Gideon took a deep breath as she stepped into her new place of work. Using the Jumpship and his own knowledge Rip had pulled together schematics for creating ships for the Bureau along with AI systems to run them. She had seen the outcome of his work but that was some time from now, so she would have plenty to do.
Rip had walked with her to the offices within the current Time Bureau building that housed the team she was joining, leaving her with a kiss and the promise to come meet her for lunch before heading to work himself.
"Hi," the woman sitting at the other desk in the small room she had been shown to smiled in greeting, her dark eyes filled with warmth, "I'm Cleo Donovan."
"Gigi Carter," she introduced herself.
Cleo grinned, "Great to meet you. I've got you set up so you can log into the system and get to work."
Gideon learned a great deal in the next few minutes about her new workmate while waiting for her computer to boot up. Cleo was in her late thirties, she was divorced with no children and had decided to change careers once she ejected her ex-husband from her life.
"So, I finish my degree and then this man appears offering me a job in the most incredible place," Cleo finished her story giving Gideon a sly look, "You know him, the one you were kissing before you came in."
Gideon felt her cheeks heat slightly, "Rip offered you a job."
"Director Hunter, tall, moody and mysterious himself," Cleo said with a grin, "Though I'm guessing not very mysterious to you."
She took a quick breath, this was were they discovered if their story for her background would work.
"You know of the Time Masters?" Gideon asked softly.
Cleo nodded, "Yes, they're page one of the manual. You were a Time Master?"
"No," Gideon replied, "I began the training, but it was decided my skills lay elsewhere. I was assigned to the shipyard as part of the maintenance crew. I worked with Rip upon his ship many times over the years."
"Wow, so you are the expert on what we're doing here?" Cleo grinned.
With a slight shrug Gideon agreed, "Completely."
"Then you two have been together a while," Cleo grinned at her.
Gideon shook her head, "Fraternising was not permitted by the Time Masters. Even our friendly acquaintance was barely tolerated. It is only when I came here that our friendship developed into something more."
Cleo nodded, "Wow, that's really harsh. You weren't meant to spend any time with other people?"
"They did not believe it was conducive to our best work," Gideon noted.
"Where did baby Time Masters come from then?" Cleo asked amused.
Gideon grimaced, "You may not want to know that."
"That bad?"
Nodding Gideon turned to look at her screen, pulling up the plans she had been sent to look at.
x
Gideon finished the alterations she was making to the systems she had been working on all morning suddenly realising there was someone at her side. Turning to look she jumped in surprise to find Rip sitting there, his long legs stretched out as he swung the chair side to side amusement covering his face.
"Captain?" she asked before correcting herself, "Rip, what are you doing here?"
He smiled at her, "I was hoping for lunch."
"But that is not…" she trailed off as she looked at the clock on the computer in front of her, "Oh. I appear to have lost track of time."
Chuckling Rip nodded, "Do you still want to join me for lunch?"
Gideon rolled her eyes locking her computer she stood, "If you get rid of that look on your face."
He offered his arm, glancing to Cleo he gave her a quick nod, "It's good to see you again, Miss Donovan."
"You too, Director," Cleo replied giving Gideon a sly wink before she turned back to what she was doing.
Sliding her arm through his Gideon allowed Rip to lead her out of the office. They walked through the offices, Gideon noting how people were all looking at them as they walked by. Rip didn't seem to notice but she assumed he had become used to it.
"How was your first morning?" Rip asked as they stepped out into the fresh air.
Gideon smiled, "Very good. Cleo is nice."
"I thought you would get along," he smiled, "She's smart, excellent at her job but also extremely personable."
"However there is a great deal of work required before the ships are anywhere near ready," Gideon noted, "You have missed a lot more than I thought you would."
"In my defence it's mostly from memory and I have a lot of other things to do," Rip told her.
"Of course, Captain," she nodded, "That is an excellent excuse."
He was about to argue but seeing her amused smirk Rip just rolled his eyes, "Well it just proves how much I need you in order to do anything right."
Rip opened the door to the apartment waiting for their lunch guest to make it up the stairs. He smiled when she turned the corner stepping back to allow her inside.
"What have you done this time?" she demanded.
Rip rolled his eyes, "Hello to you too, Eve. Aren't you the one who always says I need to get better at social niceties?"
Eve Baxter, another former Time Master Captain, shook her head at him, "I have just spent the past month training your agents. I get back to you inviting me to lunch at your apartment, for something I'm assuming you don't want anyone else at the Time Bureau to know. So I ask again, what have you done this time?"
