The Jupiter 2 was headed toward the desert planet with damage seen on its hulls. Sparks were erupting from the bridge all over the place. Part of Penny's head was bleeding. Will was laid against his side with dark burns along his face. Don was struggling to keep himself awake with a a long bleeding cut trailing down the side of his face. He looked over to see John was out cold. There were burns and scars decorating his face from the explosion from the panel. The panels could easily be repaired and fixed. Don looked over to see Maureen had the same disaster. Except for Judy, Judy was panicked and screaming at the sudden disaster. She was covering her face, weeping. Her hands covered in burns. Don looked down toward the view screen feeling his world was ready to fall apart into the darkness of despair.
The only way to save the ship and make sure the chances of survival were high were to make a rough landing somewhere on the planet. The asteroids had damaged the Jupiter 2 and the only way of knowing how to repair the damage was to land then survey it. The only solution here was landing. Don looked for a landing that wasn't a cliff, a boulder, a tree but a flat surface. He struggled to pilot the ship toward a ideal landing. It flew over a tent that had a waiting space camel beside it drinking out of a bucket. The Jupiter 2 slowly went down then flew over what seemed to be a embedded starship in the shape of a triangle that seemed worn out and covered in rust. Sand blew over empty tables that perked up ever so slightly. The Jupiter 2 hit the ground then disembarked briefly in a teasing manner. The Jupiter 2 slid sideways into the sand then tipped over once landing.
Don unbuckled himself then fell out of the chair, exhausted, and lost consciousness.
Judy lowered her hands then looked over.
"Mom?"
No reply.
"Dad?"
Judy looked around in horror.
"Penny?"
Her eyes drifted off from Penny to Will.
"Will?"
The Robot came to her side.
"I am operational, Doctor Robinson," The Robot replied.
"Get help," Judy said, earning the alarmed head bob. "Get a doctor!"
The Robot came to the door of the Jupiter 2 then put in the command for the doors to open.
"I will return with a professional," The Robot said.
The Robot turned away then rolled out of the Jupiter 2 through the desert scenery.
"Quickly," Judy said.
The Robot's head whirred in all directions.
"We need a doctor," The Robot announced. "We need a doctor!"
The Robot continued its trek away from the Jupiter 2 leaving a trail of its treads behind. Time was dwindling for the Robinsons and according to its sensors, they would most likely die without medical attention. Its sensors also indicated that Judy was in no condition to operate on them. If one asked the Robot if it were feeling panic then it would crush them with one simple answer. It was a Robot; Robots do not feel, Robots cannot experience feelings and if it could experience feelings then it sensors would be merged together. The Robot believed that such thing would only be possible for itself that way.
The Robinsons were still in danger.
Which meant that the Robot had to save them.
It's first mission among them while lost in space.
And now would be the time to admit it was lost in emotion.
"We need a doctor!" The Robot came over a hill. "Doctor!"
It rolled down toward a colorful tent.
"I need a doctor!" The Robot said, wrecked in panic.
A head poked out from the tent and their eyes widened in recognition.
"Booby!" the figure tackled the Robot that remained in place. "I missed you!"
The Robot's head bobbed up.
"Are you a doctor by any chance?" The Robot asked.
Judy closed her eyes, briefly, or so she thought. When she opened them once again, the room was hot and humid. She looked over to see sand was drifting into the room. A well dressed figure in yellow entered the Jupiter 2. The Robot tailing behind them. Judy's eyes opened as the figure took off what was covering their face dropping it onto the table. It was a man with a well trimmed goatee. The man came over to the members of the Jupiter 2 then checked for the pulse on each member and mentally catalogued to himself what kind of repairs the crewmates needed. He came over to the barely lucid woman.
"I heard you needed a doctor," the man held his hand out. "I am Doctor Zachary Smith."
"Doctor Robinson," Judy said, then scanned the unconscious family members with her eyes. She shook his hand looked up toward him. "They're my family."
Smith nodded, in understanding.
"Can't operate on family," Smith said. "What planet are you from?"
"Earth," Judy said.
"Earth," Smith's eyes widened. "Is this a rescue mission?"
"No," Judy said. "We're lost in space," the man's face was not easy to read. "Just escaped a asteroid shower."
Smith paused, then nodded his head.
"I will do my best, dear physician," Smith said, then unbuckled Judy.
"No," Judy said. "My siblings," she reached out grabbing onto his wrist. "They need it the most."
"Are you sure?" Smith asked, cautiously.
"You can get to me last," Judy replied, her grip loosening on his wrist.
"Do you have a sick bay?" Smith asked.
"Yes," Judy said, letting go all together of Smith's wrist. "The Robot will lead you there."
The Robot returned with two cans.
"I will do better," The Robot squeezed the devices then tossed them into the air.
Smith looked over to see two hovering gurneys appear behind him.
"Robot, you move the young woman onto the second gurney," Smith said. "I will move the boy onto the first one."
The Robot unclicked the seatbelt buckle at the same time Smith did. The Robot moved Penny onto the gurney then moved it in the direction of the doors. Smith placed Will onto the bed. Will's eyes regained consciousness staring back at Smith who's eyebrows furrowed back at the inside interior of the Jupiter 2. Smith moved the hovering gurney after the Robot. Will groaned, feeling the burning from his face. The doors opened before the two letting them into the corridor. The corridor glowed a gentle blue with white fixtures installed along the ridges of the hall. With some difficulty, Will's eyes fluttered open.
