(Part 5)
by Wayne Eggleston

Aboard the Gemini 12, Major West, Judy and Dr. Smith have revived Professor Robinson, hoping he can help them cross back into their own universe. However, they have just encountered a strange alien hiding in the storage room of the Gemini . . . .

"My name is Kresh," the alien said, speaking from a mouth somewhere behind his long muzzle. "I am an explorer from the planet Lenar." Kresh spoke slowly in a light voice that sounded polite, yet pensive.

John looked him over. "Suppose you tell us just how you got here and what you’ve done to the Gemini," he said.

"I am the lone survivor of a doomed expedition," Kresh answered. "My companions and I were travelling to the planet Argo to study its beautiful jewelled caves. Surely you must have heard of them. They’re quite famous throughout the galaxy. In any case, our ship developed engine trouble and began to break apart. Despite our best efforts, the damage threatened every part of my vessel. We feared all was lost until we spotted your fabulous spaceship on our scanners. I came aboard to seek help, but just as I did so, my beloved ship exploded. All of my shipmates, sad to say, were still aboard." Kresh fell silent and lowered his head in a questionable gesture. John guessed it was a sign of mourning or respect.

Kresh straightened up and continued his story. "At first, I was frightened by the figures I saw inside the glass tubes," he said, gesturing to the freezing tubes. "But I soon realized that this must be a ship on a long range mission, with its crew in hibernation. As much as I am ashamed to admit it, I decided that under the circumstances, a short detour would not adversely effect your mission."

"What kind of detour," John asked. "Just where are we headed?"

"Lenar, of course," Kresh said. "We’re only a few days from there." He looked at Don and Professor Robinson. "My plan was to return your ship to its original course once we arrived at Lenar. All of you would have remained in suspended animation the entire time and would have never known anything had happened at all."

Don spoke up. "But you didn’t plan on the three of us showing up and reviving Professor Robinson. Kind of put a crimp in your plans, didn’t we?"

Kresh raised his arms to John. "You must believe me, sir! I meant absolutely no harm to you or your family. I never so much as touched the controls to the hibernation system. Once we had reached Lenar, I was going to have our top scientists re-calculate your original course and set you back on your way."

"I don’t know John," Don said. "That’s a pretty thin story. There’s no way we can know if he’s telling the truth."

Professor Robinson was still rattled by the alien’s sudden appearance. He couldn’t really trust Kresh on such short notice, but he trusted Smith even less. "Let me check the condition of my family in their tubes. If he meant any harm, he could have already done something. He’s been here for nearly two weeks." John walked to the control panel and began checking the instrumentation. Perhaps Kresh had done something to the controls, he thought. That would explain his deteriorating condition.

Dr. Smith watched Professor Robinson, noticing how the man was perspiring and moving sluggishly. Interesting, Smith thought. Robinson seems a bit under the weather. Turning his attention to Kresh, Smith approached the alien.

"My dear Mr. Kresh," he began. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Dr. Zachary Smith, reluctant space-traveller. I’m sure I speak for all of us when I offer my deepest condolences on the loss of your friends and your ship. Unfortunately, such frightful disasters are all too common in the dark, unforgiving wilderness of space. Why, it is nothing short of a miracle that you were able to survive at all!"

"Thank you," Kresh said. "Since the accident, all I can think of is having to tell my companion’s families of their terrible fate. I honestly do not know how I shall manage."

"It must have been frightening for you," Judy said. "All alone on a strange spacecraft."

Don cut in. "It couldn’t have been too much of a shock. You managed to figure out how to navigate the ship. Now, why don’t you tell us how you were able to learn the systems so fast, Kresh?"

"Major West! Spare us your asinine accusations," Smith snapped. "Our friend here is no doubt an experienced space-farer and can adapt to nearly any situation."

"It’s true," Kresh said. "Navigation systems are fairly similar in most spacecraft. This one was really no different from my own."

Smith smiled. "You see? Poor Mr. Kresh is merely a victim of circumstance, as are we all. He poses no threat to anyone. Surely you can put away your weapon."

"Not until I’m sure about his motives," Don said.

"Oh, never mind, Dr. Smith," Judy said. She shot a disapproving glare at Don. "I guess we’ve just got to let him play with his gun."

"That’s real nice," Don muttered.

John sat quietly, looking at the readout on the cryo-system controls. There was the answer, right before his eyes. It wasn’t Kresh’s doing at all. The rest of the crew were fine, but the settings for his resuscitation were all wrong. As a result, his metabolism had been screwed up when he awoke. No wonder he felt drained and ready to pass out. Don had really messed up when he revived him. This fever he felt was only the beginning. Robinson knew if he didn’t get back into cryo-sleep soon, he’d likely fall into a coma. He couldn’t blame Don. His earlier suspicion had been off base; he realized that now. Coming from a different dimension, Don couldn’t have known the correct settings to use. Still, John couldn’t ignore the danger he was in. And what about Kresh, he thought, looking at the alien. If he sent Don, Judy and Smith back into their own universe, could he trust Kresh to keep his word? John hated the thought of placing his family’s lives into the hands of an unknown alien, but what other choice did he have?

"Well, Kresh," he said, turning to face the others. "It looks as if everyone’s in perfect health inside their freezing tubes, so I guess that means you’re telling us the truth."

