Chapter Nineteen: Loaded


The Next Day.

With all the trouble he had dealt with over the past few weeks, Director Mills was surprisingly calm at the revelation of Vargas' prior loyalties. But perhaps it was these very same issues that explained his lack of surprise, as he had more to deal with. "And…this is true, Mr. Vargas?"

Before him stood the whole of Fireteam Victor, plus Dr. Rhodes. "That it is," Vargas said, absolutely no shame or guilt in his voice. "Like I told Bridge, I used to be a cult member. When I learned all I could from the Children of Homeworld, I left to become a merc, which is how I joined BAINE. All the stuff with that plan to use mutants or summon Homeworld happened way after I had left."

The Director was quiet for a long time. "I…see. And your reason for not revealing this when the Children were moving against us was–"

"Like I said, I didn't want to make myself a target," Vargas interrupted, becoming annoyed. "Like what's happening now." He shot an angry glance in Daniel's direction. "If that's on me, then that's on me, but I'm not loyal to them anymore. I never was."

"Very well," Mills said, after pondering for another moment. "Although your lack of transparency is concerning, you have been a loyal member of BAINE for these last few decades. Considering the threat we face is much greater than the Children of Homeworld, I see no reason why Vargas should not be chosen for the Quartzbreaker, seeing as he is the most qualified candidate among you."

Daniel stepped forward. "Sir, not to second guess you or anything, but given all the paranoia and distrust that's been going around base lately, is giving someone who used to work with the enemy access to such a powerful weapon really the best idea?"

Mills didn't have to answer, as Hester did so for him. "Daniel, I understand you're just trying to prevent anything bad from happening, but don't you think you're being a bit irrational? Luke used to be in SEEN, and under similar circumstances, no less, but you were willing to let him use the Quartzbreaker. James didn't want to let Valdain anywhere near the shooting star, but you vouched for him."

"I…but…this is different," Daniel said. "SEEN is gone, and Valdain wants to fight Alkaria, but Aster is still–"

"It's different, is it? Just how is it different?" Vargas turned to confront Daniel. "I fought the Children with everything I had, just like the rest of you! If I was some sort of sleeper agent sent by Aster to infiltrate BAINE, why's he still locked up down there, huh? Why haven't I done anything to even slightly help the cause of the people I obviously still work for!?"

"That's enough!" shouted Mills, quieting everyone. "Captain Bridge, you are indeed out of line. Your suspicion of Agent Vargas goes well beyond what is necessary. That said, he did intentionally obfuscate details that could have aided in the fight against the Children: what's past is past, though there will have to be consequences. But for now, we must focus on the threat at hand. Dr. Rhodes, see to it that Agent Vargas is familiarized with the Quartbreaker's systems."

He nodded. "Right away, sir." Vargas followed him down the hallway into the testing chamber, leaving the rest of his team in the office. Unsure of whether they should follow him or simply head back to their quarters, they simply stayed where they were.

It took a while, but Ichigo finally said something. "Well, um…that was a whole thing. You got something bothering you, Danny Boy?"

"I'll tell you what's bothering him," said Luke. "Aster's worked his way into his head. He's trying to spread dissension in the ranks, make an opportunity to escape. That sound about right?"

Daniel pondered this. "I'm not sure what to think anymore. It's certainly possible I'm placing my mistrust of Aster onto Vargas. It wouldn't be the first time I've gone out of line."

"Yeah, maybe you're right about being wrong," said James. "And if you were wrong, then…maybe so was I."


"So, how do you feel? Any discomfort, physical or mental, that I should know about?" asked Rhodes. He took Vargas' bitter silence as a no. "Okay then, just procedure to check. Let's get you suited up."

Vargas stood in the center of the ring as mechanical arms placed pieces of white armor onto his form. His expression remained dour as the pieces clicked into place, remaining so until the helmet obscured his face. With a hiss of air leaving the suit, his visor lit up with the glow of a heads-up display. "High-tech stuff," he said.

"Yes, I spared no expense with this," said Rhodes, just glad to not be sitting in uncomfortable silence. "And if you think that's impressive, just wait until we get you acquainted with this thing's weaponry! Head down into the shooting range, please."

With a whirring of servos and clanking of heavy footfalls, the newly-enhanced Vargas made his way into the testing room. There waited an enormous gun connected via cable to an equally large battery, which was affixed to his back. Even from the viewing deck, Rhodes could tell he was excited as he hoisted the massive weapon.

After taking a moment to orient himself, Vargas unleashed a stream of plasma on wave after wave of holographic targets. The enthusiasm in his voice was palpable as he roared like an animal, slicing through the targets with the retractable energy blade. By the time the test had finished, he seemed to have reached enlightenment. At least for a second, as he soon set his weapon down, panting.

"Okay. I'll admit…at first, it was mostly just the principle of it all," he said. "It wasn't that I desperately wanted to be a Quartzbreaker so much as it was I didn't like Bridge accusing me of things. But after seeing what this thing's capable of…I gotta say, it's pretty badass."

If that wasn't a glowing endorsement, Rhodes didn't know what was. "I'm so glad you think so!" he said. "You and the other Quartzbreakers will be on the front lines, defending Earth from our enemies! I just knew you'd be perfect for this role."

The newly-appointed Quartzbreaker turned towards the viewing deck. "Hey, speaking of…you believe me, right? About not bein' a bad guy?"

The question caught Rhodes off guard. "Well…of course. I wouldn't have wanted you here if I thought you were working for our enemies. But, I mean, I don't really think it matters what people believe, right?"

"Yeah," said Vargas, "you just keep tellin' yourself that." Once more, he hoisted up the massive gun. "So, how's about you fire up round two?"


August 4, 2016. Beach City.

