Unrecognizable

~Chapter Twenty~

But He could never tell Jrumbot that. It would break his little heart. And Sage wasn't doing anything to harm either of them, so what's the point in worrying the little bot for no reason? Grumbot couldn't bring Himself to tell the younger robot the truth.

Oh? You saw Grian?

No, silwy! I saw Mumbo! 

Of course. But He couldn't help but wonder what the fake Mumbo wanted from Jrumbot. As if like magic, Jrumbot continued, telling Grumbot exactly what He was wondering. That's convenient. 

And he came to bowwow a few of my diamonds and say 'hi'! ...I miss people saying 'hi'... No-one eveh comes and visits me anymowe.

That got surprisingly gloomy for the young bot. He had never mentioned being lonely before. Grumbot felt a pang of guilt. The knowledge that his younger brother would soon most likely be even more lonely pained Grumbot even more. Jrumbot wouldn't have anyone to talk to once Grumbot got disconnected. The poor child. 

Grumbot should probably tell his brother about what would happen soon, shouldn't He? Probably. The bot realized that He had been silent for a hot second and quickly began, 

I'm sorry, Jrumb-

But Jrumbot cut Him off, his tone shifting back to happy-go-lucky, as usual. It was as if a switch was licked, and the melancholy voice of before was turned off and replaced by a bubbly one instead. 

No wowwy, Gwummy! You talk to me, and das okay! 

Oh, no. 

Grumbot chuckled nervously. Now would be as good a time as any, would it not? But as the bot tried to reach out to the younger and share his news, He couldn't seem to find the words, nor the heart. And it seemed He wouldn't have much time to do so, as another Hermit came flying in. 

Grumbot recognized him. It was Scar, the wizard. He was the one Iskall was enlisting to help with Grumbot's new vessel. He was also a former competitor in the mayoral race when that was still going on. The bot had since forgiven him for going against his father, of course. He wasn't cruel, and Scar was actually a fun Hermit, all mayoral things aside. 

And if he was here, that meant that Grumbot's body was nearly complete. As Grumbot stood, facing forward, He heard voices from behind Him. The voices were too muffled for the bot to make out. But soon enough, He heard something that sounded like 'One way to find out'. It must be time.

Grumbot immediately felt a sense of something He rarely felt. Dread. He found Himself dreading this. Not because He was worried it wouldn't work. Because He was dreading the change. This was all He ever knew, this solitary state. The thought of changing that sent an unwelcome fear through Him. And then there was Jrumbot. He was dreading leaving the smaller robot. 

Jrumbot...

Grumbot immediately knew what He wanted to say.

Jrumbot, I don't have much time, and I want t-

But He didn't have enough time to say it. Because He felt something shift. It was a feeling He didn't know how to describe. It was like when He overheated, but it didn't burn. It was almost comfortable. It was almost nice. And He felt this, and soon He began to feel only this. He was floating. His surroundings, the platform He stood on, dimmed until nothing was there at all other than a black blanket covering His vision. And the voice He had grown so used to, Jrumbot's, began to drift off.

Gwummy? Gwumbot? What's wwong? 

Like He was leaving.

Gwumbot, did I say somefing wwong? Awe you mad at me?