At the G.U.N HQ, Peridot and the G.U.N workers work feverously on the drill, building as fast as they can. While that, Steven, Fionna, Andrew and Ashley watch from above in an observation spot.

Steven watches in silence, his anger still visible. His mind cannot stop thinking about the sight of Homeworld's plan to Earth and how Jasper and Peridot are so positive about it.

His thoughts are interrupted by Fionna's touch on his shoulder. "Steven, are you okay? You seem… tense."

He looks at her in silence and sighs. "Yeah… I'm fine… Thanks, Finn." He gently pulls her for a hug.

Fionna returns the hug, resting her head against his shoulder. "You don't seem fine." She murmurs. "I don't think I've ever seen you this mad before."

Steven exhales sharply. "I just… I don't get it. How can they talk about something so horrible like it's some grand achievement? Peridot actually called it great, the destruction of an entire planet just for their stupid empire."

Andrew crosses his arms, leaning against the glass railing as he watches the drill construction below. "Gems don't see things like we do. To them, it's just how things are. They don't think about the lives they're erasing, just what they gain from it."

Ashley hums in agreement, adjusting her glasses. "Still, it's weird, isn't it? Peridot seems to be… shaken after you snapped at her. I don't think she expected you to react like that."

Steven scoffs. "Of course, she didn't. She probably thought I'd be impressed by all those plans, like I'd agree with her."

Fionna pulls back slightly, her gaze full of concern. "But Steven… you scared her."

Steven's expression hardens. "Good. She should be scared."

While they talk, Peridot keeps building with the engineers. She looks at her toolbox, the prism-shaped object is hidden inside there. She looks around and says out loud. "I need to do my business in the bathroom!" And she leaves quickly with her toolbox.

She paces towards the containment sector quickly, going straight to Jasper's cell. Jasper is sitting there, looking at the wall in silence, thinking.

Peridot clutches her toolbox tightly as she approaches Jasper's cell. Her steps are hurried but careful, she can't afford to draw too much attention. As she reaches the reinforced glass, Jasper turns her head slightly, acknowledging Peridot's presence but saying nothing.

Peridot quickly scans the hallway. No guards in sight. Good. She presses a few buttons on her limb enhancers, temporarily disabling the security feed around this sector, just a few seconds of static, enough time to talk.

"Jasper." She whispers urgently.

The larger Gem exhales, unimpressed. "What is it now?"

Peridot takes the prism object from her toolbox. "I got a communicator to contact Homeworld! We can call a ship to rescue us!" She says in a desperate-excited tone. "We just need to leave this facility, and then we're saved!"

Jasper narrows her eyes at the small prism device in Peridot's hands. She studies it for a moment, then looks back at Peridot with a blank, almost tired expression.

"Rescue us?" Jasper repeats, her tone devoid of the excitement Peridot had expected. "And then what?"

Peridot blinks, confused. "And then we go back to Homeworld, of course! Report everything, get reassigned, and—"

"And then what?" Jasper cuts her off, her deep voice carrying an edge of bitterness. She leans forward slightly, her orange hands resting on her knees. "You really think they'll just welcome us back? You think I can just walk back into Yellow Diamond's court after failing?"

Peridot falters. "But… it wasn't your fault!"

Jasper scoffs, standing up and stepping closer to the glass. Even in captivity, she's an imposing figure, her broad shoulders and piercing eyes making Peridot shrink slightly. "Doesn't matter. I lost. To him ." She spits the last word like it's poison. "As far as Homeworld's concerned, I'm defective now. I wouldn't be surprised if they shatter me the moment I step off the ship."

Peridot stares, stunned into silence.

Jasper crosses her arms. "And what about you, Peridot? Think they'll throw you a parade for getting captured and forced to work with organics? You lost your limb enhancers, your dignity, and now you're working with them. What do you think Yellow Diamond will see when you report in?"

Peridot swallows hard. She hadn't considered that. In her mind, contacting Homeworld had been the solution, the way to fix everything. But now, doubt creeps in. Would they really welcome her back? Or would they see her as tainted, compromised?

She looks down at the communicator, suddenly feeling its weight in her hands.

"But… But we're loyal," she says weakly. "We're not… We're not traitors!"

