[This story takes place between the DW stories THE SPACE PIRATES and THE WAR GAMES, and between the second and third seasons of LIS]

 "Gee, Dr. Smith, don't you think you should be helping us find that ore Dad needs for the Jupiter 2?" Will Robinson asked the man lying on his back.

 "I am, young William," the elder man responded. "I am acquiring some well deserved rest and relaxation, so that my keen powers of observation can be of service to a growing boy such as yourself."

 "A VERY LIKELY STORY," a synthesized voice grated from off side. Just then, the Robinsons' robot wheeled towards them, its mechanical arms folded into its body. "DR. SMITH IS ONCE AGAIN ATTEMPTING TO AVOID HIS DUTIES. WITHOUT THAT ORE, THE JUPITER 2 CANNOT LIFT OFF OF THIS PLANET, AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE IT TO EARTH."

 "Silence, you silicon-chipped simpleton! How dare you disparage my character in such a manner!."

 "ONE HAS TO POSSESS CHARACTER IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE DISPARAGED, DR. SMITH" the Robot countered. "AND WITH YOU, IT SEEMS TO BE DEFINITELY LACKING...."

 Will said, "Shhh! Listen....there's something in the distance...."

 All three of them stood silent, as the noise grew somewhat louder in volume. It sounded like a wheezing, scraping sound, as if some celestial engine was conking out with its last breath. Suddenly, the noise subsided.

 The Robot suddenly announced, "WARNING, WARNING! DIMENSIONAL ANOMALY 100 YARDS AWAY. EVIDENCE OF SPATIOTEMPORAL DISRUPTION PRESENT!"

 "Let's go investigate!" Will said.

 "WARNING! THERE IS A 75% PROBABILITY THAT THIS ANOMALY MAY POTENTIALLY BE HARMFUL."

 "We can at least *look* at it," Will responded. Just as he and the Robot left, they turned to Dr. Smith.

 "Are you coming with us, Dr. Smith?" Will asked.

 Dr. Smith still lay on his back, basking in the warmth of twin suns. "No, thank you, William, I think I shall take the transistorized tin-plated twit's advice for once...besides, as the Bard once remarked, discretion is the better part of valor...."

 "IN A PIG'S EYE," the Robot countered, and Dr. Smith's only response was a low grunt of disgust.

 As Dr. Smith lay there, Will and the robot progressed towards the sound of the disruption.....

 The Doctor turned, removing a small red box from the right hand pocket of his rather oversized coat. "I'm not sure, Jamie - the TARDIS detected a similar vehicle, and I wanted to land and investigate...."

 Just then, a female voice emerged from police box which stood in the middle of the grove, within which tan and white leafed plants were growing. "Doctor, given the probability and unique nature of the TARDIS' controls, it is statistically unlikely that another TARDIS would be in the vicinity."

 "Remind me to tell ye about the time when me, the Doctor, and Victoria..." Jamie began to lecture.

 The Doctor soon interrupted, "Jamie, we can tell her about that some other time. Right now, what the TARDIS detected was energy which indicated a ship similar to the TARDIS. However....it doesn't register with the data in the TARDIS' data banks, including other TARDISes. I want to just pop out quickly, have a look see, and leave. I'd rather not stay in one place too long.....especially in this area of the galaxy."

 "What d'ye mean?" Jamie asked.

 "This is the Carigian sector of the Milky Way, Jamie," Zoe lectured. "It's on the exact opposite side of the spiral arm which contains Earth's solar system. There are some unique phenomena which prevent ships with hyperdrive from traveling inside of it - nobody has ever been here before."

 "Yes, Jamie, take a good look," the Doctor asserted. "For no human ever has - or can - explore this region of space. You're the first, and most likely, the last individual to see this from within...." Turning a switch on the box, a low, steady pulsing noise was heard. As the Doctor moved, the pulse began to quicken. Using this, the Doctor began to draw a bearing towards a particular direction out of the grove.

 Jamie, noticing the two entities approaching them, turned to the Doctor and said, "If no one has or will ever be here, then how come a young boy and a big robot beastie are heading this way?"

 "I've never seen anything like this," Professor Robinson announced. "It's some kind of dimensional displacement...."

 "Is it some kind of spaceship? And is it hostile?" Major West asked.

 "I don't know, but I think we should take some care. Grab a laser pistol, just to be safe."

 As Major West headed towards the rear of the saucer, Maureen - Professor Robinson's wife, and Will's mother - came in with a tray full of coffee. Just then, she noticed the scanner.

 "Wait a second...that's a dimensionally transcendent event...."

 "I know, dear," Professor Robinson said rather condescendingly.

