Sunrise over the Tango factory's A/N: Hey there! It's nearly christmas (blows horn) and here is a new chapter. I wrote this with some very help (raging tree trunk take a bow babe!) and also big ups to my other mate Nic, who's a very talented writer (140 pages, that's talent...) and she's always brilliant, offers wonderful comments and keeps me sane...ish :) Peace out. Sunrise.
p.s: read, enjoy, review....please
As they stood in the middle of the bustling market, Rimmer had a strange feeling. Shivers were sent down his spine, and he could swear something was going to happen. What it was, and whether it was good or bad, he couldn't yet tell, but something was going to happen.
"Kryten" asked Lister, eyeing up the people rushing about, thankful none of them were noticing the mechanoid "d'you know where we are yet?"
"According to my database, sir we're on Mars."
"Mars?" repeated the Cat, dumbstruck "as in the chocolate bar!"
"Yeah-" nodded Lister, "this planet was named after the chocolate bar!"
Rimmer groaned, "I'm surrounded by idiots" he yelled before walking off.
"What's up with him?" frowned Lister, watching Rimmer disappear into the crowd of people.
"Apparently, sir" offered Kryten "he's surrounded by idiots!"
Lister nodded, but by the time his brain had registered what had been said and had made his mouth say "Oi" Rimmer had gone.
He was currently striding through the market place, ignoring everyone. It was quite daunting, seeing all those people. He'd become accustomed to seeing Red Dwarf 'people free' so seeing large amounts of people was surprising and if not a little unsettling.
'This place isn't so bad' thought Rimmer, as he spotted rows of shops, that thankfully looked less crowded then the market.
He carried on moving his way through the crowd, till he reached a place less busy then the rest of the square, he turned round, expecting to Lister, Kryten and Cat following him, instead he saw a horde of people and no Lister, no Kryten and no Cat.
'How selfish can you get' thought Rimmer, walking ahead but still looking backwards in the hope they'd suddenly appear 'I waltz off on a strange planet and they don't even have the common decency to follow me! How rude!' He was jolted from his grumbling when he banged into someone,
"Sorry" he gabbled, taking hold of their arm in an apologetic way.
When that person looked up, Rimmer found himself staring into the deep green eyes of someone he once knew.
"Elizabeth?" he whispered.
For one fearful second Rimmer wondered whether he'd got the wrong person, because the women frowned, scrutinising his face.
"Arnold!" cried Elizabeth, beaming broadly at him.
It was her, Rimmer suddenly realised he was smiling too, he glanced at her. She'd changed a bit, well a lot but it was for the better. Rimmer would never have thought it possible, but she was more beautiful now then when she was 13.
For a moment or two, they just stood there, smiling at each other politely, then Elizabeth began laughing, she threw herself round Rimmer's shoulders, clasping her arms tightly round him. At first Rimmer was a bit shocked, but he shook it off. He found himself drawing her closer, like he never wanted her to leave again, she then did something that nearly made Rimmer faint with happiness.
She kissed him on the lips and within seconds Rimmer was kissing back.
Across the square, Lister and Cat were sat by the fountain.
"Hey" exclaimed Cat suddenly "Old goalpost heads being mugged!" Lister quickly stood up, there he saw Rimmer with a pretty girl clamped to his shoulders, laughing and smiling and doing anything but mugging him.
"No Cat" he said, sitting back down, but still watching Rimmer with increased interest "that's called a hug, you give it to someone you like"
There was a thoughtful pause from Cat before he eventually said, "You and me like each other right?"
Lister shrugged "We get on alright!"
"Then why don't we hug?" demanded the Cat. Lister stared at him with raised eyebrows,
"Because giving another guy a hug in public is a sure way of sendin' your macho-ness straight down to zero!"
"But we've hugged when we've been drunk" said the Cat, looking very confused.
"Yeah but you hug anything and everything when your drunk. I can remember hugging post boxes when I've been out of me head."
"Hello chaps" came a voice in front of them. It was Rimmer, his smile was a mile wide, and he looked like nothing whatsoever could dampen his spirits.
Lister grinned back at him, "You okay, look a little excited about summat?"
Rimmer tactfully ignored his question, "Listen, I've got something to pick up, so I'll meet you back at Starbug tonight, okay?"
"Would this 'something' be tall, brown hair, cute smile and a fantastic pair of tits?" asked Lister, leaning past Rimmer to see Elizabeth standing a few metres away, her face flushed with pleasure
Rimmer frowned "they called breasts, Lister, and no it is not Elizabeth who I'm picking up, in fact I've forgotten about her!"
