A/N: Tomorrow will also be a Unit 6 chapter-just so ya'll know :)

As long as no one asks why they're doing this, the plan is actually fairly straightforward. The likelihood of someone figuring out that they're staging this to keep Ruby here in Unit 6 is low, mostly because no gem in their right mind would ever choose to stay in a Containment Unit.

Well, except for Ruby. Maybe.

"If you have any doubts about this," says Sapphire as they are about to leave the office for their four hours of recreation time.

Ruby glances at her. "I don't."

"Because if you did, now would be your last opportunity to voice them."

"Sapphire." Somehow Ruby manages to meet her eye, even through her blue bangs. "Do you have any doubts?"

"Not for myself. I'm not the one who's spurning a chance for freedom."

"And I told you, it's not like the consequences are dire. Everything is going to be fine, no matter how this turns out." She pauses, and then snorts as she pushes out into the sterile metal hall. "How am I the one saying this, anyway? That's a role reversal if there ever was one."

Sapphire can't help chuckling as they leave her room—and thus any and all potential changes to the plan—behind. Next to her, Ruby smiles.

"So," Ruby says jokingly. "How aloof and aggravatingly deadpan are you planning on becoming, on a scale of one to ten?"

Assuming that ten was the worst? Sapphire hums as she tries on each scenario. "About a seven. Maybe an eight. About what point do you feel like trying to strangle me? You have comparable levels of patience."

"I'm going to pretend that was not a backhanded compliment."

"It wasn't. It was an observation."

"There." Ruby points at her as they walk. "That, right there, is where I start getting irritated with you. Crank it up a couple of notches from there, and you won't have anything to fear."

Sapphire grins. It takes Ruby a moment to understand why, and then she's groaning aloud. "I suppose you thought that was so very clever."

"Don't forget amusing."

"Save the sass for the actual target, Saph. We wouldn't want you running out."

Sapphire doesn't say anything, mostly because she isn't sure Ruby caught it. Nevertheless, her cheeks are warm and she can't quite get the soft, happy smile off of her face. Nobody has ever referred to her with such casual intimacy before. If anyone else had done this, it would have been a bastardization of her name, but with Ruby it was really… really nice.

"Um. Hey, sorry if I went too—are you blushing? Why?"

It's kind of impressive, how quickly Ruby's mood changes gears.

"No reason," Sapphire replies lightly.

"I don't believe that for a second."

"Calcite." Sapphire's smile becomes friendly and polite as the little white-toned gem jogs up to them. "Thanks again for helping with this. We owe you one."

Calcite waves Sapphire's dialogue off. "I'm happy to do it, even if I don't really understand why this is so important." She suddenly grins. "Besides, I could get used to leading clods like this on. That is its own reward."

A more self-confident Calcite, Sapphire decides, is a scary, sociopathic thing.

"Do you know where she is right now?" asks Ruby.

"Of course," and Calcite verbally sketches the current layout of the rec center.

"This is almost too easy," Ruby remarks, adjusting her bright red headband.

"She's an easy target. Of course it feels like that," Sapphire says. She looks to Calcite. "Nothing has changed. Remember to cause a scene."

Calcite nods and grins. "You got it!"

"I'm a little worried about that one," Ruby says after Calcite dashes away. "Is that enthusiasm because she's helping you, or because of what is going to happen?"

"Honestly, I can't tell either," Sapphire confesses. "She has been more cheerful since I basically declared to everyone that she was under my protection, though."

Ruby grunts, clearly not convinced that's all there is to Calcite right now. Nevertheless, she looks to Sapphire and says with a grimace, "Sorry, in advance."

"Then you're forgiven, in advance."

Ruby takes a small breath as they enter the recreation center. "Let's get this over with."

If this is going to work, then timing and transparency are crucial. After an hour of Sapphire and Ruby establishing their friendly, well liked presences, conveniently just as Morganite and her patrol partner Kunzite are ducking into check that the recreation center hasn't fallen into chaos, Calcite has to be caught giving Plagioclase another funny look. In that same moment, or just before, Sapphire has to make sure that Plagioclase can't spot her anywhere when she gives the center a wary once over.

Once Plagioclase determines that there isn't anyone who cares enough about Calcite to defend her, she advances remorselessly.

"Well, well, look whose guardian is absent today," she says in a soft growl. "You think you can get away with such disrespect when she's not here?"

"Oh, no, what's going on now?" come the murmurs. Other inmates are beginning to take notice.

Calcite is either an excellent actor or actually intimidated. She takes a step back, eyes wide and complexion paler than usual. "I—I didn't mean…"

"Oh, of course not. That's just how your face looks, isn't it?"

"Actually—" Calcite screeches as Plagioclase advances, but that's when Sapphire crashes into the bigger gem. There is a small, sharp cracking noise as Plagioclase falls.

"Didn't I tell you," Sapphire starts as Calcite scrambles away, her weapon drawn on her left hand.

"Hey, you, the sapphire! That's an abuse of power!"

"Containment Unit rules strictly prohibit the use of brute force against a fellow gem. As you have blatantly broken that rule in front of two Supervisors—"

Sapphire doesn't give Kunzite and Morganite a chance to finish their spiel. The next thing that either of them know, their feet have been frozen to the floor and Sapphire is all but flying past them, kicking up a wind and administering blows to pressure points and joints while Morganite and Kunzite both swing their weapons wildly, trying to catch her by chance.

Unfortunately, there is no such thing as chance when your opponent can see what you will do before you actually do it, and can be on the other side of the room in the blink of an eye. However, there are also only so many weak punches that a tiny, flouncy gem can make before one of them becomes fed up.

Kunzite, being the larger of the two Supervisors, is the first to break free of her frozen restraints. She does so with an aggravated roar, and uses the butt of her spear to smash Morganite free as well.

Conveniently, Plagioclase has only now regained her bearings. She is quick to spot an opportunity to join the fray. Her sword is drawn and held before her with both hands. A wide, bloodthirsty smirk spreads across her face. Sapphire see hear her thoughts from here. Oh, I've got you now, you little blue menace.

"Three against one, huh?" Sapphire chuckles darkly as they form a semi-circle around her. She brings out her second knuckleduster and sinks into a stance, ready for anything. "Maybe this will actually be—"

Ruby poofs her. All it takes is one mighty swing of her fist.