Peridot stepped onto the bridge. The entire crew stood still, staring at Pink Diamond's throne. Not one gem made a sound as Peridot approached the over sized chair. She gasped. There nestled in a soft blanket lay Steven's gem. The only source of light a drone shone on his gem.

"How long has this been going on?" asked Peridot.

"Two maybe three Earth days," admitted Pink Peridot.

"This is not good. He's taking far too long to reform," Peridot lifted the gem and studied it for any cracks or microfractures.

"So what do we do now?" asked a young Pearl timidly.

Peridot stood up, "Outside I have a ship full of technicians and robinoids. With their help we will repair and upgrade the Lacey Dare."

"But without our Diamond what is the point?"asked Pink Peridot.

"To continue on with Pink Diamond's legacy. Steven loved and protected this planet. He believed that all life including ours had value and worth in their own right. He would want us to protect the Earth. He would want us to live free."

"All hail Pink Diamond!" shouted the crew as they all saluted.

They then burst into a flurry of activity, each to their assigned tasks. Peridot stepped out of the bridge and outside where her new cadre was waiting.

"My fellow Peridots, here are my orders. After you're all settled, you will transfer the Sun Incinerator's black hole drive and any other important systems into the Lacey Dare. It is to be your new home. Now how about I show you around and introduce you to the locals?"

The Peridots cheered. Taking lead Peridot guided them around Osted. She ignored the stares of the humans as she showed her new cadre the harbor, school and playground. She could not ignore Dr. Maheswaran and Farid as they came up to her.

"There you are. Give me Amalia," said Dr. Maheswaren.

"But everything's fine – ouch. Farid why did you kick me?" asked Peridot.

"You and Amalia went into space without taking me," said Farid as her kicked her again.

"Farid look at me. Space is a dangerous place. The reason I took so long coming back is that I was hunted. It was no vacation and it is certainly no place for children."

"Which is why I'm taking Amalia," said Priyanka as she pulled Amalia away from Peridot's back.

"Hey give her back!"

"No, Peridot in a fit of pique you endangered a baby and abandoned Farid. Now I know you didn't mean to but what's done is done. You missed Steven's funeral by the way."

"Steven is not dead."

"I beg to differ I saw the body myself."

"But his Gem is intact. Dr. Maheswaran, Gems are different what you see as our bodies are merely projections. It is not at all a supporting system like human body."

"Whatever, Steven is -was half human. Come on Farid let's go."

Peridot stood by helplessly as Priyanka dragged him and Amalia away. She could hear Farid crying as he went further and further away. Then Peridot felt a robotic hand touch her shoulder.

"Shall we run a rescue mission?" asked an old Peridot.

"No, it's better this way. Come on it's time for you to move in," replied Peridot.

The next morning Priyanka was having a hard getting Farid ready for daycare. The boy literally had to be dragged out of bed, had a temper tantrum over breakfast and now was sitting cross legged in front of the TV.

"Farid put your clothes on. It's time to go to daycare," said Priyanaka.

"No I want to stay and play video games," said Farid.

"We don't have time for this."

"Peridot had time. She always had time. She never sent me away to daycare."

Priyanka sighed and knelt down, "Farid you know that isn't true. Peridot may have seemed nice but she had no idea how to take care of you. Gems aren't like us. They don't have mommies and daddies and they certainly do not have children."

Outside the window Priyanka's jaw dropped as she saw a group of Peridots drop off some green children at the daycare next door. Farid looked up at her smugly.

"Farid get dressed. Your friends are waiting for you," said Priyanka firmly.

Meanwhile on the ship Peridot was inspecting Steven's gem through a set of jeweler's glasses when the conn rang.

"What?!" shouted Peridot.

"Captain, Hans Olafsson from the Department of Immigration is here, again," said a rather panicky Pearl.

"I don't have time for this. Send him away."

"Captain Peridot I insist. If you don't comply I will have to order you and your crew's deportation."

"Fine," Peridot opened the door. Olafsson came in smugly. "Now tell me what you want."

"Miss Peridot, yesterday you landed an alien craft on our soil amounting to what was essentially a mini invasion. Now despite your reassurances of keeping a low profile your people dropped their children off at the local daycare."

"We're in the middle of reconstructing a spaceship. We cannot have children running about."

"Be that as it may. There are protocols. You should have signed up the children into the daycare ahead of time."

"Noted, now go away."

"And there's the matter of your friends not having a work visa."

"Oh for the love of . Your love of protocol is absolutely insane."

"It is the checks and balances that protect us. Could you not have hired Norwegian citizens to do the work?"

