"So, Pink and Yellow what did you wish to discuss?"
Pink Diamond was nervous and yet excited but kept herself calm to avoid arousing suspicion from the other Diamonds. They had already spoken to Blue about the proposal, along with Yellow losing the bet. She seemed hesitant but Yellow insisted because a Diamond always keeps their word so she relented and offered her support.
She had no idea how happy that made Pink.
Now the tricky part came with convincing White.
Yellow cleared her throat. "Well, first of White you will be happy to know that training of the dragons is going well in the Special Zone. The dragons are responding positively to the Quartz Gems I left in charge and the large one…We have made progress."
"That is good to hear, Yellow." White beamed, looking at Pink. "And Pink had nothing to do with this?"
Yellow coughed awkwardly. "Well, actually Pink's knowledge of these organics was of great use in learning how to properly train them."
Pink looked surprised by Yellow's admittance, so surprised that she almost couldn't hear White addressing her. "Really? Is this true Starlight?"
"Uh…Yes, it is…White." Pink hesitantly answered. "I know you wanted me to focus on the colony but-"
"Well done."
Pink's eyes widened in shock and she was almost positive that Yellow and Blue were as shocked as she was. "…What?"
"I had thought about asking you to help Yellow with the dragons, Pink but I thought you were too busy with the colony. It seems I was in error." White said, unashamed at the fact that she basically admitted she was wrong. "While you did help Yellow without permission the results seem to speak for themselves."
Pink was almost convinced this was not real.
Just a crazy dream she had conjured up.
It was so rare for White to compliment even the other Diamonds and during most meetings White would seemingly ignore her but to hear her praise Pink helping Yellow and not scolding her or Yellow was perhaps the biggest surprise for both in such a long time.
"So, I guess I can allow this minor transgression to pass but please do not make it too much of a habit, Pink." White continued. "As a Diamond we must make it a point to keep discipline in the ranks."
"Oh, of course, White." Pink nodded, figuring she shouldn't do anything to upset the good mood White seemed to be in.
"Now, is there anything else you wanted to discuss with me?"
Now came the hard part and it seemed Yellow was going to do the talking. "Yes, White. As you know, with the constant interferences by the rebels and the monsters labelled as the Grimm on the planet that was to be Pink's colony I have had time to consider what must be done and I have been left with one conclusion that will at least prevent the further loss of resources."
"Oh? And what is that, my dear Sunlight?" White asked.
Sunlight was White's affectionate nickname for Yellow Diamond. She had a similar name for the other Diamonds was well.
For Blue Diamond it was Moonlight and for Pink Diamond it was Starlight.
It seemed to embarrass Yellow enough that she took a second to recompose herself. "The fact of the matter is we cannot focus on both threats at once so with your permission, White we would like to consider opening negotiations with the rebels on Earth."
White raised an eyebrow, leaning back on her throne. "Oh? Negotiations with traitors?"
The sound of her voice made Yellow hesitant to continue but a silent look from Pink urged her to continue on. "Yes, at the very least until the threat of the Grimm has been removed. Those creatures have been more responsible for more destruction of our forces on that planet than the rebels. At least we know the rebels cannot hope or want to train these Grimm to use them against us."
'That's bit of an understatement.' Pink thought but remained silent.
"If we consider simply pulling our forces back for the time being we can form a somewhat truce with the rebels and if they are willing to aid against the Grimm we can perhaps consider them rejoining our ranks until the threat is removed."
"And when the threat is removed what will you do then?" White asked, propping her right arm to lean on. "Should we rescind the termination sentence for them after rebelling against our Authority?"
"We could offer to reduce the sentence, depending on how they respond to allying with us." Blue Diamond finally spoke up, seemingly supporting Yellow. "Even if they must be punished if they agree to a ceasefire and aid us we can reduce the punishment based on what benefits we gain from the alliance."
"Are you supporting this, Blue?" White asked calmly.
Blue looked slightly afraid as she looked over at Yellow and then at Pink, both of them seemingly afraid but Pink gave a small hopeful smile.
