Beach House
"Yeah, it's all coming together." Steven declared.
Jason and Pearl had been roped into gathering school supplies for Steven.
"So, how do we begin our 'school'?" Pearl asked.
The soldier could remember schooling back on the base. It was days filled with online learning. He just zoomed through the curriculum because they wanted their super soldier out there as soon as possible.
"I…I don't know!" Steven began to freak out a little at the prospect of not knowing what to do. "This is everything Connie told me. Oh, why do I never ask follow-up questions!? Who will teach little Steven now!?"
"Teach you?" Pearl let out a happy gasp. "Steven, if only I had known that's what you wanted!"
"I should probably leave you two to it." Jason stated as he moved to the door.
"You don't want to learn school with me?" Steven asked.
Jason stopped by the door. "Steven, my schooling was different from public schooling. Regardless, the army/government still gave me the diploma, and I was picking up trades around the base often enough. After what I went through, I'm good on schooling."
SUV
Jason sat in the back with all his gear as what happened in the beach house reminded him of the mental strain that much schooling put on him. They did not want a stupid soldier out of him, that was certain. Despite all he learned, Jason had no desire to relive it.
He decided to take his mind off it by checking over his weaponry. Ever since he got that gift his moms left him, he's been concocting ideas on potential weapons and wanted to begin working on them. Right now, he wanted to take stock of any extras he could tinker with.
Jason ended up deciding he could part with five pistols, two assault shotguns, an assault rifle, a stack of knifes, and a couple of swords. If he ended up deciding to contact his father again, he was certain he could get more weapons. For now, this was a good stock to work with.
"School's out!" The soldier looked up as Steven ran up to him. "Happy summer vacation, Jason! Happy summer vacation, Beach City!" The boy took off running while holding something in his hand. "Yeah!"
"Wait, what!? Steven!" Jason yelled after him.
The soldier quickly locked up his vehicle before running after the kid.
Beach City
For a small one, Steven was surprisingly fast. He ended up accidentally barreling into Sadie and Lars, causing them to knock over some tables and chairs they were setting up outside.
"Er, watch where you're going, you little f…" Lars began only to glance at Sadie and noticed Jason giving him a firm glare. "Ssssteven!"
"Sorry! I'm just so excited about summer." Steven declared happily. "Are you excited for summer? I'm so excited for summer!"
Sadie laughed a little at the enthusiasm. "Uh, I think I'm as excited as I can get about setting up extra seating for the summer rush." She gestured to the extra tables and seats placed around the front of the store. "But Lars has big plans."
"You bet I do." Lars smiled. "All those out-of-town summer babes traveling away from home without their boyfriends…if you know what I mean?"
"Nope." Steven replied innocently.
"I know what you mean, but I didn't want to hear it." Jason muttered.
"Maybe I'll get a few numbers. Maybe I'll even...call one." He stated awkwardly at the end.
"Ha! Well, yeah, maybe I'll meet a new friend." Sadie stated almost as awkwardly.
"That's a great idea." Steven declared. "A special new friend to have fun on the beach with in the summer. Maybe if I keep using the mirror to guide me, I'll walk backwards into my own beach-summer-fun buddy!" He started to walk backwards. "C'mon Jason!"
"Well, I better go make sure he doesn't get into trouble." Jason stated. "Sadie, see you later. Lars, good luck…I guess."
"Grrr! You'll see." Lars picked up on what he meant. "Next time you see me, I'll be on the arm of a hot woman!"
"You can stop talking about it now." Sadie voiced annoyed.
Once he was away from them, Jason heard Steven's voice. "Nooooo!"
"Steven!" The solider booked it over to the boy, who was now in front of a van with someone's head on it, as it screeched to a halt. "Steven!" He ran to the boy. "Are you alright?!"
"I'm fine Jason. Just…startled is all." Steven reassured.
Jason sighed relieved. "Thank goodness."
"Car wash kid, what are you doing!?" Mayor Dewey exclaimed.
"What are you doing!?" Jason angrily yelled. "You almost hit a child! A child who is on the boardwalk, which isn't a sanctioned driving road."
"I'm the mayor." Dewy retorted. "I'm not going to walk anywhere."
