Ramos Industries, Morning…
Tye entered the CEO's office where he found Zara dressed in a black suit, which she seemed rather comfortable wearing. The young hybrid was standing next to the desk, behind which sat the man who made Ramos Industries a reality. His name was Michael Ramos.
He had long black hair contained within a ponytail and hazel eyes behind spectacles. His attire consisted of a luxury black suit with the sleeves rolled up one fourth of the way. Michael stood and approached Tye before the pair shook hands with genuine smiles.
"Welcome once again to Ramos Industries, Tye." Michael greeted.
"It's good to be here, Michael." They let go as Tye nodded. "This must be your ever elusive daughter, as I've only read reports about her."
"Hello sir." Zara greeted respectfully. "My father and uncle have told me much about you."
"Surely you understand why I couldn't let even you meet her." Michael stated.
"Of course." Tye stated genuinely. "Our children were in precarious positions, and we do our best to raise them. In my opinion, neither way is the wrong way. It is simply another way. Now, let us get down to business as I am here on behalf of Leader Kellan."
"Of course." Michael nodded. "Tell me, what does she want with my company and me now?"
Tye retrieved a flash drive from his pocket. "First, watch this."
"Very well." Michael voiced, accepting the drive before passing the item to his daughter. "Put this in the computer and play it."
"Right." Zara stated, accepting the device and plugging it into the computer.
Michael and Zara watched the video, which displayed everything that happened from the missing ocean to its return. The only exclusion was anything that happened atop the pillar. Once the video concluded, Tye filled in the gaps with the report from his son.
…
"I can't believe no one ever thought to see if that was a real gem." Zara thought.
"That gives an explanation as to what happened with the ocean." Michael commented. "Though, I fail to see why you brought this to my attention. After all, it was agreed I'd stay out of these matters. I'm meant to be a tech expert, nothing more."
"Quite frankly, times change." Tye stated. "Homeworld was already showing renewed interest in Earth with the Red Eye, which the Crystal Gems dealt with. My son confirms Lapis got off world and will be making her way back to Homeworld. Trouble is on the horizon."
"I see." Michael nodded in understanding. "Plan for the worst while hoping for the best."
"Exactly." Tye stated. "Michael Ramos, the World Government wishes to strengthen our deal. We will fund Ramos Industries further provided you and your men work with our scientists on even footing. We need your mind and man power to accelerate preparations."
"Rather than further payment, I will agree on two conditions." Michael leaned forward. "One, return my wife's ship to me. Two, you will not pressure my daughter to join the Crystal Gems or World Army. She will join only when I'm certain she can handle it."
"Mom." Zara groaned, breaking her respectful demeanor.
"We've discussed this." Michael stated firmly, leaving no room for argument. "I will not needlessly lose you."
"Granted." Tye agreed.
"Then, we have a deal." Michael stated, extending his hand.
Tye shook it without hesitation.
Past Days…
Jason had been hard at work cracking how to make a gun fire a knife with roughly the efficiency it could a bullet. In theory, it should have been simple since a knife was just a larger, differently shaped piece of metal. In execution, it was harder.
In the end, he managed to crack it by shaping his knives to fire without them losing that knife like appearance. Modifying a rifle to be his new knife rifle was by the far the simpler task. Once it was put together, he had quite the weapon.
Come the future, he was intent on making other guns capable of the same; however, that would be a side project. What he spent the rest of his time on, until the next mission or adventure, was a rebreather to help any time they needed to go into the ocean or up a mountain.
Galaxy Warp, Present…
The gems decided to check up on an area covered in warps pads, and they brought the hybrids along. It was some type of plateau-like structure in the middle of the ocean, and with an unobstructed view into space. Practically all of them were destroyed.
"Woah." Steven declared in awe.
Garnet walked over and stepped on another warp pad. "Inactive."
Steven walked over and slapped a sticker of that Crying Breakfast Friend show he likes on it.
Amethyst jumped onto a different warp pad. "Inactive!"
Getting what they were doing, the soldier moved to another warp pad as Steven slapped a sticker onto the inactive warp pad. "Inactive."
"Inactive." Pearl calls out from hers in a disappointed manner.
Steven slapped stickers onto both.
"Do we have to check all of them?" Amethyst groaned. "They're all still inactive, like always."
"We need to make sure." Garnet stated as she walked to another set of pads.
"Expecting trouble?" Jason asked as he walked with her.
"Potentially." The maroon gem retorted.
"I've never seen so many warp pads before." Steven pulled out two stickers. "I hope I have enough of these Crying Breakfast Friends stickers. Where do all these warp pads go, anyways?"
