Command Post, Do You Copy?

Never Alone

A few hours passed with not a single sound besides the howling wind. "I wanna go home." Peri softly whined to herself. She often enjoyed a good nap but she couldn't even take any delight in trying to sleep the hours away while waiting for dawn. It was too cold for that. Without warning, a light flickered outside. It stopped several times in the distance, casting eerie shadows in the room. Peri sat upright. No gems should be coming out to the outpost. This light was a warm yellow. If it was the light of a gem, that might be a jasper or citrine. Both were types of gems were guards under the command of Yellow Beryl, a gem that'd spent her free time hunting Peri down.

As the light drew nearer Peri could feel the panic rising in her chest. She forced the initial panic down, surveying the room for any sort of item to use as a weapon. It was of course her luck that the imperfections in her gem would mar her from being able to summon a weapon effortlessly. To summon her weapon required a lot of energy and focus, of which she possessed none at the moment. The light drew ever nearer. This time, she couldn't force the panic out of her mind. Her heart beat rapidly in her chest. Suddenly the door swung open. "I'm armed!" Peri shouted as she clutched the radio for dear life. Throwing it was her best defense. She slowly opened her eyes and saw Onyx standing in front of her with a lantern.

The navy blue gem asked, "Peri?" She wore a long black cloak which was covered in snow. She pulled the hood off which only slightly messed up her short blue hair.

"Onyx?" Peri asked as she sat up a bit more suddenly shaking off the cold feeling which had set into her gem. The panic that had seized her moments before melted away in to a warm, joyful sensation at the realization that her best friend was there.

"Oh Peri it really is you!" Onyx set the lantern down ran to meet her. She hugged the green gem tightly. For a moment all seemed calm and peaceful. Moreover, she was just relieved to know that Peri was kept safe.

"Onyx what're you doing here?" Peri asked incredulously. She studied the warm expression on her friends face. The lantern cast warm shadows onto her face and seemed to almost illuminate the pale blue freckles on Onyx's skin.

"Homeworld's been getting some strange messages tonight. Tourmaline and I were able to hack in and intercept a few of the messages and we heard a cry for help." The navy blue gem absently rubbed her arms trying to stay warm.

Peri gasped. "You heard my distress call." She threw her arms around Onyx and hugged her tightly again.

"We sure did. We heard all of them." Onyx chuckled as she tousled Peri's hair.

A strange look crossed Peri's face as Onyx gathered the lantern up. "I only sent out two distress calls." She noted.

Onyx stopped in the doorway. Turning to Peri she asked, "You only sent two?"

"Yes. I called Command Post 15 several times but I only sent out two distress calls." Peri stuck close to Onyx's side.

"Well we got your messages; Tourmaline is back at Command Post 15 monitoring the storm. How about we head that way? She got the power up and running. At least we know it's much warmer there then it is here." Onyx led the way out into the howling wind.

The door shut sealing off the room once again. Peri's radio came to life, the main screen cast a pale green light in the corner and the static was replaced by a strange gravelly voice. "They're coming for you Peri...You'd better watch your back..." The transmission was cut short. The screen went black and the voice faded into more static.

"I almost forgot my radio." Peri laughed as she entered the room again.

"You'd forget your gem if it wasn't a part of you." Onyx teased as she leaned against the doorframe.

Peri picked up the radio and turned it over in her hands several times. "Onyx look at this." The navy blue gem shut the door and joined her. "It was working just a bit ago."

"You know Homeworld technology." Onyx scoffed as she took the radio and held it up to the lantern. "It's shot Peri."

"At least I got a call for help sent out before it died." Peri cheerful noted as they left again for the command post.