Chapter Two: Illusive Introductions
To recap, the Crystal Gems, Connie, and Steven had just walked through the entrance of the Echidna facility. Past the massive armored doors was, what could be described as a hospital waiting room. Only the white paint had chipped away, the seats looked beaten up and there was no front desk, just a multiple number of doors. Just then, the main doors closed rather noisily shutting the group inside the creepy room.
"Don't worry. That's just standard procedure to keep the…'patients' from escaping. There is nothing to worry about." reassured Pearl, seeing Steven and Connie becoming nervous at the doors shutting.
"And yet you are shaking like a leaf!" came a harsh whisper(1) to Pearls ear, causing Pearl to scream and leap into Garnet's arms. Out of the shadows, with a wicked grin on his face, emerged Wolfram, standing near eye level with Garnet. A broad shouldered individual with thick muscular arms and legs, Wolfram's black hair was a military buzz cut and trim black beard, his skin as white as a sheet, and his eyes a sickly yellow. His form of dress was an emasculate German military uniform (from World War II) with black boots professionally polished.
"I see you haven't changed much, dear Pearl." stated in a deep, rich timbre Wolfram, as Pearl climb out of Garnet's arms.
Embarrassed by her own reaction, Pearl cleared her throat and said, "Steven Connie, this is Wolfram…the head of security (and annoying prankster)."
Wolfram shrugged his shoulders and stated simply, "Stay at this place long enough and you'll look for anything to relieve the boredom." Then Wolfram walked around the children, sniffing like a dog before asking, "Since when has your group started associating with…humans?"
Steven was about to correct Wolfram, before Amethyst covered his mouth and answered, "Oh, you know? Stuff got a little crazy and Rose thought use somebody to talk with the locals. No big thing."
Wolfram held a skeptical look, before continuing his inquiries, "And where is Rose? It's not like her to leave you three unsupervised."
"She's busy." Garnet replied curtly, not taking the 'unsupervised' comment in strides, "Now are we going to get the tour or not?"
Shrugging his shoulders, Wolfram motioned the group to follow. It was only after Wolfram was far enough ahead that Amethyst let go of Steven's mouth, whispering, "Sorry Stevie. But we cannot let these guys know about what happened to Rose."
"You mean…they don't already?" asked Steven.
"The facility is designed to be isolated, so of course, they aren't up to date on…certain details. And it is important they stay that way! There is no telling how they'll react to Rose's…disappearance." explained Pearl, being careful about mentioning anything involving Rose Quartz.
"Who exactly is they?" asked Connie before explaining, "I mean we've seen Onyx and Wolfram, but is there anyone else here?"
"Aside from the inmates, there was one other guard…Magnesium." explained Garnet.
"Let's hope that he finally died." hoped Pearl, leading to some shock looks from the children, "Let's just say there's a reason she was called 'Mad Dog Maggie' in the old days and leave it at that."
Wolfram open the door in front of him unleashed a tide of noise and confusion! The sounds of various monster roars and scratches could be heard in a deafening volume. As the group walked through the corridor, the group walked passed cells where various creatures were behind seemingly plate glass. The creatures were bashing into the 'glass' trying to bust out, though thankfully the 'glass' held.
"Don't worry. The cells are sealing with Diamond Glass and the walls are made from Megateel(2). No way are they getting out." stated Wolfram in a reassuring tone, somehow his voice carrying over the noise. Motioning for the group to continue through the next doorway, the group came to what looked like a large training gym…occupied by one of the monsters!
The Gems summoned their weapons to get ready for battle, only to be stopped in their tracks by Wolfram. It turned out the monster was already busy…fighting another Warrior! This one was a woman wearing a long red trench coat with knee high leather boots and a strange hockey mask covering her face. She wielded two Japanese kama, small handheld sickles, with lightning speed cutting chunks out of the monster. Suddenly, she threw the kama into the air and caught them blade first!
It was only they noticeable that Magnesium (as it was fairly obvious from previous conversation) was wearing thick leather gloves. Also, the 'handles were hollow and in between the handle and the blade was a gun trigger! Each time Magnesium squeezed the trigger, a small fireball shot out of the gun barrels at a semi-automatic pace. With the monster weakened, Magnesium held the triggers this time, unleashing a stream of fire like miniature flamethrowers. Finally, the creature retreated back into its gem with a poof.
