Steven presses his wet hand onto the wound on Gwen's bleeding gut. The wounds slowly close, leaving sparkles of light and Gwen's mess of her wet blue shirt with spots of blood and uneven cuts.
Max let out a sigh and closed his eyes. A hand grabbed his shoulder, and he flinched.
"Hey! Hey. It's me, man." Amethyst raises her hands while Max only shakes his head.
"Yeah. Of course." He stood to his feet, walked past everyone, and entered the back of the RV.
The Children and Crystal Gems, minus Pearl, watched silence as Max returned with a copy of Gwen's clothes on his shoulders. He hoists Sleeping Gwen close to his chest before entering the bathroom.
"You can let me go now." Benita huffed, getting a blank gaze from Garnet.
"And if this is a mistake?" Garnet questioned.
"This RV literally has the national army within a coconut. I believe I won't."
Garnet put her down while Benita walked past Anthony and Sunny before heading to the back of the RV. She closes the curtains.
"Sunny." Garnet broke from the silence, getting a nose-bleeding girl's attention. "What you did is uncalled for."
"A thank you will suffice." Sunny groans, leaning her head back. "I saved her life. That is what matters. Ugh."
"Yet. That wasn't a call you can take."
"Yeah. Yeah. Hey! No." Sunny looks at Steven, blocking her nose. "Keep your germs to yourself! Thank you."
"Sit. there," Anthony commanded while Sunny only obeyed. She planted herself on the booth chair while the boy wetted a paper towel over a sink. He took a knee on the carpet printed by Max's bloody boots. "Your head back."
Sunny does so. Steven takes a seat in the booth before glancing at the window. His eyes widen when he sees the lights of the colorful tunnel.
"Woah." Steven slowly grew a smile before leaning in closer to the window. "What is this place?"
"The ground bridge." Will answered, cleaning Sunny's running nose. "It's supposed to take us from one place to another."
"Can we use it to get to homeworld?"
"We shouldn't," Pearl voiced, staring deep into the swirling white void of colorful lights. "This is a beautiful experience, but we don't want to pop into Homeworld without announcing our arrival."
"Hey! If you two have something to say, then say it." Sunny glared at Amethyst and Garnet, who were talking among themselves. Will grabs the girl's chin before continuing his cleaning.
"Stop." The boy glared.
"Who is this, Maya and Vanessa?" Garnet questioned.
"Well, glad you asked." Sunny pushed Will's hand away. "Since you two love talking among each other. Let me kindly put everyone within the loop." She raised her hands with a smile. "I put her to sleep." She chuckled, gazing at everyone. "Other words. She shivered up into that rock there. Right between her chest."
"What!?" Steven drags. "Why would you do such a thing?!"
"Great question," Sunny points, earning a glare from Amethyst. "Those girls—M. and V. Those are their mercenary names, by the way. Those two are from my planet. Anodyne. Just like me. They get a kick out of absorbing your kind. And hell. I can't blame them."
"Watched your language around Steven." Garnet stares through her shades.
"Right. Of course. When I first absorbed that thing back at the beach, I believed I could take on anything. And M and V answered my question. You guys are our boost." Sunny locked eyes on Steven and every other gem. "That makes us your Apex predator." She grew a grin.
Steven and Amethyst's eyes widened while Garnet remained blank. Pearl only increased her grip on the steering wheel.
"Sunny." Will's voice entered her ears while she waved him off.
"I'm kidding! I'm kidding! " She chuckled. "I will have to see if it's from Grandma's perspective." Sunny leans on the headrest of the booth, resting her chin on her wet arms. "Like how I told Aunty. Those two are way above our level. We wouldn't put up a fight because I lack experience, and Aunty has energy. So, I had to stall them before they caught on. I led them to stream. BOOM!! The WS grenade took care of us."
"Wait." Will squinted his eyes. "You stole."
"And that saved our lives."
"Us?"
"I nearly drown. And I owe Aunty."
