A week and a half had passed.

A week too long had gone.

Already, a reluctant and unspoken taboo had been agreed upon between everyone in the settlement.

Workshops almost seemed to hum with less life, less light, as their bellows stood silent and the furnaces lay idle. They sat, waiting to forge refined ingots and new tools from the scrap supposed to be brought back by the expedition. An expedition which, as the days went by, and in spite of anxious hopes of everybody, many now knew deep down would never come.

Crowds too gathered less frequently, and when they did, they would always be smaller, and a perpetual shroud of sombreness would be smothering any conversation to be had. Despite the topic of the missing expedition seldom being broached, at least directly, one could in an instant tell that any discussion was made more dour by its happening.

And how could it not? They were a mere few hundreds strong here, everyone in the community knew eachother to an extent. They spoke, they sang, they shared possessions and moments - together.

Each loss was something to be mourned by all, especially when it was one of the most senior members of the settlement... and a pair of newcomers, who thought they were at last free of persecution, who though they had at last been welcomed with open arms to a haven of safety, only then in so short a time to be snatched so cruelly from home and hearth.

Perhaps, in the minds of a few who could admit it, or those who truly despaired, never to be seen again.

Some may have denied it, more may have tried to forget about it, but not even the most willful ignorance or comforting of lies could numb the painful truth. Not for long.

"Hello? 9XK? 9XK can you hear me?" Zircon tried contacting someone, anyone, from the surface slum she knew, and again, her efforts were to no avail.

This was perhaps the sixth-score time she had made an effort in any spare time she had these past few days, and each failure had, in tandem with the growing absence of absolutely anything from the expedition - be it anything from a final transmission, to their miraculous reappearance - had been grinding down at her, lattice by lattice.

At first, after the third day had passed, most thought nothing of it. Delays were, after all, not too uncommon, what with the sometimes necessary diversions in the usual path to avoid robonoid patrols, among other things. Some even were still jolly enough to snicker to eachother about the situation, making benign jokes about Pery's reputation being famous - or rather, infamous - at having her butt heads against those who she was otherwise supposed to be bargaining with, which too was not uncommon.

But once the fourth day had come and gone without a trace of the expedition, the laughter began to wither, and by its decaying, any trace of humour had died. In its ashes began to sprout a sickly growth; a thorny thing that crept through any space it could to strangle any hope or joy it could get its malignant grip around.

And as the fifth and sixth days wore onwards, it was inescapable. Nothing made one immune from being crushed by its ill touch. Not Silver's stoicness, not Rose's tempered optimism, and not Zircon's sharpness of mind - which usually let sense triumph over any flight of fancy.

But this dread and fear was by no means flighty, it was anchored down by a great weight, and she was to be among the many that would be hung by it.

Closing that line, Zircon shut her eyes and clasped the bridge of her nose, letting out a shuddering breath before raising that same hand over her head in a clenched fist, ready to punch every piece of stationery flying off of her desk as an almost irrational desperation began to set in.

Though, by an effort of will, her eyes flit open and she unclenched her hand, sending it instead out to another one of the contacts on the screen projecting from her monocle. Inhaling and exhaling again in the meanwhile, she breathed out what little of her angst she could without resorting to counterproductive violence.

"Hello? 0EB? 0EB can you hear me?" Zircon said, staring at the sombre blue hologram, her features growing heavy and weary, tired tears beginning to well up as she waited, perhaps uselessly, for the audio from the other side to begin, or maybe even for the video feed to crackle to life.

But there was nothing, not even a single rumble of white noise or buzz of hazy video static from the, at times, barely functioning equipment of the broken soldiers. She received nothing but utter blankness from this attempt, exactly as she got from the previous one hundred and twenty attempts.

"Hello…"

'Oh who am I kidding… I've gotten nothing after the fourth day, so WHY do I think I'm going to get anything on the seventh?'

Zircon ground her teeth at the thought, slamming an open palm down on the metal desk, her anger letting her ignore the pain of the reverberating impact, "Oh for stars sakes! Why do I even keep TRYING!" Exclaiming her despair-filled frustrations, Zircon could take it no longer and sent her hand out to the closest item, intent on dashing it across the room.

However, just as she gripped the old ornamental lamp to the right side of her and was nering on sending it tearing into a wall, a voice called out to her at the last possible instant.

"Zirc? Are you there?" Rose asked from downstairs, and distorted as their voice may have been by the floor between them, Zircon could feel the apprehension her colleague was trying to hold within.

