Chapter 4: Yearning

As Phos reluctantly followed the other Gems, leaving sensei alone to talk with Hunter, she couldn't shake the feeling of worry that gnawed at her. Hunter's situation was unlike anything she had ever encountered, and she wanted to learn more about her new friend, tempted to go back and see what they were talking about. As they walked through the halls of the school, Phos stole glances back at the closed door behind them; her thoughts consumed by curiosity about what the topic of the conversation was that she, and the other gems, weren't allowed to be present for.

Phos, are you alright?" Diamond's voice broke through Phos's thoughts, pulling her attention back to the present. She glanced over at Diamond, offering a small smile despite the heavy weight in her chest. "I'm fine, Diamond," she replied, her voice soft yet reassuring. "Just... worried about Hunter. I hope Sensei can help him."

The other Gem tilted her head "Hunter, so that's his name, where did you and Bort even find him?"

"I didn't, Didi," the stoic voice of Bort cut through. "Phos did, and just like you, I'm curious about where she picked him up." her gaze focused on the younger Gem, her eyes narrowing.

Phos felt small under Bort's gaze, looks like she didn't forget the fact she had just brushed off explaining how she met her new friend, mostly only telling Bort that she had found him and he needed help. Phos shifted uncomfortably under Bort's scrutinizing gaze, feeling a pang of guilt for not being entirely forthcoming about how she had met Hunter. She knew Bort wouldn't let it go easily, especially given her naturally suspicious nature. "I... I found him near the crash site of his ship," Phos admitted reluctantly, her voice tinged with hesitation. "He looked lost and was disoriented, so I brought him back here to get help from Sensei, I told you this already."

Bort's expression softened slightly, though a hint of skepticism still lingered in her eyes. "And you just happened to stumble upon him near the crash site?" she asked, her voice skeptical. "That seems a bit too convenient, don't you think, or were you just slacking off with the task sensei gave you?"

"I was not slacking off...I was just distracted," Phos's voice was defensive, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. She knew that Bort had a point, but she couldn't bring herself to admit that she had been sort of shirking her duties when she found Hunter. "I... I was trying to get started on the encyclopedia I just..um didn't know where to start," she admitted reluctantly. "I wasn't expecting to find anything, but then I saw a weird metal thing sticking out of the ground, and I couldn't help it went to investigate. That's when I found him."

Bort regarded Phos skeptically, though she seemed to relent slightly at the younger Gem's earnest plea. "Fine," she said, her voice gruff yet resigned. "But keep an eye on him, Phos. We still don't know anything about him, and I don't trust him."

Diamond glanced between Phos and Bort, sensing the tension in the air. "Well, regardless of how Phos found him, the important thing is that we're helping him now," she said, her voice gentle yet firm. "We should trust Phos's judgment, besides, sensei seems willing to help him, so he'll probably leave after he gets his problem dealt with"

Phos couldn't help but feel a slight tightening in her chest at the idea of her new friend leaving but brushed it off, she had just met him it was nothing, it was just natural to feel attached to someone who needed help, especially in such dire circumstances. "Thanks, Dia," she said, offering the older Gem a grateful smile. "I just want to make sure he's okay."

"Yeah sure that's cool and all, but I wanna know what Bort really thinks of him, " the more bold and outgoing voice of Morganite broke in, her tone curious and mischievous. "Come on, Bort, spill the beans. What's your gut feeling about this Hunter guy?"

Bort's expression hardened at Morganite's question, her eyes narrowing as she regarded the group. "My 'gut feeling' doesn't matter," she replied sharply. "What matters is that we don't know anything about him, and we can't afford to let our guard down. He could be dangerous, for all we know."

Morganie merely continues pressing on with her mischievous grin growing. "Oh, come on, Bort, you can't deny that you're curious about this Hunter guy," she teased, her tone playful yet knowing. "I mean, he's not like anything we've ever seen, honestly; he looks so much like the Lunarians, yet different, he looks sorta like us too though he seems a bit.. softer"

Bort grumbled but admitted Morganite had a point she was curious about him, which was evident when she had pinched his cheek earlier on the way here, feeling the texture of his strange skin compared to theirs and how it seemed to stretch and tug when she pulled and how it molded slightly to her actions. "He's...useful" Was the stoic gem's response.

