Mysterious Hierarchies ((Paddy))

[Paddy]

Her thin brow twitched as the elegant music came to a dissonant, abrupt finale. The atmosphere seemed to itself become dissonant as the chocolate pearl strode her way into view. The sapphire’s eyes followed the gem, even from this distance she could easily see the tangible ire dripping from this pearl's every motion, the servant's eyes stabbing into her. Like the jets, Padparadscha seemed to become unnaturally still as Cocoa launched into her tirade. But, her reasoning was different; there was no fear, but rather, a concentrated effort to keep herself from matching the pearl’s scathing vitriol in a shouting match.
Internally, the sapphire clung to her mantras, and managed to keep herself from flying off the handle just yet. 

She allowed both Cocoa and Azurite to finish speaking while she angled herself toward the door that the lapidary would presumably be residing behind. Head high and shoulder’s back, she tilted her gaze to eye the pearl as she spoke. “Oh my,” The sapphire muttered, her brows pulling together as the corner of her lip tugged downward, in an expression that would either come off as pity or disgust, depending on one's perspective, ”Is this how she usually behaves?” she spoke quietly, though she very purposefully modulated her tone and body language to indicate that the words were specifically not for the pearl to answer, yet were to be heard by her. Padparadscha glanced toward the jets and Azurite, though she already knew what they might say. This was what Cocoa had been holding back during the briefing earlier that day, she realized as her lips pressed together.

The sapphire took measured steps toward the door, her eyes swept over the design of it in relation with the rest of the rooms architecture,”Quite impressive for a pearl to have such an eye for eloquent details, and with good initiative. I can see why your mistress may take pride in a servant such as you. But--" Her small feet slowed, tapped as she came to a stop, then pivoted to face the pearl more directly, her chin so slightly angled upward,"One such as yourself would do well to remember your place. Life is easier for the pearl who does as she’s bid. It’s unseemly otherwise-- reflects poorly on your mistress,” She spoke in a measured, matter-of-fact tone, with no indication that she saw this pearl as being any different from any other. She would’ve seen fit to replace her own pink pearl had the gem ever acted in such a brazen manner toward another aristocrat,”I do wonder if your mistress is aware of this impudent behavior problem.” Wishing to cut off the pearl from any sort of further embarrassment, she gestured for the jet to continue giving the tour. She had been insulted enough this day, but a pearl trying to give a sapphire orders? For Padparadscha, this was simply preposterous. It went without saying that she wouldn't abide them.

Amethyst standing by took note of the words her patron spoke. Easier too for the soldier to do as she was bid. Standing around, taking orders, keeping the mouth shut. Honestly, 6UE had to respect this pearl for having the guts to try to give a gem like Padparadscha orders, but she knew the futility of it. It would certainly be the hard way to do things. Amethyst was also impressed that her mistress hadn't yet seen fit to set the frigate on fire, knowing her ballistic temper. Her eyes flicked to the only other gem who seemed not embroiled in this conflict, Nephrite, but she remained at attention. 

[Mad Azurite]

The nephrite was again seemingly in her own little world, many had described her as aloof and that definitely fit the occasion, she seemed more interested in ogling at a small set of black figurines depicting a few jets. But that was something of calm wave compared the maelstrom of sheer anger building behind her. The cocoa made a scathing smile at the sapphire even as she went to denounce her like some tool—she was not these pitiful pearls traipsing about without a semblance of authority, she was the great pearl of one of the most artistic masters running this cacophony of gem-design. She would not allow this arrogant little fool to ruin what was harmony without dissonance. A burning kind of competitive fire in her eyes lit up as she reached the last step and immediately went to cut the sapphire off as she made her way toward the door of her master, “Yes, unlike you, my intelligence and proper care has given me an edge in the world creativity. Unlike yourself, who couldn’t even meet her original intentions. I read your records sapphire—you’d think I wouldn’t get to know the little insect who crept her way into my mistress’s sciences?!” She was still speaking with a haughty and angry tone, Azurite was trying find some way to stop this, but she knew this was about to get real nasty.

“You think I’d let some half-baked ordinator waltz in here and spread her filthy hands all over my mistress’s work, a failure of a gem like yourself? No, I am doing her a favor—despite your cry about my place, you’re just as sad in my opinion sapphire—a truly ugly specimen whose only flaunted around because of her name and stature—not her perfection, like myself.” She waved off the jet, who became confused, unsure of who’s orders to follow, she’d back away from the two for a moment as Cocoa pulled up her sleeve’s and summoned her holo-console, “you have no power here, sapphire, this is my territory, and you are below even pearl’s here.” She went to contact several ‘secret correspondents on the matter,’ more aptly reminding the various individuals involved with the secrecy of this project that the sapphire had indeed made her way into the facility. 

Azurite narrowed her gaze, “Okay, Cocoa, don’t you think you’re getting a little cocky? This gem is still above you, she still holds command over you.” The chocolate pearl would glance at the azurite with a hard uncaring glare, “Above me? She barely reaches my knees?” Cocoa would retort with a bit of cocky chuckle at its start though she was still fuming. Azurite, being quite the comedian herself and a lover of humor, found herself immediately turning green, as she swallowed every bit of her urge to laugh at this, she actually started to fake like she was choking, “Crap, think I swallowed some spit or something, phew--oh, h’yeah.” She’d turn away from the group covering her mouth and face as she tried her hardest not to start flat out laughing at the joke, the joke she wished she could have told the sapphire the entire time she was around her. 

[Paddy]

The sapphire's eyebrows floated upward as the pearl stymied her, and continued to speak. With a baffled, agape expression, there was nothing she could say as a beat passed her by, her lips falling open slightly. Then, Azurite spoke, and Padparadscha's eyes narrowed toward the pearl at her well-timed joke. She leaned back on her hip, and pursed her lips-- she had to admit that this gem was witty, and her keen perception allowed her to notice how motionless the soldiers seemed to get trying to hold back their laughter. 6UE pressed her lips together and formed a smirk, but managed to wrangle it down. The soldiers would be forgiven, or rather forgotten, as Cocoa became the focus of the sapphire's climbing nexus of charged emotions-- and charged particles. The air around her skin, though void of moisture or content to burn in the controlled environment of the frigate, climbed in temperature as it became harder to hold herself back. Ever so slightly, her skin seemed to glow. 

