Whir, Whir, Whir, Whir... Rhodonite's eyes opened slowly to the sound of a speeder dying down. She was instantly blinded by a small bit of sun that peeked into the temple ruins. She noticed Gaspeite leaning casually against the doorway and decided to walk over and see what was happening.
"Looks like your girlfriend's back," Gaspeite said as Rhodonite leaned on the other side of the doorway.
"Good morning to you too. And she's not my girlfriend, okay?" Rhodonite replied. "I didn't even know she left, do you know what she was doing?"
"Well..." Gaspeite trailed off guiltily.
"What happened?" Rhodonite asked scoldingly.
"Moonie left a note in the sand over there, but it wasn't until I stepped on it in a groggy morning slump that I realized it was there. My footprint made it practically unreadable, so I just thought, 'Eh, screw it' and I drew a nude Pearl over it...Yeah, it was great." Gaspeite explained nonchalantly, shrugging.
"Gaspeite!" Rhodonite shouted, still scolding.
"What? I was tempted!" Gaspeite shouted back in defense.
"You gotta be more careful! If we didn't see that note, Moonstone could've been killed out there and we would have never known!" Rhodonite argued.
"Geez, okay mom! I think Moonstone can handle herself out there, she's her own Gem and you gotta respect that." Gaspeite said back.
"Good morning, you two!" Moonstone's voice cut through the argument. Rhodonite and Gaspeite looked over to see the cloaked figure of Moonstone jump off her speeder and run over to them, carrying a small, black box.
Moonstone hugged Rhodonite and Gaspeite. "I have a gift for you, Rho." She ran excitedly into the temple.
"What am I, discarded meat?" Gaspeite asked.
"Well, it's more of a gift for all of us," Moonstone replied gently.
"Aw, see? Look what ya did, it was originally a gift for me." Rhodonite muttered as she nudged Gaspeite on the shoulder, causing her to almost fall.
"It was always a gift for all of us, you guys," Moonstone added as she set her cloak down.
"Well, what is it?" Gaspeite asked.
Moonstone approached the two Gems with the small black box. After Moonstone opened the small box, Rhodonite and Gaspeite peered in to see a black Gem. It was in a Cabochon cut, like most Pearls. It was shiny, polished, but opaque so that it showed no reflection. However, it had several scratches on it.
"You got us a Gem?" Rhodonite asked.
"Not just any Gem, I got us a Pearl!" Moonstone replied excitedly.
"A Pearl? H-How did you afford it? Only the richest Gems can have Pearls! Where did you get it? They usually have to be custom-made!" Gaspeite was immediately starstruck.
"Well, I went shopping at the InterGalactic Black Market today, and they were selling this one for real cheap! I figured, that it could help us with the war...You know, we need as many heads as we can get!" Moonstone explained.
"I'm pretty sure it'd be more useful if one of us grew a second head than if we bought a Pearl, this one is probably like all the others...Shallow, fawning, doesn't know a thing about fighting." Rhodonite added.
"The shopkeeper said this one was the rebellious type! Have a little faith, Rho!" Moonstone said.
Suddenly, the Gem rose from the box and radiated a bluish-black light, much to everyone's surprise. A petite, yet muscular body was formed, and the silhouette seemed graceful, the body in an arabesque position. The Gem finally formed, and it was a bit shocking at first. The Gem had skin like volcanic ash and hair like a starless winter night, which was kept in a tight ballerina bun. She was wearing a black tunic leotard, which reminded Rhodonite of the Pearl back on Earth, except this one had no logo of any alliance, her clothes had no diamonds nor stars. Underneath the leotard, there were white leggings, with ballet slippers to match. The Gem opened her eyes, revealing the stark, grey irises and piercing black pupil, which reminded Rhodonite of Howlite, eyes that were drained of their color, expression nowhere to be seen. There was a dark grey scar down her right eye that looked rather menacing. The Gem was placed on her chest, like Yellow Diamond's Pearl.
"Oy..." Gaspeite said in approval.
