Catching Up (C:Jazz)

[Paddy]

The last time she'd been here, the arctic wind and snow had chilled the mountain foothills in a silent, deadly frost. Today, it was a sunny spring time morning, small ivory butterflies whisking their way along the breeze as the scent of alpine trees and flowers wafted with them. The air was cool and pleasant, but as she glanced along the mountain ridge she had once tried to climb, she saw the old warped stone that she had left there, reminding her of the moment she had nearly been crushed by Earth's gravity trying to take on the mission on her own.

The sapphire had since learned her lesson; while she had her strengths, she also had her weaknesses, and it was always good to have back up. Though she decided that the gem she was bid to meet here certainly wouldn't be happy to see her, or her brawny Jasper bodyguard, part of her wondered how that gem was doing. She considered it a compromise that she was allowing for this meeting to happen at all, let alone without bringing a proper detainment force, but perhaps it would be a productive meeting.

Padparadscha stood, rocking back on her heels as she waited for the ship to close up. Nearby, 3JJ scoped the area in silence, glowering across the wooded area. Her lips kept opening up, then pressing shut as she tried to word her concerns,"Are you sure about this, your clarity?" The jasper grumbled. She didn't like the sound of this meeting; even if this gem had saved the sapphire's life once, the war was heating up, and Crystal Gems were dangerous criminals. 

"If she brings back up, we have ours. This meeting shouldn't be long, 3JJ," Padparadscha chimed, keeping a conversational tone. She put a foot forward and began to meander around, allowing herself to remember that day.   

[Jazz (Jasper)]

Jazz looked around the forested foothills. She looked up to the mountains, taking note of the old warped stone on the slopes. She could not believe that she had thrown herself off of a cliff to save a Homeworld Gem. But she did not regret it.

Well, not that she was coming back here to meet with the sapphire she would need to be on her toes. While she trusts Padparadscha to follow through on her word of research, she does not trust the Homeworld gems explicitly. Not since she left...

Jazz moves stealthily towards the sapphire, and she sees the other Jasper.
Just great... something to compare herself to again. And she thought that Padparadscha was going to show up alone. She sighs to herself, at least she can hold her own.

She approaches Padparadscha in the open. "Greetings Padparadscha. You brought a college I see."

[Paddy]

The sapphire jumped and swiveled a bit as the rebel jasper seemed to come out of nowhere. 3JJ glanced up and narrowed her eyes at the other soldier, stepping quickly up to her patron's side. Padparadscha's eyes swept the area, tension building in her shoulders as she anticipated that the rival gem would bring an entourage of her own. Though, it seemed Jazz really had come by herself; still the sapphire felt glad to have her own back up. At the gems words, one of her slender brows raised.  

She clasped her hands in front of her, and gave a smile,"Of course! It was foolish of me to set out on such a dangerous mission without one in the first place, I think you'll agree," She took a few short steps closer to the other gem,"These are times of war, one can't be too careful, but I know that I agreed to terms," This jasper had after all put her life on the line to ensure the sapphire's safety, and thus the mission as a whole.

Padpara stepped around, motioning for the others to follow her closer to the stone ridge of the nearby mountain. The cave that she had once attempted to explore was still there, and she imagined all the tunnels that had been created were in tact as well,"In order to come here, I gave myself a mission. On the record, I'm giving a second attempt at exploring these caves, as there could be valuable technology trapped somewhere inside-- but I presume you're wondering about the corrupted gems we detained?" She kept walking at a leisurely pace, straight up to the mountain's side. All the while, 3JJ kept a keen eye focused onto Jazz, unable to keep a disdainful sneer from tugging her lip. 

[Jazz (Jasper)]

Jazz listens, and ends up agreeing with the sapphire. She did need help last time they had been here. However, she is not going to follow along too closely. She does wish to find out what was learned about the corrupt gems. Anything in that regard could be of use to the Crystal Gems. Though her own compassion and curiosity was peaked as well. So she followed Padparadscha towards the caves again.

