Original Idea by: Scraps
Collaboration work with: HikumiRin
Characters Created by: Rebecca Sugar
Chapter 4: A Deal with The Old King
[*]
Beach City Containment Camp, Resident District, 4 weeks later.
[*]
Things for the residents of Beach City were difficult but manageable. In the past few weeks, the entire city was reorganized and divided into four sections: First, there was the Resident Camp, which was where the residents of Beach City were contained under the watch of Zirconia. Then there was the Physical Labor Camp. Using a lottery system, the Agates selected citizens to be used for manual labor, the purpose for this was unknown, but it was likely that it had something to do with the third section, The Agate Factory. Using the abandoned buildings, the Agates forced residents into creating more Agates. And lastly, there was the Temple District. This section was off limits to all but those chosen by Diamond or his servants.
For many of the residence, despite the beatings, exhausting labor, and oppressive leadership, it wasn't too bad. They were fed regular and allowed limited freedom in regards to entertainment and expression. However, they were cautious about their actions with the Agates watching them from above, fearing that they would be carried off to their graves at any minute. However, several Agates instead floated down with several residents. Two of which were known as Lars and Sadie. As soon as the Agates released them, the duo fell to their knees in exhaustion. Several residents approached them with water and several slices of bread.
"Thanks…" Sadie said as she took a sip of water.
"About time!" Lars groaned as he swiped the bread out of his provider's hand. Snarfing it down as quickly as he could. He then noticed Sadie looking at him with a look of disappointment.
"Whub?" Lars asked Sadie with a mouthful of before swallowing. "I've been hauling stone and concreate blocks all day. Excuse me if I get a little hungry."
"You know, for once you could think of someone other than yourself!" Sadie commanded as she stormed up to the tall boy before her, poking a finger in her chest. "You are just as immature as when we were teens!"
Lars held his hands up in a mocking defense. "Oh! Well excuse me, Ms. "Let's fight the robot army instead of leaving this fucking hellhole". Please forgive me for squandering your divine wisdom."
As the two glared at each other, they heard the sound of air being blown through a tube as they looked to see a familiar face roll in. It was the former Mayor Dewey, confined to a wheelchair on account of his…er…"attempt to fight off the evil invaders." *sigh*.
"Now now you two, let's not turn on each other here" Ex-mayor Dewey interjected as he moved his head in a motion as if he was waving a finger. "There is not "I" in team you know."
Lars and Sadie gave Dewy a disgruntled glare before moving on back to camp. The encampment was nothing truly special. It was composed of the resident housing and several makeshift huts. Among those were several makeshift beds surrounding a small fire Lars and Sadie eventually returned to the ruins of the Big Doughnut, the sigh and massive doughnut were gone and the windows were boarded shut.
As Lars and Sadie entered the building, Sadie walked over to the counter and lit a lamp that was sitting on said counter. She then turned around to see Lars on the floor in a tattered blanket, sleeping like a drunk baby that was hooked on sleeping pills. Sadie then laid down next to him, watching him sleep soundly before drifting off as well. As her mind faded from reality, she began to dream. In dream, she found herself on an island, the very island that Steven took Lars and her a long time ago. It was still amazing to think that a pair of fourteen year olds and a ten year old boy demigod could survive for as long as they did, especially since Sadie intentionally trapped them there for a while. Sadie found herself sitting on the beachside with Lars, with Lars asking her if she was lonely and then kissing her, but what was different was that unlike last time, Steven was not there to interrupt them. As Sadie embraced her feelings, she felt a quick shake rip her back into reality.
"Sadie wake up!" Lars said as he was shaking her.
Sadie looked to Lars, who had a expression of worry on his face. "Lars…what's wrong?"
"It's Jenny!" Lars said with a worried tone. "Her family was just dropped off."
"What?" Sadie said as she rose onto her feet. "Where are they?"
[*]
Lars and Sadie arrived just in time to see the entirety of Jenny's family. It was only a short while ago did they leave Beach City, only to be brought back to a bigger nightmare. Kofi continued to shout at the Agates that surrounded them, only to get silence in response. Jenny was leaning over a crying Kiki.
"They were just hanging there!" Kiki sobbed hysterically. "They were just hanging there…like rotting meat….why? Why are they doing this?"
Nanafua simply sat on the ground, her eyes closed as she seemed to be meditating.
"You cannot do this to us!" Kofi shouted at the Agate before him, pointing his finger at the lens of the machine. "My family did not leave this city to be dragged back into it! I demand to speak to Dewey!"
"[THIS CITY IS UNDER CONTROL OF MASTER DIAMOND…ANY PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION HAD BEEN TERMINATED…PLEASE RESTRAIN YOURSELF OF THIS UNIT WILL USE EXCESSIVE FORCE.]"
"Then let me speak to this "Master Diamond" then trashcan!" Kofi replied. "I want to know why my family was taken back to this hellhole?"
"Because you belong here." A voice replied behind Kofi, drawing his attention as well as the rest of his family and the bystanders. There before them was Zirconia, the white skinned black-eyed woman that Lars encountered at the Big Doughnut several weeks ago. Beside her was a Agate and another figure, a certain long nosed Gem known by many of the residents as Pearl. As Pearl looked at the surroundings, she noticed Lars and Sadie staring right at her. Lars had a look of fear on his face while Sadie gave a look of malice.
"Belong here?" Kofi said with a scoff as he approached Zirconia. "Who do you think you are to decide that?"
"My purpose is to ensure the protection and efficiency of the residents of Beach City." Zirconia replied with a smile, tilting her head slightly. "This applies to all of them, past…and present."