"Well Steven, these warp pads were used to travel off-planet." Pearl began as she sat down. "They were our connection to the Gem Homeworld and Gem-controlled planets all over the universe."
As much as Jason wanted to visit Lapis, he was serious about his reasoning for not going tere. Even if this was a way for him to visit, even if he'd be welcome, he wouldn't go. They wanted to shatter his moms, and the soldier wouldn't be here had they gone through with it.
"You mean if these were working, we could go anywhere in outer space?" Steven gasped with stars in his eyes.
"We could do that if they weren't all busted." Amethyst replied.
"It's true. The galaxy warp has been inactive for thousands of years." Pearl stated.
"Can't we fix them?" Steven asked hopefully.
"No." Garnet replied bluntly.
"It's fine." Pearl gave a fake chuckle. "I'll always have my memories of other worlds, but now I'm here…on Earth…forever."
"With me!" Steven exclaimed to cheer her up.
"Right." She agreed with a simple pat on his head. "With you. It really is incredible out there, though. I wish you could see it, Steven."
After Pearl finished her reminiscence, Steven pulled out a Crying Waffle sticker and put it on the elevated warp pad.
Outside Beach City, Evening…
After returning from the Galaxy Warp, the gems went back into the temple while Steven took off to hang with his dad. Jason decided to take what remained of the day and go on a run. He ended up resting in the countryside, near some rather large sunflowers.
Soon enough, he'd head home, or that had been the plan. The road he was resting beside was rather quiet before purple cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs suddenly came barreling down the road, from all direction, and surrounded the soldier.
"I'd have said this might be a coincidence, if they didn't surround me." Jason thought, on guard.
Every door opened before athletic looking men and women stepped out into the evening light. They all wore protective purple and gunmetal electric blue uniforms with steel-tipped boots and metal plates on the back of their gloves.
Each of them wore featureless metal masks which must use some sort of one-way lens to hide the eye holes. Every one of them drew machine guns and short swords before brandishing them at the super soldier, who was contemplating what he should do.
"I could create an opening and get out of here." Jason contemplated. "On the other hand, they aren't immediately opening fire, so they could be under orders to take me alive. Potentially finding out what they want with me could be viable."
"Jason West, the super soldier!" One of the people exclaimed. "Get down on the ground for we are taking you in. Don't make this ugly because our boss wants you in one piece."
Jason wasn't certain how much they knew, but he was now counting on them having underestimated him. "Sorry Steven, Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl." He lowered himself to the ground. "I promise to return."
One of the soldiers came over with a rag soaked in chloroform. The moment the hybrid smelt it; he was knocked out. Another soldier then came over and together they picked him up.
"Hold. Are we certain this is the target?"
A man came forward and removed the gloves while another held up a photo of him.
"By all accounts, he matches the photo and has the emeralds."
"Alright, load him up, and let's get out of here."
Jason was loaded into a van before all the cars drove from the scene in different directions; however, their destination was the same. A soldier in the van transporting Jason pulled out a burner, which rang a few times before being picked up.
The voice was that of the same female who had contacted Frank. "Do you have him?"
"Yes ma'am." The soldier replied. "He matches the photo, so we're bringing him to the safe house where we'll prepare him for delivery."
"Good." The voice on the other end declared. "This has been a long time coming. Make sure he gets here in one piece, for I wish to speak with him personally."
"We'll get him there as soon as possible."
"See that you do." The woman declared before hanging up.
Beach House: Six Days Later…
"Where is he?" Pearl asked concerned.
"We don't know, Pearl." Garnet stated calmly. "Calm down."
"Garnet, it's been six days!"
Their soldier had been missing for six days and Pearl felt guilty she hadn't noticed in the initial three. During that time, Steven roped Greg into building a space for her to see space again. After Greg grounded the project, she ended up trying to take Steven into space for fifty years.
Fortunately, he had convinced her to abort. It didn't hurt that the ship she ended up building was tearing apart, but that didn't make Greg any less angry with them. At least he was happy to see his son safe and sound.
They then learned from Garnet and Amethyst that Jason was gone. Come the fifth day, worry settled into the minds of the remaining four Crystal Gems. Now it was the sixth day, and the group hadn't seen hide or hair of him.
"You don't think he left us, do you?" Pearl asked.
"Nah, I doubt that." Amethyst piped up from her place on the kitchen counter.
"What makes you think that?" Steven asked, worried.
"Well, his ride is still here." Amethyst informed. "That contains all his weapons, which doesn't seem like something he'd leave behind."
