Lost in Space: "Wanted Man…"

Summary: Smith's past…And the Space Tribunal catch up with him.

Stranded once again due to needed repairs on an unknown planet in a star system far from Earth (or Alpha Centauri), the Robinson, Major West, Dr. Smith, and the Robot are about to encounter an old foe. Several, actually.

Part 15…

"Whatever this force is…" John reasons to Sagramore, Don, and the Tribunal judges in attendance behind their forward barrier. "It doesn't seem to weaken with distance. Tell me, Judge Icho?" He turns to the Judge just beyond the barrier. "The other females were quite far from this planet when they became affected?"

Electrostatic discharges on the Judge's form… "Quite distant, Professor Robinson. Their petitions to us came from various planets from across the Galaxy, including the Green Dimension, and the home planets of the others."

"Unaffected by interstellar distance, remarkable." Sagramore ponders. "And according to the records of my people's technology, never encountered by my kind."

"Nor the members of this Tribunal." Judge Icho notes. "Which is why once it was recognized they were being influenced at such vastly distant points that it was imperative we sought to find the source and who controls this force. "

"So this whole hearing, confronting Smith? Was simply bait? You were using Smith as your lightning rod?" John eyes the Judge.

"Once we realized the potential danger of this force, we deemed it necessary. Though it was not our intention to put your party or Dr. Smith in danger." Judge Icho replies.

"But now it looks like he is…" Will notes.

"That is unfortunate. But given this force could plunge many star systems into needless war, the needs of the Galaxy must outweigh the safety of any individual."

"And your ships weren't able to track Farnum's vessel?" John asks.

"Unfortunately the ship has now made an emergency jump in hyperspace…Very difficult to trace even if you are prepared." The Judge notes

"Meaning Dr. Smith and Penny could be…Anywhere?" Will asks.

"That, regrettably, is so."

"John?!" Maureen called from where Don was keeping her under guard with Judy. The Robot assisting.

"Is there any word on Dr. Smith?" anxious look.

"I'm afraid not yet, darling. But the Tribunal hopes to find him soon."

"You should have stopped them!" Judy glares at Maureen. "You lost Dr. Smith to that alien girl of Farnum's!"

"Judy…Your mom's not responsible." Don tries.

"You hurt me!" she glares at him. "You wouldn't help me get Dr. Smith! Who knows what's happened to him?" despairingly. "I might as well be…" she shakes head.

"Judy…" he reaches for her.

"Don't come near me!"putting up hands frantically. Don sighing and nodding as he stepped back.

"John? You'd better help Don with Judy. She's distraught." Maureen, calmly.

"You fool! You old fool!" Judy cries to her, furious red face now.

"Judy, you shouldn't talk to your mother like that." Don, sternly.

"Thank you, Don." Maureen nods.

"Don! Careful!" John calls. "Don't trust either of them."

"I won't." he shakes head.

"You want Zachary for yourself." Judy sneers at Don. "You never cared a whit for me. It was always 'We better find Dr. Smith' this and 'Smith, you conniving little weasel that". Never a thought for me."

"Judy…" he put up a hand. "You don't know what you're saying...It's crazy."

John eyeing Will, Will, John…

Well…

"Professor Robinson!" the Robot calls.

"Maureen. Stay back from Don." John, insistent as Maureen steps toward Don as he's busy with Judy. The Robot moving to block her as well.

"Please stop, Mrs. Robinson. My sensors indicate your actions are likely hostile to Major West."

"Fine." She halts. "I just want to help Don with Judy. I don't know why you're all making a fuss."

"Jealous, after all these years?" she eyes John, smiling.

"Not of Don…Though I won't deny I don't care for your manner toward Smith right now." he nods.

"My 'manner'? John? Can't you see I love Zachary? And I'm sorry, but I don't love you anymore." She sighs. "If you care at all for me, now. Let me go to him."

"Not a chance, love."

"Mom…Please." Will sighs. "Please don't talk this way."

"I'm sorry Will, but you're getting to be a young man. These things happen." Maureen shrugs.

"How did it happen?" John asks. "When?"

"What?" she eyes him, clearly a bit uncertain.

"It's a simple question, Maureen. How and when did you find yourself in love with Dr. Smith?"

"Will's friend Sagramore said…Some kind of enchantment, love spell." Maureen eyed him.

"So you aren't in love with Smith." John, calmly.

"Yes, yes I am! I've never loved anyone so much. It doesn't matter how." She shakes head. "And's it wrong to hold me here."

"Not Judy as well?" John shrewdly.

"Alls fair in love and war…" Maureen, shrugging. "Unfortunately our youngest daughter's proven that."

"If you want Dr. Smith safe, I wouldn't remind me of that." John notes quietly. "But I'll hope he's just playing along."

"Zachary's not interested in Penny. Not when he has a mature, experienced woman like me ready to become his Queen." Maureen, proudly. "You see I'm not trying to deceive you, John…Accept the truth and let me go."

"Don…I'm sorry…" Judy begins. "But if you'd just help me…" slight cooing tone.

"Sorry, Judy. No deal." He shakes head.

"Damn you!" she cries. Calming… "Look, I'm sorry I lost my temper. If you could just let me go."

"Not a chance…Sorry, kiddo." Don shakes head to her dark glare.

"So, we're left with 'when'?" John eyes Maureen carefully.

"When?" she stares. "I don't know…It's not important."

"Oh, but it is…" John notes. "When did you first realize you loved him? A year ago? A month? Yesterday?"

"You're trying to trivialize my feelings. You're a coward." She frowns. "You, you call yourself a knight?" she eyes Sagramore who offers sympathetic look.

"The term matches what we use in my language, dear lady…" he nods.

