Chapter 59: Through the Eyes of a Gara Soldier
It's been one week since the last Gara Droid attack. It's night time and Steven was sound asleep when he began to spawn a dream.
Through his perspective, his eyes didn't open but rather the scene booted up like a computer or machine. He was in a ship that looked like a military plane where soldiers would sit in. In front and next to him were groups of Gara Soldiers who weren't activated yet. He panicked for a moment, but realized he couldn't talk but make screeching noises. He didn't know why until he looked at his hands. These weren't his human looking, hands these were robotic.
Finally the ship landed and the other Gara Soldiers were activated. They exited out as Steven followed where they were going. He was on some kind of island. It looked familiar but he didn't know what. He turned back as the ship was leaving. He left the group unoticed tried to find a river to see his reflection. He did and much to his shock, he was a Gara Soldier. What kind of dream was this? Why was he a Gara Soldier?
Steven decided to move on still confused on what was happening, until he came across something much to his horror. He discovered a village, destroyed with some of the houses still on fire. He walked around wondering what this was all about, until he stepped on something. He looked down and saw what appeared to be bits of watermelon on the ground. It finally occured to him, he was on Mask Island and this was the Watermelon Stevens village. He took control of a Watermelon Steven a couple times before, this was no dream.
He saw one of the Watermelon Stevens yelling, trying to help his friend who was trapped underneath the broken hut. Steven approached them, the one trying to save his friend stepped back and grabbed a branch trying to get Steven away thinking he was going to hurt them. Steven didn't want to hurt them, but he had to make him stop, he just grabbed the branch from him. The Watermelon Steven now looked scared, but Steven used the branch to help. Because it was a strong thick one, he lifted the debris off so the other Watermelon Steven could be free. The two of them embraced and looked at Steven confused. But suddenly they caught in a net from the distance. Steven was going save them, but he is cut off by one of the real Gara Soldiers holding a net gun.
The Gara Soldier approached the trapped Watermelon Stevens. Steven tried to stop him, but is pushed to the ground. He tried to get back up, but the Gara Soldier opened his face, exposing the endoskeloton and fired lasers at Steven. Steven couldn't yell, but felt the pain of being shot as he lied on the ground. The Gara Soldier proceeded with dragging the Watermelon Stevens away. A few minutes later, Steven finally got back up but didn't know where to go next. He heard something in the sky and saw a group of Aerodroids flying towards the other direction. Steven decided to follow where they were going.
Eventually he found a large cave and Gien's ship next to it. To his horror he saw that the other Watermelon Steven inhabitants have been enslaved by the Gara Droids. While others were being forced in slowly, others were seen pushing out carts of what appeared to be red crystals and took them to the ship. What was this that the Gara Droids want? What are these crystals? Steven decided to explore further. Once he entered the cave, it's just as he thought, it was mine.
He looked around and saw shiney red crystals in the walls. But the inhabitants were forced to dig them out. They used shovels and pick axes to dig, but they were so tired and weak. Gara Soldiers, Aerodroids and Black Knight droids were all over the place, keeping and eye on the slaves and making sure they don't stop. They continuosly whipped them to move. Steven wanted to stop this, but he couldn't make a scene. He had to try and find Gien if he was here. He looked around the area, he couldn't bare witnessing the slaves being whipped. It was so hard to watch. He saw one of them losing it's leg from being all old and decomposed. Seeing it was no use anymore, an Aerodroid aimed it's arm cannon at it and killed it by shooting the head as bits of watmelon chunks were on the floor. Even if it wasn't truly blood, this disturbed Steven. The slaves that were close backed away in fear as the Aerodroid whipped them to continue.
Finally he spotted Gien on the upper level. He made his way up there to see what was going on. Once he was up, he kept himself hidden from a huge rock and just peeked. Viggo and Huntress were with him, but no Bomber. Instead there was a group of six elites with them. They were sea creature themed and were all the same height as Sunstone. They all had yellow eyes and a simalar color scheme, bluish green with some pink.
Gien: Everything seems to go according to plan.
Viggo: ( nods) These ruby crystals are just what we need to complete Project Verokran.
Huntress: But last time I remember, this island was uninhabitated and why do the slaves look like Steven?
Gien: Truly things have changed since we left. But this was the only place I could find with a strong reading on ruby crystals.
Viggo: Everything is fine my lord. This is better is better if you ask me. You're Seatrons have done well Snaptrap.
The leader of the Seatrons, Snaptrap stepped forward. He was a large bulky snapping turtle with a deep gruff voice. He had cannons attached to his shell. His overall body was bluish green while his legs were pink.
Lobclaw was a lobster themed robot. He had a bluish green body with silver claws and black lobster legs. He had weapons built into his claws.
Overbite was a shark with arms and hind legs. His body was pink and had a bluish green head and tail. He too had cannons attached his back.
Kraken was a manta ray that could levitate. His head and tail was black while the rest of his body was a bluish green and had cannons attached to the bottom of his wings.
Gulf is a coelacanth fish with arms and legs. His head was silver while the rest of his body was a bluish green while pink was on his arms and back fin. He also had cannons attached to his back as well.
