The Cane Island Naval Base was located in the Atlantic Ocean just off of South Carolina situated between the North Santee River and the North Santee Bay. Built in the 1930's and decommissioned shortly after World War II, it was the preferred facility of The Authority for detaining and questioning suspects.
Surrounded by the Tom Yawkee wildlife center, it made for a discrete detention base. It was well away from the prying eyes of any large cities and any governmental officials of DC. Concrete walls and swampy marshlands surrounded the base. Blue Diamond didn't particularly like the facility herself, it was too utilitarian. But then again, it was a prison and interrogation center.
"All finished, ma'am. It's a nasty gash but small, keep the butterfly suture on it, and it'll close up in a week." The friendly medical officer said as he threw a pair of rubber gloves and used gauze in the biohazard bin. As a result of the brawl on the docks, Blue had a small wound above her left temple just at her hairline. It was a trifle thing, but it bled a lot.
"Have all the detainees been checked over?" Blue asked, arching an eyebrow at the young doctor.
"Yes, ma'am. The unknown Gem had a broken nose, but it wasn't too severe. White Pearl only has minor contusions and lacerations. The tall one doesn't have a scratch on her at all." He said, looking at the report on his tablet.
"What about the boy?" Blue wanted to know this piece of information most of all. Steven shouldn't be here; it was the colonel's responsibility to get him out of this unscathed.
"He's doing well enough, he's got some injuries, but they're not from the tussle you were involved in. We tried to give him some acetaminophen for the prior injuries and some food. But he's been unresponsive…" The doctor looked uncomfortable as Blue gave him a hard look.
"Thank you, that will be all."
The officer saluted, and the Lt. colonel returned it, dismissing the man. Blue sighed and went over to one of the chairs in the room. Even though it was the middle of August, the damn facility was cold. She picked up her fleece sweater with the Authority symbol stitched on the left side of the chest and pulled it on.
Her black tactical pants were still covered in sand and salt, but it could wait. There was business to see to. There was a video teleconference meeting with White and Yellow Diamond in 30 minutes. But first, she wanted to see Steven.
She took the elevator one floor down to the detention cells and passed them and went to the administration area. She insisted that Steven was put in one of the vacant offices, it was more comfortable than a cell. Two agents were standing guard outside, both of them saluted as she opened the door.
The office was dim, a floor lamp was the only light source on at the moment. Blue glanced over to the desk where a food tray with an uneaten club sandwich, an apple a bottle of water, and a small carton of chocolate milk was.
She picked up the metal office chair that was in front of the desk and placed it next to the couch that was situated on the side of the room. She sat down and regarded the small boy that was curled up in a fetal position facing away from her. He was lying on a white pillow and had an olive-colored wool blanket placed on him. (She'd have to thank the doctor for taking such care of the boy later.)
"Steven?" Her lilting voice was as soft as she could make it before it became a whisper.
"Steven, I know you're angry with me right now. But I will make this right, I will get you out of here." The 12 year-old stirred a bit and sniffled. He turned his head ever so slightly.
"What about Pearl?" His musical voice was hoarse, and he had the hiccups from crying so much. Blue's heart clenched. (She was a mother, once. She had to repress every single maternal instinct she had at the moment.)
"Steven, it's complicated, she-" The boy sat up abruptly, his brown eyes boring into her.
"And what about Amethyst and Garnet? They're my family!" His face was red, he was so angry.
"They've broken the law, Steven, the US government, has been looking for them for a long time." These were heavy subjects for a 7th grader. Blue wasn't sure if she could help him understand.
"Was the government looking for them, or was it you?" The boy narrowed his eyes at the colonel.
"Steven…"
"Look, Blue, I don't know how they broke the law. But they're good people… Even Pearl." He clutched the bottom of his shirt, the red material bunching in his stubby fingers.
"I know Pearl, there's no way she could have kill-," He stopped himself, and rephrased what he was saying.
"There's no way she could have done what you think she did to your daughter…" He gave a pathetic hiccup and gazed at his lap.
"There are circumstances that you are not aware of, Steven. Besides, even if I wanted to stop, I couldn't at this point." Blue looked away from the child. It was a cold answer, she knew it. That and the Crystal Gems had to answer for what they've done. Pearl had to answer for the death of her daughter.
The silence was heavy between the two of them. It was a far cry from the warm, easy day they had on the beach a day ago. It was almost time for her meeting with the other Diamonds'. Blue stood and made to leave, but Steven jumped down from the couch.
"But you can stop this! You can, Blue, I know you can! I know you care; you wouldn't have saved me at the docks if you didn't. You can stop this, Blue!" He covered his face, his little body heaving from too much crying.
