Stand Trial: Part 2

"Stand Trial: Part 2" is the series premiere of Network League. It originally aired on November 18th, 2023.

Plot
Despite Steven's confession, Ben says he's not convinced. He and Tarlock take off to investigate the ruins of Diamond World 4. Rex is ordered to stall the trial, and steps forward as Steven's lawyer, despite being warned that he will also be executed if Steven is sentenced to death. One of the judges explains, "that's how we solved our lawyer problem". Pearl confronts Steven's friends from the Diamond Corps, but they are unwilling to help him, calling him a disgrace. Angry, Pearll battles four of the Diamonds, defeating all four who attack without her spear.

Finally, Dogward, the only Diamond who didn't participate in the fight, decides to go and help in Steven's defense. Unfortunately, even with glowing character testimony from Dogward and others, Rex is unable to press his case. As the prosecutor attacks the Diamond Gems, the proceedings become more serious, and the Guardians of the Universe, watching from Diamond, decide it is time to intervene themselves, traveling to Diamond 5.

Ben as Jetray and Tarlock travel to Diamond 4's moon, and immediately see something wrong: The moon should have lost its orbit after the planet was destroyed, but it's still there. Investigating a cave, they find an enormous hologram generator. They are then attacked by Rasper, who has followed them, intending on maintaining his "secret" but he is brought down by Pearl, who has followed him.

Steven is pronounced guilty, and he and Rex are sentenced to death. Ben and Tarlock arrive back just before the execution is carried out. On his signal, Pearl destroys the generator, and the intact planet re-appears. It was all a frame-up. Steven then pounces on Vasper, demanding to know why he did this. Vasper confesses that the Gemhunters paid him to carry out the charade – intended to draw the Guardians away from Diamond. The Network League then notices Guardians of Gems leaving the trial.

The Guardians arrive at the Gemhunters' base, only to find them gone, just as the Network League finds them. They admit that they built the Gemhunters several thousand years ago, before the formation of the Corps, but decommissioned them, as the robots were unable to see the “gray area” between right and wrong. They reprogrammed the robots for more mundane tasks, but now realize that the Gemhunters have been scheming to retake their old power.

The League returns to Diamond World to find it under attack by the Gemhunters, who have taken control of the outer defense systems. With the assistance of the other Lanterns, who were convinced by Pearl to help, they batter their way through the defenses, but are too late to prevent the lead Gemnhunter from entering the central battery, absorbing its power into himself. However, Steven absorbs the battery's power into his gem, reciting the Diamond's incantation: somehow, this has the effect of cleansing the power of the Gemhunter's influence, and returning it to the Battery. The Gemhunters are repelled.

Restored to honor in the Guardians Of Gems, Steven leaves Diamond Gem World with his teammates.

Continuity

 * Steven always read these lines again to remember
 * Diamond Gems returns after fighting Steven friends for years
 * Stand Trial is the world of the courts

Trivia

 * Steven gems got better with age, as he unlock new powers
 * Pearl always serious, when her friends are in danger
 * Atomix appears for the first time