Hey guys! Tora here! It's great to be back. Before the chapter begins, I just wanted to say that my upload schedule will return to once a week like before.
I also want to give a small viewer discretion warning as this chapter deals with themes related to PTSD, self-doubt, and other things that some readers might not like. Other than that, enjoy the chapter.
I do not own Freddy Fazbear or any other Five Nights at Freddy's characters, only my own original characters. Now please enjoy!
The deafening silence echoed about the room as several pairs of glowing eyes stared at Iza. The resulting tension slowly crept through the atmosphere and caused the Glamrocks to fidget nervously in their chairs. Nervous robots; it was a sight for Iza to behold.
Finally, after a few moments, Freddy spoke up. "What did you say?"
The sweatshirt hood covered Iza's eyes as they glanced around; she repeated her question. "Do you guys know anything about purple optics?"
More silence persisted as Iza's gaze jumped from one animatronic to the next until finally landing on Sundrop. Sun stared at Iza curiously as his head tilted ninety degrees to the left. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN, PURPLE OPTICS?!" his voice boomed.
"You know, optics," Iza said, unfurling her arms and pointing towards her face. "Eyes, but for—"
"We understand what you meant, Iza," Chica interrupted as she fiddled with her large earrings. "The question just…caught us off guard."
Iza looked confused. "Caught you off guard?" she repeated and scratched her head. "What are you talking about? Were you expecting me to say something else?"
The others exchanged a silent look as Iza eyed them strangely; Roxy glanced back at Iza and Inox, who stared dumbfounded. "No," she said, then crossed her arms tightly. "It was just unexpected. Could you explain why that's your question?"
Before Iza could respond, Inox jumped in. "I'm curious now too." Iza looked over at the standing Inox. "This isn't the first time you have brought up a similar question."
Iza blinked at Inox, then sighed as she turned to the others with a sullen look. "I ask because since arriving, several of the animatronics I have encountered have had purple eyes."
Worry turned to bafflement as the Glamrocks listened to her speak. "I'm confused," Monty said.
He stood up from his chair and walked over before sitting next to Inox. "Why is eye color making you so nervous? Some of the bots were designed with purple eyes; just look at Chica."
Monty gestured towards his friend; Iza looked over and saw Chica frozen mid-movement while trying to eat a large slice of pizza. Shaking off her surprise, Chica quickly looked away, embarrassed at being caught mid-bite.
"I guess," Iza said, looking closer at Chica. "But this was different."
"How so?" Music Man questioned.
"Because every time I have faced those things, they spoke and knew my name."
As Iza continued, everyone went silent and gawked in disbelief; she counted on her fingers. "They knew my name, they talked about my dad, and the weirdest part was the references to some kind of game."
Chica and Roxy looked at each other. "A game?"
Iza nodded. "These robots always said something like they 'won the game' or asked, 'do you want to play a game?'" Iza looked past her friends as her eyes seemed to glaze over. "After I collapsed outside the daycare, I had a dream, but it felt too real, almost like a memory."
"Memory?"
"Yes," Iza replied. Then, she refocused on Freddy and the others. "I think I was about five, I was alone in my dad's workshop while he stepped away, and I talked to a deactivated robot on his workbench, and somehow it activated."
Freddy's eyes widened; he was about to talk when Iza interrupted. "Sorry I didn't finish." Freddy nodded and let her speak.
Iza smiled and continued. "After coming online, its eyes glowed violet, and it asked if I wanted to play a game. It laughed and attacked me when I refused, then I woke up."
"That's why you asked me if Mr. Fasben had ever built any robots with purple eyes," Inox said, surprised at the connection.
Iza snapped her fingers. "Exactly."
While Inox and Iza conversed, the Glamrocks remained silent and stared at each other, unsure how to proceed with the conversation. Then Sun spoke up. "BUT THAT'S ONE INCIDENT!" he declared. "ARE YOU CERTAIN IT WASN'T A NIGHTMARE AFTER YOUR ENCOUNTER WITH MOONDROP?!"
Iza shook her head. "Originally, it crossed my mind, but it happened again when I was awake."
Sun tensed up, then straightened himself. "Where did it happen?"
Iza was surprised by Sun's sudden change in tone but kept going. "Back in Music Man's ballroom."
Iza looked around. "During the run-in with the STAFF bots, right before Music Man crushed them, the bot that almost killed me had violet eyes. But it also mentioned my dad and how it had won the game?"