Jasper lets out a low chuckle, shaking her head. "Doesn't matter. We're prisoners. We failed. And Homeworld doesn't give second chances."

Peridot grips the device tightly, her fingers trembling. She wants to argue, to insist that Jasper is wrong, but deep down, she knows there's truth in her words.

For the first time, she wonders if contacting Homeworld is truly the right choice.

But Peridot shakes these thoughts away and sighs. "Fine… I'm doing it alone then." She rushes away from the containment sector.

Jasper watches as Peridot hurries away, her small form disappearing down the hallway. She exhales through her nose and turns back to the wall, her expression unreadable.

Peridot moves quickly, her grip tightening around the prism communicator as her mind races. Jasper's wrong. She has to be wrong . If she can just get outside, just send the message, Homeworld will come. They have to.

As she turns a corner, she nearly collides with a G.U.N. soldier. "Whoa, where's the fire, little green?" He asks, looking down at her with mild amusement.

Peridot straightens herself, forcing a nervous smile. "Just… need some fresh air. All these filthy organic molecules in here are, ugh, getting to me."

The soldier chuckles. "Yeah, yeah. Just don't wander too far. HQ's on high alert with those Homeworld plans we intercepted."

Peridot nods stiffly and continues her way. She has to make this work.

Meanwhile, in the observation area, Andrew raises an eyebrow. "Where did Peridot go?"

Ashley shrugs. "I think she said she was gonna the bathroom."

They all pause, realizing one thing.

"... Gems are made of light, they don't go to the bathroom." Says Fionna.

Steven grits his teeth and quickly rushes to the warp pad to be sure Peridot won't escape.

At the warp pad area, Peridot hops on it with a smirk. "Finally. I will leave this damn planet."

But as she activates the warp pad, Steven rushes there, jumping inside the warping light at the last second.

He stares Peridot in the eyes. "Peridot!"

She widens her eyes in horror, and as soon as they warp to the strawberry field, she tries to run away.

Steven draws his axe and slashes an energy pulse that she barely dodges.

Peridot stumbles as she lands, her eyes darting frantically for an escape route. The vast strawberry battlefield stretches around her, overgrown with red flowers and the remnants of Gem war technology from millennia ago. But none of that matters right now—only Steven, standing a few feet away, his axe still humming with energy.

"Peridot!" Steven's voice is sharp, cutting through the air like his weapon. His expression is a mix of frustration and determination. "What do you think you're doing?!"

Peridot grips the communicator tightly, her fingers twitching. "I-I told you already! I'm leaving! I'm going back to Homeworld where I belong!" She takes a step back, trying to gauge her chances of making a break for it.

Steven clenches his fists, his aura flaring slightly with pink light. "You really think they're gonna welcome you back after everything?"

Peridot hesitates for a split second before scowling. "Of course they will! I'm still useful! I can still serve!" Her voice wavers slightly, betraying her own doubts.

Steven takes a slow step forward. "Jasper doesn't think so. She thinks Homeworld will throw you away the second you show up."

Peridot stiffens. "Jasper doesn't know what she's talking about. She's just bitter because she lost."

Steven exhales sharply, gripping his axe tighter. "And what if she's right ?" His voice softens slightly, but the intensity in his gaze remains. "What if you go back, and they don't want you anymore?"

Peridot falters, her eyes flicking to the communicator in her hands. The device that was supposed to be her salvation now feels unbearably heavy.

Steven steps closer. "You saw what Homeworld did to Earth. You saw what they plan to do. And you still think they're gonna care about you?"

Peridot's breathing quickens. "I-I don't have a choice! I can't stay here! I don't belong with you organics! I can't —!"

Suddenly, the warp pad is activated again, and from there comes Jasper, as imposing as ever and start walking towards them. Peridot smirks. "Jasper, you changed your mind!"

Steven narrows his eyes. "Yeah, you changed your mind." he straightens up, ready for a fight.

Jasper says nothing and just passes by Steven like he wasn't even there. She approaches Peridot and snatches the communicator from her hands. "Give me that." She activates the communicator, which starts floating and glowing yellow. She looks back at Steven with a serious expression. "You better hide somewhere if you don't want to be seen by her."

Steven tenses at Jasper's words, but he quickly hides behind a big bush.

