LOG-125.

  "-Oh and we won't have much time! I've prepared the parade, the security, the-"

  Everything felt too loud. Too sharp. As if my senses had been enhanced, but just a little too much over what would have been the right amount.

  "-and it's been ages since she's come for a visit! What could she be here for? Maybe-"

  Someone with an imperfect memory may not be able to figure out what the deal was, but I had the questionable luck of recalling everything, including the state of my senses during those periods.

  "-the reaction to the missing prisoner transport? Ah but that feels like it would be below the attention of a Diamond! Glitter, help me with-"

  The essence wine had enhanced everything initially. I'd moved quicker, felt more energetic, and reacted more fluidly. But as it had died down, the subsequent crash had dulled everything, relaxing me.

  "-I'll need to coordinate with the other administrators. Maybe get some of the nearby warships to engage in a few manoeuvres. My Diamond has always preferred the more militant side of things-"

  And now that downturn was slowly fading away as my lightform returned to standard operations, all while my mind struggled to catch up to the usual routine after having been teased with the luxury of a thirty minute break.

  "-and of course we'll need to get you two brushed up as well! We all need to be at our best for her radiance as a matter of course!"

  As a result, Hessonite's booming, giggling voice was not doing much to help with the rapidly brewing headache plaguing my thoughts, the large Gem flitting about her office with a harried looking Glitter chasing behind her.

  "Viridian dear, look up a tad, would you?"

  Blinking slowly, I followed the command just in time for some kind of nozzle to enter my vision, a can of something clutched in Hessonite's hand.

  "Close your eyes!"

  Cutting off my vision (and with it, the sight of a sparkly looking teal Pearl seemingly printed onto the surface of the can), I held still while the sound of spritzing filled the room, alongside the sensation of something settling on my lightform.

  Judging by her footsteps and Hessonite's contemplative murmurs, the Garnet was circling me while spraying more of whatever was in her hand. The moment passed quickly however, and soon enough an affirmative hum prompted me to open my eyes again.

  "Ah, perfect! You look just as lustrous as Glitter now!"

  Following the larger Gem's haze, I glanced down at my body, quickly lifting a hand to inspect it.

  It was a fairly subtle effect, but the more I paid attention, the more I could make out…glitter?

  "Alright, that should do. Glitter, sort away my remaining datawork. I can put it off for now. Viridian, access my terminal and look into where everyone is being stationed. My counterparts have agreed that my sector is the most presentable at the moment, but we can't be certain whether our Diamond might decide on a more advanced tour, and I need to make sure I'm presentable as well!"

  "Yes my Hessonite!"

  "At once, my Hessonite."

  Yeah, glitter. Or at least something similar. Not too much of it, and it seemed more like an extremely thin but sticky liquid containing a few particles of the stuff, but still. It clung to my lightform, making my extended limb…shinier.

  My fellow Pearl's name made slightly more sense now, since I was pretty sure she'd been wearing the stuff since I'd been brought to the Confluence. Interesting.

  The idle thought occupied my mind, but my body moved regardless, bringing me over to the recently installed station taking up a majority of one of the office's walls.

  I was more than familiar with the machine by now, both due to actively sorting a decent amount of my de facto owner's datawork on it, and due to having brought in Glitch while the place was empty to install a backdoor into the system.

  It was that backdoor which I used now, the treasonous act hidden between a vast series of status checks and requests for progress reports from the various other sector administrators of the station, giving me a direct link to the rest of my cell's communications.

  And unsurprisingly, said communications were effectively on fire. Several operatives in the makeshift chat room had already gotten advanced info on Yellow Diamond herself visiting, ahead of the rest of the Confluence's populace, which of course had trickled into the rest of the network, prompting an entirely reasonable amount of panic.

  A Diamond visiting might not be very important for the Diamond herself, but the response it brought from Imperials was…problematic, for Fawn. Security would increase tenfold. Gems would be on the lookout for anything that might be perceived as imperfect.

  Various bugs, wiretaps, backdoors, and hacks would need to either be obscured or outright removed, and just about every current operation we had going on would need to be suspended or cancelled effective immediately.

  As Coordinator, I should have been in the thick of it, helping to round everyone up and take us all underground. But judging from just about everything I'd learned so far…

  …I was going to be the closest rebel operative to ground zero of this bullshit. Accompanying Hessonite, who in turn would accompany Yellow Diamond herself.

