Time passed and Mirabel kept getting better. She was spending more time out of the medical ward and getting her stamina back. Meanwhile Kryten, Lister, and Cat had retrieved whatever they could of her space craft and put it in the loading bay.
The damage was not pretty.
"This is going to take me months to fix." She said eyeing the wreckage.
"Well don't worry then!" Lister said. "We'll help ya!"
Mirabel appreciated it, but at the same time was still unsure whether the ship was even salvageable.
"I don't even know if all the parts are there?" She said.
"Well I am sure we can spare you some mum." Kryten said. "Whatever you don't have we may be able to scavenge for."
Mirabel shook her head. She wouldn't know until she was able to get in there and look.
"Well no time like the present." She said hobbling on her crutches.
"What now!?" Rimmer said. "In your condition?"
Mirabel shrugged.
"I can't climb into the engine or the ship itself." She said. "But there has gotta be some parts I can repair without being inside it."
"We'll look." Lister said. "Head back to medical, we'll get them for ya."
"Do we have to?" Cat said whining. "This shirt is silk, grease and oil will destroy it, not to mention my hair!?"
Lister glared at him, but Mirabel had an idea.
"Actually Cat, do you have anything I can borrow or even material I can find to make myself some clothes? She asked. "Thank you Lister for letting me borrow your Rastabilly Skank shirts and gym shorts, but I think its time I had my own wardrobe."
"Sure thing lady!" He said wiggling his fingers. "Just got to get some measurements!"
"Hey, wait hold on!" Rimmer said before Cat could even try. "If you have him coordinate your clothes you'll look like more like a nightwalker in the Red Light District then a space officer. Head back to medical, we'll get you set up."
Mirabel gave him a surprised look.
"Really?" She said.
"Oh just go!" He yelled.
"Okay, okay!" She said hobbling away.
Everyone looked at Rimmer.
"So uh, what's your plan then?" Lister asked.
Rimmer smiled a little.
"You'll see." He said. "Holly!"
Mirabel headed back to the medical ward.
"Mornin."
Mirabel turned and saw Holly.
"Ah good morning Holly." Mirabel said. "What's up?"
"Just a tick." She said. "Hold still."
Mirabel made a face.
"Got it." Holly said.
A folded batch of clothes appeared on Mirabel's cot.
"What's this?" She asked. She lifted up the brown shirt and saw it was a Red Dwarf regulation shirt, except this one had her last name sewed into the patch on the left hand side.
"Special gift from the crew." Holly said. "Welcome to Red Dwarf Officer Hargrove."
Mirabel smiled.
"But I'm not a Red Dwarf officer." She said.
"Now you are!" Lister said appearing in the door. "And you have him to thank."
He pointed to Rimmer who play nonchalant.
"I just, just, you know had your records transferred to Red Dwarf." He said. "You are now a member of our crew, officially."
"Might as well." Holly said. "Lord knows we needed a real officer around here."
Rimmer turned to her in shock.
"I'M AN OFFICER!" He yelled. "I'M THE HIGHEST RANKING MEMBER ON THIS SHIP OR HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN DOORKNOB BRAIN!"
"Not anymore." Holly said. "Officer Hargrove is now."
Uh oh.
"Oh smeg Rimmer." Lister said laughing out loud.
"You really shot yourself in the foot buddy!" Cat said.
Everyone including Kryten began laughing at Rimmer's faux pax. He had forgotten Mirabel was an explorer, navigator, and a much higher status of technician. She was lightyears ahead of him in rank.
Rimmer growled.
"Well officer or not, she's not in charge!" He yelled. "I was in charge first and it stays that way!"
He pointed to Mirabel.
"Don't even try usurping me!" He said angrily. "You may be a pretty face, but this is my ship, my command! What I say goes, you understand?"
Mirabel just nodded in her stunned state.
"Good." He said. He then charged out of the room.
"I think I hit a sore spot." She said.
"Trust me, we'll take orders from you any day." Cat said. "He knows next to nothing. That guy has almost gotten us killed dozens of times."
"He's tried to be an officer for as long as we remember." Lister said. "Rimmer has failed his navigation exam nine times!" He just can't accept it, he may not come around, but don't let him bust ya."
"Mister Rimmer tries mum." Kryten said.
Mirabel looked past them. Rimmer was long gone, but she felt sorry for him. He had come off as some hard headed officer, but in reality he was just a hard headed guy. His ego was now bruised. But..
Did he just say she had a pretty face?
"Might as well get dressed." She said shaking herself out of the thought. "Where's the showers?"
Cat and Lister got a shady, sly look on their faces.
Mirabel gave them a look and got the hint. Oh no these guys better not.
"Holly?" She asked crossing her arms.
Suddenly a laser dot pointed down at their feet and was inching higher up.
"Try anything buckos and I'll give you the neuter of a lifetime!" Holly said wearing a cowboy hat.
"Holly you traitor!" Lister yelled.
The dot inched closer.
"You wouldn't!?" Cat said.
"Wanna bet?" Holly asked. "Do ya feel lucky punk?"
"Do ya?" Mirabel asked with a smirk.
Lister and Cat moved out of the way to let Mirabel through.
"Thank you Holly!" She yelled out as she headed to the women's shower room.
"Fresh toiletries are already in the shower room." Kryten yelled back.
"Thank you Kryten!" She responded.
"You're dead." Cat said looking at Holly.
"Yeah, I thought you were on our side." Lister said.
"She's higher rank than you two." Holly said. "Plus, she asks for things nicely."
Mirabel thought the shower was heaven. It had been awhile since she was able to properly bathe herself since the accident. She exited the the handicap shower stall and then moved into the changing room. It took a little struggling with the dressings, but she was finally dressed. Looking in the large mirror she surveyed the damage.
Cuts all along her arms from the accident along with the intravenous drips. Bruises of all colors peppered her body. A good size stitching to close up the head wound above her right eyebrow. The skin that had amazingly avoided impact was pallid from lack of proper nutrition while recovering.
She was not winning any beauty pageants anytime soon. Oh well. She began combing her hair.
After almost an hour she was finally ready to go. She began limping out of the shower room and nearly collided with someone.
"Rimmer?" She said seeing who it was.
He got a good look at her. The uniform fit her perfectly. Much nicer than her space suit. Her hair shinier and gracing her small, porcelain face. Even the issued boots looked good on her.
"Sorry." He said and tried to get away.
"Wait, Rimmer!" She said. He stopped but didn't turn around.
"Thank you." She said. "Thank you, Arnold. Not just for the clothes, but transferring me to Red Dwarf. And your right."
He turned his head to the side.
"About what?" He asked.
"This is your ship." She said. "Your command. Your crew. Regardless of my rank, you are still the boss. I won't take it from you."
He turned to her and she gave him an agreeable smile and a shrug between her crutches.
Rimmer felt himself soften.
"Don't patronize me Officer Hargove." He said, turned back around and marched away.
Mirabel sighed feeling helpless.
Well at least she tried.