Chapter Twenty-Four: Epilogue


Homeworld, Aquarius Sector. Emerald's residence.

"I'm telling you, if we had a Lazuli or two, we could've been out and done with it before anything went down!" said Nines. She was seated on a couch, talking to a holoscreen.

"Eh, you work with what you've got, I suppose," said Amethyst on the other end. "It's just good to hear that everything turned out fine in the end. I'm glad you're all okay."

"Yeah. There were some moments when I really wasn't sure. I told you that general destabilized me at one point, right?"

"I think you neglected to mention that," said Amethyst. "How did you survive? I would have thought he'd've shattered you."

"I'm sure he wanted to," Nines said. "Lucky for me, Tenrit here get me outta there before he could make good on that." She turned away, leaning out from the screen. "Hey, Tenrit, get in here!"

"Coming, coming!" he said, hurrying in to view. "So, is this your CO?" He waved at Amethyst. "Hello there! Nice to meet you. The name's Tenrit, I'm something of a Gem aficionado, always have been. I gotta say, I'm really excited to be living here on Homeworld now!"

Amethyst was confused. "Er, is this the organic that Emerald mentioned? The one from Corvus?"

"Yup, that's him," said Nines. "I wasn't sure about him at first, but he's a pretty cool dude. Really knows his stuff!"

"You're pretty cool yourself!" Tenrit added.

"Oh, stop!" said Nines. "But anyway, enough about us. How are things going back on Auragh-18?"

"Actually, surprisingly well," Amethyst said. "Now that we've pushed out the Interlopers' forces, the colonization process is going really smooth. We got some bio-poison to clear out those vines-and not that bio-venom stuff! At this rate, we should have plenty of Gems to join the fight against these metal-heads."

"Now that's what I like to hear!" said Nines. "...Actually, though, on that note, there's something I wanted to mention. So, with this Pythoriax guy done for, and colonization underway, you all seem to have everything under control down there. So, I was wondering...do you think it would be at all possible if I could be transferred to Emerald's command? It's not that I didn't like it on Auragh, but I've made a lot of friends here, I don't want to abandon them at a time like this. I wouldn't be asking for this if you were any other Gem. So, whaddya say? Quartz to Quartz?"

Amethyst had been listening calmly throughout. Once Nines finished, she chuckled. "Dude, I filled out that paperwork the moment you left to Moridius! With how you always went on and on about her, I figured you'd ask to stay. Consider her Your Emerald!"

Nines positively beamed. "Thanks, Amethyst. That really means a lot to me."

"Ah, don't mention it," she said. "Seriously, don't. Now that the crisis is over, I'll probably be out of command soon enough. We'll sweep this under the rug for now."

"Appreciate it!" said Nines. "But don't hesitate to contact me if you need me back there! I'd be happy to help again! Citrine out." Nines deactivated the call, and the holoscreen shrank into nothing.

"Well, guess you're staying, then!" said Tenrit.

"Guess I am!" Nines said. "Better get used to it!"

Unnoticed by them, Pearl walked by, listening to their camaraderie. She walked further throughout the house, coming across Morganite and Goshenite in the next room. They were speaking to another on a holoscreen as well.

"And you're sure there's nothing you can do?" Morganite said to the Gem on the other side.

"I'm afraid not," said the Gem, who was Heliodor. "That exo-shell was one of a kind. It took centuries just to get approval from the Diamonds just to do the necessary research, and even more than that to have it built. With resources stretched thin as they are, there's no way I'd be able to get another made. She may be our friend, but there's other Emeralds."

"Unfortunately, she's right," said Goshenite. "Like it or not, the Diamonds would never approve."

"Such a shame, what happened to her," said Morganite. "Old Emerald really did what was best for Homeworld, even to the end."

"Oh, it's not the end yet," said Heliodor. "Now, my research is a long way away, obviously, but I've made great strides in learning more about her condition. I'll find some way to reverse it, no matter how long it takes."

