INQUIRY

This is an AU based the third-season episode entitled "The Flaming Planet."

            Robinson and West sat in their seats in the control room, relaxing during their downtime.

            Robinson asked curiously, "You know, Don, Will and I were wondering how you managed to convince Smith to go down to that planet in the pod with you."

            West grinned. "I just put a gun to the back of his head."

            Robinson stared. "You threatened to shoot him?!"

            West quickly looked around to be sure that he was not being overheard. "Good thing he didn't decide to call my bluff. Believe me, I know that if I murdered him in cold blood, you and your family would never forgive me."

            Robinson hesitated diplomatically. "It would...damage our faith in you, and in your inherent goodness."

            "I figured. But anyway, once down on the planet, I switched back to more conventional threats. He was afraid to enter that Sobram's cave. So, I just said, 'Which would you rather face, Smith? Whatever's inside that cave...or me?!' He backed down at once, and in he went." West grinned.

            Robinson grinned with him. "He and I went through a similar scene. When he returned to the pod without you, and I insisted that he take me to you, as soon as we got to that cave, he balked. All I had to do was give him a look, and make an ushering-ahead gesture. I guess he was remembering what you had said, and figuring that I would give a similar response."

            West shook his head. "He sure is a mess! But, at least, predictable."

            "And gullible."

            They chuckled together. Then Robinson sobered. "It's good that something works on him. It's just a pity that that something is always only the threat of violence."

            West nodded, but then shrugged. "Well, at least that works. I don't mind using it, as long as it works." He hesitated. "But John, you said that Will also wondered how I had convinced him. I don't know that you ought to tell Will that I threatened to shoot him."

            "Uh, no, I think we can keep that to ourselves. And I don't know that I could ever bring myself to use such a threat on him."

            "Yeah, in the future maybe I should just stick to the threat of nonlethal violence."

            "So will I."

            It was a pity that Penny had only arrived in time to overhear the last three or four sentences. She went away with the impression that the person that West had threatened to shoot was Will, and with her father's marginal approval yet. She ducked out of sight and fled below-decks.

            Hours later, Will gingerly, skittishly approached John and Don. They greeted him, but noticed right away that he seemed troubled.

            "Why are you two mad at me??" the boy asked nervously.

            "Come again???" asked Don.

            "Mad at you?? Us??? Where did you get that idea, son?" wondered John.

            "Well, Penny overheard Don say that he might shoot me. And Dad, you said that you couldn't use that kind of threat on me. And you both agreed to use only nonlethal threats. But what did I do??!"

            For a moment, John and Don just looked at each other, at a loss. But then, Don laughed uproariously, and explained, "Will, I didn't threaten to shoot you; I threatened to shoot Smith!!! But John and I agreed not to...tell...you...about...it." He looked rueful. "But I guess I just did." He sighed, and began to chuckle. John joined him. And Will went away with a face that was beet-red.