"Ugh!" The boy grabs his face before brushing his hands down his face. "Christ. Your detestable."
"Aw. Sweetie." Sunny grabs the boy's hand before brushing her thumb along the top. "You're making me blush."
The boy pulled his hand away.
"You said they were mercs." The boy stuffs paper towels into Sunny's nose, and she wiggles it. "What do they want?"
"You guys." Amethyst voiced with her arms crossed. "They said something about a million credits."
"WHAT?!" Garnet, Anthony, Steven, and Pearl screamed.
The curtains opened, revealing Benita.
"Did they say why?" Benita looks around the room before landing on Amethsyt.
"They seem more focused on the capturing part, but other than that, I don't know." Amethyst finished. "Sorry."
"Did they save our pictures? Did they at least get my good side?" She cocked an eyebrow.
"I believe they did. But I think that's the last thing you should worry about." Steven eyed Benita.
"We're here." Pearl voiced while the RV slowly rocked. "Slowly, but steadily."
"While at it, we should check if those mercs planted a bug." Sunny sighs and leans back into the chair. "I'm just saying, " she says while opening and closing her hands at Anthony. The boy slaps her leg before rising to his feet. "Meanie."
"You guys still haven't told us what you two have been through." Amethyst voiced while Benita and Will gazed at one another.
"And that Yautja, She seems not to possess any technology," Pearl questioned. "But, that vambrace. But it doesn't carry a resemblance to the Hunter's one."
"You seem to know a little about them." Benita voiced before turning her head to the opening door of the bathroom.
Max walks with a fresh Gwen in his arms before resting her on the bed on the right of the room.
"That's because it's from a group," Max said dryly before leaning on the bump beds. His tired eyes stared through the window at the White, clean RV following after them on the bumpy sands. "You can see on my arm that I have the exact resemblances. Safe to say, She saw how useful they are."
"What are they? And you alright?" Amethyst questioned.
"I'm fine." Max voiced once more, not turning his back. "And I don't know. Their language is Sibali. I'm not pointing my finger to blame it all on the Sibalikos, but I've seen more than meets the eye." He looked over his shoulder, and his baggy eyes landed on Benita, who was leaning on the closet. "Who was your partner?"
"That would be me." Will raised his hand while leaning on the counter.
"You two have yet to state what happened after the split."
The boy opened his mouth.
"Kaitlyn was back." Benita cut him off. She and her goons attempted to kill us after we wouldn't fall for their schemes. Kaitlyn returned to normal but offered someone to help with the watch and Will's condition."
"Kaitlyn?" Steven voiced before looking down at an approaching Zed. The afro boy lifted his hand before petting her head. The alien dog closed her eyes while Steven grew a smirk.
"She's Ant's ex, and she's also a mutant." Benita continued.
"I heard. Mutants were like a human plus." Amethyst starts. "What ability does she have?" She crossed her arms.
"She can absorb things," Anthony answered. "Like car battery's electricity, Ben's watch goes alien, and even now, she can coat herself in metal by touching a metal fence."
"Cool."
"It is, but I wouldn't want to know if she managed to get her hands on one of you."
"Is that it?" Max entered the chat dryly.
"Airacnid ambushed us while making it back," Benita answered, getting Max to turn his body towards her.
"There's something more."
"No. Not really."
Max gaze lasered into her soul.
"Every piece of information is crucial in holding us together." He approached Benita, who looked only to the floor. "Every block we stack is what keeps it standing." His large hand gripped Benita's small shoulder. "We can't afford to let it crumble."
"Max, leave the girl alone." Garnet's voice while the ex-plumber holds up a finger.
"I believe I have more traits than four!" Anthony raised his voice, attracting Max's laser-like eyes. "I thought I was going crazy, but I'm not." The boy stared at the dirty brown carpet of blood and water footprints. "I have the strength of Red Riot and the Agility of Wildmutt."
Max remained quiet, slowly approaching the boy.
