Somewhere in the Homeworld Palace.
[Bluebird leans casually against a broken pillar, her expression smug as she tosses the communicator aside.]
Bluebird: Judging by his reaction, he's absolutely livid. *chuckles* Well, serves him right, the poor sap.
[Nearby, Spinel swings her rejuvenator, slicing through a Gem in one fell swoop. The Gem's body splits in two and instantly poofs into a purple cloud.]
Spinel: Job's done. That was the last one, ma'am.
[Spinel spins the rejuvenator one last time before switching it off and stowing it back into her gemstone.]
Spinel: Every last of Steven Universe's Gem has been rejuvenated.
Lapis: *relieved* It's finally over. No more infiltrators to worry about.
Bluebird: Yeah, about time. Let this be a lesson to all of us. We can't afford to make the same mistake again. From now on, we gotta be extra careful about the Gems we let into our ranks. I'm not willing to deal with something like this ever again.
Lapis: Right.
Bluebird: Gotta say, you two are exceptional. I'm genuinely impressed. It's clear you've been well-trained. Your performance during this operation was outstanding. *glances at Lapis* Though, I can't overlook those... "minor slip-ups" on your part, Lazuli.
Lapis: I'll do better next time.
Spinel: You're too kind, ma'am. No wonder people speak very highly of you.
Bluebird: Huh? What do you mean?
Spinel: C'mon, don't be modest. Word around the Palace is you played a pivotal role in taking down Steven Universe's tyranny.
Lapis: Yeah, I've heard you fear nothing.
[Bluebird stiffens slightly, forcing a smile.]
Spinel: We owe the Empire's resurgence to you, or so I hear.
Lapis: Is that true?
Bluebird: Well, uh... *clears her throat* Of course it is! Every word of it!
[Bluebird laughs, though it's strained and unconvincing.]
Bluebird: I mean, come on, what kind of leader would I be if I had to make up stories to make myself look good? No need for that. No, no, I'm just... well, simply the best, that's all.
Spinel: Oh, no argument here.
Bluebird: Naturally.
Lapis: Anyway, what's our next move? Steven Universe is still out there, and it's only a matter of time before he becomes a problem again.
Bluebird: Hmm. I think the best course of action now is to report back to... to Emerald.
[Bluebird's voice falters as she says Emerald's name. Despite her effort to mask it, Lapis notices the fear that slips through, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.]
Lapis: Hm?
Bluebird: I-I mean, we must bring E-Emerald up to speed on everything we've learned about Steven so far. I trust s-she'll know how to handle the situation from here.
Lapis: ...
[Bluebird doesn't notice Lapis's growing suspicion. Instead, she turns her attention to the two Topazes standing nearby, waiting for her instructions. She gestures to the scattered gemstones on the floor.]
Bluebird: Alright, you two, gather these Gems up and take them to the conversion room.
Topaz 1: Yes, ma'am!
Topaz 2: Right away!
Bluebird: Good. Keep that energy up.
[As the Topazes scramble to carry out her orders, Bluebird turns back to Lapis and Spinel.]
Bluebird: As for you two... come with me.
[Bluebird starts walking down the corridor, with Spinel and Lapis falling into step behind her. Lapis walks in silence, her gaze distant, lost in thought.]
Lapis: *to herself* Something doesn't feel right. She claims to fear nothing, yet I clearly heard fear in her voice just now. Was she... lying?
[Lapis narrows her eyes, a growing sense of doubt overtaking her as she watches Bluebird's back.]
Lapis: *to herself* No, that's ridiculous! Why would she lie to us?!
[Lapis shakes her head violently, as though trying to shake off her creeping doubts. Spinel briefly glances at Lapis, noticing her erratic behavior, but simply shrugs it off.]
Lapis: *to herself* I'm just being paranoid... Yeah, that's all it is. Her word is absolute. She has no reason to deceive us… right?
[Images depicting her life on Earth, the ones Peridot showed her before, flash unbidden through her mind like fragments of a broken mirror, reflecting a version of herself that's been lost.]
Lapis: *to herself* No... no, stop it! Get a hold of yourself, Lapis! None of it was real! It's just... just your mind playing tricks on you, nothing more. She wouldn't lie to us. She never would... right? Right?!
[Lapis slaps herself hard, forcing herself to snap back into reality.]
Bluebird: Hm? What was that?
Lapis: *flustered, forcing a smile* Oh, um... nothing! Just, uh... don't worry about it... ma'am.
