Episode 19: When it Rains
Jack arrived back at Chase's HQ. It was now early morning and Chase was waiting for Jack and Peridot's return, having stayed up all night to greet them. Jack enters the building, mumbling to himself. "Stupid Gem and Monks… they really had to cross that line." Jack said to himself. Just then, Chase knocks on a table. This startled Jack a bit. "I see you have arrived back without Peridot." Chase said. "Let me gu-" "Oh, shut up, Chase. I knew you would look into the Crystal Glasses to prove me wrong." Jack said with an accusation. Chase was taken aback "Ach, Jack. Why must you accused me of something. I would nev-" Chase tries to say before Jack raise his hand. "Don't you give me any excuses. I did some thinking and I realized that you voted against Peridot because you saw her demise in the Crystal Glasses. That's why you voted against my suggestion regardless of whatever we can prevent it or not." Jack said. Chase lets out a noticeable sigh. "Alright, you caught me. I did indeed used the Crystal Glasses to peer into the future." Chase said.
Jack's blood boils again. "So, you didn't tell me so I can actively prevent it! What is wrong with you?!" Jack said with his raised voice. This led Wuya and Jackson to wake up and rushes into the room. "What's going on, it's like 8 am." Jackson said with a big yawn. Wuya was stunned to see Jack without Peridot. "I see…Peridot did get captured." Wuya said. Jack slams his fist on the table. "Yes, the Monks and Gems captured her and I have no way to retrieve her anytime soon, if ever." Jack said with a clutched fist. "It's all due to Chase withholding info that might have help me prevent Peridot's capture!" Wuya slowly walks up to Jack. "Jack, there's something I've been meaning to tell you. I voted in favor of saving Peridot. It was Chase and Jackson that voted against it." Wuya said.
This really shocked Jack. Wuya…the person who backstabbed him for Mala Mala Jong, the one that was going to replace him for Jackson after refusing any more help from her…voted in favor to keep Peridot around. "Wh-wh-what? Why?" Jack said, starting to simmer down. "I felt like Peridot did have some kind of potential, not the same level as you, but something might make her a valuable asset down the line. Yes, the Cluster was a sore issue but like you suggested to contain it and pull it out for an exchange, that really interested me. I suggested a 4 way split on earth, that way, we all get a piece of the earth instead of ruling it as one individual." Wuya said. Jack listened to Wuya and couldn't believe what he just heard. "Was...was it true, Chase?" Jack said with a look at Chase. Chase softly nods. "Even with that, I still felt like helping Peridot was a lost cause. We can do it ourselves." Chase said. Jack looks away a bit. "I need a night or so to myself. I just had one of the roughest night I ever had." Jack said. He walks to his room and falls onto his bed. He looks over to Peridot's now vacant bed. He remember all the good times Peridot and him discuss some ingenious plans that could lead them to victory. All those plans, now flushed away. Jack turns to his back and began to wonder outloud. "Oh, Peridot, how I miss you already. If only you weren't bubbled." Jack said to himself. He began to drift off to sleep.
Back at Steven's place, the Gems and Monks were outside the bathroom. "Peridot, open up, if the Cluster is putting all of us in danger, you need to inform us." Garnet said. Peridot was still in the bathroom, holding the knob. "NO! I hate all of you, and if I assume Jack refuses talking about the Cluster, then so am I!" Peridot said. "Oh, come on, is it like this big hunk of...granola" Amethyst said nonchalantly. A quiet beat appears. "What's granola?" Peridot said. "Yo, Amethyst, I don't expect the Cluster to be a big pack of food." Raimundo said. Kimiko steps up to the door. "Peridot, look, you are a techie and I'm a techie, surely we might come to an agreement. Maybe some kind of trade?" Kimiko said. "Oh, sure, as long as I can get my leg and arm attachments with my screen that has all my logs and all information. Oh wait, you all got rid of it, so no, I don't think we can reach some kind of an agreement." Peridot said. Omi and Clay glares at Amethyst. "What? It was amusing at the time, didn't think it would come back to bite me." Amethyst said.
