A snapping of fingers filled the black void.
"Hello?" A voice of a sweet girl called. "Is any home? You know. You got about seconds before I slap you."
Someone's eyes opened to Sunny blank gaze, who slowly grew a smile. Behind Sunny's head were the shining stars of the night sky.
"Finally, you decided to wake up, honey bun. I thought I would have to kiss you."
Gwen rises to her butt with squinted, blinking eyes. A white picket fence and a lighthouse stood before them while they remained on the soft, cold grass.
"Why we're here?" Gwen rubbed her eyes.
"Is it obvious?" Sunny raised her brow, kneeling at Gwen's shoulder.
"At a time like this?"
"Well. No. I just brought you up on this cliff to see the stars and talk about the good of the old days and how I nearly put you in juvie."
"Of course." An alien dog named Zed wandered to Gwen before licking her face. "Hey. Hey."
"Yep. That mutt wouldn't leave your side. So it's either that or hush puppies." Sunny raised to her feet.
"Did Will have her watch me?" Gwen looks up at Sunny, wearing a black T-shirt and sports shorts.
"Well. No. In fact, that mutt. There. Wouldn't leave you alone."
"Aw. Is that right?" Gwen smiled, brushing her hands against Zed's dark blue, tan, pointy ears. "You worried about little old me." She piker her lips before snapping her head to Sunny once more. "Grandpa! Benita-"
"Sleeping. Now. Let's get to business. Miss Perfect honeybun." Sunny reached her hand down to Gwen, who only cocked her head. "Just get up."
Sunny pulled Gwen to her feet.
"Aunty Pearl told me you used your whip."
"Yeah. I didn't have time to set up a spell."
"Of course." Sunny grabs Gwen's arm, filling it up.
"Ouch! Hey!" Gwen draws it away.
"You need to get a little meat on your bones."
"Are you forgetting that I'm ten years old?" Gwen folded her arms.
"And that's not stopping me." Sunny flexes her arm, revealing the lean muscles from her forearm to her shoulders. "I'm going to teach you three things about us Anodites. 1. Since we're entirely made up of mana, we can manipulate it at will. In other words, we can enhance our strength and durability. And looking at you, your mana pool is entirely a mess."
"And why is that?" Gwen questioned.
"Have you noticed that some of your spells have more of a kick? You have the rhythm but lack the pacing." She pressed her hand on Gwen's blue tee, tapping her gut. "Like your spells, you let your mana soar. Make it expand like water filling up a glass cup." Sunny closes her eyes. "And look at that. You got it."
"I don't feel any different." Gwen looks up at Sunny.
"Oh, you will." Sunny cocked her head, folding her arms. "Next." She ignites her mana blade, followed by Gwen. "You smart enough to know this is both offense and defense. Not only that but there will also be a time when that mana pool will be tapped out." She stretches her arms towards the field of grass. "Mana are every living thing. Grass, trees, animals, people. Plants fill you up, but it takes time like sleeping." She cracks a grin. "Some of us don't rely on this method. Some believe it makes you weak. Others say it's an escalator to lose the sense of self. And that's draining Animals or People."
"And what's your opinion?" Gwen looks Sunny up and down, getting a chuckle from her.
"I do both."
"Seriously?"
"Than a heart attack. Ok. And I'm going to stop you right there. I don't go on a spree willy-nidly. That's people with no sense. I. Have sense." She presses her hand on her flat chest.
"When it's coming from you, I don't know. I should be worried or impressed."
"Oh, fuck off." Sunny rolled her eyes before pointing. "Now. Let's see what you got, Miss Perfect Honeybun."
Gwen breathed out before closing her eyes.
"Imagine fire," Sunny starts. "It's spewing from the grass and along your leg. Its heat burns yet keeps you warm." Sunny's eyes roam to the blue mist spewing from the grass. "The dry smoke pressed your skin, mouth, and along your nose. Invite it. Let two become one."
The blue mist pours into Gwen's pores and nose, getting a happy sigh from Gwen.
"How does it taste?" Sunny raised a brow.
"Like candy with a hint of mint."
"Of course." Sunny cracked a smile before Gwen looked Sunny in her eyes.
"How do animals taste? Or a gem?"
"Like their counterpart and the gem..." Sunny looks to the sky, reading the stars. "It's like that breakfast Grandpa made." She snaps her fingers. "Imagine a famous cook eighty-six it."
