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Disclaimers in part 1
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Rimmer sighed as he powered down his vessel. He could just imagine what lied waiting for him on the other side of the docking door -- a Dave Lister who was not only a hologram, but who was actually anxious to see him.
He paused, considering his options. He *could* power up his ship and take off into another rift in time. He *could* leave without any knowledge of what this universe held. He *could* live the rest of his life without ever knowing what it was like to be on the receiving end of one of Lister's warm embraces.
The problem was that he didn't want to leave. Something inside him felt the need to discover what waited behind that door. Gathering his courage, he rose from his seat and slowly stepped closer, until he could finally reach out to release the lock.
As the doors opened and he walked from one ship to the next, he looked around him. It looked exactly like 'his' Starbug, and for a moment he allowed himself to imagine he was home.
"Rimmer?" a voice shyly spoke from behind him.
He turned to face a pair of shining eyes, possessed of an inner glow that broke down his defences. "Lister, it's good to see you again," he replied, his brain not quite connecting to the 'Ace' persona in his mind. Instinctively, he took a step forward and extended his arm to the other man.
"No, don't!" Lister cried, holding his hands up.
A perplexed Rimmer stoped mid-motion. After a moment, he thought he'd figured out what had upset Lister. "You're soft light, aren't you."
Lister nodded. "A short while ago, my light bee was damaged and the only one remaining was soft light. I can't touch anything..."
Rimmer smiled a soft smile and stepped closer, moving his extended hand to take one of Lister's, clasping it tightly much to the hologram's obvious shock. "We have something in common. I'm still hard light, but I can still touch you."
Lister's eyes widened and suddenly, without warning, he moved forward to wrap his arms around Rimmer. "It's been so long since I've touched anyone or anything, and I'm so happy it's you. I'm going to make it all up to you, Arnold. I promise."
Rimmer's eyes closed as he absorbed the feel of Lister's arms around him. The only thought that broke through the sensation was a dark little voice wondering if he'd ever be able to leave this universe now that he knew what he could have. He mentally silenced the voice, instead moving to wrap his arms around Lister as he had dreamt of doing far too often.
Disclaimers in part 1
*****************
Rimmer sighed as he powered down his vessel. He could just imagine what lied waiting for him on the other side of the docking door -- a Dave Lister who was not only a hologram, but who was actually anxious to see him.
He paused, considering his options. He *could* power up his ship and take off into another rift in time. He *could* leave without any knowledge of what this universe held. He *could* live the rest of his life without ever knowing what it was like to be on the receiving end of one of Lister's warm embraces.
The problem was that he didn't want to leave. Something inside him felt the need to discover what waited behind that door. Gathering his courage, he rose from his seat and slowly stepped closer, until he could finally reach out to release the lock.
As the doors opened and he walked from one ship to the next, he looked around him. It looked exactly like 'his' Starbug, and for a moment he allowed himself to imagine he was home.
"Rimmer?" a voice shyly spoke from behind him.
He turned to face a pair of shining eyes, possessed of an inner glow that broke down his defences. "Lister, it's good to see you again," he replied, his brain not quite connecting to the 'Ace' persona in his mind. Instinctively, he took a step forward and extended his arm to the other man.
"No, don't!" Lister cried, holding his hands up.
A perplexed Rimmer stoped mid-motion. After a moment, he thought he'd figured out what had upset Lister. "You're soft light, aren't you."
Lister nodded. "A short while ago, my light bee was damaged and the only one remaining was soft light. I can't touch anything..."
Rimmer smiled a soft smile and stepped closer, moving his extended hand to take one of Lister's, clasping it tightly much to the hologram's obvious shock. "We have something in common. I'm still hard light, but I can still touch you."
Lister's eyes widened and suddenly, without warning, he moved forward to wrap his arms around Rimmer. "It's been so long since I've touched anyone or anything, and I'm so happy it's you. I'm going to make it all up to you, Arnold. I promise."
Rimmer's eyes closed as he absorbed the feel of Lister's arms around him. The only thought that broke through the sensation was a dark little voice wondering if he'd ever be able to leave this universe now that he knew what he could have. He mentally silenced the voice, instead moving to wrap his arms around Lister as he had dreamt of doing far too often.