prepared egg burritos that had cooked under the sun. The burritos were warm and juicy. Smith was looking back at the past, warmly, eating and drinking his breakfast. Sydnee was halfway done with her burrito when she noticed the man was staring toward her with his eyelids barely in sight, almost boggling, seemingly paralyzed where he sat. Karleen and Sydnee exchanged a glance then turned their attention in the direction of the older man. Karleen waved her hand up and down. His facial features not wavering before their eyes.
"Still there, Doctor Smith?" Karleen asked, lowering her hand.
Smith finally started to blink.
"You have goat features," Smith noted.
"Yeah, so?" Sydnee asked.
"And goat eyes," Smith said.
The girls raised their eyebrows at once.
"You . . . never . . . seen . . . alien humanoids with goat eyes?" Sydnee asked, slowly, yet deliberately in disbelief.
"Of all my time in space. . . " he looked off then back toward the children with a smile that began to form on his face and his mood changed before their eyes quite brightly. "You're quite a first for me."
Their eyes grew big as saucers from shock and their mouths had fallen.
"You're shi-messing with us," Karleen said, correcting herself in mid sentence.
Smith shook his head.
"I am not," Smith said, warmly, then finished the small packet. "I have seen many aliens in my lifetimes but they were. . ."
"Humanoid," Karleen said.
"Yes," Smith said.
"You have only lived once," Sydnee said. "Humans weren't born with nanobots back in your day."
Smith was dusting his hands off when his head jerked up, sharply, his attention now caught.
"Do you have nanobots?" Smith asked.
"Course!" They replied at once.
"Everyone has nanobots," Sydnee added.
Smith looked down toward his hands that had small cuts from the journey then looked toward the children.
They had large eyes compared to most children that he had seen back on Earth or on any other planet that he lived on. Smith took a deep breath then leaned himself up and rubbed his chin. Sydnee and Karleen finished eating their breakfast then put the decompose-able wrapping into the sand and covered it up giving it a light pat. The wrapping was light green even see through to a extent. Smith stood up to his feet then picked up the black survival backpack and the phaser rifle as the children used their handkerchiefs to clean off the removable paint. They gave their handkerchief a good squeeze over the wrapping allowing a mix of colorful liquid to fall down on to the mess while the two looked on scanning the distance ahead.
"I do not," came out softly.
Sydnee and Karleen looked toward the older man's direction.
"Hey," Sydnee said. "That is not half bad."
Smith shifted toward them.
"I have been cloned a lot," Smith said. "Compared to most of those lifetimes, I get to spend the next fifty years on my terms."
"That is sweet," Karleen said, getting up to her feet. "So, what is your most notable lifetime?"
Smith laughed then walked on with the Robot tailing behind him.
"That's for another night, my girls!" Smith replied.
"No fair!" Sydnee said, joining her sister's side and Karleen looked toward her. "Here we go again."
"It's going to be a lot fun in the sun," Karleen said, grinning from ear to ear.
"It will be," Sydnee said, smiling back.
Then they turned their attention down and began their trek after the two figures.
Eziku sat on the tip of a towering body of rock that had a series of stairs made from wood.
She had her legs crossed and her hands on her knees looking out in the distance.
The god had murdered her friend, Gar-Lay, in order to ensure the escape of the children.
That was not the way that it had been done to send them running away.
It was not the way according to the stories. Even according to the council of elders when it came to the loss of life. It had not happened often that lives were taken by the space gods. Katadug had been the only vote on the council against hunting down the gods. It shocked the tribe that one of their own voted against the most reasonable, spirit approved decision and wise. Katadug hadn't spoken since the retrievers were sent to get the man in the ancient path that had been well recorded in artwork and history about the changes made by their ancestors to the landscape.
The retrievers never came back so it was decided that a group of sentrys signal each other when they came in sight arriving to the spacecraft.
Eziku spotted silver figures walking in the direction of the spaceship.
"There you are," Eziku said, then moved a ancient mirror on the edge and tilted it toward the direction of the other tower.
A bright light echoed through the morning sky that grew far and farther away then Eziku looked down toward the moving figures.
"Warning, Doctor Smith," The Robot said, abruptly. Smith turned in the direction of the Robot. "There is a watch out two kilometers away on a tower."
