"Hello! And welcome to the Fazbear Family! We're so excited to have another friendly face join our ever-growing family! But before you become a full-fledged member, there are a few things we need to go over, so let's get started!"
Introduction
"William Afton, the founder and driving force behind our wonderful family, has always strived to bring joy into the world! Hence why he created Fazbear and Friends! Across the country and hopefully sometime soon the world, many establishments proudly carry the Fazbear name. However, these businesses and other Fazbear ventures are implemented with our finished projects and ideas. From the pizzerias to the theme park installations, the birthday party planners for home celebrations and entertainment centers, everything you see in them is thoroughly tested and approved for our customers at large. But none of these locations or positions is where YOU, our newest family member, are being sent to. Instead, you've been approved to work at one of our test locations. Where, in addition to trying out our latest toys, games, and other such merchandise, you'll get to meet the latest innovations in Fazbear exclusive technology! So, let's talk about what YOU can expect from your exciting new life with us!"
Your Job
"First of all, we'd like to welcome you, MICHAEL J. SCHMIDT, to your new position! It's a beautiful thing to be a FAZBEAR FAMILY SECURITY GUARD. You'll be tasked with ensuring all of the test location assets are secure during your work hours. And that NO sneaky little sneakers try to get a peek at what it is we're doing behind the scenes. You wouldn't BELIEVE how many other companies and third parties are interested in our founder, William Afton's genius! But don't you worry, MICHAEL J. SCHMIDT, there is no chance of injury or any other health-related risks with the job at hand. All that you will need to do is adhere to the following list:
-Patrol the building from 12:00 AM to 6:00 AM.
-Engage with the various entertainment objects, such as the arcade machines, to ensure they're working, and nothing is wrong with them during your patrol.
-Take note of any strange occurrences through the night. Noises, movement, and unexplainable phenomenon you cannot rationalize all fall into this category.
-If something dangerous happens, like a fire or other disaster, secure yourself and the priority objects in the safe area to prevent yourself and them from being harmed. Further details regarding this will be given upon arrival at the location.
And that's it! Any remaining questions you have will be answered when you arrive at your destination. Along with further instructions relating to the specific nature of your new job with the Fazbear Family!"
That's All, Folks!
"Aww, this is always the saddest part! Where we have to say goodbye to each other! But don't worry, we'll see each other soon, I'm sure of it! Remember, we're a family now, and we're SO happy to have you! And if you have any lingering doubts about yourself or if you're qualified enough for your position, don't forget that William Afton PERSONALLY examines every application! Which can only mean that you're special! So thank you for watching this video welcoming you into the Fazbear Family! The HAPPIEST family on Earth! Goodbye for now!"
Following the end of the video was an animated image of the Fazbear Family's most recognized mascots. Freddy Fazbear, Bonnie The Bunny, Chica The Chicken, and Foxy The Pirate were waving with smiles on their faces, no doubt to try and comfort or bring joy to the recipient of the video. But for the young man who held the tablet on which it played, it only added onto the confusion he felt.
Michael J. Schmidt, or Mike as he preferred, had applied to the "Fazbear Family" to work at one of their daycare centers since what he wanted to do with his life was work with young children. In his eyes, children were adorably innocent, looking at the world with wide eyes full of wonder and an insatiable curiosity that demanded answers to an endless stream of questions. And whether it was due to his personality or something else, Mike wanted to preserve and help grow that innocence; he wanted to do all he could to make life seem magical to those bright-eyed munchkins. But...to his bafflement...he wasn't given that job, despite his qualifications to work in such an occupation.
Instead, for whatever reason, Mike was currently being transported to one of the "test facilities" that the video had mentioned. And, if the video was to be believed, the explanation behind his placement in the Fazbear Family was because of the founder himself, William Afton. Of course, as anyone would, Mike had a HARD time accepting that as the truth.
"Pfft, yeah, right..." He scoffed as he set the tablet down on the empty seat next to him, "As if someone as busy as him would have time look over EVERY application. That's absurd." He said as he closed his eyes.
