36. Cluster

--- Heck !

Apparently, the Fire decided not to wait for their arrival and began to wake up. How uncultured of him.

--- Hurry up ! Let's load the coordinates and go down ! - Peridot said in a very worried voice.

That's what they didn't expect, that the Cluster would start waking up so early.

--- Didn't you say that we have 2 more days ?! - Pearl started to get hysterical.

--- I know what I said ! But I told you that this is according to my calculations ! Calculations can also be wrong ! - Peridot is already shouting at Pearl in the open

--- Calm down ! We need to decide who will go to drill. - Garnet, as the leader, quickly restored everyone's calm.

--- I decided a long time ago ! It will be me and August !

--- Then I'm with you ! - Pearl said firmly

--- Impossible ! The cabin can only hold two people ! August's body weight and my body weight are the maximum that the drill can withstand !

--- But..

--- It's decided ! August and Peridot. Upload the coordinates. - Garnet made a quick decision.

--- But.. - Pearl wanted to say something

--- This isn't Pearl's time. We need to fix this quickly.

--- I got it

The coordinates were quickly loaded and the drill was calibrated.

--- Done ! Get started !

Augustus and Peridot started to enter the drill until Pearl's voice stopped them.

--- Wait !

Pearl's worried voice made August turn around. He was immediately pulled into a hug, and her lips were on top of his.

--- Be careful and come back to me. - she whispered it in his ear

--- I promise.

--- Let's go faster ! We don't have time for this ! - Peridot's worried and at the same time jealous voice quickly woke them up

Augustus left Pearl's embrace and quickly entered the drill. After all the systems were activated, the drill plunged into the ground and headed for its target.

And on the surface, Gems and Pearl stood and prayed that they could.

" August be careful. I can't bear to lose someone else dearly. " - there were Pearl's thoughts as she held her hands to her chest and watched nervously as the drill sank deeper into the ground.

...

In the storm, Augustus and Peridot sat shoulder to shoulder. There was very little room, and it was almost impossible to move.

--- Peridot

--- Yes ?

--- Why did you choose me over Stephen ?

--- What are you talking about ? - sweat began to trickle down Peridot's back

--- Stephen is much lighter than me. If you had taken it, there would have been a lot more room in the cab.

--- Well, I...

--- Why ?

--- Okay, okay ! You found me out ! I lied about the cab. - she exclaimed and held up her hands

--- I'm asking you why ?

--- Because I trust you more than them.

--- In the sense of ?

--- I know you far beyond them, you help me, you have introduced me to many earthly things. I trust you completely. - she pressed her back against his chest and tilted her head back to look at him

--- I'm really glad you trust me. - he wrapped his arms around her waist and held her close

--- And I'm glad I got to meet you - she leaned closer to him and wrapped her arms around his head

Their eyes were locked on each other. Even though they had only known each other for 2 weeks, it felt like they had known each other for a lifetime.

Their faces drew closer to each other...

--- ALARM ! ALARM ! WE ARE APPROACHING THE OBJECT ! PREPARE FOR THE APPROACH ! - a mechanical voice rang out from the bar panel, causing Peridot to instantly pull away from him. Her face was the color of a tomato.

Except August didn't care

--- Hey ! What are you... - he took her chin in his hand and turned her to face him. He bit into her mouth hungrily.

Peridot was tense at first, but then she completely relaxed and gave herself to him.

After a while, when they were gasping for breath, they recoiled from each other

--- Let's talk about this later. Cluster First

--- Understood

They look at the screen. Little by little, they were getting closer to their goal. They broke through the last layer and finally found themselves near it. Cluster.

It was a huge ball. If you looked closely, you could see that there were many different fragments of stones inside it. The ball glowed brightly and hands began to grow out of it.

--- What'll we do ?

--- This

Peridot pressed a few buttons and a lot of drills burst out of the drill body. They started drilling the Cluster shell, but it didn't bring any visible results.

--- It doesn't work

--- Time. It takes time.

But they didn't have time. The cluster started to glow more and more and it seems to have started to take on a physical form. And so the drills began to break.

--- This is the end. We couldn't. - Peridot put her head in her hands and began to mumble. It seems to have hit her hard.

" We need to come up with something. If everything goes on like this, then... "

Augustus ' thoughts were not destined to end. His head started to hurt like hell and he passed out.

--- August ? - Peridot looked at him with concern

--- ...

--- August ?! - She started shaking him as hard as she could

--- August !

.....

Augustus ' mind separated from his body. He could see his own body, but could not interact with it in any way, he also tried to return to his own body, but could not. He was lost in his thoughts until a voice called out to him.

--- WhO aRe yoU ?

The voice was distorted. Augustus started looking around but couldn't see anyone.

--- Who's here ? Where are you?

--- YoU arE LiKe uS, bUt nOt lIke Us.

--- Who am I talking to ?

--- WE're Here

Augustus turned and saw the silhouette of a woman. It was completely transparent, made up entirely of shards. One eye was blue and the other purple, and there was also a stone in the chest that was covered with crystal. Well, the most important thing is that he was naked.

--- Are you a Cluster ?

--- That'S wHAt THey Call uS

--- You have to stop packing !

--- WhY ?

--- You're killing my planet. If you form it, you will destroy the whole world !

--- BuT we're loneLy.

--- You are not alone. There are so many of you, you can get to know each other.

---...

--- You're all shards. I understand that you want to return to the whole form, but because of your desire, many will suffer.

--- We Were Alone for a loNg tiMe.

--- Good. Then let's get acquainted. I'm August, a crystal gem on an internship.

--- August....

--- I can stay here. I can tell you many stories, fairy tales, legends. I learned a lot from life. So if you're lonely, I'll stay here forever, just don't get in shape.

--- Will you stay with us ?

--- Yes. I'm ready for it.

--- ... we unDerstAnd. We wIll not Gain. tHe form. But yOu're nOt staYing here, eiTher.

--- ???

--- We'll leave with you. Let's link our minds. We'll be watching.

--- I agree.

Cluster walked over to him, and she took his hands in hers and kissed him on the forehead.

--- I'm A Cluster. Nice to meet you.

After that, the silhouette of Augustus disappeared and only the Cluster remained in space.

....

--- AUGUST !

Augustus opened his eyes abruptly and began to breathe. Peridot hugged him tightly and sobbed into his chest.

--- You are alive.You are alive.You are alive.You are alive.You are alive.You are alive.You are alive.

--- Of course I'm alive. I wouldn't have left you all without me.

--- But even if you're alive, we're dead. The cluster is beginning to take shape.

--- Don't worry. I talked to her, she'll stop.

--- What are you talking about ?

--- Then. First you need to get out.

--- Good. But then you'll explain.

They began to climb to the surface. The earthquake stopped and the Cluster stopped taking shape.

" --- You've stopped, haven't you ?

--- I promised.

--- I remember. Thanks. "

It seems that now he has a neighbor in his head. Now you can't even think calmly.

" Well, it was worth it. "

The threat has been stopped, and now can rest.