Morganite's grin widened at Bort's admission, clearly pleased to have gotten a reaction out of the usually stoic gem. "Ah, so you do find him interesting," she teased, her tone playful. "useful, that's high praise coming from you Bort, right Dia?" Morganite turned to the other gen to back her up on this

Bort's partner had no choice but to agree, Bort wasn't known for handing out praise, even to her fellow gems the fact this stranger elicited such a response from her, was intriguing. Diamond chuckled softly, nodding in agreement. "Indeed, coming from Bort, that's practically a glowing review," she replied, her tone light yet genuine.

Morganite turned back to Bort "So what happened out there to give you such a statement?" There was a large grin on the gem's face as she was looking forward to this, she basically could never mess around with Bort with how she usually kept herself closed off.

Bort scoffed at Morganite's persistence, though she couldn't deny that she was intrigued by Hunter. "He... he fought well," "She admitted grudgingly, her tone full of reluctance." "He was able to hold his own against the Lunarians, and his... abilities were impressive." The gem admitted

"He clearly had no experience fighting them, but he held his own, and when Phos called me for help, he was decent at providing covering fire, he needs to improve his stamina and learn a bit more about how to fight Lunarians. Besides that, he's useful; that is all."

Morganite's grin only widened at Bort's begrudging admission, clearly enjoying the rare moment of vulnerability from the usually stoic gem. "Well, well, well, looks like Bort has a soft spot after all," she teased, her tone playful yet teasing. "Who would have thought?"

Bort scowled at Morganite's comment, her expression turning sour at the teasing. "I do not have a 'soft spot,'" she retorted sharply, though there was a hint of defensiveness in her voice. "I'm just stating facts."

Morganite chuckled softly at Bort's denial, knowing full well that the stoic gem was trying to save face. "Sure, Bort, whatever you say," she replied, her tone teasing yet affectionate. "But don't worry, your secret is safe with us." Morganite let out a chuckle "I'm guessing miss three and a half didn't help?"

Phos winced at the nickname, and how Morganite was right about her lack of lack of involvement in the fight, the only thing she was able to do was get Bort to come help, and even then, she had only hid behind a rock in the end, while Hunter and Bort did all the work. "Um, yeah, not really," she admitted sheepishly, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "I... I tried to help, but I mostly just got in the way. Hunter and Bort did most of the work."

Diamond glanced sympathetically at Phos, sensing her distress. "Hey, don't be so hard on yourself, Phos," she said gently, her voice reassuring. "You did your best, and that's what matters. Besides, you were the one who found Hunter in the first place, so you played a crucial role in all of this."

Phos smiled weakly at Diamond's words, grateful for her reassurance. "Thanks, Dia," she said softly, her voice filled with gratitude. "I just wish I could have done more to help."

Bort regarded Phos with a critical gaze, though there was a hint of understanding in her eyes. "Hmph, well, at least you tried," she replied gruffly. "Just make sure you stay out of the way next time. We can't afford to have you getting hurt because of your incompetence."

Phos winced at Bort's harsh words, her shoulders slumping slightly at the reminder of her shortcomings. She knew that Bort's criticism came from a place of concern, but it still stung nonetheless. "I'll... I'll try to do better next time," she promised, her voice tinged with determination. "I won't let you down."

Bort grunted in response, her expression unreadable as she turned her attention back to their surroundings. "Good," she said simply, her tone firm yet slightly softened. "Just make sure you stick to what you're good at and leave the fighting to the rest of us."

As they continued their conversation, Phos couldn't help but feel a mixture of emotions swirling inside her. She appreciated Diamond's reassurance and understood Bort's concern, but she couldn't shake the feeling of inadequacy that weighed heavily on her shoulders. She wanted to prove herself, to show that she could be useful and contribute to the group in a meaningful way.