"You'll never get me alive ya-," The Black Pearl said, drawing her ebony spear and waving it around before realizing where she was.
"Um, Hi there!" Moonstone approached the Pearl welcomingly.
The Pearl held her spear up to Moonstone's neck. "I demand you to tell me where I am!" She said forcefully. Her voice was articulated and guttural.
Moonstone chuckled nervously. "You're on Homeworld...we're your new owners...Now please put the weapon down..."
"I'm not being owned by anyone!" The Black Pearl walked away from Moonstone. She stabbed her spear into the sand. "Homeworld..." She whispered. "How did I get here?"
"Moonstone bought you from the Black Market? Does that ring a bell?" Gaspeite asked.
"Black Market...Those damn Gallifreyans think they can get rid of me that way, huh? Well, they have another thing coming, and it's me!" The Black Pearl stomped over to her spear, snatched it up, and began to storm out of the temple.
"Wait! I didn't pay one million Homeworld credits for you to just leave!" Moonstone shouted.
"Tough luck." The Black Pearl replied without so much as turning her head.
"I mean, don't you want to help us?" Moonstone tried to argue.
"With what? Give me three reasons why I should stay." Black Pearl turned abruptly to face Moonstone.
"I figured you could help us with our cause..." Moonstone said.
"Cause? Oh, hell no." Black Pearl replied.
"But, the shopkeeper said you were a rebellious one?" Moonstone added.
"Yeah, I'm a rebel without a cause," Black Pearl shrugged.
"Don't you want to free your fellow Pearls from oppression here on Homeworld?" Moonstone asked.
"Pearls are perfectly capable of doing that themselves, they don't need my help." Black Pearl replied.
"But they need you to rally them!" Moonstone argued.
"No, they can rally themselves." Black Pearl said. "You have one more reason, now make it snappy, I have a ship to Gallifrey to catch."
"Ugh...I hate using this one..." Moonstone mumbled. "Name your price and we'll pay it!" She shouted.
Black Pearl's eyes widened. She threw her spear into the sand again and turned to Moonstone. "Go on."
"Name any price, and we'll pay it," Moonstone said.
"Three million Universal Currency, A ship of the newest and best model, I prefer Firefly class, by the way, and a Royal Pardon..." Black Pearl replied.
"A Royal Pardon? What do you need that for?" Moonstone asked.
"What? Do you not think I'm wanted on a planet or two? Or...twenty-two...Hundred..." Black Pearl said.
"We'll give you all that if you help us, and if we win," Moonstone said.
"Oh, with me on your side, you'll be sure to do more than just win." Black Pearl replied, shaking Moonstone's hand.
"Make yourself at home," Moonstone smiled.
"Hmm, well first off, you clearly have to go back to the market for some more lighting, then maybe sweep this place up. I mean, I remember when this temple was still standing, and gee, you guys really let this place go. Second of all, I demand your utmost respect at all times, so no more of this, open sexualization of my kind." Black Pearl said loudly. On the last sentence, she smeared Gaspeite's sand drawing with her foot.
"Can we call ya Blackie It's shorter and catchier." Gaspeite asked.
"Call me what you want, I don't give a Rathtar's tentacle. However, on most planets I'm called Jet...people take me a lot more seriously that way. No one cowers at the name of a Pearl...well, at least, not until one runs ya through." Black Pearl flashed a devilish smile. "You're being awfully quiet over there, Mohawk."
"Yeah, yeah I know. I'm Rho, short for Rhodonite." Rhodonite introduced herself quickly and quietly.
Black Pearl shrugged. "Now, what exactly is the plan here?" She asked.
Gaspeite shrugged, Moonstone began to drone, "Uuuuum", and all that was left was for Rhodonite to speak.
"Well, we're sick and tired of the Diamonds oppressing everyone with their tyrannical oligarchy," Rhodonite said.
Black Pearl cocked an eyebrow.
