(Nether)

There stood an entrance back to space, with two skeletons on both side of the door, sitting there, dead. A knight stood at the brewing table.. missing a whole right forearm, and was lightless. His name was Chris.

The door opened, and in came Boris, and Yellow Pearl.

"Boris. Good to see you. Why is there a pearl following you?" Chris asked.

"The Pythons were attacking Yellow Diamond's forces. I rescued her before they could shatter her." Boris said.

"Did the federation see you?" Chris asked.

"No. They weren't there." Boris said. "Just the Pythons."

"You can't be playing hero like that. Boris. What if they do find you?" Chris asked.

"I was about to be attacked, he saved my life!" Yellow Pearl defended.

"The Pythons retreated during my rescue. It was quite easy. And there weren't any other ships around. I brought her here for few minutes. Is my potion of decay finished?" Boris said.

"Yes. But it's highly toxic. Use care when throwing this." Chris said, putting the cork in the bottle, tight. "It really stinks."

"It's supposed to. It's decomposition." Boris said.

"You're making potions here? Isn't that prohibited in all sectors of the galaxy?" Yellow Pearl said.

"Not in hell. Or heaven." Boris said.

Then they saw a large beetle, the size of a human foot, crawl by.

"What is that thing?" Yellow Pearl asked, examining it.

"That's sparky. He hangs over here." Chris said, petting it. The beetle looked up at him before turning away and moving again.

"Now that I have what I need, I'm out again." Boris said.

"Return soon, and be careful." Chris said.

"Wait, you're leaving me here?" Yellow Pearl said to Boris.

"Don't you want to find your diamond?" Boris said.

"But he was blown to smithereens!" Yellow Pearl said.

"When the escape pod was destroyed, I didn't see any remains floating around, just wreckage." Boris said.

"A-Are you sure?" Yellow Pearl said.

"Yes. Come, let's find him." Boris said.

The two entered through the door again, into a landing port.


(Earth, Jarek's Castle)

Jarek took a drink of his wine. He and Pablo two sat while watching the TV.

"Nothing like a time to relax after a long day of.. relaxing at a theater." Jarek said, dumbfounded.

"No no, we did go out and have fun. We didn't just sit at a theater all day." Pablo said, putting her feet on the coffee table.

"I've been thinking since we met : what if I can do business over at Uranus?" Jarek asked.

"No. They're strict on travel over there. The inhabitants that live there can't even leave." Pablo said.

"If it were different, would you live there?" Jarek asked.

"Maybe. It just depends on what the changes would be." Pablo said.

"i mean like, if it wasn't to the point where you had to stay there. Travel ban and all." Jarek said. "If it was like Mercury or Mars."

"Isn't there a war going on, on Mars?" Pablo asked.

"No, it ended a long time ago. The federation retook the planet, and is starting to take back some of the other war stricken planets. But back to the main point : if it were like Mercury and Mars, would you live under Uranus?"

"No I wouldn't live under my own anus. What the fuck?" Pablo said.

Jarek cringed and face palmed.

"You fucking prick." He said, now dumber than before.

Pablo laughed at him.

"Ha ha got you!" She said. She pinched his nose.

"I'm going to make something." Jarek said. "You hungry?"

"Sure. Steak if you got it." Pablo said.

Jarek looked in his fridge, and saw it was empty.

"GREG!" Jarek said.

Then Greg the Grim Reaper appeared through a rift, poking his head out.

"What?" Greg said.

"Did you eat all my food again?!" Jarek said.

"No, that thing did." Greg said, looking at a fat pirahna plant that was trying to sneak away.

"GODDAMNIT!" Jarek said, grabbing the fiend and tossing him out through a window.

"Weeee!" He said, flying out the window.

[Distant water splash!]

"Uggggh." Jarek groaned in frustration.

"Relax. You can get more, can't you?" Greg said.

"Yeah, but I just bought a whole steak just two days ago. Nevermind. I'll just get more." Jarek said, shaking his head.

"Oh, Here. Your cup." Greg said, handing him the glass from a while ago.

"Thanks." Jarek said.

Then Greg closed the rift.

"Fuck man. I wanted that steak." Jarek said to himself.

"Oh boohoo. Now go to the store and get more." Orange Diamond said.