Admittedly, Mike was frustrated that he'd been made a security guard of all things. Especially since it was no secret that the security systems the Fazbear company used, which were of THEIR design, were so advanced that they removed the need for some shcmuck to walk around with a flashlight. Unfortunately, this was Mike's ONLY option because there'd been next to no opportunities for him as good as this in the few years since he finished college. So, it was either suck up his pride and accept his new career or continue to work odd jobs here and there so that he could make some kind of living.
Although Mike couldn't say he wasn't appropriately compensated since the amount he'd receive from one paycheck alone was FAR more than what a security guard could ever dream of earning. It honestly did catch him off guard when he heard the number; from that alone, you'd think he was guarding some vital secret of the company. But the most likely explanation for it was that the company, and by extension, mister Afton, earned SO much money that they could afford to be a bit more generous with their employees' salaries. Adding to the credibility of that idea was that mister Afton was known to be a VERY charitable person, which was a bit funny since the man was also insanely reclusive, to the point that he had NEVER been seen in public to anyone's knowledge.
Yet before Mike's mind could continue to fall down that rabbit hole of questions and theories, the car he was riding in came to a stop as it arrived at his destination.
"Oh, guess I'm here." He said, taking a moment to adjust his uniform's tie and make sure the rest was ready.
His outfit was your standard security guard apparel; blue pants with a button-up shirt that matched, a utility belt that held everything Mike would need, and a fitting cap that had "Fazbear Family Security" written above the bill. Combined with his short-cut blonde hair, sky-blue eyes, and 6'6 height, Mike was the perfect image of an approachable yet serious security staff member, which was also an apt description of his personality.
"Alright, I'm good to go." He decided as he opened the door next to his seat, stepping out from the well-lit interior of the vehicle into the dark of night.
Mike could tell that he was somewhere outside the city, which made sense since this was a test location and not an actual business. However, this meant that the comforting illumination of the busy metropolis's lights wasn't present, only the tall lamps that stood beside the road, the half-moon that was partially hidden by clouds, and the neon sign that hanged proudly on the front of his new workplace disrupted the darkness.
"Huh...Freddy Fazbear's Lab Of Fun..." He read aloud, a bit surprised they'd name the building, "I guess they want to maintain branding even if people aren't allowed to come here..." He assumed before he looked at the front of the car that brought him, "Hey! Thanks for the lift!" He told the driver with a slight wave to show his appreciation.
However, Mike didn't receive a response. In truth, he hadn't seen or heard anything from the driver the entire time the automobile had been in motion. But Mike didn't think that was strange because he could understand if the driver didn't feel like making small talk with someone they wouldn't be working with. After finishing his farewell, he returned his focus to the building before him and proceeded towards the entrance, which was a single metal door.
Yet when Mike reached it and grabbed onto the handle, he discovered it was locked. And upon searching for a lock that one of the keys he had in his possession might go to, he was surprised to find there wasn't one.
"Uh...okay?..." He questioned, confused by this, "Isn't someone supposed to be here to meet me? Are they running late?" He wondered.
"Michael J. Schmidt." A voice suddenly spoke, coming from above him, "Please tilt your head back and look forward." It requested.
Tracking the voice to its origin, Mike discovered a rather sophisticated-looking camera pointed directly at him above the door. And in the few seconds that Mike made eye contact with the device, the door's lock was released, indicated by a mechanical sound.
"Thank you. You are now registered with the system as an authorized staff member. Please enter so we can begin our conversation." The voice told him before going silent.
"...Well...that was...something..." Mike muttered, completely lost on what just happened.
Curious and a little concerned about what awaited him inside after that experience, Mike did as instructed and went into the building. And when he did, he was stopped in his tracks by what he saw. Up until this point, Mike had assumed the test facility would be very...sterile, shall we say. White floors and walls, bright fluorescent lights, and an atmosphere that would feel cold and empty.
Instead, the floors were covered in a purple carpet that had a myriad of colorful shapes and patterns spread throughout. Neon lights and signs that depicted the many characters of the Fazbear Family hung on the walls alongside posters. Arcade machines, soda dispensers, booths, and tables filled the spaces he could see from where he stood. If Mike didn't know where he was, he could've sworn he just walked into an ACTUAL Fazbear business.
But this only worsened his intrigue, for why would they go to all the effort of making this place look like this if only he were supposed to be here? Walking away from the entrance and further into the building, Mike looked around, searching for the person who had spoken to him moments ago. Thankfully, his search wouldn't last long, for elsewhere in the building, the sound of approaching footsteps reached Mike's ears, soon followed by the appearance of...whoa.