Realising how both unprofessional and concerning it would appear if the sound of metal and glass crashing was heard by whoever was beneath, Zircon's arm froze mid-swing. Her sorrowful rage wavered, and looking on at the ornament in her hand with a deep sigh, a small stream of tears began flowing down the left side of her face before she could blink them away.

However, as the instant where she was distracted came and went, another realisation struck. 'Shale… just what was I about to do..?' She looked on, almost aghast despite the subject being little more than decoration, at least on the surface.

In truth, though its origin may have been more as a joke gift than anything else - found half-broken and half-buried in a dust pile somewhere three and a half millennia ago, before it had been repaired and given to her - with the one who gave it potentially gone forever...

Zircon shook her head at the thought, resolving not to, as readily as so many others had, fall into despair. Not yet. But all the same, she followed on by setting the lamp down with all the gentleness in the world, before then wiping away the streak of lacrima that came from her eyes with the tip of her suit's sleeves.

"Give me a second, I'll…" She paused, gulping the grief down so her words would not get caught in her throat, "be down with you in a moment."

Turning around, she walked past the office-living room hybrid that made up the higher floor of her home, and down the stairs that clung to the far wall. Gripping the bannisters with a faint grasp, her hand glided over them as moved down, holding a downcast look until the very last moment her face was out of Rose's sight, at which point Zircon let go of the bannisters, using her hands to make a small show of straightening the lapels of her suit as she switched her expression from sodden into solemn professionalism.

"Sorry if I interrupted anything, but there was something important I needed to bring up with you. Urgently." Rose said with all politeness, spotting the weary eyes on the other that were plain for any to see.

Despite having realised that too, the old lawyer took no offence, as she could admit it to herself well enough. Though, Zircon also then noted how Rose looked almost abashed, having come into her office without having messaged her to allot a time slot or an appointment beforehand. That is, had it not been for how tall and unbowed they still stood, and for the steely look of undaunted determination hidden just beneath the gloss of their eyes.

Understanding what in all likelihood those small signs and mannerisms meant, Zircon gave Rose no reason to feel as though they had wronged her, "No, it's quite alright, I was… finishing up for the day now anyways." She replied, biting the inside of her cheek afterwards to try and lock in the white lie.

Zircon knew that too. Had it not been for Rose's timely intervention, she would most likely have broken something to release her temper, fret much over it for a time in the ensuing moments of mental clarity, before then carrying on with calling different contacts. All the while berating herself for letting anger overcome her sensibilities.

"So, what is it you need?" Zircon asked, remaining as outwardly calm as she could while trying to learn more before jumping to any conclusion, as was only proper in her mind despite the crisis.

Sighing, both in relief, and in the knowledge there was far more to come, Rose began to speak, "I'll be upfront here… alot. I've scrounged up as much as I can for a search and rescue, but, please, I need you to make up the difference." A pause, "First off, bribes. Five to ten basic model tools should do it, so we can make our way around without being stopped by anyone..." They continued, sounding as though they were half-pleading, yet still maintaining both patience and seriousness.

But, through the faint glimmer of defiant hope they held, Zircon could see that they too knew this mission was to be far different from any other. Though it was true newcomers were among the vanished, if one of the founders of the settlement had gone too...

'No. Don't think like that.' Zircon attempted to tell herself, clinging on to the genuine and deep faith she held in Rose's capabilities, 'After all,' She self-chided, 'you owe her that much, it's because of her that you're still intact.'

Zircon snapped out of it, listening intently to the rest of Rose's words.

"...then, I need extra transport, since I've managed to get the gang of three and the…" A pause, as they tried remembering the newcomers' names, "Rutiles on board. Weapons and supplies too. Five tools with the in-built energy emitter, a few tubes of reconstruction liquid, and power cells to recharge the robonoids."

Rose stopped again for a moment, their tense fervour in listing every item they needed for the mission being replaced with a hungover temperance as they found themselves staring down at their feet.

Breathing in, they lifted her gaze back up to meet Zircon, but the burden behind it was not yet lifted, "Because stars know what might have happened for them to just… vanish. We might be searching for a while..." They halted, a dreading and knowing look on her face as she left the topic hanging in the air.

Stopping, a sickening second passing before she understood Rose's meaning, though the instant Zircon did, the volume of her voice fell by a magnitude til it was barely above whispering. Her face too, grew empty and fraught at the mere suggestion. "Wait - no - you don't mean?"

