If it seems like a part was cut out at the beginning, it's this: Blue Zircon went to Pink Diamond's soldiers to get some info, then we skipped, and now she's done getting the info. I originally planned to show what Blue Zircon and the soldiers talked about, but I think people are getting tired of that.

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Earlier…

Gem abuzz with all that she had learned that day, Blue Zircon took her leave of the remnants of Pink Diamond's fighting force, oblivious of the panic later to visit the Cage. She set out for her office to arrange her thoughts and craft a battle plan.

Blue Zircon entered the Law Offices, greeting the receptionist Gem. After a bit of small talk, Blue Zircon continued inside and sought out the location of a certain Zircon, Béhierite. Blue Zircon was ready to bare her soul in front of Béhierite and hopefully secure her cooperation. I'll be surprised if that Blue Diamond devotee refuses me, Blue Zircon mused as she entered the elder Gem's office. Béhierite's secretary had her sit down in the lobby, to await Béhierite's call.

Blue Zircon took a seat, clenching her hands until her fingers made imprints upon each other. I will not back down. I've come this far. I'll see it through!

At the time of Blue Zircon's entry, Béhierite had been conferring over a secure communications line with a colleague. Blue Zircon could see the floating light screen through the shades, obscuring the Béhierite's face. After a while, the screen vanished. Béhierite removed her monocle, and scribbled down a few notes, then replaced the blue oval.

Soon the door opened, and Béhierite surveyed Blue Zircon, wrist fashionably hovering underneath her chin. "You have a different air about you, my good Gem."

Blue Zircon decided to be blunt, and hook Béhierite on the first try. "I have a favour to ask of you. It concerns the case that Blue Diamond obliged me to take. I am ready to discuss the matter at length with you, once you assure me of your cooperation."

"You're being awfully serious," sighed Béhierite, stroking her chin with her hand. "Ah, well, you know me. I can't resist. Come on in."

Blue Zircon entered Béhierite's office. The office was 15 feet by 17 feet, over half of the space taken up by a large seat and table. Neatly stacked documents, screens, and row upon row of file cabinets dominated the rest of the space. Directly behind Béhierite, facing the door, lay a massive painting of Blue Diamond and her associated territories. Béhierite ushered Blue Zircon into a seat, and eased herself into the seat behind her desk. "Now tell me all about what My Diamond has you do. It has to do with the Rebellion, doesn't it?"

"I am investigating the murder of Pink Diamond, to find the truth behind the incident." Blue Zircon said shortly.

Whatever Béhierite had expected, it wasn't quite that. Her face blanked instantly. "May I see your case files?" she asked. Wordlessly, Blue Zircon handed them over, and began to narrate the tale of how she came to investigate the murder of Pink Diamond.

Self-preservation. When Blue Zircon had reformed after being poofed by Yellow Zircon, the words "self-preservation" occurred to her. I have gone too far. Yellow Diamond, Blue Diamond, White Diamond…I could, no, will be retaliated against.

Not only had she committed a grave insult against the Diamonds, she had threatened their power. Pink Diamond was well-loved throughout Homeworld, and an accusation of murder or even the threat of being accused would undermine that Diamond's power. If the accusation would be substantiated, that killer Diamond would become a pariah, and might even be shattered as revenge by the other two Diamonds. Assuming that Pink Diamond's killer had been acting alone.

Why have I not been retaliated against? Not even Blue Diamond could keep her activities in the dark for this long. No overt strikes had been taken against Zircon, in stark contrast with the action Yellow Diamond had taken against her in the aftermath of the Trial…It's highly uncharacteristic of Yellow Diamond to not address a threat. The Diamonds can't afford to have a rumour going around that they shattered their own… why has no one threatened me? Kept me quiet? Forced me to comply? Shattered me?

Blue Zircon sifted through the many possibilities; one jumped out at her. A possibility minimizing the danger Blue Zircon posed while heightening the rewards the Diamonds would receive. For just as Blue Pearl had said so long ago, Blue Zircon was expendable. On the slim possibility one of the Diamond's own defending Zircons decided to go against orders, an expendable one could easily be silenced without a thought.

A slim blue hand, raised, halted Blue Zircon for a moment. "Is it possible this Blue Pearl may only have been talking?"

