Lister was trying to get the fire in the centre of the hut started when Rimmer came back. "Hey," he stood up to greet him, "Have you eaten?"
"Yes, just now. You didn't have to get everything ready for me, Lister."
He shrugged, "I finished up a while ago and I wanted to be here when you got back. I wanted to know what happened. How did it go?"
"Not too bad actually. Their perimeter guard is strong but they've got absolutely no air security. They don't think they need it; as far as they know, we don't have any aircraft. They won't be prepared for an air-strike."
"They'll hear us coming though. Starbug's small, but not small enough for a stealth attack."
"It doesn't matter. They've got no equipment to bring down the ship. We haven't got the resources to take them out completely with this attack, but at the very least it should even up the numbers a bit for when the smeg really hits the fan." Lister nodded and went back to trying to light the fire. Rimmer understood. He was aware of how Lister felt about war and knew that he didn't like all this sitting around plotting how to kill things; even things like the Furies. He decided to change the subject.
"I saw Kristine a minute ago." Lister looked up warily and Rimmer half-smiled; "She wasn't very happy with me."
"I know." Lister said, "But I didn't think she'd actually say anything. I'm sorry."
"Do you want to tell me what's going on, Lister?" Rimmer asked, and for a moment he sounded so much like his old self that Lister couldn't help but smile just a little; but it was short-lived. "She doesn't want me to stay and fight. She thinks you've brainwashed me into it."
"I see." Rimmer looked at him carefully, "Is that how you feel?"
"You know why I'm doing this." Lister replied.
"Does she?"
"I've tried to make her understand, but she doesn't want to know. She's upset and she wants somebody to blame." Rimmer took a deep breath,
"She does love you, you know."
Lister paused for a moment, then carried on without looking at him, "No. She doesn't. She just loves somebody who looks like me. I think she forgets that sometimes. She wants me to be him and I'm not."
"But you are." Rimmer reminded him gently, "You're the same person."
"No, we're not! That's like saying that you and Ace are..." he trailed off and turned around to look at him. Rimmer was smiling, "You see?" he said softly. Lister sighed and turned round again, "It doesn't really matter now anyway."
"Why?"
"Because I'm not going to be here much longer."
Rimmer frowned and went over to kneel down beside him, "What are you talking about?" Lister sat back on his haunches and faced him with a sad smile,
"Come on, Rimmer. We both know what my chances are of surviving this mess. Like Kriss said earlier, I'm not a trained soldier. I don't know how to use any of that stuff back in the armoury. Once I'm out of bullets, that's it."
"Don't say that." Rimmer shook his head, "I wouldn't have asked you to stay if I'd thought I was just sending you out to die. We'll work on your weaponry skills; it's not that difficult. You've used a sword enough times in A.R. games. I know you can do this." Lister looked at him doubtfully. "Remember, I'm going to be out there with you. We'll look out for each other. Boys from the Dwarf, remember?"
Lister smiled slyly, "Have you got anything in writing?" he asked pointedly. Rimmer thumped him hard on the arm and they both laughed. "Just don't give up on me yet." Rimmer said, then paused for a long moment before adding, "Or Kriss. I think you might find her waiting for you when you come off that battlefield a hero."
"I'm not doing this for her, Rimmer." Lister said, shaking his head.
"No?"
"No. I'm doing it for you. That is...us. I mean...Our people. Remember?"
"Right." Rimmer nodded. He looked down, "Have you still not got that fire going?"
"No."
"Here," he took the matches out of his hand, "I'll strike it, you shield it."
Together they tended the small flame and it wasn't long before the wood caught and there was a strong blaze. They sat in its glow for a while then went to bed. "We'll practise with some of the weaponry tomorrow, okay?" Rimmer said, before Lister went back to his own hut.
"Okay. Night."
"Night."
