The gems stared in wonder at the Museum as Peridot slowly made the ship's way to the hanger.
"It's… beautiful." Lapis whispered, shocked.
"Trust me, it may look stunning, but underneath, it's full of pain and injustice, just like the rest of Homeworld." Peridot growled.
They parked and the four sighed out in unison.
"Look!" Connie gasped, pointing to the entrance.
The door had two short, buff Rubies on each side, standing stoically. One had her gem on her arm, the other on her leg.
"Rubies…" Connie whispered. "I've never seen one other than the one that makes Garnet!"
"They must guard this place like crazy." Jasper growled. "They're incredibly loyal when they're protecting something."
"How are we supposed to get past them?" Connie asked nervously. "Do you think they know about the rebellion, that it's us?"
"They can't know." Peridot whispered. "Even Pink Diamond isn't sure about the types of gems that were left after corruption. If we just play the parts we were assigned to, we should be fine."
"Oh jeez…" Lapis muttered, them all looking at her. "This is gonna be hard…"
"Yes, it will be for all of us. You'll have to pretend to be something great and glorious while I'll have to be your lowly technician." Peridot grumbled. "Jasper, you'll be Lapis' guard and Connie will have to be herself."
"What? I can't reveal myself!" Connie cried. "Pink Diamond will kill me in an instant!"
"No, you'll be an innocent human child who has no idea why she's been kidnapped from her home, understood? It would be as if you never had a gem or heard about Homeworld in the slightest."
Connie nodded, pulling the strings of her pink hoodie tighter to cover her gem.
Lapis flew gracefully with Jasper and Peridot on either side of her, the water gem trying to seem as cold but self assured as she could, like she knew must Lapis' were supposed to be like in front of other gems.
Connie pretended to struggle against Jasper, the woman having her hand as tight as she could without hurting the girl. She made fake whines, trying to sound scared. "L-Let me go, please! I don't understand what's going on! I wanna go home!"
The Rubies saw their approach and immediately straightened up.
"State your purpose." One grunted.
Lapis gave a smug smile. "I recently finished terraforming my latest planet, and stopped upon the Earth to pay my respects to my beloved Diamond. This child happened to be around the sight. I noticed her prestige condition, such a beautiful specimen should be kept in this museum for all to see, shouldn't it?"
"I dunno.." A Ruby muttered, looking suspiciously at Lapis. "Only the remaining Diamonds and their attendants are allowed to submit stuff here. And you're blue! So… you aren't a part of Pink Diamond's Court!" The ruby glanced at her fellow guard. "She isn't, right?"
The other shrugged.
"I'm not of Pink Diamond's court, you dull gem." Lapis snapped. She curtsied ever so slightly. "Don't you know? I am a Lapis Lazuli from the late Blue Diamond's court, requested by Pink Diamond to stay in touch at all times! Now move!"
"What is the commotion?!" Growled a sudden voice, making the Rubies freeze.
A tall dark pink woman came out from the entrance, her gem resting on her chest, a smooth hexagonal cut. Her hair looked like cotton candy light pink, and had a single bun of it on the very top of her head. She had an hourglass build to her and pink laces seemed to pour down around her legs as a sort of skirt. Connie didn't recognize this gem at all.
"Nothing, Morginite!" The two Rubies choursed.
Morganite looked down at Lapis' petite, nearly shaking form with suspicion. Then a broad smile alit her face. "A Lapis Lazuli! How positively wonderful! I do hope that these fools weren't annoying you!"
"Um, they weren't." Lapis mumbled, trying to seem calm. "I was from Blue Diamond's court, and I've come to deliver this specimen."
Connie pouted her lip and looked to the ground.
"Ah." The Morginite hissed, smiling at Connie. "One just like it was delivered by Pink Diamond herself earlier! The thing was more spirited than this one! It isn't even trying to beg for mercy like the other!"
"He begged for mercy?! What did you do to-!?"Connie cried in fear. Jasper quickly shoved her hand over her mouth.
"How annoying!" Morganite growled. She then looked at Peridot with disgust. "May I ask, where is your Peridot's limb enhancers?"
Peridot blushed in embarrassment but Lapis quickly covered.
"In repair!" Lapis cried. "She's perfect like this."
"Perfect!?" Morganite scoffed.
"No! I mean, er, fine! Not worth breaking! That's all I meant!" Lapis blurted out hurriedly. "Her smarts are the only thing saving her."
Peridot bit back a few words of outrage.
Morganite looked suspicious but then her smile returned. "How merciful of you. I'd have the little thing shattered at once."
Jasper and Lapis' hands curled into fists in anger, the Quartz about to boil over it seemed.