"Yeah! That's right, bitch! You're the shrimp on the barbie!" exclaimed the enthusiastic Magnesium, with a slight Australian accent.(3) Swaggering forward, picking up the gem and tossing it over to be caught by Pearl without even looking (though Pearl fumbled a bit in the catch), Magnesium turned around and threw off her mask, revealing her bald, tattoo covered head. Loving the shocked looks from the children, Maggie said, "Ya like it? Did the designs meself, with a little local inspiration. Anyway, allows me to introduce meself…I'm MADDOG Magnesium! But you kiddies can just called me Maggie."
A little shocked by 'Maggie's' abrupt manner, Steven cautiously step forward to return the introduction for both himself and his friends, "Hi…Maggie. I'm Steven! And this is Connie! And these are-"
"The oh so fabulous Crystal Gems." finished for Steven in a rather scathing tone, "I know who they are Stevey-boy. There's prissy Pearl, gloomy Garnet, and let's not forget about dear old Amy. Did she ever tell how close we was in the ol' days? Probably not…considering she hasn't even sent a holo-hello in over fifty years!"
Steven looked back at Amethyst rubbing the back of the neck with a guilty expression on her face, before she looked at 'Maggie' and tried to say, "Look Maggie, I-"
"No no, I get it!" interrupted Maggie before continuing with a sorrowful expression, "You got you big chance to be part of Rosey's little elite corps so you had to ge' rid of the bad baggage. I just miss the ol' days ya know…you, me, and Mercury…the prank masters of disaster!" There was even a little tear running down one of Maggie's eyes to complete the scene.
Clearing his throat to get the groups attention, Wolfram decided to get back to business, "As…interesting as seeing this new side of Magnesium has been, we should get going. Onyx will be waiting for us in the labs."
Maggie harrumphed and replied, "You really know how to kill a moment don't ya? Alright, le's get back to the tour!" Whirling the kamas in her hand like cowboy does his pistols, Maggie shoved the weapons (handle first) into holsters underneath her trench coat before walking ahead and opening the doors, allowing the group to move deeper into the base.
"So Amethyst…you know Maggie?" asked Steven curious to the story behind Maggie's statement.
Sighing Amethyst answered, "Look Steven, I didn't have a lot of…friends among the other Gems for reasons I don't wanna talk about. Mercury and Maggie, on the other hand, I really had a connection with. Mercury because of his shapeshifting abilities. But with Maggie…we got along by pranking the other Warriors and Gems! Hehe, there was this one time when…"
As Steven and Amethyst got deep into the story from Amethyst past, Connie snuck away towards Garnet to ask, "I was wondering…it doesn't look like Onyx told Wolfram and Maggie about her suspicions of me and Steven? Why?"
Garnet mulled over how best to explain this to Connie before answering, "Onyx has always believed in 'need to know' information. She won't tell someone anything if she doesn't feel that they 'need to know.' Just…be careful in her laboratory. She also doesn't label any dangerous equipment."
"We're here!" exclaimed Maggie in front of a massive set of double doors. "Just beyond these doors lies a chamber of 'orrors know far an' wide as…Onyx's Laboratory!" With that dramatic horror music played over loudspeakers, scaring Steven into Connie's arms who held a determined looked. The Gems…looked less than impressed by Maggie's antics.
"Fine! Just trying to put a little excitement to the tour." Muttered Maggie before giving the secret knock to open the door…'Shave and a Haircut' answered by 'Two Bits.' With that the doors moved open with a creak and a groan and the Group went inside.
"Wait, aren't you supposed to follow along?" asked Pearl remembering some protocol from the last visit.
"Onyx requested a…private visit. We shall be attending to other duties around the facility." answered Wolfram before walking away, Maggie waving goodbye and then cartwheeling in pursuit of Wolfram. Cautiously, the group stepped inside the laboratory and the doors closed behind them. Silence reigned for several minutes…only for the sounds of arguments and meat being stabbed by a blade to come from the room!
Disclaimer: I do not own Steven Universe or any characters or elements that are contained in the series. I only own this story and the original characters (i.e. villains and monsters) and concepts that go with it. With the recent Second Stevomb, comes new details to fit into my series. It shouldn't affect this story since it's still in Season one, but as I move closer to the second Season… Anyway I will endeavor to keep this storyline going. As always Read and Review!
1 I imagine the voice actor for Wolfram to be Mark Oliver, most famous for voicing Lord Garmadon on "Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu" and Dr. Thaddeus Blakk on "Slugterra"
2 Megateel and Diamond Glass actual come from the Archie Sonic comic series.
3 The voice actor is Jennifer Hale, but her mannerism are more similar to Agent C.M. Krueger from "Elysium" and Jack from the "Mass Effect" series