Chapter 9

January 12, 2000

It's Dad's birthday in two days. I'm sure he and Mom will be taking a break and getting away for a day or two. Mom certainly deserves it. She's been working non-stop on the bacta project. Even though the bite wounds heal quickly, other wounds that aren't inflicted by the little creatures only healed a little bit faster when treated with just their saliva. Mom has finally isolated the enzyme that seems to have the healing properties. Her next step is to see if a large quantity of the enzyme alone will heal wounds. I know Don is putting a lot of faith into that being a possible answer to his paralysis. Using it for that purpose is just such a huge step away from where we are now. It could be years until we reach that point, if we ever do.

In the meantime, life goes on with its ups and downs. Don's moods are still ruled by his pain levels. Our 'meditation', which combines actively clearing his mind while we make love, has worked out fairly well for him, and wonderfully for me. It does reduce both of our stress levels, as long as I keep my mouth above his waist, that is. I wish he would let go of that last taboo. I know he's afraid of not controlling things, but I could deal with whatever happens. It's just an intimate act that I wish he would let me do for him. Actually, it's probably more for me than for him, so I should just let it go. Maybe someday that will change.


John and Maureen did indeed plan on going away, and decided on a two-night excursion, rather than the usual overnight. Maureen had been spending so much time on the bacta project, she felt guilty for neglecting her husband. John was more than happy to have her all to himself for two days. After a hearty breakfast, which was the main family celebration, they were off in the Chariot for their brief vacation.

Maureen left strict orders that no one was to touch the lab area while she was gone. Don did his best to conceal his disappointment, but he was anxious to determine if the enzyme alone would have a beneficial effect. Dr. Smith was aware of his frustration and so decided to take matters into his own hands. Feeling that he could complete the experiment in a much shorter time than Maureen, he presented his proposal to Don.

"Major West."

"You know, Zach, you can call me Don."

"Major West, I have a proposal for you. Mrs. Robinson has isolated enough of the enzyme to conduct more experiments. I believe we can get much done working together."

"Wait a minute, Smith. Maureen specifically directed that we not continue with any experimentation until she gets back."

"That is because she fears that we will discover the final answer without her. I see no harm in using a little bit of the enzyme to cover a small wound. It is simple and easy, as you know. She wouldn't even miss the amount of enzyme we use."

Don had his misgivings, but he was anxious to continue the work. "Okay, but just enough enzyme to see if it works. Agreed?"

"Agreed."

One small cut on Don's thigh was quickly done with a scalpel. To their delight, the enzyme worked as well on the cut as the saliva did on the animal bite. Don and Dr. Smith stared at each other in awe. "It works," they simultaneously whispered.

"I'll tell Maureen as soon as she gets back. I'd really like the next step to be on my spine. What do you think, Dr. Smith?"

"We could make medical history. Major. If we inject the enzyme directly into the nerve pathways, I would expect the nerves to be regenerated as easily as the skin was healed in our current experiment."

Judy had been listening to the two men without their awareness and marched into the galley to stop their musings immediately.

"Oh, no you don't. There are too many problems with what you're planning. How would you inject the enzyme in the right spot? You'd just be guessing about where the nerves are. Plus, how much enzyme would be needed? Would there be any side effects? Healing a cut in skin is one thing, regenerating spinal nerves is another. I won't let you do it."

Don attempted to sooth her. "Don't worry, Hon. We're just talking about the possibilities. I wouldn't do anything without Maureen's blessing."

"You better not. I'm going to bed. See you soon?"

"Sure."

Dr. Smith waited until she left the area, and then he leaned close to Don and placed a thought in his mind. "Do you really think Mrs. Robinson would ever agree to allow you to use your spine in her experiments? She is quite conservative, you know, and she would be far more concerned with causing more damage, rather than improving your current status. She would not allow you to bear the risk you would need to take. I, however, would be more than able to attempt the experiment. I will do needed research into the process tonight, and I would be ready to perform the procedure tomorrow, which allows you a day to recover before Dr. and Mrs. Robinson return. You would greet them standing on your feet, and that would override any concerns they would have had about not following their orders."

