Penny and Will came from the mirage that resembled a cluster of brown trees coated in that vanished once they came closer into the view. They were keeping pace with the Robot walking on looking around the familiar rocky and barren scenery. Will ran ahead of Penny. Penny ran ahead of the Robot. Their hopes visibly soared, brightly, making a path to the scene that had smoke still drifting from it. According to the Robot's sensors, there was a dying fire pit from within the campsite.

"Wait for me!" The Robot insisted, wheeling after the two.

"Doctor Smith?" the Robot overheard from Will.

"Doctor Smith?" Penny called. "Doctor Smith?"

"What happened to his tent?" Will said, observing the bare sticks of it only remained.

"And his sleeping bag is the only thing that has remained," Penny observed.

"It's like something snatched it," Will said.

"Or attacked his campsite," Penny added.

"I wonder what kind of trouble that he has fallen into this time," Will said.

"Look!" Penny picked up a familiar dark ring. "It's Doctor Smith's ring."

"He would never part with it," Will said, then looked down. "And his swiss army knife," Will picked it up by the red handle observing that it was closed. "His pocket watch, his handkerchief," and dusted away on the ground to reveal dark pants. Will picked it up then felt along the fabric to find any signs of staining. "Robot-"

"Negative," the Robot replied. "My sensors do not detect any form of violence occurred here."

"Why would Doctor Smith tear his pants off?" Penny asked.

Will had a shrug getting up to his feet taking the belongings into his pant pocket.

"This is very unlike him," Will said, then looked over his shoulder. "Do you hear that?"

Penny looked over.

"Hear what?" Penny asked. "I hear nothing. And you, Robot?"

"The source of this noise is currently unknown," the Robot said. "What do you think it is, Will Robinson?"

Will turned away.

"Ah, nothing," Will shook his head, then walked over toward the center and knelt down drawing Penny's attention. "Is this what I think it is?"

Penny's eyes had grown big staring down at the unusual foot prints placed side by side.

"Wolf prints," Penny said.

Will looked over toward the tent.

"The werewolf," Will said, standing up. "It's real."

"Space werewolf," Penny said, visibly disturbed. "I thought we had the last of them."

"Indeed," The Robot chimed in. "Werewolves are creatures that normally lurk in dark forests praying on the unsuspecting instead of the dreary, hot forsaken desert," the Robot hooked his claws together then turned away surveying the desert. "Quite out of character for them to be in a unfriendly environment." The Robot gestured a claw upwards into the sky. "No chance of survival for them in a place as this!"

Will and Penny looked toward the Robot.

"Robot," Penny started. "since when could you synthesize Doctor Smith's voice?"

"I cannot," the Robot said, his claws slinking back into his chest. "That was your imagination."

"That werewolf isn't one of Doctor Smith's fantastic nightmares this time," Will said, shaking his head searching for Smith's boot prints as he walked around the camp site carefully avoiding the wolf prints. "Let's tell the others."

The Robot was faced away from the camp site.

"Robot," Penny called. "Are you coming?"

The Robot turned toward her.

"On my way," The Robot faced the distance. "It sounds so close but so far away."

The Robot turned and joined the children as the camera began to move down toward the dirt moving forward going over the small pebbles then went over the shape of the foot prints making way into a tunnel that had a secured tent fabric blowing in and out. The fabric grew darker to the view until it was pitch black. Familiar snoring drew the camera closer until what could be seen was a curled resting figure that used one of their arms as a pillow. Fine, dark graying fur had grown overnight. The figure surrounded by what seemed to be a nest made of tree branches that had unique flowers wrapped around them.

"Smith!" Don called. "Smith!"

Don arrived to a familiar scene that Smith had once camped out in.

"Hasn't changed a day," Don said.

