Snippet Star 33
Tales of an (actual) Resistance 6
Genre: Humor/Drama/Adventure
Pairs: Undecided
Parody: Steven Universe/Ben 10 (Various minor crossovers)
AU-Type: Canon-esque (Possible Sequel to Possession of Pink, divergences are made)
Tags: Leo ends up in quite the predicament, Worldbuilding, Other alien species are introduced, Leo leads the resistance, FusionFall references
Note: This will be an AU, we're ignoring "Doug Out" onwards. With White Diamond using Earth as her entertainment, she'd ensure Earth would be left alone. I will acknowledge the Movie, however, but we're ignoring everything else.
-Hardships and Alliances Arc 1-
"Do you know why you stand in front of us today?" Molly asked.
Steven found himself and the Crystal Gems in the grand hall of the Resistance surrounded by the glares and scorn of members of said group. Pearl, in particular, could feel the seething anger towards her specifically.
"I want to atone for my mother's mistakes." Steven affirmed as Molly sighed rubbing her face.
"Ok, no. You shouldn't be atoning for anything. It is not fair for a child to be set to fix the sins of the parent. And I'm asking for my fellow members of the Resistance to cut the stares down." Molly said before addressing her fellow Resistance members. "I understand the hatred for Pearl, but Steven is innocent. Let us all remember that Pink is still body-jacking humans on Earth."
"I still don't this is a good idea." Hulka, a Magister, said speaking up. "To have a Diamond on our side would be a massive boon, but how can we trust the Pearl?"
On the sidelines, Leo and his team were watching this unfold as Pearl pointed out that the group let Spinel in.
"You're comparing yourself to a Gem that was abandoned for centuries, you insensitive twat." Scarlet snarled.
"Regardless. Steven, we can agree to this alliance and welcome all of you to the Resistance except for Pearl." Molly said as Pearl glared at her right back. "Sorry…this is simply out of security reasons. After all, Pink could force Pearl's hand to derail her plans."
"You can't be serious!" Pearl said before turning to Garnet.
"She does have a point. Pink's alive and it would be best not to exactly give you sensitive information as long as she is around." Garnet said with a sigh. "I hate to say it, but Pink makes you a liability."
It did not help that the other Crystal Gems agreed with Garnet.
"Of course, that doesn't mean you can't aid us. It just means you won't be in the thick of details. This is basically going to be the assumed standards for Pearl gems. Only when the master they are chained to is utter wiped from existence or a Pearl can fully break their programming…is when they can be trusted." Shar said firmly. "And we can't do the first one and you haven't done the second. Considering the lie you kept was an order from Pink herself."
Pearl kept silent as Molly cleared her throat.
"Moving on. Peridot, you and Bismuth are welcome to the tech division with Azmuth. Amethyst, we would like you to get proper training in combat and tactic with the cadets. Hulka will handle that. Garnet, you can join Amethyst if you desire. Steven, I leave you and Connie to serve as cadets under the Shatterpoint Squad." Molly said as Leo spat out his drink. "Leo, I want you to train them when you're on Earth. And lastly, Lapis, we have a special job for you."
"Oh, come on! You want us to whip those two into shape?" Spinel said crossing her arms.
"I'll do it." Leo said cracking his knuckles. "Oh, I'll gladly get those two combat ready."
"Wait, do we get uniforms and pay among our rank?" Connie asked.
"You will. Leo will be handling those matters." Molly said before dismissing the meeting.
Pearl was still seething as the CGs were on the Shatterstar (which the S-Squad lovingly called their first ship) being taken back to Earth.
"I can't believe this. They welcomed those conspiracy nuts, but they looked down at me like I was trash!" Pearl snarled.
"Those 'nuts' are my friends. And Gem Galaxy didn't work with a narcissistic fascist. Talk any more of them and I will possibly shove you in the fucking airlock!" Leo snarled right back.
