Steven: Alright, first things first. We need to gather the gemstones of our poofed allies. And yes, that includes the enemy Gems, too.
Everyone: *in unison* Got it!
[The group spreads out, carefully picking through the wreckage for gemstones. The eerie silence is broken only by the sound of footsteps crunching debris underfoot.]
Steven: By the way, how many of your squad are still standing?
Amethyst 8XL: Just five of us, last I checked.
Steven: That's... a lot less than I'd hoped.
Amethyst 8XL: *shrugs* Eh, don't sweat it. The rest'll reform soon enough. When they're back, our team's good to go again.
Connie: Yeah, and once the rejuvenated Gems get their memories back, we'll have more people to back us up. We just have to hang in there a bit longer.
Steven: You're right... *calling out to the group* Okay, guys, we're done here! Let's get moving!
[The group begins their trek away from the battlefield. Steven leads them, but there's a heaviness in his expression. His mind seems elsewhere.]
Connie: *walking alongside him* Steven... are you okay?
Steven: *forcing a smile* Yeah, I'm fine... Sort of. It's just... I won't feel at ease until I hear from Lars and the other teams. I need to know they're okay.
Connie: *softly* I see.
[The group presses on in silence for a bit, the sky above fades into a murky gloom. The landscape around them growing more barren and desolate the further they go. In the distance, they spot a cavern.]
Steven: Almost there.
[The group walks into the cavern, its entrance dark and foreboding. The light barely penetrates the darkness inside, so they illuminate the way with their gems as flashlights. The group moves cautiously through the cavern with Steven as their guide, the echo of their footsteps filling the silence as they descend deeper into Homeworld's forgotten underground.]
Steven: This way...
[Eventually, the group arrives at the end of the cavern, where a massive cliff overlooks a vast expanse of pillars, each full of humanoid-shaped holes.]
Amethyst: *gaping in awe* Whoa.
[Everyone stands frozen, awestruck by the sheer scale of the place.]
Connie: What is this place?
Steven: A Kindergarten... A really, really big one.
Pearl: *looking around* This must be where you and Lars found the Off Colors, right?
Steven: Yeah... It's even worse than I remembered.
Amethyst: *shivers* This place gives me the creeps.
Connie: *grimacing* Yeah, no kidding.
[The group keeps walking, finding a small tunnel that leads into a room inside one of the pillars, where they finally sit down to rest.]
Steven: *exhales deeply* We made it. Let's rest up for a bit. We won't stay long, though. We've still got stuff to sort out up there.
Connie: We should check in with the other teams first. We need to know where everyone is.
Steven: *nods* Right.
[Steven hands Connie a communicator as he takes his out.]
Steven: I'll try to get Lars. You check in with the other teams.
Connie: On it.
[As Connie taps on her communicator, Steven focuses on his own, trying to contact Lars.]
Steven: *to himself* C'mon, Lars... Pick up. Please...
[After a few seconds of static, Lars' voice crackles through the communicator, distorted but recognizable.]
Lars (through the communicator): *distorted voice* Yo, what's up?
Steven: *relieved* Lars! Oh, thank the stars! You're okay!
Lars (through the communicator): *distorted voice* Steven? That you? Yeah, I'm good, man. Why wouldn't I be?
Steven: You have no idea...
Lars (through the communicator): *distorted voice* What's the deal, dude? You sound kinda tense. Wait a sec, weren't you and Connie fused the last time we talked?
Steven: Yeah, it's a long story. Where are you right now?!
Lars (through the communicator): *distorted voice* Funny you ask. I'm, like, on the other side of the planet. After getting my crew back to their old selves, I was like, "Yo, let's do something crazy." So, uh... we decided to steal the Sun Incinerator again. You know, just the usual pirate stuff.
Steven: *shocked* SAY WHAT?!
Lars (through the communicator): *distorted voice* Relax, man. It's not as bad as it sounds. We've got it under control... probably.
Steven: No, no, no! Lars, you gotta stop! Abort the mission, now!
Lars (through the communicator): *distorted voice* Uh, why should we stop? We're so close, man, just a few blocks away.
Steven: Plans changed! I can't tell you the details just yet, but trust me! Don't go for that ship! We need to regroup first!
[The signal begins to cut in and out, Lars' voice becoming more distorted.]
Lars (through the communicator): *barely audible* Ste-Ste-Steven... [static] Can't... [static] ...h-h-hear... [static] ...you.
Steven: *shouts into the communicator* Abort, abort! Don't go for that ship! Get to the Homeworld's abandoned sector! You hear me, Lars?! Please, respond!
Lars (through the communicator): *barely audible* Wh-wh-what... [static] Ste-Ste... [static] ...sorry, I... [static] ...now.
[Communication is abruptly cut off. Steven lowers the communicator, staring at it in disbelief. His hands tremble slightly.]
Connie: *noticing* Steven? What happened?
Steven: I lost him... The connection just cut out.
Connie: It's probably because we're so deep underground. No wonder the reception's crap down here.
Steven: Tsk. We should've done this before we came down here.
Connie: Yeah, but it's kinda weird... Lars picked up right away. I've been trying the other teams for a while now, though, and... nothing. No one's picking up.
Steven: Seriously?! Oh man, that's not a good sign. I hope they're alright.
Connie: There's still one Gem I can try, our hacker back at the Palace.
Steven: Well, why are you waiting for? Try it.
[Connie taps a few more buttons on her communicator. After a brief silence, the line connects, but the voice that comes through is unexpected.]
Connie: Finally, someone picked up.
???????? (through the communicator): Hey there, how may I help you?
Connie: *startled* Wait, hold up. Who... who is this? You're not--
???????? (through the communicator): *chuckling faintly* Not who you were expecting, I presume?
[Connie's eyes widen in shock as she realizes who it is.]
Connie: No. It can't be. That voice... You are...