Hello all. I hope everyone is staying safe! I really like hearing what everyone thinks, so please comment. Enjoy reading!
"I'll only say it one more time, Off Color," Emerald snarled from her ship's captain chair. She was only visible through the open communications screen on the wall of Lars' new ship.
Steven sighed, loudly. It had been a very long trip indeed as they rushed through space, chasing the small blip that would lead them to the Alloy fleet. He caught Connie sigh as well.
Emerald's anger was directed at Lars, who was in his own captain's chair. He was unable to hide his smirk. Despite this, she continued, "I'M the one leading this rescue mission. The Diamonds said so! You under formed Gems are here as cannon fodder."
"And is that why Yellow and Blue are on MY ship?" Lars pointed out.
"It's to confuse the enemy!" Emerald hissed back, "The Alloys won't bother attacking a cobbled together ship like yours when there is a true threat before them, like me!"
"We're all allies here," Steven offered, again, for the tenth time that hour. "We're all working together to get White back. There is nobody better than anyone else here. Just allies with a common goal."
From the view screen Emerald smiled, "Very well said my Diamond! Allowing the Off Colors to think themselves equal to us will let them more easily throw themselves into the fray first!"
"You tried," Connie assured Steven with a pat on his shoulder.
"Do you have everything under control, Lars?" Steven asked as he stood.
Lars gave him a thumbs up. "Yeah. The Alloy Fleet isn't far now. If we can hear the beacon over Emerald's squawking, we'll be there in the hour."
The comment got the desired result. Emerald gasped indignantly, "How DARE you, you cracked, overcooked, unnaturally soft piece of talc! I have never in all my years-"
Steven kissed Connie on the cheek, "I need to check on Yellow and Blue. Try not to go crazy here," he said before he headed for the door.
He left, and just before the door slid shut, he heard Padparadscha gasp, "Captain Lars! Emerald is about to start yelling very vulgar profanity at you!"
Steven hurried down the hall. He passed warrior Gems as they scurried about the ship, some saluting him. Blue hadn't spoken since they left Earth to trace Magnetar's ship, even with Yellow's comforting presence. Yellow would be busy with the troops, as she was smothering her worry for White in her battle strategies. He knew he had to check on them both.
"Garnet?" Steven said when he saw the tall fusion outside the massive doors that would lead to the two Diamonds. Leaning lopsided against the wall was Spinel, and Steven didn't call out again when he realized they were talking.
Spinel shrugged half-heartedly, "But I'm usually so good at keeping everyone happy. It's why I was made, ya know? And I'm just as worried about White as everyone else, but, I don't want Yellow and Blue to know that. They'll want to comfort me, and I'm supposed to be doing that for them."
"It's not your job to keep everyone happy," Garnet explained to Spinel. She was using her soft, counseling voice. "Life is messy. There are times where being 'happy' isn't possible, and that includes you. Staying together and being honest with your family is what will get you through the hard times. Giving up your own peace in exchange for others isn't a fair trade. You're worried about White. You have every right to be, just like Yellow and Blue. That doesn't make you less Gem. They will understand."
"Blue's trying really hard not to cry," Spinel huffed. "That's why I wanted to make her smile. She knows her powers will make everyone around her sad, so she's just shut down. I want to help fix that, but I'm terrible at talking all serious!"
Garnet chuckled, "Well it's a good thing Steven is here to help."
Spinel startled and looked up. Steven took the opportunity to walk over and open his arms towards Spinel. She hesitated, but then accepted the embrace. "Garnet's right. You have emotions too and have every right to express them."
"What joke do you think I should try to cheer Blue up?" Spinel wondered, her head still on Steven's shoulder.
"Let's hold off on the jokes for now," Steven said and gave her back a firm pat, "there's plenty of time for that when we're all safe on Earth."
"The best time to talk to the Diamonds is now," Garnet explained. "There won't be a chance after."
Steven nodded. He took Spinel by the hand and they walked into the loud chaos of the cargo bay.
Warrior Gems hustled around them. Steven spotted Yellow alongside Jasper and other Amethysts. Yellow was focused, buried in their discussions of attack strategies.
"It's how she's coping," Spinel explained. "Makes her feel in control, ya know?"
Steven carried on towards Blue. Her large form was slumped, her gaze at some undefined point on the wall.
"We're almost there," Steven told her.
"I really want to go on board with you," Blue muttered.
Steven nodded while giving her leg a pat, "Magnetar will detect you and Yellow if you go." He reminded her gently.
"Right," Spinel said. "We got to stay here and be a distraction! Keep the big metal morons focused on us."
