Chapter 6
No Commitment
The summer training was the best time Don had ever had. He wowed his instructors on both the simulators and the advanced jet training. Aviation was in his blood and he took to flying the jets like a bee to nectar. Volunteers were finally being accepted for the Jupiter training program, and Don was the first to submit an application. The process would be closed by December first, and then the pilots would begin training with the family after the first of the year. The final decision of who would pilot the Jupiter 2 would rest mainly in Professor Robinson's hands, and it would take more than excellent piloting skills to win that seat.
Mike, who remained Don's roommate when they transferred to Houston, had decided against it. He had fallen in love with a local girl, and outside attachments negated any thoughts of entering the colonization program as a pilot. Lynn had come to visit Don during the Thanksgiving break. Mike and his girlfriend, Sherry Anderson, had invited them to Sherry's home for Thanksgiving dinner. After a touch football game on the front lawn and the traditional meal, the family settled down for dessert. Conversation at the dinner table took on the flavor of a friendly debate as the future of space travel was discussed.
Sherry's father had strong feelings about the colonization program, which he shared. "I don't understand why anyone would want to fly to the other side of the galaxy to colonize a planet that might not even exist."
"This is a big galaxy, Mr. Anderson. There must be some planet that can sustain life similar to ours. In fact we've already sent probes into space to find them," Mike replied.
"Tell us more, Mike," Sherry encouraged.
"Information from the Deep Thrust Telescopic Probe series is due to be sent back by the spring of 1997. Once the data is analyzed, a target will be chosen," Mike explained.
"And who, other than that crazy Robinson family, would be fool enough to go on such a trip?" Sherry's father asked.
Don looked Mr. Anderson in the eye and announced, "I would, sir. I've volunteered to train as a pilot for those 'crazy' Robinsons."
The turkey was surrounded by carrots and potatoes and was waiting patiently to be carved.
"And for all the wonderful blessings you have bestowed upon us, we thank You, Lord. Amen."
A chorus of "Amen" resounded around the table as Professor Robinson finished his Thanksgiving prayer.
"Who's ready to eat!" John proclaimed as he carved the turkey.
The dishes were passed around and Judy fought against the dark cloud that threatened to descend upon her. She had yet to inform her parents about her decision to forsake the mission and study theater at the University of Southern California. She couldn't put off telling them any longer. Applications would be due in a matter of weeks.
She picked at her food while the rest of her family delved into their dishes with a hearty appetite.
"Judy?" her mother asked, "Aren't you hungry?"
"Oh, I am, just not right now," Judy replied.
"Why, Judy, that makes no sense. Are you all right?"
"I… I have to tell you all something, and, I'm afraid to say it."
John and Maureen exchanged glances and John encouraged, "Just say it, Judy."
"I made a decision when I was visiting Aunt Colleen last summer."
Maureen's heart leapt to her throat. Somehow she knew that she was losing her daughter.
Judy took a deep breath and blurted it out, "I want to apply to USC to study theater."
"How can you do that, Judy, when you have to be here to train with the rest of us?" her father asked.
Judy just stared at him, unable to continue.
Maureen stepped in. "What she's trying to say, dear, is that she won't be joining us on our mission."
That comment was met with total silence.
Judy tried to explain. "I'm sorry, Dad, but… I want to become an actress."
John Robinson stood and tossed his napkin on the table. Without a word he walked out of the house and drove off in his car, unable to accept Judy's decision.
Don and Lynn drove back to the pilot training center in silence. Lynn had hoped that her visit with Don would shake him back into reality, but the dinner conversation had revealed that Don was as committed as ever to the colonization project. She had one more trick to try, as much as she hated doing it, but she was desperate.
They had the room to themselves since Mike was spending the night at Sherry's house. Don suggested that she would be more comfortable in Mike's bed, but Lynn had plans to pick-up where they had left off.
"Mike's bed? I thought I'd be sharing yours?" she stated.
"It's been five months since we've seen each other, Lynn. I didn't want to presume anything."
"I've missed you. Haven't you missed me?" she coyly asked.