He walked over to Pablo.

"I'll be right back, I'm going to the store, need anything." Jarek said.

"Nah, I'm good." She said.

"Alright." He said before leaving.


(Space)

A ship with spikes, and thorns sticking on the wings flew across the stars. They passed by the wreckage.

Boris scanned the the entire area for life readings, for any lifeform that could possibly still be alive there.

"There isn't anybody here. Just broken ships, and dead pythons." Boris said.

"Ohh, where could my diamond have went?" Yellow Pearl said, frantic.

"The planet Venus is nearby. Let's start our search there." Boris said, flying in the direction of that planet.

"Um, I meant to ask earlier, but what species are you?" Yellow Pearl asked.

"I am a Hive Acolyte, and the knight you met, his name is Chris." Boris said.

"And why are you both avoiding the federation? Did you two do something bad?" Yellow Pearl asked.

"No, not exactly. Our species are on the endangered list, ever since they took back the planets our race had controlled. We're just trying to survive on our own. If they find us, they'll kill us without second thought." Boris said.

"It's dangerous to tell her about yourself." Alix warned.

"She's harmless, don't worry." Boris said.

"(Gulp!) Yeah.. harmless." Yellow Pearl said, looking to her side.

They flew into Venus, and saw several ships flying around.

"Oh look there's thunder in the background. I wonder if it's going to rain." Boris said.

He landed the ship, and headed out, reloading his auto rifle.

Yellow Pearl followed, with her knife in hand. She was about to strike, but then they heard a thunder clap in a close area.

She freaked out and jumped, dropping her knife.

"Scared?" Boris said chuckled at her.

"Be quiet!" Yellow Pearl grabbed her knife, and put it away. She had a blush of embarrassment visible.

The two began walking, searching for Steven.


(3 Hours later..)

Boris, and Yellow Pearl approached a ruined city, with Pythons on patrol. Except these Pythons had heavy armor equipped on their bodies.

"Pearl, hide." Boris said.

"Why? I can take them." Yellow Pearl said.

"A knife won't help you very much. Look at the shield generators on their chest plates." Boris said.

"I can still take them on." Yellow Pearl said. "If it means finding my diamond."

"Just follow my lead then." Boris said, unsure of her decision.

The two ran to a rock, and hid there.

Then a transport landed in the distance. They saw gems, walking, wearing shackles on their wrists. A pearl, a topaz, and a zircon.

"Oh my god." Yellow Pearl said to herself.

"Don't move." Acolyte said, grabbing a solar knife, and running ahead, from their cover.

"Hey!"

"What the!"

(Black Screen)

"(SLASHING SOUNDS!)"

"(SCREAMS)"

(Normal screen)

The Pythons were laying on the ground, defeated, dead.

Yellow Pearl came out of hiding, and went to Boris.

"Easy." He said, referring to the dead.

An arm reached for Yellow Pearl's leg, and made her fall.

"Aaah!" Yellow Pearl exclaimed.

The Python hissed, and tried to bite her, like a zombie, though he wasn't a zombie..

Boris quickly impaled the head with his knife, killing it instantly.

"That thing tried to bite me!" Yellow Pearl said.

"Thanks for the narration. Get up." Boris said, helping her get up.

"Hey! That thing tried to bite me, and that's all you're gonna say?" Yellow Pearl said.

"Yeah. Let's keep going." Boris said.

Yellow Pearl followed him.

The two were walking for hours, examining various areas, ruins, and even a city that used to function, but was also ruined..


(2 HOURS LATER..)

"What a waste. Venus has become so desolate since time has been restored over here." Boris said.

"What happened to the people here? Everyone's dead." Yellow Pearl said.

"A very long time ago, machines took over this planet, and then the federation swept this planet clean. They abandoned this place when they saw it was inhabitable for them." Boris said. "Since then, Pythons have tried to take this planet for themselves, but not many of them."

"Oh." Yellow Pearl said. "What would make them come here?"

"Gems, minerals, whatever they can find." Boris said.

"Gems like me?" Yellow Pearl said.

"Yes, you're precious." Boris said.

"Wha-wha HUUUH?!" Yellow Pearl panicked.

