Episode 23: Beta
Amethyst, Steven, Raimundo, and Jack were heading to the barn. Amethyst was busy using her whip, practicing it. "Did you guys see that? Wa-poosh, just Wa-poosh!" Amethyst said. "Yea, it sounds like it getting better." Steven said. "No, I'm feeling like it getting worse. It was like Wshh, superfast." Amethyst said. "And this is why we needed a day off from training today." Raimundo said. "How else did we need to go to the barn just to make sure Jack would tag along…no offense." "Hey, I hadn't seen Peri in a few weeks now, and I figured why not see her and Lapis?" Jack said. "That reminds me… I wonder how they are doing." Steven said. "Maybe they drive each other crazy and destroyed the barn." Amethyst said. They soon saw the barn. "Wow, They sure did something to the Barn." Raimundo said.
The barn was heavily modified, which consist of the silo covering up the hole that Peridot had made, a small tent with a green canadian flag, ornaments hanging around, and more importantly a truck placed on the ceiling. Peridot and Lapis were watching Camp Pining Hearts in the back of the truck. Steven, Raimundo, Amethyst, and Jack would arrive to the bottom. Lapis and Peridot sees both of them and head down. "Steven, nice to see you again!" Lapis said with a big smile. "Same with you Lapis." Steven said. Peridot rushes up to Jack and gives him a hug. "Nice to see you again, Jack." Peridot said. "Yea, I was a bit too focused on my projects and was meant to visit you soon." Jack admits. Peridot soon sees Amethyst. "Wow, Amethyst. You certainly changed." Peridot said. Amethyst mostly remained quiet. "Come on, Amethyst, let's look around the barn." Raimundo softly tells Amethyst. Peridot nods as all 6 of them enter the barn.
They look around the barn and Peridot and Lapis showed off their "Meep-Morps". Raimundo and Jack were impressed by their skill along with Steven. Amethyst...could care less. Jack looks over at the silo that had some fishes and the plushie that she won from the fair. Jack noticed that the neck on the plushie was slightly ripped. He had saw that Peridot was wearing the bowtie that was on the plushie. "That reminds me, how is Funland doing?" Raimundo asked. "Well, whenever I wasn't working on my projects, I was making sure that Funland is enjoyable. I had began to slowly introduce some of my Jackbots to be as employees, like for example, one of the jackbot would make food, another one would handle one of the attractions, like a roller coaster for example, and one would be security. Currently, there's 40 that have been introduced with more on the way. The guest was originally hesitant about that idea, but has since been fairly received well. Not highly praised but it's a slow but methodical plan." Jack said.
Raimundo nods as he looks at Amethyst. She was not happy still and was heading out. Raimundo quickly excuses himself and follow Amethyst. Raimundo catches up to Amethyst. "Amethyst...something wrong?" Raimundo said. Amethyst was not talking. "Let me guess...it's about Jasper?" Raimundo asked. Amethyst somberly nods. "Look, I know you want revenge, but it's poisoning your mindset. I really want you to succeed but I want you to be yourself." Raimundo said. "Well, ever since you saved my butt from Jasper with Steven and Connie, I…I feel like I'm the weak link of the Gems side…if not the entire team." Amethyst said. "Think about it, you managed to give Jasper some issues while I was out of commission, not only that, you held me off a good amount in our fight. I…I just don't know what I'm worth anymore." Amethyst said. Raimundo places his hand on one of Amethyst's shoulder. "I know you are going through. Remember, I was denied to be Xiaolin Apprentice because I went against Master Fung's words and got backhanded by Mala Mala Jong while also unintentionally revealing where you guys were. What I did was to clear my mind and make sure I would come back nice and fresh. Get the Apprentice one way or another. I'm trying to help clear your mind and make sure you can get back at Jasper at the right time." Raimundo said. Amethyst looks down a bit.
