Lost on Planet G889 Chapter 5
Chapter 5 Lost on Planet G889
Previous Chapters: Chapter 1 http://scifijoan.livejournal.com/1639.html
Chapter 2 http://scifijoan.livejournal.com/2561.html
Chapter 3 http://scifijoan.livejournal.com/3563.html
Chapter 4 http://scifijoan.livejournal.com/3999.html
Earth 2
Background information http://scifijoan.livejournal.com/1122.html
Photos: http://scifijoan.livejournal.com/4272.html (Complete)
Lost in Space
Background information http://scifijoan.livejournal.com/3051.html
Photos: http://scifijoan.livejournal.com/3145.html
The Robinsons discover that Planet G889 can be a dangerous place.
Chapter 5
Wed August 10th
“So…has he?” Penny asked Judy as they tended the vegetables in the hydroponic garden.
Judy blushed as she yanked a weed.
“He has!” Penny triumphantly yelled.
“I don’t see how that’s any of your business,” Judy replied, her cheeks growing darker. Nervously, she looked up to make sure Don wasn’t around to over hear their conversation.
“Was it on the hand or cheek?” Penny dramatically brought her palm to her mouth, mimicking the motion. Then she kept digging. “Or was it a real kiss?” If she couldn’t have a social life, at least she could live one vicariously through her sister.
Judy laughed, seeing her sister’s eager face. “It’s none of your business.”
“When will he be back?”
“A day or so, I guess. Dad said one of their vehicles had broken down - the TransRover? So it all depends on how soon the men meet up with the main group and then how quickly Mr. Danziger is able to fix the vehicle.”
“That ought to be pretty soon then. Dad was impressed by his skills.” Penny examined the color of a tomato. She debated whether to harvest it or wait another day or two. She decided to wait. “Can you imagine walking across a continent?”
“No. But that’s where their colony ship will be landing - New Pacifica. They’re supposed to be setting up a fully functional hospital.”
“Really? Why?” This was news to Penny.
“Walman told me all about it. The colony ship has two hundred fifty families - all with Syndrome children.”
Penny nodded, remembering Mr. Danziger had mentioned The Syndrome one night during dinner. Children on the Stations were failing to thrive. Their immune systems were highly impaired. Syndrome children were condemned to life in immunosuits which supported basic life functions. Most of them only lived eight or nine years. It was becoming a dire situation.
News of other families arriving made Penny’s heart flutter. She couldn’t help but hope that some of those families might have healthy boys or girls that were close to her age. She’d been relatively content until her disappointing encounter with True. It had only reinforced feelings of isolation and intensified her loneliness. Uly, the only other child in Eden Advance, was even younger than True and he didn’t sound promising as a companion either.
But what was the point? They’d probably lift off from this planet long before then.
“How are they going to build a hospital?”
Judy huffed impatiently. “The supplies were in their cargo pods - remember? The ones dumped all over the planet?”
“Right. That’s rough.” Preferring a more pleasant subject, Penny prodded her sister. “What’s Walman like?” Personally she thought Don was much better looking but she wasn’t about to share that. If Judy started dating Walman, that could open interesting future possibilities for her.
“Mark?”
Penny grinned broader. “Oh, so it’s Mark now…”
Before Judy could speak, Don stepped out of the space ship. He laid some tools down by the force field generator and began to tinker with the unit.
Penny and Judy exchanged a silent glance, indicating they’d continue their conversation later. While gossiping was fun, neither girl had any desire to hurt the Major’s feelings.
Dr. Smith strolled out of the space ship, approaching the girls. “Hello dear ladies. Now what have we here? Fresh tomatoes. Lettuce. And cucumbers. I sense we’ll have a veritable feast tonight. Especially without all those extra mouths to feed.”
“Doctor Smith!” Penny objected. “That’s not very nice.”
“It’s the truth, isn’t it? Even that scrawny little girl ate as much as a linebacker.”
Don could never resist an opportunity to tease Dr. Smith. “At least they were earning their keep.”
Danziger and Alonzo had been assisting them with repairs. Even True had pitched in without complaint, helping with chores.
“Is the space ship ready for lift off? Has all the necessary fuel been mined?” Smith pointed out.
“They’ve been trying to help. Unlike some people….”
“Major, how dare you imply such a thing.”
“I wasn’t trying to be subtle, Smith.” Don returned his attention to the force field generator.
Dr. Smith pretended to supervise the girls in the garden, peering over the trays. He’d reach over and pop an occasional ripe vegetable into his mouth.
“We’re not going to have much left for dinner tonight if you continue at this rate,” Judy warned.
Nonplussed, Dr. Smith pointed to a pepper, “You missed this one, Penny.”
“It’s not quite ripe.”
Smith continued to hover in pseudo-supervisor mode when a motion caught his attention. “Penny dear, that creature of yours is here.”
Teena approached the hydroponic garden.
“She won’t hurt you Dr. Smith. Come on, Teena,” Penny called.
Teena stepped closer to Dr. Smith. Stopping only a foot away, she starred at him. This unnerved him.
“Stared at by rodents? I will not tolerate this treatment. It simply must stop!”
The girls and Don laughed. “She’s not going to hurt you. She’s just curious,” Penny assured him.
“Be gone you hairless vermin! Shoo! Go away!” His hand motions became more vigorous but the creature didn’t budge. Frustrated, he picked up a nearby rock and threw it towards her. She didn’t run but she was startled. She drew back her hand and flung something in retaliation. Dr. Smith ducked, successfully avoiding the tiny projectile.