Smith looked up in the direction of the tower. The tower was yellow with black plants sporting out of the sides and material that showed it once had been a bell tower asides to the rusted in door that had became part of the rock itself with the ancient relic of a ancient bell leaned against it with a large crack that settled down the center largely intact as a whole. Smith turned his head in the direction of the children then turned his attention in the direction of the ship that seemed so far but closer than before. He looked on ahead to spot distant black figures moving along the heated desert.
"Children," Smith said, reactivating the suit then deactivated the facial screen. "Whatever you do, don't slow down."
Karleen ran on past Smith.
"Don't slow us down, old man!" Sydnee shouted, rushing on by him.
"Wait for me!" Smith replied.
The Robot wheeled after the group. The group left footprints behind ranging in size and shape that mixed in between the humanoid foot prints and hoof prints. The starship grew bigger ad bigger to Karleen's eyes. Hopeful looks grew on the siblings faces. Sydnee loked over her shoulder spotting the figures getting closer to the ship waving long, hazy weapons then turned her attention away. The Robot was in the back doing his best to catch up with the humanoids.
"Danger, danger!" The Robot called. "Space natives have shot guns at this time!"
Smith looked in the direction of the moving figures then turned his attention toward the girls.
"Time to wake up Marle!" Karleen shouted, as they got closer to the ship. "Doctor Smith, with me, please!"
The Robot wheeled in behind the children.
Karleen ran up the stairs that curved and twirled. Smith's hand grasped on the the railing that was elaborate, smooth, and cold with a bronze color scheme to it. The support beams that attached to the railing and to the stairs themselves were curved and windy resembling rather thin tree branches that had bells decorating the railing that stood out quite unusually because of the small leaves. Karleen ran on ahead of Smith with her hooves beating against the steps then looked up seeing final level standing out. With what strength and adrenaline pouring through her veins, Karleen ran past the final step skidding until she stopped in front of final door that remained closed.
The door was shaped similar to a triangle. Smith came to a stop right behind her then placed his hands on to his knees and panted. Karleen yanked open a panel then picked up a blue cord and put it back inside a small hole along with several other circuits. Sydnee put the lid back on to the panel that hummed to life. The dark themed buttons began to glow one by one. First it was black then white then blue, yellow, orange, and finally blue. The door to the bridge opened softly while the ship radiated rage that made the Robot pause in his tracks in alarm bobbing his head up.
"KARLEEN ABERNASHI, HOW DARE YOU DO THAT TO ME!" Marle shrieked. "FOR THE SECOND TIME."
Smith ran into the bridge then the siblings followed after him.
"Marle, close the hangar bay door!" Smith ordered.
"Push that leveler forward, Doctor Smith!" Sydnee said. "That begins the disembarking procedures."
"Doctor Smith?" Marle repeated. "Is this a adult?"
The Robot turned around to detect several figures headed in the direction to the ship.
"I am, Marle," Smith said, then slid forward the leveler. "Prepare for lift off!"
The hangar bay door to Marle swiftly closed before the Robot's sensors.
"Please, press the switches above you," Marle instructed.
The natives came to a stop as the ship began to lift up from above them.
"Where-" Smith looked up then had a small gasp. "Ah, there it is!"
Smith flipped the switches one by one making the dark red lights below them turn bright.
"Can we go now?" Smith asked, the children buckled up behind him in the chairs.
"Yes, sir," Marle said, Smith buckled up the seatbelt. "We are lifting off."
From outside, the truck center of the ship compressed as silver bands formed over it giving the over all appearance of a cocoon. The second layer of bands appeared around the DNA structures that then took on a shell appearance. The ship lifted off into the sky fleeing from the cumbersome natives. The camera soared back into the bridge. The Robot appeared in a tube right behind the group landing with a thud.
The girls were squealing in between shouting "Woohooo!" as gravity was forcing them against the chairs.
Smith looked over toward the planet that was becoming smaller by the passing second.
Fond, warm memories passed before his eyes from his time with the Robinsons in monotone color.
"Adieu, Robinsons," Smith said, softly, over the cheering. "Thank you for being our family."
Smith looked up toward the view screen.
"Lord be with me," Smith prayed. The ship was trembling against the gravity. "Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear!"
"Larak tarath! Larak tarath! Larak tarath!"
"Children!" Smith shouted. "That isn't helping!"
"We're giving you our strength!" Sydnee replied.
"That's from a TV show!" Smith replied.
"No, it isn't," Karleen argued.
"Yes, it is!" Smith insisted. "Galaxy Quest isn't real."
"Then why do we have a ancestor from Tev'Meck?" Sydnee asked.
"Larak tarath!" Karleen started. "Larak tarath! Larak tarath!"
