It began like this, with a great racket.

The newsboys announced in a cracking voice the upcoming friendship party between the Planet Umelia and the Homeworld Planet of the Gem culture. It was news that had echoed all inhabited worlds in the Carthwheel Galaxy, and being Umelia the capital planet, the honor of being the scene of the event made its inhabitants very proud and excited. The other colonies called them vain, but in their place they would have had the same attitude.

Umelia is a sparkling opal floating in the velvet-black cosmos, the largest of the four planets in its small solar system; which serves as a crossroads for many passage space travelers with their spaceships, easy to spot thanks to the continuous passage through the access rings for access to its flight area. From space it is not easy to identify the continents hidden under a veil of iridescent clouds, but once overcome, its stupendous and immense megalopolis of blue steel, closed in transparent domes to protect them from atmospheric agents; they stand out on the surface like acrylics on a painter's canvas.

Unlike other civilizations, which spread over a vast territory to exploit its resources, cities ... or rather, megalopolises are concentrated in a few strategic points on the surface that leave large empty spaces from each other, a reason mainly due to difficult climate. From above the union of these centers appears as the structure of a neuron, whose connections are nothing more than roads and lines for trains closed in long and narrow tubes, while the flashing yellow lights signal their full function.

In the days that followed the great news, the streets sparkled with the headlights of the means of transport: many, including residents, tourists and obviously journalists, wanted to be present when the ceremony would take place in Wolk, the capital of the planet.

Wolk has a ten-pointed flower base, extends across the surface for 102.32 kilometers and is inhabited by 379 563 residents of which 80% are Umelians and the remaining 20% ​​by various alien species. Inside its glass dome, the metropolis looked like a sort of metallic greenhouse: every building - from the largest to the smallest - has an architectural element that a terrestrial would have traced back to the shape of a plant or a flower. Umelians do not have the same concept of flora and fauna as terrestrials, but they certainly would appreciate their shapes and colors.

What are the Umelians like?

These aliens may seem reserved but looks can be deceiving. I am a type of mammal; they have two arms and two legs, with a short and useless tail left over from their primitive ancestors. The two eyes are very deep set and wide like those of an owl, the thick natural eyebrows give the false impression that they are always irritated. Their mouths are thin and their noses are small like a rodent's, their ears are long and pointed. Their skin is thin but strong, and it is covered with thick, short hair. Their colors are mainly bronze, gold and tan, which tend to become dull with age

Back to the great news ... In reality there was much more curiosity about it.

Everyone knew that the race of Gems was among the most powerful and dangerous in the universe, and their disgust for organic life forms was also cosmic domain… this, until the fall of the local dictatorship. Stuff from at least two years ago, but still making the news. The Umelian Governors had initially panicked when the Leaders of the planet contacted them, imagining the worst situation. Who would have thought it would be a question of establishing a pact of peace and friendship? At first they had been very skeptical about it. Then they discovered that other planets had received the same offer of harmony, guaranteeing the honesty of this particular crystalline people (as well as the benefits of being their allies).

What an amazing transformation!

Then they too had a heart, so to speak.

So here we are, a few days before the future of a historical event that occupied all the pages of newspapers with long, detailed and boring articles. Everything else - gossip or politics to name a few - was reduced to short blurbs. The same fate had befallen the articles of the crime news, such as the piece that communicated the murder of a Gem.

"Murder" isn't exactly the right term to describe this bad luck with a Gem, but the concept is pretty much the same.

In this regard, as can happen on any other civilized planet; the news had been "clouded" on purpose: such an incident did not make good publicity.

How would the dignitaries of Homeworld react if they learned of the death of a similar one? But then, can a gem really die?

They are pieces of minerals, after all. Sentient, but still minerals.

You could have asked any Gem having asylum on Umelia, who represent 5% of the alien species inhabiting, but you would go and ask someone what it means to die?

<< If our gems are damaged, our physical form suffers as much as our conscience. Even after being broken our will persists, but it is jagged… distorted… we no longer know who we are. And it hurts. Very bad. I can assure you. >> replied with a serious tone the Yellow Zircon.

The Chief of Police and the Mayor looked down in embarrassment, it was indelicate of them to ask what death meant to a Gem. For a while the three figures did not speak, in the Mayor's office only the sounds of the city could be heard coming from outside the open window.

The slender female figure in a yellow suit, complete with a monocle placed on the left eye and a gem in plain sight under the jugular cavity, which seemed pinned to a white tie, was called Yellow Zircon, and was one of the representatives of the Homeworld.

She had arrived on the planet early to personally check if the preparations for the party lived up to expectations. Then they summoned her to help with the case. It had not been an easy choice to make for the upper echelons of local politics, but in the end they were convinced that it was better than hiding it and risking it being discovered by accident, and now the Mayor of Wolk Harrett Koon and Serghey Ross, the head of the police; they were taking care of it. With apprehension and anxiety.

The Mayor was slowly sinking into the moss-green armchair and continually adjusting his tunic with vertical black and gray stripes. The policeman, on the other hand, stood beside him with his arms crossed, motionless as a statue; while the rosy stone medals and the ocher uniform shone cleanly.