Just then, they heard a flushing sound, revealing that Steven managed to still get inside the bathroom with Peridot. "Alright, Peridot, you can turn around right now." Steven said as he exits the bathroom. "Sorry for interrupting you conversation." Steven said with a smile. "Eh, don't worry about it, Steven." Raimundo said. "I swear, Peridot will crack any second now!" Pearl said, showing she's losing patience with this. "I'll never crack for the likes you, you...Crystal Monks Clods!" Peridot said with a laughter. "Oh, we got your clods RIGHT HERE, YOU LITTLE-!" Pearl said before Garnet interrupted. "Hold up, Pearl, if she's not going to be any help, we might need to investigate it ourselves." Garnet said. "That's sounds good but we need at least one person to hang back." Clay said. "I volunteer to hang back with Steven." Omi said. "That's sounds reasonable. You two will hang back to deal with our… "Guest"" Garnet said with an adjustment for her visor. "Besides, she's very harmless without her limb enhancers." Pearl said as the gems and the Monks, sans Omi and Steven, walk to the warp pad. "I'm not harmless!" Peridot shouts from the bathroom. "Oh, hush up!" Pearl shouts back from the warp pad. Just then, they warp away. Steven and Omi look at each other and nods. They now must make sure Peridot doesn't escape.
About a few hours pass and no words on the Gems and Monks. Steven is making some soup in the kitchen while Omi was meditating on the couch. Steven turns back to the bathroom. "They left, you know. You can come out now." Steven said, trying to coast Peridot out. "No! I-I like it here!" Peridot said. Omi notices the weather outside while he mediates. "Hey, Steven, it looks like it's about to rain." Omi said. Steven looks out the window. It's indeed starting to rain, and it was pouring. "Wow, you're right, Omi, it's really coming down." Steven said. Just then, a loud thunder strike is heard. As that happened, Peridot kicked the door open and rushes out, accidentally hitting into a wall in the process. "It's happening!" Peridot said in a panic. "What?! What is it?" Steven said. Peridot rushes to Steven "The Cluster! It's activating!" Peridot said. Omi looks on as Peridot began to break down "What else could be making that noi-" Peridot said as another thunder struck. This made Omi realized something. "I don't think it's the cluster, it's just outside, thundering." Omi said. "What?" Peridot said. "Yea, that's right, it's just thunder. It happens when it rains." Steven said. Peridot looks perplexed by it. "Wait, you don't know about rain?" Steven said. "...I don't know anything without my screen" Peridot admits. "It's fine, the rain is just water from the ocean. Here, I'll show you." Steven said turning to stove off. Omi hops off the couch as he walks over to the door with Steven and Peridot.
Steven and Omi walks out the door and enjoy the rain. Omi was doing some flip and kicks in the rain, doing a bit of spur of a moment training in the rain. Peridot, meanwhile, was reluctant on stepping outside. Peridot was getting cold feet on stepping outside. She watches Omi and Steven enjoy the rain. She slowly puts her hand out to the rain. Some raindrops landed on her skin. She sticks out her whole arm and then steps out the house. She was now fully in the rain. "See, isn't it cool? What do you think?" Steven said to Peridot. "Cool…" Peridot response. Omi was still doing his flips and kicks in the rain, really getting into his element.
