Symbiote Chapter 8

"What's going on?" Aquamarine asked as she watched this whole scene unfold before her.

"Well, you unleashed a parasitic monster that might spell the end of humanity as we know it." Tanzanite answered as calmly as she could without exploding in rage. "I guess that answers your question?"

"...what?"

"That red goop you found in the bubble... that used to be a Gem who had done one of the most atrocious things ever conceived."

"But why?"

"I can't say, but it had something to do with being drunk and giving in to carnal pleasures."

"What the heck are you talking about?" Amethyst suddenly asked.

"Never mind that." Tanzanite answered dismissively. "Steven, just do what you have to do and lick your cousin and Kiki back to health."

Steven went ahead and did just that, managing to heal them almost instantly and get them back on their feet.

Parker was the first to speak up after sticking his tongue out in disgust. "Hey, Steven, what'd you just do?"

"What do you mean?" Steven asked. "I just wanted to make sure everybody was okay by using my magic healing spit, that's all." He merely shrugged a bit after that statement. "I don't see why I wouldn't."

Parked spoke again. "Yeah, whatever. What's wrong with my girlfriend?"

"She's been possessed by a parasite that's hungry on brains." Tanzanite was quick to answer.

"Wait, aren't you talking about the monster from 'The Thing?'"

"No, this one's different. She used to be a Gem just like us."

"Like you?" Kiki asked dubiously.

But before Tanzanite could elucidate further, Monique started rushing at her, finally giving the blue Gem her opportunity to stab through the tan woman's left breast. After Tanzanite had done so, she signaled everybody present to run and follow her back at the Temple in order to get away. They all did as they were told, and before long they'd left Monique in the dust and found themselves inside.

"Okay, now what?" Kiki asked out of curiosity. "We outran the bitch, so what do we do?"

"We must go inside Garnet's old room." Tanzanite answered with a dash of overconfidence. "We'll probably be safe there if Red Antimony hasn't already gained access to her powers."

"Wait a damn minute..." Amethyst murmurred. "Why does that sound familiar?" She was clearly trying to remember something, but it somehow wasn't coming to her.

"Yeah, quick question." Parker spoke up after a minute. "Who's Red Antimony and why are you referring to her as a monster who used to be a Gem?"

"Because she is a monster, Parker!" Tanzanite snapped. "We had her morph permanently into a parasitic lifeform after she took advantage of one of the children!"

"If she was truly that horrible, why didn't you just have her killed right then and there?" Kiki interjected. "That way, you'd never have to worry about her doing it to any other child again."

Out of the blue, Tanzanite's eyes widened and she visibly paled. None of the Gems who had punished the priestess nor the Gems who had witnessed the event from beginning to end had really thought about it, especially since it was against their code to partake in murder. Maybe none of this would be happening right now if they had just made that one exception. Dear God, what had they done?

But there was not enough time to think further on that as they suddenly heard Monique scream in rage outside, and they headed straight for the door with the five gems.