The makeshift team arrived safely at homeworld. They went inside the palace to search, and ultimately try to convince general Heliodor to carry out the plan; the halls of the complex felt emptier and quieter than they already were, which mildly caught the attention of the boy, who is escorted by the girls.
Citrine, a bit tired, talks to her group:
-Apparently she's not here. I can't do anything if she doesn't give me her approval.
Before continuing his search, as if she were a predator playing with his prey, Heliodor comes out of nowhere, with her aura of authority. Without taking her eyes off the gropu, the general cleans her throat and exclaims with tone, avoiding screaming:
-What do all this mean... Citrine?
The Citrine officer was speechless, as was her group in presence of Helidor, who did not need to do much to make the atmosphere oppressive and heavy, any more than it had been before.
-He-Helidor- said the officer with difficulty-We are looking for you.
-Stop! -Heliodor silences his officer-first of all. Who's the soldier in the pink coat behind you? I'm curious.
-Uh. He's Steven-respond-I think you've heard of him.
Heliodor begins to watch the young man closely. When she finishes her inspection, she expresses his judgment to her officer:
-I see. I understand that "he"-she point in his direction -is the successor/congeal/whatever of Pink... Am i right?
-yes, you are correct.
Heliodor puts her hands on her chin and starts rubbing herself.
-Hmmm~n. I see. So, "she" is supposed to be responsible for this tasteless joke which we call "homeworld" have fallen, and not only that, fallen without a repeat of the civil war, which she, I understand, caused...
The group remained silent for the sour response of the general.
-Well-said Heliodoro while laughting -I must admit that for the first time in your life you have achieved something relevant to your person, "Pinkie". Besides being annoying and superfluous.
Heliodor puts his hands together and starts clapping slowly, giving the boy a look full of cynicism.
-I, Heliodor, recognize that you have surprised me. I mean, how do you do it? How can you ignore the fact that you have sacrificed the lives of so many people in the name of your pleasure? Shit. I wish I had the same level of detachment as-
-STOP.
Before she could finish, the silent Citrine raised her voice to her superior for those words. She would not allow her to refer in such an offensive way of him. Helidor turns in the direction of her officer, seems to be a little upset.
-Excuse me, Citrine. Can you tell me why you raised your voice to me? -She approach the officer in a menancing manner
-Yeah, I'll tell you: I won't allow you to outrage my diamond in this way. Did you fucking hear me, right? I won't allow anyone, least of all a resentful idiot like you.
Heliodor covers his mouth trying to silence a few small laughs.
-Aha, I didn't expect you to understand that, or, to understand me. Although I can bet you're younger than me, am I wrong?
The officer looks petrifiedly at her superior, and then, she shakes her head. Heliodor, for her part, smiles seriously.
-I understand. I'll just say this: I've lost everything for nothing, and you too can lose everything for nothing. I don't even know why I'm still here with us... I guess I have nowhere else to go.
As I said this, Heliodor was leaving the group's sight. Before she got lost in the corridor, she ended up saying:
-Do whatever you want. Tell them I gave you my permission to do so, I don´t care less than you do.
After the talk, she retires. Now without her company, Citriner tries to justify the actions of her superior, simply out of courtesy to her.
-I'm sorry about that, kid. She's only just been released, so she thought you were responsible for her misfortune. Don't listen to her.
The boy crossed his arms as he closed his eyes. Heliodor's words had hurt him, and wanting not to show weakness before his group, he breathed slowly, trying to regain his composure in the face of the general's rebuff.
Titanite notices the state of mind of him, making her bend down a little while she passes her arm around his neck, while she calms him down.
-It's all right. It's not your responsibility.
The officer breathes out tired and orders Titanite to stay with Steven as she organizes her expedition group. The gem accepts and the officer leaves them both to go ahead, praying that the gem can calm him down. In her eagerness to comply with the order given, she breaks the ice, talking about the first thing that comes to her mind.
-I heard that in the colony where you come from your people eat the clouds. I didn't know you could do such a thing, the closest I've come to eating them is when they come down a you can't see anything, and as far as I remember, it tastes like nothing.
The ridiculous question of Titanite managed to raise the spirits of Steven, who corrects the ideas of his companion:
-I think you're confused. The "sweet clouds" are not the same as the clouds you see in the sky, or the fog. Another name they have is "Marshmallows."
-Oh~~h wow... That explains it all-the girl doesn't expect such a revelation
-Technically they're clouds, I think they were aerosols or something I don't remember well, but not that kind of cloud.