Kofi then watched as several Agates appeared in the sky and landed to the side of the two, carrying with them several people. As Zirconia looked to the Agates, she jolted her head upwards. Two of the Agates then flew away with their captives.
"Where are you talking them?" Jenny asked as she approached her father.
"They are going to the Labor District." Zirconia responded. "Your Father and sister are both going to the Factory District." Zirconia then gestured upward as a Agate flew down and grabbed Kiki. The girl screamed as she tried to break free. Jenny and Kofi ran to Kiki, but the Agate flew away before they reached her.
"Kiki…" Kofi whispered as he watched his daughter disappear into the distance. He could see a large building in the distance, what appeared to be an old abandoned factory, with smoke emerging from the smokestacks. He then turned to Zirconia, tears flowing in his eyes.
"Don't worry, you will see your child again." Zirconia said with a smile. "Once she finishes her work load, she will be returned her until her next task. We have no desire to kill her, but if we have to, we must. You clearly saw what happened to the Fry man's family, didn't you?"
As Kofi was about to speak, He looked at the Agates that surrounded them, as well as his frightened daughter. He then lowered his head as an Agate approached him and carried him off.
"Dad!" Jenny shouted as she reached for her father, only to watch him fly away in the same direction as Kiki. As Jenny turned back to Zirconia, she saw the gem looking down to the sitting Nanafua.
"Get up." Zirconia commanded the old woman, who did not respond.
"I said get up Human!" Zirconia commanded again, irritated by the silence. "I will have no problem killing an old creature like you."
Without hesitation, Zirconia, who then brandished a pair of katars and pointed them at the old woman, who was still unmoved. Pearl looked with concern, wondering if this was either a trap or some sort of response.
"You seem to have given up on your life, haven't you?" Zirconia said with a grin. "Do you wish to die so soon?"
"Do you know the history of Ghana People's coup?" Nanafua asked the Gem. "It is quite an interesting story."
Zirconia looked to Pearl before looking back to the old woman. "I don't care about your people's history, but if you don't get u-"
"A long time ago in the country of Ghana, the people were once oppressed by a Government that promised freedom and change, but only to their own agenda." Nanafua explained to the Zirconia. "After they won, the people they built a new government that followed true peace and true change. To prevent such corruption and evil from harming them ever again."
Before Zirconia could respond, Nanfua stood up to the Gems before her.
"When you're kind came to this planet and you tried to control us. Our people, the people of earth, had to act in the same way as the people of Ghana. While there were other Gems who helped protect us, it wasn't enough. Just like Ghana, we had to create an order to ensure protection from your kind."
Zirconia's eyes widened as she began to understand what this human was talking about. As Pearl looked to Zirconia, she looked to Nanfua, who placed her hands behind her head, burying them into the grey bun of hair on her head.
"Today, they have disbanded, no longer needed thanks to Rose Quartz. But now, I think it's time to do things old school, am I right?"
"Stop her!" Zirconia shouted as an Agate pounced at Nanafua. The old woman then pulled her hands from her hair, causing her hair to fall down as she held a strange looking rifle in her hands. It was square in shape and small in size. The barrel was folded with a round joint holding it to the stock, which had an engraving of a cracked Diamond. Nanafua flicked her wrist and the rife unfolded, a small light hum could be heard as she fired it at the Gemdroid, a blue pulse like ripple emerged from the Gun and shot through the Agate, shattering it into pieces. Nanafua spun the barrel of the rifle several times before she fired the gun at the other Agates as they tried to stack her. She then wound it up as she aimed it at Pearl and Zirconia, who dissipated her weapons and raised her hands up. Nanafua
"Impossible…" Pearl said as she slowly approached Nanafua, stopping when the woman aimed her gun at her. "How did you…? How could I not…you're…a…."
"Seems you weren't the only one playing spy, weren't you?" Nanafua said as she wound the base end of the gun. "Now, get my son and granddaughter over her right now, or I'll reduce you both to mush."
[*]
Steven's House, Interior, present day
[*]
Master Diamond was looking at several maps on a table with Onyx across from him, along with several Agates. The maps consisted of Beach City with marking that divided the city, a map of the earth with various marks in several colors. Another consisted with a complex map that seemed to consist of several planets, with several of them marked with a large "x" over it.
"…and with Lapis we will be able to acquire the oceans and divert them to the factories." Diamond said as he placed his hand over the map of the earth. "I can then use the water to improve the production of the Kindergartens and a way to remove intruders. However, our biggest priority is to find Topaz and the Furem."
"Master, if I may ask, but I don't understand why we don't just kill their leaders and control the planet." Onyx asked as she looked up from the table. "We clearly can overpower them."
Diamond looked up to Onyx and without warning, he grabbed her by the back of the head and slammed her head onto the table. As he held her head down, he then bent down to her.
"Do you remember how many humans are on this planet?" Diamond hissed into her ear. "Even with the Agates, we would be out numbered 45,000,000 to 4, and remember that the primary army is dealing with Tiberium. Until I acquire Topaz and Rose's power and the power of Obsidian. Our preservation is the higher priority. Is that clear?"
As Onyx nodded, an Agate rushed into the house, catching the attention of Diamond.
"Let me guess…" Diamond said as he released Onyx. "…another human is rebelling?
"[YES MASTER…ONE OF THE HUMANS HAS DESTROYED SEVERAL AGATES AND IS HOLDING MASTER PEARL AND MASTER ZIRCONIA.]"