"I think." He raised his gaze to see Garnet towering over him. Her back faced him while Max's tired eyes looked up at her.
"Move." Max said dryly.
"You need rest. So do all of you." Garnet looks around the RV at the wet and dirty gems and children.
"I just want to talk."
"And that can wait til tomorrow." Garnet looks down at him with a blank gaze through her sliver shades.
The two looked at each other in silence before the rocking stopped.
"We're. Here." Pearl stalled while putting the RV on park.
Max walked past her before opening the door. The crying waves and the night of the stars and sand greeted him.
He paced his steps on the uneven sand, approaching the white, clean RV behind them. Phil's eyes widen before he races out of his driver's seat.
Max goes to open it, only for it to be locked. The door swings open.
"Hey! Is everything alright in there?" Phil's worried eyes stared into Max's, whose face, chest, and eyes were splattered with red blood.
Max grabs a handful of Phil's wet plumber suit before hurling him out onto the sand.
"Hey! Hey!" Phil shouts, crawling back. "What the hell! Wrong with you?!" He stood to his boots, collecting sand on his suit and skin. He ducks from a hook. "Max?!" He steps back from a uppercut. "MAX!!"
Max's tired and bloody eyes lock onto Phil's, who only watched the deranged ex-plumber approach him.
Max punches straight; Phil leans left, grabbing his wrist. Unleashing back fist into Max's nose before Phil drives his calf into his. Max eats a face full of sand.
"Stop!!" Benita shouts, leaping from the RV. "Grandpa!!" Max looks up at Phil, a fire burning within his eyes. He stood up while Benita clung to his arm. "Aragh!" Max pried his granddaughter from his arm before shoving her into the sand.
"Don't!!!" Phill roared from the breaking waves, pointing at the Gems and the children who halted. "Come on." He smiled, beckoning Max over. "Those are the eyes I thought I wouldn't see again!"
Max kicks up the sand towards Phil, who side-steps away. They circle one another while Phil grins.
They raised their fists. Max delivered a rising backfist and a straight. Phil pushes the first aside and before blocking the other with his wrist.
Phil gave an elbow while Max blocked it, stumbling to the side. Phill gave a leg check only for the ex-plumber to succeed.
"RAH!!!" Max tackles Phil, who only anchored his boots into the collecting sand, and Max pushes his partner towards the clean RV.
Phil leaps, planting his boots onto the side of the RV, before driving himself towards his partner, who hurls him over while They fall on their back.
The two hit the sand before Phil rushes toward Max, putting him in a headlock.
"Sleep!" Phil pants while Max only clung to his arm. "Don't fight it!" He hissed, watching Max slowly climb to his feet. Max reels his head forward before driving it back into Phil's nose.
Blood erupts from the stumbling back, Phil. His eyes widen before ducking from a fist. Phil runs towards his RV, leaping on the white RV and kicking off from the hull.
Using his momentum, Phil hooked his arm around the rushing Max before locking his legs around his partner's waist. Performing a choke hold once more.
Phil flashes his teeth, feeling rushed blood pouring from his nose. Max clung to his arm, flexing his neck, taking rough breaths.
Max drives Phil back into his RV hull, not breaking his grip. His steps slowed while Max listened and watched the crying black waves.
Max's head shakes within Phil's arms grip. They hit the sand while Phil's grip remained.
"Alright, that's enough!!!" Amethyst screamed.
Amethyst, Pearl, Garnet, and Steven rushed towards the two fighting ex-plumbers.
"STOP!!!" Phil roared while Max gained a second wind.
"RAGH!!! HAAA!!!" His legs kick about while his bloodshot eyes lock on the crystal gems. His hand stretched out towards them.
Pearl rushed, only for Garnet to grab her arms. Max's eyes rolled to the back of his head before his arm dropped.
"Agh!" Phil rolled Max aside.
Max's partner left his arms stretched out, embracing the irritating sand with Max by his side.
Pearl rushed to Max's side, followed by the others. She pressed her ear on his chest.
