I reclined in the cockpit while finishing some blueprints for another project I had. At the same time, I was upgrading the other Peridot hand so it would match the first—so now I'd finally have the complete pair. Just the boots were missing, and I'd be a fully equipped Peridot… although, clearly, I was a Silica.
While working on the hand upgrade blueprints, I watched the mirror in front of me. It hadn't shown any signs of life—or at least, none that I could detect. I didn't know if that was good or bad… well, I kind of did, but it didn't matter. Still, I kept talking out loud about what I was doing, so it wouldn't feel alone.
"You might be wondering, why don't you just release it?" I thought, as I grabbed some cables from this planet. They were even better and would help increase the ship's speed, because they weren't even close to the ones from the series.
It's simple, my dear mental schizophrenia. I'm afraid it might suddenly stab me, and I don't want to lose everything just for being nice. And I don't know how to make a bubble; I tried it out of the mirror's view, with materials, and let's just say… it didn't go very well. Haha.
But I shook my head. It was a technique in my programming, and thanks to the few human memories I had, it helped me break out of the Empire's bubble. Plus, being defective because of my colors and height had to mean something.
I shook my head again.
I went back to focusing on what I had in front of me. I had finished the water task a while ago, and now I felt cleaner. Before, I felt horrible, unable to wash my hands; now… I could remove the Diamond essence that had been all over my body.
I activated the secondary thrusters on the workbench and extended the five floating fingers of my right hand. The tablet formed between them like a translucent green light panel, projecting lines of code and technical schematics.
"Alright… let's do this better than Peridot."
First, I adjusted the integrated sight on the index finger. I recalibrated the optical focus, reducing laser dispersion by 12%. The reticle now adapted to the target's movement using micro-predictive calculations; if anything moved, the sight compensated before I finished aiming.
Then I opened the radar module. The small hexagonal emitter on the back of my hand deployed a circular hologram. I increased the scanning range using a frequency less detectable by standard gem sensors. I also improved the filtering: it could now distinguish organic energy signatures, gems, and active technology.
I swiped two fingers and the tablet switched interface. I adjusted the ray output: stabilized the energy core to prevent overheating, and added an intensity regulator. I could fire anything from immobilization pulses to focused cuts without stressing the internal conduits.
Finally, I connected everything to my backpack system. A light cable extended from the rear compartment and magnetically attached to my wrist port. Full synchronization.
The external power source now supplied the weapons, reducing direct consumption from my gem. I also added a microcapacitor in the backpack to store residual energy and release it in short, high-power bursts.
I observed the final data floating before me.
Efficiency: increased.Consumption: reduced.Recharge time: minimal.
I smiled slightly.
"Now… upgraded version, damn it."
And all that happened over four years. Don't ask how I got so deep into this mess.
I reclined while observing the backpack upgrades. During those four years, I also improved the ship's source code: more security, more access points, and a much cleaner interior. The gem in the mirror gave no signs of life, but I didn't care.
"My enchanted heart shines," I sang, dancing like a schizophrenic across the ship.
During those four years, I found three other very good planets—two were similar to the first, but I learned my lesson; the other was a dead planet, not safe to land. So what I did was talk to my gem friend in the mirror.
"And that's how Maduro was captured, Pearl. What do you think?" I said, finishing the hand mold and striking a dramatic pose.
The mirror did nothing, as usual. But I kept talking and turned around.
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed something and turned again, confused, while looking at the screen.
"Huh?" I murmured as I approached. "Nothing's happening…" I said, not noticing how the mirror behind me faintly glowed; after a few seconds, the glow vanished.
"Eh, whatever," I muttered, using the Peridot hands to play Geometry Dash and placing myself in front of the mirror so it could watch me play.
"Damn it…" I muttered, getting a bit stressed. I had made an overly complicated level, just to keep myself immersed in this ship for longer.
I spent another week immersed in the game. I had gotten used to gem time; they take everything slowly, and with my good radars, I didn't worry too much about these zones. Good note for me.
I stayed in the cockpit, staring into the void of space. I held the mirror while my gaze remained a bit unfocused.
"Hey, Pearl…" I said calmly.
"Do you think… do you think I can achieve my goal?"
I stayed silent for a few moments.
"I feel like in all these years we've been here, I haven't really known you. I don't know if you've even tried to communicate with me."
I sighed, looking at the radar tablets circling a Homeworld planet.
"My goal… is to reach Earth."
The mirror glowed in my hand.
I looked at it in awe, but didn't interrupt.
"Wow… you can communicate?" I murmured with a faint smile. "Alright, I'll keep telling you."
I said this as I placed the mirror in front of me.
"I want to go to planet Earth. I want to know why Rose Quartz protected it. Is it good? Peaceful? Is it supposed to be special?"
I shook my head softly.
"It should be… otherwise, how could an entire rebellion rise up for that planet?"
Obviously, I was lying to the Pearl in large part; I didn't want it to know that I already knew this planet would be key for me.
"I want to go to that planet. I feel that will be my home, far away from Homeworld."
The mirror distorted as something on its surface began to shift.
"Yes."
"Seems like it."
"Alright."
It said, between flashes of my own fragmented image, while the gem tried to communicate.
I was completely astonished as, finally, the gem managed to respond to me.
After a few seconds of waiting for it to stabilize, I asked:
"Do you want to come out of the mirror?"
The glow that had seemed excited moments before suddenly went out.
I stared at its surface, waiting for an answer.
"Yes," it said with my own voice, though slightly distorted.
I got up from the chair and issued a few commands to the ship before walking toward the room I had prepared.
I sat in front of the mirror and watched it in silence.
After a few seconds of hesitation, I turned it over and looked directly at the Blue Pearl gem embedded on the back. It was very beautiful, in my opinion.
I took it carefully and, with a small effort, detached it.
The gem began to shine intensely and levitate in the air.
As a precaution, I charged a small amount of energy in my hand, in case it became unstable or… erratic, in other words.
First the body, then the hands, then the feet, and finally the hair. All in an elegant blue-and-white tone, like a true Pearl of the Empire.
Her short, elegant hair partially covered her eyes, and her dress had a flawless, refined cut. Every detail reflected that imperial grace.
She really resembled the Blue Diamond Gem, but for her mental health, I made sure she wasn't exactly her; she had to be unique, though inspired by the Empire's elegance.
Reference image, obviously not exactly the same, but I'm too lazy to draw it. Maybe I'll upload it to my Instagram later, lol.
An elegant Pearl made her presence known.
Which, despite being elegant, fell to the ground like a rag.
…
…
…
Absolute silence took over the place.
After a few seconds, I asked:
"Are you okay?"
End of Chapter 11.