Love on the Rocks:

On the upper deck of the Jupiter 2, Major Donald West was verifying the hand written damage report with the main computer readout. It had taken him and John most of the day to get the auxiliary power units running, providing heat, light, and electricity to the crippled spaceship. As he read the damage assessment, Penny ascended the elevator and walked onto the upper deck.

"How's it going, Don?"

West looked up from his work at the pilot's seat. "Oh, hi Penny, I didn't hear you come in. To answer your question, it's still going slow, the Jupiter took quite a beating. I'm afraid it's going to be a while before we can lift off."

Penny looked out the main viewport at the open field where the ship had landed. In the foreground, a grove of trees that could pass for oaks could be seen within a few hundred yards of the spaceship. A snow covered mountain range rose behind the tree line, adding a dramatic flair to the already picturesque vista. Penny could have easily believed that she was somewhere in the Midwest, if not for some of the strange animal life they had encountered.

"At least this planet isn't as barren as some of the worlds we have visited. In fact, it's very beautiful, almost like Earth."

Outside the ship, Penny saw her sister, Judy, working in the hydroponic garden. Her mother had not yet been able to test the native soil for planting suitability, but Penny was sure that they would soon be able to grow a real garden, just like home.

"I'm surprised Judy isn't helping you, Don. I could take over for her in the garden if you like to spend some time with her?"

"Thanks, Penny, but Judy isn't speaking to me right now," said Don, the frustration evident in his voice.

"Mom said that the two of you had a fight."

West nodded, "Your sister thinks I'm being too hard on Doctor Smith. She heard me when I told your father that I was going to march him into exile."

Penny looked at him, questioningly, "You wouldn't really do that to him, Don. I know you wouldn't."

"You know, Penny, this time I think I would. Your brother could have been killed," he said, looking out the viewport. "We all could have."

Penny noticed that he was watching Judy's every move. When Judy turned back to the ship, he looked down, but when Penny looked back outside, she could see tears in her sister's eyes.

"You should go out and talk to her, Don," she added.

"What's the point? She'll just defend Smith again."

"This really isn't about Doctor Smith, is it," Penny said, a statement rather than a question.

"What makes you say that?" asked West, surprised by her intuition.

"Everyone knows that you and Judy are in love," she answered. "Since the two of you haven't done anything about it yet, there has to be a reason."

When Don didn't answer, Penny continued, "Judy told me that you both were going to wait until we reached Alpha Centauri before you got married."

"Yeah, that's right," said Don. "But there's more. I probably shouldn't tell you this, but I think I can trust you to keep a secret. The reason Judy and I promised your Mom and Dad that we would wait until we settled on Alpha Prime is because they were afraid that if we got married now, Judy would end up pregnant and they have enough to worry about without having to worry about space travel affecting their unborn grandchild."

"I thought so," she said. "You and Judy want to be together, and every time Doctor Smith causes a problem, it pushes that day even further away. It's easy to see why you are so frustrated with him."

"I wish Judy could see that."

"Maybe she needs to hear it from you."

"You know, Penny, you could be…hey, where is she?" asked Don, concern evident in his voice. Out the viewport, Judy was nowhere to be seen.

"She was just there a few minutes ago."

"Go get your father, I'll check around the back of the ship."

...

While Penny went below, Don quickly searched the immediate area surrounding the Jupiter. But Judy was nowhere to be found and his concern deepened.

As he rounded the front of the ship, John, Maureen, and Penny, trotted out the hatch and down the ramp.

"Did you find her, Don?" asked Maureen.

West shook his head, "I don't get it. She was just in the garden five minutes ago."

"Judy knows better than to just run off without telling us," said Maureen. "This isn't like her at all."

"Break out the lasers, and get Smith," said John. He turned to his wife. "Don't worry, darling. She couldn't have gone too far, we'll find her."

As inviting as the serine vista seemed to be, John knew that they were still on an unexplored and potentially hostile planet. They would all have to be extra vigilant.

...

"Self recrimination is counterproductive, Doctor Smith," the Robot said, in another effort to pull him out of his deepening depression. "Will Robinson is going to make a full recovery. He even asked about you earlier."

In his cabin, Zachary Smith had isolated himself from the rest of the crew, fully expecting that Major West would soon make good on his threat to march him into exile. The meal that Maureen Robinson had left him was hardly touched.

"Oh, spare me your pointless platitudes, the Major is right," said Smith. "I've been nothing but a burden to this expedition. I almost caused the demise of my beloved friend, William. "

"Come now, Doctor Smith. You have made some positive contributions to the well being of the Robinson family…"

"Give me just one example, you nameless ninny."

