Chapter 5: Learning About the Enemy
Somewhere deep in the jungle
Bomber: Uh, we been searchin this damn planet for hours and we still havent any other gems. For the record, I blame you for this Acha.
Acha: What did I do?
Bomber: I could have finished the Crystal Gems! I still don't know how you convinced me to leave.
Acha: Oh come now Bomber, we'll get a second chance.
Bomber: I hope. Are we close to any gems yet?
Acha: According to this radar there should be one right around here, but I don't see it.
As Acha looks at the radar, he doesn't notice a corrupted gem monster behind him, it resembled that of a chameleon. It was cameflougeing behind him and it changed back to its orignal colors about to attack Acha. Acha doesn't notice it but Kocha and Bomber do.
Kocha: Uh, Acha...
Acha: Hold on Kocha. This stupid radar is not working right.
Kocha: But I really think...
Acha: You think so too? You're right, it says here that there is a gem at this spot, but I don't see anything.
The corrupted gem then drools all over Acha.
Acha: Hey is it rainig?
Then he hears a growling noise. He now looks terrified.
Acha: Do I dare look behind me?
Acha slowly turns around and see's the corrupted gem.
Acha: ( shaking and stuttering in fear) MO-MO-MON-MO-MON-MONSTER!
The gem monster roars and tries to eat Acha. Acha runs away towards Bomber, hiding behind his back.
Bomber: What in tarnation is that?!
Acha: It's trying to eat me, shoot it! SHOOT IT!
Bomber tries blasting at the gem monster, but has very little effect. The monster knocks Bomber away and then looks at Acha.
Acha: No,no,no,no you don't want to eat me. I mean look at me I'm not exactly flesh and bone. I could give indigestion.
The monster then uses it's tounge to grab Acha and eats him.
Kocha: Acha!
Bomber: Well, he's dead.
Kocha: Bomber!
Bomber: Alright fine. Missile Mode!
Bomber transforms into his missile mode and fires himself at the monster. The gem monster poofs and Acha is shown to still be in one piece, but is covered in the monsters saliva and is a bit dented.
Kocha: You alright Acha?
Acha: I guess, but this is disgusting and going to take a two hours to fix my body.
Acha then notices the gem right next to him.
Acha: Wait look at this!
Picks up the gem. Bomber and Kocha also look at it.
Kocha: It's a gem.
Bomber: How did that thing have a gem?
Acha: Of course! The blast from the Diamonds. It didn't obliterate all the gems on Earth. It turned them into monsters. That's what the radar was reading.
Kocha: But somehow those other Crystal Gems were not affected by it.
Bomber: Well now that we know that, let's shatter it.
Acha: Wait we can't, or at least not yet. I think Gien should take a look at it. He might be interested in it. This unlike anything we've ever seen before.
Bomber: Fine, hopefully it will be of use to us. Let's head back to the ship.
The three of them take the gem and teleport back to the ship.
Meanwhile at the Barn
Peridot resided at the barn along with her roomate Lapis Lazuli. After the Crystal Gems saved her from Jasper and Malachite, she was grateful for it and decided to help them in defending the Earth for Steven and acted as the teams back up. But she was not so happy about living with Peridot. Lapis mostly ignored her or if Peridot tried to talk to her, she acted cold towards her. Peridot couldn't blame her since she was with Jasper and the Gara Droids, she would act that way too if she was in that situation. But she really wanted to change and be her friend. Steven tried to help, but Peridot knew this was something she had to do on her own.
Lapis was sitting ontop of the roof, Perdiot tries to call for her.
Peridot: Hey Lazuli! Hey! I know you can hear me!
Lapis doesn't answer or look at her.
Peridot: Okay fine, but I thoutht I'd show you this show Steven got me into called Camp Pining Hearts. There these campers Percy and Paullette and appearently they have a " thing" for each other, but honestly I think Pierre would be a better fit for Percy. I made a chart right here if you want to see.
Lapis still ignores her. Suddenly the warp pad near them activated and from it came Steven and the others.
Steven: Hey Peridot, hey Lapis.
Lapis once hearing his voice immediatly rushed down to hug him.
Lapis: Steven! I'm so happy to see you.
Steven: I'm happy to see you too Lapis.
Peridot: Steven! I'm so glad your here.
Steven: So am I Peridot.
Peridot: So what brings you all here?
Steven: ( now looking serious) There's something we need to talk to you. It's about Homeworld. Garnet do you want to explain?
Peridot: What is it?
Garnet: A while ago, we were finishing a mission until we came across these robotic beings.
Peridot: Robotic beings?
Garnet: Yes they call themselves the Gara Droids.
