Phil sighed as he read over the information on the screen in front of him, most of it was nonsense to him. Glancing over at Rip he saw the other version of himself with a frown on his face but this one was because he was in deep thought.
Shaking his head Phil wondered why Gideon thought he would understand this…stuff. It was all like science fiction to him.
Phil stalled as a thought took a hold of him.
"Is something wrong, Phil?" Gideon asked from his side, concern filling her voice.
Turning to her, Phil saw Rip look round at them and he winced.
"I don't know if this is helpful at all," Phil said, "But George has this idea for a movie, it's a space opera and…never mind," he took a breath, "The bad guys guards are all clones and I thought..." Rip and Gideon stared at him in astonishment making Phil grimace, he shook his head, "Forget I said anything."
Rip let out an annoyed sigh, "Why did we not think of that?"
"Because although it is possible for a clone of your body to be produced," Gideon said, "Transferring your consciousness will be an issue without the correct assistance. It is not information I have stored in my databanks and I do not know where an expert would be found that we could trust."
Phil looked between the two of them, "Hold on. It's possible?"
"Yes, cloning of humans was allowed for a short time in a few different centuries," Rip replied, "But, as Gideon said, the problem we have is moving me into the new body."
"Why would it be you?" Phil asked, not sure why but it seemed an important question.
Rip shrugged, "Well you are currently the primary personality within our body, so it makes sense you stay."
"We still require an expert to assist in the transfer," Gideon reminded them.
Rip smiled at her, "I have an idea."
x
Gideon frowned in annoyance at her Captain as he gave her the annoying smirk that meant he was ahead of her for once.
It rarely happened he knew something that she didn't, so he did like to gloat.
"Captain," Gideon stated sharply, "I can end the connection if you like."
Rolling his eyes Rip murmured to Phil, "Killjoy."
Irritated Gideon snapped, "Captain."
"Dr Charles McNider," Rip told her.
Gideon frowned at him, "Captain, not to disparage your idea but the individual you have suggested is from the 1950s and will not have the level of knowledge required for such a delicate operation."
Rip smiled at her.
"What do you know that I do not?" Gideon demanded.
Phil chuckled slightly at this, before wincing when she turned the glare on him.
"He is one of the Guardians of the Spear," Rip explained, "And I left him in the 30th Century. If we aim for a few years after he settled there, then he should be able to help."
Gideon frowned at him, "You are insufferable sometimes, Captain."
He smiled at her, "But you wouldn't have me any other way."
Phil lay on top of the bed in the room he had been given, which was Rip's room and sighed.
"Something wrong?" Rip asked.
"I'm just trying to understand how this will work," Phil confessed to him, "How you'll be moved from inside my head to a body of your own."
Rip was silent for a few minutes before he spoke again, "Honestly, I'm not exactly sure. I do know it's been done although never in our particular situation."
Staring at the ceiling for several moments Phil finally said softly, "I was afraid they'd decide to simply erase me in order to bring you back."
"I wouldn't let that happen," Rip told him.
"But," Phil sighed, "What if something happens and the only choice is only one of us can stay. What then?"
Silence filled his head but before Phil could speak again Rip replied.
"If it comes to that," Rip told him, "Then you will survive. I'm not going to let anyone else die for me. But," he continued after a moment, "I trust Gideon and I know Charles will be able to help separate us."