It grew late into the evening and the gray but slightly blue sky turned to dark blue. The Robinsons were fast asleep in their beds even the major was fast asleep in the lab that had been modified as his room with arms sprawled out snoring away from behind his head underneath the pillow. All for the exception of Robot still manning his station at the port window. The rain retreated becoming fine and finer until it was only sprinkling outside of the ship.

A group of figures walked through the night that were kept closely together under the night shivering and their teeth were chattering together covered by a sparkly blanket. They approached the door of the Jupiter 2 then looked in both directions with their attention refocusing on the door. One of the aliens gently knocked on the door. Before them the first door opened then they came into the doorway. The second door from behind them closed leaving the group enclosed into a tight space.

"Hello," Robot's grill glowed red highlighting his chassis and the bobbed head glowed with clarity exposing the transparent glass. "What do you need help with?"

"I am Agethar," Agethar said. "This is my commander, Barfar."

"We need to know the whereabouts of the local doctor," Barfar said.

"He promised to redress our wounds tonight," Agethar said.

"Doctor Smith is not here," Robot said. "He may be ignoring you."

"He normally answers our knocks," Barfar said.

"We have checked his living space," Agethar said. "He did not answer our insistant knocking."

Robot was silent for a full moment.

"Was it the lab?"

The squished group exchanged baffled looks then turned their attention on to Robot.

"He never allows us in," Agethar said.

"But Doctor Smith does treat us in his tunnel," Barfar said.

"Is his treatment important enough to stay out in the rain for hours?" Robot asked.

"He promised us," Barfar said. "We don't take promises lightly."

"Doctor Smith makes empty promises," Robot said. "I will allow you to stay here until the rain has passed."

"We thank you for your hospitality," Agethar said. "We understand your reluctance to let us in."

"You are welcome," Robot wheeled out of the way.

"Great," Barfar started. "Do we have to go back and pillage that cave for his medical supplies?"

The other companions of the group tightly fitting in the space glared toward Agethar.

"He wouldn't treat us if we did that," Barfar said. "He would find out."

"He would," agreed Lucethar.

"Then that would shatter all the trust that we have built with him," Neminthar said.

"Then what do you suggest that we do?" Agethar asked. "We need the medical treatment."

"I suggest we continue our search for him," Lucethar said. "He has to be around here somewhere."

"We have looked everywhere," Agethar said.

"Except for Vikari's traveling carnival," Lucethar said.

"The one allied with the Kavalarians?" Barfar asked.

"That very one," Lucethar said.

"Shame it associates with them," Barfar said. "Really good entertainment over all."

"I hate to speak with the manager," Agethar said. "But we have to do it."

"Yes," grumbled the small group.

"Can we really help the man with his back?" Neminthar asked.

"Mr Blue supplied us with the equipment," Agethar said. "I want to believe that we can. We can't afford to break what little trust that he has in us."

Robot bobbed his helmet up in alarm from behind the wall overhearing the exchange coming from behind.

The remaining bits of the rain stopped falling and the air was quite still.

Robot wheeled toward the front of the ship with his sensors alert and running then wheeled back toward the door.

"The rain has ceased," Robot replied. "I wish you good luck finding him."

"And?" Agethar said.

"We have difficulty finding him," Robot said. "He is very good at hide and seek."

"We found him carving a long branch while diving a cave," Barfar said.

"He gave us quite the fright!" Agethar laughed. "Remember how he made you scream, Barfar?"

"His whistling was the first clue," Lucethat said.

"But freaky," Neminthar said.

"We aimed our lights on him and---" Barfar was cut off by Agethar.

"He was there in one of the crevices hanging upside down," Agethar finished.

"Like a space vampire!" Lucethar said.

"He was making a boat," Neminthar said.

"A mothership," Barfar elaborated. "The one that has sheets."

"We got it back at our ship," Neminthar said. "Safe and preserved."

"Quite the spectacle. I am going to sell it to Mr O. M after we leave this planet," Barfar said. "Children would like this toy."

"A collector would love it more than a child ever could," Neminthar said. "And cherish it very deeply."

Robot pressed a button then the back door retreated.

