ZSROTU 05 - "An Angry Emissary"

Instead of being remotely human at all, they were more like an orange elephant's head with a bulbous trunk, black lidless eyes, and tentacles going out in all directions. (more)

PRESS CTRL = (EQUALS) TO INCREASE THE PAGE SIZE AND CTRL 0 (ZERO) TO RESET THE PAGE SIZE THIS PAGE VIEWS BEST IN FIREFOX   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 © February 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 AN ANGRY EMISSARY Last week as you remember Dr. Smith had made his wish, to be ruler of the universe. But at what cost to Don and the Robinson family ? Once John and Don had righted the ship from an unexplained force against the ship, a strange alien had approached. While Don had fired a warning shot, a bolt clearly from the sky itself shot down and incinerated it in seconds. Meanwhile the family, Don, and Dr. Smith were having lunch discussing what happened. "Smith, I know you're behind this." said Don who was more interested in speaking than eating. Smith on the other hand only waved a hand at him as he dived into his own meal. "Oh, go away, major. It's the same old song you are singing, and everyone including myself is tired of it. Can't we go one day without blaming me for something ?" Don tightened his lip but relented. Finally the conversation turned towards the strange alien they saw earlier. Judy, Penny, and Will had not seen it, so it was up to John to describe it. "Well, it had tentacles all over it, and where the head should be, there were just tentacles as well. And instead of arms or legs, it also had tentacles, standing upright. It really was a frightening sight." "What about the bomb that didn't go off earlier ?" Will asked, already ahead of the conversation. Don answered this one. "We aren't certain it's a bomb just yet, Will. By looking at it initially, it doesn't appear to be so. After lunch your Father and me will find out what it is. I think it could be important." The conversation then gravitated towards the weather. Whether or not to dry clothes by hanging them or using the automated dryer provided by the Jupiter two. Penny spoke, "I hate that dryer. It makes all my clothes smell all yucky. That's why I like to dry my clothes outside." John looked up from his meal. "Oh ? You never mentioned this before, Penny. It's likely that it just needs a good cleaning. I'll go over it with a strong anti-fungal spray after we solve this first mystery, that should take care of it." No further conversation was added. Everyone finished their meal and, John, Don, and Dr. Smith all took the curious alien item to a table to look it over and analyze it. Dr. Smith was the first to speak. "Clearly it is a weapon of some kind. Either an unexploded bomb or a weapon that didn't work. You notice he reached for it when he was in range." Don shook his head. "I don't think so, Smith. You noticed when he threw it down, he was angry - almost as if it malfunctioned." John was holding an advanced magnifying lens and held the artifact in his other hand. "I agree with Don. It wasn't a weapon. There are no indications here to say they were." John fiddled with it for a bit. Then handed it to Don. He examined it some more. Finally gave in saying he didn't have a clue. Then handed it last to Dr. Smith. Instead of trying to take it apart like Don and John did, Smith placed two fingers on two circles on one side and two circles on the other. 4-buttons in all. Suddenly the device lit up ! The trio of investigators bolted out of their seats. The device tumbled a bit on the table, still lit, but was still. A moment later a weird alien dialect was heard. It repeated three times in all. Then grew silent. John tilted his head. "That's a communication device. Possibly a translator besides. That must be it !" He snapped his fingers. "This alien was coming to greet us and his translator didn't work. He threw it down in anger and that was interpreted as a hostile act." Dr. Smith in his usual form once again bit off more than he could chew by adding, "And what about the fire from the sky ? Do you have an answer for that ?" John and Don then ganged up on Smith and got very close staring at him with beady eyes silently. Don spoke, "Yeah, what about that fire from the sky, Smith. Do you know ANYTHING about it at all ? Anything you're not telling us ?" Dr. Smith's bravery, all of an inch, suddenly vanished and he began to quaver nervously, "Well no ! No ! Of course I have no idea why it happened, or from where, or what it was ! How could I know ?" "How could you indeed ?" John said in a tone full of disbelief. Dr. Smith didn't add anymore so he had no proof. Don spoke, "John, we've determined it's a communication device. Shouldn't we be worried about what happens after this ?" "What is that ?" John asked. * * * "Someone or something is going to come for the communicator. If it is indeed a communicator, we have already given our position away when it activated just a moment ago." To confirm this, the device was now flashing a yellow light intermittently, like a homing beacon. Clearly the device would be located by whomever or whatever sent it. John nodded, "If that happens. We'll just explain to them exactly what happened and what we saw. We had no way of knowing the alien was trying to communicate with us. More times out of most we have a gun