This fanfic contains a lot of swearing, smoking, violence and various other mature themes.
Jasper, Peridot, Lapis Laszuli, Steven, Garnet, Amethyst, Pearl, Peedee, Kiki, Gunga, Onion, Sadie and Lars are the property of Rebecca Sugar and Cartoon Network.
This is an AU where gems differ slightly from canon in that they have a measurable heart beat as well as other small changes that you will likely notice, I'm not mentioning all of them here because spoilers and I'm lazy. Mask Island is much bigger than canon version.
Day 6 of this story is the day of "Super Watermelon Island".
This fanfic is written from the perspective of E. K. Brooks.
Chapter 10: EarlyDay 25
Someone shook my shoulder, a voice from far away…
"Jasper?"
"Miss Brooks! Miss Brooks! Wake up!"
I sat up, wincing and grasping my head. I looked into brown eyes and threw myself into the terrified looking Maria Fernandez's arms.
"Fernandez!" I shouted with such relief. She hugged me back quickly but then pushed me away and grabbed me by the shoulders.
"Miss Brooks, what happened with your leg?!" her face was full of concern and fear.
I thought about trying to brush it off as no biggie. But it had been a biggie.
"I was attacked by a shark"
"A shark!?"
"I'll tell you all about it, I promise. But can we leave? Right now?"
"Uh, yes! Of course!"
I grabbed the Luggage and my notepad; the rest could burn for all I cared.
"Let's go" I said, leaning on my crutch.
Fernandez hesitated as if she was expecting me to pack everything up neatly.
"Are you sure? The rest of your equipment?"
"I don't give a shit!" I snapped.
She looked shocked.
"I-I'm sorry, but I'd really like to get off this island now!"
"OK Miss Brooks"
"Please, call me Erica"
Fernandez helped me to the shore and I steeled myself as we got into the water. Climbing up the ladder to the back of the boat was a painful experience, but I was so relieved I was getting off the island that I didn't care.
We set off quickly and Fernandez gave me access to the boat's first aid kit. I cleaned and re-wrapped my leg, Fernandez fussing over me. When I had scarfed down a glorious sandwich with cheese, actual cheese, and a cup of tea, I asked her;
"Has it really been thirty days?"
"Ah, no. Twenty five. Your assistant called me and asked me to check on you. She said she had tried to call you for two days, but you hadn't answered"
"Oh… Well thank goodness for Parker!" I started to laugh. Then I began to tell her my story, first warning her that it would sound totally crazy. And then made her promise not to tell anyone, ever. She gave me her word. At the end, I showed her Jasper's gem. She goggled at me.
"Yeah, that really is a crazy story" she said, shaking her head in disbelief.
Her cell phone rang and I savored the electronic noise.
"Hello? Ah, yes. Yes, I found her. OK, hold on" she held out the phone to me and smiled. "It's your assistant"
"PARKER!" I shouted.
"Oh my gosh! Loud!" Parker squeaked.
"Sorry!"
"Brooks! I've been so worried!"
"I'm a little worse for wear, but I'm alive!"
"Oh I'm so relieved!"
"Parker, I've got tons to tell you, and I will, but first of all I need you to arrange some stuff for me, alright?"
"OK, let me get my pen!"
Right after we had docked at the marina, the waiting nurse gave me a thorough examination. I was healthy enough to fly, but told that I should see a doctor as soon as possible to keep my bite wound nice and clean. I thanked the nurse and gave Fernandez a big hug, telling her I owed her big time and to call me if she ever needed anything.
A very clean car waited for me on the street and we went directly to the airport. There I was given a wheelchair and a handsome and slim steward was given the joyous task of carting me around. Parker had arranged everything and I was more impressed than usual. A first class ticket to Empire City in Delmarva, United States waited for me at the check in counter. The plane would depart in four hours and would take six hours to reach its destination. From there I would take a two hour bus ride to Beach City.
I asked the steward, whose name was Clarkson, to take me to the nearest burger place and offered to treat him to lunch, but he politely declined. I ate a big greasy burger, nearly bursting into tears as the familiar tastes sent my mouth to heaven. I was getting some funny looks and asked Clarkson what they might be staring at.
"Well… " he began, sounding troubled.
"Spit it out, I can take it" I said, wiping my face with a napkin.
"Um. Your clothes, they are… Rags?"
I looked down at myself. My t-shirt was stained and torn in more than one place and my shorts looked as if they had been through a tornado.
"Alright, I can see that. Anything else?"
"You… smell"
I barely stopped myself from smelling my own armpit.
"I'll take your word for it. Can you please take me to a shower? And uh, get me some clothes?"
"Yes, certainly Miss Brooks" he looked relieved.
I don't think I've ever enjoyed a shower more than I did this one. It was awkward to keep my leg out of the water, but the nice people at Vorpal Airlines, where I was a platinum 'suck my dick' customer, provided me with a shower chair and a plastic sheet to keep my bandage dry. I must have spent at least an hour in the warm spray. When I exited, I felt cleaner than I had done in ages. A set of very formal clothes waited for me outside the shower and I put them on for now, thinking the next stop would be the nerdiest clothes shop in the entire airport. I looked myself in the mirror as I dressed. I looked skinnier, but also more well-muscled and tanned to freaking perfection. My brown hair was sun-bleached and just at that length that made it look charmingly scruffy. It clashed horribly with the crisp white shirt and black skirt that had been provided to me and I laughed to myself as I put the skirt on. This would not do.
Clarkson waited for me when I re-entered the VIP lounge and I asked him to take me to a place to get different clothes. He obliged and I found some perfectly acceptable Star Trek themed t-shirts at a store, as well as sports bras and shorts. Happy with my purchase I asked to be taken to the smoking area and after that to the gate. Clarkson left me there and I dozed until it was time to board. I made sure Jasper's gem was still in my pocket, before I got up out of the chair and a tall stewardess helped me to my seat. I fell asleep almost immediately, hand in my pocket.
Another wheelchair and a fancy looking crutch awaited me when we landed and I was transported through the airport by another handsome young man. I put my old clothes and the new ones in the Luggage and bought sandwiches and some snacks and drinks for the bus ride. Parker had offered to get me a car and a driver, but I had refused. I wanted this time to think, and a bus ride with strangers was just what I needed. There would be ordinary people on the bus, going to ordinary places, having ordinary conversations.
I had a smoke before the bus driver helped me on board with the Luggage. I unpacked a gloriously mass produced sandwich, a bag of chips and a fizzy drink and began to eat, enjoying everything. Before we took off, I asked the bus driver to please announce when we were getting close to Beach City.
The bus engine hummed and the muted conversation of other people worked its magic and I could think about what I was going to do when I got to the little city by the sea.
I needed to find Rose Quartz and the rebel base. I had no idea what she looked like, since Jasper hadn't described her to me. I was assuming that if she was anything like Jasper or the rubies, she would be hard to miss. Someone would know her. And the rebels had a base. I pictured some governmental looking bunkers.
But what was I going to say to Rose Quartz when I found her? I sighed. The truth, nothing more, nothing less. I was terrible at lying anyway. I just hoped it would be enough. I took out Jasper's gem and looked at it, caressing its undamaged side with my thumb. 'Soon' I thought, starting to feel nervous.
"Next stop, Beach City boardwalk" the bus driver said. He helped me down with the Luggage and I thanked him warmly. He waved to me as he drove off.