Rose shook their head, slow, and not in denial either. "I didn't think so at first, but what else could it have been?" They said, looking almost helpless in the face of such an eventuality.

Zircon swung her head sideways in exasperation, all the while making a rumbling scoffing sound directed at no one in particular. "But- but Diamonds don't just come to Homeworld for nothing!" Stopping a second, Zircon breathed out, reflecting on her recent conduct, "Gah, sorry. I didn't mean to sound like that."

"Don't worry." Rose dismissed candidly, although the topic of the lost expedition continued to sit heavy on their mind.

"...Thank you." Zircon replied, taking the forgiveness swifter than usual, for there was something else at hand, "But still, in any case, they've always had some sort of schedule we've been able to track. The next visit shouldn't have been for, oh, another seventy to seventy-eight years? Why now? Why now… I mean, it's not as if that one has finally decided to make a move out of wherever they've been hiding since era two began."

The arrival of a Diamond to a world was a subject Zircon knew all too intimately, but nonetheless the understanding proved useful, despite how she felt about it.

During her time in the judiciary, there was always something that irked her about the sudden spike in court cases and incidents of arrest whenever a Diamond came to Homeworld. In her youth, she dismissed it as everyone collecting themselves to receive the Matriarchs with all the required pomp and circumstance. Perhap she even saw it as noble, to see so many 'criminals' cleaned and purged from the capital's gleaming cities.

But as she grew older and learnt the truth, then the phenomenon was merely one more rusting piece of scrap to add to her pile of grievances with the corroded integrity of the Imperial aristocracy. Zircon now knew that whenever one of them came to any planet, especially this stars-forsaken one at the core of the Empire, then the high and mighty pounced on the chance with an unquenchable voraciousness. Accusations were thrown left, right and centre at rivals, blackmail and manipulation awry to scrounge up political favours and clout for cheap, and then betrayal with said blackmail being revealed to the public anyway when everything was said and done.

And yet, from this unrestrained deceit, the worst show of duplicity and disregard always came when the lower castes, the broken or the lost were either collectively blamed, or rounded up en masse respectively.

Zircon suppressed a wretch. She could remember far, far too vividly the hapless faces of the commoners who wound up as her clients, despairing in their jail cells or terrified, the life draining their expressions as yearning eyes stared back at her, wondering what they had done wrong… and if she could get them out of it. To win the case, and win their freedom from the executioner's grasp.

Zircon never had the grit to tell them the truth, that they were a disposable pawn in a game they, nor her, could ever fully comprehend. Not when, at first, she tried denying it herself.

Nor did she ever say that the results were in all likelihood fixed beforehand. The sole thing she ever did was quiet their mourning by giving them a false smile and nod, before then answering yes, yes she could.

Every. Single. Time.

'I'm a coward.' The words flit through Zircon's mind, though she made no attempt to stop them, instead deciding to focus her energy on what was not immediately obvious - a reason for the sudden disappearance of every one of her contacts from every slum in the blue segment of the planet.

Rose hummed at the question of why aswell, soon clicking their fingers as the pieces fell into place. "The Human."

Raising a hand, Zircon's mouth opened slightly as though to add her two pieces to the idea, but she shut it soon after, her finger also moving to grip her chin instead as she looked down and began tapping her foot.

Part of her did balk at the idea, for the group of newcomers were already terrified for the fate of their vanished friends, anxious to hear of anything about them. But the logical half of her could point to no other conclusion, even if it did indirectly point some blame their way.

Still tapping her foot, faster and faster as the circuits of her mind began to wake, Zircon muttered half to herself, and half in speaking with Rose. "Yes, the human. Though how would… ah, the Agate, his friends said as much… but if they're to be believed, then he didn't come from the zoo either- doesn't matter," Making a 'tsk' sound, she shook her head, "Blue Diamond hears of a human in this galaxy, but one that isn't where it should be. Sulks a bit, or a lot, also doesn't matter, then comes to Homeworld demanding answers. Agate likely dead or in jail by now, but information leaks out nonetheless, and other blue court 'crats realise…"

"Ahem." Rose coughed politely, who, while not disagreeing with Zircon's conjecture, was itching to get approval for the extra equipment they needed to see the search and rescue mission conducted, and hopefully see the members of expeditions returned safely in turn.

