"Don, you don't have a shift," John stood by Don's side.

The major was sitting in the hair holding a beer gazing toward the very clear constellations and colorful view of the milky way staring back at him against the dark blue canvas. The comment was made out of concern and a bit of disbelief in their voice. Don lifted his attention off the sky on toward the captain of the ship with a tired smile.

"I can't sleep," Don said.

"After your complaining about not having a quarters to yourself to sleep in. . ." John folded his arms looking down upon the younger man. "You spend it outside."

"The irony is not lost on me," Don snickered. "I just have a strange feeling there is going to be something important."

"Like a rare meteor shower," John said

"Exactly that," Don snapped his fingers.

"If you need help, Robot is waiting inside the ship," John said.

"I doubt anyone would come up here this late," Don said. "Let alone abduct me," he shook his head out of pity. "Aliens like one kind of person to abduct and that person left a long time ago."

"Good night." John patted on Don's shoulder then went into the Jupiter 2.

Don sat there for a long time watching the meteors pass on by the Jupiter 2 flying into the distance overhead. The chance of the constellations moving bit by bit as hours waned by. Don's eyes grew heavy becoming difficult to remain open so he stood up, closed his chair, then began to his trek toward the inside of the Jupiter 2.

"Major,"

Don turned toward the dark dropping the chair against the doorway of the ship.

"Ah, Smith," Don relaxed, recognizing the figure in the dark, lowering the laser pistol. "it's just you."

"I, the pumpkin man, a terrifying beast," Smith sniggered. "You were right about the horse."

"Well, what happened in the carnival?" Don asked.

"I saw it come alive while painting that ride," Smith said. "I believed I were imagining it. Had to be from heat exhaustion, deprivation of sleep, or inhalation of paint. So today, I cornered her and got answers. That horse was real. Is real. And I may have. . ."

"You what?" Don asked.

"She knows Bronius and I may have arranged for her to come here," Smith said.

"Can she do it to people?" Don prodded

"Yes," Smith said.

Don stepped into the dark.

"Smith, can yo---" Don stopped, momentarily, then restarted. "Is it possible to link minds together? Just temporarily. A place where two minds can meet up." Smith looked off considering it heavily giving it some careful thought.

"It is risky . . . " Smith said.

"Can you do it?" Don stepped forward closer toward the doctor.

Smith took several tentative steps back from Don.

"I can but it carries some heavy risk to the two minds. Whatever happens, you feel it and it lingers long after," Smith said. "It is why I don't venture into the human mind that often."

"Phantom pains," Don said. "It's a risk I can accept. She is not skilled in mental combat. No one really is in this world."

"Indeed," Smith turned away then began to stroll from the Jupiter 2.

"Smith, why don't you stay?" Don asked. "Just for the night."

Smith paused in the dark, his head lowered, with a sigh.

"Much as I like to be around those of my ilk . . ." Smith turned toward the major. "It is simply not possible in this stage of my mutation."

"Don't be a hero, Smith," Don said. "That is not who you are." Smith smiled, melancholy, with a nod.

"Heroes are people who do things with the knowledge that no one knows," Smith said. "You know."

"Point taken," Don said.

"It is called self restraint as some little protection for those around me. Personally? I am terrified. My appetite is changing." He stepped closer and closer to the major until his voice was so close that Don could feel his breathing in the unusually dark night. "The chances of the Robinsons dying by MY claws is a chance I will NOT accept!"

"We call it cowardice," Don listened to the doctor retreat. "We do have thick protective gloves for that."

"I am a biological weapon, Major," Smith seethed in rage. "You don't leave lethal bio weapons unchecked around civilians. Now, do you?"

"No. . ." Don said. "What makes you think that you're a biological weapon? You're not a weapon. Not a monster," Don looked off thinking it over. "Sure, a strange hybrid that calls itself a monster. But not a weapon that someone can wield." The commentary by the major earned Smith's laughter.

"I used to view myself as a freedom fighter, a necessary spy that is needed, and a inconvenient healer," Smith said. "I am none of those things. I am a necessary evil." he turned away from the Jupiter 2 making sure to stay put of its light. "A evil that is becoming what it really is."

Smith shifted toward the major turning in his direction then peered out of the hood.

"Major, what you see of me isn't how I really look," Smith said.

"By the inside, yeah, we all know that," Don said. "But it doesn't change how you look to me or to them. We're not afraid of you. The only person who is afraid is yourself."

"I find that a part of this world that I like," Smith admitted then resumed walking away into the night.

"Was he afraid?" Don's question stopped the man.

"Not afraid as you are," Smith said. "If I do have to return to this ship then it will be in stasis until the next planet."

"Or your promised planet," Don said.

"A promised planet never has been so appealing until this moment," Smith said. "After she arrives and I subdue her, you will be directed to the general location. It will heal more of the wound that his departure left on you."

"It will heal completely, Doctor Smith." Don said.

Smith stared at the major for a long moment, turned away, then vanished into the night and Don walked into the light of the Jupiter 2.