A Proper Mission
"Connie Maheswaran open the tent," shouted Garnet.
The teenaged girl just sobbed on the other side of the tent flap. Outside the tent Steven sweated uncomfortably. What a mess this wouldn't have happened if Peridot was here instead.
Connie was listening to her parents argue once again. She thought March break would be fun be with cool activities and maybe a vacation but parents were so busy they forgot about her. Now she was cooling her heels while the weather was still vile outside.
It all seemed to get better when the phone rang.
Her mother answered, "You want to take Connie on a camping trip to California. It is safe? How much? oh nothing! I'll put her on."
Connie impatiently snatched the phone from her mother, "Hi Pearl, no I'm not doing anything."
"That's great, how would like to go on a grand and glorious quest?" asked Pearl.
"It would be my honor," smiled Connie.
It was going to be great. Peridot would not be coming. When she got to the Beach house Peridot was arguing with Garnet.
"You're cracked absolutely cracked if you think you can go without me," ranted Peridot.
"Peridot you're not as indispensable as you think," said Garnet coldly.
"But I've been there I set up traps. I know the tech."
"Enough, no more arguing. You're going to the Pizzas and that's it," the fusion picked up Peridot by the scruff of her neck and carried her out.
Connie repressed a smile when she turned to her teacher Pearl. "I've brought my long pants, a rain poncho and my sword."
"That's nice," said Pearl distractedly. "But you'll be needing this instead."
The pale gem handed Connie a shovel. What had she gotten herself into?
When Koffi Pizza saw Garnet drag Peridot to the pizzeria he knew that there would be trouble. The little gem was protesting loudly but Garnet simply ignored her and actually threw the gem into Koffi's arms.
"Wait you need me. I'm the only one who knows the area," shouted the green monster.
Garnet ignored her, "Koffi, this is Peridot, a prisoner of ours. We are going on an important mission and we can't afford to leave her unattended. While she is here you will keep her busy, you will instruct her on the ways of Earth particularly polite behavior and above all you will never let you out of her your sight."
Koffi looked down at the green alien. Peridot looked every bit the alien from her green skin and pointed teeth and ears. She also looked sad and frightened. He noticed the bruises on her arms. As he watched Garnet walk away he wondered who the real monster was.
Koffi called out back, "Mother come out of the kitchen. You're better at these things than me."
When Connie thought of a great and noble quest her mind went to her favorite book series where Lisa the heroine would quest for the summer goblet or the sword of fire. Lisa would traverse hostile lands and fight strange and fearsome monsters. Never in this noble quests did it mention the heroine using a shovel and digging for her prize. The beta kindergarten looked strange and hostile with man shaped holes and broken equipment on the walls much like a ruined castle. If Connie even thought to ask she would have found out this place was downright homey compared to the Prime kindergarten. The place had recent signs of habitation and a strange smell wafted through the canyon.
"Burnt Halla," stated Pearl. "I found Peridot camping out here after the Sardonyx incident."
"That's all behind us," said Garnet.
In front of them Amethyst motioned for them to stop. The warrior gem looked at the scanner intently stepping onto a clear patch of ground Amethyst called out the all clear and then promptly fell into a pit.
The remaining gems rushed into action. Running over to the edge of the pit. Amethyst lay on a bed of crystal spikes. Amethyst looked up to them, cursed and poofed away leaving her gem behind.
Pearl sighed, "I'll get the rope."
After fishing Amethyst out the team went even further into the kindergarten. Amethyst leading with the detector, the gems with weapons raised and the children trailing behind with shovels. After 2 hours Amethyst motioned for them to stop. Pearl set up some sifters while Garnet watched uneasily. Steven stepped forward any began to dig. He paused and motioned Connie to follow him.
Connie was digging for like forever when it started getting dark. Her muscles ached, her back ached. She felt tired all over. She was hungry and thirsty. Connie felt like stopping when Pearl announced it was quitting time. The children followed her to what was supposed to be the campsite. The tents looked like they had been in an earthquake. The supplies lay scattered around a roaring fire where Amethyst sat.
