Status update 161103 (FINISHED - Morion & Gaspeite)

[Morion]

Empire City
And in the middle of the city, its Gem Lord and Protector's base
Or home...
The M Tower - as some Gems called it
A giant skyscraper, glass and steel "human Spire", a bit upgraded with scavanged Gem tech, and a stollen Warp Pad in its great hall
The Smoky Quartz's home and base
And the residency of several Gems
The Smoky Quartz, the Morion
The Fire Opal, "Chip", the Eternal Flame, the Rising Phoenix
The Spider Web Jasper, Spider
The Herald of Pink Diamond, the Fusion Gaspeite
Tho' she not lived inside the building, but Black Star Diopside, the Gem Bounty Hunter sometimes parked her cloaced ship next to the skyscraper...
It wasn't their home, but Morion provided and reserved rooms/homes for Gems like Morganite, Lady Chyrsocolla, Bloodstone, Obsidian (with a shovel^^),; Amber; Carbide and even Her Majesty's, White Diamond's Grand Inquisitor, his excellency, the exalted Opalite!
The M Tower was a big building, with plenty of empty rooms... it was a small price for the City's safety that the Smoky Quartz provided; he protected Empire city from Humans, Rebels and Monsters alike... and it was the center of his web of influance (and the beating black heart of his criminal empire)
And the home of lots of humans.
His Humans...
The security was tight (the usual thugs in shades and suits, headsets, patrolling in pairs) and not-so-hidden cameras watched the corridors
The guards were armed... columbian and Jamaican thugs
It was a mini-Spire, well guarded fortress
A base
But a luxurious home in the same time...
Before the building there was a huge crater, and in it a huge black monolith with golden names. A lot of names...
The victims of the Crystal Gem villain Heliotorpe, the Crimson Death's rampage... a sad monument.

Morion was on the top, on the great balcony; in his humanoid form, but not Gem "armor"
He was a tall ('Quartz tall^^) Gem (but not bulky like a Jasper or Amethyst, his kind was slender) with long grey hair and silver eyes. It was evident, he was wearing real, human clothes, - black silk suit - Italian with maching shoes - shirt, tie and cane. - it wasn't his projection, since the shirt and vest hided his Gem.
His skin tone was a bit grey...ish, like the smoke, but he could pass as a caucasian man. One hand rested on his cane, in the other was a glass of whisky.
The Smoky Quartz watched his city from the balcony, deep in his thoughts

[Zriphelo (Gaspeite)]

Gaspeite started to appreciate human structures. Though, they could not defend themselves against gems, the humans were efficient against each other. The fusion learned the city, she created a proto plan of Empire city on her screen, saving it if for her and other gems but also she ever gets lost... I said, IF, because it wouldn't happen because of her intelligence.
After scouting outside, she decided to come back to the M-pire (;p) building, one of the places where, like in Homeworld, she didn't have to wear her armor pieces. She felt "comfortable" in those human spires. Nearly as comfortable as in a gem spire, but not quite. The monument outside would have chills running up her spine when she looked at it, though. She missed it, while she was scouting near the road leading to Beach city. Talking directly with Morion was one of her objectives, she was stranded here momentarily and wanted to show Morion that fusion wasn't a bad thing, but she didn't know how to put it in a sentence.

The tall gem took the elevator, slightly uncomfortable with the height but she had to deal with it. She ventured back to the room where she had a deep meaningful conversation with Carbide. Reaching the top of the building, she goes out, looking back at the room, making her way to the balcony until she notices a tall-standing familair figure.
Of course, it was Morion, but she didn't know that he was here, so it surprised her a little bit. It looked like the Smokey Quartz was thinking, or meditating, she didn't really know.
The Morion would hear a couple of silent footsteps, and then a light voice taking away the ambient sound of the city. It sounded like Gaspeite, but somewhat lighter, still, her usual composed/confident tone. Like you removed most of the deep in her voice.

"Morion? This is unexpected, I came here to scan the city from a better point of view, but I have to say, this is a very good meditation area."

"I'd like to say, I want to change your opinion on fusion. I'm sure you're tolerant about intra-gem fusions, like rubies, but you really seem to dislike.. me, or my kind."

The fusion stays straight while taking a couple of steps towards the balcony.

[Morion]

The Smoky Quartz was deep in his mind, in his thoughts when the fusion arrived
Morion looked to the guest and smiled, with a little bow

"Fusion Gapseite! I hope you are satisfied the level I gave you to make it a base..."

Then turned to the City

"The tallest human spire in my city... with the best view. I usually come here to meditate, or just watch the city. It is so familiar, yet, it is so different than our Spires."

He watched the city, sipped from his drink

"I am a bit surprised my oppinion matters to you Fusion Gaspeite... You are Pink diamond's Herald and General! Way above these things."

