Chương 154: LOG-146.

As the Overseer of the Reef, I had a… distinctly large amount of flexibility in how I could operate. I wasn't a Caretaker. I had no lesson plans, nor any assigned Pearls that I necessarily needed to teach at the moment. At least not yet. No, for the time being, my job was to make sure things were in tip top shape. To enhance the Reef, to shore up any issues so that the facility was in perfect order, and elevate its 'product' to yet unseen heights of quality.

But what I need is to set up a place and system I know and control, well enough that it can serve as a reliable base of operations. Holding back a scowl at the reminder of my mental tampering, I instead focused on the nervous Pearl standing in front of me, the Gem visibly trying not to fidget or glance around at the dim interior of my office, but also unsure whether she was supposed to be looking me in the eye or not.

Reclining back into the chair (truly a novelty, fit only for the highest of ranks) I'd asked to be installed behind my desk, I tilted my head slightly, clawed fingers flicking at the air even as I rested my cheek atop the back of my hand, elbow keeping me propped up. The silence continued. The Pearl continued to fidget for a few more minutes. And finally, she broke.

"I-Is there something I can help you with, my Nacre-""Viridian."

"M-My Viridian-""If I were any of the other Nacres, I would have given you a smack for speaking out of turn. Possibly even discorporated your lightform."

"I'm s-s-sorry my Viri-" Sighing as the chocolate coloured Gem did her level best to hold back tears, I sat up slightly, waving her off.

"You're not in trouble, and you're safe so long as you're in this room, do you understand? I'm not going to hit you." Confusion warred with apprehension on her features, so I decided to swap to a different track, steepling my fingers as I did so.

"Brown Pearl order Seventeen B. That's your designation, right?" The little thing nodded hesitantly, even as I glanced at one of the holographic screens floating above my desk, specifically the one linked to the surveillance eye monitoring the outside of my office.

"Alright Seventeen B. Ask me a question." No one was trying to eavesdrop just yet. Not that they could, given no sound could leave this place, but still. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. And I've made sure to meticulously check the inside of the room for any unwanted surprises as well. Good. Wait, damn it-"A…A question, my Viridian?" …Nodding, I waved a clawed hand at the Pearl.

"Any question you can think of and would like to ask, and I'll do my best to answer. Don't worry, you won't get in trouble for it. And I'm not your Viridian. I'm just Viridian. Just like you're Seventeen B." A moment passed in silence as she digested that, fingers fidgeting slightly before she finally gathered the courage to voice her thoughts.

"Why did…why did you call me in here? Why not Seventeen A?! She's supposed to be better than the rest of us! And she comes before me on the list!" Her mouth clacked shut immediately afterwards, the brown Gem flinching slightly as she bowed her head.

"I-If that's alright to ask, ah…Viridian." Pursing my lips, I glanced down at my desk for a moment, before looking back up at Seventeen and shrugging.

"Back when I was a Pearl, Nacre Three focused on me to the detriment of my entire Batch, and it was very stressful. As far as I can tell, she's trying to replicate my success with Seventeen A, which makes me uncomfortable." I paused, then shook my head.

"Of course that's not Seventeen A's fault, but every time I see her it's a reminder." The answer was enough to keep the Pearl in front of me silent for a bit. And then…

"O-Oh. I'm sorry." Waving her off, I leaned back.

"It's not your fault, and I did tell you to ask me something. Now, I know you likely don't trust me fully yet, and to be honest, I think it's smart of you that you don't, but I'd like if we could talk more, you and I. I'd like to know what the other Nacres are doing when I'm not watching them, and I'd much prefer someone that can tell me about things like that who won't lie in the process." Eyes narrowing slightly, I crossed my arms.

"I'm going to be telling them that hitting Pearls is no longer acceptable, and I want you to tell me if they keep doing it when I'm not around to watch. It'll be our secret, just between you and me. Do you think you'd be comfortable with that, Seventeen?" It was slow, at first. But as the realisation of what I'd just said really fell upon her, the shine in the Gem's eyes was difficult not to smile at. Baby steps. Sure, I didn't have the whole Batch reporting to me just yet… but this was certainly a good start.

— Yet another ping. Yet another notification from my console, even as I continued to pour over reports from the Reef, notably the currently still incubating eighteenth Batch of Pearls sitting in storage, alongside the status of a certain yellow Gem isolated in the repair center in the northernmost section of the facility. There was only so long I could put it off, and only so many requests to meet in person I could ignore before I got annoyed.

And so after a short hop, skip and fall through one of the shorter range Warp pads, I found myself in a separate section of the Reef, specifically one that I had only visited once before, and in the company of a Diamond no less.

"Welcome, Overseer. It is good to see you again." Staring up at the ceiling in response to a certain automated system's voice, I narrowed my eyes, before sighing.

"Been a while, Shell."

"What is your desire?" …I supposed I shouldn't have expected much more from what was ultimately a computer program.

"Inform Thulite Thirteen that I'm waiting outside of her work station, as per request."

"At once, Overseer." Settling down in the 'lobby' area I'd visited previously, I glanced around, waiting. There was still more to do. I needed to get the Nacres in line. Build a proper rapport with the current Batch of Pearls. Plan some kind of escape route, maybe by getting in contact with Fawn if I could. Keep an eye on the foreign code in my gemstone. I…

I needed to visit Yellow Diamond's Pearl to see what the damage was, since it was apparently severe enough that Nacre Three had deemed her recovery a lost cause for the next few thousand years… So much to do… I'd need to organise a mental list or something once I dealt with whatever this was, then I could-"OH YOU LOOK AMAZING!"

Looking up with a sharp expression, I had perhaps two seconds before a familiar blur of pink barreled into my personal space, already beginning to go over my new lightform with literal sparkles in her eyes.

"Hello again, Thulite."

"Eeeeee you look so pretty! Oh, I see you took my suggestion for your hair! Oh oh oh come with me right now cause we need to taaaalk~!" Sigh. No respect. …Good.