"First lesson," Zach began, "your shackle will allow you to pass through, activate, and deactivate the forcefields located around the palace. Come, I'll demonstrate.

Smith followed Zach as he headed toward the transparent wall separating the living quarters from the courtyard and gardens outside. As they approached, the doctor could see that what he thought was a transparent wall was a shimmering forcefield.

"Walk through the forcefield," Zach commanded.

Smith hesitated a moment. He held a hand up and attempted to push against the barrier, but his hand passed right through. He took a few steps and found himself on the other side of the forcefield without experiencing any resistance. Zach put his hand up, as Smith had, and pushed against it, demonstrating that he was trapped inside. He gestured for Smith to come back inside, which he did.

Zach then gestured for Smith to show him the shackle. He pointed to various parts of the device and, using his own wrist, demonstrated gestures which he told Smith to mimic. Smith found the shackle would allow him to generate a personal forcefield, summon guards and aides, and even fire a small laser. He felt a tremendous sense of security and power with the shackle and with that security came confidence. Zach saw the look on the doctor's face and knew exactly what he was feeling. He'd felt the same with the shackle and, now, without the shackle, he felt vulnerable. But, such was the price of his freedom and he was willing to pay it.

After the short briefing on the shackle, the two Smiths made themselves comfortable in front of the enormous fireplace. Zach handed Smith a drink as he took a seat across from him. "Enough about me. What have you been up to, Zachary?"

"Let me think…" Smith thought for a moment, trying to remember which of his adventures with the Robinsons had occurred after Zach had departed. He took a sip from his drink, which he had previously likened to the nectar of the gods. "Ah, yes…" He proceeded to inform Zach of the time he had the platinum touch, his journey into the sixth dimension, his dalliances with Athena, his time as prisoner with Major West, his being possessed by ancient Draconians, his traveling back in time to Earth and choosing to sneak back onto the Jupiter 2 to save the Robinsons.

Smith went on and on, relating so many adventures. Each story was embellished, of course, with his usual flair. Zach listened with interest, somewhat envious of his twin's travels and adventures, wishing he could have traded his kingdom for life with Smith's adoptive family. He wondered if Zachary truly knew and appreciated what he had. Suddenly, Smith became quiet. He drained his glass and requested another drink. Zach grabbed the bottle from atop the bar and filled Smith's glass. Smith quickly took several gulps and then swirled the remaining liquid gently around the glass, staring deeply into it.

"So, where does that bring us to? Two or three years ago? What's happened since then?" Zach prodded. He knew Smith was debating whether or not to share the memories that currently occupied his mind. When Smith looked up at him, it was with haunted eyes. He quickly looked away and continued, resigned to the fact he would have to revisit some uncomfortable memories, "And then there was the time the Robinsons and Major West were captured by the Asmani…"

"The Asmani?! Andronican intelligence services briefed me about a successful coup on one of the worlds they had conquered. It came as welcome news, quite frankly. Andronican historians once told me that the Asmani have been trouble in this galaxy longer than written Andronican history has recorded. Were the Robinsons and Major West involved in that? Locus reported to me that they're all present. I hope there are no lasting scars, whether physical or emotional."

Smith smiled briefly. "They're all well," he confirmed. He paused to take another sip of his drink. "They weren't directly involved," he stated, "but they participated, along with many other prisoners."

A few moments of heavy silence passed before Zach spoke. "You said the Robinsons and Major West were captured. Where were you during all of this?"

Smith shifted uncomfortably in his seat, starting to feel as if he was being interrogated. He couldn't lie to Zach. He'd either see right through it, since he knew him so well, or he'd try to talk to the Robinsons about it to confirm his story. He didn't want these long buried memories dug up.

"Didn't you try to find them? To rescue them?" Zach asked.

Smith avoided Zach's gaze, preferring to stare at the contents of his glass some more. He didn't answer. He did not relish reliving those memories again. So much so, that he contemplated allowing Zach to believe he had been cowardly and left the Robinsons to their fate.

Zach began to wonder. Perhaps he was wrong about Zachary. Perhaps the Robinsons hadn't influenced him as much as he'd hoped. "You didn't, did you? Your sense of self-preservation led you to abandon them in their hour of need." Disappointed, he sighed. "Oh, Zachary…"

It was too much for Smith to bear, his own voice expressing disappointment in him. It was like listening to his conscience. Only he knew this time he had done something good, something noble, and something wholly out of character for him. Not only that, but he hadn't bragged about it. In fact, he had concealed it from the others, though Mrs. Robinson had somehow figured it out.

Zach continued to probe. He had to know where Smith stood with the Robinsons and whether or not their plan to switch places was such a good idea anymore. "Do the Robinsons mean anything to you?"

