Area 51.
Agent Sculler moved hurriedly down a dark corridor that led to a metal door which was guarded by agents that were dress like her with black glasses, and dark coats. They greeted her with a nod as she arrived.
"I need to see the Director. I have some important updates on the gem invasion here on earth. I have some information about someone who is of interest to her," she said.
The agents nodded and pressed some buttons to the metal door. There was a rumbling sound, and the metal door open to reveal a huge lift inside. A bigger agent, this time looking more like a Sneople person than a human stood guard.
"Agent Sculler," the agent said.
"Agent Adderstone, I have an appointment with the Director,"
Adderstone nodded and closed the lift. There was a loud rumbling as they descended downward. It took about 15 minutes before the lift finally stop. The metal door open and Sculler exited into a dark hallway. Sculler did not know how deep it was but it was deep enough to observe that thing outside the only window in the hallway. A huge assembly of shattered gems that were forcibly joined together to form the superweapon called the Cluster.
A few agents, all grey face and bald watched the Cluster while taking notes. Sculler walked past them and finally came to a door which read in golden words, Director Srikali Nagamani.
Before she could knock a cold and calm voice came from within.
"Come in,"
Sculler quickly opened the door and came face to face with Director Nagamani. She was a woman with long black wavy hair, and dark brown skin. Even as she sat at the desk, one could tell she was a woman of intimidating stature. Sculler saluted her.
"Director, as you've heard, every major city in every country is being under attack from the gem enemy," she reported.
The director looked up to her, her face unreadable. She was looking at a chessboard in front of her. Apparently, the pieces had already been moved around. The Director was playing the side of the black pieces.
"Tell me something I don't know. The invasion has been all over the news, and I've been to five meetings with the president in regards to the issue. I'm more interest to know if the gem settlement in Beach City has anything to do with this," she replied. She moved a black rook.
Sculler nodded.
"Not as our informants are aware of. At least for now. Further inspection shows that the gem settlement at Delmara is more of a rehabilitation centre where gems are thought to take up peaceful hobbies such as painting, growing plants and those harmless human stuff. The only gem that may be partaking an activity of concern is Bismuth. But so far the smith has not taken up weapon making. So, in other words Little Homeworld is working to our advantage. You will also be pleased to know that the Jasper soldier that we have been monitoring also as nothing to do with this. Our agents report that the Jasper no longer shows any signs of violent tendencies. Not after she was shattered and brought back again. She is no better than those humans who spend their whole days in pubs drunk. In other words, she is broken and has lost any will to fight. Totally harmless," Scully said happily.
The Director looked up.
"Interesting. So, I assume they were all caught off guard as well as we were. Have the invading gems started attacking them too?" she said, and moved a knight from the white side.
Sculler shook her head.
The Director raised an eyebrow.
"I see. Well that's interesting. General Moonstone is planning something more than conquest," she said now moving a black bishop, which when to the right end of the board and took out a white pawn.
Sculler cleared her throat and continued.
"You mean this isn't an invasion planned by the Diamonds,"
The Director paused her game, and looked up to Sculler.
"No. From intel gathered by spies from the gem Homeworld, Moonstone is acting independently. There was some sort of confrontation there in Homeworld and then the Court of White left and came straight here," the Director said.
"What does this all mean then?" Sculler said.
"I'm not really sure, what Moonstone plans to do, but ever since the Serpentine empire began, our true enemies weren't the Diamonds. It was the Court of White which went on a crusade to fight the Serpentine empire. Now the true enemy of the Serpentine are here. Of all the planets the empire occupies they chose Earth. But I am not surprised. After all it was Steven who in a way brought down the great Homeworld Empire for us," the Director said.
Sculler nodded.
"It came as a surprise to all of us. That the gem empire would suddenly be demilitarise thanks to Pink's offspring,"
"I'm sure it must have surprise the Court of White too," the Director smiled wryly.
She moved another piece. A white one, this time it took the place of a black knight.
"For millennia, the Serpentine have ruled over this planet behind the shadows. Countless civilisations rose and fell while the Serpentine ruled in the scenes behind. But nothing has ever been so exciting to the Serpentine empire, until these few reasons years. To think that every gem, including the Diamonds would come to this planet,"
Sculler raised her hand.
"I'm just curious. How come no action was ever taken to confront or at least make our presence here known to the gems on earth,"
The Director paused her game.
"Well, earth's military might isn't exactly up to date, or effective against gem technology. We are well far behind. Besides the emperor has taken great interest with the Diamond human hybrid. We were caution to stay back and observe the hybrid Steven's actions first. To see if he is a friend or foe. So far, he appears to have sided with Diamonds, hence our decision not to reveal ourselves. It would be very unfavourable for us to gain an enemy as powerful as a Diamond hybrid. But now we may soon have to change our approach," the Director said.
"And by that do you mean, we don't hide in the shadows anymore," Sculler said.
The Director nodded.
"Yes. And it's all thanks to General Moonstone. She may have held back the Empire for countless star years, thanks to her tenacity and tactics but she may have overplayed her hand this time round,"
"What do you mean by that?" Scully asked.
"Her action of attacking earth, will of course make Steven realise that not all gems are on his side. In this way, the Serpentine, or Sneople a term the earthlings like to use will be able to appear as the victim and not the enemy," the Director said.
"So we are going to reveal ourselves to Steven?" Sculler said.
"Yes. But strategically. The time is ripe to bring him to our side. He hasn't been more vulnerable. Ever since the Monster transformation incident, he has begun to doubt his gem heritage. Moonstones actions have I believe push him over the edge," the Director added.
"The Emperor will be pleased," Sculler said smiling.
"Yes, he will. Even now I have reports that Steven was involved in an incident that happened at a diner near the coast. When even the humans see him as an enemy, he will no longer have any place to turn except to us," the Director said. She moved her black queen across the board. It stopped in the middle of the board, toppling over the white king.
The Director stood up.
"Get as many agents as you can. It's time to go on that long overdue trip to Beach City," she said to Sculler.