Standing at an even 6'0, the individual was a man, which was unquestionable thanks to the vibrant purple business suit he wore that fit his physique perfectly. In addition, the man also wore a pair of gloves and dress shoes of the same color, which successfully hid any part of his body from view. And while that on its own was enough to surprise anyone, such as Mike, it was the final piece of the man's ensemble that threw him for a loop. Covering his head and neck was a mask; however, it didn't resemble any of the mascots and characters associated with the Fazbear Family.
Instead, it was a completely smooth chrome helmet, but there wasn't a visor, so among the MANY things Mike wondered right now, how the man could see anything was one of the questions in his mind.
"Welcome, mister Schmidt." The man spoke, his voice somehow not hindered by the mask, "Or would you prefer I call you, Mike?" He inquired.
"...Um..." Mike began, doing his best to form a coherent sentence, "...Look, I'm sorry to be rude. But I NEED to ask. Why are you wearing that?" He responded, desperate for answers.
Upon hearing this, the man chuckled, but from what Mike could tell, it wasn't sinister...maybe.
"Everyone has that same reaction when they first meet me." The man assured as he put a hand to his chest, "I am William Afton. You may know me as the founder of the Fazbear Family. Assuming that you watched the video provided on the tablet in the car that brought you here." He introduced.
"...No way." Mike denied as he pointed at him, "YOU'RE William Afton? Prove it. ANYONE can claim they're him when no one's seen his face, and YOU are hiding yours with a mask." He argued.
"A fair point." The man acknowledged, "However, I'm afraid the only way I can prove my identity to you is if I say something only I would know. So, think of a question that no one but William Afton could have the answer to." He requested.
"Alright..." Mike accepted as he folded his arms over his chest while he contemplated, "...I got it. Why is mister Afton so reclusive? And you'll need to be as descriptive as possible. I won't believe you're him if all you say is that he's shy or dislikes people. Because those are the obvious answers." He said.
However, the man didn't immediately respond. Instead, he placed his hands behind his back and remained silent for a short time.
"...I'm sorry, mister Schmidt. But I can't answer that particular inquiry." He confessed, "The reason for my reclusive nature is standing in front of you. I don't wear this mask and conceal my person as much as I have due to being shy or wary of others. It's a very sensitive and personal reason for both." He informed.
"Oh...crap, I feel like a jerk now..." Mike admitted as he rubbed the back of his neck, "I'm sorry, sir. I didn't mean to pry into something I shouldn't." He apologized.
"You have no reason to apologize. There's no way you could've known." The man said, "But please, don't let that stop you from asking another question. I want to prove to you beyond any doubt that I am who I say I am." He insisted.
"Okay. If you're sure." Mike agreed, intent on not sticking his foot in his mouth this time, "...How did William Afton come up with the idea of Freddy and his pals?" He asked, hoping he wouldn't step on another conversational landmine.
"When I was a boy, there was a diner my mother and father used to take me to. A wonderful little place that never became a franchise, sadly. Which is surprising given how popular and successful it was." The man began, "It was known as Fredbear's Family Diner. And apart from the delicious food served there, the main attraction was its title character Fredbear and his loveable partner Spring Bonnie." He continued, "Although rough around the edges by today's standards, especially if compared to what I create, Fredbear and Bonnie were the most magical parts of my childhood. I saw such life in those metallic bodies and faces that they truly seemed real to me. And it was because of this fascination that I started to study robotics. I wanted to make loveable characters that could fill others with as much joy as those two did for me. Which has culminated in the Fazbear Family that is so well known today." He concluded.
By the time the man had finished his story, Mike's eyes were as wide as they could be. As you would imagine, William Afton being so mysterious and withdrawn from the world meant next to NOTHING was known about him. So unless this man managed to make up that story out of nowhere, he really was William Afton!
"Oh...my...god..." Mike muttered in disbelief, "You...You're actually...William Afton..." He said.
"Glad to see we've finally reached that conclusion," William replied in jest.
"I...I can't believe it! So...you DO look over every application, then?" He asked.
"That I do," William answered.