"Until then, I suppose I'll be taking command of Emerald's forces again," said Goshenite. "Unless the current Supreme Admiral wants to?"

"Oh, her," Morganite said dismissively. "Apparently, she's been occupied with a couple of ne'er-do-wells that stole her favorite ship. I don't want to say she's been neglecting her duties...so I won't. You'll do a fine job, dahling."

"I'm certain I will," said Goshenite. "I've done it before. Hopefully, we can make more of a difference this time."

As this conversation continued on, Pearl continued as well, walking through the house. She made her way past several others, until she found herself at the entrance to the basement.

The door slid open. Pearl made her way down into the darkness. "My Emerald! It's me," she announced. She reached the bottom of the stairway, and turned on the lights.

The room lit up, revealing a glass wall parting it in half. On the other side of this barrier was Emerald, still in her monstrous transformation. She was resting, but her head lifted up when Pearl entered. On the ceiling on Pearl's side rested three bubbles, each containing a gem-Topaz, Amber, and Onix.

"Good morning," said Pearl. "Sorry, did I wake you?" The beastly Emerald approached the glass, watching Pearl intently with her many eyes. "I just wanted to let you know that everyone's fine out here. Sorry you can't come upstairs. Goshenite wanted to keep you in a bubble, and I wanted you to run free-so we compromised. This way, you can still see us without scaring any Gems outside."

Pearl sighed, sitting down with her back against the glass. "I don't even know if you understand me," she said. "Heliodor said she's trying to find a cure, but she has no idea how long it'll take. I hope it's soon, but...I wouldn't hold your breath." Emerald lie down as well, her side against the glass, right next to Pearl.

"Thought I'd find you down here!" came the voice of Onyx. The black Gem descended the staircase. Tanzanite was close behind her. "Talkin' to Mera again?"

Pearl nodded. "I didn't want her to get lonely."

"Us neither," said Tanzanite. "It looks like we will be placed under Goshenite's command once more."

"Y'know, she really isn't too bad," said Onyx. "That Topaz she's always with, though-yeesh!"

"So, what do we do now?" said Pearl.

"Whatever we are commanded, I suppose," said Tanzanite.

"I'll tell you what we're gonna do," said Onyx. "We'll take this fight right to the Interlopers' doorstep! Go on the offensive, really show 'em who's boss!"

"I just can't stop thinking about something Pythoriax said," Pearl said. "He mentioned someone called a 'Primax.' Who do you think that is?"

"Void if I know," said Onyx. "All I know is if they mess with us, we'll blow 'em to scrap, same as all the others!"

"Yes," said Tanzanite. "We will continue to fight, for as long as we can. It is what Emerald would have wanted."

"It is," said Pearl. "But I was thinking...we should fight for Homeworld because it's our home. Because it's what we want. That's what Emerald really would have wanted."

The Oculus, unknown location.


The Oculus. The Interlopers' base of operations. Their center of intelligence. Their greatest weapon. This was where everything about them originated.

Deep within the planet-sized station, factories the size of countries pumped out millions of soldiers, weapons, ships. Their entire fleet, their entire army, everything-all originated here.

Deeper still, within the Oculus' very center, was a single, dark chamber. And within this chamber, something was being made. Mechanical arms welded and molded metal fragments together into a single unified shape.

A deep voice sounded out: "And so, the last of my generals has fallen. Pythoriax. I would say I expected more...but that would be a lie."

The shape began to take the form of a robotic body. Far more advanced than the rank and file Interloper troops, much of this being seemed to defy gravity, floating in place.

"Everyone I've sent out has proven too incompetent to handle the simple matter of crushing those rebellious machines."

Six devices hovered just behind this being's back, giving the appearance of wings, or perhaps a twisted halo. His head was finally completed: the entire thing seemed to be an eye, the same harsh red color of the Oculus itself. Glowing red lines ran across his deep grey form.

"If none of you can be trusted to follow simple orders...then I have no choice but to see to this matter myself."