[Author's Note]

I'm BACCCKKK with a brand-new story 😊!

I will be uploading Mondays and Tuesdays (unless otherwise noted) each week starting May 2nd to July 26th – just in time for a summertime reading!

If you want, you can follow me on Instagram innerthoughtsofk for updates or if you want to chat.

As always, I welcome your reviews and critiques.

Enjoy!


"Attention Glamrocks! It is nearing showtime! Please report to Parts and Services for one last checkup!" The Dread Unit announces. This is not a typical announcement that welcomes visitors with preppy messages, enticing food menus, or other events happening within the Mega PizzaPlex. No, this announcement was personal, ringing to the intercom of four animatronics from their destinations:

Freddy from entertaining a group of children in a game of Fazer Blast. He survived an ambush when the little tykes 'accidentally' shot his eyes, stunning him onto the floor before they climbed on him like he was some jungle gym. The intercom call was a sheer blessing in disguise, for he learned that not all children are as innocent as they may appear.

Having received a customized hand mirror from an adoring fan, Roxy could not pry away from her reflection. It had been better than to utilize all of her energy to avoid having a tantrum after losing to several races. Plus, it never hurts to instill self-talk of confidence from time to time (or from minute to minute). She would carry the mirror into Parts and Services while others made room for her to walk.

And Monty is positioned to win his 20th hole-in-one, with a group of teens admiring his statue and level of confidence. One teenager has her phone out, with the flash, despite Gator Golf prohibiting such objects with the consequences of confiscation. He pays no attention, especially when she says it will be sent to the Guinness World Records. Seconds from implementing his strategy, his intercom buzzes, throwing him off his game and into an angry fit, scaring away the crowd. He would go on to be serviced with a boiling rage that can rip thousands of bots to pieces.

In a hidden corner in Rockstar Row, out of view from the peering guests, Chica mindlessly pretends she's playing her guitar. Though she remains hidden, hearing nearby conversations overwhelms her, tempting her to seek a quieter location. It would be impossible. She could see the red door leading to the underground. Still, just a three-second dash would catch the eyes of numerous children, going after her and begging for a hug, a chat, an autograph, a photo, an endless line of demands. Chica loved being around people, especially children. The sounds of their laughter and cheers warm her circuits. However, lately, she couldn't shake the desire to put on a fake smile on her face. It felt off. It is in her programming to automatically be customer friendly, but deep within her wiring, she felt off. She didn't feel herself.

It had been around two in the morning; she couldn't stay in her charging port. An ire feeling of frustration and anxiousness encouraged her to elude those 'emotions' she had been feeling. She left to sit on the stage in the Atrium, reeling in quietness where fans would cheer for her and her bandmates. It felt nice for a second before being startled by Freddy. He had followed her out of concern like the true best friend. And in return, she wanted to be honest, pouring out how she was "feeling" drained and wanting nothing more than to shut down for an entire day.

"We have been doing a lot more shows than normal. Maybe you just need a break." Freddy had responded, giving her the suggestion to be absent and rest. They're required to be around during regular business hours, even when there are no shows or events that require their presence. It was unlike Freddy to advise against authoritarian rules. Still, given the state of distress she had displayed, he responded with no hesitation. Chica always admires Freddy's concern, how he is always looking looks out for her best interests. It's one of the things she loves about him. The other things, like how she gets giddy and hard to maintain herself, are a secret for her to keep.

And so, the entire day, she had gone incognito, moving from place to place as much as she could. She only heard from Freddy ever so often, given that he was entertaining guests. She would also hear from Vanessa and Gregory. They had lent their assistance with helping her stay out of sight, mainly when that butthole of a CEO, Gabe Mercy, roamed around. The CEO of Fazbear Entertainment is always making random appearances to ensure perfection and to receive compliments of the wonderful establishment he runs. At the courtesy of the burnout from the few human employees like Vanessa who works themselves to death.

"Chica? Come in, Chica. Are you coming? We have about a couple of hours before the guest of honor arrives." Vanessa's voice rings out through the chicken's intercom. Chica could also hear Gregory talking about whatever goes on in that 10-year-old head of his. It makes Chica smile.

