3rd Person P.O.V.

Batman slowly wakes up.

(Yellow Diamond) Detective? Detective, wake up.

His head is resting in her lap as she tried to comfort him while he wakes up. He sits up and stood up along with Yellow.

(Yellow Diamond) Are you okay? I saw that your grabbed your abdomen area in pain.

(Batman) It's fine. Jasper just hit an old wound.

The other Diamonds woke up.

(White Diamond) What happened?

(Blue Diamond) Where's Jasper?

(Yellow Diamond) She's gone. She broke out the pearl we just locked up.

Everyone heard a scream. Pink ran into the room.

(Pink Diamond) WHERE IS STEVEN?!

(Blue Diamond) He's not here?

(Pink Diamond) No! He and Alison are gone!

(White Diamond) Oh, my stars!

(Batman) I'll find them.

(Pink Diamond) Please!

Batman goes to leave.

(Yellow Diamond) Detective, wait. Shouldn't you rest before you leave?

(Batman) There's no time for that.

Joker: Poor self care. How noble.

Batman leaves the Palace and tried finding anything relating to Steven and Allison's location. He found a three rebels with Detective Mode and followed them to a location that looks to be one of their camps.

(Rebel) Tonight's the night the Batman is no more.

(Rebel #2) Yeah, and in the morning, Homeworld will be back to what it was built upon.

(Rebel #3) So, where do you think the commander is going to do with Steven and the Bat's pearl?

(Rebel) Since they're both tied to the Bat, she'll probably use them as bargaining chips, or she'll just kill them both.

(Rebel #2) Maybe we'll be the ones to do it.

(Rebel) Yeah, Steven will be easy to kill. He's a human.

(Rebel #3) We just do what the commander says. If she wants us to kill him, we'll do it.

(Rebel) Slowly and painfully, make Pink Diamond suffer for starting the war.

(Rebel #2) Yeah, she's responsible for this, too.

Batman suddenly cuts in their conversation. He takes two of them and smashed them together to poof them. He takes the last one and holds her up in the air.

(Batman) Where's Steven and my pearl?

(Rebel) You don't scare me. I know you won't shatter me.

(Batman) No. I'll make you wish I shatter you. Where are they?!

(Rebel) Okay! Here, I got the coordinates for them!

[Coordinates Downloaded]

(Batman) If you're lying, I'll come find you.

He brutally slammed her on the ground, poofing her.

Joker: C'mon, Bats! Save Steven so I can kill him later.

He wants to save Steven but what about Alison? She needs to be saved, too. He couldn't just leave her.

He'll come rescue her the second he rescues Steven. He followed the coordinates to Steven. After he got there, he was sure in a surprise.

(Alison) Wayne?

It was Alison! But how? He followed the coordinates to Steven.

That rebel must've switched them up on purpose. Batman unties Alison from the chair she's tied to.

(Batman) Where's Steven?

(Alison) I don't know. They took him in some other direction.

(Batman) I'll take you back to the Palace and come find him. I have a lead on where he could be.

He returns to the Palace with Alison.

The Palace:

(Pink Diamond) Batman, did you find Steven?!

(Batman) No, but I have a lead.

(Alison) He came here to drop me off. Don't worry, Pink, we'll find him.

(Pink Diamond) Please, hurry!

Batman listened. He ran out and a ghost is following him.

Joker: Faster, Bats! Faster! We got to get to Steven so I can kill him!

The ghost half supports the saving Steven idea. Batman grappled up high so he can glide to the next area. He moves as quick as he can, Steven's life depends on it.

He got there, but he didn't see Steven anywhere. Just more of the rebels at another camp. He quickly lands on one of them to poof her, and used the new suit's fast maneuverability to takedown five rebels at once.

He then saved one for last to interrogate. He pushed her over and pinned her to the ground with his boot to her face.

(Batman) TALK! Don't make me crack your gem and look for the answers inside.

He growled.

(Rebel) W-What?! I don't know what you're--

(Batman) Steven's location! Where is he? And don't lie to me.

(Rebel) I don't know where he is!

(Batman) You're lying to me.

(Rebel) I'm not!

(Batman) I'm going to count to one, and then I get mad.

He warned.

(Batman) Three...

(Rebel) I don't know!

(Batman) Two...

(Rebel) Please!

(Batman) One.

(Rebel) Okay! Okay! Here's the coordinates! I promise, that's where she has him!

(Batman) Good.

He moved his leg and slammed his knee into her face, poofing her. He quickly followed the coordinates. It lead him to the abandoned structure he found earlier tonight.

The one with the glass wall. Steven was on the other side of it.