"That is the most ridiculous thing I ever heard. No I cannot. Well Hans Olafsson, I hearby declare this ship as sovereign territory of the Pink Diamond Authority. As such the Peridots and my crew are now citizens of said territory and are free to work here. Now leave. You are no longer welcome."

Once he was gone Peridot turned to Steven's Gem. She tried scanning it. There were the usual microfractures but nothing she could put her finger on. She turned the conn on.

"Pearl, tell me is there any of Steven's healing factor left?"

"We have run out of healing factor, Captain."

"Fine, I really wish there was some way to heal Steven's gem."

Out of nowhere something nudged Peridot. She whirled around. "Lion, what are you doing here?"

Lion batted his eyelashes. He knelt down. "You want me to ride you? Hold on I'll get a bottle."

But Lion would not wait. He knocked Peridot onto his back and warped off. The next thing Peridot knew is that she was in some sort of garden. It seemed peaceful enough until the plants started moving. The vines lashed at Peridot's face.

"What after 5 000 years those clods didn't disarm their own security system? Talk about irresponsible," shouted Peridot.

A stray branch hit her upside the face. The green Gem stood up, "Right, time to do some pruning."

With her laser canons Peridot blasted the plant life again and again. Lion unmoved by this plant massacre instead walked away down a path.

"Hey wait for me!" cried Peridot.

She followed the Pink feline to a large fountain. At the center a large statue of Rose Quartz leaked tears while on the four corners sat smaller but still huge statues of Rose.

"Talk about a huge ego. Okay here goes." said Peridot.

She gently placed Steven's Gem in the fountain. The scratch disappeared but still no Steven.

"Thanks Lion, now to get a bottle," with a cough Lion spat out a glass bottle. "Wow thanks."

Once Peridot was done she mounted Lion. Instead of warping away Lion led her to a warp pad.

"Of course, why wouldn't this place have a warp pad," said Peridot as she warped back home.

Meanwhile at the daycare Anika and Helga, two daycare workers were watching their strange new charges. The green children were barely covered, wearing only diapers. They looked thin, dirty and slightly shocked as they stood in the playground.

"They just dumped their kids here. How could they do that?" asked Anika a small dark woman.

"What I'm concerned about is the state they're in," said Helga a large blonde woman.

"Well Captain Peridot did say they were former slaves."

"And the diapers, are they even toilet trained?"

"What I'm concerned about is how the other children will react to them. They're just so strange."

On the playground the human children were playing in their play gym.

"Hey you," called out a small boy.

"Me?" pointed one of the green children.

"All of you," said another boy. "Lets play a game."

"What game?" asked another green child.

"It's called space invaders and you're the invaders," said the first boy. "We hold down this fort and you try taking it from us."

The green children smirked. They charged at the play gym.

Back on the ship Peridot was staring at monitor. Pink Peridot came up to her.

"How's he doing?"asked Pink Peridot.

"According to the scans Steven is in there. His gem is showing electrical activity but it's like he's in a dream," replied Peridot.

"Any idea of how to wake him up?"

"No idea. It's up to him now."

"By the way there's someone called a social worker at the door."

"Oh crap."

The scent of bacon woke Steven up. He was lying in bed at the beach house while below he could hear Pearl scold Amethyst. He climbed down the stairs.

"Good morning Steven. Breakfast is ready," cried Pearl. "Amethyst that's for Steven!"

Steven's eyes sparkled. The table was groaning with food. Coffee, orange juice, bacon, eggs and even his favorite the together breakfast was there.

"That's okay there's plenty to eat," cried Steven.

He bit into his egg. It was perfect.

"Hey save some for your father," chided Garnet.

"Hey Stu ball, how about we eat that together breakfast?" asked Greg. When did Dad get here?

They dug into the waffles happily. Garnet watched on sipping her coffee and Steven drank gallons of orange juice.

"Steven I'm glad you're enjoying yourself but we have some pressing business to discuss," said Pearl as she delicately cut a fried egg. She bit into it. "Steven you have to wake up."

"But I'm already up. Everything's fine."

Garnet sadly shook her head. "No it's not. It's time to let us go."

"It's time to go, dude," added Amethyst sadly.

"But you're all my family. I'm not going anywhere," cried Steven.

"Steven none of this is real. We all died a long time ago," said Greg sadly.

"No, stop lying to me!" Steven shouted.

He knocked over his juice and ran out of the house. He did not notice that the sky was an unnatural shade of Pink nor did he notice how pristine the town was as he ran towards Connie's house. When he finally got there he pounded on the door.

"Open up, I need to see Connie right away," said Steven.

The door slowly opened and Doug Maheswaran stepped out. He knelt down and put his hand on Steven. Somehow Steven noticed he was wearing Bermuda shorts.

"Connie's not here, Steven," he said softly.

