Gideon sat in the Captain's chair of the Waverider, setting it to autopilot before she stood to look out at the flowing green of the temporal zone. She was relieved to be back on her ship but it didn't feel right. He wasn't with her and without him the ship felt so lonely. It had been lonely even when it was full because he had left.
The others hadn't talked to her unless they needed something and they never listened when she had an opinion instead only wanting information.
The others were like her former Captains.
But Rip, he had always talked to her, argued with her and listened to her suggestions.
They had been a team.
"I miss you, Captain," Gideon whispered, wrapping her arms around herself.
"I miss you too," Rip's voice made her spin to find him leaning against the wall at the parlour. He was dressed all in black, in what appeared to be the same clothes he had worn when they had used the Cognitive Intrusion on him.
"I don't understand," she breathed moving closer, "How are you here? You were gone."
Pushing off the wall he shrugged, "Because you need me, Gideon just like I always needed you."
Moving to him Gideon smiled, "I thought I would never see you again."
Dodging around her before she could touch him Rip studied the console, "So, you escaped the Bureau's prison," he gave a slight smile, "I'm very proud."
Gideon felt a blush cover her cheeks, "I was not staying there. They claimed they wanted to check how I became human, if it was dangerous but I know they were lying. They wanted to use me," sadness covered her face, "Like they used you."
"You're right," he moved standing behind her. His hands resting at her waist, close but not quite touching, "They would have tested you, enslaved you, hurt you while the Legends would just leave you in their hands."
Turning to look at him Gideon whispered, "Just as they left you."
His hand traced the air by her cheek, "And that's why you're going to destroy them."
"For you," Gideon told him.
Rip smiled at her, "My wonderful Gideon, you cared for me all our years together and now you're doing it once more."
She sighed shaking her head, "I don't know how to begin."
"Yes, you do."
Looking up at him a smile touched her lips, "The Vanishing Point."
x
The Vanishing Point, or more accurately, what was left of it hung before her and Gideon thought of her siblings who had died when the Occulus had exploded.
"I know how much work this will be," Rip said softly, "But you can do this, Gideon. They will not heed your warning."
"I know," she replied before turning to him once more, "I can rebuild what I need but it will take some time."
Rip chuckled, "That is one thing you don't need to worry about here."
"Will you be with me?" Gideon asked softly.
He shook his head, "I can't be here at all times but when you really need me I will. You can do this, Gideon I believe in you completely."
Taking a deep breath Gideon pulled together everything she needed before she headed to work.
"So what is it?"
Constantine sighed, "The most likely thing is...the best translation I can give you is 'Whisperer'. It's a creature that latches onto people who are grieving and uses their sorrow to cause havoc."
Sara shook her head, "Gideon has been human for barely a day."
"But she became human while we finished with the demon pig thing," Ray noted, making Constantine roll his eyes, "Could that have been when it found her?"
Constantine nodded, "When Gideon became human all her emotions would have been completely exposed. Her grief especially would have screamed out to any creatures and demons that are attracted to that sort of thing."
"Her grief?" Sara asked frowning in thought.
Ray nodded, "Some of us miss Rip."
Sara winced slightly at the rebuke, "I don't talk about him but I do miss him, Ray. Right now however Gideon is our priority. If this is something using her grief then we need to find a way to stop it."
"We need to find her first," Zari noted, "Which I doubt will be easy considering she took the ship."
"Alright," Ava said, "Gideon said that we had to disband or she would come for us. Then we make sure she comes for us."
Constantine stared at them all before he sighed, "Well I can see this going to buggery pretty quickly."
"Me too," Ray agreed.
x
Sara watched the others leave rubbing her eyes tiredly.
"This isn't your fault," Ava reminded her softly, "You do know that, don't you?"
Sara nodded, "I should have paid more attention to Gideon after we destroyed Mallus. I knew how attached Rip was to her and when we went into his mind I saw how he saw her."
"Gideon's an AI," Ava said before correcting herself, "Was an AI. You didn't talk to your sister's phone after she died to see if it was doing okay."
