Peridot cleared their throat loudly. They had been standing in front of Lapis' cell for a good few seconds and they had kept their head buried in their arms the whole time, still curled up in the back corner.
Lapis looked up with a start, throwing up their arms as if to shelter their face. "Oh, it's you" they seemed to relax slightly upon seeing that it was just Peridot "what do you want?"
Peridot called up their screen and began reading out loud "Lapis lazuli, you are being held in temporary custody under accusation of treason. You will be detained here until we return to Homeworld where you will stand trial for your actions." Peridot closed the screen and took a step forwards, smiling warmly "of course, if you just tell me why you did it I could make things much easier, I mean, I don't even have to report this if you help us with the whole Earth problem enough"
Peridot was glad they took those interrogation courses, make the subject think you are their friend, and if they won't cooperate, threaten something worse "look, I understand if you don't want to talk to me, I can go get Jasper if you like" Lapis twitched slightly, rubbing their wrist at the memory of pain. Inwardly Peridot chuckled smugly, this was almost too easy, the old relic was already broken.

"Why did you try to contact the Stevens? Do they have some sort of control over you? Did they force you to do it?"
Lapis shook their head angrily "No! No, Steven is my friend. He's just a human, I wanted to warm him"
"Your friend?" Peridot tried not to sound too derisive
"He talked to me. He helped me to get home"
"Ahh yes, home. Where, according to reports, you quickly got yourself marked as a 'Social Agitator', spreading misinformation and speaking out against government policies… I'm sure some of this could be marked off as difficulties reacclimatising, but you didn't try very hard to assimilate did you?"
"I… I just didn't understand it. Everything's changed so much!" Lapis glared at Peridot, tears gathering at the corner of their eyes.

"Okay, okay, it's alright. None of it was really that bad, the only reason you made it into the system was because of the nature of your sudden return. Which brings me to my next question. Why did you leave Earth?"
"Why did I leave?" Peridot took a step back at the anger in lapis' voice and the seething hatred that had suddenly began to emanate from the frail looking gem "Do you know what they did to me there? Do you know how the Crystal Gems treated me! I left because I wanted to go home, because I love my home! Because my thoughts of home were the only thing THAT KEPT ME SANE ALL THAT TIME!" Lapis stopped, almost visibly deflating as the angry energy seemed to leave them. Crumpling to their knees just in front of the cell barrier "and then when I got there I found that my home had been gone for a long time."

Peridot was speechless "I… ah… I'm sorry"
"You're sorry?" Lapis' voice caught as they looked at Peridot a slight laugh dying in their throat "You don't have the slightest idea what I've been through. You don't even know what you are doing here. You are trying to draw answers from me when you don't even know the questions"
Peridot took another step back, the gems stare was intense, fixating "No, I'm just-"
"I've seen more interrogations than you have years" lapis stood slowly, a lopsided grin on their face and a dark gleam in their eyes "I've witnessed torture that would make you retreat into your gem just from thinking about it! You don't understand anything about me, or Earth, or why you are doing what you are doing" they pressed their face as close to the light barrier as they could without being repelled, small sparks popping near their nose

"No, I. We are heading to Earth to facilitate the reactivation of its kindergarten and associated facilities and to investigate sightings of the War Criminal know as rose quartz" Peridot blurted out the textbook perfect report in a single hurried breath
"LIAR!" Lapis snapped instantly "You didn't see Rose Quartz… Why are you lying"
Peridot had the sinking feeling that they may be losing control of this interrogation "No, I was reactivating the Kindergarten remotely when I Rose Quartz and a number of other gems attacked up devices and-"
A look of realisation spread across lapis face "You don't even know who Rose Quartz is do you?"
Peridot wiped the sweat from her forehead, their goggles beginning to fog up

Lapis smiled, moving back and sitting down gracefully "I'm sorry for upsetting you Peridot, you aren't the one I should be angry with, you are just a pawn in this after all"
"Wh-what do you mean by that?" Peridot said incredulously "I am an interplanetary colonisation overseer second cl-"
"I'll tell you why if you tell me why you lied" Lapis interrupted Peridot matter of factly.
"Um, well, okay. Just promise you won't tell anyone? I could get in trouble."
"Of course, now please, sit" Lapis smiled warmly, speaking softly and calmly
"Heh" Peridot chuckled embarrassedly as they sat down in front of the cell "Well, it's kind of stupid. When I first made the report my overseer got really freaked out and asked if I had seen a gem called Rose Quartz, they said they were a very dangerous criminal. Before that it wasn't really a serious matter, just a few rogue elements interfering with due process, we would have just send a small unit to clear things out and reclaim the planet but this seemed big. So I figured if I said yes I would get to go on a special mission to deal with things personally. And… I might be able to request Jasper as an escort…" Peridot rubbed the back of their head awkwardly, blushing heavily.
"Jasper? Really? This was all just so you could get Jasper to come with you?" For a second Peridot thought they could hear something else in Lapis' voice but then it was back to being soft and calming, the voice of an understanding friend.

