Won't you just tell me truth?(Closed: Red, Paddy, Marialite)

[Red Beryl]

Boredom had dug its dull claws into Red's being soon after touching down on the Moon Base. She had gone from hunting fusions and dealing with the real problems across the vast Gem Empire...

To redecorating. Pink Diamonds officials had given her the welcome afforded to her by a position granted by White Diamond; but beyond that, she had been given a rather cramped office that had been previously used for storing non-important digital archives. It had taken her a few days to actually clean the place up and make it presentable, along with spacing most of the terminals that she had been forced to move around. It was now a stark white, with little to no color. Replacing the outdated terminals with an incredibly simple digi-desk which allowed her to look at pertinent files while also functioning as something to sit behind. In front of it was a seat, stripped of every comfort (arms rests included in that list) and the only other piece of furniture available in the room. It also served a much more insidious purpose, given its placement in conjunction with the two massive Petalite guards, anyone who sat in it would be at her mercy... or convenience.

It also didn't swivel.

However, with the completion of her rooms amenities, or lack thereof, Red was finally ready to begin her job; at least the one that required her attention aboard the Moon Base. So, without looking up from the desk display she quickly signed commands to one of her guards, translating to "I've decided on the first. A Padparadscha Sapphire. Go see her, if she's available then bring her here; if not, move down the list" she got a salute and nod, before the hulking figure bent down to pass through the door.

Red had eventually taken a silver spray can to them; after slamming her face into them one too many times during the move. Their neigh invisibility was a credit during dangerous missions, but a liability in casual work.

With some time to spare, she went down the Sapphires service record one more time.

[Paddy]

It was a typical day, and Padparadscha had sent her pearl off on small errands, while she got to the work that sat on her desk. The sapphire's hands glided across the interface, flipped through dozens of case reports, and began filing in the blanks and recording her recent jobs. She was completely into the flow of her work, focused on each minute detail of her analyses. She was nearly done with the penultimate page when a blip came up on her screen, indicating that someone was waiting for her outside of her office. Brows furrowed, she didn't remember planning to have anyone visit. She checked the monitors, and saw a silvery, statuesque figure standing outside of her door. A Petalite-- defenders from White Diamond's court-- this seemed to be a matter of importance. Am I in trouble? She wondered, a bit amused at the thought of it, but kept a cordial face. 

She keyed in the door, allowing the guard entrance to her brightly lit establishment, adorned with ornate Pink Diamond insignia, and an array of seating options in front of her desk. "Welcome to my office," She said in a breezy tone,"It's an honor to have you here. For what do I owe the pleasure?" Padpara smiled, and held her hands over her desk for a moment before closing her files. She gestured to the seats, a noncommittal nudge-- after all, she still didn't know what this was about, perhaps there would be no time to sit. 

[🔹Marialite🔹]

The MoonBase, such a fascinating sight indeed as the glowing stars flickered in the dark void known as space, many gems such as Peridots, Bismuth's occasionally and finally Marialite would be on the hanger to fix incoming ships that land on the moon controlled by her new diamond, Pink Diamond. Since Marialite is relatively new she wasn't doing well with being switch so quickly, it was an immediate thought to why exactly she was transferred, perhaps they needed more engineers around however she would make the most of what she got.

Marialite saw a ship in the air in which then as the gem piloting the ship got authorization to land, the brownish gem upon her wrists glowed as she summoned her tech gauntlet, of course she received her report about the ship's damages in one of her files. Holding out her palm she would then emerge two visual screens from the center in the shape of a large squares, the screen on the left held the report while the other was one to help her with fixing it as she needed a interior image of the ship first before doing anything.

As she landed and got off the Ruby who seemed to be a captain headed over through the hallways exiting the hanger as she knew the protocol when getting ships repaired, the owner always has to wait in the waiting area. As Maria walked over to the ship her visual screens stayed still following her in exact sync as if they weren't able to move away, as she swiped her hand upon the files she pressed the one titled "Ruby Faccet 75B1- Cut C33" in which then she examined through what was described in the internal damages however she would still take a look for herself.

Vanishing the light brown screen she then would press her palm on the ship's side focusing a bit her gem started to glow commencing a pulse of shockwaves that gave her a visible 3D vision of the interior of the ship's structures which resulted in her finding out what exactly was wrong. Using her gauntlet she made the 3D upload virtualize a map on her single visual screen in which then she headed inside to start fixing it with her tool box kit that she uses daily on her missions.