"He's alive." Pearl breathed out.
"Well. Gramps a sleep, at least." Sunny looks down at Max, still with paper towels in her nose.
"You shouldn't have done any of that!" Amethyst shouts down at Phil, collecting his breath. "I swear you-"
"Yeah? I swear you what? Lecture me?" Phil sits up with a wince before wiping his plumber suit under his bloody nose. "Is this what is left of my partner? He's left with you, and now he's a fucking joke."
"Oh, you want to see a joke?! Then stand up then!"
"Amethyst!" Garnet drives her arm in front of Amethyst, who raises her fist.
"What makes you think you can walk here? Judge us!! Who do you think you are!!"
Phil cracked a bloody smile.
"I don't know. What 'this' all is. But I assure you, whatever you feed my friend will stop now."
"What gives you that explanation?" Steven stood with a firm gaze. "I don't know your vendetta against my friends, but I will ask you to kindly drop it."
"Oh, don't go there," Phil chuckled. "How about you drop the candy bars and have your mother get you a better diet?" The ex-plumber raised to his feet.
Amethyst, Pearl, and Garnet rush with their weapons summoned, only for Steven to block them with his arms stretched.
"Move. Steven." Garnet's gaze remained on wandering Phill heading to his RV.
"Stop! It's not worth it!" Steven firmly gazed back at them. "It's. Not."
Phil eyed the children. Benita and Anthony glared while Sunny gave him a blank stare. Her arms remained crossed, yet her pink eyes remained locked on Phil, who brushed his blood aside.
Phil swings the door open before climbing inside. A toy-size figure pushes it aside to a mid-age Galvan. His green eyes and black dashes pupils blinked at everyone.
"Is this not a good time?" The middle-aged Galvan remained behind the door with squinted eyes.
Everyone dropped their glares while Benita grew into a massive smile.
She raced towards the door before taking a knee.
"Hey!"
"Hey?" The middle-aged Galvan tilted his head, looking at the smiling girl up and down before his eyes locked onto the Omnitrix on her wrist. "Well, this is an unorthodox predicament."
Benita drops her smile before giving the Galvan breathing room, followed by the others.
"Sorry," Benita said under her breath with a chuckle. "I could get a little too excited." She forced a smile while the Galvan flashed the corner of his teeth.
"Right." The Galvan looks past Benita's massive head and at the giants before him. "Is he going to be alright?" He points to Max being carried in Garnet's arms.
"He'll be fine," Amethyst answered. "Are you Azmuth by any chance?" She folded her arms while squinting her eyes.
"Well, no, but I'm his assistant. I go by Albedo." The Galvan pressed his large hand on his slim chest.
"If you're his assistant, you should know what that watch is and what it can do." Anthony voiced through the crashing waves.
"That's fair." Albedo smiled. "That there is the Omnitrix. It contains an intergalactic library of genetic species like myself. You." Albedo points at Will. "And them there." He opens his hand to the gems; Steven's eyes only sparkle.
"If that doesn't convince you. There are a few safeguards to protect that said user. Puncture and Collision modules. The first activates once a foreign object is driven into that user, activating regenerative capabilities depending on the incident. Collision weights the force being delivered, so the device calculates this force and weight to give the user equal formalities to give that user a better chance of survival. What comes down to this depends on Onmitrix's competence."
"I didn't get any of that." Amethyst voiced.
"I did." Benita looked over her shoulder with a smirk. " I was stepped on by a Corrupted gem."
"What?!" Pearl screamed.
"You genuinely underestimate ten years old." Sunny looks to Pearl, who gazes back. "We may have imagination but also have the creativity to do the dumbest of things."
"Wait. Wait." Anthony starts. "You were captured by that guy." He points to the RV.
"It has been quite a while," Albedo adds. "We haven't received confirmation of that package." He looks at the Omnitrix that Benita raises to his face. "Azmuth sent me here. To find our deliverer in the matter of a fact missing." Albedo presses the gray flat tips of his fingers together, getting the circle of giants' attention.
