16 year old Jack Divinos was not one you would call particularly lucky. In fact he seemed to find himself always in bad situations, whether it was looking similar to a guy who pissed of gangsters, was splashed by cars driving over puddles, or having dogs chase after him because of the smell of peanut butter on him after lunch. He thought things would turn around him when he finally got the money to buy a home in beautiful Beach City. Things looked even better when he made friends with a kid named Steven Universe. Of course, life had different plans.
Apparently Steven was part of some magical adventure or something with some weirdos called the Crystal Gems. With Jack's luck, this led to a monster bounding after him. A blue being with three grotesque heads, one eye on the left and right heads, and the middle head adorning a three sided blue gem. It's arms were long and powerful like snakes, and with webbed feet chasing after Jack. Why was it chasing after him? He could only speculate it was the peanut butter again. The gems attempted to destroy and bubble it, whatever that meant, but what nobody expected was for the creature to wrap its arms around Jack and stare curiously into his eyes. Before anyone could comprehend what was happening, its right arm morphed into a sharp blade and slashed across his chest, ripping apart his shirt deeply and causing a spurt of blood to rush out of the human. The gems ran to intervene, but then the beast mashed its middle head into Jack's chest while glowing blindingly bright. Once the light faded, Jack lay unconscious on the floor, a shiny gem embedded in his chest.
When Jack woke up, to say he freaked out was an understatement as the gems tried to calm him down. With some studying and x-rays at the hospital, they identified the gem as a Labradorite, of course its name sounded similar to a dog, and apparently it somehow connected with his heart and the nerves around it. To extract the gem would be a sure chance to kill him. With little other choice, he joined the Crystal Gems, in hopes to find out more about his gem and the species as a whole.
"No, No, NO, A THOUSAND F***ING TIMES NO!" Jack did not seem to be happy.
"It really isn't that bad Jack, we can always buy more." Pearl said dismissively to his outburst.
"Says you! This is the fifth time since I joined that this has happened!"
"Guys what's going on?" Steven asked concerned as he walked over to the kitchen where the conflict took place.
"What's going on?! A crime is what's going on! A destruction of trust and the little goodness left on this forsaken planet!" Jack bangs his head against the counter.
Steven looks questioningly at Pearl, and she just rolls her eyes."It's nothing to worry about Steven, Jack is complaining because we're out of milk."
"It's not just that we're out of milk, it's the fact that Lion drank most of it, Amethyst watched, then she drank the rest, and PUT THE EMPTY CARTON BACK IN THE FRIDGE! I mean, who does that!?"
"Dude chill, I was thirsty." Amethyst said as she and Lion were laying down with milk around their mouths, only making Jack more aggravated. Before he could do anything drastic, Garnet appears on the warp pad with two other gems Jack could only assume were the mentioned Peridot and Lapis Lazuli.
"Terrible news! I was looking inside the Ruby's ship and on their radar, I saw evidence of a large ship heading towards Earth! I fear it may be the Diamonds, they must know that the Cluster never went off, so they may try to destroy Earth themselves!"
Calm down. Right now we need a plan to stop them." Garnet spoke in a leaderly fashion. Everyone seemed calmer, but Peridot was still quivering.
"How do we stop them though!? We're clearly outmatched!"
"Um, if i may have a word." Everyone looked to Jack as he puts a hand in his pocket and points to Peridot. "You said we have a ship right? We can use that to board the Diamonds. Then as we sneak in, we can try to find the main computer or whatever and change the ship's coordinates, leading them to a different planet to destroy and hopefully trick them."
"You can't just trick the Diamonds!" Peridot screeched, also tapping her chin in thought. "But changing their coordinates could work in our favor, maybe take them into a different galaxy and give us another 100 years."
Garnet nods and looks to everyone. "Then it looks like we have a plan, we need everyone to work as a team if we want to succeed." The team heads onto the warp pad, transporting them all to a barn where a strange oval shaped red ship. Once aboard, Peridot took the helm and meet the proper configurations before blasting off into space. Steven seemed to be nervous about the whole ride, but everything seemed to go off without a hitch.
"To think I'm actually in space. I honestly used to be terrified of the thought of going into space, but then I learned there are much scarier things...and no one's listening." He looks to see everyone else in deep conversation about their worried or how to go about the plan. Jack only sighs as he looks out into the vastness of space, curious as to what they would encounter.
It was only a few more minutes until a large ship was in view, shaped like giant yellow arm.
"Okay, we need to be quick about this, this isn't a rescue mission like last time, we need to just sneak in, get Peridot to change the coordinates, then head back." Garnet instructs everyone as they slowly begin to head out. Just as Jack was about to get off the ship, Garnet puts a hand in front of him. "Jack, stay here and guard the ship."
"...excuse me?"
