Steven Universe and and all characters therein belong to Rebecca Sugar and the crewniverse. I only claim to own the OC.

Chapter 1: Multi-Faceted

Darkness, and cold.

They're the first things I notice when I awake. It's not the darkness of a bedroom, when the moon is hidden and you've woken up from a bad dream. It's the darkness of a tomb. And the cold, the fierce, biting cold that tears through your body all the way to the bone. Like all the blood has been drained from you, and you can never warm yourself again. I don't like it. I hate it, it's...

Suffocating.

I'm digging, upwards or forwards I can't tell, just anything to get away from this cold dark. The dirt between my fingers is becoming softer, warmer... I'm almost there.

… There!

First my fingers, then my fist, as I crash my way free of the planet's crust like a woman possessed. I take a breath... two... and I feel the sun on my skin. It doesn't drive the cold away completely, it's still there at my core, but the blessed light still warms my face in a way that only a burning star can. Then I open my eyes.

This isn't Earth. This isn't home.

First off, the soil is blue, deep blue. Second, the beings surrounding me – some emerging from similar holes to the one I just dug, others waiting to greet them and lead them to some place only they know of – are not human. A tentative look down at my own body proves that I am not human anymore either. I'm an alien that popped out of the ground, with dark blue skin streaked with thin yellow lines – like spider webs, strung across my left arm and shoulder – wearing a tight blue vest and deep navy blue pants that are tucked into lighter blue boots, all of which seems designed to accentuate my newly augmented curves.

The vest is the same color as the boots, for which I'm thankful. Due to my new skin tone, I had to check just to make I was actually wearing pants. Furthermore, to be honest, the blue motif is already getting old.

Running a hand down my face, my fingers brush against something in my throat. It's smooth, multifaceted, and shaped like an oblong hexagon. A gemstone?

Then something I can't explain happens; I spin around to see a slightly smaller being – a woman it looks like, also dressed in all blue – screaming at me. "Blue Jasper! You will report when ordered! Do I make myself clear? Or do I need to take disciplinary action!?" A wicked smile twists her lips as she reaches behind her head, a bright glow greets her hand, and as it pulls away she unfurls a brutal looking electric whip. This is gonna hurt.

Shaking the alien thoughts out of my head, I'm puzzled as to what I just saw, until all my instincts suddenly start screaming at me to turn around.

I spin around to see a slightly smaller woman – the same one I just saw – striding confidently towards me. The look on her face is cold and critical, and I can't help but feel like I've seen her before, some time ago. What happens next is complete alien instinct, leaving me slightly confused as I snap to attention, arms crossed and wrists bent backwards creating the vague shape of a diamond in front of my chest.

The smaller woman stops just a few steps in front of me, and runs an eye over my form, looking for any slight or fault. Finally, she focuses back in on my eyes and speaks.

"I am Holly Blue Agate, your Commanding Officer. Report."

A strange thought enters my mind, and not knowing what else to do, I don't hesitate to speak it. "Blue Jasper Facet 8N7Z Cut 3SA, reporting, Ma'am." My mind in firing on all cylinders, trying to formulate a plan in the event that I just said the absolute wrong thing. Fortunately, it seems my internal panic is for naught as Holly Blue allows a hardly noticeable smile to appear – not anything like the demented grin that I had seen moments ago. She gives me a brief nod and gestures me to follow as she turns on her three-inch heeled boot.

"Very good, soldier. Follow me to the warp pad, from there you will report to Blue Lace Agate. She will take you to indoctrination, and from there you will be assigned a duty, and a squad.

I give an affirmative reply, but am unable to focus on much else other than the five-faceted blue teardrop gemstone embedded in the back of the Agate's head.

The march to the warp pad is long, but it gives me ample time to think. Holly Blue doesn't seem to want to talk either, so it's all the better. Marching is just one of those things that I've learned to do as second nature. It's second nature for every Marine.

That's what I was, right? A human Marine? It sounds right, and I can feel the muscle memory in every movement, begging me to hunt, fight, search and destroy. Make them suffer li-

I shake the violent thoughts away. Okay, maybe some of it is my new quartz body, but I'm still pretty sure that I was a human soldier once. But now I'm a Homeworld Gem. A Quartz soldier. A Blue Jasper.

