Out of the Shadows

"At last," the man said again. "Bonnie. Chica. Foxy. Freddy Fazbear. I had always hoped this moment would come. Yet I have to admit that, now it has, it seems very… surreal."

"I take it," Freddy said, "that we are speakin' directly to Mr Sid Hawthorne. I would say it's a pleasure to meet you at last, sir, but I confess it wouldn't be entirely honest of me."

A derisive smirk flashed on Sid's face. "You even sound like him. Good. I was never able to catch up to the genuine article before he passed. This will make up for it quite nicely. Let him up, but hold him. I want to see."

The Puppet gestured and Freddy's captor forced him into a standing position, still keeping his arms locked behind his back. Phil was staring at him intently.

"What arrogance," he said. "Creating something based on himself, in almost every sense. He never could resist making this project personal."

"I am not our father," said Freddy.

"Perhaps not. He never would have had the fortitude what you tried to do tonight, as you know. But there is one thing you both share a similarity on: you're both outdated. He's past his time and soon, so will you."

Freddy said nothing in response to this, only glared.

"Now that the formalities are out of the way," continued Sid, "we can get straight down to business. I believe another old accomplice of mine should be joining us soon."

"She was never yours," growled Freddy.

"Perhaps not willingly, but that hardly matters in regards to a machine," he said. "I have already dispatched a number of my bots to collect her from the Fun Palace, along with the failed models and that pair of night guards you've acquainted yourself with. They arrived as you began your intrusion, so they should be here soon."

Foxy bared his teeth. "If ye've hurt any of them-!"

"They have strict orders to detain with as little harm as possible. Any injuries that occur will be entirely dependent on how much they decide to resist. However the bots will also inform them of your current situation and that any unpleasantness will have far reaching repercussions. So, let's see how sensible they decide to be."

"Smug… prick," remarked Bonnie.

"Yes, I recall how Golden told me how uppity you could be, Bonnie."

"Trust me, you've barely seen any of it yet."

"I'm sure." He looked around at them all. "I can recall when you were still in development. When your metal skeletons were still having all of the necessary parts grown or grafted on. I admit, I'm somewhat gratified you're awake for our current encounter."

Foxy snarled in the back of his throat. "Why don't ya come down here fer a closer look?"

"Yes, aggression was an issue I can recall for you as well, Foxy. But even despite your obvious flaws and faults, there's still something…" He trailed off, looking almost wistful. "Synthesis. When Fitzbar first proposed the idea, I thought he was mad. Adaptive AI and animatronics are one thing, but beings comprised of artificial and organic components? It sounded ludicrous. Even when you were being made, I harboured some doubts that it would actually work. But as time went by, I will admit that I was proven wrong. We were creating the kind of wonders that seemed like science fiction. And how did Fitzbar decide to utilise you? As children's performers in a pizzeria. Squandered potential doesn't even begin to describe it."

"We were happy!" Angry tears flowed down Chica's face. "We like what we do, it's what we were made for!"

He cast his eyes to her. "Sentimentality as strong as it was during your development, Chica. I would have thought you'd have grown out of it by now."

"Never."

"A shame, considering that shedding it would help you see the bigger picture," said Sid. "How can you really say you were happy in the life you've led? You've lived a restricted existence in a menial capacity. Not that you can be entirely faulted for it, of course. Your creator was a sentimental, doddering fool who refused to see past the limited vision he had for you."

Freddy glared at him. "As opposed to what? A cruel, conceited individual such as yourself?"

"What you call cruelty, I call practicality. While I won't deny that your capacity to learn and grow is remarkable, at the end of the day it's not strictly necessary. Perhaps some work can be done on how we can keep that growth without the addition of needless sentimentality. However, as you can see, we've already begun to make strides."

He indicated the five beings currently holding them captive. Freddy had already worked out that, by the fluidity of their movement and the speed at which they struck, not to mention their strength, that these must be new synthetics.

"Impressive, aren't they?" Sid remarked. "These took much less time to create when we factored out all of the non-essential elements. Personality, defective behaviour, that sort of thing. Admittedly, your little scheme meant we had to rush them so they barely have any basic operating programming, but the Puppet can handle the rest. After all, a tool doesn't need to think for itself too much, does it?"

"Yet the last ones you created were quite the opposite," said Freddy.

