Welcome to chapter three everyone! I hope you enjoy it at least as much if not more than I did writing it, and I've given up on trying to keep this SUPER LORE ACCURATE as I rebooted shortly before FNAF:PS came out and as such trying to shoehorn in that much lore and have a comprehensive story would be nearly impossible. I'll complain more about this after the chapter, so read on!
Mr. Fazzbear tightened, and his face hardened, giving mike a pensive but all the while intense stare before he spoke softly, seemingly afraid of each word he intoned to the younger man in front of him.
"what do you mean boy?" his whisper spoke, enunciating each word carefully. Mike sat up a bit, before judiciously recounting what had happened in all the years since his last visit to the pizzeria.
17 years in the past, intense care, right after what would be later called by the Schmidt household as the 'Fazzbear event.' David and Mike's father, Berkel sat in the waiting room with his wife, rubbing his thumb anxiously over the top of her hand, in an attempt to comfort her. The two were waiting for word that their first-born son would be okay. He cleared his throat as he saw two doctors walk in, a grim look upon the first's face as he marched forward the second was much harder to gauge. "Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt…" the first doctor was interrupted by the missus in question, a sob wracking her smaller frame. Berkel wrapped an arm around his wife before nodding for the doctor to continue. "We need a decision from both of you quickly." Berkel's brow furrowed as he watched the doctor. "Your son, won't be able to recover from his wounds." Freya cried freely now and Berkel himself began to slump. "That is sir, unless you agree to letting me attempt to save his life with an experimental treatment." The second doctor said, an unnerving excitement in his eyes before the first doctor amended his statement. "There would be no guarantee, but it would bring his chances up significantly if we go through this treatment." Berkel nodded and looked down to his wife who nodded as well, it would be better for their son to have a slim chance, especially when the alternative was… "do it." Both doctors nodded and turned but before the second began to walk away Berkel, grabbed his sleeve.
"Please save my son…"
"So you mean to tell me that your brother went through some sort of experimental treatment and came out okay?" Mr. Fazzbear asked incredulously. Mike nodded then amended his affirmation slightly.
"Sort of, he was different after that. Much less responsive to anyone, and apathetic. Though I still think the original him is somewhere deep down. It was why I tried so hard in my studies. To hopefully get into CIT's experimental medical program and fully fix him more than the Auto docs and some weird experimental surgery could ever do." He said quietly and Mr. Fazzbear nodded patting his shoulder.
"I know this job can't pay for anything like that but if you need my help just let me know. You've given me a second chance and that shows me that I can trust you to not judge like the… others, have in the past. So, any help that I can provide with what remains of my resources I am more than willing to help. You are also about to take care of my family" He gestured to the pizzeria around them before checking his watch and starting slightly.
"my my! We've been talking for quite some time, it's nearly half past eight Mike! You ought to head home and get some rest, all your employee supplies will be ready when you come back tonight. Remember be no later than 11:45 after that the generators shut down to conserve on power and so Mass Fusion doesn't flatline my wallet" they both laughed a bit at that and mike nodded, gathering up his leather riding jacket and helmet, he stepped out, and drove off, waving to Mr. Fazzbear who waved back, smiling and walking back inside.
"That boy… he is the one isn't he? I doubt that even he knows" uttered a quiet voice, to which Mr. Fazzbear frowned, shutting the small vent slit.
"You have no idea, do you?" Mr. Fazzbear rubbed his forehead looking at the animatronics spread about his establishment.
"I doubt you know how much you mean to this place, how much you mean to them, to her…"
Mike shut the nuclear engine of his atomi-cycle down and walked inside the small house he'd lived in ever since the incident. Setting his keys on the hook he walked over to the mail box, looking through all the bills and other junk mail he'd received, only stopping at a rather beat up envelope with a slew of stamps on it, as well as several different languages written across the front and back respectively. 'no return address… it had to have been hand delivered then. But by who and what for?' he walked inside and sat down at the kitchen table, opening the envelope in question. As he did, several folded, stained, and ripped up documents fell out of it along with a holodisk. Picking up the cartridge, he examined it, seemingly, it had been rewritten several times as it had the wear and tear of being used for a long time for plenty of different things. Setting it aside and pulling out the remainder of the contents of the folder, which consisted of photos, sticky notes and a few… napkins? Mike looked at the napkins, each detailing something different, one seemed to be referring to the containment of something called remnant while others talked about artificial muscle and other fringe science mixed with what mike could only categorize as a madman's ramblings. Mike sifted through the other papers and photos, stopping when he came to a picture of… himself? 'The hell? And this was just a few months ago…' he tried to remember anything out of the ordinary on that day, but it had been much like any other, out on the town with a few of his friends, nothing more. He returned his attention the holotape, more acutely, the label on the side. 'Play me' was written in handwriting different than that of the notes scattered on his table now. He walked over to his holotape player, slotting the cartridge into the reader and sitting back, rubbing his face apprehensively.
"If you are listening to this then you have been selected. Now for what you might ask, aha! Now that I can most definitely answer, given that you are indeed the proper choice as I believe you are, though only time will tell. To receive all the answers and more that you have questions to, I-we need you to do something. You will be tested. Now this is no traditional test, given that you succeed you will not only be given answers but also given much more. If you fail… lets just say that your life will more than likely dramatically change." Mike blinked a few times, taking a few moments to realize that the tape had stopped playing. It was all way too much to absorb and he walked out to the small balcony that was connected to his apartment, pulling out a cigarette, and lighting before leaning against the wall and taking a few puffs to calm his nerves. 'what does this all mean? What's going on?' He rubbed his temples and took another drag off of his cigarette. 'well either way, I can't focus on that right now. I need to focus on tonight. New job, new life. And hopefully now, some answers.' He finished his cigarette and ashed it carefully before heading back inside. He looked over all the documents as well as playing the holotape several more times, not being able to make heads or tails of it any more so then the first time he'd gone through all of it.
