Escape

Finally, the family emerged from the kindergarten. Lars thought to himself, Homeworld looks nothing like Earth. The architure, the assortment of colors… The buildings, if you could call them that, were made from a crystal like material. They all came to a sharp point, and the array of colors resembled a rainbow. Lars hadn't been able to help himself and opened his mouth in awe at the sheer beauty the surface held.

Rutile and the rest of the group felt years worth of stress elevate to an all-time high. This would be the hardest thing they have to encounter. Just existing was an excuse to shatter any of them, but escaping unnoticed by the numerous gems, and gem scanners, seemed so much more daunting.

"Alright, where are the ships kept?" Everyone slowly turned their heads to look at the pink boy. He had a determined look on his face, and the gems could feel a flicker of hope swell within them.

"We… Do not know… It has been... millennia... since we... have been… here," Fluorite gently explained to the eager boy.

Rutile moved a hand to Lars' shoulder, and gave it a light squeeze. She was having second doubts about all of this, but she trusted her family. Lars slowly rubbed a hand on his caretaker's leg to make sure she felt his presence. He wasn't used to comforting other people; let alone aliens that believed they were his mother, but he was trying his hardest. Rutile couldn't help the wide smile at the contact, and looked towards Fluorite to signal she was ready for whatever plan the fusion had.

The grandmotherly gem had a wistful smile on her face, as she explained to her small family that they would have to explore the area. Until, they could find the hangar for the different homeworld ships.

"Are we going to split up into teams?" Rhodonite had asked afterwards.

"No… We can't… risk being… found… Lars will… have to… explore on… his own." When the elderly gem had said that last part, she had a frown on her features. All the assorted gems that made her, did not like the idea of a gemling on their own, especially in hostile territory like this.

"You guys stay here then, I'll start looking now." Before Lars could take a step in a direction, he felt himself being pulled backwards, into Rutile's rough embrace.

"Do not take chances-"

"-stay low, stay safe." The two heads both gave his forehead a light kiss, before letting him walk in his previous direction. She could feel one of Rhodonite's hands rubbing her back, reassuring that he would be okay.

Homeworld didn't feel safe. Every step Lars took away from the off colors, the more uneasy he felt. He never felt this unsafe on Earth, or in Beach City specifically. Homeworld had unseen danger, that made the hairs on the back of his neck rise with each passing moment.

Lars was trying to stick to the shadows of different paths. In doing so, he could see different gems walking to different areas. Large purple gems, that reminded him of Steven's friend (she was the little gem that would come into the Big Doughnut). The biggest difference between them, was the hostile feeling that hung in the air around them.

There was a moment that Lars accidently stepped on a small piece of rubble, and had a gem trying to see what caused the noise. Lars could feel a breath he didn't realise he was holding when she walked away. That had been the last straw for Lars' current trip. He hadn't found anything of interest except gems that would have no qualm killing him.

When Lars got closer to his starting point, he went from a slow pace, of clinging to the shadows, to a full on sprint. He wanted to go back to the safety the off colors offered. When he entered a small clearing (that they have escaped from), blocked by shrubs, and trees, Lars finally felt safe again.

Rutile and Rhodonite were keeping watch for any intruders, while their mother, and Padparadscha slept. They sat in a tense silence, listening for the slightest sound. When they heard running, they were both on high alert, until the small pink boy came into the clearing. His eyes were wide, and his breathing was shaky. He looked like he was about to fall over.

The twin gem stood up, and slowly walked over to her gemling, and when she got closer, she could see that he had sweat pouring down his forehead. When she was in his personal space, he grabbed her in an embrace. She was surprised at the action, but happily returned it. Though the happiness was short lived, she could feel tears on her torso where his face was resting. She started rubbing his back, to soothe him, but that only seemed to make him cry harder.

"What's wrong my little gemling?" Both heads were trying to help him calm down. One whispering that he was safe now into his ear. The other was trying to use any clues to find out what happened. He was so stiff in her arms, that she could feel his anxiety, and stress along the rigidness of his back.

"I felt… Like I was going to be attacked. Every second I was away from you." Lars' muffled reply was hard to hear. Rutile had hated every second the boy was away from her, and now she was determined to make sure they got off this planet. She was not going to risk her son's life.

Rhodonite watching the familial moment, made her way over to the duo. She had gone around the small human, and hugged him from behind. To her it sounded like he didn't feel safe. The fusion only hoped that knowing his friends were here, would calm him down.

Letting out one last sniffle, Lars burrowed his head into Rutile. He hated feeling like a baby, but he had to admit: the hugs, and kisses were making him feel special. Like he mattered to someone.

Both gems, let go of the little boy when he fidgeted in their hold. He looked at the ground blushing. He was preparing his nerves, when he quickly kissed Rutile on her gem, gave the fusion a pat, and mumbled about going back.

In that hug, Lars realized that he needed them. Needed these aliens to feel safe, and he owed it to them, to face his fears and scout the area without running back to them, at the littlest noise.

This time on his expedition, Lars explored in a different direction. An area, that was filled with conversations, and different sounds. A place that had gems, and robonoids going all over the place, yet this time Lars felt no fear. He felt determination.

A group of five short little red gems, walked around the pink boy. Two of them looked angry at something, while the rest looked aloof. Whatever was going on, Lars didn't feel like he could muster up the energy to care. He was on a mission to find a ship. Going the opposite direction of the red group, Lars found a red ship to match, that looked like it would be a tight fit for the group, but it would get the job done. It would be the off color's chance to get off this hell-hole.