"Speaking of what you're good at, yoink." Morganite reached over and snatched the encyclopedia Phos had in her hands. Phos let out a startled yelp as Morganite grabbed the encyclopedia from her hands, her eyes widening in surprise. "Hey, give that back!" she protested, reaching out to try and grab the book from Morganite's grasp.

Morganite smirked playfully, holding the book just out of Phos's reach as she danced away from her. "Not so fast, Phos," she teased, her tone mischievous. "I wanna see what you've been working on. Maybe, you've been so focused on your new friend lately that you haven't had time to work on your encyclopedia anyway."

"Morga, give it back!" Phos flushed with embarrassment at Morganite's teasing, feeling exposed as the older gem waved the book tauntingly in front of her. "It's... it's not about Hunter, he helped me fill it out earlier"

Diamond chuckled softly at the exchange between Phos and Morganite, finding their banter amusing. "Come on, Morga, give Phos back her book," she said gently, her tone playful yet firm. "You know how important her encyclopedia is to her. Besides, I'm sure she's made some progress on it."

Morganite pouted playfully at Diamond's admonition, though she ultimately relented and handed the book back to Phos. "Fine, fine, here you go, Phos," she said, her tone teasing. "But don't think I won't snatch it again if you don't show me what you've been working on."

Phos took the book back with a relieved smile, grateful to have it back in her possession. She flipped through the pages, showing Morganite some of the entries she had worked on. "See, I've been making progress," she said, her voice tinged with pride. "I've been trying to organize everything by category, but it's been a bit challenging, but Hunter's help made it way easier"

Morganite leaned in, scanning the pages with interest. "Not bad, three and a half," she remarked, her tone approving. "You've really been putting in the effort. Maybe I'll have to borrow this sometime and learn a thing or two."

Phos grimaced again at the moniker, but quickly hid it choosing to just bury it and focus on Morganite's compliment instead. "Thanks, Morga," she said gratefully, her smile widening. "You're welcome to borrow it anytime when I'm finished with it, just... be careful with it, okay?"

Morganite grinned, giving Phos a playful salute. "Will do, three and a half," she replied teasingly, earning a groan from Phos. Diamond chuckled softly at their antics, feeling a sense of camaraderie among the group. "You two are too much," she said, shaking her head fondly. "But I'm glad to see you both getting along."

Bort rolled her eyes at the banter, a slightly annoyed look in her expression. "Enough chatter, you two," she interjected, her tone gruff yet not unkind. "We have more important things to focus on right now," she turned to Diamond "Come on Didi we need to get back to patrolling, Morganite...just go do whatever it is you need to do"

As Diamond and Bort left to resume their patrol duties, Morganite turned her attention back to Phos, a playful glint in her eyes. "So, three and a half, what's the deal with this Hunter guy?" she asked, her tone curious yet teasing. "He seems to have caught your attention."

Phos blushed at Morganite's teasing, feeling a bit flustered by the implication. "I-I don't know what you're talking about," she stammered, trying to play it off coolly. "He's just... a new friend who needed help, that's all."

Morganite raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying Phos's attempt to downplay her feelings. "Uh-huh, sure, just a friend," she replied, her tone teasing. "But he's not like any other Gem we've ever seen, right? I mean, he's not even a Gem at all."

Phos nodded, her expression thoughtful. "Yeah, he's... different," she admitted, her voice tinged with curiosity. "I've never met anyone like him before. He's... intriguing."

As they walked through the halls of the school, Phos's mind drifted back to Hunter and the conversation he was having with Sensei. She wondered what they were talking about, what secrets he might be revealing about himself, and what Sensei's reaction might be. She wished she could be there with them, to offer her support and learn more about her new friend, but she knew that wasn't possible.

Phos couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered within her. Hunter's presence had stirred up a whirlwind of emotions and questions, leaving her feeling more conflicted than ever. She knew that she needed to focus on her duties and responsibilities, but her thoughts kept drifting back to Hunter and the mysterious circumstances surrounding him.

As she made her way through the halls of the school, Phos couldn't help but feel a sense of yearning deep within her gemstone core. She yearned for answers, for understanding, for a sense of connection that had eluded her for so long. Hunter's arrival had sparked something within her, a glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, she wasn't as alone as she had once believed.