"I could only think of Grandpa."
"You truly are a honeybun of the Tennyson's."
"I don't understand this closeness you're getting at? Is it because you punched me?" Gwen points while Sunny only presses her hand on her chest.
"As my fist came soaring from the very fabric of my mind. I thought of one word. Useless. This conversation is useless." Sunny folded her arms. "Now, if you excuse me. I like to get back to the topic at hand. My little tomato is waiting for me."
"Tomato?" Gwen squinted her eyes before clicking her tongue. "Why a tomato?"
"Give it a few years, and you'll see what I mean."
Gwen blocked her eyes.
"You're detestable."
Sunny snickered.
"He said the same thing, actually. I don't mind sharing, but you should know I'm top dog."
"Wait, what?" Gwen squinted her eyes.
"Just because I'm waiting a few years doesn't mean I will waste this opportunity." Sunny grasps her hands together before batting her eyes. "I wanna spoil my little tomato with my love and kisses."
"There will be none of that!" Gwen growled.
"Aw. If you keep treating my little tomato like a guy friend, there will be more for me. But I'm not complaining." Sunny waved Gwen off, who only glared. "Anyway."
Sunny mana blade collided with Gwen's, who flinched. Gwen staggered back while Sunny only rushed.
Gwen's polar opposite delivered a cross slash aimed at wide-eyed Gwen's neck, who only stepped back. Sunny crouched, spinning on her heels before following with an underhand flying uppercut, knocking Gwen onto her back.
"Agh!" Gwen looked up at Sunny, who only looked down at her. "Are you out of your mind?!"
Zed stood before Gwen, growling up at floating Sunny.
"On your feet." Sunny spoked.
Gwen does so while waving Zed off.
"Go. Girl." Gwen spoke, getting Zed to look over her shoulder. "I'm fine." The alien dog took its distance while Gwen only looked up at her cousin.
"HA!" Sunny screamed, clashing pink mana blades with Gwen. "RAGH!!" Sunny shoves Gwen, causing her to skip along the grass field and roll to her feet before side-rolling from Sunny, driving her blade into the dirt. "Eyes on me!!"
Gwen pants, side-leaning from overhead-slash, she ducks.
Sunny's right arm formed into another mana blade, dual-wielding. Her knife hand soars into Gwen's face, only for her to lean back. The tip of Sunny mana blade cuts into her face.
"Ah!" Gwen forces her right eye close.
"I'M UP HERE!!!" Sunny roared while Gwen deflected her right blade aside. Sunny's left hand flies toward the side of the cat girl's head.
Gwen summoned another blade, blocking the attempt, only for her teacher to slam her head into Gwen's forehead. Forcing her to the ground.
"You're truly Pa-" Sunny steps back from Gwen, performing a backward cartwheel. Gwen's leg summoned a mana blade, cutting Sunny along her chest.
Sunny flashes her teeth, watching the red blood-soaked her black tee before looking up at Gwen.
The girl rosed to her feet, pink pupils cutting through the dark environment and Sunny. Above her right eye was a slow stream of blood flowing down her closed eye.
The wind picked up, and the grass field waved while the hollow rustle came after.
Gwen raised her knife hands.
"That's it." Sunny closes her hands, popping her knuckles. "FOCUS!!"
Sunny thrust a blinking left and right while Gwen side-stepped the first before protecting her head with her arm at the second. She stumbled back, spinning her heels, and Sunny drove her knee into her orange-hair cousin's protective arms.
The cat girl slaps Sunny's fists away before going for a leg check; Sunny catches on, and Gwen spins on her feet before driving her ankle into Sunny's hip.
"AGH!!" The black-hair cousin growled before ducking from a spinning wide hook; Sunny gave a shoulder tackle, giving herself breathing room.
"Hey. You started." A panting pink-eyed Gwen circles Sunny, who is holding her hip.
"And. I'm finishing it!" Sunny raised her voice, rushing Gwen. The orange-hair cousin reflects three of Sunny's strikes with her forearms before slamming her leg into Sunny calf, forcing her into a knee. "FUCK!!"
"Did I mention I do Karate?" The pink-eye Gwen questioned. "Oh, and a splash of Taekwondo." She raised a brow to Sunny, who looked up at her with pink eyes. "And you're right; I feel different."
Sunny rushed to her feet.