"What?" Boris said, not realizing what he just said, then he suddenly did. "Oh no."

(HIT!)

Boris was rubbing the side of his face.

Yellow Pearl suddenly had a purse hanging over her arm. "Hmph!" She walked away.

(Ren - How'd she get a purse that quick?

Me - She had one stuffed in her gem.

Ren - Oh. You good you good.)

Boris followed her, ready to use his knife.

Yellow Pearl began running from him.

Boris threw his knife at her.

The knife missed, and hit the floor.

Yellow Pearl grabbed a pepper spray from her purse, and ran to him.

She sprayed his eyes, making him roar in pain, covering his eyes.

He reached for her hand, grabbed and squeezed it. He tried to reach for her throat with his free hand.

She grabbed her chisel knife, and stabbed his arm, making him let go. She continued running.

"Help!" She said.

Boris pulled out the knife, and readied his handcannon, aiming right for her as she ran.

(GUNSHOT!)

Yellow Pearl jumped at the shot that landed right beside her.

(GUNSHOT!)

Yellow Pearl's eyes were widened at this point. She fell forward.

(POOF!)

Her gem laid there.

Boris walked to the gemstone, and picked it up.

"Foolish girl." Boris said.

Then some of the pythons started to rise from the ground, undead...

(NEEDLE SCRATCHES RECORD!)

(Ren - Wait, they walking dead?!

Me - Nah, it's just the scene. But there is a zombie virus going around.. Just on Venus though.

Ren - Oh okay, that makes sense.)

Boris was confused at this. Without even aiming, he pointed and clicked each of the pythons' heads, killing them instantly.

"Zombies.. classic." Alix said.

"We better leave before we get ambushed." Boris said.

They started running, Boris put away Yellow Pearl's gemstone.

"Why are we taking that pearl with us?" Alix asked.

"Because she's still got a mission : find her missing diamond." Boris said.


(Arcadia ; Earth, Botza) - - LASER TAG Arena..

There were players pulling the triggers of their prop-laser rifles, laughing, and having a good time..

Jarek had been struck by Pablo 26 times, and Jarek struck her, 20 times.

It seemed like things were going well, just another day at the office, or in this case, Laser tag fun..

Then Nicholas came into the arena, with a real laser auto-rifle, and started shooting at the players, aiming for Jarek. He struck Jarek by the arm.

Jarek strafed, and hid behind a pillar.

Several of the remaining players were screaming for their lives as they ran away from Nicholas, looking for safe spots to hide in.

Pablo ran around to a nearby cover area, and waited to attack.

Nicholas dashed to Jarek's hiding spot.

"Nicholas, no!" Carlton said, running inside, clutching his chest in pain.

Then right as Nicholas turned to find Jarek, suddenly Jarek moved the gun's aim to the ceiling, making him fire. Nicholas headbutted him, and made him fall.

Pablo grabbed Nicholas from behind, and rammed him into a wall, nose-first.

Nicholas dropped the auto-rifle, and was now being dragged by her.

"No! NO!" He pleaded, trying to break free from her.

Several of the people that were there, watched Pablo as she dragged him away.

"Get out of here!" Jarek shouted at them.

The people started fleeing, through the emergency exit.

Jarek went to Carlton.

"What happened to you?" Jarek said.

"H.. He shot me... I can't breathe... " Carlton said before his head hung.

"Goddamnit." Jarek said, shaking his head in sadness.

Outside, Nicholas was being beaten up by Pablo..

Jarek was holding his arm in pain.

Nicholas reached for her breasts, Pablo grabbed his hand, and yanked back, breaking his fingers, making him scream.

Jarek grabbed Pablo.

"Pablo, that's enough!" Jarek said.

"NO! HE TRIED TO KILL YOU! AND HE JUST TRIED TO GROPE ME!" Pablo shouted at him. She had a vein on her forehead, and an angry look.

"Pablo, that's ENOUGH!" Jarek said, pulling her away from Nicholas.

Nicholas was sobbing, holding his body in pain.

Pablo spit at him, as Jarek pulled her away.

"Let's get the fuck out of here before they call the cops on us!" Jarek said. He grabbed the laser rifle, and ran.

Pablo followed him back to the warp pad.

