(Part 3)
by Wayne Eggleston

Accidentally thrown into a parallel universe, Dr. Smith, Judy and Major West have found themselves aboard the Gemini 12, a ship very much like the Jupiter 2. As they watch Don try and revive the Professor Robinson of this strange dimension, they are unaware that they themselves are being watched by someone within the shadows . . .

Judy stood, arms crossed, watching Don work at the controls. She looked away from the freezing tubes, afraid to see the figures within. The sight of her sleeping double filled her with a horror that was slowly creeping throughout her entire body. Unable to control herself, she began shivering.

"Dear girl, what is the matter with you?" Dr. Smith asked. "You look as if you're freezing."

"Don't say that!" she snapped. Don stopped what he was doing and glanced at her. Judy rubbed her forehead. "I'm sorry, Dr. Smith, I just can't stand it anymore!"

Now Don came to her side. "Judy, what's wrong?" he asked.

She didn't want to tell him. He'd probably think she was being silly. The idea of her being disturbed by her sleeping duplicate sounded so childish, and yet she still shivered at the thought. "It's them!" she cried, pointing to the freezing tubes. "I can't stand the sight of them! Seeing them makes me feel like some kind of ghoul!" She grabbed Don and fell into his arms, weeping.

Don was stunned at her feelings, and for once, even Dr. Smith had nothing to say.

* * *

John Robinson stepped off the lift and looked at his wife. Maureen was in the galley, making some coffee, a behaviour which had almost become ritualistic for her. Whenever she was anxious, she busied herself in the galley making coffee or on the computer creating new uniforms for the family. John had always thought it ironic that someone with a brilliant mind like Maureen found such comfort in menial tasks. He was relieved that he could bring her some positive news.

"Darling, I've got some good news," he said. "The robot thinks that they could still be alive. They've been pulled into some alternate dimension, but there's a very good chance that they're all right."

Maureen set down the coffee pot and smiled at him. "Oh thank goodness," she said. "I can't tell you how afraid I was. I didn't know how we could go on without them. Even Dr. Smith, with all his problems. It just wouldn't be the same without him. But John, how can we get them back?"

"I'm not sure, but I'm going to study Will's experiment to see if we can open a doorway to where they are."

Maureen looked at John. "Now John, please don't be too hard on Will. You know he feels responsible for all of this."

"I know it was an accident, but he's old enough to realize that his mistakes can have dreadful consequences for everyone. He got careless. I want him to understand what that could cost us." John said. He cocked his head to one side, grinning slightly at her. "We could use an extra set of hands in the lab, if you're willing. It'll be just like the old days."

Despite everything, she managed to smile at the memory of their early courtship in university labs. "I'll be right there," she said. "I've got to tell Penny the news." She kissed her husband and watched him as he stepped into the lab.

Penny was crying on her bed when Maureen knocked on the door. Hearing her mother, she wiped her tears and sat up. "Come in," she said weakly.

"Oh, dear," Maureen sat down next to her and wrapped her arm around the girl's shoulders. "I've just spoken to your father. Everything's going to be all right. He thinks all three of them are just fine, but in some kind of alternate universe."

Looking up at her mother, Penny gulped back a sob. "I was just thinking of the last time I saw Judy. It was this evening, just after dinner. We got in an argument over some silly old thing and I told her I hated being cramped up in this room with her. I said I wished I didn't have a sister so I could have a room of my own."

Maureen looked at the girl with sympathetic eyes. She realized how hard it must be for a young, teenage girl to be sharing a small stateroom with her older sister. Because of Dr. Smith, they all were a little more cramped than they normally would be.

"After she left to go up to the main deck with Don, I pretended that she didn't exist and I had the whole room all to myself. And it felt wonderful," Penny said. Her tears were returning and her voice became cracked with emotion. "But now, all I want is to have her back. I don't care if we have to share a room! Honest, I don't! I just want Judy back." She fell weeping into her mother's arms.

Maureen gently stroked Penny's hair. "There, there dear. Everything's going to be all right. It's going to be all right." She knew she was talking as much to herself as to Penny.