"I have used our Omnitrix founder to track you, but as I soon was close. I was captured by some deranged human. He believed he would catch a big break. Maybe became famous because of his delivery of a Galvan. I was sent to a facility of humans in metal plates. They wanted to dissect me." He sighs. "But, you young boy." He looks to Anthony, who cocked his head. "You saved me."
"Wait! Wait. You were there?" Benita's eyes lasered into Albedo, who nodded.
"After the battle that I watched. I was taken in by a mutant. She helped me til the brute pried me from her arms."
Sunny opened and closed her hands.
"The Forever Knights used your Omnitrix founder to track me, knowing that Ant here will be with us." Albedo squinted his eyes at Benita. "Their dragon project was going to extract your DNA to power their knights using Will's blood." Benita looks over her shoulder and at Will, giving him a smile. "We're not blood, but we couldn't leave our family behind."
The boy smirked back.
"Ah." Albedo forms a smile. "The brute said you have a problem?"
A weight of steps caused the middle-aged Galvan to look back at Phil with cotton in his nose.
"Move." Phil walked past Albedo before staring at the glares from everyone but Steven. "Continued. Don't mind me." He scanned the back of the RV before leaving everyone's sight.
"This watch here. Turn my friend into something I can't explain." Benita looks up at Albedo. "Can you help him?"
Albedo's green and black dash eyes stared at Will.
"Thus, here is a simple DNA rewrite. How long was he exposed?"
"Uh?" Benita looks over her shoulder and back into Albedo's eyes. "About two months."
Albedo's eyes widen.
"Not good." He hovered his finger under his jaw. "I'm going to need a facility to study this orthodox."
"We have Homeworld." Steven raised his hand. "They have peridots and a wide range of technology."
"Splendid!" Albedo cracked a wide smile.
"I'm sorry, but you must get cleaned before anything else. " Garnet's eyes hovered at the children's clothes, which were now wrinkled with a variety of nature's mess.
"Of course," Pearl added. "We don't need you to catch a cold."
"That's why I need you all to gather your things and sleep in our house for the night." Garnet voiced. "You can use our bath."
"Is peridot there?" Steven questioned.
"She's up in a home world," Garnet answered.
"Alright. Alright." Amethyst claps, gathering everyone's attention. "Stop stalling. Move. Move." She waves the children but Steven into the RV.
"Wait. Right here." Will pet Zed before following after Sunny.
That alien dog looks up at Steven, earning a pet on the head.
Pearl crouches, nearly touching the sand. Her sky-blue eyes locked onto Albedo's.
"I genuinely thank you for what you are doing." Pearl flashes a white smile, followed by Garnet's smirk. "You don't know how much turmoil they've been through."
"The thanks is all mine, miss?" Albedo opened his hand.
"Pearl."
"Pearl. I will do the best of my capabilities." He shakes Pearl's finger. "Now. Excuse me. I want to get some rest before the big day."
"Goodnight."
"You too, Ms.Pearl." She watched the Galvan climb the third step into the near-clean RV.
"Ok." Amethyst breathed out, holding sleeping Gwen close to her chest. "One. Two." She shimmies through the narrowed door, her white boots embracing the sand again, followed by Benita, Anthony, and Sunny.
"Where are their clothes?" Garnet questioned.
"I have it." The boy raised his hand casually, getting Sunny to hug his arm.
"He's such a gentleman."
"Of course." He rolled his eyes. "Get used to it."
"Ho. Ho. Ho." She brushes her head against Anthony's shoulder. "I've made the right choice."
"Can you guys get a room?" Benita remarked.
"If you can get one with your allowance. I will happily accept."
"Pirate."
"Panhandler."
"This is sweet and all, but I like a little shut-eye. Come on." Amethyst leads the way, followed by the children and the Cystral gems.
...
Will remained lying on the smooth, polished wooden planks. Over him was a thick yet smooth green blanket. He stared at the many windows at the front door, hiding the night of the beach.