Gwen gave a wide hook while Sunny ducked before driving her fist along Gwen's jaw. The orange-haired girl ate two more before taking a third, spilling blood from her lips.
Gwen used her momentum to leap, spinning in the air and driving her heel into Sunny's head while Sunny landed an uppercut. They both fell on their backs. Listening to the slap of bones meeting flesh.
"Shit! Ugh!" Sunny and Gwen slowly rose to their feet in cuts, blood, and the dry grass.
Sunny wiped the blood on her forehead before putting it in her inner mouth, while Gwen only waited for more panting.
"Use that. And don't fucking DIE!!!" Sunny roared, rushing her orange-haired cousin.
---
Anthony approached a rock sitting in the sand towering over his head.
"Ok." The boy breathes out, stretching his arms around the rock. "Alright. Hmph!"
He lifts the rock twice his size along his chest before rolling it over his head. Will stood up proudly while Benita only clapped.
"Jesus Christ!! " she cried, leaning on the cliff wall while the boy dropped the rock aside. "You're serious?! That you had this?" she pointed with a raised brow. "This whole time?!"
"I believe so," Anthony sighed, approaching his partner in crime. "I was so used to holding back with Red Riot that it rubbed off." He rubbed his neck.
"Is this the only occurrence?"
"There's one back at Lincoln's, but I believe Edge was helping." The boy paced, looking at the sand. "Megatron ship!" He pointed out. "I remember running along with Miko, leaving her behind with Sunny over my shoulder. Red Riot's Strength and Wild Mutt's agility!"
"That kinda makes sense." Benita clicks her tongue. "Those halls were as large as a few football fields." The brown-haired girl snapped her fingers. "I remember. Back at Vilgax, when you started to wild out. Grid, DiamondHead, Nova, Impulse, Echo Echo, Big Chill, and Way Big were there."
"Woah. Woah. Way Big? Echo Echo? Big Chill? Did you just come up with those names on the spot?" Will squinted his eyes while pointing.
"No! Duh! Do you think I would forget those rapid switches and fusions? And besides, I had Big Chill and Echo Echo under my belt."
"Ok." The boy breathes out before disappearing before Benita's eyes. She snapped her head about. "I'm still here. And this is how I got away from Arachnid."
"Can you go through things?"
"I don't know."
"Come here." Benita watched the shoe prints along the sand stand before her. "Alright. Let me know." She presses her hand along the invisible wall, followed by grunting. "Will?"
"I can't." The boy appeared once more, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "I can't do it." His red face locked onto the ten-year-old girl with a raised brow.
"Alright, sugar. There has to be more weaknesses, right?"
"I'm sure hope not."
"You two." Another familiar voice entered the chat to Garnet walking along the shore towards the two children. The half-moonlight reflects from her sliver shades, nearly blinding the two. "You can't be out here. The mercenaries could be coming here right this moment."
She looks down at the two before taking a knee.
"Sorry. We couldn't sleep." Benita gave a corner smile.
"I know." Garnet gave a weak smile before patting Benita's head. "What are you two doing out here? I hope you're not collecting sea shells." She looks to Will, who only squinches his face.
"Well, we're figuring out his passive or active abilities. Woah! Oh my god!" Benita cracks a smile before looking at Anthony, snapping her fingers. "XLR8. We could try dodging. I saw that the Onmi-Hex user was dodging my light beams."
"I-uh." Will grip his chin. "Maybe. But I'd instead you not use that watch."
"Smart," Garnet cracked a grin. "And I'd rather you wait until the far morning for breakfast." She stood up, towering the two. "Come on. We might still have time to catch Peridot with some help."
The three begin their journey along the shore.
"What time is it?" Benita questioned while Anthony whipped out his flip phone.
"Hmm? Close to six."
"Do you two want some company?" Garnet looked down at the two who looked up at her.
"Aren't you keeping guard?" Anthony cocked his head.
"We could do both." Garnet pats the boy's head. "And besides, I like to get to know both of you."
"Oh. Yeah. I see." Benita chuckled with folded arms. "You like to be our godmother."
"I don't know what that is, but I know whoever makes it back. They'll be handsomely rewarded." The tall red gem cracked a smile under her shades.
"That depends on the bounty."
"You may get a glimpse behind this tall woman."
Benita bolts away from the two, following along the cliff wall.
