The moment Jasper reforms she clenches her fists with hate. "How could this defective Crystal Gem scum manage to poof me?! How is his gem so hard?!"

"Hey, you, Jasper." Colonel Andrew's voice rips her off her thoughts.

She looks at him with hatred, realizing she's stuck inside a containment field made of the energy of the gem destabilizer. "... So now you're making me your prisoner?" She scoffs.

"Yes. Your little friend right there taught us how to use this so-called 'Gem Destabilizer'." He points to Peridot who hides behind a wall, really scared by the Colonel.

Jasper grits her teeth. "That traitor! I'll shatter her as soon as I get out!"

"But you won't." Steven's voice comes from above the cell. He's sitting over Jasper's cell. He's unpleased to say the least.

Hearing Steven's voice, Jasper widens her eyes. "You defective scum! Come here and fight me!"

Steven chuckles. "Fight you? You lost against me two times, and I didn't even fight."

"You used cheap tricks! There is no honor in that!"

Steven laughs briefly. "'Cheap tricks'? That's pretty stupid coming from you. One of these 'cheap tricks' you tried to use against me, but it didn't work and I just sent it back to you. And the other…" He laughs again. "You tried to shatter my head but you weren't strong enough, as simple as that."

Jasper's eyes flash with fury, her veins twitching with the desire for vengeance. "Shut up!" Jasper snarls. "You're nothing but a weak traitor! You Crystal Gems betrayed your planet for this… Nowhere planet with a bunch of nobody life!"

Steven raises an eyebrow and leaps from the roof of the cell, landing in front of it. He looks straight at Jasper. "What do you mean 'betrayed your planet'?" He crosses his arms. "I think you should start explaining your words."

Jasper groans. "I don't have to explain anything to you! You're a Crystal Gem!"

Steven rolls his eyes. "You keep saying I'm a Crystal Gem, whatever it is, and a traitor, but you're the one stuck inside this prison and-"

Jasper scoffs and lets a short chuckle. "Earth is a prison. I got out because I'm better than this place!"

"... Yeah, but you're both on the planet you consider a prison and an actual prison that you cannot leave, so I think I'm more free than you. And since you're there, you don't have any reason to not explain what you're saying." He uncrosses his arms and approaches her cell. "What is a Crystal Gem? What are these 'Gems' on us? Where did we come from? Why do you hate Earth so much?"

Jasper widens her eyes at Steven's questions. "... How can you not know anything? Are you that defective? Or you just emerged much later?"

Steven shrugs. "I don't know what any of these things mean."

Jasper stares at Steven, incredulous. She takes a moment, the rage in her eyes flickering with confusion. "You're seriously telling me you don't know a thing about Homeworld? About where you came from?"

Steven tilts his head, genuinely curious. "I'm telling you the truth. I don't know anything about this 'Homeworld'. All I know is that I exist, I have this… gem." He taps the diamond on his head. "And I'm pretty goddamn good at smashing things that get in my way."

Jasper stares at him pondering if she should or not. She growls. "Homeworld is the planet where Gems belong, the planet we serve. Not this backward mudball humans call 'Earth.' Gems are supposed to conquer, expand, to destroy any obstacles. It's what we're made for. But those… traitors turned against our own kind and protected this pathetic planet."

Steven raises his eyebrows in surprise. "So you're saying there was some kind of… interplanetary war on Earth?"

"Yes!" Jasper slams a fist into the side of her containment cell. "A rebellion led by Rose Quartz who called themselves 'Crystal Gems'. They threw everything away to 'save' this wretched place from being repurposed. And for what?" She sneers. "A bunch of worthless life forms crawling around in the dirt."

Steven narrowed his eyes at the insult Jasper sent to Earth lifeforms. "... And you're telling me that these 'worthless life forms' include humans?"