“What are you doing, you wretched creature! Shoo! Go away!” He picked up another rock but before he could throw it, Teena scampered away.
“About time. Loathsome rodent.”
“Judy, what is it?” Penny asked. Her sister’s expression had changed.
“I feel strange,” Judy’s voice waivered.
Penny gasped when she noticed a small twig-like object embedded in his sister’s neck. When Dr. Smith had ducked to avoid the flying object, it had headed straight for the girls. The coloring around the area was changing rapidly, growing darker.
“Does it hurt?” Penny asked, inspecting the wound.
“Not really. I just feel so odd.”
“Smith, if you’re up to more of your tricks, I’m gonna wring your neck,” Don threatened, racing towards the man.
“Don!” Penny screamed.
Judy was collapsing. Don rushed over to catch her and transfer her safely to the ground. Hearing Penny’s shout, Maureen and John hurried over from inside the space ship, bending over the form of their eldest daughter. Don stepped aside to allow John access.
“It looks like some sort of a claw,” John said. “Let’s remove it.”
“I’ll get the first aid kit!” Penny raced into the space ship.
Maureen grabbed Judy’s hand, “Judy.” With more urgency, she cried, “Judy? John, she’s not responding!”
John bent to feel the pulse in her throat with his fingers.
While the Robinsons crowded about Judy, attempting to help her, Don laid into Smith. “You couldn’t leave good enough alone. You had to antagonize Penny’s pet, didn’t you? And now Judy’s hurt because of you. You ruin everything you touch.” The Major stepped dangerously close to Dr. Smith.
Taking a step back for his own welfare Dr. Smith simpered, “I didn’t do it on purpose.”
“You never do. Yet you always manage to mess things up for every one else,” Don growled, tightly grabbing the doctor’s forearm.
“You’re hurting my arm.”
Breathless, Penny hurried back, first aid kit in hand, rushing to her father’s side. Handing the tweezers to John, he removed the object, then studied it.
Maureen cried, “John, I can’t find a pulse! Her breathing is becoming shallow. We’re losing her!”
That galvanized Don, who rushed back to her side.
“Oh my God!” Maureen sobbed as John frantically performed CPR.
XXXXXXXXX
Don raised the axe above his head and lowered it with a resounding blow, slicing the timber in half. After clearing away the pieces, he positioned another section. It was hard work. His shoulders were aching. Muscles he hadn’t used in ages were screaming for relief. It was just what he needed.
His anger at Smith propelled him. He couldn’t sit still. It was far easier to deal with venting his rage than the alternative.
How could something like this have happened? One minute Judy and Penny had been joking around and the next... It galled him even more that it had happened right in front of him and he still hadn’t been able to protect her.
The axe came down with a tremendous thud.
If only…
If only Smith hadn’t been there. He wouldn’t have provoked Penny’s pet and this horrible ordeal would never have occurred.
If only Smith hadn’t been fiddling around with the controls, they never would’ve crash landed on this planet to begin with. Judy never would’ve met Walman. Don still would’ve felt secure in the knowledge that she had loved him. After the events of the past few days, he no longer had such a luxury.
If only Smith had never been trapped on board the Jupiter 2 in the first place. After a five and a half year stasis period, they would’ve arrived just outside of the planets of the Alpha Centauri system. Colonizing a new world would’ve brought its own unique challenges but by that time other families would’ve joined them. Civilization would’ve been on its way to being re-established. He and Judy would’ve been happily married, with a baby on the way. His biggest concern would’ve been adjusting to a slower paced agrarian life style.
To think that sweet, innocent Judy had always been so quick to defend that man. So quick to forgive his faults and to supply infinite second chances despite his obvious lack of real effort to reform. Like a mischievous child, he was only sorry when he got caught. Even worse than a child, Smith was old enough to know better.
He set up another piece of timber, taking great satisfaction imagining the wood as Smith’s head. With a powerful blow, it split in two.
He couldn’t be at the Jupiter 2 now. He didn’t trust himself. His impulse to wring Smith’s neck would overpower him. In his current frame of mind, Don wasn’t completely sure if that would be wrong.
How foolish he had been. Once Alonzo had spoken with him about a VR date, Don had grown optimistic. He’d felt certain that once he readjusted his priorities that Judy would chose him over Walman. He had been neglecting her and it was time to change that.
Alonzo had spent the entire evening, talking him through the VR programming. The technology was amazing and he was excited to try it out. He’d been hoping to share his plans with Judy once he’d finished some chores. Now it had all been for nothing.
“I was wondering where you’d gone,” John Robinson appeared.
“I couldn’t…” his voice trailed off, as he lowered his axe. What was there to say?
Gesturing to the axe, John asked, “Where did you find this?”
“The Eden Advance men must have left it behind by mistake. This was their campsite.” He positioned another piece of wood then raised the axe. His powerful stroke missed the block of wood, throwing him precariously off balance.
John reached over to steady him. “Whoa, you’re gonna hurt yourself if you’re not careful. We can’t afford to lose anyone else.”
Don went through the motion of nodding, but he didn’t care. He was already hurting more than humanly possible.
He and the Robinson family had been through a lot during their three years in space. Space travel wasn’t an easy lot. They were fully aware of the risks when they volunteered for the mission. They’d dealt with limited food, hostile aliens, countless crash landings, and some how they’d managed to come through unscathed. But this time it was different. He didn’t see how life could ever resemble normal again.
