MUSINGS

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

            John Robinson sat in his control room chair with his hands behind his head, fingers interlaced, thinking back on the events of the day. Smith had certainly entangled himself with both men's tempers, pushing their patience repeatedly to the limits. Although one detail stood out in his mind as a rather amusing one. Angry that Smith had "volunteered" the Robot to remain behind with the Sobram, Don West had exquisitely slowly advanced on Smith, glaring menacingly at him all the while. Just as slowly, Smith had backed away from the major, stark fright written in his wary features. Whether deliberately or not, West had maneuvered the older man in a slow, lazy circle that had eventually sent Smith backing toward Robinson, who stood looking on, and waiting patiently, with hands on his hips. Oblivious to all but the threat in West's eyes, Smith had not so much as glanced where he was headed. Inevitably, Smith backed clumsily into Robinson, turned quickly and saw the latter's ominous presence and corresponding glare, and let out with a piercing scream, even as he leapt away from the latter's presumed threat. An instant later, realizing that this motion must have launched him right back toward West who was still pursuing him, Smith whirled to see how close the younger man was, and unleashed a scream twice the volume of the first. This, in turn, visibly shocked and outraged the Sobram, who, as a member of a warrior race, was unaccustomed to such cowardly displays.

            Robinson grunted and shook his head in recollection.

            "What's got you grinning?" West wondered in response.   

            Robinson filled him in on his musings.

            West chuckled in response. "I didn't see that. I wasn't looking at the alien. I was keeping my glare on Smith."

            Robinson nodded. "The Sobram's disgust was almost as amusing as Smith's antics."

            Moments later, an unaware Smith wandered into the control room. Both men regarded him with varying smirks.

            "What?" Smith queried.

            Instead of replying, West casually sauntered in Smith's general direction.

            "What? What is this?" The older man automatically retreated, unconsciously matching the younger man's pace.

            Sensing the major's purpose, Robinson nonchalantly rose and offhandedly placed himself in a position strategically chosen to copy the results of earlier in the day. He mimicked his own previous pose with hands on hips.

            History repeated itself. Smith bumped into Robinson, lurched away, screamed, saw West's nearness, and screamed louder.

            Robinson and West regarded each other pensively.

            "About the same decibel?" Robinson speculated.

            West nodded concurrence. "And around the same pitch."

            "What is the meaning of this?!" a frightened but flustered Smith demanded, his annoyance growing.

            Chuckling, the two men good-naturedly explained.

            Smith sniffed and gave them a wounded look. "You needn't be so amused at an old man's fright. It's wrong for you two to derive such amusement from terrorizing a helpless old man."

            "We're just kidding," Robinson said with a smile, and Smith found both of his shoulders patted, one from each man.

            He forced a rueful half-smile.