Smith set his empty glass on the coffee table. "They mean everything to me," he confessed, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Then why didn't you do something?"

"I never said I didn't," Smith replied.

Zach cocked his head to the side, trying to figure out why Smith was being so… evasive. In contrast to his twin, he decided to be direct, "What did you do?"

"You aren't going to let this drop until I tell you, are you?"

"I need to know what happened, in case there is any mention of the events by the Robinsons while I'm pretending to be you," Zach stated.

"The Robinsons don't know what I did."

Zach stood puzzling for a moment. Then it dawned on him. "Wait a minute. You said the Robinsons weren't directly involved in the uprising, but did participate. They were prisoners of the Asmani and as a result of the uprising, they were freed. Zachary, how did that uprising come about?"

Smith quickly suppressed a smirk as he remembered a bit of his handiwork. It did not go unnoticed by Zach, however, and his right eyebrow arched upwards. "My word, you've been busy, Zachary… I thought I knew what you were capable of, but this… this is far beyond my expectations. Why the silence? Are you afraid I will tell the Robinsons of your exploits? If that's your concern, I assure you I won't utter a word." Having shared Smith's earliest memories of life with the Robinsons, Zach was well aware of Smith's fear of them learning how capable he truly was and by extension, learning that he was responsible for their circumstances.

The doctor sighed heavily. "It's not just that," Smith confessed. "There are some painful memories associated with that… incident."

"I could tell something was weighing heavily upon you." Zach called upon his skills as a psychiatrist that he'd inherited from Smith and easily shifted into his professional persona. "Perhaps talking about it may help to ease this burden you've borne alone these many years."

Smith looked at Zach. He saw sincerity in his eyes.

"Alright," Smith agreed, though he felt a tad uncomfortable being the patient rather than the doctor.

"Now," Zach leaned back in his chair, "tell me everything."

"Everything?"

"Everything," Zach reiterated. "Agreed?"

Smith nodded, took a deep breath, and started at the beginning, recounting how he'd awoken from his illness to find the ship in disarray and the family gone. Over the next hour, Smith spoke honestly and freely, leaving nothing out.

Zach listened quietly, only speaking to prompt Smith to continue when the memories became painful. He was disturbed at what Smith had gone through, what violence he had experienced, what violence he had committed, in order to free his family. He no longer had any doubt what they meant to him.

When Smith finished, silence hung in the air for several moments before Zach spoke. "I'm sorry you had to go through that, Zachary."

"Don't be. I'm not. I did what I had to…"

Zach was in awe. As selfless and good as he was, he felt truly inadequate next to Smith's sacrifices. He suddenly felt any unease about their plans melt away.

"Zachary, if you can singlehandedly take down the most feared despot in the galaxy, running Andronica may be extremely boring by comparison."

Smith laughed and Zach was relieved to see the tension that had enveloped them for the past hour evaporate.

"I believe it's my turn," Zach stated. "You'll need to know what I've been up to, what's gone on in Andronican politics and my social circles in order to convince them you're me. First and foremost, Locus is my closest friend and confidant. She knew who you were when she first met you. She brought you to me at my request. If you find yourself in a bind, seek her help. I trust her with my life."

Zach described all of the important decisions he'd made as king since coming to Andronica and how he arrived at those decisions. He enumerated his social contacts and what they meant to him. Most importantly, he warned Smith who his enemies were and who he should be careful around.

"How does a goody-goody like you end up with enemies, Zach?" Smith teased.

"I am good and I am the King. That's usually enough reason." Zach retorted. "Besides, I know you're well acquainted with the mechanics of making enemies, Zachary. How long would I have to search back on Earth to find someone who wished you dead?"

"Not long," Smith admitted ruefully. "And you wouldn't have to search, dear Zach. You know who they are as well as I."

Zach smiled grimly and continued with his briefing. An hour or so later, he suggested they get ready for dinner. He brought his wrist to his mouth to contact Locus and inform her to ready the banquet, only to realize he no longer had the shackle. "Zachary," he pointed at his twin's wrist, "may I borrow the shackle for a moment?"

Smith obliged and Zach made arrangements to have Locus bring the Robinsons to the banquet hall shortly.

"Zach, as much as I hate the idea, in order for this ruse to work, you're going to have to stop calling me Zachary and I'm going to have to stop calling you Zach. The Robinsons will figure it out," Smith suggested.

"Yes, you're quite right. I'll have to call you 'Zach'," Zach replied.

Smith almost visible shuddered at the thought. "If you must," he replied with a sigh.

"Once you see the feast I've had prepared, I do believe you'll forgive me, dear brother, for the insult to your distinguished name," Zach smiled.

Smith brightened at the thought of a proper gourmet meal and the two got ready for the banquet.