She wanted to know more about Hunter, just learn about him as a person, his past, his world, and his struggles, how different or how similar he was to them. Lost in her thoughts, Phos barely noticed as she wandered into the courtyard, where she found Hunter sitting alone, staring up at the sky. His expression was pensive, his eyes distant as if lost in thought. Phos hesitated for a moment, unsure if she should approach him, but her curiosity and concern got the better of her.

"Hunter?" she called out softly, taking a tentative step forward. "Are you okay?"

Hunter looked up, his expression lighting up with a small smile when he saw Phos. "Oh, hey, Phos," he replied, his voice warm. "Yeah, I'm okay, just... thinking."

Phos nodded, taking a seat beside him. "About what?" she asked, her tone gentle.

Hunter sighed, running a hand through his hair. "About... everything, I guess," he said slowly. Phos noticed something was different about Hunter, he seemed more downtrodden than before, that tired spark of his, when she had first him there was a look in his eyes. He seemed worn out, but still hopeful a slight smile on his face; it was gone, there was no spark he seemed defeated and empty. Looks like, his talk with sensei didn't go so well, she takes a seat next to him.

"Wanna talk about it?"

Hunter hesitated, unsure of how much he should reveal. He appreciated Phos's concern and kindness, but he also didn't want to burden her with his problems. "It's... complicated," he said finally, his voice heavy with emotion. "I had a long talk with Sensei, and... let's just say, things didn't go as I had hoped."

"What do you mean, that humanity is gone?"

Hunter was trying his best to remain calm, as he stared Kongo down, his hands clenched tight. He had hoped that Sensei would be able to help him, to offer some insight or guidance, hell even just point him in the right direction, but instead, he had been met with silence and ambiguity. "I mean exactly what I said," Sensei replied calmly, his expression unreadable. "Humanity has been extinct for thousands of years. There is no one left."

Hunter clenched his teeth as he walked up to the other man "That can't be right, everyone, every single human being just..gone?" That couldn't be right, even if he knew it in his heart, he had to be wrong. There had to be something anything, humans were resilient, not unkillable but stubborn, and refused to die, holding on defiantly like cockroaches. Even extinction events are things they've toughed out...they couldn't be gone not every single one.

"But... but there has to be something, some remnants, some evidence of their existence, some bunker, or doomsday shelter anything!" Hunter protested, his voice pleading, desperation lacing his words. "They couldn't have just vanished without a trace!"

His tone lowered, hopelessness taking the place of his desperation "I can't just accept that they're all gone, that I'm the last one left."

Sensei shook his head sadly, his expression grave. "I wish I could offer you some hope, Hunter, but the truth is, there is very little left of humanity," he said quietly. "The world has moved on, and it's time for you to do the same."

Hunter felt a surge of anger rises within him at Sensei's words, his fists clenched tight as he struggled to contain his emotions. "How can you expect me to just forget about my past, about who I am?" he demanded, his voice trembling with fury. "I won't give up, not until I've found some answers, some closure."

Kongo was calm "Really answers? You clearly have an idea of what happened, the moment I mentioned five cataclysms, you flinched." The strange man walked past Hunter a slight scowl flashed on his face before switching back to a cold calmness

"I'm sorry for what you're going through, but I can't help you find answers that don't exist, or feed you a pleasant lie that will make it all go away. All I can offer you is the truth, painful as it may be."Hunter's shoulders slumped as he listened to Sensei's words, feeling defeated and lost.

He had hoped that Sensei would be able to provide him with some sense of direction, some glimmer of hope to hold onto, but instead, he was met with cold, hard reality. The truth of humanity's extinction weighed heavily on him, leaving him feeling more alone than ever before.

"You may stay for as long as you like at the school," Kongo turned back and Hunter noticed how cold he seemed staring at him as if his gaze was cutting through him "But know that the life you were expecting to return to is gone, and there's nothing you can do to change that." With that, Sensei turned and walked away, leaving Hunter alone with his thoughts.

