Freddy waits patiently for Vanessa to finish chatting with the technicians on the outskirts of the Atrium. Between the people asking her questions and Gabe having condescending remarks, Vanessa's on the brink of snapping. It pains him to know he resides in a place to entertain people, on the idea from the owner who treats his employees smaller than a grain of sand.

Yet, despite the occasional talks to convince Vanessa to quit for the sake of her mental health, she refuses. "I had crappy jobs and this is the worst one, but it pays the bills. I can't just quit for the sake of quitting cause Gabe's a douche lord." She had said four years ago, a little over a few months in that year. Prior to that time, she wouldn't care if Gabe would have fired her. Because she was always stressed from rude guests and unrealistic hours and demands, the amount of times she would have quit escalated to more times than her filling out a PTO form.

Then she took in Gregory, moved into a rental property and had a total of $2 worth of raises in the six years she'd served at this place. She now prefers to swallow dozens of pills to keep her stable over quitting for a lower paying job that may not even be in the area, especially since Gregory's has grown fond of him and Chica.

He would have loved Bonnie and Foxy too. Freddy rids his memory of that thought, seeing that Gabe has moved on and Roxy (from wherever she came from) walks with him, asking for the 99th time of having her greenroom covered from head to toe in mirrors. He hadn't seen Monty nor Tessa and he'd prefer to stray from Monty, growing annoyed at his bandmate's constant anger.

It felt wrong to be thinking it, considering that he's a patient robot who gives all the benefit of the doubt. But he couldn't wait to see the looks on Monty's and Roxy's faces when Chica's back to herself, virus free and ready to rejoin them.

"Freddy," Vanessa's approaching him with the same tired expression, though she does smile a bit to see him. "I didn't think I would see you for the rest of the day."

She's talking about this morning. The initial conversation discussed the aftermath of Chica's breakdown to be replaced. In which she went on an anger rampage before shutting down. It hadn't been like the last time, where she was unaware. That time, she had been fully aware of something trying to take over her whilst trying to process her own anger. Then it jumped to Vanessa bringing the bad news. "I can't risk it anymore Freddy," she had told him with firmness. Her body language portrayed a different story; the tale of distress and betrayal she felt for being the one to disassemble a close friend.

It's why Freddy, despite the inner sorrow he felt, tried not to show emotion and thanked her for trying. The last thing he wanted is for Vanessa to feel nervous around him because she did the right thing, even if it'd cost him to lose his best friend.

But now, he thought, reflecting her smile. Now no one has to be replaced.

"Freddy, about this morning–"

"It is okay Vanessa, I understand what you had to do." He gently interrupts.

"Had? I hadn't done anything. They're still setting up the scooper." Vanessa eyes him. "What did you do?"

"Nothing, I promise. But I do want you to be aware that Chica's in the process of being cured."

"By who?" she inquired, the answer coming to her before the question was asked. "Oh my God, this child," She can't say that she isn't surprised. "How did he get in here?"

"Most likely through the undergrounds and sewer tunnels." He follows Vanessa into Rockstar Row.

"Why did you let him go – never mind he wouldn't have listened to you anyway. What part of no does he not get? Oof, I swear I'm going to–"

"Vanessa, please. I am sure he did not mean to be disobedient but he had a reason. This device he has, it could very well be the answer we have been looking for."

"Oh goodness, Freddy. I don't want to hurt your feelings, I don't. However, I made it clear that Chica wouldn't be safe around the public. Who's to say this 'cure' would work? I'm not risking anything so I'm going down to Parts and Services to stop this."

"He still has the best intentions. I honestly believe that he would not put so much effort had it been Roxy or Monty or even Sun. This is Chica we're talking about. She had been there for him when his parents abandoned him." Vanessa stops walking and sighs heavily. "Even if Chica could never step into the PizzaPlex, who are we to take away her life over an error? One that can be fixed which is what Gregory is trying to do. Everyone deserves a second chance. One more time, that is all we ask."

Vanessa lets out a huff. "Let's just get downstairs so I can monitor the progress. But, if so much of a growl emits from her system, I'm shutting it off." She warns and a relieved smile reappears on Freddy's face. The things she puts up with for robots and children.

An alert captures their attention, prompting Vanessa to pull out her communicator – indicating a call from Parts and Services. "That must be Gregory wondering where we are." Freddy notes. "I could have sworn it has been a few minutes since we departed."

"Considering how strong willed he is, I wouldn't put it past Gregory to be impatient." Vanessa pressed the response icon. "We're on our way downstairs –"

"Vanessa!" The tone in his voice is not from someone who's patience is running thin, rather of an urgency. Something felt wrong and that's enough for Vanessa to take off running, Freddy not far behind her.

"Gregory? What's wrong? What's happening?" She calls, bolting down the flight of steps. Consistent static frequency interfered – something had damaged the communication module. Waves of screams and things crashing are heard over the infrequency. "Gregory!"

"Help!" The communicator cuts dead.