Before the Robot could answer, the cabin door slid open and Don appeared in the doorway. He had a laser rifle slung over his shoulder.

"I see you are here to march me into oblivion, Major. The weapon is unnecessary. I will go by my own accord. As you can see, I am packed and ready to go," said Smith, pointing to the duffle on the floor.

"Never mind that now, Smith, Judy is missing and we've only got an hour of daylight left to find her. We need you to help with the search."

When the weight of what Don had said hit him, Doctor Smith became even more despondent.

"Oh dear, what have I done. Poor Judith, devoured by monsters, it's all my fault…"

"Knock it off, Smith," said West. "Get up to the control room and report to John."

"Yes, yes, of course. Never fear, Smith is here," he said, but his statement lacked the usual flair.

"Robot, we'll probably need your tracking sensors."

"Affirmative, Major West," replied the Robot as he joined Smith at the elevator.

Don would never admit it, but Doctor Smith had unwittingly vocalized his worse fears.

...

When they had assembled on the upper deck, John quickly briefed the search team.

"We'll split up," he began. "Smith, you and the robot will take the wooded area just west of the ship. Don and I will check the foothills to the east. We all stay in radio contact with the ship. Robot, if you find anything on your sensors, let us know by radio."

"Understood, Professor Robinson."

Robinson turned to face his wife, "Maureen, once we are clear, activate the force field, just to be safe."

"All right, John. Be careful."

She reached up and briefly met his lips with hers.

"Let's go," he said, as he led them out the hatch.

Maureen watched them trudge off and switched on the power to the force field. The low hum served as a reminder that, in spite of the peaceful surroundings, both she and the ones she cared about were very much at the mercy of whatever hidden dangers this alien planet held.

...

Twenty minutes later, the Robot stopped, his Plexiglas sensor dome, snapping to attention. "My sensors indicate that Miss Judy passed through this area within the hour."

"Are you sure?" asked Smith.

"Affirmative, Doctor Smith. I would suggest that you call Professor Robinson on the radio and notify him."

"Yes, of course."

Smith ineptly extended the antenna and fumbled with the tuning dial. "Professor Robinson, Professor Robinson, please come in. This is Doctor Smith."

...

Robinson and West had climbed to a ridge that overlooked the shallow valley that was to be their home for the next several months. From that vantage point, he scanned the area with a pair of high power field glasses.

"I don't think she came this way, John. That was a rough climb," said West. "See anything?"

"No, nothing. This ridge runs to the north of the ship. There is a small lake south of the Jupiter, just beyond that grove of trees. Let's try searching down there."

"All right, but we're losing the light fast, John. It will be dark by the time we get down there."

"I know, I wonder how Smith is making out…"

The radio on John's belt began to beep.

"Speak the Devil's name," said West.

Professor Robinson extended the antenna and opened the receiver.

"…please come in. This is Doctor Smith."

"Smith, this is Robinson. Send your message."

"Oh, Professor, thank goodness. Miss Judy has been through this way."

"What is your position?"

There was a brief pause and the voice of the Robot came over the radio.

"We are approximately two miles west of the Jupiter 2, bearing 265 degrees. My sensors indicate that Judy Robinson passed this way less than an hour ago."

"All right, we're about forty minutes from your position. Continue searching the area."

John retracted the antenna, "We can stop by the ship and grab a pair of flashlights on the way. It will be dark soon."

...

Judy found herself mesmerized by the alien sunset as it was, by far, the most beautiful she had seen in almost four years. The sun was bisected by the tree line and the last vestiges of full sun reflected off the stream that ran across the open field, winding its way from the cliffs to the north. It flowed southwestward, eventually joining the natural lake to the south of the Jupiter. I wish Don was here to share this with me. She shook the thought from her head when she remembered that she was still angry with the volatile Major West.

She took one last look at the view before she turned to head back to the ship.

"I've been gone way too long," she said to herself. "Mom and Dad are going to be very upset."

Judy quickened her pace as she reached the thick wooded area that separated her from the camp. It was much darker in the thickness of the forest and Judy found herself wishing for a flashlight.

I hope I can find my way back…

Her thoughts were interrupted when she ran headlong into a sticky web like structure. "This wasn't here earlier," she said aloud, as she tried to free herself from the entanglement. She felt, rather than heard a presence behind her. When she turned to look, she let out a blood curdling scream.