Azurite's eyes opened slowly. She was somewhere but she did not know where. Her sight was dimmed and it was very hard to stand but with sluggish movements she gradually wandered into the hallway. Everything is hazy what is even happening? Where am I… Where is Rose? Thoughts were surfacing but she couldn't attach herself to one in particular. The walls had fluorescent lights and wires connecting every which way. Azurite passed through a barrier of golden hues which tickled her but all she could do was shudder through so as not to make a sound. She didn't notice a tall green gem next to her typing on a keyboard. Azurite made a creak in the floor and the gem turned around, its eyes becoming alert. The gem then realized that the sound she heard was actually something wandering around when several more were made. "I had better not just be hearing things as I would have to get remade," she spoke to herself while she rolled her eyes.
The smaller gem started running but not fast and she bumped into a wall making a loud smack. The tall gem ran over and got her plasma gun ready, the neon green fingers at their prime. Azurite stood shakily and got her fists ready but she saw her reflection in the tall gem's visor. She stopped hunching and stared. Three lines were over her left eye and two on her lip. She touched her face and felt the sore spots then looked down and saw how long her legs had become. "What happened to me? You hafta tell me!" she yelled aguishly.
"I do not owe you anything what so ever. You are just a mistake that should not exist. You are to be shipped to the labor mines on Galaxy: 3654 Sector: 9 within a few hours. Pathetic gems like you go there to create expansions for Homeworld. I do not even know why you came to us small but we fixed you," the gem seemed to talk forever about how great Homeworld was even though she said that she wouldn't tell Azurite anything. "You might even be something entirely new but you are not special at all! Yellow Diamond is the most amazing gem that ever existed."
Azurite sat down as she started to get woozy, "I am going to take a nap, okay, smart one?" Her eyes were beginning to show colors and strange objects but she felt the green gem shake her arm.
"I am taking you to your cell so that I do not have to deal with you later," the gem said snappily as she dragged Azurite back in front of the closed cell. How did this creature even get out? She thought as she threw Azurite into her confinement. The gem hit the wall with a groan.
"What is your name?" Azurite asked as gently as she could.
"Its Vexus… but only because I messed up once!" she responded indignantly.
"That is a nice name…" Azurite responded with a slurred voice.
Vexus wondered why she was getting such kindness from a small gem like this one but she pushed the thought away and went back to work on a large screen. Azurite's eyes began to lower until she fell asleep. This would not be a restful sleep however.
Machines whirred all around her. She had no clothes on and was surrounded by gem technicians probing her body. They cut open her left eye and inserted a strange device. Blood was splattered around her quivering body as they experimented on her small body. They dissected her gem even when she was struggling. The screens that were above her said that she was previously half gem and half other species. However, now they said that she was scheduled to be 75 percent gem and 25 percent other species. She wondered what was even happening but got distracted by an incoming pain. A large injection was given to her gem and her body felt like liquid. She remembered yelling and pleading for the technicians to leave her with humanity but they wouldn't hear it. Tears rolled down her face as she increased in size and aged 10 years until she was 18 human years. She became mature looking and her human features began to turn gem like, a strong torso and a slim body. The scars decreased but stretched out in length due to her sudden growth. She heard the technicians clamoring and talking about why they couldn't make her anymore gem.
Suddenly Yellow Diamond walked in through the doors. Azurite whimpered but could not speak because the gem's presence reminded her of what Rose said about the Diamonds. She slipped out of her restraints and looked at the big diamond right in the eyes. Yellow Diamond strolled over to the table where Azurite was now standing on top of, trying to be as tall as one of the leaders of the gem race. This failed but Yellow Diamond noticed how defiant this gem was. Azurite's legs were shaky and her body was still forming but she realized that she had new strength. "Foolish child get down from that table immediately or I will have someone deal with you," Yellow Diamond said sternly.
Azurite climbed down from her position but ran over to the diamond and punched her in the knee. Yellow Diamond was enraged and shoved her foot into Azurite's face, "I am done with this failure."
"If that's all you got, then you are a failure," the smaller gem croaked just loud enough for Yellow Diamond to hear.
She snapped around and proceeded to beat Azurite until she couldn't move. The doors slammed closed and the defeated gem felt victorious as she fell asleep on the floor.
Azurite woke up laughing an hour later. Vexus pretended she was not watching Azurite sleeping uncomfortably. "Oh my gosh Vexus! That was awesome right? I totally beat Yellow Diamond in willpower!" the gem shouted with glee.
"Uh that sounds inappropriate but why were you dreaming. Dreaming is not allowed on Homeworld and we are thirty minutes away. Reform yourself," replied the gem sternly then blushing, "and it is not like I was watching your dream or anything."