"Well, alright." Will bounces on his shoes before bolting after Benita. He gradually follows behind his partner in crime, only to see Garnet breeze past the two.
"Willy!" Benita shouts, stretching her hand for Will, who only takes it. She hops on his back. "Giddy! Up!"
The boy picked up his pace, driving his shoes onto the sand and throwing them behind. He caught up with blitzing Garnet, who cocked her head, flashing a toothy smile.
"You're gonna have to try better than that to beat me!" Garnet bolts down the shore.
"Ant. You know what to do, bud." Benita pats Will on his neck. The boy only neighs, picking up speed.
Garnet and Will were neck to neck, eyeing the round opening of their beach house and the RV'S.
"Come on! Bud!" Benita encouraged while the boy forced out some extra energy, passing Garnet and making it to the finish. "Woah! Woah! Easy. Easy. Now." She held on the back of his blue shirt.
The boy slowed to a stop, letting out a horse-like snore before dragging his shoe along the sand.
"A racing horse, I see." Garnet cracks a smile. "You, by chance, willing to sell?"
"Um, I'm sorry, ma'am. But, he's not for sale." Benita chews on her gums while taking off her imaginary hat. "Ant. Here is something of charm."
"Alright. Get off." Anthony breathed out. "You weigh like two hundred pounds."
"Ugh! I do NOT!" She flicks his ear, getting a chuckle from Garnet.
"You two. Come on then." Garnet led the way, climbing the z-shaped steps, before planting herself along the balcony wall and near the screen door. At the same time, Benita and Anthony sat in front of the railing, awaiting Garnet.
Her red gem along her left palm spews a white light, revealing a handheld box.
Guess Who???
The tall, dark-red woman opened the box, revealing blue headbands.
They glowed, nearly blinding Will and Benita, before shimmering to two people a little shorter than their height.
"Have you two played this before?" The blue skin and dress gem voiced, sorting out the cards from the box.
"Just a little." Anthony eyed the long blue hair touching her back and the bangs covering her eyes, leaving her upper big lip.
This boy snapped his gaze at the bright red gem with square-shaped hair similar to Garnets. The gem adjusted the headband before placing it on her hair, showing her card.
Piano
"Meet Garnet." The blue gem's soft voice brought the boy back to her. She smirked underneath her bangs with his blue plastic headband and a card. "I'm Sapphire. And this is Ruby."
Apple
"Hello. Squirts!" Ruby places her hands along her thighs. "I'm sorry. For what's to come. My wife can be quite a talker."
"Congrats." Anthony gave a light smirk.
"Man." Benita dragged. "I bet the after-party was a banger. Though."
Car
"Well, it was quite explosive, and someone gave us a hand to ruin it." Sapphire cuts in, getting a smile from Ruby. "Do you care we start?" Benita and Will nodded. "Ok. I'll go first."
"Alright. Uh." Benita hummed. "You're something you can eat."
"You're red." The boy voiced after.
"Ruby?" Sapphire questioned.
"Aw. Sweety." Ruby rubs her hand over Sapphire's.
"Uh, no. Um? You're a fruit." Will looks at her card and back at the card welder, looking back at Benita and him.
"An apple?"
"You got it!" Benita snaps her fingers.
"You're so bright, Sapphire!" Ruby voiced while the blue gem smiled. "Thanks, Ruby." She took her card from her headband. "So, I heard you like the Super buddies."
"Who wouldn't it? We're the best." Benita leans on the wooden balcony railing behind her.
"Tell that. To the alien insurance." Will remarked, breathing out and making Benita jump.
"Woah. Can we not keep that over our heads? Not like we can fight and clean up at the same time."
"Not like you're a multi-tasker." The boy smirked.
"You got jokes, huh?" She punches his arm.
"I must say, what you two are doing is highly noble and brave." Ruby pounded her chest. "That's from the heart."
"I could say the same," Anthony smirked right back. "Without you guys, we wouldn't be sitting here now."
"He's right, you know." Benita leaned on her hands. "You guys are the true heroes."
"Aw!" Ruby throws her hand, exhaling sharply. "I see what you are trying to do. Don't butter me up."
"Would you like to go?" Sapphire looks to Will, who opens his hand.
"Let's."
"You're an object."
"Something you can wear." Ruby voiced.
"Shoes?" The boy squinted his eyes.
"No. Uh?" Benita starts drumming her fingers along her jaw. "You run in the rain. You will only make it worse."