Stopping her foot from tapping and looking back up, Zircon seemed a tad lost for a second before she regained composure. "Hmm? Ah, I was ranting on again wasn't I? Sorry…" Pausing, the sorrow returned almost all at once as she remembered what the conversation originally was about. So, after taking another gulp, she continued, "But yes, I think- I should," She corrected herself, "be able to arrange everything for you."

Giving her a grateful nod, Rose clasped their hands together, a weary smile finding itself somehow growing from her face as she replied with a deep, sincere, "Thank you, thank you. We'll do everything we can," before turning around to leave.

However, before she could feel even a modicum of reprieve that something was to be done, a last minute stroke of concern struck Zircon and she reached out to Rose as they took their first steps out, "Just before you go though, I just want to ask, is there anything else you'll need aside from what you've already mentioned? Anything at all?"

While her long tenure in resource management within the often scarcely supplied settlement had left Zircon tight-fisted when it came to allocating anything to anyone, the fact that lives were on the line, lives that were, to her, infinitely more valuable than any material goods, meant she was willing to give an equal amount for their safe return.

Turning swiftly around, Rose assured Zircon. "No, no, it's fine. That should be everything…" A pause, "unless you might… know anything more." Rose said, wording the last part in as prudent a way as they could.

Though it was still clear to Zircon that the Quartz may have been aware of her issues with establishing communications with her contacts, and the ensuing tears and anger that came with it, she did at least appreciate their tact.

So, with little more than a sigh and a burdened farewell smile, Zircon waved her on as she walked past the curtains covering the entranceway. "Alright then… stay safe out there."

As true as the intent behind the words were, Zircon perhaps knew it was not needed beyond mere friendly reassurance. Rose may have been responsible for being the gentle hand, guiding any new faces on trips to the surface, but should said newcomers get lost on their first few independent excursions, then there was none other who would fight harder and barge through any obstacle in the way to get them back to safety.

They have been infinitely kind, even to strangers, but to think that it made them soft was a mistake. One that many of the broken soldiers, or any other hostile for that matter, who thought they could threaten or hold hostage anyone from the settlement were able to attest to. If they survived.

At the end of the day, while Rose was a strange sort of ambassador, capable of using choice words to pat the egos of prominent clique members one moment, to being the humble and gracious winner of a respect-earning arm wrestling match the next, if peace and diplomacy failed, then one should never forget they were still a well manufactured Quartz at their core.

"I will." Though Rose may have been putting on a cautious smile, the unbreakable resolve remained, hidden just below the surface.

#####

Ammolite was nowhere to be seen, for in their palace were her two components - who split of their own will to give Sapphire's scrying the greatest clarity possible - pacing about around the back of Pery's now empty abode. The muffled din of sparks flying and metal clashing could be heard emanating from beneath, as Sphene toiled there in unblinking silence, having taken the unit she was working into the expansive garage, giving the components of her other half all the space they would need to, hopefully - hopefully - divine what happened to the ones they lost.

Pearl was there to accompany her, holding the Seer's hand as the pair paced back and forth in an anxious attempt to conjure some sort of vision.

And yet, despite having been trying for almost five days with nary a rest, they had nothing.

"Sapphire…"

"I don't understand. I- I don't understand!" Sapphire exclaimed, her one free hand tapping the gemstone that replaced her eye.

By now, she was desperate for anything to banish the radiant cataracts blinding her, for even in the time stream - the one place where her senses should have been free - she could see naught but a burning aura of gold. At least, in the only timelines which mattered. She was icily sure of that fact by now, for whichever streams she could pass through unimpeded were ever only yielding an infuriating lack of useful information.

It left her with no other conclusion, as much as it tore apart Sapphire to try and accept it.

This scorching phenomenon forced her to view events from the most strained perspectives, where nothing was clear anyway.

"Why not take a moment to rest… to try and figure out what it is?" Pearl made a faint suggestion, finding herself having to catch a frustrated sigh from leaving her mouth.

She awaited a reply from the Seer, but when nothing came, Pearl expressed her disappointments at being rebuffed once more by letting it out in a slow, hushed exhale - her drooping eyes looking down at Sapphire in the vague desire for them to listen. To take heed of her advice.

'Sapphy… please. It's been five days, just… please, please take a rest. This can't be good for you.' Pearl so desperately wished to say, but the first time she did, Sapphire had dug their heels, growing stubborn and rebuffing the idea in favour of trying to scry again and again without pause.