His eyes roamed around the room. Steven slept on the long L-shaped couch with sleeping Amethyst using her leg as a pillow.
Benita slept on the end of the couch while Sunny remained on the wall by the kitchen, facing the living room.
The boy huffed before standing to his feet and stretching. He climbed the steps beside the couch to the small open room over the sofa. Gwen remained sound and slept on a mattress, with Zed resting her head on Gwen's lap.
The boy slowly climbed the stairs, releasing solid steps and filling the dead, quiet living room. He pushed open the screen door, inviting the singing waves of the dark morning. Will rested his arms on the wooden railing before looking up at the statue of the four-armed woman.
Anthony took in his environment, breathing in the clean air. These moments lasted minutes until the whine of the screen door gathered his attention.
"What are you doing out here." Benita yawned in an oversized white tee about her knees, rubbing her eyes. "Excited about the big day?"
"Maybe." Anthony looks out to the beach.
"This is our big break, " Benita says, leaning beside him. "We suffered a lot, but we're here. That's because of you."
"I beg the differ."
Benita snorted, bumping shoulders with her partner in crime.
"Ok, I get it. It's a we thing."
"Like Bonnie and Clade?" Will raised a brow.
"Like Domino's and Pizza Hut. You know I'm craving their wings right about now."
"If you keep talking about it, you'll get hungry."
"I got you and Edge." Benita smiled, looking at Anthony's shoulder. "Oh please, My mighty symbiote. Please bless me with a snack from the goo of holding."
Blue and grey ink erupts from Will's shoulder, revealing Edge.
"You're truly a bane of my existence." He hides into the boy's shoulder, only for the ink to erupt with a protein bar.
"Thank you!" Benita thanked the goo of holding before ripping into her bar.
"Yeah. Yeah. Eat up." Edge returned to his slumber while Anthony only watched Benita tear into the protein bar.
"Want a piece?" Benita cocked her head, locking her green eyes into Will's brown.
"Fine. I guess." The boy watched the watch-wearing girl break apart the protein bar before handing it to Anthony.
They bite into protein bars, pressing their arms against each other.
"Willy?" Benita smacks her lips.
"Yeah." The boy voiced while chewing into chocolate and peanut butter swirl.
"It's weird to bring this up, but can you do me a favor?"
"And that is?"
"When I tell you to run. Can you?"
Anthony snapped his head at her.
"Excuse me?"
"I know. You hold us dearly, or maybe the other Ben." Her green, soft eyes became firm. "I don't want my sacrifice to be in vain. And what you did is brave yet stupid."
"Ben."
"Don't Ben me. If one of us goes down."
"Don't say that!" Anthony raised his voice.
"Don't cut me off." Benita raised her finger. "It hurts, and I know, but it's unhealthy."
"I can't." Will looked out at the beach while his fingers interlocked into his hand, which slowly grew bright red.
"I know. You big dummy." She pressed her shoulder into his. "But, understand this. Your life is as important as ours. I would rather lose one than any more. Right?"
"Yeah...ok." The boy sighed, taking in the beauty of the beach, followed by Benita.
---
A white hand with a handheld scrub brush went along the brown, wet carpet.
"Ugh." Pearl grunts before going at it once more. Watching the bubbles of blood scrub out of existence. "Hah! The undefeated champion has struck again."
She rose onto her knees with a smile before standing to her feet. Her eyes scanned the once Rv. Smear with blood, mud, and debris. It is now spot clean; the dark brown countertops are cleared, and the booth table is a shiny maple wood brown.
Pearl turned to her cleaning supplies on the booth chair before absorbing them into her gem. She looks about the RV before returning to Max's sleeping on the center bunk.
She picks up Max's steel-toe boots, resting in front of the bunk. The white gem opens the closet in front of the bathroom, and before placing them inside, she finds a souvenir box.
She squinted her eyes, listening to Max's snores. Pearl turned to him before picking it up. She rested the box on the booth table.
