Chapter 2. The Lore of Blood Diamond
The Crystal Gems were understandably shocked. Having taken this conversation inside after bubbling the quartz soldiers the group of five had convened to talk. The Crystal Gems were seated on the couch with Mike on a stool on the opposite side of the table. His guns and knives were on the table itself while his armor rested nearby. Pearl was looking at Mike in a calculating manner, similar to Garnet but for a different reason. Pearl didn't like the fact that Red Diamond had been on earth when Rose was still around, while Garnet didn't like the fact that Mike was somehow able to block her future sight. Try as she might she could not see either Mike or his future. Amethyst was simply eating, not really having much else to do. And Steven was looking at Mike with some excitement, having never expected to meet another hybrid.
As for Mike, he simply observed them. He was remaining ready for if the Crystal Gems became hostile. His guns were just out of his reach and unloaded, but he was more than deadly with his bare hands. He knew that they were waiting for something, but he didn't know what. There came the sounds of muffled conversation from outside, followed by a knock on the door. Amethyst went to answer it, finding Lapis, Peridot, and Connie accompanied by a man in a dress shirt and slacks.
"Ah, Blood Diamond. I see you found them alright." The man said, getting a brief glance in reply.
"So, this is the other hybrid?" Peridot asked, the small Gem looking Mike over.
"Yes he is. Excuse me sir…" Pearl said, catching the attention of the unknown man.
"Smith, Nicholas Smith. Just call me Nick though." Nick said, a small smile on his face.
"Ok, Nick. What did you call Mike just now?" Pearl asked.
"Oh, Mike's call sign is Blood Diamond. It's what we call him when we need him for an official mission." Nick explained.
"Missions. Are you some kind of Secret Agent or something?" Steven asked, stars in his eyes.
"In a manner. I'm a bounty hunter, mercenary, assassin, spy, or whatever else the clients need me to be." Mike explained. Steven was still in awe of Mike being so cool, but the rest of the Gems and Connie did catch the 'assassin' part.
"Hey Mike, a call came in for you. Why don't you take it and I'll chat with the Gems here." Nick said, handing Mike a phone.
Mike shrugged heading out to speak with whoever wanted to talk to him.
"So…" Nick began as Mike left. "I take it that Mike told you about him being a hybrid like young Steven here?"
"Yes he did, which begs an important question. How did another hybrid come about without any of us knowing?" Pearl asked.
"More importantly, how did Rose not know about him?" Garnet continued.
"And where has he been all this time?" Garnet finished.
"Oh Oh, can you tell it in song?" Steven asked excitedly, causing his Gem family to roll their eyes in amusement.
"In song, no." Nick answered, making Steven's face droop in slight disappointment. "But I can tell it in epic story style." There was the beaming grin on the young hybrid's face.
"I don't think that's necess…" Pearl began, but was cut off by Steven.
"Oh please oh please oh please Pearl?" Steven begged, eager to learn about the other hybrid.
"Very well Steven." Pearl sighed out.
"Alright Steven, are you ready to hear about the man who has come to be known as The Blood Diamond?" Nick said, enjoying how Steven and even Amethyst seemed interested. "Alright then. Years ago in a remote mountain village there was a legend of a man who would be born from a god and vanquish any who would threaten his people. That man, was not Mike. Because Mike killed that man for target practice. Mike was born from the union of Red Diamond, who herself had fled from the Homeworld Gems after becoming dissatisfied with the current leadership, and a mercenary named Alexander. This man had a number of traits that caught Red Diamond's interest, including a great intellect, ferocity, and warrior mentality. When the two had their child Red Diamond, like Rose Quartz, gave up her physical form to bring the child into existence. Unfortunately his father would soon perish as well to an aggressive cancer. However, he did have a few friends who he appointed as Mike's new guardians." Nick began.
"So he didn't have either parent growing up." Connie said, feeling a bit saddened.
"Nope, and the environment that he was raised in could be considered very much illegal. He was raised by the other mercenaries of Alexander's group, which included Thomas Cain a former Green Beret of the United States Army, Frank Rodriguez a former Navy Seal, Richard Mitz the retired Marine Corps Scout Sniper, and Elizabeth Sanchez a then recently discharged Army Ranger. Alexander's last request to his team was to train his son to be able to protect himself, a request that they took well to heart. By the time he was a year old he was expected to be able to walk steadily, speak coherently, and function fairly autonomously. By two he began his training, starting with physical conditioning and early martial arts study. By five he was being trained in marksmanship and knife fighting, all while continuing his study of martial arts and being homeschooled."