battle with hostile aliens - to protect our camp and family." Smith backed away now, "Well, professor and Major, now that you've cleared up this little mystery, I think I will go back to my room. My nerves are more than shattered by today's events, and I'll rest up a little." Don narrowed his eyes at Smith. "You do that. Stay. Put. Best thing you can do - and best thing you are good at." Smith just bowed obsequiously and departed. Don looked back at John. "We're still working on that shield generator. Let's get that functional. By that time we may have more guests and we may need it." John started to leave. "Let me tell the girls what's going on and what could happen so they'll be ready. I'll meet you at the shield generator in just a moment." Meanwhile Dr. Smith back in his room looked closely and carefully at the ring. It still bore in all caps, "Ruler Of The Universe." He sniffed disdainfully and spoke to it, "You could've warned me you were going to blast that alien to cinders. I hope nothing bad comes from it !" The ring seemed to respond and flashed plaintively twice. Smith held it closer to his eyes. "What does that mean ? Two flashes for YES, one for no, three if the enemy travels by sea ? Explain yourself you jumble of jewelry !" The ring didn't flash at all to that. Dr. Smith was rubbing his chin now. "A test seems to be in order. If I truly am - ruler of the universe, then anything, anything at all is at my beck and command !" "Ring !" and he held it in the air. "I would like some ice cream. Some Tutti Frutti if you please !" The ring did indeed flash once, a bit of warmth was felt on his finger, but nothing more was to be seen. Dr. Smith's patience was short to put it bluntly, "Bah ! You're not the real article ! I'll melt you down for scrap you ridiculous ring unless you give me what I want !" The ring did not flash further, but suddenly he could hear the kids outside his door. They sounded frantic and excited. Smith got up to investigate. In the kitchen there were 3 bowls of ice cream, clearly Tutti Frutti, and standing beside them in amazement were Will and Penny." "What ?" Smith said, his eyes open in alarm. "Did this ice cream just appear out of nowhere ?" Will shook his head, "You know that can't happen, Dr. Smith. No, Penny and me were going to get some of the food generator's soft-serve and THIS came out instead !" "Why are there three bowls ?" "That's Penny. She wanted to see how long it would keep going !" Penny added, "There's a bowl for each of us now." "Yeah." was all Will said as with spoon in hand he started into his. A big smile greeted his freckly face. "Wow ! This is amazing. It's REAL ice-cream, made with real cream ! How is that even possible ?" Dr. Smith moved closer and confided in a sly voice. "I would keep this to ourselves, won't you, children ? If not, it just might not happen again. But if you can keep quiet, I think it just may - it just might happen again - later. Don't you think ?" Will shook his head. "That's some pretty crazy thinking you have there, Dr. Smith." He took another bite of the ice-cream. Then he and Penny looked to Dr. Smith in confusion. Smith met their eyes with a penetrating stare. Then Smith nodded almost imperceptibly. The two got the message. Somehow - somehow HE, Dr. Smith, ruler of the universe, was entirely responsible for the food-generator's "glitch" in serving up this incredible and very real Tutti Frutti ice-cream. Dr. Smith took his bowl. He looked back to the kids who were finishing theirs. "So happy to have had this conversation." and with that retreated to his own room to enjoy the frozen delicacy. Smith had his own set of utensils from Earth with him. He took out a lovely silver spoon and tried it. He couldn't contain himself. "It really is ! It really is Tutti Frutti ! Such a delicate and delicious flavor. Oh my tastebuds are in heaven, heaven I tell you !" He gobbled it down to the bottom of the cup and licked every bit out. "I think I would like some more. Yes. Ring ?" and he held the ring aloft, but didn't get very far. Suddenly his privacy flap was rudely opened and there was Don and John. Smith couldn't jerk his arm down fast enough. "Wha - what is it ? Can't you knock ?" John spoke first, "Smith, we have visitors. I want you to be here outside with us." Smith started to stand but suddenly, reached a supportive hand behind him. "Oh ! Oh the pain ! It's my delicate back. It's all out of whack from what from you bursting in here causing me to twist it - I think it would be better if - " But Don had enough of this old viper. "On your feet, Smith ! Now start marching !" And march they did, right out the door. Judy was there standing by one of the working shield generators, ready to click it on from a word of John. Just outside the saucer several dozen feet were more of the strange aliens. And they looked ever worse than the first. Instead of being remotely human at all, they were more like an orange elephant's head with a bulbous trunk, black lidless eyes, and tentacles going out in all directions. Dr. Smith shrieked in utmost fear. Even Penny looked to him with a smile. He sounded just like her when she was frightened. And the closest alien was raised up on his first 4-tentacles, roaring in a clearly angry and alien voice ! (to be continued) Return back HOME   You are Earth Visitor #