The ship was falling back down and he closed his eyes bracing for the downfall over the children's chanting.
But when Smith opened his eyes, he could see his hand moving forward pushing the joystick forward with strength that hadn't been there before. His eyes grew big at the sudden change. The children were chanting even louder. Smith looked over to see that the girls were holding hands, tightly, their eyes closed. Karleen was holding the Robot's red claw tightly. So that was where the extra strength was coming from. He turned his attention away pushing the joystick forward fighting against the wind and the gravity. The starship tore through the clouds. The fight against the external forces became easier to the point that it wasn't difficult to flight up there. The Robot bobbed his head up with a kachunk. The ship exited the last layer of the atmosphere.
"We did it!" Smith announced. "We are officially off Gamma!"
"Wooohoo!" The siblings cheered. "We did it! We did it! We did it!"
Smith relaxed in the chair observing the familiar view of space.
"Warning, warning!" The Robot announced. "Spacecrafts are headed this way!"
"Them, again," Smith said.
"Oh no," Karleen said. "It's the mad clients."
"Oh dear, oh dear," Smith said. "That doesn't sound too good. What did your mother do?"
"Not our mommy," Sydnee said. "Our daddy."
"He scammed a lot of people," Karleen said, ashamed.
"Where is the defense mechanisms on this ship?" Smith asked.
"There isn't any," Sydnee said. "This is a construction vessel."
The ship trembled around the small group that grew tense and braced themselves for the inevitable.
"Marle," Smith said. "we need help."
"I can provide that," Marle said. "Please take your hand off the joystick and press the transparent button that resembles a frog." Smith pressed the button. "Now buckle up."
Without further command, the children did the same as Smith and grabbed on to the arm rests of their chairs. A thick screen flew down over the window. The sounds of metal loudly screeching against metal, the sensation of falling being evident from the force that gave the impression of it, as the camera back tracked out of the cocooned ship. The vengeance squad fired repeatedly at the yellow spacecraft tearing through the protective shell sending pieces of metal flying off into outer space. Pieces of the ring flew out going over the flying spacecrafts. The firing concentrated at the center of the cocoon peeling away parts of the construction vessel. Long scars formed from the repeated strikes illuminating blue light that crackled and sizzled.
A bright white light blinded the firing squad then dissipated. The screens returned to color allowing a view of the carnage that laid before them of the aftermath flying away from the center going in all directions, Keestune slowly shook her head in disappointment. The Golaran was so determined on living that she dared to face the wrath of her husbands victims. Cheering was heard from over the line then the camera flew back watching them grow smaller until a large flying ball was seen fleeing from under their noses. A wide, square window appeared from the center and thin cracks had began to appear on its hull then the view dived into the escape ship. The room was glowing red. Smith was visibly struggling to keep control over the flight looking in the direction of the passing by asteroids. The Abernashi children closed their eyes, holding each others hands, their hearts racing from the intense and challenging but yet deadly feeling moment.
"Robot, are we clear?"
"The firing squad has departed,"
The news brought relief stripping away at some layer of danger picking at his mind.
"Good!"
The Robot tried to wheel forward but hit the small space between the chair and the wall.
"Doctor Smith," The Robot started. "have you landed a escape ship safely since your resurrection?"
There was a long pause as Smith had a uneasy expression in his eyes between his struggling demeanor with the ship.
"Third time is the try!" Smith replied.
"Oh no," The Robot bobbed his head up. "We are all going to die."
"Shush it," Smith said, sternly. "We don't need that attitude on here! Nor do I!"
"You never flown a spaceship before," The Robot said. "You're a doctor not a pilot."
"Marle, which one of the asteroids are suitable for crash landings?" There was silence. "Marle! Marle!"
Smith looked down toward the view screen visibly shaken up. The persona that he had purposely crafted for the Robinsons would have made him be shouting 'oh dear' over and over, drawing it out further upon each iteration, signalling his distress. If the major was here, he would have a better grip over the situation with more qualifications and experience. All the stress instead going to the major. He was trembling with his hand losing control on the joy stick. A battle that was beginning to be a lost cause.
Smith looked toward the children who seemed to be calm and relaxed still holding hands.
No.
Smith looked toward the nearest but lowest enough asteroid with renewed determination.
Not this time.
"Children, brace yourselves," Smith said, his tone turned calm and composed. "We will be making a controlled crash landing."
Smith's hand forced the joystick forward as the dark gray film of facial protector came over his face as it did for the children.
