The door slid silently behind them as they climbed aboard the ship. Efficient with only four seats total: three facing the large command board that lined the walls, and one elevated seat in the center, to watch over everything. Aventurine strode - like a phantom - to the driving seat; right in front of the captain's chair. She didn't say anything as her grey fingers ghosted over the various buttons.
"That, would be your seat, fusion." Topaz sneered, gesturing to the large chair in the center.
"Truly?" Tiger's eye widened in mock surprise, "I couldn't tell!"
Topaz crossed her arms, "Oh, aren't you funny."
"I'm hilarious." Tiger stuck out her tongue and strolled to the captain's chair, flopping into it. Topaz growled furiously running her hands through her hair.
"Why would our Diamond make a fusion command us?" Topaz hissed furiously, turning to Aventurine for help, who ignored her. Pouting, Topaz turned back to Tiger. The two stared at each other for a long moment. Finally, Topaz tilted her chin up and asked, "How many battles have you fought in?"
"None." Tiger picked at her nails and scratched at her stomach.
"You ever lead a mission before?" Topaz squinted.
"Nope." She popped the 'p' and shot Topaz a challenging gaze.
Topaz threw her hands up in the air, "Then why would she choose you?!"
"Because she knows what I can do." Tiger said simply, flicking a clip of nail at her.
The air between them was electrified with fury as Topaz stepped forward, her hands clasped into fists, her teeth bared, she hissed, "And what would that be?"
Tiger sat up straight, looking down to Topaz, a large grin spread across her face, "Dunno."
Growling, Topaz turned to Aventurine, "Do you believe this?!"
The other gem flicked her wrist in nonchalance, still focused on the buttons before her. Topaz scowled back at Tiger, "Not only are you a fusion, but you're a newly formed fusion!"
"Yup." Tiger stretched two arms over her head and kicked her legs out, "And I'm lovin' being me."
"Well congratulations." Topaz's lip curled up in disgust, "But don't you dare think I'm going to take orders from you."
A shiver ran through Tiger's spine. The air around her dropped twenty degrees. Her arms slowly lowered themselves, her fists gripping her biceps. Goosebumps formed up and down each arm. Her lower lip found its way between her teeth. Her voice cracked as she whispered, "Wait… what?"
Topaz locked eyes with her, her voice low with an edge of a growl on it, "You. Aren't. My. Captain."
Despite the calm voice soothing reassurances in her mind, Tiger Eye couldn't ignore the gripping panic that tore through her heart; literally ripping her apart. The fission happened faster than Tiger could've expected, and then she wasn't Tiger anymore. While fusion is a process of trust and acceptance, fission, at least, in this case, is one of rejection and pain. She was cold, fading and then, finally, she was gone. In her place, two gems tumbled out of the light. Cat's Eye flopped off the chair, landing on the ground with a soft 'oof'. Lavender was shaking so bad, she couldn't see straight. Her mouth turned dry and her eyes grew wet. Her eyes snapped up as she heard Topaz talk.
"A Chrysoberyl!?"
Cat sat up on and waved excitedly, "Hi!"
"Any gem that needs a Chrysoberyl doesn't deserve to be a leader. You don't give a trophy to last place." Topaz said, stepping over Cat to hover over Lavender. "This isn't a petty gemball game; this is war!"
Lavender flinched and curled in on herself to protect her gem, "You're right, I'm sorry, you're right!"
Cat's Eye sprang up suddenly, her gem glowing; "Hey! Leave my best friend alone!"
The small gem ran up behind Topaz and started pounding her small fists on Topaz's thigh. Topaz grinned in amusement at how weak the other gem was.
"Oh, give it a rest, pipsqueak. It's not like I'm lying; she agrees with me." Topaz gestured to Lavender's shaking form.
Lavender was mumbling to herself, her voice a small whimper, "I told our Diamond I couldn't do this, I told her!"
"Ave, turn this ship around! I'm not getting shattered because of these two's incompetence!" Topaz yelled to the quiet gem. Aventurine just tilted her head slowly and stared at Topaz until she turned around.
"Stop yelling!" Cat yelled, still punching the other gem. "You're making everyone sad!"
"Why I otta crack you right now." Topaz muttered, kicking Cat's Eye away from her. The small gem tumbled across the floor and crashed into the wall.
That must've not been satisfying enough for the warrior, because then she pulled out a large battle ax from her gem. Cat summoned her own weapon - a sledgehammer with a white diamond logo on the side - before she even got to her feet. Topaz swung her ax toward Cat, surprised when the small being rolled out of the way. The sound of metal scraping against metal filled the air as Topaz's ax scraped against the wall. Cat raised her mallet as high as she could, standing on her tippy toes, before she slammed it to the ground. The vibrations caused Topaz to lose her balance and she stumbled against the wall. Turning around, her eyes glinting with fire and hatred, Topaz pushed off the wall to approach the other. Cat squeaked, stepping back slightly, but determinedly raising her weapon.
"Stop!" Lavender thought the cry came from her mouth, but it was far too authoritative. She looked over to see Aventurine, who had stood up and raised her hands before her. The two fighting gems were flung apart from each other; each now held against separate walls. Aventurine stepped slowly toward the crater in the floor that Cat had made. As she did so, the ship rebuilt itself, and Lavender had the distinct feeling that the grey gem was the cause of it.
"S-sorry, Ave." Topaz mumbled, sounding just a bit ashamed.
Cat was struggling against her hold, kicking her feet wildly.
Lavender watched as Aventurine walked over the newly-repaired ground and up to Topaz. The other gem gulped as Aventurine said slowly, "Must you antagonize our captain?"
"But, it's a fusion…" Topaz tried to explain, but was cut off as Aventurine dropped her to the floor. Cat also fell to the ground, landing as a large fluff of yellow hair. The grey gem slipped back to her seat and pressed a few buttons. The sounds of engines starting up and machinery clicking into place made Lavender realize something.
"You never started the ship."
Aventurine tilted her chin up, a small smile gracing her lips.
"We haven't even left Homeworld yet." Lavender could now see the other ships in the garage around them and various gems walking around as if nothing was wrong.
"Indeed." Aventurine said, settling in for a long ride, "So, children, please behave."
Sorry it's short.
Tell me what you think!
