The Robot stared out the front window.

"We have to go," came Smith's voice from behind. "I have rigged the power core to explode soon."

The Robot turned toward Smith.

"Can we not leave it?" The Robot asked. "This is our home."

Smith walked forward, the helmet propped in the corner of his arm, appearing to be emotionless.

"This is a graveyard, as it is," Smith said. "Not a home, anymore."

"Could still be," The Robot said.

"No need to fear. . . ." Smith started to say, but couldn't finish it. "It is just you and me, dear old friend."

The Robot's head lowered.

"I don't want to go," The Robot said.

Smith had a sigh coming toward the Robot.

"I don't want to go either but it is painful as it is," Smith said.

The Robot was silent.

"All there is a reminder of a life that we have lived," Smith said.

"A great life," The Robot said.

"A life that we shared with people," Smith said, fondly.

"People that we loved deeply," The Robot added.

Smith looked toward the small black tv set from across looking at it as though it were playing a video.

"All those sacrifices," Smith started.

Smith looked around scanning the scenery turning away from the Robot.

"All those small victories to live again, safe and secure, and all those fantastic escape that we made . . ." Smith said. "It was the golden years. Our golden years as a family." Smith came to a stop by the elevator placing his hand onto the rail then flicked off a small collection of dust. He slowly raised his head turning his attention toward the Robot. "Those years are over," he rubbed his thumb and index finger against each other then smoothed out the side of his silver and orange uniform. "We have outstayed our welcome here. "

The Robot came toward the hatch door.

"I wish we had more time with them," The Robot said.

Smith approached the Robot.

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way," Smith had a small smile looking off toward the cock pit seats. "and we did."

Smith turned his attention on to the Robot and placed the dark helmet on making it clasp on with a single click.

"It was fun," the Robot said. "While it lasted."

Smith pressed on the button to the side as the Robot drew closer toward him.

"Indeed," Smith agreed, looking toward the Robot. "Here is to five hundred years."

With a single click, the hatch door was open and Smith grabbed hold onto the Robot sucked out from the Jupiter 2. There was silence from deck to deck. Not a sound was being made. Will's room had a bed sheet over a figure laid on the bed that was still out. From a small compartment with open curtains there was a statue of a small monkey resting on it that read 'Greatly missed, Debbie the monkey and Penelope Roberta Robinson'. The Jupiter 2 was no longer full of youth, life, and happiness. The silence was haunting. The storage room held supplies that were waiting to be opened by a member of the family who would never come.

Smith opened his eyes with tears in his eyes watching the Jupiter become a distant specter. It only became obvious when he saw it explode and squeezed his eyes shut tightly hanging on to the Robot passing by a ship that then started to turn around in their direction---

Don bolted up with a pant and sweat dripping down his skin.

"Just a dream," Don said, falling back on to the bed. "Just a bad dream."

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

Will paced back and forth in front of the Jupiter 2 holding on tightly to his right hand from behind his back. Don and Judy were at the deutronium drilling rig manning for the week. Maureen and John looked on from inside the Jupiter 2 watching the boy making a clear line to and from making a long trench by his path. Maureen looked toward John out of concern.

"It has been thirteen days," Maureen said.

"They just found out it would take longer than they thought, darling," John said.

"And they haven't bothered to tell us that Don was right," Maureen said.

"They are too proud to admit it," John said. "I would be."

Maureen raised a brow.

"For a hot second," John added.

"One of us should tell him," Maureen said.

"I already told him Karu was only here for the silver," John said. "And wasn't interested in being his friend. He can wait another few days."

"It has been two weeks since Karu," Maureen said. "He can handle this."

"Part of me is scared that telling him means that Doctor Smith is really gone," John said.

Maureen was silent turning her attention toward the boy while holding on to the drying rag.

"So am I," Maureen said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "John, you have to."

John looked toward Maureen then nodded.

"I have to," John agreed.