The explosion racked through the ship sending it tearing through the space falling away.
The rounded shell fell apart revealing hundreds of parts belonging to decks and rooms floating away.
A loud, deep scream was coming from one of the falling pieces drawing the attention of the camera close to one of the falling long pieces. The door was cracked open giving a good view of Ardous with his back to the wall and his protecto-suit was on. The lights outlining his facial helmet was red rather than blue with notable differences such as long neon red modifications that turned parts of his body into segments. The corridor was falling with no direction away from the destructive source. The cell was twirling, spinning, showing a mess of scrap metal flying away or toward the asteroid belt surrounding Gamma.
Ardous clung on to a long pipe sticking out of the wall that he had managed to take out during the captivity.
"OH MY STAAAAAAAAAAAARS!"
The camera retreated watching the piece falling closer toward Gamma's atmosphere.
From a landscape strewn in black cactus's and black bushes, there was a lizard basking in the sun set on a rock. In the distance can be seen a small red ball of light breaking through the atmosphere. The lizard's small eyes went in different directions. Small but distinct enough to be spotted. The flaming ball grew closer and closer until the flames had receded replaced by a visible light gray bruised and cracked large orb. It drew closer and closer to the lizard while appearing to be lowering. Black bushes swayed back even a few of the cactus.
The lizard fled out of the way. The orb began to make its descent to the ground. The ground was torn from the crash land bringing piles of dirt piling up ahead of the orb. The orb came to a screeching halt from the tip of a cliff. Pieces of ground fell from above. The small bands of gray retreated replaced by a dulled yellow and intact part of a ship. The camera twirled around the side entering through the window that showed a dark interior with a electricity that was crackling. The children were too terrified to open their eyes let alone speak.
"Is everyone still operating?" The Robot asked, breaking the silence.
Sydnee opened her eyes first.
"I am okay," Sydnee said.
"Me too," Karleen asked, over the sound of a seatbelt unclicking.
Smith stood up to his feet then placed his hands onto the console in front of him.
"Thank the lord," Smith's head was lowered leaving his shoulders and back standing out against the darkness in front of the bright light.
Sydnee rushed to the man's side then her face fell.
"We're on the same planet!" Sydnee cried. "Nooo!"
"Syd, we are not," Smith said, placing a hand on her shoulder then pointed upwards toward the view screen. "Look behind the asteroids."
Their gazes lifted up.
"Woah," was said in unison.
The planet stood out against the sea of moons passing by.
"We are currently orbiting Gamma," Smith said, hands clasped together in his lap. "Which is acting as our primary moon."
"It's beautiful," Karleen said, joining his side.
"Indeed," Smith said.
"Did you see this every night back in your century?" Sydnee asked, looking up toward the older man.
"I didn't look out often at night, Syd," Smith said. "The only thing I did look at was a warm fireplace and belongings I gained over time," he looked toward them then back toward the Robot. "We left Robot in the Jupiter 2 without his power pack after we made our buildings and were on our feet again."
"After the massive Earthquake," the Robot added.
"We went back to the Jupiter 2 for warmth when winter came," Smith said. "Before snow took over our homes, buried them, out of sight . . . out of mind." He looked down toward the children. "Children, I like you to do some exploring by the inside of the ship to see what Marle," he twirled his finger around pointing toward the walls. "What left us."
"Okay, Doctor Smith," Sydnee said.
Sydnee and Karleen turned away then went out through the doorway that had automatically opened with a whish. The door automatically close behind them leaving the doctor and the robot behind. The cafeteria's space was now occupied by walls and doors leaving the cafeteria to be the only thing that remained at the end of the wall. Instead of being large and wide, it was small and circular with round tables instead of the long and dark themed tables. Their shared bedroom remained with the additional rooms that were left in play. Two of the doors were still locked no matter how many times they typed into the panel with the code that Marle had given them in the four month long trip to the Milky Way Galaxy. They tossed their survival backpacks into the shared bedroom then turned off their suits and rushed into the bridge. Smith was sitting down in the chair with his hands combing through the side of his hair.
"We got two rooms, Doctor Smith," Karleen said, as the two shifted toward them.
"One cafeteria, one engineering room, one storage room, three bathrooms, and this," Sydnee added.
"Children," Smith started, softly while lowering his hands down to his knees then looked toward the children. His survival backpack was set beside the chair. "You may want to sit down for what I have to tell you," the girls slowly sat down in unison. "We have determined this emergency escape ship has little to no fuel left to make a launch off this planet and there is damage to the engines that can't be repaired sufficently without the proper equipment and parts."
