Holly would remain guarded; he was wary of Rimmer and any potential ulterior motives, especially after learning about his unsettling desire to die. The conversation they had would be stored in his data banks, kept as a record in case Rimmer's mental distress escalated into suicidal ideation.
It would be hours before Rimmer finally settled back into bed, as he had been advised to do. However, he refused to lie back down without grabbing a few extra blankets from the nurse's station. Rimmer knew all too well that the combination of exhaustion and the cold void of space was never a pleasant experience, and he was determined to find some comfort in the warmth of additional blankets.
"You feeling okay?" Holly asks, a touch of concern in his voice. "I'm detecting a fluctuation in body heat." Naturally, the AI assumed that Rimmer must be feeling ill. Rimmer had sat down on the edge of the bed, wrapping the blankets around himself in an attempt to warm up and regain sensation in his fingers, as the room's core temperature dropped.
"I'm feeling marvelous, thank you," Rimmer says, using a chirpy tone of voice to disguise the throbbing inside his skull.
"So I figure you're under the weather?" Holly says, noticing Rimmer's discomfort.
"Yes, I feel sick, sick to my stomach," Rimmer wheezes out.
"Maybe a cup of warm tea would do you good," Holly suggests.
Rimmer's voice fills with anticipation as he responds, "Wish I could say the same. I've been trying to push through this brain fog for days."
"I noticed you haven't been eating or drinking as you should be," Holly says, his holographic presence emanating concern. He had spent the entire week observing Rimmer's behavior, carefully monitoring his well-being.
"What's it matter if I do or if I don't?" Rimmer says, his voice a harsh whisper. He draws the covers closer to himself, attempting to stifle the shivering that overwhelms him. "I'd give anything to be unconscious right now."
"Be grateful that you're still conscious," Holly gently reminds him, his holographic form displaying a touch of concern. "The longer you remain unconscious, the higher the risk of sustaining brain damage."
Rimmer's voice quivers with a sense of hopelessness and uncertainty as he responds, "I'm not so sure about either."
Rimmer's body was tiring much too quickly, and Holly's concern deepened. It became increasingly difficult for him to summon the strength to move around the vessel, let alone attend to his own needs. Uncertainty loomed over Holly as he grappled with the question of how to navigate through this challenging situation.
"Juh-just put me back into stasis, Holly," Rimmer pleaded, his voice filled with desperation. "Just put me back until we can figure everything out."
His eyes were shining with tears, aware that his mental health and cognitive thinking were slowly deteriorating. His voice seized up once again, unable to articulate much else. He barely had enough energy to speak, each breath a struggle as the world around him crumbled. His gaze fixated solely on Holly, recognizing him as his sole beacon, a glimmer of light amidst the encroaching darkness. In this desperate moment, Holly remained his only companion.
"Rimmer, this is just a setback," Holly reassured, employing the logical approach that such a situation permitted. "You mustn't push yourself until the symptoms finally resolve themselves. Rest and allow your body the time it needs to heal."
"Wait," Rimmer says, recovering his voice. Impatience and worry tinge his words. "Wait? For how long?"
"Rimmer, you should know better," Holly says, his tone firm as he tries to reason with him.
"Know any better?" Rimmer replies, a hint of sarcasm in his voice. "Had I known any better, I probably wouldn't be here in the first place."
The room falls into a tense silence as Rimmer and Holly lock eyes, each holding their ground. Rimmer's frustration mixes with Holly's concern, creating an impasse between them. Neither is willing to back down, and neither can find a solution that satisfies them both.
They remain locked in this stalemate, the weight of their circumstances hanging heavily in the air. It's a battle of wills, with Rimmer's desperation and Holly's duty conflicting in an unyielding clash. They both understand the gravity of the situation, but their differing perspectives and approaches create an impassable divide.
In this moment, Rimmer and Holly find themselves at an impasse, unable to find common ground or reach a compromise. The room echoes with their unspoken frustrations, as they grapple with the complexities of their situation.
For now, they remain in this state of deadlock, each holding onto their convictions. It's a fragile balance, one that teeters on the edge of uncertainty. Only time will tell if they can find a way to navigate through the challenges that lie ahead.
And so, in the quiet stillness of the room, Rimmer and Holly stand their ground, locked in a stalemate that neither of them knows how to break.
"Fine," Rimmer says, breaking eye contact with Holly. His voice carries a tinge of resignation. "Fine, you win. I have better things to do than argue with you. I'm tired as it is, and it's not doing anything for my headaches."
"Rimmer," Holly interjects, his voice filled with concern.
The weariness in his body and mind weighs him down, and he has no energy left for further debate. As he settles into his bed, he tries to find solace in the darkness, hoping for some respite from the pain that plagues him.
Holly watches him silently, the worry still etched across his holographic face. He contemplates saying more, offering words of comfort or guidance. But he knows that Rimmer needs space, needs time to process and come to terms with the complexities of his situation.
With a heavy sigh, Holly fades into the background, his light dimming. He remains vigilant, ready to assist if needed, but he understands the importance of giving Rimmer the freedom to navigate his own emotions and thoughts.
In the silence of the room, Rimmer is left to grapple with his inner demons, to confront the realities of his deteriorating mental health and the challenges that lie ahead. It is a battle he must face alone, at least for now.
And so, with their argument unresolved, Rimmer and Holly find themselves in a momentary truce. They may have different perspectives, but their shared goal remains the same - to find a way through the darkness that engulfs them.