Perspective (Chapter 2)
By Joan Powers
Xenex bent down to pick up Judy. As he attempted to lift her, he felt the butt of a laser rifle against the back of his shoulders.
"Stop right there."
Xenex complied. The hot headed major had somehow been tipped off as to his intentions. "It's not what it seems," he half-heartedly protested.
"Sure it isn't. You're going to carry her out of your space ship. Now!" The young man's eyes blazed.
He'd dealt with his share of irate customers but this guy was a loose cannon.
"Let's go!" Don jabbed the laser more intently.
"Okay, okay." Xenex wondered what he could use as a distraction. "How did you find me?"
"I got lucky. I was headed this way to check out a new drill site and saw your ship."
Sure he was. Most likely he'd been casing the area for his spaceship since first light and got lucky with his timing. Xenex silently assessed the young man. Strong. Decent features. He'd fetch a respectable price if he could rein him in long enough to find a buyer. Women were much easier in that respect. It would be best to unload Major West as soon as possible.
"C'mon!" Don poked him in the back again with the laser.
"Oh Mr. Xenex!" Dr. Smith's voice called from a distance.
"Smith," Don muttered with disgust.
Xenex used the distraction to jab his elbow back sharply into Don's stomach, causing him to lose his grip on the weapon. Don fought back fiercely, sending both fists flying towards Xenex's abdomen and chest. Yet those blows didn't have much effect due to the ultra-thin body armor sewn into the alien's clothing. Xenex wasn't a stranger to these types of encounters. It was an occupational hazard.
Gaining the advantage, Xenex shifted his weight so he was on top of the Major. With a well placed punch to the temple, he managed to knock Major West unconscious. Xenex quickly stepped in front of Don and turned the command chair to obscure Judy's body.
"Mr. Xenex!" Dr. Smith barged into the space ship as if he owned it.
"Oh Mr. Xenex! I thought you'd be here," the man simpered.
"Dr. Smith, well, well. What a surprise. What can I do for you?"
"You forgot your crystals. The Robot has them, just outside."
The Robot. Smith with his gelatinous belly and cowardly disposition he could handle. The Robot was a different story. Although he was primitive, he could be armed. That could be a problem. He decided he'd better humor the good doctor rather than immediately toss the buffoon out of the ship.
"Shall we talk?" Dr. Smith suggested.
"Certainly. What can I do for you?" Xenex wondered about the best way to get rid of the man without drawing undue attention from the Robot. He had what he wanted. He was ready to leave.
"Although you claim you don't need a business partner, I'd like to offer my services as a guide to Earth."
"Earth? Why would I want to go there?" Xenex asked.
Dr. Smith visibly brightened. "It's simply marvelous. There are valuable stones, exotic plants, technology. You'd make a killing moving those goods."
"I haven't had much demand for Earth products." Xenex played the game.
"Why it's simply that people don't know about them. And you'd be the first. You could command a handsome price. My only fee would be my passage to Earth."
"Ah. But wouldn't the Robinsons miss you?" He was having some trouble making that line sound sincere.
"Of course. Poor Will, especially. I've taken him under my wing. But since the Jupiter is abandoned here with little hope of leaving, having one less mouth to feed would ultimately be a blessing in disguise."
"I'm sure." Xenex had enough. "Look, I'm not interested. I've got some more profitable deals going."
The doctor's eyes widened. "Do you? What?"
He smiled, "Trade secret."
Realizing he was getting no where, Smith's eyes started to scan about the ship. When he grew visibly paler, Xenex knew he had seen Judy or the Major.
"I think…I'd better go," he whimpered while edging towards the door.
"I think not." Xenex produced a weapon from behind his back. Although Smith was utterly worthless cargo, he didn't want the Robot to interfere with his ship taking off.
"Oh dear," Dr. Smith gasped as he fainted.
Xenex swiftly moved his visitors into the elevator to bring them down to the cargo area of his ship, taking special care with Judy. Don and Dr. Smith were treated like sacks of potatoes, their extremities dragging along the ground and banging against the walls. When his task was completed, he strapped in and prepared for take off.
XXXXX
Judy's head was throbbing. The ground was hard and cold beneath her. She opened her eyes to discover she was in a cabin with a bunk and bars for one wall. A strong smell of disinfectant filled the air almost covering the stench of urine. There was a drain in the middle of the floor. Chains with ankle and wrist shackles were attached to the wall. Several other similar units surrounded them. Then she noticed she wasn't alone.
"Don!" She rushed over to the unconscious man, sprawled out on the floor. A trickle of blood ran down his cheek and one of his temples was swollen and turning purple. "Don! Are you okay?"
His skin was warm to the touch, somewhat reassuring her. She sat on the floor beside him, cradling his head in her lap. She gently massaged his face.
"Judy?" He was groggy.
"Are you okay?"
He winced as he moved. "My head."
Suddenly her relief was replaced with shame. "Go ahead and say it."
"Say what?"