[Red Beryl]

------ Petalite 1 ------

Petalite's were unusual gems, not only because of their clear coloration that made them almost completely invisible by blending with whatever was behind them. But also because they were naturally formed with what many would note as a defect, being completely deaf. For the purpose of making sure that no sensitive information shared in White Diamond's presence was even remembered by someone other than her. For the purpose of this mission, Red had given the two guards each a speech-to-text pad so that they could tell what other gems around them were saying. 

So, when the Padparadscha Sapphire spoke, the guard stared down at the pad before looking back up to her and speaking in tone-deaf words "The honor is by command of White Diamonds temporary adjunct, Red Beryl Facet-1S2P, she requests your immediate presence in her offices should you not be under direct command of Pink Diamond at the moment" before turning her considerable mass sideways, in order to lead or follow the Sapphire based on whether or not she knew the Base well enough to locate a previously unused office location.

------ Red Beryl ------

Slender pink fingers scrolled patiently through a few more profiles, she had noted the presence of Padparadscha's... expertise and decided on a test, it could be vital to weeding out dissidents in the court and she needed to be sure it worked. There was a new gem, recently transferred in; a few blips on her record made her a prime candidate. Without even glancing up she signed some more information to the other Petalite guard "There's a Marialite down in hangar maintenance, I want you to go retrieve her. But, before you do; watch her, the more information about her conduct that I have to draw from the better. The only way to use a truth detector is to already know the truth" it's silver painted form turned to leave and so Red raised her voice, catching the machine's notice and scrawling her words in front of the soldier "So wash that spray off, you don't want her to notice you watching." before turning back to her desk and awaiting the expected arrival.

[Paddy]

She stood still for a moment, carefully processing what the Petalite relayed to her. There had been rumors about this Red Beryl since she'd arrived on base, and the more gossip-prone gems of the Court of Law Wing seemed to have a lot to say about this facet-1S2P. Padparadscha's own nature kept her from denying the opportunity to meet this gem face to face-- a beryl who'd made her way to becoming one of White Diamonds most mysterious and controversial court members. Aside, it had been a great while since she'd spotted a Petalite with her own eyes, especially considering their transparency. This one was covered in a veneer, she surmised it was to make the guard a more apt messenger. Whoever this beryl was, she was a flexible thinker, if not off-the-cuff.

Realizing that it would have to go through another layer of translation in order to process what she might have said to a different gem, she gave the Petalite a terse nod, and shut down her array-- then left a quick note for her pearl. She straightened out her skirt, clasped her hands gently in front of her and gave a polite smile to the white-court gem. Without another word, she followed after them, awaiting the revelation of this gem she'd heard only whispers about. When dealing with gossips, it was difficult to know the truth. But, when looking a gem straight in the face, it was a different matter all together. A small smirk floated on her lips as she anticipated the meeting. 

[🔹Marialite🔹]

Once she was boarded upon the ship such alacrity with building gave Marialite motivation to give it her all when proceeding with her technical prowess, as she headed over to the control bridges systems it seemed the entire piloting area is starting to break down in which she suspected that maybe the Ruby was attacked, such a shame if it's true. As she had her tool box in her left hand she would then sit it down infront of herself contemplating on what exactly she should start on first, maybe rewiring the systems to get them increasingly back online, that could be a great start.

Marialite kneeled down over at a flat octogan shaped panel removing it from its center she revealed several tangled red wires that overlapped one another," Hmm... Let's see.." she thought to herself still analyzing the wires. Once she started to take out some wires she grabbed a gem blazer which is similar to a device on earth when they try and connect metals through blacksmithing or smelting if you will, the blazer's fire emitted out the end of the metal tubs in which then she flowed sparks from the flame as it connected with the ends of the wires merging the two together.

After she was finished she would then place the currently intertwined wires carefully upon the central core under the control's systems in which then she would place the octogan panel back, the electrical disturbances around the computers along with it's command systems were now back to normal. All she had to do now is fix the ships control panel defensive state to ensure that it's able to endure any attacks as such, her complacency was at ease as she was doing some very good work on repairments so far, as usually she works better alone than being watched.

Even a being who is as demure as herself was capable of many possibilities once given the chance however she still had to abate further damages to the ship nonetheless. As she would the take out her pliers, she had to diffuse them enough to match the ship's rebooter as once she gets a perfect fit she can turn the nob and replace it with another one she has in her tool box just in case of such predicament.