The guys at the Gem Galaxy had their encounter with the Resistance yesterday and being accepted to them was a dream come true. New equipment and funding to up their operation making their group more akin to a vigilante group. Leo could say it went a lot better than with the Crystal Gems. Lapis got lucky to be tasked to help another group with rejuvenating barren planets to create sources for water.
"This suit is a bit tight, but this is awesome!" Connie said putting her Resistance Suit.
"They come with rocket boots, life support system, and so on. I'll modify Steven and yours when we get back to Earth." Leo remarked regain his kinder tone while glaring at Pearl.
"Regardless of how sour things went, thank you for fighting for us." Bismuth said as Leo had a thoughtful look.
Leo gave a thumbs up before checking the data once again before noticing something rather odd. Leo looked it over before keying a few commands on the computer before widening his eyes.
"Looks like we got company. A gem ship has been detected on Earth…and I'm getting a transmission from Gem Galaxy." Leo said before answering it.
Wayne's face appeared on-screen as the movie buff informed on them on the scenario and what intel they gathered to which Steven and Peridot looked down in shame once the explanation was given.
"So, they're going to collect the humans I listed and it's all my fault!" Steven said panicked.
"Steven, Peridot, can either of you recall the list of humans? According to the data, they're going after 'varieties' but I have a feeling this is a misnomer." Shar said.
"I listed my dad, Sadie, Lars, Onion, and the mailman…." Steven said as Wayne nodded.
"I can get into contact if you can give me a phone number…we need to get all of them into protective custody quickly." Wayne remarked.
"I can get you the mayor's number." Steven said getting his phone out.
"Make it a threeway call. We may as well do this right." Leo said taking Steven's phone before connecting it to the ship's computer.
Mayor Dewey was called, and the situation was explained tersely to which said mayor was already nervous.
"All you need to do is just make sure they're secure. We're on our way to hunt down and deal with the problem. You have my word as Captain of the Shatterpoint Squad." Leo affirmed.
Once the call was ending, Leo turned to Connie and Steven.
"Hand over the suits, I'll have to make the modifications now." Leo said cracking his knuckles. "Peridot, Shar, Bismuth, Scarlet. I'm going to need your assistance on modifications. Spinel, watch the ship with Shippo."
Leo went to work to modify what he could with the Resistance Suit. Namely, Steven's was changed to have a clear casing over his gemstone to allow usage of it. Both Steven and Connie got electrical taser functions on their suits along with a slight customization on the back bearing the Shatterpoint Squad's insignia; a cracked gunmetal gray diamond with blood seeping out of the cracks with a pair of green lightsabers as crossbones. Leo and Peridot also worked over a pair of plasma pistols to which the green gem's aid allowed for further modifications to them which got Connie the 'V-Charger Elites'.
"We're approaching Earth." Spinel announced.
Leo got on his trench-coat which sported his team's emblem on his back and Shar got on her Resistance Suit which was modified to a darker color with the emblem on her right shoulder. Scarlet went into her room to get on her armor. Despite what the CGs thought, her bodysuit was not something she shapeshifted into her body. She had just gotten into the habit of wearing clothes and just shapeshifting underwear under them. Scarlet shed the bodysuit to get on her new clothes that Leo had made. He had been working to get all of the team new outfits suit the theme the squad were going for.
"So, you want us all to be ninja? Let's see…hm, well that's cheeky." Scarlet said putting it on.
She now wore a black trench coat similar to Leo's with the emblem on the back and red lining on the cuffs. Underneath she wears a grey, kimono-style blouse with no sleeves, held closed by a broad, dark reddish-grey obi that matches her pants. While the blouse was closed low, it was mostly covered by the sleeveless armored top over the blouse. She also wore red combative boots before looking in the mirror.
"Now, I just need to change the hair." Scarlet thought before shapeshifting her hair to be straight.
She adjusted her pink locks to have a rather long ponytail with bangs framing her face's right side. She slipped on her black fingerless gloves and got her weapons ready. She still kept her Paralyzer, but also carried a new melee weapon. An 'Electron Meta Mace' Leo called it. She really grew to admire his attempts of taking fictional weapon concepts from his planet to bring to reality. She rejoined everyone else Leo was adjusting his 'Master Spiral Spreader' as Spinel shapeshifted clothes similar to Leo but a bit looser before donned her trench coat.