If only he had taken the time, just taken one moon lit walk with her. He’d seen it in her eyes, she’d been dying for him to ask her. It would’ve been his last chance to hold her, to tell her how much he cared for her. But he’d been so preoccupied by problems that he hadn’t bothered. Now he would never have that opportunity again. He would never know if Judy truly had understood how much he loved her.
Putting the axe aside he claimed, “It’s all Smith’s fault. He messes up everything he touches.”
“We can’t blame all our problems on Doctor Smith.”
More animated, Don raged, “How can you say that? He’s sabotaged the ship - multiple times. We would’ve been safely on our way to Alpha Centauri if it hadn’t been for him. We would’ve been setting up our own colony by now.”
Don couldn’t understand John’s reserve. The man cherished his daughter, yet his stoic demeanor might suggest otherwise. Perhaps he was still in shock, not fully comprehending that he would never speak with his eldest daughter again. Then again, John always had a better handle on his emotions than Don did.
“What’s wrong with you, John? His actions got Judy killed. Don’t you want to wring his miserable neck? Make him pay for what he did.”
“It won’t bring her back.”
“How can you let him do this? Isn’t it bad enough that he’s caused crash after crash? That he’s continually abandoned us in our time of need? How can you let him get away with this?” Don was ashamed that his anger was giving way to sorrow.
John’s voice remained level. “It won’t change things. He’s hurting too.”
“I’ll bet,” Don muttered under his breath.
“We need to discuss…arrangements.”
Arrangements? That sounded so final. Don just stared at him. “No, I ... Not now. Leave me alone.”
“Perhaps we should contact Eden Advance. Let them know about a potentially dangerous animal.”
Don stared at him wondering how he could be thinking about others at a time like this.
“Alonzo left me a gear set -that’s their communication device. It’s in my cabin. Help yourself.”
Stepping closer towards Don, he said, “Come back with me. You’re an important part of our family too. We’re all grieving. We need to be together.”
Don was touched but he couldn’t. “Not now. If I see Smith…I..I just don’t trust myself.”
“Come back soon. Remember, Danziger warned us it wasn’t safe here.”
The Stations government had secretly tested out planet G889’s habitability sending boatloads of penal colonist and other political prisoners as test subjects. So far the Robinsons hadn’t had such a run in but Eden Advance had not been as fortunate.
John tentatively patted Don on the shoulder. “Come back soon. We need you.”
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Penny’s eyes were red and badly swollen. She lay on her side on her bunk, her mother perched beside her.
“I…I can’t believe this happened.”
Maureen’s features were drawn yet she managed to access a reserve of strength for her remaining daughter.
“I know.”
Penny sat up. “It’s my fault,” she sniffed.
“Don’t be silly. How can that be?”
She took a breath, “I was jealous. Judy’s always had Don. And then Walman and Alonzo were interested in her too. I don’t have any one.”
“Hush now. You’re too young to be concerned about such things.”
“No Mom, I’m not. I’m almost fifteen years old!”
Maureen wisely pointed out, “You and True didn’t hit it off.”
She sadly shook her head. Maybe she’d never make a real friend again. Maureen pulled her into a hug.
“We worried about this. The possibility that you and Will would be isolated from other children your age. We hoped for the best. That others would arrive soon enough, before you and Will were old enough to realize what you were missing. Perhaps we were wrong.”
“Oh Mom,” Penny tilted her head to meet her mother’s gaze. “You did the best you could. We wanted to come along.”
Maureen pulled back, remembering Judy. “This mission certainly wasn’t her idea. But she grew to want it as much as we did. At least, I thought she did. If she had stayed behind on Earth, she would’ve been lost to us - forever.”
She took a breath and continued, “Yet, if she had insisted on staying, we would’ve allowed her to do so. It would’ve broken our hearts but we would’ve allowed it.
“If she had stayed on Earth, at least we could’ve contented ourselves with the knowledge that she could’ve been happy. Married with children or successful with her acting career. Maybe she could’ve been a star on Broadway.”
“You know Judy wanted to be with us. She had no regrets,” Penny assured her. “It’s still my fault she’s…gone.” Her voice broke.
“Penny, it’s perfectly natural to feel that way. But you didn’t intentionally hurt your sister. You didn’t know the creature was dangerous.”
She hated to say it, dreading the disappointment that would fill mother’s voice. But if she didn’t tell, she couldn’t live with herself. Guilt was eating her up. “But Mother…I did.”
Maureen’s eyes widened.
Face flushed, she confessed, “True told me Teena was dangerous when I first met her yesterday. I didn’t believe her. She’d been so nasty, I thought she was still being mean.”
“Penny,” Maureen said, with some alarm.
“She said Teena was a… Koba and she insisted she was dangerous. And I…and I…” She began sobbing incoherently against her mother’s chest.
“There, there now.” Maureen patted her back. “It was foolish not to take True’s warning seriously. But Penny, you didn’t mean for this to happen. You didn’t know. You would never purposely harm your sister.”
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Will was in the lab on the lower deck of the Jupiter 2, attempting to repair a damaged laser pistol. Some parts were strewn in front of him on the bench. Usually he had an inherent grasp of technology; he could take apart the laser pistols and reassemble them with ease. He’d repaired the Robot many a time when Dad and Don had been ready to give up. Today, however, his heart wasn’t into his work. He couldn’t stop thinking about what had happened.
