Light Purple Pearl
"On the behalf of my Master, I present her Benitoite with gifts," said Pearl, bowing.
"I thank your Master Lepidolite for her generosity," Benitoite responded, inclining her head. "Bring them here so that I may see."
Pearl complied, picking up the boxes one by one, and presenting them at Benitoite's feet. They were simple cargo transport containers, made from plain metal, and the things inside them were nothing special. Power cells, Injector kits, limb enhancers, replacement pieces for any malfunctioning equipment. Standard supplies. Hardly anything worth a great deal of circumstance. Yet Benitoite still made a great show of receiving them, taking each box one by one, slowly taking off their lids and returning them with great deliberation. She made approving sounds with each, even though Pearl could tell she only glanced at their contents.
The whole thing was a show. Every one here was following an old script, an ancient tradition. Benitoite was the most high ranking Gem on the planet, and thus was entitled to certain respects.
… Never mind that the planet was merely a small, far-flung colony that was only just being established. Never-mind that it wasn't difficult to be the most high-ranking Gem in a company of fifty-five. Never mind that the whole ceremony was just a charade, that it didn't mean anything.
Benitoite seemed to think it did, however. Though this new colony was still very basic, without even a working Galaxy Warp yet, this greeting hall was very elaborate indeed. It was huge, with a tall, sweeping ceiling, magnificent pillars and elaborate tilings, all constructed out of very unusual minerals. The walls were a jet-black stone, and the lights all ultra-violet, which worked to show off Benitoite's vibrant blue glow.
There was only a single Diamond Insignia in the entire hall.
The entire reason Pearl's party had been sent out here was to address the delays in the colonisation process, and Pearl suspected she already knew the reason for them.
Benitoite finally put the last of the boxes down, and ordered Pearl to go and store them away. Pearl took them without comment, vanishing into a small chamber behind Benitoite's chair (throne, really).She listened to the proceedings as the laid the boxes out and prepared their contents. Once satisfied, she returned to the Purple Scapolite who was her minder for the trip.
The Scapolite gave her a glare for leaving the chamber door open behind her, but said nothing. She couldn't disrupt the ceremony to scold her.
'Ceremony'. Pearl could have laughed. Glorified meeting, really. Courtesans giving updates from Homeworld. Politicians asking for updates on the colony. Benitoite brushing all criticisms aside. Politicians asking for project deadlines. Benitoite dancing around their questions.
"We've had delays, of course," Benitoite was saying. "But nothing unusual for initial colonization. We've already scouted out several promising primary Kindergarten locations—"
She was interrupted by a group of warriors charging out from behind her throne.
They were a hodgepodge of Gems— corals, flints, rubies, even a lone Quartz warrior— but all armed. They acted quickly. Most of them spread out, covering the entire hall, while two went directly for Benitotite.
One of Benitoite's private guards, an Onyx, tried to intercept— but Pearl was faster. She stretched out a leg, tripping the Onyx up and sending her sprawling to the floor.
By the time the guard was back on her feet, a Ruby has already stabbed Benitoite in the side, and was clutching her gemstone in her hand, victorious.
Chaos, then. The hall was filled with chaos and screaming. With the Master she was meant to protect down, the Onyx guard turned on Pearl instead, which was a mistake. Pearl wasn't armed, but the insurgents were, and they didn't let the Onyx get close. They seemed to be everywhere, sharp shadows nearly invisible in the strange purple light. It took hardly any time at all for Benitoite's guards and fighter-Gems to be defeated, their inert gemstones thrown into light-cages. The other Gems— Benitoite's remaining staff, as well as the visiting delegation— all scientists, scouts, mechanics, politicians— were left huddled together in the hall's centre, confused and fearful.
Pearl waved a hand, and the insurgents formed a circle around them. They flinched away. Pearl told the prisoners, "We won't hurt you."
They did not look as though they believed her.
"What's happening?" cried a Spinel.
"What are you doing?" demanded an Emerald.
"Where did you all come from?" squeaked a Flourite.
"She brought us," said a Coral, tilting her head at Pearl. Pearl couldn't help but grin, the pride and triumph infectious.
Her superiors really should have checked the boxes she'd packed more closely. Then she would have found the poofed gemstones hidden beneath the regular supplies, just waiting for the right time to regenerate.
Pearl made up her way to the front of the hall, coming to stand besides the throne Benitoite had built for herself. She did not sit in it. She'd have it torn down, just as soon as they were finished dealing with the Diamond Insignia.
Instead, she raised her hands at the Gems before her, allies and captives alike, and declared, "In the name of freedom, we claim this colony for the New Rebellion!"
oOoOo
Author's Note: My nickname for this Pearl is 'Trojan'.
Benitoite is a beautiful blue stone which really does glow in UV light. Something to keep in mind if you ever want to propose to someone at laser tag.
And I finally, finally think I've worked out the actual number of chapters this story is going to have: 59. Which means we're in the final stretch here, folks.