A fucking cartoon character. I understand why all this seems familiar now. I've seen all this before. I know the gem in front of me, because I saw her in the human zoo.

I can't help but narrow my gaze at the gemstone on the back of her head. It would be easy. My hard-light body is stronger than steel. One good punch, and I could erase this bitch from existence.

My teeth grind and my fist clenches. Too easy.

...

No.

Better to play along. I have no idea what planet I'm on, or what year it is. Need to gather intel, make a plan, then move. After all, I'm a gem now. Nigh immortal. I've got all the time in the universe. But I'm also only one soldier. Patience is key, and I need support.

As that last thought crosses my mind, we finally reach the warp pad, and while Holly Blue comes to a stop I immediately step up onto the glass-like surface. There are other gems around, probably twelve total. A mix of Lapis Lazulis, Quartz - one of whom is an Amethyst - and two Sapphires. I'm not sure what to expect as the warp pad activates, sending us along a stream to who-knows-where. The trip takes some time, so I use the opportunity to check out my fellow gems.

I don't recognize any of the Lazulis as mine, or any of the Quartz. I can already tell that the Amethyst is a nobody, so I focus on the Sapphires. Both wear similar dresses, but only one has longer white gloves. Even still, I can't tell if this is my Sapphire.

The white-gloved Sapphire turns to me, raises a hand to part her bangs, and stares at me with a narrowed eye. I stare back for several moments until her brow raises, her eye widens and her lips part. In her normally stoic face I see shock, confusion, and horror. I nearly say something until I notice that her gaze is locked firmly on my gemstone.

Turning away from the Sapphire, I contemplate what I saw. Apparently there's something wrong with my gem that the Sapphire could see, but Holly Blue didn't. And it also seems that I have some mild form of Future Vision, something that lets me glimpse ahead a few seconds in time. Not very useful for an adviser, but priceless to a soldier. But that's for later. Right now I need to conceal myself.

Reaching deep, I can feel the power within my gem, within me. It takes a minute, but I can feel the "strands" of light emanating from the stone, making up my hard-light body. All it takes are a few tweaks, and my skin-tight vest has become something a little more familiar. Glancing down at the blue Secpro gladiator armor, I can't help but feel nostalgic. The body-hugging amorphous shape of the vest, the security of the spaulders, and - something I never truly appreciated until now - the armored collar, safely covering my gem. Of course it had to be blue, for appearances, and I didn't forget the little blue diamond insignia on the front.

Of course, doing all this has got me on a roll, so I shape-shift my wild mane of cornflower and gold hair into a long, thick braid secured by metal cuffs. Add some fingerless gloves and a pair of shades, and I'm practically back in my old groove.

Content with my form, I decide to relax for the rest of the trip, which turns out to be pretty short. And the place we finally arrive at, honestly, takes my breath away.

It's a fucking galaxy warp. Maybe I was subconsciously expecting a space-ship or something of the like, but this...

This is amazing. Hundreds of gems of all kinds occupy the Galaxy Warp at any given moment, dozens coming and going every minute. It's a little overwhelming, but I try to contain my awe despite my rubber-necking.

"You there! Blue Jasper, report when you are called upon! I understand that this is all a bit much for your Quartz mind to handle, but at least try to act capable!"

Snapping my head forward, I just notice another Agate - Blue Lace, if I had my guess - calling gem types, and my companions responding snappily. Almost immediately she calls out for the Quartz to identify themselves. The three others and myself take one step forward in sync, give our Facets and Cuts, before stepping back into the group. The Agate pauses and stares at me for an uncomfortable amount of time, before striding up and stopping within inches of my chest. This particular gem isn't wearing heels like Blue Holly did, so she's even shorter.

