Part 3: The Right Gem for the Job

Yellow Pearl was pacing the hallway in front of conference room VVS. She was almost hoping for someone to walk by so she could glare at them, but it seemed luck had abandoned her altogether. If only she could have said the same about the Blue Pearl.

Ever since the Diamonds had sent the Pearls out to discuss the details of their plan in private, she had stood there. Right next to Yellow, unmoving, her hands folded before her. Silent. She was the picture perfect Pearl, even while no one else was watching. Usually Pearls took the rare chance when they were alone to exchange some gossip. Who knew what about whom? Who plotted a scheme with each other? Things like that. And it was Yellow's biggest joy to point out how utterly un-Pearlish that was – they were made to be seen not heard after all - watching the other Pearls blush and stutter their excuses, but this Pearl wouldn't even grant her this simple joy.

After some more pacing and staring at the wall in silence Yellow finally burst out: "they're probably discussing which gem to sent to earth. I-it'll be an honor to be chosen by the Diamonds, of course, but earth...", she made a big show of shuddering. "I wouldn't want to go there."

"I think it was rather obvious that they are going to sent you", Blue Pearl replied camly, without even looking at Yellow.

Yellow shot her a glare. "D-don't be ridiculous!" she stammered, "I'm a Pearl! Just a Pearl. We are not sent on missions. We are sent to fetch pens and sometimes a computer with crucial information if our Diamond really trusts us, but this... This is Ruby-work!"

"You heard them. They need someone they trust, someone who seems harmless..."

Yellow waited for her to say "someone disposable". Yellow Diamond had said it and of course it was true. Pearls were common. There was practically a cue forming behind both of them for the job of a Diamond's Pearl. Yellow herself had replaced the Pearl before her... Funny how she had never thought of her predecessor before, what had have happened to her? But Blue Pearl didn't say it, she had returned to that saintly silence of hers.

Yellow Pearl turned away and faced the closed door, her arms crossed before her chest. "Never in the history of Gemkind has a Pearl been sent on a mission", she repeated stubbornly.

"Never in the history of Gemkind has a Pearl been part of a rebellion either, but from what I gathered there is one on earth now", Blue answered.

Yellow's mouth suddenly felt very dry. The rogue Pearl that fought alongside Rose Quartz was a taboo to talk about, especially among Pearls. The other gems preferred to pretend there had been no such thing as a Pearl in the rebellion. If they absolutely had to talk about her, they pretended she was the rebells property as much as every Pearl was someone's property, but certainly not an independenly operating individual. Still, a lingering doubt remaind and many years after the Rebelion, Pearls had still been treated differently. They had lost so much of their limited freedom, had been punished much harder than before and everyone who seemed remotely dangerous had been removed.

Yellow tried to push the memories of that time back down. It had been a time before she had become Yellow Diamond's Pearl, she had moved on. Still, that Blue Pearl went from not talking at all to talking about this... Yellow wasn't sure what to make of her. Was she trying to set her up? Catch her saying something risky? Or was she herself trying to find out how openly she could speak?

Yellow sought Blue Pearl's gaze once more and this time she found herself looking into two eyes behind a fringe of blue hair. "All I am trying to say is that sometimes Pearls are used in unusual ways if need be."

Yellow tried to analyze Blue's eyes. Was that really all she had been trying to say? Before she could really decide, Blue turned back to face the door. "Still, Pearls fightin... That's just unnatural", Yellow mumbled and hugged herself. Now she really didn't want to go to earth. Not only was it far away and alien and dangerous but somewhere down there was a Pearl that stood for everything she had learned to fear.

They waited for a while out in the corridor. Both were too well trained to get tired or bored that easily. Standing around all day, having nothing to do, nothing to occupy oneself with, was a basic skill for Pearls. Still... with a possible trip to earth hanging above her head like a shadow, Yellow found it increasingly difficult to do nothing but wait.

Finally the huge door to the conference room opened and Yellow Diamond appeared. Yellow sprang to attention. "Come in", Yellow Diamond said shortly and both Pearls entered the conference room where the hologram of Blue Diamond awaited them. Yellow Diamond took a seat and gave Yellow Pearl her instructions who replied with a lot of "certainly"s and "of course"s and nodding.

When the plan had been explained to her she finally spluttered out: "b-but with all respect, my D-diamond. Wouldn't another gem, maybe-"

"No", Yellow Diamond cut her off and her Pearl felt her gem vibrating in her chest. "You are the gem we will entrust with this mission. I am certain I will not have to mention how much of an honor it is for a Pearl to be chosen."

Yellow shook her head. No, of course it was an honor. She felt like she had used up all her bravery to question Yellow Diamond once and now there was nothing left to talk back to her again.

"Very well", Yellow Diamond closed the conversation and sat back in her chair, adressing Blue Diamond once more. "I will keep you posted on the mission's status."

Blue Diamond inclinded her head in response, now Yellow could see where her Pearl had got her perfect silence from. With the last bit of nerve Yellow could muster she glanced at the Blue Pearl and to her surprise the Blue gem was looking straight at her, trying to tell her... what?

Yellow felt like she was missing the point of this silent message. And a second later it was over and the Diamonds said their good-byes. Blue Pearl left with the guards her Diamond had assigned her and Yellow was alone with a group of strangers who would be responsible for preparing her for her mission.

If not for her years and years of training she would have cracked right there and ran away screaming, but she was a Pearl and she was very good at keeping an upright posture and listening to a lot of people giving her a lot of instructions at once.

A/N: Of course I couln't just go and tell you what exactly the Diamonds' plan is, so you'll just have to sit tight and find out ;)