Thanks to the great Tomoyo-chan284 who beta this story.

I learned the first week that my attempts to get out of this place were practically fruitless…not that that had stopped me from trying again and again. While I was not as proficient in technology as Pearl was, I knew the very basics of gem portals to try to make my own. With a little modification, I thought while I sketched in my asked for notebook, I thought that I could modify the portal to transport us back to… if not Beach City; maybe any place of the world will be good enough. But I needed information so I asked the computer for every possible piece of academia on gem technology…which was given to me, which elevated my suspicion greatly. Why was this not counted as a menace? Then one day I realized the why. A message appeared on the computer:

"Oh sweet Garnet! Really you thought that I would not know what you are trying to do? Creating a portal for yourself is really the project but ultimate pointless. You see, I know what you are trying to do, I know what even is your plan B…and while that plan is much more plausible it won't do you any good. So just sit and enjoy your long and lasting vacation…take this as a gift. I assure you that nobody even knows that you left."

With love Mr. X

Needlessly to say… I was…what was the phrase? Really pissed off.

-What are you doing girl?- I heard the voice of Lalo as I smashed with a hammer the boulders that I asked for.

—Smashing...these...ROCKS.-I said as he circled me looking at my actions...Sure from his side this looked odd. even internally I knew that I was doing this to vent out my frustration for getting no less than 2 months worth of work and research thrown down the drain. Sweating I swung the hammer again against the rock finally cracking it down the middle...but I was exhausted...

-Is this about your machine?-he asked as he grabbed from my hands the hammer and looked at me; I was so tired that I did not attempt to keep it. I was resting with my hands on my knees...turning my head to look at him, I finally answered...

-Yes...all my work, all the research that I had done…gone.- I then decided to just sit on the ground.

-I understand...-

-How?-I asked now with my head clear and a mixture of curiosity and annoyance...

-Well, we...are in the same situation, we are both trapped here...-

-You don't look that concerned with being here.— I said wearily looking at him.

—Look.-he sighed- I want to go back...but I am aware that if that project of your's could not...then there is very little for me to do.—He sat in front of me.—Call it cultural differences, in the north we are used to trying to keep going even if the situation is to out of our control...-

-How you deal with not being able… to not having the power to change your situation...how do you deal with not being able to do something?-I asked...maybe I was way to harsh in my desperation...this was clearly Ruby talking.

-That is just life...I mean...from where I came from we learn that there is nothing certain in this life but death.—He paused and passed his hand by his hair-Granted this situation is far too different from life...or anything that I have faced,—he said looking up to the white sky-but..there is a constant that was always there.—he said now looking at me.

-A constant?- I asked...how was he so calm?

-I was never alone...when I faced the economic collapse in 1985 and saw how my grandpa lost his retirement savings along with all my money in the bank, I had them by my side...-he then said-and while I lack the knowledge to do something...of the kind of what you were working on…seriously, I had good education and I could not understand any of the math in your notebook-he finished a little entertained...

-I don't think that any person could.—carefully to not say...any human.

-Well...you understand what I am trying to say... there are things that one can not change but simply overcome...That you can't change something does not mean that you can't survive it,—he paused to add-I have been afraid to wake up and find myself alone here.—

-So you are calm because I am here?-Now it was my turn to be amused...

-In a sense…yes.-he said a little flustered- Is one of those principles...from where I came from: death is a fact of life, economic ruin...well that sucks but does not matter, being abandoned or being alone...that is despair worthy. There is even a saying that goes like, this is a mocking way to say, well, your situation truly is suicide worthy: "Poor guy, he has neither father, mother or dog to bark at him".-he finished.

-Why is that said in a mocking tone?—I asked...why mock someone's despair?

-Dark humor is part of the way of how we deal with pain in my country/—he said standing up-It helps...sometimes, there is even songs about it...there is this movie that more or less is called "Hurrah for my disgrace"-he then extended his hand to help me up-Then again I understand that you aren't from my country…so…—