(Steven) Bruce, you're here!

(Batman) I'm going to get you out of there.

He tried using Detective Mode to see if there's an alternative way to get through the glass. Detective Mode wouldn't work. He tried again.

Detective Mode: Error

What's going on?

Detective Mode: Error

He continued to attempt to use it.

Detective Mode: Error

Joker: Oh, what do you know? Your sensors aren't working. Looks like you have to do this the old fashion way.

He looked around to see if there's something that could suggest a way in. He can see a door, but he doesn't know how to get to the door from the other side. The door opens and it's Pearl.

(Pearl) You're here, at last. Finally, we can begin.

Joker: Uh oh! I don't like the sound of that.

Steven backs up against the glass.

(Pearl) I hope you're paying attention, Batman. I'm about to show you an analogy. Pretend Steven is the human race, and I'm the three out of the four Diamonds.

She chuckled before her voice got deeper.

(Pearl) Let the analogy begin!

She drooled.

(Pearl) You know, I heard that gems can eat edibles. I wonder, what would human meat taste like?

Steven's eyes shrank in fear.

(Steven) Please, no!

Batman started to beat on the glass, not pulling any punches. The glass hardly cracks at his attempts. Steven screams as Pearl approached him with her claws looking sharp as knives and mouth opening up to reveal two sets of teeth.

One set has huge sharp teeth while the second set is tiny sharp teeth. She growled like a predator as she cornered her prey. She grabbed Steven's arms and he was hyperventilating as he tried to get her to let go.

Batman kicked the glass. No such luck either. Pearl opened her jaw as wide as she can. Steven screamed.

Her teeth made contact with Steven and blood splattered on the glass and Steven's scream stopped suddenly. The blood was blocking Batman's view, but that didn't stop him from hearing the sounds of flesh ripping. Then, there was silence, and eventually the sound of a door opening and closing.

Batman fell on his knees.

[Cowl Comms] Wayne, what happened? Did you find Steven?

(Batman) He's gone, Alison...

[Cowl Comms] What do you mean?

(Batman) Steven... the pearl killed him...

[Cowl Comms] No! No! Oh my...

He can hear her cry in the background of the comms he uses.

[Cowl Comms] W-Wayne... what... what are you going to tell Pink...?

(Batman) I should've protected him... he's dead because of me...

He took responsibility over Steven's death. He felt ashamed.

[Cowl Comms] Wayne... It's not... it's not your fault...

[Silence]

[Cowl Comms] Wayne.... Did you hear me?

Joker: He heard you. He's wondering how he can live with himself.

[Cowl Comms] Wayne, don't... don't let Steven's death... don't let it be for nothing... You must avenge him...

Joker: Oh, you can't bring him back. Let Uncle J take charge. No more bad memories, no more pain, no more fear. Scout's honor!

Batman looked up, the ghost's smile grinned wider, was he actually considering it's offer?

[Cowl Comms] Wayne... you need to tell Pink.

Joker: Oh, no! You think you'll keep on going? What's the point? Regardless on whether you stop this pearl or not, the Diamonds will never forgive you for letting this happen, especially since you told Pink you'll find Steven. Though, technically you did, y'know before he died.

Batman stood back up. He can't help but stare at the blood splatter. The ghost walks out from the side of the glass wall where blood isn't covering the glass.

Joker: Well, his death was some what horrifying. If it's any consolation, I'm sad, too. Seriously, I'm just as upset as you are, 'cause we share the same body. And 'cause I wasn't the one to do it. You shouldn't be too sad, I would've done worse.

He heard the speakers of Homeworld activate. He wasn't expecting them to operate at this time because they only activate when one of the Diamonds are making a public announcement. But it wasn't the Diamonds.

[Homeworld Speakers] Batman, what happened in that room wasn't some cruel, twisted game. It was neccessary. I was only doing what my analogy says. The Diamonds may not do exactly what I did to the human race, but you'll consider what I did to be mercy after they stab you in the back figuratively or literally. And don't pin your hatred on me, I was only doing what my colleagues wanted me to do. None of this was my idea, I'm simply playing along. You think about that next time you meet them.

The intercoms were turned off afterwards.

Joker: Well, she's right about one thing. Being ripped apart is mercy compared to what I had in mind for him. Now, let's go to the Palace and break the news to Pink as brutally honest we can get!

He grappled to the nearest thing and started to glide to the Palace. Once he got there, the Diamonds were already expecting him and is waiting for him to explain what happened.

(Blue Diamond) Bruce, what was she talking about on the speakers?

(Pink Diamond) Have you found Steven?

(Batman) Pink...

Joker: We did, just not the way you'd expect.