Truth be told, he had barely thought about her because he had been so involved in the training. "Look, Lynn, you're a wonderful girl and you will make some lucky man very happy someday, but… that man is not me."
She stared at him. Why was he making this so difficult? "Are you sure?" She pressed her body up against his and took his ear lobe into her mouth and sucked. "How about one for old time's sake?"
'Lynn…"
"Sh…"
She continued to seduce him and he found his resolve weakening. He hadn't thought about sex in weeks, well… days… and it felt… so good…
"No commitment?" he whispered.
"No commitment," she answered.
They moved together to his bed and she worked him over like an ice cream cone. He moaned as she had him in the 'zone', but he was aware enough to interrupt the flow.
"Wait…" He reached into a drawer beside his bed and pulled out a condom.
She took it from his hands. "You won't need that," she said as she tossed it on the floor and moved on top of him.
'Won't need that?' The statement echoed in his mind and he grabbed her shoulders to hold her at bay. "What do you mean, we won't need it?"
"I'm on the pill."
This time he pushed her off. "You weren't on the pill before, why would you go on it when I left?"
"Well, I… I knew I'd be seeing you again and I didn't want us to… to have to bother with the condoms… I thought that you'd enjoy it more without them."
Her plan was suddenly clear in his mind. He scrambled out of bed and got himself together. He was afraid to speak for fear of what would come out of his mouth. He grabbed his jacket and stomped out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
Don walked blindly out of the building and never looked up. He couldn't believe she would try to trap him. His anger poured from every pore as he practically ran through the paths of the training center. He never saw the man in front of him and barreled into him like he was blitzing the quarterback. The poor man found himself flat on the ground with the wind knocked out of him. Don's mouth dropped open when he realized that he had tackled none other than Professor Robinson himself.
John opened his eyes to see a young officer apologizing profusely and extending a hand to help him up.
"Why don't you… watch… where you're going…" John snarled as he took Don's hand and stood, holding his stomach as he tried to catch his breath.
"Lieutenant… Lieutenant Don West, sir… Professor Robinson, sir… I'm pleased to make your acquaintance… sir."
John turned to go into his office, but Don wasn't ready to let him go.
"Professor, I'm sorry we had to meet like this, but I want you to know that I've applied to pilot the Jupiter 2, sir."
"Just pray that your piloting skills are better than your walking skills, Lieutenant, or you won't come within two feet of the Jupiter." He strode away and never looked back at the hopeful young man. 'We can cross that one off the list,' John told himself.
When Don returned to his room, he found Lynn dressed and waiting for him, sitting on the edge of his bed.
"Hey," she said.
"Hey."
"I'm sorry, Don."
He sat on Mike's bed opposite her.
"I know what I did was inexcusable, but I was desperate," she explained.
"Desperate for what, Lynn?"
She moved to kneel down in front of him. "I love you, Don. I'd do anything to keep you here with me. Anything." Tears were streaming down her face.
"Lynn, stop. Please?" He moved to get away from her.
"I thought you loved me."
He turned back and glared at her. "I never told you that! I don't love you, Lynn, I don't." He walked to the window and spotted a light in the distance that had to be Professor Robinson's office. "Maybe I should have said that a long time ago… I'm sorry."
She wiped her eyes, sat back on his bed, and sighed. "Your sister warned me. She told me to cut my losses and run. I guess she was right."
"If it was June, you should have listened. June is always right."
"I guess that's it, then." She stood to leave.
He turned back towards her. "Where are you going?"
"Back to Colorado."
"Now? It's midnight."
"I can't stay here."
"You're not driving back there in the middle of the night. You take my bed. I'll take Mike's."
She reluctantly consented. He was right, she was wiped and depressed. Driving back now would be a mistake.
They each settled into their respective beds. Don bent his arm behind his head, wondering how they had gotten to this point. "Lynn, I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you."
"Too late, Don."
'That's it,' he told himself. 'If there's no sex, there's no strings and no commitment.' He sighed, 'It'll just be me and my hand for a long, long time.'