He Did It For Me: Steven's Legacy

Chapter 16: The Choice

"We need to neutralize the poison before it empties!" Bismuth told the others as they got to their feet.

"Luckily, I was able to concoct the counteragent," Peridot said as her gemstone glowed, and from it, a vial with a blue liquid materialized. "We just need to introduce it into the injector." She leaned her head back. "At the top."

"Then get up there," Garnet told the green Gem as she summoned her gauntlets. The Fusion looked over at Connie. "And you should go with her. The rest of us will hold off Spinel."

"Shouldn't I be here to help?" The young woman questioned.

"You will by making sure Peridot stays safe and gets done what needs to be done. If we can't stop Spinel, you have too."

Connie nodded. "Understood, ma'am."

Peridot levitated her trashcan over Connie's head and told her to "Grab on!" The young woman did, and the two of them flew up.

"Yo-u-u-u're not get-t-in' away t-h-hat easil-l-ly!" Spinel took elongated steps over to the Crystal Gems as she gripped her scythe.

Garnet, Amethyst, Pearl, and Bismuth charged at the rubbery Gem. Spinel swung her blade at the Fusion, but she leaped out of the way and punched Spinel's knee with enough force to make her tumble over. But she cartwheeled herself back up.

Bismuth shapeshifted her hands into hammers and tried to smash the Gem, but she managed to slither around the metallic Gem. However, this took her focus away from Amethyst, who swung in and kicked the back of her head. This allowed Bismuth to punch Spinel in the face.

The pink Gem stretched her body out and wrapped around one of the injector's legs, then flung herself right at Connie and Peridot as she chuckled. "Here I come!" She prepared to bring her scythe down on the two of them and end it there. But her attack, much to her surprise, was blocked. Connie's eyes widened as she saw Pearl block the scythe, with her spear. The pale Gem turned her head to the green Gem and young woman and told them to "Go! We got this!"

They both nodded as Peridot levitated themselves further up. Connie looked down and watched as the Crystal Gems fought against their slippery opponent for Earth's fate. They eventually disappeared from their sight as Connie and Peridot reached the top of the injector. "Let's get to work," Peridot said as the two of them landed.

"What do we need to do?" The young woman asked.

"All injectors have an access point on the top, where whatever liquid wants to be placed in can be stored." Peridot rubbed her hands around the surface. "There should be a panel somewhere to open up the access point. Help me find it."

Connie got on her hands and knees. "How will I know what it is?"

"You'll know if when you feel it. After that, we just drop in the vial, and it's all over."

"Just like that?"

"Just like that."

Connie and Peridot continued to search the panel and felt everywhere that they could reach. Connie's hands then felt a bump. She searched for it again and found what looked like a grip. "I think I found it!" Connie pulled at the grip and flipped open what looked like a control panel.

Peridot arrived next to Connie and told her, "That's it." She pushed Connie out of the way and typed away. "And..." She entered the last digit. "Here we go." About a meter away from the two of them, another hatch opened, and they quickly made their way to it. The hatch was roughly the size of a manhole and went all the way down to the injector's container. All that was left of the poison continue to bubble below.