"Maybe." Pearl relented. "Still, he's…"
"Pearl." Garnet spoke up, getting her attention. "Give him time. He's shown to be resourceful."
"Yeah, relax P." Amethyst stated. "I'm sure he'll come back before you know it."
Pearl and Steven were both uncertain.
Safehouse
Jason groaned as he began to come to. The soldier felt tired and weary, yet his senses were starting to come around. He realized his neck, wrists, torso, and ankles were strapped to a table. Upon looking around the room, he noticed it was rather small and stone walled.
The only things in there, aside from himself, was the table he was strapped to, a steel door with a small hole covered by bars, and a single hanging light bulb above. To his left, there was an IV feeding into the vein of his arm.
"Is this where those people brought me?" Jason contemplated..
When the door began to open, Jason went limp and pretended to be asleep. A guy in a lab coat then walked into the room.
"Every day I wonder if your body will become resistant." The guy tugged a bit on the IV. "Chances are, you're just barely hearing me, but you most likely won't remember this." He held out a syringe. "Now, let me give you your daily dose, and you can go back to dream land."
Jason summoned his blades and cut the restraints. Just as the man began to yell, the super soldier lunged at the man and grabbed for the back of the neck before bringing him down. Not willing to take any chances, he slammed the man's head into the ground hard enough to knock him out.
With the guy unconscious, Jason sighed. "Alright, where am I?" He looked around the room. "The guy also said daily, so how long have I been here?"
Ultimately, such questions didn't matter. The super soldier knew he just had to get out; however, his gaze had landed on the syringe. It had ended up discarded on the floor as he took the lab coated guy down.
Jason picked it up as one of the people, dressed like those soldiers, walked in "Hey Mac, what's taking…"
Jason jumped on the soldier, immediately going for the machine gun and smashing it against the soldier's helmet upon acquiring it. Said soldier collapsed before Jason grabbed his head and bashed it against the ground to render him unconscious.
The super soldier then took the sword as well before peeking out the room. After determining no one was around, and both men were out of weapons, the super soldier fashioned the pieces of strap to bind the two of them to the table, which was wielded into the ground.
Jason then left the room and locked the door behind him before moving down the hallway. "If I or anyone discharge our weapons, without a silencer, these narrow halls will carry the sound and alerting everyone. Until I get the info I want, I should resort to non-lethal takedowns."
Later…
Jason spent close to an hour moving through the halls. Whenever he came across a soldier, he immediately and effectively knocked them out. Then, the super soldier went about stashing bodies in side rooms while strategically stashing their weapons where he could find them.
"This is seeming like a militia." Jason thought. "The question is, a militia for what?"
The super soldier heard footsteps behind him, so he moved into the first available room, which just happened to be behind a steel door. He waited a few moments and listened as the men passed by. Once they were gone, he looked for a light switch and flicked it on.
When he did, his eyes widened because this room was an armory. There was a plethora of weapons and various armor, exactly like those worn by the men and woman of this place. The weapons entirely lined the walls.
There were pistols, revolvers, one-handed weapons, shotguns, rifles, two handed weapons, a couple of miniguns with rows of ammo, sniper rifles, and military grade shields. There was even a cage at the back which had armor that looked stronger than what he saw out of it.
It also had rocket launchers, flashbangs, smoke grenades, normal grenades, several cases of ammo, and grenade launchers. Just before it sat his phone on a table. Jason picked it up only to see the battery was dead.
"This is a Ramos Industries' modified phone, so I've been out for at least three days." Jason thought, knowing that's how long a full charge lasted. "I may have really underestimated this outfit." He looked around the room again. "These people came for me, so who did I anger?"
The super soldier really wanted to strip this room, but he couldn't be bogged down like that. This didn't mean he couldn't take a weapon or two. All he needed was to leave the things he got from that one soldier.
He exchanged the sword for a set of throwing knives, the machine gun for a silenced rifle, and took up one of the shields. Just as he finished, the door creaked open. The super soldier quickly moved behind it and observed as a soldier walked in to look around the room.
Jason rushed him with the shield taking him into the wall before bashing it hard into the man's head. The soldier's body slumped forward, out like a light. Jason then searched the soldier and found a tablet with no passcode. All it contained was a map of the place.
This showed the super soldier the place was massive with many rooms. There were barracks, smoking areas, break rooms, offices, a garage, and multiple armories scattered around the complex that looked like this one.
"It's official. I'm hoping they have a semi meant to hold many vehicles and taking as much as I can fit into multiple vehicles." Jason thought. "If they wanted to keep their things, they shouldn't have taken me."
