Jet pressed the stop button on her alarm clock before it could even start and looked over at B9 to ensure that the gem was still asleep. When she felt it was safe, the gem climbed out of the small cot that was tucked in the corner of the barn and made her way outside, tiptoeing out and closing the door behind her, not letting out a sigh of relief until she heard the door lock. ]

"What are you doing?"

Jet yelped and jumped, skyward. "Geeze Lapis, you almost gave me a heart attack." She whisper yelled to the gem sitting on the roof. Lapis snorted as she flew down, landing at the gem's side. "Sorry." A pause. "Where are you headed that has you sneaking off so early anyway?"

Jet hesitated for a moment before she spoke. "To go see Johnathon at his first guitar lesson. He's picked up a real knack for it, but he's a little nervous around new people." Lapis nodded. "Mr. Universe is pretty chill. You need a ride?" she asked, her eyes lighting up mischieviously. Jet cocked her head to the side. "Wait, what do you – woah!" the gem gasped as she was swept off of her feet and the gem holding her leapt into the air, sprouting water wings and taking flight.

Jet clung on for dear life to Lapis's arm as the gem flew to the Beach before dropping her unceremoniously into the water, laughing when she came out drenched head to foot. "Sorry, you slipped out of my grasp." She said, biting back laughter. Jet rolled her eyes as she walked out of the water. "Sure you did." She muttered, shaking herself off but unable to keep a smile from coming to her face. She wasn't sure why, but she was rather fond of Lapis Lazuli. The gem had a deadpan voice, but her sense of humor was golden and never failed to catch her off guard.

"Just so you know I have to get you back for that." Jet said, beginning to walk in the direction of the Car Wash. Lapis snorted, following her. "I'd like to see you try." She muttered, sitting on the curb and looking up at the sky. "So, when do Johnathon's lessons start?" she asked curiously. Jet shrugged. "Not for a few more hours. I just…." Her voice trailed off and she bit her lower lip.

"Wanted to get away from B9?"

Jet felt her face light up in embarrassment. "Don't say it like that." She said, crossing her arms. Lapis shrugged. "What? It's true." She muttered. Pause. "How did you know?" Jet asked, looking up at the gem. Lapis shrugged. "I can tell how uncomfortable you are around her. You're always on your guard, but when you aren't around her you're really laid back." She explained, putting her arms behind her head and leaning back, staring up at the steadily rising sun.

Jet nodded. "Y-Yeah, actually." Pause. "I guess she does make me really uncomfortable. We used to be close, but things….changed." she said, looking away. "The reason I don't like being around isn't even just because of her." She admitted, rubbing the back of her neck sheepishly. "I mean, part of it is, but it's also the fact that I don't like who I am when I'm around her. I do….bad things when we're together. Or at least I contemplated doing bad things."

"I don't even know why I'm telling you this." Jet said, shaking her head with a small laugh. "You probably don't under-" Lapis chuckled, catching Jet off guard. "Oh, trust me, I understand." She said, closing her eyes as a dark shadow passed over her face. "I understand perfectly." She muttered.

When Lapis didn't elaborate, Jet figured the conversation had been ended and the two lapsed into comfortable silence. Though she didn't understand what Lapis had been through, she got the sense that she could trust and/or talk to this gem about her troubles. It was nice to be able to do this and not be scolded at for being "too emotional", as B had done the few times she had been vulnerable with her.

…

B9 scowled as she looked over what few notes about the cluster she had. She knew it was buried in Earth, but why hadn't it emerged yet? They couldn' stay on this useless hunk of rock for very long if nothing had been done to-

"Oh, hey are those reports on the Cluster?" B9 yelped and fell off the barn couch, her notebook bouncing harmlessly a few feet away. "Oh, I'm sorry." Peridot said, blushing and biting back a laugh as she scooped up the notebook and handed it to B9. "I didn't mean to scare you. Anyway, you don't need to worry about that thing." She boasted, a broad grin spreading over her face as she thumped lightly on her chest. "I can assure you that myself, and Steven, have taken care of that problem." The gem explained, bowing her head and beaming.

B9 arched a skeptical eyebrow. She had never been fond of the Peridot, but out of everyone she seemed to be the most intelligent of the group. "Oh? Do tell how you managed to destroy a residing incubating weapon at the center of the Earth's core." She said, taking the book and flipping through her notes. "Having worked on that cursed thing, I made it almost impossible to destroy."

Peridot snickered. "We bubbled it. Or rather, Steven bubbled it. He is rather talented, just like his mother." She said. "Anyhow, I went to check up on your little Cluster mission while I served under Homeworld, and I must admit that it is an impressive weapon. Absolutely horrific in construction, but it would have gotten the job done had we not stopped it."

B9 pursed her lips, looking down at her notes again. She'd never considered the possibility of the gems being able to bubble something that big, and she held a begrudging respect for it. "So. The Steven bubbled the Cluster? Is he not a human child?" she asked, confused. Peridot hesitated. She didn't know? Well, if nobody had told her, then maybe there was a reason.

"Well, I helped him. It was his idea." Peridot explained, shrugging. "I give credit where credit is due!" she said, forcing a smile when the Bismuth didn't look convinced.

"Anywho," Perido said, eager to move this conversation along, "Why're you looking at reports of the Cluster?"

The Bismuth sneered. "Why do you care?"

Peridot flinched at the sudden change in the gem's tone. "Well…..that is what friends are supposed to do?"