After Maureen left to help John and Will in the lab, Penny stepped out of her room. She slowly walked over to the auxiliary control station. Bored, she opened the panels and looked out into space. Watching the stars always made her relax, especially when she was anxious. She hoped the view would take her mind off everything. As she gazed out into space, something caught her eye. Very far away, she saw something sparkling. Penny leaned forward and looked harder.

"Oh my," she exclaimed. "It's so beautiful. I can't believe it. A river in space!"

In the lab, the robot was analysing some data when suddenly it stopped. "Attention Professor Robinson!" it said. "My sensors indicate an astronomical phenomena within visual range of the spacecraft."

John looked at the robot. "Does it have any bearing on what happened earlier?"

"Negative. This is an unrelated phenomena," the robot said.

"Never mind then, we don't have time to worry about that now," John said. "We've got to get this experiment figured out."

The robot turned it's attention away from the mysterious "river" and continued evaluating the data from Will's experiment. As the Jupiter 2 moved on through space, Penny watched the river grow fainter and fainter until finally it was no longer visible.

* * *

Don pulled away from Judy. "You know, these controls are different from the Jupiter's. It's taking a little longer to wake up Professor Robinson then I thought it would." He thought that by changing the subject, he would calm Judy's nerves. "Hope I'm doing it right."

She looked at him. "Why do you even need his help? Can't you just flick some switches and get us out of here?" She couldn't understand why he was just standing there.

"It's not that simple," Don said.

Smith interrupted. "What he means, dear girl, is that he has no idea what he is doing, or how to get us home. Isn't that correct, Major?"

"I've had just about enough out of you," Don snapped. "Stay out of this Smith or so help me I'll . . ."

"Stop it!" Judy yelled. "Leave Dr. Smith alone. It's not his fault we're here."

"Oh yeah? Well why don't you just tell me whose fault it is?" Don asked. He couldn't believe the way she acted sometimes. No matter how abusive Smith was, she always jumped to his defence. Her whole family was like that. So many times, Professor Robinson had stopped him from giving Smith what he really deserved. They were so quick to forgive all his trouble making. Don just didn't understand it. Sometimes Smith made him so angry he wanted to punch the wall.

Judy glared at him. "It's nobody's fault, Don. It was an accident!" She stomped off to the storage room.

Smith watched her leave, then turned and grinned at Don. "What a marvellous dream this is!"

Don turned on Smith. "When are you going to get it through your thick head that this isn't a dream?"

Despite his conviction that he was dreaming, Dr. Smith shrank away from Don's anger. "Calm yourself, Major! You wouldn't want to display any signs of hostility in front of the dear girl."

"You're just using her to save your own neck."

"Perhaps, but nevertheless, I'd highly advise you to . . ." Dr. Smith's eyes suddenly widened in shock. "Good heavens! Look!"

Wheeling around, Don saw Professor Robinson's freezing tube sliding open. A quiet buzzer sounded and Robinson's body began listing back and forth as he slowly awoke.

"Smith! Help me with him!" Don said. The two men caught Professor Robinson, keeping him from sprawling on the floor.

John put a gloved hand to his head. He didn't feel well. "What's happening?" he mumbled. "Where am I?"

Inside the storage room, Judy was looking for some blankets. She couldn't stand the sight of the figures inside the tubes any longer, so she was just going to cover them up. Glancing around, she noticed the cluttered state of the room. Boxes of supplies were strewn all over the floor and several blankets were clumped in a corner almost as if someone was using them for a nest. "Who could have done this?" she whispered. "There isn't anyone in here, is there?" Slowly, she looked around the room. The columns and support arches cast deep shadows against the curved walls. Shadows capable of concealing someone or something. She peered into the gloomy spaces behind the rows of spare equipment. All she saw was darkness. Suddenly she heard a low shuffling noise followed by quiet, wheezy breathing. She froze with fear. "Who's in here?" she managed to ask.

The only response was silence.

John Robinson looked at Don West. "How'd you get out of the freezing tube?" His glance fell on Dr. Smith. "Who in blazes are you? What are you doing on this ship?"

Before Don or Smith could answer, Robinson turned and saw the other cyro-tubes, including the one containing the other Don West. Quickly he looked back at Don. "Just what's going on here? You've better start explaining mister."

