"What do you mean that he has postponed the healing?"

Agethar winced.

"I mean what I say," Agethar said.

"He looks better than before," Barfar said.

"It's been two days," Neminthar said. "Two wonderful days."

"But . . ." Blue said.

"There is no buts," Lucethar said.

Blue frowned from the other end of the screen as his hands rolled up into fists.

"What kind of employees are you!"

Blue loudly smacked his hand on the console.

"Smart ones," Neminthar said. "If we tried to force him to our ship, his screams would attract attention and bring the Robinson family after us."

"We should have taken advantage of his tired state while during treating our wounds," Lucethar said. "That we admit to."

"Then your service is hereby terminated," Blue said. "Go home."

"State why we should leave Takuchi Seven but not wait until what is being used to silence his pain malfunctions," Agethar said.

"He has given up the fight," Blue said. "Doctor Smith has accepted his fate."

The screen turned to pitch black.

"And swindled out of our money," Lucethar said. "Again."

"We can always go into the business of being a scientists assistant," Barfar said.

"Directly being in the same place as they are and we are very unlikely to lose any money should we fail," Neminthar said. "It can work."

"Great," Lucethar said. "This 'timed' crash landing got us out of work and we can't leave until we are healed."

"All employers need their employees fit as a fiddle," Agethar said. "We can wait awhile longer."

///////////////////////////////////////////////////

The group spent hours searching for rocks among the newly formed terrain that had spilled over the day before. Robot stood guard over the small group. Smith looked both ways then cracked open a rock in half glistening with purple jewels and shards that shined against the dying sun in the afternoon.

Smith dropped the material into the bag then looked over observing the siblings were oblivious to the rocks being cracked in half loudly. He carefully tossed the rocks into the bag then looked over toward the children contemplating how to properly word a reply to a comment they were bound to make. He looked up as the comment came first from Will.

"How about we go camping?" Will asked. "It has been awhile since we have camped out of the Jupiter."

"William. . . " Smith started with emphasis. "It would be appropriate that you and your sister camp without me and with the major and your eldest sister."

"Why?" they chimed at once.

"Don't make me say it," Smith grimaced.

"But why?" Will asked.

"It is dangerous," Smith said.

"What makes it more dangerous than it is normally?" Penny asked.

Smith sighed, lowering his attention down if only for a moment, folding his arms then began to reply.

"Because of me," Smith said. "People around me get really hurt when out at night. I have tested my hypotheses in the last month. It is not in your interest nor is in it mine to spend the night around me. Around me in the day is less dangerous. Far less dangerous!"

"You're not that dangerous,"

"That was with Zachary. The native of this universe,""

"The last time we went camping is scared, is all."

"That was all you had to worry about," Smith said. "Just being scared."

Smith grimaced looking off toward the sun that was heading toward the mountains in dread. Already visualizing what could happen if they stayed around him until it were night.

"With me. . ." Smith continued. "you need a watch out in case of a space grizzly attack or being eaten alive by space vipers in your sleep. I hardly think your family would like Robot away for a night."

"I get the point your making," Will agreed. "So just hang out in the day is what you are saying?"

"It is one less instance of a accidental tragedy," The sting from the explosion still stung Smith's psyche. Smith clenched his shoulder turning away from the boy. "I don't want that to happen again."

"I am very sure it won't with how cautious you are being about this," Will said.

"Will, Robot," Penny started. "How about you two find a place where we can judge our rocks at?"

"Preferably with lots of sun," Smith agreed. "This is not the place," he pointed toward the tall trees above them that had lots of shade over the area. "I prefer to see the rocks I am judging."

"Alright, Doctor Smith," Will said. "Come on, Robot."

Robot and Will strolled away through the valley as Smith turned his back toward them folding his arms looking down upon the young woman. He took out a neon glowing space pen and notepad plopping down on to a boulder then crossed his knee over his leg looking on.

"Tell me in your words how it felt," Smith started. "About the moment."

Penny sat down on to a large but somewhat flat and bumpy rock.

"I didn't see him dying,"

"But you heard him get shot?"

"I did,"

"Recount what happened after you were freed, please."

Penny closed her eyes.

"I was running with mother and Judy toward the Chariot after father and Don," Penny grabbed on to the edges of her skirt looking down toward her knees. "I heard Doctor Smith's yelp. I heard someones scream. I don't know who it was. It rang in my ears as I stopped at the door then turned in the direction that Don was facing in."

"What did you see?"