"I mean, they've done ingemane experiments for years, have destroyed life on hundreds of planets, have snuffed out the potential of Gems like you, and they're even planning to blow up Earth with a massive geoweapon!" Rhodonite explained.
"They didn't snuff out my potential, mind you. No, they were so disgusted by even the thought of me that they discarded me to the depths of space for dead." Black Pearl growled. "I agree with you there, but do you have any idea on how to carry this out? I mean, I love a coup as much as the next guy, but you gotta have a plan or you have no chance."
"I think...that's why we needed your help," Moonstone said.
"You bought me for that? You're more stupid than I thought! You don't hire a Pearl to give you battle tactics, Quartzes are for that!" Black Pearl chuckled.
"Are you saying you can't do it?" It was Rhodonite's turn to cock an eyebrow.
Black Pearl's eyes widened. "Of course, I can! In fact, that is an understatement! You're obviously not going to take down the most indestructible Gems to ever live with just you three, I suggest we get support."
"From whom?" Moonstone asked.
"I think I know a Gem," Gaspeite said suddenly.
"We're listening," Rhodonite replied.
"Her name's Carnelian. She's a big, strong Quartz, and she leads the best Gem war party Homeworld has seen since the Gem War. Her allegiance is to Yellow Diamond, but I think we can get her to change her mind." Gaspeite explained.
"What's so great about her? I mean, people are willing to say anyone's the best, even if they really aren't." Black Pearl said.
"Oh, she's great all right. Only a team of the fastest and strongest gems and fusions in the army, the best sharpshooters, including her co-leader, Fire Opal, who was an apprentice to Howlite!" Gaspeite began to gush. Rhodonite felt a sharp pain in her chest just from hearing the name, Howlite. "She is responsible for conquering several planets, and they also have access to the latest weapons from Yellow Diamond. Oh! And she keeps control really well because she has the power to hypnotize!" Gaspeite continued.
"Hypnotize? Great..." Black Pearl said sarcastically.
"We can convince her to join our side, then she can convince her war party to fight for us too!" Gaspeite added excitedly.
"I will not stand to have people die for a cause they don't believe in. We'll convince the entire party with our just cause, not with Gem magic." Rhodonite said, and Moonstone and Gaspeite listened and nodded. Black Pearl turned to Rhodonite.
"That was a great plan, there's nothing wrong with playing dirty. Besides, it's not like anyone will know." Black Pearl replied.
"I want this war to be as clean as Rose Quartz's was, and that's final. I'm the leader here, not you." Rhodonite snapped.
"Ugh, Rose Quartz...Who gives a damn about her? Back then things were a lot more...innocent. Nowadays, we fight with fire, and bombs, we annihilate everything until there's no trace of the past. That's how war works, and you wanted to start one. Now you get it." Black Pearl slammed her fist into her palm.
Rhodonite growled. "It was like that then too! Were you even there for the destruction on Earth? The dented land, the sky stained with ash? Shards littering the grass like thorny vines?"
"No, I can only imagine. You're fairly new, though, so you must've just heard stories." Black Pearl replied. Rhodonite was growing more and more hatred for this strange new person, who dismissed all her past experiences null and void and wished to fight a dirty war.
"I was there! Or at least...my Gems were!" Rhodonite protested.
"No need to get huffy, I'll just go ahead and believe you, but if I were you, being childish like that will never get the respect of this Carnelian." Black Pearl said, smirking and snickering at Rhodonite.
"So...what was your experience with the Gallifreyans?" Moonstone asked to change the subject.
"Whoa, slow down there, sister. I'm here to work with you, not be all buddy-buddy with you. You suckered in Gaspeite, but not me." Black Pearl walked off, disappearing down a hallway in the temple. "And by the way, I suggest you make living quarters down here, but not until after you've cleaned it!" She shouted.
Rhodonite turned to Moonstone. "On second thought, you can leave this gift to Gaspeite."
"Oh come on! Just give her time." Moonstone said. "Besides, we're all a little bit shaken up since this whole thing started, so perhaps before we do anything hasty, we could maybe settle down, write a nice letter for Carnelian and see how this plays out."