"And...that also means...that you DID personally select me for this position..." He realized.
"Mhm," William confirmed.
"But...why?" He questioned, his look of surprise replaced with confusion, "I...I don't understand, sir. Is your requirement for daycare staff that demanding or something?" He inquired.
"It is. But that isn't why you were assigned this position, mister Schmidt. You were more than qualified to work at any Fazbear Family Daycare Center." William told him before turning around, "Come. We'll talk as I give you a tour of the building." He instructed as he walked away.
Not wanting to lag in the slightest, Mike swiftly caught up with his employer so he could walk beside him.
"So, the elephant in the room. Why are you here?" William began, his hands still held behind his back, "You see, mister Schmidt. My top priority besides entertaining children and their families is their safety. With technology as advanced as mine, a LONG list of problems comes with it. That is why we thoroughly test every new invention and idea. Heaven forbid if something horrible were to happen to any patron, regardless if they are a child or not." He informed.
"Of course. You wouldn't want an animatronic biting someone or worse when they're interacting with people." Mike agreed.
"Indeed. However, as you can tell from how varied the Fazbear Family's offerings are, we have a LOT of creations. Each of them is distinct from one another; as such, we can't go about testing them with the same type of person. They need to be perfectly suited for the task at hand." He said.
"Does that mean by working as a security guard, I'm somehow testing a new invention of yours?" Mike inquired.
"It does." He responded with a nod.
"But...if I understand...the reason you hired me is that I'm qualified to work with children?" Mike asked.
"Correct." He answered.
"...I...don't see how working as a security guard and being suitable as a child caretaker come together...like...at all," Mike confessed.
"That's because I haven't explained what your job entails yet, mister Schmidt." He countered, "Your work as a security guard will be incredibly simple. As you've no doubt assumed yourself, all it will require is that you make your rounds and ensure everything is as it should be. But recall the video you watched on your way here. You are to interact with the objects within the building and, in addition to seeing if they are working as intended, be certain that they are appropriate for children." He explained.
"...Oooooooooh, I think I get it!" Mike exclaimed with a snap of his fingers, "I'm testing the games and other items that the kids will play with at your establishments! That's why I'm here!" He guessed.
"Sharp as a tack, Schmidt. Sharp as a tack." William complimented, "However, do you remember the last thing the video told you about?" He inquired.
"Uh...something about...priority objects?" Mike replied, struggling to remember the exact details.
"Yes. These items, in particular, are the most important in the building. I cannot stress enough that they will require your attention the most." He told him.
"Dang, it must be something high-tech," Mike said.
"You can't begin to fathom how great of an understatement that is, mister Schmidt." He responded before coming to a stop, "Which is why I intend to show them to you now." He stated.
Coming to a stop as well, Mike looked to see where they were and was...surprisingly underwhelmed. From how big of a deal William made it out to be, Mike assumed they'd be going into a workshop-like area or something similar, but that wasn't the case in the slightest.
"Um...sir?" Mike spoke after a few seconds of silence, "This...This is a prize area." He pointed out.
"Your powers of observation are astounding, mister Schmidt." William jokingly responded, showing that he had a sense of humor.
"Haha." He said while rolling his eyes, feeling it was safe to be a bit casual with his employer, "In all seriousness, sir. What is it that is so important here? The plastic spider rings?" He asked, giving a joke of his own.
"While those are a very popular prize, no." William answered, not allowing his employee to one-up him, "The priority objects are in there." He informed as he pointed to a door behind the counter, "Please wait here while I go and get them." He requested.
"Yes, sir," Mike responded with a tip of his cap.
Watching as William moved behind the counter and disappeared into the mysterious room, Mike was surprised when his boss didn't return until several minutes later. And when he did, he brought with him an unexpected friend. Held within William's hands was a plush of Freddy Fazbear, and by the gods, it was the cutest thing Mike had ever seen in his entire life. From the little top hat and bowtie to the paw pads that BEGGED to be squished, the incredibly soft-looking fur and sapphire eyes topped off with the little charcoal nose, rounded ears, and nubby tail; this thing was irresistible.
"Oh...my...gosh..." Mike muttered, unable to keep a smile from forming on his face, "Look at this little guy! He's so frigging cute!" He exclaimed.
