Lost In The Sauce

"WHAT THE FU-" Jasper had barely been able to put a hand over his mouth. Unlike her, she didn't need to breathe but he and Steven needed too. Unfortunately, she didn't stop him from talking and Shadow was grabbing at his throat for air. Being in this place, he couldn't breathe!

Luckily their guide had done this many times before and gestured to Shadow to just stick his head through the pink field to be in the apartment again. At least his head. Amethyst was in the kitchen making a large sandwich that he knew she would devour in one gulp. He wanted to ask for a bite before a pair of hands grabbed him by the shoulders and yanked him in, not before taking a big gulp of air. This time he was able to take in his new settings. Pink clouds, a large pink field that swayed with a wind that smelled oddly of roses. Two hills apart from each other had a tree atop them. One with a chest and some other things and the other barren. Steven and Jasper were headed to the barren one.

This place had a familiar vibe to it. At the theatre when he was shot he was in a place like this, just a little bit different though. Then again in a dream and a few other times. He wanted to think that maybe there was a connection with his own field and this one but he came up empty. In the theatre, Shadow was dying and definitely was not in some pink lion. Shadow took to long getting to the others and his lungs started to burn for air. When Steve noticed his face turning red he pointed hurriedly to the field next to the other hill.

Shadow closed his eyes when he dove the first thing he felt was his face smashing the floor. Before he could get up two more people came landing on top of him. His eyes were practically popping out of his head from the weight.

Connie put a hand over her mouth. "Sorry, Shadow we didn't mean to."

There was a startled gasp followed by a loud thud. He could only guess it was Jasper. Shadow picked himself up from the lime colored floor.

"Steven?" A familiar voice called in complete surprise.

In a chair like some king was Lars. Not like the Lars Shadow had last seen on Homeworld this one was different. A scar ran through his right eye, his skin was all pink like Big League Chew. Is he… Captain Harlock? Shadow thought his new attire looked familiar. This was a whole new Lars, he didn't look like the coward boy that almost got them killed.

A loud voice made them jump. "I've got you now you filthy off colors!"

Jasper growled when she saw the face of the green gem on the screen. "Emerald." She said the name between gritted teeth.

Lars stood on his feet and with one hand on his hip and the other pointing towards her he yelled, "You'll never take us alive!"

Shadow would have started clapping for the dramatics if the gem didn't start going off about how the rebel gems kept rambling about their crimes the off colors committed throughout space. Emerald started threatening them.

"I'll get you… I'll get you myself. Even if it means I have to wait a thousand years I will get you and have my ship back. No one steals my Sun Incinerator and my Nova Thrusters and lives!"

Lars just laughs and sits back in his chair, he spread out to gesture to all of the companions. "I have to say Emerald was very much still alive."

Shadow had just noticed the other gems, Lars of the star's crew.

Fluorite, a large caterpillar-like gem rose up from the stairs. When she spoke of the engine her voice was slow and methodical, as if her other gems were all trying to speak at the same time. It was almost as if all the gems in her were trying to speak at once. Or maybe she just had an old wise tune about her he didn't understand.

Rhodonite had a scared raspy voice when she spoke to him. "Mister- Sir ummm…" she was twiddling her thumbs on her many arms, the look in his eye scared her.

"Oh I predict that Steven and his friends will be coming to see us." A small peach colored gem said, her hands clasped together and short hair covering her eyes. Padparadscha was the best at what she does, not only was she the crews technical advisor but she had the power to predict the past better than any other gem.

Then there were the Rutile twins. Two gems merged together at the stomach by a deformed maroon colored gem. "Captain with the engines up we are ready to go." Both of the two heads said together in perfect unison. When their eyes fell on Jasper both of their jaws dropped.

Jasper didn't notice but he did. He wouldn't say anything out loud but he knew that her reaction was hurt her and anger her. So Shadow put a finger to his lips and the twins closed their mouth quickly. Words didn't need to be said to know that he was trying to help them.

Shadow wasn't really paying attention but when the ship jumped into hyperspace he knew that they had temporarily escaped the wrath of Emerald. Steven and Connie were handing the care package Lars parents had made for him.

"I don't like the smell of these… gems." Jasper sneered.

Shadow shook his head in confusion and popped Jasper on her arm lightly. "Watch it," Shadow hissed. "Their gems just like anyone else we've ever met. Don't ridicule them because of a few differences."

