(Homeworld)

The Gems noticed just how far Homeworld has advanced due to Black Diamond's actions, and at the same time, how much it has changed from what they originally were. Just about every corner of the city had a group of Battle Eyes around, stone buildings were eventually completely replaced with metal, and those that remained had massive chunks of machinery placed where Black said they needed to be. While none would dare say it out loud, most Gems before Black came around were unnerved by his presence, more than the other Diamonds. They weren't sure what it was, but it was something about Black Diamond that gave them an uneasy feeling in the pits of their metaphorical stomachs. Perhaps it was his quick, mechanical way of speaking, or maybe it was how his creations would just, stare at them when not performing any duties. But if they could give you an answer, they would probably say, "Because he doesn't look like a normal Gem!"

It was grossly apparent that Black Diamond had the appearance of a male, voice and all. While the Gems as a whole do not possess gender, they all unanimously identified as female, since that's what they thought was the only appearance they had. But Black had somehow broken this cycle, and while it's not in any way a problem that would hinder their work, it just felt...different, working for a male Gem. The Battle Eyes, while proving to be useful servants, had eventually been given certain amounts of power that other Gems do not, causing some to even be under the command of one such machine. This made them feel less important, it was an outrage that a few simple computers were being given praise, while the lesser Gems have been doing just as well since the establishment of the empire, that is what they thought.

But just telling you all this wouldn't be fair, so let's find a scenario to demonstrate. One such incident is taking place right now on Homeworld, involving a group of three Peridots, who were currently on there way to Black Diamond's Palace for a simple repair job. To make it easier to understand, we will refer to them by gem placement: Palm, Knee, and Neck, the leading Peridot.

Knee: So what are we fixing today?

Palm: Some new invention Black Diamond's been working on, it blew a fuse again!

Knee: What kind of invention?

Palm: I don't know, he said it was a quicker way to make specific tools, I think it's called a "Printer" or whatever.

Knee: Printer? Sounds like what you use to mark something!

Palm: Trust me, it's far better than that! It'll be another one of Black Diamond's greatest breakthroughs!

They arrived at the entrance to Black's palace, where they were met by two Battle Eyes with red eyes.

Battle Eye 1: Identify yourself!

Neck: Peridot Facet-6S1B Cut-7DF. We're here to repair the "Printer" device.

Battle Eye 2: You are overdue by 22 minutes! I will take you to the device, follow!

Neck wanted to say something about that first statement, but forced her lips shut. They were delayed for a good reason, as one of their saucers needed immediate maintenance, but it would just go over the machine's dome, and would just scream at her some more. Neck realized from the moment she emerged on Vulcan, that the Battle Eyes were Black's main focus, and she would just have to put up with it.

The Peridots went through a long corridor before entering Black Diamond's chamber. While it still retained the normal, crystalline design from when it was constructed, it had now become a research lab of sorts, with bits of machinery installed into the walls, glass bottles with chemicals sat in a refrigerated box, and the reason the Gems came here, the Printer device sat in the middle.

It was a strange device, shaped a large square, with a number of small arms above, connected to another square. There was a panel missing on the front right corner, exposing a burnt motherboard.

Battle Eye: The power converter overloaded and damaged the circuitry! Someone altered the energy input to 109%, that was the cause of the surge!

Palm: Oh, that was me. That's the usual amount of energy our machines require.

Battle Eye: You are not to alter the device in any way! Your task is only to fix it! The energy input should stay at 90%!

Palm: Well excuse me! I was just doing what-

Battle Eye: Do not question our calculations! Battle Eye technology is not like yours! We do not waste precious resources like you do!

Palm: Are you calling us wasteful!?

Neck: That's enough! Let's just get the repairs over with.

Palm: Whatever...

The three Peridots began, removing sections of the black, metal plating, and removed wires from the sparking circuit board, then after replacing it, went further within the machine to check the other components. This type of technology, the kind recoverd from the pod on Vulcan, was nothing the Gems had used up until now. They found it irritating, having so many small parts that require constant repairs and replacement as time went on. Wires, circuits, resonators, it was all so, "ugly" to the green Gems. They felt that their own designs were superior, but the Diamonds unanimously aggred to focus on the advancement of this alien tech. To them, it felt like a downgrade.

Battle: Report status!

Knee: Uh, the power converter is fixed, as well as some broken wires and the processor, everything should work fine now!

Battle Eye: Is the input at the correct level?

Palm: Yes, I reset it.

Battle Eye: I will double check!