John walked away from Maureen then went toward the doorway coming down the path leading up toward the Jupiter 2.

Maureen watched John come to Will's side making him stop in his tracks looking toward him then toward the place where the space elevator would be.

Will returned his attention toward John.

Maureen watched the two in discussion.

Don had been angry in the last few days as though, he too, knew after the tenth day that Smith wasn't coming back. She watched Will's shoulders slump and lower his head. She watched Will have a small nod wiping his sleeve against his nose then looked up toward John then run past him and the Robot bobbed his head up then chased after the young boy while John just watched him leave the campsite.

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

"Doctor Sakaar--"

Sakaar held a finger up.

"Now the drop off can be done," Sakaar said, lowering the finger.

"Was it necessary not to tell them?" Hathoway asked.

"About what?" Sakaar turned toward the nurse.

"You are fully aware what I am talking about," Hathoway folded her arms.

"What was there to tell?" Sakaar asked.

"That 'oh, you can find your doctor at the last place he was with the child and the machine at any time'," Hathoway said. "That is cruel of you."

"The last few cycles have been nothing but making sure his little box is sealed and can function like a human," Sakaar said. "You have been off the last few weeks so you weren't here to watch the trial run. You weren't here to see how we made sure that all the werewolf bugs were out. Watching him constantly."

Sakaar faced the patient across from the view screen that continued to show sulking on.

"We couldn't return him until we were sure that he was ready," Hathoway's stare didn't waver on Sakaar. "In the last fifteen cycles, I am certain that he is ready. You know what would have been cruel? Letting him out with bugs to rejoin the family then for him to find out what he had done. I have been thinking how to best initiate finishing process and this, so far, is the best case scenario it can go."

"But why?" Hathoway said."Why not tell them in the last few cycles?"

Sakaar faced Hathoway.

"This time, we did simulations," Sakaar said. "I didn't like them."

"You didn't like a happy family?" Hathoway asked, appalled.

"He would have asked and been given a honest answer," Sakaar said. "He never asks in this one."

"How sure are you on this simulation?" Hathoway asked. "How can you trust a computer?"

"The simulation indicated you would be this way on this one," With that Hathoway walked off from the bridge in silence.

Hathoway came over to the series of diamonds on the console then looked toward the patient.

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

"Will!"

Will stopped in his tracks then turned in the source of the voice.

"Wait up!"

Will wiped what remained of a tear with his dark yellow stained sleeve.

"Did mom and dad send you?"

Penny shook her head.

"I sent myself," she grew a smile. "Besides, you need a friend." Then she pointed over her shoulder. "Besides, Robot is trying to catch up with you."

Will looked over Penny's shoulder.

"How long has he been chasing me?" Will asked.

"A hour," Penny said. "I brought some bags for rock collecting if you like."

"Rock collecting?" Will's voice cracked.

"And decide which one is the best," Penny took out a unique rock from the sack. She had three sets of sacks hanging off her shoulder. "Doctor Smith liked to do that with us when he was bored."

"He did," Will said, with a laugh then took the sack from Penny's outstretched hand.

"Where should we start from?" Penny asked.

Will looked off.

"I was thinking the place we were headed toward when I tripped and fell into a cosmic sand pit," Will said. "It is the best place to spend the afternoon."

"It is," Penny nodded her head. "He is not gone long as we remember him."

"We should wait for Robot to catch up," Will said.

"We will," Penny said.

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

The siblings and the Robot made their way down the familiar yet almost quite fatal path.

Will was numb walking along the path.

Will had to stop once every so often to sit down a rock and Penny sat down beside him as he regained his bearings. The overall pain that he was in emotionally was something that she can understand. He was the one closest to Smith of everyone. She could only guess how he felt. She can imagine the pain if it were Debbie who had unexpectedly passed away after being carefully watched. Will got back up to his feet the moved toward his sister's side and they resumed their trek through the desert terrain. It was strange to walk this path with only his sister and the Robot as company.