Peridot start's to get nervous after hearing this.
Peridot: What?
Garnet: Bismuth show her.
Bismuth carried what appeared to be a body on her shoulder.
Bismuth: Does this ring a bell?
Bismuth drops the dead body of a Gara Soldier in front Peridot and Lapis. Lapis immediatly recongizing it freaks out and backs away.
Lapis: Get that thing away from me!
Steven:( holding her hand) It's okay Lapis, it's not alive.
Peridot: ( with eyes wide open) A Gara Soldier.
Pearl: A what?
Peridot: This is one of the soldiers of the Gara Droids.
Steven: Lapis is that what you were reffering to when you said Homeworld has changed?
Lapis: Yes, those things were everywhere.
Garnet: Tell us all you know about it.
Peridot: After the war, rescources for making new gems has become scarce so the Diamonds gave approval for the Gara Droids to be mass produced. They are programmed to serve the Diamonds and are the new way of conquering planets. The soldiers here are low ranks in the military, Elites are much stronger and just one of them is capable of destroying life on a planet.
Gems theng gave horrific expressions hearing this.
Garnet: And now it seems they want to target Earth.
Bismuth: By the way, some of them are looking for you.
Peridot: They're looking for me?! I mean they are?
Amethyst: Yeah, some of them appear to be old friends of yours.
Peridot: What did they look like?
Steven: Uh lets see. One was sort of tall and scrawny, he looked like something out of Star Wars and had a scottish accent. Then there was his friend who looked like a doll and finally this big guy who looked like a rocket or was he a missile, but anyway he was kind of a jerk.
Peridot: I can't believe it. The first two you described are the servent class droids, Acha and Kocha. They were made to replace Pearl's on Homeworld.
Bismuth: Oh right I think they said that.
Pearl: Good thing I'm not there anymore.
Peridot: And the third is Bomber the Great. The General of Homeworld and one of the most aggressive of the Gara Elites.
Bismuth: He sure gave us some trouble.
Amethyst: Why does he call himself the Great?
Peridot: Apperently he claims that he is the strongest and greatest of all the Gara Droids, but he's more like the greatest clod.
Amethyst: ( chuckles a bit) Yeah, he's a real lamo.
Garnet: So he leads the Gara Droids?
Peridot: He wishes.
Bismuth: Wait, so he's not the leader?
Steven: So who leads them?
Peridot looks down, takes a deep breath and then looks back at them.
Peridot: They call him Gien. He is the leader of the Gara Droids, there creator and the head scientist of Homeworld. It was said that he was once a gem that suffered a horrible accident and his gem was placed inside a roboitc suit that protected it. He's known for his intelligence, but along with his insanity. He enjoys watching destruction just for his amusment. He's always creating new elites to serve in his army. Not to mention, he was also the one responsible for making the Cluster.
The Steven and the Gems are surprised to hear about his involvment with the Cluster.
Amethyst: Oh boy. I wonder how he's going to react if he finds out what happened.
Pearl: So this Gien is the one responisble for all this?
Peridot: Yes.
Garnet: One more thing. How do they know you and why are they looking for you?
Peridto wasn't exactly sure what to tell them. Should she really say that she was Gien's apprentice? That she is his clone? That she helped him in making his army? She just started becoming friends with them.
Peritdot: I um, well I have worked with them in labs. I was a low rank scientist, but I don't really know Gien personally. Plus you guys know I recently called Yellow Diamond a clod, so obviously they're here to capture and arrest me. Now that they know about you guys, they probably want you too.
Garnet: I guess so. We need to be careful now. This new enemy could be worse than the gems we've faced before. Especially this leader of theirs. Let's head back to the temple now. Thank you for the information Peridot.
Peridot: You're welcome Garnet.
Steven: You guys go ahead I'll catch up.
Pearl: Just be home before 9:00 Steven.
The others head back to the warp pad, while Steven stays a little longer with Peridot and Lapis.
Steven: ( to Lapis) Do you mind if I tallk to Peridot for a minute?
Lapis: Sure Steven, I'll be inside if you want to talk to me.
Lapis goes inside the Barn leaving Steven and Peridot alone.
Steven: So how goes bonding time?
Peridot: Not good. No matter what I do, Lapis still hates me. I tried introducing her to Camp Pining Hearts and that doesn't work.
Steven: Have you tried giving her something?
Peridot: I gave her the tape recorder you gave me and she broke it.
Steven: Oh, uh sorry.
Peridot: It's fine, I didn't have much more to say in my logs anyway.
Steven: Well how about you try and make her something.
Peridot: Make her something?
