Part 40
The camera lowered down to the lone, well carved pocket watch that had a intricate design on the top. A long, curved white claw picked up the pocket watch by the hoop and the camera went up backing away to reveal the anti-matter Robot. A checkered model consisting of black and white contrasting against the normally colorful light gray and black model. Anti-matter Robot clicked open the pocket watch then its head bobbed up and his head lights glowed red wheeling forward at the sound of the familiar and aged voice. The anti-matter Robot came to a stop at the corridor as it registered in his sensors. The bobbed head lowered down along the light gray neckline. The anti-matter Robot turned around then bolted down the corridor. The anti-matter Robot swayed his long black arm in the way of a glowing blue panel and flew into the room. Franklin was trapped in a orange forcefield striking it repeatedly with his fists. The anti-matter Robot's green grill was unactive approaching the young man and came to a stop from behind him.
"I am anti-matter robot," Anti-matter Robot started.
Franklin turned in his direction.
"Joshua West," Franklin stepped away from the forcefield. "You can call me Franklin West," he placed his hands onto his side. "Wow, you're really everything they say. Tall, dark, and simple. . ." he scanned the man with his eyes. "The product of two decades worth of engineering."
"You did not need to come here to rescue me," Anti-matter Robot said.
"I didn't come here to rescue anyone," Franklin said. "I came here to rescue myself."
Anti-matter Robot's head bobbed up in alarm.
"Then why did the two of you come here?" Anti-matter Robot asked.
"To drop off Mr Smith to his fate," Franklin said.
"Doctor Smith," Anti-matter Robot corrected.
"You don't know, do you?" Franklin asked, softly.
"Affirmative," Anti-matter Robot said.
"Smith killed the Robinsons," Franklin said.
Anti-matter Robot's head bobbed up in alarm.
"He killed them?" came off surprised.
"Yeah, he did," Franklin said.
"That does not compute," Anti-matter Robot said.
"It should compute," Franklin said. "this Smith isn't good."
"It does not compute as I would have been required to kill him first before he could try to murder the family," the anti-matter Robot replied. "What does not compute is not being stopped. This is not different."
"Here is what we think happened," Franklin started. "Smith took off the power pack, then killed Will, and put it back on. He lied to the Robot regarding what had just happened. Smith returned to the Jupiter 2 and retrieved a laser pistol while the hole was being dug. Professor Robinson and Major West were digging the grave. He stood over then gave the fatal shot to the professor sparing the major a bit briefly only knocking him out. He fired on the Robot, he returned to the Jupiter 2 and brought the women out of the ship claiming that something dreadful had just happened. After they left, Major West got a laser pistol and went after the group. There was a laser pistol shoot out. Mrs Robinson was the first to die protecting her children. Penelope and Judith ran fast as they could with Don behind them." The Robot was silently listening intently to the tale being told. "Smith took the slow route going after him. Some people think he was biding his time waiting for the perfect moment to kill them. They were scared, upset, and confused on what was going on. They didn't know why Smith had snapped but he did. Penelope walked off to the Jupiter 2 thinking that she could sort the problem out her own way. Smith had the courtesy of firing into her back like a coward instead of being faced. Major West and Judith awoke hours later to find out that the young woman was missing. Judith. They returned to the Jupiter 2 with makeshift weapons from their surroundings on the planet. Judith found Smith first. She couldn't do it. How can you shoot someone you considered family? This time, Smith did this face to face shooting her in the chest. Then it was just him and Major West. By the end, Smith had to dig seven graves. Afterwards, he left the planet with the Robot. The Robot was destroyed bringing Smith back to Earth."
"You think that's what happened," Anti-matter Robot said.
"Yeah," Franklin said.
"No evidence," Anti-matter Robot said.
"Professor Robinson's journal is the evidence," Franklin said.
"That is not evidence," Anti-matter Robot said. "That is not hard concrete evidence!"
"It got him convicted," Franklin said. "That is evidence enough."
"What is the real story?" Anti-matter Robot asked.
"That is the story," Franklin said.
"Negative, the real story that he has stuck to since arriving," Anti-matter Robot said.
"The Robinsons were burned alive before his eyes and he couldn't do a thing about it," Franklin said, watching the bobbed head lower. "Can you believe that? He expected everyone to believe that when we didn't have proof."
"I will not miss this opportunity at redemption, Franklin West," Anti-matter Robot replied. "I killed a good man and I will save a good man!"
"Keep telling that to yourself," Franklin said. "A goody two shoes can't be good on both sides of the mirror."
"Evil is always present," The Robot said. "We have a choice to go through with it. I am trying to good and that is not exactly easy!" he bobbed his head up. "I believe he is capable of doing good as I am."
"Why are you not with the anti-matter Robinsons?" Franklin asked.
"I have fulfilled my function," Anti-matter robot replied. "I was returning to Earth in the space pod when I fell into a anomaly. I was rescued years later covered in rust. I provided A'sch'emy with a means to the very same machinery that brought you from Earth to this station."
"You made the transporter," Franklin said.
"I designed it," Anti-matter Robot said. "A grave mistake."
"We have both made mistakes," Franklin said. "I am not here for redemption but I like to get out of here."
"I am capable of operating the transporter," Anti-matter Robot replied.
"And you're going to stay behind," Franklin said.
"Negative," Anti-matter Robot replied. "I will leave after setting it up for total destruction. This station will be destroyed with everyone inside including you."
"Hey!" Franklin said. "I am coming with."
"You are not part of the Robinsons," Anti-matter Robot turned away then went toward the doors.
"Now hold on, hold on!" Franklin said. "How can you forgive him so easily? After he killed everyone? Even Will for crying out loud!"
The anti-matter Robot wheeled toward the man coming to a stop in front of the barrier.
"I last saw my counterpart free and unrestrained in the cavern, therefor, it is not hard to process that the Robinsons included Doctor Smith into their family unit in your positive-matter world," Anti-matter Robot said. "The Robinsons survival were my top priority. In a sense, they became my family. If Smith was the only survivor of the expedition then it is not hard to believe that positive-matter Robot did all he could to make sure there were survivors during the tragedy that unfolded. That is the logical explanation. And if he did, what you claim he did, positive-matter Robot would find it inside him to forgive Zachary Smith. Because that is what family does."
"Shouldn't being Major West's son automatically put me under the family branch?" Franklin asked.
"Computing," Anti-matter Robot said, then made loud intense clickety clack noises sending Franklin jumping back.
Franklin regained his bearings staring at the simplistic model.
"I did create a opportunity to redeem yourself after all," Franklin shouted over, gesturing toward the anti-matter Robot.
The noises from the anti-matter Robot stopped.
"Affirmative," Anti-matter Robot said. Anti-matter Robot's head bobbed up. "I have a plan!"
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