This smile was enough to seemingly calm Blue as she answered. "Yes. It is perhaps the best plan we have at the moment."
Pink was absolutely ecstatic now.
Blue and Yellow were both supporting her plan now and hopefully it will be enough to convince White to approve of it.
"And you, Pink?" White looked down at the youngest Diamond next. "Do you support this proposal?"
Pink nodded quickly. "Yes I do."
"Hmm…" White leaned back on her throne. "Since all three of you accept this plan then I suppose I shall allow it, if only to wait until another option shows itself."
Pink was shaking now, wishing she could just jump and hug all three of the Diamonds with all of her might.
They agreed!
They listened to her idea!
This was great!
This was amazing!
This was-
"My Diamonds!" A messenger Gem, an Agate rushed into the throne and hastily bowed. "My apologies for interrupting your meeting but we have urgent news regarding the colony on Earth!"
All Diamonds stared at the Agate, White Diamond frowning. "And what is this urgent news?"
"The Sky Spire was attacked. All Gems were shattered." The Agate reported.
"What?!" Yellow and Pink Diamond exclaimed at once.
The Agate presented an image of the location, showing the Sky Spire now a ruined location with shards of Gems scattered across the upper platform.
Pink paled as Yellow banged down on the armrest of her chair. "Who is responsible for this?! The Rebels? The Grimm?"
"Neither, My Diamonds." The Agate answered.
"Neither?" Blue questioned. "Then who is responsible?"
The Agate brought up another image. "These are culprits, My Diamonds."
The so-called culprits were walking machines, colored black with neon green lighting. They had attacked with advanced weaponry and smashed any Gems they could find to pieces.
"Oh my stars…" Pink covered her mouth, horrified by what she was seeing.
"How long ago was this?" White asked, remaining calm and stoic.
"Half a cycle, My Diamond." The Agate answered.
"These drones…I know of them." White learned forward. "They are machines created by another race that has fought against us, the ones called the Accelerons."
Both Yellow and Blue turned to White and spoke as one. "The Accelerons."
White nodded. "They created these machines as a form of entertainment but now it seems they are now being used for war. They have already destroyed planets full of Gem life and other planets suited for colonization and now it seems they seek to do the same to the Earth."
"They must be attacking the Gems there. Pink's Gems." Blue's eyes widened as she shared a look with the scared Pink. "We have to warn our Gems stationed on the Earth at once."
"I will go there and take charge of the garrison there." Yellow stood up. "If these drones seek to destroy the planet, a planet we have claimed we will stop them there and now."
"Wait! What about ending the fighting?" Pink cried out, unable to believe what was happening.
She was so close and it was all falling apart.
She had just gotten them all finally agreeing with her on ending the war.
It couldn't end this way!
"I am so sorry, Pink." Blue leaned down and placed her hand on Pink's hair to comfort her. "Negotiations with Gems rebels is one thing but dealing with machines like the Accerleron drones is another. If we do not stop them there will be no planet left at all."
"We will reconsider when the drones are dealt with." Yellow said, looking apologetic for a second. "For now you should head back to Earth. Your court will need its Diamond to calm them. Leave the fighting to me."
Pink looked down at the ground, closing her eyes and praying that none of the other Diamonds would see a tear slip down her cheek.
"Now, now Starlight." White said, possibly trying to sound like she was comforting the younger Gem. "At the very least you convinced us to agree with you on the same course of action. Don't be disappointed in us that the circumstances changed. Aim your disappointment at the ones responsible."
The ones responsible…
Pink could only walk of the throne room, not bothering to look back at White who remained behind. She only stopped to look at a window showing her reflection…
And like she did on the Jungle Moon Base smashed it in frustration.
Xxx
"Leave now if you want to live." The woman said, readying another arrow. "This one is protected."
"He is on my list and I hunger." The Predator's metallic lips salivated.
Green eyes narrowed. "Your hunger has led you to ruin."
