"Beautiful, is she not?" Gabe admires. "It only took Parts and Services half an hour to assemble her and bring her up to speed with the current databases. Technology is a beautiful tool – she's the first prototype for the future endos of Fazbear Entertainment. Durable casing, state of the art technology and a brilliant system design that allows her to only be charged once a week. And to think that I wanted to put off this model for another five years!"
Chica feels the pressure from the shiny animatronic whose eyes threaten to consume her, as Tessa rolls her eyes at the CEO playfully and steps off the stage. "And you have to be Freddy, not that the numerous pictures and holograms didn't give it away." She lightly strokes his arm. "They don't mention how much of a statue you have."
"Ugh, give me a break!" Gregory mumbled in disgust.
"Um, it is a pleasure to meet your acquaintances…" Freddy starts nervously, a first to witness, before he quickly snaps out of it. "Hold on, Gabe. We do not need a new guitarist. No offense to you, Tessa, I am sure you have remarkable skills."
"What good are my remarkable skills if I can't show them off?"
It's clear that she is flirting with Freddy. Whether or not it is intentional, it is pissing Chica off. Her hands quickly shaped into fists. She steps forward, besides Freddy, making her presence known and glares at Tessa. "We have a guitarist." She enforces dryly. "Me."
Tessa's eyes dilate in a wave of excitement. "OMG, Chica?!" In a flat second, she's gaveling before the chicken. Then she stands to glare at Gabe. "Gabe, what is this? You told me that I will be filling in, not to be the replacement of a freaking OG legend!"
"Replacement?!" Chica, Freddy, Gregory, and Sun replied in horrified shock.
"Good grief, are you all deaf? Did you not hear me say the 'newest guitarist'?"
Freddy glanced at Vanessa with a plea for help. "Are you kidding me, Gabe!" She retorts at the unphased male. "The deal was that Chica get fixed so that she won't end up in a pile of scraps –"
"I do not ever agree to such meaningless things! I have a business to run. I will not postpone months of planned parties and concerts for one merely replaceable robot. I got millions of shareholders' money on business, interests to recoup, future opportunities at risk and I have made up my mind! Tessa is in. Chica, out."
His words stung like the scooper gnawing her insides, leaving remnants of sorrow. Was it not just a few minutes ago that she'd been ensured a chance to redeem herself? By the way Gabe is wording, it sounded like she wouldn't be able to play in the band. What point does she have in existing, knowing that she could never shred a note, in front of a live audience, ever again? Why would her friends provide such fake information?
"Thanks a lot for the false promises." She spat at her friends, ignoring them calling her as she rushed away. Away from any open area that would expose her vulnerability.
In a secluded and dark abandoned hallway, Chica scanned the place to find even more depressing findings: boxes of old merchandise from forever ago. She stoops into a corner, a trail of tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Chica?!" Freddy's voice echoes through the halls, listening for anything that would reciprocate his calls. He'd managed to avoid the roaring crowds, hours after the PizzaPlex's opening.
He had the opportunity to sneak away when Roxy and Monty had gotten into it yet again. It had been a while ago since they started pre rehearsals. It had been awful, the first time he wanted to run and skipped out on rehearsals. Tessa, in between takes, would butter him up with compliments. He's sure that she had been hitting on him, much to Monty's anger, Gabe's amusement, and his discomfort. Tessa is a talented tiger, but it had upset him seeing how nonchalant Gabe was towards Chica earlier. How he stripped her of her identity. No remorse, no hesitation. A complete disregard for her feelings.
"Don't worry Freddy, we'll figure something out." Vanessa assured him earlier before she'd dropped Gregory off at school. She'll be back for her 4-12 shift. Freddy didn't want to waste another unoccupied second to not find Chica.
A cluster of caution bots all whirled to his direction. One of them then wheeled away. He had a hunch to follow it, hearing a robotic cry and finding Chica moping and sniffling on the floor.
She uttered her next words, seemingly unaware of Freddy's presence. "Of course they w-would – sniff – stupid me, how – sniff – could I let them – sniff – why would anyone want a deranged chicken?"
"Chica." He grieves for his friend, kneeling to place a hand on her shoulder pad.
"Freddy!" She hiccups, scrambling to wipe her face as her cheeks redden. "I–I didn't hear you come in."
"I apologize, Chica, I did not mean to startle you. I had to come to make sure you are okay."
"You sure pick a great time to stop by."
"I am sorry."
Stop, don't be mad at him! He's just as upset as you are! She'd reasoned with herself. For a while, neither one of them spoke, but Chica likes to think they are having a conversation somewhere in their background roaming. And yet no unsaid words could rid the feeling of sorrow that clings to her.
"What am I supposed to do? I don't want to be replaced! Playing in the band, I feel like I actually have a purpose, that I'm not some robot who goes crazy and kills anyone in sight."
"You are not going to kill anyone ever."
"How would you know that Freddy? This thing is inside of me. I almost killed that little girl…" She hugs herself tighter, shaking at the thought of the scooper pulling out her insides. "What if I can't be helped? What if I hurt someone again?"
"That is not going to happen. We will get you back to where you belong. All of this will not last forever. Tessa would only be temporary. Vanessa is confident that this newfound machine will work, and Gregory has been adamant about restoring your reputation with the public."
"Gregory's a kid. You know why it makes sense that he wouldn't let me go."
"None of us do. We all want to help you, but you have to let us. The hardest part is always asking for help."