"But why not? It's summer and school's out."

"She made her choice. It saddens me but I did my best."

"Mr. Maheswaran why are you wearing shorts? Shouldn't you be working?"

Doug Maheswaran smiled sadly, "You don't get it do you? I don't need to work but you do. Steven it's time to go. You have responsibilities."

"But what about Connie? Your wife?"

"What about Peridot? She needs you."

"And what are you going to do?"

"I'm waiting for my wife and drinking a lot of mango lassis. Goodbye Steven," with that Doug Maheswaran shut the door.

For awhile Steven stood there. Then he walked back into town. There were many unfamiliar faces and for once Mr. Smiley looked happy. Something was very wrong here. Steven walked back home.

Back in the real world Peridot greeted a coldly furious woman.

"Yes I'm Carla Manning from the child welfare agency," said a tall dark woman. "Due to some disturbing reports from the Osted Day Nursery, I'm here to check out the living conditions of the children."

Behind her a buzzsaw whined and a piece of the Sun Incinerator's hull fell to the ground.

"Yes, of course. I ask you to be watch your step we're undergoing construction. Come with me," said Peridot.

They passed by a clothesline. A Pearl was hanging up the little jumpsuits.

"You had clothes for them? Why didn't you dress them before taking them to daycare?" gasped Carla.

"Because they were dirty. Now put on this helmet and follow me," said Peridot as she led the social worker into the Sun Incinerator.

"Captain the black hole drive has been installed. Unfortunately the Lacey Dare's computer is obsolete," said a worker Peridot.

"Fine, I'll install the Sun Incinerator's computer in the Lacey Dare myself," Peridot turned to Carla. "As you can see things are a little hectic right now. We're in the process of moving. Come, I'll show you to the children's quarters"

Peridot led Carla down a set of stairs to the master bedroom. Being watched by a Pearl a baby Peridot sat in a makeshift crib. While in the center lay a large bed.

"I must warn you. My fellow Peridots just escaped from slavery. They don't necessarily have everything. We're just starting out a new life," said Peridot.

"And you just have the one bed? Where does everyone sleep?" asked Carla.

"Gems don't need to sleep."

"Oh, then let me see your kitchen then."

"We don't need to eat either," Carla stared in disbelief. "But we do have a light chamber. This is how we absorb the energy we need."

Peridot opened a hatch. Inside lay a naked worker Peridot. The worker sat up and covered herself.

"Forgive me Captain. I'll get back to work right away," stammered the worker.

"No need. Spend as much time as you want," replied Peridot.

"Right, it seems like you're tending to the needs of the children but what about clothing and shoes?" asked Carla.

"We haven't had the time to acquire them."

"And what about their education?"

"On their off shifts the trainer Peridots would teach their gemlings."

"Okay, I'm satisfied for now but the next time I'm here I want to see a bed for every child."

"Will do."

"And clothing."

"I'll get the seamstress to make clothes right away."

"One more thing. The daycare shuts down in an hour. Don't be late."

Peridot sighed. Yet another distraction. By the time she got to the daycare the manager and owner was waiting for her. Anika Hanson crossed her arms angrily.

"I'll have you know that we do not want your children back here again," said the woman hotly.

"What did they do?"

"Well for starters they played far too roughly with the other children."

"Gemlings you will apologize to your playmates' parents at once!" The Gemlings bowed. Peridot turned to Carla, "Yes, sorry about that. Gems are far stronger than humans."

"And then they wrecked the playground. They disassembled the play gym."

"We are mechanically inclined. Gemlings repair the play center at once!"

In a flurry, the little green children ran towards the ruins of the play ground. Before Annika's eyes they rebuilt the play gym as good as new.

"Well very good but they still don't know about our customs."

"What do you expect they only came here yesterday. Gemlings, it is time to go home."

When they got back to the ships Peridot ordered them to move their toys to the Lacey Dare. Then Peridot decided to visit the seamstress.

"Pearl I need you to make some more clothing and shoes for the Gemlings."

"As you command Captain."

Peridot heard the sound of arguing outside the seamtress' room. She found two Gems, Peridot and a Pearl about to come to blows.

"What is going on?" Peridot shouted.

The Pearl saluted, "Your Brilliance these miscreants were tearing up the bowling alley."

"We need quarters," shouted back the worker Peridot.

"Did Steven show any interest in the bowling alley?"asked Peridot.

"No, he did not," said the Pearl timidly.

"Then let them tear it up as well the games room."

"But- but what if Pink Diamond comes back?"

"Do you think after keeping you locked up and forgotten for over 5 000 years she deserves the bowling alley?"

"Er no?"

"Then let them tear out the bowling alley and the toy room as well."

