Joshy Stag Hare stared out the window of the Martian spaceship, looking out at all the stars whizzing by. He recited:

Says I, " Then let's be on the float; you certainly have got my goat;

You make me hungry in my throat for seeing things that's new.

Out there somewhere we'll ride the range a-looking for the new and strange;

My feet are tired and need a change. Come on! It's up to you! "

He turned to Garnet, who was standing next to him. "I've been all over the world, but I've never visited another planet before." His eyes shone with excitement.

"Yeah, well, this isn't gonna be fun," Garnet said grumpily. "Homeworld is a dangerous place. The Diamonds rule it with fists of iron."

"Tell me more about these Diamonds," said Lady Cregga. "How many of them are there?"

"Three," said Garnet. "White Diamond is their leader. She has the ability to take over other Gems' bodies and control them. Luckily, she stays in her tower most of the time and doesn't come out much. Then there's Blue Diamond, who has the power to make Gems start crying and not be able to stop, and Yellow Diamond, who shoots electric currents out of her hands."

"Well, they sound like the cruelest pack o' slayers ever to draw breath," said Major Perigord. "Even worse than Damug Warfang! Any others we should know about?"

"There used to be one more," Amythest said. "Pink Diamond. But she died."

"How did she die?" Cregga asked.

"She was shattered by Rose Quartz, Tammo's mother, during the rebellion," Garnet said.

Pearl tried to say something, but her mouth abruptly snapped shut. No one noticed this.

"The other Diamonds have wanted revenge ever since," Garnet continued. "That'll be why they kidnapped our Tamm. They'll think he's his mother, because they have the same rose quartz gemstone. Once they get him back to Homeworld, they probably intend to put him on 'trial' and then execute him."

"Of all the nerve!" Galloper Riffle exclaimed. "Who do they think they are, wot?"

"What about Pasque?" Twayblade asked. "What will they do to her?"

"They may wanna kill her too," Garnet said. "Or, if she's lucky, they'll simply decide to put her in the zoo with all the other Earth creatures they've captured over the years." An outraged hubbub broke out among the assembled hares. Garnet held up a hand for silence. "Of course, we won't let them do any of those things. We're going to catch up with them, and rescue Tammo and Pasque and bring them safely home!"

"Right you are!" Cregga shouted. "Blood and vinegar! No surrender! No retreat!"