Nicholas gritted his teeth, and grabbed a gun from his ankle, and aimed for Pablo.

"DIAMOND SCUM!" He shouted.

He shot at her, aiming for her gemstone on her right bicep, but missed and hit her in the back.

Pablo stumbled forward, being struck.

Jarek turned, and shot him in the face, killing him.

Nicholas' hand hit the ground, dropping the gun.

"It's enough that this place is deserted, this place was the last fun arcade still around!" Jarek said. "Pablo, are you okay?!"

Pablo coughed. She looked at her stomach.

"I'm fine!" She said, grunting.

"No you're not, let's get you to safety!" He said, lifting her bridal style.

"Jarek, your back's gonna snap!" Orange Diamond warned.

Jarek ran forward, holding Pablo.

"Now he's holding me in his arms!" Pablo thought, with stars in her eyes.

The two teleported through the warp pad.


(Bedroom, Jarek's Castle)

The bullet was on a metallic tray, separated from Pablo's body.

Pablo had a bandage wrapped underneath her chest, there was some blood visible, though not a lot.

"I thought gems didn't bleed." Greg said, scratching his chin.

"Some do, some don't." Pablo explained.

Jarek was finished cleaning her leg, she had also scraped her leg from when she fell. He put a bandage on her leg.

"~ Aw, poor baby ~" He snickered.

"Oh hush!" Pablo said, kicking his his face with her right barefoot.

He spit in disgust. wiping his face, making her laugh.

"Sick. Well, I'm off to go write some more names down. So if you need me, give me a call.. try not to... (To self) For fuck's sake, that was gross."

"What's his problem? It was just a footsie." Pablo said, about to laugh.

"He hates feet, and I will too if you do that again!" Jarek said, grossed out.

Pablo got off the bed, and put her shoes back on.

"I better get going." She said, leaving.

"Wait, I'll walk you home. Look what happened earlier." Jarek said.

"I'll be fine. I'm not too far from here." Pablo said.

"Pablo, I can't let you go alone. Come on." Jarek said.

"Jarek, no. Just let me go." She said.

Jarek hung his head.

She pecked him in the cheek. "I'll be back tomorrow."

"Alright." He said.

Once she left, Greg came back through his rift.

"Hey uhh, I'm already done. I damned everyone on the list." Greg said.

"Cut the crap, Greg. You don't like her, and you want to hang out." Jarek said, with lowered eyelids.

"No, I literally already finished my job. Time moves 8 times faster in my realm." Greg said.

"Really?" Jarek said, interested.

"Yeah." Greg said, going into the fridge. It was still empty.

"Okay, you really need to fill this fridge." Greg said.

"Yeah I know. I was just gonna head to the store. After the arcades, I was gonna get us some dinner, but she left." Jarek said.

"Yeesh, you're better off without her." Greg said.

"You don't know that." Jarek said.

"It's what happens to all couples. They get together, and they eventually part ways for the rest of their lives." Greg said.

"I just met her not too long ago, and we've had a great time. Today was really just a minor bump, if it even is that." Jarek said.

"Stay single. You live longer." Greg said. "Here, let's go to my realm. They've got better stuff there."

"Your store?" Jarek said.

"Yes, come." Greg said, stepping into his rift.

Jarek followed.

The rift closed.


(Deadzone..)

(NEEDLE SCRATCHES RECORD!)

(Ren - Wait, deadzone? Why you there?

Me - Because that's where Greg lives. It's his home.

Ren - But isn't that where the dead reside?

Me - Yes, but in a separate place from his.)

"So this is the deadzone?" Jarek asked.

"Yes, where your kind goes after they die." Greg said.

"And where will you go when you die?" Jarek asked.

"You're asking a skeleton that?" Greg asked.

"Well, I had to at least once." Jarek said before laughing.

"Ha ha, very funny. Come on, the store's just up ahead." Greg said.

There was a large building, where there were skeletons roaming about, and vampires..

"Vampires?" Jarek asked.

"Yes, they're dead too." Greg said.

They roamed around the store for a few minutes before reaching the baby section, where there was a toy playing a lullaby that could put a mortal to sleep within minute of listening..

Jarek dozed off, his head resting on the handle of the basket.


To be continued...