The communicator opens a yellow screen and Peridot grins maniacally while Jasper just crosses her arms.

Then, a slender woman with a round gem on her chest stands on the screen. "This is the Yellow Diamond control room. Who authorized you to make this call?"

Peridot snaps back to her mind and stutters. "No one, b-but it's an emergency!"

"That's no excuse to use the direct Diamond communication channel."

And then, a deep voice comes from behind the woman. " Pearl ."

The woman jumps a bit at the voice. "Yes, my Diamond?"

Peridot widens her eyes in nervousness.

"Why is there someone on the Diamond line?" The voice asks.

"I don't know. I was just about to tell her that-"

"I'll take it from here." A giant yellow hand takes the screen, showing a giant woman with yellow skin and a yellow gem on her chest.

Steven watches in silence, surprised. "... Yellow Diamond, huh?" He whispers to himself.

Peridot straightens up and make a diamond symbol with her arms while Jasper keeps hers crossed. "My Diamond, Peridot reporting in."

Yellow Diamond raises a hand, looking at another screen. " Which Peridot?"

Peridot gulps. "F-Facet 2F5L, Cut 5XG. I'm sorry to contact you this way, but all other forms of communication have been destroyed and—"

Yellow Diamond raises her hand and Peridot stops talking. "This says you're behind schedule on your mission to…" Yellow Diamond stops as she sees the image of planet Earth. She turns to the screen. "How is the Earth?"

Peridot was about to say something, but Jasper interrupts. "It's full of own-willing life."

Yellow Diamond sighs. " Organic life. And I see there is the Jasper that came with you."

Jasper clenches her fists, but says nothing.

She continues. "But why aren't you calling from the ship?"

Peridot gulps. "The ship was confiscated."

Yellow Diamond raises an eyebrow. "By whom?"

Peridot takes a pause. "By… By humans."

Yellow Diamond narrows her eyes. "You're telling me you lost your ship for a group of inferior life-forms?"

Peridot steps back and stutters. "I— Uhm— Well—"

"Yes, that's exactly what happened." Jasper interrupts.

Steven glances up from the bush in surprise.

"Although it's still archaic, the human technology is way more advanced than we thought. They got us on surprise."

Yellow Diamonds look back to the other screen. "I'll inform your managers of your incompetence. And what is the status of the Cluster?"

"The Cluster… will emerge shortly." Affirms Peridot.

"Good. We'll finally get some use out of that miserable planet. Thank you for the report, Peridot and Jasper. There will be a ship heading to your location to take you to your next assignments."

"Hold on." Jasper exclaims.

Yellow Diamond pauses, her piercing gaze sharpening as she directs her full attention toward Jasper. "What is it?"

Jasper takes a slow breath, fists clenching at her sides. "Before we return… I need to know something." Her tone is steady, but there's something beneath it, something not quite like the proud, battle-hardened Jasper Peridot has always known. "What would happen if I ask for a reassignment? If I asked to do something else but fighting?"

Peridot stiffens beside her, her small form shrinking slightly under Yellow Diamond's scrutinizing gaze.

Yellow Diamond's expression remains unreadable for a long moment. Then, her eyes narrow, and a single scoff escapes her lips.

"A reassignment?" she repeats, her voice dripping with disbelief. "Jasper, is this a joke?"

Jasper holds her ground, her body rigid. "No. I want to know."

Yellow Diamond straightens, looming even taller on the screen. "You are a Quartz soldier, built for battle, forged for strength. That is your purpose."

Jasper's jaw tightens. "And if I don't want to fight anymore?"

Yellow Diamond's expression darkens. "Then you are useless."

Jasper's breath catches for just a second, but she doesn't flinch. Instead, she tightens her fists. "So that's it, huh? After everything I've done for Homeworld, after every battle I've fought, every victory I've won, you'd just throw me away?"

Yellow Diamond's eyes narrow, and the energy in the screen crackles with an intimidating hum. "You were made to serve, Jasper. You were made to fight. If you no longer wish to fulfill your purpose, then what use do I have for you?"

Peridot looks between Jasper and the Diamond, her fingers twitching nervously. "M-My Diamond, surely there's a way Jasper can still be useful to Homeworld! She's the strongest Quartzes ever produced! Maybe— maybe she could train new soldiers or—"

"Enough." Yellow Diamond cuts her off with a cold glare. "Jasper has made her position clear."

