Fluorite The Anarchist

Part 3

Seeing a gem first form is very strange to me. I was like them. I didn't exist, then all of a sudden I was forced through the ground into this form and into this existence. From the start I felt like I was suppose to do something, and now my place is a guard at a kindergarten. But it's a rough start. The insects, the gems shattered, the disaster, and then Topaz. Ever since then, the manager hasn't said a word to me. She hasn't bothered me or talked down to me.

Now that the kindergarten is finally running, I've observed something new. Gems forming into something. This kindergarten isn't that great from what I've heard from the peridots. Nothing but rubies, a single quartz soldier, and only a handful of new peridots. With whatever those insects had left in the ground, it wasn't forming anything great. That's what others say, but from what I've seen, it's very interesting to me. We form from a gem, but the rest of us is light in shape and form and with mass. We can come out strong or weak, noble or inferior. Even though I'm suppose to stay away from the exit holes of the kindergarten, I tend to look in them. Or climb inside. Some are glassy, others rocky or just carved out earth. I had an eye for it. And I guess I was recognized for it the day when Topaz came back.

I was inside another hole, this one high up the cavern, and I was just enjoy the silence. I hummed and hugged my knees, a habit I noticed I had. "7W2 F3B!" Silence broken. I pulled myself out of the hole in the wall and jumped down to the ground. I looked to see who had called me, and that's when I saw the manager. She looked the same, but her intimidating atmosphere wasn't that strong as last time. "You, follow me to the terminal." She ordered. Without another word I did what she asked. Next to the terminal I could see a warp pad being installed, and there stood Topaz. She wasn't smiling, but she didn't seem like she was angry. "Ah! There you two are! 7W2, do you know why I summoned for you?" Topaz greeted me with. "I don't know why. Is it because of the incident?" I asked quietly, fearing it would anger the manager. "Actually yes. I'm taking you and your manager to a test. Pass it, and you might just earned yourself a new title." She told me. I smiled, but then the other one spoke. "Don't get your hopes up. This test was made by the elites to see if a gem was actually worthy of the job. If you fail, you'll just come right back here again." She said menacingly. "Fluorites!" Topaz called both of us back to attention and gestured toward the now new warp pad. "We'll take a warp there. Ever done it before?" Topaz asked me. "No. Never seen one until now." I answered honestly. My entire existence I've only been in my own kindergarten and this one. And a ship. Standing on it, it didn't feel any different than the ground, until it warped us. Floating in mid air is nice, but I had floated higher than the others and when we reached the destination, I slammed back to the ground. "Ow!" I groaned while getting back on my feet. "This way." Topaz said. I followed, but I lagged behind on purpose to see the scenery. Buildings and spires rose to the violet sky and clouds. The gems that were around we some I haven't seen before. Sapphires, Carnelians, Jades, and a few Pearls even. "What is this place?" I asked. "This is one of the most active sites of this colony. We call it The Hive Center, after all this use to be the queen hive's lair. She was massive in size. Now it's conquered by us." Flying high above a Lapis Lazuli flew overheard, and then I saw the best of all the structures. It was a grand spire, but in a pyramid shape than a spear with different levels, each with a balcony looking over the other buildings. It looked so polished and white that it seemed to glow. "Wow." I said. "Hmph." The manager snickered. "I've seen better. Where's the bismuth that made that? Oh right, she was demoted." She commented. "Hush, we're here." Topaz said as we arrived at the door way. She pressed her hand against the smooth surface and the door split open. "Come." She beckoned. I looked up at the manager, but I couldn't figure out what she was feeling. She seemed, stressed or worried.