She would need to stay on her guard, as she did not have the easiest time in those caves the last time she was in them. Throwing yourself off of a cliff is a good way to create a connection with avoiding a place. But she wanted to see this deal through.

"I am still interested. And I hope that this time goes better than the last time. Though another Jasper is a good start I suppose." Jazz says as she glaces back at the new Jasper.

((Just a reminder here, it may be relevant. Jazz is "close to PD's Jasper in size. Jazz possesses a very athletic, muscular build. She stands as tall as PD's Jasper (Whatever that converts to in meters/feet)." Which makes her a gem to physically aspire to.))

[Paddy]

She gave a curt nod to show that she had heard the rebel as she made some calculations looking at the stone. The sapphire shook out her hands, then began to summon light from the ether, melding free electrons and ions from the air into a more tangible substance, amorphic blobs of plasma gathered. "I don't believe there are many more corruptions in this area, but we need to be careful, as there may be more of the original team here," Padparadscha stepped back, and began layering the plasma, allowing it to take an even more solid shape as the gasses were shaped into matter. It cooled like magma, and when finished, took the shape of a sturdy ladder. However, it hadn't made it all of the way up.

The sapphire assessed the structural integrity of the construct as she continued speaking,"I shall begin by stating that there is relatively little known about corruption in general. It's unfortunate but true, we're just not sure how it quite effects gem structure at the molecular level, or how the outbreak even happened. There are theories, however," She cleared her throat, and motioned for 3JJ to stand at the foot of the ladder. The soldier did as she was bid unquestioningly, and realized that her job would be to prevent Padparadscha from falling too far if she were to slip. The smaller gem climbed up the ladder, and continued to build onto the steps as she went, while continuing to speak to Jazz,"I was able to get a diagnostic on the retrieved gems, and by finding some background data on research in this area, I learned that a few years ago, four Kröhnkite excavation experts were sent here to begin setting up for a major installation," 

[Jazz (Jasper)]

Jazz listened to the sapphire's explanation. She was able to follow along with the scientific data and starts to wonder where this is going. She did not know what Kröhnkite was for certain.

"What is Kröhnkite, exactly?" Jazz asks, curious about the connection she was going for. "I do not have a lot of experience with that. Nor do I know what the goal of such an installation would be."

She stayed on her guard though. Despite Padparadscha's assessment on how many corruptions might be around. And besides what gems might be around, she still had to worry about the Homeworld gems in particular. She knew that the this deal was mostly beneficial and being held up because Jazz saved her life.

[Paddy]

As Jazz spoke, the sapphire continued to quietly build her ladder up to the cave, though she still had some way to go. She peered over her shoulder, waiting for her next layer to dry as she answered,"The installation was cancelled after the Kröhnkite squad leader sent a final transmission about unearthing some unstable volcanic remnants, then went dark," She spoke with heft to her voice. Her eyes cast down as she remembered countless other corruptions she had come across-- a terrifying and confusing fate for gems, she imagined, and attempt at rescue hadn't been made for these particular gems due to the level of danger involved. "What they were building isn't so important, not anymore," She sighed, and climbed down from the ladder, then directed 3JJ toward it. Her small feet hit the ground, and immediately after, the Jasper bodyguard began testing the integrity of the construct so far by climbing up it herself. 

The sapphire peered up, following 3JJ with her eyes as she spoke,"The Kröhnkites sent here were rare blue-court operatives. They were outfitted with technology that is to be retrieved, but the gems themselves have some impressive abilities. Blast resistant, quick, with a natural tremor sense and low-light vision that helped them navigate the dark underground, specialized forms that allowed them to work together as a team more effectively-- it's no wonder they were so much trouble for us back then," As Padparadscha finished speaking, 3JJ hopped down from the top of the ladder, landing squarely on her feet as dust flew up around her.

"Stable so far, your clarity," 3JJ piped up, and allowed her eyes to again narrow at this other jasper as the sapphire scurried forward and began to climb up again, continuing to stretch the ladder higher toward the opening of the crevasse.   

