Barn: Night…
Things were certainly tense given what Peridot said up on the Moon Base; however, it soon turned out to be a real problem. Especially once Steven revealed to everyone what Peridot took from said Moon Base.
"She took a direct line to the Diamonds!" Pearl exclaimed loudly in shock. "What was she thinking?"
"Man, after everything we've gone through, she's still out to get us!" Amethyst angrily exclaimed. "Oh, I'm taking back all my cool nicknames for her! So long, Peri and P-dot, hello… uhh… ah… Ahhhhh, I'm too mad! I'll think of something later."
"I can't believe I thought someone like her had actually changed." Lapis added.
Then, repeated horn honks can be heard from the barn.
"I see she knows what a horn is now." Steven stated annoyed.
"You locked her in the truck?" Jason asked and received a nod in return. "That should be fine for now, but the moment the honks stop, I'm going to check on her."
"You offered her a lot of your trust." Garnet stated.
"I did!" Steven exclaimed. "In the end, it blew up in my face. You guys have been protecting Earth for thousands of years, and she could've destroyed all of that. A whole earth… Why did I think I could change her mind?"
"It's because you're a good person Steven." Lapis stated sincerely. "You tend to see the good in everyone and help them. Considering I'm here with you guys now, that's a good thing to have in my books."
"She's right." Garnet agreed. "Like your mother, you seem to have a little more patience than the rest of us, but not everyone deserves that patience."
"You gave her plenty of opportunities, and it was her decision to squander them." Jason stated. "There wasn't anything wrong in you giving her a chance." He heard the honking stop, so the hybrid walked over to the barn. "I think I'm going to keep watch over her now."
Steven sighed. "I guess you're all right."
"Look on the bright side." Pearl chimed in while still holding the device. "At least you got this thing away from her before she did any real damage."
Before anything else could be said, Jason was knocked out the wall of the barn and sent tumbling along the ground.
Lapis spouted her wings and flew over to him. "Jason!"
For a second, the entire side of the barn was just dust and debris.
"Ohhhhhh nooooo!" Steven moaned.
The familiar green robot belonging to Peridot waddled out with said gem in the cockpit laughing maniacally. "Free, freeeee!"
Lapis landed beside Jason who ended up smacking into a tree. "Jason, are you alright?"
"I've been better." The soldier groaned. "My question is who let her rebuild that?"
"How did she escape?" Steven asked.
Pearl gasped as a car door suddenly embedded itself into the ground after being thrown.
"Fools! Your invisible rotary shield was no match for me once I applied logic!" She declared loudly.
Steven grunted in frustration while the rest charge her.
The green gem reached into the barn and pulled out the truck she had been trapped in. "Now, I'm going to do this right." She chucked it at the approaching gems making them scatter before plucking the device from Pearl's hands. "See? None of you know what you're doing!"
Jason and Lapis joined the remaining Crystal Gems.
"We can't let her get that thing working." Jason thought. "Homeworld may already be interested in Earth, but we don't need them to be even more so like this." He looked back to the barn before getting an idea. "Lapis, stay with the others and help them!"
He took off to the confusion of the water gem. "Jason!?"
"Forget him!" Amethyst interrupted her gem begins to glow. "I've been ready for this!" She shapeshifted into a giant, purple helicopter. "Get in."
Pearl, Garnet and even Lapis get in without question.
"Where's Steven?" Pearl asked over the fluttering of the helicopter blades.
They look out to see him nearby sulking. "Stupid Peridot. Stupid giant robot! Oh, why did I have to encourage her?"
Garnet shapeshifted her arm longer and brought him into Amethyst. "There's no time for feeling horrible. We have to catch Peridot before she contacts Yellow Diamond."
"That's right." Pearl patted his head. "You can feel horrible all you want back at the temple."
Amethyst began flying straight for Peridot. Said green gem was trying to use her robot claws to activate the device. Unfortunately, her focus on the device doesn't allow her to spot the shadow looming over her.
She looks up to see the purple helicopter looking at her. "What's up, Peri-snot?!"
"Good one, Amethyst!" Steven complimented.
As Pearl, Garnet, and Lapis summon their weapons, the green gem yelps in shock at them. She grunts as Garnet launches her gauntlets likes missiles directly at the gem's robot. She's thrown off the main road and teeters precariously close to landing on the power lines.
She ended up righting herself up. "Graaaaa! You'll pay for…"
She didn't get to finish as Jason came speeding down the road in his SUV and rammed straight into her robot's legs. Normally, the car would have taken the brunt of the damage, but this was an army made, armored vehicle. As such, he was merely left with some dents.
Peridot's robot; meanwhile, was sent flying through the air. She fell onto the power lines sending an electrical burst through the robot's systems and rendering it unable to move as it lays on the ground in a heap. Jason turned his car to the side and skid to a stop before leaping out.
Peridot groaned and looked out at what she can see from her cockpit. She gasps and smiles upon spotting the communicator barely a foot away. It's just such a shame that Pearl launched her spear directly at the device. It didn't pierce it, but it did send it tumbling away.
Amethyst transformed back to normal. "Dog pile!"
