Chapter 15

Dark Ace and the Pussy Cats

When Ace of Black Hearts Rimmer regained consciousness he was looking up at the faces of several of the Outcats. It was the several of the younger females, which were sniffing and pawing at him as he eased into conscience.

"Ladies Ladies. How utterly delightful to see you." Said Ace, trying to get up. The feistiest of the three leapt four feet into the air, and landed on Ace chest, crashing him back down on the hard metal bunk below. Still on Ace's chest she crouched on all fours, tail in the air, heckels pointed and hissed at her rivals.

"Now now ladies, no use in fighting over me. There's more than enough to go around."

These creatures were completely unlike the civilized and domesticated cats of Red Dwarf. The hair on these cats' heads was long, and unkempt. Some of the rougher males had large, knots with various food stuffs embedded there. Some of the females hair was body length.

The males teeth were larger than that of their evolved counterparts also. Looking more like miniature saber toothed tigers than cats these mighty canines could rip out a humanoids throat and still have room for tea and crumpets.

A hand clapped. All three of the Cat girls immediately turned in it's direction. The hand clapped again and the more ambitious of the trio leapt to the floor, as the other two backed off. As the sound of heavy boots came closer, the she-cats moved further away.

When the boots stopped, they had the cat threesome's full attention. The right boot lifted, then fell with a large slapping boom. Before the sound cleared the girls were no longer in sight.

Ace sat up and rubbed the back of his head, While he did so he measured the distance between he and this Neanderthal of a cat. Six and a half feet tall, and covered in long shimmering slate colored fur. He wore simple hand stitched leather clothing, and carried a battle ax on his belt. Apparently he wasn't completely disarmed when he was exiled.

Like the other cat people his face was too flat, his ears a bit too high,
and his eyes a little to round. His right eye was the color of amber with speckles of gray in it. His left eye was covered with a black patch.
His canines were immaculate, almost like Ivory. Though they did not hamper his speech.

"You'll have to pardon my daughters." He started. "They are young and impetuous and curious. Where I am only curious. Who are you? And how did you come to rescue us?"

This was difficult. Ace guessed where he was , and generally who this was he was addressing. But how it all came about, was still something of a mystery. He played it tight to the vest and answered a question with a question.

"Where's my ship? The last thing I remember I was in a dog fight after I entered this particular solar system. I was following a bogie down, and then
nothing." Ace looked at his host with a look of the helplessness.

"Can you help me fill in a few gaps old friend. I seem to be at some disadvantage here. Perhaps I'm in shock. If only you can help me remember."
The shimmering cat looked long and deep into Rimmer's eyes before he spoke.

"I am Slate, leader of the Outcats." He gestured with his furry arm
at the dozens of Cat people that mingled around them. We were set adrift, banished from the ark that travels amongst the stars which would have lead us to Fusha and the promised land long ago.
Fortune kept us alive all that time frozen, still within the Ark's influence. For what reason I do not know." Slate looked at Ace.
"Until you came."

Nothing on Rimmer's face changed but he was indeed impressed. The old cat actually remembers some detail during the time he was frozen. That still didn't answer what kind of universe he jumped into and was he a prisoner or a guest. And more importantly how much his host remembers as well.

"That's a marvelous tale old friend and indeed I am happy for you and your people," charmed Rimmer. "But I am still at a loss. How did I come to be your guest?"

"Not long after we regained control of our bodies and our ship we found
you and your ship floating in space." Slate turned to face Rimmer and said

"I recognized your face. From before I woke. I had you brought on board, and what's left of your ship in tow."

"In Tow? Where exactly too." Ace of Black Hearts knew his surprised look would acquire him more answers than direct questions.

"To the fourth planetoid in this system. Our scanners picked up a small civilization there. It seems to be inhabited by a race of Cat men not unlike
ourselves. We are all in the hope that it is those who cast us out. That we can exact our revenge upon the accused Red Hat's." There was a rise in Slates voice, a misting over of his eye. "And I can take my place as the true ruler of the Cat people!"

In Ace's mind there was no doubt of how this group who was exiled in deep space, after dimension hopping with Ace, found their tormentors.
They were bound to show up next to their own destiny lines. The reality drive
insisted on this whole heartedly. "Just as that other Rimmer showed up
and I blew the poor bastard out of the sky." he thought.

"Well, Best wishes to you and yours in this time of need. I was just wondering this. Do you have a plan? I mean the handful of you, in a dilapidated transport vehicle, against the resources of a small planetoid are
hardly even money."

Slate the warrior again looked deep into Ace's eyes.
"I knew you would be a bold warrior. I hoped you are also a wise warrior
in the ways of technology.
Do you have a plan?"

"Oh I have a plan in mind. One doozy of a plan," Ace thought to himself. "Needs be as the devil must." And an alliance was formed.