-Don't worry...I think I understand now.—

-Do you feel better? I don't know if I helped you or...-

-The fact that you tried is good enough...-

After my little talk with Isidoro about why he teased me constantly things improved greatly.…or at least that is how I saw it. Soon we got our own routine. After he got a standing wind up clock he put it with the time of my watch and set it to be the time of this place. Every morning I rise around 7 and get prepared to run a little… I still wasn't over the fact that I was not able to be as fast and as resistant as a gem. First day of my training I ran 10k which greatly tired me, after that I tried the same the second day just to see that I could and ended up with my legs hurting for 3 days. Isidoro told me that I should not run that much so soon… that it is better take it slow and build up my resistance. Knowing now that probably I will never be as resistant as a gem I settled to be fit…to human standards. After I recovered I asked for a weightlifting set and some bars to exercise. Isisdoro watch me fascinated by why it was so important to be fit… I recall he told me that I wasn't fat so I did not need the extra work. I just told him that it feel necessary. For a full month that was my routine, wake up at 7 run 5 k then lift weights for 30 minutes and then take a shower. Then eat breakfast with Isidoro who made the food nearly every day. Sometimes he would leave stuff to just warm up in a microwave or cook on top of the oven that we got from the computer. Then lounge and read for a time, maybe talk, then eat and finally at night to have a diner.

I must say that Isisdoro became a very interesting and sometimes weird guy. He always wakes up earlier than me (around 6 or 5:30 am)… but he will get a "concha" or some type of bread that he will eat while sitting at the couch and drinking coffee. Every time that I get ready to run I see him there, sitting eating his bread and drinking his coffee. He will greet me and sometimes I will ask him if he wants to go for a run… but he always says that his days of running were over. He also had the curious tick of moving his arms and hands while we talked, his hands and arms expressing more than his words sometimes.

He also was the one who began to ask for our food: meat, tomatoes, beans, rice, coffee, a lot of different kind of breads, eggs, butter, some spices and some flat bread that he called tortilla made of corn. The tortilla was really interesting. When he ate eggs, they were usually fried in butter and with a side of fried beans with cheese… and he will not use the cutlery that we asked for. He will take a tortilla, pop the yolk of the eggs with the tortilla folded in half, scoop the egg with the tortilla still folded, do the same with the beans and scrub the plate with other final one and eat it…all of this without getting his face or his hands dirty. I tried this a couple of times and certainly while unnecessary it was a doable way to eat.

He also wondered if he could get a small forest, full of pines because it reminded him of his childhood in Cusihuiriachi, where he would spend his vacations. I told him that I wasn't sure about a forest. He still wonders about it I think. He also asked for a sound system where he sometimes listens to music: Groups like los Frontera, los Bukis, los terricolas (I snicker at that name) and los angeles negros, soon filled the afternoons while he read. Eventually I had to negotiate with him about the music and he relented after nearly a week of discussion that he will play a song and then I will do likewise. He also said sometimes said that we looked like we were squatting in a big warehouse: a kitchen with fridge, cook top oven and sink, the couch and our two beds in one side, the shower just standing there and a toilet that needed a shade just like the shower. It certainly looked like just furniture in the middle of the vast emptiness. This led eventually to one of the weirdest requests for the computer that I had witnessed at the time.

-Girl.—he said lying in the couch holding a book of some sort (he usually read history books).

-Yes Lalo.—I answered back.

-Would you like a house?—he asked me now looking to me while I was sitting in my bed.

-A house? Why?—I asked interested a little.

-It is just…is just weird to me to live like this,—he said moving his right hand pointing to everything that was surrounding us.

-Are you uncomfortable with our living arrangements?—I asked him now looking at him.

-It is just that…everything here looks so sterile I mean…I enjoy what I have I really do but…but after 2 months of living like this it just doesn't it feel normal,—he said to me.

-If you want I can ask for a house and we can move there…- I began to say.

-Don't worry I will do it I just wanted to see if you did not have any objections…to the idea.—he said sounding a little embarrassed. And then he proceeds to walk to the computer and type. After a couple of minutes there was a bright light and at 10 meters from our position there was a house. It was very tall. The front had 7 steps that lead to a black door. I circled the building. I could see a window in the left side which looked at big yard. I keep walking and saw a part of the building that came out of the back of the house. In all, the house was L shaped with the letter inverted. It was grey and looked to have very thick walls. I looked at him and he looked at the house eyes full.

-I can't believe it.—he said.

-What happened Lalo?—I asked a little concerned by his reaction.

-This is my grandparent's house…at least a perfect replica,—he said walking towards the house—Here.—he said walking up the steps—My "Papá Lalo" walked down the steps like this.—he said while he stood turning to the right side of his body, the he slowly lowered his left leg to the lower step and gently he lowered his right leg to the same step with his right hand simulating a cane—Come girl, enter.—he marked a "come" with his left hand while with his right he opened the door.