  Resisting the urge to sigh or cry about the fact that I was carrying another fucked up Gem inside of my storage space for the second time in my life, I sent a ping to the Fawn chat.

  While this was an extreme scenario, we'd prepared for similar problems. Chip, Scratch, Glitch and Truce would step up and temporarily lead in my absence, with an immediate request being sent to another cell for a new coordinator if I was forced to leave for a longer period than the emergency council could handle.

  Lesson learned, I supposed. My inevitable replacement (I certainly didn't plan on staying here forever, after all) would be better off being either a low ranking Gem, or one that was outright smuggled in. That way they wouldn't be absent during a crisis like this.

  Thoughts of the future aside, my fingers flew across the interface, even as Glitter stepped away, her task done and the Pearl apparently deciding that our mistress needed help with her own can of whatever the latest shiny goop that Gems considered peak fashion was..

  Shaking my head, I turned back to focus on the holographic screen.

  Now, did any of the dozens of other Garnets managing this station have any inkling of an idea as to what had prompted a visit in the first place?

  Time to find out. After all, I could always find time to have a panic attack about today's nonsense later.

  Right?

  —

  It still sometimes surprised me, how quickly Gems could just…move throughout the Confluence. The Warp network was a Stars damned miracle, and regardless of allegiances, I hoped that whatever scientist had discovered it had been well rewarded for the work.

  The system meant that gathering a literal parade's worth of Gems was relatively easy, thousands of lightforms gathering into specific formations and snapping into salutes as we passed by.

  It was a rather stark reminder of just how large the Confluence actually was. I'd spent a majority of my time in the interior corridors after all, and the generally tight spaces could easily mislead someone into thinking the literal dwarf planet was smaller than it actually was.

  Just this chamber alone rivalled the size of a small city, the usual shapes of docked starships notably absent to make space for the ever growing mass of spectators.

  Our own path, reserved for VIP's like Hessonite, was relatively sparse in comparison to the highly populated sections dedicated for the common Gem crowd. The Garnet in question seemed rather pleased at the turnout, all things considered, even as she gracefully strode forward amidst countless whispers on both sides of the lit up trail.

  Glitter maintained a position to the administrator's right, even as I trailed along to her left, both of us moving in sync (a rarely used manoeuvre that I recalled practicing with other parts of the Batch back in the Reef) as we followed along behind her.

  Still, spacious surroundings or not, the walk couldn't last forever, and we inevitably began to slow our stride a little as we reached the larger than average Warp pad a large team of Aquamarines and Peridots had gathered around, performing final checks on a series of holo emitters around the construct before scattering as they noticed our approach.

  The miniscule blue Gems fluttered away on wings of water, their more technical counterparts electing to just sprint for it as Hessonite finally ground to a halt, both Glitter and I mimicking the act as a solid pillar of light burst forth from the pad, prompting cheers from the small (at least by Gem standards) army assembled behind us.

  My arms snapped into the Diamond salute damn near instinctively as a familiar pressure returned, an intense gaze falling upon me, only to be redirected seconds later by the emitters activating and projecting some fancy looking glowing banners around the figure, her golden eyes rising and glaring out at the parade before her.

  It was all very pretty. And expensive. And it had caused who knew how many minor and major problems to set up, requiring a level of coordination and cooperation that I was honestly fairly certain only Gems could achieve.

  Yellow Diamond didn't seem very impressed with all the excess, in this Pearl's humble opinion. But what did I know? Besides, no one else bar maybe Hessonite had noticed the tightening of the massive Gem's expression either, judging by the ever escalating cheers.

  "Presenting the Warmaster of the Golden Armada! The second Diamond of the Great Authority! The Imperial Sword! Her Radiance, Yellow Diamond!"

  If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  The wall of noise that met Hessonite's augmented declaration (to my knowledge, the administrator had forged a link to the chamber's announcement system before Yellow's arrival, her voice picked up by a series of tastefully hidden receivers) probably would have burst human eardrums, if I was being honest.

  And yet she still continued to all but roar above the noise, already impeccable posture somehow straightening even further as she locked eyes with the giantess staring down at her.

  "My Diamond! We are glad to bear witness to your presence once more! To serve and obey is our purpose, and we indulge in such gladly! Welcome back to Sector Nineteen of the Crystal Confluence!"

  Locking my lightform in place as best I could, I braced myself for a few more minutes of cheering as the Diamond in question crossed her arms behind her back, nodding.