"Why, thank you." William said as he set the plush down on the counter, "This is one of five plushes. The other four are still in the room behind me. They are the ONLY ones made as of yet. And YOU are the only person besides myself that knows of their existence." He revealed.
"Whoa...seriously?" Mike questioned, receiving a nod in response, "Wow...thank you, sir. I'm honored." He told him.
"You're welcome, mister Schmidt," William said, his tone suggesting that he may also be smiling behind his mask, "Now then, here is how you will interact with these plushes." He started with Mike paying close attention to every word, "Since this will be your first night, you won't need to worry about them. I want you to focus on getting familiar with the building at large and everything in it before you make them your number one priority, understand?" He asked.
"Yes, sir," Mike answered.
"Very good. Now, when you return here tomorrow, that is when you will be given a list of things to do with them. That list must be completed before your shift ends, understand?" He asked again.
"Yes, sir," Mike repeated.
"Excellent. Also, I don't need to explain why you must be careful when interacting with Freddy and the others. Although I have made sure they are resilient and quite durable, you must still treat them with as much care as possible." He stressed.
"Of course, sir. Not a single hair, feather, or otherwise will be bent." Mike promised.
"I knew you were the right man for the job, Schmidt." He complimented before he lifted Freddy from the counter, "With that out of the way, I'm going to take Freddy back to the room. Afterward, we'll finish up the tour, I'll answer any remaining questions you have, and then you can start your shift properly." He said as he turned around.
"Um, sir." Mike spoke up, stopping him, "I have one question, will the plushes be put out for me every night along with the list? Or will I have to come and get them and bring them back to the room at the start and end of every night?" He asked.
"Ah, good catch there, Schmidt. That almost slipped my mind." William praised before he proceeded to answer, "The handling of Freddy and the others fall under your responsibility of ensuring that everything is as it should be. I hope that won't be an issue." He said.
"Not at all, sir," Mike assured with a smile.
With that one question cleared up, William headed back into the room, and like before, it took several minutes for him to come out. Mike had thought to ask his employer why it took so long to retrieve and return only one plushie, but he decided against it since he'd be doing that soon enough, and in his boss's words, he didn't need to worry about it for tonight. From then on, both men walked through the building for the next twenty minutes, with William giving Mike information about literally everything. Which, should there have been any lingering doubts that this man was William Afton, they were squashed since only the man himself could provide this much detail, even when it came to the smallest things like how he came up with the most comfortable design for the chairs.
Sadly, all good things must come to an end; the insightful and surprisingly entertaining tour Mike was given was no exception.
"Alright. I leave you to your kingdom, mister Schmidt." William bid farewell as Mike escorted him to the entrance.
"Thank you, sir. I'll be sure to destroy as few things as possible." Mike joked one last time, which managed to earn a chuckle from the other.
"Well, don't restrain yourself too much. Everyone breaks at least one arcade machine in a fit of rage on their first shift." He replied.
"Does that mean you DO rig the games in your establishments, sir?" Mike asked with a smirk.
"How else do you think we shake the children loose of all their pocket change for tokens?" He answered, making the guard laugh, "Oh, but before I go." He began as he put his hand on the door's handle, "I never got an answer to my question from before. Do you prefer mister Schmidt or Mike?" He asked.
"Well...it'd be a little weird for me if you called me Mike seeing as how I JUST started...so, I think I'd prefer mister Schmidt for now, sir," Mike answered.
"That's understandable. But when it feels right, please, call me William." He replied, which made him smile.
"I will, sir. Thank you." Mike said, "Also before you head home or wherever it is you're going, can I ask you one more thing?" He requested.
"By all means." William welcomed.
"When you brought up the video earlier, I started going through it in my head as we walked around the building. And eventually, I remembered something from it that was honestly pretty weird." He informed as he folded his arms, "It told me that if anything strange happens, stuff that I can't explain and can't find a logical explanation for, that I should take note of it. What does that mean?" He asked.
"Precisely as it sounds, mister Schmidt." William answered, "The building itself is just as advanced as any of the other pieces of technology inside of it. So, should any unusual noises or unexpected events involving the building or its pre-installed appliances occur, make sure you record it in as much detail as you can." He explained.
"And the movement? What did that mean?" Mike inquired.
