I Don't Know How To Love Her

Fight or Flight

Sirens blared, lights flashed, and the sounds of explosions echoed throughout the ship. Amongst the chaos, a gem that was forest green stood with two bladed spears in hand. She had long dark green hair and golden eyes that stared down a group of six Ruby soldiers.

"Give it up Jade! You've broken the rules! We're gonna take you back to Homeworld to face your punishment!"

"Give back Rubellite and you won't be in as much trouble!"

"No! Her Lady Rubellite chose to leave of her own volition! As her guardian I am sworn to do as she wishes! Get back!" Jade cried, swing her spears forward to push the Ruby warriors back. Two of them did, but one lunged forward, slamming her body into Jade.

The green gem cried out, her body tensing up upon impact.

"Jade!"

Yellow eyes darted to the side and her green skin paled. The sight of her charge, the gem she was sworn to protect, caused her to freeze.

"Rubellite! No! Get out of here!" Jade shrieked pushing the Rubies away. Her heeled boots struck the ground hard as she sprinted to stand between the gem and their assailants. "I told you to take the escape pod and go!"

"I am not leaving you behind! If we leave, we will leave together." Rubellite explained, her knee length skirt torn and tattered, and her pink eyes were filled with fear and panic.

Jade grit her teeth before hearing the angry growls of the Rubies preparing to attack again.

"Argh! Fine! This way!" Jade snapped. She took hold of Rubelitte's hand and began sprinting down the corridor, ignoring the shaking of the ship. Just as they rounded a corner, the last functioning escape pod came into view.

"There it is Jade! We can make it!" Rubellite called out with a relieved smile. Jade simply nodded, picking up her pace while dragging Rubellite behind her. The sounds around them became a dull cacophony in Jade's ears, her fingers working over the control panel as quick as was possible.

"Get in!" Jade ordered. She spun around and took her stance when the Ruby guards began catching up with them.

"But--"

"Just go! I-I'll catch up to you later!" Jade snapped. She didn't dare turn to see the look in her charge's eyes. The heartbreak in Rubelitte's voice was enough to know how hard it would be.

"Jade..." Rubelitte's voice was barely above a whisper. Nearly drowned out by the sound of the chaos around them. Jade tried to push it even further from her mind until she felt a gentle soft hand grasp her forearm. She whipped her head to the side, her hair fanning out behind her as her golden gaze met with Rubelitte's.

"I'm not leaving without you." Rubellite said in a firm tone, her determination outweighing the fear in her voice. Before Jade could protest, a sharp pain tore through her side. Looking down, she had a cut in her side, but that wasn't what concerned her.

When she saw the source of her cut, her heart sank.

Buried in Rubellite's stomach was one of Ruby's swords, having been thrown with reckless anger.

"J-Jade..."

"Rubellite!" Jade cried, holding her close before she could fall to the ground. "Lady Rubellite, it will be alright."

"Get... Out..." Rubellite gasped before her physical form faded away, leaving the teardrop shaped gem in her hands. Jade remained kneeling there a moment, eyes wide and hands shaking.

"Warning... Thirty Seconds until ship destruction..."

"I will get you to safety Lady Rubellite..." Jade said. She rose to her feet before stepping into the escape pod and slamming her hand down on the eject button. The pod shook a moment before expelling from it's dock on the ship, flying towards the planet they'd been orbiting for some time now.

"I'm so sorry Lady Rubellite... I'm sorry..." Jade muttered holding the gem close to her own gem residing on her chest. The descent was rough, and Jade lost track of the time. It wasn't until the escape pod came to a jarring halt that sent her crashing into the wall that Jade was pulled from her daze.

After pushing herself up and frantically checking to make sure she still had Rubellite in her grasp, Jade tried to push herself to the control panel. Over the sounds of klaxons and alarms going off, Jade thought she heard he sound of voices outside.

"An escape pod... Who's in it?"

"Garnet! Steven!...Are you alright!?"

"Everything's fine Pearl. Quit freaking out."

Who was that? And why were they talking about the escape pod? Jade didn't pay too much attention to it, and instead went about trying to get the emergency hatch to open.

"Wait... If that's an escape pod... They might need help!"

"Steven don't touch it!"

Jade turned and staggered to the door, trying to ignore the smoke filling up the small compartment. Her hand slammed down on the door, hard, trying to get it open when the hydraulics hissed and it slid open.

"Don't let your guard down gems..."

Jade heard mention of gems but payed no mind as she staggered out of he escape pod and collapsed to her knees.

"Steven!" The sound of a concerned feminine voice drew Jade to the fact that she wasn't alone and the voices she'd heard weren't just in her head.

"Is that another Gem? What does she want!" Yellow eyes peered through the curtain of green hair covering her face, surprised to see what looked like an Amethyst gem wielding her whip.

"Where... Where are we?" Her voice was raspy, and her movements were shaky. Her physical form had begun phasing in and out.

"Huh? I think she's hurt..."

Jade heard a voice coming from behind a Pearl wielding a staff. Beside her was a Garnet, and the voice behind the Pearl came from a strange looking being that didn't quite look like a gem.

"It could be a trap!" Pearl said stepping forward and holding her spear out just above the stranger's chest. "Who are you!?"

In a flash, Jade's demeanor shifted and she jumped back until her back was pressed against the escape pod.

"NO! I won't let you hurt her!" She snapped, her own spear pulled from her gem and held out in front of her. Her stance was poor, and her weapon hand was trembling.

"Hold on!" Garnet said stepping in, her hands raised to show they were just going to talk. "Hurt who?"

"I bet they sent you to finish the job! I will not let anyone hurt Lady Rubellite!"

"Rubellite?" Pearl muttered. SHe shifted her gaze to the hand clenched to the gem's chest, a look of familiarity in her eyes. At least that was what Jade could interpret.

"Wait! Nobody wants to hurt anyone." The one they'd been calling Steven said hurrying forward, his hands outstretched to show he wasn't armed. "You crashed here. We just want to he-Aah!"

"Stay back!" The tip of the gem's spear narrowly missed Steven's chest, but she fell to her knee. Her spear fell to the sand and her now free hand clenched over the cut in her side.

"But... Y-You're hurt...." Steven said.

"Steven! Stay back!" Garnet said stepping forward to kick the spear away. "Who are you? What are you doing on Earth?"

"My... My name is Jade..." The gem stated in between gasping breaths. "Rubellite and I... W-We escaped our ship... Rubellite she... She... Argh! I failed! I was supposed to keep her safe and now..."

"Rubellite? Is she another gem?" Steven asked looking up at Pearl.

"Yes, Steven. Rubellite is known for her ability to locate gems telepathically. Her skills are sought out by many." Pearl explained. "What she's doing on Earth..."

Jade stared at the group for a moment longer before slumping down to her knees. Her form phased once more before becoming stable again. The gem glanced down to her clenched hand before passing out on the ground there.

Rubellite... I'm sorry... I have failed you...