"But everything else makes sense, doesn't it?" Blue Zircon yelled, windmilling her arms. "The Diamonds can't have a crazy Zircon going around undermining their authority! Pink Diamond is beloved by the army, which is now in Yellow and White Diamond's control! If I were to spread the rumour that either of them slew their beloved late leader…!"

"The Diamond Killer would have a rebellion on her hands that quick!" Béhierite finished with a snap of her fingers.

"So it would be in the Diamonds' best interest to shut me up! But they haven't, because I haven't gone around running my mouth." Blue Zircon said, settling her fingers on Béhierite's desk. They began to quiver only a little.

Béhierite countered, "But you might." She pointed a finger at Blue Zircon. "As you are telling me, an outsider, right now."

The quiver in her fingers became a little more noticeable.

"Which is why I think, at the end of this Trial, I will be arrested as an agent of the Rebellion." Blue Zircon said calmly. Drawing in a breath, Blue Zircon slammed her hands into the chair arm rests for emphasis. Now was the time to sell Béhierite on her theory once and for all. She needed help, and by the Diamonds above, she'd get it!

"Think about it. It's perfect! I am defending Rose Quartz right now, slinking around, snapping up evidence that the current leaders of Homeworld killed one of their own. I'm a prime candidate for 'Rebellion Spy'. They're hoping that I won't become alarmed, and that I'll keep my knowledge to myself, but at the end snap me up as a Rebellion spy."

Béhierite nodded, swirling her hands over one another, as if her thoughts flowed over them. "Thereby discrediting anything you might have to say."

"This is what I believe Yellow and White Diamond will do." Blue Zircon chopped her palms down on the table, then slid them away. Jabbing a finger into the desk, Blue Zircon continued. "So then, what will Blue Diamond do? It all depends on whether her desire to know the truth overwhelms her desire to stay in power." Blue Zircon reclined in her chair, crossing her arms. "I do not believe Blue Diamond murdered Pink Diamond. She has an alibi that I have tested at length."

Béhierite laced her fingers and tapped her pointer fingers against her lips. "Good. I would not want my Diamond to be falsely accused."

"Of course not." Blue Zircon said. Thank the Diamonds…

Béhierite grinned and tapped her nose conspiratorially. "Of course, there is the possibility that you have become paranoid."

Blue Zircon let out an exaggerated sigh, her mouth leaking air like a trusty balloon being deflated, looking forward to the many cheerful parties to come.

"Those two will not stand idly by as I accuse them of murdering their beloved co-ruler! It's unthinkable that Yellow or White Diamond would let some Zircon uproot them from power!"

Béhierite interjected with a flourish, "Then my dear Blue Zircon, you are in quite the pickle indeed. Mmm-hmm. Let us say that Rose Quartz actually did slay the might Pink Diamond. You shall be arrested both for insubordination and treason. On the other hand, if you do discover that one of the other Diamonds has killed Pink Diamond, before you can expose the killer, they will exert their Matriarchicial power, and cover that up. And you still are arrested for insubordination and treason. What if it's more complicated than that? Doesn't matter. Still treason. Any which way you go, my dear, you're going to be arrested. I don't see you winning, in this scenario."

Blue Zircon slammed down her fist on the table. "I plan to strip the lies from this case, discover the truth, and most importantly save my own hide. Before the next trial, I will go to Blue Diamond and accuse the killer of the deed. There won't be any time for the killer to arrest me, or to influence the other Diamonds to cover anything up! My case will be so sound Blue Diamond will have no choice to acknowledge it. She won't be able to just turn a blind eye to it!"

Béhierite exhaled. "Well. That's certainly true. Let me first say, I thank you for telling me all this. And of course, I shall help you."

Blue Zircon's mouth popped open, her mind shouting but her mouth swallowing, NO TAKE-BACKS!

Béhierite smiled an un-smile, peeling back her lips like one would rip the peel from an orange. "You need my help. But it won't be pro bono."

Blue Zircon nodded rapidly. "Sure, sure, sure! I'll get it done, whatever you want!" After a beat, she hastily added, "Within reason, of course."

Béhierite smirked. "Absolutely. Wouldn't want you to be my personal secretary for the end of time, now would we…"

Blue Zircon could not piece a response together, so she chose to let that statement go uncontested. "You can help me get that unannounced audience with Blue Diamond! If it's you, there's no way she'll turn you down."

"What we need to do now is to plan our next movements very, very carefully…"

With Béhierite's cooperation assured, Blue Zircon explained to her what she had in mind in great detail.