"We are here," Black Pearl said, as she led the Crystal gems into a undisclosed room which had taking many underground floors to arrive in.
"This place is huge. How big is it?" Amethyst asked.
"Big enough to hide secrets that we want to hide," Black Pearl explained.
The room they had entered appeared to be like a museum of sorts. Strange ancient artefacts were held in display units all over the room. They looked ancient, and yet some looked very technological advance.
"Is this some sort of Gem tech?" Pearl asked observing a strange floating item that looked like a crystal in the shape of a huge snake scale.
"Close but not really. This belongs to our host," Black Pearl replied.
"Our host? You mean the humans?" Garnet asked.
Prof Nyx shook her head.
"Humans are too primitive to have such tech," she explained.
"Yes, and they are too primitive to even rule themselves," a sudden voice that came from the darken corner of the room said.
The gems turned in a defensive stance at the source of the voice. It didn't sound like a gem or human.
From the shadows came a tall humanoid creature that was grey in colour. Instead of a human or gem head, it had something like that of a large snake.
"What is that thing!" Pearl said pulling out her sword.
Prof Nyx walked over to the creatures side.
"How rude of you to threaten our host on our first meeting," she said.
"What do you mean host?" Garnet said questioningly.
The strange creature came into the dim light. The gems noticed that in the light, he wore a black business suit, just like the agents.
He also didn't looked like just some terrifying humanoid snake, but had something of an intelligent and elegant demeanour about him.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Rattler of the Serpentine. Or as the humans in beach city call us, the Sneople," he said.
"Sneople? I thought that Ronaldo kid was making thing up?" Amethyst said.
"I assure you he was not. In fact he was the most perceptive among you all," Rattler said.
"But if you are the Sneople that is it true that you actually rule the world?" Amethyst asked.
"Yes in a way. But from the Shadows. We don't rule outright. But as you can see, we have been doing it quite well. Human society has in a way advanced," he said.
"Not really. There are still wars and so many thing wrong with the world," Garnet said.
"Blame it on the species not it's rulers," Rattler said.
"Are you their leader?" Garnet asked hesitantly.
"No, no. Of course not. That would be Emperor Diamondback," Rattler said.
"Is he here?" Pearl asked.
"No. Why would he want to stay in this backwater planet. This is one of the many colonies the Sneople rule over," he explained.
He walked over to the artefacts around him. "We've been here for quite sometime. Ancient humans civilisations were ruled by us in a way for some time,"
"That can't be true? We've been on this planet thousands of years and we've never heard about your kind," Pearl said.
Ratter pointed to the artefacts around him.
"See for yourself. Our kind have always been there. Nagas, Lamias, Gorgons, Medusas, Hydras, and so on. Every earth culture has at least a small mention of us. These artefacts record the stories," he explained.
"But then how come we never met any of you when we were on earth. We were here thousands of years," Garnet said.
"Because we are wary of your kind. We can hide and reveal ourselves to anyone whom we choose. After all, your kind has been a threat to us," he said.
Garnet looked at Prof Nyx.
"But you worked with gems," she said.
"Not any gems, but Black gems. Those who were from Black Diamond's court," Rattler replied.
"Black Diamond? No such Diamond ever existed," Pearl said.
"That is what White Diamond wants you to believe," Nyx said.
"How do we know you are not some off coloured gem," Amethyst said suspiciously.
Nyx gave a deep chuckle.
"The court of black has abilities that other gems don't have. I may demonstrate them in due time but only if circumstance permits. After all I am not sure I can trust you, Crystal Gems," she said.
She paused.
"But know this. While White creates, Black returns everything back to Oblivion,"
The Crystal Gems looked uneasily at one another.
"Anyway, this isn't why you were brought here," Rattler interrupted.
"We wouldn't have revealed ourselves to you if it wasn't for the invasion happening," he said.
"You mean the Homeworld invasion?" Garnet said sombrely.
"Yes. That invasion. It's come to our attention now that it actually affects the whole world and no longer just Beach City," he said.
"Oh so you do know about the happenings in Beach City," Pearl said.
"Yes. Of course. Why do you think the military was never involved when the activities there were supposedly able to threaten the planet. We never really saw any incident worth any action," Rattler said.
"Wait. So not Lapis, Spinel, or even the Cluster ever bothered you?" Pearl said in disbelief.
Rattler shrugged.
"Yes. Believe me, we've dealt with cluster size treats in other colonies. But this one we stayed out,"
"Why?" Pearl asked.
"Because of Steven," Rattler said.
Garnet pulled down her visor.
"Why are you so interested with him," she said about to arm up.
"He is a hybrid. And not just any normal hybrid. He is a Diamond hybrid. The second of his kind," Rattler said.
"Wait second of his kind?!" Amethyst said in disbelief.
"Yes. The second Diamond Hybrid. The first is the emperor," Nyx said.
"He has so much potential. Hybrids are always much more stronger than pure gems. He defeating White in battle is a testimony to that," she added.
"Steven isn't a weapon. And you aren't going to use him as one to fight these gems," Garnet said.
"Well that is not your call," Rattler said.
Pearl pulled out her sword.
"We've fought of Diamonds. What makes you think you scare us,"
Rattler chuckled.
"I wasn't threatening you. I was stating the facts. It's not your call to decide whether Steven fights this battle or not,"
The wall behind him began to rumble, and then began to split open.
The crystal gems gasped as a glowing pink figure stepped out from behind it. He was much larger and more muscular than the gems had last seen him as.
"As Rattler explained it's mine call to make," Steven Universe said.