Diamond's eyes widened with surprise as he approached the Agate.
"A…lone human is doing this?"
"[YES MASTER…SHE IS USING A MODIFIED WEAPON…SCANS INDICATE IT USES A SONIC ASSAULT BLOCH EMISSION RIFLE.]"
Diamond looked away from a moment and processed the information before looking to the Agate.
"Take me to her."
[*]
Beach City Containment Camp, Resident District, present day.
[*]
Diamond landed to see the shattered Agates parts littered around the ground. He then saw the short old woman with long grey hair and round glasses with a rifle pointed at his two servants. As Diamond approached the woman, she noticed the Gemian and directed her attention to him. As he looked to her, Diamond was reminded of a tall woman with long brown hair and a brown uniform that carried a similar rifle. He then saw two Agates carrying Kiki and Kofi down to the woman. As the two hugged, they ran over to Nanafua, who aimed her weapon at the Old King
"Gunga Nanafua, it has been a while, hasn't it?" Diamond said as he summoned his mace. "I have not seen you since…I believe it was…1961? I even see you managed to create a family."
"Mother, you know that…man?" Kofi asked Nanafua as he crouched behind her.
"Kofi, take the kids and go." Nanafua commanded.
"What?" Kofi said with a look of shock. "You can't possibly fight him. How can you go against one of them?"
Nanafua looked to Kofi and gave him a kiss on his forehead. She then noticed Lars and Steven and gave them a light nod. Sadie approached the family and took Kiki by the shoulders, escorting the crying girl away from the scene. Lars then approached Jenny and did the same.
"Dad, we gotta go!" Jenny shouted to Kofi.
"We are not leaving you here!" Kofi shouted at his mother, tears starting to form in his eyes.
"I will be fine Kofi." Nanafua said as turned back to Diamond. "Besides, this is between me and him."
Lars and Sadie moved over and grabbed Kofi. Escorting him back as they all watched the standoff between the Gemian and the old woman.
"I am surprised to see a G.E.R.M agent here in my city." Diamond said as he slowly walked around Nanafua, who had her rifle aimed at the Old King like a hawk with their prey. "I though you all disbanded after that treaty was made. Perhaps trust was never a factor?"
"They are, but even though they took me out of G.E.R.M, they never could take G.E.R.M out of me." Nanafua replied with a small smile.
"That can be arranged." Diamond growled. "It's a shame you never had an apprentice before the disbanding. All those talents, wasted to protect a corrupt ideal."
"Who says I still don't?" Nanafua said with a grin.
Diamond twitched before he rushed at Nanafua. As the woman fired her rifle at the Gemian, he was able to dodge the first three attacks, but was hit in the arm by the forth. As he landed on the ground, he looked at his lower left arm, watching as it dissolved into a light blue pile of goo. He then looked to Nanafua as she wound up her weapon.
"Impressive that your kind still know how to harm us after all these years." Diamond said as he summoned his mace with his free hand. "However, I trust the lack of interactions has resulted in a lack of awareness. Which means that only a fraction of humans will know about this."
"Not for long." Nanfua replied as she wound the barrel of her rifle again. "As you have demonstrated, there will always be those who look to the old way of things."
With a scowl on his face, Diamond raised his mace and slammed it to the ground, creating a small quake and causing Nanafua to stumble and drop her rifle. Diamond then dropped his mace, dashed forward and grabbed Nanafua by the neck. He then pulled her towards him.
"I must thank you for reminding me how much of a thorn your little group has been in the past, but that ends now!" Diamond hissed to Nanafua as he squeezed the old woman's neck. "Now you will tell me the location of your apprentice, and all the other G.E.R.M solders, or I will butcher your son piece by piece, but not before I force him and you to watch me rape and torture your grandchildren!"
"I am afraid that my…memory is not as good as it used to be." Nanafua gasped. "What is this Germ you speak of? Are you sick?"
Diamond growled as he split his jaw open, preparing to suck the Vitae out of Nanafua. However, Nanafua then flicked her tongue in her mouth and popped a tooth out. Biting it, she felt her cheeks puff up and her through burn as Diamond was about to bite down. Before Diamond could react, Nanafua opened her mouth and shot a small flame right into Diamond's face. The old king let out a loud hiss and skree as he threw Nanafua aside and grasped his burning face. Nanafua fell to the ground with a loud thud. There was even a small crack
"YOU LITTLE PYTHONISSAM!" Diamond shouted with a strained voice. "YOU DARE USE…fire…salts?"
Diamond looked at his hand as he saw small red-orange crystals and black soot on his fingers. He then looked to Nanafua with an expression of concern. As he looked to Pearl and Zirconia, then the three Gems vanished. Several Agates then swooped in and broke up the crowd.
Kofi and his daughters quickly rushed over to Nanafua, lifting her up and taking her to one of the buildings in the district.
Beach City Containment Camp, Medical Residence, present day.
[*]
The arcade was barren of the joy and wonder that once filled its halls, having replaced the games with makeshift beds and crates of rations and medicine. Many of the electronic supplies were taken by the Agates to be used for unknown purposes. Many of the beds were filled with residence of beach city, weak and wounded from working in the labor and factory districts. A handful of people who worked at the Beach City Hospital now worked for the residence, exchanging a paycheck for protection from the Agates.
