Definitions

Inside a mighty conference hall, important Gems assemble for an important meeting. Outside, there is a meeting of another sort. A congregation of pearls.

There's six of them. They're tight knit, nervous. They entry hall they've been left in is empty, and should be for quite some time. Regardless, they can't help but look over their shoulders, just in case. They're tucked in a far corner, partially hidden by pillars, but still they feel hopelessly exposed.

There is a pearl, pale pink. The others look to her, not quite as a leader, but something close to it. They cluster around her, shielding her from sight. She holds out her hand; inside her palm rest her gem, smooth and shiny. Shiny and shining, projecting a bright orb of light. The pink pearl cups her hand protectively around the hologram. It shows the Renegade; face and eyes sharp, spear in hand, bearing an expression of such anger and ferocity that it sends shivers through them all.

It hangs in the air for only a moment, then vanishes; the pearls are left blinking away the afterimage.

"So it's true," says one, deep purple.

"Amazing," breaths another, warm brown in colour.

The bronze one shakes her head. "It can't be real," she says. "It's… it's just a hologram. Some hopeless conjured fantasy-"

"It is not!" pink replies, indignant.

"I'm not saying you made it up," bronze placates. Her voice is gentle, but patronising. "I mean another pearl did, galaxies away. Maybe she truly believed it. And now she's fooled hundreds of others into believing it too." She shakes her head. "But don't you see how ludicrous the notion is? A pearl, fighting! We simply aren't capable…"

"It's true."

The statement comes from a pearl dark red in colour, her voice heavy with certainty. Certainty, but not awe or hope. She has withdrawn from the circle, and is instead leaning against the pillar, staring fixedly at a distant wall.

"What makes you think that?" says bronze.

"It's the only explanation." Red's gaze flickers to look at them. "What else would have our Masters in such a state?"

A series of uneasy looks pass throughout the other pearls. They know what she means.

Their masters— the other Gems— have been uneasy of late. They are not entirely sure why; more and more pearls are being sent out of meetings, making it harder to overhear such discussions. But whatever those discussions are, they have felt the reverberations. The rules have become stricter, the penalties harsher. Pearls are being asked to turn out the contents of their gemstones, to ensure they are not carrying contraband. Pearls have been brought in for strict questioning. Pearls have been asked, for the first time ever, to swear oaths of loyalty. Even just knowing the story of the Renegade could be justification for shattering.

And even while pearls are being dismissed from conferences, for fear of what they might hear, less and less are they being left to their own devices, for fear of what they might do, unsupervised. They especially do not want pearls together, communicating. This is the first chance in cycles that any of this planet's pearls have been able to gather in such numbers.

"So the 'renegade' must be real," red argues. "The Authority knows about her, and about this crystal rebellion. And they're afraid."

Pink's voice is very quiet when she says, "Maybe they should be."

Everyone's eyes snap to her in attention.

"Well, they should!" Her voice is a fierce whispers. "We're not— not just pretty decorations! This Pearl is proof of that! She has shown us the truth! What's to stop us from grabbing swords and-!"

Red springs forward, clamping her hand over Pink's mouth. "Do you want to get us killed?"

The others are nervous too, shifting and murmuring. They look around the hall. A white pearl, silent so far says, "No one else is here."

"Do you want to bet on that?" demands red. "Do you want all of us to be shattered, just because she-" she points at the pink, "couldn't keep her mouth shut?"

Pink casts her eyes downwards. The others bite their lips, or look away.

Even if there are no other gems here, there is always the risk that one of these pearls might talk. Might be a spy, might be a traitor.

"And what has this 'renegade' done for us? What does her sword waving accomplish?" red continues. "Don't you understand? She doesn't care about us. She's found some pretty quartz and some pretty planet, and she's decided to go off and play soldier, while letting us take the punishment for it! She's no hero! She's just a traitor."

And none of them are quite sure what to say to that.

oOoOoOo

Author's Note: So who's ready for In Too Deep?