She released the arrow.
Piecemeal caught the arrow in his jaws and bit it into pieces before lunging at the woman. She ducked under the first punch and jumped back as he tried punching her again. She easily dodged the punches that the cannibal rained down on her before he flipped back and kicked at her. She staggered but to his shock she easily brushed it off and instantly fought back.
"Impressive." Piecemeal said, dodging her attacks. "Who are you?"
"Does it matter?"
Piecemeal chuckled. "Yes. Of all the opponents and meals I have eaten, I have never fought a woman. Now who are you?"
"Who I am does not matter." The woman replied as she kicked the cannibal away. "All that matters is that the lives of the innocent ones are protected."
Piecemeal laughed. "Protected? You cannot protect even yourself and when I am done with the main course I will have you for dessert!"
The woman narrowed her eyes and kicked him hard, sending him crashing through the wall. When he emerged, Fisk and the woman were gone.
"RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!"
Xxx
"FISK!" Zak shouted, riding around the Saturday complex on Zon.
He had searched everywhere but could find no sign of Fisk. He checked the kitchen to see if the monster named Piecemeal was about to eat Fisk but he wasn't there.
"RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!"
Looking down Zak spotted Piecemeal running around the courtyard, growling and roaring. "Get him, Zon!"
Zon flew down at Piecemeal while his back was turned and slammed right into him, knocking him face first into the ground.
Zak jumped off Zon and approached Piecemeal, Claw pointed straight at the predator's face and a very enraged look on Zak's face. "What have you done with Fisk?! Where is my brother?!"
Piecemeal licked his lips. "Dinner is gone, taken by the woman! I will hunt her down and make her watch as I eat her heart out!"
"Woman? What are you talking about? There's no one else here!" Zak barked, his eyes unknowingly starting to flare. "If you harmed a single hair on my brother-"
Piecemeal didn't bother to let him finish as he roared and lunged at Zak, mouth open wide enough to bite the boy's head off.
Xxx
Fisk's eyes opened and he sat up, looking around his strange new surroundings. He was in a room with the walls made entirely of wood and the way it was shaped made him think he was in a tree.
"Do not fear." A voice spoke from the shadows. "You are safe."
Fisk muttered and slightly whimpered as he stood up, still afraid.
"The cannibal sought to devour you. I stepped in for I could not allow that to happen."
Fisk spied a pair of green eyes watching him from behind a large root sticking out of the ground. He pointed and muttered his own language at her.
"I am not an enemy if that is what you fear." The voice of the eyes said as the person stepped out of the shadows, revealing herself to Fisk.
Fisk stared with widened eyes at the strange woman standing before him and he mumbled a single world almost sounded like… "Pretty."
"RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!"
Fisk jumped at the sound of the roar by the psychotic criminal known as Piecemeal but the woman held up her hand and placed it on his chest, seemingly calming him down instantly. "It is all right. He cannot find you here."
Fisk perked up again as he heard another voice cry.
This one sounded human.
Zak!
Fisk urgently mumbled his concern to the woman before him. "You care for the boy."
Fisk nodded.
"Do you wish to save him?"
Fisk nodded again.
"…Very well."
Xxx
Zak was slammed into the ground, crying out in pain. Zon lunged at Piecemeail but he easily swatted her away.
"You are going to pay for ruining dinner!" Piecemeal spat as he picked Zak up. "Now, I feast on you!"
"RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!"
From above fell Fisk, slamming his feet down on Piecemeal's head, knocking him down and causing him to drop Zak.
"Fisk!" Zak shouted happily, landing on his feet and jumped to give Fisk a big hug. "You're okay!"
Fisk happily hugged him back but unfortunately the happy moment didn't last for long. Piecemeal got back up, snarling at the two.
"So, dinner's back on." He said sinisterly.
However before he could anything the entire field became covered in a green mist that caused Piecemeal to cry out as his eyes started to burn. Fisk grabbed Zak and Zon and hopped into the tree above the mist.
