Warping into the front hall of the archive was followed with a lot of surprising gems saying their compliments to their radiant diamond presence. All gems briefly stopping what they were doing to look at a diamond so close to them. Pearl stepped in front of her diamond and striking a pose she called out to the lobby full of gems.
"Greet the shining, radiant, vibrant, dazzling, spirited, dashing Pink diamond. " Her voice was strong and loud so even the gems in the back could hear and be aware a diamond was present. The saluting and praising went over without a hitch. Pink and she managed to finally step off the warp pad and then there she was, Charoite stepped forward. Pearl moved to the side. Her diamond stepping in front of her like it was supposed to be. Never to spare a glance at her pearl. Exactly as it should be... Pearl took the proper pose, head tilted down. Still, Pearls eyes were unable to stay downcast, instead, they peeked up and searched the crowd in an attempt to spot her.
Was it enough time to for the Purple Pearl to reform?
She knew that soldiers vary in their recharging time. Some were faster than others. Yet, she didn't know about pearls... maybe... Pearl felt the begging of an idea forming in her head. Her diamond didn't ask her to get ideas... Yet.
Yes, yet.
Order.
Yes, there has to be an order of completing her tasks. First, she followed behind her diamond and Charoite, who was beaming at the prospect of having a diamond in her archive. She was way too distracted with the presence of Pink, to actually get to the point they were here for. Pearl stepped closer, a step in front of Pink, bowing deeply as she spoke. Her voice was carrying a sweet melodic tone to it. Pleasing to be heard.
"My diamond wished to personally look over the gem line creation submitted by the other diamonds. My diamonds schedule is quite full." The proud gem gave her a glance, there was a brief sense of something, a twitch or was it curiosity...or terror. Pearl wasn't sure, but she was sure that she had to get to the ground of it, for Renegade's sake.
Pink spoke up after hearing Pearl claim. "Right. Always so busy, always something to do. Not a moment of bored here. Nope. Not a single moment of boredom." The diamond waved her hands, letting out a mocking laugh out.
"Forgive me for wasting your precious time!" Charoite made a bow that was even deeper than that of Pearl. It was... oddly satisfactory to Pearl to see it. As satisfactory as completing a task of cleaning a room to perfection. Finally, they were lead to where they wanted to go.
Pear followed after Pink when they were lead to the data bank where an operator was already summoning the data on the screens. Her diamond took the screen in her hand. Eyes wandering over the words.
"Thank you very much." She hummed, the operator gem eyes growing big and her fingers becoming momentarily shaky.
"Thank you, your radiant shining Pink diamond." Responded the operator gem barely stopping her shaking from nervousness. Pink eyes stayed on the screen, Pearl wondered if Pink Diamond did that because she didn't notice it or because she tried to help the poor gem to not be as nervous. The Charoite bowed once more, and Pink clapped, the purple gem going on her way back to the office.
Now.
Yes.
Now.
"My diamond, may I do some smaller preparations?" Pink looked at her with unsure eyes. Pearl blinked.
"It will only last several moments," Pearl added, and the shadow in Pink DIamonds eyes vanished. No longer unsure. Her diamond smiled giving a stern nod. "Do not let me wait for long Pearl." Her voice a warning, the operator gem fingers becoming shaky again, this time for a different reason. Fear.
Fear of failing. Fear of shattering.
Pearl didn't felt any of those fears. "Yes, my diamond."
She was a capable pearl.
She will not disappoint, not any more now that she knew what she had to do.
She had to do this, to ensure the future of the ...story? Somehow it felt bigger than a story... Later. She can wonder about that later. The real danger didn't come from her diamond, but the others. Pearl knew in every photon of her light body that Renegade had to stay undiscovered by the other diamonds. She chimed on the office door of the Charoite. The door sliding open. Pearl could see the purple pearl inside, moving away from the door to return to stand beside her master.
"Pink di-" Charoite began to realise it was just her a pearl.
"Pink diamond send me in her name." Pearl cut the greeting short. The Charoite dropped her salute.
"Its more time efficient this way," Pearl added watching as Charoite, nodded, sitting back down. Something she would have never done if the diamond herself was here. Pearl eyes briefly wandered to the Purple Pearl. Her gem on the outside of her hand gently reflecting the light of the room. Undamaged.
"My diamond wants to ask you a few things and depending on your answers make a very special request." Charoite nodded once more, patiently waiting to be asked.
"Go on. I am listening." She was cool, confident, a gem radiating wisdom. Pearl waited for another second. She made a plan. Pearl still felt an odd doubt raise in her that what she is doing was doomed to fail. If the gem sees through her act ... all will end.