[Jazz (Jasper)]

Jazz listened once again to the sapphire's explanation. She agreed that if Kröhnkites were as she described, then they would be terrifying as corrupted gems.

"Well that does explain why they were so difficult to deal with." Jazz looked back at the other Jasper. She needed to make sure that this Jasper does not go and set her off. "So we are looking to gather this equipment back up if possible? At least Homeworld needs them back. What else are you hoping to accomplish here?"

She started to follow up the ladder, still keeping her distance. The other Jasper can keep eyeing her if she wants. She would not let her get a rise out of her. Hopefully this mission would be insightful.

[Paddy]

Her eyes flicked down with a bit of surprise as Jazz began climbing up the ladder and answered her. The sapphire pursed her lips-- Homeworld didn't necessarily need the technology, but leaving such scraps behind in times of war was not good policy. Neither was teaming up with rebels on purpose, but nonetheless she was a gem of her word, for the most part anyway. She was curious about this rebel, and rebels in general, given what her primary objective was.  

"As an investigator my task is to look for clues and decide whether the technology even still exists. It might have been destroyed, after all. The digging I did into that operation came to a dead end," In fact the sapphire personally felt that there was something suspicious about how abruptly her lead had ended, but she decided not to look too far into it,"So there are a lot of things that are up in the air," The quartz soldiers would be extra muscle if needed, but she wondered if this rebel truly wanted to be a part of this mission,"If you will accompany us, I would appreciate the extra security, but you should proceed with caution. Now that we know what the Kröhnkites sent here were capable of, we should keep an eye out for the remainder of their team, and avoid tripping off tremor senses," 

3JJ's lip curled downward as Jazz put herself between the bodyguard and the gem she was to protect. The soldier hurried onto the ladder to make sure there wouldn't be too much distance between herself and this rebel, who she didn't have even a shred of trust for, but 3JJ would follow her orders unless Jazz seemed to cross a line. Padparadscha herself was hardly paying attention to the formation-- she doubted Jazz would try to make her a prisoner of war now when she could have months ago if she had wanted that. 

The sapphire finished the ladder, and climbed all the way to the top, before crawling into the crevasse, and getting to her feet. She brushed off her outfit, and peered curiously into the cave. The light shedding into it landed on the old scars in the stone, left by the battle they had been in before. Padparadscha waited for both of the other gems to emerge over the ledge before she continued.

[Jazz (Jasper)]

Jazz noticed that she had accidentally put herself between the Jasper and the Sapphire. Whoops, that was not her intention. Once she climbs up over the ledge, she lets the other Jasper quickly take her position nest to Padparadscha.

She looked around the cave as well. She took note of the damage as well. She would prefer not to have a repeat of that incident again.

"That would be my preference. So what exactly did you find out about the corrupted gem that we captured?" Jazz stays on her toes as she lets the sapphire lead. "And how would my presence be of service with such a capable gem beside you?"
She let herself have an internal note of snark but she actually spoke respectfully. She does not need the unnecessary conflict on here.

[Paddy]

The bodyguard's eyes would glint as she shuffled in next to Padparadscha, and her eyes flicked to bore into Jazz as she leaned away from the gem,"You should scout forward," 3JJ answered before the sapphire could, leaving the smaller gem standing with her lips hanging open, eyes widened a bit in surprise as the soldier started giving her own orders. 3JJ pointed into the cave,"Get a look around, I'll back you up. You been here before so you know what to look for," She then glanced down to the sapphire, whose lips had pressed back together into a little smile.  

"Sounds like a plan, 3JJ." The sapphire said, then lowered her voice a bit,"As for the particular gem we'd captured, further identification is difficult while the gem remains in a corrupted state. Unfortunately there just isn't anything we can do but contain it until new insights are discovered," Corruption was a terrifying and pervasive virus, something mysterious. Padparadscha had access to many of Homeworld's databases, but none of them seemed to contain productive information about the pathogenic crisis facing the colony. 