But she was yanked out of her thoughts, for Pearl was almost anticipating her arm to be struck by a sudden jolt, she, who, so in tune with the minds of those she had spent so long fused with, understood in an instant the meaning of it and stopped moving. However, while she too now expected what was to come next, the fact Pearl was able to brace herself for it did not mean she was any more able to resist the wrenching feeling it impacted her with on every inch of her form.

Sapphire - still clutching at her gemstone - was no longer pacing. From her began a measured breathing, then it turned into shuddering, sorrowful gasping. But this did not last long, for soon, they fell into letting out broken sobs between their lips, despite their willfulness trying to push them back together in a sad attempt to maintain composure.

Then, while no tears came from their missing eye, Pearl wondered that if Sapphire had, then of how many they would cry out.

'And how would she not?' Pearl found herself thinking, and, with reluctance, agreeing. Though neither did she want to add further to the mired despair by joining in - even if she found herself having to blink away tears too.

Forcing herself to shut out the helpless look in her eyes, Pearl breathed in and turned downwards to face her partner.

"Sapphire, please… listen." Pearl whispered in as comforting a tone she could muster through the sounds of their mourning, but it was to no avail.

As toughened as the edges of someone who had been sculpted by the chisel of hardship, as Sapphire had been, the weight stacked onto them by the missing expedition proved to be able to cause cracks to begin to appear. Then, the longer the burden was held, for those cracks to then widen into rifts - especially when Sapphire knew, with pinching acuteness, that they had so much power to help.

...Had, that is. From her view, Sapphire seemed to curse themselves on that fact, in intermittent whispers amidst the hoarse crying, but Pearl knew that she also was at fault.

After all, when they arrived while still part Fluorite, and Ammolite after that, she too grew at ease as they heard more and more about the settlement. Pearl was not alone in letting her guard down after being assured by so much. When the expedition had initially left for the surface, neither of them, as Ammolite, had thought anything about it.

'What was there to worry about?' The both of them had thought when, a week and a half ago, Ammolite had watched on, perhaps even in delight, while Pery taught Rhodonite and Bolt how to use the modified robonoids.

There was no concern then. Indeed, they felt some sort of vicarious joy at the sights, that the group had at last found somewhere to take refuge - somewhere where they belonged, where they no longer were in mortal danger for every living moment. The only thing they, as Ammolite, had done was use their future vision to fact-check the accuracy of the settlement's shattering robonoid patrol forecasts.

'But we saw no danger then…' Indeed, their findings had shown that both their visions and the forecasts lined up rather neatly, leading to them reporting nothing else to the settlement's leaders.

Pearl shook her head, doing anything to break free from the clinching thorns of doubt as she crouched down, close to face level with Sapphire. "Please, just for a second…" She teetered off, hearing that their so far near-silent sobbing only grew in volume - if still a only minute amount - when she spoke.

Now however, there was equally nothing they could do, despite how much they willed and wished they could. Whatever events lead to the expedition's disappearance the past, and since Sapphire's scope only ever saw the future, it left that as their lone recourse, their lone source of hope. Their only way to find something to help the pending search and rescue mission, or failing that - and if what they saw pointed towards the most grim of conclusions - then at least, at the very least, it would provide… closure.

Pearl made a mental shake of her head, desperately wishing to throw off the gnawing pessimism while also trying not to give Sapphire any hint of her inner thoughts.

But with every attempt to peer into the future for answers failing, Sapphire was beginning to feel the cruel burden of doubt dragging her down - with or without knowledge of Pearl's own bleak outlook.

A thin sheet of ice crackled into existence from beneath Sapphire's feet as their grip tightened on Pearl's hand. "Ha… ha! It's just like when I was still on the surface..." She switched from denial-filled, fitful giggling to near-snarling out in between whimpers, "blind, blind and useless, good for nothing… but still at least able to be able to see the future... and I can't even do that anymore!"

Perking up, Pearl found herself almost gawking at the muttered proclamations. But it was not entirely gloom, for from Sapphire's frigid despair came all the fiery determination she needed to put her foot down. To intervene beyond mere decorated words and surface-deep pieces of encouragement, even if Sapphire would try rebuffing her again.

Kneeling down, yet keeping hold of their hand to show she would always be there for them, Pearl swept away the long fringe covering their face and cupped the side of Sapphire's face with a firmer than usual hand to show precisely how serious she had become. "Sapphy. Listen to me. Do you really think that… that's true?"

