A few days passed on the little planet that didn't have a name. It was Locksmith who insisted on calling the planet 'Afterstep'. Will and Penny were exploring the landscape of the unusual planet that had tall towering trees with B-9 and Locksmith tagging behind them bickering in the background about a film they had watched earlier. Will could only pause every so often then turn and face them, to be certain that he wasn't hearing two men talking, but a man and a machine that couldn't have been made on a space faring civilization. He stared at them for a few minutes as his mind wrapped around the unusual aspect of it all.

The older man collected rocks and slipped them into his rocks. Will noticed that the pieces that he selectively chose were dark gray and white among the collection of pebbles they came across. They were rounded and flat to the touch like their counterparts. Yet, the older man would neglect the off colored pebbles. He would find the super glue missing on some days when checking the supplies cabinet and later, upon a further check, the super glue was back where it had been. It began to make the boy wonder where he was hiding his invention and what he was making. So one day, he tagged after the older man into the forest.

"What are you doing?"

The older man jumped aside with a yelp then hid behind Robot.

"You!" Locksmith cried then frowned and put a hand on his chest with a sigh. "You gave me quite the fright."

Will looked down then spotted on the cut down tree trunk with a top was a primitively made chessboard. It was made of twigs, small sticks, and parts of tree bark. On both sides of the primitive chess board were pieces that were normally used for the game of chess - except it was made of small and tiny pieces of rock put together with care - back on Earth. The care and detail that went into them easily told Will why he had been with the environmental in a tunnel only yesterday. Specific carved pieces of rock of the type could be found in a source full of them. He stared at the invention for a single moment then glanced up toward the two curiously then tilted his head.

"Is that a chess set you have been making?" Will asked.

"Yes." Locksmith said. "For mindless games. I almost got it done. Just need one white pebble and the chess pad is done."

"Like this one?" Will asked holding it out.

"Yes," Locksmith raised his gaze up toward the twelve year old who withdrew his hand. "Will. . . What is it you want in exchange for the pebble?"

"Are you going to share it with my family?" Will asked.

Locksmith smiled as the tension in his shoulders loosened.

"That is my intentions," Locksmith said. "I have been making it as a surprise."

Will looked toward B-9.

"There are dangerous creatures in the forest," B-9 said. "I could not let him just go out alone."

Will held the pebble out then Locksmith squirted in a pool of super glue and placed the pebble in to the board squishing the pebble in.

"And she is done!" Locksmith clapped his hands together. "All we have to do is wait a few hours and keep it hidden here for the time being."

Robot placed a tree branch on to the board.

"Do you like playing racquet ball?" B-9 asked.

Will looked from B-9 to Locksmith.

"You have made a net?" Will asked.

"Out of sticks," Locksmith said. "Primitive."

"It wasn't easy," B-9 said.

"We prevailed!" Locksmith said.

"After a night of working on it!" B-9 said.

"You worked on this overnight . . ." Will said.

"Yes." The two answered at once.

"You are the weirdest aliens I have met and that is saying a lot." Will folded his arms. "Do you make things like this a lot back with your family?"

"My back was gracious for me," Locksmith said. "A rare spell of bloom."

"Would you like to play racquet ball with us, Will?" Robot asked.

"I like that." Will said. "I haven't played that game in ages since we left Earth."

"Why don't we get the rest of your family involved?" Locksmith suggested pointing over his shoulder. "The racquet ball court is in a section nearby the space van."

"That is a good idea." Will said.

"This way." B-9 said then lead them away.

The Robinsons were torn away from their campsite the following afternoon.

It was Don and Judy who found cones to turn into racquet balls for the effort.

They brought drinks and snacks then set about having a picnic in the forest. John and Maureen were laughing on the hill overlooking their children. It was nice to see Maureen be happy when it came to the man. A glint of happiness from a trying and troubling time that had dangerous events threatening his family on a scale of danger down to threat levels that could be lived alongside.

If he cared to admit; he liked this planet with its relatively low threat levels. Threat levels that existed for camping. Threat levels that didn't feature intimidating cybernetic and sometimes organic mixed beings threatening the ship and leave a trail of destruction behind. Events that posed them to making decisions that weren't light and belonged to officers instead of colonists. His concern for their mental well being melted when he looked down spotting Judy and Don throwing the impromptu birdy at each other while Will was having a fit of laughter as his birdy flew over Penny's head then struck Robot's helm and flew back at him. Locksmith cowered behind Robot eating a sandwich.

"Not bad for a family outing, isn't it?" John asked.

Maureen shook her head with a smile.

"I haven't seen them have this fun in a long time." Maureen said.

The older man and Will played chess before dinner.

Will's mind was sharp and bursting with energy contemplating his strategy.

B-9 was silent as he overlooked them during the two eventful but tense hours.

John paused in the middle of cooking stew then looked on observing the chess pieces flying with stealth and effectiveness slapping their hands on a small item that resembled a clock. They relaxed against their chairs, contemplating, how to best make their moves. And the older man was being challenged by the younger boy's intelligence. Slowly, the family gathered behind them watching the game go with intrigued. John loudly laughed once Will caught the older man's queen and Locksmith's jaw fell in shock and his eyebrows raised.

