Life in Red... • RED DWARF • Arnold Rimmer x OC story

3. The very likely alternative.

About six repairs. Three routine cleaning jobs. An emergency overhaul on the parts of a soda machine whose nozzle sprayed with the pressure of a 119 psi hose and a fifteen minute break. The day was actually over.

"...That's it, we're done." Rimer and I walked back to the break room and he clocked in my hours.

"Do you think it's almost time for my raise?" I smirked. "I really think my potential here is shining through—"

"—Don't be absurd please, it really fouls up the room." He sighed, scribbling some notes down.

"I think that's the smell of your perm chemicals, Rimmer." I sneered.

"It's not a bloody perm! I've told you countless times before."

"Ah yes, I remember now. It's a mid-sized poodle you've smuggled atop your head so you could have some company in those long sleepless nights alone..." I smiled at him, staring at those brown, soft looking curls.

Rimmer stopped and his hand tensed around an already rather beaten looking pen. Like the calm before a storm, Rimmer's silence beckoned what I expected to be a slew of childish retorts and compressed insults to cover his damaged ego.
He sucked in a breath and began,
"...You're a—!"

"—Hammond? Edith Hammond?" Someone cut Rimmer off before his rant.

"...Yes, sorry?" I turned toward the door to the tall, dark haired man dressed in an officer's uniform.

"You are requested on level 147 in Captain Hollister's office. I'm here to accompany you." He said stoically and my face fell.

I glanced at Rimmer quickly and he did the same.
"Well..." Rimmer cleared his throat. "I'm sure that's the raise you were expecting." He said grittily, just a mere glint of jealousy sparkling in his eyes. It was as if the idea of my success, even in jest, was a thought all too disturbing for him.
"Yeah, well if I'm not promoted I'll see you tomorrow, Rimmer." I abruptly left.

I followed the officer through the halls to the nearest elevator where he punched in our destination, floor 147.
His face was squared and handsome looking, with straight brows and eyes the shade of the grey wall paint. His skin was pale too, like he hadn't seen proper sunlight since getting his position as an officer aboard the ship.

"...Did Hollister happen to say why he asked for me?" I asked timidly, my nerves growing more and more anxious.

The officer found my gaze with his tired, seedy eyes and gave me a shrug.
"That's a matter you'll have to discuss with him personally." He grumbled.

Wow, such delivery to his words, I thought sarcastically.
There was no doubt in my mind that he was truly meant for his position in the Space corps. The man had the right tone of voice, the right straightforward, stomp on your neck, spit down your throat, lack of empathy that I expected of an officer distinguished like himself.
I quickly checked the multicoloured badges on his broad chest with a disposition.
I hated authority, even of the more attractive variant.

Even the idea of seeing Captain Hollister made my anxiety tick.
It's not like I could've gotten in trouble for my problems with Rimmer. Not Like I was being reprimanded for any of my work either.

I was sure that I was acting as a perfectly adequate employee, even despite my tardiness.

'Not like I'm going to be fired', I thought, laughing at myself.
'If anything bad is going to happen to me, it would've happened a long time ago... right?'

...

"You're being fired."

"...What?!" I squeaked.

"You're also in detention on account of the crimes uncovered on police records in Mimas. Holly caught inconsistencies in a routine record check earlier this week and upon further digging, it turns out we unintentionally hired a convict on the run, You. But that's no surprise to you, is it?"

"You're lying!" I yelled, standing and slamming my hands on his desk.

The two military personnel that stood behind Hollister flinched at my aggressive display and prepared to forcefully detain me.

"Sit down, Edith." Hollister said indifferently, motioning to my seat. The two officers behind him also eased at his demand as I reluctantly complied. "Would you like to check Holly's summary here on file?" Hollister held up a thick yellow dossier with my name and rank written at the front of it.

My face blanched and I nodded, taking the documents in my hand and quickly scanning through the long lines of text on the amass of paperwork.

This was the worst that could've happened, no doubt.

"You don't exactly look like a hardened criminal. But theft, vandalism, trespass, arson apparently.... It's quite a long list of charges."

My heart began to beat in the hollow of my chest and my vision grew blurry with a haze that suddenly filled the rather small office.

"Sir! This is all just speculation. I haven't been charged with most of the serious crimes here."

"Well, yes and that's only because you were absent on the date of your court reprimand, which also happened to be a few days after the Dwarf's departure off of Mimas. A few days after you somehow got a job here."

Criminal was a strong word. Even though, by definition, I was one.

I looked up at Hollister with a stoic expression, forcing the files back into his chubby hands.
I swallowed and cleared my throat before speaking, keeping my gaze locked firmly on his two black pupils.
"Fine. I... confess."