What should have been a simple life in the desert sand and stars becomes anything but. Haunted by dreams of a life of violence, and seeking answers as to why, Peridot and her friends find themselves caught in an ancient battle between Light and Dark...and find that the cost of being a soldier is higher than they might have ever thought.
Peridot: So not an uncle but maybe...cousin? Z-times removed?
Fern: Not on my side of the family. Mantis wouldn't do procreation if it bit his bits off. What's this about cousins?
Peridot: Oh, Grandad was just trying to get Mom to talk about something that's been haunting the family since before I was born and apparently it's too early?
Fern: ...ah. Yeah, no, it's too early for that conversation. I haven't even had my coffee yet!
Peridot: And by the time you're awake enough I'll be at school! *sigh* Just. Should I be worried?
Fern: I...really wish I could say no, baby. I can tell you that we're all physically safe from it now, but...
Fern: Now doesn't last forever. A-anyway! It's not long until Spooky Day. Are you and Cel gonna go to that party together?
Peridot: *sputter* MA!
Citrine: No, no, your Ma has a point. You two have been dancing around that topic since you were babies. Should we have a chaperone?
Peridot: haha, very funny. Ugh--I'm gonna go shower.
Fern: Hey, we're just saying you'd be cute together!
Peridot: Shower. Now. Excuse me!
*laughter*
Celestial: *sigh* Another verse, same as the first. I did not miss this part.
*happy chatter*
*happy chatter*
*happy chatter*
*happy chatter*
*happy chatter*
*happy chatter*
Celestial: Hey, Peri! Hold up a second.
Peridot: Hm? Oh! There you are.
Rainbow: On a genetic level, the difference between non-occults and occults comes down to marker 17.
Rainbow: This marker shows up in berries from Maxis, Sixam, and a dozen other planets that have offered DNA for study. Vampires and shifters have also offered tissue and blood samples, and these markers appear in their genetic code as well. Can anyone tell me why that would be?
Later....
Celestial: I know.
Celestial: But this is the only way I know. *sigh* Alright, you slowpokes, let's go!
That night....
Peridot: How'd it go with your Dad?
Celestial: Eh, same 'ol, same 'ol. Listen, remember that lead I told you I was chasing?
Peridot: The one that you said was too dangerous for me to get involved in? The one that you said might lead to some basement fight club?
Celestial: Well, it's not in a basement. And it turns out they might have an idea of who attacked your Mom back then.
Peridot: They do?!
Celestial: They might. Emphasis on might.
Peridot: That's still more than I had before! What do they want for that info?
Celestial: Ah...see, that's the problem. A lot of these people either want cash up front or favors. Razz...does favors. Trades, actually.
Celestial: They;re willing to trade info for fights.
Peridot: Okay, great! When and where?
Celestial: Peri, no.
Peridot: Um, Peri yes? I'm not just going to sit at home and twiddle my thumbs, you know. I can fight. We can all fight.
Celestial: Against each other! This is different.
Peridot: Oh, so that means you were planning on doing it alone, weren't you.
Celestial: I--
Peridot: Yeah, no, not happening. She's my Mom, Cel. I appreciate the help, I really do, but I'm not gonna let you fight this for me.
Celestial: It's too risky. Razz is--fine, but the others? Who'd have the info? They're dangerous people, Peri!
Peridot: All the more reason for you to not go alone! What if something happened? Would this Razz help you out, help you home?
Celestial: I mean, they'd call an ambulance, but...
Peridot: Yeah, no, you're not doing this for me. We're going. When, and where?
Celestial: Peridot--
Peridot: Either you tell me or I will find out and do it myself anyway!
Celestial: Oh like that's any better!
Both: That's not what I meant--*sigh*
Celestial: ....
Peridot: ...sorry. I know you're trying to help and I know it's dangerous but it's not...I can't just do nothing, Cel. I have to know what happened.
Celestial: There's things you can't unknow.
Peridot: Yeah, well, my regrets.
Celestial: ...will you really do this without me if I don't tell you where?
Peridot: Ugh...if I have to, yes. I don't want to, but...yes.
Celestial: Peri...I don't think you get how dangerous this is! People willing to attack someone on orders like this...they're not good people. They won't think twice about hurting you.
Peridot: I know that. But that's why we have to go together, Cel. You look after me, I look after you.
Celestial: You remembered that...
Peridot: Of course I did. We're best friends, right?
Celestial: ...yeah. We are.