"I'm a high ranking solider of the World Government, but you don't see me using that as an excuse to do what I want." He took out his identification and flashed it. "Now, get off the boardwalk and consider yourself lucky I don't exercise my power over you."
"Alright, Alright…I'm going." Dewy stated, getting back in his van and taking off for the nearest way off the boardwalk.
"I really don't like people that misuse their power over others just because they think they can." Jason declared.
"Hahahahaha." Jason heard Steven's laugh.
"I didn't think I said anything funny." Jason commented confused
"Oh, that wasn't me." Steven stated.
"Wait what?" Jason asked.
The laugh happened again, but it clearly wasn't him.
"Huh? Oh, Jason look!" Steven declared.
He held out the mirror before it started to whir a bit.
"I really don't like people that misuse their power." Jason's eyes widened as the mirror replayed his earlier comment.
"You work! This is so cool!" Steven declared. "What's it like being a mirror?"
The mirror whirred a bit before replaying Steven's words. "You work!"
"So, you can repeat stuff?" Steven asked.
Mirror Steven chuckled. "Yeah!"
"That's something else." Jason stated. "Like some sort of self-conscious recording device. Nice."
"Thanks." The mirror repeated.
"Hello Beach City, my friends!" Steven and Jason ended up looking at the beach where the mayor had set up for his speech, and they moved on over there. "It's great to be here to celebrate the coming season. A warm summer breeze wafts through the air."
"PBHT!" Steven proceeded to make a fart noise.
His action caused the crowd to snicker quietly.
"We all look forward to the sounds of the summer season…" Mayor Dewey continues with his speech, unperturbed by the action.
"PBHT!" The mirror was making the noise now.
"...the smells of the busy boardwalk..."
"PBHT!"
"...the hot, wet ocean wind..."
"PBHT!"
"...the time to take that pressure that's built up all year and just let it out."
"PBHT!"
The crowd completely lost it while Jason couldn't help but grin. A guy like that had this coming.
"Wow, you picked that up fast." Steven stated to the mirror.
Night…
Steven let out a short laugh at the whole situation before looking at the mirror. "You got a lot of mileage out of that joke. You're pretty funny for a mirror."
"You're pretty funny for a mirror." The mirror repeated.
Steven laughed. "I'm not a mirror."
"You're pretty funny for a – Steven!" Shockingly, the mirror combined what it heard to generate a sentence.
Steven gasped loudly. "You made something new! Say something else!"
"Steven – is – a new friend." The mirror stated.
"Really?" Steven asked.
"Hahaha. Yeah!" The mirror replied.
"You're my friend, too!" Steven proclaimed.
"Nice Steven." Jason stated seriously. "You made friends with a mirror."
"Jason – is – a new friend." The mirror stated.
"Oh, thank you." Jason nodded. "I appreciate you telling me that."
"We got to go tell the gems." Steven declared as he stood.
"Noooo!"
"Don't be shy, they'll love you." Steven declared.
"NOOOO!" The mirror screamed again, only this time it echoed to emphasize it.
"Don't worry, they're a good audience." Steven remained oblivious to the mirror's worries.
"It doesn't want to meet the others?" Jason trailed after them. "Suddenly, I got a bad feeling about this."
Beach House
"Hey guys, Jason and I fixed the mirror!" Steven informed the gems.
"Excellent work, you two." Pearl stated.
"You didn't tell me it's like a person." Steven informed.
"Wait…What?" Pearl questioned concerned.
Jason noticed how shocked all the gems, even Garnet, were.
"Say hey." Steven stated as he held out the mirror, but it was silent. "Lil' buddy? Uh…excuse us." He turned around with Jason leaning in. "Come on. You want to come out, don't you? You have so much to say and funny noises to share. Aren't we beach-summer-fun buddies?"
"PBHT!" The mirror made the fart sound.
"Just couldn't help yourself, huh?" Steven asked, amused.
"Just for – you – Steven – and – Jason!" The mirror stated.
"It's talking to him." Pearl voiced worriedly. "It shouldn't be able to do that. I-it should just follow orders."
Their conversation had drawn Jason's attention.
"Garnet, do something." Amethyst whispered.
"Steven." Garnet slowly approached.
"Noooo!" The mirror wailed.
