Opening Their Eyes
It was after one of Connie's weekly sword fighting lessons and Connie and Steven were sitting at Pearl's feet listening to the pale gem talk about the great gem war. Stars were in their eyes as they listened raptly to every word Pearl was saying. Off a little ways Peridot rolled her eyes. Did these pebbles think war was noble, fun? It was time to open their eyes.
The next few days when Peridot was not working on the drill or another project she was brooding. She wandered through the farm lost in her thoughts. Occasionally she would sit in front of the radio or TV not really listening in her own little world. Then as soon as it began it ended.
Steven was getting ready for sword fighting practice when Peridot marched in.
"Are you going to the sky arena today?" asked Peridot without even bothering to greet Steven.
"No Connie is coming to the barn and will be practicing here. After which we'll be hanging out all day," replied Steven.
"Good there is something I want to show the both of you. Steven just how strong is your bubble?"
When the Maheswaran's car drove in Connie bounded out of the car smiling and waving at Steven. Her face fell as soon as she saw Peridot. The green gem kept a stiff smile on her face trying not to look insulted. If her plan was to work she needed to keep a civil tongue in her head.
"Hi, Connie how would you and Steven like to take a ride in my pod," asked Peridot with forced cheer.
"I dunno I should ask Pearl," said Connie suspiciously.
"Oh come on, let's see what the nerd has in mind," butted in Amethyst. "Unless you have objections to me coming along."
"Actually I think this would be educational for you too," said Peridot with narrowed eyes.
The technician motioned for her dog to stay as she led Connie, Steven and Amethyst inside the barn. The group passed the various machines that Peridot and Peal had been working on from the replicator to the two giant robots. In the center lay Peridot's escape pod. Sensing her arrival, the pod opened up. The Gem motioned for the others to come inside. When they got inside they saw a seat in the front and what looked like seatbelts in the back.
"Now listen I fully expect to be flogged for this but I feel this is important," said Peridot once she got inside.
"Where are we going?" asked Connie.
"Far, far away, fortunately. Now this is going to be a long journey how about we stop off at McDonald's?" said Peridot with a forced smile.
Both Steven and Connie knew what a trip to McDonald's meant. In Beach City McDonald's was used a meeting place for illicit trysts and unsavory dealings but that didn't mean their Big Macs weren't good. Peridot slowly drove the pod up to the drive in speaker.
"Welcome to McDonald's, may I take your order," asked a voice on the other side.
"Yeah Mike give me the usual," shouted out Amethyst.
"One chocolate sundae served with fries, got it,
"I'd like a large dark roast coffee served with salt and an order of fries," said Peridot. Their fries were just that good that Peridot would consider eating them.
"Er Big Mac Combo," said Steven.
"Double quarter pounder combo," called out Connie. She wanted to make sure that Peridot payed one way or the other.
Peridot grumbled when she heard the price but paid quickly enough. She stopped the pod under the tree where the crew ate their meal in silence. Ronaldo and Kikki stared opened mouthed at the scene before them.
"What a time to leave my cellphone behind," moaned Ronaldo.
Once they were out of city limits Peridot showed the true potential of the pod. The little ship climbed slowly up into the air like a plane taking off. Steven felt his body being pressed into the seat as Peridot accelerated the vehicle. The clouds flickered before him at unimaginable speeds while Peridot half listened to some radio transmissions. They started to circle and decelerate as Peridot found the place she was looking for. As Steven looked out he could see the smoking remains of a small town.
They landed in what appeared to be the town square in late afternoon. The air was hot and smoky. The town was silent except for the sound of flies buzzing in the air. As Peridot opened the pod they noticed the smell.
"Steven one we're out I want you to bubble us," ordered Peridot.
"Where are we?" asked Amethyst.
"In a war zone behind the front, one army has driven another from this town," answered Peridot. "Steven roll the bubble."
They passed through the ruined streets. Around them lay wreckage and charred bodies.
"Who are these people?" asked Connie.
"Dead," answered Peridot. "Unfortunates to be caught in the crossfire. Steven roll the bubble over here."
They came to the ruins of a low building. Peridot and the others pushed the bubble inside. Once inside what they saw shocked them. Small bodies lay in and around desks.
"This is a formatory. These human pebbles died as a result of the war being fought by their parents. I'm sure somebody somewhere is regretting this but in the heat of battle everyone is a target," lectured Peridot.
