It had been a long time since Bolix stepped foot on the planet that Earthlings called 'Priplanus'.
Bolix had his hands on his hips looking out toward the scenery that seemed to be barren at first glance.
"I can't believe I had to do a favor for a king," Bolix said.
The last time that Bolix visited came with results that he didn't like to recall. Escaping without the stolen loot, without the willing accomplices, and the human with the platinum touch wearing the unremovable ring. Could have taken away the officer's life with a single touch. He looked around searching for signs of a battle that had occurred just as had the insistent message said. Something about sensing something was very wrong like a disaster had struck above the planet. That the well known castaways needed some attending. HQ based on Tauron had a personal visit from the king of Andronica yesterday after the messages were ignored.
The crew of the Jupiter 2 was always in trouble. Which is a typical state of being for lost space colonists raging against the final frontier. The very same family who had reportedly exiled the trouble making member one month and two weeks ago. Trouble seemed to stop being caused by the older man but not as much for the Robinsons. The rate of trouble didn't decrease or increase for the Robinsons, it seemed to remain the same. The rate of trouble decreased for the doctor to the point of minor offenses. Smith stole a number of items and clothing from visitors but the charges were never pursued as he was a member of a planet that hadn't quite yet joined the federation. Same applied to the Robinsons. Bolix spotted a young man headed his way looking over his shoulder then back the way that he was going.
"Hold!" Bolix said. "What's going on here?" Bolix observed the man's features. "Ah, Major West."
"There is two werewolves fighting and you better go back to your ship before you get caught into it," Don said.
"Werewolves?" Bolix asked, placing his hands on to his hips raising a brow. "On this planet?"
"Yes," Don said. "Smith was turned into one by the captain of the Coneheads."
Bolix laughed then grew serious.
"KaraQ?" Bolix asked. "The blonde fellow who doesn't look right?"
"Yes!" Don said. "Run for your life!"
Don ran past the officer who faced the direction that the man was fleeing from.
"I got him just right where I want him," Bolix said, confidently. He returned to his ship then placed his hand on the threshold leaning in. "Officers, we got KaraQ De Sanchausus on this planet! Going to need to be restrained and the cell booth taken out."
Bolix looked over listening to the sound of howling in the daylight then hopped into the ship and the door closed behind him.
"Hide!" Don called, drawing Maureen and Judy's attention. "WEREWOLVES ON THE LOOSE!"
Will ran into the Jupiter 2 followed by Penny who was holding on to Debbie in her arms.
Maureen turned on the forcefield then ran in after others closing the door from behind the other members of the family.
The two sets of doors closed to the Jupiter 2.
The Robinsons went to the power core of the super spaceship. The Jupiter 2 was silent. The Robot had came to a stop in front of the Jupiter 2 then turned in the direction of the oncoming blonde werewolf. The Robinsons heard the sound of the Robot calling "Danger, danger!" loudly and clearly that it echoed throughout the Jupiter 2. The Robot's voice grew distant. A feeling of deja vu washed over Will. Hiding from danger within the Jupiter 2 waiting for it to pass. Everyone was holding their breaths with their backs pressed against the wall. The sound of claws digging into the metal was easily loud enough to be overheard in between growling, groaning, and what sounded to be barking. The sounds stopped abruptly replaced by whimpering.
Don was the first one out of the power core making his way up the second ladder to the bridge. Don crept closer toward the hatch door until that he were by the primary window to the hatch door. From the hatch window, Don saw there was a large hole within the second door. Through the hole there was a sight that drew his relief and took out the concern about the blonde werewolf. KaraQ's figure laid on the dirt shielding themselves as Smith stood over. Smith knelt down then the many arms grasped on to their figure then tossed them away leaving a trail of green blood behind. KaraQ struggled to get up to their feet but fell down to their knees with a yelp. Smith was heaving, hard, groaning, in front of the creature.
"Freeze!" Bolix shouted.
Don took out his laser pistol then aimed it at Bolix before he could finish as the standing werewolf froze where it stood.
"No," Don said. "You freeze," his index finger laid on the trigger. "You're not going without a deal."
"I don't make deals with accomplices!" Bolix replied.
"You do now," Don said. "You help us and we help you."
Bolix had a long stare back at the pilot.
"You want me to believe you can control this situation?" Bolix asked.
"I am in the position to negotiate," Don said.
"How can you with a werewolf?" Bolix said. "He is wild and he needs to be put down!"
"But you can help that fellow over there?" Don asked, gesturing his head toward the injured blonde werewolf.
Bolix grit his teeth.
"You don't need to lose some good officers over a disagreement."