"We're going to perish here," Sydnee said.
"And mum is never going to get out," Karleen said.
"We are not going to die here," Smith said.
"You don't know that," Sydnee said, shaking her head.
"We do," Smith said, then looked over the children. "Booby. . ."
"We have enough patterns to last us for six months," The Robot announced.
"In six months," Smith began to explain. "We will be going on our different paths," he had his hands clasped together between his knees leaning forward facing the siblings. "Now, for the time being, we will begin our search for wildlife and edible plants to harvest should we not find a fallen ride or a new ride on the surface of this asteroid."
"If we don't?" Sydnee asked.
"What happens then?" Karleen asked, deeply worried.
"I have been in this situation before," Smith had a sigh, ashamed, lowering his head with a brief close of his eyes. "once," Smith raised his head up. "where hope wasn't there because of the Deutronium flowers. It was a purgatory of my making," his hands were trembling. "It took awhile for Professor Robinson and Major West to find the additional bed of Deutronium but they did with help from the Robot and Will. We were on that planet for a year, regrettably. But we did have our moments of losing hope before that bed was found. You shouldn't lose that, children," he placed his slightly larger hands on their slim shoulders. "it is far too precious to lose for good."
"No matter how small or invisible it is," The Robot said. "Hope is always there."
"We have enough solar power to keep this ship's environmental controls running indefinitely," Smith said. "But there are very good chances that we may spend the rest of our lives on this asteroid."
"What are the chances?" Karleen asked.
"Seventy-five point thirty-five percent," The Robot said.
Karleen squeezed Sydnee's hand.
"Hip hip hooray!"
Large, wide flasks with foam bubbling at the top from above light brown liquid spilled down to the table as the camera retreated outwards to reveal a group of aliens who ranged in body shape and design that was not, entirely, human. Keestune was a tall brute with husks, fur, pointed ears, and eyes that were covered by a medical visor where below that was easily seen a smile that disappeared under the rims of the large glass. The group leaned back into their chairs all with smiles and feel good demeanors about them. They were inside a restaurant that had a white theme with a secondary light blue neon color and red was the color of the floor including on the sign from above the employed.
"What are you going to do now that it is over, officer?"
Keestune leaned back into the circular chair.
"Back to breeding those Traffles," Keestune said, raising the cup up. "And get out of the blue field."
"How the zalif are you going to get that?" Jargotta asked, tilting their large head.
Keestune took a big sip then lowered the flask.
"A buddy of mine made a bet that I wouldn't suceed," Keestune said. "A substantial amount."
The others had a laugh.
"Did you get the proof?" Batuda asked, raising the glass up with her thousands of small hands grasping on to the side out of what was at firs glance a stump that lacked a hand.
"Yep," Keestune took out a large metal fragment and dropped it on to the table that read 'Marle' in black text. "Can't make this up or replicate it for fun."
"For the first time in a long time, I feel on even ground with the galaxy," Jargotta, the koala like alien, leaned back into the chair. "I haven't given it much thought I was going to do if we killed that abliest bitch."
"Now, now, being angry at the dead isn't worth your time," Keestune said. "She is gone and burned."
"Right where her partner is," the center one of the group had a burp. "I hope they find it is worth it."
"I want to think they did," Keestune said. "We will never know what was on her mind trying to make a daring escape."
"More like we don't want to know," There was nods in agreement.
Keestune moved the scrapmetal on to the back.
"The next round of icecream related beverages is on me," Keestune said.
"You're the best!" Batuda said. "Toast, to the greatest dispatcher, in the field."
One by one the small group raised their glasses up to Keestune.
"To Keestune!" the group cheered.
Keestune wore a smile while shaking a hand.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you," Keestune said. "Before I leave this side of the galaxy, I am sticking around a few days to make sure that we got it all."
"We got it all, officer," Palkot said. "There is nothing left."
There is nothing left to do but say that my time as the chief of security and the first officer was eventful. I have been honored to have served with Captain Kurlow and the crew of the Saggarius. I would have preferred to continue serving this ship in a greater compacity and greater faith in the running of the ship under a respected and well authority figure. I have found this is a place that I cannot serve in due to the nature of the ship being used for purposes that go against moral and ethical rules regarding the preservation of history and making sure it is handled very carefully, respectfully, and compassionately. This assignment is a disgrace, a sham, a mishandling of history and it mysteries being revealed on a level that cannot be written or spoken well enough.
