Characters created by: Rebecca Sugar

Chapter 11: Nuke 'Em

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Area 51

Peridot opened the refrigerator door and grabbed an empty pack of ice. She sighed.

"Just my luck. No ice…"

She placed the pack back in and closed the door. Suddenly, a familiar voice could be heard behind her.

"I take it you've heard?"

She turned to see Lapis, leaning at the door, arms crossed. Peridot held up a shot of whiskey in her hand.

"Hey, toast. To the end of the world."

Lapis slowly walked to her.

"You know, he didn't come to this decision lightly. He had no other choice."

Peridot grabbed the bottle and sat.

"Oh please, you just heard those words from Calvin."

"Well, Eisenstein's a good man."

Peridot poured more Whiskey into her cup.

"He better be. Or else those missiles are gonna be flying everywhere." she then took a shot and hiccupped, "Next thing you know, the ozone's gonna be depleted, and climate change, all that crap."

She stood up and walked off. Lapis followed her.

"Shouldn't you be on your laptop, trying to figure out a way to save the world?"

"*Sigh* What's the point, when nukes are gonna be flying everywhere?"

"Don't you think you could've done more than just fixing people's TV's?"

"Oh, Lapis, I was happy where I was. Being a cable repair Gem just felt right for me."

"But haven't you ever wanted to be part of something special?"

Peridot slammed the whiskey bottle on the table, creating a loud thud.

"I am part of something special… The Gems…"

Lapis was silent. With her arms still crossed, she slowly walked back to the open doorway. She stopped at the doorway and turned back to Peridot.

"Well, if it makes any difference… I never stopped believing in you."

She then walked off.

Meanwhile In The Airfield…

Joshua sat next to a crate as he watched army staff unload supplies. He noticed the helicopter that the supplies were transported from. He had an idea.

He stood up and ran to the helicopter. He opened the door and stepped into the cockpit. He began to fasten his seat belts.

A man noticed him in the helicopter and ran over. He drawed his gun.

"What the hell are you doing?! Get out of there!"

Joshua turned to him and spoke.

"Look, I got something I gotta handle. I'm just borrowing."

"No you're not sir." said the man as he aimed his gun.

"Do you really wanna shoot me?"

The man lowered his gun. Joshua spoke again.

"You just tell 'em I hit you."

The helicopter rose from the ground and flew off.

Houston, Lone Star

The streets of Houston were abandoned. No living soul in sight. Over Houston was a Gem SLD, getting ready to attack.

A squadron of stealth bombers were flying towards the SLD, one of them carrying a nuclear missile.

"Command, this is Retal Op. Squadron is in the air. We are on station and awaiting instructions."

Over at the Area 51 Command Post, the President's staff were seated. Army staff spoke back to the squadron.

"Roger. Break formation. Head to targets."

The lone stealth bomber carrying the missile flew off from the rest of the squadron.

Back at Area 51, the President joined his staff at the table. General Adams spoke.

"Mr. President, they're beginning the sequence."

"Which city will be reached first?"

"Houston, Lone Star, sir."

Eisenstein sighed.

"Houston…"

"The major cities have been deserted." said Adams, "Civilian casualties should be at a minimum."

Meanwhile on the outskirts of Houston, a reconnaissance vehicle overlooked the city. It stopped.

"Command, this is Neighborhood Watch. We are in position. Tracking monitors are locked on. We are going to visual recon."

The driver lowered a visual screen to see the SLD hovering over the skies of Houston.

Back at Area 51…

"Launch code confirmed. We are locked on."

A captain looked to Eisenstein.

"Sir, we are locked on… Do you wish to deploy?"

Eisenstein stared at the digital screen of the stealth bomber approaching the SLD. General Adams spoke.

"Mr. President, if you wish to deploy, the time is now…"

Eisenstein held out his hand. He kept staring at the screen. Everything was silent. Townsend, who was behind the President, spoke.

"Mr. President,-"

"Deploy."

The captain spoke with the stealth bomber.

"That's a go. Alpha Zulu six eight niner, you are clear to deploy."

On the Stealth Bomber, the pilot put his finger on the button.

"Here we go…"

He pressed the button. The bomb bay hatch opened, and the missile slowly descended. It then started its rocket boosters and headed straight towards the SLD. The stealth bomber pulled out from the area.

"Bird's away."

At the recon vehicle, the driver looked through the screen.

"We have visual confirmation on the missile. It's on target… Approaching…"

Everyone stared at the digital screen as the missile approached its target. Eisenstein sighed.

"May our children forgive us…"

On the communications, the staff at the recon vehicle spoke.

"Five seconds to impact…"

"Three."

"Two."

"One."

A bright flash. The screen went static as the signal was lost.

"And that's a hit."

Around the recon vehicle, debris was being thrown around. A car was even flung next to them. Inside, systems were malfunctioning as the sheer power of the nuclear missile interfered.

"Get down!"

Back at Area 51, President Eisenstein looked on at the static on the screen.

"Can we confirm that the target was destroyed?"

The captain walked to the staff on computers.

"Get the tank commander on line. I want full confirmation that the target was destroyed."

"Yes sir!"

"Red Alpa 9723, can we confirm that the target was destroyed?"

The other end was very fuzzy.

"Repeat, commander, you're breaking up."

"We have lost visual."

"Roger that, we're attempting to establish visual confirmation."