Bolix looked over in the direction of the werewolf that turned toward him with a groan that made him become horrified but retain his stoic face.
"How long has he been this way?" Bolix asked, as the creature turned away from the blonde whimpering body.
"Two weeks," Don said.
"Why are you so certain there is still some bit of your friend in there?" Bolix asked. "This experiment is known to have people lost to the madness after two weeks!"
"I know him a lot better than you do," Don's eyes bolted toward the werewolf across from him that was looking back and forth.
Don could see there was a fight going on, painfully, in the creature's eyes.
"Well," Bolix looked over, as the Robinsons gathered toward the doorway. "How many are there that need help?"
"Twelve," Don said, hearing a snarl then looked toward the dark werewolf. "Bad dog, sit!"
The werewolf promptly sat down with a pained whimper.
"Not bad," Bolix said. "For a werewolf caretaker."
Don looked toward Bolix.
"What are the side effects?" Don asked.
Bolix looked toward the werewolves.
"If he has been a werewolf for two weeks, that's a lot of psychiatric help that I don't think you can afford," Bolix said. "It requires a slow transformation in increments in a simulated environment protected by a forcefield and being left alone for long periods of time, being spoken to, but otherwise most of the werewolf episode won't be remembered. It will be a simple box that will take many lifetimes to open with its own can of worms."
Judy ran forward.
"How many gold pieces do you need?" Judy asked.
Bolix looked toward the matriarch then toward the blonde woman taking pity on her,
"That will be two hundred sixty-three, ma'am," Bolix said.
Judy took out the sack that the Robot had given her earlier.
"We have three hundred coins," Judy said.
"We can use what is left of it for Monopoly," Will said.
"We counted it as a team," Penny perked up while Don was in the background giving the werewolf commands that were being obeyed.
"I collected it!" The Robot said, waving a claw. "Someone, help me up."
The Robinsons laughed then walked over toward the Robot. It was at that exact moment did the black werewolf lunge forward. Don bolted to the side and aimed for the left shoulder as it snarled at him. Don pressed on to the trigger. The graying werewolf cried out stumbling to the floor landing to its side then fled the Jupiter 2 campsite as Bolix fired after the creature that left the blonde werewolf behind. Maureen and the Robot restricted the children from fleeing. The Robot lowered his arms. Don walked over to the blonde werewolf then turned toward Bolix.
"You're not getting him alive unless you help us," Don said.
Maureen and Judy took out their laser pistols from their pistol holsters aiming at the creatures behind Bolix.
"We weren't didn't have a reason this time to threaten you," Maureen said. "But we are now."
Will and Penny returned to the campsite with Judy. Will walked ahead of his sister making his way toward the area the Robot had stated earlier before departing with Bolix and his men to find the places where the other werewolves were hidden. The snoring grew loud and louder with each step until fell feet first into a den. He came to a stop mere feet away from the resting werewolf then backed out with fear in his eyes. The fear was brief, quickly leaving him alone once realizing the werewolf was not awake.
"Are you okay, Will?" Judy called.
"Fine!" Will said. "I found Doctor Smith!"
Judy placed a hand on to the handle of her laser pistol.
"Get back up here!" Judy called.
"Quickly!" Penny hollered, resting on the ground on her legs.
Will looked up then back down observing the dead flowers scattered on the pieces of tree branches.
Will reached his hand out scattering aside the tree branches.
"It's alright," Will said. "It's me, Will," the eyes were slowly opening. "I won't hurt you."
One of the many light blue eyes opened then the creature shrunk back.
The graying werewolf turned away with a grunt landing to the ground then fell back asleep.
"We are going to catch the others by a force net," Will said. "After we find KaraQ's ship which is what mom and Don are helping Officer Bolix."
His hands were wrapped around his legs.
"Will, come back up here!" Judy called, her tone sounding very concerned and scared.
"I am coming!" Will called.
The werewolf shifted in its sleep.
Will looked toward the resting werewolf.
"I have a lot to tell you about the last two aliens who came by this week," Will said. "Ones that you missed. Now, I know you are going to deny it but it was you looking out for us," Will shook his hand. "Those aliens came across mom and dad." Will looked on toward the snoring creature. "You did your best, Doctor Smith. Let us help you this time around."
Will reached his hand out toward the creature's fur then placed his hand on it. The air became sharp and tense from inside the den. From within there was a silent scream to run into the arms of his siblings and run away. A dark feeling settled in making Will freeze. His hand had grasped on to the werewolf's lower shoulder peeking out from below in a lazy way. The hair on the werewolf raised as growling came. Will got to his feet then quickly climbed up the hole being beckoned by his siblings reaching their hands out for him. The werewolf tugged at the boy's boots grasping on to them.