"Ah-" Will said. "What happened?"
"You went through a asteroid storm," Smith said. "consoles exploded in your face." Will's eyes fluttered, closing briefly. "What is your name?"
"William Robinson," Will said. "Everyone calls me Will."
"You can call me Doctor Smith," Smith replied.
"Hey. . . you're. . . you're. . . you're the one who invented the first gen Robot," Will said.
"Yes," Smith said, with a nod.
"You went missing after the Gemini 12 was lost," Will said.
"Now not missing," Smith asked, with a smile. "am I, child?"
"You don't look any different from the holo-photos," William said.
"I look better than the photos show," Smith said, as Will's eyes closed on him. "William," Smith shook the child's shoulder. "stay with me."
"I want to sleep," Will said.
"There is no rest for the wicked," Smith said, then looked up from the boy turning his attention toward the tall machine. "Robot!"
"I am having difficulty keeping Penny Robinson awake," The Robot said. There were groans coming from Penny. "we are nearly there."
The doors to sick bay opened allowing them passage into the slightly dark room. Smith stopped looking around in awe and fascination at the room as though he were taken back. Simply stunned where he stood looking around the vast, large, advance circular room. The Robot snapped Smith out of the trail of thought bringing back into the present. Smith placed Will onto a biobed. Smith looked down towards the glowing blue screen attached to the biobed. He had a baffled look on his face considering how long had he been gone. The Robot took out a small, thin device from the drawer then tossed it to Smith. The device hit Smith on the forehead that he caught into his hands.
"What is this?" Smith asked.
"Skin generator," The Robot replied.
"We need a x-ray before we do anything, " Smith replied. "he might have more than a burned face."
"Then turn on the bio-scanner," The Robot replied. "It is a part of the biobed."
Smith looked down to see there were several options.
"Are you a doctor or is that a honorary title?" Will asked.
"I'm a doctor," Smith replied. "Just because I dilly dally in psychology doesn't mean I didn't study it in college."
"Oooh," Will said, his eyes briefly closing. "The pain."
"The pain," Smith finished, sympathetically. Smith looked down onto the child. "Where is the pain coming from?"
"My head," Will said, as a holographic representation of himself appeared above.
"What has eight legs, has a beautiful black mane, came from a shape shifting genderfluid god, and regarded as the most fastest creature in mythology?" Smith asked. "You have five minutes," Smith looked up seeing the red outlined parts on the young boy's head. "Do you happen to have a device that knits bones?"
Two sticks hit the back of Smith's head then he picked up the two pieces.
"Can you please stop throwing medical tools at me?" Smith asked, glaring toward the Robot.
He had some difficulty holding the two items then pressed on them. A steady stream of light blue came from the tips aimed at the injury that was outlined. Will's eyes darted from side to side as he contemplated looking back. The long cuts that had exposed bone began to seal seal up before Smith's eyes. Smith carefully inspected Will's neck to see if there were any fractured bones. There were only burn marks on the clothing. Smith carefully used the flat device above the boy's burned skin peeling away the third degree burns with healthy, radiating pink skin.
"Sleipnir," Will said, before Smith left him. "It's Sleipnir."
Smith smiled, looking down upon Will.
"Dear boy. . . now, you may rest," Smith said, patting on Will's shoulder kindly.
Smith left Will then came over to Penny, checking on her condition as the little boy's eyes closed.
Smith checked on the Robinsons one by one after the operation was completed.
The Robot was resting by the side of Will looking over the young boy like a guardian angel.
Smith was reminded of the way his first robot colleague attempted to protect its charge. A young black girl with deadlocks. He could still remember the look of regret on the young child's face while strapped with survival gear on his back. Their unwavering figures in front of the Gemini 12 waving him away with smiles around three months ago stung in his mind. At least it was three months ago to him. He wondered what happened to them but the assumption that they found another way home was the most settling, sound answer that he could come up with. The Robinsons seemed like a blank slate that he could start over again. As tempted as he was to join them among the crew, his past history indicated that such his strain on them would be a terrible idea. They would not deal with him. Smith dusted his hands off then came over to Judy who sat in a chair alongside Don.
"Doctor Robinson, your family is making a good recovery," Smith explained. "I'll return to my camp."
"Please, stay," Judy plead, grabbing Smith's shoulder as he started to leave.
"No," Smith said. "Your family needs a familiar face," he slid her hand off his shoulder. "A stranger is not recommended."
"They need to know who treated them," Judy said.
"They don't need to see a spy," Smith said.
"You didn't sabotage our ship, now did you?" Judy asked.
Smith shook his head.
"The Gemini 12," Smith said.
"That was a long time ago," Judy said.
"To me, it wasn't," Smith shook his head. "The advancement in technology is overwhelming. It's not my place or my time."
"You can say that with what we have been through," Judy said. "We don't belong here, either."
"I was exiled from the last spaceship I became a stowaway on," Smith said. "Things explode around me. With this technology around here on this ship," he twirled his finger in a circle. "You don't want that."
"I doubt that things explode around you, Doctor Smith," Judy said.
"If your parents have any questions regarding my character, they can ask the Austins," Smith turned away from the woman then walked toward the door. He had a short wave. "Adieu."
