Chương 74: LOG-070.

LOG-70.

"And... she's been at this how long?" The Lapis Lazuli made an uncertain clicking sound with her tongue at the pale Pearl's question, inclining her head towards the still motionless fusion who, aside from a brief greeting, hadn't made so much as a peep afterwards.

The air around the Crystal Gems (having finally elected to return from their hunt for wayward Corrupted monsters upon a blaring alarm drawing them back to the Retaliator) was thick with an unspoken yet distinctly awkward tension, a silent expectation that something was supposed to happen, even as it simply... didn't.

"Since before you got back. She and I spoke for a bit before she started doing... this. Apparently she's talking to herself. So... there's that. Quille and Talon got back to me, said to ask you lot what to do. Vermilion's also on her way, I think? Not actually too sure what she's doing." Blinking, the renegade servant glanced back at the pink Quartz behind her in clear uncertainty, even as Rose exchanged looks with a visibly amused Garnet.

Ahead of the entire group itself, Amethyst was silently pacing back and forth in front of the motionless green Gem, occasionally flashing faces at the fusion, only to frown as it apparently failed to attract any form of response.

"Viridian is... really making a habit of fusing, isn't she?" The question hung in the air, tinged with both curiosity and concern. Rose's voice wavered slightly as she spoke, her eyes fixed on the green fusion that had become the center of the impromptu assembly's attention.

"Definitely not what I expected to be called back for, if I'm being honest..." There was something unsettling about the way Onyx stood so still, as if she were in a trance or lost in some deep, internal dialogue. Garnet merely inclined her head in response to the faux Quartz's question, one finger coming up to adjust her glasses ever so slightly as the living personification of the union between Sapphire and Ruby shifted in place.

"In her defense, she's really good at it. Especially while so fresh from Homeworld's shackles. Exploring herself and what she can do with others isn't that strange. I was the same... even if I stuck for longevity over the... hm, quantity she seems to prefer." The slight quirk to her lips exposed Garnet's bias, a fleeting expression that betrayed her opinion and affection for her own existence, clearly being compared to the new one before her. even as she brought her hand back down to rest against her hip.

"Besides, even if it's a bit of an awkward pairing, it seems to be working out pretty well for her... or rather them right now, considering Onyx hasn't broken apart yet. I'm sure our wayward Imperial is experiencing more than a few new sensations at the moment as well."

"Yeah well new sensations or not, she still ain't talki-oop." Amethyst's response was annoyed, likely meant to transition into some form of complaint regarding the current object of her attention's persistent stillness. Instead, it was cut off halfway as her attempt to slap a hand against the green Gem's lower torso, coincidentally where Viridian's gemstone sat, was instead gently yet firmly guided away by one of the fusion's own limbs. You could be reading stolen content.

Head to the original site for the genuine story.

"That's quite enough of that, I think." Even as several pairs of eyes turned to stare at her, each spectator registering the sudden transition from silence to speech with Brim letting out a quiet "finally!" at the apparent end of her trance, Onyx maintained a distinct sense of... not quite arrogance. But something that almost felt like... calm superiority. Assurance in her own existence, maybe.

Regardless of her outward demeanor, bright green eyes flicked between each Gem gathered in the hallway, before finally settling on Rose herself, who couldn't help but tense as the tall (even by her and Garnet's standards) figure pushed off from her previously relaxed position against the wall, crossing both pairs of arms. There was a subtle shift in the atmosphere, as if the newcomer had just issued a silent challenge, or perhaps a call for acknowledgment.

"So, I do believe a conversation would be appropriate, right about now." A singular eyebrow quirked upwards as a resounding silence met her words, before Pearl huffed a singular, seemingly exasperated breath.

"An explanation would be nice, I would think! Just how does an interrogation transform into a fusion?!" Frowning at the shrill tone betraying the rebel's rising frustration and confusion, Onyx allowed a disapproving note to enter her voice.

"There's no need to yell, Pearl. Have some decorum." Perhaps it was the way she spoke with such calm authority. Or maybe it was the way she hadn't so much as risen to the smaller Gem's antagonistic attitude beyond mere scolding and lecturing, but a flush of light blue balancing between anger and embarassment crept up the renegade's neck and face at the light admonishment, her thin hands balling into fists.

Rose made to speak (whether to defend Pearl or try and defuse the situation was something even she wasn't entirely certain of), only to pause as the new fusion narrowed her eyes, one of her lower hands rising up to lightly slap at the bicep of its upper counterpart, a silent interaction playing across her face. Breathing in, the green Gem held up said hand, bowing her head ever so slightly.

"My apologies, that was... condescending of me. I should follow my own advice." Part of her sounded strained, and everyone assembled could guess well enough just which part of the union apparently wasn't fully convinced in uttering the words. It wasn't every day a fleet admiral was forced to apologise to what she would have only perceived as an uppity servant just a short time ago, after all.

Fortunately, fusion seemed to help in simplifying the process in that particular regard, and the apparent expression of regret seemed enough to pierce Pearl's bubble of irritation, her own expression turning surprised... then more than a little awkward as her companions turned to glance at her response.

"Apology... accepted. Though I... suppose I may have been a little rude as well." Nodding with a pleased expression plastering itself across her features, Onyx lifted all four of her arms, two pairs of hands coming together to clap twice.

"We'll move past it. Now, my components have... perhaps not entirely reconciled but they've certainly exchanged a fair amount of information through me, and I'm embarassed to say that this entire... debacle has been a rather big misunderstanding between our respective groups." Crossing her arms in a parody to the large fusion's pose from earlier, Brim tilted her head.

"Some elaboration would be nice."

"Yeah, what blue said!" Then the terraformer blinked as Amethyst shuffled up next to her, copying the Lapis Lazuli's gesture, even as her counterpart stared down at her.

"... My name's Brim." Blinking back up at her, the purple Quartz tilted her head.

"Yeah? That's what I said." An amused grunt drew the pair's attention back to Onyx as the amalgam held up a finger.

"Getting back on topic if you'd please, the first thing I'd like to set straight is that, though different in origins and reasons, every Gem on this vessel is technically an outlaw by Homeworld's standards, including m-including Emerald and her crew." The brief slip up was quickly glossed over as the fusion spread her arms wide, allowing a sardonic grin to stretch her lips apart.

"To make things as clear as possible, we're all rebels and criminals, as far as the Empire is concerned. There's a few key details to get into there, but the basic point I'm trying to make is that we really shouldn't be fighting each other considering our similarities." Her statement earned another bout of silence. For a few seconds at least. Then everyone was talking over each other, even as Garnet silently grinned, the expression only intensifying at Rose's blatantly unamused stare.