88 days until Judgement Day.

Shorty walked through the Zoo, waving to the humans who still remained there. Shorty listened in to a conversation between two of them.

One inquired, "Hey so did George?"

The other responded, "Yeah I mean we're free to leave whenever we wish but I don't really want to..."

Shorty sighed, as the humans in the Zoo were indeed free to leave at will for any worried that this plot point was forgotten. However, this was not the matter that bothered Shorty so. The Zoo felt, empty. Once, hundreds of Beta Gems ran through these halls. Her allies. Her friends, but now...

"It was once so active," Shorty sighed, "But now everyone's fused with Project Judgement and I..."

Shorty overheard the humans, "No not that George! The other one! The Gem one!"

Shorty quickly walked away as the other human replied somberly, "Oh... yeah... She fused with Project Judgement too..."

Shorty sighed as she exited the Zoo area and walked down the hall, a troubled look on her face as she muttered to herself, "Judgement... that thing... our friends and families. What if we can't unfuse them? Is it truly worth risking thousands of lives to be stuck as that abomination? Even Emerald turned on us. What if she was right?"

"Shorty!" A voice exclaimed. Shorty turned to see a Peridot with several screens open.

"Yes?" Shorty inquired.

"I'm a member of Emerald's crew," the Peridot explained, "I was a mechanic for the ship and I understand she volunteered to join project Judgement but..."

Shorty winced in pain, knowing this to be a lie as images of Emerald and Phoenix being poofed by Project Judgement and bubbled by her and Skins echoed in her mind.

Shorty nodded, continuing the lie "Yes. Go on."

"Well some of us had... concerns about this," the Peridot explained handing the screens to Shorty, "The more fuse with Project Judgement, or Judgement as the fusion itself is named, the more likely it'll get stuck. I have a petition, requesting we allow some of the Gems in Judgement to unfuse, to decrease the risk the fusion become permanent."

"I'll look into it," Shorty replied taking the screens.

The Peridot smiled, "Thank you."

Shorty looked at the screens and sighed, heading up an elevator towards Shorty's office...

Meanwhile Shorty sat at a pink desk covered in papers, holy texts of all faiths from across Earth which she read curiously, studying them, but not in faith, but in searching for signs of evil.

Miles inquired picking up one of the books, "I've been meaning to ask, most of Homeworld has little concept of religion aside from the Diamonds. How did you convert most of the Loyalists from apathy to Atheism?"

"Oh it started back when Crysophrase lead us," Skins began to explain, "It's a long story and I have to figure out which or these texts promote wicked acts."

"I really am curious," Miles continued, "If it's not to much to ask."

"Aight I'll tell ya the story," Skins replied, "It was a normal day at the Garden..."

Some time ago, during the days of the rebellion, Steven was reading several holy texts, discussing them with Spinel.

The Gem inquired, "But if you're not religious why are you reading these?"

Steven explained as Skins walked in, "Well way I see it, religion is like anything. It can be used for good or evil, so I wanna see why some use it for evil and how, that way maybe we can make sure such things don't happen on Homeworld and come to an understanding of how the Diamonds have such control over Homeworld. They are basically space Gods."

"What is this?" Skins inquired looking at the texts.

There was a crash and Spinel turned to see the corrupted Jasper had knocked over some flower pots.

"Dang it Jasper no!" Spinel exclaimed as she rushed over to clean up the mess.

"Holy texts of many faiths from across Earth," Steven explained, "See, many humans believe in these things called Gods, beings that exist beyond our own world, in a world that exists after death. I'm agnostic myself, as I've seen many humans, which I call zealots, use it to justify horrid sins such as racism, sexism, and homophobia, but there's some things science can't explain too."

"If there was a God wouldn't he stop such things?" Skins inquired.

Steven shook his head, "No, see, I believe, if there is a God, he is more hands off, simpily creating the world, giving all living beings inherit good and free will, and leaving us to our own devices knowing that inherit good will guide us in the right direction overall."

"Yeah that's malarkey," Skins replied tossing the holy texts aside in disgust, "If there is a God, he's not coming to save us and I see no sign of one, besides, you said it yourself, humans have used the Gods to defend sin. Disgusting. A worthless concept for zealots and fools."

"Religion is not inheritly bad," Steven shook his head, "But the belief of a God or lack thereof isn't important as long as you're good. If there is a God he would welcome a good atheist into Heaven same as a good Christian."

"I'm going to study these if that's OK," Skins continued, taking some of the texts.

"Go ahead buddy," Steven replied.

With that Skins took some of the books and left.

Skins finished her story in the present, "I read those, realized there was no God, and spread that idea to the rest of the Loyalists."

Shorty knocked on the door.

Song: Ethics of Project Judgement

Based On: Cabinet Battle #3 (Hamilton)

Instrumentals began as Shorty explained, "The issue on the table. I have here a petition to unfuse some of the Gems fused into Judgement. This petition was signed by members of Emerald's crew, her family. It would be to shady to ignore it. I agree with it but we need to discuss our positions on the matter."

"Skins," Miles began to sang,
"As you know we need to strike at the Diamonds in 88 days.
And I don't like it either guys,
But to find an alternative it's to late."

"But-" Shorty protested.

Miles continued singing, "But let's assume we agree to unfuse some of the Gems,
Yes sounds great.
There would be infighting over which Gems get to leave.
Tell me is this a risk we're truly willing to take?

There is also the matter of less Gems means it has less strength.
And if Judgement falls the Diamonds we can't defeat.
Judgement is our sin and it's growing like the Cluster,
But we need it to be as strong as possible."

"May I speak now?" Shorty glared.

Silence filled the air.

"Good," Shorty replied.

Shorty sang back, her voice full of emotion, sadness at the thought of her friends in Judgement, "That thing is packed with all our loved ones.
Don't you understand the lives that we are risking?
More Gems don't just mean more power.
The potential body count grows with each one and the risk of being stuck nearly doubles!

Can't you see this thing is a stain on the ideas of the Loyalists?
A group standing for Gems,
Using a weapon that could,
Consume them?"

Shorty turned to Skins and snag, "And what of you?
Skins I know that you see!
The Gems of the Beta quartz from Earth,
Our friends and family in that thing!

I don't know if I can live with this.
The increasing number of lives in increasing risk."

Skins glared, hiding sadness in her tone. "Don't bring them into this!"

Shorty sang back, more aggressive now, "And still just more Gems we keep adding.
Because there's no way that could go wrong no possibility-"

"That's enough," Skins glared.

Shorty sang, calmer, having gotten her anger out, "I don't pretend to have a Plan B,
But I know this is wrong."

"May I then present a compromise?" Skins asked, singing, "Shorty has a point.
More risk is unnecessary.
In that thing are many Gems that we all love.

I'll inform the Loyalists we are no longer taking volunteers.
We'll stop adding more to it to help queel their justifiable fears.
After that I'll be sure to keep a close eye on Judgement's mental state,
With my own eyes.

If all this agreed upon we'll stick to the plan,
And we'll unfuse Judgement as soon as Judgement Day ends."

"But-" Shorty protested.

Skins sang, "Shorty if we cannot defeat the Diamonds,
Everyone of us will be shattered by their hands.
We don't have a plan B it's that simple.
So tell me do you really-"

Miles and Skins both sang, "Really have a better idea?"

Shorty thought for a moment, before she sighed, looking away defeated, "no."

"Very well we'll execute our plan to the letter," Skins replied, "Let's hope that when the day came we can unfuse our loved ones."

Cut to black as the epsiode ends.