"You should give us back the mirror." Garnet practically ordered. "It will be safer where we can watch it."
"Yeah, let's bubble it!" Amethyst proclaimed.
"Noooo! Noooo!" The mirror continued to voice its displeasure and reluctance to go.
"What's going on?" Jason contemplated. "Why is it so frightened by the gems?"
"Steven, don't make me have to take it from you." Garnet declared sternly.
Jason stepped protectively in front of Steven and the mirror. "Garnet, what's going on?"
"Don't worry about it, Jason." Garnet pushed roughly past him.
"It doesn't want to go with you." Steven gasped. "Don't you hear it screaming?"
"Steven, it's just a mirror. A tool." Garnet reached out her hand, preparing to take it away.
"Noooo! Noooo! Noooo! Noooo!" The mirror is freaking out at this point.
"It wants to be with us!" To the surprise of everyone, Steven slapped Garnet's hand away.
It hit her in the face and knocked her glasses off, causing the gem to stare at him angrily.
Steven screamed as he bolted out the door. "I'm sorry!"
"Steven!" Jason shouted worriedly. "What's going on!?"
Garnet put her glasses back on and clenched her fists. "That boy is in big trouble." She took a step forward, but Jason stepped in front of her. "Move, Jason."
"Not until you tell me what's going on." Jason retorted firmly. "Why don't you want Steven talking to that mirror?"
Garnet attempted to grab his shoulder. "I said, move!"
Jason was ready this time. The second she touched his shoulder; he grabbed her arm and twisted it around her body firmly.
"Not until you tell me!" Jason exclaimed.
"Jason!" Pearl gasped.
"What are you doing!?" Amethyst asked.
"Answers!" Jason shouted to all of them. "I want to know why you guys are freaking out so…"
"Let goooo!" Garnet yelled.
She brought her left foot back, managing to firmly plant it into his stomach hard enough that he went sailing over the railing outside and thud into the sand below.
"Jason!" Pearl yelled in concern.
Jason got up with a grunt as Garnet walked out the door with a surprised Amethyst and a concerned Pearl. He glared up at the gems before spotting Steven's tracks and taking off after them. He stopped at his SUV and took a second to collect himself.
"Alright, they're hiding something." Jason opened the back to get his weapons. "The question is what?"
He needed something debilitating, but nothing that could be all that lethal to a gem. Even though he wanted to protect himself and Steven, he didn't want to go shattering the gems over it. He opted for twin mini-chine guns since the rapid fire would hopefully deter them.
"Fan out." Garnet declared.
Jason quickly strapped the guns to his person before locking down his SUV and rolling underneath it. He just barely made it before Pearl's ballet shoes ran past. Once he was certain she was gone, he got out and ran along Steven's tracks.
"Are you trying to say something?" Steven questioned.
Hearing that, Jason vaulted over a rock and landed before him. He immediately covered the boy's mouth and fell back against the rock while miming to be quiet as Steven was about to yell. Garnet ran past, and Jason gave her a good amount of time to be gone.
"Steven, it's alright." Jason assured him in a whisper. "I'm here to help. Now, what's going on?"
"I don't know!" Steven whispered back. "I'm trying…"
The mirror began to whir a bit as the image distorted. "Away from home – Let – Me – Out!"
"Huh?" Jason questioned.
"We don't understand!" Steven exclaimed.
"Steven! Jason!" Pearl yelled.
"She's coming…" Jason whispered.
"We want to help you!" Steven pleaded. "What can we do?"
"Please just give us something." Jason pleaded.
The mirror distorted before showing an image of Steven pulling the gem from the back of the mirror. Said boy turned the mirror around, and they saw the gem. Finally getting what they must do, the hybrids shared a look and nodded.
Jason moved to stand guard while Steven grabbed and pulled on the gem. The soldier noticed water underneath the immediate area forming into a pattern. Steven finally pulled the gem free, shattering the mirror.
The gem glowed before taking a feminine form as she looked at the pair. "Thank you…"
Jason's breath hitched as he saw her blue form with white mirror eyes. She lost her balance and fell forward. The soldier moved in and caught her before helping to steady the gem. She gave him a grateful smile.
