Mutations….
Mutations are rather uncommon occurrences that happen due to many factors, mostly related to DNA.
Nothing surprising, and it could lead to many and different outcomes.
Whether those mutations are lethal to the living organism or not can vary.
Small mutations can even be so insignificant that the living being can live an entire healthy life with no troubles whatsoever, and it could end their life early or simply make their life full of suffering due to many different factors.
Gems have mutations, and mostly, the gems that end up with mutations are harvested… Worthless imperfections that need to be removed before they stain the perfection of the empire with the simple fact of their existence.
But sometimes, mutations can be useful; it sometimes breaks the limits of what should have been possible….
Those kind of mutations are abnormalities that should not be possible.
But what happens when what was supposed to already be perfect is pushed beyond perfection?
The answer is simple: you acquire a monster… And unlike the rest of the mutations of the like of off-colors, the empire welcomed those monsters with open arms.
(At the edge of the solar system)
The silent and empty space was all forgotten as space was torn apart; a small, white wormhole formed and started expanding slowly.
Once it reached a certain size, two spaceships shaped like green hands passed through, arriving at their destination.
The two spaceships moved to the sides in silence in a small protective formation as the wormhole kept expanding, indicating that something much larger was waiting to pass through.
It happened slowly, as once the gate reached a terrifying two whole kilometers in size, a large vessel started to make itself known to the world.
It started slowly as the bow of the pink ship finished passing through, while the remaining hull of the ship continued through the wormhole.
It took almost ten entire minutes in the deep silence of space as the 6-and-a-half-kilometer-long and one-kilometer-in-width mothership finally finished passing through.
The two Peridots piloting the two hand spaceships on the sides stared in awe.
And they had every right to do so, for this ship was brand new and one of a kind.
A special gift from White Diamond herself, a newly constructed vessel that would not only serve as a Diamond ship, but it would serve as Pink Diamond's own homeworld in this far place.
This ship wasn't built to fight, nor to travel fast; it was built with one purpose in mind: to endure, to withstand any and whatever the galaxy could theoretically throw at it.
Of course, it had decent speed for its size and even relatively good weapons, but the overall focus was on energy shields and defensive systems.
And of course, anything necessary for intergalactic purposes, but it wasn't built to be just a ship; it was made with one purpose in mind: to be the last vessel standing.
(Pic)
The Peridots stared in excitement as the newest mothership was in full view; they cursed their luck nonstop at being chosen to pilot those old vessels instead.
The two Peridots snapped to attention as the screen went static before the face of Emerald-108 appeared on the screen.
Emerald-108 was one of the Emeralds ordered to protect the incubation of the Kryptonite, and she was chosen to lead this operation.
She had to leave her fleet behind to a newly grown Emerald to come to this unknown part of the galaxy.
Emerald-108 had served Yellow Diamond for 1,500 years with a nearly flawless record, since the only mission she failed was due to her being summoned away before completing it during the Kryptonite incubation.
But that changed the moment she passed the wormhole.
Yellow Diamond's orders were clear: the moment she passed the wormhole, then she was permanently transferred to the service of Pink Diamond, effective immediately.
Emerald-108's information on the mission wasn't the perfect record she usually expected; she wasn't even aware where this solar system was.
It was deemed as classified information.
But in the grand scheme of things, it mattered little; she was given a mission to find Pink Diamond.
Emerald-108 shook her head as she corrected herself; she was here to find her Diamond and give the control of the vessel to her Diamond.
Then she would simply follow orders.
But first, they had to rescue Pink Diamond from captivity.
Emerald-108's eyes turned slightly enraged at the audacity of those organics to imprison a Diamond!
'Those worthless wastes of materials!'
Yet this rage didn't even appear in her eyes; emotions just stand in the way of her purpose.
In the way of her being useful to her Diamond.
Which is why the Emerald wasn't sitting on the command chair as she communicated with the secondary vessels, because this wasn't her ship… This was her Diamond's throne.
"Any abnormalities detected?"
The two Peridots snapped to attention, each saluting in discipline.
"This is peridot-C78 no problems here!"
"This is peridot-C79 no problems here as well"
The Emerald nodded as she answered with a tone that sent dread down the Peridots' spines.
"Good, let's continue according to plan. Remember, I don't have soldiers or gems that fail missions….."
The Emerald's eyes turned colder; she glanced at the Peridots through the screen.
"I only have gems that succeed in missions, or those that are shattered trying… Am I clear?"
The two Peridots squeaked in fear as they answered at the same time.
"Yes…C..C.Commander!"
With a single nod, the screen was cut again to static.
As the three ships started sailing across space to their target, Emerald-108 turned her head to the figure standing behind her.
"Are your soldiers ready Kryptonite-100?"