Once they’d realized that Judy was dead, the camp had become strangely quiet. Don had immediately stormed out into the wilderness and Dr. Smith had sequestered himself in his quarters. After relaying the news to him, even his mom and dad had disappeared for some privacy, which had suited Will fine. Wiping a stray tear from his cheek, he hadn’t wanted an audience.
The Robot approached, sobbing. “Boo hoo!”
“Not you too, Robot. It’s hard enough…”
“I will miss Judy,” he rotated one hundred eighty degrees and issued a loud trumpeting sound as if he was blowing his nose. Turning back he said, “I…can’t believe this happened.”
“I can’t either.” Will put aside the parts of the laser pistol, focusing his attention on the Robot.
“I should’ve been able to detect that the creature was dangerous. I should’ve been able to protect her.”
“Don’t blame yourself Robot. You’ve been spending a lot of time helping me with our project. You didn’t know.”
Speaking of blame, he hadn’t heard from Dr. Smith in hours. Preoccupied with their grief, lunch and now dinner hadn’t been prepared or served - without a single complaint from the good doctor. Will grew concerned.
“We’d better go check on Doctor Smith.”
He and the Robot walked over to his cabin. He rapped lightly on the accordion folded door. “Doctor Smith?”
There was no answer.
“Doctor Smith? Are you okay?” He tried the door to discover it wasn’t latched. When he entered, Dr. Smith was sitting on his bunk.
“Are you here to yell at me?” he mumbled distantly.
Will pulled up a chair beside the bunk. “No.”
Sadly Dr. Smith turned to face him, explaining, “William, I’d give anything to make this go away. Such an awful thing…”
The Robot sobbed. “Poor Judy.”
“I deserve any punishment your family gives me. The thought that your sister is no longer with us is almost too painful to bear.”
The Robot sobbed louder.
“Get out you blubbering buffoon!”
“So much for buddies sticking together in their time of need.” The Robot rotated and heaved a deep sigh. “I will pick some wild flowers for her.” He left the cabin.
“One more outburst and I would’ve had to yank out his power pack.” Turning to Will he said, “I’m sorry. So dreadfully, horribly sorry. Do you think I should tell your family? Do you think they can ever forgive me?”
He was genuinely contrite. But the boy couldn’t face that now. He was struggling to remain calm himself.
“Yeah. You didn’t do it on purpose. But not now.”
To think that earlier that day, he and the Robot had been so deeply engrossed with studying the orange rocks. They’d been close to cracking the flashing light code - the language of Lunite. Now that hardly seemed to matter.
“Where’s the Major?” Dr. Smith asked, a quiver of fear in his voice.
“I don’t know. Don’t worry, Dad won’t let him hurt you.”
John Robinson stuck his head into the room. Dr. Smith cringed, expecting to be yelled at.
“Son, do you know how to use this?” He showed him a headset.
“Isn’t that one of Eden Advance’s gear sets?”
“Yes. Alonzo left it with Don. Can you figure it out?”
Will was about to question the timing of his father’s request yet the man’s determined gaze made him reconsider. His father was grieving too. He wouldn’t have asked him to do this now if he didn’t have a solid reason.
“Alonzo spent a lot of time talking about it with Don. He’d know better than me,” Will suggested, uncertain that he could figure it out, given his current mindset.
His father insisted, “Don’s not in any condition to do this. I want to make sure Eden Advance is aware that this danger exists.”
“Professor Robinson…” Dr. Smith half pleaded.
“Later, Doctor Smith.” John Robinson firmly replied, avoiding eye contact with the man.
He and Will left the cabin, gear in hand. They sat at the galley table.
Will assumed his father was angry with Dr. Smith and was prepared to defend him. “He didn’t do it on purpose-“
“Not now,” John Robinson’s iron clad self-control was starting to crack. “Please son, just…help me do this.”
Even though he was exhausted, Will gave it his best effort. Fortunately, it was pretty straight forward. After several minutes of investigation, he thought he’d figured it out.
“Let’s try it. Do you want to talk with them Dad?
“Son, can you do it?”
“Sure.” With more confidence than he felt, he flipped the eye piece to the front and spoke into the head set, “Jupiter 2 calling Eden Advance. Jupiter 2 calling Eden Advance. Do you read me?”
The image of a black man wearing a dirty cloth turban appeared. “This is Baines, Eden Advance. Identify yourself.”
Will was thrown off, not recognizing the man.
“It’s…Will Robinson. Can I speak with Mr. Danziger?”
The man seemed surprised by his request. “Robinson? I’ll find him.”
Several minutes later, the familiar image of the curly haired blonde mechanic appeared.
“This is Danziger.” Immediately noting Will’s strained expression, he became alarmed. “What’s wrong?”
He wanted to follow his father’s instructions and relay the message that there was a dangerous creature. But all that came out was, “Judy…Judy’s dead.” He swallowed hard to quell the tears that threatened to erupt.
“What? What happened?”
“Penny’s new pet threw some sort of claw at her.”
“Pet? What pet?”
“It was about two feet tall with a big head. Walked on two legs. Brownish color.”
“Did it touch your sister with its claws?” he asked urgently.
All Will could do was nod as hot tears started to seep against his will.
Half panicked, the mechanic asked, “You didn’t bury her - did you?”
Will shook his head.
“Thank God! She’s going to be okay Will.”
“I don’t…understand.” The man wasn’t making any sense. Will had seen his sister. Her body was cold.
“If she was bitten by a Koba, she’s gonna be okay. Don’t do anything! We’ll be there tomorrow.”
