Chapter IV - Humbug Rimmer
The new quarters were quite similar to the old ones, being much the same as most officer quarters. The boys from the Dwarf had moved quarters more then ounce in their time spent marooned in deep space. Know as Rimmer was laying in his bunk with his magazine in hand, several heaters where plugged in with wires wrung along the floor, all facing the bottom bunk.
A rapping came a tapping upon the chamber door, Rimmer looked over and knowing who it was. Pulling himself away from his thrilling read, he got up leaving the warm comfort of the heaters to answer the door.
Gathered around the table in the quarters the three sat in their large coats, all seemingly upset.
"You know I can't believe Rimmer, were trying to do something nice and he's being a Scrooge."
"What's a Screwge?" asked Cat.
"Uh, Scrooge was a character, in Charles Dickens Novel A Christmas Carol sir." chimed in Kryten. "it's has been adapted no more then six hundred times over the years, a true classic."
"Yeah, and Scrooge is a real spitting image of Rimmer." smiled Lister.
"So what happened to this Rimmer looking guy?" asked the Cat.
"He was visited, buy three ghost, to make him change his ways."
"Shame we can't do that to old goal pots head."
"I think that's the smartest idea you've ever had."
"Really, what was it before that."
"I think we should move on to the prank no sirs." butted in Kryten.
The Cat and Lister where sneaking around the science lab pocking though draws and cabinets. Cat yanked of the bed sheets of the patient bed and looked back grinning at Lister, who in turn pulled out some medical scissors from draw, and was smiling back.
They regrouped and beamed over their spoils, before a strange beeped began to become audible. As they where leaving both picked up on the sound and looked back towards the console making it. Creaking back over they saw the flashing purple light on console with the display screen.
After gathering their Science officer the three convened.
"So what is it Kryts?" asked Lister.
Kryten examined the screen and read the readout. "It's a particulate dust cloud."
"So what is it?" asked the Cat.
"It's a gathering of dust particulars in space, that has formed in to a cloud bound by it's own gravity."
"So what is it?" asked Cat again.
"A space cloud." explained Lister. "Know is it dangerous, we don't need anything to spoil the holiday."
"Well, we can't tell much as of yet, but it's due to collied with us within the up coming sleep cycle. Best for me to be on hand to motioner it and make sure to get a test sample, I hopes it's not lethal in anyway."
"I guess that means we'll half to put Scrooging Rimmer on hold?" sighed Lister.