"Will coming over to Doctor Smith's side then rolling him over," Penny said. "He shook him by the shoulder trying to wake him up. He wasn't snoring. I never seen Doctor Smith so still before." she shook her head with her attention lowered with a quiet sigh. "So quiet."

"How did you feel?"

"Numb . . . I couldn't feel anything."

"How did you feel when you were held captive by Bronius?"

"Scared. And worry."

"When did you start to feel again?"

"Not until we buried him," Penny said. "Then all those ugly feelings came out. They were forcing their way down my cheeks like fine water coming down a river acting as a background noise to salmon going over to their breeding grounds. Their beautiful gray slippery figures shining against the sunlight."

"And the strange thing is, I felt like my salmon were being taken away by someone elses hand. No one was beside me. And there was a warmth that spread through me. A precious uplifting box of happiness. Then all that pain was gone. It was as if someone took them from me and gave me a very precious present."

"Even after that. I still felt that presence around me for the longest time when I had some bouts of crying when no one was physically doing that. It didn't frighten me as you would like. Sometimes, felt like I was being hugged. Someone putting their hand on my shoulder. And someone rubbing my back comforting me."

"Judy might have gone through the same thing when Don wasn't there to comfort her. She asked me, after the men went to finish drilling for fuel, 'Did you feel it?' when I had a short crying episode. I can sense this presence. A presence that felt like. . . him. Like he was still there, spiritually, but not physically."

"Do you still feel him?"

Penny paused, looking back, at the last few weeks.

"Not anymore," Penny shook her head.

"How did you get under a dome and dear Zachary get stuck with the Jupiter 2 and the space pod?"

Penny became quiet looking off, ashamed.

"I can't," Penny said.

"Please," Smith plead. "Try."

"I can't let it out," Penny said.

"I need to know why you were so hurt by the death." Penny looked up ruefully toward Smith. "Crying that often? I don't see you crying for three days after his death."

There was a short pause between them.

"You don't want to know," Penny said. "It will change everything."

"On the contrary, I do," Smith reassured containing his excitement at the drop of some piece. He got a hint. A small lead to potentially help them out of their grief into a new version of themselves that had been carved out of the emotional rubble which had collapsed upon them. A disaster of proportions that meant rebuilding and cleaning up the wreckage from what had fallen. "The only way you can fully move on is by talking about it."

"I don't want to move on," Penny then amended. "I can't move over it. It's part of me."

Smith's eyes widened then his brows furrowed and his eyes changed from shock to confusion.

"Care to elaborate," Smith said

"It's a reminder that I shouldn't forget. . ." Penny said. "A lesson from space if you will."

"Of what?" Smith asked.

Penny was silent for a moment with her head lowered then looked up toward him.

"Belief," Penny said.

Smith tilted his head with a frown. Changing everything I know about them? Their belief? Pieces of a puzzle that didn't make sense in context. Perhaps, as space always did, things were changed being lost at sea. Space turned cruel people to kind individuals. Was it their values that they held on to tightly prior to launch? Was it that their values had changed? That they weren't always kind?

"Alright, my dear," Smith said. "Keep your secrets." he lowered his hand putting it into his lap. "I like you to make a better memory over that. Close your eyes."

Penny closed her eyes.

"Imagine you are in a bouncy castle and the major and your father starting a game with beany babies. It's difficult to run in a bouncy castle so imagine Zachary and Will lag behind you. Zachary is hit by one not three feet from the castle and over dramatizes his final scene." A big grin appeared on Penny's face with chuckling that turned into giggling to laughter. "Now imagine that Will throws one at the major's face."

Penny smacked her knee tilting sideways shaking with laughter so hard that she fell off the rock landing to the ground.

"Are you alright, Penelope?" Smith helped Penny up then she hugged him.

"Thank you," Penny said. "I feel a lot better."

Smith had a small smile returning the hug.

"You are very welcome, Penny."

//////////////////////////////////////

It was almost night when Will and Penny returned without Smith but on time for dinner. For Judy, it was still strange not to see the well aging old man between the youngest members of the family talking on about how he looked forward toward dinner. The night was so young with the colors for just one moment that Judy saw the doctor's mirage from between them. Judy covered her mouth feeling her heart leap watching the mirage just as it had appeared. She regained a grip over herself then attended to the set up table.

Eventually, everyone down at the table with drinks, napkins, and their silverware waiting beside their hands. The food was served per each plate with a good size able quantity. The gap where Smith had once sat had been filled in by the new seating arrangement so it wasn't noticeable anyone that someone used to sit at the table. Will's plate had a extra stash of food placed on it from Maureen overcooking. So used to cooking for a larger group.