The Robot stopped in his tracks then bobbed his head up.

"Warning, warning!" The Robot announced, causing the children to stop in his tracks. "There is a light beam being used!"

"The light beam was destroyed months ago, Robot," Will said.

The Robot shifted toward the boy.

"This is from a spaceship," the Robot clarified.

"So they never left," Will said to himself.

"There is one alien spaceship leaving the planet," the Robot reiterated.

"And they just left one of their own behind?" Penny said. "They must be hurt!"

Penny ran off ahead of Will with one hand clinging on to the sack and the other hand free closed into a fist.

Will looked off in the direction that Penny had gone.

If they took a left turn they would have avoided all together the same valley that lead into the area that had unexpected passages leading into areas of land with tall blades of grass, small bodies of water, and trees that seemed to be thriving quite well then there was path ways leading into familiar desert area. A area with the unexpected cosmic pits. How Smith had quickly returned when the area was at least a hour away from the campsite truly showed to the boy that Smith wasn't as out of shape as he had demonstrated time and time again.

Moments before Will had completely sunk into the cosmic sand pit, his father's hand grabbed onto his leg and yanked him out with help from the Robot tugging them all out of the cosmic sand pit. He could remember how furious his father was at the doctor after falling in with Don, by accident, from what was apparently another alien lifeform that blended in quite well with the desert scenery. Will could still remember the terrified expression from Smith who turned around and fled the scene. The last time that Will had really seen his friend in public was being kind and courageous at the door to the Space Academy.

"Do not let your friend be without his ring for long, child," Hathoway's voice came from around Will. "It is very important that Zachary Smith never be without it."

Will looked around.

"Without it, something truly awful will happen to those around him . . . Be careful out there."

The presence from Will's mind lifted leaving him alone.

"He is not gone," Will said. "He is not gone!"

Will ran into the valley.

"Penny!" Will shouted, kicking sand in the air from behind him. "He is back!" he caught up with her placing his hands on her shoulder. "He is back!"

"Who is back, Will?" Penny asked, as the Robot shifted toward them.

"Doctor Smith!" Will exclaimed, then ran ahead of her.

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

Smith stood in the path looking around for the boy and the Robot rather confused. One moment, they were walking down the path with the Robot tagging along then the next moment the two of them had left him and he was alone. Being surrounded by silence rather than the sound of the robot's treads rolling over the rock joining the nose of shoes walking on small pebbles that were in the path. Smith looked around in panic with thoughts racing.

Were they transported away while he was paying attention to the path that was ahead of him with a delightful hum?

Humming while they vanished on his watch into the hands of some evil wanting alien?

The professor wasn't going to like what Smith was going to share.

If they were never going to come back---

The prospect of a permanent exile would lead to his demise.

And he didn't want that to happen a bit.

Conundrum; return to the camp or go out and search for the vile aliens who took his companions.

The major would never believe a word that he would say regarding the matter.

"Doctor Smith! Doctor Smith!"

Smith whipped toward the children with a jump then was tackled by the siblings to the ground before he could get out a word.

The Robot dutifully rolled toward the scene in the background.

"William, Penelope!" Smith exclaimed. "What is the matter with the two of you scaring me like that? You have given me a fright," he sent them aside then placed his hands onto his hips looking down on them. "Explain yourselves. Is Karu playing another of his tricks?" He looked up toward the sky visibly afraid. "Is he back?"

Penny and Will exchanged a glance then back toward Smith.

"He isn't," Penny said.

Smith looked down toward them.

"What is the last you remember?" The Robot asked, coming to a stop.

"William, you remember," Smith said.

"Not much," Will said.

"You were pouting," Smith said.

"Yeah, I remember that!" Will said, nodding his head.

"Because you weren't given something to do by your father," Smith said. "I decided to take you rock hunting," Penny and Will had a nod in realization as though realizing what Sakaar had done. "Now, did you come across a alien that made you non-existent for a matter of minutes under my careful watch?"