"Good luck," Robot said.

"Thank you!" Agethar said. "We won't forget you for this!'

The small group left the entrance of the Jupiter 2 walking into the dark. The elevator car rolled up then the barrier retreated letting out the figure. John joined Robot's side at the window. Robot's upper half turned in the direction of the professor as the camera retreated turning away from the Jupiter 2 toward the group that was walking away further and further until the starship from behind them was a distant grayed object. Their boots were caked in a new layer of dirt as they walked through the mud puddles.

They traveled under the night heading toward further toward the distance featuring flat planes and high rolling hills that had trees slightly swaying from side to side. The night retreated being replaced by the gentle orange that crawled up the surface of the rocks and highlighted the partially cloudy sky. Their eyes were ready to close as they started to fall over to their sides but each time they bumped into each other they straightened up and resumed walking. The group arrived to the entrance of the carnival yawning and groaning with eyes full of red long strands and their baggy eyes were visibly dropping.

A familiar figure popped into existence and admired the rides decorating the scenery in a sparkling black jumpsuit contrasting against the early morning with folded arms. The jumpsuit had bell bottoms for the pant legs and the arms so when his legs were closely compacted together it appeared that he was in a dress. The colorful part of the uniform was the vest's light green outlined neck collar while the torso was decorated in small paintbrushes covered in a thin film of paint. Lucethar was the first to jog toward the figure then the others ran after him joining Smith's side. Smith unfolded his arms turning toward the group that circled him in a complete U-shape glaring toward pointing toward their dried bandages.

"Ah," Smith said. "That."

"Yes," Chimed all the members of the group.

"I have recently come across much better gauze," Smith said. "One moment."

Smith pressed on his right sleeve then popped out.

"Great bird of the galaxy!" Barfar said, horrified. "He is allied with Vikari!"

"Should we tell him what she does to people who volunteer to help?" Lucethar asked.

They exchanged wary glances with each other then shook their heads.

"Let him figure that part out," Neminthar said.

Smith popped back into existence with a medical kit.

"Sit down," Smith directed toward a set of benches. "And be very still while I replace the bandages."

"Let him," Agethar agreed.

Smith raised a brow.

"What is that about?" Smith asked.

"Getting the new gauze," Agethar said. "You heard him the doctor! Sit down on the benches!"

The group split off into couples and sat down into groups. Smith took out rolls of gauze then cleaned up their dressings and replaced them with new more effective versions that stood out quite shiny. One by one their wounds were tended with care and precision dumping the old contents into a makeshift bag made out of several rolls of gauze. The space gauze was tight to their skin and felt hard to the touch in a way that was surely of stone. The members of the group turned their attention on to the man with gratitude.

"I don't expect you to come across me until next week," Smith said.

"Nooo," Agethar said. "We like to help you straight away with your problem."

"It is the only way we can repay you," Barfar said. "You healed us. Let us heal you."

"It's still early," Smith stretched his arms out with a yawn. "Later."

"What is wrong with your cave?" Agethar asked.

"Rodents call it home," Smith said. "Vikari offered her place for me for the time being."

"And her place does not terrify you?" Barfar asked, concerned.

"A little," Smith then perked up. "But aren't all places this way?"

"Certainly!" Agethar said.

"I appreciate your concern but I am better off around her," Smith said. "For the time being. And after you help me."

Smith pressed a button on the sleeve then popped out of the area returning into the colorful area decorated from top to bottom in different tones of purple, pink, black, and orange between all the decorations in the room. He sat down into a chair that lacked bars on the center of the back then balanced his head against the head rest structure of the chair. His hand grasped on curly but cold arm rests with heavy eyes. His shoulder blades were aching the most in general as if they were expanding and experiencing issues just extending to where they needed to be.

Across from Smith was a large orange peacock chair with the design of a skull on the center of it and on the arm rest of the chair were embedded silver skulls. His eyes wandered over toward the replica of swords criss cross behind a skull. There was a cup on the table that bore striking resemblance to a skull with warm white liquid still steaming from being taken out halfway exposed. The view screen displayed the group walking away while the volume was off. The group walked off the screen. The rugs were in the shape of coffins that were coated in sparkles over the fine purple strands. The long cieling decoration were distinctively eyes hanging on to a long sticky orange string.