She opens her lips to speak, but beat her to the punch as I slowly raise my hand and lower my shades just far enough for me to glare at her over the rims. In the Corps, I would never even dream of giving a C.O. my patented Stare, but this isn't the Corps, and it's better that gems learn early on my complete lack of tolerance to their bullshit. My brow is tight, eyes are sharp, lips slightly curled in disgusted offense. My body language is relaxed, but obviously ready to give a beat down.

We sit like that for some moments, and it feels like all the previous noise and bustle has died away. Only me, and Blue Lace exist. She's resistant at first - it's impressive really - but like all those who came before her, her will finally crumbles. An quick glance to the side, a soft swallow, her breathing shallows, and then she turns away. She shakily walks back to her spot and faces the group after a few breaths. I raise my shades back up and relax arms at my sides.

When the Agate calls for Sapphires however, I notice that the one from before reacts just a second or two slower than the other, seemingly distracted or confused. It's not enough to bother Blue Lace, apparently - still rattled from our, intimate, moment no doubt - but I still notice that the smaller gem's attention seems to be elsewhere when she reports.

After rambling off a few details from her holographic list, basically confirming that military Indoctrination is the same universally, Blue Lace leads us to another warp pad which will take us directly to Homeworld. The trip is even longer this time, and with nothing to occupy my self with, I'm quickly becoming restless.

My constant fidgeting must have begun to bother the others, because after a few murmurs, and even a soft shove - with a firm elbow in reply - the Sapphire that I had taken note of earlier turns to me and rests her dainty hand on my forearm. Turning my head toward her slightly, I raise an eyebrow in a silent question.

"You're quite the interesting case aren't you?" Her lips barely move as she speaks, but I know that voice. It's her. I found my Sapphire.

I can't help the slight quirk of my brow or the slight smirk that tugs at the corner of my mouth. I prepare to tell her that she has no idea how right she is, but the question never passes her lips.

Instead; "Oh, I think I might have an inclination. You have Future Vision, don't you?" This time, it's her lips that quirk into a small smirk.

Taking a moment to think on these images, I start to get an idea. But I need to confirm it.

Thinking how to word my question, I hold the sentence in my head, and feel it coiled on my tongue ready to be asked. I'm only a second away from speaking when; "Yes. We are, in fact, holding a conversation through possible futures alone."

I have to turn my head so that the other gems can't see the massive grin splitting my face. Awesome.

"Indeed."

So why talk to me like this?

"I get the feeling that anything you tell me won't go over well with other gems."

Heh, that's fair. Well, I need an A-Team. And I know all the gems I need, why not start with the one most accessible to me?

"And what is it exactly that you need a team for?" I can't see it beneath her bangs, but I can tell that she's squinting in cautious curiosity when she asks.

That's actually a good question. Sapphire was just made today, so that the war is still a ways off, a little over 300 years I believe, and while the few Diamond Authority insignia's that I've seen have a Pink Diamond, I've seen no pink-clad gems. So if Pink Diamond hasn't taken Earth yet, then it's absolute that there is no Rose Quartz or Terrifying Renegade Pearl. Jasper was made during the war and Peridot was Era 2. That leaves Lapis, Bismuth, and Ruby. Ruby is a must, first priority, in fact.

And it's no guarantee that they have been made yet.

So, first things first, I need intel. An in. Someone who can slip me info that might not be deemed necessary for a Quartz to know.

"And we Sapphires are Court gems. We have Blue Diamond's ear, and confidence."

The perfect spy. A gem that no one would suspect.

"I agree. But if I'm going to help you, I need to know who I'm helping. What is all this for?"

Images flash though my mind; Battlefields, littered with shards - Three rebel gems standing on a hilltop protected in a bubble, watching as their remaining comrades shriek in agony as their bodies and minds become twisted and deformed - Twisted mish-mash bodies of gem Fusion Experiments attacking Steven and Garnet.

I shake my head clear. It's horrifying when you know that it's real. I need to be ready, and save as many as I can.

Sapphire strokes my forearm gently - though her hand shakes - and whispers just loud enough for me to hear. "You won't have to save them alone. I'll be there to help. But if we tell the Diamonds, tell them that I had this vision, then they should listen. The entire horrible thing can be avoided."

