Unrecognizable

~Chapter Twelve~

And there were things that Mumbo didn't even teach the AI, yet he discovered on his own. For instance, he certainly made a personality for himself. Much unlike the quiet, mildly grumpy AI he had been right at the start of his life, Sage was now almost always smiling, and always had something to say. He never seemed to get all that upset with whatever Mumbo had to say; he was pretty optimistic, as people go. The Hermits would love him, Mumbo decided.

In other words, Mumbo was ready to bring the npc into the real world. Turning to his creation, Mumbo begun, "Sage, I think it's time we bring you out into Hermitcraft."

Sage's eyes widened in fake surprise. "So you mean there's more than a small room underground? Incredible!"

"Oh shut up," Mumbo laughed. Quite the personality indeed. "What I was going to ask, before I was so rudely interrupted, was if there was anything else you wanted to know about before we go."

The npc stared into space, evidently in thought, for a moment before answering. "Actually, yes. Your... bracelet... communicator... thing. Could I see it?" The npc cocked his head, staring right at the silver band on Mumbo's wrist. 

Mumbo thought for a moment. He had never taken it off before; not that he could remember, anyway. But the communicator, it was just that. A communicator. Something used for communication-- or more, in Xisuma's case, but Mumbo wasn't an admin, so that didn't apply to him. After a moment's thought, the Hermit undid the clasp attaching it to his wrist and carefully handed it to Sage. "Careful," he warned. "I don't really want to know what happens should it break."

The npc took it and turned it around in his hands, studying it. "Cool..." He attached it to his wrist, just as Mumbo had worn it. He sat still for a moment, simply admiring it.

After a moment of uncomfortable silence, Mumbo coughed. "Could I... have it back, now?" No answer. Sage just stayed perfectly still, smiling down at the communicator. "...Sage?"

And that's when Sage looked up with Mumbo, his face adorned with a more-than-happy, abnormally wide smile that revealed crooked teeth and large, gray-speckled, amber eyes.

And that's when Mumbo Jumbo knew that something was terribly wrong.

In a flurry of motion, Mumbo slammed his hand down on the button to open the piston door. The PUSHHHH of the pistons seemed infinitely far away, as he ran up the stairs as fast he could. His racing heartbeat matched badumps with the thump, thump, thump of his feet on the ledges. He had to be almost there! Outside. Something was wrong with Sage. Why had he thought making another AI was a good idea? He should've taken X's advice and let him help. 

X! X could help now. X knew about Sage. X knew the programming behind him. If Mumbo could just messa- Nope. He didn't have his communicator. He couldn't call for help. He had to get there on his own. 

Not far now. How many stairs were there? Was Sage behind him? He couldn't hear anything. Maybe he should look back.

Mumbo glanced back.

Mumbo missed a step.

"Oumph-!" Mumbo hit his head on the hard surface of the step and the world spun for just a moment. But Sage wasn't behind him-- not yet, at least. If he could just make it out, he could get a potion of healing, or simply die, whatever he needed to do to fix his head. 

Aha! Light! Though it was currently just a white abyss, somewhere close, Mumbo could see daylight flooding down onto the staircase. Just.. a little... mo-

Pushhhhhh.

And just like that, the light was gone. Mumbo collapsed to the step he was standing on, panting. 

"You really should've fixed that door."

WHAM. Mumbo's head met the ground again, and everything went dark.

----

When Mumbo woke again, he was in a familiar place. And it wasn't the comfort of his own base. Flinging his pounding head around wildly, he recognized the familiar, small area of his own cell. The one he had stayed in while allowing X to make Sage. The very small, very claustrophobia-inducing one.

Mumbo was liking this place less and less.

Especially since, sitting right outside of it, on the couch, was Sage, his arms folded on his lap, and his grin wide. "So, Mumbs," he began.

"How are you liking imprisonment?"

-(Author's Rambling)-

Okay... don't yell at me. I have a perfectly reasonable explanation for being away for nearly three months. Does school work as an explanation? With the start of school, my focus hasn't exactly been on writing Minecraft stories.

But... to make it up to you guys... I tried to make this chapter extra long to compensate.

And boy... make it long I did.

5687 words.

5687 words.

Well, anyway, I hope you like this bit of a backstory/flashback chapter! I've got nothing to say about it except maybe...

:)

That's all for today, so see ya next time, my little readers!