ZSROTU 01 - "The Gambling Machine"

Zachary Smith comes into possession of a golden coin. He translates what is written on it, and finds it leads him to a strange machine.

PRESS CTRL = (EQUALS) TO INCREASE THE PAGE SIZE AND CTRL 0 (ZERO) TO RESET THE PAGE SIZE   Lost In Space      Want to read this in a different language ? Change the TO field to your own country and click the TRANSLATE button after going HERE LOST IN SPACE Zachary Smith - Ruler Of The Universe © January 2017 Written by David Wicker Please do not reprint without permission This will be my new main Tuesday writing until the story is complete. [ CHOOSE A DIFFERENT CHAPTER ] * * * These entries are Rated: EVERYONE THE GAMBLING MACHINE Last week as you recall we left Penny and Dr. Smith searching for alien wildflowers when Penny comes across something strange. "Oh ! Look at that." she says. "What is it ? Is it valuable ?" asked the doctor. Camera turns to show a small gold yet dirty coin in her hand. "No, I don't think so. Here, you can have it." The doctor is affronted, "Really, Penny. If you think I'm just going to take any old grubby thing you dig out of the dirt - but wait ! Is that GOLD ?" Dr. Smith was notorious for always thinking of himself before others and greed was never far behind. "Oh, is it really and honestly gold, Dr. Smith ?" Penny asks with renewed interest. The doctor eyed her shrewdly. It wouldn't do well to say it was because then EVERYONE would want to see it. He scoffs pocketing the coin, "I'm afraid not. It's worthless junk metal, thank you anyway." "Oh, that's a shame." Penny lost interest in the coin and using a pruning tool, pulled up some more colorful flowers. The doctor however is scheming deep in his heart. "Penny, you'll be okay I think. This exertion has put a terrible strain on me - and as you know I have a very delicate back. I think I'll return to the Jupiter Two to have a bit of a lie down. You can carry on though." "Okay, Dr. Smith." Penny says and continues to work in the soil. Dr. Smith walks away, holding his back like he is in pain, but as soon as he is clear of her sight, he is off like a flash back to the Jupiter Two. Fortunately for him the others are out doing chores or they might question why he was in such a hurry. He dashes to the elevator. Clicks the button. A protective and curved cage covers the area of motion and he descends to the next level of the spaceship. Once there he sees his room, dashes in, zips closed the privacy binds and closer examines the coin. "Gold ... " he mutters to himself greedily. "It can only be ! Why back on Earth this might be worth ... oh, but when WILL we ever get back to Earth is the question ? Oh the pain ! The pain ..." and he clutched his head in mock agony. Then he flopped down on the bed still holding the coin. Despondently he glances at it to see there is writing on the back. He jumps up and holds a light to it. "Why that's simple Latin !" he says, and then translates slowly . "Rub - me - for - a - good - time." His head jerks back, "Well I never ! What is this, passage fare to the baths of Rome ? I'll have none of that ! ... yet ... still." And curiosity overcomes his distate of the joking words, and he does rub it. The coin suddenly jumps out of his grip and starts to spin on the floor. Faster and faster ! "Oh dear ! Oh my ! What have I done now ! I'm doomed. Doomed I tell you !" He grabs a pillow and covers his face with it, afraid of what will happen next. But the coin simply and suddenly stops spinning and falls on its side. It is a full minute for Dr. Smith is brave enough to pick back up the coin, and when he does, he sees it has changed. On one side of the coin is a star, the other, a crescent moon. He sees there is an indentation now too where you can push either side of the coin. Turning it over to the star, he presses on it. There is a flash explosion and replacing the coin now is an ornate and beautiful compass. "What is this ?" Smith says to no-one in particular. He then picks it up and at once can tell it is no ordinary compass. It is one guiding him to something - but to what ? * * * Dr. Smith had never been one to pass up curiosity let alone a device that may tell him where great treasure could be found. He lifts it and at once it lights up. The arrow points the way. He climbs the stairs to the side of the elevator when he is suddenly confronted by Major Don West. And if you've seen the series, you know these two have never gotten along. "What are you up to now, Smith !?" he snarls angrily. Dr. Smith is at once on the defensive. "Who me ? Why, nothing at all. Nothing. Nothing. I was just going to help Penny pick some wildflowers." "Is that so ? What do you have behind your back then ?" and he points as Smith has both hands hidden in the back. "What, here ? Nothing, see ? It's quite empty, I assure you." and produces his left empty hand still holding his right behind him. "Show the other one !" Don demands. Smith bites his lip fearfully but then faithfully produces the other hand empty. There is a moment of silence. Smith then changes his tone and sniffs disdainfully, "Really, Major. Your lack of courtesy is exceptionally high this morning, I daresay you should - " But Don cuts him off, "I daresay YOU better get out of my sight, you weasel, right now !" Smith jumps back on the defensive, "Oh yes, of course. Thank you, Major ..." and fairly bails out the front door of the spaceship almost tripping over his own feet. He runs a short distance and looks behind him, then all around. He is alone again. "Bother." he waves back at Don who is out of sight. Then adds, "Alright my little friend, show me where the treasure is !" and reaching into his back pocket, pulls out the strange compass again. As before it lights up and points the way. Dr. Smith has only traveled several kilometers when he comes across a familiar sight. That cursed gambling machine from when his cousin came to visit. But apparently it is turned off at the moment. Setting the compass on the console of the machine, he looks around back. "A few loose screws should do it." he chortles to himself. And busily sets to unscrewing the protective panel behind the gambling machine. Meanwhile Penny has collected her fill of wildflowers and is returning back to the Jupiter Two. She meets Judy. Judy smiles, "Oh ! What do you have there ?" Penny grins broadly, "Wildflowers ! And oh are they so beautiful ! Would you like to see ?" Judy nods, "Sure, let's look at them in my room." And the two leave hand in hand to inside. Major Wes has gotten what he needs, a tool to handle a high conductivity of electricity and is returning back to John and Maureen who are working on a damaged shield generator. Smith claps the metal plate back on the gambling machine, tightens a few screws, and goes to the front of it. To the side is an ON/OFF switch. He clicks it on. "Welcome one ! Welcome all ! I am ..." the machine begins but Dr. Smith interrupts. "I know all about you, you electronic booby ! And I'm ready to play your silly game." The machine spoke with a roaring 20s dialect, "Well stop beatin' your gums grampa, yo think you're the cats pajamas ? Ya gots to proves it ta me ! Let's go Bimbo ! Da name of da game is Galaxy Poker, you know da rules aint ya ? You darb ?" Smith nods, "Oh yes, I know the game, but no sir. I was hoping you would let me start, say, on credit ?" "Ain't you the boil ! Yeah awright, I'll start yous 50 rubes. Don't burn it up in one hand wills ya ?" "Of course not sir. You will find that I am the veritable paragon of ..." "You slay me gramps, now shaddup already. Here's your cards." Whereupon the gambling machine spit 5 cards out of a front slot near Smith's hands. Smith hurriedly grabbed the cards and gazes upon them to play the game. (to be continued) Return back HOME   You are Earth Visitor #