"Yes!" They replied at once.

"It was a painful few weeks," Will said. "Trapped in another dimension."

"We tackled the alien and got ourselves back," Penny said.

"So seeing you reacting to us was the best thing possible!" Will said.

"It is true, Doctor Smith," the Robot said. "It has been months to us including the rest of the Jupiter 2 crew."

"Except for me," Smith said.

"Affirmative," the Robot said.

"Poor children," Smith said. "Alas, it is over," he placed his hands onto their shoulders. "And I expect the others are free as well?"

"They were right behind us," Penny said, nodding her head in unison with Will.

"Excellent," Smith said, taking his hands off their shoulders.

"Let's go collect some rocks," Will said, then began to walk on past Smith.

Smith grasped onto the boy's shoulder with a firm hold.

"Not that way," Smith said, Penny observed a haunted but disturbed look on the doctor's face. Smith pointed toward another passageway. "This way."

Will shifted toward the doctor.

"What is the matter, Doctor Smith?" Will asked, concerned.

Smith shook his head.

"I don't know," Smith said, trying to shake the feeling of bad deja vu off his mind. "But I get the feeling this way is better."

"Then we will take that way," Will said, nodding his head and off they went taking a different path.

"Here is your sack," Penny said, handing the bag to the older man.

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

The deutronium was gathering up nicely from the drilling rig. The drilling rig was on its regular scheduled pause in the afternoon for the couple. Don was seated in the chariot beside Judy between the large device that separated them. He was looking off in the distance when from behind the Chariot Smith walked on past it lacking the children and the Robot tagging from behind him with his eyes on the hill set across. Smith went over the hill singing to himself happily going down the hill until he was no longer to be seen but easily heard.

"Don," Judy said. "You haven't talked to me since three days ago."

Don looked toward her.

"What is there to talk about?" Don asked.

"How you are feeling for starters," Judy said.

Don turned his attention off with a shake of his head.

"I don't feel the mood to talk about it," Don said.

Judy frowned, her attention still set square on him.

"All of us are hurting," Judy said. "Not just you. If we are going to move past this then we have to do it together. As a family."

Don's eyes shifted from her toward the window.

"What is there to talk about that Smith was admitted to a space psychiatric facility because his mind is gone?" Don asked. "That it could have been avoided all together had I not made the bet?" He looked toward Judy shaking his head. "I don't think I can move on from that."

"What was the last thing you told him before he became the mask?" Judy asked.

"Hope I don't see him at the campsite at the end of the week," Don said.

"The last thing I said to Doctor Smith was that I would give it a try," Judy said. "Playing chess with him."

"You playing chess with him?" Don asked, raising his brows. "No, I can't see that happening."

"I never did give it a shot playing chess against him," Judy said.

"You would have won," Don said.

"I don't think so," Judy said, shaking her head.

"You are a intelligent woman, Judy," Don said. "You would have."

"How flattering," Judy said, then they laughed.

"Your last words with him were better than mine," Don said.

"Technically, it was 'later, Doctor Smith'," Judy said. "Later that would never come."

"If I had the chance," Don said. "I like my last words on a better note with him," he looked off toward the window then grew a bemused smile looking off toward her. "Now that would have never happened unless I was given the opportunity."

Judy nodded in return.

"I can still hear him singing," Judy said. "Distantly," she looked off. "but happy."

"Is it strange to say I do too?" Don asked.

"Not at all," Judy said, her attention returning on to him then shook her head. "Not at all."

"Jupiter 2 to the Chariot!" John's voice came over urgently from the radio.

"Chariot here!" Don replied. "What is the matter?"

"It's about Smith," John said. "Remember the cosmic sand pit that we fell into?"

"Yes," Don leaned forward.

"Doctor Sakaar dropped him off in the valley across from there," John said. Judy bolted out of the chariot. "He is currently under the impression that we were somewhere else for a few weeks."

