Let it breathe, let it breathe, let it breathe for the space cadets

Smith returns and the commander exits

The Robot stared out the front window.

"We have to go," came Smith's voice from behind. "I have rigged the power core to explode soon."

The Robot turned toward Smith.

"Can we not leave it?" The Robot asked. "This is our home."

Smith walked forward, the helmet propped in the corner of his arm, appearing to be emotionless.

"This is a graveyard, as it is," Smith said. "Not a home, anymore."

"Could still be," The Robot said.

"No need to fear. . . ." Smith started to say, but couldn't finish it. "It is just you and me, dear old friend."

The Robot's head lowered.

"I don't want to go," The Robot said.

Smith had a sigh coming toward the Robot.

"I don't want to go either but it is painful as it is," Smith said.

The Robot was silent.

"All there is a reminder of a life that we have lived," Smith said.

"A great life," The Robot said.

"A life that we shared with people," Smith said, fondly.

"People that we loved deeply," The Robot added.

Smith looked toward the small black tv set from across looking at it as though it were playing a video.

"All those sacrifices," Smith started.

Smith looked around scanning the scenery turning away from the Robot.

"All those small victories to live again, safe and secure, and all those fantastic escape that we made . . ." Smith said. "It was the golden years. Our golden years as a family." Smith came to a stop by the elevator placing his hand onto the rail then flicked off a small collection of dust. He slowly raised his head turning his attention toward the Robot. "Those years are over," he rubbed his thumb and index finger against each other then smoothed out the side of his silver and orange uniform. "We have outstayed our welcome here. "

The Robot came toward the hatch door.

"I wish we had more time with them," The Robot said.

Smith approached the Robot.

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way," Smith had a small smile looking off toward the cock pit seats. "and we did."

Smith turned his attention on to the Robot and placed the dark helmet on making it clasp on with a single click.

"It was fun," the Robot said. "While it lasted."

Smith pressed on the button to the side as the Robot drew closer toward him.

"Indeed," Smith agreed, looking toward the Robot. "Here is to five hundred years."

With a single click, the hatch door was open and Smith grabbed hold onto the Robot sucked out from the Jupiter 2. There was silence from deck to deck. Not a sound was being made. Will's room had a bed sheet over a figure laid on the bed that was still out. From a small compartment with open curtains there was a statue of a small monkey resting on it that read 'Greatly missed, Debbie the monkey and Penelope Roberta Robinson'. The Jupiter 2 was no longer full of youth, life, and happiness. The silence was haunting. The storage room held supplies that were waiting to be opened by a member of the family who would never come.

Smith opened his eyes with tears in his eyes watching the Jupiter become a distant specter. It only became obvious when he saw it explode and squeezed his eyes shut tightly hanging on to the Robot passing by a ship that then started to turn around in their direction---

Don bolted up with a pant and sweat dripping down his skin.

"Just a dream," Don said, falling back on to the bed. "Just a bad dream."

///////////////////////////////////////////

Will paced back and forth in front of the Jupiter 2 holding on tightly to his right hand from behind his back. Don and Judy were at the deutronium drilling rig manning for the week. Maureen and John looked on from inside the Jupiter 2 watching the boy making a clear line to and from making a long trench by his path. Maureen looked toward John out of concern.