William seemed to stiffen when he heard that, almost as if what Mike had said caught him off guard.
"...Movement..." William muttered, repeating it to himself, "That...was in the video?" He questioned.
"Uh...yes, sir. I heard it clear as day. And it also appeared as text like everything else on the screen." Mike recalled.
"...Hmph...someone is going to have a very unpleasant day tomorrow when I find out who put that there..." He said, his tone the most serious it had been so far, "Mister Schmidt, pay that part no attention. It wasn't in the script I gave to the team who made that video. It's merely a joke that some unfortunate fool wanted to play on new hires, such as yourself." He explained.
"Wow. That...sounds like a good way to get fired." Mike commented.
"Fired? No. Severely demoted? Oh, yes." He replied, finally opening the door when he did, "I need to investigate this matter immediately. Thank you for bringing it to my attention, mister Schmidt. You're already performing beyond my expectations." He complimented.
"Oh, it was nothing, sir. But I'm glad I could help." Mike responded.
And with that, William Afton departed, closing the door behind him with a bit of force which showed he was NOT happy with what Mike shared.
"Hoo boy, someone's getting their butt chewed out. Hope they don't learn who it was that put them in the crosshairs." He said as the door automatically locked itself to secure the entrance.
Now that the building was his and his alone, Mike decided he'd relax in the safe area for a while before doing his first round since he and William had just finished going through every room during the tour. The "safe area" mentioned in the video was a rather nice security office. A sleek metal desk accompanied by a finely made leather chair on wheels, a fully stocked mini-fridge, top-of-the-line monitors with full-color cameras, high definition audio, and a tablet that Mike could use to look through a specific camera or as a regular tablet for his entertainment.
Oh, and there were two massive metal doors that he could close on either side of the room. Which was to ONLY be used if somehow some deranged maniac with a gun or something else managed to break in, hence why it was called the safe area. Additionally, the doors could not be closed if something was in the doorways; the sensors in place wouldn't allow that for OBVIOUS safety reasons. Anyway, when Mike reached the office, the first thing he did was check the fridge, where he discovered a refreshing grape soda with his name on it.
"I see mister Afton's affinity for purple isn't exclusive to his clothes." He joked as he pulled it out, the purple carpet that covered the floors coming to mind as he said that.
Pulling back the soda can's tab created a satisfying "POP!" followed by a light fizzing as the drink was exposed to the air. Doing his best not to spill his beverage as he plopped his butt down in the superbly comfy leather chair, once Mike found his cozy spot, he propped his feet up on the desk.
"Let's see...it is...close to one AM right now..." He said before taking a sip of the soda, "I'll walk around again...at two-thirty. I'll also make sure to try out some of the games when I do." He decided.
A soda in hand, feet resting on a cold metal desk, and the leather of his chair absorbing his tush. Mike couldn't deny that what he thought would be a disappointing experience was turning out to very well be the best job in his entire life. The tablet, which he reached over and picked up, made it even better because it allowed him to pass the time before his first patrol with videos. However, Mike grew so focused on the tablet, only breaking his attention from it when he drank from his soda can that he didn't bother checking any security cameras.
If he had, he would've seen the door behind the prize counter slowly begin to open. As well as hear the voices that seemed to come from the room beyond it.
"There! I told ye swabbies that I'd get it open!"
"Guys! W-We shouldn't be d-doing this! We should be sl-sleeping!"
"Uh oh, she's stuttering."
"I c-can't help it! You guys kn-know I st-stutter when I'm nervous!"
"Hey, it's okay. There's no reason to be worried."
"I dunno. I think she's right. Maybe we should go back to sleep."
"Are ye kidding me?! Ye make me fall to the floor over and over again before I finally got a grip on the knob, and ye want us to go back to bed?! I nearly lost a tooth!"
"No one made you jump off of the table seven times. You did that all by yourself because you're an AWESOME pirate."
"I AM awesome! And I didn't see any of ye contributing! So if ye guys want to see mister sandman again so soon, go right ahead! I'm exploring!"
"Wait! I want to come too!"
"Well, if they're leaving, we shouldn't let them go alone. They might get lost."
"Even if all five of us leave together, if scurvy for brains is in charge, we're doomed."
"H-Hey! Don't leave me behind! W-Wait up!"