Over the course of this so called mission, Padparadscha had been lead through a series of unexpected events, forged by this obscure Serendibite. She had to wonder why these elaborate gestures were used, and why she was now faced with this pearl, who seemed to be the final test of the sapphire's patience. "Ugh," She tossed her hand aside in a small, sharp gesture, "I have been insulted in many ways, pearl," She said with an imperious disdain, her eyes flicking up to meet with Cocoa's,"But today," Her head shook. She didn't know how they did it, but she had to think it was K-Sigma's doing that her data had been scrambled, especially since it was only things related to their projects, and a few other ongoing projects that had been destroyed. "You've gone much too far," Her eyes burned into Cocoa's, before gesturing toward the gem on her neck,"If you think you know anything about me, or my purpose from reading my records-- well, let's just say, Pink Diamond knows my purpose, and she knows I serve her well," She knew her record spoke for itself as far as her quality as an individual, there was no need to elaborate; if her Diamond found her work satisfactory, that was all she needed. 

"Perhaps this is your domain, but consider that this domain hovers within the bounds of Pink Diamond's jurisdiction-- the Sol system, which is, in fact, my domain," She tapped her wrist to bring up her own holopanel, and sent out a coded message to everyone on her comm network, and she kept her musing to herself for a moment, scrolling around on her holoscreen, before closing it back up. "Earlier you threatened legal action. I do wonder whether you truly know who you're talking to when you say that. Will Yellow Court Judiciaries meet with those of the Pink Court in the trial chamber? A sapphire on trial, for doing as she's bid? How unprecedented that would be. I do wonder who would have more sway in the matter of whether such a measure would even be undertaken; a sanctioned sapphire investigator, dual interrogator, or a pearl," She gave a small smile; it might have been perceived as sweet if her eyes weren't burning through this impudent servant. She took a step closer to the pearl, glaring up at her, and again indicated with a swift gesture that the Jet should follow her orders over Cocoa's. It baffled her to see these jets so meek in the face of a servant. Were these gems the servants of servants? "My point remains, it's a truly shocking sight to see a pearl so flagrantly disrespecting her own station, and that of her patron's. Don't maim your value to those you serve with such cloddish behavior," Her holotech chimed, but she didn't look at it quite yet,"Perfection," she scoffed mockingly under her breath.

[Mad Azurite]

The jet beside both the sapphire and the pearl who had been escorting them with due innocence in this situation gasped with horror as she felt heat rising off the sapphire, this was for a reason that none of the group themselves could truly be aware of. The jet’s in the room even seemed to shriek and take off like animals, one even crawled up a wall and made off like a gecko. Something had them very spooked.

As the sapphire seemed to shake off her insults, the pearl's expression cracked with a semblance of apprehension in her eyes, yes she knew what she was doing was beyond most pearls, but she refused to stand down. She must protect her beloved at all cost, even it meant entering into a war of the stations with this sapphire. She’d angrily scoff at the second part of the gem’s retort, a fury growing in her eyes. Cocoa started to tap something into her panels, even before the gem had finished and suddenly orbs of black would appear around her, each opening what seemed like cameras about them—they were drones, possibly recording or monitoring the sapphire.

The haughty vicious look in her eyes narrowed to a killing stare at every mention of the word ‘pearl,’ from this sapphire, she broiled almost from the inside out shaking with both anxiety and rage. She would glare at the servant as the sapphire motioned to her, who'd flinch in response, a the sapphire finished her verbal riposte with unflattering insult. Cocoa almost seemed to hesitate to speak up—but then grew furious as the jet went to make motions, “Move and I’ll smite you where you stand!” her voice was almost like a raging animal at this point heavy with a violent growl and the look in her eyes managed to even make Azurite’s eyes widen, who had finally gotten over the joke. She peered back at the sapphire, the pearl obviously cracking as her face would turn up, as if she’d smelled something fowl—she thought before speaking, her eyes borrowing in the sapphires'.

Suddenly she’d burst into a hysterical laughter trying push away her nerviousness, “Perfection? Hah!” she acted as if she was sweeping dust from her shoulders, “Your word’s betray you sapphire, and so does your unfound pride.” She’d step back as more of the drones would appear around them. Azurite peering at them, knowing they had no weaponry equipped, but she didn’t know if the sapphire knew and kept quiet, wondering if she should say something. Though, this was solidifying the type of gem Azurite had originally pinned this sapphire as, she took a lot of pride in her work with Pink Diamond, possibly obsessively so. She wondered if it was out of fear or if it was true comradery.

The jet would back away, seemingly conflicted with either running for her life or doing what she was designed to do, the pearl would continue, “Legal action indeed and trust me with our devices and gear we can make your life a living hell for what you’ve done! You, sapphire have walked a fine line of impertinence and treachery! The court of the grand Yellow Diamond will not take likely to you stepping into their business. These are military affairs, ones that do not beset you or your diamond! Who can’t even handle tiny insurrection on a primitive planet!” She waved off the panel, “Whatever sanctions you have can be crushed with enough humiliation, and you will be watched every day, every moment of your life if this continues! And it won’t matter how many sanctions you have—there is bound to evidence to assassinate whatever character you think you have!”

“This is my domain, in my ship you will do as I say! When I manage to step onto the filth that is that soiled colony below us—yes, below us, much like you--Maybe then, I will be likened to listen to an order from from an entitled imp.” She narrowed her vicious glare on the sapphire, “Now leave, sapphire. And take your trash with you!”

[Paddy]

Padparadscha once again grew still as the pearl summoned a series of black orbs, and seemed to angle them for her. Her eyes narrowed, something seemed off about this gesture, but there weren't enough direct cues for her to tell if there were somehow something disingenuous going on. It became nigh impossible for her to keep herself together at this point, the aristocrat began to split at her seams as Cocoa not only insulted her, but her Diamond, her colony-- and ultimately, the purpose for her existence. 

