Chapter 10 - Mumbo “Come on Mumbo, please?” “I’m not running for mayor.” “But that’s the entire reason I was created!” Mumbo sighed and shoved his hands into his pockets. To his dismay, the small bus stop in which he now sat had not gotten any less crowded than before. The gaps that people left to get on the arriving buses had immediately filled with those getting off. Mumbo’s own transportation wouldn’t arrive for another few minutes, so he spent it talking to a phone that- for some strange reason- desperately wanted him to become mayor. Thankfully no one gave him too many odd looks, thinking he was in some sort of phone call. That was at least marginally close to the truth. “I don’t even think I’m old enough yet,” Mumbo said, frowning. “I’m sure that doesn’t matter. Once they see that you’re obviously very qualified and-” “But I’m not!” He threw his arms up in frustration, garnering a few looks from people passing by. “You see all these people judging you? You’re going to lead them one day Mumbo.” “…no…” “You okay? you don’t sound so great.” “Yeah, yeah I’m fine.” After a few more seconds of blessed quiet, Mumbo’s bus finally arrived. He took out the headphones he’d been using to talk to Grumbot, placed them in his backpack, and climbed aboard. The ride wasn’t long. Barely a few minutes or more, but it was long enough that Mumbo felt it warranted something faster than his bike could lend him. Grumbot, now silenced due to lack of headphones, buzzed in Mumbo’s left pocket. It wasn’t extremely annoying at that moment. The AI probably hadn’t even realized he couldn’t be heard. The bus jolted, going over a large bump in the road. Mumbo adjusted his tie and his posture. If he was going to a job interview with one of the biggest companies in the world, he wanted to look his best. He’d even worn a suit; it was a little old but it would do. Houses flashed past the window, drawing Mumbo’s eyes. He smiled at his reflection as they went over another bump. Suddenly the phone which occupied Grumbot started to vibrate much harder than it had before. It seemed like the AI was trying to get his attention. Mumbo sighed and put his headphones back in, expecting a torrent of words about mayoral duties or whatever nonsense. Instead he got what sounded like a celebration? “-Umbo! Mumbo! Mumbo! He’s here! I can feel Him!” “Who? What? where?” Mumbo asked, confused. “Grian!” Again with that name. “I still have no clue who that is, buddy.” “Mumbo! You have to get off the bus now!” Grumbot buzzed harder, it seemed like he was trying to vibrate his way out of Mumbo’s pocket. “I- what?” “Just go!” “Why?” “!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” “Are you saying exclamation marks?” “Yes! Now go!” “But-” Mumbo hesitated. Grumbot had been going on about this Grian person for ages, and Mumbo certainly was curious. But he couldn’t leave the job interview could he? It was a once in a lifetime opportunity after all. On the other hand, Grumbot had never really been this excited about anything since his creation. As much as Mumbo got annoyed at him, he was really starting to like the little guy. “Fine, I’ll go.” Grumbot seemed to celebrate even harder, if that was possible. Mumbo stood and walked up the aisle to the front. There was thankfully an empty seat right behind the driver, in which Mumbo sat. When asked, the driver pulled to the side of the road and let Mumbo off. “Now what?” “Pull me out” Mumbo did so, and saw that Grumbot’s face had turned into an arrow shape with a mustache. “How’d you do that?” Mumbo asked, referring to the arrow. “I pulled an image of an arrow off the internet, obviously.” “Of course…” Mumbo shook his head but followed the arrow anyway. “So… what’s… Grian’s his name right? What’s he like?”