Steven approached, prompting her to speak. "You two actually talked to me. You helped me." She seemed to be in disbelief over it. "It's Steven…and you're Jason, right?"
"That's correct." Jason nodded. "It's another gem like my moms or the other Crystal gems…Did they know about this?"
"I'm Lapis. Lapis Lazuli." The gem introduced herself with a smile.
"Lapis." Jason nodded. "That's a pretty name."
"You set me free." She stated in disbelief.
"Lapis, what do you mean?" Jason asked.
"Steven! Jason!" Garnet yelled.
The hybrids turned to see that the gems had found them, and they immediately summoned their weapons upon seeing Lapis.
Jason quickly moved to stand protectively before Lapis and Steven as he drew both his guns. "Back up!"
They stopped in their tracks, surprised.
"Jason, we just want…" Garnet began.
Jason pointed his guns at them. "Don't move."
"Wait!" Steven yelled.
He moved around Jason and stood between them, extending his arms.
"You three knew I was in there…" Lapis summoned a huge water arm out of the ocean. "…yet you didn't do anything. Did you even wonder who I used to be!?"
She brought her arm down, and while everyone attempted to scatter, Garnet ended up trapped underneath the water construct.
"Steven, Jason, run!" Pearl warned.
The soldier instead turned towards Lapis. "What are you doing?"
"I'm Lapis Lazuli, and you can't keep me trapped here anymore!" Lapis yelled defiantly.
"Huh?" Steven gasped.
"They're not going to let us leave." Lapis stated.
"Leave?" Steven questioned.
"What do you mean?" Jason asked.
Instead of instantly answering, she parted the ocean to make a path. "Please, come with me."
"Huh?" Jason questioned.
"Where?" Steven questioned.
"Home."
"B-b-but...B-but I...Uh..." Steven stumbled over his words.
Jason wasn't surprised since Lapis was basically asking him to leave the Crystal Gems, his only family aside from Greg.
Lapis' hopeful demeanor changed to one of sadness at the idea of Steven not joining her. "Fine." She looked at the soldier. "Jason?"
She seemed so hopeful he'd go with her.
"You want me too…" Jason began.
Garnet was able to bash the water-arm off herself before closing the distance and preparing to destroy Lapis' form with a single punch. Jason watched as Lapis stood there in shock. Steven tried to stop the maroon gem but it's obvious he wouldn't make it.
Garnet's face morphed into one of fierce determination and gritted anger as she prepared to stop this thing. Jason knew he was the only one who would be able to help her. He holstered his guns before rushing in and slamming a foot into Garnet, who was caught completely off guard.
The maroon gem managed to skid along the ground and looked up thinking it was Lapis who attacked. To her surprise, as well as everyone else's, Jason stood in front of Lapis with his left leg raised. He slowly lowered it, took a deep breath, and adopted his ruthless look.
"Garnet wait!" Pearl tried to stop her comrade.
Garnet didn't listen and ran straight at Jason, angry at his intervention. She was prepared to knock some sense into him. The maroon gem brought her right gauntlet up and moved to strike him in the face; however, he dodged.
She brought her left arm up and tried to hit him only to miss. Garnet got angry and proceeded to let out a multitude of punches at the hybrid faster than the normal eye could see. To everyone's awe, Jason deftly dodged each one of the maroon gem's attacks.
His form was sparking with electricity which danced within his body, stimulating his muscles. The attacks continued, and Jason dodged them until spotting his opening in her sloppy performance. The soldier rushed past her guard and grabbed Garnet by the neck.
With a mighty yell, he spun in place before throwing her away. Garnet grunted as she hit the ground before rolling into it and gripping the sand to steady herself. The maroon gem then prepared to charge at him, so Jason got into a ready stance.
"Considering you guys won't tell me anything, I'll act based on my own assumption." Jason declared coldly. "From my perspective, Lapis is an innocent you three want to attack. If there's one thing you learned about me, it's that I won't let that continue."
Lapis placed a hand on his shoulder. "We should go."
The soldier looked back at her before turning his gaze to the gems. "Alright." Jason took a deep breath. "Just, wait here a second."
"What?" Lapis questioned.
She was momentarily freaked out to see he was no longer next to her. Lapis looked at her captors to see if they got him, but they were looking to the side. She looked in the direction they were and saw a fresh foot trail heading around the temple.