A broad smile sprang across Dr. Smith’s face. "I knew it! Now, Mr. Kresh, why don’t you tell me all about your spectacular adventures? Don’t leave out any details, especially about those wonderful jewelled caves!" He led Kresh over to the astrogator to talk.

Don holstered his pistol, watching Judy as he did so. She stood next to Professor Robinson, studying the controls. Don could only guess what she was thinking. Lately, it seemed whatever he did was wrong, whatever he said was out of line. Didn’t she realize he was just trying to make the best of a lousy situation? Couldn’t she see he was just trying to keep them all safe until they got back to the Jupiter 2? He didn’t understand her attitude. They’d been in much worse danger than this before and she had always backed him up. Sometimes she’d even laughed at the pranks he’d played on Dr. Smith. Why was she acting this way now?

"So Professor," he said. "Any ideas on getting us back into our own universe? I’m sure they’re pretty worried about us back on the Jupiter." He grinned and looked up at Judy. She just looked away.

John rubbed his forehead. "From what I can figure, my guess is you were brought here by a flare of highly charged antimatter. Now when it happened, the computer recorded everything, so I should be able to use that data to reverse the process."

"What about Kresh?" Don asked. They looked at the alien, who was entertaining Dr. Smith with some wild tale. "I really don’t think we should leave you alone with him, even if his story does check out."

Judy was astounded. "What does it take to get through to you? We just went through this! He’s no threat to anyone."

"Now Judy," John said. "Don’s got a point. However good his intentions, the fact is that Kresh is still an unknown. Something may happen to the ship that he couldn’t handle."

"Sure, he seems friendly enough now, but who knows what he’s planning?" Don said. "What about when we get to Lenar, if that’s where we’re really headed? No offence Professor, but we’ve got a lot more experience dealing with aliens than you. They may seem friendly, but some of them just can’t be trusted. Until Kresh can prove himself, we’ve got to be cautious around him."

John looked up at him. "So what do you propose we do?" he asked.

"Easy," Don said. "We’ll just revive my counterpart over there to help you keep an eye on things." He pointed to the freezing tube containing the Gemini 12’s Don West.

Dr. Smith, enraptured by Kresh’s stories of excitement and adventure, quietly formulated a plan that had sprung to life when Kresh had first mentioned the jewelled caves of Argo. As he settled the details of the plan in his mind, Smith prided himself on his amazing mental abilities. Who else, he thought, could so easily grasp the shifting dynamics of a situation and come up with a brilliant plan that would work to everyone’s benefit? Well, truthfully it would mostly benefit himself, but didn’t he deserve the lion’s share as a reward for his efforts? Of course he did.

"My dear Mr. Kresh," he said. "What a fascinating life you have led! You have been witness to sights and wonders that simply boggle the imagination! Unfortunately, my voyages have been limited to the mundane wanderings of the Robinson family. I’m afraid their idea of adventure is to drift aimlessly from one dreary planet to another."

"Dr. Smith, you surprise me," Kresh said. "The Robinsons seem like a lovely family."

"Oh, they are. They truly are," Smith said. "The entire family are shining examples of human virtues, especially young Will. You haven’t met him, but he has quite a head on his shoulders. Still, however much I admire the dear Robinsons, listening to your exploits has made me realize that perhaps the time has come for us to part ways."

"Really?"

"You see, it has occurred to me that it could be to my considerable advantage to remain in this universe rather than return with the others."

Kresh cocked his head to one side, studying Dr. Smith. "Because the Dr. Smith in this universe is already in prison. If you stayed here, you’d be a free man."

Smith wasn’t expecting Kresh to be so direct, and he gulped in surprise and embarrassment. He quickly recovered, and glanced at the Robinsons. The three of them were looking at the freezing tubes, absorbed in their own conversation.

"I see you don’t mince words, so let me get right to the point," Smith said. "As much as I can sympathize with you on the loss of your ship and your companions, I fear the authorities on Lenar may find your story somewhat suspicious. How convenient that only you were able to escape. What you need, Mr. Kresh, is an alibi; dare I suggest, an accomplice. I can provide that service and much more." Smith looked around. "The Gemini is a marvellous spaceship and close enough in design to our own Jupiter 2 that I could easily help you operate it. You and I could visit those caves you mentioned earlier and help ourselves to some, shall we say, souvenirs. Then, after a short trip to Earth, just long enough to drop me off, this entire fantastic vessel would be yours to do with as you see fit."

"I don’t think they’ll simply hand it over to me so easily," Kresh said, motioning toward the Robinsons.

"Nonsense," Smith countered. "Once Robinson is back in his tube, he’ll be of no concern. They can all just go on sleeping, they won’t mind a bit. I’ve no doubt Judy and Major West will be all too happy to return to the Jupiter 2 without me." He leaned toward Kresh and lowered his voice. "And if they resist, force can always be applied."

"Well! That’s quite a plan, Dr. Smith," Kresh said. "But I think our chances of success would be much greater if we both were armed, don’t you?"

The broad smile once more appeared on Smith’s face. "Absolutely, my dear sir! I see great minds think alike!"

Kresh did his best to imitate Dr. Smith’s grin, but his mouth wasn’t designed to move in that way. Besides, his muzzle would have hidden from view any grin Kresh could have made. Inside, however, he was smiling happily. This is going to be much easier than I originally planned, he thought.

***