It was Don who came around first then the rest of the Robinsons came to. He felt a soft, small hand inside of his larger hand. His eyes opened to see Judy, beaming, happy as she relaxed. Don gave her a comforting squeeze looking towards her. The Robot was doing the explaining to John regarding what had happened. Each time the man nodded, it seemed a little unsettling. This spy who had done the sabotage might not be as helpful and might be more threatening than Flake ever was. They were lucky when it came to the engineer. Don knew it wasn't going to be a great alliance when John took him in private and suggested the undeniable. A alliance with a well know spy. A alliance with someone who had likely sabotaged the Gemini 12 all those years ago. At first, John planned on checking out the Gemini 12 in the Chariot using the Robot as his guide leaving Don to defend the ship. However, it changed to John and Maureen going ahead checking out the Gemini 12's scene.
Don and John knew they were stranded and could never return to their time without a time machine created. The chances of that happening, again, were very slim. None of them were geniuses or understood how to make repair to a time machine with a Robot that had attended to the construction of one. The Robot had simply said "Negative," at the slightest suggestion of making a small one. No one wanted a repeated of the time bubbles. Not even on a desert planet. They accepted the answer the Robot had given regarding what could happen should they try. Don noticed the way the Robot seemed to pause as it strolled the corridors as though it were looking at ghosts. The way it didn't speak with the other family members as it traversed the corridors with its parts whirring without a purpose. Directionless, so to speak. As though the Robot were getting readjusted to being inside a fully operational spaceship. Don didn't like the way it felt to him. It just seemed strange. It seemed creepy to a point.
"Do you trust me, Major West?" The Robot's voice jerked Don out of his train of thought.
"You're a Robot," Don said. "I don't know," Don raised his eyebrows. "yet."
"I am sorry," The Robot said.
"For?" Don asked.
"Knocking you out," The Robot apologized. "It was a mistake."
"Hey, it wasn't fatal," Don said, as he shook his hand.
"There is a timeline where it was," The Robot said. "Professor Robinson survived long enough to be torn into pieces by the portal, Captain Flake came in and heard the Professor's dying screams then shot the man to death, afterwards the machine was deactivated bringing him into a new present. I was not there but the chain of events are very likely."
"So you can feel?" Don asked, folding his arms with a curious look in his eyes.
"Affirmative," The Robot said.
"Real, tangible feelings?" Don asked. "That's amazing. How did you do it?"
"It is not how I did it," The Robot said. "It is how I was designed to handle matters."
Don contemplated, pausing over the reply. He looked down looking back at his debriefing of the Robot shortly after being assigned to pilot the Jupiter 2. He had to be aware of everything about the robot, how it could be a ally or a enemy in different case. He even took a course of how to tug a robot should it short circuit in different situations and bring it back to the ship. Earth had presented unique challenges that could be applied into space. Don's eyes lit up as he snapped his fingers then looked up toward the Robot.
"I'm curious," Don said. "What was it like to meet the person who invented you?"
"Hello curious, I'm dad," The Robot said, it's head colorfully whirring.
"Dad joke," Don said, his smile became genuine as he started to laugh. "Well, I'll be damned."
Don surveyed the damage to the spaceship. It would take a couple weeks of repair to do starting with the right materials found to replicate the type of metal needed. The Chariot slid out from the side of the Jupiter 2 slowly lowering down by the platform. Don and John wheeled it out from in front of the Jupiter 2. Debbie Prime was put into a stasis pod and the other Debbie was given a improvised pod that put it into suspended animation in a lab. It was not as difficult task to do when the Robot reportedly had access to new science from its time. The Chariot wasn't damaged as the rest of the ship.
In fact, it wasn't damaged at all. The Chariot was unfolded with the press of a button and became coated in sand. The sand was vibrated off the Chariot with another press of a button. John opened the door for Maureen. Maureen entered first then John entered. It was a strange kind of small bus that Don had seen in his career on military bases when it came to prison transport, marine transport, and soldier transport. It was the kind normally used in battle situations lacking windows from left to right to the back, except the front had a large wide screen window. There were three large, pop out yet bulky square additions on the back end that seemed it could retract to make way for windows. The door automatically shut behind the two. The Robot tapped on the door that opened automatically. A small platform came down then the stairs turned into a ramp. The Robot rolled up then came to the back. John came into the driver's seat then Maureen came alongside him.
The two buckled up in unison then John drove off from the Jupiter 2 while in the background, Don was cleaning off the burns from the giant spaceship. They followed the directions of the Robot off to the Gemini 12. The ride was bumpy and uncomfortable going along the path the Robot was laying out. It had mapped out a section of the desert set across from where Smith had been found which was close to a jungle. When Maureen looked out, she saw a ostrich heading down the sand followed by others in a orderly manner side by side keeping up the pace. There were chicks surrounded by the ostriches headed in the opposite direction that the Robinsons were heading. The large family was spread out covering some feet between them and the Chariot.
John took Maureen's hand as they watched the large family go off. Maureen looked toward John with a soft, loving smile toward him. She turned her attention toward the clear window. Eventually, they came to a stop in front of the entrance to the Gemini 12. Maureen got out of the vehicle first then the Robot came out afterwards leaving John the last one out. John watched Maureen take the tarp off the plants. The roots stretched out of the dirt into the sand and it seemed to be sprawling with many pieces of fruit that seemed to have been chewed to the core. There were dead stems in the plant beds that seemed as though they had been let unprotected for quite some time. Maureen had a sigh looking off from the tarp.
"They didn't have the time to put up the plants," Maureen said.