"We need you to make sure no one takes the ship."
"That's complete bullshit and you know it. You just don't think I'm of real use to the mission because I'm green, AND I DON'T MEAN THE COLOR! I mean you think I'm too much of a rookie."
"Look, I'm sorry Jack, but this mission is too important to mess up."
"I'll watch over the ship, fine, but don't lie and say you're sorry." Jack just sighs and takes a seat in the ship. Garnet doesn't respond before closing the ship and heading off with the others.
"...well this is boring as fuck." 15 minutes sitting there and having to just twiddle his thumbs, he didn't even have some video games to pass the time. Soon though the ship door opens. "Finally, you took forever!" He spins in his seat, expecting to see the Crystal Gems...what he wasn't expecting was a bigger version of Amethyst with a gem where her left eye should be, and wearing a uniform with a yellow diamond emblem. "Well...shit."
"Let me go already!" Jack always thought he was a good fighter, that he could stand his ground, but when it's three Amethysts against one human who hasn't even figured out his gem's abilities, he was pretty much screwed. Now with two holding his arms and one keeping an eye on him, he was carried to a large set of yellow doors. The Amethyst not keeping him captive opened the door, revealing the enemy of the Crystal Gems. An incredibly tall woman, which Jack could only presume was Yellow Diamond, sat on a throne with a gem standing nearby, looking similar to Pearl but colored yellow and looking even snarkier.
"My Diamond! We apologize for this inconvenience, but we have found this human in a Ruby ship!" The lead Amethyst said while having her hands forming a diamond shape. Possibly a sign of respect.
"This is the Diamond throne room, Amethyst's should not be tracking their dirty feet in here and telling ridiculous stories." The Yellow Pearl said with a tone of trying to be superior. Before she could continue though, she was interrupted by the giant gem.
"You mean to say a human took a Ruby's ship, and managed to fly here onto my ship?"
The Amethyst seemed nervous as she tries to regain her composure. "I-I know it sounds ludicrous b-but we all can say for sure, this human was in the captain's chair! M-my Diamond." She adds the last part quickly. Jack wasn't sure what to make of these gems, they were loyal to the Diamond and seemed to worship her, but were also terrified. They acted like these Diamonds were queens...gods even.
"It is ludicrous because humans are not smart enough to use our technology."
"B-but-"
"She's right you know." Jack interrupts, finally speaking up, all eyes on him. "A human can't use one of your ships, at least not without taking it apart first and having a certain degree of intelligence, but I don't have such things. So what does this mean? If I can't possibly drive the ship, then who did?"
"Quiet you!" One Amethyst was about to strike him but the leader intervened.
"Wait I get it now! He didn't drive it, but another gem did!" She looks to Yellow Diamond, hoping to see a difference in her expression, yet she was still as stoic as before.
"It seems plausible, but where are said gems now?"
"W-well um…"
"Coming to rescue me obviously! After they're done, they'll come for me and-" Jack was interrupted as a floating screen appears. On the screen was a panicking Peridot.
"My Diamond! I'm sorry to report this but, some gems infiltrated our ship and are now leaving!" She points to the Crystal gems as they run back to the ship and start it up before flying away. Jack only looked stunned at the screen, his eyes wide at what just happened. "We are within range to intercept. Waiting on your command."
"...that won't be necessary, you are dismissed." Yellow Diamond only waves off the Peridot and screen then looks to the paralyzed Jack. "Care to tell us who invaded my ship, human?"
"They….left me…no attempt to come after me or anything, they just left…" Jack didn't know what to say as he looked to where the screen was.
"...this human is obviously useless. Just shoot it out into space." Yellow Diamond says dismissively, putting a hand to her head. The Amethysts start to drag Jack before he struggles and speaks up.
"Before you kill me, let me tell you what I know. Those were the remnants of your old enemy, the Crystal Gems." The other gems were confused, but this seemed to peak the Diamond's interest. "You didn't destroy them all...Rose Quartz's survivors and child still inhabit the Earth."
"What do you possibly know of Rose Quartz?"
"Not much, except that she's technically dead." These words caused Yellow Diamond to stand up on her feet, the gems growing more scared. The amethysts let go of Jack and back off, but Jack standing firm.
"What do you mean, technically dead?" She says as she stand tall in front of Jack.
"To explain quickly, and without getting into the details of human anatomy and such, Rose Quartz gave up her physical form to procreate with a human and have a child. The boy has her gem, but he can barely control the power on his own and is significantly weaker than other gems." Jack informed dismissively to the towering Diamond. She looks at him with a stern face, seeming to contemplate whether his word was reliable or not.
"Don't believe me? Understandable, why trust a human on his word? But what about a gem?" Without hesitation, Jack lifts his shirt to reveal the gem imbued in his chest. Disgust, fear, and curiosity were in all of their faces as they see the Labradorite fused with the human's flesh.
