The Robinsons were waiting to be transported to the Jupiter 2 when the announcement came over the line about the unexpected saucer and exchanged glances with the other on the unexpected development. The major was up front as the minutes were ticking by.
"Saucer?" Penny asked.
"That is really sudden." Judy said. "Could it be the Jupiter 1?"
"The Jupiter 2 was destroyed on site during the launch, children." John said. "Cameras caught her destruction."
"Alien invasion?" Maureen speculated then frowned. "First contact? What is going on out there?"
"The announcer said there is one saucer that has landed so it must be a greeting party from space for us to be the first Earthlings to leave Earth." Penny speculated.
"Or maybe," Don turned in the direction of the Robinsons. "They are going to do what was done with the Jupiter 1 but instead do this broad daylight."
"What would the point be in doing that?" Maureen asked.
"That would only start a war, darling." John replied to Maureen. "A very long and lasting war that would scars on every person's psyche."
"Don't forget that kind of war would relieve the planet of the additional population thriving," Don noted.
"Earth would recover from over population easily within this decade if the war would to start." Then John grimaced and so did Maureen over his comment.
"Would we die?" Penny asked, slightly afraid.
"No, no, no." Maureen said. "It isn't quite the solution to have bodies all over the place on a small matter."
"The United Defense Command Headquarters have plans and preparation for this event should the aliens take the first shot." Don noted.
"Who could the visitors be?" Judy asked. "Colonists, spies, invaders, travelers?"
"We won't know until the investigation has been done by the Military Police and announced by Alpha Control after we make it to Alpha Centauri." John said then exchanged a glance with the weary major on the designated moment of launch. "If all goes to plan."
"We will get there." Judy said. "People are just making a fuss about us leaving because 'it is not natural'."
"Those ignorant people think we can solve all our problems by warring with other nations." John folded his arms shaking his head in disappointment. "Thankfully, people have more intelligence and moral than to have wars about oil anymore."
"When was the last war about oil?" Will asked.
"Twenty-five years ago," Maureen beamed as she made her reply. "I recall that day." She smiled warmly, looking back, a memory coming to life that was so long ago. "I was a little girl back then, seeing people dance in the streets when the Berlin wall came down, when the CIA was disbanded, when we had democratic reforms in almost every manner of life."
"The United Nations of Earth." John said. "Used to be quite surreal to say when it was first announced."
"Who would have thought?" Don asked. "Despite all the natural ways of death, cancer, car accidents, murder, and all sorts of violent crime, that Earth would have over population problems without war looming over and terrorism."
"I don't think that war and terror had anything to do with population control." John said. "It has to do with everyone having children after the announcement."
"Almost everyone." Maureen chipped in. "The children back then were too young to have their own."
"Except for the children." John agreed with a lone nod and a small laugh.
The door to the waiting room was opened and Colonel Morrison entered the room.
"Robinsons, your launch is clear to go." Morrison said as relief fell upon the family.
"What about the aliens?" Penny asked.
"Are they just lost travelers?" Will added.
"We have certain assurance that they are not here to see it be sabotaged." Morrison replied.
"What kind of certainty can ease Alpha Control's fear of the unexpected?" Maureen asked.
Morrison stepped aside then pointed on toward the hallway with his brows lowered, furrowed together, as the sound of footsteps were heading their way. He motioned the Robinsons and the major to remained where they were as their eyes were kept on the space ahead of them. Distant laughter grew louder as did the volume of the footsteps headed their way.
"So, I said to the President of Karcia's British alien territory that no thanks. We're not returning Vulet and Branca just so they can be imprisoned for deciding not to get married to their bethrothed. They're not criminals!"
"Oh, but they are criminal at a game of cards!" Mason said. "So, captain, now that we're on Earth. . . Going to drop the Captain Robinson bit to live as Will Robinson?"
Will turned his attention upon Mason as they walked past the room that the Robinsons were in.
"Eh, it is possible given that there are thousands if not millions of people on this planet who's names are Will Robinson." Will's voice trailed back as he were followed by a group of people who were grinning as they followed him down the corridor.
The Robinsons were quiet as Don stepped out and leaned against the frame watching the group vanish before his eyes taking a turn.
"That's me."
The younger Will was the first to speak up ending the silence in the room.
"Yes, it is." Morrison said. "That's what I was able to gather from a visual scan."
"How old is he?" John asked.
"Sixty-three." Morrison said.
"SIXTY-THREE?" Don exclaimed as the Robinsons's eyes flashed open.
"That is almost fifty-three years in space." Judy said as John and Maureen's attention shifted toward Will in certain shock, confusion, and concern.
"Captain Robinson hasn't mentioned the specifics of his flight or how he was able to get here so we should refrain from assuming that he spent most of his life in space." The colonel explained.
"Where are they going?" John asked.
"To Military Housing for the time being." Morrison said. "They are taking the apartment that your family used to live in. General Squires is currently assembling a personal group of Military Police to do a sweep of the saucer. You'll have a nice flight."
Morrison smiled then walked away as John and Maureen went to the far off corner of the room.
"John, this is a sign." Maureen said.
"That what? We get off course?" John asked. "And try to get back home?"
"No," Maureen replied.
"Then what?" John furrowed his brows.
"That we get into a time warp and spend fifty years trying to reach Alpha Centauri." Maureen explained with reluctance and dread but quite simply. "John, we may have made the wrong choice deciding to take Penny and Will with us."
"Darling, he may have come from a timeline where he went after us in the next Jupiter to join us at Gamma in five years and something goes wrong." John's rebuttle silenced her as she mulled it over looking aside on the potential case. "Now, wouldn't it be not too bad if he got lost with us instead of on his own with his little sister?"
"I don't know." Maureen said then they looked back toward the children and their attention shifted toward the other. "But, I am scared."
John put a hand on the side of her shoulder and cupped the side of her shoulder.
"So am I." John said.
Maureen smiled as her eyes faced his eyes that were full of certain fear and unease about their flight.
"You're right, John." Maureen said. "It won't be half-bad if we get lost together instead of apart."
John grinned and all was right with the family once more.