She rolled the bubble through the ruins. They entered homes, shops and what looked like government buildings. The devastation had spared not one building
Peridot sighed, "Steven and Connie gems reproduce by sucking the life force and materials away from planets. This makes war inevitable as not all planets are uninhabited or defenseless. I do not know why humans fight but this why gems do.
I myself have lived with war. I nearly died during a bombing raid on the capitol when I was too young and stupid to know to hide within the shelters. When I heard Pearl talking about her grand and glorious adventures I knew I had to show you the true face of war."
"Okay we get it war is bad," said Amethyst.
Peridot turned to the Purple gem, "No you don't. If you love this planet so much war with the Gem Matrix is something that must be avoided at all costs."
"So you want us to surrender and die?" accused Connie.
"No Connie, I want Amethyst and Steven when the time comes avoid it as much as possible. Talk to Yellow Diamond and if that fails to leave Earth. This planet cannot stand another gem war," said Peridot sadly.
They slowly rolled the bubble back to the pod. When they were halfway there a shot rang out. They could hear a ping as the bullet ricocheted off the bubble. Peridot ordered the group to roll faster. The bullets bounced off the bubble as they rolled until it stopped. The group ran inside the bubble. Amethyst rolled inside as the speed of the other overtook her. When they reached the pod finally they breathed a sigh of relief. Peridot's pod opened up when it sensed her arrival. Steven dispelled the bubble thinking they were safe. They were not.
From behind the pod a boy in rags about Steven's age screamed something and pointed a gun at Peridot's face. The truly disturbing thing was that this child looked like a skinny dirty version of Steven. The boy babbled something as he waved the gun between the group. For the longest time the group stood still until Steven looked at Amethyst stepped in front and formed his shield.
"We'll handle this," said Amethyst.
Using his shield Steven pinned the boy to the pod. The boy kicked and screamed until Amethyst punched him in the jaw, knocking the child out. Working quickly Peridot threw away the gun and ordered Steven and Connie to take the boy inside the pod.
"You want to take this boy away from his family? That's that's insane," objected Connie.
"If he had a family he wouldn't be holding a gun. Amethyst tie him up with your whips or something," said Peridot.
With that the pod sped back to Beach City. Halfway there the boy woke up. He was a lot more subdued without his gun and watched out the window as the clouds zipped by. The first stop they made was the hospital in Beach City. Amethyst pulled the frightened boy out of the pod and carried him right into the emergency room. That was the last they saw of him.
As they were driving home Steven noticed that Peridot was trembling. When he asked why Peridot replied that she fully expected to be flogged.
"I won't let that happen you. You showed us all something very important," vowed Amethyst.
It was dark by the time they got to the barn. Sure enough Pearl and Garnet were waiting for them looking very cross. This time Amethyst decided to come to the rescue. She made sure she was the first to step out of the pod.
"Hey, Peridot took us all to McDonald's and then we went to Manchurian China," said Amethyst.
Garnet looked the purple gem straight in the eye, "You are a liar. I just received a call from the hospital. You dropped off a child soldier."
"Peridot what were you thinking sending these children into a war zone?" sputtered Pearl.
"Isn't that what you were planning to do with Connie?" replied Peridot.
In response Pearl viciously slapped Peridot. The dog ran to Peridot barking trying to protect his mistress. Pearl ignored Duke and was about to give Peridot a second blow when Steven pushed Pearl away.
"Stop! Peridot showed us something very important today. She showed us what war is really like, the devastation and death. Even though she knew she was going to be punished Peridot risked everything to show us this," cried Steven.
"Doesn't matter, you're not going on anymore field trips," Garnet marched over to the pod, formed her gauntlets extra-large and smashed the pod.
"My pod, you ruined my pod," squeaked Peridot.
"You're going to lose a lot more than your pod once Steven falls asleep," growled Garnet.
Peridot trembled in fear as Connie looked on. The goblin was finally going to get hers so why did Connie feel sorry for her? Just then Connie's phone rang. The girl answered immediately.
"Oh hi Mom, where was I with Steven at the barn yes we went to McDonald's but Peridot and Amethyst had an important mission. Say Mom I was wondering if I could have a sleepover. Do you mind if Peridot comes over? Really that's great. Thanks love you," said Connie cheerily.
The gems stared at Connie. Why was she of all people defending her enemy? Perhaps the human was also growing up too.
Later when Mom's car came to pick her and Peridot up, Connie felt a little bit taller.