Crystal Clear Part 2: Familiar Faces (Jasper x Reader)

Chapter 14: No Place Like Home

It was a day of courage. A day of redemption. A day of hope, and a day of triumph. And - what good in avoiding the subject? - it was also the day you died.

Your mission accomplished, you stood holding Jasper's hand. She beckoned for Sapphire and Stier to come stand with you as people cheered. It was nice to be in good enough condition to enjoy basking in some glory this time. Time which was unfortunately cut short.

A green-skinned alien approached. Her mouth stuck out in a point at the bottom of her noseless face. Her ears were tall and pointed, and her eyes were bulging purple globes with the appearance of a starry night sky in them. Atop her head were two antennae and a small Mohawk-like crest of black hair, and her long fingers ended in suction-cup tips. She wore a green military uniform with a teal cape emblazoned with a nine-pointed star.

"You've actually done it! Congratulations, and thank you, all of you, on behalf of every citizen! My name is General Dano Randan. If you'd like to come with me, the Prime Minister would like to thank you personally."

"The Prime Minister of..?" you asked, not following. General Randan looked at you strangely, as if that was an incredibly stupid question.

"Of Earth, what did you expect?" She suddenly looked startled. "Oh, but please just wait one minute! I forgot to call off the evacuation!" She ran off to tend to the matter.

"I didn't think Earth had a Prime Minister," Jasper remarked.

"I don't know what she was talking about either. Best I can figure she doesn't realise there are different countries on Earth."

"When you return to Earth, do you think I might come with you?" Sapphire asked. "Not forever of course, I wouldn't want to burden you with that, but... I've lived here all my life, and I just feel like... I don't know, like-"

"Of course you can," Jasper said, clutching her hand. "Oh... that is okay, isn't it?" she asked turning to you.

"Certainly! We'd love to have you around. I was actually thinking earlier that I was going to be pretty sad we wouldn't see you again once we went home. And if you'd like to properly stay, that's on the table. There's plenty of room. Oh, one question though: do you think you'd be able to handle the occasional babysitting duty?"

"I don't see that being a problem," she smiled.

"You mean the two of you..? I apologise for being crude, but how precisely does that work?" Dr. Stier asked. "Even from the perspective of basic biological makeup, would the offspring-"

"It's a long story, and we honestly don't know much about how it actually works."

"Ah, a shame. It's only once in a lifetime one has a chance to study such phenomena. Indeed, I wonder also what physiological distinctions might exist between humans and neohumans, whether there are internal differences of anatomy, or whether there is a genetic link? Most unfortunate."

You sighed and rolled your eyes.

"Are you hinting that you want to come too?"

"Are you offering? Oh, that would be most generous of you! When I get a chance to stop by my apartment, I already have a bag packed!"

"What about you Sapphire?" Jasper asked. "Is there anything you need to take of before we leave?"

"I just have to leave my key with Mrs. Flarpnarp."

"Not related to anyone named Garp Flarpnarp by chance?" you inquired curiously.

"Umm... no?" she replied. "Who has a name like Garp?"

"It's another long st- what is that?"

Everyone turned at a loud and growing noise, not dissimilar to a retro "ray gun" sound effect. People ran or stepped back as a large object began to materialise. It was about three metres tall in the shape of a hexagonal prism. Each of its six sides was a light silver panel with much of its middle consisting of an inset pale metallic blue panel. Trim of the same blue shade ringed the top and bottom of the structure. It looked like the base for a statue, or maybe an alien elevator from the original Star Trek, or maybe the portable toilet of the future. You squeezed Jasper's hand a little tighter as the sides swung inward, revealing themselves to be doors. Ten citrines stepped out - you had no idea how they'd all managed to cram in there. They surveyed the area, then turned to face your little group. When they did, you saw that their uniforms had an unusual detail - the area which was supposed to display the insignia of the Diamond they served was blank, being simply black instead of white, yellow, blue, or heck, even pink would have been less unexpected.