AN: Been a while, hasn't it? But I'm back, and (hopefully) better than ever!

Chapter Twenty-Two: Worlds Colliding

Topaz shook the white Beryl, who had gone still as a statue. "Goshenite? My Goshenite!?" Her voice only came through as a whisper. Goshenite was transfixed by the object that hung above them all. She soon regained her bearings, however, blinking as she exited her trance. "What do we do now?"

"I…" Goshenite considered their options: it was either fight or run, and neither looked particularly likely to succeed. Come on, think! There had to be something they could do! What would Emerald do? "We need to...get to safety. No, we-we should…" She trailed off.

Nines stared up at the Oculus as well, equally worried, though her focus soon shifted to a much more immediate threat. "Those battleships are gettin' pretty close, Goshie!" she said. "Might want to make a decision soon!"

Okay. She could work with this. She could manage this crisis, she just had to break it down into smaller, manageable chunks. The first of which was dealing with the first wave. "Our top priority is keeping Project: Giganova out of their hands," said Goshenite. "The base's shields should hold for the time being, so the Interlopers will most likely send in ground teams. Don't let them reach the core."

Tenrit glanced up at the planet-sized space station, silhouetted against the nearest planet. "But what about the-"

"We'll deal with that when it comes to it," Goshenite decided. "Right now, we have to manage what we can. Understood?"

"Understood!" said Topaz. Nines and Tenrit answered in the affirmative as well.

"Good. I'll oversee our defense efforts from the control center. Keep them out of the main facility, and wait for further orders." As the other three hurried off to the edge of the base, where Interloper dropships were beginning to converge, Goshenite herself hurried to the control center.

What little defenses the station had were in full swing. Cannons that looked straight out of Era-1 fired at the Interloper ships, who fired back, the shields holding strong for now. Gen cruisers took to the skies to engage them in space. Goshenite was sure they wouldn't last long. She soon reached the center, ducking in through the door.

Inside was a small skeleton crew of a few Peridots, plus one Nephrite. The whole lot of them looked terrified, justifiably so, but still attended to their duties. They rushed back and forth between various screens, managing the massive inflow of data that came with the invasion. "You, Peridot, give me the latest," Goshenite said to the nearest one.

"It isn't looking good, Your Radiance!" said the Peridot, with barely-restrained panic. "The Interlopers are pulling out all the stops-there's no way we can survive against this kind of assault!"

Goshenite worked her way over, examining the screen. They were massively outnumbered, massively outgunned, completely out of time-but when were they not? They had survived at Alpus Beta. They had survived at Gozyos-IV. They would survive here. "Connect me to Heliodor."

"Over here, Your Radiance!" said another Peridot. Goshenite hurried over as Heliodor appeared on the screen.

"Goshenite? What's going on up there?" Heliodor looked shaken, but not quite as panicked as the Gems above ground yet. "Our sensors are flooded with Interloper signatures, including…"

"The Oculus, yes, I noticed," Goshenite said. "That thing's hard to miss. Listen, are there any sort of evacuation procedures in place here?"

"No! That's the entire reason I called you here!" said Heliodor. "Something like this was never supposed to even happen in the first place! This project was placed on a planet like Mieren-VII for a reason."

"And what about the weapon?" Goshenite asked.

"What about it? Remember, the planet is the weapon, so it isn't like we can just move it! If we don't come up with something fast, that thing's going to tear this planet apart and rip out the core like it's nothing!"

And that was when it hit her.

"Heliodor…" said Goshenite, her dawning epiphany clear on her face. "This is exactly what Project: Giganova was made for, right? An explosive capable of destroying the Oculus."

Heliodor came to the same conclusion that Goshenite had, and was much less willing. "And us along with it!" she exclaimed. "Originally, there was supposed to be a way for us to escape before setting it off. There's no way we can do that now! If we activate it and leave, they'll just stop it, and if we activate it and stay, we'll be vaporized!"

Goshenite looked up to the sky, dotted with almost as many Interloper ships as there were stars. Not to mention their mothership, which was growing closer by the minute. "The way things are going, we might be vaporized either way," she said solemnly. "This might be the only way."

For a moment, Heliodor said nothing. She closed her eyes, seeming to ponder the situation. She looked up at the Giganova core just out of the screen's view. "Taking them with us, huh?" she said quietly.

"Don't give up just yet," Goshenite said. "There might be another way out. But if it comes to that...at least we can shatter protecting Homeworld.