The inside looked big. To my right there was cabinets and a cook top oven. To my left there was a big kitchen sink and large round table, it must have been around 1.5 to 2 meters in diameter. In front there was what maybe was planned to be an island but was now converted into a bar stool of sorts, in the middle there was a space big enough to pass. In the front there was a large closet with six shutter doors made of wood. To my right in this new room was also a big couch of grey color. To my left I saw two chairs made out of wine barrels. I touched the seat; it was black leather and with a pattern. In the middle of the left wall there was a curtain that in close inspection I saw was nailed to the part above…how rustic. I parted the curtain in the middle and lowered my head to pass. There I saw 2 steps in the ground in big pieces of stone. I walked down to see Isidoro lying in one bed. At the end of the room in front of me there were 2 beds, one in the left and one in the right. The bed ion the right side had a big window with a white curtain while the one on the left was against a wall. Isidoro was in the one on the right.

Walking completely inside I looked to my left and saw a door painted in green. I opened it and saw a bathroom. The shower was in the right and the toilet was on the left. The toilet was of a light tone of green and the inside wall of the shower was also painted green. As I come out of the bathroom I saw the same brown couch that we had outside. Isidoro had not said a word. I walked to see him lying in the bed. He looked at me and said:

-When I was a little kid, my "mama kika" always gave me this bed to sleep…the times that we were visiting my grandparents,—he said smiling the most sincere smile that I had seen on him—Garnet,—he told me pushing himself up with his elbows—I hope that I had not bothered you by…-he began to say but I stopped him.

-You loved this house?—I asked returning the smile.

-I passed the happiest time of my life here.—he told me.

-Then is fine…we can live here from now on.—I told him.

After that we moved there. And at night while I was sitting in one of the barrel chairs (arm folds and all) I heard him singing along with a song that was interpreted by a male group with what looked like guitars. I listen up (he said that it was his grandma favorite group):

Tu como piedra preciosa,

como divina joya

valiosa de verdad...

Si mis ojos no me mienten...

si mis ojos no me engañan...

tu belleza es sin igual.

I heard the first verse of the lyrics. His grandmother must have been in love.

Tuve una vez la ilusión

de tener un amor

que me hiciera valer,

luego que te ví, mujer

yo te supe querer

con toditita mi alma.

Very much in love. I looked at the walls of the room and I saw an old photo in black and white. There was a young woman dressed in white with a head wear that looked sheer, at her right there was a man with a thin mustache, hair slicked back who was grabbing her left hand. Must be them I thought walking to that photo and looking at the date: 1958.

Eres la gema que dios

convirtiera en mujer

para bien de mi vida.

I turned to the curtains that led to the other room. I smiled as he picked up volume.

Por eso quiero cantar

y gritar que te quiero

mujer consentida...

Maybe he was waiting for someone outside of here…which was a good reason to try to figure out what was the experiment for other means.

Por eso elevo mi voz

bendiciendo tu nomre

y pidiéndote amor.

I picked off one book from the pile that he had now and looked at the cover: El mundo mediterraneo en tiempos de Felipe II, by Fernando Braudel. I looked at the cover and decided to give it a light read…then I saw one of the maps inside. It looked different that the earth maps that I remember.

I was thinking the whole night of our 2 months here (or 67 days according with the calendar made between the two of us). And I had a series of ideas about what happen to us…ideas that I had yet to say to Isidoro openly. One of them was that is very probable that we were not only from different locations but from different universes. I corroborated this theory with the help of an atlas which showed me that the geographical composition of Isidoro's country was different than how I knew it originally. On top of that, after a short conversation that Isidoro had with me I got a new piece of information.

-Isidoro,—I said to him who was sitting in the table of kitchen, reading a book, window behind him.

-Yes girl?—he answered me razing his head from the book at me—What's the matter?—he asked.

- Are those your grandparents?—I asked the photograph on hand.

-No, those are my parents.—he said looking at the photo.

-Are you sure? Because the date does not check with the age that you said you had.—I asked, I needed this piece of information.

-Why not? I am 45 so I was born in 1958…a couple of months after the wedding in fact.—he said firm.

I mentally counted. 1958 plus 45 told me that he was from the human year 2003…a good 14 years before I was. Plus there was the fact of the map so I asked two vital questions:

-Isidoro I need you to answer this truthfully and without any kid of mistake.—I said—What date was when you were still in home? What you know of Korea? And how big is México?

Isidoro put his book down and began to think. In 2 minutes he raised his head and answered me.

-It was Friday the 28th of February 2003, it was at night, that is why I was sleeping when I woke up here, the second question is weird I mean, I am school teacher whose specialty is Mexican matters but I know that Korea is divided in 2, north and south Korea and finally México is a little less of 2 million kilometers in area with the amount disputed in the south sometimes. –he said sure of himself.

