A/N: Hello everyone, I am back with chapter six of this story. Here, the Crystal Gems prepare for their rescue mission.
Disclaimer: I don't own Steven Universe
It was a new day in Beach City. Less than twenty-four hours prior the Crystal Gems discovered and dedicated themselves to rescuing Homeworld gems trapped and in danger of being shattered. Today, was the planning phase of their operation. Naturally; Steven, Pearl, Garnet, Amethyst and Bismuth where already home. Topaz, Peridot and Lapis arrived quickly after via the transporter. Finally, Connie arrived thanks to Lion. The group gathered around the couch to plan.
"Where do we begin?" asked Steven unsure.
"Probably with whose going." answered Connie.
"I'm going." said Steven.
"If you're going then I'm going." said Connie.
"I'll go too." said Pearl.
"I can't go back. It'll...be too difficult for me." said Bismuth.
"I can't go either. It's...too difficult for me as well." said Lapis.
"If Lapis isn't going then I'm staying here to keep her company!" declared Perdiot.
"So will I." said Garnet.
"But, won't you draw suspicion?" asked Amethyst confused.
"Not if we play the roles we where made for." answered Garnet.
"Like at the Human Zoo?" asked Steven.
"Exactly." answered Garnet.
"Sapphire could help us with Homeworld gems." noted Pearl.
"I will be a Sapphire returning from a visit to an outpost with my three bodyguards and personal Pearl." said Garnet.
"Am I one of the bodyguards?" asked Amethyst.
"Yes." answered Garnet.
"I'm guessing I'm the other." said Topaz.
"Correct. It is your ship after all." confirmed Garnet.
"What about Steven and I?" asked Connie.
"You two will have to stay on the ship." answered Garnet.
Steven gulped at this.
"But, what if something happens?" asked Steven worried.
"None of the visions of you joining us out of the ship...don't end well." answered Garnet solemnly.
Steven cringed at this.
"I understand." said Steven.
"Yeah. So do I." agreed Connie.
"So...what do we do?" asked Pearl worried.
"As gems we can easily walk around Homeworld." answered Garnet.
"But, how do we find them?" asked Amethyst.
"Topaz met this fusion before." answered Connie.
"They've had to go into hiding." noted Pearl.
"And I don't know where they are." said Topaz.
"They're probably in the Kindergarten." said Pearl.
Amethyst oohed at this.
"Most of my visions point us in that direction." added Garnet.
"This might not be so hard after all." mused Pearl.
"Well you three are doing this, we'll be relaxing here." said Peridot.
"Don't forgot Aquamarine is still out there." noted Bismuth.
"It did take all of us to beat her." added Lapis.
"It's called be optimistic." replied Peridot.
"Just don't underestimate Aquamarine." warned Topaz.
"So, do we go tomorrow?" asked Steven.
"Yes." answered Garnet.
Amethyst jumped into the air.
"Let's do this!" declared Amethyst.
The others agreed.
"You ready Steven?" asked Connie.
"As long as I'm with you then I am." answered Steven.
The group spent the rest of their day together. Steven of course spent most of his time with Connie. Finally, it was getting late and Connie had to go home. Steven wasn't thrilled she had to go, but he understood. Steven walked Connie to the car wash and Greg gave her a ride home. Steven waited at the car wash when his dad left. On the way to the Maheshwaran residence, Connie referenced their upcoming mission to the amazement of Greg. After dropping Connie off, Greg returned to the car wash where Steven was.
"How's Connie?" asked Steven antsy.
Greg got out of his van.
"Fine." answered Greg wearily.
Steven let out a sigh of relief.
"Good." said Steven relieved.
"You two are really close." noted Greg.
Steven blushed at this.
"It reminds me of myself and your mom." noted Greg.
"That's good." said Steven gently.
Greg took a moment and gulped.
"Steven, you're going to the gem Homeworld." said Greg.
Steven winced at this.
"Yeah." confirmed Steven softly.
"Connie mentioned it off-handed." revealed Greg.
"We have to do it!" declared Steven.
"Tell me what's going on." requested Greg.
"Okay." agreed Steven.
Steven explained the situation to his father.
"Wow." said Greg amazed.
Greg took a moment to comprehend this.
"I have to do this." stated Steven.
Greg nodded his head.
"You're just like your mom." said Greg.
"Pearl said the same thing." noted Steven.
The two shared a chuckle.
"You have Garnet, Pearl and Amethyst going with you." said Greg.
"Garnet will be Ruby and Sapphire." corrected Steven.
"Not to mention Topaz." recalled Greg.
"Dad, you can help keep an eye on Peridot, Lapis and Topaz?" asked Steven.