Heliodor nodded. "Not just protecting Homeworld," she said. "Ending this war. For good."

In spite of their situation, Goshenite cracked a tiny smile. "Couldn't have asked for a better way to go."

"Yeah," Heliodor replied. "Me, too." She walked offscreen for a moment, speaking to the technicians down there with her. When she returned, she had a steely, determined look in her eyes, tempering her sad expression. "We're beginning the activation process now. Once it's armed, we'll have about thirty minutes until detonation."

"Is there any way they can stop it?" Goshenite inquired.

"Once the core reaches critical mass-about when there's five minutes left-it's locked in."

"So we keep them busy until then," Goshenite said.

"That we do," said Heliodor. "Oh, I should mention: the elevator up there's the only way down to the core, aside from the warp pad. Aside from, you know, physically tearing the planet apart. But we shouldn't have to worry about that until the Oculus gets here."

"Right." Up in the sky, Goshenite's armada was fighting a losing battle against the Interlopers. Although they were fighting as hard as they could, the machines were slowly gaining ground through sheer numbers. On the ground, the Interlopers were attempting to break through the shield. Ground troops held them at bay, for now. "So...Adamantem in Eternum?"

"Adamantem in Eternum," said Heliodor, her voice breaking despite her smile. The screen went dark.

So, this was it. Goshenite stepped to the front of the room, steeling herself. One last battle. One final service to Homeworld. Seven million years of service, all leading up to this moment. She reached for her gemstone, preparing to draw her weapon one final time…

"Um...G-Goshenite?" a Peridot said nervously. "Someone's sending a transmission. Should I…"

Goshenite turned around, curious and confused. "A transmission? From who?"

"I-it looks like it's coming from a ship called the Soul Evaporator," said the Peridot.

At this, Goshenite hurried over. "Yes, yes, answer it!" Startled, the Peridot did so, the familiar faces of Onyx and Pearl appearing on the screen.

"...wonder if she'll-Oh, hey, there she is!" said Onyx. "Goshenite! You look like you could use some help!"

"What are you all doing here?" Goshenite asked. She knew the answer, of course, but was still surprised to see them. Especially now that they had decided to blow up the planet.

"We're here to help, of course!" said Pearl.

"The Interlopers aren't making this easy for us, as usual," said Onyx. "If you ask me, we should load that Giganova or whatever on the Soul and head for somewhere safer!"

"That's not-No, look, you can't be here right now!" said Goshenite. "Turn around and head to safety-we're going to detonate Giganova!"

"You're what!?" exclaimed Pearl. "B-but you'll get blown up too!"

"Maybe not, not if you can help us," Goshenite said.

Onyx was about to say something, only for Zoisite to push her way up to the screen. "Supreme General! I have urgent news that I must deliver! Is Tenrit anywhere nearby?"

"The Valurian? No, he's fighting at the front with Citrine," said Goshenite. "I can have someone relay it to him if you-"

"No, no, they cannot know!" said Zoisite. Seeing the confusion on Goshenite's face, she continued, "Tenrit's mechanical body was made with Interloper technology-and all information collected by Interloper units is relayed back to Teptronima. Do you see? That is how he was able to find you repeatedly! He can see through Tenrit's eyes!"

Goshenite faltered, surprised by the nature of this news. "Through...his eyes…?" she said. "So this whole time, whenever I've been speaking with Tenrit…"

"Yes. He has been watching you," Zoisite said. "And I suspect that he can determine Tenrit's location as well."

"...So we led him right to us," Goshenite said quietly. She shook her head. "But none of that matters now. Bringing the Oculus here was his last mistake. Without even meaning to, we led him right into a trap." She grinned. Maybe this wouldn't be her last battle after all. "Alright, you all want to help? Keep them away from the elevator. We have twenty minutes until the core goes critical, so let's give them all that we have!"

"Alright! You can count on us!" said Onyx. "You heard the lady, let's get down there!" The screen turned off just as she and Pearl headed towards the ship's warp pad. Goshenite headed out as well, stopping just before she left the control center.

"Relay this message to all of the ships: turn and retreat in exactly twenty minutes," she said. "Keep fighting until then." The Peridots saluted, and she ran towards the front lines.

As the battle raged above them, hundreds of Interlopers surrounded the base, only barely held at bay by the force field. The husks of several battleships, from both sides, were scattered around in the wastes beyond. Goshenite hurried to the edge of the force field where Topaz, Nines, and Tenrit had gone. Hopefully, the latter hadn't heard of their plans yet. She reached back to draw her weapon.