"Alright," Don said, watching the younger woman run around the Chariot toward the source of Smith's singing. "I will tell Judy that."

Judy went over the hill then slid down frozen by the sight of Smith hard at work on the statue. What rocks that there had been before alongside the stone were no longer there except a large body of dark brown rock and light brown branches surrounding the area. It was hard to tell that anything had crash landed over there at any point. What remains of Parsafoot's blood was no longer in the line of sight. Smith was picking away at the statue.

"Dilly dally went the sunflower seed as it flew in the air,"

Don came from behind her.

"Floating in the sky from point D to E,"

Smith was singing away.

"Dreaming of a place to land on,"

Clink clink went the tool against the surface.

"Dilly dally went the sunflower seed as it flew in the air!"

Smith moved to the other side of the statue keenly working out the kinks that weren't supposed to be standing out. Chips of stone fell to the ground while some flew over his shoulder. The figure wore one long fabric with a outstretched hand. The face looked extremely familiar to Don. Abruptly, Smith dropped his tools, tossed the tarp over the statue, then pressed himself against the covered statue with a hand on his chest with a startled shout.

"Major, Judy," Smith said, then had a sigh in relief. "It's just you."

"Ones and only," Don said

"Why are you looking at me so odd," Smith asked. "Ah right," he clasped his hands together. "you were in another dimension that was set apart from this."

"Yes," Judy said.

"You gave me quite the scare," Smith said, then tilting his head. "Are you quite alright?" he slowly approached her with his face etched in concern. "Any lingering side effects from the visit?"

"Not that I am aware of," Judy said.

"We haven't seen you moving in a long time," Don said, then added, "Moving."

"And I am still surprised that your back is not aching from that," Judy said.

"Consider it a blessing from the heavens," Smith said, "I am not complaining about my delicate back's choice to be cooperative," Smith picked up the edge of the bag from beside a temple support. "Ah," he rubbed the center of his back. "My delicate back has just decided to ache."

Judy picked up the brown sack then handed it to Smith.

"Now?" Don asked, suspiciously with a strange look. "Is it making you get taller?"

Smith turned toward the man rather appalled.

"It isn't that painful, Major," Smith replied. "The last time I became a giant there was nothing to be felt."

"Okay, I didn't miss that after all," Don said, then walked off.

"Hold on," Smith said. "You spent weeks in a dimension where everyone was still!" he caught up with the major. "Do you really think you're alright from that?" he cocked a gray brow at the major. "You were trained for many things but that wasn't in the book."

"I wasn't the one who stuck around you much around anyway," Don said, then walked away from the doctor.

"Give him time," Judy said, coming toward Smith's side. "and he will talk."

Smith looked toward Judy.

"And you, too," Smith said, eying at Judy.

Judy was about to say something but closed her mouth then reopened it a moment later.

"Tomorrow, Doctor Smith," Judy said, then walked off with a visibly concerned Doctor Smith looking off toward the couple.

Smith turned his attention toward the covered art with a proud smile of his own toward it.

The camera back tracked to reveal the chariot in front of the duetronium drilling rig with the small hill leading over with the couple coming back inside with relief on their faces. Don grabbed onto to the radio receiver then began to make the call back. The scenery began to melt away changing in small details. The ground turned to black with green peeking out of the dirt. The chariot vanished from the scene. The small hill was replaced by a mound of growing lettuce with rows of bushes behind it replacing the figure and the artwork. The blue sky was a slightly darker one with light illuminating from across.

The camera panned back to reveal Gampu wearing a gas mask over the stench from the soil while in a wheelchair. Gampu turned the wheelchair away then went out the doorway after waving his hand in front of the panel and took the mask off placing it into his lap. Gampu looked toward the door.

"Later never came," Gampu said, shaking his head, then wheeled away.

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

Stone entered the academy from the partially restored docking bay but the first person that he was greeted by was Gampu.

"Commander," Gampu said. "I am pleased to inform you that you will be handing out the diplomas."