It had the bare skeletal remains of a spaceship with a storage bay that was in the back. The makeshift fire pit set in the center of the structure was left behind. It was now a black marking that hadn't left. Inside the structures were apple trees sprouting from green plants wrapped around the thick, yet thin structure. He looked into the abandoned spaceship to find nothing was there. The light from outside poured in to the room to show well aged material with cobwebs, corpses that seemed to be falling apart, and pieces of tech that were still in the process of aging.

"Smith!" Don called.

He surveyed the scene then walked right into it.

"Smith!" Don repeated.

The creature that had visited the Jupiter 2 campsite was no where in sight.

"I don't know what you are," Don started. "Or who you are, but if you have any idea where to find him, give a sign."

A rock came flying at Don hitting him on the side of his head.

"I didn't mean that way!" Don took out his laser pistol then looked around.

Don turned away then came out to find a nicely rounded dark brown rock.

"What could this mean?" Don wondered, out loud, staring at the item.

The door slammed shut behind him making Don jump whirring toward the closed door.

"Okay," Don placed the laser pistol into the holster. "If that's all you're giving me."

Don turned away then looked down toward the rock in his hand.

"A rock," Don said. "A rock," he laughed then looked at it going back at the events of the last year and rubbed his chin. "How many caves has he been in?"

Don walked away but came to a stop in his path then looked toward the apples. Don carefully harvested the apples placing them into his arms using a bucket that had been left behind as some help then lifted the bucket up by the handle and whistled lifting the heavy object away from the wreckage. He tossed one of the apples up and down in the air beginning to laugh.

Judy entered a cave, slowly, and carefully.

"It is very secluded," Judy noted. "I don't think he could have come in here."

Judy had a hand on her laser pistol holster.

"Hello?" Judy's voice echoed back as she carefully climbed down the path.

Judy looked around.

"Doctor Smith?" Judy called. "Are you here?"

Judy found material from Smith's one of many exiles in the corridor left untouched.

"Doctor Smith," Judy called, standing up taking the sleeping bag into her arms.

Judy observed several plastic cases that were empty strewn about the corridor. Don had insisted that he was given a rock. A rock could many anything when it came to the frantic, cowardly, greedy doctor. Someone who currently had to trade in his body after two hundred years after he is done using it. Never be able to used by the merchant. The thought that he was running for his life last night, screaming, searching for sanctuary made Judy's heart break.

If Don hadn't made that bet with Smith this all would have-

Judy loosened her hands.

"I made a bet with Smith before he left," Don said, during lunch.

"A bet?" Judy asked.

"Not a bet," Will argued. "It was a bargain."

"Uh huh. And I'm going to win," Don had a grin. "He is going to spend two months out there, taking care of his own campsite, without help, and handle his own problems. Figure his way out of it."

"What Don is thinking is a good idea," John admitted. "Springs Smith into action next time it happens again. The more reason for it to be a reminder of what he has to face if I tell him to stay there."

"I made a bet that if he stays out there for two months then I will do all is chores for a complete month after he comes back and he gets to . . ." Don paused. "Well, still use his hands."

"You didn't threaten him," Judy said.

"Did he?" Maureen asked, glancing toward John.

"I wanted him to think I would," Don said, sincerely. "I just implied that I would. He is going to break the bet in the next five days by coming running from a threat that he just made himself."

It was concerning on the sixth day when he didn't come running back. Will checked on the doctor through his scope to find that he was alive and well speaking to a traveler, having a good time, sometime after the space driller had left. The Robot's intricate sensors confirmed Will's observation. It was Smith's decision to stay out there, his alone, so they could not go after him and bring him back.

Plus, it was his punishment that was decided to be permanent after the lunch and Don was informed to end the bet. Don had but Smith acted as though it were still on with his activity reported by the Robot keeping the same distance as before. Judy was certain that her father wanted to believe the doctor was learning from his mistake. Smith didn't need help to get in the way because then he would never have a new perspective in their current situation. Everyone had to work together to survive. If no one worked together then they were all going to die.

