"She... what?"

"Yeah, she took the prism from that chair at the Moon Base!"

Spinel's eyes narrowed further, "I think we need to talk with her."

Before Steven could say anything, Peridot passed by them, still hiding the prism she stole. When she noticed the two staring at her, she jumped back and yelped, hiding the item behind her back.

"We know you have that," said Spinel lowly.

Peridot grimaced, "... Uh..."

Steven wanted to make this peacefully as possible, so he spoke gently, "Peridot, we just want to talk."

Peridot looked around her, "Why are we in this broken-down vehicle?"

"Well, we can't trust you enough not to run away," Spinel replied harshly, sitting in the back seat, with Steven sitting on the driver's seat.

"What do you know… about the Diamonds?" asked Steven.

"Oh!" Peridot seemed to light up, holding the prism to her lap, "I don't know what the others told you, but there's a reason they're in charge."

Steven was confused, "Why's that?"

"Yeah," Spinel scowled, "Tell him."

"They're objectively better than us!" Peridot explained, "Every Gem has their strengths and weaknesses, but not them. They're absolutely totally completely flawless beings! Especially my diamond, Yellow Diamond, the most perfect, the most reasonable, rational, efficient decider ever to exist in the universe!"

Spinel scoffed, "Reasonable? HA! With all the shattering she's done, clearly she's the most reasonable!"

Peridot was taken aback, "You're only saying because she'd not your Diamond. Say, who was your Diamond?"

"That's none of your business!" Spinel snapped, scaring Steven, "And if you're so loyal to her, why haven't you reported us yet?!"

Peridot blinked, "Oh, I don't know, our truce? I specifically remember you telling me that I shall never contact any of the Diamonds. But, just as a little note, you can stop me from forsaking her! So there!"

"Really?" Steven raised a brow before panicking, "Cause she's right behind you!"

"WHAT?!" The green Gem spun around, giving Spinel the opportunity to snatch the prism away, exiting the truck with Steven, the boy locking the door behind him.

Peridot shouted and protested, but alas, she was locked in.

"Save your strength!" Steven walked up to the window, "You're up against one of Earth's greatest trapping technologies; the child safety lock!"

Peridot gasped dramatically in alarm, "Oh no! How could you do this to me, the great and lovable Peridot?!"

"Well, how could you go against our backs?! After everything we've done for you, after everything I've done for you! We've given you multiple chances!" Spinel gripped the prism tighter, "I thought you were on our side… our new friend..."

Peridot cowered from Spinel's voice, feeling ashamed of herself.

Steven finally turned to Spinel, "By the way, what is that?"

"It's a communicator," she explained, "It's a way to contact other Diamonds on Homeworld."

Steven became shocked, then stared at the Gem inside the truck, "No… she couldn't be..."

Spinel grit her teeth, slightly trembled, "I knew it. I should've never let my 'making new friends' side get in the way. I should've gone with my instinct to poof her while I had the chance. But nooo, I just had to give her multiple chances, showed her that sunrise while back, and even sang with her. Guess those things never mattered to her-"

"IT SHOULDN'T!" Peridot shouted, silencing them… but then her body relaxed, "... but it does."

Spinel and Steven stared at her, dumbfounded.

"Why do you think I brought that in the first place?"

The pink Gem's face warped into an angry frown, "Why? So you could go back home?"

"No!" Peridot retorted, before relaxing again, "I... I regret insulting your savior back there. And... I still do. I just need to contact Yellow Diamond so she could terminate the Cluster."

By now, both Spinel and Steven were shocked to hear this. They didn't know what to think.

"You…" Spinel stood at the locked door, "... You still want to help us?"

Peridot cowered slightly, "... Yeah."

"Why?" Steven stood by the pink Gem, "You just said you were loyal to Yellow Diamond, that you'd never forsaken her."

"I know." Peridot grumbled a bit, still trying to hide her shame, "I was hoping she would listen to me. I was one of her best technicians. So please, let me out of this prison! I do want to save the sunrises, the life-forms that live and die, and everything else! Please!"

Spinel and Steven glanced at each-other, wondering what to think, then back to the desperate Gem leaning against the window.

Spinel sighed, "Alright. I'll tell Pearl, Garnet, and Amethyst. Steven, you stay here with Peridot, keep her company."

"Is she nuts?!" yelled Amethyst.

"She told us that Yellow Diamond trusts her. Maybe we need to give her one last chance," replied Spinel.

Pearl shook her head, "No, I don't think she could be reasoned with. Peridot's just a… Peridot."

"And I refuse to let a Diamond of all things to help us," stated Garnet.

Spinel kept her ground, "But if we just let her try, maybe Yellow Diamond would listen to her. Besides, what other choices do we have now? Peridot's made up her mind."

Her teammates were still very hesitant.

"Please guys. This could be our last chance. Even if Peridot is unable to get her to listen, we still have the drill. She said it herself that she wants to protect the Earth."

"She did?" Amethyst asked, suspicious, but saw the look in Spinel's eyes, "...Oh."