“He’s the one who came up with the idea to make me. He’s really quite fun, likes to blow stuff up, start wars, that sort of thing. He also started the Mumbo for mayor campaign.” Mumbo pulled up short, “he what? Repeat that?” “He started the Mumbo for mayor campaign?” “No, no, before that.” “He likes to start wars?” Mumbo said, starting to feel not so good about finding Grian. “Yes! Why would anyone start a war?!” “For fun I guess? Why? Why’d you stop moving?” “So he’s killed people?” “Well of course, I mean not permanently or anything, they always respawn.” Mumbo felt dizzy. All this time he’d thought Grumbot harmless, but now it seemed that the AI wanted to lead him to a murderer. “Oh don’t worry he won’t hurt you, he really likes you. You two are like best friends.” “Why in the world would I be best friends with a murderer?” Mumbo reconsidered his life choices. “No idea, I’m still not sure why you’re friends, but regardless we must find him.” Mumbo firmly planted his feet. “I’m not going to see him now! Are you crazy?” Grumbot thought for a moment, the only sound being a few occasional buzzes of the phone. “Hold me up to your face like you’re making a phone call really quick.” “Why?” “Just a little experiment.” Against his better judgement, Mumbo hesitantly obliged. After a moment, a sudden pain sprang up on the side of his head, only lasting for a second. “Ack-!” he yelled, dropping Grumbot. “what did you do?” “Oh don’t worry, I just put a microchip in your brain, it’ll let me lead you to dad!” “WHAT?!” “Don’t worry, it’ll be practically painless. Now let’s go.” Mumbo tried to fight it, but for better or for worse he began walking down the street. He felt trapped in his own mind. He wasn’t even allowed to say anything, let alone stop what he was sure would be his doom. Five awful minutes later he had finally arrived at a large apartment complex. Upon reaching it, Grumbot had relinquished control, though not without a warning in case Mumbo tried to run. As he walked up the stairs, Mumbo felt dead inside. He barely registered the door when Grumbot told him to knock. The door slowly opened to reveal a tired looking blond man whose hair was on fire. Mumbo barely cared. They stared at each other for a long moment before the other man broke the silence. “So… who are you?” “Do you know of a guy named… uh, Grian.” The man studied him. “My answer depends on your intentions...” “Please. My free will actually depends on it.” The guy seemed surprised at first but then just decided he was too tired to care at this point. “Come in, he’s in there.” He pointed to a room just off the living space. “Thanks.” Mumbo slowly walked towards the door. He could literally feel Grumbot’s excitement as he opened it. A little ball of red, blue and yellow lay curled in the corner of the bed. Mumbo was surprised. Grumbot was screaming. Mumbo stepped in the room and pulled out the violently vibrating phone. The ball of colors shifted to peer at the door, it appeared he’d been crying. Seeing who was at the door, the man- who Mumbo could only assume was Grian- sat up. “MUMBO?” In a flash he’d leapt off the bed, leaping towards the doorway. Mumbo stepped back, and put his hands up in some type of defensive stance. Instead of being mortally wounded, however, he felt arms wrap around him, clinging to him as a dying man would cling to life itself. The blond guy stood in the doorway watching the exchange. “Huh, I guess he wasn’t going to murder you after all.” After getting over the initial shock of not, well, dying. Mumbo had absolutely no idea what to do, all he could do was just stand there, confused and petrified. After seeing that Mumbo was in no apparent danger, the blonde guy- who’s hair was concerningly still on fire- left, muttering something about coffee. Grian stepped back, a few tears in his eyes. He opened his mouth, nothing coming out but a choked sob. After several unsuccessful attempts to speak he gave Mumbo a second hug. Though he had just met Grian, seeing the small man so full of emotion made Mumbo tear up slightly. He patted Grian on the back awkwardly trying to offer some small comfort as he sobbed. Grian mumbled something that sounded like ‘I’ve missed you’ into Mumbo’s shirt. “I… I’ve missed you… too…” He felt odd saying it, but something about it just felt… natural. Grumbot buzzed happily from his pocket. Wonderful new cover done by one of my irl friends :D Whadda guys think lol, it’s kinda an odd chapter but I like it :) Also due to being super busy irl, I won’t be able to do ping lists anymore/the wait may be slightly longer between chapters (very sorry, there’s not much I can do about it :’) ) First: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1059153057 Previous: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1115590816 Next: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1129720287
