• "Dr. Smith, I really don't think this is such a good idea!" Will shouted, hurrying to catch up with him as they walked down the alien hallways. "Dad said that we all should stay near the Jupiter 2. He's afraid there's something dangerous on this planet."

    "William," he said, in a tone of clipped impatience, "your father's knowledge about this place leaves much to be desired."

    "Well, you don't know anything about it either," Will replied.

    "I happen to know that this is a place of great importance. Riches, power--who knows what we may find here?"

    "I don't think I want to find out! Look, Dr. Smith, that alien ship was leaving in an awful hurry when we arrived. I don't think we should go any further."

    Zachary Smith drew his head up with an expression of deep indignation, and continued walking.

    Will sighed and shook his head. "What's gotten into him, Robot?" he asked, turning to look at the Robot B-9, who had accompanied them.

    "I am afraid it may be my fault, Will Robinson," the Robot said. "What little information I was able to find about this place only was that it was very important to aliens who have been here in the past. Dr. Smith assumes there is something of material worth hidden here."

    "Yeah, he would." The boy shook his head. "Come on, we better follow him."

    When they caught up to Dr. Smith, he was examining a locked door.

    "Ah, good!" he said, when he noticed them. He pointed a finger imperiously at the Robot. "You, come and open this door for me."

    "I would not recommend that, Dr. Smith," he replied, moving forward to join him. "Such situations have not been known to end well."

    Dr. Smith rolled his eyes. "Spare me the history lesson, you mechanical misery! Open the door!"

    The Robot turned towards Will. "I would like to have it noted that I do this under protest."

    He nodded.

    The Robot turned his attention to the door; after a few moments of work, it slid open.

    "There, Dr. Smith, I have done it. Are you satisfied?"

    "Excellent," he breathed, peering past the door. "At last, we will see what treasures are contained within..."

    After several seconds had passed, Will asked, "If you're too afraid to go in, Dr. Smith..."

    "Nonsense, my boy! It's just that after all of this walking...my back, it's in dreadful shape... I need to rest for a moment..."

    Will skeptically watched him lean against the Robot for support. "Are you feeling better, yet?"

    "No, not yet... I'm afraid this journey took too much out of me." Dr. Smith shook his head. "Dear William, if you would do your old friend a favor, and just...step through the door for me?"

    The boy rolled his eyes, but crossed through the doorway cautiously.

    "What do you see?" Dr. Smith called. "Is it gold?"

    "I don't see anything yet, Dr. Smith! It's just another hallway."

    "Well, keep looking!" he encouraged, moving to the edge of the door and looking in after him.

    Will reached a corner and started to turn, pausing to glance back at the others.

    Dr. Smith motioned for him to keep going.

    "I do not like this, Dr. Smith," the Robot said, as Will disappeared from sight.

    "Nonsense! You heard him; it's just like the rest of this building."

    "Still, I have a feeling that--"

    "Dr. Smith! Robot!" Will's alarmed cries echoed back to them. "There's something alive in here!"

    "Oh dear," Dr. Smith said, starting to back up.

    "Dr. Smith! Robot!"

    "This was your idea," the Robot reminded him, pushing Dr. Smith forward.

    When they reached Will, he was holding himself flat against the wall of the hallway, peering into the room beyond.

    The aliens were crawling all over the walls of the room. They were a pale yellow in color, very small, but with tentacles and tendrils giving them a repulsive appearance.

    Dr. Smith sagged against the wall, suddenly looking very faint.

    "What are they, Robot?" Will whispered.

    "I do not know yet."

    "Good heavens!" Dr. Smith cried, as some of them began to move towards the hallway. "They've seen us!"

    Will hurriedly backed away from the doorway as they got closer.

    "Shoo!" Dr. Smith cried, waving his hands at them ineffectually. "Get away from me!"

    "Danger!" the Robot shouted, waving his arms in the air. "Danger! Alien life form is hostile and incredibly dangerous!"

    "Shut up and do something, you babbling bag of bolts!" Dr. Smith screamed, grabbing Will and holding him in front of him.

    One of the aliens leaped towards Will, latching onto him.

    Dr. Smith screamed in terror, dropped the boy, and turned to flee.


    TO BE CONTINUED...