"A lapse in judgement on my part. I suppose I wanted something akin to the four of you, only they would be my creations. However, as recent events have shown, that proved to be more trouble than it was worth. Still, the lot of you playing therapist gave me adequate time to finish my new project, under the control of my best man here."

He gestured to the Puppet, who echoed the words 'best man' in a distorted fashion.

"And how long will it be before you dispose of these ones, when they longer meet your standards for success?" asked Freddy.

"Whenever I wish and at least there won't be any backtalk," retorted Sid. "After all, technology moves so quickly these days, much like all of you. Not to worry, the rest of you will no doubt yield some findings before you're dismantled."

"YOU UTTER BASTARD!" The piercing shriek came from Chica, to Freddy's surprise. "Haven't you done enough? Why couldn't you just leave us alone?!"

Sid quirked an eyebrow. "Leave you alone? Correct me if I'm wrong, Chica, but you seem to have intruded on my establishment. As you can see, however, your arrival has been prepared for."

"Ya knew we were comin'," snarled Foxy.

"I always knew. Didn't any of you think it was a little too easy to get in here? Miss Holland was unaware of your coming, we had to make it somewhat believable. I'm sure you already know that Mr Philip O'Neil is in my employ. He informed me of your visit well in advance, with enough time to prepare for it."

Bonnie did her best to speak, still being pinned to the wall. "But he's… he's with us!"

"I'm afraid you've been misinformed. Mr O'Neil has been allied with me, the moment I decided to take matters into my own hands." He chuckled a little. "I must confess, I was somewhat surprised when he offered to help track down Mr Fitzbar. That turned out to be little more than a ploy, trying to keep me off the scent. Certain measures had to be taken to ensure his continued usefulness, but worth the effort regardless. He's been a most effective agent."

Freddy looked around at them all. The expressions of dejection and betrayal were evident on all of their faces.

"Yes, I'm sorry to be the bearer of unpleasant news. But life is rarely kind in such matters, as I'm sure you know." He looked at his watch. "Shouldn't be too long to wait now. Let's get this wrapped up shall we?"

They waited in silence. Freddy exchanged a few looks with his fellows, hoping it might comfort them. A shadow fell across his vision and he looked up. The Puppet was looming over him, gazing intently. Freddy returned it.

"Why does yours have tears?" Freddy nodded to his mask. "The rest don't seem to."

The Puppet didn't respond verbally, only tilting his head to one side.

Freddy looked around him to Sid. "For a man who doesn't tolerate machines with personality, you seem somewhat tolerant of him."

Sid nodded. "Obedience is burned into his programming. Whatever commands I give, he is compelled to follow them. He knows that well enough. So long as he does what he's told, I can make allowances. He's very efficient, as I would expect something based on my mind to be."

"Yeah, real nice kid you've got there," muttered Bonnie. "Shame about the other ones."

Sid quirked an eyebrow, but said nothing to this. The Puppet turned to regard his master. Sid noticed this and glared at him.

"Stop that and watch them," he snapped.

The Puppet stared up at Sid. His head seemed to twitch a few times before he turned his attention back to Freddy and the others.

More metallic footsteps sounded from outside, approaching the room. When the doors opened, Mike and Jeremy were forced inside by a pair of bots. In Mike's hands was Goldie's head, which he clutched like a life ring in the ocean. His eyes widened at the sight before him.

"Guys! Guys, are you okay?" he asked.

"That's a… a bit up in the air right now," Bonnie managed.

"No, please, no!" cried Chica. "Leave them alone, they have nothing to do with this!"

"I'm afraid that they have everything to do with this, the moment they signed their employment contracts," replied Sid.

"And from the moment you killed my-!" Jeremy was cut off when his bot shoved him roughly into the room.

"Hello, everyone," said Goldie through the head's speaker. "I guess our plan didn't really go how we expected it to."

"Such plans very rarely do," said Freddy sadly.

"Hmm. If I were a betting woman, I would suggest that perhaps Phil wasn't the pillar of integrity we believed him to be?" she asked.

"Backstabbin' scum was in Hawthorne's back pocket all along," answered Foxy.

There was a faint break in her voice when she spoke. "That's… unfortunate. It really is."

"I concur with that. Our counterparts, where are they?" asked Freddy.

"Brought along with us and restrained in a truck," answered Goldie. "Still blissfully unconscious, I'm afraid. They were onto us before I had the chance to wake them up. They were fine the last time I saw them, though I don't know how long that will be."