"Steven…" Blue knelt down and held him close. He had no reason to trust or ask anything of her, but he was still trying. It brought her to tears.
"Steven, I have to go. I have to make sure you get out of here, back to your home. I'll come back, alright?" She broke the embrace and brushed some of his tears away. She stood and walked to the doorway and gave one last glance back.
Steven just stood and stared back, hoping against hope…
… … … … … … … … …
Aquamarine and Topaz were already in the spartan meeting room. A long conference table with some old wooden office chairs occupied the center of the room. The American Flag to the right of the video screen with the Authority flag on the left.
Blue Diamond scowled at Aquamarine as she walked by. She took a spot near the head of the table across from the agent.
"I am not pleased with your performance, Aquamarine." It was as if the temperature dropped to zero in the room.
Topaz looked nervously over at her superior, but the diminutive woman didn't flinch. She almost smirked, in fact. Blue wanted to reach over the table and strangle her.
"I'm only doing my job to the best of my ability, Lt. Colonel Diamant." Her tone was flat, but Blue knew better. The tone did not mean neutrality.
A musical chime broke the icy atmosphere of the room. Topaz immediately picked up the call, and White Diamond, along with Yellow Diamond, materialized on the screen.
"Excellent work, all of you!" White Diamond's smile was full, it was only accentuated by her dark lipstick.
"We have nearly all of the Crystal Gems, along with the renegade, White Pearl. Finally, we can start to close the book on this blemish to our organization." The director clasped her hands together and held them to her chest.
"What of the boy, Lt. colonel?" Yellow Diamond asked. Blue opened her mouth to reply but was cut off by Aquamarine.
"The boy is a Gem and possibly a member of the Crystal Gems. Topaz and I witnessed him using his abilities to aid White Pearl." The agent looked across the table, almost daring Blue to say otherwise. Blue didn't have to say anything, however.
"Agent, I was not addressing you. I was addressing your superior, know your place!" Yellow did not tolerate agents speaking out of turn, no matter the rank or tenure they possessed.
"Forgive me general, I'm merely shocked that such a Gem could exist." Aquamarine apologized, but she was not genuinely sorry, her tone and body language spoke volumes. (What was she up to…?)
Yellow said nothing more to the agent and looked back over to Blue expectantly. White also had an inquiring look. Blue took a deep breath to soothe the simmering anger held just beneath the surface.
"It is true, I encountered a male Gem in Beach City. His name is Steven Universe, and he has the same abilities as Rose Quartz. At least in so far as I've seen." White began tapping her nails on the table, the microphone easily picking it up.
"Rose is the only Crystal Gem we're missing, is this boy… related to her?" Rose was the second most wanted out of the group. She had somehow gotten ahold of classified documents detailing some of the Authority's interrogation practices.
Rose Quartz handed them off to the media, and an ugly smear campaign against White Diamond ensued. Investigators from the Justice Department and a Senate inquiry happened before the dust settled. To say White was furious was an understatement.
"Rose Quartz is dead; she passed away giving birth to Steven. The boy is her biological son. I retrieved the death certificate from Beach City town hall for confirmation." White stopped tapping her fingers on the table and nodded.
"Well, this is unprecedented. There's never been a male Gem before, the mutation for our abilities is tied to the XX chromosome in our DNA." The director finished and looked over to Yellow Diamond. Blue could see the gears turning in the general's head.
"To set the record straight," Blue continued, "Steven, did not attack me. He assisted me during the battle. He quite possibly saved my life, in fact." The colonel gave Aquamarine a venomous look.
"And I'd like to add that he is a minor, he's only 12 years of age. I wholly disapprove of his detainment, and it is my recommendation that he be released back to his biological father in Beach City immediately." Blue's icy gaze never left Aquamarine, who narrowed her eyes ever so slightly.
"He was detained because he is an accessory at the very least. He should be charged with aggravated assault. The boy should be incarcerated, he's a bad seed. Topaz witnessed the attack with me." Aquamarine snapped her head towards the bulky woman. Blue glared at her, waiting for a response.
"Eh-uh, honestly? I didn't see the actual fight or any sort of attack, ma'ams… Only the aftermath." She looked at Blue and swallowed thickly. Topaz didn't dare turn her head to Aquamarine, who had a hideous look on her face.
"I think in light of this discussion, we should let Steven Universe go back to his father. It's the Lt. colonel's word against Aquamarine's, and the colonel was the one fighting." Yellow Diamond said, leaning back in her chair while straightening the bottom of her jacket.
"Hmm, after we run some tests, though. The boy is an anomaly, we should get a sample of his DNA for our records and keep tabs on him." White's honeyed voice said thoughtfully.
