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 17...
"Oh, dear, woe is me..." Smith intones, eyes closed. "Adrift in some pathetic excuse for a space-going lifeboat, doomed to a miserable death as my air exhausts and neither food nor water to sustain me."
"The things I do for those I love."
"Dr. Smith..." Penny pats arm.
"What?!" he opens eyes cautiously.
"Hey, Doc!" Nancy Pi-Square waving on flat ground of yet another dreary desert world much like California without the cities...Freeways...Luxury hotels and restaurants.
Sigh...
"We're all right, Dr. Smith." Penny notes. "Mr. Farnum transported us to another planet before he rammed Mr. Zalto's ship."
"What?!" Smith looks about.
"The Boss teleported our force bubbles as escape pods..." Nancy explains. "I'm not sure where but..." voice trailing...
"Mr. Farnum?" Smith eyes her.
"He didn't come...Someone had to pilot the ship, it was equipped with an auto-override to evade crashes." Nancy nods, a bit sadly. "But..." she brightens. "You're safe, with me."
"With us." Penny coldly.
"Oh, the pain..." Smith sighs. "Death, where is thy sting?"
"Until we know where we are, you might want to power her up, Zachary." Nancy suggests, indicating the deactivated female robot.
"The force pods didn't carry anything in the way of weapons or much gear..."
Smith eyes the female robot...Well, best to have some protection on yet another alien world of fresh horrors.
Besides, she may possibly have a way to rescue me...Us, yes...From this dreary vale of tears.
"My girl, this is your owner, Dr. Smith..." to the robot. "You may now resume full power."
Hmmn...Nothing... "'Zacharia, I'm ready to register you." The female robot lighting up immediately.
"Hello, my name is now...Zacharia. Is everyone well?"...cheery tone. "That is nice. I detect we are lacking members of our party. Did anyone have to leave? That would be sad until they return. Which is nice. Hello, Dr. Smith." She turns his way. "I like to see that you are well. That is nice."
"But food we got..." Penny hastily notes. Quite aware of the importance of that essential to Smith.
"Yeah, we have at least three cartons of compressed protein, plus water." Nancy notes.
"Lovely...A quick and merciful death put off by...Urggh... Compressed protein. And water." Smith sighs.
"We'll find something, Dr. Smith." Penny notes. "Maybe there's even a city nearby."
"An alien metropolis, full of hideous creatures ready to eat us at the very least..." Smith shrugs. "Hmmn... My dear..." he turns to the female robot. "Can you determine if this planet is safe for us...And if there are any hostile aliens ready to pounce on us immediately?"
"Scanning...And please submit my registration code to Galactic Robotics, ZXE349-1001."
"Yes, certainly...As soon as we can contact them. Whoever they are." He sighs.
"Let me check your condition with the mediscan." Nancy suggests, coming to his side.
"Not without me..." Penny glares, coming over as well. The two narrowly eyeing each other on either side of the standing Smith, who shakes head.
Truly the Smith curse come home to roost after enhancement by space magic...
"We need to know if Dr. Smith is all right. Give me a chance to properly scan him." Nancy insists to Penny. "Your bioreadings could interfere."
"Please, dear Penny." Smith asks her.
"I'll be right there." Penny points. "And I'll shoot if you do any funny business." Glare to Nancy.
"I'm an agent, not a comedienne." Nancy frowns.
"Just scan him...Quickly." Penny frowns stepping back a few paces, then a few more at Nancy's glare.
"If you'd care to eat the girl later..." Nancy whispers to Smith. "I know some of your Earth cultures eat each other."
"Bon appetit indeed not. No, thank you, Miss Pi-Square."
"Please...Nancy." Nancy beams fondly, scanning with the mediscan device. "Ok, thank the gods you're fine, Zachary." Sudden pause...Penny calling. "Come on, is he ok?!"
"Fine." Nancy calls. "I guess Farnum..." she notes to Smith who eyes her sympathetically. "But you're fine." Brightening.
"My poor girl. I promise he will know you cared, despite this nonsense of Mr. Zalto's." he pats her hand.
"Hey!" Penny, fiercely. "If he's ok, that's enough of that!"
"Penny, dear child...Please." Smith sighs. "I'm only consoling the lady over poor Mr. Farnum."
"And you're so kind..." Nancy smiles. "But you're the one I love, Zachary."