As Lars, Sadie, and the Pizza family rushed into the building, they rested the weak Nanafua on a bed. Quickly, several of the aids started to work on her. Kofi sat on a barrel and waited with anticipation, his daughters beside him. Lars and Sadie sat across from them, Lars then looked to Jenny and extended his hand to her. As Jenny looked to it and then to Lars, she felt the tears roll down her face as he wrapped her arms around Lars. Lars felt his blood rush to his face as he awkwardly patted her back. Just then, a doctor approached them, he give a small sigh as he rubbed his hands together. In that instant, Kofi and his daughters feared for the worst.
"She has a concussion from the attack and the stress caused a stroke." The doctor said as he rubbed his face with his hands. We have done everything we can to…make her comfortable."
Kofi instantly felt his stomach sink as Kiki hugged her father and wept loudly, only to be drowned out by the crying of Kofi. After several minutes of crying from the family. They were able to compose themselves and were escorted by the doctor through the residence. The family, Lars and Sadie looked around at their surroundings, seeing the various residents around them. Lars and Sadie even recognized Fryman, sitting on a bedside while looking off in the distance, towards the watertower. Eventually the five were brought to Nanafua, who was lying in a bed. She coughed as she opened her eyes to see her family, and Lars and Sadie.
"Mother…" Kofi muttered tearfully as he knelt down to her side. "Why did you do that?"
"What do you think knucklehead?" Nanafua said with a laugh, followed by a cough. "For you and the children."
"Ganga, what was that Gem guy talking about?" Kiki said as she too knelt before her grandmother. "Did you meet him before?"
Nanafua nodded as she coughed again. Kofi picked up a small bottle of water and held it to his mother's mouth. Nanfua took a large drink before she spoke.
"When I was much younger, before you were born Kofi, I was selected to be part of a special organization for earth."
Nanafua coughed loudly as Kofi handed her another bottle of water. She took a sip before she continued.
"Yeah, he call you a G.E.R.M agent." Lars said as he rubbed his shoulders. "Whatever that means?"
"What was he talking about Ganga?" Jenny asked Nanafua. "You never told us that you were some sort of agent."
Nanafua took a deep breath, followed by a small cough, before she spoke.
"In the early days of Earth, the Gems and their leaders, the Gemians, took their civil war to Earth, fighting over the bountiful resources our planet had, especially the vast amount of Vitae, then life source of all living things. Diamond had lead a small army to the planet to harvest it, only for the Gemians known as Rose Quartz and Topaz to stop him. However, even after his defeat and the following invasions by the homeworld, our people needed a way to defend ourselves without reliance from Rose. It was then that the Gemian Eradication and Radical Movement, otherwise known as G.E.R.M, was created."
"So you knew about the Gems…I mean…personally?" Sadie asked.
Nanafua nodded. "I was chosen because of my resourcefulness, you saw a little of that at that party way back. The one that Steven-boy threw."
"But what about your apprentice?" Sadie asked again. "Are there more agents out there?"
"We are a dying breed, only a handful remain." Nanafua gasped as she coughed again. "However, I knew that the Gems would attack again, so I had trained an apprentice in secret. One who could carry my knowledge about the Gemians in case of another attack."
"Mother, who is it?" Kofi asked Nanafua. "Please."
"Alright Alright, no need for the dramatics." Nanafua chuckled as she coughed. She then reached into her robe pocket and pulled out a small brown booklet with the same cracked Diamond on the cover. As she weakly handed the book to Kofi, he took it and open it, with, Jenny, Kiki, Lars, and Sadie looking over his shoulders, they all saw a photo of a young woman in a military uniform, carrying the same type of rifle that Nanafua used. She was sitting on a deactivated Agate with a hole in its chest and a part of its head missing. Alongside her were three others, a tan skinned girl with freckles, a brown haired man with a bandage over his eye, and an African American man with an afro and a cigar. In the corner of the picture, there were the words "G.E.R.M Assault Squad Witchgod, Cuba, April 18, 1961. "De siderum fetus uruntque!"
"Ganga…that was you?" Jenny asked as she looked at the photo with a look of disbelief.
Nanafua nodded as she reached over and turned the page. There was a much more modern photo of Nanafua with a young boy in a uniform and a tall man with short brown hair, a long moustache, and an eyepatch. The boy was short and had an awkward smile on his face, come to think of it, he had a look that resembled Jamie the mailman.
"Hey, that's Jamie!" Sadie exclaimed as she pointed to the smiling boy. "He's your apprentice?"
"Yep." Nanafua replied with a soft cough. "I trained him in secret. Sent him on mission under the guise of a Mailman. The man with us is Sam, he is an old squad mate and a good friend. Find them and let them know…"
Nanafua coughed violently as Kofi rushed up to her and held her hand. As he felt fresh tears flow from his eyes, he listened to his mother's dying words.
"…let him…know…the stars are looking to us. Once…mor-"
Kofi felt Nanafua's grip soften as her hands grew cold. As Kofi looked to his mother, he saw her eyes had glazed over and her face was silent. Without a word, Kofi placed his hands over Nanafua's eyes and closed them. He then gritted his teeth before burying his head in his mother's chest, weeping loudly as he grieved for the loss of his mother.
[*]
Hours had passed after the ceremony. Kofi stood before the makeshift grave, a simple dirt pile with a cinderblock as a tombstone, engraved into the stone were the words "Ganga Nanafua Pizza: Febuary 10th 1931- September 21st 2015. "Da gave soro nni bi ko."
As Lars and Sadie watched the family mourn in the distance. Lars looked to the sniffling Sadie and then back at the Pizza family.
"Fuck this!" he muttered to himself as he marched back to the field where Nanafua fought Diamond. Seeing the rifle that Nanafua used sitting on the ground, he walked over and picked it up. Examining the weapon and winding the barrel, he turned to see Sadie in front of him.