"You must really like the Matrix?" Connie remarked getting back her Resistance Suit. "When can we get one?"
"When you truly join the S-Squad which is unlikely given you probably want to say with the Crystal Gems." Leo remarked as the ship approached Earth. "Ok, everyone get ready!"
Shippo took over the ship landing it on Mask Island as the S-Squad all got familiar devices.
"Oh my gosh, are those scouters?!" Connie said starry-eyed.
"Yep. Based on the newest model, I suggested the design and concept to Azmuth. Thanks to recent boons, they can detect the energy signatures of different species…namely and most importantly Gems." Leo said confidently. "I and my squad can naturally sense energy, but the energy of Gems tends to be a bit difficult to pinpoint at our level."
Leo's had red lens, Shar's was green, Spinel's had a purple one, and Scarlet's was blue.
"Please tell me you have spares!" Peridot pleaded.
"I do have my prototypes, but in that case the-Hey!" Leo said as Peridot opened it up to find three green ones.
They were more or less based on the first-generation models, four of them looking rather basic compared to the new ones. Peridot shapeshifted her visor away to put on the scouter as Connie and Steven snatched one each.
"Oh man, this is so cool. I wonder if I'll be able to say the infamous line." Connie said as the ship opened up.
Leo activated his scouter having it scan out for Gems adjusting it for non-corrupt ones.
"Ok, I got three non-corrupt Gems detected. One on her own at 18,000 that's rather far away. And two gems with power levels of 10,000 and 2,000." Leo said firmly.
"One of them is probably Jasper. Focus on the other two." Peridot suggested.
"According to our readings." Shar said honing on the location. "They're in Beach City."
"Well, let's go." Connie said only for her to be stopped.
"No. Your power level is fairly low. Even then, if we all go after them…that will alert them." Scarlet said as Peridot scanned the Squad's power levels.
"Interesting…they all sport power levels far above the norm for organics and gems of that caliber. Still not par with those gems, but certainly above what this thing is showing for the Crystal Gems." Peridot thought.
"Wait, can we say it's over 9-" Steven said before Spinel told him to shut up.
Ultimately it was agreed that that Leo and Garnet would confront them while the rest put themselves towards protecting who was not captured.
-o-
The nighttime streets of Beach City were cold and quiet as Mayor Dewey had called a lockdown. Much to Leo, the Squad, and the Crystal Gem's ire, Jamie and Onion had been captured.
"This is Leo, report." Leo said into his scouter.
"This is Spinel, B-Team has Lars secured at his home."
"This is Shar, C-Team has Sadie secured over."
"This is Scarlet, D-Team has Jamie."
"This is Steven, I have my dad safe. Is it ok that he drives us closer to the barn? It's a bit far out of town…"
"Seeing that Pearl's with you, fine. Just report to the others when you arrive. Garnet and I are going in." Leo said clicking off the communication line. "Garnet, you ready?"
She gave a stiff nod as Leo sensed out ahead sensing ahead. He sensed two energy signatures in the amusement park, and he could bet big on the Gems being there as well.
[Cues: Metroid Fusion OST – Environmental Tension]
The two entered Funland quietly as Leo had his shattergun cocked and ready to fire. A brief wind blew paper and discarded kernels to the side as they moved deftly. Garnet following Leo's trialing of the energy signature before stopping. She grabbed and ducked behind a concession stand as his scouter alerted him to a near presence. He spied a small dwarfish Gem with a cherubic appearance and a bright cyan-blue complexion, navy blue eyes, no nose, and chin-length, cerulean-blue hair worn in a bobbed style. Her clothing vaguely resembles a prep school uniform, consisting of a blue vest worn over a dark blue dress with a white-collar, white wrist-length gloves, white knee-high socks, dark blue flat shoes, and a dark blue hair bow. Her teardrop-shaped gemstone is located beneath her left eye, and her water wings are similar to a butterfly's wings.