Steven: Yeah, sometimes making something for someone and giving it to them is the best gift ever. It shows you put your heart into it. Oh and don't forget a card with it. Write something heart felt.
Peridot: I guess I could try that.
Steven: Do it, if that doesn't work than I don't know what will.
Peridot: ( with a confident face) Alright, I'm going to make Lapis a great gift for her.
Steven: You do that, I'm going to go check on Lapis.
Steven gets up to go inside the barn until Peridot stops him for a moment.
Peridot: Steven wait, there's something I should tell you.
Steven: What is it Peridot?
Peridot is still thinking of telling Steven her connection with Gien. Out of everyone she feels like she should at least tell him. He is her best friend and is shown to be understanding. But she is too scared to tell him because she fears that if he knew that she was Gien's clone and apprentice, his point of view of her would change, reject her, see her as a villain again and bubble her away.
Peridot: I, uh, well...
Steven: What?
Peridot:( with a fake smile) I, uh wanted to tell you that I love that new hair style of yours and it's mondo cool. ( has her thumbs up at the end)
Steven: Oh well, thanks. I mean I've always had this hair style, but I appreciate the compliment.
Peridot: Oh well, my memory is probably bit rusty. You go ahead and see Lapis now.
Steven: Ok.
Steven at first walks away, but then looks back at her.
Steven: Are you sure you're okay?
Peridot:( still with her fake smile) Yes.
Steven: Okay then, I'll be in the barn.
Steven goes inside the barn leaving Peridot alone. Her fake smile disappears, sighs and places her hand on her forehead.
Peridot: ( sighs) What am I going to do? How can I tell him? How can I tell any of them?
Peridot just sits under a tree trying to think.
Meanwhile on Homeworld
Gien is still watching footage of Steven.
Gien: I still can't get past this. How could a human possess gem powers? That can't be a shapshifted form if he's not pink. I wonder, does he bleed?
Yellow Pearl enters his lab.
Yellow Pearl: Gien, my Diamond request for your presence.
Gien: Now?
Yellow Pearl: Yes.
Gien: (sighs) I'll be right there.
Gien shuts off the monitors and heads towards the Diamond throne room. Yellow Diamond is in there and is not looking happy.
Gien: You called for me my Diamond?
Yellow Diamond: Yes, this about your Peridot.
Gien: Is she in trouble my Diamond?
Yellow Diamond: As of matter of fact yes. I think she went rogue on us.
Gien looks at her confused.
Gien: What do you mean?
Yellow Diamond: She went on talking about how we should stop the Cluster, leaving the Earth alone and preserve it along with it's resources.
Gien: She couldn't have meant it. My Peridot is loyal to you.
Yellow Diamond: She insulted me by calling me a clod.
Gien: Oh my, ( whispers to himself) I didn't think she had in her.
Yellow Diamond: So I am now ordering you to call back your troops and leave her there to die.
Gien upon hearing this reacted quickly.
Gien: Wait my Diamond, let me go to Earth.
Yellow stares at him with intense eyes.
Yellow Diamond: Why?
Gien: Her time being there for so long has made her dillussional. She must have been trying so hard to get out that it has traumatized her. But if you let me go down there myself, I can talk her out of it. She's my apprentice, she will listen to me. Plus I will bring these Crystal Gems in for you.
Yellow Diamond thinks about it for a moment and responds.
Yellow Diamond: Very well. I will let you go to Earth and to reason with her. But this is her last chance. If she doesn't follow, ( with intense eyes) shatter her.
Gien bows to her.
Gien: Yes my Diamond. (in his mind) Let's hope it doesn't come down to this.
Yellow Diamond: That will be all.
Gien leaves the throne room and looks at his Gara Soldiers.
Gien: Prepare my ship.
The soldiers nod and go make his preparations.
His ship looked like a limb enhancer hand. He enters inside along with his own army of Gara Soldiers and heads off to Earth. While his crew operated the ship, Gien was sitting down at his commanding chair.
Gien: What is going on? It's not like Peridot to act this way. Since when has she started caring for life on another planet? She hasn't joined those Crystal Gems has she? But if she has, I will have her come back to me. Not for Yellow Diamond of course, but for myself. She is my apprentice and she will listen to me. She can't ignore her master, her creator. Plus if she has joined those Crystal Gems, she can share with me all of there secrets and some information about this boy. ( red eyes open wide) Hahahahahahaha! There past is about to haunt them and will wish that they finished me off when they had the chance! They will suffer my wrath!
To be continued...
Author's Note: That's it for this chapter. This one may have been nothing special, but we will pick up again in the next one. I hope you enjoyed. Please read and review. Thank you.