"Yeah, I'm not good at the building stuff," said a shame faced Amethyst.
"Kids, I'll make you dinner. You just set up the tents," ordered Pearl.
While Steven and Connie were making their shelters Connie noticed Garnet just standing there.
"You could actually help, you know," said Connie scathingly.
"We're not alone," whispered Garnet.
"Monsters?" asked Connie.
"Humans, they're keeping away for now but warn the others."
Connie crept back to the campsite and told the others what Garnet had said. After a hasty dinner of macaroni and cheese she went to bed alone. Pearl and Amethyst had made a point of Steven and Connie sleeping in different tents.
Meanwhile at Fish Stew Pizza the restaurant had closed and the Pizzas were getting ready for bed. They had climbed up the stairs to the apartment above. When Peridot asked where she was going to spend the night the twins simply took her up to their room. On one side was a rumbled bed while that side of the room was relatively neat and clean on the other side was a perfectly made up bed while that side of the room looked like a bomb had gone off.
"I'll take the closet," said Peridot.
Jenny stopped her, "No the closet is where I go to study while Kiki sleeps. You have the bed."
"But don't you need the bed to sleep?" asked Peridot.
"Jenny hasn't slept in over 8 years," answered Kiki. "We don't know why but it allows her to get more done."
They gave the green gem some pajamas. Peridot reluctantly crawled into the bed and went into an uneasy downtime.
The next morning after a cold breakfast Amethyst formed into a chopper while Garnet hung outside with the scanner. The pair flew off to scan the entire canyon leaving Pearl, Steven and Connie behind.
"Guess that means a break for now," said Connie.
"Not just yet there's we still haven't finished with that spot yet," replied Pearl.
And so it was back to work again while Pearl stood guard. This time Connie dug while Steven was at the sifters. Soon Garnet and Amethyst came back they had found a couple of other sites and several caves that looked interesting. They stopped for an unsatisfying lunch and then moved onto the next site.
Work seemed to go faster with Amethyst's help shoveling and Pearl at the sifters while Garnet patrolled the edges of the site. Halfway through the dig Connie hit something with her shovel producing a loud thud.
"Oh Connie you need to be more careful. You just broke a fuel cell," scolded Amethyst.
That teared it Connie dropped the shovel and ran back to her tent. The gems quickly followed after her.
The next morning Peridot padded downstairs to the restaurant below. There in the kitchen Jenny was hard at work preparing for the day. The so called evil twin waved cheerily at her.
"Oh hi there did you have a good sleep?" cried Jenny.
"Not really I'm worried about the gems. Well Garnet can go shatter," admitted Peridot. "Jenny, you and Kiki are twins. What does that mean? Are you identical?"
The little gem barraged her with questions. Jenny merely laughed.
"Hold on there. Help me clean these fish and I'll answer all your questions. No Peridot don't use soap. Here this is how you clean a fish."
After a lesson from Jenny on cleaning fish, Peridot took a fish and then started to dissect it. Its innards were fascinating. What was the purpose of all those structures? How did they keep the fish alive?
"You're really interested in that fish aren't you?" laughed Jenny.
"I've never got a chance to do an in depth study of Earth life and since this fish is already dead."
"Well I need that entire case cleaned and filleted before my family wakes up."
"Affirmative, you were going to tell me about you and Kiki?"
"Er yes when we were born we looked exactly alike at least that's what Dad told me. We moved to Beach City about ten years ago and the changes happened. Just little things at first like my face being shaped differently. Then about 8 years ago I just stopped sleeping, never got tired or anything. Freaked my Dad out, the doctors can't explain it but it doesn't hurt me. My family keeps a bed for me just in case. It's lonely not being able to sleep. There are times when the entire world is dead. You are the only one awake and there's no one to talk to."
"Whatever do you do?"
"Mostly my homework, setting up the restaurant. That gives me plenty of time to play in the sun."