John came toward the door to the triangle shaped space craft.
"They couldn't react," John said, dusting off the name alongside the door.
Gemini - 12
"Thousands of families sent out to explore," Maureen said.
"We found the one that couldn't be located," John said, looking over toward Maureen. "Just our luck to find the one sabotaged."
"It is," Maureen said, joining his side. "I'll sweep the ship."
John pressed a button then the dark gray door slid open.
"After you, my queen," John said, gesturing in.
Maureen went inside the bridge. Every surface of the deck were coated in layers of dust. The lights were out as though the power core had failed. She placed her hand on the wall. She saw the well preserved bodies of the Austins scattered about the triangle shaped room. The pilot, Captain Allen, resting in the main chair with his head tipped forward and his eyes still boggling with terror in them. Maureen came to the dead bodies that seemed to congregate near the glass pods. She gently closed the eyes of the teenagers then the youngest girl was between the two parents. She kept her composure making her way toward the two parents who were holding hands laid on their sides staring at each other with their hands between the little girl. She stood up, with a shaky breath, looking toward the destroyed generation 1 Robot that had been coming from the residential deck. Maureen quietly walked out of the Gemini 12.
Maureen's sad eyes met John's eyes.
"No," John said, his face falling.
"They're dead," Maureen said.
John walked away toward the Chariot.
"Just when I thought we could meet other colonists like us," John said, stopping in front of the transport. He smacked his fist on to the roof of the vehicle. "It feels like we were snatched of a opportunity."
"We would never have been able to sustain them or take them with us," Maureen said. "A opportunity to meet experienced colonists."
"So Doctor Smith is a survivor." John said, turning toward the Maureen. "Just like us."
"Do you think he knows?" Maureen asked.
"Given what he told Judy," John said. "He has no idea."
"So he thinks they are still alive adjusted to the desert," Maureen said. "we have to do something about that."
"We will after we deal with our problem first," John said. "We're going to use their metal to fix our hulls. Then afterwards, we're going to destroy the Gemini. . . makes no sense keeping a trophy standing." Maureen was disturbed looking in on the inside of the Gemini 12.
"Before we destroy it, we have to give them a proper burial," Maureen said, earning a nod from John.
"Robot," John said, turning his attention to the awaiting Robot. "Is there a place we can bury them?"
"Affirmative." The Robot replied, then it approached the door. The Robot turned toward John. "I will need to download its memory to assess what happened."
"Assess as you like, Robot," John said, then watched the robot enter the Gemini 12.
The repairs went down from weeks to a few days in a matter of a day upon the return of the Chariot near to the end of the day. Penny, Will, and Judy had played their part in making the repairs to the ship. Don looked at the Robot then back toward John with skepticism. With a hint of disbelief lingering in the air. Don would have been perfectly happy to go had he been opened to some very important information regarding what had happened on the Gemini 12.
"You want to send me, alone, out there with the Robot?" Don asked.
"I am sending you out there," John said. "It's not a request, you're doing it."
"Procedure indicates a Robot with a AI must go with two people," Don said. "In case it goes A-wall."
"I don't think this Robot will go A-Wall," John said. "It's a risk I am willing to take."
"According to the Robot, the Gemini 12's Robot went A-wall," Don said. "I don't know how I can trust this Robot with that information."
"Your concern would be warranted," The Robot said. "The Austins last Robot's orders were from Doctor Austin."
"That was?" John asked, as Don sighed in relief.
"They were to attack," The Robot said. "The level of watts were not enough to protect them."
"But the concerns are not warranted," John said, then turned his attention onto the Robot. "The Austins are dead."
"Affirmative," The Robot said, turning toward Don. "I have no commands to prioritize the safety of anyone else over the Robinsons."
"We're not going procedural with a Robot who's last owner gave him a order to protect us," John said. "Right, Robot?"
"Affirmative," The Robot replied.
"So we don't have to doubt him," John said. "Robot is on our side. On the other hand, you can follow protocol with another man part of the crew." John walked away heading back toward the Jupiter 2 with Don's attention following his figure vanishing into the ship. Don sighed, his hands placed onto his waist.
"Damn," Don said, then looked up toward the Robot. "Why must you be so. . ."
"Trusting, vulnerable, and uncompromised," The Robot said. "It is in my programming to be a lifetime companion," The Robot gestured toward the Chariot. "After you, Major West." the Robot lowered its claw. "You will need the headlights on."
The Robot slid down the light gray ramp from the Chariot to the sand. Don slowly walked down the ramp looking around. The stars were bright enough to contrast against the dark blanket above. There were two moons from above. The headlights were beaming through the tent drawing the ire and attention of Smith. Smith got up coming to the side of the hole of the tent while in a black dress while rubbing his eyes. He was briefly blinded by the light coming from the Chariot. The Chariot's light intensity lowered to the point that he could see.
"Hello there," Smith said. "What brings you to my domain?"
"I am Major West," Don said. "And. . . I am afraid I have some bad news."
"I know you're stuck here as we are," Smith said.
"The Jupiter 2 will be lifting in a few days," Don said.
Smith looked up toward Don, seemingly pleased.
"Two groups of colonists returning to Earth to tell the tale," Smith said. "I understand Valenstine's interest not to take me with. I wouldn't want to go," Smith shuddered as he walked back to his bed. "Given how I can easily set him off." Smith sat down onto the makeshift bed.
Don slowly came over to the side of the hole.