The tense atmosphere in the politician's room, furnished with expensive furniture and precious objects useful only for the boast of those who wanted to prove they have money and power; it was totally different from the jovial one of the big metropolis outside the office. Nobody likes to deal with murder.

The Zircon, tall and proud in bearing, looked back at the series of photos of the case: each square had a white pearl broken in half as its subject, the surface was chipped and even pieces were missing. An organic being would not have seen anything terrifying in those photos, quite the contrary; they would have thought it a pity that such a beautiful piece of jewelry had been ruined. For a Gem, on the other hand… the sight of such a scenario aroused horror.

The Zircon was trying to stay cool as she looked at the photos, it was the Homeworld's represented choice and as such it had to keep a composed demeanor. But it was difficult, even for her, at such a time.

<< How did you know that it was one of my kind? >>

<< One of the editors of the newspaper is a Gem, an Aquamarine I think. They said she screamed like crazy when she saw the photos. They only came to know in this way. For this reason we called it. >>

<< I understand very well: with the imminent feast of the covenant you do not want to disfigure in front of the Matriarchs of my planet. Fear not, they will not wage a war against your planet, they have passed that stage. But they will certainly be disappointed. >>

<< Please, this is the first crime in Wolk involving a Gem. We don't know how to move. I, as Chief of Police, want to do my duty to bring justice where it is needed. >>

<< And that's what I want too. What bothers me a lot is that I was called with a delay of a week from the crime. >>

Serghey Ross had no way of replying to the just irritability of the person in front of him.

He stood serious in front of her, but every hair on his body was standing upright with agitation.

The Zircon adjusted the strange monocle, small squares with writings and images shook on the surface. She asked other questions, in the meantime, including whether they had any clues or at least a small, meager lead to follow. Almost all of them answered in the negative, all they had was just some information about the identity of the Pearl, also uninteresting.

<< Before the fall of the dictatorship, the Pearls were treated as domestic. Theirs is ... it was the lowest of our castes, their only function was to serve the mistresses, entertain them with dance and song, and look as graceful as the trappings in this room.

If the information you gave me is correct, Captain; this Pearl must have been a rebel, presumably escaped years ago from imposed slavery. >>

<< How is this related? >>

<< She was punished. Or rather ... executed. >>

The two Umelians exchanged a shocked look at each other.

They did not hide the amazement and disgust as the Zircon coldly explained how the old justice system of its planet worked: those who disobeyed orders or went against the strict rules, which was considered the worst crime, were punished with the destruction of their own Gem, or in the most "lucky" and equally rare cases, with imprisonment. But she didn't mean being locked up in a tiny room with free food and stuff… in their case, you became part of an object and used as such for life: a mirror, a comb, even a statue. They both thought it was insane and cruel; so much so that they felt compassion for that poor Pearl, who had dreamed of freedom.

<< Are you sure that the victim was killed for this reason? >>

<< I'm sure, the way in which it is broken is the proof. I myself have often witnessed death sentences. >>

<< What kind of role did you cover before? >>

<< I was a lawyer. >>

Continuing the speech, said the Zircon; her guess was that someone had wanted to do justice as in the old days.

<< Not all the Gems accepted the fall of the old regime, especially those that had a very high and privileged rank. But in their own way they try to keep the now obsolete traditions, even if this goes against the will of the Matriarchs. >>

It was a good lead, they could definitely start there with the investigation. But the Zircon still had something to say.

<< I want the case to be entrusted to a Gem, and I do not compromise on this. Your detectives are not up to the task. >>

The Chief of Police banged his fist on the Mayor's desk in anger and disdain.

How dare he say something? Wolk boasted of the best police force in the world, the most perfect court of justice and above all the best detectives on the square. In his district, he could boast the highest record of cases resolved in less than a year, efficient agents like his own, no one else had them and therefore he didn't really care that it was a stranger to deal with them. It was his territory, his city!

He was running the law!

<< I don't understand what problem there is. >> said the gem with cold surprise.

<< You just insulted my agents! >> this furious replied.

<< Not at all, I just said they can't solve this case. A Gem, on the other hand, knows how to move. >>

<< They too will know how to move, as soon as I train them on the matter! They learn quickly and are not hindered by anything! >>

<< This in the case of an incident between you organic. A Gem thinks and acts differently, it does not let us overwhelmed by instinct like you others. >>

The Mayor finally got up from his chair, meddling in the discussion before it degenerated.

<< Please, guys! Please! Arguing is not an option, not now that we are in a delicate situation. Therefore, I propose a compromise: the investigation will lead a Gem as requested by the young lady, but she will have to collaborate and share her findings with the agents of the Captain's district. We're going to team up, right? So let's start this teamwork right now by bringing justice to an innocent, shall we agree? >>

There was a moment of reflection from both individuals. Eventually, they both accepted the bargain.

Now it was time to find a killer.

At the end of the meeting, alone the Mayor left took a bottle of some kind of wine and a small glass goblet out of a small secret cellar. He swallowed two glasses, savoring the bittersweet taste of the drink that he hoped would take the tension away.

He looked at the small digital calendar on the desk, the sweat began to flow more as he counted the time left at the party: five days. Five very short days to the most anticipated event in the Carthwheel Galaxy. He prayed that everything was fine. Because if something went wrong, they would blame him.