A/N: To ZK, for having too much free time and too big an imagination! (holds up a glass) I'd have filled it with some form of drink, but time is money y'know! What else can I say except 'you're fab' and 'what would I do without you?'! And also to Sian and Corrine for being very very very very very helpful whilst writing this chapter, giving me words of encouragement and inspiration! Yay!

To all reviewers – THANK YOU!

Peace out y'all!

Sunny

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There were certain things that Rimmer just didn't want to see – like his parents having sex for example or Hollister stark naked, running in slow motion….another thing he didn't want to see, which only recently came to exist on his list of 'Things I really don't want to see ever' was a zombies head being smashed in with a crow bar.

It was, for want of a better word, quite quite gross.

There was a sickening, skull shattering crunch as the crow bar came into contact with the zombies head, then there came a slippery, sloppy sounding splat noise as various bodily fluids were sent flying through the air, followed by a 'thud' as the zombie crumpled to the floor.

The walls of the mall were now coated in zombie blood, brains and bone. Rimmer closed his eyes and hastily turned away for fear of being sick.

Gross didn't seem to give an ample description anyway – utterly, completely and totally, unconditionally repulsive still didn't come close to describing how truly disgusting it was.

He wasn't the only one who held this opinion. Toni shuddered "Ewwww!" and Kryten gagged at the thought of trying to get those pesky stains off that wall.

Cat would too have looked disgusted had he not been so pleased with himself. He'd just smacked off a zombie's head quite spectacually to save the others and all he got was a few "ewwww's" and an odd disgusted look.

The feline sniffed but rose above the looks and after bringing out a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe away the zombie guts from his trusty crowbar, he moved over to the others who were discussing their next plan of action.

"It'd be handy if we could get a map" said Lister, feeling distinctly queasy after watching the zombie death "That way we could plan a proper escape route"

Rimmer said nothing. Normally, he'd have found flaws in Lister's idea, subjected them to severe exaggerated before presenting them to the rest of the group, complete with snarky comments and 'death glares'…..but he just didn't have it in him. It was as if this whole planet was draining his life-force, sucking out whatever enthusiasm he had to pick a fight with Lister, leaving him weak and obedient.

"So everyone take a look around" said Lister "Give a shout if you see anything" Sighing and rubbing his pain filled temple, he walked away from the others.

God, he would kill for a cigarette right about now... though he already was sort of killing - If killing the undead counted as killing…which it probably did in the literal sense.

He sighed and wandered over to look in the window of some costume shop out of boredom, and then he noticed them - the pack of cigarettes on the counter, calling out to him.

Surely one cigarette couldn't hurt? He looked over at the others but they were too busy stressing about the zombie situation to notice. Lister walked over to the door and hoped it was unlocked - For the first time today his prayers were answered and the door opened with the smallest of squeaks. He slipped inside and over to the counter. He picked up the cigarettes fondly; suddenly a small crunch made him jump and he looked over to the back of the shop.

It was too dark to see anything much but he crept forward with wary curiosity. He was about to look round the corner when a hand on his shoulder caused him to yelp.

"Shhhh! It's only me." Charlie said quickly as Lister spun round. She looked at the cigarettes and smirked. "Toni's gonna kill you….."

"Not if the cigarettes and zombies kill me first." Lister muttered with a hint of bitterness.

"Awww, don't be so melodram-" she froze "What was that?" Charlie asked as she turned and stared into the darkness as they heard the noise again.

"I dunno, I don't want to find out either." Lister replied as Rimmer hovered at the door.

"Will you two come on? The others have gone on to try and find another exit." He explained as he walked over to Charlie and Lister.

"Okay man." Lister said with a reluctant sigh as he slipped the pack of ciggies into his pocket.

"Think there's an exit round here?" Rimmer asked as he moved round Charlie and further to the back of the shop and gazing into the gloom

"I don't know but..." Charlie began as she looked at Rimmer, but suddenly froze

"But what?" Rimmer asked with concern, feeling the hairs on the back of his neck prickle

"But I think that's a zombie..." Charlie said with a slight gasp, she grabbed Rimmer's arm and yanked him backwards as a gaunt looking zombie came stumbling out of the darkness, groaning and flailing its arms.