"Labradorite... it is more difficult to create at times like these." Yellow Diamond said to herself in deep thought, glancing at his gem before the smallest of smirks can be seen. "Take him to the Animo Chamber, then we will get all the answers we need, and see for ourselves who this human truly is." The amethysts salute before grabbing Jack's arms and escorting him.
"Jeez, no need to get physical, I don't plan on escaping...I have nowhere to go anyways." Jack said solemnly as he's taken to a strange room with dark blue walls, pulsating a white light every few seconds. In the middle was a chair that he was pushed into sitting on. The Amethysts put on restraints while two new gem walks through the door. One was had light green skin with a circular gem on her stomach, long wavy grassy green hair reaching down to her knees and was quite tall in size, at least a foot taller than the amethysts, yet with a kind demeanor. She seemed to be a tad clumsy as she kept bumping her head against the ceiling, but just laughed it off and crouched. The second gem, barely taller than a peridot, seemed very formal, scowling at her partner then looking at Jack with intense eyes. A square shaped gem on her forehead, white hair that seemed neatly combed and barely reaches her ears would be, and a rich darker green color to her smaller yet somehow more intimidating form and gem.. The amethysts salute to the two gems, yet mostly to the smaller one.
"Emerald and Diopside, have you been informed of the situation?"
The smaller one, presumably Emerald, scoffs as she gets to a control panel. "Of course I know the situation, do you take me for an imbecile like my colleague?"
"I'm not an imbecile...whatever that means." The taller one, which must have been Diopside, huffs before looking at Jack and waving kindly. Jack only raises an eyebrow and waves back as best as he could with the restraints on.
"It is no matter, leave us, I need to concentrate if we want to get the information for our diamond." The amethysts nod before leaving the room, leaving only Jack with the two gems. "So you're the Labradorite human? Less impressive than I imagined."
"Funny, I thought the same thing about your diamond." Jack said with a smirk, loving the expression on the appalled Emerald. "I'm lying by the way, I just wanted to see how deep your loyalty lies."
"Earth scum, you think you're so smart? Trying to play with me while you're strapped down? I have half a mind to to liquidize your grey matter."
"Yeah, and the other half of your mind is missing, which explains your lack of intelligence." He looked to see Diopside trying not to laugh , but then Jack yells in pain as a powerful electric shock goes through his body.
"Stupid flesh sack. I'll make sure this is as painful as possible." Emerald grins menacingly as she presses a few buttons and flips a switch, sending another large shock through Jack's body, until everything fades to white.
Jack's eyes open up weakly as he looks to find himself in the same room, but out of the chair and sitting in something softer. He looks to see he was currently in the grasp of the Diopside, her eyes close and smiling as she seemed to be doing the affectionate action known as cuddling.
"Um…" Jack said in an act of brilliance.
Diopside opens her eyes and grins more to him. "Oh you're awake! Sorry if this seems strange, but this is how I heal others. As a Diopside, we are created to help heal those with injuries." Jack looks at the gem on her belly, seeing it glow softly and bringing a comforting feeling on his body. "The shocks you sustained were pretty bad, Emerald is currently getting chewed out by our Diamond." Jack listens closely and peaks his head out the door. Yellow Diamond was sternly talking to an ashamed looking Emerald.
"...the human's mind carried information that could have aided the colony!"
"I-I apologize my Diamond, b-but he insulted me, besmirched the gem race and-"
"You mean to say you allowed a human to get the better of you, and took a pity vengeance upon him, that could have cost us all valuable information?"
"N-no! M-my Diamond, w-what I mean is-"
"Shut your mouth! You'd better hope the human is still alive, or it means the end of your career."
Emerald looks down at the ground with terrified eyes, staying still though and keeping her salute steady.
"As fun as this is to watch, we better step in." Jack grunts as he gets up on wobbly legs, using the wall for support until Diopside decided to carry him like a baby. With a light blush of embarrassment on his face, Jack sighs and lays in the gem's arms as he was carried to Yellow Diamond.
"My Diamond, I am proud to say the human is awake and relatively healthy." Diopside said with a bright smile.
"Yes, hello Miss Diamond, my legs are acting up a bit, but I should be at 100 percent soon enough." Jack said as he waves at the gem from his current place.
"Hmm, so he lives...Emerald, get me an animo sensor." Emerald perks up at the diamond saying her name, and quickly goes to retrieve said item. The green gem comes back with a strange device connected to what seems to be a floating screen. The device looks similar to a stethoscope, yet more advanced with the several odd parts sticking out of it. "Now, let's see what intel we can gather from this human." Emerald nods and lifts up Max's shirt forcibly, making him blush more but stay serious as she puts the sensor to his gem. The screen has static at first until a distorted scene appears. A first person view of someone in the middle of what seems like a warzone, yet images being warped or jump cutting to different scenes of the battlefield. Other gems come into view, panicking and running, then a bright flash of light before the screen turns to black.
