Kai stormed back to the Jupiter 2, but upon seeing the Robinsons outside the ship, he had to tamp down his frustration at failing to rid himself of the doctor. He went straight to the lower deck, where the Robot stood near his cabin door like a silent sentinel.

He would have to manipulate the Professor somehow, force them to leave the planet before they could completely change their minds about Smith and before Smith could have a chance to convince them he was innocent. A grin washed across his face, baring his formidable razor-sharp teeth, as a plan began to coalesce in his mind. He'd need tools and materials from his ship to make this work. He'd make a quick trip there after breakfast. Unlike the weak human doctor, he'd make it to his ship and back before they ever knew he was gone.

Smith busied himself with completing work on his lean-to, this time with the laser pistol strapped to his hip. He was hyper-vigilant, reaching for his pistol at every unknown sound. Once the shelter was complete, he laid down a few layers of soft, dry moss he'd found growing on the rocks along the nearby river. Atop the moss, he laid his survival blanket. He emptied the pack, tucking some of the items into nooks in the alcove, hopefully out of the hands or paws of anyone or anything that might come along. He stuffed more dried moss into the now empty pack, forming a pillow.

As the sun began to set and the chill of night crept in, Smith built another fire between the lean-to and the alcove wall, to protect the fire from the wind and to reflect the fire's heat to keep him warm. After a small meal of leftover rolls, tinned meat, and fresh greens obviously picked before the hydroponic garden was destroyed, Smith slipped between the fold of his survival blanket and tucked his pistol, holster and all, under his makeshift pillow. Exhaustion drew his eyelids closed and he quickly drifted off to sleep.

After another stressful, exhausting day, the doctor slept heavily. He didn't stir at the muffled sound of booted feet plodding carefully around his camp. He remained sleeping even as a dark shadow passed across his face, eclipsing the warm glow of the fire. His pistol, near as it was, would be useless if he wasn't even aware of visitors to his camp. The tall figure circled the lean-to, studying it, then moved on toward the walls of the alcove, picking up and studying the items tucked into the nooks.

The figure moved back toward the sleeping doctor, stopping far enough away as to not alert the man to his presence. A few days before, he would have wrung the man's neck, but the words of his son and forgiving nature of his family had made him think long and hard. He wasn't ready to let the doctor come back yet, but he would have a discussion with him when they were getting ready to leave. He'd lay down the terms of his return and find some way to leave the planet with everyone aboard.

The Professor knelt and slid a large pack off his back, leaning it against a rock. He placed the doctor's jacket on top of it. He glanced back at the doctor, then turned to leave. He'd only taken a few steps when the sound of his name being called stopped him in his tracks.

"Professor?" Smith called, groggily.

The man didn't respond and he didn't turn to face Smith. He stood stock still, waiting for the doctor to continue.

Despite the doctor's eagerness to set the record straight, there was something more important on his mind. "Is Penny alright?" he asked. Despite all he had endured the past few days, the fate of the girl was never far from his mind. He hadn't seen her around the camp and he was concerned, but his own predicament had preoccupied him and kept him from learning her fate.

"She's fine," came the professor's terse answer. After a short pause, he spoke again more softly, "she's recovering well," and then continued on his way.

"Good," Smith replied. He wanted to say more, but the Professor was gone. He glanced around the camp and found the bag Robinson had left. Smith's hopes rose. Perhaps the Professor was softening. Perhaps he'd get to tell them his side of the story soon, reveal what Kai had done, and be reunited with them all. Well, all but that wolf in sheep's clothing.

Smith donned the jacket and dug through the bag, finding a pair of gloves, flint for starting fires, an extra power pack for the pistol, a towel, a cooking pot, extra clothing, and that which he needed most, more containers of food and water. This gift bolstered his spirits. The Professor was almost ready to talk. He'd just have to tough it out a little longer and then they could put all of this behind them. He stirred up the fire and heated up some of the food over it. Smith ate heartily that night, secure in the belief that his provisions only had to last a few more days.

As he was eating, Smith smelled a musky odor that overpowered the scent of his food. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. He knew instinctively he was being watched by something wild and very likely indiscriminately hungry. Slowly, he set his food down and turned to look over his shoulder. All he could see were shiny black orbs staring back at him from the edge of his camp and clouds of hot breath swirling in the cool night air.

Smith's hand slowly slid to his hip, searching for the laser pistol, but it wasn't there. He tensed. The pistol was still right where he'd left it, under his makeshift pillow, the strap of the holster just visible. He mentally scolded himself, angry that he found himself unprepared for danger again. Smith was sure the creature would be on him before he got to the pistol, but he'd much rather chance it than just sit there.

Suddenly, the doctor sprang up, took one step, and then dove for the gun. He rolled over and fired, not bothering to remove the laser pistol from the holster. It was then that Smith saw his stalker, a huge black cat, panther-like, but more muscular and larger than any feline that inhabited Earth. Even in the dim, flickering light of the fire, he could see its canines extended inches below its chin, much like that of the Smilodon, or sabre-toothed cat, of Earth's Pleistocene epoch.

The creature screeched in agony and stopped short, just as it was about to pounce on the doctor. The cat, surprisingly nimble for its size, turned and with a swish of its long tail, seemed to melt back into the inky blackness of night just beyond the edges of the camp. Smith could hear it's labored breathing and the unevenness of its gait as it retreated. He had hurt it. Hopefully, it wouldn't be back. Smith placed a hand over his heart and he could feel it nearly drumming out of his chest. He couldn't take much more of this. If the Professor didn't call on him tomorrow, he'd risk a trip to the Jupiter 2.

When the Professor returned to the ship, most everyone was asleep. He found Kai on the lower deck with the Robot and from the alien's demeanor, it was clear he hadn't expected the Professor to return at that moment.

"Kai? What are you up to?" he inquired.

"Oh, hello, John. I was, uh, just upgrading the Robot's power pack. These modifications will allow it to go longer between chargings," Kai lied.

"That's great. I'm sure the Robot will appreciate that," the Professor replied. "I'm going to bed. It's been a long day. Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

Kai opened the flap of the knapsack that was sitting on the work table and dropped in the device he had been working on when the Professor had interrupted him. He grabbed the pack and commanded the Robot to follow him outside. A short distance from camp, he set the pack down and opened it. He grabbed the device from the bag and flipped a switch. Dozens of small, propeller driven drones buzzed out of the sack and moved into a hovering formation in front of the alien. He flipped another switch and each little drone began to emit a hum.

"Yes, Robot," Kai smiled. "I think we'll be able to convince the Robinsons to leave this planet tomorrow."

"A-FFIRM-A-TIVE," came the Robot's reply.

Under the cover of night, the two tracked down a herd of the elephantine creatures. Kai watched the behemoths from a distance. There were hundreds of them in this herd. Since they would easily catch wind of him, he sent the Robot around the vast perimeter of the herd, placing the sonic drones he had been constructing when the Professor had found him the night before. These humans were too trusting and not nearly as diligent as they should be. That had certainly worked in Kai's favor. One flip of a switch would send his drone army into the air and his plan into action.