Author's Note: Had this draft sitting around too, didn't even realize it, LMAO. Just posting it as is since it's short—whatever, right?
"Make him presentable," Blue Diamond said, adjusting her hard-light form to look more imposing and elegant, as if every line and curve of her body radiated pure authority and power. Her glow lit up the room so intensely that everyone was forced to look, and Steven couldn't help but feel tiny standing next to her.
"Got it," Blue's Pearl said, quickly stepping up to me. My hands tensed up as she brushed past my stomach; something about her movement made her freeze in her tracks and stare at me. Acting casual, I winked at her.
"What's up?" I said smoothly, trying not to give away how awkward I felt.
Blue Pearl looked down at my stomach, raising an eyebrow.
"You have a strong stomach," she finally said, a faint pink blush barely showing on her face.
What the hell, I thought, the classic anime sweatdrop virtually running down my head. Without overthinking it, I quickly fixed myself up—fixed my hair a bit and tucked in my shirt to avoid any more weird looks.
"It is time, Pearl," Blue Diamond said as they both rose with effortless grace. I stayed by their side, stiff as a board and not knowing what to do, but trying my best to play it cool.
Out of nowhere, a blue bubble formed around us, cutting us off from the rest of the ship. The air inside turned heavy, thick with anticipation.
I felt the space around us warp, and a second later, I was standing face-to-face with a group of Gems. There weren't many, but their presence carried real weight. Their eyes immediately locked onto the bubble shielding us.
Blue Pearl stepped forward, raising her screen and tapping out a series of commands. A bright light burst from the bubble, casting a glow over all the gathered Gems and making them shine in the room.
"Blue Diamond welcomes you," she said in a firm, ceremonial tone that echoed through every corner.
The Gems from the Human Zoo, trained to obey and recognize authority without question, reacted instantly. Every single one made the Diamond salute, keeping their posture straight and eyes fixed forward. It was an impressive display of pure discipline and sync.
"You are in the presence of Blue Diamond," Pearl continued, gesturing to the glow surrounding her Diamond's massive form. "And these are the Gems under her direct supervision."
The technical Peridots and Bismuthes executed coordinated movements, showing that every single action was calculated to project order and loyalty.
I just stood there with my mouth wide open as Blue Diamond's light bathed the room. Every Gem looked like an extension of her power. The air was a mix of respect, fear, and awe, and I couldn't help feeling even smaller against the sheer scale of it all.
Pearl stepped close to me once more, making sure I was standing straight and ready for whatever was coming next.
"Everything is in order, my Diamond. They have acknowledged your presence," she said softly, her voice a mix of pride and care.
Silence fell over the room for a few seconds, broken only by the quiet breathing of the Gems. Then, as if everyone was waiting for a sign, Pearl gave a subtle nod, shifting all attention back onto us. Blue Diamond's glow intensified, making it crystal clear that her authority was non-negotiable and that whatever happened under her watch had to be taken with absolute seriousness.
I stood my ground, even though my heart was hammering a mile a minute.
"Prepare yourselves," Pearl said, tweaking her screen. "This is the time to show respect, discipline, and knowledge. Blue Diamond is present, and her attention is absolute."
The entire crowd responded with respectful silence.
After a few extra gestures clearly meant to flex how amazing Blue Diamond was, they finally left me with a Quartz.
"Take him with the others. I will retrieve him later," Blue Diamond said as she walked alongside Pearl, her imposing light illuminating the corridor.
The three Amethysts escorting me eyed me with a mix of curiosity and suspicion. One of them raised an eyebrow as I stepped closer.
"What's up?" I said casually, trying to break the ice as we walked. "How are things around here? Pretty cool, or are you guys just going through the motions?"
The Amethysts stayed quiet, though I noticed one of them looked like she actually wanted to answer.
"Hey, I get it," I continued, a mental sweatdrop forming again as I remembered watching three Peridots spend almost twenty minutes making weird Diamond shapes. "Anyone would get bored doing this stuff, right?"
The Amethyst who looked curious started to nod, but her friend immediately smacked her arm.
"Shut it! We don't talk to the inmates," she snapped, tightening her grip on me.
"Ow," I muttered as my hand throbbed a little, but I just brushed it off.
I looked at where we were headed: neat rows of Quartzes and other low-ranking Gems, all busy with different tasks—some staring blankly into space, others locked into their work. The dim light of the corridor cast long shadows, making the whole place feel even more dreary.
"Hey, if you guys hurt me for any reason, I'm telling the giant Gem," I warned in a serious tone, keeping it slightly playful.
All three Amethysts went pale, completely thrown off by the comment.
"Just kidding," I laughed softly, feeling the tension ease up a bit.
The Gems glared at me, but I just smiled, keeping my cool.
"Relax," I continued. "Anyway, we can talk if we get a chance. Because if the humans here are from like five thousand years ago, I'm gonna go crazy before I can even talk to one of them."
"Fine," the closest Amethyst finally replied, giving a slight nod.
I just smiled, watching the rest of the Gems in the area go about their work while I mentally prepped myself to meet the other Quartzes and Gems under Blue Diamond's watch.
Out of nowhere, I got a hard shove. I looked back at the three Amethysts one last time before being dragged into a completely white room.
The weird door slammed shut behind me, leaving me alone in the spotless, dead-silent space.
"Hello, organic," said a voice that sounded like 99% of the Pearls I'd met—which was only three, but that really spoke volumes about the Empire's creativity. "I will be changing your clothes, silly organic," it added with a sarcastic smirk.
Without overthinking it, I stripped down so she wouldn't get a chance to make fun of me anymore.
"Huh?" the voice said, confused by how casually I was moving, but she quickly refocused on her task. She watched as I took off my clothes, noticing my Gem—though she clearly wasn't programmed to ask about it, so she couldn't care less.
"Can you hang onto this for me? It's exclusive," I said calmly, pointing to my Gem.
"I'll hold onto it," the voice replied with a mocking tone that made me roll my eyes.
My old pajamas were saying their silent goodbyes, and I couldn't help feeling a little sad: goodbye, PJ's.
Out of nowhere, new clothes appeared in front of me: comfortable, snug, with matching colors, plus two purple earrings clipped onto my ears. It all happened so fast I barely had time to process it before the Pearl in charge dragged me off toward another room.
And finally, with zero warning, I fell headfirst into a lake. The freezing water snapped me right to attention. As I floated there staring up at the sky, I couldn't help but think: Awesome... now what?
End of Chapter 81.