"This is utter foolishness," The sapphire snapped,"Threatening a sapphire of the court's very being? Are you mad?" Her fists clenched as she sneered, and the energy kicking off of the small gem washed the immediate area with an arid heat,"You must be! This whole venture has been inexcusably off the rails! I cannot fathom this situation, and I'm in it! Amusing that you should accuse me of treachery or impertinence as you threaten my life as if you're some defective rebel!" There was no semblance of amusement in her hard expression. She signaled, and Amethyst marched forward, pivoting to face Cocoa with a rather confused look plastered across her face. "This is Pink Diamond's Earth, and I am her Padparadscha. Military affairs or no, this is unquestionably my jurisdiction. You're the pearl of a lapidary, for the sake of the Diamonds, act like it," Her voice echoed around the room as her shoulders angled more directly toward the pearl, showing no fear-- she was too angry to be afraid right now. Every frustration this day had presented her with began to seep out of its containment, before it blasted into all directions, her heightened, exacting volume cascaded over the airspace with a wave of blistering heat. 

"I shall go nowhere until I am given a proper explanation for all of this! I don't care if that explanation has to come from Yellow Diamond herself, I will not entertain any fantasies of authority over my being that a pearl may have-- so go ahead, pearl, and do whatever you're planning to do with those," She gave a sharp, dismissive gesture to the crest of orbs surrounding the chocolate pearl,"-- Or any of your tech, for that matter. I'm sure the outcome will be splendid for you and your mistress, who will undoubtedly have to deal with the fallout of such a bold maneuver. Trust that I am a stubborn gem, my network consists of stubborn gems. I can tell you that it will be a long and difficult road for you and your ilk if you do not cease this absolutely ludicrous behavior! Every gem on this Diamond forsaken ship is going to get written up! I'll face every single one of you in the court if I must!" The sapphires jaw locked shut, and she whirled for the door.

6UE dreaded the possibility that she might have to get involved in combat here of all places, and she had no idea what those orbs could do. There wasn't a guarantee that she would have back up from Azurite or Nephrite, and the sapphire was out of her wits at the moment. But, Amethyst did as she was bid. She stepped alongside the shorter gem's strides, acting as a buffer between the aristocrat, and the potential danger that the pearl had presented.

[Mad Azurite]

Azurite was about to make a glance at 6UE when suddenly, she felt something like a heat wave wash past her—the jet immediately made a light shriek feeling the moisture of her already sensitive form leave her in an instant as the sapphire’s plasma abilities seemed to awaken with her anger, “I’m sorry, but I cannot!” She seemed to want to finish, but then took off for the nearest exit as fast she could. Azurite realized almost immediately the situation was escalating. But she felt hard pressed to step between the two gems in question—even more so now that some kind of scorched aura was emanating from this sapphire. 

As soon as the sapphire snapped, Cocoa visibly withdrew with a bit a fear breaking those courageous, snotty eyes of hers as the sapphire seemed to be growing in anger, the orbs that were surrounding the group began to culminate around the pearl with a sort of protective quality, the sapphire was displaying the plasma abilities she had read in her record and part of the pearl knew this sapphire couldn’t have been dumb enough to strike her—even if this fool held some grounds, this place still out of her jurisdiction, this was not planet earth, this was a vessel of Yellow Diamond’s employ which meant she held only so much power on this ship.

“As said, that filthy rock down there belongs to your diamond, not this ship, you can act all high n’ mighty with whatever classifications you have but I won’t let some spoiled brat walk this ship like she owns it!” She watched as the noble attempted to walk around her and despite the beads of sweat forming on her head she stepped in her path the drones forming a line of walls before her and her Amethyst guard. Essentially to block her way and the way around, “I’ve made no threats, I’m defending important classified information that you’ve stuck your nose in with no clearances or permission to do so! It’s you who’ve threatened all of our secrecy, all of our research and one of Yellow Diamond’s most integral gem-construction facilities yet to be seen on Homeworld. You trespassed into confidential territory, stuck your little nose in projects that don’t concern you and have made a mockery of this facility, as if I’d let you through!” She shouted.

As Azurite watched the Amethyst step between them, she finally found her moment to speak up, “Alright, Cocoa, I’mma say it now before you end up getting’ an ass-whippen’.” She marched up and placed a hand on 6UE’s shoulder and then squeezed one of her biceps to get her next point across, “You see this Amethyst here? You see these muscles? She will fold you like omelet faster than a Mc’Corman grill,” Cocoa didn’t know what an omelet or a ‘Mc Corman grill’ was, but she was more worried about the being ‘folded,’ part of the expression and it sent a terrified look through her eyes as she’d back away and continued to block the door. “It doesn’t matter, you’ll never get through this door, not without clearance or with my drones in the way. So turn around a--…”

“Hello, Beady? I’m back.” Cocoa whirled around to see Nephrite poking at the terminal with the access panels necessary for the doors speaker’s systems.

“… Oh, Nephrite, is that you dear? When did you return, did you … bring our guest?”

“Of course, they are right here, but Cocoa is being … well, Cocoa. As usual.” Nephrite mentioned almost nonchalantly. 

“Ah …”

There was a moment of silence, and then suddenly something like a loud speaker came on, Cocoa had just sprinted up to the doorway, as she swatted the nephrite away from the panel who made a small “Ooh!” but before she could reply, the voice of that familiar sultry gem echoed through the compound.

“Cocoa, you wouldn’t be holding up our guest for … personal reasons would you?” 

The look on her face became something of fear and loss, “Uh-uhm, n-no of course not my mistress, I was simply turning away unwanted trespassers.” Her broken voice managed to get out.

“These are personal guest of mine, I forgot to inform you she’d be coming. Please, bring them to my work table.”

Suddenly the PA would fade off before the pearl could protest and Azurite would make a wide smile, “Ah! Well look at that, your dumbass was sitting here having a fit for nothing!” Cocoa leaned over the terminal, a defeated vengeful look in her eyes. She’d lift a finger over the panel seething before she inputted a few codes and the door would slowly begin to slide open.

[Paddy]

Though she could clearly see the pearl was losing it, the sapphire wasn't entirely poised herself. Padparadscha's face deepened in color as the pearl continued to disrespect her, and her perceived authority in this situation. She had told herself, since her most humiliating defeat at the hands of that fusion, that she would not allow her anger to cloud her judgement like that ever again. But, it was so very difficult for her to keep herself reigned in, especially when faced with such a challenge as this-- especially when all of this seemed to be the fallout of that particular catastrophic failure. If she had captured Hematite, the gem would've been firmly within Pink Diamond's jurisdiction, whether this pearl liked it or not. Whether Serendibite liked it, she didn't care much either.    