They chatted as they cleaned the rest of the fish. As Peridot talked about her life on Earth Jenny didn't see an evil alien rather a young frightened girl trying to survive. The rest of the family came down and started working. Under Nanefua's watchful eye Peridot grated cheese chopped vegetables and rolled out pizza dough. Three hours after the Pizzeria had opened Jenny's phone rang. It was Garnet and she didn't sound happy. The fusion brusquely ordered Jenny to give the phone to Peridot. The little green gem reluctantly took the phone. Even from two feet away Jenny could hear Garnet warble something abusive. The little gem warbled something back. Garnet warbled something back. Peridot's eyes teared up and she said something in her own language. She dropped the phone and ran outside.
When Jenny went outside she found Peridot crouched in the middle of a giant ruined sandcastle. The little gem was crying her eyes out. Why wasn't Kiki here? She was good at these things. Jenny hugged the girl stiffly.
"What's the matter? Maybe I can help," said Jenny kindly.
The little gem turned to face Jenny, "Oh Jenny it's awful, Steven and Connie have been kidnapped."
"Connie Maheswaran open the tent," shouted Garnet.
The teenaged girl just sobbed on the other side of the tent flap. Outside the tent Steven sweated uncomfortably. What a mess this wouldn't have happened if Peridot was here instead.
"No I thought this mission would be fun. Instead I've been shoveling dirt all day working like a slave," shouted Connie.
"Now Connie," said Pearl sweetly. "We're trying to save the world everybody must make sacrifices."
"No, I don't even know what I'm looking for. I'm tired, hungry and my muscles ache," the girl started sobbing again.
"Come out or I'll come in after you," shouted Garnet her gauntlets flashed.
"Whoa, whoa, calm down, who do you think this is Peridot?" said Amethyst as she pulled back Garnet.
Steven sighed, "Let me try. Guys just wait outside."
He found Connie curled up in the far corner of the tent. The girl looked tired and dirty.
"Oh Steven this hasn't turned out the way I hoped," sobbed Connie.
"Look not all missions are fun. Sometimes they are boring like today but time's running out we need the tech here," said Steven.
"I don't care, I just wanted to have some fun. That's what spring break's for."
Steven held her while the girl sobbed noisily. Connie hadn't asked for any of this so why didn't he feel sorry for her? What was Garnet thinking leaving Peridot behind? He let Connie cry into his shoulder feeling uncomfortable.
Suddenly the back of the tent lifted up and two very dirty people grabbed the children and ran. On the outside of the tent Connie heard an explosion. Connie kicked and screamed as the bums carried her and Steven away to the gods know where. They raced through the canyons dodging and weaving as the gems chased them. There were met up with even more homeless people waiting for them, One of them touched a panel and activated a trap causing the canyon walls to collapse. They took the children through tunnels and caves some empty some with gem equipment steadily going upwards until they reached the top. Despite hers and Steven's protests they ran into a ruined building nearby.
When they finally let Connie and Steven go. They found themselves in a derelict house surrounded by homeless people. Connie screamed and charged at them. A couple of the group worked together and pinned her down. Steven summoned his shield and was ready to charge at them when an older man gestured surrender.
"Easy kids, you're safe now," said their leader.
Steven scanned the man suspiciously. The man had long scraggly white hair and a beard. He looked to be about 60 and his clothes hung loosely on his frame. He held his hand out ready to shake his hand.
"I'm sorry we got off to a wrong start. My name's Frank," said the man. He then introduced his group. Mary and Joan were the women holding Connie down. A teenage runaway named Charlie was on lookout. George was his second in command and Alison and Jeff were out on a mission.
"Why are you doing this?" said Steven warily.
"We saw you slaving away with that weird woman and knew you were in trouble," explained Frank.
"Pearl? she's my foster mother," exclaimed Steven.
"Kid that woman is bad news. Your Pearl stabbed and tried to hunt down an alien kid. Green girl little older than yourself. If it weren't for us hiding her that kid would have been dead."
"Hey Frank the girl has a cell phone," cried one of the women holding down Connie.
"Call the sheriff," ordered Frank.
"No good there's no reception," called Mary.
"I hear a chopper," shouted Charlie.
