"Experiments" Lister half laughed, "She is an experiment?" he looked from Kryten to Cat then back to the paper in front of him once more. "So this is where her strength comes from? Her speed and agility? Damn she was quicker than the Cat"
"Hey" Cat growled, "I was taken unawares, and I did not dress correctly for chasing prey today got that?" Cat stared back down at the test results before him, "What's this metal thing?" he asked lifting up an x-ray.
Kryten closed his eyes, "They have inserted metal into her bones. I can't see why? Added strength perhaps? Some sort of interior defence system I am not sure at this point but I will tell you her blood pressure is sky high. That girl is in incredible pain"
"Well we have to help her, and now" Lister stood up, "I want to know what all this bullshit is about. Kryten what are those labs doing? What has happened to her?"
"She died." Everyone jumped as Rimmer appeared at the door his eyes downcast, he had a shadow over his face that wasn't thrown on by interruptions of light.
"Rimmer are you okay?" Lister asked slowly sitting back down.
"Well I say died, She was murdered; first mission they found what seemed like a derelict ship, she was eager and jumped in first" Rimmer stopped to take a breath "It ripped her apart. She didn't have a chance" he watched the shock on his crew mates faces, "There is nothing on file because they covered it up, she was the daughter of some dick who signed over her remains to the labs here for 'the advancement of medicine' for a quick pay off and the 'scientists' decided to attempt to rebuild her to ensure this didn't happen again."
"Holy smeg" Lister cried, "Why didn't they just bring her back as a hologram or something? Why did they want her alive I mean how was she that vital to the mission?"
"She was vital to experiments they had been planning for years but not managed to come across a body they could play with!" Rimmer sighed, "They didn't bring her back to life in as much as they just didn't let her completely slip away, she was hooked up to machines and kept hanging while they added more to her or took more away. That planet was her first text"
"Of course, that planet" Kryten "They sent her down first – she was built to test atmospheres and check for danger" he scanned over her results one more time, "I did wonder why she was part mechanoid …. For what purpose? It's all becoming clear now."
"They sent her down to look for anything that could kill them, sent her down there completely alone with no weapons or anything. She was terrified, crying and screaming for her mum and they just sent her down there. Of course after three days when she was still alive they sent the ship down as well completely overlooking that she no longer needed oxygen while they did" Rimmer half laughed, "Biggest brains of the ship forgot that they took her ability to breathe."
Silence took over the room, Cat still had his mouth open in horror while Lister was fiddling with the paper in front of him, none of them knew what to say.
"Kryten" Rimmer whispered, "She is in a lot of pain and she's terrified. I have given her my word that you won't do anything she doesn't ask for. She has a deep fear and mistrust of others especially when it comes to medicine. Can you go and talk to her now while I sort out some quarters for her? Then I will come and find you" Rimmer finally sat down he looked exhausted.
Lister stared quietly at the complete smeghead suddenly turned man, Rimmer looked really shaken by this but it was nice to see him taking control of a situation. If the girl had warmed to him it was probably best Rimmer stay with her as long as he could. "No, I will sort out a place for her to stay; I think you should go with Kryten and see what can be done. Just shout us if you need us okay?"
Rimmer looked up at Lister and for the first time saw some understanding, he smiled softly and nodded, "Okay" he replied slowly standing up, "Kryten you coming?"
"Yes sir" Kryten jumped to action and walked off ahead; Rimmer pulled a face in shock at being addressed as 'Sir' by Kryten but shrugged it off and followed him out of the room.
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Kryten smiled down at the young girl, "I would say that was a success Mister Rimmer, I have managed to take out the metal that was sticking into muscle, and cast her leg up safely. I checked out what they had added and found that they have added android equipment to her chest and her brain and for some reason her pain levels were extremely high, I assume it was to inform them of anything she did at any point. Even a paper cut would have felt like a broken leg to her – she is going to be okay now"
"Is she closed up yet?" Rimmer called from under the table, he had insisted on being there to hold her hand yet when Kryten had cut her open he had an urge to vomit and proceeding to hide out of sight for the remainder of the operation.
"Yes, no more blood" Kryten checked the girls temperature one more time and stood back satisfied, "All she needs now is rest, I wonder where Mister Lister plans to put her. I will just go and find out"
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Lister helped Kryten lift Paige onto the stretcher and then they proceeded to walk her down the corridor to the bunk room opposite Rimmer and Lister's. "I thought it best she was close to Rimmer" Lister smiled, "For god knows what reason she seems to like him. Where is he anyway?"
"He decided to take Blue Midget and return to the ship we found her on, hes hoping to find her bunk or something, maybe retrieve some of her things or failing that find as many female things as he can. There isn't much aboard here that would be suitable for her to wear and I don't think I can get the blood out of the clothes she came in though I will try."
"Kryten I think bloodstains are the least of her worries right now!" Lister laughed, "Come on, lets get her settled and then I can have a smegging beer. Tell you what we go for months and months with nothing happening at all then it all kicks off."