Chapter Eight: Onto the Front Lines

Goshenite stood by the ramp leading inside her vessel. Topaz was the first to enter, Tenrit following close behind. However, when Pearl tried to board, Goshenite placed her arm in front of her.

"Not this time, little one," she said. "I can't afford to take you along with me."

"What?" said Pearl. "But...I have to come with you. Where else am I supposed to go if I can't come?"

"Back home." Goshenite waved to Tanzanite and Onyx, indicating Pearl. "Have those two take you back to Emerald's home. Wait there until I return."

"But, Miss Goshenite, you promised that you'd look after me!" Pearl tried to protest. "You Promised Emerald!"

Goshenite placed a comforting hand on the Pearl's shoulder. "I know, I know. I did. And I'm looking after you by making sure you're out of harm's way. This Primax, he's dangerous-more so than any Interloper you or Emerald faced. I don't want to put you in harm's way if I don't have to."

As much as Pearl wanted to argue further, she knew Goshenite had a point. Whatever came next, it would no doubt be very dangerous. Even still, she nevertheless wanted to do the part to protect her home. "I understand, Goshenite," she said.

"Good," the white Beryl replied. "Now you go back with Emerald, where it's safe. And don't worry about the Interlopers-leave them to me."

Reluctantly, Pearl made her way back over to the Soul Evaporator. Another figure traded places with her, stepping up to Goshenite. "Permission to come aboard, Your Brilliance," said the Citrine.

Goshenite scanned the Era-2 Quartz before her. "And...who might you be?" she asked.

"Citrine Facet 4L9 Cut 9R9," she replied. "My friends call me Nines. Speaking of friends, Tenrit and me are kinda close; I figured it might benefit you if I came along, help keep him focused and all that."

"Mmm...very well," said Goshenite. "I suppose it couldn't hurt to have one of Emerald's soldiers along with us. Enter." Nines walked up the ramp, with Goshenite following.

Pearl, Onyx, and Tanzanite all watched as the Xenocide rose off into the distance. "So, back to Homeworld, I guess," said the large Quartz.

"It would appear so," said Tanzanite. "I am sure Goshenite will call on us if she needs us."

"Yeah. Maybe," said Pearl. "But, are we really just supposed to wait around on Homeworld while we're under attack?"

"Sure," Onyx said with a shrug. "I mean, not much else we can do without a leader."

She and Tanzanite then wandered back onto Emerald's ship. Pearl followed them, but not before one last glance at the stars.

The Xenocide.

"Now...tell me more about this 'Primax' character," Goshenite said. Although the ship flew through the stars at warp speed, there was no destination in mind. Perhaps they would arrive where and when they were needed.

Tenrit, eager to give every bit of knowledge he could, was happy to oblige. "Well, first of all, Primax isn't his name, Teptromina is. Primax is a rank: derived from the Koh'i'Noor term 'Primum Axalos,' which roughly means 'anointed master of all that is.' He basically sees himself as a god."

"Good to know," said Goshenite.

"...It is?" asked Topaz.

"Of course. If he thinks he's godlike, he thinks he's infallible, which means he's arrogant. And I know from experience that arrogance makes one very easy to manipulate. Anything else from your time in that think tank?"

"Well, let's see…" Tenrit wracked his brain for some more usable information. "Oh! Now, this info might be a bit outdated, but I remember hearing that the Gozyos system was right on the frontlines for this war, and has been for several centuries."

"Yes, that's true," Goshenite said. "The Gozyos system is the location of one of several blockades preventing the Interlopers' advance. Was there something unique about it?"

"Several things, really," said Tenrit. "See, there aren't any actual colonies there, but many of the planets are rich in valuable ores, such as-"

Nines nudged him. "Pretty sure she knows already," she said. "Anything relevant?"

"Hmm...Ah!" Tenrit nearly jumped as something came to him. "The Inter-er, the Koh-whatever, the data said that this system is where they test out their new superweapons. Apexes, Broodmothers, that's usually the first place where they'll be deployed in the field."

"So if their boss had some new destructo-bot he wanted to raise some void in, that's where he'd use it," said Topaz.

"Precisely," Goshenite added. "Pilots! Set a course for the Gozyos system, immediately!"

"Right away, My Goshenite," said a Nephrite. Before long, the Xenocide was en route to the solar system in question.

Goshenite wasn't entirely sure what to expect, but she knew it wouldn't be an easy fight they were headed towards. "We must be prepared for anything," she said. "Expect the unexpected."

The Gems were silent during the journey. Each time one of them, usually Topaz or Tenrit, was about to say something, they decided against it at the last moment. Goshenite was deep in thought, not only about future threats, but also about her...perhaps not her 'friends,' per se, but those who were close to her. Specifically Cairngorm-she had bubbled her and sent her back to Homeworld without a second thought. She tried to reason with herself that the smaller Gem would only have gotten in the way, but doubt still clung to her.

Nines eventually broke the silence, if only to the robotic Valurian next to her. "So, Tens...you keep callin' the Interlopers 'Koh'i'Noor,' or something like that. What's that mean?"

"While I don't have the exact translation," Tenrit said, "I do know that this is their actual species name. What they call themselves, from before they were machines."