Morion not yet turned back to the Fusion

"The different-Gem Fusions... your kind... they are the "living" embodiment of the Crystal Gem "ideas". But I guess time are changing..."

Moiron felt tired

[Zriphelo (Gaspeite)]

Gaspeite stayed somewhat back, observing the city from above, assembling a better map from the sky view they had of the city. The gem felt in herself like it was useless anyway, but still had to pass time until her Diamond proudly took back control of Earth. When she talked, her usual Jasper'ish low tone came back.

"You are right, the view from here is incredible, even though if her Majesty Pink Diamond gets back the control of this site, it will not be of much importance compared to her colonisation plans, I gladly hope you are aware of that. It is though, interesting to learn about human structures, to see that they built something similar to what our Bitmuths create."

Gaspeite would talk in a very serious and composed voice, seemingly confident about what she is saying

If your vision is important, it is because I do not want anyone to mistake me with any rebellious gems. The horrendous Crystal Gems want to break our caste, they want to imprint their ideals of a "free life", even though our society is perfect as it is. The Crystal gems only bring discord and useless ideals, making us lose precious gems being converted or being shattered. Pink Diamond will fix this.

The word makes a cold lightning strike through her in a millisecond
Her voice cuts, and seems to become less deep again, but still as straight.

"Even though Gaspeite is a bump in our caste, it is because it is an order from Her Majesty Pink Diamond directly. It's not always easy, and that's why it's hard when gems look at you disgusted and/or superior are hard to bear. But meditation is a big part of keeping a stable connection. It is a routine, more of an order. It is not possible to describe how a fusion works precisely, unless you have in the past, but I assume you haven't done that in the past."

Now, the fusion would leave the tone zone, rolling back to her usual tone.

"Although that Giant red monolith is really intimidating."

But even with that line, the first 4/5th of the conversation still leaves a heavy ambiance around the two gems.

[Morion]

"I am more concenred about the other Diamonds plan with her Planet..."

The smoky Quartz admited

"To be honest I am not sure, Yellow Diamond was "authorised" to use her planet as a traning and testing ground for her insane and dangerous experiments. And White Diamond stationed here several powerful, elite Gems from her Court for some reason... not to mention My Diamond. Tho' I was lent to White Diamond for some missions, I am the member or Blue Diamond's court... and i was sent here to Watch!

He sipped from his drink

"I am well aware what will happen with Earth and the Humans. Everything will be gone. The cities, the animals... everything. But it is possible, Her Majesty, Pink Diamond will give some dome-like biospheres to the humans, to live in it, like a "Zoo" or a "Human Reserve". Who knows? Who cares... Humans are irrelevant compared to the Gem Empire, like the Crystal Gems. But untill Her Majesty, Pink Diamond arrives, we are forced to live with them... to adapt! For their loyality and servitude, I promised salvation to my Humans... I think I told you the details..."

Morion sipped from his drink

"I think there will be Gems who will think you are a Crystal Gem.

He admited

"But I am not among them..."

Morion frowned

"My apprentice, the young Fire Opal is fascinated by the concpet of the Fusion tho'..."

[Zriphelo (Gaspeite)]

"Obviously Earth will look very different. The humans and the Crystal Gems will only be Gem history in the future. Though, their construction designs are interesting. They have structures called monuments... but that's irrelevant.

She continues to scan down, finishing her plan of this part of the city, she will obviously need a view from the back of the building now. It feels rather pleasant that Morion seems to understand. Gaspeite is sure to have no problems with other gems mistaking her for a Crystal gem, though.
"A Fire Opal", Gaspeite thought. That gem name was bouncing inside her head, searching for a clue when it would strike a forgotten memory. She would remember something that only made her feel sad, even though the thought didn't stay for long.

"I would be glad to meet an actual earth gem soldier, if I remember correctly a lot of Opal gems were made on Earth, time before the incidents with Rose Quartz happened. Though, I have to be straight forward... Fire Opals only lead to a very bad memory, in which Peridot gems that I was overlooking at the time, because I was not required on the field for some time, attempted to shatter a runt gem, which emerged later than the others. I completely hate shattering gems who did not turn rebellious or corrupted, because that is such a waste of resources and potential. Even then there are limits, because that is such a waste of resources and potential. The Earth colony is already not developing very fast, completely wasting resources is horrific. Poor gem, it could have been useful to our armies but they decided to hunt it down. I am not worried anymore, it surely couldn't have survived for so long in gem territory."

She looks over at her screen, as her screen show a window with the Empire City scheme completed to around 80%.

