Daniel approached them with a look of malice on his face. "That's right! Daniel. Bum bum buuuuuum!"

David let out a high pitched scream.

"Um, who's Daniel?" Steven whispered to Max.

"He's a crazed cultist bastard, hell bent on killing me to get back at David," Max told him.

"Oh," said Steven. "Brilliant."

"What the fuck are you doing here, Daniel?" Max shouted. He felt Steven flinch beside him at the swear. He ignored him.

"How the gosh heck darn it did you get out of the nuclear bomb shelter?" David asked.

"Hahaha, oh David. Poor sweet ignorant David. You underestimate the strength of my desire to do away with your favourite camper," Daniel grinned horribly, waving the dagger. "That bomb shelter wasn't nearly strong enough to hold my rage! And this time, I don't plan on being defeated again."

David moved in front of Max, putting his arm over his shoulders. Max didn't throw him off.

"But what are you doing here, in Beach City?" said Max.

"Ah, well, you see, when I discovered the gem community, I was instantly enthralled. I had to find out more. So I traced the earth gems back to here and began communicating with them, seeing if any of them would be interested in joining my religion."

Max rolled his eyes.

"Ugh, again with the bloody religion. No one wants in, asshole!"

"Ah ha!" Daniel cried manically. "That's where you're wrong, Maxy boy. Jasper did."

Max felt Steven go tense beside him.

"You're working with Jasper?" Steven breathed. He knew how dangerous on an enemy Jasper was. Max had seen what she was doing on the beach, and he too thought she seemed like a formidable force to have on your side.

"That's right," Daniel snarled. "And we won't rest until Max's body is lying at your feet, David."

Suddenly there was a crash behind them and, turning, they saw Jasper burst into the room. Pearl and Amethyst were under her arms. Pearl was unconscious and Amethyst was struggling, but feebly. Steven dreaded to think what she had done to Garnet.

"Daniel!" Jasper grinned horribly. "I see you've already made your entrance. But you've not made your attack yet- good, I want to see the horror on little Rose's face when her new friend dies in front of her, and when all these corrupted gems she's worked so hard to keep bubbled away come back and fight her!"

"Uhhh... 'Rose'?" Max muttered to Steven.

"Jasper thinks I'm my mom," Steven sighed.

"Oh," Max said. "Brilliant."

"Look, I'm sure there's a way we can all just relax and figure this out without anyone getting hurt-" David said feebly. He was interrupted by Jasper throwing Pearl and Amethyst bodily from her. They sailed through the air and slammed into the wall opposite with a tremendous crash. Steven screamed. Jasper just howled with laughter and said,

"Garnet can join them," before she threw two small gems into the pile where Pearl and Amethyst lay- one red, one blue.

"Oh no..." Steven whispered. "She poofed Garnet..."

He started running over to them but Jasper grabbed him by the back of the shirt, snarling,

"Not so fast. You're coming with me."

She punched him in the side of the head and he went limp. Max gasped and David cried out for her to stop, but she was already tucking him under her arm and advancing on David and Max.

"You fucking crazy ass bitch!" Max yelled. "Stay back!"

Jasper seemed surprised at Max's outburst, but she recovered almost immediately and smirked.

"You think you're so hard, don't you?" She murmured. "Let's see how hard you are when I do this!" She snapped her fingers and gave Daniel a nod. Turning, Max saw Daniel grab David and pin his arms behind his back, then hold the dagger to his throat.

"No!" Max screamed, but as his back was turned, Jasper grabbed him around the throat. Max heard David shouting fruitlessly as Jasper's massive hand slowly tightened around his neck, squeezing, blocking off his airway. Max spluttered and kicked, but to no avail. The corners of his vision started to darken. His chest constricted- his legs kicked- he tried and failed to take one last gulp of air- and then he fell into black. The last thing he heard before being choked out was Jasper laughter and David's sobs.