TBC
Previous Chapters: Chapter 1 http://scifijoan.livejournal.com/1639.html
Chapter 2 http://scifijoan.livejournal.com/2561.html
Chapter 3 http://scifijoan.livejournal.com/3563.html
Chapter 4 http://scifijoan.livejournal.com/3999.html
Earth 2
Background information http://scifijoan.livejournal.com/1122.html
Photos: http://scifijoan.livejournal.com/4272.html (Complete)
Lost in Space
Background information http://scifijoan.livejournal.com/3051.html
Photos: http://scifijoan.livejournal.com/3145.html
The Robinsons discover that Planet G889 can be a dangerous place.
Chapter 5
Wed August 10th
“So…has he?” Penny asked Judy as they tended the vegetables in the hydroponic garden.
Judy blushed as she yanked a weed.
“He has!” Penny triumphantly yelled.
“I don’t see how that’s any of your business,” Judy replied, her cheeks growing darker. Nervously, she looked up to make sure Don wasn’t around to over hear their conversation.
“Was it on the hand or cheek?” Penny dramatically brought her palm to her mouth, mimicking the motion. Then she kept digging. “Or was it a real kiss?” If she couldn’t have a social life, at least she could live one vicariously through her sister.
Judy laughed, seeing her sister’s eager face. “It’s none of your business.”
“When will he be back?”
“A day or so, I guess. Dad said one of their vehicles had broken down - the TransRover? So it all depends on how soon the men meet up with the main group and then how quickly Mr. Danziger is able to fix the vehicle.”
“That ought to be pretty soon then. Dad was impressed by his skills.” Penny examined the color of a tomato. She debated whether to harvest it or wait another day or two. She decided to wait. “Can you imagine walking across a continent?”
“No. But that’s where their colony ship will be landing - New Pacifica. They’re supposed to be setting up a fully functional hospital.”
“Really? Why?” This was news to Penny.
“Walman told me all about it. The colony ship has two hundred fifty families - all with Syndrome children.”
Penny nodded, remembering Mr. Danziger had mentioned The Syndrome one night during dinner. Children on the Stations were failing to thrive. Their immune systems were highly impaired. Syndrome children were condemned to life in immunosuits which supported basic life functions. Most of them only lived eight or nine years. It was becoming a dire situation.
News of other families arriving made Penny’s heart flutter. She couldn’t help but hope that some of those families might have healthy boys or girls that were close to her age. She’d been relatively content until her disappointing encounter with True. It had only reinforced feelings of isolation and intensified her loneliness. Uly, the only other child in Eden Advance, was even younger than True and he didn’t sound promising as a companion either.
But what was the point? They’d probably lift off from this planet long before then.
“How are they going to build a hospital?”
Judy huffed impatiently. “The supplies were in their cargo pods - remember? The ones dumped all over the planet?”
“Right. That’s rough.” Preferring a more pleasant subject, Penny prodded her sister. “What’s Walman like?” Personally she thought Don was much better looking but she wasn’t about to share that. If Judy started dating Walman, that could open interesting future possibilities for her.
“Mark?”
Penny grinned broader. “Oh, so it’s Mark now…”
Before Judy could speak, Don stepped out of the space ship. He laid some tools down by the force field generator and began to tinker with the unit.
Penny and Judy exchanged a silent glance, indicating they’d continue their conversation later. While gossiping was fun, neither girl had any desire to hurt the Major’s feelings.
Dr. Smith strolled out of the space ship, approaching the girls. “Hello dear ladies. Now what have we here? Fresh tomatoes. Lettuce. And cucumbers. I sense we’ll have a veritable feast tonight. Especially without all those extra mouths to feed.”
“Doctor Smith!” Penny objected. “That’s not very nice.”
“It’s the truth, isn’t it? Even that scrawny little girl ate as much as a linebacker.”
Don could never resist an opportunity to tease Dr. Smith. “At least they were earning their keep.”
Danziger and Alonzo had been assisting them with repairs. Even True had pitched in without complaint, helping with chores.
“Is the space ship ready for lift off? Has all the necessary fuel been mined?” Smith pointed out.
“They’ve been trying to help. Unlike some people….”
“Major, how dare you imply such a thing.”
“I wasn’t trying to be subtle, Smith.” Don returned his attention to the force field generator.
Dr. Smith pretended to supervise the girls in the garden, peering over the trays. He’d reach over and pop an occasional ripe vegetable into his mouth.
“We’re not going to have much left for dinner tonight if you continue at this rate,” Judy warned.
Nonplussed, Dr. Smith pointed to a pepper, “You missed this one, Penny.”
“It’s not quite ripe.”
Smith continued to hover in pseudo-supervisor mode when a motion caught his attention. “Penny dear, that creature of yours is here.”
Teena approached the hydroponic garden.
“She won’t hurt you Dr. Smith. Come on, Teena,” Penny called.
Teena stepped closer to Dr. Smith. Stopping only a foot away, she starred at him. This unnerved him.
“Stared at by rodents? I will not tolerate this treatment. It simply must stop!”
The girls and Don laughed. “She’s not going to hurt you. She’s just curious,” Penny assured him.
“Be gone you hairless vermin! Shoo! Go away!” His hand motions became more vigorous but the creature didn’t budge. Frustrated, he picked up a nearby rock and threw it towards her. She didn’t run but she was startled. She drew back her hand and flung something in retaliation. Dr. Smith ducked, successfully avoiding the tiny projectile.