[Morion]

"Fire Opal... he hates to be called that to be honest. Chip is the name he uses. You see, he is an Earth born Gem, he was made here. Possibly to the orders of White Diamond herself! A special Gem... But thanks to the Crystal Gem sabotage, Fire Opal emerged chipped. With a chipped Gemstone, and the Peridots, to save their skins, tried to shatter him. But Chip was stronger than them, even as a "newborn", even chipped, even without a complete knowledge or matrix... poffed them and escaped. Then untill I found him, he was lived among the humans, hiding from his own kind. I took him under my wings... but he is like Bloodstone. Or Carbide. "Free spirit" I can't really blame him tho'"

Morion frowned

"His own people tried to murder him and for what? Because he survived the landslide and jus chipped not shattered when the Rebels sabotaged the Kindergarten... Those Peridots were lucky, the Crystal Gems murdered them, so they don't have to face ME to answer their crimes against Fire Opal!"

The Smoky Quartz emptied his drink

"So.. don't expect a loyal obedient warrior! He is just a kid, the human term is "teenager"... but with a bright future as a protector. The kid is smart and golden hearted..."

He nodded and listened to the Fusion

"If you talks to him.. I sguggest don't mention you are a part Peridot. He is a bit hot-headed. Then again, he absolutely despises lying or half-truths..."

It was really a dilemma
But it wasn't his problem^^

"Good luck with him!"

Finally turned to the Fusion

"But enough of him... so you say, my dislike makes your life harder? I am sorry. You are a loyal homeworld Gem, I never intended to casue you discomfort Fusion Gaspeite! I'm tries to be open minded... we are Gems after all I will adapt.

[Zriphelo (Gaspeite)]

Gaspeite would twitch once when Morion was explaining what happened to Chip. Gaspeite understood that the Fire Opal he wanted to show her was the Fire Opal that had fled the kindergardeners, the one she was just talking about, but what was strange is that it seemed like Morion did not make the connection between these 2. Even if Gaspeite only has blurry knowledge about what happened, she clearly knows that the events match. And to widen her knowledge, because she did not know exactly what had happened, but a rebel attack? That wasn't possible, because kindergardens were closed after Rose Quartz's announcement. Even with blurry knowledge, she still knew that the incident was a simple miscalculation, due to the lack of resources and lack of knowledge about Earth's soil, and so earth collapsed, due to the unstable structure and the energy absorption from the gems.
But the conversation shouldn't resolve only around this, she would roll with whatever happens on that side. Gaspeite was half impatient to see Chip.

Being somewhat out of things to say, Gaspeite assembles a sentence after our classy assassin finishes talking.

"It's very kind to have acknowledged that so fast, and adapting is very important for us, the Gem empire. I must ask, though, what is happening with the giant red structure infront of your spire?"

[Morion]

"I think those Peridots tried to shatter another Fire Opal, not my Chip, Fuison Gaspeit..."

The Smoky Quartz shrugged

"Make no mistake Fusion Gaspeite, I don't think fusing is a good thing. The same Gem fusions, the "warmachines" are necessary things on the battlefield. Their might and usefulness are unquestionable. But after the battle the Fusions separate... Two Rubies are more useful than one Ruby Fusion. Depending on the situation of curse. Maybe the future is bright for the Fusions... I don't know. But you said your Gems are fused quite a some time now... you were and are an experiment. Yet, the different Gem fusion is still a crime, punishable by Shattering. So I would be prepared if I were you to separate, if ordered...."

Morion tried to prepare the Fusion for the worst; it was possible (according to Morion) Pink Diamond will terminate this Fusion experiment afer her arrival. If Gaspeite was such a high ranking "Gem", then the situation on Earth was her fault in the eyes of her Diamond...
Then the Smoky Quartz blinked

"Uhm... what giant red structure if may I ask?

[Zriphelo (Gaspeite)]

Even if she felt like Morion was trying to decompose Gaspeite, she didn't fall apart, just because she knows there wouldn't be any problems. She wasn't so high, Gaspeite was only one of many generals stationed on Earth. Gaspeite had nothing to do with the problems on Earth, and was even one of the last convoys sent there, so the fact that Earth is in shambles wasn't her fault. Gaspeite knows some things the other gems don't directly know. Morion has no idea about what the experiment is about, he was only trying to assemble ideas of what could happen to Gaspeite. She thought she told him that she had to unfuse on some rare occasions for testing or other reasons. Anyway, it just didn't affect her at all, Gaspeite is very obediant to the Diamonds and very serious.

"The crater infront of the spire, you can't miss it."

[Morion]

"Ahh... that"

The smoky Quartz nodded

"You missed the "show". Several months ago I hunted down and bubbled a Crystal gem... not so long ago I decided to use his Gem as a powersource, to test one of our human-Gem hybrid technology energy converter. Sadly, it was... faulty, the device exploded, and the Crystal Gem broke free. Lady Heliotrope, the Crimson Death... a powerful Bloodstone warrior. We fought... to cover her excape, she nuked a block, and her energy explosion killed several humans, and left that crater. On the black marble memorial we wrote up the names of the innocent victims... so the Humans will never forget the Crystal Gems are dangerous!"

