Connie: *whispering* Actually, if I'm being honest... that voice doesn't ring any bells for me.
[Connie presses a button, switching the communicator to speaker mode.]
??????? (through the communicator): Hello? Anybody there? Don't just leave me here talkin' to myself like some damn idiot.
Steven: *whispering* Oh, great... it's her again.
Connie: *whispering* Wait, you know who this is?
Steven: *whispering* Oh yeah, that's Bluebird Azurite. I'd recognize that obnoxious voice anywhere.
Bluebird (through the communicator): Still waiting here, you know. What's the deal? Don't feel like talking? Fine, guess I'll just hang up.
Connie: *snapping* No, no, no! Hold on a sec! Bluebird Azurite, right? Answer me this, how did you get your hands on this communicator?
Bluebird (through the communicator): Oh my! I don't know you, yet you have the pleasure of knowing my name. Guess my illustrious reputation's made its rounds. Gotta say, I'm kinda... flattered.
Connie: Answer the question, will you?! This communicator belongs to Peridot 9XL! How the heck did you get it?!
Bluebird (through the communicator): *chuckling* Oh, that little green twerp? Well, let's just say the poor Gem was feeling kinda down. So, we decided to keep her company for a while, just to lift her mood. And wow, we totally ended up brightening her day.
Connie: What... what's that supposed to mean?
Bluebird (through the communicator): Enough of this crap! I'm not about to explain myself to some minion! Now, put your boss on! I'd like to have a word with him!
Connie: *offended* Excuse me?
Bluebird (through the communicator): You heard me, flunky. Steven Universe! Put him on!! NOW!!!
[Connie glances at Steven, then hands him the communicator.]
Connie: Well, you heard her...
[Steven takes the communicator, visibly agitated.]
Steven: *furiously* Alright, Bluebird! You wanted me, now you've got me! What do you want?!
Bluebird (through the communicator): Steven! Been a while, huh? How's life treating you? Did you miss me at all?
Steven: Not even a little. Honestly, I would've preferred never hearing from you again.
Bluebird (through the communicator): Well, well... looks like we actually agree on something for once. The feeling's mutual, trust me. But it looks like fate has other plans. *chuckles* So, you're back on Homeworld, huh? Never thought you'd have the stones to show up here again, Steven. Guess all the intel we've picked up was spot on after all.
Steven: *confused* What intel? What are you talking about?
Bluebird (through the communicator): Don't play dumb with me, Steven. But then again, considering how stupid you are, I'm not surprised you actually thought some defective Peridot could hack into Homeworld's security camera system without leaving a trace.
Steven: What!? How did you...?!
Bluebird (through the communicator): Oh, it was easy. Her limb enhancers gave off a signal as soon as she started working. We were already on her trail before she even realized she was in over her head.
[Connie's face turns pale.]
Connie: *thinking to herself* She's right... I should've known they'd be monitoring.
Bluebird (through the communicator): Our green pal wasn't exactly keen on cooperating with us. Such a stubborn little thing, right? But hey, everyone's got a breaking point. Just took a little... "persuasion" from my Topaz to get her to hit hers, if you catch my drift. *chuckles wickedly*
Steven: *enraged* Why, you! Don't tell me you--
Bluebird (through the communicator): *cutting him off* Whoa, whoa! Easy there, pal! She's still in one piece. Well... mostly.
[Scene shifts to Bluebird's location, a shattered room littered with debris. Two Topazes stand on either side of her, their expressions cold and indifferent. At their feet lies Peridot 9XL, battered, trembling, and barely conscious. Cracks spread across her body as a faint green light flickers weakly from her gemstone. The Topazes casually make their heavy maces disappear with a flick of their wrists.]
Bluebird: We haven't offed her or anything... at least, not yet. What's the fun in shattering someone right off the bat? Nah, we just... roughed her up a bit. Hours of pure entertainment. We made sure she felt every single blow, nice and slow.
[Bluebird chuckles macabrely, sending a shiver down Steven's spine.]
Bluebird: I wish you could've been here to see it, Steven. The way she begged us to stop... Man, it was so pathetic. Right, Topaz?
Topaz 1: *flatly* Absolutely pathetic.
Topaz 2: *nodding* Couldn't agree more.
|Note: These two Topazes are the same ones who accompanied Aquamarine on the mission to capture humans.|
Bluebird: And once she started talking... oh boy, there was no way to get her to shut up. She told us everything, Steven. EVERYTHING! Like how you raided ten dropships from planet EXA7LF, how you used them to sneak into the storerooms... Oh, and let's not forget about the Gems you sent to infiltrate the Palace months ago. *chuckles* Guess you can't trust anyone these days, huh?
