3rd Person P.O.V.

Yellow just got sent of the other checkpoints of the rebellion whose spread around Homeworld. She took up the offer that was given to her, although, it may be more difficult than expected, for her at least. She isn't experienced to hand-to-hand combat as much as the Batman is.

She normally uses her sword, but it's broken, and she never really looked for a new one. The one she had was a gift from White. And she had it for thousands and thousands of years, only for it to be broke by a mortal in a costume.

She contacted him and asked if he assisted with her on the checkpoints. Afterall, it would be easier for him too, she noticed he didn't sound normal. If she didn't knew better, he sounds depressed, displaying some emotion.

It was surprising to hear him sound like that. No doubt it's from the death of Steven. She hoped he's okay.

Physically speaking, anyway. She climbs up to the top of the structure he's on. It's hard because she doesn't have a grapple unlike him.

(Yellow Diamond) I'm here.

She made herself present. She walked to him.

(Yellow Diamond) Where's the checkpoint?

(Batman) Over there.

He points. She noticed they're moving stuff in boxes.

(Yellow Diamond) How do we approach this?

(Batman) We strike when the time is right. You'll know it when you see it.

She waits right next to him. She watched as his eyes, trying to read him. He's eyes are focused on the checkpoint, nothing else, until he caught her eyes looking at his which made her look away.

(Yellow Diamond) Do you... want to talk about it?

(Batman) No.

(Yellow Diamond) Very well...

The silence was very awkward and agonizing for her. She hoped this opening would happen soon. The opening happened and they both went for it.

Batman grabbed a rebel and body slammed her, Yellow was surprised by this. He's not pulling his punches this time, that's good, right? As long as he doesn't shatter them.

Theres rubies, amethysts, and rose quartz. Yellow realized why theres some rose quartz here. They didn't join the rebellion because of wanting to restart Era-2, they did it out of vengeance against their wrongful treatment of discrimination when Pink Diamond took the identity of a rose quartz.

They suffered for no reason. Some of them took notice of Yellow Diamond, the very Diamond who bubbled them away, and charged at her. Ignoring Batman, the rose quartz chose to attack Yellow while Batman was busy with the rubies and amethysts.

(Rose Quartz Rebel) You!

One of them snarled bitterly.

(Rose Quartz Rebel #2) Oh, look who it is, the Diamond who bubbled us.

They had spears.

(Rose Quartz Rebel) Where's your sword?

One of them asked mockingly.

(Rose Quartz Rebel #3) Oh, that's right, it broken you're defenseless without it.

Yellow held her fists up, not caring that she can fight properly or not. One of them tried jabbing a spear at her but Yellow pushed it away and kicked her. She grabbed the spear and made the rose quartz hold it horizontal and tried pushing her.

This failed when another rose quartz took her spear and moved it in front of Yellow's throat and pulled back, choking her. Yellow tried to remove it away from her neck but the rose quartz kept it there as best as she can. The one Yellow tried to disarm took her own spear and aimed it at Yellow's gem.

(Rose Quartz Rebel) This is for all the discrimination you put against us!

She thrusted the spear forward, but it didn't move. The rose quartz looked at the spear and tried again, but no budge. She looks over her shoulder to see a hand holding it, and a fist moving to her face.

She falls over. It was Batman. Yellow can see the unconscious, brutalized rebels who were unfortunate to fight him now.

Yellow headbutts the rose quartz with the back of her head and stomped on her shin and she fell over. She kicked the rose quartz to make sure she doesn't get back up. There's one gem left and it was the leader of the checkpoint.

She was on the ground. Batman placed his boot on her cheek. She was valuable to interrogate for any information.

(Batman) Break your silence, or I break you.

(Rebel Leader) Please, don't hurt me! I'll you what you want to know!

[Rebel Interrogated: No Secrets]

(Batman) I'll do my best.

He crushed her head with his knee and she poofed. Yellow observed the boxes. She opened one of them and they have some weapons in it.