Morion explained

"My best guess is, she escaped back to the Crystal Temple, in Beach City

[Zriphelo (Gaspeite)]

Gaspeite poders for a moment, it seems like a lot of things happen to gems on Earth. For her though, using a gem to power up something was cruel, but she didn't really care in the end, it wasn't uncommon practice in the gem world to use some gems like that. And even if she didn't care about human lives, it was stupid that a Crystal Gem killed would kill several human, since they're defending Earth... or are they? A powerful gem warrior becoming a crystal gem, what a waste of time and resources!

"Wait, you have knowledge about their position? Why didn't we gather every single gems still loyal to the Diamonds, and defeat those pesky traitors!" She says, in a very determined voice.

[Morion]

"Everybody knows Beach City is a rebel hub... and the Crytsal gems took the Crytsal temple from us in the early days of the rebellion almost four years ago..."

The Smoky Quartz nodded

"The city is under the protection of a Crystal Gem "hero" called "starlight Swan". A huge, armored Gem... not to mention the rest of those misrable traitors"

Morion frowned

"Well Fusion Gaspeite, the main problem? The Gems like Bloodstone or Carbide... the so called "independents"."

The Assassin was bitter

"Tried to gather the Loyal Gems... the ones in the Skyscraper are mostly loyal. But I think we are not preapred for a siege."

Morion admited

"Even with the humans... I can't guarantee our victory. And If the Loyals "shot first" we could loose the Independet Gem's support and force them to side with the Crystal Gems... and that would be a horrible catastrophe"

[Zriphelo (Gaspeite)]

Gaspeite would have learned a lot of a new words since she landed on earth. Skyscrapers, a human Spire-like construction was a new word. As much as the term "Hero" for the crystal gems sound cheesy for her, she had to follow what Morion said, because if the loyal gems strike, there's a big chance that the independant gems won't fight for the loyal side.

"This is a sad sight to come back to after around 5 human years. The colony was going at a slow, but good pace, and then those rebels came and ruined everything...
It would then wiser to hold our position, but who knows what is going in their heads... And who knows if the Diamonds have sent spies behind their lines.

I may ask, since you are well placed here to answer, which between the Crystal Gems or us, Loyal gems, have more individuals for their cause?

[Morion]

The smoky Quartz mused a bit, while watched the city

"...all in the name of Earth and freedom. Yet, all Gems are prisoners on Earth and the Crystal Gems done nothing except doomed the planet."

It was quite ironic
And the answer to Gespeite's question about the numbers?

"The monsters. They are the most numerous. Around an average ten - or twinty five, depending of the variables of the equation - monster for every Loyal, Rebel or Independent Gems... Then the Independents. The Gems who are too afraid to pick a side and faild to realize they are basically Rebels too... and I doubt the Diamonds will forgive their indecisiveness. We are lucky, the Independents not realized this yet, If they were, they would have already joined the Crystal Gems. But I think hope springs eternal... anyhow, we have to be extra careful, not to force them to decide. Don't chase them in to the welcoming arms of the Crystal Gems. Tho' I think it is wise to assume, the Crystal Gems have the similar feelings toward the Independents. After all, in their eyes, they are Gems who did not joined the Rebellion, thus no better than the Loyals. And as I saw, the Crystal Gems are a bit hesitant to make any moves too, like us... I guess for the same reason. They don't want to alienate their Independent brothers and sisters. As for which side is more numerous? Good question. Lets assume the worst, and suppose there are more Crystal Gems on Earth than Loyal... "

Morion explained

"This is why I forged aliances with my humans, and waging shadow wars and playing mind games with our enemies; not to mention working on the most pormising independent Gems, slowly luring them to our side. Bloodstone is one of the strongest Gem on Earth, one of Yellow Diamond experimental Gems... a modified berserker, who wants to be free.... but I convinced him, so to speak, to join Pink Diamond's Court when she arrives, since your Diamond is one of the most gentle and caring beeing in the universe, and bacome a Guardian of the Helaers... or the Protector of the Healing Fountain. Actually he is already that strategically important place's defender to be honest. Wich is good for us... our side lost all of its healers and Peridots in the early days of the chaos. I don't know how many Gems with healing powers joined the Rebellion, but the Crystal Gems never tried to secure the Healing Fountain, so it is safe to assume, they don't need it. But maybe that is just a ruse from their part, to confuse us! Anyhow we do need that place... and an Independent gurading it and preventing both sides to claim or destroy it is better than to lose it or let it fall in to the Rebel's hands. But I am ready to destroy that place if the possibility ever rises Bloodstone can't protect it any longer...."

The Smoky Quartz wathched the city

"Naturally everything will change when your Diamond arrive. The question is only the when. But untill then we have to work from this.