"Well, I used to sometimes see them leading military drills in the field across from my building, after that I managed to get a few jobs overseeing some of the colonisation efforts in some of the more dangerous areas and I always put in requests for Jaspers detachment when we needed military intervention. Eventually I got to see them in action, taking out a fortified moon base that was blocking us from sending ships into orbit around an alien occupied planet. It was amazing, just, seeing them like that. A perfect orchestra of muscle and violence!" Peridot stared at the ceiling dreamily
"Yes. I know, I've felt it" Lapis commented icily
"And after that" Peridot continued on oblivious "I just couldn't stop thinking about them. I kept trying to arrange for us to bump into each other but they never really gave me a second glance" Peridot spun their fingers around gloomily "I'm just a button pusher after all. But this is my chance! I can prove myself and finally get Jasper to notice me!" Peridot smiled at Lapis excitedly and was surprised to see that Lapis' friendly smile had turned into a gleeful leer.

"I knew Jasper. Back on Earth, the first time they were there. They don't remember me. But I remember them. I remember what happened to the last person who fought alongside them…"
Peridot stared incredulously, waiting for Lapis to continue.
"You can't just say something like that and not finish it!"
"Yes I can!" Lapis giggled, rolling onto their back
"No! Argh... you... argh!' Peridot stood up and stamped their feet, fuming "Of all the clichéd, stupid antagonist things to say! You're just making it up aren't you?"
Lapis replied slowly and quietly "If I'm the antagonist why am I the one in the cage?"
"No, enough! I'm putting my foot down, I'm asking the questions here!"
"Or what?"
"I'll get Jasper!"
"I'll tell them everything you said"
"You…" Peridot paced back and forwards for a few seconds before stopping and pulling out their Gem Destabiliser, an evil look spreading across their face.
The aura of menace was then instantly broken by Lapis' pealing laughter, as pure as a crystal bell.
"Don't embarrass yourself Peridot" Lapis turned their head to smile at Peridot as they stretched one of their arms up towards the ceiling, stretching out their fingers like they were trying to grasp the sky.
Peridot was about so say something as Lapis slowly reached up with their other hand and firmly grasped their middle finger "Wait, what are you-"
A sickening CRACK, loud as a gunshot echoed though the hall. Lapis didn't flinch, their eyes locked onto Peridots, crystal clear sinks of madness. Their middle finger now dangling limply, hanging at a right angle to their hand.
Peridot dropped the Destabiliser and rushed towards the cell, almost tripping into the field as their knees buckled involuntarily "WHAT THE FUCK! Why would you DO THAT! Are you okay!?"
"I wasn't lying" Lapis spoke calmly "I lived without a body for long enough that pain doesn't mean anything to me. And I have witnessed acts that are beyond your imagination to consider, much less surpass"
"Okay, fine! You don't need help, I can't make you do anything, you win!' Peridot threw up their arms and stormed out grumbling in anxious frustration "I feel sick…"

Lapis lay in silence for a few long minutes before moving their finger back into place and shape-shifting their other fingers to form a rough splint for the broken finger.
For the first time a genuine smile was on the small gems face "I win" They repeated it again, as if trying out how the words felt in their mouth "I. Win"
they breathed heavily, spreading their arms out on the floor around them "No one's ever said that to me before."
Peridot was clearly a young gem, so very modern. And as much as they seemed to think they were in control Lapis knew that these feelings towards Jasper was something they could use. Maybe Peridot wasn't quite as brainwashed as the rest of the gems Lapis had seen on Homeworld?
Comforted by this possibility of hope Lapis closed their eyes and began to think, how best to make Peridot understand?