"Sure, Vexus, you are one interesting gem," Azurite replied with a smirk touching her eye but then pulling away as the pain stung her. She groaned and leaned against the cell wall in agony.
Vexus reached out to the cell wall but her metallic fingers were shocked. She felt pity for the gem but the green gem could only watch her. "Can you tell me about yourself?" she asked to try to help in the smallest way possible.
The blue gem groaned, "My name is Azurite and I am from the planet Earth filled with humans and some gems. I was six years old when I met a beautiful gem called Rose Quartz-"
"Rose Quartz?! The infamous Crystal Gem that has been ravaging our troops?" Vexus blurted out.
"Well I guess that is probably her. But she was like my mother, she took care of me and made sure I was well. We lived together for several years, running away from the war but then we were found by some Homeworld gems," Azurite was becoming woozy again with a fuzzy feeling in her head, "she fought for me but they pulled a dirty trick on her. I couldn't fight because some weird flower poisoned me just like my dad except he didn't make it. Rose was very hurt so I decided to go with the gem onto the ship. That is all I remember before I got here. What year is it anyway?"
The green gem looked inquisitive but fought the desire to ask another question while typing into a screen Azurite's id, "The year is 1645," Azurite's eyes were confused but Vexus continued to clarify, "you were shipped around because many technicians wanted to study you. You were experimented on and that is why you have this strange appearance. It seems like you have not been aware for all these years," Vexus scrolled down the list, "I have never had such an interesting conversation."
"Can I ask you another question?"
"Sure," Vexus answered dignified.
"Why is your gem on your chest and not your head? The other gems that resemble you have them there," Azurite asked inquisitively not knowing that this was a soft spot for Vexus.
"Uhhh I was overcooked... I am actually a Peridot but I am called Vexus. I was a failure because my gem is on my chest opposed to my head. Usually gems go on specific places for each type of gem. The only reason I am alive is because I am a good technician. I am not good with all this question business," Vexus spilled herself to Azurite, who understood how she felt.
Slowly Azurite began to crush on Vexus. Goodness what are these feelings... They are not quite what I felt for Rose. "Thanks for engaging me Azurite," Vexus said looking to the side with a slight blush but then shouting, "For some reason I feel clarity but I am not going to trust you!"
"Anytime," Azurite fell into the depths of sleep calling to her once again.
"Good morning, Azurite," Rose calmly said to Azurite.
The smaller gem stretched out and gave Rose a big hug, "Good morning, Rose."
Rose held Azurite as the sun was rising. The smaller gem ate breakfast and Rose watched. After she scarfed down her food, Azurite wanted to go for a walk around the forest to look for pretty rocks. Rose and her held hands as they strolled down the path; it felt so warm and fresh to be close to the sea and the mountains. Hours passed and they found a bunch of neat rocks and seashells and went back to the camp. The two decorated the rocks that made a foundation around where they slept. Stars crept across the sky gradually and the two gems saw fireflies swerving around them gracefully. Azurite watched Rose as she started to dance and joined her. At eight she was a good dancer because of all the practice Rose had given her. The two fused together and became one with a graceful form.
"This feels amazing," they said as the dance continued, "Have you ever fused before? Yes I have but it was for the sake of war."
They unfused eventually and the tall grass was swaying back and forth against the starry sky. When it was very late, Azurite fell asleep in Rose's arms. Azurite saw that Rose was weeping after she tucked her in. "We can't ever escape Homeworld. I don't want this for Azurite. I want to protect her and be with her forever," Rose sobbed and Azurite desperately wanted to comfort her.
"Hey Azurite?" Vexus asked, less harshly shaking the blue-eyed gem's shoulder, "We are here now."
"Ugh," Azurite groaned, "Thanks for being my friend for this trip. Please act like you usually do when reporting back I don't want you to get in trouble."
"Of course," Vexus replied indignantly, but worried for her "friend."
Azurite staggered to her feet and walked through the hallway but stopped, "Where is the exit again?"
Vexus stifled a laugh but got in character, "I will lead you, follow me weakling."
Just then, Azurite touched Vexus' gem tenderly feeling how smooth it was, calling it beautiful for such a horrible place. She embraced the green gem, but she did not know how to respond so she left her arms at her sides. Vexus noted how warm this body was that made contact with her. Azurite realized that she could not affect the life of this gem with her problems again. When she let go, the green gem stared into her eyes and told Azurite good luck.
"We will meet again won't we Vexus?"
"Probably not," Vexus responded unsure of her answer but with fierceness. I should have hugged her warm body... I am such a clutz.
Azurite was led outside the ship and surrounded by Jaspers and other warrior gems. She was bound while Vexus watched with her arms behind her back, clenching her fists. The blue-eyed gem thought to herself, Darn that Vexus was hot… Maybe I can see her again. Her thoughts were once again understandable. She was prepared for whatever the future was.