[Steven stays silent, unsure how to respond.]
Bluebird: Hmm? What's wrong, Steven? Did I miss something? Misremember the details, perhaps? Oh, how about we ask the Gem herself for some more... explicit details? She's the one who knows best, after all.
[Bluebird stomps hard on Peridot 9XL, who lets out a weak, pained sob.]
Bluebird: Aww, don't get shy now. You were so very chatty earlier. What happened? Didn't enjoy our "hospitality"? Go on, tell Steven. Tell him everything you told us.
[Peridot 9XL, barely able to lift her head, her body trembling, speaks through choked sobs.]
Peridot 9XL: *in tears* I-I-I didn't want to... th-they... they made me... I-I'm so sorry...
[The scene shifts back to Steven, his face pale, his hands trembling as he tries to process the situation.]
Steven: Don't worry, I'm gonna save you! I'm gonna save everyone!
Bluebird (through the communicator): *laughing cruelly* Oh, is that so? Bold words for someone who's completely out of their depth. Tell me, Steven... how exactly do you think you'll pull that off, hmm?
Steven: ...
Bluebird (through the communicator): What's the matter, Steven? No response? *snickers* Yeah, figured as much. Deep down, you know all that "I'm gonna save everyone" crap was nothing but an empty promise.
Steven: *angered* You're wrong! You won't get away with this, I'll make sure of it!
Bluebird (through the communicator): *laughing* Face it, Steven! It's over! There's no way out for you now, especially not after your friend sang like a canary! *chuckles darkly* We've got the full scoop on your pathetic plan! And over the past few hours, we've made it our mission to hunt down every single one of your infiltrators!
Steven: Say what!?
Bluebird (through the communicator): We started with the ones you sent months ago. Those were easy to track down, so they're no longer a concern. But the ones you "secretly" snuck into the Palace aboard those dropships... well, as we speak, they're being rounded up like the vermin they are! Actually, if I had to guess, I'd say every last one of them is already in chains by now!
Steven: *in disbelief* No... no way...
Bluebird (through the communicator): At first, we were like, "Wow, how convenient to have so many Gems eager to join our noble cause." I mean, too good to be true, right? So naturally, we kept them under constant watch. They never suspected a thing. But still, we weren't fully convinced they were spies... until today, that is. Your little green friend here was kind enough to confirm all our suspicions. How considerate of her, don't you think? We owe her big time for that.
[Steven flinches as the sound of a brutal kick echoes through the communicator, followed by Peridot's cries of pain.]
Bluebird (through the communicator): Oops, my bad. Got a little carried away there. *chuckles* This is all on you, Steven. You're the one who sent them to us. Hope you're feeling proud of yourself right about now.
[Steven's body shakes with rage as Bluebird's words sink in. His hands ball into tight fists.]
Steven: Grrr...!!!
Bluebird (through the communicator): You may have pulled the wool over our eyes once, Steven, but that trick won't work twice! Whatever shred of hope you might've had is as dead as that pitiful plan of yours! But hey, feel free to try and stop us! *laughs* It's gonna be fun watching you fail... AGAIN!!!
Steven: *enraged* SHUT UP!!!
[Cut back to Bluebird's location, she suddenly hears the sound of a door opening behind her. She glances over her shoulder, raising an eyebrow.]
Bluebird: Hmm?
[Lapis strides into the room, dragging several Gems behind her with water chains wrapped tightly around their necks and limbs. The Gems stumble, struggling against the unyielding bonds.]
Lapis: The job's done, ma'am. These are the last of the infiltrators we were hunting down in the Palace. I assure you, not a single one's left.
[Lapis yanks the chains, forcing the Gems to stumble forward and fall to their knees in front of Bluebird.]
Bluebird: My, my, look what we got here!
[Bluebird smirks, glancing back at the communicator.]
Bluebird: *laughing* Did you hear that, Steven? Perfect timing, wouldn't you say? We were just talking about your Gems, and here they are. Delivered straight to me by MY Lapis!
Steven (through the communicator): WHAT?!?!
Bluebird: Excellent work, Lazuli. But wait... this doesn't seem like all of them. Where are the rest?
Lapis: Some of them fought back. I had no choice but to destroy their physical forms.
[Lapis tosses a handful of shattered Gem shards onto the ground. The clinking sound echoes ominously.]
Lapis: *matter-of-factly* Others weren't so lucky.
Steven: *whispering, heartbroken* Lapis...
Bluebird: Ah, I see. Doesn't matter in the end. You've really outdone yourself this time, Lazuli. Truly remarkable.
Lapis: *bowing slightly* Thank you, ma'am.