(Yellow Diamond) These are weapons we keep locked up in our weapons locker. It appears they've raided it.

Batman took Explosive Gel and sprayed it on the other crates and hit detonate.

[Explosive]

(Yellow Diamond) ...Okay then.

She would've been upset at the expense of dozens of weapons being destroyed, but this was neccessary to prevent the rebellion from using them. She looked at Batman's posture, noticing his shoulders are down. Normally, they're up and even with each other, but they're uneven.

He's clearly not alright, or fine. He's practically or already showing physical body language of depression. Yellow wanted to help him, but he keeps shutting her out.

Does he have someone to treat his mental health? Because you don't just shrug something like a death of a friend off. Maybe White can help him tomorrow after he gets a good night's sleep.

(Yellow Diamond) Can you... take me to the next checkpoint? I don't necessarily have the equipment to travel like you.

He beckoned her to come closer. He wrapped his arm around her waist which caused her face to heat up. His grip seemed unbelievable to her.

He grappled and they both went up.

10 minutes later

Normally Batman gets to checkpoints in at least two minutes. But carrying Yellow took longer. They both got to high ground near this checkpoint.

Yellow noticed a particular detail about the rebels here. They're holding destabilizer spears.

(Yellow Diamond) I can't be spotted in that area.

(Batman) Why not?

(Yellow Diamond) Those gems have destabilizer spears. A high voltage of destabilization in that spear. One touch, and I'll be demolished.

(Batman) It's fine. I'll do this one myself.

She didn't really know how to respond to that. Mainly, she thought he'd push her to help him. He grappled to a different area.

He saw a rebel hanging around near a ledge.

(Rebel) Did you see the commander?

(Rebel #2) The pearl? Yeah.

(Rebel) She looked different.

Batman fired his grapple and it launched at the rebel close to the ledge. He yanked it very hard and she fell off and onto the equipment.

(Rebel Leader) Whose screaming?!

Batman grappled up to where that other rebel was. He snuck behind her, tripped her and slammed his fist in her head, knocking her out.

[Thud]

(Rebel Leader) What?!

Two rebels are wearing armor.

(Rebel Brute) You're all pathetic. He's making you look like idiots!

They're aware Batman's here. They both walk up the stairs but Batman fired an REC orb blast and it knocks them both down the stairs. Batman walks down the stairs.

He grabbed one of them by the throat while she's on the ground and used his fist to smash her face.

(Rebel Brute) (groans)

She poofed. He grabbed the another one and did the same thing. She poofed.

He nonchalantly walks back up the stairs. Two of the last rebels came to inspect what was going on. Batman jumps off the ledge and onto one of the rebels, poofing her.

The leader was left. He pushed her off the ledge and caught her by her ankle. He's dangling off a 200 foot drop.

(Batman) Your team. Tell me everything, or I drop you.

(Rebel Leader) I'll tell you everything I know!

[Rebel Interrogated: Secrets Revealed.]

(Batman) There was never any doubt in my mind.

He moved her away from the ledge and drop and slammed her on the ground instead. Yellow leaped onto the area he's at.

(Yellow Diamond) That was impressive. You looked like a predator hunting prey.

She noticed there's some of their equipment not destroyed. She went through the mainframe. This has some of the records of the remaining checkpoints.

Only three more that haven't been dismantled. More will produced if they don't put a stop to the already existing checkpoints.

(Yellow Diamond) Detective, look at this.

She showed him the checkpoints and the names of the gems in charge.

(Yellow Diamond) There's the pearl serving top on the chain of commands. Then the jasper we fought a few hours ago. Then the three gems. Bluebird, Jade and Kunzite. I know those two.

She points at the last two.

(Yellow Diamond) They were in my court in the start of Era-1. I wonder why they would turn on the Diamond Authority.

Batman walked to the computer and read the files of the three gems he hasn't encountered yet tonight. There's nothing much about Bluebird, other than she's a fusion.