Emerald eyed the new gem while waiting for an answer. The new type of gems was huge news when her...
Emerald corrected herself again, admitting that this would take some getting used to.
It was huge news when Yellow Diamond introduced the new kind to the Emeralds, although the amount of resources used for them was far too exaggerated.
But the Emeralds admitted their uniqueness and powers.
They were taller than an Amethyst, almost 6.5 feet each, and fully green colored, with their hair being of a slightly paler color of green.
They had the physical capacity to surpass even veteran Amethysts.
Of course, that could be probably due to the excessive amount of Diamond essence used on them, so they all came out in perfect conditions.
But their powers were what made them special… Their weapon was a spear that could use radioactive energy to attack with pure energy.
Short and long-ranged soldiers, and very effective against organics that would suffer due to the radiation.
But what no one expected was this mutation.
No one expected Kryptonite-100; she was taller than any other Kryptonite by an entire foot, reaching 7.5 feet.
But she wasn't surprised, because this gem in particular was the reason that, instead of the 100 expected Kryptonites, only 95 hatched.
Her physical capabilities were absurd, but what was most terrifying about her was the radiation, which, thankfully, the Kryptonites have proven to be able to contain.
"Yes Commander they are ready once we are close enough we will proceed with the mission"
Emerald-108 could feel the pride from the Kryptonite; a young Emerald may have been angered by the tone.
But for Emerald-108, the only important thing was the mission; everything else, even her own survival, was secondary.
Emerald-108 had lost everything—her fleet, her ship, and the gems that served under her command—and she was given to another Diamond.
Any younger Emerald would have felt punished, but Emerald-108 felt honored.
She was trusted with the safety of a Diamond; there was no greater honor in her long career.
"Good.. Then you can go and prepare to be launched as well."
As the Kryptonite left, the Emerald turned her gaze to the planet called Earth, slowly growing bigger as they moved closer and closer.
Emerald-108 lacked much crucial information, but she knew of the so-called Justice League and was given the details from… her… Yellow Diamond!
"An interesting collection of organics"
'But it matters little; they shall be exterminated and order shall be restored.'
'Heroes, huh?' To be honest, the term was new to her… and considering her long career of service? This meant something.
But thankfully, Yellow Diamond explained things personally….
"So just a bunch of organics trying to find a purpose by emotionally manipulating themselves to convince themselves that they are doing something worthwhile." Emerald's tone was pure detachment mixed with pity and disgust.
But that didn't mean she underestimated them.
Emerald-108's plan was simple.
50 of the Kryptonites would be launched at 5 different cities to force those heroes to deploy to protect the other organics.
They were told to stall and focus on their survival; after all, the lesser the losses, the greater the success.
And just the idea that she would lose gems on such a primitive civilization already left a sour taste in her pride.
Ten Kryptonites, led by the mutation, would attack their primitive ship or the so-called Watchtower in space; they would rescue their Diamond.
The rest of the Kryptonites would protect the Peridots and the Bismuths on board; after all, they were necessary for her Diamond's next colony.
And then, once her Diamond was safe and sound in the mothership, sitting on the throne, Emerald would then turn the organics to ashes for her Diamond's entertainment, and as punishment for their audacious behavior!
If plan A failed, then she would have to play her full card…
The mothership, although it was focused on defense, had more than enough firepower to decimate any primitive city on that so-called planet.
She would burn the planet down if she had to.
She would exterminate and extinguish every last being on its surface until her Diamond was returned.
According to her knowledge and calculations, only the Kryptonian may be able to harm the fortress.
She would have to force him inside and kill him with the Kryptonite soldiers.
And if that failed, then she would slam the mothership into the so-called Heroes' Watchtower, making sure to do it just right so the tower would be decimated but not destroyed, so that they could still save her Diamond.
She would sacrifice herself as the leader to draw attention; she would have the Kryptonites follow her into a suicidal charge while a smaller group took their Diamond to safety.
And once her Diamond was out of range, she would order the Peridots to make the core destabilize.
The radius of the explosion would be enough to remove the threats to her Diamond….. Permanently.
And although the mothership would be lost, which would be a stain on her gem for not being able to give her Diamond the gift, she would make sure that the secondary ships had the Bismuths and Peridots necessary for a new colony.
Her Diamond would be able to replace them eventually, once gems started incubation.
As long as her Diamond survives, then she has fulfilled her purpose, and her reason for existence would be completed.
And if all failed.... Then she would shatter knowing she had shattered during her duty, and she would wish that whatever forces the empire sent after her would be able to do what she failed to do..
After all, her duty doesn't end until her Emerald is shattered…
"Um… Commander?"
Emerald turned her eye to a Peridot that had started sweating a small river, probably wishing to be anywhere but here at the moment.