"I'm surprised my Pearl didn't alert me of your arrival!" The tall gem muttered. She then glanced at her side and frowned. She glared at the Rubies. "Where is my Pearl?"
The Temps stared confused.
The Rubies looked down worriedly and then Morganite realized exactly where her Pearl was. "Where is the last one of you buffoons?! PEARL!"
"Here! We're here!" A rough voice suddenly cried.
A ruby with her gem on her navel ran out to join her fellow guards, blushing hard.
"My Morginite, forgive me." The flushing Pearl peeped, curtsying beside her mistress.
"You will spend time in your gem for that." Her master growled. She then plastered on a smile turning back to Lapis. "How embarrassing. The two have been practicing fusion. As if they could possibly impress Pink Diamond enough to get in!"
"Get in where?" Lapis asked in surprise.
All the Homeworld gems except the Pearl (who knew better then react) looked at her like she was crazy.
"Into the Crystal Gems, of course!" Morganite sniffed. "Are you feeling quite well?"
The Temps all tensed at the mention of what had been their enemies. There were more?!
"Of course!" Lapis blushed in embarrassment. "I just…"
Morganite interrupted over her. "Ruby, take the human to the lab, this gem needs her rest, clearly."
"No!" Lapis suddenly cried.
They all looked at her and she blushed.
"We've traveled so far, and would very much like a tour of this lovely establishment!" Lapis muttered out hurriedly, plastering a smile on her face.
Morganite looked surprised but then smiled. "But of course! Right this way!" She twirled around and walked into the museum with the Temps and her Pearl following.
"This Museum was originally owned by Blue Diamond, and she alone would view trophies she collected from colonizing here! Yellow Diamond told her though shortly before the end of era 1 that having a place like this was useless. So, Blue Diamond left, but allowed other gems from the Empire to see all her treasures." Morganite explained.
The Temps looked around to see various plants of all shapes and colors in one long hallway. Some were merely dust while others hadn't aged a day, looking freshly plucked. Grasses, flowers, clovers, berries, any sort of plant you could find and name was here. None, Connie realized, looked like anything that was most certainly from the Earth.
Lapis noticed in one shimmering case a small creature, a tiny green bud with blinking little eyes. She placed her finger on the glass with a gentle smile and the creature suddenly bloomed into a beautiful flower for her. "How beautiful…"
Moriginite walked over and frowned. "I suppose. I never truly found much beauty myself in the lifeforms of planets. Pink Diamond brought it in a few years back after two Lapis Lazulis found it on a planet they terraformed. It's natural that you find it pleasing I suppose."
"Yeah…" Lapis whispered, blushing. She walked into the next room with the other Temps close behind her.
"Pink Diamond and I have been running it ever since the dawn of Era 2!" Morganite said proudly, waiting in front of the door as her Pearl opened it for them.
The Pearl bowed her head as they walked by and then followed behind them.
The Temps all felt a wash of disgust and fear as they entered the room. It smelled horrible, the stench of droppings from animals and decay. Connie held back a gag, seeing a pile of animal bones in one prison.
Around each cage there was two Amethyst Guards, all standing still as statues.
The Temps were all shaking now, mortified at the sight of so many lives that had just been left to rot in the room.
"There are many cages and subduers so the things don't get overly excited when we have guests! Our staff is behind that door. No creature here is small enough to go out that door, even if they escaped." Morganite chuckled, pointing to a diamond-shaped door to their left.
No creature but a human. Connie thought to herself.
"And our lab to investigate the creatures is there!"
The Temps reeled slightly, seeing through crystal-clear various tools and devices. Connie gulped when she saw restraints of all sizes, including her own. She prayed one hadn't been used on her father.
"As you can see, we keep all lifeforms in pristine condition!" Morganite smiled, diverting their attention back.
"Pristine?!" Peridot cried in shock.
They all turned to her in surprise, Lapis looking mortified.
"They're all nearly or already dead! These all were free and living creatures!" Peridot whispered in horror. She knew she had to remain quiet, but needed to speak up. She didn't want Doug to be caged here, she didn't want Connie to even be near this gem! "Pink Diamond has no idea what she's doing with these creatures! She's insane to keep them like this!"
The Pearl let out an audible gasp and Lapis clasped her hands to her mouth. All the Amethyst guards tensed in shock, but were ready to jump on the small gem the moment they were told.
Peridot realized her mistake and backed away as Morginite's shadow came over her.
"How DARE you!" Morganite screeched.
Suddenly, a loud and horrific cracking sound came and Connie cried out in fear.
Peridot was struck to the ground. She breathed heavily, touching her cheek where the gem had slapped her.
Jasper released Connie at once, about to poof Morganite but Lapis firmly grabbed her arm.
