LOG-087.

  Ruby Facet 2N2A, Cut 9XA, had been assigned to guard duty for what felt like forever, though as a Ruby, she knew better than to complain about time. Guard duty was important, especially when it involved maintaining the designated Crystal Gem temple/Retaliator landing perimeter. After all, the orders had come straight from superior Gem Citrine, Facet 3M6A, Cut 7XA, and Ruby always followed orders.

  Still, that didn't stop her from being bored out of her mind. She'd been watching the primitive fence marking the boundary for over an entire local cycle at this point, pacing back and forth, watching the horizon, watching nothing happen at all.

  Her job was simple. Keep intruders out, report anything unusual, and above all, don't leave the post. That didn't stop her from planning what position she'd request a transfer for when she got the chance though.

  The warrior's mind wandered, her thoughts drifting away from the task at hand as she contemplated her next rotation. Maybe when her shift ended, she could visit the arcade her fellow Rubies had been raving about? A chance to experience some Earth games sounded like a fun change from the monotony of guard duty.

  Or maybe she'd try her hand at gaining some organic wealth by picking up a local job. Viridian had explained the concept of human 'money' once, back when she'd come to talk to their Emerald about something, only to get caught up telling the Rubies stories before she could take her leave afterwards.

  Oh, or maybe she'd even-!

  Crash!

  Ruby jumped, her fists instinctively clenching as she whirled around to face the sudden sound, her thoughts racing in (minor!) panic.

  Her wide eyes zeroed in on the source of the disturbance, and what she saw made her halt in her tracks. There, just within the perimeter fence, stood a Gem she didn't recognize. A tall figure, far too tall for anyone she knew that wasn't either her Emerald, Rose Quartz, or the Garnet...who she still didn't know how to act around. Did she salute before a Sapphire or bump fists with a Ruby? What was the protocol there!?

  Quickly shaking the mental tangent aside, she took in several surface details, just as her programming suggested. The stranger bore a teal coloured lightform and arms that...split apart into more arms?

  "What in the Stars...?"

  Ruby blinked rapidly, trying to process the sight before her. Yep, those were four arms. Huh.

  Besides her multiple limbs and distinctly non-standard uniform, the Gem's long hair was apparently threaded with glowing bands of light, with even more of the brightly coloured rings hanging from her wrists and clothes like decorative jewelry she'd occasionally seen equipped by a Jade or something.

  Despite the bizarre appearance, there was something strangely captivating about her, like she was somehow both familiar and completely foreign, all at once.

  Of course then her programming finally caught up with her, and the red soldier rushed forward, pointing a finger at the intruder and barking out a command.

  "Halt! Who are you!?"

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  The teal Gem, who had been inspecting the fence like she hadn't just caused a massive crash, turned to face Ruby with wide eyes of her own. For a split second, she seemed startled, but quickly recovered, raising all four of her hands in what Ruby could only assume was a gesture of surrender.

  "Woah woah woah! Woah! Chill! It's me!" Her voice rose in what sounded like a mixture between excitement and exasperation.

  Ruby's eyes narrowed, her expression a mix of confusion and suspicion. "Who?"

  The Gem blinked right back, looking just as confused for a moment, before something seemed to light up in her expression, one hand idly slapping against the side of her head.

  "Ooooh my bad. Forgot I was like...me for a second there. Check it out!" Two of her delicate looking hands lowered, one tilting upward to point at her cheek, the other gesturing to her midriff.

  Ruby squinted, trying to keep the entirety of the stranger's lightform in her vision while also focusing on what she was pointing at. Then she paused.

  The gemstone on her cheek didn't bring up any particular thoughts. Kind of looked like the one the rogue (though they were all technically rogue now, so that didn't mean much anymore) Lapis Lazuli had, she guessed. But the one on her belly looked weirdly familiar...

  The bluish green figure watched her struggle for a moment, before tapping her lower gemstone pointedly. "Uh, you picking up what I'm putting down here? Two gemstones? One big Gem? C'mon 9XA."

  Ruby held up a finger, her face scrunched in deep concentration as she tried to piece it together. "I'm thinking." She muttered, more to herself than to the other Gem, idly pondering just how this intruder knew her cut without having ever met her.

  Another moment passed. Then Ruby's own expression lit up as she finally placed just where she'd seen that particularly smooth oval shape before.

  "Viridian! How'd you get her gemstone!?"

  The potential gemnapper blinked (they were both doing a lot of that, it seemed) again, before slowly gesturing to her cheek, one eyebrow arching slightly in mild amusement.

  "I'm a fusion? Of Viridian and Brim. You know, like Garnet?"

  ...Oh.

  Oh!

  "Oh!"

  Her comprehension pleased the fusion, judging by the smile on her face.

  "Well, why didn't you just say that from the start?! Stars, look at you! You're so tall!" Ruby exclaimed, her newfound excitement pushing aside all her lingering sense of suspicion.

  She craned her neck to get a better look at the amalgam's impressive height, the energy of the interaction brightening her mood considerably.

  "What are you even? What do I call you?"

  The Gem (Gems? How did plurality work here? Was she one or two?) grinned, leaning forward in shared excitement. All four of her hands balled into fists at her sides as if she could barely contain her enthusiasm.

  "Dianite! I'm like a Pearl! But also a Lapis!"

  Ruby nodded, before remembering something that had been mentioned to her by another Ruby.

  "Oh right! The other Pearl was looking for you!" Well, she was looking for Viridian. But Dianite was Viridian, so technically the Crystal Gem was also looking for Dianite. Or something.

  The fusion in question blinked at that, tilting her head. Ruby watched a few of the glowly bands shift with the motion, captivated by the colours.

  "For me? I was only gone for like, two days! Which Pearl? Vermilion or Vanilla?"

  Ruby paused to think-

  "Red or pale?"

  Ruby nodded her head again, firmly.

  "Pale! She said to meet her at the warp pad that led to the place with the giant organic fruits! The red ones!"

  Then she glanced at the patch of fence the fusion had just barely avoided hitting, allowing her curiosity to take over for just a second.

  "It was nice to meet you and everything but uh, what exactly are you doing here? Are you visiting like Viridian sometimes does?"

  Dianite blushed at that, a hand going to rub at the back of her neck awkwardly as she let out a sheepish grin.

  "Oh, I ah...kinda maybe went to a couple of raves and ran out of money. Turns out watermelons are wicked expensive in Empire City. Sooo I figured I'd pick some more cash up from the Roaming Eye! Viridian leaves a stash there for Vermilion to use, but she never really buys anything. Easy topup."

  All four of her hands clapped together as if to punctuate the last statement, the water wings at her back shifting slightly.

  "Anyway yeah, it was super mega cool seeing you, but I should probably go check out whatever Vanilla wants. Bye for now!"

  Ruby waved slightly as she watched the fusion fly off towards the Crystal Gems' temple statue thingy (presumably to make use of the old warp pad in there), a single question still occupying her mind.

  "...What's a rave?"