Landing Day
Unit Headquarters 12 Hours ago
Unit's head scientist Annette Carter took extra care when examining this alien. Not only was her husband hovering nearby (a big fellow) but there was the fact that Peridot was obviously pregnant. The couple were in the medical bay with the female alien sitting on the examination table.
"Forgive us for taking you away like that but it was for your own protection," said Carter. She pulled out a probe to take a closer look at Peridot. Steven stepped forward but Peridot simply shook her head.
As she examined the green alien she proceeded with Peridot's interrogation, "So what are the intentions of your sisters?"
"Same thing as they stated, Peridots are very low ranking gems. Because of the systemic abuse of the Diamond Authority, they have decided to defect to Earth, a former Homeworld Colony."
"Still that's a lot of ships. Forgive us if we don't believe you."
"Those are all civilian crafts. If I remember correctly doesn't this planet experience mass migrations of their own? And is it really necessary to keep poking me like this?"scolded Peridot as Carter approached her with an ultrasound wand.
"We have to, if only to check the health of your baby. Unless you have a doctor at Rossmore," said Carter.
"Yes we do," piped up Steven. "His name is Dr. John Smith."
Realization hit Annette Carter like a lead weight. She practically raced to the comm, "Brigadier Slocum, release these two and get a jet to take them to their home base."
"No need, all we need to do is get to the nearest warp pad," replied Peridot.
Back in the Beach House Pearl, Bismuth and Apatite were discussing what to do when the warp pad flashed and Steven, Peridot and three armed humans appeared. Peridot simply walked towards the Crystal Gems as if nothing had happened.
"Sorry about that. We were unavoidably detained by UNIT. I'd like to introduce you to Lieutenants Angstorm and Hertz as well as Brigadier Slocum. They'll be observing us in the meantime," said Peridot as she sat down on the couch.
"So nice that you could finally make it, we were just discussing what to do with that battle fleet heading for Earth," said Pearl scathingly.
"First off that is not a battle fleet. Those are all civilian ships. From what I can tell we about 30 yachts, 3 cruise ships and 5 cargo ships," said Peridot. She explained as best she could about the nature of the Peridots before an increasingly bewildered group of humans and gems. Without even asking for permission Peridot contacted the fleet and gave them landing coordinates. Pearl couldn't help but notice how imperious Peridot was, taking charge and rushing in to help her sisters. She was behaving like a Diamond. Pearl was not impressed.
"Well the world governments are panicking what you need to do is assure them," said Pearl firmly.
"No, I'm going back to Rossmore to help my sisters. What you need to do is to appoint an ambassador," countered Peridot.
Apatite watched as Peridot marched out and warped away she turned to Pearl, "Well that's just great now what are we going to do?"
Pearl put her hand on her chin, "We can always go to the UN in Empire City but we need a face. Someone well known trustworthy but who?"
In the Empire City Nationwide Wrestling Ring Amethyst was reading her script for the cage battle when she heard the cellphone ring.
"This had better be important," grumbled Amethyst. She had to practice chair hitting in five minutes. "Yeah what do ya want?"
"I'd hope you would be a little more mature after working a few months in Empire City," scolded Pearl.
"Pearl! Sorry I've just gotta go into ring tonight. Anyways what do ya want?"
"Have you watched the news?"
"Sorry no. I like to keep out all distractions before a match."
"Well if you had you would have seen that there is a fleet of 10 000 Peridots heading to Earth escaping Homeworld's tyranny. I need you go to the UN building as our representative."
"Not Peridot?"
"Peridot's busy. She went to Rossmore to help her sisters."
"Give me two hours."
"Amethyst, I was hoping you would be there sooner."
"Look Pearl, even as the Purple Puma I can't just barge in unannounced. These things take time. I need to notify my boss and get dressed. Look tell me what you can about these Peridots then maybe I'll know what's going on."
And so Pearl explained as best she could. As Amethyst listened her eyes widened as she heard about the Gem News Program and Yellow Diamond's massacre of a bunch of newborns like Spunky. Since coming to Empire City Amethyst had been cut off from Gem TV so she wasn't caught up with current events. When Pearl was done Amethyst spoke in a low serious voice.
"Okay, I'll get to work but Pearl you're going to have to do a few things as well. You'll need to get a tape of the massacre and you'll have to ride the roaming eye here to Empire City." And Amethyst told Pearl of her plan.