The aftermath of that night continues to haunt her. It scares her, knowing that monstrous version was her, is her, lurking around for the next attack. She didn't want it to happen. She doesn't wish to allow that monster a chance to attack her friends or anyone ever again.
Chica sighs quietly, allowing herself to build an ounce of courage before glancing at Freddy. "Okay, I will give it a shot."
"That is the spirit, rockstar!" Freddy grins, pulling her into a hug. "You are going to do great, and I will be there beside you every step of the way." He adds, ruffling the three feathers on her head.
She returns the embrace, to express her gratitude for his support and their friendship. She knew in the weeks ahead, Freddy would be the most patient with her progress as opposed to Monty or Roxy.
She's so thrilled that she could kiss him.
"There you are!" Tessa opens the door with a sigh of relief, Chica glares at her. "Fred, this place is way too big to be playing hide and seek! Gabe needs us back!" Tessa grabs his hand and pulls away, giving Freddy no chance to say anything to Chica other than throw her a nervous glance as Tessa ushers him out the room.
Chica retreats to her greenroom, taking her guitar and plays in the maintenance room. Even if people could hear her play, they wouldn't be able to access her without proper security.
Later she ventured into Parts and Services to stick to the undergrounds. She notices Gregory sitting at the control panel with his laptop and headphones.
"Hey Gregory," she taps the boy on the shoulder.
"Gah! Oh, hey Chica!" He's startled but then relieved to see his friend. Gregory removes his headphones. "Are you doing okay?"
"So far. How was school today?"
"It's been fine for the first couple hours…" he starts before explaining the brief interaction that resulted in him getting half a day's detention.
"You got in trouble but your teacher didn't hear your classmates teasing you?"
"Just another typical day in the 6th grade." He responds and rummages through his bag, likely wanting to change the subject.
"I'm ready to do my redemption series." She replies, gaining a grin and gestures of excitement from the smaller boy. "What's the first thing?"
"Giving the best kick-ass statement of a lifetime!" Gregory grins and pulls out his phone. Had Freddy been around when Gregory cussed, he would immediately lecture the child. Chica snickers at the last time it happened.
Right before this happened. She twirls her fingers. "This statement? What exactly can I say to make that impact?"
"I have an idea…"
Chica bits her finger, watching Gregory work his magic on the computer. "I don't know, Gregory, maybe I should do one more retake."
"This will work."
"But I don't want to sound like I've been programmed to say these words. I may be a robot but I want everyone to know that it's genuine."
"And it is," Gregory spoke with his eyes fixed on the screen. "You did great, and it won't sound programmed. You are one of the most sentient robots known to humanity, you and Freddy. Someone at my school had theorized that you two might have souls from past lives."
How would that be possible?
A loading screen appears along with a countdown.
"And done! In three minutes, the world will see a testimony of a lifetime."
"Just in time to outdo the marketing promo Gabe personally released." Vanessa added, walking into the area. She is still furious with Gabe. Any chance taken to stick it to his face will be great.
Chica gasps, looking over Vanessa's shoulder. Her eyes dare not to look away from the ongoing count as the video of Tessa brushing against Freddy while playing the guitar played repeatedly.
I ought to take her newly improved endoskeleton and rip it to stripes!
Vanessa notes the chicken fuming, and reads out some comments, thinking the robot's jealousy steamed from the promo's heap of attention. "People are asking about you."
"Is it because they care or is it because they want to be nosy?" Chica huffs. "Either way, f**k them!"
"Chica!"
A website blooms, displaying visuals of colors and designs before going black. And then the video plays:
"Hey there, rockstars!" She appeared bright and confident. Meanwhile, in real time, Chica continues to bite her fingers.
"Pizza and hanging with friends are my JAM! And so is taking full responsibility for not seeking help. Last time was so UNCOOL!…"
Please let this nightmare end…
"So, as much as it hurts me, I am giving up my obsession with pizza and working on being a better me than I ever have been before. I hope that I have your support and patience as I undergo this new phase. Take care, Rockstars; I hope to see you around soon!"
The video ends with Chica throwing up a peace sign with the scene fading to black.
Vanessa cheers and Chica sighs in relief, a small smile appearing ruffling Gregory's hair. "Thanks, Gregory."
"See? I told you there's nothing to worry about."
Not long after, Freddy and Sun had entered Parts and Services. Freddy pulls Chica into a hug. "That was amazing, Chica, I am so proud of you! He beams.
Suns clapping his hands. "Absolutely! Just a marvelous job well done! Oh, I cannot wait to see your progress as the weeks go."
"We get this machine, work our magic and you'll be good to go! Way better than before!" Gregory says with a sly smile.
Her circuits warmed at the compliments holding on to that newfound hope.
Chica's video went viral, gaining twice the amount of views as opposed to the prior video. Users were commenting, giving their support and love. Three days passed with reservations doubling in size, the stock prices increasing, and thousands of letters sent.
But while most have shown their support, there were a few who were not so supportive. They remain behind the scenes, scowling at the ongoing population of this redemption video. The fury intensified – it had always been there, and now it's at a point where they would do anything to bring this chicken down.
Ha! She thinks a stupid video will save her. The scowl remains, looking at Chica in her greenroom reading letter after letter of fan support mail while talking to Freddy. They rolled their eyes, itching at the anticipation of making their move now before the sunrise.
No, no. I will not let them ruin my plan. A plan like this will take precision and lots of internal damage. The greater the damage, the more rewarding it will be in the aftermath. And that had been enough for their scowl to turn into a smirk.
Okay Chica, you want to play games? Let's play.