Jasper smirks, her eyes gleaming with contempt. "Of course. Humans, animals, plants… every bit of this planet is just a waste of space. All of it could've been transformed, perfected for Gem-kind. But those Crystal Gems were so deluded, thinking this planet was 'special'. Heh, pathetic."

Steven clenches his fists, his voice tight. "So… you're saying those Crystal Gems gave up their own lives, turned against their whole world, just to protect Earth and everything on it?"

Jasper scoffs. "You make it sound noble, but they were weak. Obsessed with 'freedom' and 'preserving life' on this dirtball. They betrayed their purpose, our purpose. Gems aren't supposed to protect; we're conquerors, warriors, the perfect beings in the universe."

"... Purpose…" Steven repeats with a scoff. "... And what's the problem with protecting something? I mean, I'm pretty sure 'purpose' isn't something solid."

Jasper sneers, her contempt evident. "You don't get it because you're defective. Gems are made to serve Homeworld's will. We're soldiers, conquerors, tools for expansion. This planet was just another resource. But those Crystal Gems decided to betray their nature, to rebel for the sake of a worthless cause."

"In other words, slaves for their own kind." He chuckles. "Doesn't seem very… pleasing."

Jasper snarls, the word "slave" striking a nerve. "Watch your mouth, you defective traitor! We Gems are not slaves! We're… we're warriors, loyal to the Diamond Authority."

Steven grins as he realizes he struck a nerve on her. "Huh… sorry, lemme correct my words: Slaves for people of their own kind that think they're superior or some bullshit like that."

Jasper's fists tighten, her face contorting with fury. "You have no idea what you're talking about! The Diamonds are perfection, order. They're what gives us purpose, and we Gems follow them because we're honored to serve. Unlike you Crystal Gem trash, who spat in the face of that honor!"

Steven leans in closer, his expression hardening. "You keep calling me a 'Crystal Gem,' but let's get one thing straight. I'm no one's follower. I make my own choices, and I don't bow to anyone, especially not some Diamonds I've never even met. Sounds to me like they manipulate and enslave their own kind, controlling their minds with the very concept of purpose, just to get more power and dominate everything. Strong minds realize what's going on and either fight against it or suffer in silence. Average minds don't know what's going on and just follow rules and orders without questioning, but if they knew what's happening they would be shocked…" Steven points to Jasper. "And of course, there are the weak minds. People who either know what's going on or don't accept the reality of it and just protect its honor, being a lapdog of the enslavers."

Jasper's face contorts with anger as Steven's words cut deeper than any physical blow. "You insolent, defective waste of a Gem! You talk as if you know anything about the Diamonds, but you're just another one of those Crystal Gem rebels who'd throw everything away for 'freedom'!" She slams her fists against the cell again.

"... Y'know, I think this is like a saying I once heard. 'You can't know the taste of a pudding without eating it first.'... You never tasted freedom, so you don't know how it tastes and you think it sucks. But it's alright, be as weak as you want. Just tell me, what would happen to you if you were put in a situation where you could be shattered? Would these 'Diamonds' save you?"

Jasper pauses, momentarily struck by Steven's question. Her anger fades, replaced by something almost resembling doubt. "The Diamonds… they… they don't save Gems. We're expected to face our fates without question. We're expendable, sure. But that's what makes us strong, knowing we fight without expecting rescue." She straightens, attempting to reclaim her bravado. "Only the weak need saving."

"... really? Well, I think that something 'expendable' isn't exactly strong, and someone who is 'expendable' is what I call… miserable."

Jasper glares at Steven, her expression twisting into a mixture of anger and defiance. "Miserable? You think I'm miserable?" She huffs, standing tall even behind the cell. "I am a perfect soldier, built for one purpose. I know exactly who I am and what I'm meant to do. You, on the other hand, are just a confused, defective anomaly who doesn't even know where he belongs."

Steven laughs. "And you, 'perfect soldier, built for one purpose', lost to this same 'confused, defective anomaly who doesn't even know where he belongs'." He crosses his arms in mocking. "You're just making yourself more miserable."

