Traitors
Ulexite couldn't tell whether her resolve was fueled by anger or fear. She knew it wasn't loyalty which drove her.
The small gem stood silently before one of the most dangerous gems alive, wielding nothing but a small knife and her misplaced courage. She had heard rumors of the rebel leader and her vicious attacks on the Homeworld colony and its infrastructure. The small messenger tried to put on an imposing expression, but only succeeded in making Rose Quartz chuckle. She watched as another gem soared through the air and touched down beside the pink-haired warrior. The newcomer took her own fighting stance, armed with two gleaming swords and a determined glare. Taken aback by the threatening duo, Ulexite stumbled back until her feet found purchase in the soft earth.
"I see you brought your Pearl," the defiant messenger stated in a futile attempt to mask her apprehension. "Why are you here? Did you come just to shatter more gems because you can? To intimidate innocents?"
"Actually, I was hoping to find you," Rose Quartz answered, her tone gentle yet sinister. Ulexite's meager courage slipped away, and she felt herself retreat further from the powerful vigilante. Seeing her fear, the rebel leader summoned a massive saber and nodded to her renegade pearl. The pair readied a tandem strike before they were interrupted by a harsh voice.
"Stop where you are, rebel scum, and surrender in the name of Yellow Diamond."
Ulexite suddenly realized that her bodyguard was still behind her. She whirled around and watched as the jasper charged recklessly at the deadly rebels. The small gem froze, unsure of how to proceed.
Should I join the fight? I don't know if I'm any match for Rose and her pearl. But I don't think I'll be able to escape them.
Her momentary lapse in judgement was interrupted as Pearl swiftly cut down her hapless protector. Hopelessly outmatched and outnumbered, the frightened messenger made up her mind.
Before the vicious rebels could turn on her she was gone, sprinting towards the nearest warp pad.
Ulexite kept her head down as she fled the brutal scene. The tenuous order which had governed the operation had quickly broken down, replaced by mass panic. She ducked and weaved between gems as they ran to join the skirmish. Other gems raced past her, desperate to preserve their own lives. She knew that fighting was hopeless; none of the Homeworld forces on Earth were any match for Rose Quartz. Fear flooded her mind, and her pace quickened. Ahead, the fleeing messenger could see a group of active warp pads swarming with gems. A single purpose overtook her thoughts: escape from the rebels. She reached the edge of the frantic crowd, and instinct took over.
With a swift motion, the terrified gem jumped, vaulted over another gem, swerved right and deftly avoided a group of panicking peridots. Seeing an opening in the crowd, Ulexite dived forward with unnatural speed, sliding onto the warp pad just as it activated.
A few seconds later, the exhausted messenger found herself at the galaxy warp once again, her head pounding incessantly. Ulexite shakily got to her feet, clasping a pillar for support. Looking around, she watched as gems flocked to various warp pads in an attempt to distance themselves from the rebels. The shaken courier tried to join the group, but her body betrayed her. She resigned herself to leaning against the pillar and praying for the dizziness to pass. As she stood dazed and exhausted, a strong pair of hands grasped her shoulders. She looked up to find the peridot she had met earlier.
"Hey!" the small green gem yelled desperately. "Come on! We need to get out of here before the rebels get here! They're coming!" The words rolled off Ulexite, her mind glassed over by the mass hysteria. In an instant the short technician was gone, leaving Ulexite alone. Suddenly, a cacophony of surprised screams yanked Ulexite's mind back to the present. Her fatigue receded, and she shot up. Looking over at the group, she found Pearl hacking her way through the crowd of defenseless gems. The brutal rebel's eyes locked on Ulexite, and she cut her way to the weary courier.
By the time the fearful envoy summoned her weapon Pearl had already reached her, leaving a wake of incapacitated gems. The rebel flourished her swords artfully before pointing one of them at Ulexite. The small gem bared her dagger threateningly and lowered her stance.
"Now I have you," Pearl stated confidently as she took her own fighting stance.
"What do you want with me, anyways?" the envoy questioned, her even tone belying her fear.
"We know that you are Yellow Diamond's messenger." Pearl stated. "You will tell us her plans for the Earth."
"Or what?" Ulexite asked defiantly. "You're just a pearl. You don't scare me!" At her comment, the rebel seemed to grow somewhat agitated.
"You should be very scared!" the renegade threatened. Narrowing her gaze, she raised her blade and charged the unprepared gem. Ulexite stumbled back, narrowly avoiding a furious swipe by her adept opponent. The brave courier regained her balance and attempted to counterattack. Pearl easily dodged her haphazard swipe.
"I thought you would be a challenge," the rebel taunted as Ulexite tried to land a hit. Parrying one of her opponent's failed swings, Pearl swung upward with her other sword. The flat of the blade caught Ulexite square in the face and sent her sprawling across the ground. She shook off the blow just in time to narrowly evade a brutal stab by the renegade gem. Rolling to avoid another blow, Ulexite jumped to her feet and re-summoned her knife. She deftly parried another one of Pearl's furious blows before jumping forward and swinging her knife in a wide arc. The small blade caught the rebel in her midsection, causing her to stagger back.