"You really don't know," Don said, as the Robot joined him.
Smith looked up toward the major.
"That I'm doomed?" Smith asked. "I knew it the first moment I was lost."
Don shook his head.
"No," Don said. "It's something important I have to tell you."
"So you are not here to give me a message from Valenstine?" Smith asked.
"It's more of a notification," Don said, Smith narrowed his eyes then there was realization.
"You are tip toeing," Smith bolted up from the bed with his complete attention on Don. "Major."
In that moment, Don felt like a Captain again having to explain to a General regarding the antics his crew had done. Or how he had lost a important asset to the United Global Space Force to Global Sedition. He didn't feel like Major standing before the Colonel. He felt small and insignificant compared to the reality. It was as though he were being scrutinized before being given a dressing down.
"Colonel Smith, you're the only survivor from the Gemini 12 we met," Don said.
"No, no, no," Smith came over toward the large wooden pole in the center of his tent.
"The Gemini has been stripped of any supplies it has," Don said.
"Surely the Austins are being held captive," Smith said.
"Negative," The Robot said. "I helped bury them."
"We will be leaving by the end of the week," Don said. "And given the Robot told us about what happened, I think you might want to get off this planet."
"It's called Priplanus," Smith said, sliding down against the pole. "That's what . . . Abbie called it."
"Abbie is not the one who named it, Doctor Smith," The Robot said. "that was Doctor Valenstine."
"Go away," Smith said, softly. "Please," he tipped his head up toward the small hole at the top. "I need some time alone."
"Oh, and it's not a offer, it's a order," Don added.
"I outrank you," Smith retorted.
"You don't outrank the head of the Robinsons," Don said, then walked back toward the Chariot with the Robot tagging behind him.
Smith lowered his head.
It started with a small, soft "No. . ." and his shoulders slumped as he fell apart.
"By this afternoon, the Gemini 12 will explode," John said.
"Can we see it before its destroyed?" Will asked.
"I can oversee the trip," Penny volunteered.
"I will direct them," The Robot said.
"I don't know about sending a Robot to protect you," John said. "You need a parent there to supervise."
"Professor Robinson, I have successfully protected children beyond reasonable means," The Robot said. "and they can escape unlike the previous children."
"It is appreciated, Robot," John said. "But I feel safe with someone who has a laser pistol on them."
Judy came down the platform out of the Jupiter 2.
"I can be their chaperone," Judy said, as their eyes turned toward her. She held up the laser pistol. Don laughed from the top of the Jupiter 2 earning a glance up from John.
"I'm good with that," John replied.
"Yes!" the children cheered.
When the Chariot came to a stop, the first thing was spotted was a man in front of the Gemini 12. It was Smith, for all intents and purposes, seemingly paying his respects. Smith was standing in front of the door with his forehead pressed against it and his hand on the side hull. There came a long, dramatic yet depressed sigh from Smith. From his side of the perspective, he could see glowing ghosts from inside the dark room that was brimming with light around. He heard the sound of the Chariot from behind him. He had eyes that were full of regrets. It was Judy who came out first then approached Smith with a slow pace.
"Through the sands of time I go, to find home and family. . ." Smith mused to himself, in a small voice. "what I find instead is dust and tragedy."
"Dad told me to tell you that whether you like it or not, you're going with us," Judy asked. Smith didn't move from where he stood. Judy shifted from where she stood moving her fingers from the strapped laser pistol to her hips. "I am not going to be the one who forces you."
Smith closed his eyes then leaned himself off the door and opened them. He turned toward Judy with weary eyes. The look on Smith's face indicated that he didn't care what was going on in the now but that his mind was on a entirely different pressing issue. It was as though someone had decided to sip out all the life out of him through a straw leaving a different man in his place. His goggles were laid on the top of his head protection gear that was coated in sand.
"How long have I been gone according to your computer?" Smith asked.
"Fifty-eight years," Judy said.
"I will never make it home," Smith said. "My family is dead, my colleagues are dead, and there is no one left to care about my sabotage. At the same time, this is true and this is not true. A perfect Schrodinger's Earth."
"The past is in the past," Judy said.
"Don't you understand?" Smith asked. "You are in the past. Your family will never make it home."
"So?" Judy asked. "We will make our own home. And stay out of history's way."
"I admire your optimism," Smith said. "it's a ghost ship and I recommend you don't stay long."
"I'll make sure of it," Judy said, then stepped aside. "Doctor Smith."
There was a flicker of light from Smith's eyes then he briefly smiled back, appreciated.
"Thank you," Smith replied, then turned away from Judy and walked off toward the strange camel creature.
Smith hopped onto the dark grayed creature and turned it away from the Gemini 12.
The three individuals watched Smith vanish over the sand then they came out of the Chariot. From behind the Gemini 12, there was pieces of metal sticking out from the ground with the names of the Austins and the Pilot written in. Judy pressed on a old, yet aged series of buttons on the threshold. The door opened letting in light into the aging well museum. The children and the Robot entered the cleaned bridge behind Judy. Judy came toward the transparent booth like pods. With a flick of a switch by Will, partial light returned highlighting the neat and tidy room that seemed ready to be used again. Will looked around in awe like his siblings. It had been a feat of technology to make this spaceship. He came over to the small navigation machine in the center of the room then stopped in his tracks. He felt dark energy looming in the room that felt heavy and dreadful lacking space to become bright and joyful.