Palm was about to question why it felt necessary to make sure she wasn't lying, but Neck struck her side with an elbow. The Battle Eye inspected the control panel, and while still typing with its claw, turned its head 180 degrees to face the Peridots.

Battle Eye: All errors have been corrected! The test will begin shortly! Stand by in case of another system failure!

Palm: But you ju-! Ugh...yes, we will stand by.

Announcer: Black Diamond entering the testing sector!

Battle Eye: The Creator is approaching! Step aside!

Every Gem and machine formed neat and orderly rows as the Diamond and his Pearl entered the room. They were followed by a strange looking Battle Eye, one with a more advanced casing, but no weapons.

Black: Everyone ready the instruments, the Printer shall be tested immediately.

Battle Eyes: We obey!

They returned to their monitors and other strange, alien devices bolted to the walls, the only ones that haven't moved being the Peridot trio.

Black: Hm? Were you the three Gems I sent for? If so I hope you've corrected your mistakes from last time. We had a blackout for three hours when the system overloaded.

Neck: I can assure you the machine will operate properly this time, my Diamond.

Pearl: I hope for your sake! Twelve units were unable to work due to the charging stations not functioning!

Neck: I-I see. My apologies for our error in calculation of these new systems. It's all still new to us, I'm sure you understand.

Black: I suggest you familiarize yourselves as soon as possible, things will be going faster after this test. And I don't think I need to explain what happens if you cannot keep up.

Neck: Yes, my Diamond...

Black: Good, now go stand over there. You, state you identification number.

He said this to the new Battle Eye, who spoke with a less 'robotic' voice. It was still modulated like the others, but the words conveyed a bit more emotion than the constant screaming of the others.

Battle Eye: I am ST-20o6, Second Leader of the Battle Eye Army. I am currently within a Mark 3 casing.

Black: ST-20o6, position yourself onto the Printer and we can begin.

ST: I obey.

It elevated itself onto the device, as a circular portion of the panel rose from beneath it, holding the Metaltron in place. Pearl produced two glass templates from her gemstone, one with the picture of a three pronged claw, and the other had a large gun-like attachment.

She handed them to her Diamond, who inserted the templates into a slot near a keypad. After inputting some numbers, the various arms came to life. They suddenly began projecting the two appendages, but it was more than just a hologram. The peridots noticed the holographic displays were being encased by metal, spreading itself like clay and shaping effortlessly. Then after a few seconds, the claw and gun were attached.

Black: Can you operate them?

The Metaltron looked down it its new limbs, and slowly, with a bit of stiffness, began moving them in each direction, moving its claw like how you or I would close our hands.

ST: Internal systems and components are fully functional. The Pirnter has achieved a perfect result.

Black: Excellent, have the engineers begin constructing more immediately. We'll stick with the smaller scale variation for now, still have to make adjustments for vehicles.

Battle Eye: Understood, Creator!

Black: And you three. Flugurite requires some assistance, go to the lower levels, she is waiting in Sector C.

Neck: Right away, my Diamond.

The trio left the room via an elevator on the far right. It was a large, cylindrical space, enough to fit at least four Topaz side by side. On the inside, there was a small panel showing five available rooms, and little round buttons next to their corresponding floors. The leading Peridot pressed the button labeled "C", and the lift began lowering almost immediately as the doors closed.

Sector C was for advanced research, it had more than just new tools or shiny spacecraft. This section held dangerous materials, some were highly radioactive, and would be impossible for anything that wasn't a Gem or machine to work with without dying. Other rooms held the various beasts from previous conquered worlds, being "domesticated" as a way to save resources.

In the final room, Flugurite was inspecting cylinders made from what looked to be stone, neatly organized on a cart with two shelves.

Flugurite: Ah! Here we are, I'm guessing Black Diamond informed you already?

Neck: Uh, yes. You require assistance with something?

Flugurite: A little, pet project of mine! You see this cart? There are two more in the next room, take them to the storage bay, somewhere in the very back if you can! It'll be quite a while before they're ready.

Palm: Ready?

Neck: Right away. Do you require any further assistance?

Flugurite: Hmm...yes, I believe there was an issue with the Oton Factory here on Homeworld.

Palm: Oton?

Flugurite: That's what we'll be using as the official term of the Battle Eyes from now on, Black and I came up with it just last night for a fact.

Palm: So they're, Otons now?

(Finally came up with something.)

Neck: We'll see what they require as soon as possible, Flugurite.

Flugurite: Wonderful! Oh! And these cylinders are quite fragile, so don't drop any of them!

