LOG-111.

  "And this hangar is where imports are left to await retrieval?"

  The trip to collect the recently delivered cushions, pillows and other assorted 'luxuries' was thankfully looking to be a relatively short one, considering most vital areas within the Crystal Confluence's many districts were connected via warp pads, including spots like docking bays, resource processing hubs, and administrative offices.

  "Yeah! Well, there's lots more areas than just here actually, but this is the closest! Sometimes you can request cool stuff that comes in from the colonies, but you like, kinda need to be sneaky about it, and make sure it doesn't interfere with anyone else's business, you know?"

  Of course, Fuchsia was more than willing to talk all the while, thoroughly explaining the process of just how requisitioning certain things worked. Namely because she was the one actually directing what was going where in this case.

  It was valuable information for anyone wanting to get anything, and I idly upped my view of the Pearl, debating with myself on whether she was also a Fawn agent, or whether I was reading just a little too deep into things.

  Maybe both.

  "And that's how you're able to get things for your Sapphire, I see."

  Comparatively, my own involvement was more akin to a high level subordinate greasing the wheels, so to speak, using Hessonite's digital signature to move things along quicker than they would otherwise.

  "Yep! Oh, there they are now! Come on, we can meet the Malachites while they're moving the cargo out!"

  I nodded silently, following behind my excited pink counterpart as we passed different crowds of Gems, some clearly busy with certain tasks, like the trio of Peridots arguing over the busted remains of what seemed to be some kind of shuttle, or the squadron of Rubies excitedly marching after a tired looking Agate, evidently given the trying task of repurposing them as temporary labourers, while others just kind of stood or walked from place to place in between the more active parts of their jobs.

  The Gems loitering around the dropped ramp of an old, blocky looking cargo freighter definitely stole my attention though, if only due to just how distinct they looked.

  I could see why the fusion from my memories had taken the name, now, considering the oddly visual similarities. They were a wild looking lot, long unkempt hair trailing behind tall, almost muscular looking bodies that were a splash of bright greenish blue stripes, if significantly leaner, or perhaps lankier than that of the average Quartz.

  With no context, a novice could easily be forgiven for mistaking them for soldiers of some kind, especially considering the uniforms. But as sharp eyes and predatory grins contrasted heavily with their excited voices, I kept in mind that this bunch were more like living forklifts than anything else, albeit ones that could pack a mean punch, considering they tended to handle their own security, at least to my basic understanding.

  Multipurpose dockworkers and marines. All in one lean, mean looking package. I smiled, not truly knowing why.

  Nonetheless, they eventually noted our approach, two of the large Gems taking note of us while a third casually passed behind the duo, a generator the size of a small car casually held over her shoulder.

  "...Well what's this? Can't say I was expecting to see a pretty pair of Pearls showing up to greet us for this run, how about you Malachite?"

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  The grinning Gem's question earned a bemused huff from her identical counterpart, sea green eyes visibly roving over my lightform.

  "Can't say I did either Malachite, not often the uppercrust let you lot run loose, least not from what I've seen or heard…"

  I would say it was easy to forget that Pearls were quite literally a form of decoration in the Empire, but…eidetic memory and all. Regardless, I performed the expected show of preening under the attention, allowing the larger Gem to get her pleasant eyeful just as Fuchsia did the same behind me, if a little more nervously.

  "T-things are a little more casual here on the Confluence. Ehm-anyway, we're here to pick up a shipment of cushions?"

  The mouthier one quirked a brow at that, frowning slightly.

  "Cushions? What, the soft things?"

  She glanced at her other half, who shrugged slightly in turn, glancing down at the datapad held in her hand.

  "I…think we have something like that. Want to come in and have a look? We could give you a bit of a tour, if you want?"

  Fuchsia hesitated at the offer, but I was already moving, plucking the device out of the surprised Malachite's hand and gesturing towards the ramp with a flourish, smiling up at her.

  "We'd be most pleased to see you hard working Gems performing your functions, yes. Do take care of us while we're aboard, hm?"

  The attitude was a calculated gamble, my fellow Pearl shooting me a shocked glance as I maintained eye contact with the labourer in front of me.

  And yet as a slight blush overtook her features, her coworker giving out a slight whoop in victory while hurriedly ushering us up into the ship, I decided I'd been more than correct in my assumption.

  For all their intimidating stature…they were just like the Jaspers from the Retaliator. Fun to be around, and eager for the chance to show off to anyone willing to pay attention to them.

  I decided right there and then, in that moment, that I rather quite liked Malachites, even as I took Fuchsia's hand and pulled her along behind me, letting the two greenish blue Gems' now excited chatter wash over me.

  —

  "You've come a long way, haven't you?"

  Malachite Facet 2L4A, Cut 4XF nodded rapidly at my question, leaned up against the gigantic storage rack behind her with her eyes crossed as she was.

  Ostensibly trying to look good in front of the Pearl. There was some strange comfort in just how routine stuff like this had become as of late.

  "Y-yeah! Been a long trip so far. Started off from Yellow One, uh, that's where I was made, not that that matters or anything just-you get it."

  She floundered for a moment, before getting back into the flow of talking about her job. I idly noted Fuchsia pointing out a different rack to the other Malachite escorting us, the tall Gem leaning up to grab at a large crate of some kind.

  "Anyway, we had to make a few pickups at the border territories, load up on goods. Mostly raw materials, but we occasionally get our hands on refined goods, like uh-like those cushions of yours! It's not much compared to some of the bigger barges but…we all do our bit I guess. Especially considering the organic raiders that prowl those lengths of space. Nasty business, dealing with those sorts."

  The tall Gem (very tall, considering Pearls weren't exactly short), looked away, reaching through her mane of hair to awkwardly rub at the back of her neck as she did so.

  I caught myself admiring the unrestrained fluff for a moment before reigning back my nostalgia, instead leaning up to gently pat her on the shoulder, giving her another small smile.

  "You've done a rather good job so far Malachite, at least if you ask me. You must be very brave, fighting off pirates and such, no?"

  She froze as I withdrew my arm, standing up and down on the tips of my toes and folding both my hands behind my back, closing my eyes and nodding firmly.

  "Mhm! Don't tell anyone, but I think you and yours might just be more important than all the fancy Gems hanging out here on the Confluence, personally. The Empire lives and dies through its logistics, after all."

  A choking sound prompted me to open my eyes, catching my conversation partner hiding her face behind a palm and shaking her head, pointedly looking away from me.

  "D-don't just up and say that, you'll go and give me a big head you crazy Pearl…"

  Expression lighting up a little, I gave the flagging Gem a coy look.

  "Oh? But surely you have more to tell me about, right? How about the other places you visited, anywhere interesting? Oh, or perhaps what kind of strange, alien races you've encountered? The Empire has enemies, after all, small and savage as they are."

  My smile only grew bigger as Malachite inevitably broke underneath the positive reinforcement (a sad but firm reminder of how things really were within the Empire), telling me every little detail she cared to remember from her journey, like why parts of the ship's interior had seemingly taken damage from kinetic rounds, or how the rear thrusters were slightly dinged up thanks to an ill-fated boarding attempt.

  I merely took it all in, giving out gentle encouragement here and there, all while Fuchsia continued to shoot me exasperated looks in between trying to get the crate in front of her to relinquish its cargo, her own escort a little too busy glancing at her counterpart with blatant envy.

  In the end, the cushions were acquired and deposited into our gemstones, the two crew members of D-class cargo hauler Y1-B3304 waving us goodbye as we made our way back to the distant warp pad.