"Aquamarine. No doubt." Leo thought before looking to Garnet.
[Cues: Yell "Dead Cell" – Super Smash Bros. Remix]
"Garnet, stay hidden. I'll attack Aquamarine. Topaz will probably come out to defend her, once she does…you know what to do." Leo said in quiet tone before rolling away from Garnet as he took aim. "Now…smile for me, you pixie bitch."
BLAM! Aquamarine turned to get a face full of laser that send hurdling into the prizes of a booth. He fired a few rapid shots before rolling behind an obstruction to hide. Thank the stars, Gems cannot naturally or bothered to learn to sense energy. Aquamarine got out rightfully angry she was shot only to see no one around.
"I don't know who dared to strike me. Human or not, I promise you that you're going to be in a lot of pain." Aquamarine said before getting hit with a bag of chips.
She yanked off her hairbow revealing it to a wand before using it on the obstruction to which Leo had to scramble away from to not be seen.
"So, her weapon is that wand in her hair? A tractor beam that I need to get away from her." Leo said getting out several throwing stars.
Empowering them with ki, he threw them at her only for her to block them with her using the wand to raise the obstruction to block. Of course, his eyes went wide when it exploded blowing them back.
[Cues: Dragon Ball Z Supersonic Warriors 2 OST – Cutscene 3]
Aquamarine glared down at in the human.
"What are you? Are you 'my dad', 'Sadie', or a 'Lars'?" Aquamarine said crossing her arms.
"None of them, but I'm going to have to ask you to piss the hell off my planet!" Leo said icily as Aquamarine spied the symbol on the right shoulder of his trench coat.
"Wait…is that…the symbol of the Galactica Omnis?" Aquamarine said before laughing. "Those organic refuse still breathe."
"And you Gems continue to talk shit. The day of your reckoning is coming, twerp. I promise you this." Leo snarled.
Leo threw the gun at her which she caught with her wand as she continued to laugh at his 'futile' attempt and how weak humans were. Leo raised a finger…
[Cues: Bugseed – Spanish Flower]
And shot the wand right out of her hand with a finger blast much to Aquamarine's shock. He dashed ahead and jumped into the air reclaiming his gun.
"I got your weakness right…HERE!" Leo said swatting her out of the sky using the gun as a club.
She was swatted aside but regain her sense of control with her watery wings and as they raced for the wand.
"Topaz, I should use some help!" Aquamarine shouted.
Topaz, at the moment, was distracted with Garnet at the moment. As Aquamarine flew and Leo ran neck and neck, someone else took up the wand. Steven, who had rushed to the battlefield with Connie once his father was secured.
"Steven, don't let her get that wand!" Leo said.
"Way ahead of you!" Connie called out. "Steven, fuse with me."
With seamless effort, the two had become Stevonnie to which Leo had several questions. For one, their scouters had combined into a visor. Some of those other questions, he did not want answered as Stevonnie used her rocket boots to take off into the air. Pulling a flash step, he appeared in Aquamarine punching her into the ground before landing on the ground himself.
"Not so tough without your precious wand." Leo said readying to fight.
"Jokes on you, I can summon another one." Aquamarine said as Leo lunged firing an energy blast that she dodged.
Aquamarine, in reality, was bluffing. She could not summon another wand…she was not even sure she could naturally summon a weapon. But she was sure that the human would cower in fear, but he did not. He glared at her daring her to do it. Aquamarine glared back seething that the human was silently calling her bluff.
[Music Ends]
"You know how I know you're lying. If you could make another one, you wouldn't have run after it." Leo said returning his gun to its micro-capsule form to put it away.
"And you just put away your gun, you think you can take a superior species with your bare hands." Aquamarine said only to gasp as he floated up to match her in the air. "What? But…that's impossible. "Human's on average only have a battle potential of 100!"
[]
He tightened his fists smirking at her words.