Peridot was pacing back and forth in the central area of the ship, they couldn't get the sound of Lapis breaking their finger out of their head.
"What the fuck is wrong with them?" they muttered to themselves.
After a little while they stopped and shook their head, trying to force away the thoughts of the frail gems self-mutilation. They needed to focus on how to proceed with the interrogation, they had committed the cardinal sin last time, allowing the subject to talk control of the questioning.
It was just so easy to think of them as a friend, so open and per- "FUCK!" Peridot shouted out loud, swinging their arms about angrily "they totally played me! That's like, interrogation basics!"
They sighed heavily, letting the anger seep out of them. So much for Lapis' spirit already be broken.
And now that they had spilled their guts like a gem fresh out of kindergarten they couldn't get Jasper to help either "I knew I should have made notes to go off" Peridot fumed, "Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!" punctuating each exclamation with a heavy slap to their face.

A large hand grabbed Peridots wrist, stopping it mid swing
"Slapping as a very inefficient form of attack. Especially when you don't have a palm" Jaspers gravelly voice came from behind.
Peridot turned around slowly, their face flushed brightly, not just from the stinging red stripes left by their fingers.
Jasper stood there nonchalantly, one hand still holding Peridots wrist, the other holding a small plastic tub of blue goopy substance with a spoon sticking out of it.

"Oh. Hey." Peridot finally managed lamely "How long have you been standing there?"
Jasper scrunched up their face in concentration before answering "About 12 seconds"
"huh…"
"Which" Jasper continued, a smile spreading across their face "was long enough for me to see that you have no idea how to hit someone. Besides, if you really want someone to beat you up why not let me do it?"
"I… oh, er" Peridot stammered, their goggles fogging up almost instantly, their face starting to enter a shade undetectable by human eyes.
"I meant come spar with me" Jasper laughed at the smaller gems consternation "I figure I should know the capabilities of any gems under my command"
"W-well actually, as mission overseer I am…" Peridot tried to assert themselves, their voice quailing a lot more than they would have liked.
Jasper simply silenced them with a raised eyebrow, their smile taking on a slight leer "come along green" they gave Peridots wrist a slight tug before letting go and turning to start walking away.
"Yes Sir" Peridot replied quietly, following Jasper and surreptitiously wiping off a small amount of drool.

As they walked, Jasper striding along casually and Peridot jogging slightly to keep up. Jasper resumed eating the strange Blue goop.
"I meant to ask you before" Peridot puffed "what is that stuff? You know, before when you threw up, it was everywhere"
Jasper looked at Peridot disapprovingly
"umm, sorry about that. Again" Peridot fidgeted awkwardly "But I thought eating was like, an alien thing?"
Jasper shook their head, looking slightly amused "You pick up bad habits when you spend too long around other cultures… When you can't crush them immediately than is" their sharklike grin spread across their face "but this is a gem invention, it's a strengthening solution, hardens your gem and helps to tighten the resonance structures of your body." They paused to take another few mouthfuls of the substance "also makes it harder for destabilisers to affect you"
"Why would that be a problem?" Peridot looked surprised "the destabiliser is a gem weapon, Homeworld controls their distribution tightly"
Jasper simply shrugged slightly "Always be prepared. You never know when someone will try to stab you in the back"

Jasper was silent for the rest of the walk to the training room and something about their expression, slightly sad and nostalgic, made Peridot hold in the questions that were buzzing through their head.

When they arrived at the large open room Jasper threw off their loose fitting robe, tossing it into the corner along with the small cup.
Peridot bit their lip slightly, staring at the sealing tape still covering Jaspers injured chest "Are you sure you want to spare? You're still injured I mean…" Peridot trailed off, trying to copy the stretches jasper had begun doing.
They paused briefly to chuckle "you worried about hurting me Green?"

"No, I mean, yes?" Peridot struggled not to fall over as jasper dropped into a full splits.
"I appreciate your pluck, but I think you should be more worried about looking after yourself"
"I didn't mean" Peridot pulled a frustrated face
"It's okay" Jasper smiled reassuringly "Never imagine that you could lose to your opponent. It only gives them strength"

While Peridot tried to figure out if that advice was profound or just stupid Jasper finished up their stretches. They turned to face Peridot and snapped their fingers to reclaim their attention.
"Focus. Now, draw your weapon."