"Pants?"
"Hey!!" Benita, Ruby, and Sapphire drag, pointing at the boy who raised his hand with a smile.
"Piece a cake. That was a piece of cake." He throws his card into the opened game box. "Hopefully, the next one will be harder."
"Hey, Uh. Ruby?" Benita starts getting the small red gem's attention. "Have you guys, you know. Remained Garnet all day, every day, or were their tea and crumpets over noon?" Benita let out a British accent.
"Well, uh, mostly. Great accent, by the way."
"Your turn, miss busybottom." The boy's wrist hits Benita's arm, causing her to rise.
"You're an object. Hmm?" She bounces her finger along her jaw. "Something you should maintain."
"A car?" Benita cocked her head. "What? Why all you so quiet?"
"You cheated, didn't you?" The boy squinted his eyes.
The girl in the black and white shirt gasped, placing her hand on her chest.
"I can't believe you would downplay my intelligence." Her lips quiver. "Dad, how dare you!"
"There's about to be no money in your pocket when I drop you off at an orphanage."
"I'm sorry to ask, but How old are you two?" Sapphire cocked her head.
"Eleven." The boy answered. "This little ball of sunshine. Is ten."
"I can still wrestle you, you know?" Benita remarked.
"Not no more." The boy rolled his eyes. "What about you two?" Anthony eyed Benita, who hit his arm. "What?"
"It's fine. Thanks for the thought." Sapphire nodded. "I'm about eight thousand, two hundred and fifty-two. Ruby about Six thousand five hundred twenty-eight."
"Wait. You remember my age?" Ruby tilted her head at Sapphire, who looked at her partner. "Even I lost count."
"Your birthdate is our remembrance of our anniversary. Did you forget mine?"
"Not your birthdate, but age until now!" She shouts, hiding her face.
Ruby claps her hands with a smile.
"Let at that! It's my turn!" She moved her mouth without a sound. "Help."
"Well, uh?" Benita hummed. "You're an instrument."
"Something that can produce sound with a single press." Will followed after watching the red gem in deep thought.
"An organ?"
"Nope." Benita leans while Ruby only growled.
"Harpsichord."
"I don't know what that is, but no."
A hiss of smoke escaped her eyes while Ruby hid her face from the three.
"Ok! ok. Uh, Harmonium!" She raised her voice.
"I can gather experiences from others, but I don't even know what that is," Will remarked.
"Ruby, breathe." Sapphire looks to her partner, steaming. "You're close. You're just overthinking it."
"I know! Piano!"
"Hey!" Will and Benita dragged, pointing.
"Wait! No! Are an organ and a piano the same thing?"
"Um, not really." The boy answered while Ruby took the card off her headband, biting her lip.
"You can take a finger and produce a sound with one key! One key!"
"An organ has pipes, and a piano doesn't sweetums." Sapphire taps her leg.
"Alright! Fine! I'm ready for another!"
The cry of the screen door gathered their attention to a lime skin gem poking her head out, revealing a green gem on her forehead.
"Am I interrupting?" Peridot roams her eyes at four of the players.
"No. Not at all." Sapphire places down her plastic hand band within the game box.
"Ok. Guys. You can do your thing."
"Hut! Hut! Hut!" Four rubies march down the stars, followed by two Jaspers who only nod at the four players.
"Yellow Diamond will send more," Peridot sighs. "It took some convincing. And believe it or not, we should get going once light breaks before they pop an energy vessel."
"Well," Sapphire looks from the calm crashing waves to the tip of the sun breaking from the sea's edge. "We shall appear once the sun's cheek is revealed."
Benita held Anthony's shaky hand.
---
Eyes opened, looking up at the bottom of the top bunk bed.
Max sat up, groaning and rubbing his eyes. He raised his feet, feeling the wet brown carpet.
"Ok." He settles his feet back down, pacing to the bathroom. He looks at himself in the mirror.
Max remained in his red shirt.
His eyes still contained bags, yet the dark complexion was nowhere to be seen. The blood Gwen spilled on Max's face followed, Yet a scar remained on his robotic right hand.
Max exited the bathroom, rubbing his wet hair, and headed for the closet. He opened it and saw his favorite Hawaii funnel shirt. He took it from the rack, eyeing the significant slash mark at the center. Yet, a hint of stitches kept it close.
The ex-plumber let out a breath with a smirk before throwing it on.