Jasper's eyes narrowed into slits, her fury reaching a boiling point. "Enough of your nonsense! You may have won this round, but I'll never let you humiliate me again." Her voice seethes with venom, her fists shaking with the intense desire to strike at Steven, even though she knows she can't.

Steven shakes his head. "Oh boy… I will." He slowly approaches the cell and he passes through the containment field with some discomfort. He's now face to face with Jasper. He opens his arms in mockery.

She grits her teeth. She tries to grab Steven's neck but he quickly jumps through the containment field. She tries to pass through it, but to her, it feels like an electrical shock.

Jasper growls in frustration as her hand recoils from the shock of the containment field. The crackling energy pulses against her skin, keeping her at bay. She steps back, her anger escalating. "You think you can keep me here forever? You think this is enough to hold me down?"

Steven watches her, his gaze unwavering. "Honestly? Yeah, I think this will do the job for now." He shrugs casually, but there's a sharpness to his tone. "You've been saying you're this 'perfect soldier', but so far, I've seen nothing but a bunch of big talk and a couple of failed attempts."

Jasper's face flushes with rage. "You don't know anything about me! About what I'm capable of!"

Steven mimics her mouth with his hand and shakes his head. "Right, right. This was fun, but it's dinner time and I have to go, Fionna's waiting for me." He starts walking away, but before he grabs Peridot's wrist, and drags her with him. "You're coming with me."

Peridot struggles and tries to break free, clearly afraid. "No! Don't take me to your torture chamber! Please, I will do anything!"

"Relax, Mary Jane, I'll take you to dinner with me and my girl. You're a nuisance, but you're not a threat to us."

Peridot fidgets nervously. "I... I hate this. I don't want to be part of this! I'm stuck in this planet and—"

"Shut the fuck up or I punch you."

At the cafeteria of the G.U.N. base, many soldiers are having their dinner, talking and befriending in general. Fionna is waiting for Steven while doing her homework.

Everything is calm until Steven arrives. "Sup-sup-sup everyone-one-one!"

The chatter in the cafeteria dies down as everyone turns to look at Steven's dramatic entrance. Some soldiers chuckle while others roll their eyes, already accustomed to his lively personality. Steven flashes a grin and waves enthusiastically as he walks to the table where Fionna is seated. Peridot, reluctantly following behind him, clings to his arm as if she's been caught in a web, her face a mask of anxiety.

"Hey, Finn!" Steven greets her, plopping down next to her. He's in high spirits, despite the events of the day. "How's the homework going?"

"Hi dear." Fionna smiles and kisses his cheek. "It's going well. It's pretty easy for me." She notices Peridot with him. "Oh, you're taking the gem with you?"

He chuckles. "Yup. She's kinda funny and I thought it would be interesting to have her around."

"Alright then." Fionna chuckles. Peridot looks at Fionna closely, invading her personal space. Fionna's smile gets a little nervous. "Uhm… Peridot, right? Well, you're too close…"

Peridot put her hand on her chin. "You're a human but you talk? I didn't know your species evolved enough to talk." She looks at Fionna's fork and grabs it. "Is this a weapon?"

Fionna shifts in her seat, her eyes narrowing slightly as Peridot examines the fork with a mix of curiosity and suspicion. "Uh, yeah. It's a utensil, not a weapon." She says, trying to stay calm, though her discomfort grows with Peridot's invasive questioning. "We use it to eat, not fight."

Peridot looks at her curious. "What is 'eating'?"

Steven takes Peridot and lifts her, taking her away from Fionna and setting her a few feet from her. "It's how humans get energy. We consume what we call 'food' in our mouths. It goes into our stomachs, passes by a lot of organs, is processed, and finally turns into energy."

Peridot stares at Steven with a mixture of confusion and intrigue, clearly struggling to process this new information. "So... humans ingest solid materials to sustain themselves?" She furrows her brow, trying to wrap her head around the concept. "I don't understand. We Gems don't need such... inefficient means of energy. Our gems power us directly. Why would you waste your time-consuming things that just turn into... waste?"