The water gem shook her head, also looking angrily at Morganite but whispering: "We can't get caught! Connie and Doug will not be safe here much longer, I'm sure of it!"
Jasper glared down at her but then grabbed the hybrid's wrist once more.
"You will go to your ship immediately." Morganite hissed, grabbing Peridot's chin.
Peridot tore her head away defiantly and looked to Lapis for help.
"I'm so sorry…" Lapis mouthed, tears in her eyes.
Peridot was pulled up by two Amethyst guards and walked down the hall with her legs dangling off the ground between them holding her arms.
"Wait!" Morganite growled.
The guards stopped and looked back in surprise..
"Aren't you going to apologize? I could poof you where you stand." The upper gem muttered.
Peridot had her teeth gritted as she mustered out a miserable apology. "I'm…. I'm very… sorry."
"That will be all." The Morginite said, waving her off.
Connie looked worriedly at Peridot, seeing the door close on her.
They continued the tour, the remaining Temps all not uttering a word.
Connie looked worriedly around, seeing that any living creature she laid her eyes on were either sleeping their sadness away or glaring at her hungrily, they hadn't eaten in years. These being different lifeforms then from Earth, there were beautiful ones, terrifying ones. Connie was hoping that they would not notice her escape with her dad when the time came.
"I simply cannot imagine your pain at losing your Diamond." Morganite sighed in sympathy to Lapis. "Her life was taken far too soon! Pink Diamond grieved for a few thousand years, of course, but she is strong. She works so very hard to keep Homeworld standing, you know."
"I'm sure." Lapis grumbled, not wanting to really hear about Pink Diamond.
"You all are the first visitors we've had in centuries, other than Pink Diamond and Lady Rose Quartz." The other continued, walking briskly down the hall.
Suddenly, three thundering sets of running footsteps hit their ears.
They all turned and were surprised to see the three Ruby guards from before.
"It's her!" One cried.
"Pink Diamond!" Gasped another.
"She's back!" The last called. She then looked at the Pearl she was close with and grinned happily. "Maybe she wanted to see our progress on our-!"
"Silence!" Morganite snapped. She pointed to one guard with a sneer. "Take the creature to the lab, and when it's done there, make sure it's properly contained and behaved by the time Our Diamond sees it!"
The Ruby immediately grabbed Connie to the fear of all the Temps and started walking her away.
"Let me go! No! Don't take me there, please!" Connie screamed, kicking and struggling.
Morganite didn't look amused, giving a gesture to the rest of her personal body guards.
The other two quickly went to help their fellow soilder out, grabbing the girl's arms and legs.
Lapis gave a gasp in horror, she ran up to Morginite in protest. "Y-You can't-!"
"Don't worry!" Morganite chuckled, waving her off like she was an annoying child. "I won't take all the credit! I'll let Pink Diamond know that you were the one to bring it here!"
Lapis started breathing heavily, feeling herself grow faint.
"As for you," Morganite sniffed, looking disgusted at Jasper. "Join your Diamond's guard at once."
Jasper for one of the first moments in her life froze in cold fear. "W-What?"
"You heard me, go!"
Jasper balled her hands into fists, walking towards the door to the ship bay sweating. She was about to see the woman who had no doubt sentenced her to death after Garnet had explained her desertion. After 5,000 years, it was time to meet her again.
Lapis felt her throat tighten, feeling herself sinking further into dread. If she was made by someone to end the rebellion, who else would it be but Pink Diamond?
Peridot was shaking in fear as she watched from the ship's window as Pink Diamond stepped out. The small gem's hands were balled into fists, tears coming down her face in sorrow and anger. She knew that this day would be her biggest challenge in keeping the secret. As always, her gem was on the line for keeping it. She had done it for years, but only now did she see one of the gems it had broken the most.
Connie was thrown into the lab and then was immediately grabbed by finger-like devices that acted like hands. She kicked and yelled wildly as the hands tried to undress her and place her down for a scan on a table.
"Put me down, you little things!" She cried.
A sudden voice came from somewhere. "Creature displaying undeniable aggression. Applying sedative now."
Connie gave a cry when a sudden prick hit her arm.
The girl twisted around to see a hand taking away a small and empty syringe. She looked back through the window to see the museum doors opening just for a covering screen to hide her from the others came up. "No! My friends, please I-!"
"Quiet now… relax… you are fine." The calming voice said softly to her. "You will rest now."
"No, I need… I need to…" Connie felt her eyes grow heavy and realized with horror that she was drifting asleep, just like the machine was wanting. "I can't… I won't... sleep..."
"Sweet dreams..."
She finally couldn't hold on any longer and collapsed onto the cold table.