Chapter Six: Enter the Primax
"What...in the name of the Diamonds...is that?" said Goshenite, stunned by the object that had appeared before her.
The figure rising out of the crashed ship seemed like an Interloper, but was more advanced than anything Goshenite had seen from them. Its arms and legs didn't seem to be attached to its body, seemingly floating inches away from it. Six devices hovered just behind its back, giving the appearance of wings, or perhaps a twisted halo. Its head, which likewise hovered just above its body, consisted only of a single red eye, bringing to mind the Oculus itself. This eye, previously staring up into space, lowered itself to glare directly at Goshenite.
"I can assure you…" The machine's voice was slow, deep, and carried with it an air of menace. "...the Diamonds had nothing to do with me."
The Interloper drifted down to the ground, coming to rest just in front of Goshenite. The Gem stepped back; the machine was undoubtedly menacing, but she didn't want to provoke it. It might not attack if she didn't, either. "Then what are you?" she asked, holding tight to her weapon.
He scoffed. "I am something far more ancient and powerful than your Diamonds. Something of much more consequence." He held out his arms. You Gems are always so quick to assume that your beloved Diamonds were behind everything in the universe."
"Clearly not everything," Goshenite interrupted. "But if that's the case, where do you come from?"
"Allow me to answer that question with a question," the unknown figure replied. "You know the Diamonds to be the progenitors of all that you know. But have you ever wondered where they came from?"
Goshenite's mind immediately raced back to the fantastical stories she had heard spouted by Emerald. A while back, before she had been stuck in her current form, the former Supreme Admiral had had a run-in with a certain high-ranking Interloper who had claimed that his race were the true creators of Gemkind. Goshenite had brushed this off as mere fantasy, either on Emerald's part or that of the Interloper, but could this be true?
"So, then, you are…?" Goshenite asked.
She had been asking for the robot's name, but he gave more of a description instead. "I am the result of hundreds of years of engineering, designed to create the ultimate Gem-slaying weapon. In fact, I only came here for a test run. It is only mere circumstance that you happened to be here as well, Supreme General."
Goshenite took a step back. "H-how did you know who I am?" she asked, trying not to sound too alarmed.
The robot rose slightly up off the ground. "I know more than you will ever understand," he said. "I know the part you played in fighting off my forces for the past six millennia. I know of that arrogant Emerald who stood in my way. I know of those fools on Earth. And I know that Homeworld is fighting a losing battle." A red light began to emanate from his palms. "All it would take for your entire empire to crumble is just one...more...push."
As the machine thrust both of his arms out, palms forward, Goshenite dove to the side. And not a moment too soon, as two beams of crimson light fired from his hands, burning through the air around them to collide with a building in the distance.
Now that her foe had made his business perfectly clear, Goshenite felt no need to keep waiting. Aiming to end the battle before it could even begin, she hurled her staff at the being, aiming to pierce through its eye. However, the machine's eye began to glow, firing another crimson beam which vaporized the staff and almost hit Goshenite. The white Gem sprinted out of the way as the beam tore through the ground, rushing towards her attacker and summoning another staff.
Goshenite leapt into the air, about to bring her staff down on the attacking robot. He was faster, however, catching her by the neck before she could hit him. "Stop resisting," was all he said.
"Never!" Goshenite struggled as best she could, but his grip held. She clawed futilely at his arm, trying to pry his fingers from her throat.
One of the machine's wings appeared over his shoulder. It began to glow a similar red color as before. Aimed right at Goshenite's head, he was preparing to deal the final blow.
Mere seconds before he could fire, the machine was hit by some unseen force. The laser beam was fired harmlessly off into the sky, and Goshenite was dropped back to the ground, where she scrambled to safety. The source of this attack was none other than Topaz, who retracted her flail back into her hand. "My Goshenite, are you okay!?"
"Fine, just fine," answered Goshenite. She got to her feet, picking up her weapon. "What's the situation currently?"
"Non-combat Gems have retreated belowground," said Topaz. "And combat Gems have set up a defensive perimeter."
"Good," Goshenite said, turning to face the machine. "Hopefully, we won't need it."
Back on his feet, their robotic opponent rose up a few feet into the air. His hands, wings, and each wingtip glowed with energy. "Fine," he growled. "Then let's finish this." He burst forwards towards the pair, streaking through the air until he collided with Topaz. The impact pushed her back, but she stood firm.
"Not today!" Topaz threw the robotic menace back, where he was speared through the side by Goshenite. Rather than show any concern over this, he simply pulled out the weapon and retreated to safety.
"Arrogant pests!" he exclaimed. "Do you even know who you are facing!?"
"Actually, we don't," Goshenite said. "You just showed up and started attacking. We don't even know your name."
The figure's weapons began to glow once more. "Then allow me to enlighten you! I am Primax Teptromina, the collected rage of the Koh'i'Noor Empire! And I will be your demise!"
Nine beams of light shot forth from Primax Teptromina, piercing through the earth and tearing it asunder. Goshenite tried to dodge again, but the resulting explosion threw her into the air. She collided, dazed, with the ground a good distance away.
"Goshenite? My Goshenite!" She tried to shake off the impact as she heard Topaz calling her in the distance. She struggled to her feet, slowly regaining her composure.
