Author's Note: Thanks to those who have read the first chapter, and are now reading the second. This story is flowing rather easily for me.

The days passed. It wasn't getting any more pleasant.

Rimmer had not quite recovered from his funk. He was the last human being alive. He had no family, no friends, and no future, and that was just what it was like before the accident. Now he had no hope, either. Despite his bitter and cynical outlook on life, he had always had a slightly sliver of hope that everything would come up roses someday. He'd pass that exam, he'd get promoted, he'd command his own ship, he'd have his own crew, and he would finally get an invitation to Christmas dinner on Io with his family, which he would turn down, of course, because he hated them, but he loved the idea of just being invited.

Now they were all gone. He was alone.

"You're still in bed?"

He was alone, except for her.

Kochanski marched into his sleeping quarters, looking more than a little irritated. "Rimmer, I know you're going through a hard time, but for god's sake, you can't just waste away in bed for the rest of eternity."

Rimmer didn't reply. He just lay there, not even thinking.

Kochanski looked him over. He hadn't even bothered with pajamas. He'd just kicked his boots off, snuggled into his bunk under the blankets and gotten comfy. He had huge bags under his eyes, his hair was unruly from lacking of combing, and his face had five days' worth of stubble.

"You're a shadow of your former self, Rimmer," she said disgustedly. "And you weren't all that substantial in the first place."

"Go away," Rimmer rasped in a hoarse voice.

Kochanski blinked. "When's the last time you cleared your throat?"

"No one to talk to," he replied, just as raspily.

"You sound like a fifty-year-old chain smoker. Rimmer, get up!"

"No point."

"There's always a point! Just get up!"

"What's the point then?"

Kochanski came up short. "… Well, I don't know! Just get out of bed! Let's do something!"

Rimmer squinted in her direction. "What exactly have you been doing?"

"I've been… Well, not much of anything, really. I'm a hologram now. There's not much I can do."

"I weep for you," Rimmer grumbled, pulling the blanket over his head.

Kochanski glared. "You could be a little more sensitive about it. I am dead, after all."

"I'm sorry you popped your clogs. Now smeg off."

"Hey! I'm still your superior, you know! I don't like pulling rank, Rimmer, but if I have to in order to get you out of bed, then I will!"

"Oh, what is the point?" Rimmer demanded. "Who do I answer to – you? You're not captain. You're in Navigation. Your job is to tell which way is left and which way is right. Now just smeg the hell off and let me decompose in peace!"

Kochanski pinched her nose in frustration. There had to be something that would get the last human alive out of bed.

Imagine her surprise when her prayers were answered in the form of Holly appearing in the mirror. "Oi," he announced in a manner that was not very computer-like. "I've managed to run a scan on the cargo decks, and I found something there that shouldn't be there. It's a life form."

"What is it?" Kochanski asked.

"I don't know. I only know what it isn't."

"What isn't it?"

"Human."

At this, Rimmer finally lowered the blanket, looking up in surprise. "A non-human life form?" he asked, finally clearing the phlegm from his throat.

"Yep," Holly replied with a nod.

"… Aliens!"

Kochanski looked at him in surprise as he struggled to get out of bed. He took a long stretch to reactivate his muscles and proceeded to wash his face at the sink.

"Aliens?" she asked dubiously.

"Well, what else could it be?" Rimmer asked as he dried his face with a cloth.

"I don't know, but aliens? Really? Rimmer, there are no aliens in deep space. It was proven when they sent the starships into space."

"How do we know they looked in the right places? Maybe aliens don't like humans! I've always had this theory that after they helped us build the pyramids, the humans turned on them and kicked them out."

"… You're serious?"

"History is written by the winners."

Kochanski shook her head. "Holly, get a lift for us. We're going down there."

Rimmer tossed the rag into the basin and headed after her. "Miss Kochanski, ma'am – a question, if I may?"

Kochanski was startled. It was the first time Rimmer had addressed her as a superior officer since he'd come out of stasis. "Er… you may."

"How do we actually proceed in apprehending this non-human life form?" he asked, standing to attention.

"Oh…" It was a surprisingly reasonable question. "Er… well, we'll need to arm ourselves. You'll have to go get something from the munitions cabinet."

"Yes, ma'am! Right away, ma'am! Anything else, ma'am?"

Kochanski couldn't help but smirk at what a toadie the man was. "We'll see, Rimmer. Just find a weapon."

"Yes, ma'am. On my way, ma'am!"

And with that, he marched out of the room, trumpeting like a bugle the whole way.

Kochanski shook her head. She probably should've told him to put a clean uniform on first. She wondered how the creature would react to seeing Rimmer in his underclothes.

Author's Note: In the next chapter, we add the Cat to mix. Should be a hoot.