"Check and mate, Doctor Locksmith." Will said, wiggling the queen, as the older man stroked his chin.

"That's my boy!" John said and the others chimed in laughter.

"Oh heavens," Locksmith said, sliding his hand further up his face. "Where did I go wrong?"

"Dinner is ready in the next five minutes," John said. "Set the table."

Locksmith picked up the pieces of the puzzle with Will's help then he took the puzzle in.

"Hey Doctor, we're watching Back to The Past for family night."

Robot and Locksmith turned at once with a head bobbed raising up and eyes widening open once dinner had concluded as the others went to the space van.

"I would love to watch it," Locksmith replied as he cooled his demeanor down. "But I have lived that kind of situation. And I don't intend to watch someone in that."

"How long?" Penny asked.

"A while." Locksmith replied, softly.

"How long of a while?" Penny prodded.

Locksmith grimaced, images flashing before his eyes, wincing.

"Yes, Doctor Locksmith." B-9 joined. "How long were you in the time loop?"

"He hasn't told you?" Penny asked.

"Negative." B-9 replied. "He has refused to discuss it."

Penny took a few steps forward.

"I disturbed a time loop once." Penny said coming to his side then watched him wince. "I had to fix it."

"I was stopped before I could." Locksmith said. "But the mistake was already made. The mistake of traveling in time."

"So it wasn't just once." Penny said. "I can't imagine having to do that. Not for forever. Just to get home."

Locksmith was quiet looking down upon the garden.

"A trillion years." Locksmith said.

"Forever." Penny said, horrified.

"I made big variations at first." Then Locksmith had a short laugh sliding in the chair. "Rookie mistake as a time traveler."

"How big of these variations were they?" Penny asked.

"Secret truths were uncovered. My greatest nightmares came to be realized," Locksmith said. "Weren't as kind to me in those. Had every right to be furious at me. I forgave them for reacting the way that they did just as they did for me time and time again. I learned from my mistakes and made tiny variations of the timeline I was from." he shrugged. "Perhaps these variations are wondering if I will ever come back."

"You never did go back to them." Penny said.

"Yes." Was his small reply. "I may not have been with the originals. But, they are thoroughly close enough to consider them my family regardless of the small differences in their recollection of the adventure. Because they make it home for me." Penny began to nod in understanding of his reply as she turned away absorbing in the reply. "It would be a empty endeavor trying to rescue me for those variations."

Penny turned toward the older man.

"How did you time travel?" Penny asked. "Tunnel in time? Doorway in time? Getting naked and traveling in time?"

Locksmith raised his head up as Robot bobbed his helmet up in shock.

"Good heavens, that last part is truly disturbing my dear!"

Penny nodded.

"So . . . you went with your clothes on."

Locksmith went over to the garden.

"Yes." Locksmith said.

"How?" Penny asked, a second time.

"That is a secret better left unspoken." He knelt down then picked up a dandelion out of the trench of the rapidly growing garden and discarded it to the side then dusted his hands off. "I jumped into a younger version of myself every three years."

"Like Quantum Leap?" Penny said.

"Yes, like Quantum Leap." Locksmith said with a small smile. "I was returned after I had lived the one trillionth time loop." His small smile became matched with fondness at a memory. "You can't imagine how relieved I was to see them again."

"I could hardly tell you were relieved!" B-9 said. "You let the professor believe you relived a entire year and a half."

"It's better that way." Locksmith said. "My dear," he turned his attention upon Penny. "I am going out on a walk with Debbie the bloop. I will be back, shortly."

"Okay." Penny said.

"And YOU stay!" Locksmith pointed at B-9. "I will see you, later."

And Locksmith walked away.

"What are the details of the time loop, B-9?" John asked.

That was a question that silenced B-9 as everyone faced him. The holoprojector was set up from the top of the space van under the cloak of night. Robot had some pause before answering the loaded question. He whirred toward Will then emulated a sigh as he turned toward the man.

"He didn't order you not to tell us so you are free." John said.

Robot bobbed his helm up.

"I do not believe this information is factual." B-9 said.

"Why?" John asked.

"He has not confirmed my speculation." B-9 said.

"Tell us anyway." Maureen said. "Theory is all we have."

B-9 started, carefully, leaving no stone uncovered. He spent several hours at this going over the loop into significant detail and the holoprojector was put away for the night. He talked late into the next morning with the Robinsons being attentive listening to him absorbing in the stories. Will leaned forward as did Don wearing expressions that were incredulous. Judy's brows raised further up until they reached their breaking point then lowered. Finally, Robot came to a end then members of the family began to get up to their feet.

"B-9, that is three years." Don was the first to say. "Not a day. That is worse than Groundhog Day. And painful."

B-9 twirled toward Don.

"It is." B-9 said. "Excuse me, I have to pick Doctor Locksmith up."

B-9 wheeled away from the Robinsons.