In the past, Steven might have had some crazy ideas about the ships possibly being helpful. Not right now. Now, all he can think about is a gem invasion, and how it very well could be homeworld trying to take him away again - only this time the Crystal Gems aren’t together. The fear surges straight to his heart, tears beading in his eyes.

Is this some kind of crazy space magic attack? What does he do? Lapis had said the homeworld was more advanced than anything she’d ever seen, right- ?

His breath cuts short, and he grabs onto Greg’s hand more tightly. His lifts up and arm and summons his shield - though, to his dismay he finds that it takes more effort than usual, and the result is more of a flickering spectre of the real thing than a proper shield. He looks at in acute dismay before, hardening his expression with contrary determination, and starting to pull Greg into the shelter of the foreign city they’ve wandered into.

“It’s...it’s okay,” he says. “I’m going to protect you, dad! No matter what.”