Her father was right in that train of thought. It was the only way that he could ever learn and grow as a individual in space. Everyone expected Smith to defy John and come running in to the campsite but he didn't. It was quite unusual but the fact that John had presented comforted them to a degree even the report of the doctor's antics with the wildlife at night by surrounding his campsite in torches in the first week holding a stolen alien weapon watching for the creatures that lurked in the night that required human service or creatures that wanted a human in general.

Smith had to be hiding somewhere in the cave, relaxed, relieved, from having drawn the space werewolf into a tight space and was still regaining his bearings. Waiting out his time before returning to the outside world to dust himself off then retrieve his tent and try to put it back together on his way to the tent. Of course, Smith would reject their help and shoo them away as kindly (and as sternly as he could) while sparing a glance in between toward the professor and to the major.

"Doctor Smith!" Judy called.

Her voice only echoed in return.

"Are you there?" Judy asked, creeping close and closer toward the other tunnel.

Judy came to a stop placing her hand on the side of the wall.

"Doctor Smith?" Judy called.

Judy looked both ways anticipating for Smith to come running her way, out of breath, then fall against the wall with scratches on his hands in a dirty outfit. Dazed, even. Smith liked to be as dramatic as possible when came to reappearing. She waited, calling his name. Once again, she was met with her voice in return. Judy turned away from the corridor slowly making her way to the camping site that once belonged to the doctor. She went about it slowly gathering the belongings then retook the same trek back up holding everything in a knapsack. The others were making their searches in other of Smith's hide outs. Surely, they had to have come across him.

The scene opened up to the Robinsons gathering in the center of their campsite.

One by one they shook their heads.

"Eaten alive by a werewolf?" Don said. "That is worse than being destroyed by a laser blast."

"Affirmative," The Robot replied.

"That," John said. "Or he has taken up residence in another ship and refuses to leave because of the werewolf."

"Sounds a lot like him," Maureen said.

Penny looked toward the sky.

"Mom, dad, look!" Penny shouted.

The Robinsons looked up to see a white flash soaring down toward the planet shrinking in size.

"I got a feeling that has good news," Don said.

There was a loud noise and smoke drifted from ahead. The Robinsons went after the crashed landed object. They made it toward the crater that had been formed leading down away from the forest. The Robinsons surrounded the large message carrier. The Robot joined the group then everyone slanted it forward so that it faced upwards.

"It's up!" Judy announced.

The view screen was flickering, cracked, on and off sizzling in black and white colors as they came in front of it.

"What's wrong with it?" John asked, tilting his head.

Don smacked the top of the machine.

"Just being onry," Don said.

The screen stabilized.

"-Commander Gampu of Space Academy," Gampu said. "I wish I could take away your pain. I do. I really do. I deeply regret what my charges done," he shook his head with a tsk. "A apology cannot sooth over what you must be feeling and I will not apologize for them but instead I will let them do it."

Laura appeared on the small, square screen.

"Chris and I are really sorry about what happened," Laura said. "We didn't mean for that to happen."

Laura walked off.

"You never really know a person until they are in a vulnerable place," Gampu said, reappearing on the screen.

Gampu looked off, pausing, appearing to be regretful for a moment then shook his head and returned his attention toward them.

"Just know that I am thinking about you and praying for comfort for you and your family," Gampu said. "Most of all those prayers come from Planetary Control. I have made the necessary arrangements to make sure that it does not happen a second time," he held his hand up making a unusual gesture. "Good luck and godspeed, Robinsons," the hand was lowered. "End of transmission."

The screen flickered off to Gampu.

"I feel really bad," Laura said. "Getting the children into trouble?"

Gampu turned in the direction of the cadet.

"You didn't mean to," Gampu said.

"Should I. . . " Laura started.

"No," Gampu said, shaking his head. "It wouldn't be wise."

"Because that past will not have happened because we didn't go down there to do a surprise study," Laura stated. "One that scared off their doctor, children, and had a really bad misunderstanding."

"Yes," Gampu said, nodding.

"Thank the stars it won't," Laura said.