*second bell rings*
Celestial: Come on. I'll text you the address later.
Parsley: the freak gene is active?
Scarlet: Oh, that's original...
Raven: Just ignore him...
Scarlet: Yeah, yeah...
Rainbow: Any ideas, Scarlet?
Scarlet: Marker 17 was where the initial mutation for Vampirism started to show up. It's recorded in Vampiric history as having been affected when the first bite victim was turned some...few thousand years ago.
Royal Cola: Vampires had science technology then?
Raven: Sort of? That's a long story.
Royal Cola: Always is.
Cinnamon: Marker 17 also connected to color genetics of berries, yes?
Rainbow: In that Markers 14, 15, and 16 are the genetic markers for colors.
Cinnamon: Yours must be quite different than Edies, Miss.
Edelweiss: *laugh* Anyone's are different than mine, Cin. But that's a question, too. What changes a berry's color markers to make someone pure white against...red or blue or anything else? Our sixth grade textbooks said it was coin flips but it can't be that simple.
Rose: Ugh, I wish it was.
Rainbow: *laughter* yes, Cinnamon, my markers are very, very different than Edelweiss'. now, according to recorded science papers, the first change in color seemed to be a random mutation at the time of the Prismatic Shift...much the same as Marker 17's changes for occult vs non-occult.
Peridot: But what about turned? Vampires and Werewolves--sorry, Shifters--can change a berry, can't they? With a bite?
Scarlet: Sadly.
Rainbow: Yes, Peridot, they can. Studies done on bitten berries both before and after a bite-change show a marked difference in Marker 17.
Celestial: So does that mean that if a red berry bit a green berry, the red berry could turn green?
Dawn: I sure hope not...or I'm gonna have some awkward things to explain to a few people...
Candle: *choking laugh*
Rainbow: *laugh* No, Dawn, it doesn't work that way for colors.
Scarlet: Really? There are some stories about bitten berries having all their color drained away...
Raven: Scar that's just an old wive's tale. Like, really really old!
Scarlet: I'm just saying!
Royal Cola: Not unheard of for illness to take color. Could be similar? Infection leading to fever leading to--
Parsley: Oh so you're all just sick in the head is that it? For crying out loud!
Scarlet: here we go again...
Parsley: Miss Skittles why are we even bothering with this?! What's the point of studying occult genetics?! It doesn't matter!
Scarlet: Speak for yourself, you jerk. We're here, we're coming out of the shadows, and we're going to stay here. Why shouldn't you learn about other people in the world, huh?
Raven: Scar don't start anything...
Cinnamon: Population of Sixamite in Sugar Springs alone upwards of twenty percent! Treated as first class citizen!
Edelweiss: Not to mention any purist color nonsense should have died a thousand years ago...
Rose: Not to mention it should be illegal...
Rainbow: Alright, that's enough. Parsley we have been over this a hundred times: just because someone is not like you doesn't mean they don't deserve the same respect you give to people like you! Are we going to have to have another discussion with the principal about this?
Parsely: ...no, miss.
Celestial: Dude, stop being a jerk for five freaking minutes.
Peridot: That's like asking the sun not to shine...
Candle: Eh, it does get cloudy sometimes.
Dawn: Not in this town it don't.
Rainbow: Alright, now then--
*bell rings*
Rainbow: One of these days I will finish a class before that blasted bell! Right, read and summarize one chapter in your science textbooks by friday. Yes, Pirates, that goes for you too!
Candle: Aw man!
Celestial: Parsley, you're on reserve.
Parsley: Oh, because that's fair!
Celestial: Talk like that you get benched. Coach's orders.
Peridot: *sigh* Boys.
Summer: Whoa--careful, Candle!
Candle: Sorry, sorry--
Celestial: Nobody hit anybody on the head today, please!
Parsley: Peak--
Celestial: Nope, you're still on reserves.
Parsley: That's not what this is about. I've got word for your father from mine.
Celestial: Do I look like a messenger? Send a text like everyone else.
Parsley: You--you're just as bad as your "friends". Don't you see the opportunity you're wasting here--
Celestial: The only opportunity I see is to knock your teeth out.
Parsley: You wouldn't dare. Our fathers--
Celestial: I am going to tell you this once, and one time only: I am NOT my father. Stop trying to be yours and maybe you'll make something of your own life.
Celestial: Your Dad is into some really bad juice, Herb. The sooner you see that he's not the kind of man you want to be, the better off you're gonna be.
Parsley: My father is a good man. It's the rest of you that can't see that!