"And you only have a power level of 2,000." Leo said as Aquamarine froze. "So, they were right…you idiots generalize power levels by grouping the species together. Well then, let me to show myself as the goddamn exception!"
His energy flawed around him as a reddish aura formed flared around him before he rushed forward slugging Aquamarine in the face narrowly missing her gem.
"Ok, so you can actually throw a punch." Aquamarine said rubbing her bruise. "But I'm still much stronger."
Aquamarine flew towards him throwing a punch at him only to hit air.
"What?!" Aquamarine said as he was behind her.
"Too slow!" Leo said using a chop to send her crashing onto the ground. "No wonder you needed that wand, you're pathetic without it."
"Topaz, where the stars are you?!" Aquamarine screeched as she saw Topaz was clashing with Garnet. "Oh, you got to be kidding me? I could use some help!"
Aquamarine kept berating Topaz leaving the pixie gem open to be beheaded by Dawnbreaker.
"For a classy gem, you're a dumb one, aren't you?" Leo said before Aquamarine poofed as her Gem hit the ground.
He floated down eyeing Topaz and Garnet. Onion and Jamie were battered but breathing.
"Topaz, I suggest you release the humans and surrender or else I shatter your boss." Leo said icily.
"You're bluffing!" Topaz claimed as Garnet looked alarmed.
"Leo, wait! There's no need to shatter her!" Garnet remarked as it seemed to affirm Topaz's thought of it being a bluff.
CRUNCH! Garnet's words did nothing to stop him shattering Aquamarine under his heel as he even grinded his boot into the dirt for extra cruelty as both Gems looked horrified.
"Topaz, I don't fucking bluff. I will not bluff with the likes of you and your Homeworld. And Garnet, don't fucking lecture me on what I did being wrong. This is war and those living rocks asked for it." Leo said stoically before activating his scouter's comm line. "This is Leo. Shatterpoint Squad, converge on the amusement park."
Topaz immediately released the humans in her panic and fled. Leo took chase only for Garnet to stop him.
"Leo, that's enough! The humans are freed and there's no further need to chase Topaz." Garnet said as Leo struggled.
"What? Does your future vision see that? Can we even be sure of that seeing you couldn't even sure Pink being Rose?" Leo said as Garnet shoved him back glaring at him. "Struck a nerve?"
Garnet did not respond instead shocking Leo in the jaw which sent him to the ground.
"Well consider that nerve touched." Leo thought as everyone else arrived.
"What happened oh fearless leader?" Spinel said with a teasing air.
"Mission was a partial success. The shattered remains of Aquamarine are still on my boot, and the kidnapped humans were saved. However, Garnet stopped me from going after Topaz." Leo said rubbing his face. "However…this could be an interesting chance. Topaz is afraid of being shattered…all the Crystal Gems have to do is 'convince' her that joining your side will keep her safe."
"Are you saying we manipulate her?!" Garnet said upset.
"I mean, logically, that's actually a good idea." Peridot said as Garnet looked at her. "Fear motivates someone to do something extreme. If Steven talks her like he did me and Lapis, maybe she could join our side."
"It's a bit scummy, but we need all the numbers we can get against Homeworld." Bismuth said crossing her arms.
"Steven, consider this your first mission as a part of the Resistance. Seek out Topaz and get her to your side. Do whatever it takes." Leo said as Steven and Connie unfused. "But I am going to have to take the scouters back. She's probably going to freak if she sees you with them."
"I don't like this." Garnet remarked.
"We are pretty much manipulating her." Bismuth said siding with her.
"Yeah, this plan kind of has Pink vibes." Amethyst said as Leo turned her glare at her.
"Might I remind you three that the alternative is having a Gem on the loose? There's still the matter of Aquamarine's ship! If she gets to it and esc…" Leo said as Garnet sweated a bit. "Garnet, you and your fucking future vision!"
"So, are we shattering this one too?" Spinel asked casually.
"To appease the Crystal Saints, no." Leo said sarcastically as he scanned for Topaz. "And I found her. Let's go!"