(Batman) This says here Jade has a rare disability that causes her to feel a high unusual sense of pain to her physical form if she were harmed. There's a long list of times she was punished by you. You beaten her.

(Yellow Diamond) Oh... right...

(Batman) Kunzite is your most trusted lieutenant. Era-3 eradicated her hard work to become that rank. She also has feelings for Jade.

Joker: Ah, romance. The one thing this story's missing. Whoops! Breaking the 4th wall again.

(Yellow Diamond) I can't believe it. I never thought she would do thie. Although, her disappearance from my court does make sense now. Still, I'd thought she'd remain loyal.

Batman stopped going through the gem computer.

(Yellow Diamond) Hey, you can try and locate the othet gems and I will handle the rest of the checkpoints. They mustn't be too difficult, and after watching your performance, I think I'll be just fine.

(Batman) Fine...

She watched him glide away.

At the Palace:

(Blue Diamond) Pink? Please come out.

(Pink Diamond) [behind door] No!

(White Diamond) Pink, please!

(Pink Diamond) [behind door] My son is dead! You expect me to just shrug it off?!

(Blue Diamond) No, of course not.

(White Diamond) We just want to be there for you.

(Pink Diamond) [behind door] Go away!

They listened to her wishes. They can hear Pink's hysterical sobbing from her room, wanting her son back.

(Blue Diamond) Oh. what are we going to do?

(White Diamond) I don't know. If only we knew where his body is and all we would have to do is to retrieve it from them.

(Blue Diamond) Perhaps Bruce could find it?

(White Diamond) Wayne could potentially find it, but I'm not sure how he is feeling at this very moment.

(Blue Diamond) Why?

(White Diamond) Because he feels like he failed, last time I checked him, which was when he announced Steven's demise.

(Blue Diamond) He is?

She nods.

(Blue Diamond) What if he... gives up?

(White Diamond) I know Wayne. He won't give up.

(Blue Diamond) How do you know him?

(White Diamond) You're talking to a gem who can read minds, Blue. I'm certain I know him.

(Blue Diamond) Yes, but his mood could change. He may not see a purpose.

(White Diamond) (under her breath) That's the clown talking...

She hoped that clown would not cloud his judgement. She detected that it's presence was growing more and more and it feeds upon Wayne's negative thoughts and emotions. Steven's death and him taking responsibility made the ghost skyrocketed it's presence, it's only a matter of time before it--

(White Diamond) (gasp) I need to find Wayne!

Elsewhere:

Batman was following a group of rebels. He remained out of sight and listened to their conversations carefully.

(Rebel) One of the leaders is coming here.

(Rebel #2) Who?

(Rebel) The fusion.

(Rebel #2) Why are they fused again? They haven't explained why.

(Rebel) I think it's because they're both small, puny gems who fused to become stronger. It's like what Jasper said. Fusion is a cheap tatic to make weak gems stronger.

(Rebel #2) But they're on our side.

(Rebel) The right side. I guess they're too weak to fit in the rebellion so they fused and became leader. It's strange, the pearl picked our three third in command leaders personally.

(Rebel #2) I can certainly understand why she chose Jade and Kunzite. But why the fusion? What's her name anyway?

(Rebel) Bluebird, I think.

(Rebel #2) What's so special about her?

(Rebel) Information, I guess. Even Jasper didn't like her very much.

Batman saw a figure flying to them.

(Bluebird) Jolly good, chaps! Our boss just announced that we're close to moving to phase three of the plan.

(Rebel) Good.

Batman noticed that one of gems placement on the fusion's form is under her eye, which also has a gem for an eye. That's Aquamarine, the gem who tried to kidnap humans. He still owes her a fist to the face.

He jumps down and lands on a rebel again to poof her. There should be a count on how many times he lands on a gem to make an entrance. He threw a Batarang at Bluebird to distract her and fights the rest of the rebel group.

He dispatched the rest of the rebels before focusing on Bluebird again. She flies at him with mini swords in both hands. He moves his arms up to block the incoming blades.

