Chapter 4: Exploration

In the relatively still morning hours on the planet surface, the expedition team headed to a potential excavation site at a fairly moderate pace. Spinel cleared any vegetation that impeded their path and Ruby kept a sharp eye out for any organic wildlife that could cause interference. Ruby spotted a few quadrupeds and even a hexa-ped now and then, but the animals fortunately kept their distance. Soon they quartet arrived at the site of the previous excavation attempt. As Spinel and Emerald discussed a strategy for approaching a potentially precarious situation, Ruby and Sapphire stood about twenty feet away.

Sapphire pondered the information Emerald had provided in the briefing. During the previous expedition several shafts, in spite of reinforcement, had collapsed and caused injuries to the Gems in the former exploration party. Some of them had been hurt badly enough to retreat into their gems to regenerate. Sapphire bit her bottom lip as visions of potential disaster flashed in her extra-sensory eye. Possibilities for success were there as well, and that did make her a little less nervous about the situation. But only just a little.

After putting their heads together to plan a strategy Emerald knelt down in front of a narrow opening to sing a barrier spell. As she held the final note in her song, Spinel stood over her and lifted the patch over her right eye, revealing her red-violet, multifaceted gem. Sapphire observed with fascination as a narrow beam of light pierced the rock surface. Spinel then moved her eye-beam in a very controlled arc. Soon the cut rock crumbled leaving a much wider opening for the Gems to get through. Before the opening could collapse in on itself, Emerald expanded her barrier to reinforce the tunnel. Without a single break in her song, the Qualifier headed down the shaft spreading her barrier all the way down about eight-hundred feet, where they arrived at an enormous cavern. Emerald completed her spell after she let her barrier spread to the roof of the cavern to ensure there would be no further collapse. Sapphire found herself quite impressed by her Qualifier's technique. She knew she was in good hands with this genius.

Ruby and Spinel quickly pushed fallen debris on the cavern floor to the side then returned to the surface, leaving the two field researchers to their work. Sapphire suggested a communication orb be sent up to the surface with the pair, while the she and Emerald had their own down below.

"Good job thinking ahead, Sapphire. I'll definitely make note of your ingenuity in your evaluation."

Sapphire found herself beaming at the praise she received from the object of her admiration and respect. It wasn't long before the astute pair had their sample gathering tools all set up. As Sapphire gathered mineral samples she noticed Emerald doing something odd, yet interesting once again. Every once in a while she would literally taste a tiny bit of the cavern wall, setting a small chip on the gem in her mouth. She would then give a pre-analysis of the sample contents before bubbling it and sending it back to the lab. Using that information the Qualifier would guide her charge to a spot rich in the minerals needed. The dainty blue Gem was enjoying their current project so much that she hadn't noticed how close she and her trainer were now. After she bubbled another mineral sample Sapphire sat up in surprise when she felt something soft brush against her round cheek. She turned to her right to see Emerald smiling down at her as the Qualifier rubbed her thumb over her trainee's glittery blue skin.

"You had a little smudge there, sweetie. Can't have you getting that pretty face all dirty, now, right?"

A slack jawed Sapphire gazed up at Emerald at a loss for words. She couldn't help but think that this interaction was a bit unprofessional, yet at the same time she did find it pleasant in a way. She quietly gulped as Emerald leaned in even closer. Emerald frowned a little when she noticed Sapphire back away a few inches.

"Oh…you seem to be a bit shy. I…like that about you."

Sapphire could feel a tightening in her chest as Emerald's gaze softened a bit.

"Do you like me, too, Sapphire?"

The now nervous Gem shifted uncomfortably as she mulled over an answer. She wasn't sure how to respond. She did like Emerald in a way. She had such a pleasant personality, seemed quite intelligent and perceptive. She found all this motivating her to do her very best to get through the qualification process successfully. However, Sapphire got a sense that Emerald was suggesting something else with her question. A dark blue tinge blossomed across her face at the realization of the implication of Emerald's inquiry. As she looked over the green Gem's features there was no denying the attraction was there. Yet the practical part of Sapphire rose up in her to remind her to keep things professional. For a moment she repressed that part of her to give Emerald an honest answer.

"Y-yes, I do." The normally composed Gem lowered her head, trying to hide her shame at the admission. She felt her chin being tilted up to meet Emerald's verdant visage. Seconds later Sapphire felt something soft press against her mouth and was stunned into so silence as something pushed beyond her full lips. She didn't know how to respond. Nothing like this had ever happened to her before. It was a quite pleasant, yet confusing sensation. For some reason she felt as if Emerald's intimate act was pulling something from deep within her very being. Sapphire began to tremble as she tried to process what was happening. Sensing this conflict, Emerald broke the kiss and cupped the smaller Gem's face in her hands.

"Oh my…you're more innocent than I thought. What a pleasant surprise!"

Sapphire quickly turned away. Her face was now at least three shades bluer. She silently wondered if one could expire from embarrassment. Emerald gently turned Sapphires's face towards her once again as she traced a thumb over the smaller Gem's full lips.

"That was your first kiss, eh?"

Sapphire clenched and unclenched her fists as her gaze shifted from side to side. She then nodded an affirmative. Emerald then made a sound that sounded like a mix between a gasp and a moan as she held Sapphire against her bosom.

"It's such an honor to be your first. How about we explore this a little further back at the base?"

Sapphire considered the offer and weighed her options as all kinds of possibilities displayed in her mind's eye. Finally she gave a quiet reply.

"Yes..I..I would like that."