"What makes you think she's on our side after saying those things about Yellow Diamond?" Pearl frowned.

Spinel thought for a moment, "Maybe… I got her to understand? I don't know. Steven probably did too."

They then heard honking, coming from the truck. Steven yelled that she was getting impatient.

Spinel sighed and shouted back, "Let her out then! We can talk about it here!"

Steven complied, unlocking the doors and Peridot plopped onto the ground.

"Is… Is everyone hidden?"

Peridot turned, seeing the Steven and the Gems give a quick thumbs up from behind a pile of junk and hiding again.

The green Gem sighed in relief, activating the communicator, "Okay, just… gotta use the right words…"

As the prism opened up a yellow screen, an annoyed-looking Pearl responded, "This is the Yellow Diamond control room."

Steven took a quick peek to look, whispering "Is that another Pearl?"

Spinel kept her face hidden, "I think that's Yellow Pearl..." Pearl bit her lip.

"Who authorized you to make this call?" The Pearl inquired.

"N-No one," Peridot nervously answered, "B-But I do need to send a message!"

"That's no excuse to use the direct Diamond communication channel!"

"Pearl."

Yellow Pearl nearly jumped back, "Ye-Yes, my Diamond?"

"Why is there someone on the Diamond line?"

"I don't know! I was just about to tell her that-"

"I'll take it from here."

A giant hand lifted to screen to show a giant yellow figure, very similar to the mural on the Moon Base's wall.

"Is that-"

"Yellow-"

"Diamond-"

Spinel didn't want to look. All she did was listen…

"My Diamond! Peridot reporting in!"

"Which Peridot?"

"F-Facet 2-F-5-L, Cut 5-X-G! I'm sorry to contact you this way, but all other forms of communication have been destroyed and-"

"This says you're behind schedule on your mission to… How is… the Earth?"

"It's… full of life."

"Organic life. And where is the Jasper I assigned you? And why aren't you calling from the ship?"

"Oh um... the ship was destroyed."

"By whom?"

"I-I-I-It was destroyed by... no one! There was... an accident... while we were landing."

"... I'll inform your manager of your incompetence. And what is the status of the Cluster?"

"It… will emerge shortly."

"Good. We'll finally get some use out of that miserable planet... Thank you for your report, Peridot. There'll be a ship heading to your location to take you to your next assignment-"

"Wait! I... I've actually made this call about the Cluster, other than just informing the status of it."

"What else is there to say?"

"The else is... We need to terminate the Cluster!"

"... Why?"

"The organic ecosystem creates resources unique to this world, we can't sacrifice all that potential just for one geo-weapon! I'd like to tell you some plans I came up with to utilize the planet without disrupting the local-"

"I've heard enough! I don't care about potential or resources."

"What?!"

"I want my Cluster, and I want that planet to die. Just make that happen."

"... NO!"

She heard Yellow Pearl gasp.

"Are you questioning my authority?"

"I'm... questioning objectivity, my Diamond!"

"Well...!"

"You are out of line."

"I just think-"

"I'm not interested in the puny thoughts of a Peridot."

"But-"

"You have disrespected this channel and my time with your presence and you will do well to-"

"But-"

"SHUT YOUR MOUTH! You have failed at every stage of this mission. Your only chance to redeem yourself is to obey this simple order. You are to leave the Cluster to grow. It will tear apart the Earth, and I will take immense satisfaction in erasing that hideous rock off of our star maps! IS! THAT! CLEAR?!"

"Then I won't do it! I can tell you with certainty there are things on this planet worth protecting!"

Spinel nearly turned her head around, Steven and her teammates all watching with anticipation.

"What do you know about the Earth?!"

"Apparently more than you! You… CLOD!"

Spinel finally took a peek at what was happening, but right before Peridot turned the communicator off, she almost burst into laughter when she saw Yellow Diamond's face.

"Peridot! Out!" The frightened green Gem shut it off and collapsed to her knees. Steven, Spinel, Pearl, Amethyst, and Garnet all ran out to console the poor Gem.

"I couldn't do it." She murmured.

"Oh Peridot, we're so sorry," Spinel apologized, "We know you tried."

"We're sorry about being wrong about you!" Steven wrapped his arms around her.

"But oh my gosh, you calling her a clod was awesome!" Amethyst laughed.

Pearl and Garnet nodded in agreement, the former saying, "Guess it's up to us now, well, now that Peridot's joined us."

Spinel gasped with delight, "Do you know what this means, Peridot?!"

"... I'm an official traitor to my Homeworld?"

"You're an official Crystal Gem!" Steven proclaimed as Spinel coiled her arms around the two.

"Except we trust you, 100 percent," said Garnet, smiling.

Peridot came back to reality, feeling Steven and Spinel's arms around her, and she smiled, "Yeah cool."

Okay okay okay.

Before you all throw up your arms and rage on me, hear me out.

I've have been reading your reviews, and I will let you know that I've already got the "Diamonds finding out Spinel's still alive" arc. It will happen. I PROMISE.

But not right now.

Why? This is my story. I know what I want to do with it.