"I don't mind talking to her...she sounds awesome, and looks hotter than a Tatooinian desert," Gaspeite added in a lovesick trance.
"Sure, why not, go find her. I'm sure she'll be thrilled." Rhodonite said sarcastically, pushing Gaspeite in the direction of the hallway. Gaspeite decided to listen despite her tone and walk down the hallway.
"She has to have some experience with the Diamonds, especially for her to be like that. Maybe I'm too much of a meddler, but I'm going to confront this Pearl myself. You don't have to worry, Rho." Moonstone said.
"Alright, but I oughta' do something too," Rhodonite said.
And a little flashback...something that's been rolling around in Black Pearl's memory.
CRASH! BEEP, BEEP, BEEP, BEEP!
A petite, yet muscular silhouette swung through the window, breaking the glass. She landed in a crouching position and looked back, whipping the wayward black bang that escaped her slick bun. She waved away her auto-piloted spaceship and began to sprint through the room, which was littered with conference tables, the alarm blaring in her ears. She made the calculation that guards would be in the room in seconds, but she knew she could take them. Her senses were heightened, reflexes sharpened, and she was just on edge.
The silhouette looked to the corner of the ceiling to see a security camera, it's lenses glinting although it was nighttime. She summoned a spear from her Gem and threw it at the camera, running the blade through. She pulled out a communication device.
"This is Jet, I'm in Uriku's place, the guards are expected to be here in approximately 15 seconds." The silhouette spoke, her voice quiet and low. She was surprised that her message went through due to the alarms.
"Fight them off, and his bedroom is located one flight of stairs from where you were supposed to enter. I'm counting on you, you either bring me his heart or you die trying." The communication device responded with hints of static, it was her boss for this mission. The reward was 100,000 Universal Currency and enough fuel to fill her ship's entire tank...besides, she didn't mind a little fun.
"You got it." Jet turned off the communication device as three muscular guards burst into the conference room, wielding large spears, larger than Jet's.
Jet was a rugged looking woman, the kind you'd expect to kill for money, however, she did pride herself on what little class she had compared to other criminals. A rebel, more like defect of the Great Diamond Authority, she had the kind of skill, precision, and overall refinery that was expected of Gems, especially in her agile fighting style. The assassin sported a black leotard sort of outfit, with leggings to match. She wore armor in some places, made of fourth dimension Elysium which was a sleek, blackish-grey metal that definitely did its job well as armor. Jet summoned her spear from the Gem on her chest and charged the first guard, and her small size compared to it helped her. The guard swung his spear horizontally, but Jet ducked, punched the spear out of his hands and ran him through with her own spear.
Next guard, she was able to kick unconscious quickly since she was caught off-guard, and the third one she had a showdown with him in a clash of spears. Let's just say, she had taken down the first wave of defenses, and she was feeling confident. Jet twirled her spear and strolled out, stepping over each corpse as if they were just pillows on the floor...pillows that oozed blood with every step.
Jet nimbly ran out into the hallway, which was calm, but still dangerous, like a sleeping volcano. According to her research on the place, the building was connected to Uriku's lifeforce. When awake, the lights of the building would turn on and the computers would work, but at night, it was absolutely still and dark. However, there were soft, turquoise strips of light on the walls that faded in and out kept track of Uriku's breathing and sleep patterns. Blue meant asleep and calm, red-orange meant awake and alert. Different shades of purple meant a mix of the two. Jet saw the blue lights as perfect timing for her kill. She began to dart up the spiral staircase of glass just down the hall from the conference room, which led to Uriku's bedroom.
Jet was surprised the alarms shut off and no more guards came, but she soon realized that Uriku, the building's lifeforce, probably turned off the alarms to continue his slumber. The further she ascended, a large window surrounded the staircase, showing a beautiful view of the city outside and its gleaming lights, whizzing spaceships...so full of life. Jet almost felt bad that she had to kill the poor man, but oh well, that was life. Besides, Uriku was a millionaire as well as a philanthropist, he would surely be glad that he gave up his life and maybe some of his cash to Black Pearl's cause of staying alive in a cutthroat world.