"Lars, what are you doing?" Sadie exclaimed to the teen before her. "You can't go up fight Diamond, even Nanafua couldn't stand a chance."
"Well sometimes it takes a young man to do an old…woman..er…solder's…job." Lars said with hesitation. "Besides, she weakened him, I can finish the job."
"Lars wait!" Sadie shouted as she tried to grab Lars, only for him to brush her off.
Sadie watched as Lars marched away with rifle in hand.
"Lars…" Sadie muttered to herself, worrying for what was going to happen.
[*]
Spinning the barrel like a crank on a wheel, Lars armed his rifle as he reached the entrance of the Temple District, he was blocked by two Agates.
"[HALT! THE TEMPLE DISTRICT IS RESTRICTED TO GEM ACCESS ONLY…FAILURE TO COMPLY WILL RESULT IN-]"
Lars shot the Agate into pieces with a blast of the rifle. He then aimed the rifle at the other Agate, who raised its arms in surrender.
"[THIS UNIT IS AWARE OF THE ORGANIC AND IT'S ADVANTAGE…THIS UNIT WILL COMPLY WITH COMMANDS.]"
"Good…Now then…" Lars said with a cool tone as he cranked the rifle. "Take me to your leader."
[*]
Steven's House, Interior, present day,
[*]
Diamond sat on a bench with his robe removed as two robonoids scurried around his body. Gently lathering his remaining stump of an arm with Gem fluid. With him were Zirconia, Pearl, and Onyx.
"I never expected for that human to be a G.E.R.M agent." Pearl said as she paced the room. "How could I miss that?"
Diamond glared at Pearl, he then looked to Zirconia. The two Gems looked down as they felt Diamond's glare pierce them.
"I never expect that my two servants would be no match for an old human." Diamond growled. "I would expect more from my Agates, at least they responded, you two just stood there like idiots?"
Zirconia bowed to Diamond "Forgive me Master, it won't happen again."
"I hope so, because you are responsible for this new colony." Diamond hissed. "If anything happens, it will be your head under my boot. Is that clear?"
Zirconia looked up as she felt burning tears roll down her face, as they did, Zirconia began to look around in confusion. Diamond noticed this and gestured for a Peal to approach her.
"Tend to your daughter." Diamond commanded coldly. "I cannot recall the last time she was "revised"."
Pearl nodded and walked over to Zirconia away trough the Gem door in the back. Leaving Diamond alone with Onyx.
"Was she a remnant of G.E.R.M?" Onyx asked her Master. "Do you think they are more?"
"I know there are Onychinos." Diamond said as he bruised his chin. "I just have to find out where."
He then looked to Onyx and his eyes widened in curiosity.
"Onychinos, I have a task for you."
"What is it master?" Onyx asked.
"Although I do not want you to kill the human leaders, I want you to spy on them." Diamond explained. "You will use Mortalia Larva to take the guise of a human, you will then infiltrate their military base and find any information about G.E.R.M and the whereabouts of their members. Then you will hunt them down and kill them. Any G.E.R.M technology is to be destroyed on sight. Is that clear?"
"Yes Master." Onyx bowed as she rushed to the warp pad. "I will not fail you."
"I know you won't." Diamond replied. "Don't prove me wrong."
As he watched Onyx teleport away. He sighed as he looked around the house. His eyes then cam to the painting of Rose Quartz that stood before the door way. As he looked at it. He felt a small pang in his chest.
"It has to be done Rose, you know as well as I do that the Universe need this." He explained to the painting. "What I am doing is the right thing to do…it….has to be…yes…it has to…"
The next thing he knew, Diamond watched as the door slammed open and a young boy with a odd haircut holding a rifle in his hands stood before the Gemian. Diamond looked to Lars with a raised eyebrow.
"Are you the apprentice?" Diamond asked as he scanned Lars with his eyes. "You don't seem like one."
"Shut up Gramps!" Lars said to Diamond. "This is not up for discussion, you are going to open that gate and let us out of here! Or I'll-"
"You will what?" Diamond asked as he sat up and walked over to Lars. As he approached the boy, Lars shuttered at the height of the Old King, who towered over him with a menacing glare.
"I-I'll sh-shoot you." Lars shuddered, feeling sweat rush down his brow. "This gun wi-will kill you…and I know how t-t-to shoot it."
Diamond gave a small smile as he raised his remaining hand and folded his fingers. In that instant, the rifle was ripped out of Lars's hands and floated into Diamond's hand. He examined the weapon before looking to Lars.
"I don't think so." Diamond said as he clenched his hand, breaking the gun in two.
Lars felt his stomach drop and the blood drain from his face as he watched the rifle parts fall to the floor with a loud thud. He the watched as the stump over his left arms suddenly shined brightly and a new arm shot out from the stump. As Diamond moved the arm around and examined it, he looked to Lars and used his new arm to grab him by the neck.
"I find you fascinating human." Diamond said to Lars as he lifted him up into the air. "I would expect this type of attack from the G.E.R.M agent, not a mere human. In fact, I may have use for you."
"Fuck you!" Lars replied. "I already worked for a jerkoff before you came along. What makes you think I will work for another?"
"Because of what I can do to you." Diamond replied as he brought Lars closer to his face. "Especially with what I have learned about you."
Lars froze as he glared at the Gemian, who looked back at him with a cold stare.
"How…what are you talking about?" Lars said as he backed away. "You don't know me."
