Takes place shortly after Steven and Connie's return from the Gem Homeworld.


The Universes were in the kitchen preparing breakfast. Sri Lankan, of course! Steven started by making the string hoppers, taking the hot-water dough and pressing it out in circlets from a string mould onto little wicker mats, then steaming them with with curry and sambol. Connie had prepared the sambol by shredding fresh coconuts to make the fine coconut base. To this she had added hot red chillies, a little lime and tamarind, salt and chopped onion. Sri Lankan dahl, naturally, made in an oven they'd gotten from a relative. And egg curry!

They sat down at the dining room table, enjoying their breakfast over cups of hot jasmine tea. "Quite an adventure, eh?" Said Steven.

"I'll say! It's good that we've got Blue Diamond in custody. What's to become of her?"

"There'll be a trial, like there was with Yellow Diamond. I assume she'll be given a choice of joining the Gem Federation, or living a life in prison."

"And Yellow Diamond chose prison rather than accept life with the Gem Federation." Said Connie.

"Yeah, kinda sad, if you ask me. I mean sure, she's got a comfortable apartment-like cell, but if she tries to escape, the cell is technologically designed such that leaving it would cause an instant shattering of her Gem. She has her Pearl with her, but that's it."

Steven finished his eggs and smiled at his wife. "So, have you made a decision about your citizenship?"

Connie put down her cup. "Become a citizen of the Gem Federation? It's a hard choice. I mean, I am human after all."

"Well...not any more, my love. Peridot has now officially classified you as half human, half Gem. I'm a citizen of the Federation; you should be, too."

"So have dual citizenship - or in my case, triple!" She laughed.

"That's right! You already have dual citizenship: American and Sri Lankan. You'd have to take an oath."

"An oath of loyalty to the Gem Federation." Connie sat back, again sipping her tea, thinking. She was silent for a few minutes, looking out the window. "Steven, you and I will live forever. What would happen if, down the road, war was declared between the earth and the Gem Homeworld? Which side would we take?"

"That's a tough question. I was born here, my dad was human, you were born fully human, so we both have our ties to this planet. But it is hypothetical; it may never take place. I say let's cross that bridge if and when it happens."

They were nearly finished with their breakfast when Garnet arrived, stepping off the Warp Pad. "Gems! I need your assistance!"

They put down their teacups. "What's up Garnet?" Said Steven.

"A freight train crash in Siberia. The Crystal Gems can lend a hand. Bismuth is there with Pearl and Amethyst."

"Steven, you'll need your winter gear. Connie, you should go as Topaz." They got ready and stepped on to the Pad.


They arrived on a special Warp Pad inside a Roaming Eye ship.

"Welcome to Siberia," said Garnet. Opening up the ship's door, Steven shivered. "Whoa! What's the temperature here?"

"It's a warm day today in Chita," replied Garnet. "The high is expected to hit 8 degrees Fahrenheit."

"Glad we can help," said Topaz, stepping outside. "Are the Crystal Gems expanding our base of operations?"

"Yes. Now that Blue Diamond has been defeated, the Gem High Council wants us to begin having a greater presence on earth. No longer working in the shadows, as it were."

"Has anyone negotiated with the local authorities?" Asked Steven.

"I have," replied Garnet.

"You speak Russian?"

"Sapphire was a diplomat Gem, Steven," she smiled. "Among my talents are language skills."

They approached the crash site. Garnet went up to the leader of the local rescue crew to introduce the new Gems.

"Mr. Andreyev, here are two additional Crystal Gems to assist. This is Steven, and Topaz."

"Topaz I can see is a Gem, Granat! But this Steven, he is human, no?"

"Half human, half Gem. As is Topaz, but she can assume full Gem form."

"Your compatriots are down by the river. There is a chemical leak. But we also have a lumber shipment which is threatening to spill down into an apartment complex."

"I'll go with these two to assist with the lumber."

"You said they are half human, Granat; are they strong enough?"

"You'd be surprised," she smiled.

"Bismuth, Pearl and Amethyst are working a chemical spill," Garnet explained to the two. "There's a lumber derailment that's threatening to roll down and strike buildings in a residential area. We three are needed there."

"Let's go!" Said Topaz.


"Pearl! How's that trench comin'?"

"I'm done, Bismuth! The chemical extraction device I fashioned is removing the chemicals out of the river water and diverting it into this trench. How are the repairs going on the tank cars?"

"Comin' along, comin' along," she replied. Bismuth had shape-shifted her right hand into a riveter as she sealed up the ruptures in the overturned freights. "Amethyst's pulling the fixed ones back onto the tracks."

"Hook 'em up, dude!" Amethyst gestured to the train worker, as she pulled a repaired tank car back toward the engine.

