Chapter 12
Garnet, Amethyst, Pearl, and Steven all waited anxiously in the living room.
The Gems were all waiting to see if the Remnants would agree to Garnet's offer to meet at the temple.
However, they had left the out the fact that the Alloys would be at the meeting as well.
The two groups hadn't met or spoken to each other since the failed H.L.A invasion.
While the Gems waited in the living room, the Alloys were waiting outside of the temple.
Garnet didn't trust them enough to allow them inside the temple, not that anyone could blame her. Wolfram sure as hell wouldn't let the Gems inside the Monastery.
"Everything is going to be perfect," Pearl reassured herself as she paced nervously. "What could possibly go wrong?"
"You want me to make a list?" Amethyst said with an obnoxious smile.
"You're not helping!" Pearl snapped angrily. "Don't you understand the scale of what is about to happen?!"
"Chill out, P. I'm just messing with ya'," Amethyst responded, slightly surprised by Pearl's reaction."
"Chill out?! We are about to witness Crystal Gem history!" Pearl retorted hotly. "This is going to be the first time Crystal Gems and something of non-gem nature have come together in a peaceful diplomatic-"
"I don't think there will be much diplomacy," Garnet stated flatly, interrupting Pearl. "The Alloys probably view us and the Remnants as allies of necessity. Nothing more, nothing less."
"I don't care what they think of us," Steven responded. "So long as they help us take down the H.L.A."
Garnet had to agree with Steven. If the Alloys were willing to help, then Garnet would accept it.
But that did not mean they were on the same team, merely on the same general side.
Once the H.L.A were dealt with, she expected things would go back to the way they had been with the Gems and the Bureau competing over Gem artifacts.
It wasn't ideal, but it was the most likely outcome.
Suddenly, the warp pad flashed with a pillar of light. As the light faded, standing on the warp pad was Turquoise, Pounamu, Azurite, and Carnelian.
They all looked rather tired and stressed.
"Sorry we're late," Turquoise stated as she stepped off the warp pad. "Things have been...difficult at the Spire."
"What do you mean?" Pearl asked worriedly. "Are you all alright?"
Turquoise nodded her head with a weary smile.
"Yes, we are all fine," she responded. "Our little Amber has just discovered what her weapon was, and she isn't handling it well."
"How is that something to be upset about?" Steven asked with disbelief. "She should be happy that she finally can summon her-"
"It was a voulge-guisarmes ," Carnelian responded. "A weapon similar to a halberd, the weapon that the False Gem used to kill her temple sisters.
Steven fell silent. The more he thought about it, the more he understood Amber's reasons for hating her weapon.
She was probably forced to watch helplessly as Geissel used her halberd to cut down her friends or slowly torture them to death.
The halberd was a human made weapon that was perfect for killing or maiming. For that reason alone, it only made sense that Geissel would favor it as her weapon. But for poor Amber, having to be stuck with such a similar weapon probably felt like an insult to her fallen friends and comrades.
"So, what is it that you need of us?" Turquoise asked, hoping to change the subject away from unpleasant memories. "We are more than willing to help you."
"We need you to help us deal with the H.L.A," Garnet stated firmly. "We can't afford to ignore them any longer."
Turquoise looked over the Gems and sighed sadly.
"As much as I want to help you, I have already said this once, we can not interfere with human conflicts."
"But they're using Gem technologies to their advantage," Pearl exclaimed. "That means we're already involved in this conflict."
"Even still, we wouldn't be able to anything without harming humans in the process," Turquoise responded. "Our oaths will not allow it."
Good thing I'm half human, Steven thought to himself. No oath for me.
Amethyst ran to the front door.
"That's why we're getting' help from some folks that don't have an oath," she exclaimed with a smile as she flung open the door.
There was a small gasp from the Remnants as the four Alloys entered the temple one by one. Each Alloy was carrying a metal suitcase. The Alloys all stood beside Wolfram as he approached the Gems. He ran his hand over his helmet and collapsed it to reveal his face. Turquoise shuddered slightly when her eyes gazed upon Wolfram's face. His glowing orange eyes, his oil black metallic skin, the dull orange glow from within his mouth, it was too unnatural, and too familiar. The two stared at each other before Pounamu broke the silence in her usual way.
"Are you crazy?!" she exclaimed loudly. "What are these- these amateur doing inside the temple?!"
"Nice to see you too, Tatts," Titanium responded with a smirk. "Needed my daily dose of verbal abuse. Gets the blood flowin'."
"You sick little-"
"Pounamu..." Turquoise said in a warning tone. "Remember our little conversation about managing your temper?"