Rip frowned at her, "Come in and I'll explain."
While Eve took a seat on the couch Rip sat in the chair across from her and took a deep breath.
"Just about a month ago," he said, "Not long after you left for the training mission I found a woman sitting in the snow just outside the building."
"Okay," Eve said, "And this woman was?"
Rip took a breath, "Gideon."
Eve stared at him bemused, "What do you mean, Gideon?"
"I mean Gideon is now human," Rip told her while Eve stared at him.
She stood and paced the room for a few minutes before she sat down again, "Explain better."
"I can't," he replied, "I found her outside and she has no idea how she got here either."
Shaking her head in amazement Eve finally asked, "Can I meet her? A human version of an AI, especially Gideon must be…interesting to say the least."
Rip smiled fondly, "She'll be back soon, she went out for a walk before lunch. I haven't told her I invited you."
"Why?"
Rip shrugged.
x
Eve Baxter liked Rip Hunter, she truly did but the man also infuriated her. When he contacted her to help set up his new Time Bureau she'd agreed to consult for a short time only. She wanted to live a life that had nothing to do with time-travel and all that came with it.
Unfortunately, she was the only person left that understood Rip's previous life and he had a habit of confiding in her.
Eve sat trying to get her head around the concept of a human version of the AI that had ran the Waverider. Gideon had a reputation for being very loyal to Rip, more than any of the others but she was the oldest AI in the fleet and the one that was most opinionated.
A human version was going to be something to see.
Rip made her some tea, one of the good things about knowing him was at times he seemed to live on the beverage, while they waited for the third for lunch. They talked generally about the training she'd done, and Eve reminded him she was leaving soon again considering how hard a time he was having remembering this.
Finally the door opened and Eve turned instantly to see the woman who was walking in. It had been a long-standing joke throughout the Time Masters that all AI's had a superiority complex. Gilbert would remind her consistently that he was much more intelligent than she was. That pride had translated into high-cheekbones, storm-grey eyes, pale flawless skin and a confident stride as she entered the apartment.
"Captain Baxter?" Gideon said in surprise the moment she saw Eve.
Eve stood and moved to her, "Hello, Gideon. It is…amazing to meet you."
"It is lovely to meet you also," Gideon replied before glancing at Rip, "I did not realise you were joining us."
"I thought it would be a good idea if we explained to Eve your presence before she heard the cover-story," Rip explained, moving to Gideon's side his hand resting on her back, "She knows there was no Gigi Carter working in maintenance at the Vanishing Point."
"I would have preferred some warning that we were having a guest," Gideon frowned at him and Eve bit her lip to stop her laughter.
The intimate relationship between them was so clear to see. From the way he rested his hand on her, to the look of annoyance she gave him it was obvious they were more than friends or former AI and Captain. Eve could especially see a change in Rip. The loss of his wife and son was something he'd carried with him heavily but suddenly he no longer looked as weighed down as he had been.
"I believe I was promised lunch," Eve spoke up, breaking into their silent conversation.
Rip turned to her, "I will sort that while you get to know one another."
x
Gideon slipped her coat off and hung it on the hook beside the door before taking a seat beside Eve on the couch while Rip fixed their food.
"So," Eve said softly, "You're from the future?"
Gideon nodded, "Yes, Captain Baxter."
"Not a Captain anymore," the other woman chuckled, "My ship and Gilbert unfortunately are gone."
Sadness filled Gideon, "I am sorry. Gilbert was always extremely funny."
Eve nodded, "To you maybe. So," she said, "How far in the future are you from?"
Gideon looked over to where Rip was and shrugged, "Far enough."
"Then you know…" Eve trailed off.
"Where I was before I came here," Gideon said softly, "A child who is not yet born has grandchildren."
Eve leaned back and folded her arms thoughtfully, "How can you know what you know and still…"
"What are my options?" Gideon shrugged, "I am here no matter what. I could live knowing this but be alone or I can be with him and make the most of the time we have together."
"And is that going well?" Eve asked thoughtfully.
Gideon beamed replying brightly, "I am enjoying sex."
They both turned hearing Rip drop something in the kitchen with a clatter and Eve began to laugh.
"I'll bet," she chuckled.
Gideon smiled with her, "It is nice to have you here, Eve. I like the people I work with but I am deceiving them. It is good to have someone other than Rip who knows who I truly am."
Eve reached out and took Gideon's hand, "Well I am here for you if you need someone to talk to. I'll be going travelling soon since I've finished what I agreed to do for the Time Bureau. But you can call me whenever you need to."