Penny came over to the console that had one unoccupied seat in the front. The window had a good view of the mountains of sand ahead. The She placed a hand on the back rest. Immediately, she reached her hand back off the head rest then shook her hand making the metal bracelets on her wrist jingle loudly. It was as though Penny had dipped her hand into sticky, slimy goo. She shook her hand then walked away from the console. She shifted her big, black shiny coat with fur back on her shoulders then zipped it up in the regrettably cold room. Everyone in the room wore big, insulated coats. The Robot was the only one of the group who was not protected from the temperature and that made Penny feel even more colder. She looked around rubbing her shoulder.
"This ship used to be full of happiness," Penny said, coming to Judy's side. "Now, it is just . . ." she looked around the partially lit room. The colors were not as bright as they had been before when in use three months ago and the panels from the machines were not operational. "Sad."
"If this ship could talk about its crew and being used actively, I think it would find good listening ears," Judy said, in agreement. "Then it wouldn't be so sad anymore."
"Yes, it would," Penny said, with a nod.
"Wow," Will said. "This technology is so old. . ." he accidentally took out a leveler. "So not expensive." He observed the bright red leveler.
"It was cheap," Penny said, wiping the dust off the pod. "And it was good." she smiled to herself.
"Capable withstanding a tumble and getting dirty," Judy added. "Easy to put back together."
"Except this time, it couldn't keep its crew that way," Penny placed a hand on the wall. "You were a good ship for what you were worth, Gemini 12." Penny patted on the wall, gently.
"Will, don't wander off too far," Judy warned.
"I won't," Will said, as he started to wander off. "It's a small ship."
Will wandered over toward the residential deck. There were materials for living ranging from a tub, a brush, and several old fashioned containers that seemed so insignificant and small compared to what they used currently to contain their supplies. The perfect variation of the galley simple to the point that it could be used as a family gathering place. There was a conference room adjacent to the galley. He came over to a room that was likely the captain's. He found a book that was laid open. Will was unable to read the cursive writing on the page. The Robot came alongside the young boy.
"I can read cursive," The Robot said
Will flipped the pages back to the final entry.
"Go on," Will said, stepping aside.
The Robot came closer to the table then scanned the page.
"Entry eighty-three, Doctor Austin, Commander of the Gemini 12," The Robot began. " Today, we came across a unusual party," The Robot was using the voice of Valenstine. "They came from the heavens late last night. Abbie came across one of them this morning when going out searching for Doctor Smith but instead came across them. Abbie isn't going out any time soon to search for Doctor Smith in the mean time. They were congregating near the Gemini 12 with their machines aimed at a small representation on a war table according to Abbie. Sarah is concerned, and so is Captain Allen, about what this means. The drilling has been stopped in the mean time and put away. We will wait until they are gone to put the equipment back up and resume drilling. We have more than enough Deutronium to leave this planet but not enough to make the flight. He is probably under a worse situation than we are. I wouldn't be surprised if he is working with them. I am considering of approaching them tomorrow morning and offering them to meet the family. Telling them that we come in peace. No laser pistols or the Robot in defense mode. If that doesn't happen, I hate to see that we make enemies on Priplanus. . And perhaps, our exile be better off than we are. End of entry."
"What are the visitors called?" Will asked.
The Robot's head whirred toward Will.
"Visitianus," The Robot replied. "and it is recommended to be very afraid."
"Who recommended that?" Will asked.
"Gabbie," The Robot said, then his voice changed to a young girl's voice. "Big, scary aliens. Aliens not nice."
Will felt goosebumps go down his skin.
"Don't you miss them?" Will asked.
"Elaborate," The Robot requested.
"Your previous families," Will said. "The Austins and the Flakes."
"That was a long time ago, Will Robinson," The Robot replied.
"Wasn't that long," Will said. "To you . . . it was just yesterday."
"It was," The Robot agreed. "Just yesterday."
"Do your sensors miss them?" Will asked.
"The Austins were a loving, unique family as was the Flakes," The Robot replied. "They live forever in my memory banks."
Thirty-three minutes later, in the blink of a eye appeared several hovering motorcycles came to a stop above the Gemini 12. The Gemini 12 lacked its once sturdy hulls now covered in what seemed to be support beams for the metal to be placed on. Only dark gray square walls stared back becoming coated in sand. Creatures with bug like heads came off the motorcycles wearing what appeared to be robotic like armor. Their footsteps were loud and clear from within the Gemini 12. There were at least twelve of them that walked their way down the triangle spaceship. They walked up the platform coming toward the open doorway. The lights had been turned off inside the bridge yet the disturbed dust on the floor indicated there had been visitors. Just as they had been, rudely, three months ago. They were the Visitianus and here to pay another visit.
The Visitianus aliens wore bulky, dark brown helmets that protected their heads and their thin, fragile antennas. Two soft, yet rough clicks and the group spread out. Five of them went toward the habitual deck and the other went to the ship systems deck. The Visitianus squad crept about the room holding what seemed to be ID card scanners in their hands. A red light erupted from the center of it that flew about around the room. The camera dived into the left drawer of Valenstine's desk where it was revealed Will was hiding. The scene panned over to the corner of the room to show the aliens surrounding the Robot taking readings of its condition. There were soft, alien clicks almost towering over the Robot. Will had his hands wrapped around his legs with his eyes squeezed shut.