The green gem shut her mouth and kept it shut, much to the Alloys pleasant surprise.
"Whoa, got her on a leash now?" Titanium snickered meanly.
"Enough, Titanium," Wolfram ordered. "We aren't here to start a fight."
"Then what are you here for?" Azurite asked bitterly. "Surly you are not here for small talk."
"They have offered to help us deal with the H.L.A threat," Garnet stated flatly as she adjusted her shades.
Azurite crossed her arms and gave an unimpressed look.
"What help could they offer us?" she asked coldly.
Wolfram held out his hand and dropped a black metal cube on the ground. The cube hummed then began to spin in place.
Suddenly, the cube separated into four pieces. A green light flashed as a holographic image of the world was created.
The map showed where the H.L.A forces were fighting and their captured territories.
"The H.L.A has focused all of their forces in their war with Russia and Poland," Wolfram stated flatly. "From the intel we have gathered, we have a general idea where they're staging their attacks from."
"Their base is in Chernobyl," Garnet stated flatly.
Both the Alloys and the Remnants fell silent. The Alloys were silent with dread while the Remnants were silent with confusion.
"What's Chernobyl?" Carnelian asked.
"A very, very ,very bad place to have a picnic," Steel answered with a dread-filled scowl.
"We will catch you four up later," Garnet responded flatly.
"So information that Garnet already knew about?" Pounamu stated, unimpressed. "That's all you can offer?"
Suddenly, Steel dropped the metal suitcase he was carrying and opened it. What he withdrew was a large blocky metal object.
He then ran his finger sensually along the top of the object and it started to hum. Like a creature crawling out of it's cocoon, the object began to unfold.
First, a rifle grip and stock unfolded. Then the body of the weapon extended forward.
A long hexagonal scope sprung out of the body of the rifle.
Finally, the weapon's barrel extended out of the body of the rifle and ended with a muzzle break.
He then grabbed the firing bolt and pulled it back. The weapon clicked and hissed with steam.
The whole thing looked like a love child between a Barrett M82 and a Flak 88 anti-tank gun.
"We come offering our much needed fire power," Steel said with a chilling smile.
"That was really cool..." Steven stated with stars in his eyes and a bit of drool.
Wolfram shook his head in frustration. He didn't want the Gems to see their auxiliary weapons just yet, let alone whip them out inside their own temple.
"Y-yes, you see, the Alloys don't have the same...restrictions we do," Pearl stammered nervously as she coward behind Garnet. "They-they will take care of-"
"The human aggressors," Turquoise stated bitterly. "Honestly, I hoped you could aid us in a more nonviolent way. Must this situation be resolved through violence?"
"Nonviolently?" Steven asked in disbelief. "Has hiding underground for seventy-two years made you forget what war is? War is not won nonviolently."
"Steven!" Pearl snapped angrily. "Show some respect!"
"I'm starting like this kid," Titanium whispered into Steel's ear.
"No, the child is right," Turquoise sighed sadly. "I had just hoped it wouldn't have to come to violence. But still, what would the Gems or we be able to do? We can't harm humans."
"We can kill Burners, right?" Pounamu asked. "So long as I can do that, I'll be happy."
Garnet nodded with agreement. She didn't like it, but the three groups would need each other to work together if the mission was to be successful. The Gems would deal with the Burners and any other Gem related obstacles. The Alloys would deal with the militant forces, that was the only thing the Gems needed from them.
"If we succeed, we will let you Gems keep whatever artifacts we find," Wolfram stated flatly. "As long as the H.L.A is put down, I don't care what happens to the artifacts."
Pearl had to admit, it was a good offer. The H.L.A would get taken care of and the Gems get to reclaim the artifacts that they hadn't been able to reach.
"That's all fine an dandy, but how are we going to get their?" Amethyst asked. "None of the warp pads in that area still work. They were either destroyed by the Germans in WW II or by the False Gem during her rampage."
"She's right," Pearl agreed. "We still need a way to get there quickly and quietly. And we can't do that without a warp pad."
Wolfram touched the holographic display and zoomed in on the city of Chernobyl. He then pointed to the abandoned city of Pripyat.
"There, that is where we will warp in," he stated firmly. "If we warp too close to the reactor, we will be swarmed in no time."
"That doesn't answer my question," Pearl responded with a hint of irritation. "How can we warp with no warp pads?"
Iron opened up his suit case and held out four long metal pikes. Each pike had a tiny green gem on the end of them.
Pearl recognized them as the pikes that the Alloys had used to warp out of the temple ruins with the Oasis stone.