While she still spoke like a lifelong friend, the Peridots could tell a threat when they hear it. Nevertheless, they did as they were told, transporting the stone cylinders without issue, then making their way to the main "Oton" manufacturing facility. It was very plain for a factory, nothing more than a large metal box, with several smoke stacks bellowing. The inside however had more to look at, with mechanical arms and conveyors operating around every corner, piecing together more and more of those one-eyed war machines.

The models in here working were housed within similar casings to ST, but without the markings on the "chest plate" that one had. It seemed to the Peridots that the initial workforce is upgraded before new units are created, which didn't appear as efficient, but for whatever reason was mandatory. Suddenly, the announcer addressed Neck, spooking her as she was in deep thought.

Announcer: Maintenance crew, please report to ore processing bay.

It was a bit confusing on how it knew they were there? Other than the Otons, there was not a single camera around every corner, or at least, not one any of the Gems have found. They shrugged it off and did as they were instructed, going downwards into a chamber filled with smoke. The Otons here had two claws instead of a gun, and their paint jobs were scratched, dirty, and their hover pads were caked in soot.

Along with Otons, Rubies, smaller Gems with red skin, worked in this section, handling the main process of melting the ore down, taking out its impurities, and shaping the molten metal into sheets, and the Otons themselves moved these sheets into large crates, and off to wherever they're needed. But at the moment, the conveyor belt transporting materials to the many furnaces were broken, constantly moving back and forth.

Oton: Welcome, maintenance crew. We have been experiencing some technical difficulties in this section. It is something within our machines, we have dectected atypical sounds from the walls, and deduced there are some loose components.

Neck: We will investigate it then.

They were just about to start, when the announcer came on and said,

Announcer: Warning! Unknown hostiles in ore processing bay! Security Otons have been notified and deployed!

Neck: Hostiles? I don't see anything-

Knee: GAH!

The Peridot was fighting a small creature, something with many arms, legs, each one a different color. It had jumped on her back and began scratching her face. The other two managed to wrestle the thing off their comrade, and the creature quickly ran behind a giant metal crate.

Neck: It's other there, crush it!

The three Gems put their hands forward, towards the crate, and an invisible force pushed the box into the wall, undoubtedly killing whatever that thing was, but this was only the beginning. Creatures similar to the last, amalgamations of limbs of various colors rushed out from all directions. The vents, the wall, even from a smelter.

Oton: Unknown threat engaging, backup requested!

The Rubies, as small as they are, were more capable in combat than a Peridot. They rushed the amalgamations without fear, materializing small bladed weapons from their gemstones. But even with their combined might, a much larger variant made its existence known.

A massive creature burst through the floor, covered in a dark blue cloth, and its shape resembled that of a humanoid hand, but made up of arms and legs in place of the fingers.

Before it could attack, the security drones arrived, immediately firing at the multicolored conglomeration.

Security Oton: Exterminate the abomination! Exterminate them all, set weaponry to full power!

Security Oton: Exterminate! Exterminate!

Plasma bolts flew across the room, taking out the creatures one by one until the massive hand remained. It grabbed one of the weaponless units and flung it at its attackers, knocking several over. But it was in vain, as the plasma struck its body over and over, each one stronger than the last, it desperately tried to escape, running back to the hole it came from. The hole was suddenly blocked off by a large crate.

Neck: Shoot it!!

Security Otons: EXTERMINATE!

Every remaining drone fired at once, and once the dust settled, there was only one thing left was...a gemstone. In fact, the other limbs left behind similar gemstones, but not quite right. They were "clusters" of jagged edges and seemed to be melted together, nothing about their formation was natural.

Neck: Wh-What is this? Why're they-

???: Activating security measure 2!

The Gems in this room were suddenly given electric shock via the floor, causing each one's body to vanish and leave their stones behind. Afterwards, another unique model of Oton entered the room, this one having a white, casing with black outlines, and blue dome lights and eyepiece.

Security Oton: Chief Science Oton!

CSO: The experiments in the lower levels emerged early! They broke through the walls and escaped!

Oton: Do not worry, it appears that every specimen entered this room. What is to be done with the others?

CSO: They have seen too much! Information on the Fusion Experiment is to be kept unknown! Harvest them! Then have their remains sent to the underground laboratory!

Oton: Understood, it shall be done. Afterwards, we'll send word for a replacement workforce of Ruby units.

CSO: Good! I will return to my post, beginning Harvesting immediately!

Otons: We obey.

(Next time, we'll see the beginning of a fracture.)