The Robot remained silent and vigilant almost as though biting on its tongue. One of these ant-bugs nodded toward each other then walked back speaking into a device that resembled a small radio receiver that had a large strap wrapped around it. Apparently, that was the leader making their way toward the doorway making a series of sharp, angry clicks. Judy opened the door to the power core then closed it behind her. She quietly made her way toward the edge of the corridor to see the Visitianus regrouping. Alpha Control would be distinctively pleased whenever they learned how it did in the line of fire. She eyed their guns, lowering her gun to her side, gazing in the direction of the tallest one that was seemingly cramped by the small size of the space craft. The squad leader met her eyes unexpectedly. Judy hit the trigger firing numerous blue bolts in the direction of Visitianus squad. From the Robot's location, The Robot fatally electrocuted three of the squad members.
The remaining Visitianus fled out of the Gemini 12.
"You better run!" Judy shouted.
"Will Robinson, danger has been neutralized," The Robot announced, opening the door.
"Thanks, Robot!" Will said, using the door as his support to get up to his feet then ran to the command deck where he walked over the lifeless bodies to come over to Judy.
Judy lowered the laser pistol.
"Good work hiding," Judy said, as Penny came behind Judy.
"Excellent shot!" Penny said, proudly.
"Let's go!" Judy said, darting toward the door.
Judy's left shoulder sagged alongside as she made it to the Chariot. Judy stopped by the Chariot smelling smoke. She looked up to see a heavy trail of smoke drifting from over a hill. The Robot gently tapped on Judy's shoulder. It seemed that the Visitianus's had decided to finish off the last member of the Gemini 12 crew. A bad feeling sunk into her stomach. Her mind finally paid attention to the loud pain that was screaming.
"You need to be tended to at the Jupiter 2," The Robot acknowledged. "Hurry, Doctor Robinson."
"I am hurrying, Robot!" Judy said, then leaped onto the Chariot.
"Danger, danger!" The Robot said, rolling up onto the Chariot.
"Everyone buckled?" Judy asked.
"I am adequate," The Robot said.
"Buckled!" Penny and Will said in unison.
"Here goes nothing," Judy said, then tapped her fingers on the flat screen.
The Chariot speeded away from the Gemini 12 leaving unsettled dust behind.
"Look at this, darling," John said.
From the top of the Jupiter 2, Maureen raised her head up to see the dark trail of smoke in the distance. John handed a set of binoculars then she placed it on her face. Her eyes caught sight of a large, bulky object speeding toward the Jupiter 2. When she squinted her eyes, she recognized the Chariot. She adjusted the lens to see ahead there was large spaceships behind them that had shapes of hover cycles chasing after them. Maureen lowered the binoculars then looked toward her husband.
"So soon?" Maureen asked.
"We don't have much choice," John said.
"I do not need to know what happened this time," Maureen said, then gathered the loose metal into the large pack. "I already know."
Don came out from the Jupiter 2.
"We got company!" Don said. "Bad company called the Visitianus."
"Major, get the Jupiter 2 ready to lift off," John said.
"And the Chariot?" Don asked.
"We don't have time to pack but we do have time to park it inside," Maureen said.
"The entrance to the Jupiter isn't big enough for the Chariot, Professor," Don said.
"It'll fit," John said. "Major."
Don looked glanced toward the doorway, doubtful, then made his way back up the Jupiter 2. Shortly afterwards, the two Robinsons came aboard the Jupiter 2 then seated themselves into the chairs alongside each other. Don looked up from the panel as he started the procedure to lift off and his eyes returned toward the growing figure in the distance. Don's headset beeped so he picked it up and put it on to his head. He grew alarmed at the report that was coming through on the other end. A quick nod and a short, curt "Understood" then the headset was taken off and placed on the counter. John grasped onto Maureen's hand as they looked off toward the desert in regret.
The Chariot flew over a hill then landed to the flattened sand with a bump. Penny and Will clung on to their seatbelts as the Chariot sped toward the Jupiter 2 getting closer and closer. The Robot formulated a math equation then requested that she slow down when getting closer to the Jupiter 2. Judy looked toward the Robot as though it had grown two heads then back on toward the Jupiter. Painfully, she changed the speed limit then soared into the bridge of the Jupiter 2. Will leaped out of the Chariot then came over to the doorway. He pressed on the door panel sending in the commands. The platform retracted into the Jupiter 2 and the doors closed. Penny helped Judy out then over to the chair at the front of the console. The Robinsons buckled themselves in as the ship lifted off. The Robot's clung onto the Chariot keeping it in place. The Jupiter 2 twirled making evasive moves out of the fire. The blue sparkling shots soared on past the Jupiter 2. From behind the Visitianus spaceships below them, the Gemini 12 exploded. A lone shot came from one of the ships in the middle.
"Major!" John said, as the ship trembled from a blast.
Don smiled, his eyes beaming at the report being displayed on the screen.
"Major!" John repeated. "That plan better get us out of here in one piece."
"Turn off your thrusters, Professor," Don said. "Our former engineer enabled battle mode."
"Good ol' Captain Flake," Penny said, sarcastically. "To our rescue."