"No problem." answered Greg understanding.
Steven rubbed his left arm with his right hand.
"Dad...did mom tell you about Homeworld?" asked Greg.
"No." answered Greg.
Steven hung his head.
"Are you worried?" asked Greg.
"Yeah." answered Steven flatly.
Steven looked up toward the heavens.
"I'm going right into a foreign planet where everyone wants to kill me. It's tense." explained Steven.
"You're still going to go." mused Greg.
"I have to." stated Steven.
Steven sighed.
"Dad, don't forget about me." said Steven.
"Son..." began Greg worried.
"I'll be fine dad." said Steven.
"Then why did you say that?" asked Greg worried.
"Just feeling down a bit." answered Steven.
"Stub-ball, take your medicine with you." requested Greg.
"Sure dad." said Steven.
Steven and Greg hugged.
"I love you son." said Greg.
"I love you dad." said Steven.
Meanwhile, Connie had returned to her home. After this, Connie went to her room decided to bust out her homework. She especially wanted to get ahead since she'd be gone into space for an unknown length of time. Finally, dinner came and Connie went downstairs for dinner. She sat around the table with her parents. Connie served herself and ate while her parents talked about their days.
"So it turns out the kids got flatworms from swallowing frogs as apart of some stupid fraternity pledge." concluded Priyanka.
"Luckily, we know we don't have to worry about our Connie." sighed Doug relieved.
"So...how was your day?" asked Priyanka.
"Good." answered Connie.
Connie took a deep breath.
"I'm going to space." revealed Connie.
Connie's parents froze in space.
"I know this is shocking, but I need to." stated Connie.
"Let's talk about this." requested Doug surprised.
"Steven is going to the gem Homeworld and needs me there for support." said Connie.
"Why are you going there?" asked Priyanka unsure.
"Rescue mission to save gems." answered Connie.
"Are you certain that this is vital?" asked Priyanka.
"Yes." answered Connie.
"Honey..." began Doug.
Connie jumped out of her chair.
"I have to do it!" screamed Connie.
Priyanka and Doug shared a worried glance.
"I know this means a lot to you..." began Priyanka.
"Mom, I am doing this." stated Connie.
"Honey, we support you." said Doug.
Connie let out a sigh of relief.
"But..." began Doug.
Connie clenched her fists.
"We don't want you to get hurt." said Priyanka.
Connie shook her head.
"You don't have to worry about me." said Connie.
Priyanka shook her head.
"You're our daughter and we'll always worry about you." said Priyanka.
Connie smiled at this.
"Thanks mom." replied Connie.
"I know you've done all this training and have been on these adventures before." noted Doug.
"Exactly. I'm not a little girl." said Connie.
"No you aren't. You proved that at the hospital." admitted Priyanka.
"I can do this." said Connie.
"I don't know." replied Doug conflicted.
"Can you please step into the other room so we can talk." requested Priyanka.
"Yes mom." agreed Connie.
Connie left to the living room.
"What do you think?" asked Doug.
"I want to say no, but Connie has proven she can handle herself." noted Priyanka.
"I could never done the things she has." confessed Doug.
"Neither could I." sighed Priyanka.
The two nodded in agreement.
"Come in dear!" called Doug.
Connie returned to her parents.
"We've decided you can go." said Priyanka.
Doug nodded his head.
"We trust you will be safe." added Doug.
Connie hugged his parents excitedly.
"Thank you!" cried Connie.
Night fell in Delmarva. Steven Quartz Universe went to bed, but found himself unable to sleep. Instead, he rolled around in his bed back and forth. He sat up and walked to the fridge. He opened the fridge and rummaged through it. However, Amethyst had cleared out the fridge earlier leaving slim pickings. Steven pulled out a pickle and shut the door. Steven walked over to the couch, sat down and began chomping his pickle
"Trouble sleeping?" asked Bismuth.
Steven jumped in surprised.
"Sorry. I didn't meant to freak you out." said Bismuth worried.
Steven took a deep breath.
"It's fine. You didn't mean to." said Steven.
Bismuth walked over and sat down next to Steven.
"I'm worried about tomorrow." confessed Steven.
"You can always back out." noted Bismuth.
"I have to do this." stated Steven.
"Don't push yourself into doing something." warned Bismuth.
"Thanks." replied Steven.
Steven took a chomp out of his pickle and swallowed it.
"I can't back down." said Steven.
Steven took another bite of pickle.
"I am a Crystal Gem." said Steven.
A/N: That is where we'll end things for now. Things are planned out and ready to go. Next time, the Crystal Gems take off. But, will someone else be joining them? Tune in to find out. Please review.