White covered her mouth, after hearing what the ghost said. The other Diamonds don't notice this because they're focusing on Batman.

(Batman) Steven is... he's dead... I'm sorry...

Pink fell on her knees. Yellow wasn't expecting that and immediately did emotions flooded her mentality. Blue instantly lets her tears out and activated her old power by accident.

White was already crying before everyone else heard the news because she saw it in his mind. Pink sobbed harder than anyone in the room. She had created him 16 years ago, given him life, and was brought into his life just two years ago, and now he's dead.

She can't bring him back because they don't have a body, and the rebels must know that because Batman didn't bring the body with him.

(Batman) I'm sorry, Pink...

Joker: [Blows nose] I'm not crying, I just have a runny nose.

The ghost pockets it's tissue.

Joker: Well, I think it went quite well, considering. Of course, I wouldn't have told her and given her false hope only to crush her when she finds out from that pearl. You've got a lot to look forward to, Bats. Seriously, it could've been far worse than it is now. Pink would hate you for letting her down. Hell, she probably does but hasn't said it because she's still crying over hearing that her son was killed from you. It's sad, isn't it? To think, Steven had survived lots and lots of things, only to die now while he was still very young. It's probably for the best anyway. He probably seen some things no other child should ever see and it wouldn't not coming out of his head any time soon. Like watching her open her mouth like Pennywise from IT. She probably did him a favor.

Batman left the Palace and tried to look for anything related to the rebellion. He found another one of their camps to raid for information. However, he stopped himself to listen in on their conversation, because there's two gems who he haven't seen at all and is wondering if they're the third in command gems.

(Kunzite) What's the status on the checkpoint?

(Rebel Leader) All quiet, nothing to report yet.

(Jade) D-Did any of you see the Bat?

(Rebel Leader) No, actually. He must still be at the room that one soldier sent him to.

(Kunzite) That room?

(Rebel Leader) Yeah, that room.

(Kunzite) Oh, yeah.

(Rebel Leader) Anyway, we've kept a low profile ever since we stationed here. We heard radio silence from our other checkpoint. The Bat must've been there.

(Kunzite) Blast. We'll check our other checkpoints. You have the map, right?

(Rebel Leader) Yes, ma'am.

(Kunzite) Good. Come along, Jade.

(Jade) Okay.

The green gem timidly followed the purple gem. Batman made himself present and tackled on one of the rebels.

(Rebel Leader) Target's here!

The rest of them, including the leader joined in on the fight. The two unique gems were gone.

(Rebel Leader) Circle him! Attack from all sides!

Two of them tried to punch him but he ducks and stood up, grabbed their throats and slammed them both on the ground. Two more tried to hit him but he ducks and they ended up hitting each other. One tried to take a swing at him with a pipe.

But he grabbed it, punched her to make her let go, then be bends the pipe in a way to make it ineffective to use as a weapons. Some of the rebels weren't expecting that and one of them exclaimed out loud.

(Rebel) He's too strong!

One of them had a knife and tried to cut him. After dodging it, he grabbed her wrist and moved it to make her vulnerable. He hits her face with his palm and then makes her lean forward and hits her face with his knee, she poofed.

Another one tried using a knife but he caught her wrist and got a direct punch to her forehead, she poofed, too. Another one tried once again but hasn't learned from the last two times they tried to cut him. He swats her hand away and grabbed her head.

Then forcefully slams her head into his knee. Now there's two and one of them is the leader. He quickly dealt with the one soldier who was his concern and Interrogated the leader.

He holds her up with one arm.

(Batman) The map. Give it to me or get ready to hurt.

(Rebel Leader) Here it is. Please, I don't want any trouble.

[Coordinates Downloaded]

(Batman) Too late.

He punched her directly in the face to incapacitate her. He has checkpoints marked all over the Homeworld area, and the Warps are also marked too. He sends them to Alison.

(Batman) Alison, send this to the Diamonds. Let them know about the checkpoints.

[Cowl Comms] Wayne, are you alright? You sound--

(Batman) Just send it to them.

[Cowl Comms] R-Right, will do.

Joker: Whoa, Bats! You look like you're depressed, you even sound like it, too. I actually thought you couldn't display emotion at all, guess I was wrong. There, there, dry those tears, Steven's gone and you can't fix it. Afterall, why are you even upset? He's a kid that you met two years ago all because he discovered your identity and wanted you to work with him. Come to think of it, if you hadn't shown up in Beach City, Steven might still be alive today. Way to go, Bats! A child died and it's all because of you!

Batman grappled up high and flew to another checkpoint.

End of Chapter 26

5/2/2021