B9 pursed her lips, cocking her head to the side. "So, you used to work on the Cluster?" she asked. "Why didn't I run into you? I was the main gem that was over that thing." Peridot shrugged. "Well, like I said, I was only sent to check on the status of the thing, not to actually work on it or anything." she said, rubbing her neck awkwardly. "There were also some….complications. Specifically the Crystal Gems." Her eyes lit up. "But the good thing iss, they shouldn't be in much pain anymore."

"So they're just sitting there. Under the Earth's crust." B9 said,, looking below her feet and pursing her lips. Peridot nodded. "You know that bubble isn't going to last forever, don't you?" the gem said, arching an eyebrow. "Either the Diamonds will come to activate it, or that bubble's going to pop. I suggest you find a way off this planet while you can." The gem muttered, standing.

Peridot blushed and shook her head. "I….actually kind of like it here." She admitted, smiling sheepishly. "I can never return to Homeworld, but at least I have people here who I can count on. And…you can too if you open up."

B9 tensed up for a minute but shook her head. "I'm not getting attatched to you or anyone on this cruddy planet." She muttered, summoning a toolbox from her gem and walking off.

….

"Steven! Steven!"

Steven groaned and his eyes shot open, jumping when he saw Peridot mere inches from his face. "Oh, morning Amethyst." He said, giving her an awkward wave. Peridot grinned. "Hey Steven! You've gotta check out-" the purple gem frowned when she got a good look at the boy's face. "Whoa dude. You look awful." Steven rolled his eyes. "Morning to you too." He muttered, climbing out of the bed. "What's the matter, Ste-man? You not been sleeping well?" Amethyst asked, following him to the kitchen and sitting on one of the stools at the table.

"I was. Until last night that is." Steven said as he opened the refrigerator door and stuck his head in, grabbing a bottle of milk. "I had a dream about Freshwater. But like…..it was really weird. I honestly think it was just a regular old dream." Amethyst nodded, stroking her chin as Steven put the milk down with a sigh. "Like…..she didn't even look like Freshwater. But she was in our usual meeting spot, and she answered to the name I called her."

"Maybe it's just your head trying to cope with all the wack junk that's been going on lately." Amethyst said, her eyes lighting up. "Dude, you should take a break! We don't even have to go anywhere. Just hang around the house all day!" Steven hesitated. "I dunno…I really want to check on Pearl, too." He said, his eyes lingering on the temple door.

Amethyst frowned. "Look dude." She said, putting her hands on Steven's shoulders. "Pearl's in a bit of a funk right now, but she'll be alright. She just needs some time to take care of herself, and before you know it, things will be back to normal!" she said, ruffling his hair. "So whattya say?" she said, grabbing a bag of Chaaps from the cabinet.

Steven hesitated again but shook his head, looking at the purple gem with a small smile. "That….actually sounds like a good idea." He laughed, fixing his hair and letting out a whoop of surprise as Amethyst picked him up and hurled him onto the couch. "Good!" the gem said, grinning at him with a thumbs up. "You go get the others, and I'll make breakfast."

Steven rolled his eyes but gave her a small smile. "Make the breakfast edible, Amethyst." He said, shaking his head as he exited the temple.

…

Freshwater knocked loudly on the door of the elite's place of residence before stepping back and waiting, tapping her foot impatiently. After a few moments, the door slid open and a gem with bright yellow hair, a red uniform, orange cape, and white gloves sepped out, looking down at Freshwater as the gem on her eye glinted in the sunlight.

"Hessonite." Freshwater said, nodding at the gem as she stepped inside and looked around. Despite the fact that her reports said this gem was an elite, her place of residence was….lackluster to say the least.

Hessonite scowled. "You are the Pearl I am supposed to be teaching, I presume?" she asked. Freshwater snickered. "Teaching? Oh, Diamond's Name no." she said, shaking her head. "You are one of the gems that have been enlisted to accompany me down below. Aparently there are some Off-Colors who think they can hide from My Diamonds."

Hessonite arched an eyebrow. "And….they're sending a Pearl to do this." She said, frowning. Freshwater's eyes flashed as she turned to Hessonite, looking her in the eye. "You dare disrespect my Diamond's wishes?" she said lowly. Hessonite raised her hands defensively, paling slightly. "No, no, not at all. It just….caught me by surprise." She said, frowning.

The Pearl in question snickered. "Yes, I get that a lot. Pearls are dumb, the lowest of the low, only above the Off-Colors. Well, things are about to change in that regard, my dear Hessonite." She said with a small smirk before turning serious. "Now, if you're done messing around, let's go hunt us some Off-Colors."

…

"And….you're sure this will work." Yellow Diamond said, stroking her chin as she stared down at her screen. "I really don't even see how this is a Pearl anymore." Blue Diamond said hesitantly, looking over the tasks White had assigned to their new Pearl.

White Diamond nodded, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Yes, that is the beauty of it all." She said, a twinkle in her eye. "By having a gem that can follow any order, this gem is capable of far more than even I foresaw."

"It's just so peculiar." Blue Diamond said, stroking her chin. "Seeing a Pearl take charge like a Bismuth, yet strike fear into the hearts of many like an Agate."

"And her loyalty is impeccable. Almost to the point of imperfection previously." Yellow Diamond agreed. White smiled. "Precisely. I'd say that as soon as we finish wrapping things up on Homeworld, we'll be able to move on the Cluster and destroy these Crystal Gems. With the help of our Pearl, of course."