"Topaz! I'm here!" she called out. The landscape around them had been torn apart by Teptromina's attack, who was nowhere to be seen. Topaz seemed to be trying to get Goshenite's attention, even though she already had it, via exaggerated gestures. "What is it!?"
As Topaz waved towards the mine proper, Goshenite realized what she was trying to tell her. Primaz Teptromina had made his way over to the settlement, and was engaged with the defenses. New resolution filled Goshenite. "We have to get over there," she said.
"No need to tell me twice!" said Topaz, who hurried off to the town. Goshenite followed suit, running towards their attacker.
The Agates protecting the mine fought as hard as they could, but none were a match for the Primax, not even in numbers. He dispatched them in droves, his beams tearing through their physical forms like tissue paper, and buildings crumbled before his might.
"Such power!" he said, surprised at his own might. "I feel like I could take on the very Diamonds single-handedly!"
"That may be so...but can you take on me!?" Teptromina scanned his surroundings for the source of the voice, but saw nothing. Suddenly, a gash appeared in his side, followed by another. He swung his arms to try and catch the unseen assailant, but caught nothing.
"Show yourself, coward!" he said. "Show yourself so I can eviscerate you!"
"Not much motivation for me to show myself, then," said the voice. Unfortunately, by speaking, she had inadvertently given herself away. Teptromina charged up another laser, firing it from his palm at the source of the voice. "Uh-oh." As the beam destroyed her physical form, Cairngorm became visible for a split second, just before disappearing to nothing, her gemstone falling to the ground.
"Far too easy," Teptromina mused. "Now where were we?"
"We were about to finish what you started, you void-spawn!" He turned around to see Goshenite and Topaz standing behind him, weapons in hand.
He growled. "I've had just about enough of the two of you." The blasters that formed his wings all pointed themselves at the two Gems. "Let's make this quick!" The beams fired, as Goshenite and Topaz dodged to either side.
Both Gems threw their weapons at once, leaving little room for Teptromina to guard. Goshenite's staff flew harmlessly past him, but the head of Topaz's flail collided with him, knocking him to the ground.
"'Let's make this quick' indeed!" Goshenite said, picking up her weapon and running over to her foe. She thrust the end just as Teptromina tried to block it, bypassing his guard and spearing him through his midsection.
Teptromina was little more than annoyed by this, however. "Trivial!" he bellowed. Grabbing hold of Goshenite so she couldn't escape, his blasters began to charge up once again. Before he could fire, a projectile of some sort collided with one of the blasters, causing the energy to prematurely discharge. The resulting explosion knocked Goshenite away from him, though she was mostly unharmed.
One of Teptromina's six hovering wings was now scrapped. Furious that someone would dare to be so insolent, he turned to face the one responsible. Who should be standing there but Pearl, blaster aimed at the Interloper.
"You whelp!" he roared. His remaining weapons began to glow, aimed at Pearl. "You would dare strike your rightful master!?"
"My only master is Emerald!" Pearl shouted back, clearly afraid, but nevertheless stalwart.
Goshenite got to her feet. "Topaz! Ground him!"
"On it!" Topaz swung her flail around, building up momentum, before hurling it at Teptromina. The chain wrapped around him before he could fire, and Topaz proceeded to yank him down to the ground. He crashed into the dirt hard enough to leave a small crater, but was still kicking.
Sprinting towards him, Goshenite aimed to change that. "Hey!" she yelled, aiming to get his attention. By the time Teptromina turned to face her, Goshenite was already in the air, holding her staff above her head. She drove the weapon down, the momentum causing it to pierce through Teptromina's lone optic.
A mighty roar of rage came from the Interloper, reverberating across the surface of the asteroid and into the mines below.
"Are you still not dead!?" asked Goshenite in disbelief.
"I WILL NEVER DIE!" Teptromina screamed. "I WILL…" A moment passed as he stopped to collect himself. "Nevermind. It is of no consequence." His blinding rage was still present, but he was much more collected. "This body is nothing more than a vessel. This attack was but a test. We will face each other again. And again, and again, and as many times as is necessary before I emerge victorious. Homeworld will fall. The Diamonds will die, and Gemkind will once again be subservient to the Koh'i'Noor."
"Not on your life," said Goshenite. She retracted her spear, causing Teptromina's inert form to fall to the ground.
Pearl cautiously made her way over. "Did...did we win?"
Goshenite nodded. "Yes, I think we-" However, their victory was interrupted when Teptromina's body began to glow. Scarlet sparks shot forth from his form as it slowly lifted a few inches off the ground.
"My Goshenite, get back!" yelled Topaz. The blood-red Gem rushed forwards, grabbing a hold of the body and hurling it into the air. The resulting explosion was still large enough to reach them.
Topaz braced herself, while Goshenite's first instinct was to throw herself in front of Pearl. The heat from the blast washed over them, but luckily Topaz had acted quickly enough that they were unharmed. Goshenite still held on to Pearl as the fireball subsided.
Slowly but surely, more Gems began to emerge from within the mines as the crisis had ended. Goshenite stood up as well, making her way over to Cairngorm's fallen gemstone. "Miss Goshenite?" asked Pearl, looking up. "What happens now?"
Goshenite picked up the brownish gem, placing it in a white bubble which disappeared. "Topaz?" she said. "Call everyone."
"Uh-huh. And by 'everyone,' you mean-"
"I mean everyone."