That answer was just what I needed to confirm my hypothesis. We were not only from two separated times but from separate universes. So the honest thing was to clarify the situation with him…this will complicate my initial plan to get him out of here, not only we were separated by universes but timelines. So I sat and began saying:

-I need to tell you this. We are not from the same place. I belong to a universe where your Russia has a giant hole creating a gulf, the south of your country no longer exists, Korea is just one country and…this is the most important part…the earth was part of galactic project to be harvested for its resources for a galactic gem empire which I was part of…a long time before I joined a resistance force. I myself was not a human before I came here, I am the result of…-then he slammed his book in the table. He looked me death in the eye. He stared and finally in a tone lower but very cold he said.

-Galactic Gem empire? So like aliens?—he asked. Tone as cold as before.

-Yes,—I answered—I know that it sounds weird but I assure you that everything is…- he then stood up and walked out of the house door.

I looked to see where he was going and saw that he was simply walking to the computer…and I understood. He began to type, as stone faced as before. Then he waited and his expression changed from coldness to confusion and finally to…defeat? Then over the computer it appeared one single piece of paper. He picked up the piece of paper and then he looked at it. He then began to walk to the house. I sat there waiting to see what he was going to say. Then he entered looking tired and…sad?

-Is this you?—he asked laying the paper on the table. I stood up a little and saw it. It was a very good drawing of me as I was when I was in my universe. I then looked up and told him, moving my hand that yes. I don't think that he would want me to talk. He then sighed and left the kitchen to go to the bedroom. I don't know why but I feel a little bad…but I don't know why. He did not need to know that. Why was he that affected. I understood that lying to him was a necessity in the beginning; he was a human and could react bad enough to the shock. But…no, I knew better. I have lived millenniums by the time he was born…but I do not know what to do in this situation. I decided to prepared myself a quick diner and go to sleep, maybe dreaming will solve things up.

At the next morning, I wake up, follow my own routine and said good morning to Isidoro…which he returned but it feel more out of politeness than from true desire to say it. I understood then that he was angry or more exactly…hurt from the revelation. At least that was my idea. And then I felt something that I knew very well…guilt. The conflict revealed me a new phase of the human condition. When I was a gem if a conflict was tough enough I split and the conflict is resolved after deep discussion between Ruby and Sapphire…but now I was not able to do that. I could feel the Ruby side in me telling that I should do something while Sapphire assures that I should wait this thing up. If this how humans deal with conflicts then I understand why they sometimes do rash decisions. It was infuriating. The conflict was even affecting my day, I was not able to run more than 4k and my weight training was mediocre… I ended up sitting on my weight bench in frustration and silence. I decided to shower and in the shower I got an idea. Maybe it was time to think outside of the box; maybe it was time to do the human thing…whatever the results. After all if I was going to be here for a long time better be in good terms.

By the next day I had prepared what I wanted to do, but for that I needed to wake up before Isidoro so I set up an alarm and slept in the couch of the house. First I needed to get a geography book of México. Then I searched for that place… Cusihuiriachi. I found that is was in the State of Chihuahua. That was the first part, and then I tried to find the geography and flora of the place. It was mountain like, unlike Beach City which hills looked more alluvial than rocky; this place was kind of rocky, but filled with white pines, willows, oaks and juniperos. I picked out this and began to work. I wrote in the computer exactly what I wanted and typed enter. After a couple of minutes and a bright light…there, at 20 meters beginning in where the backyard will be, there was a forest. I ran to it to check that I was exactly as I asked. It was full of those tall pines that he had told me about, there was juniperos, rocky yes but it fitted the place. And there after a 10 minute run between the trees and the rocks, there was a small lake that was born of a couple of tall rocks. He told me about the Basaseachi falls but I thought that aesthetically this one while less impressive was adequate for the place…but he needed to see this.

I ran back nearly falling a couple of times. And when I finally was at the door and entered I saw that he was making his coffee and white bread on a plate.

-Lalo I need you to come.—I nearly shouted but gained my composure.

-What now? Something new that you haven't told me girl.— It was his mocking tone…only this time full of coldness.

That decided it. I could practically feel Ruby taking control and I took his bread from him.

-You will come with me now.—I said to him, standing my full height.

-Hey give my "concha".—he shouted and then I picked him up…which while he was fairly skinny (he told me that he weighted 73 kilos) and lighter than Greg, it was different to carry a human while I had my gem strength than to be a very tall and strong human. But I persisted and I carried him outside while when tried to squirm…and then I deposited him in the ground and turned him to see the forest.