"Oh smeg! Where's Cat and his crowbar when you need them?" Lister grumbled as he and Charlie ran back out of the shop, Rimmer in tow.

They skidded across the shiny floor into the centre of the mall. Toni, Cat and Kryten were nowhere to be seen.

"Toni!" shouted Lister, his voice echoing eerily off the walls and bouncing about the empty building. "Kryten? Cat?"

He looked desperately at Rimmer and Charlie, who were looking equally as lost and panicky. The zombie from the fancy dress shop was shuffling its way towards them as another appeared from the left and a third came into view on the first floor.

"This way" yelled Rimmer, nodding towards an expensive looking shoe shop that catered for women who were fond of wearing expensive, uncomfortable and impractical shoes.

He took hold of Charlie's hand, ignored the tingles that tickled his fingers and 'legged it'. They sped down the empty corridor before turning right and diving into a music store, just in time as a crowd of six or seven zombies came shuffling by.

Trying to keep their heavy breathing to a minimum Charlie and Rimmer waited, crouched in the semi darkness, their hearts pounding inside their chests.

"That was close" panted Charlie, brushing her hair out of her eyes.

Rimmer swallowed and nodded before he noted what was wrong with this situation "Smeg." He said, making Charlie jump slightly "Where's Lister?"

She looked around as if suddenly expecting him to appear before looking back to the hologram, her expression torn between guilt and worry "oops…"

'Oops' wasn't was Lister was currently thinking about it all, his thoughts went something along the lines of 'oh smeg, could this possibly get any worse?'. Not only had he , Charlie and Rimmer lost the others but now he'd lost Charlie and Rimmer – leaving him completely alone in a zombie filled mall.

He tightened his grip on the cricket bat he'd taken from the DIY store (what a cricket bat was doing in a DIY store on an elite planetoid was beyond Lister, but he wasn't one to look a gift horse in the mouth) and bit his lip. Adrenaline pumped through his veins and blood roared in his ears. He took several deep breaths and contemplated what to do.

The sound of footsteps made him freeze…they were getting closer….and closer….just a few feet away. Lister scrambled backwards, cricket bat raised high over his head just in case this zombie wanted to test its luck.

His breath caught in his throat as a figure turned the corner….and gave him a half relieved, half bemused look "there you are" said Toni, "I thought we'd lost you…." She frowned "where's Charlie and Rimmer?"

"I lost them" admitted Lister sheepishly "Or they lost me….it's difficult to tell in situations like this, who looses who…we could have lost each other at the exact same time….you never know!"

Toni groaned and fell into Lister's open arms wearily "Is it just me" she asked, "or is the day going from bad to worse?"

"Yep" agreed Lister, he sighed "We'll grab the others and have a look for Charlie and Rimmer."

"I feel really sorry for Charlie" said Toni, holding Lister's hands and leading him towards where Cat and Kryten were stood "She was supposed to be on a date with Rimmer today, it's all sort of fell apart"

Lister stopped suddenly, jerking Toni backwards "You knew?" he said, frowning "You knew Rimmer had asked Charlie out?"

Toni gave a nervous nod "Yeah….is that a problem?"

Lister gave a short laugh before saying sarcastically "Oh no! I'm perfectly fine with one of my oldest friends being hit on by Arnold J. Rimmer –Smeg head extraordinaire!" Something suddenly clicked inside his head and the flickering flames of anger burst into a towering inferno "And how convenient that he and Charlie just happen to get 'lost' together! He's planned this!"

"Dave, I'm sure Rimmer didn't do that on purpose…." Said Toni quietly, trying to calm her infuriated boyfriend

"Oh no, you obviously don't know Rimmer – this is just the sort of stunt he'd pull. I bet you any moment now he'll be giving the 'mesmer' stare quickly followed by the 'wormdo' line!" snapped Lister, his temper refusing to be soothed by Toni's words "That no good weasley little smeg head….next time I see him" vowed the human "He's dead!"

At that moment in time, Lister had no idea how accurate he was.