Diamond then rushed up to Lars and placed his hand on his head. The next thing Lars knew, he felt the inside of his head burn. Lars screamed as he tried to pry off Diamond's hand, but he was no match for the Old King's strength.
"When I placed my hand upon you, I was able to read your memories. You human's think that you can hide things from us. Our people can read you like books, place ideas into your minds. It's how we controlled you for the past few centuries. It is the reason why your species cannot have free will, they were never meant to have it in the first place."
As Lars cited through the pain in his mind, he heard Diamond speak once more.
"Ah…there it is…" Diamond said as he looked to Lars. "This memory though is most fascinating. Let's look closer, shall we?"
As he released Lars from his grip, the young boy fell to his knees, gasping as he recollected himself. When he looked back up, he saw a sight that made his stomach drop. Between him and Diamond was a light grey hologram of a child standing before him. The child looked a lot like Lars, but with longer hair. The child looked to the floor with hesitation before looking back up. Lars then saw an image of a man appear before the child. Lars recognized him as his father.
"Laura, is everything alright?" the man asked the child. "Your teacher said that you got into a fight with another student, now this is the fourth time this month. What is going on?"
"It's nothing dad." Laura said as she looked away from him. "I…I was just angry that's all."
"Angry at what?' Laura's father said as he grabbed her arm. "At the student, did he do something to anger you?"
"He…he flirted with me." Lara said as she rubbed her arm. "I told him that I don't like him and he called me a freak."
"Sweetheart, I told you that violence is not the answer." Laura's dad explained as he crouched down to her eye level. "But why would he call you a freak for liking girls, there are other girls at the school who are lesbians. What did you tell him exactly?"
Laura looked up to her father, he could see a large expression of pain in her eyes. Lars could see the pain as well, he felt his heart pang as he eyes welled up with tears.
"Dad…I…I don't feel right..." Laura wimpered with a sniffle. "I just…I don't feel like…I want to be like this…I-I can't…I…"
The next thing Laura knew, she felt the embrace of her father's body wrapped up around her. As she felt his hug, she felt fresh tears roll down her face.
"It's okay Laura…I understand." Her father said to her. "You feel trapped and you want to change who you are, is that right?"
As he pulled away and looked into Laura's eyes, she wiped her eyes and nodded lightly. Laura's father smiled as he kissed her on the forehead.
"It's going to be okay Laura." Her father said as he hugged her again. "I'll speak to a few doctors and we can start medication right away."
"Th-thank dad." Laura sniffled as she gave a faint smile. "I'm sorry for…"
"It's all right sweetheart, we'll get through this." Laura's dad said with a smile. "But first, is there anything I have to do to help you through this?"
Laura pondered for a moment before looking to her father. "Well, I would like to be called a different name."
"Alright." Laura's father replied with a smile. "What do you prefer?"
Laura looked to her father with a more confidant gaze before she replied.
"I want to be called-"
The Holograms dissipated before Lars, leaving him on his knees with tears in his eyes. Diamond then approached him and knelt before him.
"-Lars." He finished. "You modified your physical form."
Lars looked to Diamond and gave a light nod.
"Pathetic."
Lars jolted up and swung a fist at Diamond. The fist made contact with Diamond's face but it seemed ineffective as Lars pulled his fist away. As Lars rubbed his hand, he saw Diamond towering over him again.
"Your kind are blinded by such petty corruption. You wish to alter your forms and modify your appearances and physiology for what purpose? Admiration? Attraction? Comfort? Such ideals are pointless and distracting. However, in this case it has an advantage..."
Diamond then grabbed Lars and slammed him into a wall.
"...because you will find the G.E.R.M agent in this colony and you will kill him."
"F-F-Fuck you!" Lars replied as he spit blood onto Diamond. He then wiped his face with his hand and looked at it.
"Did you know that a Gemian can alter the chemical balance in a living creature? I can alter levels of neurotransmitters, hormone levels…even testosterone."
Lars eyes widened as he processed what he just heard.
"No…" Lars replied with a whimper. "You can't…"
Diamond looked to Lars as he showed him his hand. Lars watched in horror as the blood collected in the center of his palm and evaporated. Causing the smell of burnt blood to flow into his nostril and cause his eyes to water.
"I can and I will. If you do not do as I say, then I will take away the identity you care so much for. I will return you to your true form…." Diamond then brought his face closer to Lars. "…and I will rape you. Again, and again, and again."
Diamond then dragged Lars over to the entrance of the house and through him out the door.
"The choice is yours human." Diamond stated to Lars. "It always has."
With that, he slammed the door. Leaving Lars on the deck of the house. Lars then curled up into a ball and began to weep loudly. He didn't even respond to the Agate that scooped him up and carried him back to the Citizen District, leaving a trail of tears in his wake.
[*]
Caribbean Sea, Cuban Waters, 54 years ago
[*]
It was quiet over the Caribbean Sea. A small fish would occasionally swim up and catch a lone insect that landed for one reason or another, or a bird would do the same for a fish. Nevertheless it was peaceful and quiet. Until the sound of helicopters broke the silence, followed by five helicopters that spoiled the peace.
Five helicopters flew over the sea towards the small island of Cuba. Although these looked like American helicopters, they had one thing different, instead of an American flag on the hull, there was the symbol of a cracked diamond.
Inside the lead Helicopter were four solders. A solder with brown hair and a mustache, who was and an African American solder with an Afro were playing cards over a small table, they were known as Sam and Patrick respectfully. There was also a built woman with red hair, tan skin and freckles that was re-calibrating a set of interesting looking rifles, she was known as Hannibal. While another woman was looking out the window at the setting sun, momentarily looking at a picture of a smiling child in her hands. To some, she was known as "Captain Nanafua", but to her squad she was known as…
"Oi Ganga! How much longer before we get there?" Patrick shouted as he scooped up a wad of cash off the table. "Cause I think old Sammy here is gonna have to go to the poor house when we get back."