  After all, if I was an immortal dictator in her situation, I'd be preparing to give some halfassed speech the second everyone present stopped screaming their nonexistent lungs out.

  …Aaaany moment now-

  "And to command and rule is my purpose. I am glad to see you all once again."

  -annnnd there it was. Even if the fake smile on the massive Gem's face wasn't very convincing.

  Though perhaps I was just a bit overqualified in that regard, truth be told.

  —

  It was time to lock the fuck in so I didn't get hauled off and shattered. Again.

  Parades and speeches aside, Yellow Diamond had come to the Confluence for a purpose. That purpose became evident as Hessonite led her (and us, though that was a given) to a moderately smaller, more localised Warp pad.

  It was unnerving, standing next to a boot that could quite literally crush me to pieces if its owner was so inclined. Some of that feeling went away as we made a brief trip through the Warp stream however, my eyes busying themselves with tracking the various patterns and shadows in the other dimension while thoughts raced through my mind.

  A standard inspection was right out, a subordinate could do that without busying one of Homeworld's Matriarchs. Yellow coming here on a whim was also…unlikely, judging from what I remembered of the show, and of the brief encounter I'd had with her while under Emerald's command.

  She wasn't one for doing things lightly. Which only served to worry me as the stream deposited us into a chamber I'd had more than one meeting with Fawn about.

  The Diamond control room. A standard issue feature for all major Imperial facilities. This one in particular had a quartet of thrones installed, one of which Yellow moved to settle into while Hessonite scurried forward after her, Glitter and I doing the same.

  Soon enough, the borderline demigod was already activating the throne's systems, the interface readily responding to her gemstone's signatures as she brought up several holograms.

  I made out nearby fleet status reports, a diagram of the Confluence itself, and a few dozen other things before Yellow's gaze pinned me to the spot, the Diamond casually flicking the screens out of her way.

  Those golden eyes continued to dig into my lightform as the massive Gem leaned forward, frowning.

  "...Hessonite."

  The Garnet in question snapped to attention (well, as much as she could while already stiff as a board, that was), saluting as she stepped forward.

  "Yes, my Diamond?"

  Maintaining the demure expression I'd frozen my expression into for the past few minutes, I maintained calm but respectful eye contact with the dictator, even as my inner thoughts…well.

  AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA FUCK FUCK FUCK OH FUCK I'M CRACKED I'M GOING TO DIE THEY'RE GOING TO HARVEST ME AND I'M GOING TO DIE-

  Yeah.

  "I'm here to question the Pearl that formerly belonged to one of my Emeralds. Facet 2M7G, cut 8XS. You are aware of the situation?"

  Hessonite's expression went from excited to somber in seconds, even as the Gem nodded seriously.

  "Correct, your benevolence. Due to…unfortunate circumstances, 8XS decided to illegally commandeer her previously assigned cruiser and turn traitor. Upon fleeing to the abandoned colony of Pink One, the vessel was lost, alongside all hands."

  The Garnet glanced at me out of the corner of her eye.

  "Bar one lucky survivor, of course."

  I inclined my head slightly, and thanked the Stars that I hadn't shapeshifted a stomach in over a month at this point, otherwise it'd be doing backflips inside my lightform.

  "I see. I recall reading your report of the debacle, alongside the perspectives of a few other Gems. But-"

  It was like seeing a small hill move, the Diamond turning in place slightly to cross one leg over the other.

  "-I find myself wanting a more direct view of events, and came here for that exact purpose. I remember you now, Viridian. Your owner was one of my more…reliable subordinates, before her unfortunate decision to desert her post."

  Type fifteen. Pattern fifteen. An apologetic pose, but on another Gem's behalf, rather than one's own. Suitable for the situation at hand, and executed perfectly. Always perfectly. Especially when my life was on the line here.

  "Most correct, your radiance. Though I remain painfully uninformed as to what my former Emerald must have been thinking to engage in such a…drastic act, I consider it a shame that the Empire has lost one so capable."

  And now, a calculated move, one that would either fuck me over, or help out a little. Lowering my eyes slightly, I slumped my shoulders exactly an inch.

  "She was a good, hard working Gem, for the short time I served under her command."

  A (metaphorically, anyway) nerve wracking moment passed as the Diamond seemed to consider that statement, before slowly leaning back into her throne's backrest with an annoyed sigh.

  "Indeed. Her loss was…irritating."