Lister winked at him "sure, Rimmer whatever you say" He stood up, and made to leave but instead yelled out "Hi Lizzy!" at the top of his voice.
Elizabeth looked up, and waved back, but wore a face that clearly said 'who the hell is he?'
"Stop it," hissed Rimmer, "do you want to embarrass me?" Lister opened his mouth to reply. "On second thoughts" interjected Rimmer "don't answer that!"
Lister suddenly became very serious "look man, this is the girl of your dreams, get in there! Me, Cat and Kryten won't cramp your style" he patted Rimmer on the back "meet you back at the 'bug at 7? Okay?"
Rimmer nodded, feeling if he opened his mouth, he'd begin singing. He ran back over to Elizabeth, who was still smiling.
"Do you know them?" she asked, gesturing at Lister and Cat who were making kissing noises,
Rimmer fought the urge to laugh, "No" he said, "never seen before in my life!" Elizabeth held his hand, "coffee?" she asked sweetly,
"Love to" Rimmer replied.
As they sat in a small coffee bar, Rimmer suddenly remembered something. He was dead. If there was something to test a relationship, being dead would be a biggie.
Rimmer coughed, and placed his hand on Elizabeth's "I've got something to tell you, and you might find it quite upsetting..."
"Your gay?" she cried, earning looks from the other customers.
"No, No!" said Rimmer quickly, he paused "why, D'you think I am? Cos i'm not if that's what you mean, i'm a straight as a...very straight ruler!"
Elizabeth sighed, "sorry" she whispered, "What is it?"
Rimmer took a deep breathe "I'm...dead!" He watched in horror as her eyes widened, and her mouth dropped open. he looked out of the window, anything to cover up his embarrassment.
"You look good for a deadie!" she teased.
Rimmer breathed a sigh of relief "so you don't mind?"
Elizabeth took hold of his hand, and wrapped her fingers round it "I've found you, why should I care about anything as long as i'm with you?"
"Marry me," moaned Rimmer, kissing her passionately,
As Rimmer broke away from the kiss, he noticed Elizabeth was looking a little upset.
"Is something wrong?" he asked, panic flowing through him, had he done something wrong, was he a crap kisser?
"No, well yeah, but it's stupid really..." she mumbled, tucking her brown hair behind her ear, "it's just, we won't be able to have kids because your.... passed away!"
If this had been any other girl, Rimmer would have been running out of there quicker then a nun in a sex shop. Talk of commitment, marriage and kids so early in a relationship scared the hell out of him, but because it was Elizabeth, he felt different.
He took hold of her hand and led her round the table, and perched her on top of his knee.
"I can sort that out," he whispered, embracing her sweetly.
"You can?" she said, looking surprised but happy.
Rimmer nodded " I live on a spacecraft, on it there lives the last human being, who is so childish even hyperactive toddlers have told him to grow up. He's just like a kid, only taller and drinks and smokes and stuff! Would that do?"
Elizabeth laughed, "Now you put it like that, who needs kids?"
Lister yawned, and rubbed his face, leaving a large smear of oil down his cheek. Kryten came out of Starbug, and waddled over to where he stood.
"Any success sir?" he asked, handing him a beer.
Lister gave him fleeting look that clearly said 'are you havin' a laugh'
"it's useless, I've been at it for 4 hours now, and I've got nowhere!" he puffed, kicking the various spare parts and wires gathering around his feet like vines. "It's a complete write off!
"Here sir" grinned Kryten, passing the tray he'd been carrying to a shocked Lister, he then scrambled beneath the bug, and omitted sounds of banging, turning and welding, before scrambling out again. "Fixed!" he announced proudly, producing out of nowhere a yellow duster and began wiping the oil off his arms.
"Beginners luck," hissed Lister, shoving the tray back to him,
There was the sound of twigs cracking behind him as Rimmer emerged from the woods.
"Hey" smiled Lister, tripping over piping in his haste to find out the gossip off Rimmer "did you shag her or not?" he asked excitedly. It was at that point, that Elizabeth came out from behind a tree, grinning wickedly after hearing his comment, "Hello, Lister" she grinned.
He froze, "Hi" he replied, backing off "listen if you need me, I'll be...bye" and he rushed off, back inside the bug.
"Amazing..."breathed Rimmer "you sent Lister running off scared...are you perfect or what?"
"I am when i'm with you" she hushed, kissing him on the lips.