"Are you loyal?" Pearl said simply jumping into it all. Hesitation will not bring anything. Her smile never wavering. Never showcasing the small storm building up in her. The absolute horror on the Charoite face was fascinating. Questioning a gem loyalty was unheard of. The purple gem jumped up from her chair, back to standing, words flying out her lips in a bombardment of confirmation. Yes, she was very loyal.
Pearl instead of paying attention to it any more, moved her head to look directly at the still standing Purple Pearl.
"And you? Are you loyal?" Pearl watched as the Purple Pearl looked complete at the lost. She was unable to outer a word. Her eyes searching the room, briefly wandering off to the side. Yet she didn't look at her master, neither did the master look at her own pearl. The Pearl beside the archive leader was thinking of the answer. That made Pearl feel so much joy. The Purple Pearl settled on a slow nod. Cautious. Open for interpretation. Her master stopping her word blabbering. Observing Pearl who asked them. Pearl could feel the higher rank gem look her over. Her posture was a perfect Pearl posture. Nothing of the Renegade was shown.
Still...
That was the danger.
"You are both to report directly to Pink diamond and only her in the matters of her interests. " They both nodded. "All information and reports are to be forwarded to her personal pearl, me. So I can bring it to her attention at the appropriate moment. The information of the reports is to be restricted for only PInk diamond eyes and her personal pearl, meaning me. This is a matter of the well being of gem kind." Well... the well being of one gem... maybe two, if she gets really greedy. Both gems stared at her, while Pearl kept her polite smile. There was something Pearl recognised as pride and self-importance flashing in Charoite eyes. Pearl was sure she made it tempting enough for the archive leader gem to be simply unable to say no.
"This order " Pearl continued feeling her doubt changing in excitement." is to affect any report or information regarding" Now it comes. " the Renegade pearl. " The Charoite took in a loud breath, her pearl slowly blinked, her hands moving to her lips. Hiding her mount. Pearl continued. Pride at how nicely she worded this.
"In the future Pink Diamond may add more subjects of interest that may be treated in the same way. " The Purple Pearl eyes wandered from her to her master and back to her. Pearl continued all the same. " Pink Diamond as well demands the information on this topic to not be stored in the Archive, until she says otherwise. "
There done.
Renegade will be protected.
"This order is not transferable to any other gem. Any question?"
The Purple pearl will not be in danger of being replaced.
Pearl was happy with herself. She can return to Pink now.
Except.
The archive leader moved around her desk to stand in front of her. The awe and shine in her eyes have ebbed away. Was the order too good to be true?
"How does the Diamond know about it?" It. The Renegade Pearl was the 'it'. Charoite hand was about to touch Pear shoulder, the closeness of the gem hand was odd. Charoite didn't touch, but looking at the purple eyes, Pearl felt like the archive leader was trying to get into her very mind.
"Oh... " Pearl was not counting on being questioned. She counted that coming with direct diamonds order would yield complete obedience, without question. Charoite is a stone known for great insight. Respond. Only a second has passed as Pearl was talking again. "She... she is a diamond do you question her wisdom?" Pearl responded with confidence and warning, as she stepped back away from the purple gem. The doubt was now back, and stronger than ever. Has she given herself away by trying to make something for the future?
"No of course not, it just... how could she have known about it?" The Charoite spoke her voice getting an edge of fear to it. Right questioning a diamond is a shattering offence.
"About what?" Pearl contrasted, searching familiarity and strength in the proper Pearl pose she took. An unshaken pose. Her fingers twitched, longing for a sword.
Charoite raised her hand to cover her lips. Again searching Pearl stance for something. Pearl broke the silent moment.
"Well. Know about what? Do you have a report to give for a Pink Diamond to her personal pear now?" Pearl asked again keeping her tone as polite as she could, facing the purple gem eyes briefly before lowering them like a servant knowing its not their place to demand.
"My Pearl, I order you to tell to it," Charoite spoke without turning to her Purple Pearl. Pearl raised her head turning to face the side where Purple Pearl was standing. Only to be faced with the Renegade... a projection of Renegade tinted purple. She looked a lot sharper, a lot more fearsome.
"This... gem. Had poofed me. A few cycles ago." She spoke with great care. Careful.
"This defective Pearl went into the data banks and has stolen information... The data banks did not record who accessed them. We don't know how she managed to erase her presence, but we do know what she accessed. We were in the mids of investigating all that was taken when the radiant Pink Diamond arrived."
Pearl resisted correcting the gem that she was not defective. It was fine. She knew Renegade was not defective, that was enough. Pearl nodded.
"In such a situation, I am supposed to talk to your Pearl, alone."
Without a word, the higher ranked gem simply walked out of the room. Pearl briefly awaited her to say something or give her a look or anything really. Nothing. She had to have her reasons. Her doubt started to ebb away again. Maybe it did work to hide Renegade away. Now she stood with the Purple Pearl alone in the archive leader room.
"How ... are you doing?" Pearl spoke softly.
