Fire in the Sky:

The Professor's announcement had a jubilant effect on his family. Don and Judy cuddled closely at the table, happier than John had ever seen them. They had waited so long, and sacrificed so much for the mission and seeing them together made him misty. John turned to find the blue pools of serenity and strength that were his wife's eyes.

"I think we made the right decision," he said to her.

"I know we have, John."

When dinner had ended, John and Don sat with Jarrock and the council to discuss the problems the clan was having with the Macktu. Maureen and Lana discussed family, as well as Don and Judy's upcoming nuptials. Will, Brina, and Judy were showing off their musical talents with the two siblings singing a duet.

Penny and T'lan had found a quiet spot nearby to gaze up at the heavens. Their conversation had flowed from the joy they both felt about her father's decision to her interest in Lamotia literature.

"For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings, Penny said, wistfully.

"Those words are so pleasing," said T'lan. "A small phrase, yet the words mean so much. Are they yours?"

Penny broke into a smile, "I only wish. They come from William Shakespeare's sonnets. He was an English playwright and poet who lived during the late sixteenth century."

"You enjoy poetry?"

"Yes, but my first love has always been animals. I've always had a special connection with them."

T'lan looked out over the plain, "I have never considered them for anything but food and clothing. Does this disturb you, Penny?"

"I haven't given it much thought, until now. Back on Earth, we raise livestock for food and I try not to think about it. But I don't know if I could bring myself to kill."

"My clan has lived off the land for many cycles," said T'lan. "When a hunting party goes out, it kills only what is needed to feed and clothe our people. Nothing is left to waste, not even the bones…"

"That's all right. I don't want to know the details," she said. "Your people do what they must to survive."

The strains of the song Fly Away drifted over them. Penny hummed along with the harmony part that Judy was singing.

"You and your family are very talented. In ours, only Brina was so gifted."

"She plays the flute so beautifully."

"Yet the beauty of her music pales in comparison to the radiance of the young woman who has blessed me with her presence."

Penny felt herself flush as her heart did a back flip. She had been told that she was beautiful before, by her parents, Don, Doctor Smith, and even Will. But, somehow this was different, special. She tingled in anticipation as she looked up at him.

"You really think I'm beautiful?" she asked, her voice quavering.

"More beautiful than the sunrise, or the night sky, or the colored bow after the rains…"

T'lan slowly reached his hand behind her neck and she mirrored his motions as her heart beat wildly in her chest. Their lips met in a tender kiss that, from her point of view, seemed to last forever.

...

At the table, John and Maureen were chatting with Lana and Jarrock when Maureen noticed T'lan and Penny. She nudged her husband and pointed.

"John, I think we might need to have a talk with Penny."

"You may be right."

Professor Robinson watched his daughter and her new boyfriend separate. After answering his wife he turned to Jarrock, "I know, Maureen has talked with Lana about our children, but we never asked about your pairing customs."

Jarrock, who had also seen the exchange chuckled, as he said, "I understand your concern, Professor Robinson. A young man in the clan begins to search for his life mate when he is the age of fifteen. He will most often pick a young woman about two cycles younger so they will reach the age of enlightenment around the same time."

"Is this a prearrangement?" asked Maureen.

"No, Mrs. Robinson, our children are free to follow their hearts and they intermingle in clan activities until the two eventually find each other."

"It's like dating, John," Maureen said. "Although I think thirteen is much too young."

"Our ancestors once clung to those notions, Maureen," said Lana. "It became a matter of survival. If we didn't procreate as soon as possible, our clan, and our race would have perished."

"She's right, darling," John interjected. "It was the same on Earth not all that long ago. Jarrock, it's obvious to all of us, that Penny and T'lan have made an emotional connection, and I don't want to try to separate them. Even though our children have grown up much quicker than their counterparts on Earth, the idea of marriage at such an early age is quite a jump for them."

