Hello everyone! First off I'd like to apologies for the delays. It started out as a writer's block and I wasn't sure how I wanted the story to progress. Then I just got lazy, which isn't much of an excuse so again my apologies. I'm not sure how long this chapter will initially be, I tried to make it as long as I could so fingers crossed! I hope you enjoy.
Chapter 3: Welcome To The Family
With our leftovers in hand Mr. Fazbear and I rode to the Fredd Bear Emporium. After about an hour drive into Cincinnati we make it. Now I was expecting it to be big but this place was huge! "Wow! Is this whole building a part of the emporium?"
` It was the size of a large shopping mall. "Well I had many things I wanted to do so I did a little bit of everything." Mr. Fazbear says, unlocking the doors to the car and letting us head inside.
"You'll see that I made this into an exceptionally fine place. It may take some time for you to know where everything is but it isn't important enough to have to rush things. You'll learn your way around. For now why don't we get you acquainted with some of the other employees and give you a grand tour." He smiles to me.
"I would love nothing more…" I speak like a droning fanboy who broke and had to go on autopilot. To be honest I was geeking out harder than any point in my life. As I followed Mr. Fazbear my mind began to overflow, my imagination running wild. Then came the anxiety of meeting new people as we stepped into the lobby. I can only hope that they share the same happy outlook of this place as I do. That hope was very quickly crushed.
"You gotta be fucking with me…" A very tired looking security guard groans out. Luckily no children are around or at least close enough to hear him. The man is slumped over behind the counter, dark circles under his hazel eyes. He looked to be in his 20's and is quite a tall man, even if he is slouching. Next to him is another man sitting at the counter in front of a computer. He is sporting a similar suit to Mr. Fazbear. As a matter of fact he looked quite similar to the old man. My eyes darted between the two as I found more and more similarities between them.
"Mikey, language please." Mr. Fazbear says as he walks to the front of the counter. As do I. Mike jumps at his words, straightening himself upright. The man in the suit doesn't look away from the monitor that the two were previously looking at.
"Sorry sir!" Mike damn near saluted him, which makes me nervous about how strict Mike seems to make Mr. Fazbear out to be. That worry was put to rest, however, when Mr. Fazbear gave Mike a gentle smile.
"You look tired Mikey. What seems to be the problem?" He asks looking between the two gentlemen. The other suited man finally looks away from the screen to speak.
"It's the rat problem again. They chewed through the wires to the origin exhibit stage this time. They also got into a few vending machines and tore the insides up." Mr. Fazbear shakes his head and sighs. All three seem distraught. Finally I spoke up.
"Um… has that been an ongoing problem?" I ask. The two men behind the counter look at me quizzically. Mike looking more confused than the other. Probably thinking of why some stranger is butting in. Possibly even noticing my existence for the first time even though I was standing next to Mr. Fazbear the whole time. Mr. Fazbear nods his head.
"Someone you know boss?" Mike asks. Nervously I smile at them, giving a little hello.
"Oh, silly me. I nearly forgot to introduce you. Mike, John, this is Jesse Haddik. He will be working as a night guard and mechanic for us. I was just about to start the tour." Mike's face takes an expression of clarity. I reach out my hand to give them both a firm handshake, which I proceed to worry that I didn't do right. Too tight? Too limp? It is clear that I am quite nervous about the whole thing.
Mike cuts off the man in the suit right as he goes to open his mouth. "Nice to meet ya bud. I'm Michael Schmidt Jr. Call me Mikey, everybody does." The suited man gives Mike an irritable glance, making sure he won't cut him off again. Mike of course notices and shrugs it off. Seems those two get along really well…
"My name is John Fazbear, co-owner of this fine establishment and son to my father there." He says looking back to me. "A pleasure to meet you Mr. Haddik." John seems to be less friendly with his tone and demeanor. If anything he's just a straight to business kind of guy. A real stick in the mud but I guess every place has the one at least. I always believed that I should avoid those kind of people. It never ends well with those types around me. Though he doesn't seem to pay much mind as he goes right back to gluing his eyes to the monitor.
Mr. Fazbear clears his throat. "Anyhoo, I believe it is time I showed you around." He looks to me and signals with his head for me to follow him. "You'll be meeting a lot of new faces today so be prepared. It shouldn't be too hard to remember them all but it may be confusing at first." He was right of course. First we headed into the break room which was by the lobby to the right as soon as you walk in. The room was simple. A round table sat next to a TV, sitting somewhat away from 3 more rectangular tables. Fridge, sink, vending, hell they even had a lunch lady in here! The lady stood at her serving station and cooking area waving at me with a spatula in hand. Her hair was a grayed gold, albeit possibly due to the hair net, with bright blue eyes. Shorter than most around here she looked to be in her early 40's perhaps.
"Well hello sweetheart, I'm Cindy! You must be new round here." she says to me. She spoke with a bit of a southern accent but not too thick.