"I know it's not right," Blue sighed. She didn't want to hold Steven's gaze, "But I want to hurt him. This Magnetar, who I have never even seen. He destroyed our home and took White away… I swear if he hurt her," she couldn't finish the thought.
"It's ok to feel angry, Blue." Steven promised her. "And you can feel sad. No one will hold it against you."
"Just wait," Spinel said with a grin. "We'll get White back, figure out a way of walloping the Alloys, and have a good laugh about this on Homeworld!"
Blue allowed herself a smile. She picked Spinel up in her hands and snuggled her to her face.
Steven grinned as well, but it didn't last once the tears started to flow.
Blue gasped, "Oh, Steven, I didn't upset you, did I?"
Steven wiped at his face, but the large tears continued to spill over his lashes, "It's not me," he realized. It was his powers to connect to others. 'White.' He thought. They were close.
Steven hurried back to the bridge, trying not to worry why White would be crying. The ship was stopped. Through the view screen Steven saw they hid in the shadow of a moon alongside Emerald's own ship.
"Alloy ships ahoy," Lars said as Steven walked in.
"They haven't spotted us yet," Connie said.
"And we'll spin them in circles when we do!" Emerald said with a confident smile and clenched fist.
"They shouldn't detect us, as long as only Lars and Stevonnie go onboard," Steven said, and looked over at Connie. She fastened her sword on her back and gave a thumbs up, "but in case they do, don't let them get close enough to hit anybody. We'll be in and out. No unnecessary risks."
He took Connie's hands and spun them around in a circle. Light ingulfed them, and he felt his individuality melt away as they fused.
Stevonnie shook out their long hair and stretched their arms high overhead. It had been a while since they had existed.
"Rocking the beard, Stevonnie," Lars said with a grin.
Stevonnie rubbed their chin and winked, "You ready Lars?"
Lars stood from his captain's chair and looked to his crew, "You guys keep us out of Alloy laser reach until I get back."
"We promise. Good luck!" Fluorite said.
Lars cleared his throat, and then screamed at the wall. His voice shook the room, ripping open a portal that he and Stevonnie jumped through.
Layers of multicolored beams of light danced past them as they soared through the portal. Lars roared again, and a black exit opened before them. Stevonnie landed on their bare feet on a cold metal floor. Lars was right beside them. He bent over, hands on his knees and winded.
Stevonnie gripped the hilt of their sword tight, scanning the dark hallway they had warped into while Lars recovered. They were alone in the massive hallway for the moment.
"Which way?" Lars whispered, upright once again.
Stevonnie considered the question. They looked down both directions of the ship, having to squint in the dim light. "I don't…" the tears returned. Stevonnie blinked them away to see clear again, "This way," they followed the feeling, Lars trailing their shadow. The group stayed against the wall. They peeked around each corner, scrambling into the cracks of the ship when the lumbering footfall of massive metal bodies past.
"This place is a dark depressing maze," Lars huffed. "How would anyone know their way around here? There's not a sign or map in sight."
"They don't have to memorize their way," Stevonnie explained, rubbing at their temples as an encroaching headache began to present itself. "This whole place is somehow connected to Magnetar, and his followers are a part of him. I doubt anyone gets lost."
"Good thing you can feel White, or however you're tracking her," Lars said.
"Not very well I'm not," Stevannie said. "Magnetar's presence is so overpowering… I can hardly breathe."
"Speaking of the big bad himself. Can you tell where Magnetar is, so we can avoid him?" Lars asked.
"I…can't. It's like he's everywhere."
"So then, what are we going to do if he's with White?" Lars pointed out.
Stevonnie pursed their lips, "No idea. I guess wait until he leaves. Let's hope he's not. We can't fight him right now. Not while we're in his territory."
"We've been having a hard time fighting him NOT in his territory too," Lars sighed.
Tears pricked Stevonnie's eyes and Lars stopped when they did. "We're close," they sniffed.
They hurried down a final dark passageway and stopped before a massive white door. The bright door was a contrast to the rest of the ship, and Stevonnie pressed their hands against it's metal face. "In here," they pressed an ear to the door. "She's alone."
Lars stretched his neck on both side of his shoulders and cracked his knuckles, "Alright, keep an eye out. This may draw some attention," he unleashed a roar that split the air in front of them. A short portal opened through the door, and they both jumped through before it collapsed. They stood in a large white room, empty save for the stairs that led up to a nest of white pillows. The lack of color contrast made it hard to distinguish anything in the room. Stevonnie squinted up at the pillows. A white hand with well-manicured black fingernails hung limp off the edge. "White Diamond!" Stevonnie gasped. They pushed off the cold floor and floated up over the steps, landing next to White. Right away, Stevonnie knew something was wrong with her. White was laying on her bed of pillows, her body still as stone. One hand was clenched tight and held to her chest. Her eyes were barely open as they stared at the far wall; her lips parted ever so slightly.