I can see why. The interior had many gems, elites and generals, watching us and chatting. It was quiet, but you could feel the intimidation. These gems were higher than the manager, than Topaz, than me. Not only were the gems intimidating, but the way the interior was designed. Polished marble pillars and statues, fountains and murals, skylights pouring in green misty light, making everything glow more brilliantly. I wanted to ask questions about what was the purpose of us being here when Topaz spoke again. "We're here." I looked up and saw another door entrance, this one guarded by a single ruby with her gem on her left cheek. "Identify yourself!" She said. "I am Topaz, the one that was ordered to bring back that one Fluorite." Topaz told Ruby. "Oh my apologizes Topaz. Go ahead. She's waiting." The ruby stepped aside, then opened up the door and let us walk through. The door closed behind us, and I heard a voice. A Peridot. This one was tall, her gem on her shoulder, and was wearing a different uniform. It had broad shoulders, her hair was formed to be more of a diamond than a triangle. "Ah, Topaz. You've returned." She said. "I've brought the one I told you about in the reports. The one with the good eye." Topaz responded to her. They started chatting about something, but I wasn't listening to the rest. I had become distracted with another thing. The manager's behavior. She had her arms crossed and she was tapping her foot repeatedly. Her eyes darted around and she stared at the floor occasionally. My observation earlier was true, she was worried, about something I didn't know. "Fluorite." They called for my attention and I stood straight. "Yes?" I asked. The Peridot walked over to me and put a hand on my shoulder. "Not too long ago I was given a report telling me about a Fluorite who had spotted many defects in injectors and deactivate a rogue injector all on her own. A good eye. I am the overseer of most of the technicians over eight colonies, the third highest ranking peridot, and supervisor. Do you know what I do?" "No." I answered. "I make sure that if we accept new gems into a new role, that they pass a test. Today is your turn." 'A test?' I thought. She guided me forward and I saw the rest of the chamber. A thousand pieces and tools were laying about. It was familiar. "I want you to build me an injector. Or something that works. This is the first part of the test." Peridot told me. She pushed me forward and when I turned, everyone was gone. I was left alone, in a room filled with parts I had no clue how to put together. I was expected to bring them something working. "How am I suppose to do this!" I finally started to panic. "I can't do this! The other times were pure luck!" I admitted, but with no one here to listen, it was useless. "What do I do?!" I collapsed in front of the parts, and closed my eyes. "I can't do this . . ."

"See, what did I tell you. She's nothing but a reject with buck teeth."

"Aren't you the same? You have the same anomaly in you gemology."

"But I am actually worth something, useful, she's just as lazy as the rest."

"Who's testing her? Me or you?"

I looked up to the direction I was hearing the voices, a panel of the wall that was slightly discolored from the rest. 'They're in there? They can see me?' I thought. 'Have I always been seen as a reject? Imperfect? The Manager's just the same as me. No, maybe . . .' I thought. A grin came to my face, and a small chuckle slipped out. Standing up, I could feel an idea rushing through my mind. My memory of an injector, the scattered parts, they clicked. "I may be seen as a reject, but I'll outrank you." I told them. "You hear me! I'll beat you at what you can't do! I'll be useful, I'll be the best there ever was! The Fluorite that could!" I shouted with pride. That's when I ran. Grabbing parts, a welder, wires, connectors, conduits, all of it. With speed I didn't know I had, I constructed an injector from memory. A better polish, efficient drills and stability. I was done before I knew it, and I had moved on with whatever scrap parts I had. I started just creating things out of thin air. An autonomous little insect, a small stun canon, and I had moved on to start work on a bomb when I heard the door open up. Out walked the Peridot, Topaz, and the manager. Two of them seemed impressed, the other in a silent rage. "Well don't Fluorite! Now I'm just gonna review the little trinkets and injector you created. Please stand outside with Topaz and Fluorite." She instructed me. I was smiling like a giddy child, and pranced out the door. My mood felt so uplifting, a new kind of high I've never experienced, that not even the manager's next words couldn't tarnish it. "So you think you're real funny soldier." She said as soon as she walked out. I didn't even answer her. I stood still, bouncing on my feet with a smile. "Leave her be. If she passes the test she'll be sent to a facility, so you probably won't ever see her." Topaz told the manager. "A new workspace? You mean no more gloomy kindergartens for me to guard?" I asked. Topaz smiled awkwardly. "Well you don't have to guard them anymore, but you could be operating and helping set up ones or repairing and engineering with the other techs." She explained. I nodded my head and smiled. "And you might, might, climb up the ladder a little." She added on.

