Rimmer's Decision


They landed on an open plain. The ground was just dirt but there was scrubby vegetation visible out of the cockpit windshield. The crew filed out to Starbug's airlock. At Lister's insistence, they were lightly armed with knives and, less lightly, with bazookoids but he didn't think they were going to need them. He had a feeling, deep inside that this was right somehow. That everything was going to be alright. He nodded to Kryten and he triggered the airlock. They were on their way.

Beside him, he could feel Kriss fairly buzzing with nervous excitement and he supposed she must be getting the same vibe from him. The Cat was blase, as he was about most things and Kryten was just plain nervous but only he and Kriss were really aware of the magnitude of what was happening. If they found other people, other humans...

The hatchway door purred open and they stepped out as a group onto Starbug's ramp. There were humans, alright. A big group of them. With a large amount of spears and not very happy faces. Guess they heard my super-smooth landing after all. the Cat remarked.
Kriss said nervously under her breath, taking a step back.
he said softly. He stepped forward. Hi, there! Sorry, didn't mean to scare you or anything but we picked you up on our scanner and well, we didn't know there were anymore of you guys like us around, so we thought we'd drop in. Silence. We come in peace. he added hopefully.
Give up, bud. the Cat told him. We don't even know if these dumb monkeys speak english. Let's just back away slowly and I can get back to my laundry.

We speak english. a voice announced from the crowd. Lister's heart leapt. A man was walking through to the front of the group and the spears were being put up. He stopped at the bottom of the ramp. Sorry. But you did give us a bit of a fright. And we have to be careful.
No probs. Lister beamed. He gestured to the crew and they all put down the bazookoids. He went down the ramp and shook hands with the speaker. My name is Ethan Morgan. he introduced himself, And this, he gestured around them, Is Santa Ria. Our home.
Dave Lister. he replied, This is Kristine Kochanski and the weird looking fellas are Kryten and Cat. And er...that's Starbug.

Ethan's expression changed. There was a flicker of something in his eyes and he suddenly grinned widely. Dave Lister? he asked, You're really Dave Lister? He turned to look at the others, You're the Red Dwarf posse? The delight in his voice was evident. The Cat primped smugly at this attention. Lister confirmed, confused. You know about us?
I think we have a friend in common. Ethan turned around and whispered something to a young man who grinned and ran off. Come on. We'll take you back to the village. We have a lot to talk about.