Freshwater grumbled to herself as she walked through the forest area in search of Jet. The Pearl was growing impatient with how long this was taking, and was beginning to see anything that wasn't pushing her closer to getting Pearl home as unimportant. Babysitting the humans was Holly Blue's job if it were between the Pearls and Holly Blue Agate. She was beginning to suspect that the Agate had other plans.

"And she's grumbling about babysitting duty."

Freshwater's ears perked up when she heard the familiar voice. "Finally." Freshwater muttered to herself, going in the direction where the voice had come from. The gem sounded like she was talking to someone. D13, maybe? No, he was probably with the other humans by now. Then who-

"Yeah, the place is in shambles. Holly Blue wants us to fix it up, but it'll take more lightyears than I've got." Freshwater blinked in confusion when she rounded a tree, Jet's voice now clear, her form dark against the bright light of the communicator. Freshwater started to assume the gem was talking to Holy Blue, but the playful tone Jet used wasn't like the one the gem had used with Holly Blue. Confused, Freshwater ducked behind the tree and held her breath, trying to eavesdrop on the conversation between the two gems.

The voice on the communicator sighed. "I helped build that place eons ago. It was bound to fall apart eventually." Jet nodded. "Exactly! It just took some time." The gem on the other end snorted. "Yeah, time. And a bunch of Amethyst guards messing up the place." Jet shrugged. "I dunno what the Diamonds expected. They put a bunch of rowdy gems out in the middle of space without a scary leader." She paused, glancing behind her. "Speaking of which, between you and me, I need a favor." She said, lowering her voice. "You mean besides fixing up the zoo?" The gem said, sighing. Jet nodded. "Yeah. Remember that human?" she said, choosing her words carefully. "The one Buck's fond of?"

"You mean the one you're supposed to look after while she's suffering whatever fate the Diamonds handed her after the trial?" Jet flinched but nodded. "Yeah. Yeah I remember him. What about him?" Jet pursed her lips. "Well…he's in trouble. Holly Blue hasn't seen him yet, but I know she won't be fond of his looks. She treats her Pearl differently because she looks different. When, honestly, she's terrifyingly loyal."

"And what exactly do you want me to do about it?" the gem asked, arching her eyebrow. "Kid's your responsibility. Not mine. In case you haven't forgotten, I'm not exactly on the best footing with Blue and Yellow at the moment thanks to the grand stupidity of youth. Diamonds name, I wreaked havoc on Homeworld before I was shipped here." She muttered the last part under her breath, but her eyes lit up. "Loved me some mischief. Still kinda do." Her gaze hardened. "I may be a better gem now, but once an enemy of the Diamonds, always an enemy of the Diamonds."

Jet's face fell. "So…you won't even consider helping me-"

"Sneak Johnathon out of the zoo?" the gem snorted. "Oh absolutely not. I dunno what idea that Crystal Gem Pearl has snuck into your thick skull, but you ain't draggin' me into no rebellion. Look. Kiddo." She said, leaning into the communicator, her gaze and tone softening. "I know you just trying to do what Buck wants you to. But Buck's not your mentor anymore." She said. "Buck's go-"

"She's not gone." Jet insisted, shaking her head, her eyes lighting up. "The Diamonds can't afford to shatter gems left and right. They say that all the ti-"

"They say that now." The gem interrupted. "They've been saying that since you've been growing up, kid. For me and Buck? We're a lot older than you are. More experienced. And the more experienced a gem is, the less crap the Diamonds tolerate. Cuz we know better. Buckstar knows better. She decided to go against direct policy, lead her crew to think that way. And what do we have now?" she sneered. "A bunch of Amethyst guards who are more interested in playing with vermin than they are in getting their jobs done." She spat.

Jet was stunned for a moment. "Humans…aren't vermin, B9." She said, sounding like she'd just been slapped across the face. "It's Bismuth to you, Onyx." She sighed, putting her head in her hands. "Diamonds name, I should've never given into Buck's – Buckstar's dumb nicknames. Calling you kid as if you aren't a grown gem." She straightened up and regarded Jet with an icy glare. "From now on, we are not friends. We shouldn't have been friends in the first place. You are an Onyx gem with a job, and I am a Bismuth with the same job. We're coworkers. Acquaintances at best. Understood?"

Silence filled the air as Jet stared up at the gem on the communicator. This was nothing like the Bismuth she had grown to love and care for. The old Bismuth was nice, caring, kind, compassionate. She cred about gems, and had even started to care about humans too. And now because Buckstar was….wherever she was - she refused to acknowledge the possibility of shattering unless she had physical proof – she'd given up and gone back to her own ways. As if nothing had ever happened.

"Onyx." Jet looked up at Bismuth's hard voice. "I asked you a question." Jet took a deep breath, not meeting the gem's eyes. "Yes, Bismuth. I understand." She said, nodding but not meeting the gem's eyes. The Bismuth nodded. "Good. I'll see you in the morning." Jet didn't respond or even move until the communicator shut off and fell at her feet with a dull thud.

For a moment she stood there and stared at the thing, remembering happier times when she was only 5 or 6 hundred years old, now ready to be taught to take care of the zoo. Bismuth had always helped Jet teach her what she knew, even though Jet was a hard gem to teach. Nonetheless, though, they didn't give up on her as a student or as a server of the Diamonds, always finding ways to keep her entertained. Times where she'd take turns sitting on top of Buckstar's shoulders, or using damaged parts to play Keep Away with Bismuth and Buck. Sometimes other gems would join in too. They had always promised that no matter what happened, through thick and thin, they'd always be together.

Buckstar had promised that they had always been a family.

So much for that.

Picking up the communicator with shaking hands, Jet cried out in frustration, bringing her hand back and hurling it at a tree before sinking to her knees.

When she didn't hear the shattering of the communicator, Jet raised her head slowly, blinking tears out of her eyes. Through her tears, she could make out a hand a few inches from her face. Following it with her eyes, she was surprised when she saw Freshwater standing above her, the communicator held in her other hand, undamaged.

Despite her constant state, Jet narrowed her eyes and sneered. "Here to take me to Holly Blue for attempted treason?" Freshwater didn't even flinch at the gem's anger. In fact, she didn't say a word. She just stood there with her hand outstretched. Jet sighed, but took the gem's hand, allowing her to hoist her up. "Lead the way, then." She said, raising her arm to wipe her face. "Let me at least say bye to Johnathon first." She said bitterly, raising her arm to wipe her face. When she had collected herself, she looked at Freshwater expectantly.

With an exasperated sigh, Jet threw her arms up and started to walk towards the zoo door. Before she could, however, Freshwater grabbed her hand. Jet stopped and glanced over her shoulder, surprised when Freshwater put the communicator in her hands and closed her fingers around it. "Johnathon's not out there." She said simply, dropping Jet's hand and motioning for her to follow.

Jet hesitated. "What are you planning, Uni?" she said, cautiously following behind the gem. "Pearl's with Johnathon. Pearl decoded a letter that the Amethyst guards in Johnathon's pocket. Apparently Holly's doing room checks now, and they've got assigned posts that they're at 24/7. They can't hide him anymore, so he has to stay here. That's why I came to find you." Freshwater explained, rubbing her neck awkwardly. "I didn't mean to intrude on your….family problems." A dark shadow crept over Jet's face.

"What family?"