Ray took his seat along with the others waiting for Rip, or Phil as he called himself these days, to arrive. The new personality their former captain had now was odd. Nervous and jumpy he'd spent most of his time hiding away in his room since he'd come onboard.
"Hi," Ray gave him a smile, "Grab a seat. It means we can get going."
Phil nodded in the strange jittery completely un-Rip like way he had before he slid into the nearest chair. After watching him struggle with the restraint for a minute, Amaya reached over and gently fixed it for him.
"Thank you," Phil said, his eyes down and a slight flush to his skin.
Amaya gave him a smile back. Since she didn't know Rip then it was easier for her, and Nate, to interact with him as Phil.
Not that they did since this was the first time any of them, except Sara, had seen him since they'd escaped the Legion of Doom.
Sara started the fly and Ray kept his eyes on him, just in case but when they landed there was no hint of any side-effects, which Ray took to mean that somewhere in there was still Rip.
He just hoped it was true.
x
Phil kept his eyes down so not to see the stares of the others as they expected him to be their friend. Part of him wanted to watch what was going on because something about the view outside the windows called to him but he didn't want to see the looks from the others.
Gideon had woken him and explained they were heading to the time that most of the team came from, 2017. So far into the future that he'd never imagined it and Phil wanted to see it.
He found himself relying on Gideon and couldn't explain why he felt such a connection to her because she wasn't real…except she was to him. And he presumed her Captain too.
The future was weird.
"Okay," Sara announced suddenly, "Welcome to 2017 everyone. If you leave the ship, take your comm and keep in touch."
Everyone left the bridge talking to one another while Phil sat wondering what to do. He wanted to see what was outside the ship but leaving the safety of the ship into a brand new world was terrifying.
"Here," Sara's voice made him realise she was standing at his side.
Phil looked at the strange shaped thing she was offering him, "What is it?"
"It's a comm link," she explained, "Put it in your ear and you can keep in touch with us. It'll let Gideon know where you are if you decide to go for a walk."
Bemused Phil slid the thing into his ear, "Thank you."
She patted his shoulder, "Let Gideon know if you're going out. And if you do, be careful. Okay?"
Phil nodded and watched her leave finding himself alone on the bridge.
"Gideon?" he called.
The blue head appeared in front of him, "Yes, Mr Gasmer?"
"I think I'm going to go for a walk," he told her.
"If you come to the fabrication room I can give you some money from this era," Gideon told him, "In case you need to get anything."
Before Phil could leave Gideon called him back.
"Be careful, Mr Gasmer," she told him, "And call me if you require help."
Resting his hand on the console fondly, Phil smiled at her, "I promise."