Celestial: Forest for the trees, Herb. How sure are you that you're not seeing what you want to see instead?
Parsley: !!
Celestial: Whatever you decide, leave my friends alone.
Parsley: Or what?
Celestial: Or I'll show you just how like my father I really am. Did your precious daddy never tell you what happened to that reporter poking around last year?
Parsley: --you wouldn't.
Celestial: Don't. Test. Me.
Parsley: You're a freak, Peak! A complete freak!
*door opens, slams closed*
Celestial: ...well that worked.
Dawn: Dude, what did you even say to him?!
Celestial: Nothing he didn't need to hear. Come on--three point drills, let's go.
Candle: You can be...really scary sometimes, Cel. You know that, right?
Celestial: ...yeah. I know.
Peridot: All the way out here, huh?
Razz: You go on ahead and get...settled. Ain't gonna be easy pickings today.
Peridot: You just said we're partners! Well partners only work if they trust each other, and right now this is an awful lot of you don't trust me enough to tell me the truth! So which is it! Do you trust me or not?!
Celestial: Yep.
Peridot: Anybody live here still?
Celestial: Nope.
Peridot: How do you even know about this place? It's not exactly on the beaten path.
Celestial: I...know a lot of places like this. Dad...comes by these areas sometimes.
Peridot: And he brings you with him? Yeesh...
Celestial: It's fine. ...Peri, look, are you sure about this? Will finding out who hired those thugs do any good?
Peridot: Yeah. It'll make me feel better.
Peridot: I need to know who's gunning for my family, Cel. I can't stop them if I don't know who it is. Remember, we promised?
Celestial: We were kids...this is a lot more than we thought it was.
Peridot: Cel, if you want to back out now...
Celestial: What, and leave you here alone? Don't be silly. I'm just saying things aren't going to be as easy as we thought when we were kids, that's all.
Peridot: Right. So, what do I need to know?
Celestial: *sigh* that you and I are both absolutely nuts. Right, well, besides that--inside this place is a fight club. You get on Razz' good side, they can get you all kinds of intel. Of course, that means fighting.
Celestial: And they don't do trades. Meaning I can't fight for the info you obviously want.
Peridot: Meaning I'll have to do the fighting...okay then. Glad I wore my punching gloves.
Celestial: Alright, come on. We're burning starlight. Oh, and one more thing?
Peridot: yeah?
Celestial: inside here, I'm not Cel. Call me Ramune.
Peridot: Fake names?
Celestial: Fake names. Razz isn't their real name, either, so you'd better come up with something quick or I'll call you Lime.
Peridot: Ha!
Peridot: Lime's fine...Ramune.
Celestial: *snort* Alright then. Razz! I brought her.
Razz: Oh, good. I was wondering if you'd show, Ramune.
Ramune: Hey, I'm good as my word.
Razz: Uh-huh. And that Pops of yours? Should I be worried?
Ramune: Nope. As promised, no law involved down here. Lime's just looking for some info.
Razz: Lime, huh? Okay, let's hear it.
Razz: Jilted lover? Revenge? What's your poison, kid?
Peridot: Information. If I give you a date and a place, can you tell me who hired three male-appearing berries for an assault hit?
Razz: ...are we talking clothes off or--
Peridot: Oh, Watcher, no. Beating.
Razz: Phew...good, good. Well, not great, but--anyway, yeah. How long ago are we talking?
Peridot: Four years. End of summer, the Riverwalk outside the News Station.
Razz: *whistle* Four years? Yeesh, kid. I don't think anybody keeps records that old.
Celestial: So you don't know?
Razz: Not off the top of my head! You've got to understand, we don't really keep receipts in this business.
Peridot: Is there anyone who would? Could I talk to them?
Razz: Not unless you want one of those hits out on you, sweetcheeks. I'll make some calls, ask around, but four years...those three are either long gone or long dead by now.
Peridot: And...could you find out who hired them, then?
Razz: That'll cost you. We're not in the business of asking questions.
Celestial: Razz.
Celestial: I'll owe you a favor. Or twenty.
Razz: Kid...you don't get it. Asking these sorts of questions means there's leaks, and loose lips sink ships! Fastest way to end up facedown in the river around here is to be a snitch.
Peridot: So you won't help us.
Razz: I didn't say that either!
Razz: Alright, listen. I've got a guy down here making cash for some other gig. You win this fight, his boss loses big and'll owe me a solid. I'll ask him to start asking around...if you win. Deal?