Jasper took his challenge and turned to face him. An angry spark in her eyes told him that he opened up a can of anger he wasn't going to like. The tone of her voice when she spoke was venomous. "They are outcasts! Deformed disgusting things that shouldn't exist."

Wherever this was coming from Shadow didn't know. He didn't think he'd care the hate coming from her mouth blew his mind. He stared at her wide-eyed, not knowing what else to say until anger lit a match in his head. He poked a finger to her chest with every word. "You! You think you can judge them? Then how about me Jasper? When I was dying from being tortured at the zoo you saved me and gave me apart of you I will never live without." Thinking of the zoo made his stomach her. Even having this conversation hurt him deeply. "Jasper I'm just like these gems, Steven and I are just like these gems. But here you are, judging them as if you have the right to."

"Shadow?" Stevens troubled voice woke him from his angry rant.

Lars was staring at them, weld up tears in his eyes that stared at him and Jasper in confusion. Connie looked just as troubled as they were.

"I'm sorry we-" Shadow was cut off by the sound of alarms going off. Everything went red then warning signs began to flash around them.

Shadow shot Jasper a dirty look but he dared not continue the argument. He felt as if he shouldn't have to of had that argument but they did and the damage was done. When Lars started to raise his voice something Shadow was glad for the distraction. He didn't think he could take another conversation with Jasper at the moment.

"How can she be having such a good time with me?" He shouted, two fingers moved across the screen to zoom in on the image of his old friend Sadie.

Behind them, Rhodonite was panicking about a ship that was catching up to them.

"What are you packing about over here gem?" Jasper was next to Rhodonite. Her piercing gaze looked down at the fusion in barely disguised disgust.

All of her eyes widened in panic and her voice grew worse with freight. "I-I don't know what to do. The ship is already three quads away and gaining fast. I think we should drop out of orbit or…" She glanced up at Jasper who looked ready to tear her head off.

"I mean… Uhhhh…"

Shadow came to the rescue and bumped past Jasper who wasn't helping one bit. "Rhodonite can you stall any longer? At the speed that ship is moving, we won't be able to outrun them."

"We listen to Captain Lars when things get rough. He risks his life over and over again." The Rutile twins looked just as agitated. "We need him," They said together.

Shadow turned to Lars who was sitting in his seat with flowing tears. Jasper was still next to him with her arms crossed, this time a look of guilt was on her face that he had just barely noticed when it returned to an angry scowl.

"She's getting back at me for all the things I've done. It should be me at home!" Lars was hurt at the prospect that Sadie was hanging out and being so happy without him. Shadow didn't want to think he was that heartless to care but now wasn't the time for this.

Connie stepped forward though. "You really think Sadie is doing all this to get back at you?"

"Why else do you think she would be having so much fun without me?" He asked with more tears rolling down his face.

"Because life goes on," Steven stepped up to his friend. "Sadie was so lost without you when she found out you would be stuck out in space. She really misses you but she can't stay sad forever. She started hanging out with the cool kids, quit her job at the big donut. All because she needed something to feel better."

"And look at you," Connie spoke up again. "Steven said you'd be hiding in some cave right now. Here you are, out here fighting for freedom with all your new friends in toe. Are you doing any of this to hurt Sadie?"

The tears stopped and a determined look came upon him. "No, I'm doing this because I have to. I would never do anything to hurt Sadie because… because-"

"Because of your best friends!" Steven and Connie grabbed each other's hand and a pink light filled the ship. In place of the two kids was Stevonnie. An experience that triumphed all things.

Shadow and Lars both had wowed at the fusion the two created. It had been some time since he had last seen Stevonnie. So when they were fused together here it made for a sight.

"It's here. An imperial warship has just caught up to us! The destiny destroyer." Rhodonite exclaimed.

"Lars I don't think we have time to worry about Sadie. There's a large ship blocking us if you haven't noticed." Shadow wasn't privy to seeing space first hand, at least not on the outside.

Emerald came up on the screen. "Did you really think I wouldn't be able to track my own ship. I could track my nova thrusters of it was on the other side of the galaxy. Now, surrender to me or be destroyed."

Lars looked more confident than he did a moment ago. So he laughed in her face. "Go ahead Emerald blow us up like you've been wishing to. You clearly have the upper hand. What are you waiting for?"

Shadow could see Emerald's reluctance even when she shouted in frustration, still, if Emerald called his bluff they were about to be history.

