CHAPTER 6: Tensions Rising

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Jasper's presence cast a heavy pall over the prison. Where before Lapis had been constantly surveilled but rarely threatened, now she was under a harsher and more aggressive watch. Jasper was everything Lapis feared in a soldier of Homeworld—brutal, unrelenting, and unwilling to compromise. It seemed like Jasper relished the chance to torment her, sneering at her whenever she passed by the cell. Unlike Peridot, who kept her distance physically, Jasper would stand right at the force field, her hulking figure radiating menace.

"Traitor," Jasper would snarl, glaring at Lapis with undisguised contempt. "You think you're so clever. You think you're above Homeworld now, don't you?"

Lapis would keep her silence, knowing any response would only fuel Jasper's anger. But the tension in her cell was palpable, and for the first time in weeks, Lapis felt genuinely trapped.

What surprised her most, though, was Peridot's reaction. Each time Jasper stormed through the prison, barking orders and throwing her weight around, Peridot became more rigid, her eyes flicking nervously between the control panels and Lapis' cell. The distance Peridot once maintained seemed to shrink slightly, and Lapis could sense that something was shifting.

One day, as Peridot came by for her routine check, Lapis could feel the frustration brewing beneath her calm surface. "I see you're still keeping up appearances," Lapis said softly, standing at the edge of the force field, her blue eyes watching Peridot intently.

Peridot, for once, didn't immediately reply. She was staring at her tablet, but her fingers hesitated. "Jasper is a high-ranking soldier," Peridot said finally, her voice quieter than usual. "Her authority... complicates things."

Lapis tilted her head. "And does that bother you?"

Peridot's eyes flicked up, meeting Lapis' gaze. "What do you mean?"

"You're used to being in control. Jasper doesn't seem like the type to follow your orders."

Peridot's jaw clenched. "I'm perfectly capable of managing this situation. Jasper's methods are unnecessary, but... effective."

Lapis leaned closer, her voice dropping to a near-whisper. "You don't believe that."

Peridot's fingers twitched, almost imperceptibly. "I have a duty to Homeworld. What I believe doesn't matter."

Lapis stared at her for a long moment, searching her face for the crack she knew was there. "But you do care. You hate how she treats you like you're just another tool. You hate how she's undermining everything you've built here."

Peridot's mouth opened, then closed. She turned her attention back to the tablet, but Lapis could see the tension in her shoulders.

"Peridot," Lapis said softly, almost pleading. "You're better than this. You don't have to be part of their game."

But before Peridot could respond, Jasper's booming voice echoed through the corridor. "PERIDOT!"

The small Gem visibly tensed, her hand hovering over the control panel as Jasper approached.

"You're spending too much time with this one," Jasper growled, glaring at Lapis through the force field. "Don't tell me you're getting soft."

Peridot stiffened, her eyes narrowing behind her visor. "I'm doing my job. You shouldn't interfere with my protocols."

Jasper smirked, stepping closer until she towered over Peridot. "Your 'protocols' are a joke. You're letting this one off too easy." Jasper jabbed a finger toward Lapis. "She's a traitor. And traitors deserve punishment, not coddling."

Lapis braced herself, feeling the sharp edge of Jasper's malice. But to her surprise, Peridot stood her ground, her posture rigid. "My methods are effective. I don't need to resort to your brutality."

Jasper sneered, leaning down until her face was inches from Peridot's. "Careful, Peridot. You're starting to sound like you sympathize with her."

For a long, tense moment, neither of them spoke. Lapis could see the conflict in Peridot's posture, the way her fingers twitched, itching to say something more. But, finally, Peridot averted her gaze, stepping back and lowering her tablet. "I'm only following my orders."

Jasper let out a low, dangerous chuckle. "Good. Then stay out of my way." With that, she turned and marched down the hall, her heavy footsteps reverberating through the walls.

Lapis watched as Peridot stood frozen for a moment, her hands trembling slightly. When she finally looked back at Lapis, something had changed in her expression. There was no longer just cold indifference; there was frustration, confusion, and perhaps... doubt.

"You don't have to let her control you," Lapis said gently. "You can still make your own choices."

Peridot's eyes flickered beneath her visor. "You don't understand. I'm—"

"You're more than just your duty," Lapis interrupted softly. "I know you are."

For a split second, Peridot looked as though she might say something more, but instead, she turned and hurried out of the corridor, leaving Lapis alone in the cold silence.

(YAY more words this time)

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