She, Pearl, Lapis, and Garnet fall to the ground directly on top of Peridot. After Garnet puts Steven down, the others began pounding away at the robot housing the green gem. Peridot managed to find a way out from the onslaught through the arms of her robot.
She grabbed the communicator only for Steven to spot her. "You're not getting away with it!" He ran in and began struggling with her. "I trusted you! I spend all that time bonding with, hoping for, and caring about you!"
"You don't get it either!" Peridot exclaimed as they struggled. "This is your whole prooobleeem! Your emotions rule out reason! I will do what must be done!"
With a twist, the communicator activated.
"Steven!" Jason ran in and grabbed his brother figure. "We need to go."
He ran with the kid in his arms and joined the others in bedding down behind Peridots robot.
"She'll sort this out." Peridot giggled at the idea of finally being able to speak to her Diamond.
The communicator opened revealing another pearl who looked firm, dignified, and professional. "This is the Yellow Diamond control room."
"Is that another pearl?" Amethyst asked.
"Who is she?" Steven asked Pearl.
"Ugh, not all pearls know each other, Steven." Peral grumbled.
"Who authorized you to make this call?" Yellow Pearl requests firmly of Peridot.
"No one, b-b-but it's an emergency!"
"That's no excuse to use the Direct Diamond Communication Channel."
"Pearl." A new voice sounded from off the communicator's screen.
Yellow Pearl tensed up at being called by this other gem.
"That's got to be Yellow Diamon or at least someone up the chain of command." Jason thought.
"Yes, my Diamond?" Yellow Pearl quietly asked.
"Why is there someone on the Diamond line?" The new voice asked of her.
"I don't know." She gestured to the screen. "I was just about to tell her…"
"I'll take it from here." The voice declared.
It was grabbed and brought up to reveal Yellow Diamond.
"Is that…"
"Yellow…"
"Diamond." Amethyst, then Pearl, and finally Garnet stated.
"So, that's one of the diamonds…" Jason commented shocked at how large she was.
"My diamond!" Peridot crossed her arms into the diamond formation. "Peridot, reporting in."
"Which peridot?" Yellow Diamond lazily asked.
"Facet-2-F-5-L, Cut-5-X-G." Peridot informed. "I'm sorry to contact you this way, but all other forms of communication have been destroyed, and…"
A simple hand gesture from Yellow Diamond interrupts her. "This says you're behind schedule on your mission to…" She looked closely at the other screen before showing interest. "How is the Earth?"
"It's… full of life." Peridot replied.
"Organic life… Where is the Jasper I assigned you, and why aren't you calling from the ship?" Yellow demanded.
"The ship was destroyed." Peridot answered.
"By whom?" Yellow questioned.
"I-I-I-It was destroyed by…" Peridot hesitated as she gazed back to Steven. "No one!" This surprised everyone. "There was… an accident… while we were… landing?"
Yellow Diamond sighed. "I'll inform your manager of your incompetence." Peridot deflated at the answer. "Now, what is the status of The Cluster?"
"The Cluster will emerge shortly."
"Good. We'll finally get some use out of that miserable planet." Yellow voiced. "Thank you for your report, Peridot. There'll be a ship heading to your location to take you to your next assignment."
She moved to terminate the call until Peridot spoke up. "Wait! I wouldn't have called to waste your time with a report."
"You already have." Yellow Diamond stated annoyed.
"No, I mean the reason I called. The real reason is… I believe we should terminate The Cluster."
"…Why?"
"The organic ecosystem creates resources unique to this world. We can't sacrifice all that potential just for one geo-weapon!" Peridot tried to reason. "I'd like to tell you some plans I came up with to utilize the planet without disrupting the local…"
"I've heard enough!" Yellow declared firmly. "I don't care about potential and resources."
"What!?" Peridot exclaimed shocked at the news.
"I want my Cluster, and I want that planet to die. Just make that happen."
"No!"
Yellow Pearl gasped at the defiance that Peridot showed her Diamond.
Said Diamond doesn't look happy at all about being denied. "Are you questioning my authority?"
"I'm... questioning your objectivity, my Diamond!" Peridot quickly tried to salvage her unintentional insult but fails.
"Well!" Yellow Pearl blanches at the green gem
"You are out of line." Yellow Diamond firmly stated as she stood.
"I just think…"
"I'm not interested in the thoughts of a puny Peridot."
"But…"
"You have disrespected this channel and my time with your presence. You would do well to…"
"But…"
"SHUT YOUR MOUTH!" Peridot tensed and cowered at the command. "You have failed at every stage of this mission. Your only chance to redeem yourself is to obey this simple order. You are to leave The Cluster to grow. It will tear apart the Earth, and I will take immense satisfaction in erasing that hideous rock off our star maps. Is that clear!?"
"I won't do it!" Peridot shouted much to the delight and surprise from the ones behind the broken Peribot. "I can tell you with certainty that there are things on this planet worth protecting!"
"What do you know about the Earth?" Yellow Diamonds asked.
"Apparently more than you… You, CLOD!" At Peridot's words, Yellow Diamond scrunches her face hard in anger "Uuh! Peridot, out!"
