Chapter Text
Opening the Vault and getting inside had taken long enough. Getting the treasure should've been easy. But when he got there with Fiona, and they opened the box or whatever it was, he found himself teleported away. Everything was spinning and moving and changing size and he was pretty sure he was going to get sick. But instead of puking, he passed out.
"I think he's waking up." Rhys heard someone say as he started waking up. He tried to open his eyes but they didn't listen. He chose to just wait it out.
"Huh? Oh, good, good. Go make the kid some coffe or somethin' wouldya, and be a dear and bring me some too." Another, more familiar voice spoke this time. Rhys tried to peer one of his eyes open, only the real one this time and so he could have a look at these people, and succeded a little bit atleast. He could tell that there were human like figures in the room, but didn't recognize them as individuals. When the smaller form left, the bigger one walked to Rhys, and squatted next to his bed. That's when he recognized him.
"Goodmorning pumpkin. Hope ya slept well. I mean ofcourse ya did, it's my bed and what else would I have than the best? Anyway, that's actually what I wanted to talk to you about. How come you appear into my room, like you'd been teleported, and slept, what, thirty hours atleast?"
"Han-Han-Wha?" Rhys tried to sit up but Jacks hand pushed him down.
"Now now cupcake, you're not sitting up before I'm sure you wont attack me or pass out on me."
"N-no-" Rhys swallowed. He couldn't believe his eyes. Uh, eye. It was Jack, but... without the mask. He stared at the man in shock. This wasn't the Jack he knew. He blinked his open eye. Jack was still there, so he wasn't hallucinating. "Ha-Handsome Jack?"
"Uh... I don't know if I should be weirded out or say thanks." A moment of silence. "Since one is sorta obvious, I'm not going to say thanks. How do you know my name's Jack, kiddo?"
"Because... because you're the Handsome Jack. Ofcourse I know you." Rhys stared at the man with his real eye, watching him stare at him with confusion.
"What the heck are you on kid?" Jacks voice was filled with annoyance. Rhys winced.
"I- listen, Jack, I get it if you're mad. I-I would be too but-" Jack waved a hand to shut him up.
"Listen, you're starting to creep me out here. Quit it out."
"Jack-" Rhys started but was cut off by the sound of a door opening. He tired to pry his ECHO eye open. A small smile appeared on his face as it opened. He noticed that it was having trouble connecting but succeeded in the end. He chose to scan the man while he looked at the person who was entering.
[First name: Jack
Last name: ----
Age: 29
Career: Hyperion codemonkey, Vaulthunter
Mood: Weirded out
Extra: He's super handsome.]
"Jack, heres the coffee." Rhys exited the scan of Jack and looked at the woman. She was short with blue hair, and tattoos on her chest and arm. A siren, perhaps? He scanned her aswell.
[Name: Maya
Age: 19
Height: 5'6
Mood: Annoyed.
Favourite colour: Purple
Extra: She's a siren, she'll fuck you up.]
"Place it somewhere and leave us. Thanks Maya. You're a dear." Rhys could almost hear her roll her eyes as she placed the cups down and walked out.
"She's a siren?" Rhys asked, mostly to change topic.
"How did you- oh right, the tattoos."
"Actually, that and I scanned her. So I know her age, how tall she is and her mood. I can also, if I want to, find out almost anything out with this thing." Rhys brought his real finger up to tap below his echo eye.
"What? No way... that's like... really advanced, where the hell did ya get this from?" He was... impressed? No way. It couldn't be. He was faking it, he had to be.
"It's Hyperion, plus it's really not as advanced as it could be." Rhys said varily.
"You gotta be kiddin' me." Jacks mouth was slightly agape as he stared at Rhys.
"Yeaaah... I know, I was supposed to do it last year but me and Vaughn kinda ran out od money because my arm broke down and we had to buy a new one and-"
"Where are you from?" Jack cut him off. Rhys couldn't tell what the man was thinking, his face was unreadable. He frowned slightly.
"I'm... uh, I was from Elpis from the start but moved to Helios a lil later, and then when Helios crashed down I moved to the old Atlas facility in Old Haven as the CEO of both Hyperion and Atlas. I mean, I am planning on keeping Hyperion alive, don't wor-" Rhys was cut off again, but by a palm instead of words this time. Jack wasn't even looking at him as he let out a loud sigh and dropped his hand back to his lap.
"So you mean to tell me, that someone like you took over Hyperion and Atlas? And that Helios has crashed down?" Jack grabbed him by the neck and walked to a window, pressing Rhys' face against the cold glass. "You dare to tell me, that that spacestatipn up there, that we're looking at right now, has crashed down?"
"I-I- no way." Rhys stuttered. "I-it can't be." He looked at Jack who let him stand up straight again. "I- my echo really didn't just mess with me. You are a Hyperion code monkey. You are 29. You... you aren't the Handsome Jack. That's why your mask is missing. It's not just cause of a bodydoubles body. It's just... you." He reached a hand towards Jack, but it was grabbed before he got to touch the growling man.
"What the hell are you on about!?" Jack voice pooled with annoyance.
"...it has to be. It just has to be." Rhys looked out of the window, at the spacestation in the sky.
"Don't leave me hanging here cupcake." Jack growled and Rhys' eyes turned towards the other man slowly.
"Timetravel."