Finally, Tentakill was squid that stood upright. He had a black face while the top of his head was silver. He had six tentacal arms that were white and his abdomen and legs was bluish green. His cannons were attached to each side of his head.
Snaptrap: Heheheh. It went all acording to plan Master Viggo. Oh sure the slaves here tried to fight back when we invaded their village. But their primative weapons were no match for our fire power. It's a shame they lost so easliy, otherwise I would have a sense of satisfaction.
Gien: You should be satisfied Snaptrap. You and your Seatrons were supposed to help the soldiers dig the mines, but because of these inhabitants they're doing the work for us.
Snaptrap: Uh...uh yes my lord.
Viggo: You just make sure all the slaves stay where the are and let none escape.
Gien: Help us win and I will promote you as commanders of the army.
Snaptrap: AH REALLY?! I mean yes my lord. We will not fail you. All hail Gien!
Seatrons: All hail Gien!
Huntress: But Master, what about the Crystal Gems?
Gien: Don't worry Huntress, they're being occupied as we speak.
Snaptrap: But if they do show up, we will shatter them.
Gien: The plan isn't to shatter them yet Snaptrap, its to complete Project Verokran.
Snaptrap: Oh of course my lord.
Gien: Viggo, how much more do we need?
Viggo: So far we've collected 63% of the materials we need. We need a hundred percent in order to complete Project Verokran.
Steven listened to the whole thing. What was this Project Verokran they keep mentioning? Some new weapon or new elite? What exactly did they need the ruby crystals for this project. Steven looked back at them, but then noticed Huntress was gone.
Huntress: Hey you!
Steven turned around and tumbled back. Huntress was right behind him.
Huntress: What do you think you're doing?
Steven would panic if he could, but he just looked nervous.
Huntress: Were you called over?
Gien: What's going on Huntress?
Gien and Viggo approached her.
Huntress: This soldier was sitting behind the boulder right there.
Gien turned to Steven. What was he going to do? Do they know it's him?
Gien: Do you have anything to report?
Steven nods no.
Gien: I never said you could go on break, you don't even have to do anything big. Get back out there and keep those slaves working.
Steven would sigh in relief if he could, but just responed with a salute. But he saluted the way normal military soldiers would. They looked at him confused why he did that. Steven realized his mistake and tried to salute how Homeworld would, but he couldn't get it right. How did Peridot do it again?
Gien: Just, just go!
Steven nodded and went off.
Gien: ( sighs) Viggo remind me to do a check up on the soldiers when we're done.
Viggo: Noted.
Steven went back to the bottom level of the mines. The Gara Droids are up to something. They need these ruby crystals for this Project Verokron. But what was it? He had to wake up to tell the gems. But before he did he just heard a gun shot go out. He turned and saw a Black Knight droid shooting another crippled slave. The slaves looked at their dead friend, but the Black Knight Droid continued to whip them to move. Immediatly after another Watermelon Steven collapsed. The Black Knight continued to whip it to get up. But the slave couldn't get up and was too weak. The Black Knight seeing how useless it is now took out the gun and was about to kill it. But Steven couldn't take it anymore.
Steven ran up and pushed the gun away, missing the target. Steven tried to get the gun off the Black Knight, but the Knight pushed him off making a loud grunting noise. Steven got back up as the two began to struggle. After a brief struggle, Steven accidentally pulled the trigger and shot the Black Knight in the head killing it. But after he did that, the soldiers in the area turned and glared at him. He realized he messed up.
Most of the soldiers ( mainly the main Gara Soldiers) surrounded him. They walked around him in their ape posture. Steven just looked around not knowing what was happening, until one of them got up close and personal to his face. Steven back away, but the soldier just got closer as it began to screech, then the rest of them began to screech. Steven was freaking out, wishing he had his powers to defend himself. He looked down at the holster on his waist and got the retracted spear out, but the soldier knocked it out of his hand and pushed him down. The Gara Soldiers all got onto him and began beating him like savages.
Steven couldn't get up as he took the beatings. But it got worse. They began to tear him apart. They tied his arms and legs with the whips they had and begun to pull. It was like something from a medievel torture room, it was painful and eventually his limbs were torn off. Steven was on the ground with no arms or legs. But it wasn't over.
They ripped open his chest, gutting out his insides. Steven was in agonizing pain. Did all soldiers feel this or was it only him. Are they this vicious? Do they do this to each other? He couldn't get out. All he could do was pray for this to end and just wake up... if he can. His vision began to get blurry indicating he was about to wake up, but could still feel everything. But finally everything went black just before they twisted his head off.
Steven finally woke up. Breathing heavily from that experience. He was back in his room with his limbs and head attached.
Steven: ( panting) Oh man...that was... that was horrifying. Thank god that's not how I die. But still, I gotta tell the others.
Steven jumped out of his bed and ran down stairs to tell the gems.
Steven: Guys! We got trouble, big Gara Droid trouble!
To be continued...
Author's Note: That's it for this chapter. Sorry if it's short or there was hardly any dialouge. But I've been waiting to do a chapter of Steven in one of the Gara Soldiers bodies. Find out more on Project Verokron and the Seatrons next time. Special Thanks to Lady Shadow92 for help. I hope you enjoyed. Please review and until next time.