"I swear to God you are creating." Sam said with a finger pointed at Patrick. "No one is that good at cards."
"Well, no one is that bad at cards too Sam." Hannibal said as she wound up one of the rifles. "Yet here you are."
There was laughter between the three as Ganga looked outside again, finally seeing the island in view, she then reached over and pulled a radio communicator off the wall and held it over her mouth.
"G.E.R.M squad Witchgod to Sisters, G.E.R.M squad Witchgod to sisters are you there? Over."
"* G.E.R.M squad Ironclaw present. Over*" The radio replied.
"* G.E.R.M squad Red Twilight standing by. Over*"
"* G.E.R.M squad Charlie Brown present. Over*"
"* G.E.R.M squad Snowman present. Over*"
"* G.E.R.M squad Kenny's Bane present. Over*"
"Alright, each of your captain have been given instruction of where to land and what to do. Remember to charge your SABER rifles and get the Charges ready." Ganga instructed through the radio. "If Rose was right, there should be a Kindergarten on this island, and I bet my let tit that it's going to be heavily guarded."
"*Roger that, all squads are spreading out*" the Radio replied again. Ganga then watched as the helicopters began to fly away. She then turned to her squad and gave a smile.
"Alright, we all know why we are here, we have done this song and dance for a while now. But today is going to be a big one. Ganga pulled a folded piece of paper from her suit and unfolded it on the table. It was a map of Cuba, and there was a large circle over a small gap in the near center.
"This is "The Bay of Pigs". It's a small beach side in Cuba, the military is providing a distraction there to allow us to sneak in from the side." She directed her finger to the side of Cuba, over a province of "Granma". All the attention will be on the invasion while we sneak in and destroy that Kindergarten. We then get back in and get the hell out of there before anyone figures anything out. Everyone good?"
There was a united "Sir Yes sir!" from the three solders before Ganga.
"Though so, now suit up and let's roll out."
[*]
Cuba, Granma Province, five hours later
[*]
It was already dark as the chopper landed, Ganga and her squad emerged from the vehicle. However, they seemed to be each wearing a suit of bulky armor. It was light brown with camouflage and it had the G.E.R.M insignia on the shoulder plates. As the squad marched through the fields and forests, armed with their rifles. They could hear the sound of explosions and see a faint orange light in the distance west of them.
"Looks like Kenny is really giving them hell." Sam commented as he looked to the smoke that blocked the stars in the sky. "Castro's not gonna like this."
"Who gives a fuck what Castro thinks." Hannibal interjected as she looked around, aiming her rifle before her. "We are not here to suck his dick or even kill him, remember?"
"I know I know…It's just…this is not gonna look good for us." Sam replied as he took a deep breath. "But I'll take a commie over a Gemmie any day."
The squad chuckled in agreement before they were shushed by Ganga. As the approached a large hillside, they crept over the hill and saw before them a sight they would never forget. There was a large crater in the middle of the field. Agates flew around as they maintained the injectors that were drilling into the ground. Ganga then noticed the grass below her was starting to turn grey and crumble. The next thing she knew, the ground below her crumbled as well, dropping the solder down the pit into the Kindergarten. As Ganga fell with a thud, she sat up to see a group of Agates surrounding her.
"Uh…Hello…"Ganga said as she stood up. " I was just looking for the bathroom. Can you tell me where it is?"
The Agates looked at each other before pouncing at Ganga, only to be shot to pieces by a barrage of sonic blasts from her squad. Ganga then armed her rifle and began shooting down Agate after Agate.
"Hey Patrick!" said Sam as the two of them hid behind a rock.
"What?" Patrick replied as he crouched over and fired his rifle at the incoming Agates, Sam proceeded to do the same.
"If we don't get out of here, I want you to know that I was the one who got drunk and peed in your coffee last night."
"My coffee?" Patrick said with a big smile "I'm allergic to coffee, when I saw it I poured it into your thermos instead. You like coffee right?"
Sam stopped firing for a moment and looked at the thermos on his suit.
"Son of a-"
Ganga and Hannibal fired round after round at the Agates, eventually, an opening was present.
"Hannibal, set the charges!" Ganga shouted as she smacked an Agate with her rifle.
Hannibal nodded as she ran off towards the Injectors. As Ganga fired at more Agates, then suddenly stopped attacking.
"What, you giving up?" Ganga said as she aimed her rifle at he Agates. She then watched as they moved back giving way to a new figure before her.
The figure was tall and pitch black, creating a red outline before the night sky. The only feature he has was a single red eye. As he stood before Ganga, she felt a chill in her body, and as she breathed, she could swear she could see her own breath.
"You are the one attacking my kindergarten?" the figure said as he pointed his finger at her. "Who are you?"
"I'm is Ganga Nanafua, Captain of the Gemian Eradication and Radical Movement, Witchgod squadron. We have been tasked to stopping you from harvesting this planet. Surrender now, and you'll go out quick and painlessly, not that I want you to."
"Harvesting?" The figure looked around at the Kindergarten. "No human, I am saving it, giving it a new purpose as a protector from evil. Your kind are proving my point as we speak."
"That is the biggest pile shit I have ever heard of." Ganga replied as she aimed her rifle at the figure. "…and I worked in a zoo in high school."