"I messed up. I'm not capable of making decisions."
"Huh?" He slowly rose to sit beside her.
"Come on. You and my parents keep treating me like a child. And now I've proven why."
Don was still trying to come up to speed. "Judy, the last thing that comes to mind when I think of you is a child."
"But…I…"
"You've got to be kidding. You made a mistake. You trusted someone and you were wrong. That's not necessarily a childish attribute. In fact, it's something I always admired in you."
Judy stared.
"I look at a situation and I see the pitfalls, the potential danger. You look at the same situation and see the beauty of it, the excitement. You could say that we balance each other."
Judy looked down guiltily. "I should've recognized the signs. I shouldn't have put myself in this situation in the first place."
"There were some precautions you should've taken. But Judy, I like you just the way you are. I don't want you to be tough or suspicious of every one. That's not you."
"Maybe I shouldn't need you to rescue me," she mumbled as she nestled against him.
He put an arm about her to draw her closer. "I kinda like that part. Makes me feel like you need me."
A stirring in the cage captured their attention. Dr. Smith was with them.
"You'd better be asleep Smith or I'll knock you out myself," Don warned.
The motion stopped.
She had to ask. "Do you still love me?"
"Of course."
Although it was hard for her to ask, she had to know. "But…you've been so distant."
He laughed. "I've been concentrating on our survival."
"We've always had those issues. Yet we used to make time for each other."
"Judy, what do you think I'm made of? Stone? Sometimes just looking at you is pure torture. To see you so close and not be able to have you. Holding hands isn't enough. Kissing you isn't enough. If I've shut down, it hasn't been because I'm not interested. I'm entirely too interested."
Both smiled.
A different sound attracted his attention.
"Oh no. If I'm not mistaken, this ship is airborne."
"What are we going do?" Judy was starting to panic. "Mom and Dad can't come after us."
"Don't worry, we'll figure something out." Don thought a moment. "We need a distraction."
"Do you want me to try to get Xenex's attention?" Judy asked.
"No."
Judy was visibly disappointed. "You think I can't do the job?"
Don hurried to correct her impression. 'No – that's not it. Look at this place. This is what Xenex does for a living. He's used to treating women like objects. He won't have any pity for you. It won't work. But I can think of something that might be effective."
His gaze rested on Dr. Smith.
XXXXX
"Mr. Xenex! Oh Mr. Xenex!" Dr. Smith called.
In sotto voce, he complained to the Major, "This will never work."
"Yes it will. Belly aching comes naturally to you, Smith. Just keep it up," Don encouraged him. "Bang on the bars with your boot if you have to." Don was feigning unconsciousness, lying on the floor near the door.
"Mr. Xenex! It's far too cold down here. Can't I have a blanket? I'm thirsty too."
His litany continued. "For a cultured man I would've expected far more luxurious accommodations. These leave something to be desired. The deplorable odor, the primitive sanitary conditions and utter lack of privacy. It's appalling."
He motioned to the Major. "Your boot, sir."
"What?"
"You didn't think I was going to put my foot on this filthy floor, did you? Hand it over."
Don complied, figuring the ends justified the means.
Dr. Smith banged against the bars, loudly, using the boot.
"I hope this works," Judy whispered to Don.
"Smith can keep this up for hours. No one is that patient," Don grinned.
True to Don's word, Xenex came storming down the elevator after fifteen minutes of uninterrupted whining.
"What is your problem?"
"I'm hungry. I'm cold. These accommodations are dreadful," Dr. Smith complained.
"What did you expect? I did my best to dissuade you from coming. Don't worry, Smith, I'm dumping you as soon as I can."
"But…Mr. Xenex, have some pity. A glass of water. A piece of bread. Even you are not that cruel."
Xenex stepped towards a cabinet. "If it will shut you up, let's do it."
He brought over a glass of water and some soy concentrate.
Smith wrinkled his nose. "You can't be serious."
"That's what you get." He shoved the items roughly towards the door.
"I can't possibly reach that far. Bring it in here."
Xenex assessed the cage. Don was unconscious on the floor and Judy was sitting on the bunk, staring off listlessly.
He entered a combination to an electronic lock to unlatch the door. When he stepped in, Don grabbed his foot to set him off balance. When he fell to the floor, Judy rushed over to clout him in the head with one of the shackles. Xenex was out cold.
"Good shot," Don grabbed Judy's shoulder.
"I was scared to death."
"But you did it. Let's find some rope to tie him up and then we'll figure out how to get this ship back to your family."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"I suppose it's time we got back to work," John Robinson rose from his seat at the outdoor dinning table while exchanging glances with Major West, who nodded in agreement. The family had just enjoyed a chocolate cake Maureen had made to celebrate Judy, Don and Dr. Smith's safe return.
Don picked up a thruster control unit. "I'm looking forward to installing this baby. Guess Smith isn't completely useless."