Oh boy, Don thought. This is going bad already. "Now take it easy John, I know this looks really strange, but try to relax."

Smith started getting nervous. "Never mind the chit-chat Major; tell him who we are! Make him understand," he said.

"I'm Major Don West from the Jupiter 2, a spaceship just like this one, but in another dimension. The stranger here is Dr. Zachary Smith, professional troublemaker."

"Spare us the editorial comments and get to the point!" Smith snapped.

John suddenly glared at Dr. Smith.

Don said. "I know this is a lot to take in right now, but there's been an accident in our universe and we ended up here."

Judy dashed out of the storage room, frightened. "There's something in there!" she shouted. Seeing Professor Robinson, she ran toward him. "Dad!"

John backed away, raising his arms to her. "Stay back, all of you!" He reached behind a console and pulled out a laser pistol. "I want to know what you've done with my family!" Robinson was still quite groggy, but he levelled the pistol at the three of them.

Don pulled Judy behind him. "Whoa, John, take it easy. It's just like I said. I swear. We don't mean any trouble; we just need your help."

John's brow was beaded with sweat and his eyes ached fiercely. He struggled to keep his senses as he held the others at bay. "That can't be true or you wouldn't be with him." He pointed at Smith with the pistol.

"Me?" Smith cried. "Whatever do you mean? I'm as harmless as a fly!" His hands were raised in surrender and he shook with fear as he spoke. "I assure you sir, that the Major is speaking the truth!"

"What do you take me for?" Robinson said. "Everyone knows that Dr. Zachary Smith was caught trying to sabotage the Gemini 11. I want to know how you got out of prison and what you're doing on this ship!"

Don couldn't help but laugh. "Boy, Smith! I guess you're the same no matter what dimension we're in!"

Judy couldn't stand it any longer. "Listen to me, all of you! I'm telling you there's something aboard this ship! In the storage room!"

"Well Miss," John said. "I'm not sure I should listen to you. If the two of you are working with Smith, then you've got to be trouble."

Don had been calculating his chances of disarming Professor Robinson. Back in his own universe, he could probably take John if he got a good start. Here, in whatever world this was, he didn't know how he would fare, but he had to do something. He couldn't let Robinson hold them at gunpoint. Seeing John distracted by Judy, Don jumped at him, knocking him back against the freezing tubes. Robinson lost his grip on the laser and it went sliding across the deck.

Smith pulled Judy in front of him and watched the fight, gasping in fear.

John's fever was still gnawing at him, but he pushed it aside. He had to focus his energy. There would be time to tend to the fever later. He pushed Don away with a foot, regained his balance and lunged at him. Don fell against the astrogator, but rolled to the right as Robinson came flying at him. Both men thudded to the floor, nearly on top of each other.

"Don! Watch out!" Judy screamed.

Robinson scrambled for the pistol, but Don kicked it away. John grabbed him and punched him square in the face. A little dazed, Don pushed Robinson off him and struggled to get to his feet. As he did so, John attacked again, sending him back onto the astrogator. This time, Don's body smacked against the navigational controls.

The Gemini 12 suddenly lurched and began to pitch from side to side. Dr. Smith screamed as he lost his hold on Judy. He fell against one of the pilot's chairs and nearly toppled over onto the control panels. "Help me!" he cried.

"Hold on Dr. Smith!" Judy yelled. She had staggered over to the radio console and was gripping a support beam with all her might. The Gemini rocked back the other way and Judy lost her hold. Out of control, she flew across the deck and smashed into the freezing tube containing the Gemini 12's Don West. She slid around behind the tube and fell into the control units against the wall.

Professor Robinson struggled to get to his feet. He pulled himself up in front of the astrogator and grabbed the directional controls. Fighting the pull of the thrusters, Robinson fired the stabilizing rockets and quickly got the ship under control.

Dr. Smith found himself on hands and knees near the astrogator. "Oh good heavens! I thought we were all going to perish!" he exclaimed. He stood and theatrically brushed himself off.

"Not just yet," Don said. He had grabbed the pistol and was aiming it at Professor Robinson. "Now Professor, we're going to get a few things straight."

* * *