She marched straight for the pearl, as if she were intending to bowl over the gem and the door in her wake, every muscle in her body tightly wound with wrath as she tried to contain the charged energy boiling in her. As Cocoa's voice echoed out across the room, and Azurite moved to speak, the sapphire halted and swiveled to stab her eyes into the soldier. 

Being already on edge, Amethyst gave a start as Azurite slapped her on the shoulder, her personal space bubble popped entirely as the gem's hand landed on her arm. But, it was for a good cause, she tried to keep her expression neutral. Then, she relaxed, more relieved now that the other soldier seemed to be in mind with her on this. Normally she wouldn't fear a little pearl like this one, but her defensive technology was something that 6UE had never seen before, and aside, this was a military frigate-- Yellow Diamonds. She wasn't altogether sure who was actually in charge here, but she answered to Padparadscha first and foremost. Though, she would soon find out where these gems all answered to.

The sapphire hadn't noticed the absence of the jets until Nephrite moved to speak to her patron. She glanced around, realizing they'd all left, and her brows furrowed in confusion. What sort of servant would abandon their post like this? As she continued to listen to the conversation between Nephrite and Serendibite, her shoulder's lowered, jaw relaxed, and fists unfurled. The sapphire raised her chin, and a smug grin curled over her expression. But, it would slip away, evaporating as if the heat had effected her expression. "Hmph!" She turned away from the pearl, clasped her hands in front of her and rolled her shoulders back, before striding passed the doors as they opened. Amethyst had to wait a moment before she could follow, side-stepping through the opening doors to follow the sapphire's quick pace.

[Mad Azurite]

As the doors slid open, the next room was a complex series of massive hallways bestrewn with moving machinery and intricate mechanical arms. Vats layered on vats, tubes and strange belts move massive amounts of bubbled gemstones into even larger containers, the structures were large and seemed to be a more direct way of designing gemstones, the sounds of heat-release echoing and the loud room shared much of the dark themes that the facility held. But, just from this position alone, it would seem this place was almost labyrinthine, massive lights would entail that the gems who walked these mechanical halls needed to be something of a larger kind. More jets were visible, but after the commotion and seeing the group enter, they’d look at each other with parse nervousness and immediately vanish into the darker quarters of the facility. 

Serendibite’s facility was a kindergarten that seemed to stand out from the norm, the arms, with what looked like plasma cutters, would carefully craft gems from stone themselves, the minerals mixed and altered on a basic level only to be refined through large furnaces. The steam of each gemstone would echo along the facilities multipart conveyor belts which dragged them to be cleaned and polished and then shifted to another phase out of sight of the others.

Azurite watched the other gems walk in without her, but for some reason her feet couldn’t move. Cocoa had actually pressed pass the sapphire witha  haughty march, “This place is a maze, you’ll be lost before you know it.” She said in a low growl, her voice seething as she continued, “Follow me, madam.” She’d said the last part with edge of overemphasis in her voice. 

The blue gem wanted to follow, even as Nephrite floated into the air above them, but something held her in place. An emotion she was unsure how to process, was it fear? Or was it reluctance?

This is the first time we’ve seen her since … we were turned into this.

Who? Seen, who? Are we going to see Seren again, o’how I missed her!

How can you miss that monster, look at what she did to us!

“It wasn’t her choice …” Azzy said aloud in a quiet hum, talking to something that seemed like it wasn’t there. “I mean, she had to approve it—but how can you say no to a Diamond. It was that or decommission.”

Why, for speaking your mind? For—

Wait, what did Azzy do, what happened? Ya know, I haven’t been able to feel my arms for a while now.

The look on Azurite’s face seemed to shift to a discontent frown, her first step seemed hesitant, and it seemed the gems were picking up pace ahead of her. She’d start her march to keep up. The bad memories of the day her loyalty was questioned for voicing that they should simply leave the rebellion be, and focus on their colonization efforts to simply out grow them, at the time the rebellion was small, didn’t seem like something they should be throwing all of their energy at. That and she voiced them fusing was just something of their own taboo, let them deal with it. But such words were seen as descent, and she paid for it. Her punishment being what she was turned into now. A freak. And not the dirty kind.

Cocoa would lead them through a series of turns and corners, paths that seemed to go on forever, before finally a purple light seemed to beacon in the distance and a bit of flashing light as well, sitting in a chair designed for her own size was a surprisingly large gem, though she wasn’t as large any diamond or grander fusion, she was still impressively large. Before her was a worktable, tools of all kinds around her, on one of her eyes, a monocle—or a monocular? And in her hands a stylus-shaped device with a plasma-fission at its end. The gem was hand chiseling the shape of purple gemstone with almost perfect elegance and skillful care. Her black hair swayed like a butterfly, and her dress was a silky black that almost blended with her grey-tone of her skin. Much like Cocoa, several much larger black orbs floated above the large gems head in an ornate circle around her—but unlike Cocoa, these seemed to be more of an extension of her body, than just some random technology.

“My mistress,” the chocolate pearl bowed, “I have brought our guest.” She frowned with disgust at this. The serendibite didn’t seem to react at first, as if finishing her task. But then she froze, setting down the stylus after deactivating its batteries. Her head lifting as her hands rested on her lap, not even turning to look at the group. Suddenly one of the orbs would rotate and very eerily an eyeball would open at its center, gazing at the party. Then her voice boomed with her size and echoed through the room, though the soothing coolness of it marred any kind of authority in her tone. “Thank you, Cocoa. That will be all, our project Grey Obsidian Facet Line C900 needs attending too. If you would please.” At these words the pearl’s eyes broke into a sheer look of horror, was she being shoo’d away by her beloved? Why couldn’t she stay? “M-my mistress, may I please protest! I cannot allow you to be alone with some foreign gem from another court—especially this one.” She looked back at the sapphire with a venomous glare.