Will and Penny took turns about talking about what had happened on their rock hunt retelling the kinds of rocks that they had found then let the men give their reports about the strange 'oddities' that they had seen, jokingly, since rarely did they find unusual beings appearing at the drilling rig. Judy put up the silverware after everyone got up then went into the Jupiter 2 to retire for the night. With the last of her family inside, Judy got out her hidden laser pistol belt for protection then picked up the space flashlight.

"Where are you going, Judy?" Robot wheeled down the support beam.

"To find Doctor Smith," Judy said.

"Request to go with you," Robot said.

"Denied," Judy said. "Robot, you stay here. I am going in armed."

She took out her laser pistol then shook from side to side then put it back into the laser pistol holster.

"Just in case this Vikari character isn't all nice, I presume?"

"I don't know Vikari personally enough," Judy said. "She could have ulterior motives."

"Be careful," Robot said. "I feel this is walking on space landmines when it comes to Vikari."

"I will be walking on water, Robot," Judy assured. "No landmines blowing my leg off clean."

"I expect to detect your life sign returning unharmed," Robot said.

"You will," Judy said. "You are a good friend, Robot. And protector."

"I am what I am!" Robot replied then wheeled into the Jupiter 2.

////////////////////////////////////////

Judy made her walk in the dark following the directions that Will had given over dinner. Her flashlight showed what was on ahead of her leading out in the night. The walk was quite long but enjoyable in the long run. Each step that was taken brought Judy close and closer to the carnival that had been described in detail. One that Will had seen during the search for Smith. The rides were playing when she arrived with lights decorating the texture of the rides.

She walked through the arch then explored the area. There was a glowing gray chair from across that had a pair of long arms slid down the arm rest contrasting against the brightness of the chair. His head was tilted down toward his lap snoring away in the middle of a nap. Judy snickered, softly, approaching the resting older man.

"Hello there," Judy said.

Smith jumped out of the chair, wide awake, and alert.

"Don't kill me!" The man cowered alongside the modified chair.

Judy approached Smith walking around the chair,

"I am not here to hurt you, Doctor Smith," Judy reassured.

Smith stood up.

"Course, I knew it!" A eased smile and confidence replaced the terror. "I knew it all along! You were not that angry over my tiny mistake." He walked around the bench with a self-serving smile then leaned against the arm rest of the chair. His hands were coated in different bright colors even his silver somewhat glowing uniform not just the dirt that had gathered over the last few hours. "What brings you out here alone, Judy?"

"To tell you this," Judy said. "I forgive you, Doctor Smith."

"How kind of you to say that," Smith was visibly touched as they walked away from the chair. Smith's hands were in his pockets. "I wish I could say that to myself."

"You can say it," Judy said.

"People like you find it easy to say it," Smith said. "It is hard for people such as I."

"Why?" Judy asked. "Why do you find it hard?"

"We don't normally seek for forgiveness for our actions or need it for that matter." A bittersweet smile that was short formed on his face. "I bet he was used to hearing those words."

"He forgave me," Judy said.

"Sweet and simple," Smith said.

"Anything is when you take out the complications," Judy said.

Smith had a snicker looking up toward the night sky watching the non-star objects flying around the actual stars,

"Simplicity at its best. Likable. Consumable. Preach able. And livable,"

"I heard about those eye implants," Smith turned his attention on to Judy. "That is not simple. That is complicated."

"Very much," Smith grew a smile. "my dear."

"How many implants do you have?"

"Amount to hope that my body still retains in this debilitating passage in my life. Most of them are in my brain. Entertainment purposes, strictly."

"What do you do with them?"

"Erh, um, that is private,"

"You can tell me, Doctor Smith. I won't judge you."

"I cannot, respectfully. It is indecent to tell a young woman at the prime of her life who is very innocent, beautiful, and charming regarding ill advised darkness. That is not what you need to hear from me. Your image of Zachary will go down the sewers. My mind is in the gutters."

"I don't understand the last part. In the gutters?"

"You should ask the major about that,"

"I will,"

"Good,"

"How do you feel?"

"I am in better spirits than I used to be,"

"Do you feel like yourself?"

"Do you?"

"You answer me, first,"

"I don't,"

"Why?"

"How am I supposed to feel when I try to be good is that I hurt people?" Smith walked in the way and on ahead of Judy then linked his hands behind his back turning toward her as she stood across from him. "I remember when it happened," he looked off, regretfully. "I remember dreaming of good things. Many good things. Instead it ended as a nightmare that ended with a balloon being shot. It was so loud I mistook it for a bomb and woke up then got out without paying heed to myself. Answer me, my dear. Do you feel yourself?"