"Ok," Pearl said under her breath before reaching inside. She pulled a rock engraved with a symbol of the turn-down volume. "Hm." She rests it aside. A red and blue topaz rested along a gold band and pearls.
Next, a Handy, Red Buddy, and Negative Girl toy figurines.
The white gem pulled a leather wristband with a metal plate containing Greek symbols in the center.
"Mar Prowess?" Pearl rested it aside. She looks back into the box. A white handle rested in the cardboard box clatter of souvenirs. The white gem settled the souvenirs along the booth chair and table before staring at two clean, bright Forever blades.
She pulled one out, staring at the white handle and the metal parts above it, which revealed a line hole. Pearl pressed her thumb along the curved metal part, igniting Enoch's Forever Blade.
A white beam of light erupts from the white handle like a sword. The buzzing entered Pearl's ears while her sky-blue eyes looked up and down at the laser blade above her head.
"You don't have to do all of this. For me." Max voiced, making Pearl turn to Max, who grunts, sitting up from the bottom bunk. Pearl sheathed Enoch's forever blade before putting it in the box. "No. Bring it here...Please."
The ex-plumber rubbed his eyes with a dry yawn while Pearl approached before sitting on her heels.
"You should get some more rest." Pearl handed the white handle to Max.
"Where's Benita?" His baggy eyes look up to his old friend.
"She's sleeping in for the night with us. And so is the rest."
"I want to talk with her. All of them."
"It's four in the morning. You're exhausted. Benita and rest are, too."
Max bites his entire lip before looking at the white handle within his palm.
"I don't think I can call myself their grandpa." Pearl grasped his other hand. Her sky-blue eyes locked onto his green.
"Don't say that. You're not perfect. And it's fine. We all can make mistakes."
"You don't know most of it." Max pulled his hand, sitting up. His eyes wandered through the small room and dark blue curtains. "After my retirement, my therapist told me I should see the world other than space and whatnot. Do you believe that?" The ex-plumber chuckled dryly. "My sons saw this as an excellent opportunity for me to grow close with my granddaughters. And added Anthony. I didn't think much of the boy. Better yet, all three."
Pearl remains silent.
"If that watch didn't fall from that sky," Max points to the ceiling. "We wouldn't be as close as we know now." Max clicks his teeth. "I sat behind that steering wheel watching every other mile go by, knowing my granddaughters needed me!" He raised his voice. "I faced aliens twice my size! Twice my strength! Thrice my speed! AND YET, I'M AFRAID!!! To help my own!!!" The ex-plumber grips onto the Forever handle. "And you're right. We all make mistakes. And this was my son's first."
Pearl brushed her thumb along Max's knee.
"At first, I thought that with Rose." Pearl looked into Max's eyes. "With Steven growing up, I didn't want anything to do with him, yet I realized. I wasn't waiting for Rose. I was waiting for a Universe." Max remained silent. "I know. I know. How much they mean to you. How much you don't want to let them go. I do know this. They love you. Your granddaughter's, Will, The gems, I love you." Pearl smirked. "You're on the ground floor, and yet we are waiting on the stairs for you. Gear head."
She hugs Max, resting her chin on his shoulder.
"It's been so long I haven't heard that." Max chuckled under his breath.
"You love that car more than Greg's meatloaf."
"Yeah. Yeah." Max smiled under his baggy eyes. "How has he been?"
"Oh, he went to see his parents. Something came up."
"Right." Max breaks from Pearl's hug. "I'm going to catch some Z's. Do you think you can help find Azmuth?"
"Oh!" Pearl grins, rubbing her nose. "No need. We have Albedo. He's Azmuth's assistant. We'll head to homeworld at first light breaks."
Max squinted his eyes.
"Where did he show up?"
"Your partner," Pearl growled under her breath, looking away from her old friend and crush. "He brought him like you said, but he said something to Steven. He shouldn't."
"Tell me what he said."