LIS Series End Challenge

Forces of Nature

Part 9

As Don and John checked out the Jupiter's systems for the return trip, the rest of the family emptied the ship of their belongings so they could take up residence in the military dormitory. John had sent a message to General Bowers saying that only Don would be returning with Judy, but he suddenly realized that he had forgotten something.

"When I sent our message to Frank, I forgot to mention Dr. Smith," John told Don.

"I think we've all forgotten about Smith," Don responded. "It's been nice having someone else take care of him. Do you know that he thinks he's in a fancy hotel in Paris? He keeps ordering the guards around like they're the bell hops."

"At least he's easily convinced. I heard from Jim that, when they play along with him, he's as sweet as a kitten."

"Wait a minute. You call him Jim? How many years did it take until you called me Don?"

John gave an embarrassed smile. "Why fight the, uh, what did you call it? Forces of nature?"

Don stared at him and mumbled, "Wish you had that attitude years ago." Then he glanced at the next thing on his list, but couldn't continue. He tossed his clip board onto the console.

"Need a break?" John asked.

"No, but we need to talk about Dr. Smith. I was serious about freezing him for the trip back home."

"Don, you know we tossed the freezing tubes years ago. We don't have the means to do that."

"How about sedating him?"

"For five years? I don't think so."

Don looked away in frustration and then turned back to his father-in-law. "John, maybe we shouldn't bring him back at all. He's going to be declared incompetent to stand trial."

"I think you just don't want to have to deal with him on the trip back."

"Can you blame me? At least you have a lot of help up here. It's just going to be me and Judy on the way back. We won't have a moment's peace."

The bedrooms had been cleared of their personal belongings, and Maureen, Judy and Penny were going through the hundreds of boxes and plastic bins in the storage room of the Jupiter, separating what would be needed for the return trip, and what would be needed for those who would remain in the Alpha Centauri system.

Penny opened a plastic bin and burst out laughing. She pulled out a palm sized green box and asked, "Can I keep this?"

Maureen saw what Penny was holding and snatched it out of her hands. "Oh, no you don't, young lady. You're much too young."

"I'm eighteen, mother. Don't expect me to wait as long as Judy did."

Judy took the box from her mother. "Besides, Don and I are going to need them." She peered into the bin. She reached in and took out a pregnancy test kit. "I didn't know we had these."

"Well, I knew that once we landed here, your father and I wouldn't be able to keep you and Don apart. Sooner or later, you would need that," Maureen commented.

Judy's face turned crimson. "Mother, I, um, I think I might need this right now."

Maureen's face wrinkled in worry. "Judy, are you telling me that you think you might be pregnant? How late are you?"

"Seven days."

"Oh, Judy…"

"It's probably just stress."

"I don't think so, Judy," Penny commented. "You're always regular."

Judy read the back of the box. "I'll be back," she said as she went to the lavatory.

Maureen and Penny caught each others' eye and sighed.

Will stood and stretched. He had been studying the rocks he had collected in his make-shift lab for hours. He turned to the Robot and asked, "The next time I go off the base, Robot, I want you to come with me."

"I would be honored, Will Robinson. I want to spend as much time with you as I can before returning to Earth."

Will walked over to the Robot. "What do you mean you're returning to Earth? We'll need you here!"

"I cannot allow Major West and Judy Robinson to shoulder the burden of taking care of Dr. Smith alone, Will Robinson. They will need my help with him."

"They'll be fine!"

"Dr. Smith has become my responsibility."

"You were designed to help us when we colonized, not to take care of Dr. Smith. I'm going to talk to my father. He won't let you leave us."

As Will and the Robot rumbled up the ramp into the Jupiter, Maureen, Penny and Judy exited the elevator. "Dad!" Will shouted as he entered while Maureen simultaneously called, "John! Don! We have a problem."

Both John and Don looked up at the commotion. John glanced at his son-in-law and said, "Now, what?" He turned towards his family and asked, "Problem?" he asked as Don tossed the clipboard back onto the console.

"The Robot's not going back to Earth," Will said, as he crossed his arms in an adamant stance.

Maureen cleared her throat and said, "No one may be going back, Will."

Both John and Don's faces reflected their confusion. "What do you mean, darling?" John asked.

Maureen looked at her eldest daughter. "Judy?"

Judy flushed three shades of red. She hesitated, and then went to Don and placed her hand on his shoulder. "I'm… I'm pregnant," she told him.

Don's eyes widened as if he didn't understand what she had said. Then he put his arms around her waist and pulled her towards him, burying his head against her. No one else spoke. John motioned for the family to leave the ship.

Don pulled Judy into his lap and held her close. "What do we do now?" Judy asked him.

"You stay with your family," he whispered in response.

"What? You can't leave without me!"

"It's too dangerous, Judy. No one has ever had a baby while flying in intergalactic space. We have no idea what the effect would be on the baby. And suppose something goes wrong? At least there's a med bay here."

"Then you're staying, too."

"I don't know, Judy. I have my orders. It wouldn't be the first time a family was separated by the military."

Tears rolled down Judy's cheeks. "But it would be for more than ten years!"

Don helped Judy off his lap and stood. He took her hand and said, "Let's go and send a message to General Bowers. Maybe they'll let us all stay put. They can build a new Jupiter."

Another ten days passed before they received a return message from General Bowers. The launch date was only a week away, and no one knew if Don's orders would change. Tom had told no one that he had added a post script to the message they had sent. If the government still wanted the Jupiter back on Earth, Tom had offered to trade positions with Don. He would fly the ship back and Don would be in charge of the base. He felt confident that Don would be allowed to stay with his family.

Lieutenant Conway knocked on his door. "Colonel Bryce? We've received a response from General Bowers."

"Have you read it?"

"Yes, sir. I was the one who transcribed it."

"And?"

"And I don't think anyone is going to be happy."

Tom read the message. "I don't believe it," he said. "Lieutenant, gather the family together and have them come to my office. We have plans to make."

To be continued...