"Why was he being homeschooled?" Connie asked.
"Because when he was three the group tried to enroll him in preschool, there was an incident. A group of other boys attempted to bully Mike, and were subsequently hospitalized. The teacher had tried to intervene and almost had her arm torn off. You see, Mike was starting to show a vast increase in his strength. And when that strength was paired off with years of martial arts training, it was a small wonder why he almost killed people as a toddler." Nick said, both horrifying and intriguing the group. "The next fifteen years were spent honing his skills and knowledge until he was old enough to join the military and enlist into the United States Army. It didn't end well. You see Mike had been groomed to be an ideal soldier, which is something that the army's training program was not equipped to handle. Just as before he almost killed an instructor and was subsequently kicked out of the military. But this was something that his guardians had fully anticipated, and they went on to formally induct him into their mercenary group. During his upbringing they had participated in contracts a bit less than before so as to be able to raise him, now they could bring him into the fold. His initial assessments made clear that he was more than ready and when he went on his first job, a simple assault of a well-fortified terrorist stronghold, he managed to perform above all expectations. The best part though, came a few jobs later when he met the Drill Sergeant he had beaten up during his brief stint in the military. The Drill Sergeant was understandably furious when he found out that the young punk who had humiliated him was now calling the shots, getting paid more, and gaining recognition as a top tier warfighter."
"So he was like a super soldier." Steven said.
"That's actually fairly accurate. The hybridization of human and Gem caused some interesting mutations to occur. Mike is stronger, faster, and tougher than any human, while at the same time he can recover from injury better than any Gem." Nick explained.
"How do you mean?" Pearl asked, glancing over at Amethyst as the squat Gem munched on a bag of chips.
"Something happened with Mike's gem, something that didn't occur until after he was born. His gem somehow gained some organic traits despite being non-organic. As such it can function much like any of his other organs, namely in repairing itself when damaged." Nick said, causing even Garnet's eyes, hidden as they were, to widen.
"Wait a minute. He can heal…from being cracked?" Amethyst asked, recalling her own experience of having her gem damaged.
"Over time, yes. His hybrid status gives him advantages that cover the weaknesses of each respective species. His human fragility is negated by the natural physical supremacy of a Gem, while his organic composition, and the effect that it had on his gem, means that the gem in his chest does not offer as glaring a weakness as it would for a full Gem." Nick said. He could see the gears turning in the heads of each of the ones gathered. Lapis had remained largely silent, but that had more to do with that she was not too interested in the situation. Nick was surprised that Peridot hadn't asked any questions, as the reports made it clear that she was a very inquisitive Gem. But perhaps she was merely taking in as much information as possible and compiling a list of inquiries to ask at once.
"So what happened after the stronghold?" Steven asked, causing Nick to smile. The young man had an infectious joy to him, and was so easy to entertain.
"Well, after that mission Mike performed other such operations all over the world. He would occasionally encounter Corrupted Gems but never really knew what they were until he learned of you Crystal Gems. Once he discovered you, your history, and the true nature of the Corrupted Gems he threw himself into a full on investigation. He quickly became an expert on dispatching them and learned a number of abilities to assist him. Despite not having any proper training he became skilled in bubbling defeated Gems, as well as using his own gem to store equipment. Though in all fairness he was more excited about using his gem to store massive amounts of ammo and a full arsenal of weapons. Eventually he decided to come find you all, and so brings us to today."
"So he why is he here?" Amethyst asked.
"When he heard about a young boy with a gemstone in his belly he realized that he wasn't the only hybrid. Mike is here, because he's curious." Nick explained.
"He wanted to meet me?" Steven asked excitedly.
"Yep." Nick replied simply.
"Tell me something." Peridot said, seemingly ready to speak now. "Would he object to an examination? I am curious about hybrids and based on what I've heard this Mike would be less bothered by it than Steven would."
"You'd have to ask him that. But he's never had any issue with being examined before so I don't think he'll mind this time." Nick said.
The door opened at that moment, revealing Mike returning from his call.
"All good?" Nick asked simply, catching the phone as Mike tossed it to him.
"Yeah. I'm cleared for my vacation here. I intend to simply relax the next few weeks away." Mike said, stretching his arms up.
Author's note
Visitor DMCTheDarkAngelo requested a crossover story featuring young Steven Universe being abducted by Mundus. DMCTheDarkAngelo, if you are reading this then know that I am working on how to present this story in a way that is gripping and interesting.