Steven laughs lightly, trying not to be offended. "Well, Peridot, humans aren't quite as efficient as Gems. But we get by just fine with our food, and it has a lot of social value, too. It's not just about energy, it's about enjoyment, bonding, and culture. People share meals together."

Fionna, who had been watching the exchange, raises an eyebrow. "Yeah, it's about connecting with others, too. A lot of social rituals happen around food, like family dinners, celebrations, and... well, it's a good excuse for a good time."

Peridot seems to process this for a moment before blinking, looking back at Fionna. "I don't understand. Do you waste time on socializing instead of just completing tasks efficiently? This planet makes no sense."

Steven shrugs. "Not everything has to make sense."

Peridot continues to look at both Steven and Fionna, her expression shifting between bewilderment and curiosity. "But... Why waste time on things like bonding or enjoying food when you could be using that time to accomplish more important tasks?" she presses, still not grasping the concept of such leisure.

Fionna leans back in her seat, her smile softening as she looks at Peridot. "Well, that's kind of the thing. Socializing is important. It helps us stay connected to each other, and it's what makes us more than just machines doing tasks. Being with others, sharing moments, it helps us grow and stay... human."

Steven adds, hugging Fionna. "Yeah, it's like… there's more to life than just 'doing things.' Humans are kinda messy, but that's part of the charm. Sometimes it's okay to just be instead of always working or being productive. Besides, certain humans can be much more charming than the others." He looks at Fionna and kisses her cheek.

She blushes a bit. "Oh, Steven." And kisses his lips.

Not wanting to be left behind, Steven kisses her deeper and soon they're fully making out. They accidentally fall in the middle of the session and fuse into Stionna.

Stionna chuckles. "Oh damn." They look at Peridot who is utterly shocked. "Don't worry, it happens all the time."

Peridot takes a second to process everything. "Wait, you fused?! Like, a gem and a human?!"

Stionna looks around. "... Uhm… yeah?"

Peridot raises her hands. "That's not supposed to happen! Gems can't fuse with humans! That's biologically impossible! And why did you even fuse?! You're not going to fight or anything!"

Stionna looks to the ground and back to Peridot before shrugging. "Well, it's not 'biologically impossible' anymore. And about the reason… dunno. We don't fuse only to fight, but we also fuse to fight. Our best guess is that we fuse because we love each other."

Peridot stares at Stionna in disbelief, still trying to wrap her mind around the concept of a fusion between a human and a Gem. "That… that's impossible! How can you fuse without the same biological makeup? What kind of abomination is this?"

Stionna grins, their voice a harmonious blend of Steven and Fionna's personalities. "I wouldn't call it an 'abomination', more like an unexpected miracle. I guess love and connection can break boundaries. Besides, what's the matter if humans can fuse with gems or not? It's not like it's a problem or something."

Peridot stares at Stionna with wide eyes, still trying to comprehend what she's just witnessed. "But… But how? This goes against everything I know about Gems and fusion! You're breaking the laws of nature!"

Stionna laughs lightly. "Well, in this case I guess this is some kind of… experience. A beautiful experience."

Peridot rolls her eyes. "You mean an abomination. Fusioning with no reason is just disgusting—"

Stionna quickly draws an axe and stabs it on the table in front of Peridot, making her jump back startled. Stionna looks at her with a death stare. "... This fusion is a culmination of our love together. Saying that the fusion is disgusting is saying that our love is disgusting. Do you think our love is disgusting?"

Peridot looks at them with a scared look. "... Well… Technically, yes."

Stionna's eyes narrow, a spark of dangerous intent in their gaze. Their voice lowers, calm but carrying an unmistakable edge. "Technically, you're on thin ice."

Peridot looks at them with fear.

[TO BE CONTINUED]