"What makes you think your rebellion has any chance of succeeding?" Ulexite asked as she gathered her wits.
"I believe in Rose," the rebel answered defiantly. "I know she will lead us to victory!"
"There's no way your jury-rigged group of renegades can stand against Homeworld," the weary courier commented. "Just give up. While there's still a chance the Diamond Authority will show you mercy." Ulexite hoped desperately that the renegade would surrender. Her stamina was quickly running out, and with it her desire to keep fighting. From what she could tell, her opponent wasn't nearly as exhausted as she was.
"Oh yeah?" Pearl yelled, her anger reaching a boiling point. Without warning the nimble gem flew forward, her swords a glimmering blur. Ulexite attempted to evade the attack, but wasn't fast enough. One blade sliced her arm, eliciting a pained cry from the messenger. Another well-timed strike knocked her off balance and sent her reeling into a pillar. Ulexite tried to stand up, but found herself pinned under Pearl's relentless barrage of blows. She needed to find a way to escape the renegade.
If I could reach the warp pad, I might be able to get back to Homeworld.
Suddenly, one of the swords pierced the messenger's knee, pinning her leg to the ground. She screamed out as white-hot pained shot through the appendage. She tried to lift her weapon defensively, only for it to be knocked from her hands. She looked up at Pearl, her features contorted in agony. The fierce rebel pointed her other blade at her enemy.
"I'll give you one more chance," the rebel said coldly. "Tell us Yellow Diamond's plans for the Earth and I will spare you."
"I'm much more afraid of Yellow Diamond than I am of you," Ulexite responded. "And you should be scared, too. You can't protect this worthless planet. You can't protect your flawed ideals. And you most certainly can't protect Rose Quartz from the might of the Diamond Authority."
"I'll never let anyone hurt Rose!" Pearl yelled. "We will protect the Earth from the likes of you." The sound of a warp pad activating was the last thing Ulexite heard before a sword severed her head.
Homeworld…
Ulexite hadn't expected to reform. Emerging in the waking world, the small envoy was greeted by a glaring light. She rubbed her head and stood tenuously. At once the world spun violently and she collapsed once again. The nauseous gem remained prostrate on the ground as her head slowly cleared. Finally the dizziness faded, and the meager alien looked up to find herself in a familiar location…
…at Yellow Diamond's feet.
The minute envoy gazed up at her towering master. Yellow Diamond was (as usual) busy entering data on one of her holographic logs. The imposing tyrant stared down at the puny servant before her, a disinterested look plastered on her face.
"So you finally reformed," the imposing ruler commented.
"Yellow…my diamond," Ulexite stuttered. "How am I…how did…"
"I sent a team down to dispatch the rebels and retrieve your gem." Yellow Diamond answered calmly. Ulexite stared in bewilderment at her master.
"I couldn't allow you to be shattered without your report," she explained. Ulexite gave her a withering look.
Of course she didn't save me out of her good graces.
"Yes, my Diamond," Ulexite said coolly, fighting the urge to snap at the selfish despot. "The construction of the Sea Spire is behind schedule, but the peridot appears to have the situation well in hand. However, I was unable to assess the progress of the kindergarten or the communication hub due to an attack by the rebels."
"Yes, I could tell," Yellow Diamond interjected snidely.
"My diamond, I must disagree with your earlier assessment of the threat posed by the rebels," Ulexite stated. "The recent attack has demonstrated their capacity to cause significant damage to our infrastructure on Earth. Considering the recent rumors, I believe…
"I do not attribute any weight to the baseless claims of a growing insurrection," Yellow Diamond retorted, her voice even and measured. "These attacks are the result of the actions of a few misguided rebels, nothing more. Nor will I lend credence to the idea that there are sleeper agents here on Homeworld. You have infiltrated every division of the Diamond Authority, and have yet to find any evidence of rebel influence correct?"
"Yes," answered Ulexite, "But I…"
"Then why should I assume such a threat exists?" the gem ruler asked rhetorically. Ulexite stared at her master disapprovingly until an idea dawned on her.
"You know what I think," the small messenger began, "I think you are afraid of the rebels. You're just as worried about the attacks as I am, and you do believe that rebel sympathizers have infiltrated the Authority. That's why you've had me spying on the others. You want me to identify them so you can eliminate them quietly. You don't want to show everyone the truth. That you're scared." Yellow Diamond stared down at the measly gem for a moment before returning to her holographic terminal.
"Don't be preposterous," she replied taciturnly.
"Why should I believe you?" Ulexite pressed, determined to unveil the truth.
"Because if I had been legitimately worried about the rebels, I would have sent someone expendable to check on the Earth colony." The tyrant's eyes darted to her subordinate.
"I wouldn't have sent you."
Ulexite stood noiselessly, her gaze fixed on the towering monarch. Seeing her emissary's reaction, Yellow Diamond sighed.
"Return to your quarters to await your next assignment," she ordered.
Ulexite bowed low before turning and exiting the chamber.
She wondered when her master had begun to care.