"Get on with it peridot-C83!"
"Well umm Commander you see I don't mean to intrude on your athourity in anyway but …. uhhh should we not consider negotiations?"
The command center fell silent as the rest of the Peridots looked at their fellow Peridot with surprise, because none of them had dared to voice their thoughts to Emerald-108.
Emerald-108's eye kept looking at the Peridot for a long moment before her gaze turned thoughtful.
'Negotiations would depend on the possibility of organics being civilized.'
'But considering that I didn't even consider the possibility is unacceptable… Sigh, it seems I have gotten used to more direct methods.'
Emerald-108 turned her eye again to the Peridot, who seemed to be getting closer and closer to exploding from anxiety by the second.
"Peridot-C83 your suggestion would be taken into consideration and if it proved useful then I will inform our Diamond with your contribution personally.."
The Peridot saluted stiffly as she left and started celebrating in a corner where no one would see her, commending herself for her genius and already imagining herself being praised by her new Diamond.
Emerald-108 was already deep in thought, ignoring the Peridots….
Emerald-108 was deeply conflicted... if she should use that thing or not.
(A few days in the past)
Emerald-108 had just finished transferring her fleet and authority to the young Emerald that was supposed to take her position.
Thankfully, the young Emerald was actually smart enough to listen to the advice that 108 had given her…. or she acted like she was.
Emerald-108 was already preparing herself for the service of her new Diamond, due to the order of…. her—augh! Yellow DIAMOND!
Removing a centuries-long habit of calling Yellow Diamond "my Diamond" is going to be quite irritating…
She kept repeating the small information that Yellow Diamond had given her about the mission, which wasn't much…
Then came a summoning from Blue Diamond... Emerald would admit, if she was a few centuries younger, she might have ended up panicking.
(A few hours later)
"Emerald-108 you stand in the presence of Blue Diamond and you dare question orders?"
Emerald-108, standing in the command room in the ship of Blue Diamond, cursed her luck and already started imagining herself being harvested.
But Emerald didn't back down… She kept her posture respectful, her hands forming a diamond in salute as she glanced at the blue-colored Pearl, who normally seemed as timid as it gets, but now spoke in a slow tone that somehow felt threatening.
'Tsk…. A Pearl humiliating me… I swear, if you weren't the direct Pearl of Blue Diamond, you would not have been acting so high and mighty.'
Emerald's gaze moved back to the large figure on the seat that was made entirely of blue-colored crystals.
Blue Diamond's eyes bored down at her, thankfully not with anger… not yet.
Blue Diamond lowered a hand as the Blue Pearl jumped into her palm a second later….
As the kind and patient tone of Blue Diamond followed afterwards, saying, " That's enough Pearl I am sure The little Emerald means well.."
'Little?…' Emerald would have given a very beautiful collection of words to any gem that would call her little… But she swallowed it down since it was a Diamond.
Emerald's gaze moved to the small orb placed in front of her...
Steeling herself for the possibility of her being shattered afterwards, Emerald answered, "your Diamond I am not capable of taking this orb to the new ship of my mew Diamond without knowing its function"
Blue only tilted her head slightly as her diamond irises stared down at the Emerald, saying, "and why is that?….I have told you it would not harm the ship…and it would rather be beneficial to Pink"
Emerald, still in salute and still as stone, answered, "You are commanding me to transfer an orb to the newly constructed mothership of my Diamond"
"Unless I am at least aware of what it do then that will not be possible…Even if the command is from you or Yellow Diamond.."
Emerald-108 could swear she felt the command center go cold for a second, but she continued.
"I live to serve the empire and I will fulfill any command your diamond wish of me…..But you are not My Diamond it is Pink Diamond since I have been moved to her court…..And my Diamond safety is my greatest concern and thus I have to apologize"
"I am not allowing that thing to the ship unless I know everything about it…."
Emerald-108 had expected that she would be shattered halfway through her speech, because quite frankly, she was being very polite, but refusing a Diamond's order was still suicidal.
But she didn't expect Blue Diamond to smile at her while saying, " I can see why Yellow chose you…..You are very stubborn ….Pink can use such an Emerald…..Very Well I will tell you what this is"
Blue Diamond's eyes started glowing as her hair literally moved with blue energy, as if flowing with the winds or submerged underwater, as she said, "But you will speak none of what I shall tell you to anyone except Pink ….and only if she asked….Am I clear"
Now, Emerald-108 liked to think she was very strong in character…. but she knew a death sign when it was in her face. "Yes your Diamond…."
(Back to the present time)
Emerald's gaze was still as she glanced at the Peridots working around the command room…. If things went wrong, she could still use that thing…. Although she would really rather not.
***********
(A/N): Don't forget to check all my other works!.