Will kicked his legs down against the werewolf with a terrified scream looking down in the face of the threatening alien then unexpectedly the strong grasp let go of the boots and retreated into the den. Will turned his attention away crawling up further through the hole. Penny and Judy grabbed on to his hands then pried him out of the hole. The group ran fast as they could until Will fell to his feet then helped him back up to his feet and resumed running away.
"Finding KaraQ's vessel is the top priority," Bolix said.
"And you can't find it," Maureen said.
"No, it's just-" Bolix started to say.
"Very well hidden," Maureen cut him off.
"Out of our range," Bolix admitted. "Camouflaged. It has to be."
"And you think that we can find it," Maureen said.
"You know this planet better than anyone," Bolix said. "You searched it once without considering if its covered up."
"And here I thought Quano's father knew it better than us," Maureen said, surprised.
"We are on shaky grounds with them," Bolix said.
"How shaky is it, officer?" Maureen asked.
"Quano, the acting king of this planet, and King Smith requires that if I cause a scene then they will personally take my badge," Bolix said. "In half! And make sure my image becomes tarnished," A small smile slowly grew on Maureen's face. "They don't want to cooperate when it comes to problems that isn't theirs. They insist that I don't cause a scene. Being threatened by kings," he folded his arms. "I am not a personal investigator."
"It seems you are," Maureen said, as Will whispered to the Robot in the background. "We have done our searching and we can't find the ship."
"We have found the werewolves," Bolix said. "We just are not looking hard enough," he placed his hands on to his holster with a apologetic look on his face. "It seems I can't be of any he-"
"Officer Bolix," the Robot wheeled forward cutting off Bolix. "It has been brought to my attention that you haven't considered that your fugitive hasn't been tested if some part of them remain."
"Yes," Bolix said.
"I recommend you test that theory," The Robot said.
"And get my men infected?" Bolix turned away with a shake of his head then began to walk from the campsite. "No!"
The Robot's claws ejected out of the chest then bolted in front of Bolix while cackling electricity.
"I will not let you leave this planet without testing that theory," The Robot said. "Play follow the leader."
Bolix looked over toward the Robinsons then back toward the Robot.
"How do you suggest I follow the prisoner without being attacked?" Bolix asked.
The Robot made loud sounds then lowered his head.
"There is a cosmic sand pit that turns people invisible," the Robot said. "'Abnormal compared to most cosmic sand pits on Priplanus."
"But you will need to be silent," Maureen said, coming forward. "That way it doesn't get alarmed."
"Until morning," the Robot added. "You have so long to do it."
"Please, direct me," Bolix said.
"I can't," Maureen said, then looked over toward Will. "But he can. Will, come over here," Will approached them. "Officer Bolix needs a guide tonight."
"Alright," Will said, then looked toward Bolix. "Where do you need to go?"
Night descended upon the surface of Priplanus.
The Jupiter 2 was warm and waiting in the distance.
Maureen was resting in a chair in front of the astrogator holding on to her laser pistol across from John's frozen figure.
Will was leading the officer through the forest guided by his trusted companion then abruptly knelt down and picked up the laser pistol partially covered by dirt. Bolix looked at the boy, out of habit, suspiciously. Will looked over toward the officer then beckoned him over. With some hesitation and reminding himself what was at stake, Bolix continued to follow the boy with his officers tagging behind. Will stopped then turned toward him and walked right past the officer that was blindsiding.
"Where are you going?" Bolix asked, bewildered turning toward the boy placing a hand on his shoulder making him stop in his tracks.
"Home," Will said.
"You haven't brought me to where your mother said," Bolix said, sharply.
The Robot turned toward Bolix.
"Negative," the Robot said. "He has."
"Just jump into the cosmic sand pit behind you," Will said, Bolix's hand let go of his shoulder. "It's going to be alright."
Bolix turned in the direction of the pit that lay in front of him then looked on reluctantly feeling uneasy.
His feet had become cold and hard as a statue staring down upon fear.
Cosmic sand pits were unpredictable and dangerous.
A chance that has to be taken, Bolix considered, for justice. Justice always prevails.
Bolix closed his eyes then jumped into the cosmic sand pit but his feet met the ground. His eyes opened looking down upon his boots to find they were on the ground. Instead of being trapped somewhere else, let alone on another planet, Bolix began to look up finding himself standing behind his men who appeared to be looking around for him.
"Men!" The officers stood upright then turned in his direction. "We got a fugitive to follow! In you go."