(Moving farther away from canon and more towards fan theories, based on the limited information that we have. I don't know if I'm on the Pink Diamond/White Diamond side, but for the sake of this story I'm batting for the pink team currently. I apologize for the delay in this chapter — I'm preparing for a gallery show this weekend.)

"Pink Diamond, I don't mean to step outside of my boundaries, but I have a request for the benefit of our mission."

Pink Diamond considered her quartz soldier for a long time before responding. Pearl watched carefully, deeply curious. "Go on."

"I find that the Peridot's organizational skills are largely incompetent. I would like to request extra support in this mission, to ensure thorough documentation of our findings…" Rose Quartz did not appear nervous at all, but she did pause to see if her Diamond was going to dismiss her. "I request the assistance of a Pearl."

"This doesn't seem out of the realm of possibility," Pink Diamond answered carefully, still seemingly suspicious.

"My thought process was at first that we might acquire a regular Pearl, but my initial concern was the amount of training that a regular Pearl might have would not provide adequate support. My second thought was, to expedite our communications, my Diamond, if your Pearl was to accompany us, you may have a more direct hand in the mission." Rose Quartz made eye contact with Pink Diamond and held it for what seemed to Pearl to be an eternity. She was terrified equally of either response that her Diamond might give. She felt conflicted, possibly for the first time in her existence. She had gone plainly from never having to trouble with considering her own opinion, to suddenly having too many opinions that seemed to have developed independently of her Diamond's wishes. All of this she battled through during the unrelenting silence of her Diamond and the Quartz soldier.

"You will offer direct communications three times daily."

"That seems perfectly understandable."

"Do not presume to tell me that I am finished speaking," Pink Diamond growled, with enough venom that Rose actually bowed her head. "My Pearl will document your each and every endeavor each cycle and report it daily to me. And my Pearl does not leave your sight. She does not run errands for you, she does not exist to do manual labor or to resolve conflict. She is a pair of eyes and a recording device for your data, and nothing more. Is that clear?"

"Crystal," Rose smiled, and Pearl caught the same mischievous glint.

"This entire process is making me entirely weary, Rose Quartz. Consider your steps carefully."

"I can assure you that no harm will come to your…recording devise, my Diamond." Rose did not dare cast an inflection on her tone that would so much as hint defiance. Pearl attempted to wrap her head around what this meant for her. There were so many questions, whirring through her head at hyper speed. Of course, she remained silent. "If it pleases my Diamond we are prepared to leave as early as tomorrow, early."

"This should be ample time. You are excused."

Rose Quartz bowed and made her exit without another word, daring not rio her Diamond changing her mind. Pearl adjusted her stance so that she was perfectly at attention, hands folded neatly behind her back.

"Do you understand your duties as they have been explained?"

"Yes, My Diamond."

"Good. Then there is no need for repeat instructions. I would caution you not to overstep your bounds. You are a very valuable Pearl," Pink Diamond stared down at her Pearl, who blinked once and said nothing, unsure of how to respond. "You are still a Pearl, but if we were to lose you there would be no way to transfer the data you've incurred, which could prove somewhat troublesome for the next few millennia."

Okay, back on track, Pearl thought to herself.

—

"Pearl, do you know why you're so drawn to organic things?" Rose Quartz asked as they stepped down the hall to the cargo bay. The hall was quiet, all of its workers presumably located in the loading dock awaiting Rose Quartz's arrival. Light from dawn was slipping in through the long narrow windows, falling grey and chilled on the bare stone floors.

"No," Pearl answered, never having really considered it.

"Pearls are organic based — farmed like the rest of us, but your original core is organic. Its cheap to produce in large quantities, but the base of it isn't like anything else that we know. The Diamond authority would have you believe that this is a defect — something that negatively distinguishes Pearls from other gems. Its Propaganda. You're not a recording device, Pearl, and I get the feeling that you know better than to buy that."

"To be perfectly honest, Rose Quartz, I was not aware of these deeper emotions prior to our conversation. I have spent centuries being told what I was, what I was to do, and trained not to ask 'why'. Maybe it is something in the way that we're produced — "

"No, that's just you being very good at your job. You're not an expendable Pearl. You're quite valuable to her."

Pearl nodded, still doubtful but resistant to arguing. As freely as Rose Quartz allowed her to speak, Pearl knew better than to step out of turn. Most Quartz soldiers were made of the same materials, built without patience for insubordination.

"So how do you feel about flying?"