"Wait, before they were machines?" Nines asked, confused.

Tenrit nodded. "While, again, I don't have all the info, I think they used to be organic beings, like me. Also like me, something made it necessary for them to lose their organic forms, and take on mechanical ones. And I have a sneaking suspicion that Gemkind is that reason."

Nines was quiet a moment as she took all this in. "And, those rumors that they made us-Gems, I mean, that they created the Gems-are those just rumors, then?"

"If they are, the Koh'i'Noor certainly believe them," Tenrit said.

Nines was silent again, as neither of them could think of anything else to say.

"My Goshenite, we're approaching the Gozyos system," said a Nephrite. Several minutes had passed.

"Very good," Goshenite replied. "Activate weapons as soon as we come out of warp."

It was a very tense moment as the ship neared its destination. Nobody knew what awaited them, if anything at all. At last, the stars returned, and the planets of the system came into view.

"Stars above," Topaz said. "That is a lot of Interlopers…"

The second-nearest planet to them, Gozyos-IV, was surrounded by what seemed to be a cloud of dust. However, looking closer, the dust was actually ships-hundreds of them. Explosions were visible on the planet's surface even at this distance.

"What are your orders, My Goshenite?" a Milky Quartz asked.

"Try and establish contact with that world," she said. "Find a suitable place to land, and-"

"Uh, My Goshenite, not to intrude, but that's a terrible idea!" shouted Topaz. "We're only one ship, we have no backup, no army, nobody knows we're here, and-"

"On the contrary, we have everything we need," Goshenite retorted. "We don't need an army: we have myself, you, my troops, and the Xenocide. As for nobody knowing we're here...You there! Send a transmission to Science Minister Heliodor at once. Tell her of our location, and that we are preparing to engage the Interlopers." The Peridot she had called upon set out to do so."

"My Goshenite, I'm all for impulsively launching oneself into battle, but this seems extreme even by my standards!" said the red Gem. "What do we even have to accomplish here?"

"I'll tell you what we're here to accomplish!" Goshenite stood up from her captain's chair, marching over to Topaz. "We're here to find Teptromina, put him down for good, and put an end to all of this! This war has gone on long enough-I don't give a damn if it's poorly conceived, Homeworld's survival is on the line!"

"And what makes you think he'll even be on the front lines!?" asked Topaz.

"You heard the organic. Teptromina is a violent maniac with a god complex. He'll be on the front lines, if for no other reason than to fuel his ego!"

"Goshenite?" She barely registered Tenrit's voice.

"Furthermore, I don't exactly appreciate you questioning my leadership! Don't let it happen again, or-"

"Goshenite!" Tenrit again.

"What!?"

"Teptromina's not on the front lines," the robot said. "Not right now, at least."

"What? How can you be so sure?"

"Because he's there." Tenrit held out a shaking finger, pointing it out the front window towards...nothingness. As far as the others could see, distant stars were the only thing he could have been referring to.

"What?" said Nines. "Tenrit, are...are you sure you're okay?"

"What are you talking about?" said Tenrit. Although still reserved, he sounded moments away from panic. "There's two ships, right there! He's standing on one!"

"Our sensors aren't picking anything up, My Goshenite," a Nephite said.

Goshenite stared at Tenrit. He didn't seem to be lying, but still… "What is the meaning of this?" she asked. Though looking at Tenrit, she wasn't sure who she herself was asking.

"You really can't see them!?" he said, alarmed now. "But they're...they're right-Look out!"

Tenrit dove to the floor, bracing for an impact only he could see coming. However, it came indeed. Some unseen force pounded against the Xenocide, causing the entire vessel to rock violently. Goshenite returned to her captain's chair just as the invisible assailants became visible: a pair of Interloper battleships materialized before them, having let loose a volley of cannon fire on their ship. And standing-or rather, hovering- just on the bow of one of them was the familiar and unwelcome form of Primax Teptromina, his lone red eye boring into the ship before him.

"Cloaked," Goshenite muttered under her breath, cursing herself for not considering that possibility.

"H-how?" asked Topaz breathlessly. "How could you see them?"

"I don't know!" Tenrit replied. "It's like I just...knew they were there, somehow!"

Before anyone had the chance to question this further, the battleships sent another wave of fire at the vessel. The shields held, but were beginning to weaken. Another volley, and they'd be defenseless.

"Fire main cannons!" ordered Goshenite. The duo of tremendous cannons located on the Xenocide's wings aimed at the leftmost ship, opening fire. They tore through the ship's hull, but another object now streaked towards them. Teptromina hurtled through the vacuum of space like a torpedo, before slamming directly into the control deck.

The glass held. Teptromina clung to the window, clear for everyone to see. His eye held no emotion, but it didn't need to-his feelings were clear. He pulled back one arm, driving a fist forward into the glass. A loud bang echoed through the bridge. Again, and again, and again, until small cracks began to appear in the window.

"Stop him! Fire!" ordered Goshenite.

"We can't, My Goshenite!" said a Quartz. "None of our weapons can reach him!"

By now, the relentless pounding on the glass had all but broken through. As though knowing one last strike would be enough, Teptromina launched himself back towards his ships. He hovered in place, several meters away from his target, before lunging at the glass, directly towards Goshenite.