"I don't know, Smith. There are an awful lot of risks involved. We're both dead meat when Maureen gets back if things don't go well, not to mention having to deal with Judy's wrath."

"What could go wrong, Major? It either works and you improve, or it doesn't and you are no worse off than you are now. Sleep well, Major West. We will speak again on the morrow."


Maureen took the Jupiter2 through a textbook lift-off for the simulation. She was to perform a series of maneuvers designed to test her ability to navigate her way to another planet and land without destroying the ship. What Maureen didn't know was that Don was going to introduce an unexpected complication. As they approached their destination, they were sent a message that they did not have clearance to land, because they had not registered their vehicle properly. Maureen asked what could be done to correct the problem, and she was told that she would have to resubmit the correct information and wait three weeks until it was checked before they could land. Maureen gave her apologies, resubmitted the correct information… and returned to their original planet.

Don was incredulous. "Why did you come back?" he asked her.

"I didn't think we'd have enough fuel to wait in orbit for three weeks," she replied.

"But you used up almost all the fuel to come back! Besides that, fuel consumption is irrelevant in this scenario. You should have told them that you were going to land with or without the clearance, and straighten the registration out later."

"But that's not what they told me to do. I have to follow their rules."

"Maureen… sometimes rules need to be broken."

"Not by me."

Don awoke with a start. He had his answer. The clock read 0600 and he knew Judy would be asleep for at least another two hours. He kissed her on the cheek and slowly made his way out of the bed. He had a suspicion that Dr. Smith would be waiting for him in the medical bay. It was now or never.


Sitting on the edge of the diagnostic slab, Don needed a bit more reassurance before starting the procedure. "Okay, Zach. Let's go over it one more time."

Dr. Smith sniffed. "Now, Major. We have gone over it several times already."

"Humor me."

"I will give you a heavy sedative that will essentially render you unconscious through the entire process. Then I will use the MRI ring of the diagnostic tube to locate the exact point at which to administer the enzyme."

"How much of the enzyme are you using?"

"Two ccs for each injection."

"How many injections and where?"

"We have already covered this."

He received a glare and raised eyebrow in response.

"Two injections, one in sacral nerve three and one in sacral nerve four."

"And no 'delusions of grandeur', Zach. This is just a preliminary experiment. If it works, we'll be able to give Maureen the good news. If it doesn't, she'll still have plenty of enzyme left to keep experimenting. Got it?"

"Major, by this time tomorrow, you will be a virile young man begging me to complete the procedure on every damaged nerve. Ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be."

Dr. Smith administered the sedative and it wasn't long before Don's eyelids became heavy. An oxygen mask was placed over his nose and mouth, and he felt as if he were floating in a tank full of gel. His mind drifted, but his final thought was, 'Why do I have a bad feeling about this?'

Dr. Smith prepared the two needles. "Delusions of grandeur indeed! Why perform only two injections when ten would cure you. We'll start at lumbar nerve one and work our way down to sacral nerve five. You will thank me in the morning, Major."


As Judy poured herself a cup of coffee, she wondered where everyone was. Don had apparently awoken early and gone off somewhere. Dr. Smith wasn't in his room, but she found Penny and Will playing a game of chess against the Robot.

"Have any of you seen Don or Dr. Smith?"

"I thought they were still sleeping," Will offered.

"Do you want me to check the exercise room, Judy?" Penny asked.

The Robot interrupted.

"They are not in the exercise room, Judy Robinson. Dr. Smith entered the medical bay early this morning with strict instructions to let no one else enter except Major West."

Judy's eyes widened in horror. "Oh, no. You don't think they're…"

"When it comes to Dr. Smith, anything is possible."

Judy ran down to the medical area and tried to open the door, but it was locked. She banged on the door and shouted, "Let me in!"