-Condenada hija de tu tiznada ma…- he stopped when he saw the forest in front of him.

I waited to see what he said. But he said nothing; he began to walk inside the forest. And I followed him close. He said nothing for maybe half hour until he reached the lake. He stared at the lake and walked the perimeter of it. Then he found a round rock and sat there. He raised his left knee in a smaller rock besides the one that he was sitting, reclined himself to the front and put his left arm on his knee and used that hand to hold his head. He sat there for a long time, and I was just seeing him waiting to know if this was a good idea or if I made a terrible mistake…I was about to talk when he signaled me with his right arm to come closer. Then when he heard my steps close to him, he turned and leaned to the front with his palms connected at the tips and put them in the middle of his legs. I decided to sit in front of him… there was a rock that while smaller made us level due our height differences.

-Why did you do this?—he asked signaling the whole forest.

-I…felt guilty for lying to you or at least I think that is what happened,—I told him—and I remembered that you wondered about the possibility of having a forest…I thought that it will make you happy.—I finished shrinking my shoulders looking at him in expectation.

He looked down and said—You did nothing wrong… or at least not that wrong,—he said trying to find his words—I mean yes I was bothered, I thought the I was trapped with a single mother in a vast void of nothingness,—he said looking at me—with a woman who had suffered and needed to get back home to her kid and needed help to cope with this,—he signaled up to the still white sky—not a alien from another universe who had been changed into a human against her will.—he said smiling at the last part.

-I can assure you…you had been good company here.—I said and smiled. While wrong in his initial assumption it was sweet that he thought that was his duty to take care of me.

-Not that good…I make you feel like I mocked you a lot of times, you told me that,—he answered his voice sounding dry—and all this time you where trying to make me not freak out by you being…well, not human.—he said finally.

-To be more exact I am human now… I have been human for at last 2 months.—I said to him.

-Yeah…I could never quite get some of the weird things that you did.—he said as a side comment.

-Weird things?—I asked curious and a little insulted.

-Yes…like when you asked for those sunglasses and tried to wear them all the time…seriously, only "fresas" and "nacos" try to wear sunglasses all the time.—he said now smiling playfully.

-I look cool with them…I looked cool with them.—I said defensive.

-I give you a good reason for ditching those,—he said leaning more towards me—they bothered you to see stuff and…you had a nice pair of eyes, very nice blue ones…—he said—You are not old so your eyes still don't need glasses.—he finished.

-I am older than you.—I told him as a matter of fact.

-How much?—he asked curious.

-Millenniums.—I said smiling and his surprised expression…I caught him off guard.

-Well…you don't look your age.—he finally said looking at me up and down. I flexed my arms a little to show off. A moment of vanity was good after all.

-But still you were weird…like when you were in the shower…for a moment I thought differently.—he said laughing.

-What more could I be doing?—I asked curious.

-Is not important…what is important, is that you—he said standing up—gave me a forest.—

I stood up also and was about to ask when he proceeded.

-I had friends outside of here but you, Garnet, you…come here, get closer.—he said. I got close to him and then…he hugged me with all his strength and in the process, he cracked my back which was good because I think that I over exerted myself carrying him. I promptly returned the favor and hugged him back…until I heard a crack.

-I want you to know; no matter if something happens to me here, even when we get out and maybe we never see each other… you are my friend and I…really appreciated you for all that you had done.—he said looking at the forest again—Now, my stomach screams for food and I am sure that you are hungry.-

-I usually take a run right now and…-I began to say but he interrupted me.

-Come on, come and eat with me… just one day that you change your routine won't be bad my friend.—he said.

- Ok, but I will take my run after we finish eating.—I said and walked behind my friend.

Notes:

I selected the song from the group Dandy's. The name is Gema (gem). Lyrics from Güicho Sisneros.

El mundo Mediterraneo en tiempos de Felipe II is a history book about the mediterranean and the relations that it created in the European nations during the reign of Felipe II.

The spice that he describes is commonly named chile piquin... is very spicy specially for a kid.

Isidoro was about to call Garnet "condenada hija de tu tiznada madre que te pario" which is a kid version of SOB. The literal translation will be "damned son of your ashen mother who gave birth to you".

Concha is a bread with covering and looks like, well, a shell.

Naco is a slang that mean...person of low class who is tacky or lacks any sense of refinement.

Fresa is other slang therm that means: rich daddy's boy or girl who flaunts their wealth and buys things without any sense.