Morganite was taking a break from her archiving and had color stretching out onto a canvas. Her brush left splotches that hadn't formed anything just yet, but there were already plenty of hues that made several triangles.

A knock came on her door.

"Who is it?"

"It's Peridot, Madame."

"Come in!"

So she did, and with a respectful bow, Peridot greeted Morganite.

"I really must thank you for the gifts you brought me. I enjoyed whatever fluid that was, and that book about the Earth creatures was very informative. I've also read a bit from the other one—Forgive me; I forgot the title, and that too, was entertaining. But I suppose you're not here to discuss those things, judging by the look on your face."

"No, Madame. I have to report something."

"I'll stop painting then. Sit across from me, and let's hear it."

Peridot's eyes were transfixed on the piles of documents inhabiting her superior's desk. "With all due respect, I can upgrade your office so you needn't deal with all these papers."

"You know, you make the same suggestion every time you come in here. I hope you don't mean to indicate that I'm doing a lousy job."

"No, not at all, My Lady."

"I prefer Madame, Peridot."

"Excuse me, Madame." She bowed her head. "I simply want to assist in making your job easier, if I can be of such service."

"I appreciate your offer but I rather like my office the way it is. However, if I decide to renovate, I'll keep you in mind. Now what do you have to report? Wait." Morganite's lips popped. "Give me your hand."

"My hand, Madame?"

"Yes, your hand."

Peridot presented her disconnected fingers and Morganite took them. There weren't exactly words yet, only a knot of vague confusion. What's going on? Wait. This must have something to do with her powers—there's a spot of orange in her eyes now. Maybe she's going to verify that I'm telling the truth.

"Go ahead and tell me what you have to say."

"Yes, of course." She cleared her throat and broke into something of a cold sweat. Does she have to stare right into my eyes? "My work on Earth is being interrupted by a group of gems and something that calls itself the Steven." Peridot's narration was accompanied by images she had kept in her memory, and frustration. "I would like to ask for an escort the next time I go to Earth, so I can stop their interference."

"I thought there weren't any gems on Earth. Interesting."

"Yes, the records indicate that the planet was devoid of any gem life forms but that is not the case, it seems."

"I see." Morganite retracted her hand and crossed her fingers. "I think I'll have Jasper go with you."

She didn't need to read Peridot's mind to understand her reaction. "Jasper, Madame?"

"Yes. Jasper." Morganite had a tangerine shooting star cross her eyes. "Do you have a problem with that? Perhaps if you could do your job correctly the first time, I wouldn't need to ask anyone to accompany you at all. Though, if it's going to be an issue, I can certainly find someone else."

"If you wouldn't mind—"

"Oh, my apologies. I should have explained myself a little more clearly. I meant that I could replace you."

The yellow-green gem gulped and shrunk in her seat. "It won't be an issue at all. Thank you for graciously allowing me an escort."

"Of course. And perhaps, if you have the time, you could pick me up another bottle of that black liquid. I really did enjoy it. Oh, I still have some if you'd like to try it."

"No thank you, Madame. I'll happily get you more if I have the chance."

"Wonderful. Thank you, Peridot. I always love the souvenirs you pick out for me. Here, I wrote you a little note." She opened her top drawer and pulled out a pink envelope with the opposite's name on it.

The gem on the other side of the desk accepted it. "Thank you, Madame."

"No, thank you. Do you have anything else you'd like to talk about?"

"That was it, though I have a recording of the incident I could show you."

"That won't be necessary. You're free to go."

"Thank you for your time."

"There's no need to thank me. Good luck."

Peridot bowed before leaving, and Morganite pulled the half-empty bottle from her desk and took a sip, and like Jasper, she was tempted to spit it out.

"What happened? It's not nearly as good as the last time."

All the bubbles were gone. She shook the bottle, but there was no response.

"Maybe it really was alive…"

The liquid met up with the same space it had just come from and the champagne pink gem went back to work.