"Lars what are you doing?" Stevonnie asked with panic in her voice.

He ignored them. "Drop the shields Rhodonite."

"The destroyers weapons are charging at ninety percent, I don't think we can survive a direct blast Captain." The Rutile twins started to sweat in their chairs.

"You're going to get us killed human!" Jasper shouted. "Rhodonite do not lower the shields I comma-"

Shadow stepped up to her before she could finish her sentence. "Don't. Jasper. You're not a general anymore and these aren't your gems to command."

"Shadow… you… fine, why do I care if we all die anyway." Jasper continued to brood this time in the corner away from them.

He knew he hurt her pride but in a second it might not even matter.

Lars gave Shadow a nod, a silent thank you then turned back to Rhodonite who was worried they were going to meet their end. "Rhodonite lower the shields. Trust me."

The gem took a gulp and powered them down. "O-okay Captain. Lowering the shields."

There came a sound of a hiss then the ship rocked from a blast from the sun destroyer.

"Did that bluff actually work!?" Jasper was just as stunned as everyone else.

The Rutile twins were checking diagnostics. "Weapons and shields are down but, were still alive!"

Lars started to laugh when the screen came to life and Emerald appeared.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!" Emerald screamed at Lars, Captain Lars.

The Captain began to laugh and turned around to point a finger at Emerald. "I knew you wouldn't hurt this ship. You love this ship, it's your best friend. You would much rather let it get away than destroy it."

Emerald fell for their bluff. The gem wouldn't destroy her most favorited ship. But she could stall them in space, so she targeted the thrusters leaving it maimed enough to stop them from escaping again.

"Lars we might be stuck here unless you have a plan," Shadow commented.

Lars put a finger to his chin. "Not unless we use, that."

"That!" Rhodonite and Fluorite said with terror.

"Was that?" Stevonnie asked.

All this back and forth was making his head hurt. "From the sounds of it, you have some sort of contingency plan I'm guessing."

"It's the captain's experimental fighter jet that only he knows how to drive," Rhodonite answered freight. At this point, it was getting awful annoying but he couldn't blame them for how they were. Not with what they've been through.

Both Stevonnie and Steven objected.

"We have no other choices right now. If you've got a better idea then I'm all ears." Lars answered back, he sat back down on his chair.

Shadow shot a glance to Jasper then to Stevonnie who was grinning from ear to ear. She shot Lars a salute. "Captain Lars, permission to go in your place. If it's anything like driving a car I should be fine."

Shadow barked a laugh at Stevonnie. "Why do I get the feeling that you haven't earned your license yet. Plus Amethyst told me that you raced some kid down a mountain."

"Shush you." Stevonnie shot back. "What do you say, captain?"

Lars smiled back at them. "Permission granted. Take out their cannons to buy us time till we get our systems back online."

"Woah wait to hold on." Shadow wasn't liking the sound of that. "It's too dangerous Stevonnie, just because they don't want to destroy this ship doesn't mean they won't destroy a jet. I'll go instead."

"No, you won't!" Jasper stepped out from the corner she was in. She could feel Shadows penetrating gaze on her, it was unsettling but she wasn't going to back down, not even to him. "You don't know how to fly a ship. Stevonnie doesn't know how to fly a ship. What makes you think you can do any more than what this pink human can do."

Shadow growled at her. He wanted to stay collected but the feeling between his fingers, the electricity that was building up with every beat of his heart was betraying him. No matter how angry he was though, he wouldn't act on it. He knew that it was just his irrational side so he let the power in his hands die out. "Jasper," he said her name softly without any steel in it. "You already know what I'm going to say next so don't make this harder than it needs to be. They need our help, our friends do, no matter the consequences we step up and do what is right. Even if that means flying a spacecraft to certain doom then that's how it gotta be."

"Shadow you-"

Lars stood up on his feet. "We don't have time for this," he interrupted. "Are you going or not?"

Stevonnie put a hand on Shadows shoulder. "We've got this Shadow. You don't have to worry about anything. Trust us, like we trust you."

He hated it but he didn't have the strength to argue with them. Stevonnie would fly that ship better than he could and he knew it. Shadow sighed, his answer to her was, "you go out there and show them what the Crystal gems are made of."

Stevonnie was about to say something when a green orb rose up from the ground and took them. They were gone, headed off to danger without him to be there to help. He hated it but what else could he do.

He would just have to wait and pray they would be safe. That's all he could do. Was wait.