The little green drone arrived unannounced and barged into the beach house without anyone's permission - and thus had much in common with its creator, Pearl noted to herself. And knowing Peridot, it was there to show off her latest advancement in understanding Human culture or technology. But before Pearl could reach the broom, it found Steven and began playing audio.

"Steven! Hello! Do you have a minute?" Peridot said through it, at far greater volume than was actually necessary.

After an earlier incident involving the usual shenanigans, Steven was in the odd position of having to take responsibility and work at a job... by putting on 'future boy' make-up and a costume. "Um, maybe? I have something I need to go do in a little bit - what's up?"

"Me and Lapis found a new old Gem wreck to source parts from-"

"-we're desecrating a grave!-" Lapis cut in.

"-what? No, no, Steven. If anything, it's more like a Human mausoleum-"

"-we're grave robbing! Wanna come grave-rob with us, Steven?"

"Laaaaaaaapiiiis! If you say it like that he won't want to come!"

"I thought we were stealing! I learned how to make a drill out of water just so we could go stealing! Aren't we going stealing?"

Pearl looked on in growing horror as Steven appeared more and more delighted by the possibility of ...stealing gravy? Granola? As bad an influence as Amethyst could be, she thought she had taught him there were lines he ought not to cross.

To her relief, Steven's expression became one of disappointment. "Sorry, guys. I have to go to work. But not as a Crystal Gem! A regular job, where I pretend to be a robot from the future for money from the present because of something that happened in the recent past."

The drone was silent for a moment, and then began producing Peri-sounds again. "...I think we might have misheard part of that! But the offer's still 'on the table', if you have some time later!"

"Yeah, sorry guys." Steven shrugged, even thought it was obviously an audio-only communication.

"We'll talk later!" The drone went silent again.

"Steven?" Pearl asked carefully, putting a dish on the drying rack. "You know better than to steal food, right?"

"Yeah?" Steven tilted his head a little, perplexed by the question.

"Okay, just checking, just checking. Do you know when you'll be home, from your job?"

"I should be back by dinner? Can you take my messages, if Lapis and Peridot call back?" He thumbed at the drone, now reclining on the sofa like a cat.

"Of course! You just go and have fun with your job," Pearl said.

Steven smiled and nodded. His preparations complete, he hustled out of the beach house with the oven mitts, leaving Pearl alone in a house with almost no chores left to do.

To pass the time she began to examine Peridot's drone. (Just she'd guessed earlier, it was a newer model. This one had external hardpoints and a more advanced compliment of audio equipment.)

The morning passed into lunchtime, by which time Pearl had already re-done all of the cleaning chores and prepared a bag lunch for Steven. The drone had reactivated twice, both times just to extend another invitation towards Steven, and by all appearances it was going to be a peaceful day.

...Then the drone activated a third time.

"Steven? Steven, are you there? We, uhhhhhh, needyourhelp." Peridot was more flustered than earlier, her usual screeching cut down to a low murmur like she was hiding from something. "I can't get into the details right now but something went really wrong and we need backup! Can you come quick? We're at coordi-"

"-look out!" Lapis shouted, apparently further away.

There was a loud rustling that sounded like Peridot had just dodged something dangerous. "-oh stars that was close. Coordinates follow! We're at the Kans-" With a burst of static the drone suddenly went silent, its connection severed.

As Pearl looked on, it was clear that the drone itself was still active and had received the coordinates, jumping up and motioning for her to follow.

She sighed. Those two freelancers had somehow found a way to get in trouble when they were supposed to be keeping a low profile. And since it was the Crystal Gems' day off, Garnet and Amethyst had already gone out to do their own thing (a rhythm game tournament and a magazine shoot, respectively) - so that left… just her.

So, she dashed off a quick note in case Steven came home early and then carried the drone to the warp pad. The round probeoid-type robot interfaced with the warp pad, the warning tone played, and they burst out into color and sound...

Author's note: Slow start, I know, but I promise it gets more exciting soon!