CHAPTER 2

It had been about two days, and Lister was allowed his right to visit the science lab as a guard. it was a boring job, but kryten was helping with the study of whatever was inside the box. the science lab was a medium sized room, with the typical floors, walls, and roof of red dwarf. but it had a Cyan hue to it. no doubt form the lights overhead. Lister looked at the box carefully. it had under the Orange W sign, the words. "weyland-yutani-corporation." Lister said. "what the smeg does that mean?"

Kryten shined his scanner over the box and pressed a few buttons. "it is apparently, a company. that ship we found had dimensional travel under its belt. they must have jumped to this dimension, to request for help from whatever life they could find, and wound up here." Kryten explained as the life reader bleeped. Lister stroked the box with his hand. one of the other scientists slapped his hand away and inserted a needle through a small opening gin the box. there was a sudden slight shreak, and she retracted the needle. "wha?" the scientist started.

"the smeg?" Lister looked through the hole. there was something meaty inside. Lister shrugged. "well. whatever it is. opening that box might not be smart."

"finally," the scientist started as she put the small piece of the box back. "you said something intelligent." Lister was offended at this.

"Are you insinuating that I'm stupid?" He asked.

"would've fooled me." she said, and dusted the box off a bit. Lister checked his watch. it was time for him to return to his cell. "see ya krytes. see ya miss." and her left the room.

----

Lister walked up to his cell. the guard let him through. "how was guard duty?" Rimmer asked as he flipped through his hard cover red book.

"another day, no pennies." Lister sat down and rimmer seemed to lose all interest Rather suddenly. Lister looked him in the face. he was focusing on his book. Lister looked at him. "whatcha thinking?" He asked.

"why would they leave me in a cell with you? the most hideous slob, law-defying, tasteless, grossed out slime ball of a human being? why i ask them? and why god?" Rimmer flipped the page and focused.

"i am not. i only have two taste budds that work sure, but i am no-" there came the sound of a scutter form the vent. Lister ran up and grabbed his poppadom from bob. he put it in his mouth and swallowed. rimmer grumbled and got back to his book. Lister grumbled and turned in his chair. Lister then looked up as the blooping noise of holly came around. "what does he want?" He asked. he pushed a button on is wrist watch, and holly appeared on the screen. "whats happening dudes?" he asked.

"not much. lister just smuggled in another poppadom is all." rimmer said with a slight grinn. lister looked at him and turned to holly. "so? what is it?"

"if i may suggest getting into you;'re bunk, and putting you're head between you're legs." he said.

"why is that?" rimmer asked as he put his book down.

"you're sure you want to know the answer to that?" holly asked.

Lister grumbled. "what is it Holly?" holly then smiled, and said." you're about to get showered."

Lister seemed surprised. "i what?" rimmer chuckled.

"you too Arnold." holly said. rimmer still looked half decent. "by meteors." Holly said calmly. rimmers face suddenly turned to a look of shear terror. "a meteor storm!!?!"

"no. a meteor shower." holly said. Lister darted form his chair and lay on his bunk. Rimmer jumped into his and lay still. Holly shook his head and disappeared. the ship began shaking. meteors were indeed pelting its hull. flames poured out of a few parts of it as meteors managed to break through. adding to red dwarfs rock collection. Lister almost threw up his poppadom. Rimmer made a slight squeaky noise.

--

THE SCIENCE LAB-

the science officer was currently on her bunk, the shaking was now here near as strong here. for this was in the inner areas of the ship. she was actually reading a book. from outside her room in the lab, (yes, she lived there) she heard a crashing sound. she put her book down and looked out of her quarters. she saw the box had fallen off the table, and the lid had come off. and there was a fleshy egg inside. it opened. she gasped as a spider like creature crawled out of it. It suddenly darted at her. She slammed her door shut, but the creature broke through it, flying for her face. she grabbed it and held it at bay. it wrapped its long tail round her neck and pulled itself for her face. she was choking now, she couldn't call for help. soon, she lost consciousness, and her hands slipped away form the creature. it latched on.

--

24 hours later, the shower had subsided. Lister clambered out of his bunk and rubbed his brow. he had a serious headache for no sleeping. holly appeared. "how was it?"

"horrible!" Lister said a she sat down. rimmer slowly slid out of his bunk. "my............crotch..." he said slowly. Rimmer had had somehting fall on is crotch while he was laying there. it came form the vents...it was bob actually. Lister had his first meal and proceeded to the science lab. (recently the Canaries had been given More then normal assignments. stuff like guarding was now available)

--

when he walked inside with kryten, the box was on the ground, and the science officer was unconscious, lying against her bed. a spider-like creature lay dead next to her. Kryten rushed forwards and scanned her. "alive. but theres more then one life sign." he said. Lister looked at her. he eyes slowly opened. "what happened?" she asked.

"you have something gin you're chest. its alive." Kryten said. Lister looked to the door as Kochanski walked in. she saw what was happening and ran up. the women's breath began to accelerate. "mum? Are you alright?" kryten asked. she suddenly screamed loudly. and her chest distended! blood splatted out from the same spot. she screamed Even more and suddenly was silenced. a small, larval creature slowly wriggled from her. everyone was too in shock to do anything. it shrieked and dashed through a vent. Lister looked up at the others. "smeg..." he said.