Sapphire's face locked onto hers, but stubborn, unyielding silence remained, and when it became evident to them that Pearl would not be leaving, they at last responded with more than mere fragmented words requesting for solitude. "Just… forget what I said. I will get back to searching the time stream soon enough-"

However, the moment Sapphire's free hand rose up to try to move Pearl's own away from their face, she interrupted them, "No, you know it's not as simple as that - for me to let you… you keep doing this to yourself." She shook her head, slowly, but her tone kept the balance between stern and kind, "Why would you say something like that about yourself? After everything-"

Then, it was Sapphire's turn to interrupt, "Because I've been trying for how long? And I've gotten nothing! Nothing! Stars knows what's happened to them! Here I am, the one person here who might be able to figure out something to help anyone going topside-" She paused, gulping down the words that got stuck between each sob, "b- but what have I got to show for it!? A circle in the dirt from where I've been pacing - and that's it!"

With each self-deprecating comment causing her partner to fall further and further into incoherent and sorrowful speaking, Pearl decided that letting Sapphire speak their mind and listening intently would no longer cut it.

"Sapphy, shhh, stop that…" Her tone began firm, but after hearing all of that come from her nearest and dearest, Pearl found it hard to keep it up. So when she began again, there was far less of that in her voice, "You've been trying for this long, and as best you could. That's all anybody could ask of you." Pearl's grip on their face lessened, with her hand soon moving to stroke the back of their head before she started gently inching closer towards them, eventually settling and letting Sapphire's chin rest on her shoulder, "Perhaps it's time you take a break? Just for a little while."

Moments after, she felt Sapphire's mouth open the slightest bit - likely in protest with how swift the motion felt - but Pearl stayed quiet to let them speak their mind. To give them a chance to vent out the last of their pent up doubt and anguish, and only then would she continue - hopefully with better knowledge of what to say as a result.

"But Iri, I can't though… I have to keep trying, I have to. B- because what if..." Though no tears left Sapphire that may have begun streaming down her back, for they had no eye, Pearl felt the sharp sting of angst anyway. The Seer shivered once in dread, letting out a cry that was halfway between a cough and a dry heave before speaking again, "we never see them again?"

Then, there was naught but a shrieking silence.

Of all the things that Sapphire could have said, those few words were possibly the harshest broadside that could have been sent to strike at Pearl's very core.

With how few people Sapphire had ever grown a genuine and mutual attachment within their long, long life, Pearl understood all too well that they had always placed immense value on the wellbeing of each and every single one of those individuals.

'Then... with them gone…' Pearl made a mental shake of her head, doing what little she could to dispel the gnawing thoughts without disturbing Sapphire. For better, or for worse, Pearl knew, and felt, everything her partner did with equal force.

Currently fused or not, each pang of sorrow or stab of grief coursed through her just the same.

It was an aching feeling, and a deep emptiness, but being there for them did at least something to soothe it. In the end, by now, after everything the pair had endured together, Sapphire's troubles were hers too, and a burden shared was a burden halved.

So despite Sapphire's despair being far deeper cutting on her than anyone else, Pearl resolved to keep trying. For both their sakes.

She breathed in once, then, after holding it in for a time, she let it out in a drawn out exhale. Eyes still heavy, Pearl looked to her side, her worn out gaze meeting Sapphire's fine blue hair, which she continued to stroke as the two were clutching eachother in melancholic embrace.

"...I- I'll be honest, I'm worried - terrified - about that too… but everyday they've not arrived, I try to find something to help me get through. Something that helps to… soften it." She began, doing her best not to let fear tangle what she wished to say in her throat, but despite that chipping away at her, a certain level of grim strength against adversity started to show itself in her tone, "F- for example, remember earlier today? When the Rutiles came to tell us that they were going to help Rose a- and the Three?"

While Pearl did stumble over certain words, it was more so because the idea had just appeared all of a sudden in her mind, rather than the force of anxiety pushing her over.

"Yes..? What of them?" Sapphire replied tentatively, only vaguely recalling the Twins giving them a brief visit to inform them of the decision.

They had still been pacing then, and so most of the things the Rutiles had said were a blur. But perhaps out of frustration, or desperation, they subconsciously took a short break from viewing the futures and timelines related to the missing expedition. Instead, for a moment, they had taken to scrying those of the rescue mission's potential fates.

