Steven Universe fic

Part Eleven Chapter One: Vile Ones

Lapis hovered in the air just out of sight as Aquamarine addressed her followers, the crowd boomed with excitement, causing the dread within Lapis to grow until she could barely breathe.
She had to leave, and find Steven find a way to tell him of Aquamarine's rally, her plans, how close she had already come to achieving her wicked goals.

The blue gem turned away from the cheers and flew off into the distance, searching for a warp hub she could use to get at least closer to Earth.

Jasper stood at the side of Aquamarine's stage, averting her eyes from any glaring gems.
Her status and reputation was the only thing that protected her from their wrath. And she wanted little to do with them, if only to figure out what Lapis had meant.
Find a better gem than her? What gem could be better than Lapis? She was powerful, and dominating.
She held her under the earths ocean for months.
And no gem here would even remotely be content to fuse with a different gem, let alone an off color, previously corrupted gem like Jasper.

"Alright!" Aquamarine clapped her hands together victoriously and exited the stage, taking the pink bubble from Antarcticite and bouncing it gently in the air. "That went well, Antarcticite, why don't you have a chat with Morganite, Hessonite and Maxixe about joining our forces with Emerald's Citrines."

The blue gem nodded at her companion who began walking away before stopping for just a moment.

"And Ghoshenite?" The white gem questioned. Aquamarine scoffed and shook her head.

"There's no way Ghoshenite would betray White Diamond. Her quartz soldiers where the ones who attacked us on Homeworld." She retorted waving her hand dismissively. She lifted herself in the air and fluttered past her troup toward their new base, before entering and beckoning them inside. Jasper followed, only to be stopped by a tiny blue hand.

"Not you. I need to have a word with you." Aquamarine's face was stern, aside from the creeping grin she held. She tossed the pink bubble containing Spinel into the building and led Jaaper out to the side.

Jasper glanced back at the entrance, then toward the few spectators who seemed to revel in whatever could occur next.

"Yes?" The orange gem asked, once Aquamarine had stopped. The tiny gem spin around, pulling the ribbon from her hair and poking her subordinate in the chest angrily.

"You let your prisoner escape!" She chided.

Jasper blinked in confusion, "Prisoner? Our only prisoner is that Spinel."

Aquamarine rolled her eyes at the words and pulled her wand back.

"No, you imbicile, your little lapis escaped, and a ruby guard told me she saw you just..let her go." Aquamarine's smirk widened at the thought of punishing the giant gem. She twirled the wand in her hand before resting it on her cheek, feigning a look of contemplation.

"I could punish you, I thought about it- just for looking the way you do. But I'm willing to give you another chance." Aquamarine withdrew her wand and set it back on her head, smiling innocently at the quartz, before her face grew far more serious.

"Don't try anything stupid."

Jasper nodded, and quietly followed the tiny gem back to the entrance.

Aquamarine flew to the head of her group and turned down a hall toward the war room. Jasper held back, keeping a few feet of distance between herself and the rest of Aquamarine's comrades.
Doubt and fear began to edge at her mind as she glanced around the room to make sure she was alone. The only other gem nearby was sloshing around in a bubble.
Jasper eyed the pink orb as it floated.
Steven bubbled the gem, she could easily recognize the pink tint.
He was Rose Quartz, but he was also Pink Diamond.
No.
That's a stupid idea, to think that Steven would even remotely trust her. Still, it's not like any of these gems were more trusting of her.
Aquamarine only wanted her around for her brute strength, and made it clear that she looked down upon the orange gem for all her flaws.

Steven at least would try to listen. If she had something to make him listen.

Jasper took a hesitant step toward the bubble and plucked it from the air, holding it in her hands. This was his friend, at least, that's what Aquamarine had said.
She intended to use them as bait or something.
A small thought drifted through Jasper's mind as she stared at the little heart.

Steven would be sure to trust her if she brought his friend to him. Yes, he'd probably cry because he'd be so happy. He cried a lot.

Jasper glanced back toward the war room where she could hear Aquamarine yapping about her military strategy.

"It's now or never, we can-" Jasper stopped listening and focused on her plan. Take the bubble, steal one of the ships and fly back to earth or wherever Steven was.
She flattened herself against the wall, and began sneaking out the doorway, focusing her attention on the Ruby guards and one of their ships. She exited the building and slinked along the side of the wall, trying to remain out of sight.
The ruby guards were met by their companions and nodded, turning the other direction.
Jasper took the opportunistic blind spot and made a break for the ship.

She froze.
Held back by the blue beam that enveloped her body, her eyes flickered to the side where Aquamarine hovered just behind her with a wicked grin on her face.

"I knew you would try to run, but steal my leverage too?" She tisked, wagging her finger at her.
Antarcticite grew from a puddle on the ground and in one efficiently quick stab poofed the orange quartz.
Aquamarine dropped her tractor beam and snatched the gem from the air, twisting it in her fingers.

"Congratulations, you made on my list to harvest." She snidely giggled, "right behind Steven and his precious friends."

"Bubble her, I want to make an example of gems who try to betray me."