"I completely understand, Professor Robinson. Your love for your family is very deep. By tradition, T'lan will be required to meet with you to ask your permission to call on your daughter's heart. If you approve of their, courtship, I think you call it, then you set the terms and conditions of their interaction. A calling will normally last about one to one and a half cycles."

"John, I don't know…"

"Don't worry, darling. We'll discuss it later, after we talk with Penny. What happens after the calling?"

Lana answered, "Once they have found each other's hearts, the man will, again, go to the woman's father and ask permission to have the pre-joining…"

Before she could finish, a loud boom shook the ground and a bright object appeared, streaking across the sky.

"A meteor?" asked Judy, as she ran to the table with Don.

"I don't think so," said the Professor, pausing to listen to the sound. "Do you hear that, Don. It sounds like a fusion engine."

"It sure does, and if it is, they are out of control."

By now the entire Robinson family had gathered around the table to look up at the object as it dropped below the horizon. The disappearance was followed by a dull thud.

"Whatever it was, it crashed beyond the ridge, north of the ship," said Don.

"Your craft appeared very much the same to us, Professor Robinson," said T'lan. "The loud boom, the bright object tearing through the sky, and the humming sound, all of it was the same."

"John, we should go out there," said Maureen. "Someone could be hurt…"

"No, I don't think so, darling. The terrain beyond the ridge is difficult to navigate, even in the daytime. I'm not going to risk it. We can head out at daybreak."

"Professor Robinson, Teral and I would like to accompany you," said Jarrock. "We know the area well."

"Very well, meet us at the Jupiter 2 in the morning. We'll all ride out in the chariot. In the mean time, it's getting late. We should head back to camp."

The Robinsons and Major West bid farewell to their hosts and started the twenty minute trek back to the ship. By the time they had returned, it was almost midnight.

"John, you and Maureen can go on in," said Don, as he switched on the force field. "Judy and I will lock up."

"All right, Don. Don't stay up too late. We've got a busy day tomorrow."

When they were alone, Don took Judy in his arms.

"Alone at last," he said. "I've been trying to get you in my arms all night."

"Yeah, well now that you've got me, what are you going to do with me?"

Don pulled her in for a gentle kiss and she reached her arms under his and around his shoulders. Their kiss deepened and their breathing became heavy as they lost themselves in each other. Before they go too carried away, they surfaced for air.

"I love you, Judy Robinson," he said, staring into her eyes.

"I love you too, Donald West."

"I want to go with you and Dad, tomorrow," she said, unexpectedly.

Her sudden request surprised him and he gently took her by her shoulders.

"Why? Are you afraid something is going to happen?"

Judy turned to look at the ridge behind the ship, "I was going to help you in the control room anyway. I…I just have this feeling that I should be with you tomorrow. Besides, Mom has been training me as a paramedic, someone may need medical attention."

"I'd love to have your company, Judy, but convincing your father might be another matter."

"Just promise me that you'll support me when I ask him."

"All right, I will. But remember, your father can be pretty stubborn, almost has stubborn as his daughter…"

She wacked him playfully on the shoulder, "And don't you forget it, Major West."

Arm in arm, the young couple walked into the ship and closed the door behind them.

...

The next morning, after a quick breakfast, John and Don prepped the chariot for the trip up the ridge. While they were working, Judy approached her father. "Dad, I'd like to come with you and Don today."

"Judy, this isn't a field trip. We don't know what we are heading into. I don't think so darling…"

"Dad, I'm not a child anymore, there may be people hurt. Besides, I can handle a laser rifle as well as you or Don."

John saw his wife's resolve in his daughter's eyes.

"You need me, Dad."

"All right, join the party," he relented.

"Thanks, Dad. I'll grab some medical supplies from the ship."

As John watched her walk back to the Jupiter, he turned to Don. "Did you know about this?"

"She mentioned last night that she wanted to come with us…"

"I suppose you didn't discourage her?"

"I know better than to argue with her when she's made her mind up."