ULTIMATUM

Not all universes were as kind as ours in the third-season episode entitled "Space Creature." Here is one that was far more unkind.

            The incorporeal malevolent space creature, instead of imprisoning Smith in a giant playroom, as in this universe, confined him instead within a four-walled empty room with no door. And it had learned quite a bit more about Smith's complaints regarding his shipmates, than it had in our universe. So it confined two other persons in the room with Smith only moments later: Professor Robinson and Major West. Upon arrival, they instantly shot accusing looks at Smith. He gulped nervously at their obvious suspicions.

            "All right, Smith," demanded West. "What are you up to? Where are we?"

            "I really have no idea. I was in my quarters, merely musing aloud, when this mysterious voice came out of nowhere, and then transported me here."    

            "Musing?" demanded Robinson. "About what? And are you responsible for us being here, too? Was it something you said?"

            "Indeed not! No, offense, gentlemen, but do you really suppose that, were I to influentially conjure up any of our shipmates, I would select the two of you??"

            "You would if you needed us to rescue you," Robinson replied ruefully.

            The space creature laughed...a very unsettling laugh. "You two are not here to rescue him. Quite the opposite, in fact."

            Smith jolted in alarm. "What is that supposed to mean??"

            "From your soliloquy, I learned of your fear of these two men. That is why I have summoned them."

            Robinson asked of the empty air, "Just what is it you expect of us?"

            It replied chillingly, "If you ever wish to get out of here, and back to your ship, the two of you will now give Smith the beating that he has long feared from you."

            "What???" Smith cried, several octaves higher than normal. He stared at Robinson and West in horror. The two of them exchanged shocked, perplexed, mildly-intrigued looks.

            "No!!!" Smith screamed, followed by a rapid staccato of, "Nonononononononononono!" while simultaneously raising his trembling hands before him, as if to ward off potential blows.

            West flashed a rueful smile at both Robinson and Smith. Robinson, in turn, displayed raised brows at both companions.

            Smith protested nearly hysterically, "It's not funny, Major!!!"

            West waved it away, "No, Smith, I'm not amused; I'm...appreciating the irony."

            Robinson nodded. "I know what you mean. So many times we've threatened him, and been tempted to carry out our threats. But now, when we're not tempted...we may have to do it."

            West agreed, "I've been so angry with Smith so many times. But now, I'm not even angry. And yet...if there's no other way out of this...."

            Tearily, Smith implored, "No, you mustn't! I'm fragile!! You know that!! Oh don't hurt me!!! I don't want you to!!! Don't do this to me!!!"

            The creature interjected, "There is no other way out of here. Only I can return you to your ship. I will only do so if you comply with my demand."

            "Why do you want this?" Robinson asked. "What do you get out of it?"

            "I feed on fear. I need to feel his fear as you hurt him."

            Smith shrieked, "This is my worst nightmare!!!"

            West argued, "Smith, you're giving him what he wants. You're increasing his determination."

            "And do you honestly suppose that I can do otherwise??? Do you imagine that I can pretend to be unafraid in the midst of this??!!"

            "No, I guess not," West admitted almost sympathetically.

            Robinson said, "Smith, I frankly can see no other way out of this. We may have to comply."

            "No! No!! No!!!" He dissolved into raspy, gasping weeping. He backed into the wall behind him.

            Robinson gestured gently, "Come away from the wall, Smith. We don't want you to hit your head."

            If anything, Smith crowded the wall even harder, hands pressed against it at his sides. He shook his head back and forth, and tears streamed down both sides of his face.

            West said, "Don't make us drag you away from the wall."

            Robinson said, "Don't make this any harder than it has to be."

            "It's not hard on you!!!" he wailed. "You've both wanted this!!!"

            "Not this way," West said. "But we'll do what we have to do."

            "No!!! You mustn't!!! I've been afraid of you two since almost the first moment I met you!!! You've both threatened me more times than I can count!!! And I barely got out of it so many times!! And now this!!! Spare me!!! Save me!!!"

            "I know you're frightened," said Robinson soothingly. "But you'll be all right. We'll make sure of that. We'll be careful. Now come on away from the wall."

            "I can't!! I can't!!! I'm afraid of what'll happen to me!!! Don't hurt me!!!"

            With a heavy sigh and an exchanged rueful expression, both men went to Smith; each took him by his nearer arm, and as gently as they could, despite his feeble but desperate resistance, drew him away from the wall. Essentially, Smith was dragged screaming every inch of the way.

            Once restored to the center of the room, Smith stood weeping helplessly, tragically, and hopelessly. As Robinson raised a half-hearted fist, Smith's eyes widened in panic, and then they closed, and he pitched forward in a dead faint. Robinson caught him in his arms, and tenderly lowered him to the floor.

            Robinson and West crouched down beside their "unwanted victim," one on either side of his prone form. West shook Smith's right shoulder, and Robinson lightly slapped his left cheek, trying to revive him.

            Presently, Smith's eyes fluttered open, and he looked around dazedly. "Why am I on the floor? Oh no, has it begun??" His left hand went to his cheek and covered it. "Oh!! It stings!! It hurts!! What've you done??? Did you hit me???! Ow!!!!"