Lapis tensed as she saw everyone looking at her. Then, there was a honking, and everyone turned to see Jason drifting around the corner in his SUV, heading straight for the water's edge. He pulled up next to Lapis and rolled down the passenger window.
"Get in." Jason declared.
"Bu – wha?" Lapis stumbled surprised.
"C'mon, we can gain more distance in this." Jason informed.
Lapis nodded before entering the passenger side.
"Jason!" Steven exclaimed, getting the soldier's attention. "W-w-where are you going?"
"Like I said, the gems wouldn't tell me anything, so from my perspective, Lapis is innocent." Jason declared. "No matter who the aggressors are, I protect the innocent. I told you; I am a super soldier for the World Army, and this was my job before I joined the Crystal Gems."
"But you…" Steven tried.
"Relax Steven." Jason stated. "Just go back to your family."
"But you're family too!" Steven exclaimed. "You're like my brother."
Tears came to Jason's eyes. "Yeah, I consider you the same." He wiped his eyes. "Still, it doesn't change what I feel must be done." He shot the boy a determined look. "I promise, I will return, but I got to do this first. Can you understand that…one brother to another?"
Steven looked into Jason's eyes for a good moment before nodding. "I understand."
Jason held out a fist. "Thank you." Steven grinned as he bumped it. "Take care."
"You too." Steven stated as he ran back to the gems.
Jason looked at Lapis. "Buckle up."
She looked confused for a second, but when Jason clicked his into place, she understood.
"Jason!" Garnet yelled.
"Where are you going!?" Pearl asked loudly.
"I've already told you!" Jason looked at Lapis. "Clear a path?"
She nodded and with a simple hand wave, parted the ocean. The soldier then hit the gas and sped out along the sea bed.
"Eep!" Lapis yelped at the sudden force.
Jason couldn't help but chuckle at her fearful gripping of the door and chair. "Relax Lapis, this isn't my first-time driving rough terrain, and my vehicle is suited for it."
"You sure?" She questioned.
"Positive."
"O-okay." Lapis relaxed a bit and kept the ocean clear.
"Just what did the Crystal Gems do to her?" Jason contemplated. "What kind of demons do they have to imprison a girl like her?" He looked at Lapis. "Well, I made the best decision I could with all the context I had. No matter what, I won't regret it."
Sea: Later…
It's been hours since Jason left Beach City with Lapis, and the pair had been traveling in relative silence. Night has already descended, and the only sounds to be heard were the waves crashing against the water barrier she erected and tires grinding on the ocean floor.
"You don't look like a gem." Lapis finally commented. "You and Steven said you're Crystal Gems, but you don't look like gems. I haven't even seen either of your gems." Jason managed to remove his gloves to showcase his emeralds. "You're an emerald?"
"That's part of what I am." Jason began. "I have a human father, but two gem mothers. It's a little complicated, but they sacrificed themselves to let me exist."
"Two? You're a fusion?" Lapis took another look at the gems. "You don't look like one, but it would explain your strength when you fought that gem."
"Hm, I guess I am part fusion." Despite what his mothers had said, Jason hadn't really thought about it.
"Wait, those gems are perfect cuts." Lapis went wide eyed. "I wasn't involved in the war like other gems, but I heard rumors gems like those were being created. They never came to fruition like other gems."
"I don't know about others, but those were my moms." Jason nodded. "My dad found them and ended up helping them get a form. Blue Emerald fell in love with him and was the one who gave birth. There was a complication though.
Due to their nature as twin gems, I would have died. Yellow Emerald would have shattered with me. I could either be aborted or given both gems to exist. My dad talked it over with them, and they agreed I deserved to exist.
Because of what Yellow Emerald gave up, she's just as much a mother to me as Blue Emerald. Essentially, I'm a gem-human hybrid. Hey, enough about that. Was there a specific destination you wanted to go to, or did you just want to get away from the Crystal Gems?"
"Nowhere specific." Lapis answered. "I just wanted to get away mostly."
Jason pulled his SUV to a stop. "Well, what about here?"
Lapis looked out through the windows. "Yeah…yeah this is good."