The first stop was the garage, which wasn't far from the armory he was been in. The place was lit up, but there was not a person in sight. The garage itself was massive with three wide double garage doors and plenty of tools for all the vehicles.
Speaking of vehicles, there were 17 total. There were four of each: SUV, van, truck, and motorcycle. The last vehicle was a semi with nearby connecting trailers more than capable of hauling all the vehicles present.
"Alright, time to get to work." Jason thought.
Beach House: 2 Days Later…
"Now do you think I'm paranoid?" Pearl sternly asked.
Steven had left with his friends, Lars and Sadie, on some camping trip. At least, that's what they could gather after that whole fiasco with the gem creatures he, Pearl, and Amethyst let loose into the temple by accident. As for Jason, it's officially been eight days since he vanished.
"Alright, maybe he's a little late." Amethyst admitted.
"A little!?" Pearl exclaimed frustrated. "It's been almost a week, yet we still haven't heard from him!"
"Pearl." Garnet stated. "Can we at least give him to the end of this week? I'm sure he's simply taking his time to gather his thoughts, or maybe he took off to his base for some supplies."
Pearl looked away. "Maybe…"
"Pearl, just the end of this week." Garnet requested. "That's all I'm asking."
Pearl looked at the maroon gem for a few moments before letting out a sigh. "Fine, but if he doesn't come back, we go looking."
"No problem." Garnet returned.
Safehouse: 3 Days Later…
Jason spent the last 5 days getting everything ready. That first day he was conscious, after finding the garage, he meticulously went around knocking every person out. He then put them in the infirmary and would proceed to keep them under, just as they had been doing to him.
By the start of his second day, he took stock of absolutely everything in this safehouse and moved the vehicles for ease of loading what was effectively his stuff now. Come days three and four, he followed through by cleaning the place out.
The only things he'd leave behind would be furniture, clothes currently worn by every soldier he rendered unconscious, and any perishable food. The rest of it, every weapon, ammo, tablet, computer, medical supplies, medicine, clothing, food, and armor piece, was accounted for.
All of it loaded into the vehicles. Come the fifth day, he combed the place over one last time, gathering any left-over odds and ends, before loading every vehicle onto the trailer now attached to his semi. After using their facilities to clean up, Jason opened the garage and pulled out.
Country Road: Afternoon…
As he drove out, the super soldier saw this was a warehouse in the middle of nowhere. That was good. It meant there'd be time before he needed to provide his ID. Even then, his status would protect him.
"I'm almost wondering if Frank has something to do with this group." Jason pondered. "It'd make sense. If they were watching our fight, they'd think I was pathetic. That I wasn't living up to my tittle leading to such a poor response when I woke."
Regardless of what this was, Jason ended up grinning. He may not have gotten much information, but he'd gladly take everything he got as a consolation. Once he was well away from the warehouse, he plugged his phone into a charger, set the cruise control, and relaxed.
Farmhouse: Evening…
The super soldier spotted an old, worn-down farmhouse in the distance, so he took the proper roads to reach it. After scouting it out, Jason determined the place was abandoned. It would be perfect for laying low to get his bearings, maybe even spend the night here.
Though, that last part would only happen if he wasn't too far from Beach City. Jason settled on stashing the semi and trailers within the barn, intending to throw off anyone who came looking. Granted, he'd rather actually rest up rather than get into a fight now.
Once the truck was safely tucked away, Jason stepped out, only to whirl around as he spotted someone familiar atop the barn's roof. "You noticed I was here almost as soon as I arrived." It was Frank. "I suppose that goes along with the impressive growth you've had."
"Frank…" Jason summoned his swords.
"You're wound a little tight." Frank chuckled well. "Relax, you're not at the level where I want a rematch. Even though I am with those people you clearly handled effectively, there's no love lost between us. Far as I'm concerned, you earned that haul."
Jason wasn't certain how he stacked up to the guy that beat him handedly before. Considering he didn't seem willing to attack, exactly as his words portrayed, the super soldier decided not to instigate anything.
"Alright, I'll bite." Jason returned his swords. "What are you here for if it's not about what I now know to be your group?"
"I do work for the person in charge, though that is becoming rather strained given what she's been trying to make me do." He nodded his head from side to side. "I suppose you could say I'm part of Humanity's Defense, though for how much longer remains to be seen."
"Humanity's Defense?" Jason asked.
"The group who took you." Frank replied. "Boss lady hates all things gem, though understands their value as tools. While not as extreme, she also hates you and all three of your parents."
"Gems aren't meant to be tools." Jason stated dangerously.