Bismuth, Steven and the humans followed Peridot to the farm. The rainbow haired gem was worried. There were less than 200 gems at the farm and it was already getting crowded. Now Peridot had just invited 10 000 of her sisters in. How was she even going to take care of them? She saw Peridot talking to Soldalite and acting like she owned the place.
"I need Nephrites, physicians and as many gems who were involved in childcare," explained Peridot to the solemn Blue gem.
Angered Bismuth marched on over and pulled Peridot around to face her, "Hey this is my hospital what makes you think you can just barge in here giving orders like that?"
"No time for niceties Bismuth. We are looking at thousands of potentially injured Peridots landing on Earth," replied Peridot coldly.
"All at once, have you even thought of where you're going to put them?" said Slocum as he stepped of the warp pad.
Steven could see the nearby patients tense up. "Forgive me ladies. I'd like to introduce you to Brigadier Slocum and Lieutenants Angstrom and Hertz. They are here just for observation. Aren't you?"
"To answer the Brigadier's question yes, I have thought out on where to house them. There is the Beta Kindergarten in Rossmore. Now before I waste time explaining again on what I'm planning to do, how about you let me do my job?"
Empire City 6 Hours Ago
Amethyst in her Purple Puma form fidgeted in front of the guards in front of the UN building. She was in no way nervous but rather uncomfortable in her large suit and choking tie.
"Sir, I must ask you to leave. The UN is having a very important meeting," said the first guard respectfully.
"I know it's about that big alien fleet in the sky. That's why I'm here," said Amethyst smugly.
"You expect us to believe that a pro wrestler would have any idea about what to do about those ships," scoffed the second younger guard.
"I have an appointment," the guards were unmoved. "Okay I gave front row tickets to the representative to Moldovia. You happy now?" Still they weren't budging where was Pearl.
A younger Amethyst would have shape changed in front of the two men who were simply doing their job instead Amethyst simply stood there waiting. She did not have to wait there long from behind her on the street she heard shouts and screamed. She whirled around to see the Roving Eye delicately park on street. The guards pulled out their guns but Amethyst waved them away.
"Never mind that's my plus one," said Amethyst dryly.
The main hall was in a hubbub as the representatives talked to each other. The Americans assumed it was an invasion and demanded that all nuclear missiles be fired at the alien fleet. Britain found the notion to be laughable silly because the nukes couldn't get beyond Earth's orbit and Australia was worried about the environmental damage those missiles would cause.
"Nevertheless we need to prepare for all eventualities we have no idea what these beings want,"replied the French representative.
"Actually, I can tell you exactly what they want," said Pearl as she emerged into the general assembly with Amethyst.
"Madame we have no time for practical jokes. We are discussing a potentially hostile alien fleet flying right to our planet," said the Speaker of the Assembly.
"Oh they are not hostile. I can assure you that. I am Pearl," the pale gem pause for a moment. "The Prime Minister of the Crystal Gems on Earth."
Pearl used her gem to show holograms of Spunky appearing in the most cute and nonthreatening way possible. Pictures of her playing with her dolls, watching TV and even of her day at the fair. The Assembly hall is was an uproar over what was clearly magical activity. Beside Pearl Amethyst sweated. Pearl was unmoved she had seen this all before.
Once there was silence in the room again Pearl continued, "This is a typical specimen of a Peridot. They are a low ranking caste of gems in the Diamond Authority. These Peridots are highly intelligent, and equipped with technical know how."
"Excuse me but what you just showed us was clearly a child. You expect us to believe that a bunch of children constructed and piloted a fleet?" said the British representative.
"With enough motivation anybody can do anything," Pearl flashed the image of Yellow Diamond stomping on some young Peridots.
"That's all very nice but who, what are you people?"asked the Spanish representative.
"We are the Crystal Gems, members of an ancient race of gem based beings," announced Pearl. "We landed here over 6 thousand years ago and fought a civil war to protect your planet and the right to be free." Then Pearl told the story of the great war that wracked the planet so long ago.
Rossmore Nova Mexico Present
Peridot stared out of her mothers' window she as looked outside at the landing strip nearby. With a few slightly modified robinoids she had found a flat surface and created a landing strip for her sisters. It was now dark and the waiting robinoids glowed a lime green, lighting the way for her sisters. With all the activity she had done today she was very tired but she couldn't sleep. She felt an embrace from behind.
"Hey Sweetie, you should try getting some sleep," said her husband.
"I can't Steven. Any moment they'll be here. I have to be there for them," said Peridot.
"Peri you're no good to anybody if you don't take care of yourself. Remember you have to think of the baby too," scolded Steven gently.