While Gina had noticed that all three of the Crystal Gems were unusually dour when she arrived to meet them, she had assumed it had something to do with Jasper or Homeworld. And while she would learn that was indeed part of it, the actual cause of their distress was something she never would have seen coming.

Sitting on a bench at Funland, she processed the information they gave her. "So…let me see if I have this right," she said. "This friend of yours, this Bismuth, you thought she died during the Gem War. But she was actually bubbled by Rose because she built a weapon designed specifically to shatter Gems?"

Amethyst was looking away, and Pearl had her eyes shut tight, as though struggling to hold her emotions in. Only Garnet, stone-faced as ever, gave a small nod. "She wanted to use it on Homeworld Gems," the fusion said quietly. "On anyone who stood against Rose Quartz."

"Then that means…all that stuff with SEEN was…" Gina connected the dots. "I'm so sorry. We should have seen this coming."

"Nobody could have seen this coming." Pearl sounded bitter–not angry, but bitter. "Bismuth was always the most, er, gung-ho about our fight, but she wasn't…she would never…" She became choked up for a moment, and then slammed her fist down on the armrest. "She attacked Steven! And given what he told us, she did the same with Rose! How could she just do that!?"

Garnet placed a hand on her shoulder before continuing. "What's worse is that Rose never told us any of this. She had Bismuth bubbled back then, and told us she was dead. She could have said something, but…"

"And now that Steven knows this, it's only a matter of time before…before…before he finds out," Pearl said quietly.

"About Rose, and Pink Diamond?" said Gina. "Look, I-I recognize that you all must be going through a lot, but I doubt I'm the right person to help you out. Actually, I came here to ask you for help."

"With these Koh'i'Noor people, we remember," said Garnet. "But even ignoring the present circumstances, there isn't much we can do. The Koh'i'Noor have an army, ships, weapons–and all we have are the three of us. Five, counting Peridot and Lapis."

"Five?" asked Gina. "But what about Ste–"

"I'm not letting Steven go up against an entire army of killer robots!" Pearl said firmly. "He isn't ready for a battle like that–none of us are!"

"Look, I get that you're worried, but we aren't exactly helpless," Gina said. However, the way she said it sounded like she was trying to convince herself, rather than them. "One of our allies helped us build a shooting star, which we can use to destroy the Koh'i'Noor ship in one fell swoop!"

"Oh, a shooting star!" Pearl said. "Do you have any idea how volatile those things are!? I wouldn't want Steven on the same continent as one of those, let alone–"

"You can't keep him sheltered forever!" shouted Gina, getting to her feet. "One of these days, Homeworld's gonna come back for real, and then what!?"

"I don't know!" shouted Pearl. "Don't you think I've been thinking about that every day for the last six thousand years!? The way things are now, this planet doesn't stand a chance against a full Homeworld invasion! Even with all of you, all of us, the entire force of humanity, we cannot. Fight. Them!"

Amethyst suddenly spoke up. "That hasn't stopped us from trying! I mean, we beat Lapis, Peridot, Jasper twice, the freaking Cluster–why are some stupid robots such a big deal?"

"Those 'stupid robots' can vaporize the Earth without even trying!" Pearl snapped. "And even then, they're still not as strong as Homeworld! Why can't you see that–"

Amethyst jumped to her feet as well. "No, why can't you see that we're stronger than you think!?" she yelled. "I know you see humans as just some dumb organics, and me as just a failure, but we aren't! So if you'd stop projecting for one minute–"

"This isn't about you!" said Pearl.

"Yeah. You're right. It's about you." A bitter Amethyst suddenly stormed off, disappearing into the crowd. Pearl jumped up to follow after her.

"Amethyst, wait!" she called, vanishing as well.

Breathing heavily, Gina sat back down beside Garnet. The two were quiet for a moment until the latter spoke. "I apologize for them. Don't take any of this personally, it's just that…we've been going through a lot recently. After everything that happened with Bismuth, the Koh'i'Noor attack was the last straw for all of us. Myself included.

"Yeah, I'm sorry too," said Gina. "I can't imagine what you're all going through. Not just with Bismuth, but with…all of this." She sighed. "I just wish I knew what to do about these guys. I feel so helpless, you know?"

She looked up when a comforting hand was placed on her shoulder. "Now that, I can understand," said Garnet. She took off her visor. "I know this seems scary. But during my time here on Earth, I have seen humans accomplish things Ruby and Sapphire could only ever have dreamed of seeing them do. You went from building huts made of straw to building bases on the moon, all in the matter of only a few thousand years! The Koh'i'Noor don't stand a chance!"

"Thanks, Garnet," said Gina. "And, not to ask too much of you, but…do you think you could do your fortune teller thing? Just to give me an idea of what we're in for."

"You're in luck: I have seen all possible futures for what lies ahead," Garnet told her. "In many, the Koh'i'Noor are victorious, obliterating all life on Earth. But in just as many others, BAINE prevails, buying our planet another day. But in all futures, there is one consistency: for their weapon to be the most effective, they will have to fire it where the planet's crust is the thinnest. The deepest point on Earth."

"The deepest point on Earth…" Gina thought for a moment. "So, that would be, what, the Marianas Trench? The Challenger Deep?" Garnet nodded. "Alright tha–that should give us an advantage, knowing where they'll strike. I'll be sure to tell everyone as soon as I get back."

The two of them stood up. "I wish you luck," Garnet said. "And remember, no matter the odds, the future is never set in stone. I have faith you will be able to overcome your enemy. I…should probably get looking for those two now."

"You do that," Gina said with a smile. "And…good luck to you, as well."

The two bid each other their goodbyes, and went their separate ways. But although Garnet was now alone, the conversation was not finished. "We should have told her. No, it won't be a problem. But it could be! No, they won't come back, not if Valdain stops them! But…is this one of the ones where he betrays them?"