Serendibite didn’t even flinch or move at the words, she seemed almost as still as a statue, until she sighed, “Cocoa, you seem ... distressed, my dear.” Cocoa began to shake at these words, not because she was excited, but because she knew what was coming before she said it, “No …” she’d manage to get out with heated fervor in her voice. “Why don’t you … lift your spirits a little?” the pearl flushed immediately at these words, the embarrassment in her face as she turned to peer at the group behind her with a shocked gawking mouth, Azurite finally catching up. Nephrite seemed to have vanished during their small trip here. “Please ... don’t make me do that. Not that, please.” Finally at these words, Serendibite would rotate in her chair, turning to look at the gem’s before her, a calm stoic look in her eyes as she peered at the pearl. “That’s an order.” 

The pearl’s head would fall, defeated as her hands began to glow a deep purple, she’d embrace herself in a kind of hug and the entirety of her being would glow intensely only to suddenly fade, she looked up with a large smile on her face as her body seemed to quiver with a look of pure ecstasy in her eyes, “Of course, madam! Please forgive my rudeness, my mood was just so sour.” Her voice was like perky maid in a café, she turned to view the group, her entire being had shifted to something of joyful child unleashed on a new world, “Please forgive my rudeness! And may your days be full of joy and cherishable wonder!” She almost sung this with enough joy to make a person cry, and then bowed, spinning on her heel as she sung some song to herself, cheerfully marching off to some part of the facility. 

Azurite made something of an appalled glare at this as she watched that little horror show start up, she knew Cocoa had some weird power to manipulate a gem's emotions to an extent, but that was just wrong… she remained silent as Serendibite would start her greeting, “Please forgive my servant, I … manipulated her personality during her construction to be quite loyal to her creator. She can be very protective of me.” She made a docile smile, “I am Serendibite Facet X00 V44D, lapidary and head of Kindergarten Sigma—a specialized gem-template-construction facility under the employment of the Diamond Authority-Commissioned especially by Yellow Diamond for its military capabilities … I guess we both have many questions for each other, your highness.”

[Paddy]

She sensed an influx of radiation in the room as she quickly stepped forward, but soon Cocoa pushed passed her and the sapphire was smacked with a twinge of irritation. This pearl had made herself the object of Padparadscha's ire, the last gem she wanted to follow at the moment would be Cocoa. But, she quickly realized she would need the aid of someone who knew their way around this place, moving passed the steady droning of machinery and many sprawling paths. The sapphire kept herself poised as she stepped forward, giving no verbal indication that she had agreed to the chocolate pearl's assistance. Nonetheless, she took advantage of an opportunity to navigate this place efficiently.

As Amethyst marched a pace behind the sapphire, she glanced back, and caught sight of Azurite's hesitation. She then hesitated a bit herself-- there was something about this gem that resonated with her, perhaps an inborn preference for the company of other soldiers, or an appreciation for the Honor Guard's interesting quirks, and her acknowledgement of an average, run of the mill soldier like 6UE. Whatever it was, something seemed to be bothering Azurite, but her quiet words were hard to make out amidst the kindergarten works. Amethyst didn't want to make Azurite uncomfortable with her staring, and snapped back to face forward, directing her attention to the constant movement happening around the group as it proceeded.


Padparadscha wasn't sure what she had been expecting to find in the depths of this labyrinthine facility, but as she was lead up to the enormous gem, her eyes swept up and down. The purple gem in Serendibite's hands garnered her curiosity, as did the words the large gem spoke. She found it in her to wonder at who these in-progress gems would be, and how their purpose would manifest once they took their form. Though, when the pearl talked back to her lapidary, the sapphire bristled. She said nothing, hoping Serendibite would reprimand her pearl-- but what happened next truly caught her off guard.

It was difficult for a gem without context to understand this exchange. As Cocoa seemed to give in to her patron's demands, the sapphire's brows furrowed deeply. Suddenly, as if by the push of a button, all of the malice in the pearl's body language and tone had evaporated, replaced by this gushing exuberance-- whats more, her senses told her that this was a completely genuine feeling, that the pearl truly felt this one-eighty turn. 6UE too felt strange about it, but she had no idea what was going on really.

Already a bit unsettled by what she saw, the sapphire titled her head toward Serendibite as the gem spoke, and chills washed over her at the calm explanation of this pearl's behavior. In silence, she listened, but soon her wrath would heat up again, charged particles still leaking from her control. 

"Hmph!" As Serendibite finished speaking, the sapphire angled herself sharply toward the gem, peering upward with her hands clasped behind her back,"Questions? Many, indeed!" Her tone had a bite to it, her hands flew up into a cursory, yet perfect salute,"Padparadscha 10C8A 8QE, Pink Court judicial affairs, special task operative. Though I'm sure you already anticipated my preamble. It seems there is much you know, and much more you have access to. I would like an explanation for this odyssey I've been put through, though I have an idea of what you might be trying to accomplish," her eyes dug into the large gem, who would likely be able to pluck the much smaller gem from her feet if she wanted to, though she might want to use an oven mitt if she tried. Padparadscha paced as she kept her eyes on Serendibite, and she launched straight into her most pressing issue, "You're concerned about this Project Hematoid Quartz, as am I. That fusion is running amok on my Diamond's colony without direction or reigns. It's interesting to hear that you consider this project to be going well, considering the fusion has rebelled," Just thinking about Hematite's ideologies had the sapphire even more charged. 

[Mad Azurite]

Azurite kind of made it a point to stand as out-of-sight, but as much in ear of the conversation that was unraveling, she leaned against what seemed like barrier between any gem and a bit of the conveyor systems, her usually wild shark-like smile and intensive jester-like humor reduced to a brooding, unhappy frown. The sapphire already seemed to have an idea as to why this was all happening, but knowing Beady, this was probably going to be more than that. She had a way of misaddressing the situations around her, the ‘artist,’ lives in her own little world. Her arms crossed as the pink sapphire continued and finally the attitude of this gem too was starting to irk her, she wondered if the sapphire was so caught up in her loyalistic view of ‘her,’ diamond that she forgot the entirety of this situation was caused by a number of issues, including what Azurite could only call negligence on Pink Diamond’s part.