"When this is over...Please, don't blame me." Smith, a bit sadly. "And I know Farnum won't blame you."
"I'd never...Zachary." Nancy, earnestly.
"Hey! I wouldn't blame you ever, either, Dr. Smith!" Penny fumes.
"I hope not, dear child." He sighs. "Though your father...And dear William..."
"I won't let them." Penny insists. "But that doesn't matter, we're never going to see them again."
"My dear..." he shakes head. "Well, just know it's my profoundest wish that we will. And if you truly love me..."
"Say...Can you detect if there's a city around?" Penny askes the female robot. Nancy frowning...
Just when Zachary and I are having a moment...And clever as the kid thinks she is, coming up with that, what if there are other females in said city?
"Dr. Smith, should I detect if there is a city around?" the robot asks Smith.
"By all means, my dear...Let us find out what terrors await us. Given my luck this week, this is the capital of Andronica where they would have sacrificed me."
"What?!" Nancy, Penny...
"Oh, it was some time ago...Perhaps they were satisfied with my counterpart." Smith waves a hand.
"Scanning complete. Planet is acceptable for your human life form, Dr. Smith. Oxygen level is 22%, nitrogen 77%. Temperature is currently 102 degrees on the standard Galactic scale."
"Doesn't feel 102..." Penny notes. "It's Standard Galactic, kid." Nancy notes.
"By Earth Fahrenheit, my dear...?" Smith asks Zacharia.
"Insufficient data to make comparisons, I'm sorry Dr. Smith. Do you have a temperature reference?" The robot notes, apologetic tone.
"Wait, the human body is generally about 98.6 to 99 degrees on our Fahrenheit scale? Water freezes at 32 degrees, can you extrapolate?" Penny suggests.
"I can. The Fahrenheit scale temp is approximately 89 degrees." The robot notes. "It will rise however to approximately 97 degrees at maximum in two hours. Recommend humans limiting activities from two hours to four hours from now."
"Well, that's not too bad." Penny shrugs.
"Ninety-seven? My dear." Smith shaking head. "Remember, I am a medical doctor. Miss Zacharia..." Does have a certain ring to it...He notes. "Can you detect as Penny asked, if there is a city or some shelter nearby?"
"I detect no cities or villages nearby...However there is a place showing quite high technology with a number of advanced species including humanoid, twenty five standard units or fifteen Earth miles away. That way." She raises arm to point.
"Fifteen miles?!" Smith groans.
"We'll carry you, Dr. Smith." Penny suggests. Nancy nodding eagerly.
"No, no...That's not the way...I won't be carried like an ungainly sack of groceries." Smith sighs. "Well, I suppose we must try and press on, stop when exhaustion rears its head."
"Well, you could ride on Zacharia's lower section..." Penny suggests.
"Please do, Dr. Smith." The robot, eagerly.
"Uh...No, thank you." Eyeing the narrow base of the female robot. "I shall attempt to walk."
"Advanced technology and multiple species..." Nancy ponders. "I would if this planet could be a waystation or small spaceport. The Confederation has many scattered throughout the Galaxy for ships to refuel or take on emergency supplies."
"Then...They might have ships? One that could take us back?" Smith, brightening.
"Possibly. But..." Nancy begins...
"If they barter, we could trade the dear lady here for a ride back to the family." Smith indicates Zacharia.
Penny and Nancy eyeing each other...
This planet seems so nicely isolated.
And...Not straight to Earth? Penny considers. That is a new Dr. Smith. Though of course, Earth is full of females...
"Ladies...I insist. After all, consider what fate might befall me out here." Smith regards the two.
"If the planet's Confederation, the Tribunal might be alerted if we're recognized." Nancy notes. "And if the Zalto creature's field affects any females at the port..." she eyes Smith.
"We will have to take the chance." Smith insists. "We must have a ship. Zacharia, are there any ships in that location you detect containing high technology?"
"There is one that I can detect, but there are also two ships in orbit above us now." Zacharia notes.
"Two? In orbit?" Smith eagerly. "Can you contact them? Perhaps they could meet us here?"
Dr. Smith happy to meet unknown aliens...Something's really not right here, Penny thinks.
Though I suppose my suddenly having Dr. Smith as my dream delight isn't exactly...
"Dr. Smith, we don't know who they are...Or if females are aboard." Nancy notes. "Do you really want to take the risk?" shrewd look.
