Domina Alba

III

 The Styx was Domina's personal craft, much more maneuverable than the monstrous flagship her mother had used, and far faster than anything but Yellow's prized experimental Sun Incinerator. Inside it was about the size of Domina's entire personal quarters, with a small bunk for her and Pearl, though the gem rarely used it, and a kitchenette.

"Everything ready Pearl?" Domina asked already starting up the engines with a smile.

"Yes my diamond." Pearl said softly. Domina hesitated and looked at the Gem, she was looking out the window at the bay of the fleet's main ship.

"Are you sure.. I mean if you don't want to come with me you don't have too." Domina said. "I can take care of myself" Pearl shook her head rapidly.

"No no, really it's fine." She said. "It's just been so long.. You should know..." Pearl began then continued when she saw Domina's pleading look. "The earth is... mostly likely still scarred from the war, the surface may not be safe."

"So what you're saying is don't get my hopes up?" Domina said carefully. Pearl made a face then shrugged and nodded.

"It may not be what you're expecting."

"Well." Domina said with a grin as she turned back to the ship's console. "That just means we get a chance to test out the Styx's cloaking device. It'll be fun!" She said.

"Yes." Pearl said flatly taking a seat next to her in the co-pilot's seat "Fun."

As much as the fleet had come to be her home over the last few millennia, Domina always relished the freedom she had when it was just her and Pearl flying through the Galaxy. They didn't get to do it much anymore. Domina had begun to take on more and more of the responsibility that had fallen to Yellow Diamond after her mother had given up her physical form.

Before that though, after the death of her father, her and Pearl had spent countless years exploring the galaxy, visiting planets inhabited by sentient races, surveying future colony planets and moons. It had been peaceful, a time of healing and a time where she struggled more openly about what she was and where her place lie in the universe. Now Domina was quiet about that kind of thing.

She couldn't contain her glee as they dropped out of FTL and Earth came into view.

"It's so blue! Look at all the water!" She said standing up from the controls so she could get a better look at the planet.

"A little more than 70 percent of the surface is." Pearl said wistfully, Domina looked back at her, grin plastered across her face.

"Where should we start, wait!" Domina hopped over the console and back into her chair "I'll turn on the cloaking device, wouldn't want to disturb the natives, humans! Actual Humans! Do you think they've changed much?" Pearl shrugged.

"Perhaps. There's an old drop ship point in Facet 12," Pearl manipulated a screen in front of the window and a red dot appeared over a land mass. "There should be an access point to the local warp system, if it's still active."

"Excellent" Domina said breathless with excitement as she brought the ship down in a dense jungle, she could see a old gem drop ship out the window as she gave oxygen and temperature a cursory check, then sprinted out the door, Pearl trailing behind her. Domina's first step onto earth was hesitant and then squishy once she eased her foot onto the softened dirt. There was a slight breeze in the air that ruffled the hem of her coat and moved her hair over her gem. The air tasted warm and wet, and above all it smelled like life, the kind of life she hadn't felt before.

There was an old warp pad sitting on the side of a hill. Domina glanced at Pearl who was staring at her with a small smile flitting upon her angular features.