One hour later, we were ordered back inside. The Peridot seemed happy. "Well Fluorite, I've evaluated your handy work, and I'm amazed that a simple Fluorite like you could create such a masterpiece of a machine! It's exactly the same as the current version of injectors, but I noticed the lack of crystal you've used. Risky move, but it gave much more room to run more fluids through for the gems. Also that robonoid is cute and all, but it could be a good drone. The canon surprised me, and also the half made bomb from wires and scrap metal, but congratulations Fluorite." She told me. She saluted me and smiled. "You've been moved up the ranks to be a certified medium technician and kindergartener. You'll be taken to a new facility to properly work in for time being." I let out a small giggle and saluted back. "You will not regret this decision!" I told her. "She better." I heard the manager say.

It's been some time now since I left the kindergarten and was tested. I now work along side the other peridots to fix whatever is broken and also create new ones and new things.

"Hey, there goes the Fluorite."

"Why did they put her here? She probably can't do anything right."

Not everyone has seen my talent for this. Some make fun of me for it, some try to get me into trouble. It's annoying.

"Alright! Attention! Attention!" I heard the usual call for technicians and I drop my tools off at my station and walked to where terminal was. A screen was opened and on it was a patently waiting Peridot. An elite one. I was shoved and pushed back by the peridots, but I didn't mind. "Alright is everyone here?" The elite asked. "Okay good. Now I've recently been given a large request from Pink Diamond." She announced. Immediately everyone in the room started muttering with excitement. I was smiling with them. 'A request straight from our Diamond! Oh what an honor!' I thought. Before we could all go into a wild frenzy over the news, the elite called us back to attention. "Scouting ships are needed to check out a potential colony for her. We need about eight, each able to hole a crew of eight, and with room for four more. Divide up into groups and get on it. Peridot out." She finished reporting and the screen turned off. Quickly the peridots when to scramble together teams. I tried to join them, but they all refused to help me, all except two other peridots who were kicked out.

"So we each have the blueprints to create the ship, let's divide the work into three." One of them said. "I'll build the hull and the structure supports." I asked for. "No I got that, you do the welding and configure the power through the ship. The electronics and whatever is left goes to you." She pointed at the other peridot. "Alright, let's get started." She said. "Hey wait! I can do more than just weld and make power circuits!" I argued. The peridots shrugged it off and left to go gather up the things, leaving me unanswered. "Fine, if they don't see what I can do, I'll do it on my own." I whispered before taking off.

I grabbed a spare blueprint and started building the hull and structures. Bending and welding the parts together. I had a simple plan in my head, something I could complete in no time without cutting corners. Then they came back.

"What are you doing!" I was scaling the structure when I heard shouting down below. It was my two teammates, who didn't believe in my abilities. "Well since you two didn't see my potential, I took matters into my own hand! I can do this on my own without your help!" I shouted to them, catching more attention than I wanted. "Fine, get yourself discharged back to the ditches! Ha!" They left me alone, while others around me whispered. Ignoring them the best I could, I went to work, piecing together the hull, connecting wires and cables.

I picked out the materials myself, brought them over myself by hand, and assembled the entire things together. We could take breaks, like many others did to get her their thoughts, but I kept going. I can't fail, I know this, and I can't fall behind either.

"Hey clod! How's the solo-project going?" A nearby Peridot asked me. I jumped out of the pilot seat and glared down at her. "Wonderfully! It appears that I'm farther ahead than your project, and mine actually works already. Just making sure everything is alright. How about you and your crew? I can still smell the scent of burning wires and bonding agents!" I mocked the peridot below. With a glare she left and continued to work. I was having fun to be honest. Proving all of the others that they were wrong about me. Did it back in the kindergarten and I still do it here.