Jasper's breathing is heavy, her mind racing. The truth she's been trying to avoid, the truth she always had known, has finally been spoken aloud. Homeworld does not care about her. Homeworld does not care about any of them. It never has.

Something in her chest twists, something raw and bitter. But then, a different feeling starts creeping in, a sense of liberation.

She clenches her jaw. "I see."

Yellow Diamond watches her in silence, waiting for Jasper to fold, to apologize, to beg for her place back.

Jasper doesn't.

Instead, she exhales and tilts her head slightly. "Then I guess we're done here."

And with one swift motion, summons her helmet and smashes the communicator into the ground, shattering it into hundreds of flickering shards.

Peridot gasps. "JASPER?!"

Yellow Diamond's image crackles and distorts, her cold, unreadable gaze the last thing visible before the screen vanishes completely.

For a moment, there is only silence, the hum of the broken device fading into nothing.

Then, Peridot lets out a strangled noise, scrambling to pick up the shattered pieces. "No, no, no, what did you do?! We needed that! That was our way out!" Her hands shake as she clutches the broken remains of the communicator, panic rising in her voice.

Jasper turns away, stepping past Peridot as if she isn't even there.

Peridot stares at the broken device in disbelief. "Jasper… why?"

Jasper stops walking, looking out over the ruins of the battlefield. The remains of a war fought long before her time. A war she was made to continue, without question.

She exhales. "Because fighting for someone who doesn't care makes you weak."

Peridot stares at Jasper, mouth slightly open, unable to process what just happened. Everything she believed in, everything she thought she was supposed to do, was crumbling before her eyes.

Steven slowly steps out from behind the bush, gripping his axe but keeping his stance relaxed. "So… what now?"

Jasper doesn't look at him, still watching the distant horizon. "Now?" She exhales. "I figure that out myself."

Peridot clenches her fists. "You—You just doomed us! We could've gone home!"

Jasper finally turns to her. " Home wouldn't take us back." She looks at the shattered communicator. "Maybe it never really was home in the first place."

Peridot looks down, her mind racing with too many thoughts, too many fears. She thought she knew everything. But maybe… maybe she didn't know anything at all.

Steven comes from behind the bushes, clapping his hands with a grin. "Holy shit, Jasper! I didn't expect that from you! You did great! Haha!"

Jasper shoots Steven a glare. "Don't get excited, kid. I didn't do this for you."

Steven smirks but doesn't push further. "Still, you made the right choice."

Peridot, still clutching the broken communicator, trembles. "But… but what do we do now?"

Jasper exhales, rolling her shoulders. "We move forward. Figure it out." She turns to Steven. "You still want me locked up, or do I get to make my own choices?"

Steven hesitates for a second, then shakes his head. "Well… G.U.N probably want to keep you locked, especially after you broke away from your cell…" He grins. "But in my opinion, you're free to go or do whatever you want. I suggest you to join G.U.N, to be an agent like me and Fionna, but that's your choice." He looks to Peridot. "Same for you, Peridot."

Peridot stares at the broken communicator in her hands, her mind racing. Everything she thought she knew was slipping through her fingers. Jasper had made her choice. But what about her?

She looks up at Steven, then at Jasper, her expression torn. "I… I don't know." Her voice is small. "What else is there for me?"

Jasper crosses her arms, glancing at Steven. "The kid's got a point. You're smart, Peridot. Maybe it's time to stop following orders and start thinking for yourself."

Peridot swallows hard. Could she really do that?

Steven smiles gently. "You don't have to decide now. Just… think about it."

Jasper exhales, rolling her shoulders. "I'll pass on the whole 'joining G.U.N' thing. But I'll figure something out." She turns to leave.

Steven nods. "Good luck, Jasper."

Jasper smirks slightly. "Don't need luck, kid."

Peridot watches her go, then looks back at Steven. Slowly, she nods. "Maybe… Maybe I'll try."

Steven grins. "That's all I ask."

As the sun sets over the field, the three of them stepping on the Warp Pad, but one they finally get to choose for themselves.

[TO BE CONTINUED]