His chest filled with determination, he spun on his heel, and slowly made his way through the crowds of gems. They were in an assortment of colors, yet Lars kept his head down, and tried to remain as inconspicuous as possible. He had found a means to escape, but they still needed to get through this busy area in order to get on the ship. Sneaking would be nearly impossible with how noticable Fluorite was. Thinking on it, Lars was getting closer to the group, when he thought of a plan. It was something they may not like, but for now, he just needed them to do as he said and face the consequences later.

When Rutile saw the bushes rustle again, her nerves were frayed with worry. What if something happened to the boy? What if a group of gems discovered him, and were doing experiments on him? She couldn't stand her own thoughts, so the outside distraction was almost welcome, especially when Lars came out of them once more. The twin gem almost ran towards him to inspect him for injuries, but was held back by Rhodonite's gentle hand.

"I found a way of this rock," the little boy said with a large grin. Both gems couldn't help the affectious smile that spread to them as well. "I have a plan to get you all onto the ship. It'll be difficult, but we can do it." Lars maintained his confident tone, and the duo of maternal gems couldn't help, but believe him.

"I'll wake the others, you can check on him." Rhodonite whispered into the twin gem's ear. Nodding her affirmation, Rutile knelt in-front of the boy, and started to inspect the boy for injuries.

Lars was quiet as the gem had started looking him over. She did so thoroughly, taking her time to make sure every inch of the boy was checked. When Rutile was satisfied, she embraced the little boy once more, and felt him melt into the touch slightly. It seemed he wanted to act like a grown-up, and Rutile would let him once they were safely off Homeworld. Until then, he would be treated like the gemling he was.

Lars could feel the gem's hands grab the back of his head, as she hummed slightly before letting go, and giving his forehead a light peck once again. It still made him blush into a light magenta, but he liked to think it wasn't nearly as bad as last time.

When Rutile was back on her feet, the remaining Off Colors were staring at them expectantly. She knew this was the time to leave, grabbing her little boy's hand, the twins led them to the rest of the group.

"Rhodonite mentioned… you had… a plan?" Fluorite's voice seemed to help everyone stay in the present, and keep them away from various 'what if' thoughts. The gems all shifted their attention to the alien of the group, as he took a deep breath before speaking.

"I need you all to listen to me carefully. I can get us onto a ship, but you all will need to make a mad dash onto the ship I found. It's a smaller red ship, but it'll make do for us until we can get to somewhere safer." The older gems of the group narrowed their eyes at the boy. He wasn't stating how he would get them on the ship.

"I predict best friend Lars won't tell us his plan." Padparadscha's voice was monotone, which meant she was equally annoyed with the boy.

"Guys you need to trust me. I can get you onto the ship." On closer inspection, Lars was getting close to yelling.

"We'll trust… your plan… but you… need to get… on the... ship too" Fluorite made up her mind. The two sisterly gems felt like their mouths were about to hit the floor, Fluorite never took risks. The fact she was going to let Lars do this plan blindly, was baffling.

The pitter patter of stomping feet, was all Rutile could hear. She was running towards the yellow ship Lars had told them about. The twins felt like this was the most moronic idea she had ever been apart of. Lars had went up to a visible open area, with nearly a hundred gems nearby, and shouted about how terrible the diamonds were.

The Off Colors had taken that as their symbol to make a break for the ship, and had only stopped running once they made it to the opened vessel. Lars, however, was leading a large menacing group of violent gems through different areas. In hopes he would either lose them, or make it to the ship for lift off.

Growling to herself, Rutile had to help Rhodonite prep the ship, as they touched the monitors and holographic keyboards. Fluorite was curled around the wall with Padparadscha in her gentle grasp. When the ship's star map, and monitors lit-up, Rutile could feel hope like a flare in her gem, yet she couldn't help but worry about where her little human was.

On the other hand, Lars was in a full on sprint. He could hear the pounding of feet, what felt like inches behind him, and that only made him run with an even more instinct based feeling. Adrenaline was pumping throughout his legs, otherwise he would have passed out from the strenuous activity a while ago. Memories of Earth, and most importantly Sadie, were the only things keeping his legs moving. He would reach that damned ship, so he could tell Sadie how much of a fool he's been.

Whoosh

A punch. One punch is all it took. Lars' back exploded in a white hot blaze of pain. When he died, it was instantaneously, this was so much worse. He wanted to stop and breath so badly, his lungs were screaming, his heart-beat was going at its old pace. Yet, in a small act of mercy, Lars could see the ship. It seemed to have grown a heavenly light, like a beacon to the lone human, running for his life.

Using the last bit of strength and energy, Lars managed to close the distance to the ship. Managing to be just out of reach of the aggressive Homeworld gems. With adrenaline that was the only thing keeping the boy up, Lars made a leap through the entrance of the ship.

The Off Color gems stared at the boy, and with the reflexes born from being on the run, Rutile put in a command to close the metal door. The ship took off. They did it.

"I have a terrible vision. I predict Lars will make it to us… hurt, by a stupid plan." Padparadscha's voice cut the peaceful bliss that had gathered in them all, though her voice had a hard edge to it. She was angry. They all were. Sure they made it off this hellish planet, but he was hurt, all because he wouldn't let them help. He had put his life at risk involuntarily. Rutile couldn't help the frown that made its way to her face.

One thing was clear, Lars was in trouble.