Don't Mine At Night

Save File 2 - Arguments and Experiments

     Snowflake led the gems inside and down to the deepest depths of the basement. Her house could've been something out of a science fiction film. From the outside it looked normal and some of the rooms did look the same, plain, and simple. The kitchen was dated and quaint, the appliances looking like they'd come right out of the 1950's, but it had a bit of rustic charm. The bedrooms were cozy enough, not elaborately decorated, yet still pleasant. Lastly the living room seemed like a blend of an accountants study and an elegant living space. There were some couches and end tables, a nice coffee table always adorned with stacks of books and journals, a large stone fireplace, and many bookshelves filled the very brim with books.

The oddest portions of the house were the "attic" rooms, the library, and the basement. No one had dared set foot in the attic for years, not even Snowflake. She'd stored boxes filled with old trinkets and memories of the past up there. Some of the memories were things she'd rather forget. The library looked like a smaller version of a typical library complete with shelves stocked full of books. They ranged from one's she'd written, some human literature, and whatever she could successfully steal from Homeworld's infamous Crystal Library. The basement had many layers which made it a wonder. From time to time she tinkered and built little contraptions. Her main work space was down there. A computer system she'd pulled off of a Homeworld ship was the heart of the basement. Even in the five thousand plus years she'd been on Earth, it still ran like a charm.

Pushing past some boxes Snowflake flicked on the lights and brought the gems to the computer portion of the basement. She gestured to a device on the desk beside the main computer monitor. "Ta-da!" She proudly announced as she sat down at the computer.

"Wow Snow! It's so... cubey! And square!" Having no idea what the device was supposed to be, Peri tried her best to sound encouraging.

"Is that what you're sticking with?" Onyx playfully jabbed at Peri as she walked past both gems and knelt down to inspect the odd little cube.

Snowflake couldn't help but laugh at Peri's antics and Onyx's dry witticism. "It's a scanner. I don't have a name for it yet but it's supposed to be able to scan a gem's gemstone and upload data to a computer."

Peri's eyes grew wide. "It's like reverse making a gem!"

"Not exactly, well, making the gem part at least. I guess it kind of is though from the information standpoint. Instead of putting information into a gem, it's simply reading it."

"I'm going to stop you there," Onyx sat back on her legs, away from the device, "did you say supposedly?"

"Hypothetically?" Snowflake shrugged.

"You don't know?"

With a light sigh to force the frustrations from her mind, Snowflake explained, "No. I don't know. Not for sure at least. The science and technology are there but the application hasn't been tested. I'm sort of the last gem left here and while yes I can reach my gemstone, I don't think I could try to use the scanner on it." Oh the annoyances of having a gemstone on her back. Life would've been much simpler if it had been on a hand or her chest. But as luck would have it hers was nestled between the upper part of her shoulders.

"Is that why we're here?" Onyx's tone slowly grew irritated.

"Maybe?"

"Snowflake Josephine Obsidian I can't believe you!"

Peri sat back watching the drama between the two. There was something mildly interesting about the two gems when they started fighting. Maybe it's because the fights were never cutthroat or really all that dramatic. Their methods for approaching the fight sure were different at times and that made things all that much more interesting.

"Don't use my middle name against me!" Snowflake snapped. There was now fire in her blood and irritation in her tone. "Look I did want to see you guys! It's been a while. But I also wanted to see if you'd help me with this project."

"I'll volunteer!" Peri piped up with a smile.

"Put your hand down, no you won't." Onyx scowled at Peri then turned her disapproving glare back to Snowflake. She looked between the gem and the cube and back and forth a few times. "I can't believe you."

"It's not like a tricked you."

"And the plan was?"

Snowflake picked up the device and sat back in her chair. She twisted it and turned it in her hands a few times as she spoke. "I would show you this, you'd ask what it was, I'd explain then ask if I could test it on either one of you, and we'd go from there. Plain and simple."

"What's the probability that thing will blow up and kill us?"

"Uh... like... point zero zero zero zero zero one percent?"

"Still a percent!"

"Guys!" Peri finally yelped. She scooted over and sat between the gems. "Alright, Onyx chill a little, ok? I'm sure Snowflake wasn't trying to intentionally trick us. She just didn't approach the situation with perhaps the most tact."

"Hey!" Snowflake scowled at Peri.

"And Snowflake, maybe next time tell your friends you want to experiment on them before they make the trip all the way to Earth unaware."

"I wasn't-"

Peri held up a hand stopping Snowflake from continuing. "But we're here now. I trust you and your technology. Sure it would be nice if Ametrine were here to double check it since that's her sole lot in life now, but I digress, for the sake of everything and everyone I'll let you try it on me."

"No you won't." Onyx grabbed Peri's arm and pulled her closer.

"Onyx, I'm a grown gem. I can make my own decisions. I trust Snowflake and what the little device she made can do." She smiled at the blue gem and looked back at Snowflake. The gem was trustworthy. There was no denying that. "Will it work on imperfect gems?"

"It should."

"Operative word being should." Onyx growled.

Peri got up and walked over to where Snowflake was seated and held out her hands. "May I see it."

Snowflake passed the device over then woke the computer from it's sleep. Lines of codes and various windows opened on the screen. Peri's attention was stolen only for a second before she looked at the little grey and blue box in her hands. It seemed harmless enough.

"See, all you do is hold it up to your gemstone, push this button-" Suddenly the box made a little noise in response to Snowflake turning it on. "Weird."

"Snowflake..." Onyx's tone was full of warning.

"I just- it's never- that's new." Snowflake looked and sounded completely flustered.

"I'm sure it's fine," Peri smiled for both of their sakes. The little box lit up and glowed. It made another noise and another after that. It grew louder and more shrill.

"Peri I think you should put that-" As Snowflake moved for the gem the box emitted a bright light that filled the room.

With rapid reflexes, Onyx sprinted towards Peri, grabbing her hand as they both were enveloped in a strange white light. Then everything when dark.