She'll never admit it, but she panics upon awakening.
Being alive, being so aware of her environment and others, is something she'll never take for granted. But before exploring her compound, before being sent to countless planets for colonization, before that life-changing assignment, there is nothing but soil; an arid, lifeless soil that has encaged her and prevents her from moving onto the next step.
It doesn't take long to claw through the dirt, though her limbs are exhausted and numb by the time she breaks through the wall and crashes to the ground. Bismuth falls several feet and collides with the dry ground with a groan.
When she looks up, she finds a Bismuth with a red apron staring down at her. She pulls the newly emerged Gem to her feet before proceeding to lead her away from the exit hole. "Come", she says. "We've work to do." She leads her through the crowd of Gems to a hexagonal structure that sits just outside the Kindergarden. Once there, Red leads Bismuth to a squat building and pauses before the front desk. Above this desk, several tubes extend from the ceiling, ending just above the carefully placed pads atop the desk. The walls of the building have holes of various sizes. Before Bismuth can venture off to further inspect them, the Agate standing behind the counter clears her throat.
"Evening, Facet 3", Red greets. "I'm here to gather assignment for this Bismuth."
The Agate takes a quick look at Bismuth, then pushes a grey button on the wall. Moments later, a tablet sneezes through one of the dangling tubes and lands with a soft thud. The Agate then stands from her seat and retreats into the back, later returning with a cart of tools. She pushes the cart towards them and tosses the tablet at Bismuth. Fumbling with the device, Bismuth turns to Red and stares, eyes wide and uncertain as Red rummages through the cart.
"Your instructions are in there", Red says without looking up.
"Instructions?" Bismuth averts her attention to the tablet and taps her fingers against the screen. A single message pops onto the screen, explaining for Bismuth to travel to the Introduction Center and receive instruction. "We've already done this. Right?"
"There are more. They should come in sometime tomorrow."
"Okay. What will I be doing?"
"Making buildings?"
She frowns. Discarding the tablet on the counter, Bismuth pulls the cart back towards her; Red looks up, eyebrows raised. "Is there a problem?"
"Yes, I'm confused. What do I do when I'm finished with these buildings? Is there a home for me to go to or people to see?"
Red's face contorts, and the Agate behind the counter snickers. Red retrieves the tablet once more, shoves it back into Bismuth's hand, then grabs her shoulder and leads her out of the center. "You don't do anything", she says with a sideways glance. "You get a three hours rest every five days, but after constructing one building, you just move onto the next building.
A Topaz bumps into Bismuth's shoulder, and Bismuth hisses. She turns around (to do what?) but frowns when she finds the Gem to have disappeared into the crowd. She turns her attention back to keeping up with Red and falls into step beside her. "And after that?"
"You go onto the next building."
"And then?"
Red turns around, pausing the cart, and glares. Once Bismuth falls silent, eyes lowering to the older Bismuth's shoes, Red shakes her head. "You are a Bismuth, and you were created to build."
"And that's it?"
"That's it. I'd suggest you get to work before I write a report to Blue Diamond."
Bismuth looks back up. Something warm flushes through her, and she shudders. "Who-Who's that?"
"Our leader, of course." Red rolls her eyes and pushes the cart to Bismuth. "And she'd be none too happy to hear of a subordinate questioning her authority. She's no tolerance for malformality."
"But I wasn't questioning her!" Bismuth tightly grips the bars of her cart and gulps. "I-I'm just confused. I want to make...my Diamond happy. I want to be a good Gem."
Red nods. "Then get to building."
Bismuth lowers her head, then begins pushing the cart, watching as the crowd swallows Red as she returns to the Kindergarden. "Yes, ma'am."