Heaven's Strike 3: Outskirts of Heaven [Lapidot AU]

Chapter 14: Fast forward

A/N: I have a problem with my IP so it's really hard to enter Wattpad, idk why but I'm trying my best to fix it.

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Connie looked up and down the grass path, finger tapping the earbud continuously. "Come on, answer me Disten..."

Before she and Peridot decide to head off in the next morning, she made another call. She'd better warn him what she had learned. The phone rang a few times before it was answered.

"I'm here" Disten pick up the line, breathing heavily.

"What's with the rush?" - Connie asked, she could hear his rapid footsteps in the background.

"It's nothing, just making sure everything still okay around. So what is it you want to talk about?"

"Any news from the Intel team inside of White Palace? I'm a bit worried"

"Well, I was informed that there has been a 'short staff' situation, looks like an internal conflict is happening, still don't know for sure but the record of missing people are raising."

Connie listened for a while and responded, "Is there any sign of Steven yet?"

"Unfortunately, no, I tried to contact Amethyst, she's been turning to our side for months now, but she didn't answer me. I'm afraid to say this but... I think Nora is collecting everybody gem"

"For what? Killing off all of her subordinate...She's crazy! We gotta hurry, there's no time left. Could you got to Jasper and report to the big lady for me? Peridot and I will go to the palace and wait for you guys there."

"Alright Connie, be careful, I'm heading out now."

"OH wait! One more thing before we hang up. Remember that you told me to watch your little friend for about 2 days ago, that I will warn you if anything happens?" - Connie lowers her voice, slowly checking on Lapis and Peridot in the main room.

"Yeah? Is she okay?" - He nodded in response to her suddenly questions.

"She's fine, and it's weird to say it like this but...I thought I'd better tell you, I think— I saw horns on her head, and I don't think it's been there before. Also, last night, there's something glowing in her pocket. She's sleeping so I took a peek inside to investigate. A ring, and not just any kind, it exactly the same as yours, only the gem in a different color"

"A ring huh?" - He repeated, a slightly chuckled from Disten, he recognized the thing. "That has concluded my doubt. Thank you, carry on Maheswaran, me and Jasper will see you there soon."

"Got it, see you soon too Doc", with her last replied, Connie turned off the device, "One thing down...Now— PERIDOT!! TELL YOUR PET TO STOP CHOMPING ON MY SUPPLIES, WE ARE OUT OF FOOD"

***

The Beetles Relic - Jasper's Location

From what Connie said, Disten was already fairly close to Jasper already, on other business, he's on his way as soon as she talked to him.

"In the morning then." - Disten closed his phone, continue to walk toward the lady, "You okay Capt?"

"Little rusty, but I'm okay", said Jasper, dusting the dirt out of her clothes

"Good news for you that I'm here. Come on, I'll escort you back to the base"

As Disten offered his hand to help her get up, Jasper slowly emerges to stand confidently, hand still holding the two Beetles.

"Well, now we know where those missing people are" - she said, preferred to the purple gem on the ground.

"No wonder I can't contact with Amethyst recently..., force fusing gem. Nora is way out of the line for sure this time, using one of her own people like this"

"A dangerous technique, we must retrieve all of the gems that have been evaporated under Nora's hand at once" - she asked Disten as she picked up the gem.

He nodded.

"And Disten, someone send you this", Jasper passed him a letter, "Two people came here earlier, they help me beat Smoky, one of them I didn't see her clearly, but she has amazing knife skill, she's the one who gave this to me and specifically told to give this to you"

He listened further. "I don't have a clue who she is, but I know the other woman. Garnet. She's...."

Disten cut into what she was saying and asked those questions important to him, getting the responses he needed to hear first.

"Is she has short light cerulean blue hair?"

"Yes, maybe. I think so. Why? More friend of yours?"

"Oh she's way more than just a friend, this is great news..." , suddenly, he saw a flash of light and a rumble of thunder about five seconds after, and then responded again, "andddd there's our bad news. Ten, no, maybe twenty minutes...Connie and Peridot might have to wait, I need to see Garnet and the other one first. There's only that one shallow place where they could have been, but it might not be passable by now—"

"Need a hand? There might be a trap, Garnet is still with Nora"

"Trust me, I can handle this. If you call Connie in a couple of hours, they might be somewhere near the White Palace by then. I'll be with you about midnight"

Disten took her hand, "Promise me you will protect Peridot"

"You care for that little one so much, may I ask why?"

"Just...a very special person to me. Here, give her this.", putting the object in her palm, the ring that Connie was mentioned a while ago. "It's from my mother, she will know"