LOG-113.

  In the end, I left that chamber with far more questions than answers, ushered out by an apologetic Fuchsia as Star Sapphire settled down amongst a veritable mountain of cushions.

  Overseer. An ominous title if I'd ever heard one. Overseer of what, exactly? Evidently, I was to be placed in charge of something in the future. But that didn't necessarily equate to a good thing.

  The concerning thought remained lodged in my mind all the way back to Hessonite's office, right up until I was greeted by a smiling Glitter and the tired looking Garnet herself, almost seeming to take a moment to rest. Almost.

  "Viridian, good. I trust your trip with that other Pearl went well. Anything to report?"

  I smiled right back at Glitter, and then Hessonite herself, even as I enacted a quick bow, lying through my teeth.

  "Nothing to report, your radiance. The Star Sapphire was satisfied with our efforts, and I was sent back without further delay. Did you require anything else?"

  The administrator pushed off from the edge of her desk, authoritative cloak trailing behind her as she waved me along.

  "I have something to deal with and Glitter needs to finish up on some datawork for me. Follow."

  Naturally, I followed, tossing my Batchmate a quick 'goodbye' in sign, reciprocated by a 'see you soon!' even as I focused on paying attention to the larger Gem in front of me.

  A focus that waxed and waned over the course of a very long walk, only coming back into prominence once Hessonite let out a quick sigh, glancing back at me.

  "We're going to go interview an off colour prisoner that was shipped in from one of the colonies and is currently being held here until the vessel transporting her finishes refueling, to see whether she knows of any other defective Gems that might have escaped capture."

  She paused, biting her lip for a second, before shaking her head.

  "You'll be recording anything of use from the conversation, but I want you to stay behind me the entire time, understand?"

  I blinked, thoughts going to just what kind of Gem could have a Garnet feeling wary, and nodded once more.

  "Of course. Is she particularly dangerous? A Ruby or Quartz of some kind?"

  Hessonite's grave tone was enough to make me straighten a little more, but it was her actual answer that prompted my eyes to widen slightly.

  The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  "Worse. She's a Tourmaline."

  —

  The Empire didn't have prisons. They had brigs when it came to starships, and temporary holding facilities for Gems in need of minor punishment when it came to stationary installations.

  After all, any individual that could truly be considered a 'criminal' was someone to be shattered or rejuvenated, whether due to being born with some kind of defect, or actually breaking Imperial law.

  As a result, the containment facility we eventually came to after a trip through a nearby Warp pad was fairly barebones in terms of structure, pretty much just being a long hallway lined with cells.

  In turn, the majority of its security was seemingly just made up of several squads of stern faced yellow Quartzes and a singular dour looking golden Agate, who quickly twisted to face the two of us as we approached.

  Said dour expression was quickly replaced with a mask of professionalism as she realised just who was approaching, a quick whistle drawing the attention of the nearby guards, who followed their leader's act in snapping into picture perfect salutes, right as Hessonite came to a stop in front of her.

  "Agate. Report."

  The gemstone on the officer's cheek flashed slightly as she tilted her head back towards the singular active destabilization barrier, presumably keeping the prisoner within from simply walking outside.

  "The troops are nervous, my Hessonite. Don't fancy their odds if the Gem in there breaks loose. Having some proper Tourmalines docked aboard the Confluence is a bit of a relief for them and even myself, if I'm being entirely honest, but considering they aren't here…"

  The administrator nodded at that, casting a concerned glance over the cell even as I felt the gazes of several soldiers sliding over my lightform, some letting out appreciative grunts.

  "So she's combat capable…what about restraints?"

  Not exactly surprising. Quartzes would be Quartzes, at the end of the day. Very honest Gems, their caste. The Empire didn't deserve most of them.

  "She's got her hands and legs locked together with powered binders some clever Peridot put together. Keeps her from moving too much, and she can't summon her weapon either. Crew of the ship told me it took two other Tourmalines from her Batch holding her down before they managed to restrain her properly."

  "Hm. Very well, we'll take it from here. Just keep your Gems on alert until we're done."

  Shooting some of the fascinated soldiers a friendly look, which immediately prompted several of the dorks to glance away in embarrassment, I followed along behind Hessonite as she advanced towards the cell, Golden Agate shooting me a bemused glance as I did so.

  A quick interaction with a panel outside the barrier was all it took for the lightform breaking energy to cut off for a moment, my de facto owner striding inside with myself darting in after her half a second later.

  The interior of the cell was fairly spacious, though considering the size of some Gems, that made sense.

  Case in point, the armoured figure currently trying to burn a hole through Hessonite's head through sheer force of eye contact alone.

  She was…well, she was a Tourmaline. Utterly massive, with the vague proportions of a larger than average Quartz that had decided to take up plated armour in favour of the usual barebones uniform the common soldiery wore, intimidating and moderately face concealing war helm included, her gauntleted hands and booted feet bound together by massive, clunky looking bracers that glowed with an inner light.

  Except of course, rather than the royal purple Imperial Tourmalines were supposed to be, this Gem was an almost startling crimson in tone, the plume of slightly lighter hair erupting out from from the top and back of her helmet significantly wilder looking than expected, seeming more at home on a Jasper or Malachite than anything else.

  It was…starting to get a little too consistent, actually. Just how many Gems I was meeting that could be summarised as tall, strong and wild haired.

  Unlike the rowdy nature of those Gems though, the off colour in front of us was the very picture of perfect, cold discipline, narrowed, slightly luminous eyes barely moving to track the both of us as we settled in front of her.

  I found myself edging slightly behind Hessonite without even requiring an order from the Gem in question, instead busying myself with pulling out a small datapad to physically record things on while the administrator glared back at the elite warrior.

  Nervously, judging by the way her hands clenched slightly.

  "Off colour crimson Tourmaline Facet 3C7G Cut 7XL, designated 'Red' for short. I am Hessonite. I will ask you a short series of questions, which you will answer promptly and truthfully. Is this understood, defect?"

  Red glared.

  Hessonite sighed.

  I continued to observe silently, even as I internally pondered whether Ardent might have some kind of use for an angry enforcer that had been betrayed by her own Empire, all for the dire crime of being born the wrong colour.