"I'll be right there." She lets her intercom respond internally. Interesting, Rockstar Row got quiet. No indication of any human being anywhere, according to her scans. Chica decided to get to Parts and Services through her green room. Opening the door, she notes a reminder to clean up when she can. Perhaps a clean room could help her feel better. A scent draws her attention to the pile of weeks-old pizza boxes on the floor. To a human, a two-week uncontained smell would ignite nausea. To Chica, it is the comparison of a human's prized perfume. Chica's insides craved for a slice. To sniff the sauces and feel the hot, greasy cheese, the meat, and meatless toppings. She's already imagining how that perfect pie is being made from the chef-bots to hungry guests. It fills her with joy and jealousy. How she wanted so bad to be able to devour a slice without it messing up her systems. Autonomically, she sets off a direction to one of the closest pizzerias, unseen from the public eye.

A few minutes wouldn't hurt. And I won't even have a slice, just a smell. A good-luck charm to hype my energy into overdrive and end the night with one of the best performances ever.


"Where is she?" Vanessa asks frantically, looking from the clock to the security cameras and back to the clock. It's nearly nine o'clock, and Chica hasn't shown up for hours. With every tick the hands on the clock make, her anxiety increases.

Being a security guard/technician was a blessing and a curse. She loves being tech-savvy and having a value other than being seen as a pretty woman. The knowledge she obtains has aided her in multiple situations during her tenure at the PizzaPlex. On the other hand, her job now consists of doing two full-time job duties for the price of an already underpaid employee. Ever since Gabe joined the greed train of utilizing advanced A.I. robots, human employees have been replaced. She had asked, then demanded several times for a raise of $20,000. And several times, Gabe would say that it wasn't in the budget. However, he pulls into the parking lot in his flashy gold Bugatti looking like a million-dollar prick.

"Would you quit fidgeting?" Monty shooting her daggers is still pissed about missing out on a lifetime shot. Vanessa mirrors the same expression. She hates to be told to relax. A typical night is stressful enough to make her pull her hair out. Tonight is no ordinary concert because the guests in attendance weren't just the average Joe. Philip Bowen, songwriter, best-selling author, holder of ten Grammys and several hits, and her admirer since she was twelve will be coming. An entertainment center far out of a choice of fun for the forty-something-year-old, but the perfect selection to host his twins' birthday party.

"Hush, you." She silences Monty, pressing a button on the control panel. "Gregory? Freddy? You guys find anything?"

"We haven't seen her, Vanessa." Gregory's voice chimes out.

"All of her usual hangouts are unoccupied," Freddy adds, worry laced in his tone. "But there is still the other half of the PizzaPlex."

"Forget it, Freddy. We have an hour; I can't have you too far out. Both of you come back." She disconnects.

Monty lets out a scoff. "I could have had more time at the golf course! 20th hole in one, Vanessa."

"You'll live golf gills." Roxy retorts.

"Bite me, Twilight wannabe!"

"Enough!" Vanessa snaps as the red front doors open, revealing a discouraged Freddy and Gregory. She types in Chica's coordinates, showing that the animatronic is still in the building. Where she could pose a different story. Even when they're in their charging stations, Vanessa can keep tabs on their whereabouts. Where are you, Chica? She wonders, scourging the cameras of the pizzerias; despite them being searched minutes prior, they remained empty.

"And this," The front door opens, revealing Gabe with Phillip and his twins. "This is where the preshow magic happens." Phillip's twins, Jackson and Jaylene, squeal with delight, running towards Freddy, Monty, and Roxy, ushering item after item for their autograph. "Phillip, meet Fazbear Entertainment's talented security guard and technician, Vanessa." He introduces her to the prominent figure while keeping an expression that read, 'Do not embarrass me or else I will make your life miserable.' Vanessa has six years of dealing with his buffoonery to know his quicks, both said and the unsaid.

"Daddy? Where's Chica?" Jaylene asks, looking around. "I wanted to show her this pizza doll I made." Phillips looks at Gabe with curiosity, who then glares at Vanessa. She doesn't even know where Chica's at. Might as well tell the truth, get reprimanded, and get it over with.

"She doesn't like to meet guests before the concert. It's one of her preshow mojos that she's been working on. Keeping the magic intact." Gregory says shyly to give the impression that he'd reveal a company secret. Vanessa beams at him like a big sister would. Technically, Gregory's her foster child, but she finds that she's way too cool to be considered a mom.

