Chapter 2
The Robinsons and Major West were fascinated by the alien and the tales he told of his explorations and of his home world. They learned his species called themselves the Vilkai. They called him Kai for short, since his own name was unpronounceable.
Kai spent many hours with the Robot, learning English to facilitate communication with the others, especially when the Robot was not available. Kai also taught the Robot the intricacies of his language as well, for the humans' reference.
When he was not busy studying with the Robot, the alien made himself useful around the camp, helping in whatever capacity he could, which the Robinsons greatly appreciated. Not only did Kai pull his own weight, he gathered his own food and retrieved his own water from nearby streams. He quickly endeared himself to the Robinsons and Major West, which irritated Doctor Smith to no end.
Smith didn't trust Kai. He couldn't articulate why. He suspected the alien had ulterior motives. It wasn't just a dislike for the way Kai made him look bad to the Robinsons in comparison, though that certainly did irk the doctor. It wasn't just the alien's intimidating appearance. It was a gut instinct, something he'd come to rely on and which had kept him alive on more than one occasion. Perhaps his subconscious had picked up on something and clues to what that was hadn't yet completely bubbled up into his conscious mind. Whatever it was, the feeling gnawed at him and he hated it. He couldn't bring his suspicions to the Professor, as he had no evidence to back up these feelings. He knew it would be seen solely as resentment on his part. Smith felt Kai was definitely up to something and he had to find out what.
Kai was wary of Doctor Smith as well. That human seemed different from the others, less trusting and less open. He felt certain the doctor suspected him of less than honorable intentions. The doctor was right. While the others accepted Smith, Kai observed there were tensions underlying their relationship with him. He would use that to his advantage, especially if the doctor became a threat to his plans.
Smith's feelings became rather evident to the others in the way he avoided contact with the alien whenever possible. Since the alien was most often with the Robinsons, Smith found himself somewhat isolated. He felt lonely. And since the alien, more often than not, held the children's attention instead of him, he also felt replaced.
It bothered Smith that the Robinsons and West placed more trust in the alien than they did in him. In fact, it wounded him more than he cared to admit. He was sure the alien was up to no good, but what scared him even more than that was the prospect that the alien was exactly what he portrayed himself to be. Where would that leave him? Out in the cold, most likely.
In some areas, Kai had advanced technical knowledge, though the systems of his ship were nowhere near as sophisticated as those of the Jupiter 2. He helped the Professor and Major build a machine to refine deutronium even better than their current capabilities allowed. This would be a great boost to the ship's fuel efficiency. The Professor and Major were thrilled with both their new machine and with the alien who'd taught them how to build it. Kai was becoming an invaluable asset.
Smith began to follow the alien around, to spy on him in hopes of finding out his true motives. On one particular afternoon, he followed Kai into a nearby valley where the alien was hunting. The alien had gotten close to a large herbivore in the tall grass and pounced on it. From Smith's vantage point, it appeared that Kai sank his teeth into the creature and it quickly gave up the struggle. That puzzled the doctor, as from what he'd seen, Kai's teeth weren't that formidable.
Smith waited for the alien to pull tools from his bag to start field dressing the animal, but that's not what happened. Instead, the alien tore open the creature with his razor-sharp claws and began eating the meat raw. Small scavengers attempted to steal some for themselves, but the alien was unwilling to share a single morsel. If they came too close, Kai snatched them up and bit off their heads. Smith was so shocked by the sight that he gasped. Kai must have heard him, as he turned his head in the doctor's direction. Smith darted out of sight and tried to calm himself, but Kai's gruesome, bloody visage wouldn't leave his mind. Kai went back to messily eating his meal and when he was done, he carved out more meat with his claws to pack and bring back to camp with him.
It was clear to Smith that no matter what the alien's intentions, he was dangerous and not to be trifled with. Though it was against his nature, he took to wearing a laser pistol on his hip at all times, which raised a few eyebrows among his companions. Curiosity got the better of the Professor and he asked Smith about it.
"Doctor Smith, if you don't mind my asking, why are you suddenly carrying a pistol with you everywhere you go?"
Smith, knowing the Professor's fondness for Kai and not yet having the evidence to convict the alien, answered cryptically. "Professor, if you had seen what I had, you would carry one too. In fact, perhaps you should start."
Before the Professor could ask just what the doctor had seen, Smith stalked off to his cabin. The Professor shrugged and explained it away to one of Smith's many moods.
West, who had observed the exchange, walked up to the Professor. "What's with Smith?"
"He's in one of his moods again," the Professor answered.
The Major shook his head. "I don't know, John. It seems to me something has him spooked. And when Smith's spooked, he talks. He talks a LOT. The fact that he's not talking bothers me. The fact that he feels the need to carry a weapon bothers me even more."
The Professor stroked his chin in thought and nodded. "You're right. Perhaps I should have a more in depth talk with the doctor." He left the Major and went below, to the doctor's cabin. He knocked and Smith permitted him entrance.
"Doctor Smith, our brief discussion on the upper deck left me with more questions than answers. Just what was it that you saw that alarmed you so much?"
Smith didn't answer right away. He was being forced into a delicate situation and knew he had to choose his words wisely.
"Professor, there is a creature on this planet capable of attacking and bringing down large prey. It can eviscerate said prey in mere moments. It has a voracious appetite and I have no doubt it would enjoy any one of us as a meal if given the chance."
Normally, the Professor would have thought Smith was exaggerating, as he often did. This time, however, the doctor's behavior convinced him there was validity to the threat. "What does this predator look like?" the Professor asked, concerned.
Smith had dreaded that question, but he knew it was coming. He tried to skirt around it. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
"Try me," the Professor answered.
Smith stared at the man and from the look on his face, it was clear he wasn't leaving until he had an answer.
"It's larger than a human. It's armed with sharp claws and teeth. It's quick and it's stealthy."
"That's a rather vague description. Care to elaborate?"
"Not really."
The Professor was beginning to get irritated with the doctor's less than helpful answers.
"Smith, if there's a danger out there, I want to know about it. Now, tell me what this thing looks like."
Smith sighed and stood. There was no getting around it. It would come out eventually, so why not sooner rather than later. Perhaps the man would listen to him and take precautions. Or perhaps his warning would fall on deaf ears and he'd be ostracized. He felt somewhat ostracized already, so he might as well drop a bombshell worthy of being ostracized. "Professor, you already know about this particular predator. You've welcomed it into your camp." He brushed past the Professor and left without another word.
When West saw the doctor leave the ship, he went in search of the Professor. He found him just outside Smith's cabin.
"Well? Did he tell you what has him spooked?"
The Professor nodded. "He didn't come right out and say it, but his meaning was clear. It's Kai."
"Kai? You've got to be kidding me. That alien's the best thing that's happened to us in a while," West replied.
"I think he's jealous," the Professor stated. "Kai makes him look bad."
"He's playing games," West hypothesized, "trying to get us spooked ourselves, into getting rid of Kai."
"That's a distinct possibility," the Professor agreed. "Smith has held a grudge against Kai from day one." Still, he couldn't quite shake the feeling that Smith might be right.