"They could be hostile or ships from that Tribunal..." Penny chimes in. "Zacharia? Can you tell whose ships those two in orbit are?"
"Dr. Smith? Shall I answer the human female?" Zacharia asks him.
"Yes, yes...Who are they?" Smith, waving hands at her.
"Insufficient data. The ships are shielded. However, their energy patterns correspond to the standard patterns of ships of the Galactic Confederation."
"See..." Nancy, nodding. "We can't risk contacting them."
"Hmmn...Perhaps." Smith sighs. "But...Fifteen miles...In 90 plus degree heat? Oh, the pain..."
"The infernal pain..."
...
One and a half miles later...
Smith raising hands in pleading wave...Dropping dramatically to the ground. "Stop, I can go no further. Leave me to waste away and die, my flesh rotting in the hot sun."
"Don't talk like that, Dr. Smith." Penny, anxiously. "I couldn't live without you."
"Nor I..." Nancy, quickly. "Let me carry you, doc."
"No, no, ladies...Leave me to die here..." Smith groans.
"Try and ride Zacharia, Dr. Smith." Penny urges. "Or maybe we can make something for you to sit on from the trees there." She points.
"That's an idea, kid." Nancy agrees. "Lets make you a sled, doc. Just give us a minute. C'mon, kid. Tell the robot to guard over you, Zachary."
"You better." Penny eyes Zacharia.
"Fine...I shall probably die before you can return..." Smith groans, off-hand wave.
"Shall I guard you, Dr. Smith?" Zacharia asks as the others make for the line of trees.
"I could transmit to Galactic Robotics with my registration information while we wait."
"Yes, yes...Fine." Smith sighs...Raising to a seated position on the ground...Taking a piece of the ...Compressed Protein, indeed...With sigh.
Urggh...As expected, he grimaces, chewing.
"Wait." He eyes her, sitting up alertly to regard the female robot. "You can contact some one across interstellar space? Could you reach Professor Robinson on the planet we were on before?"
"If you have the correct frequency, yes, Dr. Smith. I can reach Professor Robinson."
"Here, this should have it." He passes his radio from a strap on his side to her.
"Analyzed." Zacharia notes. "What message would you like me to send, Dr. Smith?"
"'Help!, with all alacrity, Professor. This is Dr. Smith.'" Pausing. "Oh, and can you possibly send the coordinates or whatever data on our location you can?"
"Standard Galactic Confederation or Earth-style, Dr. Smith?" pleasant tone.
"Both...All...Anything that will locate us. Quickly, my dear. I fear your sisters biological would prefer we stay here, on this benighted rock." He hisses.
"Transmitting...Awaiting reply."
"Excellent, excellent..."
"Smith?" Robinson's voice from Zacharia's auditory system.
"Professor Robinson, thank the gods. Yes, this is Dr. Smith!"
"Hello, Professor Robinson...It's nice I was able to reach you. Dr. Smith wishes..." Zacharia begins.
"All right, my dear. Let me handle it." Smith cuts in. "Professor? Can you hear me?"
"Yes, Smith. Where the devil are you? Is Penny all right?"
"Zacharia...My robotic female friend here...Should have sent coordinates. Can you make them out?"
"Just a minute..." the voice fading out...
"Smith? Smith?!..." crackling...Fade out.
"Professor? Dear girl, can't you amplify the signal?" Smith, anxiously.
"I will try, Dr. Smith. But the signal is being jammed. I...Oh!" as a beam of energy strikes her.
Smith desperately looking, while racing back for cover of some rocks.
"Courage, my dear! Engage the enemy! Unless it's Penny!" he hastily adds. "Penny!' he calls. "Cease and desist if it is you! At once!"
"Oh...Energy drai..." Zacharia's lights dim.
"Oh, no..." he looks desperately about. No sign of Penny or Nancy. And hardly likely a laser would harm Zacharia or drain her power.
"Is this the end of the heroic Zachary Smith? Oh, what bitter fate...?!"
"Zachary!" Verda's anxious call as the android appears over a ridge nearby... "I've found you, at last!" eager tone. "Sorry about your robot. She was too dangerous to leave activated."
Smith staring...No...Oh, no, not again!
Surely, I could try another recall with the Celestial Department Store.
...
Same time...Same fan-fiction site...