  A hand big enough to grab and throw me moved upwards, before a pair of fingers pressed against the bridge of the Gem's nose, her eyes closing for a few seconds.

  "...Very well. You were there during her desertion. And you were there when the vessel you were stationed aboard was lost. Tell me everything."

  —

  In the end, I did tell her everything.

  "And to confirm, you personally witnessed examples of this 'lithoplague' yourself? The Emerald that rescued you relayed surveillance data taken from her ship, but…"

  Everything that would hopefully dissuade the conqueror from even considering heading to Earth, that was.

  "Yes, my Diamond. The sounds of my Quartz guards being overwhelmed by the infection was…horrifying. As was the Retaliator's sinking by the corrupted Lapis Lazuli lording over the planet's oceans."

  What was actually horrifying was the long silence that followed the blatant lies I'd just spat at Yellow's face, her brows furrowing and a hand obscuring her mouth as she stared at me.

  The absence of sound stretched, and for just a moment, I nearly convinced myself that this was it.

  How could I think that I, a lowly Pearl, could deceive a Diamond? This was a being that was older than entire civilisations, that had conquered massive swathes of her local galaxy. I was going to be found out, and then I'd be executed for daring to even dream of rebellion-

  "This is going to interfere with the Cluster project. Hmph."

  Another massive sigh escaped the Gem Matriarch, her head lolling back slightly as she waved a hand.

  "I'll need to order a blockade around all known corridors leading to that cursed system. Pearl, contact-"

  I blinked, exchanging a quick, subtle glance with Glitter as Yellow abruptly paused, twitching the fingers on my right hand in a particular pattern.

  'Us?'

  The other Pearl's foot adjusted ever so slightly, before her nose twitched.

  'I don't think so.'

  "My Diamond?"

  Come to think of it, the snooty servant I'd had the debatable pleasure of meeting hadn't been present at any point during this entire visit. Just where was she?

  "Ugh. It's nothing, Hessonite. My Pearl was damaged a short time ago due to…an accident. Her absence while the Reef attempts to repair her has been nothing short of an irritant ever since."

  Oh. Okay. Because THAT'S NOT OMINOUS AT ALL-

  Maintaining my serene expression, I made the admirable effort of keeping my screams internal, even as Hessonite perked up at the statement.

  "You are without a Pearl, my Diamond?"

  Yellow's expression worsened, prompting a flinch from Glitter and a slight blanch from the Garnet, before she nodded.

  "For the time being, yes. My efficiency has decreased as a result. It turns out she was actually propping up more than a few things…"

  I couldn't help but stare at the strange emotion that seemed to have infiltrated the administrator's eyes as she looked up at the almost melancholic Diamond, head tilting ever so slightly.

  "F-Forgive me for my impudence, your excellence. But…perhaps I might offer a temporary solution to such a conundrum?"

  That grabbed the massive Gem's attention, alongside Glitter's, and of course my own. All three heads turning to face Hessonite as she raised a hand, gesturing to…

  Me? What was she-

  "As you well know by now, Viridian's former owner is…no longer with us, leaving her a Loose Pearl, legally speaking. While I have taken custody of her since, no formal ownership was established, due to the lack-"

  The Garnet went silent as Yellow cut her off, finishing the sentence.

  "-of an acceptably high authority to officiate the transfer, I know of the procedure. You've proven worthy of a second Pearl thanks to your acceptable service, do you want me to authorize the transfer?"

  Hessonite hesitated, as did I, albeit for entirely different reasons. But then her expression hardened slightly, her words surprising just about everyone in the room, judging by Yellow's raised eyebrows.

  "While I would be honoured, my Diamond, I was suggesting that maybe…you could take her?"

  The urge to let my jaw drop in complete and utter befuddlement was immense, but if I couldn't repress something like that, I wouldn't have made it to where I am today.

  "Me? You think an Emerald's Pearl could withstand the pressure that comes with binding herself to my station?"

  The question should have pulled out an apology and quiet retraction of the offer, but for whatever damned reason, Hessonite seemed determined to fuck me over, her eyes shining slightly as she gestured towards me again.

  "I wouldn't dare believe that she could replace a Diamond class Pearl, your radiance. But to serve as a stand in, until the damaged Gem in question is repaired? Viridian has many qualities that I'd argue make her the most suitable for such a position."

  Yellow didn't audibly respond, just staring, which the Garnet seemed to take as an invitation to start listing off points, her hand coming up and extending a finger with each fact.