Hearing their question, Pearl responded with some of her own. "This might sound tangential... but think on this… how do you feel? Knowing that someone like Rose was going out to help them? Someone who, apparently, has had so much experience… and so much success in rescuing people?" Pearl asked, making sure to sound as encouraging as she could - in spite of the agitation still picking away at both of them from within - while also withholding her own judgement so as to let Sapphire make their own, self thought out assertions.

Falling into a contemplative silence, Sapphire remembered what they saw when peering into that future. They recalled seeing the rescue group at the surface, all of them intact, armed to face any dangers, and each one riding with modified robonoid steeds with Rose at the front, coordinating each member and on the constant look out for threats.

And while the golden aura did spread out as far as here, it was thin enough that not so much of this timeline was utterly blanketed out of sight - yet still, what little was hidden seemed to again have been of import, as it had covered up the area of said timeline that revealed anything the rescue mission might discover, and many of the events surrounding the return journey after that.

However, the mere fact Sapphire had been able to see a return journey at all - suggesting the rescue mission's trip to the surface would be alright in the end - without feeling the kind of instinctual, frigid dread overcoming them when there was an unforeseen hazard to be had was a soothing balm to their mind. And of all people, they would know quite well the ins and outs of the time stream, what with having had to often rely on it as a main, everyday sense.

Sapphire breathed, trying to forget about the other intricacies of future vision to instead focus on Pearl's questions.

Rose's presence was indeed a comfort, for even if the Rutiles were quartzes in their own right, to have someone with such honed skills and a protective character leading them was… also soothing too, in its own way. Ultimately, with recent events, she could not bear losing anyone else, and indeed, not because they had gone out to try and save the others who had gotten lost themselves.

Though Pearl may have been unable to see Sapphire's face, for the two had remained in close embrace, she was able to feel her partner's body relax; if even slightly, it was still a hard won victory in her eyes.

Pearl had gone on at length, though as drear as she may have been at the start, by the end, there was a sort of impassioned sadness imprinted into each word. All to impress unto Sapphire that, whatever the case may be, they were never alone. Whether it was the ever reliable company of her ancient, unwavering partner, or through the newfound tight-knit sense of community they had found themselves a part of.

'There will always be someone there for you Sapphy…' Sphene, Fluorite - the fusion they formed together and lived in harmony - and each one of those in their small group that played their own part in staving away the darkness and dangers of their once roaming lifestyle, even the little organic, who had only been with them for half a year or so.

And, of course, Pearl herself.

And, at last, the message managed to sink its way in through Sapphire's wall of ice. Not that Pearl had expected it would be easy, for while there was some level of admiration in how long her partner had gone using her powers to try and help, with how much of a toll it was reaping on their mind - either through the unceasing exertion, rising anguish, or the lack of results leading to sporadic outbursts of undirected anger or misery - Pearl knew she had to act.

To grate against Sapphire's often iron will, all to try and convince them to spend at least a moment to take care of themselves.

"I… yes, I suppose it does help. But, Iri, how does this relate to anything?" Sapphire asked, who, while somewhat confused, from the sound of it, seemed willing to wholly trust Pearl was not leading her astray or to a conversational dead end.

Pearl, seeing that this was as best as she dared hope they would react, took the opportunity to finally explain herself, openly, "It's just that… you've been at this for five days Sapphy… I just wanted to see if I could get you to, I don't know, relax in any way. B- because it hurts..." Pausing, she trailed off for a while, in the meantime pressing her face closer to the side of Sapphire's hair.

Sapphire, though lost for any course of action at first, soon found themselves reciprocating the act with a hug of their own in guiltful, cheerless silence. Now, they realised, they had to listen to what Pearl had to say - if this was what their previous stubborn refusal had done.

Then, after half a minute spent in embrace, Pearl spoke again, "Seeing you like this… hearing you talk like that about yourself… It hurts. So I try, bit by bit, to get you to take even a second, just to breathe…"

Hesitating for a time, Sapphire began struggling to grapple with just how adversely Pearl had been affected by their one-minded pursuit for answers. A pursuit which had left her blind and deaf to all else around her.

But, taking swift action to take at least the first step towards rectifying their wrongs, Sapphire spoke up. "I… I guess I can. Take a rest, I mean." Sapphire, though still mired in weariness, at last replied in agreement, "For a little while."

Resisting the urge to cry tears of solemn joy, Pearl reminded herself of the Sapphire's still fragile peace of mind, and gave them only a short, "Thank you," as supportive encouragement.