"We must close up that void and make sure it does not happen, again," Gampu said. "Get Professor Parsafoot and tell him to rig the time energizer to explode in the next thirty-three minutes," Gampu looked toward the machine, his eyes showing the hidden glee full of hope and optimism. "We are going to send it out to explode after this message has fallen through in order to close that void." He looked toward the cadet. "If we are to go through this void, it will be against our will or against the current laws of science."

"Oraco," Laura said, then walked off leaving him behind.

Gampu turned toward the closed hangar bay door.

The commander's demeanor visibly changed unlinking his hands from behind his back to clasping them into his lap appearing to be remorseful and regretful. He slowly shook his head. At the pain they were going to go through. Twenty-five people, according to the Robot, were only going to die during the ambush. Twenty-five had died.

It was a remarkable number, which meant that Tee Gar handled the situation well as the head physician and the other members of the team fulfilling their roles. Roles that Gampu had initially believed would never happen with the volume of lives in their hands even for the previous charges. He had a heavy sigh briefly closing his eyes. It wasn't fair putting ten thousand people at risk just for the sake of survival for a family. Could Blue Team 1 find it in their hearts to forgive him after the graduation? Gampu wasn't sure, looking back at his memory, this had to be the time loop that never happened. No crash landing across from his campsite. More than twenty-five people had died in the initial attack including him.

Or, it just hadn't happened because Gampu didn't make it so.

"I hope you can find it in your hearts to forgive me, Robinsons," Smith said. "But it is the only way to save you."

His hands moved from his lap to behind his back then Gampu walked toward the doorway.

"Those damn werewolves are parked outside the tent and refuse to leave!" Bahosky complained.

"They are one of our own," Sachun said. "we can't make them go away."

"They are not like us," Bahosky said.

"They are different is all," Sachun said. "Still the same people that we have known in the last few years."

"The hateful eight?" Bahosky asked.

"They haven't killed any of us," Sachun said.

"Yet," Bahosky said.

"They are still vegetarian," Sachun said.

"They are werewolves," Bahosky said.

"Don't say that!" Sachun said.

"That's what they are," Bahosky argued. "They are meat eaters now! You didn't saw them hunt together to take down several rabbits last night. Who knows what they are going to kill next. You didn't see them failing then getting better at each try. You didn't see them tackle a humanoid into the sand and eat them alive! YOU DIDN'T SEE THEM CHASE DOWN SOME SPACE FARMERS FLEEING INTO THEIR SHIP AND FLY AWAY. THEY ARE NOT THEMSELVES! And every time they kill, I see a little bit of them die being replaced by the creature they turned into!"

"They were starving," Sachun said.

"Starving for flesh," Bahosky replied.

"Food that we can't give," Sachun said.

"You admit it," Bahosky said.

"No," Sachun said. "Because they are too afraid to approach us."

"Coming from you?" Bahosky said, alarmed.

"I don't know if they can still speak our language," Sachun said, doubtfully.

"Our language isn't exactly understood by off-worlders," Bahosky said.

Sachun moved their head toward the outside.

"Those humanoids attacked them, and then, they had to eat them out of self defense. We all would have done the same." Sachun had a sigh. "They can be our protection against those who want to use us."

"Until we have to leave this planet?" Bahosky asked. "What then?"

"We will find a way to reverse it," Sachun said. "They are our friends."

"Space gods only know what would happen if we keep them unbound around humans," Bahosky said. "I doubt a group of us can keep them restrained."

"There is such thing as self-restraint," Sachun said, looking out the entrance.

"Self-control," Bahosky said, looking at Sachun in concern. "No-you're-not-considering-"

"I don't like the idea," Sachun said.

"Shackling them?" Bahosky said. "That is-" Bahosky shuddered, cringing, visibly bothered by the idea. "Barbaric!" Bahosky turned away from the darkening sky further into the tent then continued softly. "Even just to protect them."

"It's the ONLY WAY!" Suchun snapped, turning toward Bahosky with hands in fists. "We are not leaving without them!"