She flies around like a bee or a fly to annoy him. He wonders how he would fight her if she keeps flying around like a bird, guess that fits the name Bluebird.

(Bluebird) Oi! I trust you remember me, Batman?

She points at one of her gems that looks like a tear drop.

(Batman) Aquamarine...

(Bluebird) So you do remember me. I'm touched.

She flies at him again with the swords pointing at him, ready to slay him. He stands there, staring her down as she quickly approached him with her swords. She was confused on his stare down.

She then figured out why. She flew her neck into a cable wire from Batman's Remote Claw. He used the device that formally belong to Deathstroke when her back was turned as she was flying.

He grabbed her and held her up whilst holding her tiny throat. His hand is too big for her throat.

(Batman) The pearl, where is she?

He displayed no emotion on his face.

(Bluebird) She's at that spire over there, but she knows you're coming, freak!

He clenched his fist, breaking her throat and she poofed.

(Batman) Good...

He picks up the gems and pockets them in his belt. They won't be able to reform while they're in his belt.

10 minutes later

Batman glides to the top of the spire to see two pearls that look the same from behind. He doesn't know which to pick.

Joker: Roll up, roll up, it's "Pick the real Pearl show!" So, where's our first contestant? You! The one with the ears. What's your name, sir? Bruce? So, which one do you think it is, Bruce? Difficult isn't it? Is it the one on the left, or the one on the right? You know when I make the RIGHT decision, I usually LEFT out all the wrong decisions that aren't RIGHT. Helpful hint, Bats?

Batman went to the one on the right. He turned her around and grabbed her throat and--

Joker: Bad luck, Bats!

He looks to his left and she blasted his eyes with her eyes. He falls over.

(Pearl) You're not dying, it just feels like you are.

Batman is having a seizure.

(Pearl) My power is overwhelming your mentality. Drowning you in your sorrows.

Batman started to cough and choke on his hyperventilating breath, trying to resist.

(Pearl) What can you see? Steven's screams? His blood on the glass? You will eventually discover that the Diamomds are a mistake to create an alliance. Then, you will understand.

Batman stopped moving. She kneels next to him.

(Pearl) There is no savior. No more hope. No more Batman.

His eyes opens. That's not Batman.

(Joker) Maybe's already happened.

He gripped her throat as he stood up.

(Pearl) What?

She wasn't expecting the Batman to suddenly stand up looking all fine from the exposure. Some rebels came up the spire and he drops Pearl.

(Joker) Look at me! I'm amazing! And this body... I can't believe how strong it is!

Those are the words anyone would say if they suddenly gain the strength of Batman. Arms that can lift 1,000 pounds and legs that can lift/push 2500 pounds. The rebels are already panicking at "Batman's" posture and his smile.

They're unsettled by his smile, it looked unreal. One of them tried to attack him but he back hands her and she nearly spun off the edge. Another one tried to attack him but he grabbed her leg and twisted her ankle.

As she gripped her leg in pain, he stomps on her torso which broke her form. The third one tried to attack him but he grabbed her throat and leg, holds her up in the air and slammed her head onto the hard surface. The first one got back up and tried to attack him.

He gripped her collar, threw her over his shoulder but still holding on to her, and her entire form poofed as she made an impact on the ground. He did that with one arm.

(Pearl) Astonishing. Such brutality...

He stood absolutely still and she circled him, her teeth out.

(Pearl) You almost cracked these gems... You tell yourself you're not like us. You tell yourself that you're something more, something better. But we just saw your true self. My power only made your emotions resurface. Perhaps you're a murderer after all?

She noticed his sudden flinch about being called a murderer.

(Pearl) It seems you fear murder. Would you become one? Perhaps...

He just stood there. He fell on his knees.

(Pearl) I'll leave you to your thoughts, potential murderer.

She jumps off the spire, disappearing into the society of Homeworld.

End of Chapter 27

5/4/2021