-o-
[Cues: Metroid Fusion OST – Tension Before a Confrontation]
Despite Topaz's power, she was not exactly an imposing figure. She felt bad for running, but she did not realize that human was not bluffing. She did not want to be shattered…she had too much to live for. She kept to the shadows despite the fact her bulky yellow body made her stick out in the darkness.
"I could go to the ship and leave this planet…but go where? The Diamonds will have me shattered for letting Aquamarine get shattered on top of failing the mission." Topaz thought. "But I can't stay here either. If the Resistance has fighters like him…I think…what was that noise?"
Topaz peered out to see another Gem just walking around whistling a tune. Topaz breathed a sigh of relief failing to notice Spinel was wearing a scouter. Topaz was about to move only for Spinel's fist to crash through what Topaz hid behind before grabbing her. Spinel yanked her through it and onto the ground. Topaz was restrained by the others as Leo walked up looking down at her.
"Now, Topaz. I suppose I was being a bit overtly cruel. But you must understand, we want to live, and your leaders want to wipe us all out. Seeing that you bolted instead of fighting me for shattering Aqua shows you clearly wanted to save your own skin. So, I'll give you three options. I could shatter you right here and now, you could surrender to the Resistance for interrogation, or you could join the Crystal Gems. Because if you intend to desert the Diamonds, you're going to be held accountable for being a part of it." Leo said calming down.
"Wait, I propose an idea. We could let her go if…she leads us to the ship they came in. The ship has to be valuable and have information." Steven suggested. "I…don't want to force to fight for us and with her leading us to the ship…we can assure she cannot try to leave the planet."
"I'm don't sure that's a good idea. How do we know she won't try to find Gem tech scattered across the planet?" Shar said warily.
"Look, I don't want to be shattered and I can't go back to Homeworld. I'll guide you to the ship, I promise." Topaz pleaded.
"Garnet…" Leo said looking at her. "Make sure you check your future vision and don't botch it."
"I understand you have a grudge, but there's no need to be rude." Pearl said crossing her arms.
"Considering her future vision has holes and proved to be unreliable, it's a bit justified." Leo snarked.
In the end, Topaz had led the group to the ship while the Shatterpoint Squad and Bismuth had their weapons aimed at her to which had the Gem sweat.
"Here's the ship." Topaz said as Peridot went ahead to secure the ship.
"I'll ensure to disable any communication lines with Homeworld. Once I finish that, you can let her go." Peridot said.
"By the way, what do we do with the ship?" Shar asked.
"The Crystal Gems can keep it. For one, they need a ship to get off-planet." Leo said as Peridot came out giving the thumbs up. "Well, then. Topaz, you're free to go."
[Music Ends]
Topaz practically ran as if the Diamonds were after her not realizing she could easily be tracked by the Shatterpoint Squad.
"You are going to keep your word and not hunt her down later, right?" Steven asked.
"I have no reason to go after her. We have the ship, the humans are safe, and the Gem that caused us the most issue is shattered." Leo affirmed. "So, unless Topaz causes trouble, she's safe for the moment."
"Shall we be heading back, fearless leader?" Spinel asked.
"Before that, I have something for you and Connie to do especially. I'll be entrusting Garnet with some books on the art of training with ki to get you two stronger. Now I want all of the Crystal Gems to take part, but I want you two to work extra hard considering you'll need to break your limits. Are you ready?" Leo said.
The two did not even have to say yes with words, their beaming grins were enough.
(A/N: And we'll shift focus back to the Squad for now. Basically, the Crystal Gems are going to be busy with training and Lapis is off-world with a group of Resistance members helping out barren and damaged worlds. I'm going to keep Lapis with group to develop. While I wanted to snark at Lapis, I couldn't really justify Leo doing that unlike with Pearl and Garnet. Now, there's the matter of power levels which I'm playing fast and loose with. They won't be too important as Leo knows they are not too reliable.)
[Side note: Chapter 19 had to be edited again.]