LOG-126.

  I needed to stay calm.

  No matter how much I wanted to just panic, I needed to stay calm.

  The Confluence Fawn cell would survive without me. But I needed to mitigate the disruption caused by my removal as quickly and as quietly as possible. That meant getting into contact with someone and telling them what was going on.

  Staring up at the towering giantess striding ahead of me, I maintained my quick, hurried pace. Even as I pulled forth a familiar datapad from my gemstone, trying to ignore the weighty thumping of each enormous step, just a few long strides away.

  Audible communication wasn't an option here, which meant using the chatroom.

  I'd contact Truce first. She was untested in anything truly resembling leadership (acting mean to Fight rebels notwithstanding), but the negotiator would deliver the news that the cell's coordinator had been all but abducted in a way that wouldn't cause panic. Probably.

  A quick flick, and I was-

  "What is that?"

  Glancing up to see Yellow having stopped just in front of the large Warp pad she'd arrived on, I carefully noted the distinct lack of the previous crowds (what a waste of time and resources, ugh), even as I plastered a picture perfect smile on my face.

  "A repurposed datapad, my Diamond. It connects to a small communication channel I was given access to in the interests of organising specific parts of this district."

  Sweeping a hand across the device, I tilted my head and lied like a motherfucker. Namely by sprinkling some truth to my words.

  "I was merely arranging for my disconnection from the channel, and for a replacement organiser to be put in place in the face of my absence. Is this acceptable?"

  The enormous Gem pondered that for a moment, and I all but locked my knees in place in order to not bend beneath the enormous pressure she gave off.

  "...Hm. Yes. Prudent of you, Pearl."

  Bowing my head, I continued typing away on the screen, even as I stepped over and clambered up onto the Warp pad, repressing a flinch at the two massive heeled feet rising and settling on either side of me.

  "Such is always my intent, my Diamond."

  It was almost painfully short, but my message contained a basic explanation, a set of orders, and a renewed pledge of loyalty to Fawn.

  With luck, Truce would spread that last bit around. Stars knew I'd need friends in both low and high places, considering I was going to be practically locked up on fucking Homeworld.

  Regardless of its desperate desire to shake, my finger tapped the send button, a chime indicating the message had been delivered less than a second before the pad activated, light engulfing my form.

  —

  Travelling through the Warp with a Diamond was an…experience, to say the absolute very least.

  The currents were always generally stable, but they seemed to be even more rigid with Yellow's presence, even as we soared through countless lightyears in a matter of seconds.

  When that other dimension finally left my sight, my feet gracefully landing on the ground beneath me, I lifted my head with the expectation of Homeworld's vast ecumenopolis greeting me upon every direction. Or the bridge of a capital ship. Or maybe even the brutal yet elegant architecture of my new mistress' palace.

  What I saw instead were…waves.

  Waves. Rocks. Sand.

  …And a bridge, one that connected our lonely Warp pad to a different structure, innocently sat amidst a large island in the distance.

  Even if I had forgotten it, which I hadn't, the aesthetic couldn't be any more painfully familiar.

  The Reef.

  I couldn't stop myself from letting out something. Some small inkling of emotion. Of recognition of this horrible, horrible place.

  My hand clenched into a tight fist. One I quickly brought up to rest beneath my chin in a contemplative pose as I turned toward the murky, cracked, crystallographic bitch that had brought me back to a place I was supposed to have said goodbye to for good Stars damn it all!

  "The Reef, my Diamond?"

  Yellow didn't so much as look at me, already beginning to stalk forward, long strides allowing her to make great progress in crossing that stupid fucking bridge.

  And in the end?

  All I could do was follow.

  —

  Our entrance to the visitation sector of the facility was met with…just about the fanfare I expected of an impromptu visit from a Diamond, really. Which was none, because no one knew we were fucking here yet.

  No. Everyone would be deeper inside, hard at work setting up a fresh new generation of Pearls.

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  "Welcome, Yellow Diamond. I am Shell, a guide for Gems visiting the Reef. What is your desire?"

  …Besides one not-quite-person, anyway. I wanted to glare up at the ceiling as the first voice I'd ever heard in this new life spoke up, only to have my attention stolen by my overly tall owner muttering to herself of all things.

  "I know what you are, you malfunctioning machine. How many times do we have to go through this…?"

  The small moment didn't seem to last long however, as the Diamond seemingly shook the complaint free of herself, crossing her arms and staring forward.

  "Shell, I require the presence of a Thulite."

  As a confirming ping rang out in response to the statement, I couldn't help but blink.

  Thulites were dedicated lightform designers and decorators. I'd actually never met one in person during my time in the Reef (they were exceedingly rare Gems, considering how relatively new they had been, with most of their gemetic makeup consisting of Pink Diamond's essence), but I had stood in the corner while Nacre Three had argued with one about aesthetics over a call in her office.

  According to my former Caretaker, the pink Gems were overzealous upstarts, remnants of a leaderless court that had been scattered across the stars, eager to fulfill a purpose that Nacres already had handled long before their creation at Pink Diamond's personal request.

  That impression unfortunately stuck with me, even as the sound of a smaller Warp pad activating somewhere in the main hall drew my attention, a practically blurring lightform shooting past a set of automatic doors, her own heels grinding across the ground as she skid to a stop in front of us.

  "My Diamond! Thulite Thirteen! My expertise in fashion is ever at your service!"

  She was all vivid pinks and glittering edges. Her lightform itself was a tall and sharp thing, draped in a mantle with white trim, her gemstone gleaming proudly just below her throat.