Dr. Smith ignored her. He was barely part way through the procedure, having found that it was extremely difficult to determine if he had hit the nerve or not. He had just completed the lumbar five area. He wanted to complete the sacral nerves and then administer all ten injections a second time to improve the chances that he hit each nerve directly, even if it meant using up the rest of the enzyme. Visions of speaking on the Oprah Winfrey Show clouded his mind for a brief moment, but his daydream was rudely interrupted. Judy shot out the lock on the door with a laser pistol and stormed her way into the medical bay. She held the pistol up and threatened Dr. Smith.

"Don't you dare do another thing."

"Now, Judith, please take hold of yourself and put the pistol away. You know that I would never harm the good Major."

"I just might harm both of you if you don't stop what you're doing right now."

"But the procedure is almost complete. A few more injections, and he will be a new man."

Judy spread her legs into a shooting stance and held the laser with both hands.

Dr. Smith considered his options and decided that a woman holding a pistol was not to be toyed with and put his arms up in surrender.


January 15, 2000

I cannot believe what they did! How could Don trust Dr. Smith to put needles into his back! He wouldn't let him do acupuncture and now he lets him inject a syringe into his back! And not just once, but five times! What were they thinking? Oh, that's right. They weren't thinking! When he wakes up, I'm going to kill him.

A moan from the bed made her drop her journal. His hand tore the oxygen mask away from his face, and she attempted to put it back, but he pushed her hand away.

"Smith?" he groaned.

"He locked himself in his room, and he better stay there. I'm not letting him anywhere near you." She stared at him a minute more. "You promised me you wouldn't try anything until Mom got back."

He hadn't opened his eyes yet, as they were squeezed tightly in pain. "I… lied… and… I'm stupid."

"You got that right… What's your pain level?"

He grimaced. "… 20…"

"Don, you feel warm too. Let me give you some meds."

"What… the hell… did Smith do?"

"I thought you two were partners in this. Don't you know?"

"Supposed… to do 'S' three and four."

"Don, he was working on your lumbar area when I barged in."

He should have known. 'Stupid, stupid, stupid…'


Maureen was furious at both of them. She called Dr. Smith into the medical bay and let them both have a piece of her mind. They hung their heads down, waiting to be scolded.

"Explain yourselves, Gentlemen. I believe I left strict orders to wait until I returned before trying anything with the enzyme."

Dr. Smith attempted to absolve himself. "My dear Mrs. Robinson, the Major was quite anxious to determine if the enzyme would be a possible cure for him. I only offered my assistance."

Don, now sitting up, shook his head. "I agreed to it. It was my fault."

"Why couldn't you wait just two days?" Maureen asked.

"The enzyme worked, Maureen. I put some on a cut and it healed, just like the bite. Zach here was supposed to inject just two sacral nerves, not my whole damn spine." He glared at Dr. Smith, who took a step back away from the bed.

"You might have caused yourself more damage." She turned her attention back to Dr. Smith. "And you, Doctor. Whatever made you think you could find the nerve? And then to do more than you and he agreed to in the beginning? That is simply unethical!"

"I assure you, Mrs. Robinson, that my days as a neurologist are quite finished. Now, if I may, I'd like to retire for the night."

Maureen nodded and allowed him to leave, then turned her attention back to her son-in-law. "Don, I can understand Dr. Smith being so…"

"Delusional?"

"That's not exactly the word I was thinking of, but I'll accept that. I can't understand why you would put yourself in such a precarious situation. Trusting Dr. Smith to…"

He rubbed his eyes and interrupted. "I know, Maureen, I know… It was a stupid, risky move, but I thought it was my only chance. I mean, be honest. Do you think you would have ever reached the point of trying the enzyme on my back?"

"With the right medical equipment and medically trained personnel… yes."

"And where would we find that?"

"Marvenius."

That silenced him for a moment. She was right, but what was the likelihood that they would be welcome back to that planet anytime soon? "So all I have to do is wait until their revolution is over in about 10 years and hope that Kairon and his rebels are successful."

"All things in due time, Don."

"Patience is not one of my virtues."