He went to the bottom cabinet under the sink, scanned the through cleaning supplies, and clawed at the hidden cabinet at the back. Pulling a wooden plank, revealing a metal handle.
Max pulled the lever before twisting it and driving it into the wall.
After he put everything back, a hiss entered his ears. He stood and watched a ceiling panel swing out, revealing his Plumber suit and black holsters.
The ex-plumber threw on his chest holster, spinning his plumber pistol between his fingers before holstering it and letting it swing along his left rib.
He strapped the belt holster and Helen's vambrace along his left forearm before staring at Enoch Forever Knight's blades within the souvenir box.
Max grabs one before putting it in his belt holster. He exits the RV, seeing the orange sun and skies staring back while the clean air and the crying waves greet him.
"What's this?" Pearl raised herself on her pink and white beach chair, looking Max up and down beside the RV door.
"Thank you." The ex-plumber nodded with a smirk. "Is Phill up?"
"Well, yeah, since an hour ago."
Max paced to the Rv while Pearl soon followed. The ex-plumber knocks, getting a glance of two rubies patrolling the shore.
The door swings open to Phill in his white tee and blue jeans.
"Well. Uh?" Phill looks Max up and down at his clean yet equipped appearance. "I'll go get ready."
"One moment." Phil halts. "Is Albedo with you?"
"Maxwell!" Albedo paced beside Phil's foot, which was currently on the third step. "I saw you being carried off. You look better than I last saw you."
"I'm fine. I was going through some things." Max smirked. "Judging by the Rubies, our departure is fast approaching."
"Yes. As the sun showed its cheek, the rubies said it would be our deadline." Phill answered. He eyed Max's head before the ex-plumber looked back at him.
"You said something that shouldn't have spilled from your lips. I would like you to apologize to Pearl and everyone in that house, even Steven."
"And what makes you think I should?"
"Just forget it." Pearl turned her back.
"Pearl. We're not done." Max called, locking eyes with Phil, who squinted his eyes. "Do you know Steven's mother exchanged her life for his son?"
"That still doesn't change the fact you fail to do your job."
"What job? You don't have kids better, yet grandchildren. So don't lecture me who's fit to be a better grandfather." Max points.
"You're right." He raised his hands, biting his lip. "You seem to know what's best."
"I've had it up to here!" Pearl raised her voice. "You can either apologize to Steven, or you can leave!"
"Please. You wouldn't last a day."
"If that's the case. Go." Max cocked his head up to Phil locking his green eyes with Phil's black.
"You can't be serious." Max remained silent. "How much trauma would they undergo to satisfy your need to make toy soldiers? You did this with your previous partners, and look how that turned out."
Max steps closer.
"I'm giving you every ounce of my patience and clinging respect for you. What you did to my granddaughter, I'm willing to forgive, but I will not forget." Max clenched his jaw, pointing at the beach house. "If I don't see you there, Apologizing before departure, don't bother coming back."
"Albedo." Max takes a knee, allowing the mid-age galvan balance along his arm before standing on the ex-plumber shoulder using his head as support. "Pearl." He heads to the beach house.
"You don't have to tell me twice." The white gem turned her back to Phil, who gave a blank look.
Max and Phil climbed the steps, eyeing the patrolling Jasper and the Rubies.
"Thanks back there," Pearl said through the lingering silence. Steven and the others will truly appreciate this kind gesture."
"I didn't do much." Max kept his gaze on the last few steps.
"It's the thought that counts." Pearl halts behind Max, looking through the balcony railing at the screen door.
"Hey. I'm right behind you." She places a hand on his back.
Max sighs.
"It only takes five steps." Albedo voiced while Max paced to the screen door.
He swings it open, listening to the cry of the door.
All the gems, Including Benita and Will, locked eyes with Max, Albedo, and Pearl.
"Grandpa?" Benita cocked her head, sitting on a stool by the kitchen.
Max took a knee while Albedo climbed on Pearl's hand.
Benita raced into Max's arms. They gripped each other tight before Max let out a sigh.
"What I did last night, I'm truly sorry."
"I should be saying that to you." She locks her green eyes with his. "What I said, back when. It was cruel."
"You have every right." Max let out a dry laugh before gripping Benita's shoulder. "Let's go fix your friend. Can we do that?"
"Alrighty, Captain Colonel." Benita salutes, earning a rub on her shaggy hair.