Peridot and Steven soon arrived. "Something wrong, Amethyst?" Peridot asked. "What did Steven tell you?" Amethyst said, clearly in a down mood. "Well…" Steven said. "Look, why compare yourself to Jasper? I mean, both of you were from earth, but your kindergarten are night and day." Peridot said. "Wait, wait, both of us...from earth?" Amethyst said. Jack walks up next to Raimundo. "Something going on?" Jack asked. "Jasper is from Earth, somehow." Raimundo told Jack. "Oh, yea, you are from the prime Kindergarten. She's from the Beta Kindergarten. More specifically in Facet Nine." Peridot said. "Any of you seen that place?" All 4 of them shakes their head. "We hadn't known it till now." Jack said. "Well, if you like to know, well, we should head out." Peridot said. She takes her bowtie off and places it at a nearby makeshift table. She head over to Lapis and tell her what she and the other would be doing. Lapis gave the go ahead. Soon, they head to the warp pad.
A bit later, they arrived at the Beta Kindergarten. "Here we are, Jasper's origins…The Beta Kindergarten!" Peridot said. They head out. They look around. "Man, do I feel underwhelmed or something? It's pretty bright out here." Steven said. "Well, it is Red sandstone. Beta… am I right." Peridot said. Jack chuckles a bit. "More like Alpha" Jack fires back. They follow Peridot some more. "Man, this place had the right condition for growing in a pinch… but it's way too small! Total rush job." Peridot said. "Wait, rush job? They rushed it?" Raimundo said "Yea, Homeworld was getting desperate on getting more soldiers on the ground and they rushed it to get more assistance." Peridot said. "Huh…had no idea that happened." Amethyst said. "It would make you appreciate the Kindergarten more, Amethyst. Sure, you spent a bit more time in the ground but everything else stacked in your favor." Peridot said. Jack nods as he sees an injector with no legs. "Wait, where are the legs on this one?" Jack pointed out. "Well, in order for it to work, it needs vertical alignment, a clean strong silhouette, no angles." Peridot said. Raimundo noticed one. "Uhh...like this?" He pointed out. It shows an exit hole bigger than others.
Peridot began to examine the hole. The others look on. "Do you think this is Jasper's hole?" Raimundo whispers to Jack. "I honestly don't know." Jack said. "If it is, this might demoralized Amethyst." Raimundo looks at Amethyst, who looked on. Soon, Peridot return, looking a bit defeated. "Well?" Amethyst said. "Everything looks up to par, if not more so...Jasper's hole is so exact." Peridot admits. Amethyst bemoans a bit. "Look, Ames. She may have the perfect hole, but you got allies to back you up and help make you stronger." Raimundo said. "It doesn't help that she got more experience in fighting than me." Amethyst said. "Experience doesn't matter. Look at Jack, he was the least experienced and he managed to best Kimiko with sheer will power." Raimundo said. "Yea, and that was before I worked with Chase. Goes to show how much potential can really make a difference." Jack added. Amethyst thinks a bit. "Look, Amethyst…Let's do a deal…You and I battle Jasper as allies. We'll attack when we feel the time is right. Can you guys respect us for doing that?" Raimundo said. Peridot, Steven, and Jack agreed to it.
Jack looks around and sees a hole near by. "Huh, what about this one, Peri?" Jack said. Peridot began to examine it. "Huh…this seems to be dug out recently." Peridot said. "Wait, recently?" Raimundo said. "Someone is here?" Jack said. "Seems like it." Peridot said as they go deeper. They found more similar holes, some with metal poles. Jack looks closely at one when a corrupted monster lashes out and nearly hits him. "JACK!" Peridot and Raimundo said. They pulled Jack away and he was uninjured, thankfully. "Wait, corrupted gems…in cages?" Jack said. "Who would do this?" Raimundo said. Amethyst then sees a familiar silhouette in the dust. "I think I know who." She said as she pulls out her flail. The dust settles to show not just Jasper… but another person next to her…Hannibal. Looks like we might have another battle pretty soon between Jasper and Amethyst with Raimundo thrown in there as well. Things are starting to get interesting.
End of Episode 23