"Steven I couldn't sleep even if I wanted to. I'm too wound up."
"Well at least go into the feeding chamber to get some energy, it could be hours before the first one comes and you need to rest. C'mon your mothers are worried."
Needing no more urging Peridot nodded her head. She was so large now that she had to have Steven's help getting up. From the corner of her eye she saw a streak of light and then heard a loud bang. Forgetting all about her exhaustion Peridot shot straight up.
"Oh my stars. One of the ships has crashed. Steven we need to get out there right away," cried Peridot.
As if one single organism Peridot, Steven, the other gems and the observers from UNIT all raced towards the crash site. The humans choked as they got nearer to the glowing green plasma fires surrounding the strange ship. They were about to get closer when Steven stopped them.
"Guys I know you want to help but we are looking at temperatures close to 1000 Kelvin and radiation. Just keep back and let us handle it."
Brigadier Slocum watched as the gem beings worked furiously. So far he couldn't see any survivors just green energy bubbles holding green gems. Then the bubbles started popping and from nowhere crying green children formed. The gems froze as if not knowing what to do.
"Oh for the love of the Goddess, carry them out of the crash site." shouted Peridot. She was holding a squalling baby.
As she ran past the humans Slocum pulled out his cellphone. It was clear the gems didn't know how to take care of children as he saw a burly looking gem pick up a toddler by the scruff of her neck. Well most of them anyways as he heard Peridot shout that it was not the correct way hold a baby.
"What are you doing?" shouted one of Peridot's mothers the green one. She was doing a marginally better job of taking care of the children as she tried to corral the children in a safe spot.
"I'm calling the American branch of UNIT over. These children need help and you people have no idea how to deal with them," replied Slocum he was trembling with anger.
"No, I am not allowing the American Military anywhere near here. We had enough trouble with them already,"said Emerald adamantly.
Peridot who was seeing the argument going on stepped in, "Mother the gemlings will be hungry. Please take them to the light chamber." Peridot turned to Slocum. "Forgive Emerald we had a bad experience with the nearby base during the winter. Look let us clear up the wreckage and you can tend to the children."
She then turned and shouted to her husband to help the men from UNIT with the children. In the next two hours as the wreckage was cleared up, the American Branch of UNIT lead by a Colonel Richards came with a dour old man. It was Doctor John Smith the Universes' family doctor. Armed with diapers and children's clothing, the soldiers trained in fighting alien menaces tenderly dressed and comforted the young children as they came. All in all,there were 120 children ranging in apparent age from newborn to 4 years old. All of them were green with triangular stones set into their foreheads.
Once the wreckage had mostly cleared. Steven Universe walked up to the soldiers of UNIT.
"Thank you all very much for your help we couldn't have done it without you but we'll take it from here,"said the large young man.
"Steven, I know you are trying your best but there are 120 children and the gems don't know how to care for them," said Dr. Smith gently.
"Actually neither does UNIT. Does UNIT know how to feed them? The gems do. They're learning, we're learning just give us a chance," replied Steven.
Dr. Smith looked at Peridot. She was gently placing an infant gem in a cradle UNIT wisely provided. Her mothers had taken some of the toddlers on hand and were singing some sort of song.
"She is an excellent mother," said Smith softly.
"Sorry I didn't get that," said Steven.
"I'll inform Reeds and Slocum to get their troops a safe distance away," replied Smith.
Once the fires had burnt out and the wreckage cleared. Peridot informed the other ships that bit was safe to land. The rest of the ship landed perfectly with the exception of a foot ship that flew in gracefully heel first but upon landing tilted over on its side. A couple of burly Quartzes had to tilt the ship back up again so that the three struggling Peridots could be let out. Slowly but surely all the Peridots disembarked.
Standing next to their ships the Peridots ranged from seasoned veterans of six gem years to diapered newborns just freshly out of the tanks. There were a couple of Pearls and Nephrites in the group as well. As The crowd numbered in thousands strangely enough they were all silent, tired and unsure about the future.
Peridot stepped into the center of the landing strip. Every eye was upon her. She felt a surge of gladness as she saw the older Peridots caring for their younger siblings.
"Welcome I am Peridot Facet 2F5L Cut 5XG, you have had a long and dangerous journey. Your troubles are finally over. Here on Earth you are free. Here on Earth you are a person. You all deserve a rest but unfortunately that's not going to happen. I need you all to use your robinoids and dissemble your ships..." and Peridot took her sisters in hand.