She turned it easily with rather decent efficacy as it popped right off, as she add the non compatible rebooter she inserted the new one in which then the power surged throughout it giving off energy capable of assisting with the ship's defensive systems hopefully helping it be capable enough to be used safely without any problems.  Marialite smiled in accomplishment of finishing her repairments, there were minor scraps and burns on the frontal part of the ship however that was nothing she couldn't handle, as she headed out the ship she would then start repairing the ship's physical appearance.

[Red Beryl]

Red had kept an open comm link with both of her guards as they went about their assigned tasks. She'd originally played with the idea of giving them specifically made listening devices, but their inability to camouflage alongside their carriers made her give up and simply set up a relay inside their translation pads. It was a problem that she was running into recently, alongside the fact that she had been unable to bring scientific machinery down to the surface because there was not enough storage space inside her ships ocular hidden compartments. Gem tech was leagues in front of anything that the humans or Crystal Gems had access to, but the simple fact was that it wasn't made to fight other gems, nor hide from anything. No indiginous species had ever given them as much trouble as the ones from Earth, even if they never would've survived without the ill-timed rebellion.

It might call for a poignant message to military command with sugestions that they put a larger effort into building better adjusted weapons for the task at hand.

Before she could finish this thought could finish there came a loud *beep* from the desks warning system that someone was approaching, a quick check showed that the Petalite had returned with the requested Padparascha, and the other had arrived down in the repair bay. With a languid swipe of her finger the heavy bolts locking her office door shut snapped back into their cradles, allowing the Petalite to escort her guest into the room. Red's banded eyes studied her from the second that she came into sight, pupil dilating to take in more light and study her in detail; she was... pink. And carried herself as befitting someone of her status, it was looking more and more like Red had chosen wisely.

With a tap of her finger another program whirred into life, an automatic transcriber for official occasions.

A lazy and completely false smile stretched across Red's face, never quite reaching anywhere other than her maw of teeth. Extending a hand simultaniously towards the seat without standing "A pleasure I'm sure, If you would take a seat and state your name for the record, we can get this ball rolling" eyes fixed eerily still on the others. Her expression was one of open congeniality that sat on a mask of predatory indifference and behind that a sea of hate.

[Paddy]

Her gaze immediately settled on the gem before her, and she searched the carnivorous eyes of the beryl. A chill prickled up her nape as she read the contradiction in the gem's tone and visage, the subtle twitch that betrayed a hidden intention. Though she couldn't know what nature laid beneath, she knew that this gem was already putting on a guise. The sapphire realized that this meeting would lack many of the trappings of the cordial pomp she was use to participating in on base, but her delicate hands flew up into a perfectly executed Diamond salute nonetheless.

"Truly, a pleasure and an honor," She returned her own smile, prim and subdued enough to fit most occasions. She glanced around the starkly unadorned space, until her eyes settled on the single seating option. The room itself reminded her of the interrogation chamber near the judicial court, and it dawned on her that she would be the one under this gem's examination once she took that seat. As an aristocrat, she was use to power games-- and this was very much an exchange in power. The beryl had forgone an introduction, opting to go straight into business on her terms. Padparadscha would have to find her own way to exert her status into this situation, but for now, she glided over to the seat, and slid into it at the beryl's request. She flipped open her record to make a quick note of this on her schedule, then moved into her reply. 

"Padparadscha facet 10C8A cut 8QE, law affiliate and representative of Pink Diamond's court," She kept her words breezy and light, despite the discomforting aura that shrouded this Red Beryl. Though she supposed this gem wasn't one for chit-chat, she decided it would benefit her cause to give herself some more air-space, "I must say, this meeting has been rather unexpected, though I'm delighted to make your acquaintance. If it's not too much trouble, perhaps a bit of preamble is in order?" 

[🔹Marialite🔹]

Short as a ruby she wouldn't be able to get up at the top of the ship clearly in which then there was a long step ladder that she could use as a way to assist with her ascendance. Marialite ran over and pushed the step ladder close to the ship in which then as she walked up the stairs already there were some immutable marks, however some were possibly able to be cleaned.

Even so it was inconsequential in a way as many ships had dirty marks however there is a thing of quality that falls under the category of matineace, getting a few rags along with her tool box she then started to scrub on the ship's upper area rapidly to really get in the smudges.