"Good. Can you close off the path we took?" Jason asked. "I don't want anyone following us or the World Army investigating. Also, encase us in a dome."
Lapis waved her hand to the path and let the water fall back to where it once was. She did keep a circle around them though before forming a dome, which she turned to hard ice around them.
"Nice work."
"Th…thanks." Lapis replied weakly while swaying.
"Lapis?" Jason saw her topple to the side. "Lapis!" He grabbed and pulled her out his side before laying her gently on the ground. "Lapis! Lapis! Are you alright?!" He shook his head. "This is probably from overextending her power. She did part the ocean for hours."
Jason ended up laying her in his back seat before going back to shut the vehicle off. With Lapis out, he decided he might as well just clean his guns.
Hours Later…
Lapis sat up and looked at the soldier who was holding an assault shotgun. "What's that?"
Jason watched as she got out of the back seat and walked around to him.
"This is a weapon used by humanity." He held the gun up. "It fires these things called bullets, small rounds fired with special powders and chemical compositions." He took out a shell. "It turns this small, almost harmless object into a deadly, moving projectile."
Jason gave her the shell. "It doesn't look like much."
"That's the idea." Jason informed. "At first glance, it doesn't look like much, but when combined with something like this…" He held up the gun, "…it can be a very dangerous weapon for anyone on the wrong end." He held it out for her. "Here."
"A-are you sure?" Lapis asked.
"Yeah, its fine." Jason nodded. "It's not loaded, so you won't accidentally shoot me or yourself."
Lapis hesitantly reached for it. Once she had it, Jason let go, and she felt the full weight of the weapon.
"Oh!" She almost dropped it but used her other hand to brace it. "It's heavier than I expected."
"Usually is." Jason commented as he took it back and set it with his other weapons "Hey Lapis, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to, but why were you stuck in a mirror."
"Considering you trusted me enough to join me, I suppose you do need my story." Lapis nodded. "I came to this planet thousands of years ago." She curled her legs against herself. "The rebellion had already started, and I was only meant to visit for a short time.
I ended up caught in the middle of the war. It was awful! So much fighting and destruction. I tried to run, but I ended up poofed by a rainbow haired gem with a star. A Crystal Gem. I was later picked up by a Homeworld soldier, confused for a Crystal Gem, and used as a tool.
They placed me inside that mirror and wanted me to talk. They'd asked me, 'Show us your base!' 'Where is your leader?' I didn't know anything. I couldn't say I'm not one of them. After a while, the war escalated, and it became clear there was no hope of stopping the rebellion.
All of the Homeworld Gems fled, and in the panic, I was left behind." Even though her eyes stayed the same glassy look, Jason could tell she was reminiscing about the whole thing. "There I stayed. Freedom in my sight, but out of reach for thousands of years."
"I can't imagine that amount of torture." Jason thought. "Stuck in a prison for thousands of years with someone else controlling your eyes."
"It seemed hopeless for so long." Lapis continued. "I just watched time run on until I was found by that…pearl."
"Really?" Jason asked.
"Really." She confirmed.
"While I understand it was a Crystal Gem that poofed you, it still sounds like Homeworld is the side you should have beef with." Jason stated.
"Maybe…but if it wasn't for the Crystal Gems and their rebellion, I wouldn't have been imprisoned." Lapis retorted bitterly.
Jason nodded at that before standing up. "I'm going to get some sleep."
"You sleep?" Lapis asked.
"Yeah, I do." Jason replied. "I may be a gem, but I'm also human. I still need to rest and eat." He opened the driver's door and hopped in. "I'll see you in the morning Lapis. From there, we'll work out a plan to get you home."
Lapis nodded. "Goodnight."
"Night." Jason closed the door before looking back at her. "Hey Lapis?" She turned to him. "Hearing you out, you are innocent in this, but the Crystal Gems aren't all bad. Honestly, I'm not asking you too like them, but I hope, eventually, you can at least tolerate their presence."
Lapis took those words in, though said nothing. Having said his piece, Jason faced forward and settled in to sleep.
dindagangleader14: That's fantastic! I was hoping it came across that Jason was really fitting in and feeling like a member of the Crystal Gems because that means the actions he takes within this chapter should actually mean something.