Shimmering Blood

Chapter 7- fighting two wars.

AN: STEVEN UNIVERSE DOESNT BELONG TO ME BUT REBECCA SUGAR AND CARTOON NETWORK, I ONLY OWN MY OWN OC'S

Moonstone leaned back in his chair, feeling the crushing weight of his situation press down on his shoulders like a mountain. The orders from Pink Diamond were becoming more absurd by the day. It wasn't the first time she had asked him to do something illogical, but this-kidnapping humans from across the planet without being detected-was sheer madness. The Crystal Gem rebellion was already stretching his resources thin, and now there was this... zoo project.

"God fucking dammit, Pink Diamond," Moonstone muttered under his breath, his voice low and tense. He stared at the holographic projection of Earth in front of him, red dots indicating rebel activity flaring across its surface like a spreading wildfire. The sheer number of them made his stomach turn. "Why do you have to be so distracted with this? There's a war going on."

His fingers tightened around the armrests of his command chair, the metal creaking under his grip. His muscles ached from the strain, but it did little to soothe his rising frustration. He collapsed back into the chair, exhaling heavily, as if he could force the weight of his situation out of his lungs. But it remained, a constant pressure.

"Rebels are bad enough," he muttered, his gaze still locked on the hologram. "And now you want to build a zoo, and I have to be the one to gather your humans for it?" He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. "A zoo... humans..."

Behind him, Emerald stood at attention, silent but attentive. She waited for him to issue the next command, but she could sense his turmoil. Her sharp mind churned with possible solutions, but for this task-kidnapping random humans while the war raged-it was a puzzle she had no easy answer for. And while she'd never admit it aloud, she wasn't exactly skilled in... discreet abduction.

"It's been three years," Moonstone said, his voice taking on a strained edge, "three years since my last meeting with Pink Diamond. And what progress have I made? The rebellion is still active. And now, instead of focusing on crushing them, I'm supposed to be sneaking around, kidnapping humans like some kind of petty thief."

His gaze hardened as it returned to the hologram, seething with silent rage. The thought of juggling a war and this new mission filled him with bitter frustration. "How am I supposed to fight a war and perform kidnappings on the side?"

Finally, Moonstone spun around in his chair, his eyes locking onto Emerald. His trusted advisor had rarely failed him, and if anyone could offer a solution to his current dilemma, it would be her. "Do you have any ideas, Emerald? Any at all?"

Emerald stood stiffly, eyes focused, thinking quickly. But this time, the challenge was too far outside their normal operations. Kidnapping humans, of all things, in the midst of a rebellion, with their resources already stretched thin... it wasn't something she had anticipated. And the more she thought about it, the more impossible it seemed.

"No, sir," Emerald finally said, bowing her head slightly in apology. "We lack the Gems and soldiers needed to perform such an operation without drawing attention. The first batch of reinforcements won't arrive for at least another year."

Moonstone sighed deeply, rubbing his temples. Of course, the reinforcements were still a long way off. And in the meantime, he was expected to juggle everything-war, rebellion, logistics, and now, absurd orders from Pink Diamond. He spun back toward the holo-pad, smashing his fist against its surface in frustration. Sparks of electricity crackled through the room as the projection of Earth flickered and disappeared, replaced by the memo detailing his orders.

"Why is it that there's always some new problem cropping up?" Moonstone growled, leaning back in his chair, his hand massaging his temple. "First the rebels, now kidnappings, and on top of that, rumors of the rebellion splitting into two factions."