preamble:
Commander Ace Rimmer pushed a button. He was going to jump in three... two... one.
After a few minutes of disorientation he looked about. A ship. Starbug floated serenely in front of him, he hailed them, not certain what to expect.
the rest of it:
A communications request registered on Starbug 1. A mostly unused 'blip blip blip' went off, much to the surprise and confusion of the crew. Kryten answered it, because he was in charge of that button. The Cat and Kochanski eagerly looked at the comm screen, Lister didn't, Lister looked off the general director of right. Right at a button really.
Ace Rimmer's face appeared on screen. The Cat made a noise, and Lister's curiosity got the better of him.
"Rimmer-?" He said hoarsely, and then passed out.
The story in this dimension went something like this. A few months ago (well, more like a year, really, a year or two, rather) the Red Dwarf posse had broken onto a terminal Simulant ship for supplies, a simulant ship which had previously attacked them, and was on the edge of collapse. They had looted it, and just before they were about to leave the remaining simulant attacked them. Rimmer, for whatever reason, had chosen to attempt to rescue his crewmates, rather than just run away. He got shot at point blank, which hit his light bee, and he died, somewhat dramatically. This actions started a ship quake and they had to teleport the hell out of there.
But that didn't change the fact that Rimmer, for all intents and purposes was dead. And not only was he dead, but they'd lost his light bee. They had nothing of Rimmer. Well, that's not true. They had the things he claimed as his meager possessions remained.
Lister wouldn't let anyone touch them.
After a while they got Kochanski after that unfortunate incident with the rip in space time fabric.
And that was the whole story.
Since Lister was still completely unconscious, Kryten spoke to Ace of his worries. His fears. Of Mister Lister's behavior for the past couple of years.
"He's seemed.. almost melancholic, Mr. Ace, sir. I don't know what to do."
Ace didn't either.
Much, much later, Ace had agreed to stay the night. Maybe he could help Lister, somehow. Maybe. Hopefully.
Ace was curled into his bunk, his thoughts on home. He missed home. Well, he had to face it, he was horribly, horribly homesick.
He froze. His door opened.
Deciding against his better judgment he decided not to say 'lights' and see who it was. He was perfectly still, he let his breathing slow to sound like he was asleep. A body climbed into the bed with him. Curled around him, an arm went around of his waist.
A content voice murmured "Rimmer, man. I missed you."
When Ace was absolutely certain that Lister was asleep he turned very, /very/ slowly. It was Lister. Sleeping peacefully, one thumb in his mouth, the other still slung casually over his waist.
And he had looked so ragged in the medilab.
Lister stirred, his eyes opened blearily.
"Rimmer, man. Yer back again. Missed you." And he nuzzled Ace. Ace wrapped his arms around Lister.
"I missed you too, Listy." He whispered.
He did.
Lister woke up the next morning in the guest quarters alone. He sat up and looked around. The room was empty but for a note, set so he'd be certain to see it.
Dear Listy, it read, I'm sorry. But I had to go. Please don't be sad. Please don't be angry. I want you to be happy, and I swear you will be one day.
I love you.
Take care of yourself. And it was signed, Rimmer.
Afteramble:
Ace sat in the cockpit of the Wildfire. He permitted himself a single tear. And punched a button.
a/n: Ending? Still bad. I cannot finish things properly. So the endings are someting of a non-ending. Which, of course, always gives us the possibility of... (dramatic music) Going Back. Right-y oh. The next bit (and there is a next bit, two next bits actually, before I have to start Thinking again, will take a bitlonger as I actually need to finish writing it. Also, before you ask, yes, randomly killing off Rimmer is fun. I love him like some kind of long distance, don't really like you, doesn't really like me lover, but as I have said many times before, RRT is fun. I'll stop ranting now.