The response works. The young girl revisits wearing a huge smile, stating how she couldn't wait to meet Chica off stage after the concert. Afterward, the Bowens and Gabe leave, leaving Vanessa to have a moment to herself. She's never been so close with a celebrity, her favorite celebrity at that. The words she wanted to say to Phillip passed from neuron to neuron. "Ugh! I feel like a teenager."

"At least you didn't start snorting like a donkey." Gregory teases. She charges at him, leaving him to run behind Freddy, who watches them with amusement.

Thirty minutes later, Vanessa instructs, "Bring out Mr. Hippo and start downloading tonight's concert into his drive. We'll give her ten more minutes." She keeps herself busy by ensuring that the remaining three animatronics' systems are up to par, despite two of the three robots complaining irritably. With five minutes to go, she sends Freddy, Monty, and Roxy to the performance lift and scrapping Chica as a no-show. Then the doors burst open, Chica charging in frantically.

"Chica! Where have you been?"

"Sorry, so sorry! I took a quick charge, and it must have interfered with the communications." Chica explains, knowing her explanation was not reaching Vanessa. However, it didn't stop her and Gregory (junior-robotic-technician-in-training) from giving her a quick synopsis. Vanessa's nose scrunches at the familiar scent. "Chica, have you been eating pizza? Do you know what that does to your system? We don't have time to fix you with people waiting in the Atrium!"

"I didn't eat pizza, I swear! Just a sniff!" Chica exclaims, automatically opening her casing and revealing her endoskeleton midsection. "See? No cheesy messes, I'm good!"

"60 seconds!" A technician shouts. Vanessa rushes Chica towards the lift. "We will be talking about this later," Gregory hands Chica her showtime guitar. "Just go on out there and put on a good show."

"You know it!" Chica rushes to the lift as a robot near the controls counts down. Ten. Nine. Eight...

"I'm here, I'm here!" Chica announces. Monty goes from focused to annoyed and back to refocus. Freddy's expression relaxes seeing his friend in one piece. Roxy's expression remains unchanged.

Three. Two. One...

"Showtime."

The lift elevates as the announcer rings out, "Ladies and gentlemen! Boys and girls! Fazbear Entertainment is pleased to host a special concert for Jackson and Jaylene's birthday. Put your hands together for the Glamrocks!" The announcement finishes just as they reach the top, standing before hundreds of cheering children and adults. A quick shout out to the birthday kids before launching into Queen's 'Don't Stop Me Now. It prompts several children closer, breaking into dancing.

Under the stage, Vanessa tidies up, bobbing her head to the music while keeping an eye on Gregory as Sun goes over his 'magic performance' following intermission. She laughs at the child's genuine expression of horror and regret for agreeing to be Sun's assistant. "Come on, Harry Houdini," Vanessa hands Gregory a security badge to participate in the concert. She urges them out the door and goes to turn off the lights when something prompts her to stop. Next to the dingy and dated computer monitor, there laid a USB decked in the Fazbear Entertainment logo.

The device was small in size and powerful in its actions. In the event of an emergency, it is designed to automatically restart an animatronics' system to the last restoration point. She only used it when the PizzaPlex experienced a power outage – turning Sun into Moon and turning Moon into a night terror towards anyone who was or looked like a child. She hasn't had a reason to use it on any of the Glamrocks. They get tested every other hour, and she rigorously checks them before going towards the control lift.

Except for Chica. Vanessa shakes her head. Whatever the reason that had Chica M.I.A. for hours, the animatronic did not get into anything worth damaging to her systems. And a quick prescreen showed her results from the last time she had been checked. Plus, Chica has received a lot of downtime to herself to relieve from whatever mood she has been having the last few weeks. System-wise, Chica is fine.

I'm sure it's nothing. The attempt to leave prompts the urge to pull her back ten forth. Sighing, she sticks the device in her front pocket. It wouldn't hurt to keep this with me, just in case. Her mind is messing with her in an attempt to be overprepared. At the same time, if it's nothing she should not be worried about, why was Vanessa getting this ire feeling?


That does it for Chapter one. See you tomorrow!