"Now tell me, what makes you think that your primitive weapons can harm a God?" the figure hissed as he approached Ganga. "You do not know what I am capa-"
Ganga fired the rifle at the figure. Striking him in the abdomen. As the figure backed away, shouting as he clenching his side, he looked at the wound, a blue gap was present in his side, and it wasn't regenerating. He then looked to Ganga, who reloaded her rifle with a spin of the barrel.
"That my friend is a sonic assault Bloch emission rile, otherwise known as a SABER rifle. It uses specialized quantum wave breeder and a sonic emission mechanism. All thanks of a certain sister of yours."
The figure gave a gaze of anger as he clenched his bleeding wound.
"My sister…" the figure hissed. "She gave you this?"
As Diamond was about to raise his hand to Ganga, he heard a large explosion as several helicopters flew overhead. Firing sonic blasts at the Agates below. Eventually, the majority of Diamond's army was gone. Leaving him alone with the Ganga and her squad.
"Game over fucker." Sam said as he marched up to Diamond. "We kicked your ass without Rose and we can surely do it again, not so tough now are you, "Master Diamond"?"
As Diamond looked at the glaring solder. He hissed before jabbing Sam in the eye, ripping it out and kicking he solder to the ground. Before the other could fire, Diamond jumped up into the air and landed on one of the helicopters, ripping off one of the propellers, he directed the crash towards Ganga and her squad.
"DIE FUREMS!" Diamond shouted as he jumped off the chopper, crashing it into the crowd. As Diamond stood up and watched the wreckage burn, he saw something inside the wreckage. It looked like a large bubble…
…a rose colored bubble.
Diamond watched as the bubble dissipated, knocking the chopper wreckage away. Where the bubble disappeared now stood five figures. Four solders, Ganga, Hannibal, and a one-eyed Sam, and before them was a lone Woman, with long curly pink hair, a large pink dress, and piercing black eyes. It was Rose Quartz, the Gemian of Emotion and the leader of the Crystal Gems.
"Brother, that's enough." Rose pleaded. "Stop this madness and all will be well."
"Don't let to me Rose!" Diamond hissed. "If I recall, the last time we met you "killed" me."
"Diamond, this has to stop." Rose pleaded. "I do not wish to hurt you."
"You already have." Diamond said as he grabbed the black skin from across his face and ripped if open revealing his original face, but the left half looked degraded and torn, it also seemed to be regenerating slowly. At this sight, Rose gasped in shock and covered her mouth with her hands as tears began to flow from her eyes.
"Your tears cannot heal every wound." Diamond said as he approached her. "But you were able to strike me down when I could not."
Rose placed her arm over her left shoulder, tracing the scar around her arm. She watched as Diamond approached her and reached for her neck, his hand stopping inches away and shaking lightly.
"How did you do it?" Diamond asked Rose, a tear rolled down from his non-destroyed eye. "What is your secret? Tell me!"
Rose looked to Diamond with a tearful smile.
"There is no secret brother." Rose said she clasped his hand with hers. "I never meant to harm you. But I want you to stop this, stop the fighting. These humans deserve the right to make their own decisions. I have seen the good in them and the hope they have."
Diamond and Rose then noticed the sound of explosions in the distance. Everyone could see the orange light in the distance. It was the invasion at the Bay of Pigs, the diversion the U.S Military was making for G.E.R.M. Diamond walked towards the light for a few steps before facing Rose, his hand pointing at the light.
"That is your hope Rose, the humans are willing to kill each other yet they believe in self-preservation. They fight over resources that they pillage from others, and they create injustice over feeble differences. How is that hope? How is that good?"
"They will learn from their mistakes and become stronger." Rose said as she approached Diamond. "Everyone makes mistakes, even you have."
Diamond looked to Rose with a silver gaze, looking down with a look of consideration, but before he spoke, there was a rumble in the distance. Diamond then looked to the orange light.
"I do not make mistakes Rose…" Diamond looked to Rose with a molten red glare. "..I erase them!"
Suddenly, there was an explosion as one of the injectors blew up. Ganga's squad stumbled as they avoided the shrapnel. A chopper landed behind the squad as they began to rush towards it.
"We gotta go!" Hannibal shouted as she helped her squad inside.
As Ganga moved into the chopper, she watched Rose and Diamond standing before each other.
"There is only one way to end this." Diamond explained as he took Rose's hand and placed it around his throat. "Either you kill me, or I destroy this planet."
"I will save this planet…" Rose said to Diamond, tears flowing from her eyes. "…but I will save you too."
Diamond gasped lightly as he felt his eye fill with tears.
"No…you cannot." Diamond replied. "I have to do this, and once I do, you will finally hate me."
He pushed Rose's hand away from him as he turned around and walked away. As he did, another of his injectors blew up.
"Do what you must." Diamond said coldly. "There are others I can use."
With that, the Old King vanished before his sister. Rose stood there for a few seconds before walking over and entering the helicopter. As she sat down, she placed her hand over her head and wept loudly. Ganga hesitantly placed a hand on the Gemian's back and patted it a few times. As their chopper flew off, Ganga and her squad watched the rest of the injectors explode, annihilating the Kindergarten completely. As they cheered in joy over their mission, their cheers were silenced as they flew over the Bay of Pigs. The squad looked over to see the burning lands and destroyed ships sinking in the harbor. Ganga looked to Sam and then to the squad as they flew back to America. Ganga looked out the window and saw the sun rising in the distance. A new day was starting for everyone…
…and yet it felt like the old one was still going.
[*]