"So, I just told her that you all were morons who hadn't the first clue on how to operate even the simplest of Gem scouting ships," admitted Peridot haughtily, walking with Lapis and Steven from the barn to the Rubies' ship on the front lawn. Since the Rubies had been knocked into the cosmos, the Crystal Gems commandeered their ship for any potential usage. Peridot was more than willing to show them how it worked. She was going to fly it down to the beach house and back as a demonstration. But, right now, it was just Lapis and Steven with her.
"Also," she continued, "I needed to pick up my additional hard drives I sent to your address."
"I've been wondering what that was!"
"Yes. I've run out of memory again."
"It's good that she let you come," said Steven.
Peridot put up a hand. "Pft. I don't have to get her to let me do anything. I do what I want. There was no way she was going to stop me. Besides..." She hooked Steven and Lapis in either of her little arms. "...Without the immaculate Peridot, I'm sure your lives are just a wreck!"
"Tragic," said Lapis.
Steven laughed.
Stepping into the cockpit of the Ruby ship, Peridot bragged, "I've piloted dozens of Homeworld ships, from surveillance air crafts to interstellar carriers-I was even once a part of a team that controlled a mother ship! All at my touch stumps, synced up to my limb enhancers! Operating a benign scouting ship should be a breeze."
She hopped up into the captain's chair, which was small and a good fit for her. Steven and Lapis at her sides, Peridot looked over the sweeping console of controls before her that looked like one big, sleek touch pad made of crystal. "Let's see... ...um..."
"Go on," said Lapis, leaning onto the captain's chair.
"Patience! Not all ships are built the same!" After a moment she tapped a little blue hexagon-then a black line effectively rolled across the ship's window in front of them, back and forth.
Punching the same hexagon, Peridot explained, "The viewport must be clear before take off..."
"Of course," said Lapis, "and then we start up the ship, correct?"
"Obviously..." Peridot tapped a green circle, which caused the ship to beam light onto the barn. "...But, before that, I just wanted to demonstrate proper illumination should there be low visibility..."
Lapis had an eyebrow cocked and her lips curled. "You can't operate a ship manually, can you?"
Peridot snarled, "I'll show you I can!" She buffeted the controls with her palms. She growled and gnashed like a goblin trying to catch an elusive fairy that granted wishes... but, not to goblins...
Peridot huffed, undulating her shoulders. Lapis was going to say more, but, suddenly, a shaft came down from over Peridot's head and encapsulated her and the chair. Like a vacuum, the shaft sucked her and the chair up into the ceiling! A loud bang shook the ship, and out the window Steven and Lapis saw Peridot parachuting down somewhere over Beach City.
Steven had never heard Lapis snort so much in his life.
By the time Peridot got back, Lapis was ready and waiting with the ship's manual (it was a touchscreen): How to Operate Your Scouting Ship: For Rubies.
Peridot snatched it from her.
After some trial and error, they'd managed to get the ship off the ground and maneuverable. Steven retained none of it.
He walked with Peridot to get her hard drives.
Curiosity getting the better of him, timidly Steven asked, "Can I ask you something sort of personal?"
"Just so long as it's not about my thoughts on the recent bomb of Camp Pining Hearts... What is it?"
"Well, um, it's about Topaz."
"Ok..."
"Does she not like you being here?"
"No," Peridot said blatantly.
"Why?"
"She doesn't like or trust any of you."
"But... I mean... Yeah, we've fought, but that was a long time ago. It's not like that anymore. We're letting her live on her own. It doesn't have to be that way."
"That's not good enough. I told you she's stubborn."
Steven said, throwing up his hands, "Well, I don't know what to do about it."
"Topaz isn't one to easily make a change of heart, as you say. She's been through a lot of war. And for that, she is very suspicious of all of you. It was one of the reasons I liked her, especially when she let me in. I was consistent for her and she needed that."
"W-war?" Steven didn't hear anything past it.
"Of course. Homeworld is constantly expanding its reach and power throughout the cosmos. Why else do you think they haven't spared more resources in Earth's direction? Yes, there was the Cluster, but, even so, Earth isn't anywhere near the top of their to-do list."
As per the business of things, Peridot chucked personal greetings at each of the Crystal Gems, sure to include a "compliment" on their most exuberant feature that day-Amethyst's laziness, Pearl's petulance, and Garnet's... hair. She then seized her packages of hard drives and was well on her particular way.
"You should come visit sometime." Her words tumbled out onto the floor like rocks. "Don't worry with Topaz, I can handle her." And with that, she disappeared.
Garnet said sweetly, "She complimented my hair."
...
The next day, Steven was out on his porch, contemplating more about what Peridot had told him. He thought more about war-prisoners of war and all that-of what it consisted. He thought of what it can do to people, what little he knew it could do. Pain. Anger. Sadness. Regret.
Bismuth. He thought about her. What war did to her. How dangerous it made her. So much potential-lost in anger and resentment. Bismuth would have been a wonderful addition to the Crystal Gems, but she was so bent on revenge and murder...
Being in a constant state of war, what must that do to someone?
When Steven first encountered Topaz, she seemed so angry. He supposed he would have, too, being in her position, locked up against her will. Recalling what his phone gave him when he had searched "prisoner of war," he had the thought that maybe Topaz had expected to be tortured or even killed. Maybe she was angry at herself for getting caught? Had she been a prisoner of war before?
What had caused Topaz to try to kill herself? Was it Peridot? War? Was it anything else?
Ever since he and the Gems saved her life, Steven was pretty sure Topaz understood that they weren't out to destroy her. But-Circumstance's prison-the Crystal Gems and Topaz to this day remain in conflict. Steven wondered why it had to be that way (Homeworld and Earth; war and love). There was so much potential otherwise.
Topaz often passionately voiced how Steven used her as "entertainment;" that both she and Peridot were "games." Steven had the brief thought of himself as being that evil. He was disgusted.
Granted, as Garnet had said, the Crystal Gems have taken a lot from Topaz, and Steven could grasp how confusing and frustrating that must be. However, Topaz had seemed to want, or, at least, adapt to the things that have been given her as an effect: freedom, space, another chance. But, maybe Topaz didn't see it that way. For the sake of protecting Earth, she may see the "checkups" from the Crystal Gems as a way to control her. Steven knew that was the last thing the Crystal Gems wanted. But, the things that have happened to her while on Earth must have made her suspicious.
War must make people suspicious.
Despite everything, Topaz never tried to kill anyone, even with how much she had threatened to do so. She only did what she needed to do to prioritize herself and, at times, Peridot.
Had she understood that the Crystal Gems weren't her enemies? Or, in her mind, did killing a Crystal Gem ensure that they would be?
Regardless, now Topaz and Peridot were together again. Now was their chance to try again. Much of what they've done, they've risked since being on Earth was for each other. Maybe Steven had it all wrong about Topaz, just misunderstood her. Steven decided he shouldn't dream of her and Peridot being separated. They've worked hard to be where they are, so, why not let them be? They want it bad enough.
Deciding this, Steven understood that him visiting Peridot may cause Topaz to think that he was trying to take her away. Him showing up in general was, frankly, disrespectful to Topaz's desire to be left alone. Yes, Steven thought it best to stay away from the Beta K as long as possible and let Topaz and Peridot have their time.
...