Serendibite, who had remained as calm as a pond of water, seemed only to tilt her head as the noble continued, sensing her frustrations. She would of course return her diamond salute with her own, but the large, old gem seemed to refuse to leave her chair, as she was comfortable in it at the moment. Her eyes seemed to shift conspicuously at the mention of her old project. “Not as interested as you might think, no I am more interested in something far more conspicuous in this matter.” One of her orbs would fall to ground-level, transforming into an array of panels displaying something akin to information regarding statistics except shift suddenly, the video feed would show none other than the project in question shadily walking around the city, doing odd jobs, performing, and ... engaging in a relationship with a certain human, where they were being quite touchy. “I have more than enough data on the project, for now. And she is performing exactly how I intended.”

“Hematoid Quartz was not a personally requisition that I threw out—but instead was created by request of Yellow Diamond to manifest a combat capable fusion that was to mimic the Crystal Gems to an extent. But, I have sown seeds into this gem’s complex psychological and cognitive thought processes and responses that has created what, if left be, a proper mutual weapon against the rebellion.” She then looked away, “I’m against black and white definitions, madam, and I prefer to acknowledge that many of the gems on earth who’m are deemed rebels are there due to carelessness on the part of our Authority. Remember that some of these gems are forced outcast, exiles and many others. Homeworld's own 'exiled,' gems who walk our ruins being clear evidence of that” Azurite’s eyes flashed at this as Beady had just openly criticized every Diamond on the chair, though resonated the exact thoughts she felt about this whole conundrum. 

“She,” Serendibite would motion toward the panels displaying Hematite, “Is a double agent, without even knowing, she will only be adding or taking from whichever side fails to understand this.”

“I would ask, have you seen her illicitly; before you took actions against her, aggressively and with ireful intent, attempt to sabotage or delay Homeworld in any way? Our drones have been watching her carefully, she spends most of her time blending in with humans—but the rebels who are more actively pursuing our defeat plan, take actions, and more. Only when she was provoked did she respond with violence. The key to understanding this situation.” She looked over at the sapphire, knowing what she would say next would make these … Pink Court Loyalists unhappy to hear, but she spoke her truth anyways, “Many of the diamond order feel it is Pink Diamond’s own negligence and hesitation to act on the current situation at hand—to be the reason this madness is occurring in the first place, I disagree—as I mentioned it’s the fault of entirety of Authority and that failure reflects on all of Homeworld. However, Yellow Diamond has made it quite clear, if the rebellion reaches a point where it threatens our Homeworld, the destruction of that colony would be far more appealing to her than letting it grow into a wild fire, gems like this one will be key in that play.”

[Paddy]

The sapphire was pale as Serendibite finished speaking. The tension in her musculature seemed to relax, but this wasn't the truth of the situation. She stared in shock as this lapidary seemed to confirm a series of suspicions for the case she had been building in secret-- not to mention the real time footage of the gem who had nearly eliminated her. 

"I knew it!" She seethed under her breath as she flipped around, toward the direction they'd all come from, then took a few long steps. The sapphire seemed to be in her own world as she paced, staring intently at the floor in front of her, tapping her chin in rhythm with her footfall. 6UE furrowed her brows at the aristocratic gem as she seemed to recede from the situation mentally. Then, the small gem came to a sudden halt. She couldn't tell this lapidary the true reason why she had hunted Hematite so vehemently, this gem wasn't on her side in that regard-- likely, no gem in this room would be on her side. Her fists clenched, tension cranking back into her form.

"To answer your query Serendibite," The sapphire flipped around to face the large gem, projecting her clear timbre with strength across the room, "The gem explicitly refused to acknowledge Homeworld supremacy and Pink Court authority over this jurisdiction, and I had determined that rehabilitation would be apt. I understand this is due to your experimental procedure, but it doesn't change my stance on the subject; preventative measures are most effective," To say anything more than that would be ludicrous. She bit her lip, knowing how incomplete her argument would seem to the right debater, but she hoped none of these gems were particularly keen in that department.

"Additionally, I find your assessment of the rebellion quite--" She paused, her lips hanging open. It had come to the forefront of her mind in that moment, the memory of what Hematite had said about this Serendibite. A power hungry gem. Perhaps this revelation could spare her some leverage in this discussion, "-- quite interesting," She continued, then cleared her throat, the tap of her feet echoing through the spacious chamber as she paced closer to Serendibite,"You specifically point to Pink Diamond and the negligence that has been perceived in her hesitation, despite your proclamation that blame is to be shared by those in the Authority. I propose that this hesitation comes from a place of compassion, radiant lapidary-- for those gems who have succumbed to the hostility that has racked this colony." Her jaw pressed together as she tried to force down the sickening wrath that these thoughts churned up in her; a sore reminder of her position in this entire conflict, and of the things she stood to lose. The issue was not black and white, as the lapidary had posited; it was pink, yellow, and blue.

"Very interesting that the rebellion has cropped up here, alongside corruption, and the development of these technologies. It's almost as if Earth has become a proving ground for such tech-- it would seem so from the perspective of a humble investigator who has come across many of these experiments causing havoc on the surface. If not for the effort the magnanimous Pink Diamond has employed to search and rescue, and the rehabilitation of rebellious gems, those same gems would be razed without question. Though the other courts have since contributed to this search and rescue, including gems I consider a part of my retinue, the rebellion is not what it seems, eminent designer. The rebellion is a sickness, a maneuver--" She stopped herself short of going further into her personal thoughts on the subject, anything more would be far too dangerous. It was already dangerous enough if the gem was able to pick up on her implications, but if Serendibite was willing to openly criticize every member of the Authority, perhaps the sapphire could herself be more open.

Despite this opportunity for the charged discussion which she thrived upon, the subject was so sickening for the sapphire, so devastating to think on, that she had to blink away the moisture that had accumulated under her lids as she thought about it. The day had been taxing for her emotional energy, but she had more to say that would illuminate her position,"I will do anything in my power to prevent Pink Diamond's vision from being trodden on by those who don't understand this Earth like she does, including operations whose clearance is somehow left out of the hands of the Pink Court even when being directly involved in Earth politics. This circumvention of her authority isn't ignored." 