"Can't say I feel as strongly about it as her or others within the organization do, but you also won't see me relinquishing the gems I got." Frank shrugged. "They're quite useful, after all."
"If your boss hates me, shouldn't she have had her men do away with me immediately?" Jason asked.
"I think you lucked out in that regard because she'd like you dead by her hands." Frank shrugged. "Not sure what you did anger her, and I don't really care. Before you ask, client confidentiality means I'm not about to tell you her name."
"Then, how about you tell me how long it's been since I was picked up?" Jason asked.
"Well, you were out for six days and spent five days making those guys pay for it." Frank smiled. "That means tomorrow will be your twelfth day since being picked up."
"It's been that long?" Jason questioned and received a nod in response. "I've been gone for almost two weeks now." The super soldier rushed to his truck and took out his now charged phone to check his location. "I'm a day and a half out from Beach City!"
He looked where he left Frank, only to see the guy was gone. "I really messed up by playing along with those guys." He flipped on the lights and started driving back down the dirt road. "I got to get back."
Beach City: 2 Days Later, Night…
"See ya later, Peedee!" Steven exclaimed.
"Bye Steven!" Peedee returned.
Steven continued home with the Crystal Gems after the debacle with Ronaldo.
"Well, that was…fun." Amethyst had some difficulty finding a proper word to describe Ronaldo's brash actions.
"Yeah, it was pretty cool." Steven replied with a smile.
"Cool!?" Pearl asked the young hybrid incredulously. "You do realize you were kidnapped, and we were attacked by that human?"
"If you can call that attacking." Garnet commented.
"But it all worked in the end." Steven retorted.
"Buuuut aren't we back where we started?" Amethyst asked. "You know, the guy's still crazy."
"Regardless." Pearl interrupted. "Tomorrow marks the fourteenth day since Jason went missing. Garnet, you promised…"
"…we'll go searching. I know." Garnet stated. "A deal's a deal."
"Great!" Pearl exclaimed. "Now, I think…"
"What's that?" Steven asked.
The boy's question confused Pearl for a moment until she saw a purple semi-truck, with two connected trailers holding four of each: SUV, van, truck, and motorcycle. It was parked relatively close to Jason's SUV.
"Who's is that?" Pearl questioned.
"Maybe he's back!" Steven declared, running towards the house.
"Wait Steven!" Pearl called out before running after him.
The other two watched as their friends raced to the house.
"You knew, didn't you?" Amethyst asked.
"Maybe." Garnet lightly chuckled. "C'mon, let's go see how he is."
They casually walked towards the house after the others.
Beach House
It wasn't long before all four members of the Crystal Gems made it up the stairs. Together, they spotted their soldier sitting on the couch.
"Hey guys." Jason nodded with a smile. "I'm back."
"Jason, what happened to you?" Pearl asked.
"Well, I ended up learning who was behind Frank being at the Sky Pillar, as well as potentially that woman being at the Geode." Jason answered. "Short of it, your enemies are gems while mine are also human."
With the poll, the one on my profile, it doesn't seem like many of you have much of a care one way or the other what I choose. Perhaps that is genuinely the case, or you don't understand what the decision will entail. While I won't spoil the story I intend to tell with each option, I do suppose I can explain, to an extent, what each option details. Just as a reminder of what the poll is and where is stands:
The poll as it currently stands: In my story, Universal Rewrite, should Steven's mom be Pink Diamond or Rose Quartz? (Do you want Steven's mom to be a genuine Rose Quartz or the canon of Pink Diamond shape shifts into Rose Quartz)
Pink Diamond: 2
Rose Quartz: 1
This takes into account the currently 1 vote on the poll and the swing vote, which I will count as 1 vote for each, given by the reviewer dindagangleader14. The poll is still open on my profile, and I shall obviously still take reviews/pms into consideration.
What the mom options mean:
Pink Diamond: This option means Steven's mom will still be Pink Diamond, and the history as you understand it, in as far as her shape shifting into Rose, will remain intact. Everything we know of her from before she acquired Earth to giving up her form and having Steven. This doesn't exclude the story going forward, the one that happens now with Jason and everyone included, from changing. Essentially, the story won't end in exactly the same place.
Rose Quartz: This option separates Rose Quartz and Pink Diamond into two characters. Rather than Pink Diamond having faked her shattering, this would mean someone genuinely did shatter her. While a good deal of the rebellion side of Rose would remain intact, this naturally means there'd be a difference in history leading up to that point. It also removes the easy option of Steven being a Diamond, meaning, in theory, the story can't end the same way.
dindagangleader14: Who can saw on Zara. As for the woman, maybe or maybe not.