With one, final Diamond Salute, she quickly takes the initiative and shuts off the communicator before anymore can be said. Everyone came out from behind the broken robot and ran up to congratulate the green gem who looked like she was ready to pass out.
"That was amazing!" Steven yelled excitedly.
"You proved me wrong Peridot." Lapis declared.
"You got guts." Jason added.
"I can't believe I just did that…" Peridot groaned.
"You thought you could change her mind." Garnet pointed out.
"Yellow D got torn down by the Peri-dactyl!" Amethyst excitedly yelled.
She doesn't respond to the compliment and instead sighs before handing the communicator to Pearl. "Can one of you take this?"
"Why?" Pearl asked as she takes it.
"Because it can be remotely detonated." Peridot explained.
At that moment, the device starts to glow and everyone freaks out.
"How do we stop it?!"
"Just get rid of it!"
"Here Amethyst." Pearl quickly passed the explosive to the purple gem.
"What am I supposed to do with it!?" She passed it to Jason. "Here!"
"Okay, just give me a…" Suddenly, the beeping stops because he ended up activating it. "Oh, that's not what I wanted to do."
Suddenly, Jason was now looking at Yellow Diamond. The only bright side to this situation was that the countdown had stopped.
"What is this!? Who are you!? Where is the Peridot that was using that communicator before!?" Yellow Diamond demands before realizing what he is. "Oh, I see now. You're a human. Ugh! Of course. you must be the organic life she was talking about…"
Something in Jason came roaring to the surface as this gem looked down on half of what he is. "I don't not want to hear another peep out of you until I am done speaking!" Electricity sparked around him. "Not one word!" Everyone, even Peridot, looked at him surprised.
"You're here insulting my species, and simply expect me to take that disrespect? I won't stand for it. You have no power over me or my kind. We will not be spoken to like this. Have I made myself perfectly clear or do you need me to repeat myself?"
Yellow Pearl's mouth was agape in surprise and horror while Yellow Diamond was livid at the lack of respect. "Do you know who I am?"
"You are Yellow Diamond. From what I gather, one of four diamonds that make up the Great Diamond Authority. You command many gems and soldiers; however, I don't care."
She looked taken back by that information. "I could destroy your planet with a simple command! You don't want to anger me you insignificant being."
"Why should I care when you've already doomed my planet?" Jason questioned as water merged with the lighting. "If you set foot on Earth, I'll shatter you. No matter how strong you are, I will find a way to shatter you.
The people, family, friends, and woman I love call this planet home. No one will threaten that. Especially not someone who sends others to do her dirty work." His eyes, hair, and gems flash green briefly. "If you know what's good for you, you'll leave Earth alone."
Jason shut the communicator down, and the beeping resumed; however, he simply chucked it into the air. It traveled so far that they could see the thing until it harmlessly exploded. Jason was panting before he returned to normal and fell back. Lapis rushed forward and caught him.
"Thanks Lapis." Jason took a few, deep breathes as she let him lean on her. "I didn't know I was so tired."
"It's alright Jason." Lapis blushed slightly before kissing his cheek. "Also, I love you to."
Jason simply smiled at that while Peridot groaned as she went back to laying on the ground. "I thought I could reason with her."
"Yeah, you really made her mad." Amethyst stated.
"Then, you insulted her to her face." Pearl added with a smirk.
"Do you know what this means!?" Steven excitedly asked.
At the thought, Peridot curled up on her side. "That I'm a traitor to my home world?"
"You're a Crystal Gem!" Steven exclaimed with a hug.
"Whether you like it or not." Garnet added.
With that last statement, Peridot fell into an even deeper, depressed state. As the others crowd around her to congratulate her, Jason looked to the sky.
"Are you okay?" Lapis asked.
"I'm good Lapis." Jason stated but didn't make a move to stand on his own two feet since he did like being close to the water gem. "Just thinking is all."
This chapter is the penultimate chapter to the end of this story's season 2. Next chapter, everything converges in on our heroes. Jasper, Jade & Beryl, The Cluster, and Humanity's Defense. I'm not entirely certain just how long the finale for this season will be, but I can tell you it will come eventually. I'd like to now take this opportunity to discuss the Diamonds since after season 2 is when they started to become more relevant beyond characters just talking about them.
No matter how I end up utilizing them in this story, it ultimately won't add or take away from the canon versions. When I make them more of a constant, my goal will be to cut out dissonance. For as much as I love Steven Universe and like the Diamonds as characters, even I must admit that the canon material ultimately portrayed two differing versions of the Diamonds with one simply winning out over the other. Ultimately, the plans I have just feel right for this story.
Marbled Gold: The Moon Base, in this timeline, most assuredly won't stand; however, all side projects must be put on the back burner until The Cluster is dealt with. The creation of the robots, Pearl's, Peridot's, and Jason's were exceptions to this given Peridot's stubbornness. That said, you can bet your bottom dollar Jason will not leave a whole moon base, just full of gem tech, alone. Like he says, any technology abandoned by gems becomes his.
Guest: Thank you.