He had failed, he had been gone too long.

"So yeah, I'm the last of my species" Hunter let out a self-deprecating chuckle as he finished recounting his conversation with sensei, he glanced over at Phos, who had a sympathetic look, but something else.

"That's horrible," Hunter saw the young gem reach out and rubbed his back in an attempt to comfort him, which he honestly appreciated "but um...we can keep you company till more humans show up."

What?

Hunter turned to Phos confusion on his face "What are you on about" his voice slightly raised

Phos shifted uncomfortably under Hunter's questioning gaze, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "Um, well, I just meant that... you're not alone," she stammered, struggling to find the right words. "Um...we can be your friends, I mean me and the other Gems"

Hunter let out a sigh, the earnest look on Pho's face caused him to calm down, slightly disappointed in himself for nearly snapping at her, he had to remember that she's never seen or interacted with a human being before him, meaning she didn't understand how more humans are made.

Hunter took a deep breath "Thanks Phos I appreciate it," he gave her a sad smile "But when I mean 'I'm the last human', I'm the last human, there's not going to be more

Phos's heart sank at Hunter's words, her expression shifting from embarrassment to sadness. She had hoped that maybe there was still a chance for him, that humanity wasn't truly extinct, but Hunter's words dashed those hopes. She couldn't imagine what it must feel like to be the last of your kind, to carry the weight of an entire species on your shoulders.

"For humans, I don't know how you gems make more of yourselves but for us, there needs to be two humans at the minimum" He tries to explain it to her, normally he would be giddier about learning how gems 'propagate', he would have probably bombarded Phos with questions, but he was too mentally drained, he felt hollow, a feeling he didn't even feel when he was on the Odysseus. Most likely due to the fact he had a purpose, a goal, and an endpoint; that's all gone. So the most he could give Phos was just a quick rundown of the birds and the bees, obviously not going into detail.

"I... I'm sorry, Hunter," she said softly, her voice filled with sympathy. "I didn't realize... I mean, I knew it was bad, but... I didn't realize it was that bad. I can't even imagine what you're going through."

Hunter offered her a small, grateful smile, appreciating her attempt to comfort him. "It's okay, Phos," he said gently, his voice tinged with sadness. "I know you're just trying to help. And I appreciate it, I really do. But... this is something I have to come to terms with on my own, I just need to think a bit, alone"

Phos caught on and reluctantly pulled back. Hunter's request for some time alone left Phos feeling conflicted. She wanted to stay and offer him support, to let him know that he wasn't truly alone, but she also understood the need for space and solitude in processing such heavy emotions. With a heavy heart, she nodded in understanding.

"I get it, Hunter," she said softly, her voice filled with empathy. "Take all the time you need. But just know that we're here for you, whenever you're ready to talk or if you need anything."

He didn't respond back, Phos watched as Hunter stood up and walked away, her heart heavy with sadness for her new friend. She wished there was more she could do to help him, but she didn't know how. The concept was foreign to her, she couldn't understand what it was like to be truly all alone, without Kongo-sensei and her fellow gems even then, there was always a new gem that showed up after a while from the shore

As she sat there in the courtyard, lost in her thoughts, Phos couldn't shake the feeling of yearning that still lingered within her. She yearned for answers, for understanding, for a sense of connection that seemed just out of reach. She wanted to help her new friend, she did, but she didn't know how.

"Maybe..sensei knows what to do"

Phos's mind raced with thoughts and emotions as she watched Hunter walk away. She couldn't shake the feeling of helplessness that washed over her, knowing that there was little she could do to ease his pain. She wanted to help him, to be there for him in his time of need, but she felt powerless in the face of his suffering.

As she sat there, contemplating what to do next, Phos's thoughts turned to Sensei. Perhaps he would have some insight or guidance to offer, some way to help Hunter come to terms with his reality. After all, Sensei had been around for centuries, he had seen and experienced more than anyone else in the school.

Sure he might have not been able to help Hunter with finding other humans, but maybe he could tell her how to cheer Hunter up, it was a long shot, but Phos was willing to try anything to help her friend. With a determined expression, she stood up and made her way back to the school building, her mind set on seeking out Sensei for advice.