-Hehehe, it's weird. -Why are you paying so much attention to these things, I'm not getting it?
-Uh, well, it's a very popular candy, although I don't think you've had a chance to eat one.
-Is the earth a candy? -She asks in doubt
-Ehh~h no.
-So?
-It's a candy.
-I'm start to getting it. -How do I know it's candy?
-You'd have to eat one to know.
-And you have one?
-Sadly, no. But when we're done with what we have to do, we can go get some. -What do you say?
-Okay. Sounds good to me. -Finish while she shrugs.
The talk went on for some time, both discussing worldly things in their respective places, comparing how they see the world. The more the conversation extended, the more they realized that there were certain similarities between the two places, but compared to the marked and very obvious differences, they were few. This continued until the officer arrived, who ended the conversation with her presence. She tells them that she has obtained permission from her superior to make a "raid" on the colony, where the last expedition group that was sent to investigate.
Having said all this, Titanite and Steven follow the officer outside to put the finishing touches on the expedition's preparations. In the palace square, a unit of quartz can be seen in a casual attitude, the officer separates from the group in the direction of one of these older officers she mentioned earlier and stops to talk to her.
Sensing that this would take time, the duo decides to walk in the direction of the unit. The soldiers notice the presence of their partner and the diamond who accompanies her, causing them to be greeted with varying responses.
-Girls, it looks like it's our partner Titanite-The soldier is silent when he sees who was accompanying the girl- -Isn't that... Pink?
-Wait... Uh, it is, isn't it?
-Oh my f... Dreamy stars.
-That means we'll have double duty. Why am I not surprised?
-I don't think it's a good idea, we don't even know if the previous group is okay...
As they came closer, the murmurs became noisy, everyone was talking in the air, and nothing could be taken out of that "symphony". Titanite asked for silence, and the group fell silent.
-I want to know who is the second-in-charge of this unit,-said the girl assertively.
One quartz emerges from the group relatively taller than the rest. Her hair gathered in greenish tones and her skin is of the same color only lighter. She wore the standard soldier's uniform, except that it had sleeves that reached halfway down her arms, of which the left arm wore a bow.
-I am indeed the second-in-cahrge of this group. What's the question?
-Simple curiosity.
-Understood. By the way, "he" going to join us, right?
-The girl nods her head.
-The quartz leader sighs. She turns and starts talking to her group-Soldiers, as you may have heard, we have a "valuable cargo" in our group. I want the tallest or older quartz soldiers to step forward, as I require a guard to take care of our diamond.
Sooner rather than later, the order of the superior bore fruit: five soldiers advanced to the front and took up a rigid position. The substitute officer began to inspect the elements of her guard, and finding nothing out of the ordinary, she gave them her approval and asked them to rest, which they did with the same speed as the previous order. The absent Citrine joined the group and greeted her second-in-charge.
-Officer! I see you've done a good job keeping order here.
The quartz second officer imitates her superior's salute.
-Thank you! But, I'm afraid to say this: I didn't do anything, it's the group who understood what had to be done without me telling them.
-I admire your honesty, that's why you're here with me-says Citrine as she watches the unit.
-Officer, I want to talk to you in private.
The second one's request didn't go unnoticed by the first one, who granted the request. They both withdrew from the group and started talking.
-Official. I see you have doubts, what are they?
-Official. It's about Steven...
The officer stops in her tracks, watching her second with some curiosity about that question. She answers the question quickly:
-Yes, officer. You're coming with us.
The answer raises another question:
-Exactly to...?
Which is answered in short:
-Because we need a figure to negotiate with. Even though we have the means to defend ourselves, our objective is not to go into battle. First, we have to use diplomacy, and already, if this does not work, we throw ourselves at them and make them understand that we do not find their actions appropriate.
-That can play against us. Remember that they will go for whoever is most important. It's obvious that I'm not that relevant, but Steven... he's very relevant, which is going to cause us more discomfort than comfort. Seriously, Citrine, reconsider your idea.
Citrine stopped to analyze what she'd been told. While her second wasn't bad, it was a card that had to be used. They knew nothing of the previous group, and trying to go in the warlike mentality that was already customary for soldiers was not an option, so a more peaceful approach might lead to better results.
Then Citrine, who would not step back from her plan, responded with simplicity and clarity to the demands of her second.
-I understand your concern, but a hostile approach is not going to help, not in this era. Consider it an "armed peace".
The officer retires, leaving her second alone, who was still not convinced by the idea of her officer.
-I just hope you know what you're doing.