Acceptance of this assignment was a mistake from Admiral Hallsy.
Signed, Fravis.
Fravis leaned back into the chair then rubbed his chin, considering deeply, whether or not that he had gotten all the words down.
"That is enough," Fravis said.
Fravis got up to his feet from the chair then tapped on the bulky keyboard sending the message away off the holographic screen.
"What happens next when all goes to illusion?"
Fravis had a deep yet echoing voice while he sang going toward the bedroom.
"It all falls apart,"
Fravis waved his hand then watched the closet open.
"The life that I created goes to pieces,"
He slipped off the uniform including the stars placing them on to the table.
"So you find what pieces there are left to make yourself a new life and make them anew. Going to keep going forward. Going to go far," he picked up a photograph of himself and his extended family. "Going to make my house be proud of me."
Fravis took out his long, black duffel bag that seemed to be massive in size dropping it on to the bed. He took out his civilian wear then his personal belongings and mementos placing them one by one with care into different compartments of the part. He closed the holo-photographs then stacked them one by one into the pockets. With a swift zip, the black bag was closed and laid on his shoulder. All the belongings that he had gained in his career as security officer and as a individual in this life was plenty enough to tell stories for those who wanted to ask. He came into the living room. But when he stopped, there was Linya standing with a extra pip on her neck collar and her hands linked behind her back. She wore a long pained look on her face that she was shaking.
"Do you really have to go?" Linya asked.
"Yes," Fravis said. "When I stepped aboard this ship, I had no regrets and now I do. I have too much of those."
"I understand your feelings," Linya said, nodding. "I also admire your courage."
Fravis shook his head.
"This isn't courage to do the right thing for myself and my future," Fravis said. "Do you have any regrets?"
"I have a few," Linya said. "But accepting this posting isn't among those."
"The tenacity to be proud of being on this ship," Fravis said. "You are the one with courage."
"It's called having guts to say the truth," Linya said. "Because that is mine."
"Yours must be of pure intentions," Fravis said.
"I have heard lost languages come back from the dead and learned to understand them with the speakers help to make sure they are preserved and unraveled so many mysteries out there," she walked toward the window with her hands on her shoulders the shifted toward him. "It is helping those from history that I like the most about my job not just making sure everyone understands them and they understand the paperwork."
"You will make a very fine captain," Fravis said, earning a bright smile from Linya. "Goodbye, Linya."
"Wait a minute," Linya said. "Wouldn't you like a friend to go down planet side with you tomorrow delta night?"
Fravis grimaced at the memory.
"I did leave that place on bad terms with the locals," Fravis said. "I like that," he made his way toward the door then shifted toward her. "If you need me, I will be in the civilian deck in room C02."
"I will find you there," Liny said.
"Good luck," Fravis said, then walked out through the doorway that opened before him.
Fravis leaves for a civilian quarters.
Linya held her wrist up, brought it close to her lips, and pressed on the green button. The green outlined button was set beside a set of long, black vertical lines part of a square object stitched into the sleeve which stood out against the white uniform.
"Long-space message, recipient Jake Presden, captain of the Saturn," Linya said. "Furagik douv bakendik dap Egolik Gegaga." Fravis will be heading to Mallis V.
There was static.
"Milink-ah kaup, nikika," Presden's voice came over. Thank you, friend. "Ja dive kaup." I owe you.
A square falling red ball struck the ground leaving behind a boom that shook the ground.
The camera went over the pieces of metal, circuits, and glass that was left behind between the smoke going toward a tight crevice then went down toward a red and silver glowing figure. The view came to a stop from above the relentlessly struggling bounty hunter. Ardous was grunting as he shoved himself forward, moving his knees up and his hands propping himself up climbing hole by hole. The long thin rows of light was pouring through the cavern. The light grew brighter until he were engulfed into it. Ardous popped out of the crevice landing on to the ground.
"Space gods,"
Ardous propped himself up with one hand on his knee then looked up.
"Is this a challenge?"
Ardous lowered his head.
"That I am not supposed to be the one to take this criminal in?"
Ardous sighed then looked on.
"If it's meant to be that way then it must,"
Ardous lifted his arm up then pressed on a few emotes that summoned a keyboard.
"Holo-map, activate," Ardous said.
A light blue map appeared above his forearm earning a smile from Ardous.
A/N To be continued in 'Unfinished legacy'.