While Don had been concentrating on flying Xenex's ship, Dr. Smith had searched the ship thoroughly to find the man's spare parts. After successfully landing, they'd left Xenex in his ship. Fully armed, the entire family had surrounded his ship and then watched him depart.
"Major, really. May I remind you that if I hadn't done my part, you might not even be here now. Oh what an ordeal I've suffered. Every bone in my body aches. I'm covered with bruises, I tell you. I simply must rest," Dr. Smith lamented.
The men strode into the space ship, chatting companionably, while Will and Penny wandered off. Dr. Smith limped off to his cabin, continuing to complain about the bruising of his delicate back. He commandeered the Robot for a back massage. Maureen began to stack the plates.
Judy rose, "Let me help." She stacked some cups.
"That's okay, darling. You've been through enough today."
Judy hung her head. "I guess you were right, Mother. I didn't handle the situation well."
"What? What do you mean? I'm impressed that you knocked Xenex out with those chains. That's quite an accomplishment. What would you have done differently?"
She put down the cups. "I shouldn't have trusted him in the first place. I shouldn't have made myself so vulnerable."
Maureen came alongside her daughter to put an arm on her shoulder. "That's one of the qualities I've always appreciated about you. You believe the best in people."
"And look where it got me." Judy felt ashamed.
"No. The world is composed of many types of people. So many are jaded and don't trust a soul. It makes the world a cold place. But you…you bring light and warmth. You give and don't expect in return. You expect the best and in most cases you get that. I wouldn't trade that for the world. There's a huge difference between being a child and having a child-like faith in people."
"Then why don't you treat me more like an adult?"
"How do you mean, dear? You do your share of the chores. You carry a load equal to Don, your dad and myself. The reason that hydroponic garden does as well as it does is because of your guidance."
Judy realized that she was right. "But I still feel like you treat me like a child. Why do I have to ask to do things? Why did I need your permission to go to the caves in the first place?"
"You didn't. To be honest, sometimes old habits are hard to break. Especially with your first child. It can be difficult for your father and I to admit that you're a young woman now. You're right, you shouldn't have to ask. Granted for security reasons, we do have certain restrictions. We need to know where people are. And there are precautions that are necessary – such as having a laser pistol with you if you're out by yourself. You're a smart girl, Judy. We trust you. We trust your judgment."
The load of self imposed guilt upon her shoulders was becoming lighter. She hugged her mother. "Thanks, Mom."
XXXXX
Judy was leaning against the rocks while examining the night sky, anxiously awaiting Don's arrival. She didn't have long to wait, he came within minutes, standing beside her.
She quivered, wanting to touch his hand, to feel the warmth emanating from his body. Don's comments about being too interested in her were fresh in her mind. She didn't think she could take much more of the status quo which was equally frustrating to her. She hated to cause conflict but she had to know.
"What are we going to do?" she asked.
Apparently, it was on his mind as well. "I'm sorry, Judy. I can't do this half way. Either we're a couple and we're completely together or we're still….on hold. It's been more than two years. I'm sorry, I'm weak. I just don't have that kind of self control."
In some ways she was flattered by his confession. "Then why should we wait?" She turned to pull him into a passionate kiss.
While he responded with equal enthusiasm, after a minute he pulled himself away, with difficulty. "No, that's not right either. Judy, you're the one. The woman for me. I know that. I want to do this right. Before we commit to one another physically, I want us to commit emotionally as well. To be man and wife."
"Are you….asking me to marry you?" Not that this was completely unexpected.
"Judy Robinson, will you be my wife?"
She idly wondered if he should be on bended knee bearing a ring with a glittery stone along with flowers. But it truly was the thought that counted. She didn't need the trappings to savor the happy moment for what it was.
"Are you sure? I don't want to be a consolation prize due to your lack of choice."
"That's never crossed my mind. I was hoping we could marry when we landed at Alpha Centauri but two and half years has been long enough. Even though we're going to be able to lift off soon since we've fixed the thruster control, there's no guarantee that we'll reach our final destination right away. I'm tired of waiting."
Judy smiled. "Me too."
"So…" Don asked expectantly.
"Oh..yes! Of course I want to marry you." She beamed towards him.
"Your parents might not like this. Due to our living situation, being a newly married couple could be awkward."
Judy was fully aware of that. In fact, in the past she'd been far too embarrassed about the logistics to even bring it up. Then she realized that in some respects, she had perpetuated the status quo. Although Don had made suggestions in the past, she'd been the one who'd been afraid to rock the boat, to make changes her parents might not appreciate. Their circumstances weren't ideal and change could be frightening. Under these conditions, they would need to discuss private matters with her parents. It would be difficult.
But it was time.
"Should we talk with your parents?" Don cautiously asked.
Knowing Don as she did, if she demurred, he wouldn't hold it against her. It would mean more of the same frustrating stalemate but he would wait. Yet, she was ready. Scared but ready. Rather than presuming Don would do all the talking, she was ready to fully participate in that conversation.
"Yes. Let's go find them."
She firmly grasped his hand in hers.
THE END