Smirking ruefully, I shake my head. I guess even Sapphires can be naive when they're newborns. The Diamonds won't stop the war. It's a Diamond that starts the war, and it's the Diamonds who further the war, for no clear reason other than pride. No, if anything informing the Diamonds would only lead to a culling, any and everything necessary to rid Homeworld of any would-be insurrectionists. Of course, people wouldn't stand for such things for long, especially when there is no guarantee that they wouldn't be next. The Diamonds own attempt to prevent the war would ultimately lead to one, possibly far worse than the original.

Slowly, I turn my head to look at Sapphire, trying to gauge her reaction. For the most part, she manages to maintain her stoic facade, but the subtle quivering of her lip gives her away.

As a tear runs down her face, pausing only for a moment when it reaches the swell of her lips, her hand moves down to tightly grasp my fingers. "How can you see all that? You are just as new as I am, I'm a full Sapphire where you're just a Jasper, and yet even I don't have that skill yet."

Reaching down I wipe the tear away before it can fall from her eye.

Honestly, some of it I saw, but most of it I can guess. I know enough about the Diamonds to figure the rest. What I need is a team of skilled - and more importantly, moral - gems. So that when the war comes, we can regulate it, minimize collateral damage, and hopefully prevent the corruption. If that's not possible, then we'll just have to better prepare for the next attack some forty-five hundred years after the war, give or take.

I can feel Sapphire's eye burrowing a hole in the side of my head, and I nearly jump when I hear her voice.

"I'll help you. It's risky, and just us knowing about it is doubtlessly throwing the entire timeline off track, but I'll do what I can." It's barely a whisper, but her voice is clear and resolute. I nod in thanks.

"Who were the other gems that we will need?"

Trying to remember, I think of each gem that was pivotal in the original timeline; Ruby - obviously, we'll need Garnet. Pearl, who should be in the service of Pink Diamond right now. Rose Quartz, who won't make her appearance until the Prime Kindergarten is in full swing. Lapis Lazuli, no idea where she is, but she helped with Earth's colonization and was a member of Blue Diamond's court, so Sapphire can most likely help find her. Bismuth, the gem responsible for forging the entire arsenal of the Crystal Gem rebellion, a definite must. If we could get Eyeball and Jasper on our side, however unlikely once the war is going strong, that would be a huge personal victory not to mention a boon to the rebellion. Nephrite was a pilot serving Pink Diamond, and if my plan is a success, then she and many others will automatically join our ranks.

"That's eight gems, not including you and me. It'll be tricky, but how much time do we have?"

Roughly fifteen hundred years, by my count.

"Lovely. Before I forget- I can't help the disbelieving snort - Who is this Garnet you mentioned? You said her name in regards to Ruby, but didn't give any details."

I can't help but swallow back my grin. Best just keep her secret for now. Sapphire will know her when she comes along.

"Weirdo."

For the last few minutes of our trip through the warp stream, me and Sapphire continue chatting about several things which are ultimately unimportant, but it is still nice getting to know my favorite blue gem. The transition to the bustle of Homeworld is jarring after so long in the stream, and I'm glad for my shades because I don't doubt that my eyes just got massive.

Almost immediately we are set upon by several important looking gems, some of whom lead the Lazulis away, and a couple who came for Sapphire. She casts a hidden glance toward me, along with a subtle nod, before following the others. The last few gems are here for the Quartz. Me, and the three others.

"Welcome to Homeworld, Pebbles! I'm Pyrite, and the next few days are gonna make you wish you never crawled outta the ground!" The gem shouting in our faces is large and golden, and carries herself with her over sized chest puffed out. Apparently she thinks she's important. But even so, the familiar drone of a T.I. is almost comforting.

"Now, that may sound horrible to you little clods, but trust me when I say that you'll be beat into shape in no time. And only then can you serve the Diamond Authority to your fullest ability. Now!" The three gems behind me jump slightly.

"Come with me. We've got a long road ahead." With that, she turned on her heel and started strutting off, my three comrades stumbling to follow. With a smirk and a shake of my head, I quickly stride to catch up.

"Oorah..."