"Almost but I am not there,"

"How do you feel returning to your old routines?"

"It is strange. Like being away for a very long time and slowly becoming acquainted to it. Returning to a school schedule that I used to be part of. But everything feels different. I use the make up. . ."

"But?"

"I don't trust the pieces as I used to,"

"Trust with familiar objects takes time to get back," Smith said. "Especially when it was used by the wrong hands to impose harm. It's long and its hard for the memories of the past to lose their grip over it. Paranoia about it hurting you. It's not unheard of. And it's alright. Each time you use it, you heal over that memory until it is so distant it is only figments of a bad dream."

"Have you?"

"A few times,"

"Is it alright to have nightmares about it?"

"It is. Plenty of them in the last two months," he sat on to the bench across from her with one leg going over his knee. "Talk to me about it."

Judy sat down beside him.

"There is not any vibrant colors in my dreams since the explosion," Judy said. "The shadows surround like there is light fixtures in my room and I can't find them. Like i am being surrounded by strangers who want to upset me. I dream of pain. So much pain, Doctor Smith." She closed her eyes, on the brink of tear, then shook her head. "It hurts. Every time I apply mascara, it stings and it burns off a eyelash. My eyeliner just burns instead of decorating the surface, my lipstick . . . it burns. Everything use on myself just burns me rather than cover up. If I trim my nails, it burns. If I use a nail filer, it burns. Everything I use to care for myself burns! And I don't dream in color as I used to."

She turned away, her hands on her shoulder, struck by the pain that had resurfaced.

"My dear. . . I want you to close your eyes," Smith said. "Now imagine, it is black and white. The scene you dream of," he delicately put a hand on her shoulder. "Painting your fingernails, the rainbow appears glowing and waving like the aura lights. Filing your nails only makes the aura lights become short."

"It is so beautiful," Judy grew a bright smile.

"Now imagine your eyelashes become dark dark energy once the mascara touches it, " Smith said. "Waving like smoke in the light. Your lips being pink as a starfish radiating with life and luxury. Your eye liner turns your eye lids into a eye cover made of the cosmos. What you see every day looking out of the windows in space. Instead of a sting where it should not be painful, I want you to feel--"

Smith slid his fingers under her arm then rubbed her sides earning a burst of laughter rather gleefully back and forth eliciting laughter as she rocked back and forth and his other hand did the same on her other side.

"This!"

Smith withdrew his hands after the tickling episode was over.

"I want you to remember that," Smith said. "Joy, happiness, glee." Judy wiped off a tear. "The good always makes the bad go into the shadows."

Judy looked toward Smith.

"Thank you,"

"Very welcome,"

"When are you going to come back?"

"Never open the door to a lesser evil, for other and greater ones invariably slink in after it," Smith said. "But it slinked in with me. And I am very afraid, despite being very careful, that I will bring it in despite having not bought in with me."

"You don't have to take it so personally,"

Smith closed his eyes, sighing, then opened them turning toward her.

"Regretting is a human aspect," Smith said. "I can't let go of that. Now can I?"

Judy paused, thinking it over, then had a small nod at the prospect.

"You can't let go of that," Judy put her hand on his shoulder. "But you can't throw yourself into it without comforting yourself. You said so yourself, the good always makes the bad go into the shadows."

"Even if I did," Smith put his hand on her hand with a small but appreciated smile. "It wouldn't be comfortable for your lovely family."

Smith patted on her hand then got up to his feet.

"And oh," Smith turned toward Judy. "Good night."

"Good night, Doctor Smith," Judy said.

"If you like a ride at this carnival," he twirled a finger in mid-air. "I can arrange for no space tickets being purchased to have some fun here. Your family hasn't been to a decent and well painted carnival in god knows how long!"

Smith walked into the night and popped out of existence before her eyes.

////////////////////////////////////

That night, Judy dreamed in color.

There was no pain that followed after applying the tools of the beauty products.

Instead, Judy saw herself as a mystical entity putting pieces of themselves back together in a small room that gained its color. Changing from black and white to bright versions making it pop out. And there was joy that radiated within the dream. A feeling that didn't stand as a cause to wake up in the middle of the night. The dream felt just about right. Everything was fine in the world that had been rebooted and reprogrammed with different feelings and words that pointed to imagery. Imagery that wasn't disturbing. Imagery that a dream could hold and refresh a average person in.

For the first time in many nights since the explosion, Judy was having a beautiful dream with awe.