Chương 161: LOG-153.

"Repeat to me what you know of your future owner." Time somehow managed to simultaneously move at both a lightning pace and a snail's crawl.

"Ah… she's an Azurite. Stationed on Blue Three!" It had been… exactly three weeks, starting now. Exactly three weeks since I'd spilled my guts to Seventeen A, and since she had spilled her guts to me in turn. Lots of feelings there, on both sides. And during that time, I gave lessons to Pearls. I oversaw my fellow Nacres. And I received reports from a certain Peridot in regards to little things that shouldn't have mattered, but really did. 1A really wasn't as stealthy about things as she thought she was.

Regardless of Pearls playing spy, occasionally, I also attended planning sessions with the Reef's other auxiliary staff members, signing off on requisitions for this or that material. I even spent time with Thulite, pondering over designs for the next Batch of Pearls that would replace the ones we hosted now, and helping her 'get in touch with her inner Nacre.'

"And?" It was all too easy to fall into a rhythm that, if I was being entirely honest, one I could quite possibly see trapping myself in forever. A prospect that naturally horrified the rest of my sensibilities, considering what I knew of the world around me, and of what had been done to my code to make me presumably content with such a role.

"And…and she's a member of the aristocracy, thanks to her position as an Era One resource manager!" So in between the beats of that unnatural rhythm, in the spaces of silence in between all that noise…I gave entirely different lessons, to two entirely different Pearls. Private lessons.

"And?" It was hard not to notice the increased attention Nacre Three started to show them after she noticed the duo coming and going from my office at regular intervals, but a quick chat with the Gem was enough to ensure she backed off. These were my Pearls to focus on now after all, not hers.

"Uh-she…she's…" The lessons themselves were…specific, tailored to suit the ones receiving them. Bee was, in actuality, quite good at picking up on things like putting up a mask, and had already begun using some of the social lessons I'd given her to utterly shake up the current dynamic of her Batch, placing herself at the top.

"Relax, I'm joking." Heh, she was a veritable queen Bee now. Honestly, I'd be more concerned if careful observation of the gang of Pearls through Shell's systems didn't confirm that she was using that opportunity to keep the Batch together, putting down fights, promoting cooperation, and keeping bullying or gossiping down to an absolute minimum where possible. All excellent results. An unmitigated success in all regards.

"R-Right…jokes. You explained that last lesson." In comparison, the lessons I gave to Seventeen A were…admittedly for far more selfish reasons. Sighing from my position behind my desk, I leaned back, crossing my arms behind my head and staring up at the ceiling in favour of the green figure currently sitting at the edge of said desk.

"Seventeen A." Getting my supposed copy to relax around me was…in progress. But I was afraid I didn't have enough time to really get her as comfortable as I wanted her to be. Not with how the Batch graduation was rapidly approaching, far more rapidly than I might have otherwise liked. Which meant they would be sent away soon.

"... Yes?" Which meant I had no choice but to speed up the timetable, lest I miss the upcoming opportunity to finally get back into contact with Fawn. Back into contact with someone who could ensure I could get out of here and… if possible, take a few Gems with me. I'm becoming dangerously attached to individuals that I should ultimately already consider lost. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. Shut it.

I'm being irrational-"Do you think the Empire is flawed?" Glancing at her out of the corner of my eye revealed the Pearl physically flinching, drawing backwards slightly as if in preparation for a blow.

"N-Not at all-!"

"Oh calm down, we both know it's not quite perfect, don't we? Our existence as Pearls is living proof of that. Face it, the Empire is horrible. And don't go trying to mask up with me, you're not good enough at it yet, but that's perfectly okay while we're here." The words prompted the green Gem's mouth to shut with an almost audible click, even as I waved a hand at her, doing my best not to sound exasperated. … Even if I kind of was, albeit more with the world than with her. This was all too fast.

I was being too reckless. But I didn't have fucking time, so here I was, an ageless being hurrying her ass up, as per usual.

"Look, I'm not trying to catch you out here. There's no hidden gotcha. Instead… well, ah crack it. Would it be alright if I was entirely honest with you for a moment?" A few long seconds passed, some kind of internal turmoil flashing in Seventeen A's eyes before she slowly nodded, balling her hands into fists atop her lap as she did so. Doesn't really understand. But wants to. Desperately hopes she's right about whatever she's thinking.

Bringing up the same hand, I allowed half of my face to fall into it (carefully, lest I damage my lightform with a talon) before letting out a long sigh.

"Here's the truth…I'm going to give you to a rebel." A moment passed. Two moments. It was at three that I lowered the limb and prepared to speak, only to be cut off by a surprisingly firm question.

"... Why?" Staring at the Pearl's… distinctly stony expression, I briefly entertained the thought that she'd try and fight me on this. If she did… my claws would pierce her lightform before she could reach the door. Hiding what had happened would be annoying of course, but entirely innocent trainees had been rejuvenated for far less, in the past. Ugh, my authority as Overseer would never be questioned either, as a matter of course. And wasn't that a terrible thought. That… that I'd even thought to… wait, had I?

Had that been me? Or just the code making me think it was me? … Forcibly setting aside the unsettling question of whether I was truly that cold or not, I inclined my head towards the green Pearl.

"Well because I'm also a rebel, of course. Always have been. One currently isolated from a greater network of various individuals who hate the Empire. The deal is quite simple. You'll deliver some items for me, and be accepted with open arms as a hero for doing so, by Gems that will treat you as an equal." Tilting my head ever so slightly to the side, I kept my voice calm.

"Does that sound agreeable to you?" Another indeterminate length of time passed, before Seventeen A's stony exterior cracked. Extremely off kilter. She wasn't expecting to be correct about her guess.

"... Wait, was that…not a joke?" Oh Stars damn it.

"... I'm going to give you a datapad to store in your gemstone. Maybe a few datapads, depending on how much I can think of to send out. You will give those to Azurite. Then she will help you decide on whatever you feel like doing. No, this isn't a joke."

"... Oh."