            "Smith! I just slapped you lightly, to revive you. Nothing else has happened yet."

            West said, "Really, Smith, all John did was lightly slap you, to wake you. You mean, you can't tell the difference??"

            Smith blinked timidly. "I have no basis for comparison."

            Robinson posed, "You've never been punched before?"

            "No." Smith recommenced sobbing. "And I don't want to!!! Please, don't do anything dreadful to me!!!" He wept inconsolably. "This hurts enough!!!"

            Robinson looked aggravated. "That can't hurt! You'll know the difference if I  hit you with this." He formed a fist in demonstration.

            "No!!!!" Smith cried, at the sight of it. He reached and took the fist in both hands and gently pried open the unresisting fingers. He cradled the now-open hand in both of his. "Professor! Don't!!"

            "Smith, come on!" urged West. "Calm down! Accept the inevitable."

            "Major!!" Smith implored in an almost reverent whisper. "Remember when we became friends in that cave??" He retained Robinson's hand in his left, but reached and took West's hand in his right. "Please!! Don!!! Help me!!!!"

            West looked exasperated, and mildly defeated. "You're being manipulative. Yes, of course I remember. Zachary."

            Robinson stared from one to the other. "Why am I just hearing about this?"

            Smith confessed tearily, "Because I messed it up! I fell back into old habit patterns! Don, forgive me!!" He brought West's hand to his right cheek and leaned carefully into it, almost as if feeling the knuckles, without them having struck him. His tears wetted West's hand.

            West sagged, perplexed.

            "In any case, that's intriguing, the idea that you and Don made friends, however briefly," Robinson commented, probably trying to distract Smith, at least for a moment. "Perhaps it would be good to try again, especially now. It might help to soothe you, and make it easier for you to trust us. Because you can, you know, you can trust us. Believe me, we'll hurt you as little as we can get away with."

            Smith winced at the words "we'll hurt you," but other than that, he nodded concurrence.

            Robinson forced a smile. "What do you say? Zachary."

            Smith tried to force a smile in turn, though it came out exceedingly weak. "Yes, John." He almost giggled giddily. "It sounds so strange to call you that. I never have before."

            Now Robinson suggested quietly, "You realize, we're drawing out your terror. Wouldn't it be better to get it over with?"

            Smith burst into renewed tears. "No!!! I'm frightened!!!" He now drew Robinson's knuckles to brush his left cheek the same as he was still doing with West's on his right. "Don't do this!! Don't do it any worse than this!!! Please!!!!" His last word was nearly a shriek.

            "Smith...," began West.

            "Don't do it! Don't hurt me!! I'll do anything you want if you'll spare me!!!"

            As kindly as he could, Robinson told him, "In case you've forgotten, we're not exactly calling the shots, here."

            "Help me!!!! I'm afraid!!!"

            Robinson turned to West, "I don't know how long we can keep putting this off."

            Smith cringed hard, in terror, at his words.

            West nodded, but added, "Well, the creature's not exactly complaining. Of course, that's probably because Smith's feeding him very well...since he feeds on fear." They both eyed Smith meaningfully. Smith sniffled in response.

            "Let my fear be enough!! I'll keep feeding him this way!!! Maybe you don't have to hurt me!!!"

            "That'll be up to him," Robinson reminded him.

            In response, the creature said, "This has been a lovely appetizer, but I need more. Hurt him now!"

            Smith unleashed an unearthly scream.

            West remarked, "For so long, I've wanted to do this. And now I don't want to."

            Robinson came to a decision. "Come on, let's get this over with. Let's get you on your feet."

            Smith panicked. "No, don't!! Please!!"

            "I know you're scared. I'm sorry."

            "Please!!! I feel safer down here!!!"

            West said, "Let us help you up. The sooner we do this, the sooner it'll be over."

            "Be gentle with me!!!"

            West observed him quizzically. "Hit you gently???"

            As they raised him up, he cried out, "Have mercy on me!!!"         

            "We wish we could," Robinson said softly.

            They had to steady him for a moment before they could let go. And then, without delay, Robinson and West both struck at once. Smith dropped and lay still.

            "And just like that, it's all over," Robinson marveled quietly.

            "Mmm, delicious!" said the creature. "At his moment of worst fright, just before you both struck, he provided me a banquet!"

            The room faded from around them, and the control room of the Jupiter II materialized in its place. A very worried Maureen and family gasped in surprise.

            Robinson and West knelt down on either side of Smith. He began to stir.

            "Ow!!! Oh!!!" He gazed around him blearily. "Is it...over?"

            "Yes, Zachary, it's over," Robinson told him tenderly. "We're back on the ship." He took the older man's hand once again in his.

            "Thank you, John. Where's Don?"

            "I'm right here, Zachary." West took Smith's other hand in his.

            Maureen found her voice with difficulty. "Who are you three, and what have you done with the real John, Don, and Dr. Smith?"

            John and Don explained efficiently, while Smith moaned and writhed.

            Maureen shook her head in wonder. "Well, since we're all finally on a first-name basis, I'd prefer Maureen to Madame."

            "Yes, Maureen," Smith managed.

            "Thank you, Zachary."