The technology behind the pikes looked very primitive, but the fact that the Bureau had managed to create them showed just what they were capable of.
"You all can hitch a ride with us," Wolfram stated firmly. "Our warp relay satellites should be able to reflect us and then beam us down into the city."
"Wait a minute, satellites?!" Amethyst asked with a look of disbelief. "How did you get satellites up without us noticing?"
Wolfram smiled and crossed his arms.
"If Pearl can build a space ship out of garbage, imagine what one can do with state funding," he replied with a sly smile.
Everyone shifted their attention towards Pearl, who was smiling nervously.
"You did what?" Garnet asked in a intimidating tone of voice.
"H-hey now, lets not focus on what I may or may not have done," Pearl chuckled nervously. "We should be focusing on the task at hand."
Garnet frowned, she would continue this conversation later, right now, there was planning to be done.
"Alright, Garnet, any ideas?" Wolfram asked, much to everyone's surprise.
Garnet took a moment to think. Finding the H.L.A base within the city wasn't going to be an easy task. The high levels of radiation would put Steven in danger. Even if they found the hidden base, they would still have to deal with militants, tanks, gunships, and worst of all Burners. But if the mission was successful, then it would put an end to the H.L.A and the Burner threat.
"Alright, listen up," Garnet ordered firmly. "If your satellites can warp us on the outskirts of Pripyat, then we can split up into groups. Each group will look through the city for anything that shouldn't be there. Remember, this place has been abandoned since 1986."
Garnet placed her hand on Steven's shoulder.
"You will stick with Pearl, Carnelian, and Iron," she stated flatly.
"Hey, what about me?" Amethyst asked, disappointed that she wouldn't be able to scare Pearl with a prank.
"You will be in a group with Pounamu, Turquoise, and Titanium," Garnet respond. "Turquoise, can you make sure those two get along?"
Turquoise flash a glare at Pounamu and Titanium, who were already dreading being in a group together.
"I'll certainly try," she said with a tired smile.
"Wolfram, Steel, Azurite, you're with me," Garnet stated firmly.
"There is no one I would rather be grouped with," Azurite said happily.
"Once we locate the hidden base, the Gems will fall back and let the Alloys start the attack."
Garnet turned to Wolfram and nodded her head.
"Listen up boys!" Wolfram ordered loudly. "Once we start the assault, we will need to neutralize any hostiles before the Gems can give us support. You all have your auxiliary weapons with you. Use them until you run out of ammunition. Make each shot count. And no funny business!"
He shot a glare at Titanium.
"That means you Titanium, don't start any crap!"
Wolfram turned to Garnet.
"Anything else?" he asked.
She shook her head no then turned to the others. They were all nervous but otherwise, ready for action.
"Alright, lets move out," Wolfram ordered as he put his helmet back on. "Everyone, press together."
Despite the uncomfortable order, the other complied and pressed into a tight huddled group. Wolfram then took the four warp pikes and place them in a square around them. He then rejoined the group as the pikes began to glow and hum.
"I'm not going to lie, to you," he stated firmly. "This won't be pleasant."
Suddenly, the pikes extended upward and flashed with green light. Within an instant, the Gems, Remnants, and the Alloys were gone.
Adler was busy going over paper work when his phone rang.
"Professor Adler speaking," he stated.
"Adler, do you care to explain to me why there is a warp signature headed for the Ukraine?" a loud, gruff voice asked bitterly.
"General William, w-what do you mean?" Adler asked startled.
"NORAD is showing that an unscheduled warp has taken place outside of the Monastery," William responded. "You want to tell me what the hell is going on over there?"
"I-I-I don't know," Adler stammered. "There have been no reports that-"
"I don't want excuses!" William boomed angrily. "If Russia or anyone find out about your little science project, then I will personally cut all the funds leading to your research."
"You wouldn't dare!" Adler snapped angrily. "My research is going to change humanity's future!"
"Try me, Professor," William hissed coldly. "Fix this mess, before I do."
With that, William hung up the phone. Adler slammed his phone down in anger.
"How dare those brats!" he growled angrily. "How dare they go behind my back!"
He would punish them greatly for this act of treason. But for now, he needed to find them.
If they were headed to the Ukraine, then they could only be going after the H.L.A.
Somehow he just knew that the Gems were going to be involved.
"So, little piggies, you thought you could just run off with the sheep?" he asked coldly.
He felt his eyes begin to ache a water up. He could see numbers and hieroglyphics floating in his vision.
"Well, no one hides from this wolf."