"Is this really the best defense you could muster?"

Goshenite stopped. She knew exactly who that was. She had hoped he wouldn't have come, given that he brought the Oculus-she figured he wouldn't feel the need. And yet, here he was.

She looked up to see Primax Teptromina hovering above her. Wing spread, like some dark, metal angel. His single red eye glared down at her, matching the one on the Oculus near-exactly.

"For the location of your war-ending superweapon, this planet is surprisingly vulnerable," he said, floating down closer. "Surely, you weren't counting on secrecy alone to protect you?"

"Funny you should mention that." Goshenite drew her staff from her gem, twirling it above her head before planting it into the ground. "Protecting this weapon is exactly why I'm here."

Teptromina scoffed. "Have you seen what you're up against?" He spread his arms, the extent of his armies behind him. "Not even the Diamonds' might could save you now."

"Luckily for me, I don't need saving." Goshenite pointed the end of her staff at her foe. "Even if I die here, you're dying with me."

Suddenly, Teptromina dropped from the sky, slamming into the ground hard enough to create a sizable dent. It was now that Goshenite realized that he was a good deal bigger than he had been the previous three times. As he rose to his full height, her head barely reached his shoulders. Goshenite was surprised, but not worried.

"You should know by now," he said. "I will never die."

All six of his wings fired a beam at once, converging on Goshenite. She spun her staff in front of her, blocking the attack. Stopping the beams, Teptromina lunged, knocking her into a nearby wall before she had time to dodge.

Goshenite ducked to the side at the last moment, Teptromina's fist burying itself in the wall where her head had been. She stabbed upwards, but he deflected with one of his wings. He grabbed her by the neck, flew up into the air, and slammed her down into the ground.

"What do you hope to accomplish?" he asked, the mocking clear in his tone. "Even if you could fight back, my armies would decimate every last one of your Gems to get to the victory here is simply not possible."

Goshenite's body began to glow. She let loose a flash of light, stunning Teptromina just long enough for her to stand up and deliver a powerful blow. Although he staggered back, only a small scratch was left on his armor.

"You expect your troops to fight to the last for you, I assume," said Goshenite. "Why do you act so surprised when we do?"

Teptromina ran a hand down the scratch on his chest. "My soldiers fight because they know nothing else," he said. "You Gems fight for some misguided sense of loyalty." He shook his head. "The Diamonds aren't your masters. They never were. They were merely proxies for your true masters."

"And you Interlopers are these 'true masters?'" said Goshenite.

"'Interlopers,'" Teptromina said with a growl. "You truly could not have chosen a more dismissive name for us." He lunged again, but Goshenite was ready this time. She stepped to the side, striking him with her staff. He struck her as well, but she rolled behind him. She stabbed upwards again, but he leapt back. "Your defenses will fall, your planet will die, and you will all bow to the Koh'i'Noor once again!"

"Homeworld will never bow; not to you, not to anyone!" shouted Goshenite. "We will fight until there are none of us left! This war will not end until every last Gem is destroyed, and Homeworld itself is dust-" Goshenite had planned to go on, but something caught her eye. The rubble created from their battle had begun floating. Tiny chunks of concrete rose up into the air, pulled by some invisible force. She looked around, noticing that dust all around them was doing the same.

Teptromina radiated triumph, knowing exactly what was happening. "You wish to be destroyed, hmm? I suppose that can be arranged." He looked skyward.

Goshenite looked up as well, and saw, to her horror, the Oculus. It was practically in Mieren-VII's orbit now, its gravity pulling up the debris. But it had more than sheer size behind its assault. Three streaks of black ran from the eye down the length of the artificial planet. Looking closer, Goshenite realised that the streaks were gigantic panels opening.

Three panels, three shapes emerging. What appeared to be giant mechanical arms appeared, extending from the Oculus like dark rays from a metal sun. Each was tipped with a claw, large enough to grab a small moon. They reached down towards the planet.

"So you see, Supreme General?" said Teptromina. "There is no hope for you. Your world will fail. And Gems will belong to the Koh'i'Noor again, or be ground to dust. Starting with you."

Although gripped with fear, Goshenite held tightly to her weapon. She looked away from this planet's impending doom, and she stared directly into Teptromina's eye. "Go ahead, then," she said. "Start with me."

Teptromina rose up. "Gladly!"

And they charged.