Peridot: Deal.
Razz: ...you always did like crazy, Ram.
Celestial: Yeah, well. It happens.
Razz: I bet. Ground rules: No hits below the belt, no biting, and nothing leaves this room. Any beef stays in the cage, got it?
Peridot: Got it.
Razz: Alright then. I'll make a call.
Celestial: It's not too late to back out.
Peridot: Uh, yeah it is? We're already here, C--Ramune. Why do you keep asking me to leave?
Celestial: ...because I'm just realizing how not safe this is.
Peridot: I can handle it. You know that--how many times have I knocked you flat on the mat?
Peridot: Fudge, I knocked Raven flat three times yesterday! I can handle myself in a fight. You know that.
Celestial: That's with us! We wouldn't hurt you--not on purpose and not badly anyway! This is different. These people, they--they're mercenaries, Lime. They won't care you're a teenager!
Celestial: no. No, this is absolutely stupid and I never should have brought you here. We're leaving!
Peridot: You go if you want. I'm getting my answers. And will you just--stop treating me like I'm a child!
Peridot: You and my parents and my grandparents--you all act like I'm some porcelain doll who'll crack the second someone touches her!
Celestial: We do not--
Peridot: Yes you do!
Peridot: I had to tell you I'd come here alone to get you to send me the address. I had to fend off therapy from my parents three times this past semester because they think I can't handle the dreams, and they're all on eggshells for some reason I don't get! Every last one of you looks at me like I'm about to fall apart and I don't get why!
Celestial: P--Lime, we're just worried!
Peridot: And no one tells me why!
Peridot: Because trust me, I get the whole, you could get knocked on the head thing with these fights, but everything else? You got in Parsley's way a dozen times, and at camp, and when those morons from Marsh tried to sabotage the track run last year--
Celestial: I am just looking out for you!
Peridot: I can look after myself!
Celestial: ...
Peridot: I look after you and you look after me, remember? That doesn't mean taking over everything! It means being there when I need you, and also seeing that I can fight for myself sometimes, too!
Celestial: ...and if this isn't one of those times?
Celestial: If this is one of those times you get in over your head and I don't help? What then?
Peridot: ...then I pay for it.
Celestial: *scoff* Yeah right. Like I'd let you!
Celestial: We're partners. We're in this together--
Peridot: Then treat me like that. Not as some little kid who's too stupid to know better.
Celestial: I don't--oh.
Celestial: is that what you think about all this?
Peridot: It's what it feels like. You put yourself between me and the threat, and you don't let me do the same. Like I'm some...some bodyguard charge you took on, not your best friend.
Celestial: you are my best friend. That's why I do that! And I can handle myself, you know that.
Peridot: And you know it, too.
Celestial: What...oh.
Peridot: Why is what's okay for you to do not okay for me to do? And I swear if you say it's because I'm a girl I'm gonna knock your teeth out!
Celestial: No, no, Watcher, no that's not it at all. It's just. *sigh* ...it's complicated.
Peridot: So make it uncomplicated! Give me the breakdown, come on!
Celestial: ...
Peridot: *aggravated sigh* There you go again. Clamming up whenever someone asks what's up with you or why you do something. Why?
Celestial: ...I have my reasons.
Peridot: You--!!
Celestial: I trust you. You know I do. It's just that this is a really, really complicated thing and there's moving parts everywhere, not just here. I'm juggling six different things that could all break at any moment and I can't have you be one of them!
Peridot: I won't be.
Celestial: !!
Peridot: I'm not going anywhere. We look after each other, okay? I won't leave you.
Celestial: ...you won't mean to, but...
Celestial: Everyone does.
Peridot: Not me. Not like this.
Celestial: ...tell you the truth? It's not this that worries me.
Peridot: Then what? Come on, I can't help if you don't give me something. And yes, I want to help. I look after you, too.
Celestial: ...I don't know where to start.
Peridot: The beginning?
Celestial: ...I can't even remember when that was.
Peridot: Hey...come on. Don't keep everything to yourself. Whatever you can say, you can say it to me.
Celestial: I know I can, it's just. Watcher, it's so complicated I can't even find the start of it anymore. It's all tangled up in everything else...
Peridot: So we'll untangle it. When we're done here, we'll...we'll go get a coffee or something and we can talk about it all night, okay?
Celestial: ...
Peridot: ...or, not. I guess.
Celestial: I'm not ready to talk about it yet. And you've got something else that needs doing first.
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