At the vehicle, the driver lowered the screen and looked. The system was restarting. Once it did, it showed Houston, decimated.

Townsend turned to Eisenstein and smiled.

"We got the bastards."

"Yeah!"

"Congratulations, everyone. Good work."

Then, a communicator spoke back to the recon.

"Recon, I repeat, we need VISUAL confirmation that the target was destroyed."

The driver focused the screen to a wider visual range. There was static, then there it was.

The SLD was still hovering over the ruins of Houston, totally unscathed.

The driver displayed fear.

"Negative…"

Back at Area 51, everyone was now in shock. Townsend slowly turned back to the screen, his face turning from a smile to a look of concern.

"Target remains… I repeat… Target remains…"

Eisenstein turned to his staff.

"*Sigh* Call them back…"

Townsend retaliated.

"Our other bombers might have more luck. We shouldn't just give up on this!"

"I said call them back…"

General Adams spoke softly.

"Abort."

The captain turned to the communicators.

"Abort mission. I repeat. Call in a full retreat."

Eisenstein lowered his head in disappointment while the whole room erupted.

Meanwhile At El Toro…

At El Toro, Betty laid in pain. Talia held her hand, and looked to her in worry of her current state.

Then, Talia could faintly hear a deep noise. It had gotten closer. She looked up. Soon, a spotlight shined down on the area. Everyone was woken up by this, and they too looked up at the light.

It was a helicopter.

The helicopter descended nearby. Talia stood up and slowly walked forward. A figure could be seen exiting the helicopter, but Talia couldn't make it out. Then, the figure spoke.

"Talia?!"

Talia recognized that voice, and she was suddenly overcome with relief and happiness. It was Joshua.

She ran to Joshua and embraced him with a hug. They broke the hug and looked to each other.

"You're late." said Talia.

Joshua smiled.

"Well, you know I like to make an entrance."

The two met with a kiss.

Area 51-An Hour Later

Steven sat next to Connie and gazed at the researchers working. Connie looked to the rest of the group, who were seated nearby.

Just then, Major Seldomridge walked in. He looked around and spoke.

"Everyone, listen up!"

Steven, Connie, the rest of the group, and everyone else in the facility looked to Major Seldomridge.

"We've got new arrivals. Civilians. Many of them are injured and need immediate help. If anyone here is experienced in medical practice, please step up…"

A good number of researchers stepped up. Priyanka stepped up as well. Major Seldomridge nodded in relief.

"Good. You'll all be escorted to the medical facility immediately."

"Wait!"

Steven stood up. Connie looked to him.

"Steven, you're not a doctor."

"No, but I have something they need."

He walked to Major Seldomridge.

"Okay, so. I'm not a doctor, bu-"

"Then you may not participate." said Seldomridge.

"But wait."

Seldomridge turned back to him.

"Alright. I'm listening."

Steven smiled.

"Okay. My Gem powers give me the power to heal."

Seldomridge was curious.

"Okay. How does it work? Do you touch them, and they're healed?"

Steven hesitated.

"Well… No… I have… Healing Spit…"

Seldomridge felt awkward.

"Are you serious?"

"Yeah…"

The Major sighed.

"Alright. But we're gonna need a lot of spit."

"I'm up for it."

"Alright. Come with me."

Area 51 Medical Facility-Thirty Minutes Later

President Eisenstein walked through the halls, carrying Kayla in his arms. They made into into the medical facility, passing healed patients, thanks to Steven's healing spit. They made it to Betty's room. Eisenstein spoke quietly to Kayla. As he lowered her down.

"Hey hey. There she is."

In the room, Betty was laying in the medical bed, with Priyanka, Steven, Calvin, and another doctor next to her bed. Kayla ran to the bed and hugged her mother.

"We were so worried. We didn't know where you were." she said.

Betty smiled.

"You've gotten bigger, I think."

"I did?"

"Mhm… You just keep growing and growing…"

The President walked up and hugged her too. He kissed her forehead and looked to her.

"You alright?"

She smiled.

"Yeah. They had me drink something from a cup, next thing I know, I'm perfectly fine… What was in that?"

Eisenstein smiled.

"Trust me, you don't wanna know."

Priyanka looked to Betty.

"Mrs. Eisenstein, I'm guessing you'd like to get out of this bed now."

Betty nodded.

"Yes… I've been laying around too much today."

"Let me help you." said Priyanka.

She took Betty's hand as Betty took her covers off and got up. She had no trouble rising from the bed. She didn't really need Priyanka's help for it. Priyanka smiled at her ease in getting up.

"See, you're better already. Perfectly fine."

Betty walked to her husband and daughter. He put his hand to her back, and they walked out of the room. Steven followed from behind. Outside, he saw them walk down the hall, out of sight. Steven smiled. He noticed Connie, leaning on the wall, arms crossed, a smile on her face. She walked up to him.

"How do you feel?"

Steven smiled.

"It's nice to help people."

Connie kissed his cheek and smiled.

Then, someone walked up behind Steven and tapped his shoulder.

"Ahem."

Steven and Connie turned to the person. It was Dr. Doberman, fully healed from his injuries. Steven smiled in relief.

"Dr. Doberman… You're okay."

Doberman nodded.

"Very much so. Thanks to you, Steven. You really are extraordinary."

Steven softly laughed.

"Just helping people out."

Doberman walked off. Steven looked on and smiled.

"Just doing my job."