As Phos made her way to find Kongo, Hunter walked through the school his mind a mess, Hunter's mind was a whirlwind of emotions as he walked through the halls of the school. The conversation with Sensei had left him feeling more lost and alone than ever before. He couldn't shake the feeling of despair that gnawed at him, knowing that he was truly the last of his kind.

He wandered aimlessly through the corridors, lost in his thoughts, his footsteps echoing against the stone walls. He felt a sense of numbness wash over him, a dull ache that settled in the pit of his stomach. He didn't know what to do or where to go from here.

The weight of his loneliness bore down on him, crushing him under its suffocating embrace. He longed for some sense of purpose, some reason to keep going, but he couldn't find it. The realization that he was truly alone in the world was a heavy burden to bear.

He felt his chest tighten, his mouth was dry, and he could hear his heart pounding in his ear. As he walked, Hunter's mind drifted back to his conversation with Phos. He appreciated her kindness and empathy, but he also knew that he couldn't burden her with his problems. She had her own duties and responsibilities to attend to, and he didn't want to drag her down with him.

Lost in his thoughts, Hunter barely noticed as he wandered into the courtyard, where he found himself drawn to the edge of the fountain. He sat down on the edge, staring blankly into the rippling water below. The Moon and starry night sky reflected in the water, he hadn't even realized that it was nice, it was funny the expanse of space filled him with wonder and awe, yet now it only served to remind him of his isolation. He felt a pang of longing deep within his chest, a yearning for companionship and connection that seemed impossible to fulfill.

Hunter closed his eyes, trying to push back the overwhelming tide of despair that threatened to consume him. He took slow, deep breaths, trying to calm the storm of emotions raging inside him. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't escape the crushing weight of loneliness that pressed down on him.

At that moment, Hunter felt more alone than ever before. He felt adrift in a vast, empty sea, with no land in sight. He didn't know how much longer he could keep going, how much longer he could bear the burden of his solitude.

How long had he spent in space, how many years had he given up just to be useless, memories flashed through his mind, the very few that were truly clear after twenty-eight hundred long years in space.

The weight of those memories pressed down on Hunter, each one a painful reminder of what he had lost. He remembered his family, his friends, whom he had long since accepted due to the nature of his mission, he would never see them again, but his home... all gone now, lost to the passage of time. He remembered the day he had set out on his journey, filled with hope and excitement for the adventures that awaited him. But now, all he felt was emptiness and regret.

He wished he could go back, go back to a time before the cataclysms before humanity had been wiped out. He wished he could undo the mistakes that had led to their downfall, that had left him stranded and alone in a universe that no longer felt like home.

But deep down, he knew that there was no going back. The past was gone, and he couldn't change it, no matter how much he wished he could. All he could do was try to make peace with it...but he couldn't.

"Nova" His suit buzzed to life, like the Odysseyus-12 his suit also had a personal AI, which mostly helped run the suit systems and life support and his only other companion when he was in deep space. She had needed to reboot after the crash but now it was back online.

He knew what he was about to ask was desperate, he already knew it was going to come up negative...but he had to try

Nova, run a scan for any signs of human life in the vicinity," Hunter requested, his voice filled with a mix of hope and resignation.

The AI responded almost immediately, her voice calm and robotic. "Scanning... no signs of human life detected within range," she reported, her tone devoid of emotion.

Hunter's heart sank at Nova's words, the finality of it all hitting him like a ton of bricks. He had hoped against hope that maybe, just maybe, there was another human out there somewhere, that he wasn't truly alone. But the scan had confirmed what he had feared all along: he was the last of his kind.

"Damn it all"

A/N

Hey guys, am I a lying bastard, yes but hey I couldn't help myself I felt like writing this again, for the fourth time in a row. But hope to the people who read this hope you enjoyed it. Honestly, this has just been easier to write because I just have an idea of where I want it to go, I honestly will go do one of my other stories. I just need time to focus on what path I want them to go, so yea Azure out.