Chương 183: LOG-174.

This specific cabling leads to the secondary communications receiver within the Reef. Rerouting the signal for a moment before cutting it would lead to a type of looping error that won't be immediately detected outside of the system. With a sharp stab and twist of an extended talon, I tore through the vital line supplying power to yet another section of the facility I was slowly but surely sabotaging.

The initial worry of being caught by the camera system had long since faded after I'd routed power away from that area as well. Oh, the damage would likely be detected eventually, but considering the Peridot responsible for maintaining this entire section had just left on the first shuttle out after a robonoid manufacturing center had received my glowing recommendation as to her capability… well, it wouldn't be a problem in the short term.

Pulling back and idly sliding the wall panelling that had been covering up the minor cable junction back into place, I prepared to move on to my next objective-"Overseer?" -only to pause, turning to regard the tall figure that had just turned a corner and noticed me standing within the hallway she'd apparently been planning to pass through. I blinked at the abrupt presence, before narrowing my eyes slightly as the pink Gem continued to approach.

"Thulite. You have no reason to be within this area, why are you here?" The designer brought her hands up in something resembling a shrugging motion as she finally came to a stop, an awkward but no less genuine smile plastered across her face.

"I've finished all my current duties for this cycle and was… looking for inspiration I suppose. It feels silly to say it but I've been struggling to come up with new designs!" Without having something sufficiently occupying her time, Thulite may end up becoming a distraction at the wrong time, or worse, make an actual attempt at hindering my escape. She's too unpredictable to be left to her own devices. Right, that… would be a problem. Of course the easiest solution would be to just…

order her to stay within her quarters, I supposed. She might be a little surprised, but she's still an Imperial, she'd comply one way or another. But then again… that would still be gambling on her obeying that order to the very end, rather than doing something… unfortunate. The issue also goes for the rest of the Reef's occupants. Each of them adds their own related possibilities and risks, each of which must be accounted for to ensure absolute success. Something to start working on, then. What if I…

The primary goal remains intact. Escape. The secondary goal is to ensure that escape is unaffected by other Gems, while preferably not affecting those same Gems in turn. Acceptable. And something I could dedicate that analytical portion of my mind to. A long term focus for it felt… appropriate, somehow. Focusing it on clearly defined tasks would ensure a greater degree of control on my end of things. And as for Thulite…

"... Perhaps you should make like a Morganite and go on a trip then?" This time it was her turn to blink, the Nacre offshoot's voice taking on a slightly confused, if equally intrigued cadence. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

"A…trip?" Nodding, I folded my hands behind my back, giving my subordinate a reassuring nod.

"Correct. Morganites regularly take the time to visit architectural sites, usually from Era One, in order to drum up inspiration within those ever so creative gemstones of theirs." Tilting my head to the right, I allowed my nose to gesture to the rest of the Reef for me, even as I continued to speak.

"You've been stuck in this facility longer than many Gems have existed. There's only so many ideas you can draw from seeing the same pearlescent walls every cycle. If you'd like, I could arrange a visit to an Atoll or two for you, or any number of other Imperial facilities. You could inspect the local lightform designs and see if anything sticks out to you."

The borderline glittery fashion designer visibly considered the thought for a moment, eyes taking on a faraway quality to them, as if she were imagining the idea, before she smiled widely, rapidly nodding her head.

"That…that sounds like it would work perfectly! Oh, you're such a clever Gem, thank you!" My own smile remained the same in turn.

"Please, it is my function to oversee the needs of others, the Warp paths are unstable at present, so I'll arrange a shuttle for you soon, just be sure to pack whatever appropriate necessities you might need for a trip like this."

"Understood, Overseer!" Good, that was her out of the way at least. — I stared down at the small training area currently packed full of Pearls, and idly marvelled at just how easy it was to get away with sectioning off entire parts of the Reef for 'special tutoring' when I didn't plan on dealing with the inevitable questions such a thing would prompt later. Convincing my fellow Nacres to fuck off had been fairly easy, in that regard.

One and Two had been more than eager to get some time alone, even if they'd glanced at me pensively when I'd informed them that they could retire for the time being. And Three… Well, Three just wanted to be involved in anything relating to the Batch. So I'd busied her with looking over previous recordings of training sessions, ostensibly to check up on where any such lessons might be lacking in this or that quality.

Regardless, twenty four Pearls, not counting Violet and Patina, who were floating and standing respectively on either side of me, each individual Gem staring up at me with the kind of knowing gaze that made it clear everyone present knew there wouldn't be any dancing today. I unfolded my hands from behind my back and placed them forward, claws clenching atop the balcony railing hard enough that I could feel the material giving away ever so slightly beneath the pressure.

Another moment of rapt, attentive silence passed, then I spoke.

"As of fifteen seconds ago, the newest cycle began according to Imperial timekeeping measures. We will not be operating according to that schedule any longer. Instead, we will be operating within twenty four hour units. You all remember what I taught you in regards to that?" The light, tittering laughter of the entire Batch brought a small smile to my face. Because we all knew it was a pointless question. Of course they remembered. They remembered everything, and they couldn't forget. Just like their creator.

"Good. Within the next one hundred hours, fifty nine minutes and forty eight seconds, we will be enacting a mass breakout, and fleeing this facility together. Let that sink in for a moment." This time, there was no laughter. Instead constant glances between my Pearls as they realised I was being entirely serious.

"During the duration of this training session, we will be preparing for that outcome. I have practiced with all of you in private before. You all are aware of most of the Reef's inner workings, including where the guard barracks are, where the armoury is located, and the positions and distances involved in either getting to the exterior Galaxy Warp pad, the landing pads, or the shuttle bays."

Taking a breath, I gestured towards the green, long haired figure to my left, who was currently managing to make holding over a dozen datapads within her thin arms elegant, somehow.

"Patina will be handing out some reading material I have prepared in advance. It includes everything you don't know, such as security codes, protocols that may or may not activate during a breach within the facility, and a series of communication methods included within the devices themselves that will allow you to contact our allies in Fawn, should you somehow be separated from the rest of us."

Lowering my hand, I paused, taking a moment to truly internalise that this was actually happening, before nodding to myself.

"You will have fifteen minutes to conclude your studies and memorise everything within those datapads. Upon completion, you will store them in your gemstones, pick a partner, and spar with her, and eventually others, for the remaining entirety of the training session, which has been slated for the next few hours. Make this count. We may have the opportunity for an additional session later, but we also may not." I held up a claw, flexing my talons for all to see.

"You will summon your weapons, as I have taught you, and you will duel as if your lives are in danger, because at some point in the near future, they very well might be. Duels will conclude when one or both combatants have had their lightforms discorporated, and then resume when both fighters have reformed. After three successful bouts, partners will detach and seek new opponents. You will also learn how to bubble a defeated Gem during this time, call me for this when your opponent is incapacitated."

A breath of air allowed me to emphasize my next point.

"Once the training session has concluded, you will resume normal operations within the Reef, and await further orders. Violet, I will supervise you personally. Patina, alternate with Eighteen C in the meantime." Already, flashes of light were heralding some of the Pearls inspecting their armaments ahead of time. A dagger here. A length of fabric with a dart at the end there. A small, almost sickle shaped blade near the back.

Watching as Patina blatantly vaulted over the balcony and landed down amidst the crowd, fragrantly disregarding the small set of stairs that a Gem descending to the ground would have normally taken, I allowed my smile to widen. Just a few more things, then we'd be out of here. Next up on the agenda would be permanently disabling Shell, just as soon as I finished sorting through the archaic data explaining just where exactly the Reef AI's core was actually hidden, alongside a few more minor errands.