Over time Marialite saw that the marks she was cleaning were becoming more clear in which then as she would wipe her forehead an immediate sigh arose from her mouth. As Marialite finished off on the ship she would then get down noticing that a few Peridots went in the waiting area direction to most likely inform the Ruby that her ship is done, just to make sure that there wasn't any other problems she did a double check to see if there were more internal damages that showed.

Marialite glowed her gem upon her wrist once more sending rapid pulses of shockwaves around her vicinity this time to get a overall view however something happened, she turned her head as she noticed someone, a figure, they seemed like they aren't there however she was able to see more of a blurry figure of transparency due to her sonar ability. Suddenly she became frightened at her discovery clenching her palms together she unsummoned her gem tech gauntlet as she couldn't tell if it was her new superior or just another gem visiting the hangar unsuspectingly, however the real question was why is this gem here near her in the first place.

She started to shake viciously as she started to think that she was possibly in trouble, she didn't do anything but hold her tool box staring right at the blurry figure while drenched her face with sweat. Hopefully it was nothing serious however she just had to wait till this gem either introduces her self or leave really.

[Red Beryl]

------ Red Beryl ------

Her finger was already sliding down the screen, bringing up a serious of dispatch orders and a history on this Padparadscha. However, instead of launching into her questions she was caught flat-footed as the subject actually asked her to give an introduction. Red's head snapped up, eyes refocusing and her tone calm "Preamble? I believe you know who I am, if my Petalite failed to introduce me then I will do so now, Red Beryl Facet-1S2P Mutation-XXX1. Currently under acting orders from White Diamond" her tone sunk a few degrees "If you're wondering why you're here then I find that quite surprising. Tell me, 10C8A; are you aware of the exact number of gems that have left this base only to be seen wearing stars?".

The Petalite had moved to stand straight-backed and hands at her side in front of the door and only a few paces behind the chair.

------ Petalite 2 ------

The trip down to engineering wasn't a long one, but she took her time; Red's orders were to bring the small gem up to her office, but she needed to learn some things about her first. She'd watched her fix the ship, a bit unorthodox; however, it wasn't sabotage. Instead, it seemed like the Marialite was fixing up its interior for better sustainability. 

Given the gems stance and general demeanor, it was clear that she had seen the Petalite, or was at least aware of being watched. She wouldn't be finding out anything about the way she worked as long as she stood in nervous shock. So the hazy figure moved over to the manager's station, it seemed they were out on break, and picked up the work pad. It should have a detailed analysis of any repair gems work.

[Paddy]

The sapphire found that she'd been a bit rusty when it came to white-court culture. Laying eyes on gems in White Diamond's direct command was rare enough back home, and Padparadscha hadn't been there for a few decades; she'd only seen one such gem in the Sol System, and that encounter had a similarly foreign air about it. She pursed her lips for a moment as her mind churned through a selection of responses, searching for what would be most appropriate. The sapphire wasn't sure where her boundaries were, but her competitive side sparked up as she assessed the position this Red Beryl was putting her in, wedged between an armed guard and the scientist distinctly unlike the many she'd seen before. Though, she recognized the modulated tone, the curt movements of a gem in the midst of evaluation.

What she'd said was true; the sapphire had known of her, and rumors about her peculiar position. But there was always something more she could learn by hearing a gem's own introduction. Her lips formed into a more solemn expression as the researcher gave her next request. "I couldn't truthfully say the exact number," She mused aloud, continuing to interpret the white-court gem's serene expression, "From the most recent data I've seen, their numbers are as fickle as their minds,"        

[🔹Marialite🔹]

Marialite's sonar shockwaves faded away momentarily however once it subsided the blurry figure just vanished out of sight, what could've it been? Maria wasn't the type to miraculously attempt something else without tending to her primal duties as an engineer, along with her timidness towards meeting others she didn't plan to just start a wild chase looking for something that may not even be there. As thoughts flash in her head many possibilities of who was the figure before her eyes begun to image in her head, was it a gem? Logically one would say yes as this was a high secured facility and if any being possesed some cloaking ability surely the MoonBase's technical sector would pick it up in the monitors.

She had to get back to work as she couldn't get distracted on the job, as she saw the Ruby approaching her ship a brief yet settling smile arose from the Ruby face as she was happy at the results, as she watched the ship fly away her gem upon her wrist glowed summoning her gem tech gauntlet. From her palm she would summon a single visual screen  heading in the file where she completed the ruby's ship, as she pressed the button in indication that she finished the task a play button emerged in which then she pressed it giving a recording.

