Smith finished eating his mystery bar as difficult as it was to stop himself from trying to throw it up. The bad feeling was sitting in his gut. Like it shouldn't be there at all. He twiddled his fingers sitting in a chair along the ride on a chair watching the stars pass by. The children were playing chess. A game that he found them playing when it came to being bored. He was relieved that Will hadn't asked him to play. He closed his eyes then started to snore. Penelope and Will slowly looked over in the direction of the man with his head slowly lifting up and down. Debbie rested in his lap falling fast asleep curled up. Debbie was a three year old Bloop almost like a little child resting in his arms holding onto him.
Smith was fast asleep for most of the trip. There was no radio contact with the spaceship. As though they were too far away to make contact. Penelope was sure that they were on their way several hours behind and weren't going to make it on time. Smith's pockets smelled bad and his breath stunk. Smith didn't change positions as he sat in the chair alongside the console. So the remaining hours they had spent was making sure the space pod didn't crash into a asteroid, passed by solar flares, missed oncoming spaceships, and made sure to duck random meteorological storms or a ion storm for that matter. They took turns doing it. Penelope took the first watch and Will took the second then so on. Smith was fast asleep throughout the ride. Debbie enjoyed the moderately cold body in between naps. So when they had seen the planet oncoming, they came to Smith's sides then shook him by the shoulder.
"Wake up!" Will and Penelope said repeatedly.
"Madame, I am sorry!" Smith bolted up with a emotional cry sending Debbie bolting off into Penelope's arms.
Smith placed his hands on both temples, trembling, with a shaky breath.
"We're here," Penelope said, taking her hand off Smith's shoulder as did Will.
"Oh good," Smith said, then combed his hair neatly back. He stood up then looked toward the view screen. "Gorgeous planet. Would make a nice vacation spot."
"It has nothing on Alpha Prime A," Will said.
"Any planet can be Alpha Prime A," Smith said. "When you have home traveling with you."
Smith pressed a button then the space pod made its descent down.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Penelope asked.
"In my time being lost in space with the Robinsons, I found home. A place where I was supposed to be. It took me awhile to find that but I found it. I had it. Home isn't fancy. Home isn't just lavish or beautiful, it is where you want to be and your heaven. . ." Smith said. "As the saying goes, heaven is a place you make on Earth." He had a chuckle to himself, fondly and sadly with a droplet of amusement.
"I don't think that's a saying," Will said.
"Bloop," Debbie said. "Bloop."
"It is now," Penelope said. "I guess you can say I just didn't know how lucky I am."
"Family is home, children," Smith said, then looked toward them. "Don't you forget that."
"I won't," Will said, Smith turned his attention back on the screen. "I won't."
He felt along his grown beard along his face while carefully making adjustments down to the surface to keep it from burning up. Penelope and Will hung onto the rail support compared to the still, unbothered gray man. The space pod tore through the atmosphere until it came to the blue sky. The space pod lowered through the sky. Once the ground was in sight, Smith slowly flipped the switches one by one. The space pod floated safely down to a green hill. Smith turned the knob then stepped out of the space pod. The children noticed that he had a laser belt with a strange, thin light gray gun dangling from it. Where he got it was a mystery. Debbie leaped up onto Smith's shoulder with a bloop and wrapped its tail around his shoulder changing to pitch black.
"What kind of gun is that?" Penelope asked.
"Ah," Smith pat on it lightly. "Safety precaution."
"I get that, but I never seen anything like it," Penelope said. "It looks really expensive."
Smith turned toward the space pod.
"You never seen a laser pistol," Smith said, cocking a brow up.
"A laser pistol doesn't look like that," Will said.
"Do tell me you have seen more than one type of space gun," Smith said,
"Yes, but they were always bulky and threatening," Penelope said. "Not long and slender."
"Let's go," Smith said, beckoning the children. "This despicable monkey stays."
"Debbie goes," Penelope said.
"If you are responsible for this abomination in the species of Bloop Gorillas then you will lose it in the most painful way possible, be put into danger that wasn't planned or make danger that threatens everyone involved that gets us killed," Smith said. "I cannot afford anyone else to die because of my volunteering. One less person," he pointed toward Debbie. "To worry about."
"Oh," the siblings said.
"Debbie, in," Penelope said, gesturing toward the inside of the space pod.
Debbie jumped off Smith's arm landing to the grass.
"Bloop, bloop, bloop," Debbie said, then hopped back into the space pod.
Penelope closed the pod behind the monkey. Smith slid the rounded risk into his pocket then turned away from the pod. A warm gust of air blew through the green, wet grass. There was a facility up ahead surrounded by several trees that seemed to be pine in nature. It is just the way they were clustered together and the way they had shape. Several trees that could be used for Christmas with left over pieces of snow. It reminded the doctor strongly of a train set that was highly detailed from train station, animals, to the texture of the grass. Smith turned back toward the children then gestured them back with a wave of his finger. Will was shivering. They went back in then came out with insulated coats and Will quickly closed the door.
"Why are you not warmly dressed?" Penelope asked.
"I am not cold," Smith asked, earning a concerned look from Will.
"Are you okay?" Will inquired
"A jacket will do for me, dear Penelope," Smith said, taking out a binoculars from his belt. He held it up then got a better view of the facility looking around for the weak points. There were many weak points that could be exploited under the cover of night and easily broken into. It was too easy. Smith smelled a trap. The sun was setting down over the hill. He zipped up the jacket completely so that it hugged his figure warmly. He slid the warm, furry hood over his head. "So that is where your friend is being held?"
"He might not be there anymore, so let's go back," Will said, as Smith lowered the binoculars.
Smith turned toward the boy then held up his finger.
"Now see here, boy," Smith said. "Robinsons don't leave one of their own behind. I don't count. The Robot counts because he is family."
"You do count," Will said.
"I don't," Smith said, then looked on toward the facility. "Penelope, are you ready to play your part?"
"Not my first rodeo," Penelope said.
"Based off the miles between us and that, we may have around thirty-five miles between us and them," Smith said. "Your flashlights are green energy are they not?"
"Yes," Will said.
"Good," Smith said, putting the binoculars away. "Then the only thing you'll have to be afraid of tonight is one thing."
Penelope groaned.
"Don't tell me it's a bear," Penelope said.
"No," Smith said. "It is me. Come along, children."
Smith turned away from the children then walked on ahead toward the facility leaving them confused then shrug it off.
