Mumbo fidgeted with his tie as Doc examined the crystal. "Hmm... It's definitely not from the server, I can tell that by some of the hairline cracks, likely a result of when it passed the firewall."

While Mumbo didn't know much about the whole server management stuff, he understood what Doc was talking about. The Firewall was a barrier between the console island and the server abyss, shutting them off from the rest of Minecraft. Other servers were the same, the firewall protecting them from Griefers or worse.

"So... What is it?" Mumbo asked.

Doc grumbled something before lightly smacking the crystal on the table. "Either the host is very good at being quiet, or there isn't one at all."

"Host?"

"Yeah. It's a communication device of sorts. Multi-server with the right code, which we've confirmed to be inscribed onto the crystal itself. But this sorta thing is highly illegal, since the only way to make these is with a hacker's touch and dark magic, or more specifically, it's the work of a modder."

Mumbo frowned. "A modder?"

Doc spun around to face him. "Yes. I'm assuming you don't know what they are, so I'll explain. A modder is someone with admin powers or creative mode who's proficient with command blocks and hacking. They're able to create new code on their own, as if they were a developer." Doc met Mumbo's eyes. "And they are often confused with the Fae, although I suspect the two are connected in a similar way admins and moderators are."

Doc spun back around to inspect the crystal once more. "From what I deduct, the host of the crystal is gone, either they found a new hosting source, or just gave up. Although it would take incredible hacking skill to infect another piece of technology, rather than just the crystal."

"So... What do you suggest we do with it?" Mumbo asked.

Doc placed the crystal in a silver bag. "While I'd love to keep this in Area 77 as a new display, it's best to get rid of it. Probably protected against lava, so I'd suggest taking it to the End and dropping it in the void." He handed the bag to Mumbo.

Mumbo frowned a little. "How do you know all this about modders? I'd expect this from Xisuma, sure, but I thought you were a technology guy?"

Doc rolled his eyes with a gruff laugh. "Have you not seen the displays? I've had to do research in glitches, and ended up dabbling in mods as a result."

Mumbo nodded. "Well, I'll be off."

_________________________________

Poultry Man sped around the End, enjoying the open space and thin air. Xisuma did reset the End last night, so he knew lots of Hermits would go endbusting today. Perfect for a superhero ambush.

He'd already managed to get Iskall, Scar, and False, and was constantly checking the time so he could get changed and fly to Mumbo's base before the sun set. He wasn't expecting the mustached man to appear on the obsidian platform a couple minutes later.

But when Mumbo casually pulled out a silver bag-one he recognized from Area 77-Poultry Man dove down to surprise the redstoner.

"Why hello!" He chirped, startling Mumbo, who dropped the bag into the void. "Oooh, I hope nothing valuable was in there."

"Just something Doc wanted me to dispose of anyways." Mumbo replied.

Poultry Man shrugged. "Okay. Heads up!" He shot a few eggs at Mumbo, who expertly dodged.

"Heh, nice to see you too Gri-Poultry Man." Mumbo then frowned. "Wait, you're wearing an Elytra? But..."

Poultry Man let out a giggle, knowing full well of why Mumbo was confused. "Let's say I picked up a few tricks." He snapped his fingers, and Mumbo caught a glimpse of lilac wings before Poultry man snapped his fingers a second time, the elytra reappearing. He game Mumbo a sly wink before diving into the waiting portal, ready to wake up on his bed at home.

Instead, he  found himself at spawn island. That... Was strange. He swore he had his spawn set, had somebody stolen his bed? He glanced around, making sure he was alone, before taking off the chicken mask and outfit, dropping the glamour on his wings.

Grian sighed and stretched, standing up. He then noticed a note tacked onto the nether portal.

Hey G,

So something happened and now your spawn is permanently set to spawn island, not sure why. Aslo, you kinda have Keep Inventory on for some reason. Hopefully this'll go back to normal, but don't worry. If anything regarding those changes, don't hesitate to text me.

- Xisumavoid

"Well, that explains that." Grian shrugged, stepping into the portal with the note. He stuffed it in his inventory, before hopping out of the portal and gliding over to his own portal. He noticed, with a smirk, that flying everywhere continued to be a habit, even with the new wings.

Grian stepped into his base and after stowing the Poultry Man costume and the leftover eggs in the Poultry Cave, grabbed his bed and a couple empty shulkers, filling them with the necessities.

___________________

Mumbo has just got back to his base, when Grian swooped in with an excited "Mumboooo!" and gracefully landing in front of him.

"Grand entrance as always." Mumbo chuckled.

Grian grinned, happy to be with his best friend. "So, care to help me unpack?"

Mumbo nodded, and led Grian upstairs to his living area. "So, I think Poultry Man's secretly a fae as well." He teased.

Grian returned his casual accusation by faking innocence. "What makes you say that?"

"I was in the End today, and he kinda ambushed me. I caught a glimpse of his wings, purple like yours." Mumbo pressed the act lightly, curious as to how Grian would weasel his way out of that one.

Grian gave him a sly smile as they arrived in the living area, a simple, wide room with a bed in one corner and a few chests. He flew into the room-literally-and said his iconic line:

"It wasn't me, it was the man in the chicken costume!"

Mumbo laughed as he stepped inside himself. Grian had already set up his bed and haphazardly set down his shulker boxes in a corner. He then whirled around practically begged mumbo to let him decorate the room.

Mumbo sighed, and gave him a nod. Grian really was a builder at heart, and Mumbo enjoyed watching him work, even if he didn't quite understand the meaning behind all the different accents. He lied down on his bed and watched Grian flit around the room, putting various lamps and blocks around. He eventually found himself dozing off.

Smack

Mumbo jolted awake in surprise, glancing up at Grian who was holding a pillow and grinning mischievously.

"I couldn't resist." Grian confessed, attempting and failing to suppress a smile.

Mumbo found a grin spreading on his own face. "Oh you asked for it." He grabbed his own pillow and smacked Grian who shrieked and stumbled back, laughing like a maniac.

"Pillow fight!"

____________________________

Doc cursed himself for making assumptions. Because he'd assumed the crystal had no host, he was left fighting for control with some hacker from another server. Curse his cyborg parts, curse his impatience, curse the fact he was losing control-

Doc slumped over, and found he no longer had control of his body. He was trapped in his own mind, forced to watch as his possessor stood up and let out a laugh.

For once, he felt a pang of sympathy for Xisuma.

What's your name? He growled in his mind.

"Sam." The possessor answered simply. "And this is much better that a book. I can actually move around. And from my research, all I have to do is act grumpy, and no one will suspect a thing."

Doc hated how smug Sam sounded. What do you want?

"Oh, not much. I just need to stalk Gree-on until he fulfils our promise." Sam grinned. "Now tell me, where does he like to hang out?"

Doc didn't answer. There was no way Sam could make him, right?

Sam laughed. "The funny thing is, if I hurt this body, only you will feel pain. So I'd start talking."

Well crap.