The Story's Of Taaffeite

Chapter One

She remembered being dead. Actually, legally dead. What happened? Nobody could tell her—as
far as anyone was concerned, she was just a shattered gem. Broken, unneeded. There was no
feeling, only darkness. It felt like an eternity. Somehow, despite the lack of feeling, it was cold.
Intensely and almost unbearably cold.
How long is it going to be like this? the gem asked herself.
The realization hit her that, despite not being alive, she was able to form coherent thoughts. To
know about some semblance of time passing. Is this an afterlife for gems? The thought terrified
her. If that was the case, she would much rather not have the ability to think.
Wait. Something’s happening.
Who’s voice is that?

…

“I feel warm.”

...

Taaffeite blinked her eye slowly. The whispering sounds of working wires and machinery got her
attention first. And then a face appeared in her vision.
Purple, like her. But darker. A gem, clearly. Only a gem would know how to repair another gem.
And from the sudden feeling throughout her body, they seemed pretty skilled at it, too.

“Wait,”

Taaffeite hoarsely whispered.

“Where am I?”

Where indeed. And why would someone go through the trouble of picking up all of her broken
pieces? None of it made any sense to her.

“Looks like she’s regained most of her senses quickly,”

the purple gem muttered, perhaps to someone Taaffeite couldn’t see.

“Am I—is this the Authority?”

Taaffeite asked. The light coming from the overhead projector was
making her head pound.
A chuckle from the gem above her.

“Psh, yeah right! You’re long gone from that hellhole!”

they responded in a mocking tone.

“Then—”

“No time for questions, doll,” the gem interrupted.

“Stay still. Your gem still needs tweakin!”

A laser was applied to the cracked surface of Taaffeite’s gem. It was searing hot in an attempt to
weld the crystals back together. Taaffeite screamed in pain.

“Stop! Stop!!”

The lasers stopped.

“Dammit, I said to hold still!”

the offending gem hissed.

“Black, get in here; I need you to hold her down!”

A door slid open. Calm footsteps made their way over to Taaffeite’s head.

“The hell are you doing?”

the second gem questioned, as if offended by what she was seeing.

“Just poof her again. This has to be done carefully!”

“But I am so fucking close to finishing,”

the purple gem grumbled.

“Mady, shut up. If she poofs while you’re welding, you’ll cause even greater damage.”

Mady? What kind of name for a gem was Mady?
The two continued to bicker amongst each other until Taaffeite gave a groan of annoyance.

“Can one of you tell me where I am and why?”