The screen door swings open to Gwen and Sunny, in their sleeping wear tattered, and evidence of blood follows. Their orange and black hair in jumbles.
"What happened to you two?! You guys look like you got attacked by a pack of lions, and they gave up mid-way," Benita remarked while Sunny smiled and raised her hands.
"Everyone. I would like to happily announce my face has been bashed so much I forgot what blue tastes like."
"I don't think you can taste blue, but I'll let you have your moment." Benita hugged Gwen, followed by Anthony. "You're going for a new look?"
Benita and Anthony look at Gwen's right eyebrow slit going across her upper eye.
"Sunny got me good. I'm hoping it's not permanent, though." She turned to Max before hugging him. Max eyes widen before patting her back. "Thanks, Grandpa."
"I should be thanking you. Are you alright?" Max looked into Gwen's eyes while Zed approached Anthony's side, who happily patted her head.
"I couldn't. Be better." Gwen smirked, keeping her hand on his shoulder. "You were right about it being stuck on bone." She locked eyes with Albedo on Pearl's shoulder. She points. "Is this?"
"Albedo. Azmuth assistance." The middle-aged glavan spoke with a smirk.
"He's the guy Will saved back at the Forever Knights!" Benita chuckled. "He said can fix him!"
Gwen's grin turns into a teeth-eating smile. She rushed Anthony before jumping into his arms.
"I can't believe it! I really can't!" Gwen laughs while Will only rubs her back, getting Sunny eyes. "Can you?!" Her green eyes look up to the boy, who is a few inches tall.
"I can't." He smirked back.
"Can you guys give us a minute?" Max looks to the Gems and Albedo.
"Of course. But, remember, we're on a tight schedule." Peridot voiced, standing by Bizmuth and Amethyst, who remained near the couch.
"On me." Max opened the door. Letting the children and the alien dog on the balcony. The ex-plumber takes a knee, staring at his granddaughters and Anthony, who surround him.
"As you can tell, I'm an ex-plumber." Max bites his lip. "I save lives and also take it. Even do terrible things to keep you all safe." He looked them in the eyes. "After the two weeks recovery from the Gem war. I was stationed at Helicon Bay with an eight-man squad. Intel states the Forever Knights seek to gather Corrodium there, so we came to extract it before they did."
"Making it to Vito's factory. We found a way in on the cliffside. The Forever Knights were collecting the resources before we stopped them. Some of our men died, and so did a few of them. One knight in peculiar grew bold and rushed the rock. I followed after. My squad leader shouted. "Stop!" But I tackled him against the corrodium. The ground shook, and the rock grew even brighter. Everything. Turn black." Max stared at the beach.
"I woke up. My squadmates and a few knights were fighting off the infected. Their black skin, sickly purple glow outlining their veins, sharp teeth, and bladed arms. They didn't even look human. My squad leader sacrificed himself for me, leaving another knight and me. His name was Enoch." The children's eyes, but Sunny widened. "I was bit by a Mutantion, and we fought our way back to the factory. A siren...That siren."
"All I heard from my superior was to seek shelter," Max continued. "We took the nearest shipping container, and my infection was growing worse; Enoch, hack my hand off." He looks at his scarred robotic hand before clenching it. "And then it happened." Max remained quiet. "They nuke us."
The crashing waves talked over them while Max looked at the balcony floorboards.
"So many people died. The guilty, the innocents, the wildlife. Everyone." He croaked, biting his lip. "What's funny. The Corrodium infection was airborne. For four years, we were fighting this. And on the fifth. It just stops. And then Mutants were born."
Max's watery eyes locked on everyone.
"I wasn't afraid to do my job and help those in need, but when I had your parents." He looks to Benita, Gwen, and Sunny. "And you three." Max's lip shakes while his watery eyes finally break. "I finally grasp what it means to lose something. You all can make a difference. No matter. How people look at you. You're all the sparks that I never wanna see extinguished."
The children, but Sunny hugs Max, who breaks into a sob.
"I love you." Max hugs the three. He kisses Benita and Gwen on the forehead before bringing Anthony's forehead to his. His crying eyes land on Sunny, and Max reaches out a hand. Sunny blankly stares while her slow hand embraces Max before he pulls her into the group hug. Max stroked her black hair while Sunny only nozzled into his shoulder. "We'll get out of this. I promise you."