[Mad Azurite]

Azurite’s eyes would flick back and forth between the sapphire and her creator, the look of sheer alarm starting to rise with every word—what the hell were these two getting into? The azurite was no idiot. Were they both eluding to a mass despondence and critical set of moves that has caused more misfortune than good across the values of the Authority? Was the Pink Sapphire truly trying to say that this issue was something caused by the other two arms of the magnanimous power that was the Diamond Authority. She almost felt like intervening, the honor-guard worked for all of these stations, all of them—she’s seen the way the gems’ from each station see each other. If this sapphire did anything stupid, there could be something like an insurrection, no a war of the stations. 

Azurite started seething at this, this was the Order she was protecting here, if this gem or any other did anything to sully it—even if it was out of some intent for good or justice. She didn’t know if she could control herself. 

Serendibite listened her head canting some again as she listened to the sapphire, though at the sudden words used to ‘lift,’ the grand lapidaries stature, she almost winced, burying her face in a hand before she continued. She even remained quiet for a moment after the sapphires' response, thinking of a way to say what she was going to before looking back up. “Please,” she’d ask, “I’m a humbler gem than that, do not refer to me so highly. I can care less the way other gems view me— as I am just a dark gem, one lost in the shadows.” She waved her hand as if to dismiss a thought, “To answer you, madam—I would listen very carefully and think about what I just said.” Most of what the sapphire had said to her, seemed a little dodgy—that wasn’t what she intended to infer from the gem, no she had other ideas about his meeting.

“You don’t quite get it, this was—and listen quite carefully, was a proving ground. But not for our technology or our military-solder templates. Not at first, it was a chance for this Pink Diamond to prove her ability to colonize and handle planetary affairs. The moment things went out of hand—the rest of the Authority, even if it was quietly so, deemed her a failure on that regard and now the two Diamonds who moderate these affairs had to step in.” she laid her hands on her lap and then took a breath before continuing, “You see, as a pink court member—you seem to have forgotten that the affairs of the military do not belong, even in the slightest to Pink Diamond, though she may be given warrior templates and more to incite a station of power on the planet—everything she borrows military wise comes from Yellow Diamond, and are tools she must use responsibly.”

“In a way, you are correct, she was being quite compassionate, but a leader is more than just compassion—they must be swift, and strike hard when mutiny threatens her colony. And, to be honest she was not—and was far too soft and misused the assets given to her to handle this situation. This talk of rehabilitating and capturing lost gems is all but excuses, in the grand scheme of things they are actions to try and reprimand a situation that has grown out of control.” She raised her head to the ceiling as she thought on the matter, the outlook of her discussion, “A fleet of warships could glass this planet, destroy its inhabitants and every gem on it, but your leader is trying to show her cards, and display her power as a leader. But, in hindsight, she has failed her first attempts where the mistakes of our Blue and Yellow Diamond come in two-fold. Instead of handling the issues on this planet with more care—they treated this as a moment to test and devise ways to mire future rebellions. And so yes, this place has become a proving ground … in more ways than you and I can count together.”

Azurite’s expression had become a cut glare, only to stare in shock at the words coming from the lapidary’s mouth. Had she had this gem pinged wrongly the entire time. Just whose side was this gem on? She spoke like she had just been sitting here … in the dark, watching all of it. As she thought on the last part she realized that was exactly it. 

[Paddy]

She pursed her lips as the lapidary seemed to be embarrassed by the honorifics. Truthfully the sapphire felt uncomfortable not addressing such a gem with more prestige, but she would abide the request, and listened to the rest of what the gem said. But, she bristled at every instance of the word failure. 6UE had seen Padparadscha angry many times, but today had been a long one for the brooding sapphire, who seemed to give off a different aura this time. The lingering heat around her drew inward, seeming to leave a calmer air in its vacuum. But that wasn't the whole truth. 


"Therein lies the issue," The sapphire said in a low tone, rocking on her heels before taking another step forward. She still wasn't brave enough to say what she felt, at this point, was blatantly the true problem in this situation. "The rebellion has gained traction for...maybe three or four cycles, despite increased involvement from the other courts. The outbreak, corruption, correlates with the cropping up of these rebelling groups. But this colony has been Pink Diamond's for thousands of Sol system cycles. Progress was steady, things were going slow but well nonetheless. Hardly a failure, just a patient approach. Many things aren't adding up in this equation, your...um, Serendibite. Things weren't out of hand until the cut off, until..." It was incredibly frustrating that she couldn't just pose her point. But already she had been rather free with her words. Her tone remained at a simmer,"...so yes, in many more ways than one, Earth has become a proving ground. For all of gemkind. A test of our purpose, and our goal as a society,"

She swiveled to look around at the lapidary's laboratory. It was impossible for her to know what all of these gadgets and mechanisms were for, except for perhaps the general creation of gems. But, despite her emotional state, she found room to be curious. It was a strange feeling to be in a laboratory like this one, something like nostalgia or deja vu grew in her. This was a home to the next generation, those who would live with the fallout of whatever would happen with Pink Diamond's colony. The gem's large eyes cast across the series of monitors, and narrowed.  

Her gaze settled back onto the large seated gem. "I do not mean to undervalue your work, or the accomplishments made by those who came from this facility. I'm proud of Earth's destiny as a hub for research," She paused, assessing the truths of her own statements quietly,"What I ask for, is a mutual respect. Allow me to be blunt; the Pink Court has been attenuated, reduced to the beck and call of the more elder courts. I do not believe that it does anyone good to treat a Diamond, no matter how young or inexperienced she may be, as if she is lower, or her gems for that matter. Case in point, the way I've been jerked about during this entire process, the way I am talked down to by dignitaries of the elder courts may be another anecdote for another time," She gave a deliberate look to Serendibite, more bite came into her tone as she spoke,"Yellow Diamond may be in charge of the military, but," The sapphire gestured toward her own body guard, who looked suddenly alarmed that she was being brought into the discussion,"Perfectly capable soldiers come from Earth. These are Pink Diamond's court members, who have just as much of an individual contribution to that collective military. But I digress, my point remains that I defend Pink Diamond's authority, where it is enfeebled by opaque operations, lies and underhandedness. Truths, in all matters, are what is most important. So, I must ask, what is the truth of this endeavor, Serendibite? You must know from reading my records that I quite appreciate truths,"

[Mad Azurite]

Azurite had by far made it a point to stay out of this conversation and as far back as she could, but the interest in her eyes seemed to bely why she had to draw herself a little more out of the dark, it was starting to interest her—the perceived ideas of these court members and those who stood on the outside watching. 