"Yes ma'am I am. My Name is Jesse Haddik and I'm gonna be a new night guard here." I reply.
Cindy gets a big grin and ducks under the counter to grab something. She rises up with a cupcake in hand, "Here ya are puddin. Welcome to the crew!" The cupcake was unnaturally big.
Pink icing with blue sprinkles. I dip my tongue across the icing and sprinkles. Delicious, berry flavored. "Thanks Cindy!" Her aged eyes sparkle with delight. My own eyes flick to the motion behind Cindy, in the kitchen. Cindy sees me staring as well as hearing someone rummaging through pots and pans. Cindy somehow gets a bigger grin.
"Hey Chica, could you come 'ere a sec. We have company!" She calls to the back. Chica the chicken, now that's a familiar name. One of the main five animatronics that would constantly be remade through most iterations of the Fazbear gang. The only iteration I don't know much about would be the Sister Funtime crew but I also heard they were created in recent years. A big bulky yet feminine frame with light curves to the body steps out of the door. Looks like the original Chica with a few upgrades. She was much bigger than me, standing about a head or two taller.
"Hello new friend!" She left her beak agape as if she was smiling. She may have a few upgrades but she's still a way older model. Mostly she, along with her companions, would express emotion through their eye gestures. Her voice was almost crystal clear aside from a little scratchiness coming from her voice box, that and the feminine yet deep tone. I suppose an amazoness her size would have a deeper voice too. She also had a bit of a southern accent. My brain running as fast as it does starts piecing things together. This Chica is a cook for her generation, it makes sense that Chica would hang around Cindy a lot and pick up her accent. Animatronics tend to copy or mimic things more than people so the A.I. has more characteristics to it. It's kinda fitting for Chica to be southern.
I return the smile, "Hello. Im Jesse Haddik and I am a new night guard here." Chica gets visibly excited as she hops in place then ducks under the counter like Cindy did.
"Sorry sweety but I beat ya to it, he's already got the cupcake." Cindy says while gesturing to the pastry in my hand.
Chica's head shoots up and spots the cupcake. "Oh not again!" Cindy and Chica both laugh and I felt a little inclined to join. Mr. Fazbear pats my shoulder, gaining my attention. I look to him and he points to a map on the wall.
"Take a good look, this is the building layout." I follow his finger with my eyes seeing a taped on map stuck on one of the walls next to the vending machines. The building, according to the map, has 3 floors. It gives a detailed display of both the upper and ground floor but not the below ground area.
The first floor started at the lobby in the front, then branches off to two paths. Each path starts with a break room. The one I am in and the other across from the lobby. However something caught my eye. In big bold letters I see BAR written in on the other break room. "What's this about?" I ask pointing at the specific spot.
Mr. Fazbear scratches his cheek. "Now how'd that get on their?" he asks in an all too knowing tone. "Well truth be told the other break room is also a bar room. Before you ask, yes it has alcohol in it, but you can only go in with special permission from me, my son, or Mikey." I nod to myself. Pretty cool if you ask me. Though nobody did but I digress. Aside from the break room the lobby branches into two halls. On the left is the Sister's section. On the right hall leads to the Toy and Arcade section. Between the halls resides the food court ran by the original Freddy crew. Chica who I've already met is one of them, yet she seems young and spry for an older bot.
Next was the second floor. This floor was a little more spaced out between sections. Not only was this the floor for the newest animatronics but it is also the living quarters for all the animatronics. Each room individually labeled except for a few that seemed to share a room. If you went up an elevator or the stairs you would find yourself in the section. Farther back is where the living quarters is located. "Hey, Mr. Fazbear I have another question."
"I assume it is about the bottom floor?" He says. He guesses right.
"Yeah, that's right."
"The bottom floor is where we hold our surveillance room, along with parts and services. That floor is very easy to get lost in because of all the tight paths and rooms. So it has it's own map down there. Shouldn't be hard at all to find them hanging up. For the most part you will find yourself down there often given you are one of my new and only other mechanic."
I couldn't help but be confused. "Who's the other one besides me?" I ask.
He smiles a little more than he already does, "Well me of course. I mean Mikey dabbles and I teach him every so often but you and I are the only real mechanics here." My heart almost explodes right then and there. There is a chance that I get to work with Mr. Fazbear himself! This is a legendary opportunity that I cannot and will not screw up! "Now then let's meet the rest of the Fazbear family shall we?" With a farewell to Cindy and Chica we step out and make our way to food court, better known as the Origin section.
When we enter I can hardly see a thing. "Just a moment and I'll get the lights." I hear Mr. Fazbear say. I also notice what sounds like… whispers?
"Uh, sir I think-..." but before I can finish the lights flick on. My assumption was right as many solid bodies leap out behind all sorts of cover. My ears filled with the gleeful cheer…
"SUPRISE!"