Chapter Text

—Steven—

The senses beyond one through five can be subtle things, and the more you learn to use them, the more you understand that. Eyes and ears are well-heeded, taste and touch and scent have their uses, but beyond them, simple intuition is a tricky business. More to the point, it’s a tricky business that you’re still learning. A spider sits at the center of its web, feeling vibrations from as far as the silken strings stretch; intuition is like that, especially for Gems. The tiniest pluck, according to Pearl, can have the greatest meaning.

This particular feeling, midmorning on a cloudless spring day, is more like someone slamming out a power chord on guitar strings attached to your gem.

Garnet and Pearl have their weapons out in an instant, with Pearl leaping for the nearest high vantage point – Garnet’s head. Amethyst, aiming a bit higher, nearly hits the roof. You spring up with a yelp, shield half-formed at your arm.

A terrific shriek rings out as Peridot tackles you in a fit of panic. It’s not enough to knock you over, in fact it’s a little like being tackled by a bunny rabbit, but her frantic yelling comes closer to throwing you off. “No! No, it can’t be – it’s too soon! It’s too soon, we’re not ready, it’s way ahead of schedule, this isn’t right – this isn’t-!”

Dismissing your shield, you hug her on instinct, because she’s upset and you hardly know what else to do. Peridot’s ensuing silence is more out of shock than comfort, but it works anyway. “Guys, what’s going on?” you ask, without letting go. (At this point it’s just as much for your comfort as Peridot’s.) “That’s not – that wasn’t the Cluster, was it?”

“I’m not-” Cautiously Pearl climbs down, with a sheepish glance at Garnet. “I’m not sure, but… it can’t be, can it?”

“We can’t rule it out.” Garnet frowns, speaking slowly as if she’s thinking about something other than her own words. “We’ve never encountered anything like the Cluster before. Even with Peridot’s information, we can’t know for sure.”

“Yeah, but we do know one thing!” Amethyst pipes up. “It’s gonna be huge. Big fusion monster cracking out of the earth, it’d be breaking way more, wouldn’t it? I mean, look-” She waves her hand to the window. “Look how nice it is out there. It’s a beautiful day outside, guys! Birds are singing, flowers are blooming, no storms, no weird magnet stuff, not even an earthquake. Just – whatever the heck that was.”

“Well if it’s not the Cluster,” Peridot hisses, finally extricating herself from your arms. “What was it?”

“We need to analyze it, look for any immediate effects,” says Pearl. “The sooner we find out-”

“Pearl.”

All eyes turn to Garnet. Her gauntlets are gone, her hands at her sides, but she looks as grim as ever. Behind her shades, her eyes seem fixed upon Pearl. “Pearl, you don’t think…?”

“I don’t think what?” Pearl blinks, and her eyes widen as Garnet’s meaning dawns on her. You squirm uncomfortably – you’re used to feeling like everyone else knows more than you do, but that doesn’t mean you hate it any less. “But, Garnet-”

“I haven’t felt something like that in a long time,” Garnet says quietly. “Not since before Amethyst. Not since…”

“It’s impossible,” Pearl says. Her voice is hollow, but beneath that she sounds… hopeful? “Garnet, do you really think so?”

“You’re both speaking in riddles,” Peridot grits out.

“Guys?” you say cautiously. “What are you talking about?”

Pearl and Garnet exchange a single look – what is it? More hope? Fear? Uncertainty?

“Warp pad,” Garnet says finally. “Everyone.”

They hurry to obey. On instinct, you take Peridot’s hand.

---

“Hey…. Mom?”

“Yes, my child, what is it?”

“Um, how loud do you think that was?”

“How loud do I think what was?”

“…Never mind.”