"No one was left who could remember how it happened. How the world had fallen under darkness. At least no one who would do anything." – Hope Rides Alone by The Protomen
The clock hit twelve. It was time for the public exterminations. The crowd gathered against their will to the Capital Building, where their supreme leader Professor Venomous had set up the prisoners set for execution. They were familiar faces to many: Ben Tennyson, Mung Dhal, and most importantly, Buttercup Utonium. The Professor raised his arm, and in turn the horrible machinations that keep the streets in fear raised their axes. He swiftly lowered his arm, and the first robot beheaded the first prisoner. The process repeated once more for Mung's execution.
However, he walked up to Buttercup, whose head lay trapped between the stocks. He bent down to her and whispered into her ear.
"I'll let you go if you tell me where Blossom is," he offered. It seemed like an enticing offer to the girl. Her life would be spared for the mere price of telling this man the whereabouts of her missing sister. However, she spat on the Professor's face. "This act of insolence will cost you greatly," he said before relinquishing control of an execution robot's axe to behead the young woman himself.
"Listen up everyone," he turned around to face the crowd, the bright crimson blood of the beheaded clashing with his unnatural lavender skin. "These deaths could have been avoided if they hadn't challenged my authority. Why is that everyone?"
"You have control. You keep us safe," droned the crowd. Venomous nodded in approval as he walked away, allowing the interspersed guard automatons guide the citizens of Cross City back to their homes and jobs.
Among the citizens to witness the executions was a young man by the name of Steven Universe. He had once lived in a quaint beachside town appropriately named Beach City. Unfortunately, during one of his adventures, he was mysteriously pulled into this strange, dystopian society, with no way back home. But that was years ago.
Steven always had a strong distaste for violence, even going as far as to forgive those who attempted to take his life. However, watching Venomous publicly execute his enemies with no remorse was something he could sit idly by and allow. On his way back to his home, he began quietly whispering a song he once heard.
"They say, this city, she's been dead for years now…" he sang as he reached the doorstep of his apartment complex. He walked up the stairs to his unit, and quickly shut the door. "I just wish there was something I could do," he told himself. But it was useless. He was just one man. Without the Crystal Gems, Steven wouldn't stand a chance against the countless Boxmore-brand robots that traverse the streets of the city. Steven recalled the times with his friends and family to take his mind off the recent execution. He remembered Connie, Amethyst, Garnet, Pearl, his father, and all the others.
"One day I will return to you," Steven promised to himself, "Someday, I will make things right." He wanted to believe his words, but after being trapped here for years, he was beginning to lose hope.
"Those are some big words coming from you, Steven," a young girl sat upon Steven's open window. Her name was Star Butterfly: the Princess of the Fallen Kingdom.
"Venomous is just too powerful," Steven remarked to his friend and roommate. "We may have magic, but there are just too many robots."
"Yeah," Star said as she turned away from Steven and remembered her troubles. Those robots took everything from her. They killed her friends, her parents, her home, and they killed Marco. She began to cry as Steven walked up and pulled her in from the window. He placed a hand on her shoulder, and she responded by placing her own hand on Steven's. They both smiled.
"We're gonna be okay Star," said Steven, "We're gonna make things right." They both got up, and went outside to clear their heads.
The streets were ripe with the stench of blood; the guards nowhere to be seen. It was the perfect opportunity to run through the streets like children, laughing and playing while the watchful eyes of Venomous' robots weren't upon them. Unfortunately, their gallivanting soon came to an end when a swarm of robots surrounded them, each machine ready to kill. Star readied her wand, while Steven withdrew his shield.
Steven threw his shield like a boomerang, hoping to hit all of the automatons at once. Star's wand glowed before she even began to speak.
"Narwhal Blast!" she yelled before the wand stopped glowing. This was a problem for Star. Meanwhile, Steven's Shield had missed most of the robots, only managing to behead one before fizzing out. The remaining guards drew closer to the two, ready to capture them for their acts of rebellion.
Out of nowhere, a blue energy burst hit one of the guards, causing it to explode. The process repeated for the remaining robots until they were all defeated. Star and Steven brushed themselves off, and Star pocketed her wand. From the direction of the projectiles was a young boy, who looked anywhere from six to eleven years old. He walked toward the two.
"Oh gosh," he said rubbing the back of his head, "I'm sorry. I hope I didn't hit either of you."
"No, we're fine," replied Star. "What's your name?"
"My name is K.O!" the young boy replied gleefully, seeming almost unaware of the horrors that abound in the streets of the city. "What's your name?"
"I'm Star Butterfly, and that's Steven Universe."
"It's nice to meet you!"
"Likewise," said Steven, who had a grown a smile after watching K.O. be cute for a minute or two. "Were you the one who destroyed those robots?"
"Yep! Back home my friends and I fought robots all the time, and they're the same as they were back home too."
"Back home? Are you not from here?"
"No, but I feel like I've been here before…" K.O. lamented before walking closer to Star and Steven. "And I don't have anywhere to stay. Can I stay with you?"
"I suppose," said Star, "but you'll have to sleep on the couch."
"Star!" yelled Steven.
"Fine, he can sleep in your room. You can sleep on the couch."
"I guess… that works," said a defeated Steven as they all walked back to the apartment. Star walked next to Steven.
"Why were our weapons not working?" asked Star.
"I'm not quite sure," responded Steven. He looked at K.O, who was playfully oblivious to the conversation, "And why do I feel like there's more to this kid than he's letting on?"
"I'd say it's all in your imagination, but he does kind of seem like an enigma," said Star.
Who was this child? Why did Star and Steven take him in? Why are their weapons broken? Is K.O. the key to the fall of Venomous' society? Will this story continue? These questions and more may never be answered...