"You know what you must do," said Jenny. "You have to go get them back. Prove yourself to Garnet."
Peridot stood up, "You're right I do have to this. Jenny come with me."
The little gem marched up to the beach house only to find the door locked. Peridot muttered a curse and then motioned Jenny to follow she led the teenager to some loose sideboards at the back of the house.
Peridot laughed nervously, "I ah found this when I tried to kidnap Steven."
When they got inside Peridot scampered straight to the warp pad. She tried warping to the beta kindergarten but couldn't. The little gem cursed what could be the problem?
At the beta kindergarten Alison and Jeff dusted themselves off after placing a huge rock on the warp pad.
"There, that makes sure they can't bring any reinforcements," said Jeff smugly.
At Beach City Peridot turned to Jenny, "I have no choice then Jenny I need you to drive me to the barn."
"What's at the barn?"
"My pod."
"Fine I'll just tell Dad and the others."
After quite a bit of negotiation Jenny convinced her Dad to let her take the car to the barn. With the help of Peridot Jenny reached the barn in no time. As soon as they reached the barn Peridot thanked the human and was about to leave only to be stopped by Jenny.
"You don't think I'd let you go alone. I'm a coming with you," declared Jenny.
With that the pair zoomed towards the Beta Kindergarten in California. They came to a large canyon with man shaped holes on its sides. Peridot did a quick scan and found the ruined campsite.
"Jenny stay inside the pod. It looks like the gems activated some of my traps," ordered Peridot.
"You laced this place with booby traps," said Jenny incredulously.
"Well the gems were trying to kill me," said Peridot nonchalantly.
The little technician flew the pod into the air looking for any signs of gem activity. She flew slowly looking for any signs of the gems while there was a trail of destruction it soon went cold. Cautiously she flew further up and scanned the immediate area. Soon enough outside a ruined house she came to a small warzone. Typical, those clods don't know how to solve any problem without violence.
"Alright girls get the boom cans," ordered Frank.
Alison pulled what looked like a jar of glowing fluids. As Garnet punched through the doors, Alison flung the jar at the cube headed gem right into Garnet's face. It blew up in the fusion's face. Pearl and Amethyst rushed in with weapons raised.
Peridot sighed as she gently landed the pod in front of the house. As usual the gems were smashing things and people.
Peridot dusted her hands "I'll handle this, Jenny,"
"I know stay in the pod."
Peridot sighed heavily again as she pulled out a gem disruptor. Garnet was busy pulverizing an old man when Peridot zapped her. Garnet's form poofed. Then Peridot went into the house were three people were keeping Amethyst and Pearl at bay with cans of glowberry paste. Humans. they truly had a gift of war. The humans were about to smash a jar of glowberry in her face when she poofed Pearl and Amethyst as well.
Peridot raised her hands, "Let the kids go human Frank."
The older human signaled his followers to let Steven and Connie go. He raced to hug the little gem. Peridot's nostrils were assaulted with the smell of dirty human.
"Greenie, you're alive and you speak English," cried Frank.
"I'll explain everything but first does this domicile have an outhouse?" asked Peridot.
Steven's jaw dropped as Frank led Peridot outside. The little technician then picked up Pearl, Amethyst and Garnet's gems. Once they were there she threw them down the hole.
"Peridot why did you do that?" shouted an outraged Connie.
"Punishment, they endangered your lives for no good reason. Now let me clean up the mess that these gems created," said Peridot smugly.
When the gems emerged hours later they found themselves in a smelly pit. After crawling out of the pit they discovered they were in an outhouse. It was dark outside and Peridot was waiting for them with her arms crossed. Off to the side Steven, Jenny and Connie gave them dirty looks. Beside Peridot were several fuel cells and ancient light rations. Behind her two ambulance attendants carried a homeless person into an ambulance.
"I was wondering when you would show your sorry faces," said Peridot. "Because of your actions a lot of people got hurt. What were you thinking…"
The Crystal Gems hung their heads while the little juvenile lectured them for their risky behavior. They had done wrong and they knew it.