"No, you're not pleased," Stone said.

"I am," Gampu said. "I am officially not on the command roster."

"Do they know?" Stone asked.

"Not at all," Gampu said, shaking his hand. "If I told them, and only them, nothing would have changed in how they handled the situation." he lowered his hand on to the arm rest. "You are now a full fledged Commander."

Gampu handed a padd to Stone that felt heavier in the man's hands than it did normally.

"You are going to stay?" Stone asked, looking down toward the man.

"No," Gampu shook his head. "I am not."

"What do I tell them?" Stone asked.

"That you're filing in for me upon my request," Gampu said. "I am taking a ride with my dear friend Marcia Giddings to Planetary Command."

"With me!" Peepo's voice came from behind. "If you're leaving the academy then so am I!"

"You are a vacuum toy when it comes to another ship, dear old friend," Gampu said, looking over toward his right where the manu-droid came to a stop beside him. "They need you for the academy."

"I sent my resignation immediately after you did," Peepo said, his child voice replaced by the more adult and familiar deep voice. "As your brother says, humans rely too much on machines. It's about time they take control."

"Ah, Robot," Stone said. "You have aged very well."

"Affirmative," Peepo said. "How was the battle?"

"It went just the way I wanted it," Stone said.

"Peepo," Gampu said. "there are lots of parts here that Marcia's ship may not have."

"I have everything that I need," Peepo said.

"Except your original shell," Stone said. "whatever happened to it?"

"That is a story for another time," Gampu said. "I got him out before losing him forever."

"I really wish I could have brought Dragos to justice," Stone said, shaking his head. "This victory doesn't feel as right."

"Speaking of victories," Gampu said, then handed a device to Stone. "I came across a fellow who insisted from behind bars on the Galarian system that he was Dragos and his friend Baktok were being held captive. Recently got out of stasis as it turned out. Requested for me, specifically, and was very well aged than how you last saw him. This call will set them free but into your custody."

Stone's eyes looked down toward Gampu.

"How long have you known?" Stone asked.

"After the twins came into my life," Gampu said. "You may be angry as you like but it stopped Dragos for good."

Stone looked down toward the device then back toward Gampu.

"You will never be able to serve again," Stone said. "Not as a teacher."

"I know," Gampu said.

"What are you going to do after this?" Stone asked.

"We still have a lot of learning to do out there," Gampu said.

"A lot," Peepo added.

"It could turn out differently than what we all expect," Gampu said. "I could be exiled for twenty-six years from the academy and from serving in the federation," he had a small smile. "Lenient. If they are ready to forgive sabotage."

"Maybe," Stone said. "That would be a miracle."

"Something I don't count on happening," Gampu said. "But this happened." he twirled his finger in a circle then leaned back into the chair. "Who knows what is next out there?" he had a shrug at the question. "It could be kind being out there again for me and him."

"Kind is a stretch," Peepo added, earning delighted laughter from the older man who patted on the manu-droid's head then looked up toward the acting commander.

"Goodbye, Commander Stone," Gampu said.

"Goodbye, Commander Gampu," Stone said, reaching his hand out.

Gampu reached his hand out then grasped on to the man's hand and shook it.

"And good luck," Gampu said.

Stone let go of the man's hand then walked on past them.

"We did good," Peepo said, as Gampu wheeled over to the doorway.

"A lot of good," Gampu said, waving his hand in front of the console. "Let's hope that the officers won't get drawn in to my court martial."

"You know Christopher Gentry will!" Peepo said.

"That is what I am concerned about," Gampu said, as the door opened then looked on with a smile toward the small seeker that was sleeker and more agile held on by a docking ramp. A woman with graying hair came out then leaned against it looking on expectantly toward Gampu. "Oh, Marcia."

Gampu's commander demeanor was swept away exiting the corridor then Peepo looked around.

"Goodbye, Jason," Peepo said, then floated off into the docking bay. "Wait for me!"

The door closed behind Peepo.