Jet reached the top of the stairs and drew her spear silently, stretched her arms a bit more, just in case she had to fight Uriku, and creaked the bedroom door open. Her heart pounded in her ears, blood rushing to her cheeks, sweat pouring down her face even though she had done this a million times. A rush of guilt ran through Jet like a gust of wind, but she soothed her mind with the thought mantra "It's for your own good." A phrase she had once heard from a being with two white hands cupping her face before getting poisoned and thrown into a ship due to explode. The thought gave her even more chills, she then tried to focus on the task at hand.
She let out a silent whisper. "Ngah!" She shook her head to get focused on the gentle lump underneath white sheets in the room in front of her.
The room was spacious, yet Uriku never filled it up with much furniture. The back wall, behind the king size bed middle of the room, was a window that also contained the city silhouette inside. Jet couldn't imagine what dressing was like for the man before noticing a walk in closet off to the side by the door. Jet propped the door open with a doorstop she kept on hand and tiptoed into the bedroom, approaching the bed slowly...so close that she could see every fold and wrinkle in the white covers which contrasted with the black bed frame. Jet raised her spear up slowly, ready to strike, she looked back to see that there were no security cameras in sight, then began to bring the spearpoint down right over the lump's vital area.
SHING! Lights turned on suddenly and illuminated the entire building. The turquoise light strips turned to a fiery red, which certainly didn't mean anything good to Jet. Much to Jet's surprise, Uriku's covers flew off to reveal him parrying her attack with a sword while in his purple pajamas. Uriku looked masculine and muscular, his unbuttoned pajama shirt revealing a jungle of chestnut chest hair that contrasted his pale skin. There was a smug grin hidden underneath his mustache-beard-sideburns combo of the same color, and his determined green eyes glinted in the city lights, along with his broadsword. Jet staggered back at the sudden attack and knew that if he didn't die right now, then she would be caught, imprisoned...and she just couldn't do that.
Jet did a quick lift as she slid to the side and ran Uriku through from the side, killing him. The lights shut off completely with a dying whir and a flick. Jet took up Uriku's corpse in her arms and called for her ship to stop by the window. In a matter of seconds, the large, rather junky-looking, Firefly class ship stopped by the bedroom window, its doors waiting open invitingly. Jet quickly cut an exit for her in the window with her spear and jumped into the ship. The ship then blasted off and away from the planet immediately.
"This is Jet, I have assassinated Uriku like you asked. I will be disposing of the corpse after checking for extra spoils. I have set a course for Tatooine to receive the bounty." Jet spoke into her communication device.
"Atta girl. Now don't get sidetracked in Mos Eisley before you reach me, alright? Take care." The communication device responded before hanging up.
Jet threw the body on the floor and leaned against the wall, sighing exasperatedly.
"It's for my own good." She repeated her mantra.
Poor girl doesn't even realize you can't even go to Gallifrey anymore...
Meet Black Pearl...Pirate, Mass Assassin, Thief, Diamond Stamp of Disapproval Defect, Victim of Sexual Assault, A heart frozen by a "kill or be killed" world...among other things.
And according to Gaspeite, a real dynamite gal.
Gaspeite is a common thief, a scavenger, but Black Pearl is a criminal on so many levels...yet, Moonstone let her in anyway. At this rate, the Diamonds must think that they're picking up random people off the street.
Sorry for this being so short and rather bad in my opinion...I feel like it's been the attack of the blocks lately. Maybe I'll get some more inspiration on Spring Break...or maybe I'm seeing Spring Break as more of a cure-all rather than a vacation to my grandparents' place. I don't know, I guess only time will tell.
I was rather worried when I wasn't receiving reviews on my latest chapters..what happened? Idk, but reviews are certainly encouraged on this.
What does everyone think of Black Pearl?