“What are you doing, you wretched creature! Shoo! Go away!” He picked up another rock but before he could throw it, Teena scampered away.
“About time. Loathsome rodent.”
“Judy, what is it?” Penny asked. Her sister’s expression had changed.
“I feel strange,” Judy’s voice waivered.
Penny gasped when she noticed a small twig-like object embedded in his sister’s neck. When Dr. Smith had ducked to avoid the flying object, it had headed straight for the girls. The coloring around the area was changing rapidly, growing darker.
“Does it hurt?” Penny asked, inspecting the wound.
“Not really. I just feel so odd.”
“Smith, if you’re up to more of your tricks, I’m gonna wring your neck,” Don threatened, racing towards the man.
“Don!” Penny screamed.
Judy was collapsing. Don rushed over to catch her and transfer her safely to the ground. Hearing Penny’s shout, Maureen and John hurried over from inside the space ship, bending over the form of their eldest daughter. Don stepped aside to allow John access.
“It looks like some sort of a claw,” John said. “Let’s remove it.”
“I’ll get the first aid kit!” Penny raced into the space ship.
Maureen grabbed Judy’s hand, “Judy.” With more urgency, she cried, “Judy? John, she’s not responding!”
John bent to feel the pulse in her throat with his fingers.
While the Robinsons crowded about Judy, attempting to help her, Don laid into Smith. “You couldn’t leave good enough alone. You had to antagonize Penny’s pet, didn’t you? And now Judy’s hurt because of you. You ruin everything you touch.” The Major stepped dangerously close to Dr. Smith.
Taking a step back for his own welfare Dr. Smith simpered, “I didn’t do it on purpose.”
“You never do. Yet you always manage to mess things up for every one else,” Don growled, tightly grabbing the doctor’s forearm.
“You’re hurting my arm.”
Breathless, Penny hurried back, first aid kit in hand, rushing to her father’s side. Handing the tweezers to John, he removed the object, then studied it.
Maureen cried, “John, I can’t find a pulse! Her breathing is becoming shallow. We’re losing her!”
That galvanized Don, who rushed back to her side.
“Oh my God!” Maureen sobbed as John frantically performed CPR.
XXXXXXXXX
Don raised the axe above his head and lowered it with a resounding blow, slicing the timber in half. After clearing away the pieces, he positioned another section. It was hard work. His shoulders were aching. Muscles he hadn’t used in ages were screaming for relief. It was just what he needed.
His anger at Smith propelled him. He couldn’t sit still. It was far easier to deal with venting his rage than the alternative.
How could something like this have happened? One minute Judy and Penny had been joking around and the next... It galled him even more that it had happened right in front of him and he still hadn’t been able to protect her.
The axe came down with a tremendous thud.
If only…
If only Smith hadn’t been there. He wouldn’t have provoked Penny’s pet and this horrible ordeal would never have occurred.
If only Smith hadn’t been fiddling around with the controls, they never would’ve crash landed on this planet to begin with. Judy never would’ve met Walman. Don still would’ve felt secure in the knowledge that she had loved him. After the events of the past few days, he no longer had such a luxury.
If only Smith had never been trapped on board the Jupiter 2 in the first place. After a five and a half year stasis period, they would’ve arrived just outside of the planets of the Alpha Centauri system. Colonizing a new world would’ve brought its own unique challenges but by that time other families would’ve joined them. Civilization would’ve been on its way to being re-established. He and Judy would’ve been happily married, with a baby on the way. His biggest concern would’ve been adjusting to a slower paced agrarian life style.
To think that sweet, innocent Judy had always been so quick to defend that man. So quick to forgive his faults and to supply infinite second chances despite his obvious lack of real effort to reform. Like a mischievous child, he was only sorry when he got caught. Even worse than a child, Smith was old enough to know better.
He set up another piece of timber, taking great satisfaction imagining the wood as Smith’s head. With a powerful blow, it split in two.
He couldn’t be at the Jupiter 2 now. He didn’t trust himself. His impulse to wring Smith’s neck would overpower him. In his current frame of mind, Don wasn’t completely sure if that would be wrong.
How foolish he had been. Once Alonzo had spoken with him about a VR date, Don had grown optimistic. He’d felt certain that once he readjusted his priorities that Judy would chose him over Walman. He had been neglecting her and it was time to change that.
Alonzo had spent the entire evening, talking him through the VR programming. The technology was amazing and he was excited to try it out. He’d been hoping to share his plans with Judy once he’d finished some chores. Now it had all been for nothing.
“I was wondering where you’d gone,” John Robinson appeared.
“I couldn’t…” his voice trailed off, as he lowered his axe. What was there to say?
Gesturing to the axe, John asked, “Where did you find this?”
“The Eden Advance men must have left it behind by mistake. This was their campsite.” He positioned another piece of wood then raised the axe. His powerful stroke missed the block of wood, throwing him precariously off balance.
John reached over to steady him. “Whoa, you’re gonna hurt yourself if you’re not careful. We can’t afford to lose anyone else.”
Don went through the motion of nodding, but he didn’t care. He was already hurting more than humanly possible.
He and the Robinson family had been through a lot during their three years in space. Space travel wasn’t an easy lot. They were fully aware of the risks when they volunteered for the mission. They’d dealt with limited food, hostile aliens, countless crash landings, and some how they’d managed to come through unscathed. But this time it was different. He didn’t see how life could ever resemble normal again.