Bluebird: *rolls her eye* Whatever. Let's keep moving...
[A tense silence settles over the group as they walk through the crumbling hallways of the Palace. Turning a corner, they bump into a squad of Gems led by Holly Blue Agate and a second Gem with light azure blue skin, medium-blue hair that is styled in a short, curly bob with flat bangs. Both groups appear to be heading to the same place.]
Bluebird: Oh, hey there!
Holly Blue Agate: There you are, you incompetent fool!
Bluebird: *taken aback* Excuse me?! After being the only one actually doing something about Steven's infiltrators, this is the thanks I get?! What's your problem?!
Holly Blue Agate: What's my problem!? Just look at this chaos! You had one job, Azurite! You'd better have a damn good explanation for all this, or you're in serious trouble this time!
Bluebird: Hey, this isn't all on me, alright?! Listen, our suspicions were right! Steven Universe is back on Homeworld!
???? ?????: *shocked* Wait, what?!
Holly Blue Agate: So, are you saying Steven is responsible for the destruction of the Palace and everything around it?!
Bluebird: Yeah... well, indirectly. That reckless Lapis over there got a little carried away trying to capture him. Things escalated. And, before you ask... yes, he got away.
Lapis: *bows* My deepest apologies. I take full responsibility for the... collateral damage.
???? ?????: *crossing her arms* Still as impulsive as ever, I see. Didn't I specifically tell you to curb your impulsive tendencies, huh? When will you learn to control yourself?!
Lapis: *grumbles* Tch. Yeah, yeah, whatever you say. Spare me the lecture, alright?
[Lapis sneers, suppressing her contempt for this Gem.]
???? ?????: How dare you speak to me like that, you insolent wretch! Show some respect, you're beneath me!
Lapis: You--
Holly Blue Agate: *interrupting* That's enough, both of you! There's no time for your petty squabbling! Let's get back to the issue at hand, shall we?!
???? ?????: *huffs* Fine...
Holly Blue Agate: Azurite, if Steven is indeed back on Homeworld, you've just made things a hundred times worse. Emerald won't be pleased when she finds out you let him get away.
Bluebird: Look, I'm not planning on telling her the full story. I'll just report the Palace destruction was some kind of terrorist attack orchestrated by Steven. I'll add that we've already deployed robonoids to hunt him down. That should buy me some time, right?
Holly Blue Agate: Do you actually have robonoids after him?
Bluebird: Well... not exactly. I was about to deploy them, but Homeworld's so vast, I've got no idea where to start looking. And let's be honest, no matter what I do, Emerald will just claim she had a better plan all along and chew me out anyway.
Holly Blue Agate: "Chew you out" is putting it mildly. Listen, I won't contradict your story in front of her, but mark my words... if Steven manages to scape this planet, the blame will fall squarely on your shoulders.
Bluebird: You think he'll try to steal one of our ships?
Holly Blue Agate: It's the most likely scenario. Warp pads are harder to access than ships, after all.
Bluebird: Alright then, I'll triple the security on every ship on Homeworld! No way I'm letting him get off this planet!
Holly Blue Agate: A decent plan... except I've already heard rumors about a stolen ship. Are you absolutely sure you've rooted out every last one of his infiltrators?
Bluebird: *nervously* Y-yes, of course! That's all handled now. You have my word, that bastard's all alone!
Holly Blue Agate: Is that so? Don't tell me you haven't heard about the deserters among the Quartz soldiers. I have no doubt that's his doing.
Bluebird: *nervously* I... I've heard rumors, but come on, what difference can a few turncoats really make? In my opinion, they're hardly a real threat.
Holly Blue Agate: *chuckles* You're right. Steven must be growing desperate right now. It's only a matter of time before he makes a mistake. And when he does... that's when we'll get him!
Bluebird: *laughs wickedly* He's got no way out! Our revenge is so close I can almost taste it! Soon enough, we'll have Steven groveling at our feet!
Holly Blue Agate: *with a smirk* Assuming, of course, Emerald doesn't decide to make an example of you first.
Bluebird: *nervous laugh* Ha... yeah. Let's, uh, not joke about that.
[Lapis narrows her eyes. She says nothing, but the seed of doubt takes root deeper within her.]
Lapis: ...
[The group moves forward, stepping out of the crumbling Palace, their footsteps crunching over rubble as they head toward a massive, white, head-and-torso-shaped structure.]