 "But, John, events like that don't occur in nature, and are usually much smaller....if I didn't know better...."

 "Yes, Maureen?"

 "I'd swear it was some kind of structure, possibly some kind of ship. Look at how stationary it is...."

 As Major West returned with two laser pistols, Professor Robinson said, "I think we're going to have company."

 "Shouldn't someone contact Will and Dr. Smith?" Maureen asked in a maternal tone of voice.

 "They have the robot with them," Professor Robinson responded. "I doubt they can get into any serious trouble..."

 "Besides, if I know Dr. Smith," Major West countered, handing one of the pistols to Professor Robinson. "He's probably attempting to bargain with whatever - or whoever - is at that structure."

 As he buckled the holster around his waist, Professor Robinson asserted, "Dr. Smith is the least of our worries right now, Don. Why don't you contact the girls - I don't know how they'll be able to handle themselves if we do have uninvited guests."

 "I'll see if I can contact them," Major West said, picking up the communications unit.

 Judy, the older, blonde-haired sister, said, "I think we may be onto something - this detector seems to be finding some evidence of the ore we need."

 Penny, the younger, dark haired girl, responded, "I hope so - this planet is just too boring for me."

 Just then, from deep within the cave, both girls saw pulsing lights.... they seemed to be grouped together, and clustered deep within the cave. As both girls watched, they regarded each other with some curiosity: both girls wanted to go further into the cave, to see what those lights were....however, both knew that there was one obstacle that they had to overcome.

 "I don't think Mom and Dad would mind if we checked out this cave," Judy asserted.

 "Yeah, I mean, we *are* doing something useful...we're going to see if those glowing rocks contain the ore that we need..." Penny countered.

 Soon, they felt their will slipping away.....and they began to enter deep within the cave, towards the glowing, round rocks....

 "No problem at all, young man," The Doctor answered. "I am the Doctor, and these are my friends, Jamie and Zoe."

 Zoe approached the robot with great curiosity. After examining it, she remarked, "Why, I've only seen one of these old-type environmental robots in museums! Excuse me, young man, but what's your name?"

 "Will Robinson, ma'am."

 "AND I AM THE ROBINSON FAMILY ROBOT," a mechanical voice grated.

 "Of course! The great lost Robinson expedition!"

 "What are ye on about, Zoe?" Jamie asked in a frustrated tone of voice.

 "Yes, Zoe," the Doctor said. "Please...I'm rather confused myself."

 "It was the Jupiter 2 - the first of Earth's interstellar space probes. It was launched in 1997, on route to Alpha Centauri in order to begin colonization."

 The Doctor pulled a book from an inside coat pocket. On the cover of the book were the words 500 YEAR DIARY. Licking his fingers, he quickly glanced through the pages, and said, "I have nothing about it here...but I don't remember any space probes being launched in 1997."

 "At the time, the hyperdrive unit they were testing was experimental," Zoe continued. "Something went wrong, and it went off course. It was considered lost, and the Alpha Control Colonization program was aborted."

 "I'll tell you what went wrong," Will explained. "Doctor Smith had stowed away, and the extra weight caused us to veer off course..."

 "Excuse me, young man," the Doctor interrupted. "But Doctor Smith, you said?"

 "Yes, sir, Doctor Zachary Smith..."

 The Doctor turned away, and then muttered, "Why am I not surprised?"

 "BECAUSE DOCTOR SMITH IS A NE'ER-DO-WELL OF THE FIRST ORDER!" the Robot responded.

 "Doctor, you sound like you know Dr. Smith," Will remarked.

 "Only by reputation," the Doctor responded.

 Before anyone else had a chance to respond, a loud scream was heard. They turned to see Zoe react in fright to something that was approaching them. Then, they heard a moist, bloodcurdling, sucking sound from that direction. Gradually, a strange creature revealed itself - a large humanoid with insectoid eyes, green rubbery skin, a round mouth which was lined with small, sharp teeth; two goat-like hooves rather then feet, and arms which ended in vicious three-fingered claws. As it slowly approached them, the Doctor, Jamie, Zoe, Will, and the Robot found themselves standing still, unable to move.

 "What is that?" Jamie asked.

 "IT IS AN UNKNOWN LIFE FORM. IT IS PRODUCING A VAPOR WHICH INHIBITS ALL MOVEMENT, ORGANIC AND MECHANICAL. IT IS ALSO SECRETING A KIND OF ORGANIC ENZYME FROM ITS MOUTH," The Robot announced.

 "Does that mean what I think it means?" Will asked.

 "Yes, Will," Zoe said. "It's hungry."

 "And it wants *us* for dinner," Jamie announced.

 "Oh, dear..." the Doctor said worriedly....

 To Be Continued