They reached the area, glass everywhere, live wires springing, forcing the two to retreat out the area to avoid electrocution. In the middle where the Key-X machine resigned, the dome had broken and the wiring on the gurney cut. Her heart pummels into her stomach. "Oh no," Her mind races. Where did they go? What happened?

A scream is heard and Vanessa knows it to be Gregory's, prompting her to run down the corridor, calling his name. Hallway after hallway, nothing but darkness. An object trips her onto the floor and because of the rather dimmed hallway, she's helpless until Freddy has caught up with her, shining little light he had in his eyes. It is enough to reflect on what had tripped her – a sweatshirt she knows that it's Gregory. She'd yelled at him time after time to stop leaving clothes on the floor and it was always this hoodie that was the culprit.

She motions Freddy closer to get a further look and then wish she didn't. Because the hoodie is covered in blood, she couldn't handle the sight of blood. And it isn't a small speck from a papercut, the garment is soaked in blood, with the liquid still making its rounds to cover the hoodie completely. Vanessa drops it, shaking.

"Freddy..." Vanessa's quivering, before reminding her of the consequences of why she could never make it in the medical field. Her body gives out and she faints. Freddy catches her, holding the woman in his arms and making his way upstairs while he accessed his own intercom.

"Everyone, get to Rockstar Row as soon as you can!"


Roxy's the first to arrive. "Vanessa?" She whispered, frightened. Freddy had just laid the woman down onto the sofa. "Freddy, what – ?"

"Oh no!" Sun's next to arrive, hands covering his face.

Monty arrives after, at first wearing a scowl to support his dislike of Freddy interrupting him whilst he's in the middle of something. However, seeing a fainted Vanessa and the bloody sweater, his eyes widened in the seriousness of the situation. "The hell happened?"

Then there's Gabe, who followed the animatronics out of suspicion. seeing Vanessa passed out on the couch, he scoffs. "Why is she sleeping on the job? This is not the time to be playing Sleeping Beauty when there's work to be done! Are you kidding me?" His ranting's interrupted when Monty picks him up and growls, threatening to twist the male into a golf-size ball if he dares speak another word.

"Freddy, what happened?" Roxy presses, covering her eyes to forgo the sight and urge to cry.

"Chica happened." Tessa answers, approaching everyone covered in dirt and debrief with parts of her casing missing, revealing her exoskeleton.

"Tessa?"

"She went bonkers and broke the machine. She attacked us and knocked me unconscious. When I came too, she and Gregory were gone." She remorsefully reveals what it seemed to be a device. Broken into two and beyond repair.

Freddy gasps. "That cannot be what I think it is." He takes the item for further inspection, confirming his fear. The very last thing to help Chica had been destroyed.

"I'm sorry Freddy, I wasn't able to stop her."

Vanessa groans, coming to her surroundings and her face whitens. She'd wish it was like the movies, when someone passes out and reawakens, they have no memory of what took place. However, she remembers seeing the hoodie on the floor and snatches it, bursting into tears. "Oh God, Gregory! Where is he?"

"I don't care to know what happened, fix it!" Gabe hisses. "I don't want to find out a possible murder happened. Press will have a field day with this!"

"Shut up!" Vanessa snaps, getting into his face. "Gregory is missing and all you care about is your stupid business!"

"How dare you talk to me like that! I ought to have you fired!" Gabe yells before he gets punched in the face, knocking him onto the ground. He glares at his assailant.

"Didn't I tell ya to keep your yap shut!?" Monty snarls, raising a fist again for another hit. Freddy stops him.

"This isn't the time, Monty." Freddy interferes, turning to Gabe. "You need to evacuate the building. Those workers aren't safe if Chica is still roaming about."

A scoff. "I got hundreds of thousands of dollars in renovations that need to be done in a short timeframe. Nobody's leaving."

"Gabe please, we cannot risk anyone else getting hurt. You have to evacuate."

"And if I don't?"

"Then they're going to find a missing body and I'm not talking about the workers." Monty threatens with knuckling his claws.

Gabe murmurs under his breath. "This is absurd! I must be the only guy getting harassed by his own creation!" He'd said, walking away. Vanessa had taken her flashlight, walking away from the group.

"Vanessa, wait! We need a plan!"

"I'm going to find Gregory and you better not stop me." She snaps at the robots, entering the underground entrance and slamming the door behind her.

"We can't let her go alone." Roxy states, "But they can be anywhere in the building."

"Then split up. Chances are good if the PizzaPlex is still on lockdown." Freddy instructs, heading in a different direction. Roxy leaves to follow Vanessa for the woman's safety and Sun opts to go to a different place, wary of any places that offer the lack of light.

"What did you do?!" Monty snaps once he and Tessa are alone. She smiles, angering him more.

"Tessa, what did you do to Gregory?"

"I didn't do anything to him, Chica did when she got in my way." She fixes her hair, frowning at her current state. "It was a nasty accident that was out of my control. The sooner we find and scrap the chick, the sooner we step closer to our goals."

No response.

"You still want to be the leader, don't you?"

"Whatever."

Tessa smirks. "We have a plan to follow through, best that we continue the charade. Now, shall we go search for our missing friends?"