"Oh, stars!" Yelled the Zircon gemstone, racing through the workshop. "The machine's broken!" The gem quickly grabbed a random sheet of metal, and started to bat the flames away. Soon enough, the workplace was completely smoke-free, and she lifted up the roof that had caved in on the new creation. "Oh stars." She muttered, as a frail, white hand took hold of her, shakily. The figure climbed out, staring around at the room.

"Wow." Said the gemstone. "So, is this that life thing then? With all the...all the... What is life? What do you do with it? Do you keep it, or throw it away? Can you give me the instructions, please?" The words were chased out of her mouth by some unknown being, and they were in such a hurry to get out that the Zircon couldn't make out...anything.

"Sorry?" Asked the blue gem.

"Please, young gemstone, tell me your name."

The white being looked thoughtful for a moment, before speaking with a wide grin. "I'm Purple Turquoise."

"You don't look turquoise." Zircon pointed out, scratching her head in confusion. She turned back to the machine, and pulled a few broken wires out.

"What's wrong with that?" Asked Purple Turquoise, stepping towards her. "Can't I be Purple Turquoise without being purple or turquoise?"

The Zircon began working on the machine, batting away flames and examining wires. "Well... You will be the odd one out... I mean... If we put you all in one room together, we'd think you were a completely different gem entirel-"

"There are more?" Interrupted the gem, stepping closer.

"Y-yes. P-please do not interrupt me..." Stammered Zircon.

It appeared to Turquoise that Zircon would stutter when annoyed or angry. 'I bet she doesn't sound very intimidating in fights.' she thought, giggling.

"I was trying to say that you're the wrong colours." Zircon continued, as sparks flew from the broken machinery. "Nobody would want a white Purple Turquoise, would they? No, no, no, it's just false advertising, isn't it? You're wrong. You're a glitch. You're an accident. You're a defect. Nobody wants those, see?"

'A defect? What's wrong with wrong colours? Sure, it's false advertising, but the advertising is still good. I can do all the things a normal Purple Turquoise can do, and more!' thought Purple, pulling the Zircon up onto her feet.

"Huh?" Zircon exclaimed, giving the defect an irritated glare. "What?"

"Come on. I'm sure it can't be that bad. Let's go see what they think of me! I bet they'll love what you did!" Chuckled the glitch, dragging Zircon away.

"No, no! Wait! Stop!" The Zircon protested, managing to escape her suffocating grasp. "We can't! They won't! If we show them, they won't just blame the machine! They'll blame me for being so careless! We'll both be shattered!"

"What? That's ridiculous! C'mon, silly! You're just shy!" Purple Turquoise laughed, grabbing her hand.

"No! We have to stay here and fix the machine!"

"Oh, Zircon! You are so funny!"

The blue gem sighed in defeat. "We're doomed."

"I knew it. I knew it. I'm dead. We're dead. Next time, you listen to me...if there will be a 'next time'." Zircon groaned. She leaned against the only piece of glass that separated her from freedom.

"Wow. Those Homeworld people really do like order, don't they?" Said Purple Turquoise, hopping about the claustrophobic cage. "They gave us a really great view! Look!" She pointed out the other window, staring at all of the gems who passed by. Two gems stood staring. One pointed, most likely showing the other - a Pearl - who the now famous defective Turquoise was. Purple waved back at the two, and they quickly moved away.

"At least they put us in the same cell." Sighed Zircon. Purple Turquoise looked back at her.

"Hey, don't gimme that face!" She complained, prancing towards her. "It's not that bad. It's my fault. I'm the reason you're here."

"No. No, no, no." Zircon shook her head slowly. "If it weren't for me, you wouldn't even be here in this gem pen. We're going to be harvested. Now is the time to panic."

"Oh, nah. The time to panic is when you're just about to die."

"... Do you even know what h-harvesting m-means?"

"Nope!" Purple grinned. But it soon faded. "Oh... But that's nothing to be worried about; at least they're using you for good!" Zircon sighed, everything about her drooping. "Or is that not what you want?"

"Purple Turquoise, w-what I want i-is a way out." Said Zircon, sadly.

Then, something clicked inside Turquoise's head. She suddenly gasped, joyfully. "I know a way out!"

Zircon's ears perked up, abruptly. "What?"

"Purple Turquoises are assassins, right? We're really stealthy and quiet! I can do it! I can do it!"

"Really?!"

"Really!"

"Really, really?!"

"Really, really!"

"Really, really, really?!"

"Yes! All of the reallies!" Grinned the white gem, nodding frantically.

"Then don't just sit there, telling me what you're going to do! Just do it!"

"Okay! I will!"