"We're there." John announced as the family came up front one morning.
The family stared out at the system in which Bronius was at. There were several planets that waited ahead of them. Instead of happiness to see a planet, it was excitement mixed being daunted by a challenge. Will had his eyes eyes set on the ball. Technically, balls. They were all balls that could conceal what he wanted to find for the last ten years.
The family sported scores of excited grins at reaching their destination.
"Remember when we were here once upon a time?" Maureen asked.
"How I remember." John said. "I can't exactly forget . . . when we were here; Smith wasn't there."
"This time he is here." Maureen said, warmly, but fondly.
"But, not quite." Don said. "He is a different person."
"We'll take that." Maureen said. "What planet could he be on?"
"There are dozens of worlds there," John said. "It will take us a year or two to find him in this system depending on the travel time between the planets. We'll start from the closets one."
"What is the travel time, dad?" Joshua asked.
"I take it's a month just to get to the first planet," Don said. "Third planet from this route will take easily two months to reach."
"Gosh!" Penny said. "That sounds pretty far!"
"It is." John said. "And we will need all the patience in the world."
"We can do it." Maureen said. "We have done it for ten years waiting to find him. We can wait a little longer."
"I can't wait to meet the new kid." Joshua said, planting his face along the port window and his younger sister joined him looking on.
"He will have less adventures to tell than we do." Judy noted.
"Maybe just as many." Penny said. "Bronius has been on the run from us for several years."
"And he won't understand why we've been chasing him." Don said.
"That depends on which memories he has started to regain from his time as Doctor Smith." John said. "We have to be careful about this."
"Very careful." Don said.
"How about I start the first search on each planet of this system?" Will suggested. "So, when I do come across him, we know directly how much memories he has left."
"If he runs away from you." John grimaced. "That is risky. But, you can catch up with him. Will, take a stun pistol with you so Bronius won't leave instantly."
"I will." Will nodded.
"What about us, grandpa?" Eddie asked.
"Us telling some stories about Doctor Smith that we have been holding back for this very special occasion." John said. "Your grandmother has quite a few of her own to tell."
"Can you, grandma?" Eddie and Joshua plead.
"Yes." Maureen said with a nod as she laughed. "Right down in the residential deck."
The children cheered and Will grinned looking on toward the series of planets laid before him.
This time, he sensed that Isaac was on one of them and he wasn't going to escape out of their grasps this time around.
He was certain of that as everyone went to the lower decks.
What the most agonizing part about it was to Will; being not certain if his old friend would approach him or run away screaming out of fear.