Behind him was the portrait of a union officer who seemed to be a corpse at one glance then alive at another glance. Decorative figures resembling half-alive and half-decomposed beings seemingly lifelike ranging from different eras. Even of alien species can be spotted around the room all bearing one of three expression. Shock, terror, and horror. Just matching the expressions on the paintings around the room with creatures impending doom upon the victims as they arrived. Instead of feeling afraid in a very eerie apartment there was a feeling of calm in the room. It wasn't the most terrifying apartment that he had spent the night in his long lifetime. He felt safe and secure contrasting those rooms like this made him feel unsettled. This calm, safe, and secure feeling allowed him to close his eyes then proceeded to snore away with his head tilted down. Almost preparing to enter a nightmare that started and ended the same way.

Vikari strolled into the room with her hair sizzling out.

"You are the most surprising man to prefer sleeping in a modified chair," Vikari asked.

Smith blinked awake then wrapped a arm on the edge of the chair turning away from screen while turned side ways facing Vikari.

"What time is it?"

It was slightly difficult to keep his eyes open.

"Two thirty hours," Vikari said. "You can begin painting at o-five hundred."

Smith rubbed his forehead with his elbow on the metal ridge to the chair.

"I started painting at twenty-four hundred hours," Smith rubbed his eyes with his elbows on the arm rests then his fingers rubbed along the upper section of his nose. "Started to feel tired."

"I heard screaming from your rest," Vikari said. "Sounds to me you are tormented."

"Gravely," Smith said. "Being young again brings back disturbing old memories."

Vikari placed a hand on his shoulder.

"You are not alone," Vikari squeezed his shoulder. "I have night terrors. Too." Her grip on his shoulder loosened. "Come when I least expect them."

"I need a shower," Smith said. "Care to direct me to it?"

"Sure, sure," Vikari took him by the arm then helped him up to his feet. "How is the back?"

"I don't mind the back."

Vikari raised her brows, surprised, taken back.

"You . . . don't?"

"I am used to it,"

"Used to it!"

"But, the shoulder pain is knocking me off my game,"

There was a moment of pause as Vikari's eyes shifted from her feet contemplating what to do about that then her eyes lifted up toward him and a kind smile appeared on her face.

"I know just how to help you,"

Smith looked at her, skeptically, tiredly.

"Truly?"

"It numbs pain," Vikari nodded. "Can you live with that? Being unable to feel the pain as it changes you." she squeezed his shoulder. "Do you want that?"

Smith was too tired to shriek in joy or turn his head toward her.

"Yes . . . I could live with that."

Vikari's grip on his shoulder lighter and softly until it were not as tight.

"I will help you with that pain," Vikari said, escorting him out of the living room.

Smith came into a lab with his eyes struggling to close. Vikari put him into the tube then pulled a leveler. Smith collapsed to the floor then began to weep hunched over with his hands on the wall. Vikari became alarmed then flew over to his side over the sound of gleeful laughter coming from the man sliding half way down into the tube. Eventually, Smith stopped laughing. His other hand grasped on the other side of the tube appearing to be relieved. Vikari came to a stop in front of him, Smith lunged forward catching her into a hug and startled her.

"Thank you, Vikari," Smith said. "I am in your debt."

Vikari returned the hug.

"It's going to be alright," Vikari said.

Soft yet low snoring came from Smith as the hug loosened from his side.

"That painting can wait." Vikari said.

Smith was deposited onto his chest on a long chair with his head turned sideways on top of a pillow. His arms were left dangling off the edge of the bed and his legs were set on the support beams.

Vikari yanked off his boots and socks then stopped momentarily noticing that his toes had all but lost the toenails. She turned the socks inside out to see the toenails were hooked in appearing to be long but dead. She hooked the toe nails then dropped the socks into the small black boots. The gray support structure of the bed glowed gently with a hum and appeared to be fuzzy even blurry to a point.

Vikari smiled looking down upon him.

Smith turned on his side falling asleep peacefully snoring away.

Sweet dreams.