"Goldie, please." The synth holding Bonnie let her up to speak. "Tell me you've got us something to get out of this."

"I'm sorry, Bonnie. Not this time."

At this, Bonnie visibly sagged. The entire atmosphere seemed to diminish in the wake of her words. Before then, there seemed to be a reason to hope. But now…

"Still, let's make the most of the time we have. I really must say," said Goldie, "this is all very impressive. Five new synths, now that is a surprise. Judging by their appearances and behaviour, I would guess they're not much more than blank slates for Mr Smiley over here."

As if in answer to her question, the Puppet raised his hand. The only synth that wasn't holding down a captive darted across the room towards Mike and suddenly stopped in front of him at the Puppet's next non-verbal command. He laughed when Mike cried out in fright, almost dropping Goldie.

"Please, do be careful with me, Mike. I'm already missing the rest of me." She seemed to look at the new synth for a while before continuing. "Perfect control, channelled through him. Quiet little things that do what they're told, by the good little boy who does what he's told. Ideal for you, eh Sid?"

"A reasoning intelligence that is only matched by your excessive talkativeness," he replied.

"Well, when you're not much more than a voice in the non-digital world, what else is there? Mind turning me to face our host, Mike?" He did so, evidently looking nervous. "Well, well, well. Look at you. You're going bald. Also, if we're being honest, the moustache? Really doesn't suit you."

"Genetic Operations Logistics Diagnostic ENgager," he returned. "You so desperately wanted your acronym to spell out Golden, didn't you?"

"What can I say? Guess I'm just a little full of myself. Something I rather thought we shared in common, Sid."

"There is a difference between overinflated arrogance and a self-assured conviction."

"Yes and when you've worked it out, do please let me know." Goldie chuckled. "Oh, I have so missed our little verbal spars. Such a shame that you decided to change career paths."

"A change you could have shared in, Golden," he said. "It was thanks to you that I even learned that these four weren't terminated as I'd been led to believe. Now you're right back where you started, wasting your potential like they are."

"From your point of view. Personally, I'm done with the whole backstabbing traitor nonsense. It gets very tiring. I'm sure you know what I mean."

"It was your creator that betrayed you, not me." He leaned forward in his chair slightly. "I didn't want to do what I did, but I had to. Fitzbar was going to make you into a circus when there was so much more that you could be used for. But he never listened. I had to do it."

"Ah, I see." If she could nod, Freddy imagined she would have then. "So that justifies the deaths of five children, does it?"

"I suppose it was inevitable we arrive at that," he muttered. "Their deaths were unfortunate, I'll agree. But ultimately necessary in the grand scheme of things."

"You son of a bitch!" Jeremy struggled futilely against the hold the bot had on him. "That's my brother you're talking about!"

Sid nodded absently. "Yes, Robert Fitzgerald, I recall. He served as the basis for the synth Clyde. He was especially troublesome, little brats like that usually are. But he served his purpose in the end. They all did."

"He was just a fucking kid!" shrieked Jeremy.

"Yes, I'm well aware of that. As I said, it was necessary for what was needed. With their young minds as the foundations, I could better shape the synths I created into what I needed them to be. They would be obedient, malleable and orderly."

"Spoken like somebody who has a complete understanding of how children should be," remarked Goldie darkly. "That coupled with improper use of the brain mapping process and you just have a recipe for success."

"It was far from improper. The process worked precisely as was intended."

"What…?" Even Goldie sounded shocked. "It wasn't a mistake. You… you actually meant to kill them."

"Not meant, no. That was an unfortunate side effect. It still served a purpose, though I couldn't see it at the time…" He trailed off, looking off into the middle distance before snapping back. "Sacrifices must be made for progress.

"A sacrifice they didn't ask to make, along with me!" Mike had overcome his fear, replaced with outrage. "I went to prison because of what you did and after that, you let someone else take the fall too!"

Sid was quiet while he regarded Mike like he was an interesting lab specimen.

"Fritz Smith and Gordon Emmerson suffered the consequences for their own shortcomings. As for you, Mike Schmidt…" Sid regarded him for a moment. "The information I was able to glean about you from Golden and Miss Holland painted a very particular picture of you. A lonely, reclusive, socially inept man whose life was so empty and unfulfilled that you deluded yourself into thinking yourself a friend to beings made in a laboratory. I thought perhaps there might be some value to you, if you were assigned to the synths in the way you were. I even hired Miss Holland on that basis originally. But in the end, you proved useful in another capacity. It was nothing personal. All things considered however, you really should have found yourself another job."