Automatically, a blue film covered the Jupiter 2 and several guns lowered out from underneath then fired at the Visitianus. The Jupiter 2 tore through the atmosphere speeding away from Priplanus. The ships lagging behind the Jupiter 2 were destroyed in less than thirty-three shots, but mainly by the collisions of the ships. The scanner alerted Don that he had successfully lost the enemy aliens on his tail. The main computer acknowledged there were other enemy ships approaching. Don pushed the leveler jumping into hyper drive as The Robinsons's fingers clenched onto the arm rest of their chairs. The Robinsons had a sigh of relief. Penny slid down into her chair, Will's shoulders relaxed, Judy unbuckled herself then started to go forwards only to collapse to the floor. John came over to the young woman's side. Don directed the Jupiter 2 to a habitable moon then joined her.
"She was shot by one of the Visitianus," Will said. Don noticed that there seemed to be metal embedded into her shoulder that was steaming.
"I don't think she can handle operating on bolt shots," Don said, knelt down by Judy's side.
"I know," John said.
"Too bad Doctor Smith isn't here to help," Will said.
"Oh?" Don asked, as Penny and Will slowly looked up toward him. "Who said he's not here?"
Smith had just finished getting familiar to the technology in sick bay operating on a holographic individual. He felt old compared to the technology that felt young and new. The advancements in medicine was spell binding. He was a man of math, psychology, and medicine, there were some kinds of machines that he saw as magic pure and simple rather than what they were. Advanced pieces of technology. He felt out of place in this technology advanced medical room. Partially familiar to it now, he had some confidence in finding the equipment when he needed them. Te medicine were labeled in individual bottles, more than enough to last for two hundred years should it be necessary. Smith could not help but admire their thinking. No shortages of medicine any time soon.
The room to med bay opened from behind him.
Don rushed in with a screaming Judy in his arms.
"She got hit!" Don said, as Smith placed his hands into a glowing purple machine.
"What did she get hit by?" Smith asked.
"A Visitianus blaster," Don placed the woman onto the table and Smith took his hands out of the machine coming over to the biobed.
Smith had a grim look on his face as Judy's free hand clung onto Don's shoulder.
"She is needs to be awake for this," Smith said, then he took out a pair of merged long thick metal that had sharp ends.
Don's eyes widened as Smith came over then stabbed the long items around the injury into her chest. Judy grabbed onto Smith's forearm as she screamed in agony. Smith twisted and twisted, keeping the pressure, then looked up toward the major to see the panicked look on the younger man's face. He turned his attention down then slid it even further. The side screen read: Object reached. Smith saw the metal was steaming from the device then looked down toward the burning injury. Smith slowly slid it out in-between Judy's painful screams. The Robot held out a small, gray bowl from along Smith's side. Smith dropped the item into the bowl. It almost looked like a squid at first glance with the tendrils being thin and long attached to a larger head.
Judy relaxed and became still losing consciousness. Smith dabbed at the injuries wiping off the blood and retrieved generators from alongside him. Don sighed, relieved. Don looked up to notice that Smith was not in his desert outfit but now in a pitch black medical outfit that had orange secondary colors that were bright. Smith calmly made the repairs to the woman's chest starting with the layers of tissue that he had to go through.
"How did you know?" Don asked.
"Met a run away criminal two weeks before the Austins exiled me. Called itself a Visitianus runaway that didn't conform to their natural appearance. Needless to say, Visitianus have lethal laser-bolt weapons," Smith said, then lowered his neck collar to reveal his scar. "Deadly without operation if it is allowed to spread throughout the body." he straightened up the neck collar.
Don shuddered.
"I can't imagine having to operate on yourself," Don said.
"For the sake of my patients Valenstine and Allen," Smith corrected. "It had to be done. Painful experience, yet worth it."
Don looked down toward Judy then back toward Smith.
"You just made up for sabotaging the Gemini 12," Don said, then watched the anger steam off Smith.
"Spare me the condolences, Major," Smith said, leaning over Judy. "You know as I do I can never make up for it."
Don saw the grief and guilt in Smith's eyes as he leaned off the biobed then resumed taking care of the woman.
"I will back off," Don said.
"They can expect her to be awake somewhere in the next five hours," Smith said, as the Robot exited med bay. "No hugging for at least a day."
"I'll tell the family that," Don said. "Thank you," then he added with a appreciated note. "Doctor Smith." Don walked out of med bay leaving Smith to finish what he had started.
Smith glanced up from Judy watching Don leave. When the doors closed behind Don, Smith returned his attention on to Judy. The camera panned back out of the dimly lit room from the interior of the Jupiter 2 to show it was approaching a solar system with space stations scattered around. In the dark, there are shapes of rounded starships flying around with their metal glinting against the darkness avoiding the bright gray rounded saucer with the text UNITED GLOBAL SPACE FORCE - JUPITER 2 written in bold text around the center most notably in front of the wide screen window. The camera panned away from the lost and wandering Jupiter going to the back of it listening to the fading hums as the screen turned to black. Familiar, hopeful optimistic music followed suit.
The End.
A/N.
Smith's entrance was memorable to me the one where he entered the ship for the first time in desert gear in the doorway.
That's actually the last scene I remembered from my better version of the film. LOL
For some reason, it just is memorable.
Through the sands of time I go, to find home and family or something like that was originally going to be the title of this story but I felt it was too long and didn't get to the point of the story and I felt it would be too short as a story to have that title so Lost in Space was chosen (since it was a rewrite/fix it of the film). I decided to end the story here because I felt I didn't have any idea how to execute the ending on the bridge, and as I panned out of Med Bay, I realized I was making a great ending. This ending leaves hope and allows you to imagine what happened with a family that's lost in space. Thanks for sitting down and reading this fix it so have a good day!