Connie put on her Dad's coat. This was a big day for her. Her first mission into space. She was nervous but excited. She grabbed Rose's sword and ran out the door. Her Dad drove her to the temple. They were greeted by the sight of a dozen or so government men running around. The beach was lettered with vans, tables and tents full of equipment. Connie felt a ping of resentment. She missed it when it was just her and Mr. Universe were the only humans to help out the gems. Her parents were thrilled of course. Having armed guards and and "experts" around made them feel safe. Like there is any who know more about the gems than her.
"Connie!" Steven's voice broke out over the crowd. He ran over and grabbed Connie in a hug. She felt the blood rush to her face. 'Not in front of Dad, not in front of Dad' run through her mind. Steven put her down and the two made their way over to Lion. Douglas was examining the pink feline, while as best as one could to a standoffish carnivore.
"Connie, Mr. Maheswaran," He greeted the two of them. Despite her distrust of these new intruders, Connie couldn't help but find herself liking the gruff, but nice man. He shook her father's hand and exchanged pleasantries. Dad wished her luck before he left.
Douglas ushered Steven, Connie, and the Gems into a tent. There were five other humans. Corey Williams, an African-American Sergeant, a geologist from Aquamexico named Alicia Basil, the astrophysicist from Kansas, Jessica Pepper, and two guards Michael Paprika, and Steve Nutmeg. Steven was always happy to met a new Steve.
Douglas began to explain. "The plan is for Steven, Connie, and five agents will enter Lion's mane and exit through Mr. Barriga's hair. You will deliver a package to Mr. Bariga from his family and loved ones. You will then establish contact with the Homeworld outlaws, the Rutile twins, Padparadscha, Fluorite, and Rhodonite. You we then explore the enemy territory. Make a map of area. This is a stealth mission to establish contact and for fact finding. You must not let the enemy know your prencence. Do not engage the enemy."
Connie and the guards suited up in SCUBA gear since the area in Lion's mane didn't have air. Steven politely declined. "I can just hold my breath." The team entered Lion. The walked through the strange grass, passing Rose's island and walked over to the smaller tree that signaled where the enter to Lars was. Steven hoped out of Lars head. But he was not greeted to the kindergarden that Lars and the other off-colors were taking refuge in. Steven found himself on the deck of a spaceship. The off colors were at computer consoles, expect for Fluorite. Lars himself looked different. Gone were the t-shirt and jeans. He was now wearing an uniform complete with a long flowing cape with a heavy collor.
"Steven what the heck are you-" Connie and the others followed. "Why are army guys jumping out of my head?"
"We came to check up on you," Steven sheepily said. "How did you get a spaceship? Where did you get the clothes?"
"Stole 'em," Lars smirked. "Since there was no way for me to get home from my hair, I decided to find my own way home. I believe you know my crew." The gems waved at Steven. "So, how are these guys?"
Steven introduced them to Sgt. Williams and his team. "And this is Connie. We brought some things from your parents," he said, handing the package to Lars. Lars opened it, pulling out skinny jeans and skull gages. "They didn't have to do this. I'd be home soon," Lars said putting in the gages.
"Her name is Connie," Padparadscha replied, referring to Connie's introduction a few moment ago.
"Son, we came to take a survey of enemy territory. That's doesn't appears to be a option anymore," William remarked.
"Sorry to ruin your plan major."
"Best laid plans. And it's Sergeant."
"Easy for you to say," the Basil snipped.
The ship lurched as alarms rang loudly. "Caption Lars, Emerald found us!" Rhodonite shouted.
Garnet wasn't happy. All these government people on the beach. The Crystal Gems always kept human nations at arms length. The humans lived such short lives, resulting in the changing of their government at their laws must too fast for Garnet to keep track of. Boarders grew and shrank in a matter of centuries, sometimes less. The worst part was that humans were always at war with each other for one reason or another. That Garnet couldn't condemn them for that. Gems were no better in that regard. But the idea of humans getting their hands on Gem technology, and using that in their wars. That scared Garnet.
She blamed herself for the Crystal gems current predicament. She had no idea that Steven would give himself up to Aquamarnie. Nor could she predict that the donut boy would die and Steven would bring him back to life and create a portal in his hair and come out of lion. Garnet really should have seen that coming. Her future vision wasn't working properly.
The pizza grandma was arguing with Agent Douglas. Garnet felt a ping of appreciation for the new mayor. She was a fierce little thing, much better suited to mayoring Beach City than the other man. Their conversation ended. Douglas walked toward Garnet. "I miss Dewey. No talk back. No questions. Just a flash of the badge and meek acceptance." The two walked together.
"We all have to deal with changes we rather not," Garnet stated.
Douglas stopped and looked at Garnet. "We are not your enemy."
Douglas felt Garnet's stare, even through the glasses. "For now." And with that, she left for the temple.
A new Gem appeared on screen. Well, new to Steven. Lars seemed to know the Gem perfectly fine. "Emerald, this is . What can I do for you?"
Emerald gnashed her teeth. She began a tirade against Lars and all the stuff he had done. "I've had enough of you off-colors!"
Emerald fired at the little ship. It rocked under the power of the blast.
"Caption Lars! Our nova thrusters are down!."
"Prepare the Star Skipper!"
"Uhm, what's that?" Pepper asked.
"That the flyer I made. Excuse me. I have a ship to save."
William stopped Lars. "Oh there kid. There is no way we are letting a kid go fight. Nutmeg get ready."
"Sir, we were ordered to avoid combat."
"The situation has changed private!"
"Where'd the boy and the girl go?" Basil noticed.
Meanwhile, Steven and Connie found the something whatever. They fused into Stevonnie. They got into the Star Skipper and took off.
Lars called. "What are you doing?"
"Uhm saving the day?"
The sergeant butt in. "Universe! Mashwon! Return to the ship this insent!"
Emerald began to open fire. Stevonnie flip over some missiles and fired at their cannons. Cannon one, cannon two, cannon three. As they reached the last canon, Stevonnie felt the back engine explore. They were falling… falling…
Land. What do we do. Survie. Creatures. Cute. Protein. A tower. Goodnight… me. Dreams. Connie's house. My house. Mom. Yellow Diamond. I'm a diamond too! Than start acting like it! A reflection.
Stevonnie awoke with a start. The others found them. Basil took a few samples of dirt, while Pepper took pictures of the sky. She looked at the broken planet the moon was orbiting. There were cracks deep in the planet, like a glass ball that had been dropped. She swore under her breath. "Is this what they wanted to do with Earth?"
"No. Complete colonies look very different. Something happened here." Stevonnie answered.
After everything was set. The troop got into Lars' head, some with more difficulty than others, and returned to Earth.
"So the mission was a failure," Williams confessed to Douglas.
"I wouldn't say that. Mr. Lars is on his way home with a piece of state of the art Homeworld technology, we discovered no gem alien life on that moon, charted some unknown space. Washington is very happy."
William frowned. "How are the kids?"
"There tougher than they look, but they never should have out there." That said, the two seemed to be hiding something Douglas thought. But what?