"YA SCURVY-RIDDEN, PUS-FILLED, LILY-LIVERED BILGE RAT!" Foxy roared. "Death's too good fer a heartless dog like ye! May the crows feast on yer eyes and sharks rip the flesh from yer bones as ya rot in the darkest depths-a the sea, ya wretched, mangy cur!"

Sid raised both of his eyebrows. "Well, at least you can't say you weren't dedicated to your roles."

"Does this mean you're finished with your evil villain monologue now?" asked Goldie. "Not that it wasn't all very well done, but I recall you were never one for small talk."

"Under the circumstances, I think it's been somewhat earned. As amusing as this little game of yours has been, it has cost me a great deal of time and money. I simply want you to know that, in no uncertain terms, you've been beaten."

He was looking at Freddy when he said this. For the first time, Freddy noticed his eyes were gleaming with a fervent anticipation.

"Oh yes, before I forget. Dispatch a bot to untie Miss Holland and have her escorted out. Under no circumstances is she to be permitted down here, simply take her to the exit."

The Puppet looked to the side for a moment, then nodded to Sid in confirmation. He returned it and placed his attention back on them.

"Allow me to explain what's going to happen to you," he continued. "Golden, the Puppet is going to go through your core, assimilate everything of value and purge everything else. The original synths will be taken offline and removed for study, followed by eventual dismantling. The same will happen in regards to the failed synths of my creation. The parts won't be wasted and will be reincorporated into new models like the ones you see here."

"Leave them alone! You don't have to do this!" Mike cried.

"We're witnesses! You can't seriously think you'll get away with this!" Jeremy added.

"I'm afraid that's exactly what I intend to do. You didn't think I'd said all of that with the intention of releasing you?" He turned his gaze to the night guards. "You will both be the victims of a break-in gone wrong, in a misplaced attempt to shame me for imagined crimes. In the scuffle, the two of you were sadly dispatched by my security forces while you tried to flee. Regrettable, but these things do happen. Let's get started then. Golden first and check that head thoroughly for her core. Let's not have a repeat of what happened at the Diner, Puppet."

"Sid, please, no," begged Goldie. "It doesn't have to be like this. Gordon and Fritz have already taken the fall for what's happened. If you want to settle whatever personal dispute you had with Fred Fitzbar, you can settle it with me. Just leave them out of this, please!"

His lip curled. "Yes, you're right. It didn't have to be this way. Fitzbar ensured that. Oh and Golden? Please, don't resist the Puppet's intrusion measure or I'll disassemble your students, right here and now."

Everyone started with renewed struggles as the Puppet approached. His three, unnaturally long digits appeared to extend from his body. From them emerged smaller wires with connectors on the end of them. He took Goldie's head from Mike and let him be yanked back into the grasp of a bot. He started to delicately open the back of the head, fingers flexing. He was laughing again.

"Sister, no!" cried Freddy.

"You lanky creep, get away from her!" Bonnie snarled.

"Please don't, please!" Chica sobbed.

"Ye'll be sorry fer this, ya black hearted devil!" shouted Foxy.

The Puppet ignored their mingling cries, pleading and threats. Golden for her part was silent, the Puppet removing the access port on the back of the head. It peered closely inside, fingers probing the area carefully.

"Is it there?" Sid asked. The Puppet nodded an affirmative. "Excellent. Proceed."

The connectors writhing like tendrils, the Puppet snaked them into the back of Goldie's head. He seemed to take particular relish in it, still cackling away with his recorded voices. They mingled with the desperate cries and pleas of those around him, creating a cacophony of distressing noise.

"Everyone!" Even over the noise, they could hear Goldie's voice, distressed and sorrowful. "I'm sorry! I tried, I really did! My only regret…" Even without a mouth to do so, they could hear how broadly she was smiling. "Is that I couldn't do this a lot sooner."

The Puppet only had a moment to process something was very wrong before he stopped laughing and started to scream.

Guest: First they have to get them, then they can figure it out XD

Arc of Carona: Yep, that's their thoughts too.

Vyrhys: Yeah, I felt it was high time she make a bigger appearance. As for escape, well... just wait.