Marialite spoke low and soft shyly while she held her arms together," Log Update on file Ruby 75B1, appeared pleased about the roaming eye's repairs, hopefully all internal electrical currents flow smoothly as the ships defensive systems suffered heavily in the fleet's attack on another planet far from this solar system.. Until next time.. Marialite Out.." She said pressing the play button to stop it, processing the recording into a personal file of where she hold her recordings.

After unsummoning her gem weapon she then digitalized the visual screen as well sighing a bit as she still had that blurry figure on her mind at the moment, after she finished on a few landed  ship cleanings around Marialite headed over to her working shop sector where she would call her own home if you will, well it was shared by other engineers that are stationed on the hangar but still it was where she normally stayed when not fixing  ships really.

[Red Beryl]

A single brow arched itself on Red's face, her tone confused "Fickle? I've personally visited the surface; in order to gather samples for my research, on my first trip down there I ran into a Benitoite. She refused to give a designation, but she wasn't hard to find, given how high up on the roster she was" an enlarging motion with her fingers pulled up a large picture dominated by an elegant blue gem "She was a diplomat who had served admirably for hundreds of years, then she transfers to Earth; within the decade she switched to being a Crystal Gem. Stories like these seem to be popping up with alarming regularity" standing up in an arching fluid motion Red spun the monitor to follow her as she circled to the front of the desk. Before continuing in soft, barely audible tones "So, I take fickle as a comparison. A bad one at that. Now my job here is to draw a correlation between these events. Is it environmental hazards... or a lack of attention being given to these problems within the court" she took a few swinging steps, passing out of the chairs sight before continuing "Whichever problem it is you seem to be suffering from here it is my job to fix, so I would appreciate" sickly sweet words meant to emulate polite speech "Very, very much. If you made this mission easier for me" if possible the grin grew even larger.

------ Petalite 2 ------

A beep from her communication tablet let her know that the time was almost up, either the truth seer would help or Red would need a new subject to test the stringency of protocols in the newest Diamonds court; either way the Marialite was required. It seemed like the little thing was done with her jobs anyway, so Petalite picked up a jug of engine fluid and promptly dumped it over her head. From her experience gems weren't willing to talk, nor follow invisible floating voices and so a physical manifestation was required. The now tar black figure stepped forward into shop sector and spoke in a booming voice "Designation Marialite, your presence is requested by order of White Diamonds temporary adjunct. Follow me" before immediately spinning around, the difference in station made it a less optional request compared to the other given out that day.

[Paddy]

Padpara scanned the image, and her lips drew into a line as she listened. She saw this story as more evidence that could sustain her own notions on the broken mind of a traitor. The implications that the court could be responsible for allowing cases like these to occur also fed the sapphire's growing exasperation. Irksome as it was to be summoned out of her work, only to be rebuffed in her attempts to get to the bottom of this unusual meeting, she found herself even more intrigued. Her eyes trailed after the scientist, paying careful attention as she moved about the room. Each motion and word gave the sapphire more to work with in her interpretation.

She enjoyed efficiency, and she could see that Red did as well. But, she couldn't spare the beryl from her own tendency toward open deliberation quite yet, and put aside the appeal toward a more hasty interaction for a moment. "A sudden change for a blue-court dignitary, no? Those who succumb to such whimsy show the truth of their unstable nature," Her tone maintained the conversational warmth that she carried by habit, in contrast to the barbed facade of her host, "I'll be happy to lend my own experience and talents to your endeavor, though I must say, it would be easier to help if more detail could be provided," She folded her hands into her lap. As a sapphire, she wasn't use to being at the behest of any gem but Pink Diamond, and those in her direct charge, but she managed to conceal her own twinge of irritation with the help of her curiosity.     

[🔹Marialite🔹]

Marialite entered the work shop section sitting her tool box on her side of the place, there was a few gears along with spare tools that laid still on the metal table as she was working on fixing an engine that was wait listed on her files of to do on a later time.

Getting to work, Maria grabbed what humans call a screwdriver before holding a screw into it's hole, after twisting the top to fit tightly on the engines attachment area suddenly she heard a noise, something had entered the shop.

In horror she turned her head to see a black figure of tar, was it possibly the same creature that she saw at the hangar? Who knows, what spooked her was that it actually could speak. Once it spoken Marialite cautiously walked backwards trying not to get close to whatever it was, however once it said White Diamond's name she started to believe that maybe it's a gem with a cloaking ability in which then she kept her distance while following the black tar figure to wherever she was going.