If only he had taken the time, just taken one moon lit walk with her. He’d seen it in her eyes, she’d been dying for him to ask her. It would’ve been his last chance to hold her, to tell her how much he cared for her. But he’d been so preoccupied by problems that he hadn’t bothered. Now he would never have that opportunity again. He would never know if Judy truly had understood how much he loved her.
Putting the axe aside he claimed, “It’s all Smith’s fault. He messes up everything he touches.”
“We can’t blame all our problems on Doctor Smith.”
More animated, Don raged, “How can you say that? He’s sabotaged the ship - multiple times. We would’ve been safely on our way to Alpha Centauri if it hadn’t been for him. We would’ve been setting up our own colony by now.”
Don couldn’t understand John’s reserve. The man cherished his daughter, yet his stoic demeanor might suggest otherwise. Perhaps he was still in shock, not fully comprehending that he would never speak with his eldest daughter again. Then again, John always had a better handle on his emotions than Don did.
“What’s wrong with you, John? His actions got Judy killed. Don’t you want to wring his miserable neck? Make him pay for what he did.”
“It won’t bring her back.”
“How can you let him do this? Isn’t it bad enough that he’s caused crash after crash? That he’s continually abandoned us in our time of need? How can you let him get away with this?” Don was ashamed that his anger was giving way to sorrow.
John’s voice remained level. “It won’t change things. He’s hurting too.”
“I’ll bet,” Don muttered under his breath.
“We need to discuss…arrangements.”
Arrangements? That sounded so final. Don just stared at him. “No, I ... Not now. Leave me alone.”
“Perhaps we should contact Eden Advance. Let them know about a potentially dangerous animal.”
Don stared at him wondering how he could be thinking about others at a time like this.
“Alonzo left me a gear set -that’s their communication device. It’s in my cabin. Help yourself.”
Stepping closer towards Don, he said, “Come back with me. You’re an important part of our family too. We’re all grieving. We need to be together.”
Don was touched but he couldn’t. “Not now. If I see Smith…I..I just don’t trust myself.”
“Come back soon. Remember, Danziger warned us it wasn’t safe here.”
The Stations government had secretly tested out planet G889’s habitability sending boatloads of penal colonist and other political prisoners as test subjects. So far the Robinsons hadn’t had such a run in but Eden Advance had not been as fortunate.
John tentatively patted Don on the shoulder. “Come back soon. We need you.”
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Penny’s eyes were red and badly swollen. She lay on her side on her bunk, her mother perched beside her.
“I…I can’t believe this happened.”
Maureen’s features were drawn yet she managed to access a reserve of strength for her remaining daughter.
“I know.”
Penny sat up. “It’s my fault,” she sniffed.
“Don’t be silly. How can that be?”
She took a breath, “I was jealous. Judy’s always had Don. And then Walman and Alonzo were interested in her too. I don’t have any one.”
“Hush now. You’re too young to be concerned about such things.”
“No Mom, I’m not. I’m almost fifteen years old!”
Maureen wisely pointed out, “You and True didn’t hit it off.”
She sadly shook her head. Maybe she’d never make a real friend again. Maureen pulled her into a hug.
“We worried about this. The possibility that you and Will would be isolated from other children your age. We hoped for the best. That others would arrive soon enough, before you and Will were old enough to realize what you were missing. Perhaps we were wrong.”
“Oh Mom,” Penny tilted her head to meet her mother’s gaze. “You did the best you could. We wanted to come along.”
Maureen pulled back, remembering Judy. “This mission certainly wasn’t her idea. But she grew to want it as much as we did. At least, I thought she did. If she had stayed behind on Earth, she would’ve been lost to us - forever.”
She took a breath and continued, “Yet, if she had insisted on staying, we would’ve allowed her to do so. It would’ve broken our hearts but we would’ve allowed it.
“If she had stayed on Earth, at least we could’ve contented ourselves with the knowledge that she could’ve been happy. Married with children or successful with her acting career. Maybe she could’ve been a star on Broadway.”
“You know Judy wanted to be with us. She had no regrets,” Penny assured her. “It’s still my fault she’s…gone.” Her voice broke.
“Penny, it’s perfectly natural to feel that way. But you didn’t intentionally hurt your sister. You didn’t know the creature was dangerous.”
She hated to say it, dreading the disappointment that would fill mother’s voice. But if she didn’t tell, she couldn’t live with herself. Guilt was eating her up. “But Mother…I did.”
Maureen’s eyes widened.
Face flushed, she confessed, “True told me Teena was dangerous when I first met her yesterday. I didn’t believe her. She’d been so nasty, I thought she was still being mean.”
“Penny,” Maureen said, with some alarm.
“She said Teena was a… Koba and she insisted she was dangerous. And I…and I…” She began sobbing incoherently against her mother’s chest.
“There, there now.” Maureen patted her back. “It was foolish not to take True’s warning seriously. But Penny, you didn’t mean for this to happen. You didn’t know. You would never purposely harm your sister.”
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Will was in the lab on the lower deck of the Jupiter 2, attempting to repair a damaged laser pistol. Some parts were strewn in front of him on the bench. Usually he had an inherent grasp of technology; he could take apart the laser pistols and reassemble them with ease. He’d repaired the Robot many a time when Dad and Don had been ready to give up. Today, however, his heart wasn’t into his work. He couldn’t stop thinking about what had happened.