A good while later, Omi, Peridot and Steven were back inside. Steven was drying his hair while Peridot pacing around, thinking to herself. "That was fun, huh?" Steven said. Omi nods. "Oh, yes, it was great to enjoy the rain." Omi said. "It's was…something. Hmmm...ehhh….Steven, Omi, I would like to tell you two something." Peridot said. She takes in a deep breath. "Thank you...for explaining this "rain" to me" Peridot said. "Oh, no problem." Steven said. "Yea, you seem to be more intelligent than I thought." Peridot said. "I've made up my mind." "Made up you mind, about what?" Omi asked. "I would like to share some...information about you two." Peridot said. "Aww, I know you used my toothbrush." Steven said. "N-no...well, sorta, yes...It's about the cluster." Peridot said. "Wait, you cracked?!" Omi said. "I haven't cracked!" Peridot responds. "Wait, you got to tell the gems and monks about it." Steven said."No! I don't want to talk to them! You are the only one I need!" Peridot said as she walks to Steven. "I can show you now, but my limb enhancers, my screen, my log, everything is gone. The only thing is that my logs are backed up to date 6-5-2 still exist in the Prime Kindergarten." she added. "So, wait, you need to go to the Kindergarten?" Omi said. "Yes, don't you two need to know about the Cluster?" Peridot said. Steven thinks a bit. "Alright, Omi, hang back, Peridot and I will head to the Kindergarten." Steven said. "YES!" Peridot said. "Buuut...you have to hold my hand at all time." Steven added. "Mmmm...fine." Peridot said. They held hands as they went to the warp pad. They warp out to the Kindergarten.
Back at the Kindergarten, The Monks and Gems were looking around, trying to figure out what the Cluster really is. "Man, this Cluster sounds to be really big. If Peridot and Jack knows about it, what chance does all of Heylin knows about it?" Raimundo said. "I don't exactly know but if it's really important to them to withhold information from us, we need to solve it as soon as we can." Garnet said. "Yea, plus we know that Jack really went into a meltdown after Peridot's poofing, but if they are withholding info about the Cluster, then we'll counter withholding info about Peridot then." Pearl said. "Sounds good to me." Amethyst said. Clay then thought of something. "Maybe if Peridot won't provide the info, maybe we'll offer her gemstone in exchange info for the Cluster?" Clay said. "Ehh...too risky, they could easily lie to us and get Peridot back into the Heylin clutches." Kimiko said. "Yea, plus Peridot don't trust anyone of us...well, maybe except Steven because he returned Peridot's foot of her limb enhancers." Raimundo said. "Well, I tried to think this one but yea, it's really flawed." Clay said.
Just then, they hear a loud screech. "Whoa, what was that?" Kimiko said. However, this alerted the Gems and Raimundo. "It's one of the Gem Mutants!" Garnet said. "Just as I feared, more gem mutants." Raimundo said, pulling out the Sword of the Storm. "I recommend you guys pull out your Shen Gong Wus." Pearl told Clay and Kimiko. They nods and pull out their wus. They began rushing to the noises. Just then, they heard Steven's scream. "Wait, was that Steven?" Amethyst said. "I thought Steven is making sure Peridot didn't escaped!" Raimundo said. "She must have somehow snuck out under Steven's nose and likely used the Warp pad." Garnet theorized. "Meaning that Steven is looking for Peridot and I assume she's also here!" Pearl added. The Monks continue to rush as they hear Steven's scream again. "Hang on, Steven!" Garnet said as they arrived to see 6 gem mutants. "Alright, one for everyone." Raimundo quips as he attack one of the gem mutants. They began dispatching the gem mutants with ease. Garnet managed to send an electric wave at the cluster mutant that was attacking Steven's bubble and poof it.
The gem mutants were gone and poofed. Garnet sends them to the temple in a bubble. They rush over to Steven and Steven dispels the bubble shield. "Steven, you okay?" Pearl asked. "Move aside, Steven." Peridot said "Peridot?!" Amethyst and Raimundo said at the same time. "What in tarnation are you two doing here?" Clay said. "Steven, I thought I told you to keep a close eye on her." Garnet said. "I did, but-" Steven said about ready to explain why Peridot's out of the bathroom. However, Peridot interrupted Steven. "He did what he been told" Peridot said. She gaze over to Steven and back to the Gems and Monks. "Alright, Gems and Monks, I've made up my mind...I have some information to tell you about the Cluster." Peridot said.
End of Episode 19