By the time he'd exhausted himself looking through all the documents he checked the time and swore softly, it was nearly time for him to be there and he wasn't any more prepared for his first night than he'd been before he'd left the pizzeria earlier that night. He quickly threw on his leather jacket, shoes and helmet as ran out to his Atomicycle, nearly tripping over himself along the way, a wave of apprehension welling up in his gut as he began the short ride to the pizzeria. Stopping at a light he bounced his leg, trying to master his nerves before he reached his destination. As the light turned green he was startled out of his revelry by the horn of a large semi-truck behind him and kicked off, speeding ahead to hopefully, a new beginning.
As mike parked and readjusted his glasses he felt as though he was being watched. He gently shook himself and removed his helmet, pushing his slightly messy hair into a more manageable shape, and looked up at the pizzeria, he noticed some more of the neon had gone out, giving the place even more of an eerie vibe, though the smiling face of Mr. Fazzbear helped ease his tension slightly.
"There you are! I was worried something happened, was about to call when I heard the atomicycle outside, everything alright, Michael my boy?" Mike raised his hand in hello and smiled sheepishly.
"sorry, I lost track of time, won't happen again sir." MR. Fazzbear waved his hand and chuckled, putting his hands in his pockets.
"don't worry lad, happens all the time to me, head is always buzzing with thoughts that I sometimes forget the world around me. Which reminds me! I need to give you your uniform as well as the key, I won't always be here to let you in or lock up in the morning so, here you are" He ushered mike inside and handed him both a key ring with various keys and a fob as well as a pristine uniform that looked like it hadn't been touched in well over a decade.
"sorry if the style is a little dated on the uniform, and don't mind the other keys, just use this one" Mr. Fazzbear said, pointing to a rather mundane and unremarkable key. "that's the one to the deadbolt on the front inner and outer doors, just remember to lock up as soon as you're inside, don't want anything getting in or out" he smiled and tapped the side of his nose with his finger. Mike smiled but was confused.
"what do you mean get out?" Mr. Fazzbear laughed and nodded, fixing his suit jacket.
"sharp as ever, but I'll let the training tapes explain that one as it is well past this old man's bedtime, good night Michael, lock up behind me" mike nodded and did so, slightly miffed that he was getting fewer and fewer answers the longer the night drew on, though hopefully the training tapes Mr. Fazzbear had mentioned would help alleviate some of his frustration as well as answer at least a few of his questions. He went into the bathroom and changed into his new uniform, doing his best to ignore the smell of it. 'this is definitely going through the wash at least twice before I go to sleep after this shift' he thought to himself as he made his way to the office, adjusting his collar on the shirt, trying to get the tie to choke him just a bit less. He jumped as the phone rang and picked it up. "hello?"
"Hello, hello? Uh, I wanted to record a message for you to help you get settled in on your first night. Um, I actually worked in that office before you. I'm finishing up my last week now, as a matter of fact. So, I know it can be a bit overwhelming, but I'm here to tell you there's nothing to worry about. Uh, you'll do fine. So, let's just focus on getting you through your first week. Okay?" mike felt slightly stupid, as this was a recording like Mr. Fazzbear said it was going to be and yet he'd answered it like a regular phone call, his thoughts were interrupted by the phone recording continuing.
"so uhm, I need to read off some of the legal mumbo jumbo, you know how it is. Ahem ""Welcome to Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. A magical place for kids and grown-ups alike, where fantasy and fun come to life. Fazbear Entertainment is not responsible for damage to property or person. Upon discovering that damage or death has occurred, a missing person report will be filed within 90 days, or as soon property and premises have been thoroughly cleaned and bleached, and the carpets have been replaced."" Mike's eyes widened and he looked around the office. 'surely this is some sort of prank, it has to be, where's the camera?' When he didn't see one he looked back at the phone and listened closer
"…sounds bad, I know but here's the thing, you really don't have anything to worry about. Now uh, the animatronics here do tend to get a bit quirky here at night and wonder around. Now do I blame them? No! if I was stuck on stage singing the same songs for twenty years I'd be a bit irritable at night too. Now remember, these characters hold a special place in the hearts of children, so lets give them their due respect. Now that being said, as I mentioned they do wonder around at night, something about servos locking up or some such nonsense. Now concerning your safety, the only real risk to you as a night watchman here, if any, is the fact that these characters, uh, if they happen to see you after hours probably won't recognize you as a person. They'll most likely see you as a metal endoskeleton without its costume on. Which is against company policy, and as such will take you to the parts and service room to get you refitted. Now that wouldn't be that bad, but considering all the suits have crossbeams and wires and other less than friendly things inside them. So in general, avoid getting caught by the animatronics and it'll be a piece of cake! So check those cameras, and remember to close the doors only if absolutely necessary. Gotta conserve power. Alright, good night." The recording ended and mike instantly checked the cameras, checking to see if any of the animatronics had moved, and shook with apprehension when he couldn't find bonnie, he reached out and checked the light, screaming when he saw the large bunny pressed up against the glass, watching mike. Mike slammed the door down with the large button and panted, holding his head.
"shit… what the hell did I sign up for?"
Hello! So here is chapter three, almost a year in the making, a lot of stuff went down. This has gone through so many different incarnations but hey! We're here and I'm finally happy enough to publish this. I hope you guys aren't too mad at me for the wait as well as another cliff hanger. I'm not gonna promise anything as I tend to be really bad at meeting deadlines that are for things like this, but I will say that there is gonna be more. For sure. Anyways, please tell me what you guys think and feel free to send me some ideas or messages, it helps motivate me. Alright see you guys in the next one, Engineer out!