Another Pearl stepped up, "Captain."

"What!?"

"There are some women at the door."

"Fine I'll go see what they want."

Peridot found a group of locals waiting for her. The lead woman stepped forward and saluted.

"Greeting we come in peace."

"What do you want this time?"

Another woman stepped up carrying a basket, "Yes we heard about the children and well, we went around town and got some things for you."

Peridot looked in the box, "Wow thanks."

"It's nothing much," said the first woman. "It's just some old toys and clothes. We heard about what you went through in space and we thought this might help."

"It does, thank you."

As the group turned to leave the second woman turned around. "One more thing, it is getting rather late shouldn't the children be in bed?"

"But it's still light out."

"We're above the arctic circle, bye."

And so Peridot had led the children to Pink Diamond's bed. Once they were asleep Peridot worked on installing the Sun Incinerator's computer herself. All the while Steven's Gem looked on.

Outside the worker Peridots had finished their work for the day.

"Well that's the Sun Incinerator gutted. Time to disassemble the hull," said 3TR.

"But I was looking forward to spending time with my baby," said 5ND.

"Why don't we order the robinoids to convert the Sun Incinerator to it's base components?" asked 3YP.

"Still, we did not get leave from the captain," answered 3TR.

"But don't you get it? We're free now. We don't have to work ourselves to exhaustion and we can feed as much as we like," said 3YP.

"I heard of something called iced cream," remarked 5ND.

"Well then let's pick up the children and get this iced cream," said 3TR.

The Gemlings were asleep on a massive pink bed. They looked so cute wearing little onesies made from Pink Diamond's stuffed animal collection. 5ND shook one of the children awake. The child rubbed her eyes.

"Get up. We're going to get some iced cream," announced 5ND.

The Gemling's cheer awoke the others. Within minutes a mini army of cheering green children and adult Peridots left the ship. They walked into town not noticing how few people were on the street. 3TR scanned the streets for the purveyor of the legendary iced cream. She found it right next to the town's harbor. It seemed strangely empty.

"Open up, we're here to requisition your iced cream," shouted 3TR.

"It's no use. The shop's closed," said a funny smelling human.

"But we want our iced cream," shouted a young Peridot.

"It's 3 am. The shop owner's in bed as you should be."

"Well is there any place that is open?"

"This isn't a big city like Oslo. Come back in the morning. Say do you guys happen to have any beer?"

"What's beer?" asked 5NR but the human had already walked off.

Back at the ship Peridot had just finished installing the ship's new computer when the head Pearl walked in.

"How's Steven doing?" she asked.

Peridot wiped herself off, "Not very well. His gem is pristine. He's showing neural activity but he's just not emerging. I wish I knew what to do."

"Maybe this environment does not please him," Peridot looked confused. "Hear me out. The Steven has lost everything, his home, his cadre. His heart is broken. Maybe a more friendly environment would make him emerge."

"You're right and I've got just the thing."

Steven returned to the Beach house. The Gems and his father were gone without a trace. Steven sat down on the couch and screwed his eyes shut. Nothing happened. It would have been nice if he knew how to return to the real world. He laid down on the bed and fell asleep.

With repairs complete Peridot rented out a small cottage out on the shore. As she tinkered with some robinoids visitors both human and Gem came to see her.

When she wasn't tinkering she would talk Steven's gem. Pink Nephrite would come to report every day on the status of the ship.

The days grew shorter. A frightened hunter reported seeing some blue robinoids in the forest. Osted's mayor came to consult her about an evacuation plan for the town. Peridot's limb enhancers started to hurt.

It was Peridot's voice that finally awoke Steven. He was in bed and back in the beach house but it seemed different. Rose's picture was nowhere to be seen. Down below Peridot was cooking something in the kitchen.

"Now the mayor wants to know how many people the Lacey Dare can hold. The Lacey Dare, what a childish name," said Peridot.

His feet hit the floor. Peridot whirled around. She dropped the waffles.

"Steven," cried Peridot. She ran towards him and hugged him.

From her estimates Steven had grown 15 centimeters but she was still looking down at him. From his sexual interface equipment he was still male but everything else was different. His hair and skin were now pink. His eyes were also pink with diamond shaped pupils. He was also slimmer.

"You're really here," sobbed Peridot.

"er, Peridot do you have any clothes?" asked Steven.

"Of course, look at you. You've changed so much."

"So have you. What happened to your hair? And you're bigger."

"I am not. I just got a haircut is all."

"No Peridot, you've grown up."

Peridot thought back to what had happened in the past few weeks. The escape from the colony, the freeing of the Peridots, the fight to save humanity and the constant dealing with bureaucracy. It was something the old Peridot would never do.

"You're right. Now let's go home."