"AH! What is this?!" He shouted, covering his eyes but peeked out through his fingers.
There, standing before him was the woman from before.
"YOU!" He roared and lunged at her.
The woman simply looked up as Piecemeal charged with his mouth wide open. "Be gone."
She grabbed Piecemeal by the collar and with a surge of astounding strength threw him so hard he flew over the fence, over the cliff and back down into the water, making a giant splash on impact.
Zak looked down, watching as the mist faded and saw her. He was so shocked he didn't even notice the Claw flashing a bright green. "Whoa….Who is that?"
The woman glanced up and Zak was rendered speechless by the strange glowing eyes staring back him. He blinked for a second…and when he looked again she was gone.
"Who was that?" Zak asked.
Fisk mumbled. "I don't know."
Xxx
"To be honest, Zak we don't even know what to make of all this. You put yourself and your brothers in danger with that UFO stunt."
Zak shared a worried look with Fisk, knowing he deserved the lecture from his parents. "So, am I grounded?"
Doc and Drew shared a look before Doc answered. "There will be punishment but we'll talk about it in the morning."
"In the meantime, bedtime." Drew said. "It's been a long night."
"Uh…Yeah." Zak nodded slowly. "But I got to ask, any idea who that woman was?"
Doc and Drew looked back at the security footage of the woman saving Fisk and then getting rid of Piecemeal.
"Not sure what to make of her yet." Drew answered honestly. "She somehow slipped in and out of the compound. She could have got in when the power was out but as for how she got out without being seen…"
Doc looked at the still image of the woman after she got rid of Piecemeal, as still as a statue with her eyes closed for a second. She looked up at Zak and then…she moved so fast and vanished into the garden.
He had not seen someone with such skills in stealth since…
"We checked every inch of the house and she's gone." Drew continued. "Now, bed."
"Right, come on Fisk." Zak said, quickly rushing out of the room with Fisk behind him.
Drew looked back at Doc who rewatched the woman's disappearance. "What is it? I know you got something so out with it."
"It's just…No one has slipped past security except one." Doc looked back at Drew. "Do you remember the legend of Tsul Kalu?"
"Remember it? You faced him." Drew pointed out.
"I did but the way this woman moved, the way she fought and how she came to Fisk's aid only when he was in danger." Doc looked back at the screen and brought up several more images of her appearing around the compound. "She was watching Zak, possibly before this Piecemeal even attacked. And then there is this."
He replayed the image of the woman looking at Zak and paused it. "Look at the Hand of Tsul Kalu on the Claw."
Drew looked at image and saw the Claw glowing. "Some sort of mystic reaction?"
"Something like that. Look at the color." Doc suggested.
She did and saw what he was looking at. "Her eyes…They're reacting to the Claw."
"They are the same color and I can only think of one other person the Claw might react. The previous owner or maybe…Someone closely related." Doc explained, his mind wandering to the past.
"You think…" Drew's eyes widened as she remembered the legend. "The legend spoke of Tsul Kalu taking a human woman as his mate."
"And when she gave birth to their offspring he took them with him to wherever his home might have been." Doc continued, looking at the woman's face…
Just looking at her caused his blind eye to ache.
"Whoa, whoa. You are not saying you think this woman is…" Drew trailed off. "She could just be another mercenary for all we know."
"I know. But look." Doc pointed at the screen showing her saving Fisk from Piecemeal.
She picked him up and ran out into the courtyard, approaching a tree…and sank right into it.
Drew's eyes widened. "Whoa…That's some…Hardcore mysticism right there."
"If that's real then there's no way we can capture or question her." Doc said, rubbing his blind eye. "But why? Why now?"
"Let's go to bed for now, Doc. We can decide what to do in the morning." Drew suggested, leading her husband out of the security room.
Xxx
Deep in the forest surrounding the Saturday compound, the same green eyes of the woman who had appeared and disappeared so mysteriously watched as the family went to sleep.
She looked up at the moon, feeling content as she vanished into the tree bark.