"..." The Purple pearl didn't move, neither responded, till Pearl tilted her head to look at her downcast eyes.
"Its what my diamond wish to know," Pearl said shifting her position slightly to a more relaxed pose. One that was fine when only things were in a room.
"My function as a pearl was not compromised. I can still serve my Charoite."Pearl watched as Purple Pearl took a breath in, after complimenting for a moment she as well added. "I can still serve Pink Diamond." Purple Pearl looked up, meeting Pearls eyes.
Pearl blinked slowly. "...Were you... in pain?"
Why is she asking this?
Because she had to know. She did it. She had to know, to know what she did.
"..."
The Purple Pearl stayed silent. That didn't help Pearl. She clarified.
"When she poof you?" Why is she insisting to hear it? She stabbed a knife in her. It must have hurt. Like getting an axe in her back. Probably worse as the knife poofed the gem while the axe did not poof her.
"It was fast, the pain didn't even register from how surprised I was." Too fast. Too fast to suffer from the pain.
Fast helped, to avoid the pain… So if she always aims to poof gems fast will it….
Why?
She was a Pearl, why was she planning how to poof gems to let them suffer the least…
"Surprised she hurt you?"Pearl asked trying to use the question to help herself focus just as much as to learn more.
"No..."
Pearl looked at the Purple Pearl, she no longer held the right posture. Her hands covering her chest, with her gem hand hidden under her other hand.
"..."
Once more she was staying silent.
"What was too surprising?" Pearl questioned.
"A pearl using a weapon." Purple fingers twitched, nothing else moved. She was perfectly still. Pearl breather in and out slowly. What does that mean? It didn't sound like Purple Pearl was not hating the Renegade. As if the Purple Pearl didn't mind getting hurt, but what made her be off was that Renegade used weapons?
Pearl longed for the silence of the kindergarten.
She wished to think.
"Pink Diamond thanks you." She had to return to Pink. Maybe then she will get to think about whys. Pearl turned away, she made one step before the Purple pearl whispered something Pearl didn't hear clearly.
"What did you say?" Pearl asked never wavering in her polite tone.
"What will... happen to... it?"
Now it was Pearl turn to not move. Purple Pearl took another audible breath before she asked once more.
"What will happen to the Renegade Pearl once it is caught?" Fear.
Fear for the renegade?
What?
Pearl blinked slowly.
"...It will be Pinks Diamond decision." Pearl couldn't stop the polite smile changing to an honest one. This other Pearl cared for Renegade…It didn't make any sensible sense to Pearl... Yet... Pearl felt a bit of warmth inside her own chest. Of course, Purple Pearl will not do anything to help Renegade but… she asked for her fate her voice not holding anger for being hurt by that gem... The soft steps approached her. Purple Pearl could see her honest smile. The one she couldn't guard away.
Pearl cared for the Renegade Pearl too.
If she ever gets caught it will be Pink decision as she would be the only other gem who knows Renegade as well as Pearl herself knows her.
"...I see." The Purple Pearl said and Pearl swiftly turned to fully face her. Maybe too swiftly as the Purple Pearls hands went back to cover her chest the very spot she stabbed her. Pearl forced herself to look at it. This will be what she will be doing for Pink. For her happiness. For that smile. This had to be something she can exist with.
Live with.
What lines will not be crossed?
Clarity.
She could.
She felt clarity settle in her mind. She will hurt gems, poof them. Renegade will be hated... Renegade will be loved in the shadows. Yet this Purple pearl the victim of Renegade was more fascinated with the idea of a Pearl fighting, than the pain itself.
But what lines…?
"The Diamonds judgment is just." Purple Pearl said breathlessly.
"Was it the first time you were poof?" Pearl shot back, not answering the Surface Pearl inquire. Not, yet at least. The other pearl shook her it was not the first time.
"...But it was a lot faster than a blunt object was." Purple Pearl explained, finally relaxing.
"Pink Diamond would want you to include it in the reports you pass to me if you get poof by another gem again, even if not by Renegade Pearl," Pearl spoke without sparing a single thought on what she just said. It felt so right to say it. An apology from Pearl, without saying sorry.
"...Pink Diamond is so radiant and wonderfully merciful." Purple Pearl saluted deeply.
Include in the report if your master or any gem is not living up to be worthy of that mercy.
"Include in the report if your master or any gem is not living up to be worthy of that mercy." An apology from the Renegade, without ever saying sorry.
Amazement. Gratitude. The Purple Pearl bowed in front of her again. Whispering that she was not worth such attention. Thanking her Diamond for how beautiful she was.
"Don't tell, don't disappoint." Pearl left without another word, passing Charoite who was leaning on the wall opposite her office door. Pearl saluted and moved on. Her step fast and precise. A blur later, she found herself standing by Pink side. She felt exhausted.