  "First and foremost, she is a Pearl produced within the Reef. An origin which already sets her apart from most. Her original owner was an Emerald, a Gem deeply associated with your hue and essence, and with a logically similar temperament to her Diamond."

  More fingers. To my absolute horror, Yellow was slowly beginning to nod along with the points being made.

  "As previously mentioned, she is legally considered Loose. Taking her in would not deprive another Gem of a valuable resource. In terms of ability, I can personally confirm that she alone has actively increased the productivity of the Gems in my sector by a staggering four percent."

  Wait. What? How!?

  "-Emerald 8XS also spoke frequently of her quality, and I'm told by others that the Nacre in charge of her creation considered Viridian the best of her Batch, prior to releasing custody of her."

  Hessonite turned, smiling kindly at me. It took…a disturbing amount of willpower not to snarl back.

  "By all accounts, she is an exceptional Pearl, even by the standards of the Reef. Certainly not a match to one created specifically for a Diamond, but in favour of waiting for repairs or for a replacement to be created entirely, well…"

  The bitch had the audacity to shrug at Yellow.

  "...I'd dare say she's about the best you can get right now, considering the circumstances!"

  Sales pitch apparently given, the administrator went silent as the monolithic being posing as a person glanced back down at me, eyes narrowing in…

  "Hm…she has been rather resilient from what I've seen of her. Even in the direct presence and attention of a Diamond…"

  Oh fuck me, that was contemplation, wasn't it?! Just refuse you big clod! You don't want me!

  "Well, I suppose it would be better than nothing. Pearl, state your capabilities."

  The response ripped through me. Not before I could think, no. But because there was nothing else I could think of without potentially compromising my survival.

  "But of course my Diamond! We Pearls are custom made to serve our owners and as such, I have been programmed and taught to assist you in your work and life in a vast variety of ways."

  I'd said literally the very same thing to Emerald, so long ago. Even without a perfect memory, I could never forget the words that had been drilled into me back in the Reef.

  "I personally have been especially trained to perform auxiliary duties such as taking calls, performing administrative work, acting as a representative when you deem your personal presence unnecessary, cleaning, carrying your things for you, and generally acting as a consistent source of companionship!"

  Stars fucking damn it.

  "My very existence is tailored to match your own, and thus the Reef has ensured I am more than well prepared to accommodate the needs and desires of a distinguished leader such as yourself, my Diamond."

  For whatever reason, the edges of Yellow's eyes crinkled at me slightly, the golden Gem letting out what may or may not have been an amused breath.

  "Well, I doubt that last part, considering you were made for an Emerald."

  …Shit-

  "...That would be correct, my Diamond! Though I relish the opportunity, I was in truth intended for an Emerald, and thus only have the training necessary for an Emerald's duties…"

  My saving grace! My salvation! My way out of this bullshit, overly contrived, utterly nonsensical situation!

  "Ah, and yet she seems to have adapted well enough to assisting me with various duties involving the Confluence as a whole!"

  RUINED! RUINED BY THAT BITCH HESSONITE!

  "But my Hessonite, would such a thing truly mean enough for me to be worthy of serving directly beneath a Diamond?"

  SHUT THE FUCK UP! SHUT THE FUCK UP AND LET ME WEASEL MY WAY OUT OF THIS-

  "The four percent increase speaks for itself, Viridian. It's entirely on account of your presence."

  WHORE! HARLOT! WENCH! CLOD! PEBBLE! PUTA! PENDEJA! COME MIERDA! KUSOYARO! MAY YOUR OFFICE BE PLAGUED BY GLITCH'S LISTENING DEVICES 'TILL THE END OF YOUR DAYS!

  …WHY IS YELLOW NODDING!?

  "Hmph. I suppose that will have to be good enough then. Very well, I'm convinced. Hessonite, this visit has been…illuminating, but I have duties I must attend to on Homeworld. I'm sure you understand."

  The wretched Garnet nodded quickly, her hands snapping up once more into that stupid fucking salute, Glitter hurriedly copying the motion behind her.

  "Of course, your brilliance! Please, have a safe journey back!"

  Yellow merely nodded as the duo rapidly moved to clear some space, not even bothering to look back as she began to take long strides over towards the Warp pad.

  "Come along, Pearl."

  And of course, it was all I could do to start powerwalking after her, withholding the urge to summon my claws and tear into the happily waving Gems behind me.

  "Yes my Diamond!"