"I know we need to stay fused to avoid detection, but I think she needs to hear me," Steven said from within. He and Connie unfused. He would just have to make it quick. Steven jumped over to White's face to put both hands on her cheeks. "It's me! White, you got to snap out of it!" There was no response, White's gaze going through him.
"What's wrong with her?" Connie asked. She placed a careful hand on White's clenched fingers.
The ship trembled before Steven could answer. Steven turned to the port window, and saw the stationary stars shift. They were moving.
Lars grunted as he hoisted himself over the final step. The communication's device on his belt buzzed to life, Emerald's voice coming through urgently, "The Alloy's are wise to us! We have begun evasive maneuvers. Hurry!"
"We got to wake her up somehow. It's not like we can carry her out!" Lars huffed.
Steven turned back to White and waved frantic hands in front of her eyes, "We need to get out of here White! Yellow and Blue are waiting for us. You need to get up!"
"Steven?" White whispered. She blinked, her eyes glassy and vague. Then clarity hit her hard and she gasped. "Steven!? W-what are you doing here?" she sat up in a panic, her once limp hand coming to cover her mouth.
"We're here to bring you home, but we have to hurry!" Steven explained with a relieved smile. His relief dissipated as he saw the terror on her face.
"No, no Steven! Magnetar is going to know you are here! You have to go!" White insisted.
"Um, that's what we're doing if you care to get up," Lars snapped.
Connie held out a calm hand to Lars, "White, are you ok?"
White's breath caught in her throat. She glanced fearfully at the door, and then at the window when the ship moved with the momentum of laser fire. "N-no. I'm not ok. Magnetar, he… he's going to find you. You all need to go."
Steven considered White carefully. Tears spilled over her dark lashes as she trembled. This was a different White, lacking her usual flamboyant nature or over the top theatrical antics when she was sad. She had been hurt deep, and now was to terrified to move.
He placed a reassuring hand on her knee, and she jumped in response to the small stimuli. "We aren't leaving unless you're with us."
White looked from him to her closed hand. For some reason, the sight of whatever was in her palm made her weep. She closed her fingers again and cradled it to her chest. "It was me, Steven. I rejuvenated myself all those years ago."
Steven jolted at the news. "Why?"
"Because I wanted to forget everything Magnetar put me through. I wanted us to be happy…" before Steven could question her further, White lowered her hand to her lap and opened her fingers. In her palm were the shards of a Gem he thought looked like a smooth shimmering Pearl. "She was the first Gem I ever made. He took her from me before my first escape eons ago and had her under his armor…. He was distracted, when he violated me, and I snatched her back. I need you to take her back to Earth and put her back together. I've been to devastated, I haven't been able to make a bubble to send her to safety. I want her to be free."
"What did you say Magnetar did to you?" Connie gasped.
Steven accepted the shards in his hands and bubbled them, tapping the top and sending the broken Gem back to Earth. He turned his gaze back up to White and gave her a confident look. "We're going to get you away from Magnetar. He won't hurt you as long as we're here."
White jolted, her eyes widening as something seemed to occur to her. "I'm just like him," she muttered, and the tears returned to roll down her face. "I'm so sorry… I tortured my Gems throughout Era 1 and 2. I put them through the same hurt Magnetar had to me. I made Pink miserable, a prisoner…"
"You grew from your mistakes," Steven insisted as he saw White spiraling into a full blown panic attack, "You've worked to make things better for Gem kind! You're nothing like Magnetar!"
White hid her face in her hands, her whole being consumed with overwhelming devastation. "I hurt my Gems… I deserve Magnetar."
Poof.
White's physical form vanished in a shimmering cloud. Steven rushed forward and caught White's large Gem with an exasperated "Umph!"
"What happened to her? She wasn't hurt." Connie said, and helped Steven hold White's Gem up.
"Sometimes Gem's can poof if they are emotionally overwhelmed. It happened to Spinel when she learned my mom abandoned her." Steven explained.
"Well," Lars said, clicking his teeth. "This will make it easier to carry her out of here." He pointed out.
The room's large door slid open.
Steven and the others spun around. They came face to face with a single Alloy, the largest they had seen and the most intimidating of them all.
Both parties observed the other in silence, Steven transfixed by the Alloy's burning eyes that seemed to be made of living star fire. He recognized the giant's overwhelming energy, having felt it through the other Alloys and the ship they stood on.
Then Lars' shoulders slumped, and he huffed a tired sigh, "Let me guess. That's Magnetar, isn't it?"