Serendibite listened to the sapphire’s words carefully, though her eyes surely did narrow some when she seemed to be reluctant in expressing something that troubled her. She quietly assessed her words before continuing though Serendibite looked like she had went deep into thought before making her conjecture known to the sapphire.

“I would like you to be very careful, madam, with your words of course. And again, listen very closely to your ideals. I’ll answer your question, but first allow me to elaborate on something.” She clasped her hands together and crossed her legs, “There is no ‘individual,’ in the diamond order, we are a machine driven by our need to progress and grow, to as you say ‘fulfill,’ a purpose. Are you trying to say that everything that lies within sole belongs to your diamond? Do you not understand what this sounds like, isolationism, even the less radical forms of it, is not looked on kindly by the diamonds, even if that ideal is proposed by one of its courts itself—that is the very nature of what causes rebellions in the first place.” She closed her eyes as she realized she hadn’t fully explained to the sapphire the nature of why she led her on this goose chase. 

“I had to make a few … choice arrangements, sapphire. Because meeting with me is about as easy as seeing White Diamond, herself. I gander that you’re a young gem, and that you may not have seen everything I have, considering I am … rather archaic, in terms of gem designs. Can you say you trust everything you know about our history is true?” These words elicited a knowing intensity in her eyes as she watched the sapphire carefully, “Step into the shoes of Yellow Diamond for a second, how would you feel-being the arms of the military and its ultimate force of power seeing Quartz walk up to you and declare her honor lies foremost with Pink Diamond? How would you feel as a cultural appropriator that the world you gave to someone else is so disillusioned by honoring the image of their leader, that they have decided to place all loyalty and interest in her—denying or even forgetting the majority of cycles this appropriator has developed over the past countless millennia?”

“Yes, much research has come from earth, but it is to further the other echelons around you—not just to act as some gift to a newly appointed leader—every action this machine makes is about ‘equivalent-exchange.’ Even I have had some research within this planet, the jet gems you see before you were my attempt at utilizing what would possibly be dead organic plant material into what it is now, gem’s with purpose.” She made something of a discontent look, “I agree, the way the forces of these courts have been handled is mediocrity at its finest. An ongoing game if you will, do you really think Pink Diamond doesn’t acknowledge half of what I’m saying herself? Do you really think the elder courts would admit such a thing?”

“Which brings me to why I went through so much trouble--and unfortunately much to your dismay, to bring you here. Understand what I am going to say next is not a threat sapphire, but a warning. I’m looking out for you here when I say that you are steps away from putting your feet into muck that you will not so easily pull out.” Her eyes became intense again, “There are gems who lurk in the darkness of the hierarchies, mysterious gems whose only purpose is to maintain the absolute perfection in the image of the Diamond Authority—you’ve already felt their bite, when they took control of your archives and deleted everything involving me and gem’s associated with me.”

Azurite gasped, “I know what you’re talking about.” Serendibite’s eyes flashed to the honor guard, a look of sorrow taking over her features as she recognized the voice instantly, “Azzy …” she muttered, but azurite continued as she stepped into the light, “I heard it once when I was hanging out with some white court elites. They mentioned that sometimes things happen, gems get caught up in forces they don’t quite get are out of their reach and end up vanishing for it—entire caste thrown down the ladder, entire caste being decommissioned. Just this eerie shadow that looms over the authority that no one knows anything about.” 

[Paddy]

She had many philosophical qualms with the things that Serendibite said-- and this gem showed her age in her beliefs. In many ways, Padparadscha was far too stubborn, and far too set in her own ideologies to fully wrap her head around the points of view that the gem was presenting for her, though she stewed over them. But it almost seemed that this gem already knew what the sapphire's underlying point was, what she had been implying throughout the discussion, from the warning that was given. She narrowed her eyes at the bold mentioning of her lost data. Then, she swiveled, her eyes sliding over to Azurite as the gem's voice suddenly projected through. 

The sapphire pressed her lips together, and gave a hard look to each Sigma gem. "There are six hundred and seventy surviving 8 Series Padparadschas. All of us share a collective purpose, to which we each contribute our share, and must make up for the loss of those six individuals who would've joined us in the end of the colony's construction. The 8 Series project was-- is-- expensive. And we, as a collective, will contribute something unseen, that will benefit the entire empire, I assure you," She hoped to illustrate a point, or at least to illuminate her viewpoint. She stopped, thinking about what she would say next. It was hard for her to say the truth in this instance. She spoke in a slow, measured pace,"Pink Diamond allowed me this opportunity, to be. She is the wisest gem I have ever had the honor of speaking to or working with. The other Diamonds are just as brilliant. I know there are things that are above me, and these gems you speak of-- I'm sure they have their eyes on me, especially now,"

She swiveled to look at Azurite, her brows floating upward as she swept her eyes around to the gem. "I have no fear of decommissioning, so long as my purpose will inevitably be fulfilled. But I was given a chance to physically be, to ensure my purpose, and I will use it. Quite frankly, I will not be able to fulfill my true purpose if the rebellion continues to gain traction. I will not be able to fulfill my purpose if Pink Diamond's efforts are undermined, in favor of those who imposed themselves at the helm of the colonization effort," Her hands began to shake, almost imperceptively,"At what point does it end..." Her last words were something muttered quietly, not for other gems to hear, she hardly realized she spoke them out loud. But Amethyst heard them quite clearly, her face contorted to a point where she looked almost as if she were grimacing in physical pain. 

This whole debacle had given 6UE a lot to think about. In her short decades of existence, she'd never applied much thought to how she felt about Pink Diamond or the other Authority members. They were the rightful rulers, that's what they were meant for. She was meant to stand around, and punch things if necessary, that purpose was handed down to her and millions of other quartz gems. The discussion made her want to squirm with how uncomfortable she was. It felt like everything coming out of not only her patron, but Serendibite, were things she wasn't suppose to be hearing. The soldier had heard similar things to what Azurite had said; gems who stepped too far out of line would vanish without a trace. She could think of a few quartz she'd once known, who now might as well have been wiped from history.