Once they’d realized that Judy was dead, the camp had become strangely quiet. Don had immediately stormed out into the wilderness and Dr. Smith had sequestered himself in his quarters. After relaying the news to him, even his mom and dad had disappeared for some privacy, which had suited Will fine. Wiping a stray tear from his cheek, he hadn’t wanted an audience.
The Robot approached, sobbing. “Boo hoo!”
“Not you too, Robot. It’s hard enough…”
“I will miss Judy,” he rotated one hundred eighty degrees and issued a loud trumpeting sound as if he was blowing his nose. Turning back he said, “I…can’t believe this happened.”
“I can’t either.” Will put aside the parts of the laser pistol, focusing his attention on the Robot.
“I should’ve been able to detect that the creature was dangerous. I should’ve been able to protect her.”
“Don’t blame yourself Robot. You’ve been spending a lot of time helping me with our project. You didn’t know.”
Speaking of blame, he hadn’t heard from Dr. Smith in hours. Preoccupied with their grief, lunch and now dinner hadn’t been prepared or served - without a single complaint from the good doctor. Will grew concerned.
“We’d better go check on Doctor Smith.”
He and the Robot walked over to his cabin. He rapped lightly on the accordion folded door. “Doctor Smith?”
There was no answer.
“Doctor Smith? Are you okay?” He tried the door to discover it wasn’t latched. When he entered, Dr. Smith was sitting on his bunk.
“Are you here to yell at me?” he mumbled distantly.
Will pulled up a chair beside the bunk. “No.”
Sadly Dr. Smith turned to face him, explaining, “William, I’d give anything to make this go away. Such an awful thing…”
The Robot sobbed. “Poor Judy.”
“I deserve any punishment your family gives me. The thought that your sister is no longer with us is almost too painful to bear.”
The Robot sobbed louder.
“Get out you blubbering buffoon!”
“So much for buddies sticking together in their time of need.” The Robot rotated and heaved a deep sigh. “I will pick some wild flowers for her.” He left the cabin.
“One more outburst and I would’ve had to yank out his power pack.” Turning to Will he said, “I’m sorry. So dreadfully, horribly sorry. Do you think I should tell your family? Do you think they can ever forgive me?”
He was genuinely contrite. But the boy couldn’t face that now. He was struggling to remain calm himself.
“Yeah. You didn’t do it on purpose. But not now.”
To think that earlier that day, he and the Robot had been so deeply engrossed with studying the orange rocks. They’d been close to cracking the flashing light code - the language of Lunite. Now that hardly seemed to matter.
“Where’s the Major?” Dr. Smith asked, a quiver of fear in his voice.
“I don’t know. Don’t worry, Dad won’t let him hurt you.”
John Robinson stuck his head into the room. Dr. Smith cringed, expecting to be yelled at.
“Son, do you know how to use this?” He showed him a headset.
“Isn’t that one of Eden Advance’s gear sets?”
“Yes. Alonzo left it with Don. Can you figure it out?”
Will was about to question the timing of his father’s request yet the man’s determined gaze made him reconsider. His father was grieving too. He wouldn’t have asked him to do this now if he didn’t have a solid reason.
“Alonzo spent a lot of time talking about it with Don. He’d know better than me,” Will suggested, uncertain that he could figure it out, given his current mindset.
His father insisted, “Don’s not in any condition to do this. I want to make sure Eden Advance is aware that this danger exists.”
“Professor Robinson…” Dr. Smith half pleaded.
“Later, Doctor Smith.” John Robinson firmly replied, avoiding eye contact with the man.
He and Will left the cabin, gear in hand. They sat at the galley table.
Will assumed his father was angry with Dr. Smith and was prepared to defend him. “He didn’t do it on purpose-“
“Not now,” John Robinson’s iron clad self-control was starting to crack. “Please son, just…help me do this.”
Even though he was exhausted, Will gave it his best effort. Fortunately, it was pretty straight forward. After several minutes of investigation, he thought he’d figured it out.
“Let’s try it. Do you want to talk with them Dad?
“Son, can you do it?”
“Sure.” With more confidence than he felt, he flipped the eye piece to the front and spoke into the head set, “Jupiter 2 calling Eden Advance. Jupiter 2 calling Eden Advance. Do you read me?”
The image of a black man wearing a dirty cloth turban appeared. “This is Baines, Eden Advance. Identify yourself.”
Will was thrown off, not recognizing the man.
“It’s…Will Robinson. Can I speak with Mr. Danziger?”
The man seemed surprised by his request. “Robinson? I’ll find him.”
Several minutes later, the familiar image of the curly haired blonde mechanic appeared.
“This is Danziger.” Immediately noting Will’s strained expression, he became alarmed. “What’s wrong?”
He wanted to follow his father’s instructions and relay the message that there was a dangerous creature. But all that came out was, “Judy…Judy’s dead.” He swallowed hard to quell the tears that threatened to erupt.
“What? What happened?”
“Penny’s new pet threw some sort of claw at her.”
“Pet? What pet?”
“It was about two feet tall with a big head. Walked on two legs. Brownish color.”
“Did it touch your sister with its claws?” he asked urgently.
All Will could do was nod as hot tears started to seep against his will.
Half panicked, the mechanic asked, “You didn’t bury her - did you?”
Will shook his head.
“Thank God! She’s going to be okay Will.”
“I don’t…understand.” The man wasn’t making any sense. Will had seen his sister. Her body was cold.
“If she was bitten by a Koba, she’s gonna be okay. Don’t do anything! We’ll be there tomorrow.”
TBC