Even though some did begin to drip in thin streams down her cheeks, Pearl let on a gentle smile as her proactive efforts at last bore success. She moved back somewhat, using the distance to press a soft kiss on their left cheek, causing Sapphire to let out the slightest content huff at the gesture. Soon enough, the pair's physical forms began to glow, then in an instant, Ammolite was sitting on the floor in their place.

Taking a moment to compose herself, she flicked the remnants of the tears that came from her eyes. "For a little while." Ammolite affirmed to herself

Though she could not entirely resist, and for one more time, she closed her real eyes and peered into the time stream. Hoping that, somehow, being fused together would change something, but the clouds of flaming gold continued lashing away at her, even at the slightest glance in that direction.

Instantly giving up on that, she let out an expectant snort as she readied her overworked mind to receive rest and silence.

However, the very instant she left the time stream, the gentle, though hasty pitter patter of small footsteps could be heard, presumably coming from somebody running through the alleyway that connected the front of the property to the backyard, where she sat.

While initially rather irritated that someone was already about to disturb them in the first moments of, albeit tenuous, peace they would have since the last week, Ammolite nonetheless prepared to receive whoever it was with fitting manners. In the end, she too was now a member of the settlement's community, and had to act accordingly with anyone.

It was then that, against all expectations, the figure that emerged from the alleyway between the houses was none other than the small orange figure of Padparadscha. They were jogging towards her with anxious purpose, much of their usual happy-go-lucky attitude having vanished as their face held a firm, flat expression.

"...Padparadscha?" 'What are you doing here?' Ammolite almost said, but decided not to, just in case.

Padparadscha stood silent for a time, but once her perception caught up, she looked up face to face with her and spoke with all urgency, "Ammolite, thank the stars, I know this is sudden, but I need to ask you a favour. I- I think I've found out what-" pausing, she made a hasty correction, "how to see what happened to them, but I need your help."

The other Sapphire was as serious as anyone had ever seen her, and so after overcoming the initial shock and surprise at the sudden change of character, Ammolite leapt at the chance. Even if it perhaps would entail breaking the short reprieve they were supposed to be having.

However, if it was any consolation, then Pearl half of her consciousness did at least seem to be of similar mind. Being just as eager, and surprised, to hear out whatever Padparadscha may have discovered.

"What do you mean..?" Sluggish as Ammolite's response was at first, there was a glint of earnest, if still restrained, hope in her eyes.

Padparadscha stalled for longer than usual, her feet shifting as though they were uncomfortable, almost embarrassed, with the exact explanation.

But, both because of the trust between each of the off-colours, and of the sheer import of their revelations, Padpardscha soon overcame their own personal discomfort, "Ah. So... you understand how I can see parts of the past?"

Ammolite's eyes widened, her mouth going agape for a moment before she realised and closed it. 'Of course… of course!'

Keen to hear what they had to say, she leaned in, intent on hearing them out, "Go on," Ammolite said.

'But… then again…'

Yet, as refreshing as this turn of events was, doubt all too quickly began to sweep it aside as she was soon reminded of how limited the scope of their abilities usually were.

Padparadscha, despite having caught on to some of what Ammolite had thought, did her best to hide how she felt. Discouraging as it may have been.

Neither did it show in verbal nor body language after she continued from a short delay"...I've pushed my sight as far back as I could, but oftentimes I feel like I've…" Halting for a moment, they tried thinking of the easiest way to explain the complexities of it, "I've… stretched too far, and it all is… out of focus. Everything looks blurry, and sounds somewhat… muffled." Padparadscha sighed, "Maybe it's because it's my first time even trying to go this far, or… I don't know - but that's why I need you - you've far more experience than I, and, maybe, together we can see much more." They finished, trying not to sound so despondent.

Nodding, Ammolite saw the thought process behind the idea, and while her components had agreed to take a break but a minute ago, in her mind, she wished not to do anything that might slight Padparadscha. Especially not when the other sapphire was on the cusp of a genuine breakthrough on something that had so stumped her.

And in any case, the potential of this opportunity was far greater than any she had before.

"Alright, give me a moment."

Her sight melted into brilliant purple light, and once again, Ammolite was no more.

A/N:

A bit late, but if anyone is interested, check out the Ao3 crosspost of this fic (under the same title), and if you go to the bottom of chapter 19 and 21, there is some art of a few of the characters in this fic - so far with Noctilith, Goshenite and Pery.

It is a tad mediocre, since I'm not the most artsy person, but I think they turned out decently enough that I was able to stomach sharing the pieces online heh.