When Worlds Collide (Blue Diamond x Reader)

Chapter 8: Prisoner

“Here we are. Just crawl into this tube, and the rest will be taken care of,” Holly said, indicating an opening in the wall.

“If you say so. I just hope I don't get stuck in there. Looks rather claustrophobic.”

“Nonsense. We've processed far larger humans than you.”

“See, I don't like that word, ‘processed.’ It sounds like you're preparing me to be eaten.”

“You'd probably like that, wouldn't you?” she said in an abrupt and deadpan voice.

“I never said I wouldn't,” you replied in an identical tone. You stared each other down for a moment before you both burst out laughing. “But before I go in, is there any way you can show me where I'll be?”

“Oh! Certainly. 8WQ, the observation monitor, please.”

A nearby amethyst promptly brought up a holographic display. You saw an idyllic environment full of humans of all appearances, concepts of ethnicity long irrelevant. They all wore identical clothes, and they all seemed to frolic happily together. But one thing struck you as odd.

“Where are the old ones?” you asked.

“What do you..? They're the same humans we've had for a while,” Holly replied, clearly confused.

“No, I mean, where are the elderly ones? Humans have a finite lifespan, right? What do you do with the ones who get near to that point? Please tell me this isn't a Logan’s Run-type deal.”

“I don't know what that means, but when a human becomes frail and infirm with age, they are moved to another environment. A peaceful place, a place of rest. The others know this, and they don't fear it. As to those who are taken there, it took some creativity to prevent them from becoming upset by the deaths of their fellows.” She smirked like she fancied herself rather clever. “Do you want to know what we do?”

“What?”

“We convince them that when they die, they actually go to an even better place and just leave their broken-down bodies behind! Ha! Humans are unbelievably gullible. I swear they'll believe anything they're told.”

“Haha, yeah…” you muttered uncomfortably.

“Disingenuous, I know, but it does help to keep them happy right up until the end,” she pointed out, having observed the displeasure in your voice. “Of course, none of that will be of concern to you while you're here. You're still two, maybe three years from being old enough to have to contemplate the impending end of your life.”

“Hey!” you snapped, while Holly chuckled to herself.

“There, consider that my revenge,” she said, still grinning devilishly. “So are you ready to go in, then?”

“Yeah, I suppose I am. Thank you, by the way. You've been really helpful. I feel awful about how I treated you. You really have been great.”

“You're forgiven. Think no more of it. And there's no need for so many compliments, I was just doing my duty. My posterior is for sitting and, judging by the glances you thought I couldn’t see, for your covert admiration, not for kissing. Although I must say that you have proven far more tolerable than the average human. I'm glad to have met you.”

“I hope I'll see you again before I go,” you said.

“I suppose that would be acceptable,” Holly replied mock-begrudgingly as you crawled onto the conveyor belt in the tube.

You sat down and were carried along. Looking back, you saw that you had been in a ring-shaped outer section of the space station, and were now being conveyed to the spire at its centre. It was a bit unnerving to be surrounded by the void of space with only a transparent tube separating you from its cold embrace. You weren't very far in when the conveyor abruptly stopped and yellow warning lights began to flash silently.