"But yes, I agree with setting him free. It's never been our policy to hold a Gem against their will if they're not a danger to themselves or society, especially a minor. There have been strange mutations in recent years, we'll just keep an eye on him." The director's voice was absolute cheer, it was a beginning to an end of a flaw on her agency. White was pleased. (And that was a nigh-impossible task.)
"We're done here ladies, let's bring the Crystal Gems back to DC and start to wrap this up." The director nodded at Blue and left.
"Lt. colonel? I need a moment of your time please?" Yellow Diamond said, taking off her cap.
"Topaz, Aquamarine… You are dismissed." Blue said coolly. The giant soldier quickly got up and left. (Blue could swear she left skid marks on the floor.) Aquamarine followed suit with a scowl on her face.
Gilt colored eyes gazed into arctic blue ones. The pair regarded each other for a moment before saying anything.
"Are you alright?" Blue nodded, god, she was tired.
"That was a hell of an investigation you pulled off. You had almost nothing, you're amazing." Pride colored Yellow's voice. (Love colored Yellow's voice.)
"I… I don't feel amazing. I feel tired and angry, and I don't know what Aquamarine's motives are…" Blue looked at the closed door behind her. It was as if she could feel the diminutive woman glaring at her.
"She's a solid agent, but she's always been over-ambitious and overzealous. She was more than likely trying to advance herself with the discovery of this child you found." The general raked her hand through her short golden hair.
"I just want this to be over." Blue wiped tears from her eyes, she was done, so done.
"We're almost there, just a little further. I haven't said it enough in recent times but, Linna… I love you…" Melena leaned forward, her golden eyes revealing so many unspoken feelings.
"I love you too, Melena." The pair sat there for a long moment, beaming at each other.
"It's late. I'll be back tomorrow afternoon, w-we can talk then." Melena nodded and clenched her jaw.
"Get some sleep, Linna. I'll see you tomorrow." The video feed was cut, and Linna was left alone in the dark conference room.
… … … … … … … … …
She was made a mockery of for the last time. Oh, how she worked and toiled, she had sacrificed so much to get where she was today. But like so many times before this, Aquamarine had been passed over.
To have an opportunity pulled out from under her by an absentee depressed alcoholic! She should be the head of the investigative division, not Blue Diamond. As far as the agent was concerned, that position has been vacant for the past 15 years! The diminutive woman ground her teeth at the thought.
Then there was the boy. A boy Gem. Another mutation to be researched and studied. All three Diamonds let the opportunity slip through their fingers. What shocked Aquamarine, most of all, was White's response; "… we'll keep tabs on him." And there was no doubt in her mind that he would cause problems just like Rose Quartz.
At least testing was ordered on the child. Not that it would do too much good, he needed to be kept for study. It was just one child, so much could come of this.
Aquamarine walked down to the medical lab; they had been running the tests since they had arrived. She wasn't ordered to do this, and it was legally a gray area, especially in the absence of a parent. But this was important, there was much to be learned.
She ambled over to the medical lab. She went to enter when the agent observed a rather heated argument between the chief lab technician and one of the medical doctors.
"Just how am I supposed to deliver these findings to Lt. Colonel Diamant? Do you know the implications?" The high pitched nasally voice cut through the area. She was a Peridot class Gem, high intelligence, and an extreme aptitude for engineering. (A few select even possessed ferrokinesis.)
"She asked for them! We can't disobey an order." The doctor said, his hand was resting on his forehead.
"What's going on here? Is there a problem, Peridot? Doctor?" The pair started at the agent's approach.
"Ah, agent Aquamarine, uh, we've come up with some unusual findings with Steven Universe's DNA. Uh, as per protocol, we run any Gem DNA we receive through the Authority's codex. We do this to see if we can trace it back to any of the original Gems that were created during World War II." The Peridot said. She lifted her safety glasses and set them on top of her head.
"And what is so unusual about your findings, exactly?" The agent walked next to the pair putting her hands behind her back expectantly.
"We should really call the Lt. colonel in here…" The doctor said hesitantly.
"Show me now!" She was short in stature but not short in temper. It had been a long day, and Aquamarine's fuse was short.
The Peridot motioned to the DNA results on a nearby computer. Aquamarine's eyes grew wide; this was… This was something indeed.
"How many times was this test run?" The agent asked, her eyes never leaving the computer screen.
"Three times, ma'am." The Peridot replied, nervously.
"As I am not a geneticist, I need to make certain I'm reading this correctly." The agent slowly turned, a shrewd grin crawling across her face.
"The child shares 25% of his DNA with the colonel?"
"Yes, that is correct," The Peridot's voice cracked, she cleared it before speaking again.
"Without a doubt, Lt. Colonel Diamant is Steven Universe's maternal grandmother."