  Aside from her…I hesitated to call it a uniform, but…aside from her clothing, what drew my attention the most was the long hair that spilled over one shoulder, some particularly obtrusive bangs obscuring the Gem's right eye as she gave an elaborate bow.

  It was like…looking at a cotton candy pink Nacre. Almost. One who was giddily shifting her weight from one foot to the other as she stared up at Yellow.

  Utterly fucking terrifying, honestly…she almost reminded me of Rose.

  "I have a new Pearl standing in for my old one while she undergoes restoration."

  Yeah, which meant lots of datawork and the managing of an entire space empire. So why were we at the Reef of all places when we could be-why is the Thulite walking up to me?

  "Ah, I see the problem. The resemblance just isn't…wait. Viridian?"

  Forcing down the urge to flinch at the recognition, I searched my mind for any hint as to just who this Gem was. And found absolutely nothing. As far as I knew, I'd never met this so-called designer in my life. Which meant-

  "Oh, I remember hearing so much about you from one of my counterparts! Ah, that old Nacre could practically never shut up about her supposed best success! Come closer dear, let me get a look at you!"

  Uncomfortable, I glanced up at Yellow, only for the Diamond to nod with a grunt, seemingly uninterested beyond waiting for…something.

  …Sigh.

  "Ah yes, you're just the one, yes? Viridian Pearl? Order sixteen B?"

  Nodding as the far too touchy feely Thulite ran her hands along the edges of my dress, I kept my expression level and my voice polite.

  "That would be me, yes."

  Said expression was only kept from warping into a snarl through a truly herculean level of effort as the pink Gem grabbed me by the shoulder, pulling me closer and running a gloved hand through my hair.

  "Oh how lovely! We've never met, but would you believe that I helped design your dress? Nacre Three would never admit it of course, she's simply far too prideful for it, but I saw the inspiration in her eyes when she passed by my station. Well, that and the notes on traditional lightform fashion she stole from my desk."

  The peppy designer's brief frown faded as her eyes turned back to me though, a hand slinking around my arm to gently pat at the small of my back.

  "But enough about that! Come along dear, I have just the plan to get you prettied up for your new owner! You'll have to tell me how you pulled off such a promotion, hm?"

  …Eh?

  —

  "And a little bit of this!"

  So as it turned out, I was apparently too green.

  "And a little bit of that!"

  Which was bad. Because I was serving as Yellow Diamond's Pearl.

  "Oh, and a bit of that!"

  Just imagine. A green Pearl. Serving a yellow Diamond. Stars, the scandal. The societal upheaval such a thing would cause.

  "Aha! And one of these!"

  Keeping my internal sarcasm to myself, I just kept quiet while Thulite cheerfully hummed to herself, wandering hands occasionally running across my lightform, grabbing at parts of my body and adjusting me like a living doll.

  "Mmmhm! Good to finally get that out of my gemstone! I just knew I'd find a use for these physical accessories eventually!"

  The pink Gem stepped back at that for a moment and adopted a considering pose, one hand rising to gently cradle her chin as she looked me up and down.

  "...Positively sparkling my dear. Why, if I were a lesser Gem, I'd snatch you right up to keep all to myself!"

  Please don't. You're incredibly handsy. And that's coming from a motherfucker who uses clawed gauntlets as weapons.

  "Ahem! Shell darling! A reflective hologram please!"

  Ignoring the Thulite's clapping, I shifted in place slightly, keeping a frown off of my face as my…accessories, moved with me.

  I was still green. Couldn't exactly change the hue of a Gem's natural lightform and all that, not without some serious consequences anyway.

  But there was enough yellow now that I…well, I looked more like a Court sponsored Pearl than any singular private Gem's possession. Which I supposed was largely the point, since a Diamond was effectively the heart of her court.

  "My my, you do look lovely!"

  The headpiece felt like a bit much, and the new layer and sash over my dress was a weight I'd need to get used to, even if direct combat wasn't likely to be in my immediate future.

  "Now turn! No, the other way!"

  A Pearl's sense of balance was everything, obviously, as shown by the relatively minor but nonetheless musical sound of my new set of jewellery impacting against itself.

  "Yes, and stand a little straighter! Like you're at an exhibition!"

  It…was something I hadn't realised I'd missed all this time. The sound of clothing and actually physical garments making noise as they moved.

  Huh.

  "Oh, do a little swish! A nice swish! Yes!"

  Spreading my arms out in accordance with Thirteen's delighted command, I gave a small, appropriately bashful smile. What Pearl wouldn't be excited to be wearing what was effectively a royal slave brand, after all?

  "Ohoho! Magnificent! You're absolutely beautiful, Viridian!"

  …Oh well. At least I looked pretty.

  "Are you done?"

  Ah right, Yellow had been silently staring at the Thulite turning me into a fashion show for the past few minutes.

  "Yes my Diamond! Your new Pearl is ready for public presentation-"

  Thirteen's attentive expression remained fixed in place as the Diamond in question promptly turned around, already beginning to walk away, but I noticed the way her shoulders slumped ever so slightly at the silent dismissal, close to her as I was.

  "Come along, Pearl."

  Feeling exceedingly charitable, I caught the pink Gem's attention with a subtle wave, even as the four words I'd without a doubt be repeating ad nauseam for the next while slipped past my lips.

  "At once, my Diamond."

  Still, the gentle nod and smile I gave her seemed to cheer Thirteen up a little, judging by the way the now brightly smiling Thulite straightened up, her eyes digging into my back as I turned around and stalked off after my bitch owner.