Peridot nervously tried to assume a combat posture and drew their Gem Disruptor.
"No, No" Jasper shook their head "Your weapon, you can't always rely on tools"
"Oh, right, sorry" Peridot put the Disruptor away and closed their eyes, focusing.
The last time they summoned their weapon was back when they had had compulsory combat training before becoming an Overseer.
A few seconds later Peridots gem began to glow brilliantly, the light swelling forth until a small green ball materialised floating in front of them.

Peridot smiled contentedly and was rather disappointed to see the look of confusion on Jaspers face. "What's that?" Jasper pointed at the ball.
"It's my Orb, it's a weapon"
"Are you sure?" Jasper looked dubious, scratching their forehead
"Yes!" Peridot was starting to feel a bit insulted.
Jasper shrugged non-committedly "Well, alright then. You young gems sure have some weird stuff…"
Peridot glowered, the orb beginning to orbit slowly around their head.

Jasper grinned broadly "Oh, come on Green. Just show me what you can do" they dropped into a defensive position "I won't attack you until you managed to hit me".

Peridot took a deep breath and tried to remember their Katas.
They pulled back their arms, gathering force and then pushed forwards, sending their orb hurtling towards Jaspers head.
The beefy gem instantly stepped into the attack, head-butting the orb back at Peridot so fast they had to duck to avoid it.
"Too slow. Faster!" Jasper returned to their defensive crouch.
Peridot grunted quietly with effort, dropping to one knee and spinning around to curve the orb back towards Jasper, conserving its momentum as much as possible

This time Jasper blocked the attack with a raised elbow, sending it careening off behind them "better."
Peridot quickly stepped back into the rote learned pattern, swinging their arms to send the orb swinging in from the other side, then after Jasper deflected it again, stepping forwards and sweeping their arms up launching an upwards strike at Jaspers chin.
The orb struck air, Jasper back stepping casually out of the way "Your attacks are too predictable. Stop trying to follow someone else's idea of how you should fight and find your own rhythm.

'How am I supposed to do that with you shouting at me?' Peridot thought angrily.
They jumped forwards again, sweeping their arms up low, skimming the orb along the ground towards Jaspers feet.
At the last second they pulled back, thrusting their elbows upwards and sending the orb jinking straight up at Jaspers stomach.
Caught off balance as they were already moving one leg to avoid the attack Jasper kicked backwards, moving their leg to block the orb with their shin. There was a loud bang as the orb slammed into then and ricochet away.
"Nice work! Much better." Jasper landed in a crouch, rubbing the small bruise on their shin lightly.
"I'm going to start moving now."

Peridot blanched slightly "Wait wha-"
But Jasper was already leaping at them in an orange blur, covering the distance between them before Peridot could speak. In a panic they dived to the side, rolling into a crouch and completing the motion (slightly less gracefully than they would have liked) by flailing blindly behind them.
The orb buzzed through the air towards where they had been standing but Jasper had already moved again, vanishing from sight.
"You are dead" Jasper said sternly 'Resting a hand on Peridots head "never lose sight of your opponent"

Peridot flopped back top lie on the floor, groaning loudly "You're too fast! I can't keep up with that"
"You have a ranged weapon" Jasper walked over to where the orb was floating and plucked it out of the air "Aim where I'm going to be, not where I am"
"heh, heh…" Peridot tried to stifle a giggle
"What's so funny?"
"Oh, nothing. Have you ever played…? Never mind, you probably haven't" Peridot waved their hand dismissively, desummoning the orb.

Jasper regarded Peridot for a few seconds before moving to crouch down next to them, leaning over them slightly. "Well, why don't you tell me what you were so worked up about before then"
'Oh no, too close!' Peridot thought nervously, staring up at Jaspers taught muscles "It was Lapis" they blurted out 'Fuck'
"You were talking to them without me?" Jasper frowned
"I-I thought they would respond better to questioning without… you know, you"
"Hamm, fair enough" Jasper straightened up "But you should have informed me first"
Peridot grumbled something about being in charge. Very quietly.

"Anyway, you need practice" Jasper started walking towards the door, either not hearing or not caring "Begin target practice, maximum speed" a small swarm of floating pyramids about the size of Peridots head extruded out of the ceiling and began whizzing around the room.
"And lock room until all targets have been destroyed. Security Override J45B40"
"Wait, WHAT?!" Peridot sat up with a start as the door slammed shut behind Jasper.

Outside the room they chuckled to themselves as muffled shouts emanated from behind the locked door. Then their face fell dark.
"Now for Lapis."