"(Oh my stars...oh frack...oh shale...what to do? What to do?)" The Yellow Zircon was mumbling obscenities to herself.

The Gem was shivering with adrenaline and fear. She was unsure WHAT had made her spontaneously run from the trial- she had been stupid...like the Rubies. Yes! Yes! That was it! The Rubies made her do it! She certainly respected her glorious leader! She was a very loyal Zircon after all! Yes indeed!

...and yet...

She was afraid. She was afraid of the trial going south so fast! She was afraid of the electrocution device! She was afraid of getting crushed and stepped upon!

She was a coward. An absolutely terrible lawyer! The Keronians would win the trial for SURE now...

The Zircon did the only thing she could think of- she hid. The Gem was currently hiding in an air vent she had found ajar after running into the main hall from the Debate room.

The Gem watched with slight curiosity through the lined peep holes in the vent as multiple species walked by.

She couldn't stay here...certainly someone would notice her eventually? The Zircon began to crawl through the maze of vents. Stars, it had been a long day...


Pleasent smells led her to the vent above the kitchen. As she looked downward, she could see various species prepping meals for room service...as well as a complimentary breakfast for the guests.

She saw a tray of fresh donuts and muffins. The Zircon waited patiently...


When the cooks finally took their lunch break, the Gem saw an opportunity! She quickly shape shifted, and extended her arms out of the vent to nab the platter of donuts and muffins.

Upon lugging the food back to her hiding spot, she put the vent grate back in place.

Was the Zircon hungry? Not in the slightist. Was she freaking out? You better believe it! The lawyer began to wildly shove the various pastries into her mouth- stress eating. She had a horrendous habit of doing this on Homeworld too. Between trials, she would order alien snacks, and feast upon them when the stress became too difficult to handle.


Upon returning from their lunch break, the cooks seemed confused and agitated. The entire platter of donuts and muffins had gone missing! That platter was meant to serve twenty! Frustrated, the cooking team started yelling at each other! Blaming everyone but themselves for the crime! Who had eaten the breakfast? Certainly one of them had snuck away from the break room and stolen the food?

Well...that was that. The team would have to prep another platter.

After the heat had died down a bit, the cooks worked twice as fast to re-create the pastries AND continue with their regular duties. After several hours of chaos, the cooks were relieved that their shift was over. They stored the new platter in a refrigerator for tomorrow's complimentary breakfast, before clocking out, and wishing each other a pleasant evening.


...

As soon as the lights dimmed, and the workers had gone, the vent on the ceiling opened again! Once more, two arms extended toward the refrigerator, and managed to grab the platter full of donuts and muffins.


The next morning, the cooks seemed incredibly baffled! Yet AGAIN the donuts and muffins were gone! The crowd outside waited for their complimentary breakfast. Completely defeated, the cooks served and brought out the remainder of the breakfast food.

Several of the guests seemed disappointed at the lack of pastries.

The Zircon felt a tinge of guilt. She just couldn't help herself! Eating was the only thing that calmed her nerves- and pastries tended to be her favorite...


For the next couple of days, the cooks refused to make any more muffins OR donuts. If the mysterious ghost was going to eat their wares anyway, spending time making the food was pointless.

The Zircon was dissapointed. She had caused such a major inconvenience due to her lack of self control.


As the days flew forward, the Gem got most of her news through her hiding place. The cooks LOVED to banter as they went through the motions of their everyday jobs.

The conversation went from: "The trial is over, the Gems lost."

...to: "Blue Diamond is still looking for that Zircon lawyer."

...to: "The Diamond returned to Homeworld today."

...to: "It's slowed down quite a bit! We haven't gotten any room service orders!"

At this point, the hidden Zircon was pretty sure her life was now spared...still, the cooks agreed that nothing had been stolen from the kitchen in a while. It was time to make donuts and muffins again!

The Zircon seemed slightly guilty and excited at the notion of eating more pastries!

The cooks worked, and soon the room smelled heavenly once more! All the donuts and muffins were stored in the refrigerator again. The creatures congratulated each other, before clocking out for the night.

...

As soon as the coast was clear, the Zircon went back to her old tricks. She extended her arms, and reached for the pastries...

"SNAP!"

The Gem howled in pain before falling out of the vent, and landing flat on her face! Apparently, someone had sourrounded the pastry platter with snap traps! The Gem quickly contorted her arms back into their original position, before painfully removing the traps from her fingers!

The lights in the kitchen turned back on in response to the din. All four of the cooks re-entered the room and stood over the Zircon- hands on their hips disapprovingly. They had been waiting outside the kitchen in hopes of catching the culprit red handed.

The Zircon turned onto her back, and looked up at the cooks with the most sheepish and guilty expression!

"Ha! The Zircon!" One of the cooks nodded! "So that's where you've been hiding!"

The lawyer responded: "I-I don't suppose you could just let me stay in the vents?"

The cooks howled with laughter! "HA! If you eat OUR food, you'll need a respectable job to earn your keep!"


It is said, that if you go to the Galactic Council Building, the hotel now has a Zircon bellhop!