"What is this?" Yellow Diamond said impatiently. Emerald stutter to try and think of an answer, but Jack speaks up.
"The corruption. I believe we were getting view through Labradorite's eyes, but due to her corruption, her memories are scrambled, making it difficult to get a proper view." As Jack explains, the monitor turns on again, once again a first person view, but of a scenario Jack recognizes. The screen showed his view when he was running away from the corrupted gem, only for his chest to soon be slashed open and forcibly fused with the gem.
"Corruption...I see." Yellow Diamond seems to ponder at this news before looking directly at Jack. "Rose Quartz, what can you tell us?"
As she asks the question, Jack didn't need to answer as the monitor shows him talking to Steven, his father, and the Crystal Gems, getting every detail of what he heard about Rose, who she was, her actions, and her son.
"Her gem exists, but her physical being gone, it sounds impossible, yet here we have it." Yellow Diamond says mostly to herself. As the images play to Jack, he clenches his fist as one scene keeps replaying, the gems abandoning him. Feelings of betrayal well up in him before he pushes the scanner away from his gem.
"Well don't worry, if they're so intent on living on Earth, I hope they enjoy a barren wasteland."
"A wasteland? But isn't Earth full of humans like you?" Diopside asked curiously.
"There is only one me, but yes there are other humans, and that's the problem. Humanity is killing the planet."
Yellow Diamond looked at him with curiosity, seeing the anger and spite in his voice over his own planet and the gems who protect it. "Care to explain?"
"I'd be honored." Jack grumbles as he takes the scanner and puts it to his gem once more. "While the Earth is full of resources, humanity has been abusing it." The screen shows many images of humans cutting down forests, slaughtering animals, polluting bodies of water, and leaving waste in massive landfills. "Greed has consumed human nature, to the point where we poison our own food and advertise it relentlessly to gain more wealth, even if it means destroying the health of children." The screen shows how food is given strange intelligible ingredients, large amounts of sugar, and causing fatal obesity. "Millions of people are divided over race, religion, and rights, to the point where if we were to go to war, it could mean the end of billions." Scenes flashing of snippets of human news, nuclear bombs, and the feared mushroom cloud, then a sweeping view of what the atom bomb was capable of destroying. "And even if humans somehow don't kill each other, their is always the supervolcano. A humongous magma chamber underneath the earth's crust, ready to burst through and destroy a large part of civilization at any moment according to scientists." Final scenes on the monitor of scientific data showing the existence of said volcano, and how the natural disaster could occur at anytime.
Diopside was holding Jack closer, seemingly worried about the news he shared. Emerald was stunned at just what was really occurring on the planet she previously assumed was nothing but a land of savages. Yellow Diamond though was difficult to read, her face expressionless at this information.
"...you know, I have heard that you don't necessarily like the Crystal Gems." Jack smirks slightly as he looks to Yellow Diamond. "Sure you could use your fleet to destroy them now, but where is the fun in that?" He pats Diopide's arms and gets down onto his feet, walking closer to the diamond, a devious smile etched onto him. "Wouldn't it be more satisfying to wait in the safety of Homeworld, and once the Earth has killed itself, go over to the Crystal Gems and really rub it in their face that they failed in protecting the Earth? That Homeworld didn't have to step in, because the life they were trying to protect has already destroyed themselves and their home."
Jack leaned against the wall as he let his plan sink in. Yellow Diamond gave a small smile before picking up Jack gently and putting him the palm of her hand. "I never thought a human would be capable of thinking up a plan like that."
"Oh please, I'm far more than a human now." Jack proudly states as he rubs the gem in his chest.
"I see that now...I will give your plan a chance, and speak to the other Diamond of it." She pets his head lightly with a finger, making him blush slightly, before setting him back down on the ground. "Emerald, make sure to put down everything he said into our intel banks. Diopside, from now on you are to accompany...Jack...at all times, protect him if necessary."
Diopside beams happily before saluting. "Thank you my Diamond, I will not fail you."
"I would hope not. Jack of the Labradorite, I welcome you to the colony." Yellow Diamond announced, to the sheer shock of every gem who heard her.
Jack didn't know what it was about the declaration, but it made him feel...powerful, safe, a part of a large picture. He tried to do the salute as well and smiled at the Diamond. "Thank you my Diamond, I am honoured, and I promise to be a great asset to you and all of Homeworld."
When Jack looks out at the vast darkness of space, he didn't feel alone, because he knew out there were more allies of the great empire he was a part of now. It seems Jack's luck was finally turning around.