Chapter Text
Caine was sitting in an oversized plush chair in his office, anxiously clicking the sides of a Rubik’s cube. His mind raced as he stared up at the ceiling, noticing Bubble floating closer in his peripheral vision.
“I just don’t understand it, Bubble,” Caine sighs, glancing down at the puzzle cube’s mismatched tiles. “I gave them exactly what they wanted.”
Bubble lowered himself to Caine’s eye level. “Maybe they’re just ungrateful!” He exclaims. “Or maybe you just failed.”
Caine set the puzzle cube on the desk. “I-I just wanted to know if– If they’d stay,” He murmured, more to himself than to Bubble. “We would all just be happy if– If they stayed with me.” He leans on his desk, tapping his fingers on the mahogany.
“I’ll stay with ya, boss!” Bubble floated closer. “You’re never getting rid of me.”
“They’re not leaving me,” The AI floated above his desk. “Surely they don’t actually want to leave me, right?” He asks aloud. “They love me! Or at least–” His voice cracks. “Tolerate me. They need me. F-For the adventures.”
“They make their own. Without you.”
“I-I bring the whimsy to this place! The fun!” He yelled. “They just don’t know what they’re missing!”
“They’re not missing out.”
“Shut up!”
“Maybe they’ll be better off without you.”
“...”
Pop!
Caine shakes the soapy water off of his hand, trembling slightly.
“Better off… Without… Me?”
That gave him an idea.
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The main living area was strangely quiet. Gangle tried to break the silence. “Are we… Gonna do anything about any of this?”
Pomni sighed. “We need our questions answered, don’t we?”
Caine entered the room. “Hello, my little terrific tangerines!” He cheers. “I have a real doozy for you.”
Pomni stood up. “No! No adventures, alright? We need to talk about that adventure. About what you did.”
“Zippy!” Caine snapped his fingers. The jester let out a muffled yelp as her mouth was literally zipped shut. “I know you’ll be disappointed to hear this, but I actually don’t have an adventure scheduled for today.”
The humans glanced at each other.
“Thank God.” Zooble murmured.
“I’m afraid I have an announcement for you all,” Caine lifted his arm, and with a snap of his fingers, he was in a new outfit, now wearing a floral Hawaiian shirt and a large sun hat, his top hat and suit gone. He wore brown khaki shorts and, of course, socks with sandals, for that true ‘Dad on vacation’ look.
Jax snickered at the AI’s fashion choices. “Wow, gramps. Are you retiring or something?”
“Great guess, superstar!” Caine somehow summoned two suitcases out of nowhere, holding them at his sides. “Yes, actually.”
“... Oh.”
Pomni unzipped her mouth. “Wait, what?”
“I know you’re devastated,”
“We just want you to answer our questions!”
“I know you’re devastated,” He repeats, a hint of frustration in his tone. “But you’ll have to handle yourselves for a while. Or however long retirement usually is.”
“But–” Zooble spoke up.
“I’ll be on my way. Farewell, my little colorful cappuccinos.” Caine says with a sigh, disappearing out of the room, leaving the suitcases he was carrying clattering on the floor.
The humans share a glance once again.
“... What was all that about?” Zooble asks.