"That purple one is strong, eh, Alexei? Good size too! She make perfect wife for you!" He laughed at his friend.

"She would marry me because I'm better looking than you!" He yelled back.


Meanwhile, Garnet, Steven and Topaz were at the spilled lumber site. The logs lay piled up, dangerously close to a steep incline that went down to an apartment complex. Should any timber begin to fall, it could cause a cascade effect, crashing into the buildings.

"Steven! You and Topaz begin moving the topmost logs back onto the righted flatcars. I will assist the workers rerailing the derailed cars."

"OK," said Steven to Topaz, "which should we pick up first?"

"Let's get this one. It's not touching any others," she replied, and they started with the ones closest to the flatcar, then moved nearer to the ones by the incline. They walked around and surveyed the site.

"This will be tricky," Topaz sighed. One wrong move, and that pile could go tumbling down the hill."

"Wish Peridot was with us. She could manufacture one of her crazy robot gizmos," chuckled Steven.

"Hey, wait! What if you picked me up and we hovered above the logs facing away from the apartments? I could use my whips and pull the pile away from the edge."

"Good idea!" And grabbing her, the two ascended above the pile. "OK, here goes!" Releasing her blue whips, she snapped them over the top and then used the spiked ends to snag the wood, latching on to trunks at the bottom of the opposite side of the pile.

"Now, pull us back!" Yelled Topaz, and Steven pulled her back toward the flatcar. The spiked ends held fast, and as the two landed, Topaz tugged at the whips, pulling the pile toward her. The logs rolled toward them. "Whoa, whoa," called Steven, as he and Topaz slowed the fall, until the pile rested at their feet. "Not bad!" He smiled.

"High five!" Yelled Topaz, and they congratulated each other.

They began loading the logs back onto the flatcar one at a time.

Garnet was done, and came up as the Universes were finishing up. "Good job Gems! Our work here is done. The local Mayor wants to thank us."


The Crystal Gems gathered by the local town hall to meet with the Mayor and local officials.

"Granat, we are in your debt! Without the help of the Crystal Gems, this railroad accident could have been a disaster."

"The Crystal Gems are honored to have been of assistance, Your Honor," responded Garnet. "We are here to protect the earth, and to help where possible." She shook the Mayor's hand, and motioned to the other Gems. "We shall take our leave, and are happy that lives were saved."


Pearl piloted the Roaming Eye toward southeast Asia, to drop Bismuth off.

"How's the new forge coming?" Topaz asked her.

"You know me, Topaz," she chuckled, "always busy takin' care of bismuth!" The forge is lookin' good, lookin' good! Almost done settin' her up. I'd like to invite you all by for a tour once I'm done."

"We'd like that, Bismuth," Steven responded. Everyone nodded.

The ship landed by the forge and Bismuth got out. "Well, be seein' y'all sometime soon! You take care!" She waved. As the ship disappeared, she thought, "be nice to return to Homeworld to witness Topaz takin' her oath. Hope she goes for it."

Steven glanced at Topaz as the Roaming Eye sailed through the Mesosphere. She was quiet, thoughtful. He had a feeling what was going through her mind. Their eyes met and she smiled back.

"Penny for your thoughts?" He asked.

"I've made up my mind." She put her hand on his.

"Garnet?"

"Yes, Topaz?"

"I've decided to take my oath and become a citizen of the Gem Federation."

"Very good," she smiled.

"Oh, Topaz, that's wonderful!" exclaimed Pearl.

"Woot! Way to go, Paz!" yelled Amethyst.

Steven hugged his wife. "I'm so happy for you!"


Present on the Homeworld for the ceremony were the Crystal Gems. They assembled in the hall of the Gem High Council. The Gem Chancellor, Emerald, called out: "Topaz, step forward!"

Topaz squeezed Steven's hand and got up to stand before Emerald. "What is your desire?" She asked the blue Gem.

"I desire to take my oath of loyalty and become a citizen of the Gem Federation."

"Then kneel and take your oath," Emerald responded. Topaz kneeled and said:

I, Topaz, hereby declare, on oath,
That I absolutely and entirely
Pledge loyalty to the Gem Chancellor,
and that I will support and defend the Homeworld
on behalf of the Gem High Council
Against all enemies, foreign and planetary.

That I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same
And that I take this obligation freely,
Without any Gem reservation
or purpose of evasion,
so help me Moon Goddess.

She got up, and Emerald declared, "all assembled, please welcome our new Gem!" The hall erupted in applause! A tear came to Steven's eye. "Congratulations, Connie!" He said.


So not only has Connie/Topaz become a citizen of the Gem Homeworld, the Crystal Gems will now be coming "out of the shadows" as it were, to increase their presence on the earth.

Thanks for reading!