With that, she stepped forward, and summoned a bit of plasma for light, though first she waited to see if Jazz was going to comply with the orders given. 

[Jazz (Jasper)]

Jazz looked at the two gems. While she had been here once, she has no idea what to look for. She only knows what to avoid. The two gems had only been in one chamber and a passage way the last time they were here.

She looked down the passage way that was lit by the plasma. She knew that the path would likely be dangerous.

"As you well know Padaradscha, we only explored one chamber and a passage way the last time we were here. And besides that, I did not even know what the Kröhnkites were. How would I know what to look for? One of you two would know far better than I." Jazz moves close, but not painfully so, to the other two gems. "And how should I trust you two? I know that Padaradscha has a deal to share information and not to drag me back to Homeworld. Leaving me for dead as an 'accident' is easily done. And I do not know this Jasper at all. While I know she will follow the orders of a higher gem, I am sure she can disobey them if it suits her."
She lets the statements hang. She is not such a fool as they believe her to be.

[Paddy]

Padparadscha was a bit caught off guard by Jazz refusing to scout for the group, though her surprised expression lowered as she remember that Jazz was a rebel after all, not one for taking orders or doing as they were bid to do. She gave a frustrated huff-- this mission would be a long one if plans and orders were contradicted often, and it seemed that even if the rebel was going to accompany them, she still wasn't on their side. The sapphire pondered what ulterior motive Jazz could have in coming with them on such a dangerous and unpredictable route. 

3JJ cracked a snarky grin and shook her head, then allowed her arms to unfurl,"Fine then, I'll do it," She shouldered passed Jazz to get into the room, and her eyes darted to give the rebel one last glare before the soldier began to dutifully sweep the area. Padparadscha shifted to get more light into the room, her small bauble of plasma emitted much more light and heat than a typical gem-light.

As she focused on giving light for the jasper bodyguard to see, the sapphire turned toward Jazz, and spoke in a low volume,"Look, I appreciate your help, but you must realize it's awfully strange for us to be working with...one such as yourself. 3JJ is not approving of your lifestyle-- for the record neither am I-- but she wont break orders, I assure you. Her orders are not to engage unless engaged," Her brows raised,"So...make no trouble, and receive none," 

"Clear," 3JJ grunted from across the room, and motioned for the others to come in. 

[Jazz (Jasper)]

Jazz nods a bit. "Look I still am going be honest with you. I want to help you out, in the regards that I will technically be learning more about what is going on here. I am going to say what we found here, but I will be just as discreet as I was last time. " Jazz moves to follow the other Jasper. "I will follow your lead but that same discretion needs to be upheld here. I am hardly going to give away Crystal Gem secrets. We know about as much about corruption as you do. So what we learn here could be valuable. So if you think I should do something, I will try to follow along, but as you said, I am a different life style. So I will not try to start anything but I will not go into situations I am ill equipped for."

Jazz looks around the new chamber.

[Paddy]

Her brows floated up at Jazz's transparency. She recalled the first time she'd met this gem, and even then the jasper had been very forthright about where she stood and why she did things-- it was rare to meet a gem like her, for reasons that the sapphire herself could guess at. Gems always had their reasons, for telling truths or for lying, and for now it seemed Jazz had reason to be honest with her. Padparadscha gave a short nod in response to Jazz as she moved up to 3JJ,"Fine. You seem genuine, but that doesn't mean we wont keep an eye on you." The bodyguard sneered at what the rebel jasper had said, but she opted to stay silent. 

"Speaking will become increasingly dangerous as we move ahead, we don't want to trip off their tremor sense or hearing," The sapphire whispered. Her eyes flicked to 3JJ who gave a curt nod in response, then she looked back toward Jazz,"The two of us have a complex signalling system, but I'll teach you some of the important basic ones if you want to keep up," 

At mention of the signalling system, 3JJ gave a hand signal, gesturing toward Padparadscha, and began to move through the nearest tunnel connecting this chamber to, presumably, the next. The sapphire began to move as well, keeping her light shining forward.