"All crews back away from your ships! Time for inspection tests! Back away from the ships I repeat! Back away!" An announcement played on the intercom. Smirking with confidence I jumped out of the scouting ship and stood aside to admire my work. "It's perfect." I told myself with confidence. The supervisor came around and looked at me. "Where are the others?" She asked me. "I am a crew of one member. Fluorite of Cut 7W2 and Facet 3B." I saluted to her. She scoffed and looked at the scouting ship. "You made it yourself? Impressive, from here it looks perfect. I'll run the tests and see if you deserve to keep working or be demoted." She said. A nervous chill ran through me. "Demoted? Well I assure you this is the best of the ships made here!" I told her, hiding my worry. She hummed and entered the ship. I stood outside, still as a board. When she finally came out, she had a smile of approval. "The rumors I heard prove true. A Fluorite in the technician field actually having great talent for it. This project gets a grade of A, approved, and recommended to be used. You can return to the terminal to receive your next assignment." She reported to me. I let her leave to the next ship before letting my smile through. I felt pride glowing within me, I proved myself that I can handle this. It faltered, wavered more like, when I reached the terminal and I saw her. Fluorite, the manager, leaning against the wall and glared at me. "Well, if it isn't the only other useful Fluorite." She greeted me. I approached her, feeling bold. "Useful is an understatement I think. I just got a grade of A for the escort ship I constructed all on my own. It's perfect and ready to be used. Better than these Peridots." She raised her brow at me, and scoffed. "You think that makes you better than me runt?" She asked me. I shrank. "N-No! I was just boasting about my skills." I told her. She stood up straight and poked at my insignia. "You're worthless in my eyes. I have climbed the ranks the hard way. It takes centuries to get where I am!" She shouted at me. I flinched. "I put work into my survival while you just swooped in and rivaled me." I threw my hands up in front of me, trying to back away from her. "Rival? You think I'm after your rank?" I asked. She didn't answer, but only shouted more things at me. "You know what happens to gems who think they are better than the elites?" She asked me, her voice low. "What?" I asked. I regret asking. A mistake, a memory I won't forget anytime soon. She lifted me off of the ground by my neck and threw me to the ground. I had my eyes closed, but when I opened them, I couldn't move. I looked down and saw three arrows in my torso. I gasped and I looked up. The manager had her bow and arrow aimed at my head. "They are shattered." She said. I flinched, and everything disappeared.

I couldn't see anything, or feel anything. I could sense something. I wasn't sure what, but it was quick. It felt like something being welded together, or something mending. I had time to think, time to just be still. "Rivaled? Am I a threat to her?" I asked. "Am I scaring her? Does she fear to see me improve, to become an elite?" I asked. "I don't want to become an elite like that Topaz. I don't really want to have a rival." I admitted. "I just want to be something useful. Better than the other Fluorites." I stayed quiet, and then it hit me. "I'll be better. I will be better than all of the Fluorites." All of a sudden, I felt something change, something morph. "I'll be better." I told myself one last time, before everything went blank.

I gasped as my vision returned. I could feel again and move. I was on the ground, crawling and stumbling about. I stood up and looked around. A Peridot was beside me, staring at me in confusion. "What happened? You reformed!" She said, pulling up a sheet of metal with a reflection. I looked in it, my eyes widened in shock. My once long hair, was now shorter. My uniform was the same, all except it had sleeves, short, but there. I had shorts on, and my shoe had changed too. They were flat, but looked ready to fight. I touched my hair, and giggled. "Reformed is the right word. But I would've said recreated. Something . . . new." I told her. She gave me a look of concern. "I'll be better than them. Than her. She wants a rival, I'll give her one." I giggled, staying at my reflection with pride.