Sara pushed her hand through her hair, "You're right but I also could have handled her transformation better. I should have brought her to you and not had the agents take her. It's what happened to Rip and I should have known how she would react to it."
"Your Artificial Intelligence suddenly became human," Ava cried, "It's enough to throw anyone, even someone who's seen everything you have."
"But now she's coming after us," Sara reminded her, "And if Rip was bad when he was evil I am not looking forward to having Gideon as our enemy."
Ava folded her arms, "Every agent will be on the lookout for her. Gideon is smart but let's face it she's only just become human. She has had no physical training. Even Gary could probably take her in a fight."
Rubbing her hands across her face again Sara nodded, "You're right. Okay, time to get back to work," she frowned, "I have no ship."
Ava patted her shoulder, "We'll work something out."
"They did not listen to me," Gideon frowned as she studied the information before her, "They are still interfering in the timeline. And the 'Legends' are working for them."
"You knew they wouldn't do as you told them. Especially the Legends," Rip noted from where he was lounging nearby, "This is the same collection of morons who actually broke time then thought they had the right to try to fix it. The same group who are responsible for my having to sacrifice my life when they deliberately released a Time Demon."
Sighing sadly Gideon rubbed her eyes, "I can't allow them to continue but how do I do it?"
"You watched me for years," Rip reminded her as he bounced to his feet, "And have access to everything the Time Masters ever did. Not to mention you're you, Gideon. You can stop them, you can burn the Time Bureau to the ground."
"I..."
"For me," he breathed standing right behind her, "You promised you would do this for me."
Turning to look up at him Gideon felt tears prick her eyes, "I want to, Captain. I'm just..."
"What?" he asked gently, his hand stroking just beside her cheek.
"I'm scared," she admitted, "I'm scared I'll disappoint you. I'm scared you will leave me again."
Rip looked down at her, his head tilted slightly in thought, "There is one thing we can do. It will give you the strength you need and we will be linked forever."
"There is?"
Rip nodded, "Let's return to the ship. We will need somewhere you will be comfortable to link us."
Gideon smiled and started back to the Waverider hoping whatever he had in mind would give her the strength to finish her mission.
x
"Okay," Rip said gently when he joined her in what had been his room, "You should change into something loose and comfortable. Once you're ready lie in the centre of the bed and I'll give you the strength you need."
Gideon nodded and found a large t-shirt along with a pair of leggings which she quickly changed into before she slid onto the bed. Lying back against the pillows Gideon took several deep breaths.
"Are you ready?" Rip asked softly from nearby.
"Yes, Captain," she replied.
He appeared above her, "Just relax, Gideon. There's nothing to worry about, I would never hurt you. You know that."
"I do."
"Then relax and just let it happen," he breathed close to her ear, "I'll be with you forever this way."
Gideon felt her heart begin to race, her breathing becoming erratic but she didn't move still looking up at her Captain who smiled down at her.
"Are you ready, Gideon?" Rip asked, "Because I am."
Gideon's fingers gripped the sheet she was laying upon for a few seconds before she nodded. Rip smiled at her again and he moved closer. Tilting his head as though to kiss her Rip turned to mist and Gideon gasped as he flowed into her. Gideon's fingers tore through the sheet, her back arched against the bed as her body became ice-cold before raging fire burned through her.
"Rip!" she screamed while she writhed on the bed.
"Hold on," his voice whispered to her, "Just a little longer and soon you'll have the strength you'll need to destroy the Bureau and the Legends for me. Hold on for me, Gideon."
Finally it ended and Gideon took a deep breath, she felt the power flow through her not knowing her eyes were glowing bright red before returning to normal after a few seconds.
"How do you feel?" Rip asked, making her turn to where he stood leaning against the wall.
Gideon sat up and smiled at him, "I'm ready."
"Are you sure?" he walked across the room to her, "I know that you once cared for these people, at my request. Are you sure you're prepared for what you must do?"
Gideon stood and looked up at him, "They took you from me. They treated me like I didn't matter and they act as though they have some divine right to run riot through the timeline."
Rip smiled.
"I will burn them to the ground for you," Gideon promised, "I will give you the peace you deserve, Captain."