"Well, rescue me from this evil man. He's holding me against my will." Maureen frowns.

"My dear lady, you are under enchantment and don't know what you are saying. But never fear, the Professor and I will find a cure, with the help of the Tribunal's members."

"I said I don't want to be cured!" she cries.

"Me neither!" Judy calls.

"Does Dr. Smith know how powerful he's become, Robot?" Will, moving over, hisses to the Robot.

"Lets hope not." The Robot sighs. "I believe he is trying, but he is only…Dr. Smith."

"You've still not answered my question, Maureen…Judy? When did you find yourself in love with Dr. Smith?" John, persisting.

"Always…Forever…" Judy fumes. "What does it matter? Don't be a fool! He's trying to weaken us, Mother!"

"You can't love him that much if you can't even remember when you fell in love. I remember when I fell in love with your mother." John notes calmly.

"Yes, 1975, Cambridge…That MIT party." Maureen smiles. "I'm glad you still…" pausing.

"Maureen…" he eyes her. She shrugged it off…

"I love Zachary. I love him. It was the other day, yesterday afternoon, I realized. When you and Don were leaving."

"It was 3:17 pm, comparative Earth time. See, I remember even better than Mom!" Judy, exultant.

"Well done, Professor." Sagramore whispers. "My fellow knight?" he addresses the Robot. "Can you provide me with your data scans for this planet from that time?"

"Affirmative…" the Robot nods. "Transmitting."

"Ah, ha. Definite upsurge in electromagnetic readings, and a frequency pulse on the level of human brainwaves…" Sagramore notes, eyeing his arm instruments. "Which led to a massive pheromone output. And hormonal surges."

"They must be unique to females, or we all be affected." John notes.

"Indeed, Professor." Sagramore nods. "Judge Icho? Might I receive your data on the other ladies fair? Their physiological scans as far back as you have data available?"

"We shall send it, Sir Sagramore. And, well done." The Judge notes.

…

"Is there anyway you can determine where we are, Farnum?" Smith, anxiously to Farnum at the holographic controls, Nancy by his side.

"Let me see…" Nancy insists.

"Penny, my dear." Smith intones to her. "You don't want Miss Pi-Square taking control here from Mr. Farnum when she clearly wants me all to herself."

"Step back from the controls, Miss Pi-Square." Penny waves pistol. "Mr. Farnum? Where are we?"

"Not quite sure…" Farnum ponders the display before him.

"They're trying to fool us!" Nancy insists. "Silly child…You've got to let me take the controls!" she glares at Penny.

"Step back from the controls, both of you. You, too, Mr. Farnum!" Penny orders. "I'll take the controls, you show me how to use them!"

"Now my dear…" Farnum begins. Hmmn…As she points. "Under the circumstance…I will comply."

"Stop this nonsense, child…!" Nancy steps forward, immediately stunned by Penny's shot.

"Penny!" Smith cries.

"Nancy!" Farnum moves to her. "You foolish girl!" he frowns at Penny. "All right!" he pauses at her aim. "I'll show the controls but leave her be."

"Penny, please…" Smith urges. "Mr. Farnum will do as you ask, just stop shooting people."

"I won't let anyone take you Dr. Smith!" Penny insists.

"No, no…No one is going to. Just let Mr. Farnum instruct you." He pleads. "Before we're lost or the Tribunal finds us and blows us out of space."

"All right…" Penny moving to controls. "Show me how to fly this ship, Mr. Farnum…Or I'll have to hurt your friend."

"Ah, poor child…" Farnum sighs. "Very well…Stand there and look at the display."

("This is not what I want." Zalto's projection, invisible and inaudible to the others, from his ship to the likewise invisible puppet robot. "They can't escape. Stop them!" "How, Master?" "Destroy the controls, disable the ship. Do something!" "They'll see me." "Hey. Who's the Master and programmer here? I should have got one of the really dumb IDAKs for my assistant." "Very well, Master…But I'm not equipped with weapons." "You go over, you blow yourself up at the controls! Do I have to think of everything?!" "Yes, and no, Master.")

"Hello, Dr. Smith." The puppet robot appears to the group now.

"You?!" Smith stares.

"No one move or I…" the puppet robot collapses as Penny fires.

("Did not see that one coming…" Zalto sighs, watching. His link via the robot failing… "Oh, well …If you want anything done…" he waves arms and disappears.)

"It's Mr. Zalto, the magician's puppet or robot…" Smith, staring at the short-circuiting remains.

"Zalto? That quack is behind all this?" Farnum glares.

"Nevermind!" Penny commands. "Show me the controls, here! We need to get out of here."

"Zalto…" Smith shakes head. "Wait! He's very good at keeping himself invisible! Farnum? You say you know him and his tricks?!"

"Oh, please…The little fraud and his games are a blight on our business." Farnum shakes head. "If I could screenshield him out…" eyes Smith, then the control display. Nancy groaning, rising to her feet.

That little human… She thinks, glaring at Penny.

"Penny, my dear?!" Smith hastily. "I'm in danger if you don't let Mr. Farnum have a gander at those controls!"

Penny, narrow look… "What'll that do?"

"I can detect and possibly protect us from Zalto's effects but only if you let me use the controls, girl." Farnum notes.

"Do, dear girl! For my sake!" Smith cries.

"Ok, but if you try anything…" Penny, warning tone, waving gun.

("Now, now…" Zalto appears on deck, still invisible. "Lets not have any of….") But fails to prevent Farnum from reaching controls and putting out a field.

"Darn…" as Zalto finds himself visible. "And here I was having such a grand time with you all. Now, I gotta kill you the fast and relatively painless way! Hey there, Dr. Smith! Nice to have you see me again, for the last seconds of your life!"

Same time, same fan-fiction site…