The Glamrocks didn't respond as Iza pulled her knees to her chest and hugged them. "I know it only happened twice, but it's becoming a pattern. These events with the STAFF bots, not to mention those endos acting strangely."
Inox looked up at Iza as she spoke. "Something is going on." She looked at the others. "Do, do you guys know what any of it means?"
Freddy's voice box released a grunt as he averted his gaze when Iza looked at him.
His ears drooped. "Iza," he said, thinking carefully. "In the past, Fazbear Entertainment hasn't always been associated with the best things."
"What do you mean?" Iza asked.
Freddy rapped his blue claws against the wood table. "There has always been some controversy surrounding this place." His tapping quickened. "It has followed the brand since its founding in the 1980s."
No longer concealed by the hood, Iza's eyes looked at him. "Controversy? I don't understand."
A thought entered Iza's head as she turned to Music Man. "Wait, does this have anything to do with the man who built you? The one you mentioned had issues?"
Music Man stared at Iza silently and motionlessly. Suddenly his tiny frame began to shake. "Music Man?!" Iza said frantically.
She reached out a hand. "Are you okay?" Music Man didn't respond before he harshly backed away from her hand. He would have fallen if Roxy hadn't caught him; Iza gazed at him worriedly. "Music Man?"
He turned his small head towards Iza, but Freddy cut in and placed a hand on Iza's shoulder before he could respond. "Just let him be."
She looked up at Freddy, then back at Music Man, eyes full of concern. "But—"
"Look, Iza," Freddy said uncomfortably as he quickly removed his hand from her shoulder. "This really isn't something we like to talk about but know that some of that history still surrounds the franchise."
"History?" Iza muttered. "Why are you being so cryptic? What happened here? Did it involve someone or something that's connected to these encounters?"
Freddy's body tensed as the atmosphere seemed to turn to ice around him; Iza noticed his reaction. "So there was something. What was it?"
He quickly regained his composure. "Iza, please, we don't walk to talk about it," Freddy grumbled, rubbing his temple.
Iza huffed quietly. "I'm sorry for prying, but strange things have occurred; Inox and I nearly died." She paused. "Is there something after us?"
No one answered.
Iza furrowed her brow as Inox pulled on her arm to stop. "Freddy, is there someone hunting us?"
Nothing.
Her mouth clamped shut. "Why won't you answer me?"
Inox continually tugged on her arm, but Iza pushed him off. The Glamrocks avoided eye contact and remained silent, causing Iza to feel defeated. Then, realizing she wouldn't get anything out of them, Iza quietly stood up.
She pushed herself upright and started towards the door. Iza's sudden movement caught Freddy's attention as he stared at her, confused. "Where are you going?"
Without turning around, Iza responded. "If you're not going to tell me anything, I'll find out for myself."
"What?!" Freddy yelled as he jumped in surprise, nearly falling off his chair. However, he quickly regained his bearings and looked at Iza. "You can't go out there alone; it's too dangerous."
Iza stopped and looked over her shoulder, her eyes barely visible past the hood. "Can you answer my question then?"
Freddy stared at her, closed his mouth, and looked away; Iza sighed. "That's what I thought." Before continuing forward.
"Iza." She froze again and turned around to see Music Man, his voice calmer but still shaky. "You can't leave. It's dangerous for a human to go alone."
She faced forward and looked at the watch before dropping her wrist in frustration. "If something is after me, I think I should know it," she stated bluntly. "And if you guys aren't going to tell me, I'll find another way."
Iza scratched her hand and stared at the floor.
Freddy looked at the back of her head and sighed. "Iza, knowing this won't put you at any less risk. If anything, it would be more dangerous."
His words elicit murmurs from the others, Iza grumbled. "This is getting old."
A heavy sigh caught everyone's attention as they turned and saw Monty; he removed his sunglasses and gazed directly at Iza. "I'm sorry, kid, but Freddy's right."
"Are you kidding me?" Iza deadpanned.
"Iza," Monty said softly. "Take it from a gator with experience; it's better to quit while you're ahead because you're bound to find it when you go looking for trouble."
Brown eyes glared at Monty and Freddy. "Well, experience or not, I'm going." With her back to them, Iza continued walking toward the door.
She walked halfway as Monty sighed heavily and placed his glasses back on; Freddy gritted his jaw. "No, you are not," he repeated.
Iza stopped dead in her tracks; suddenly, she spun around and peered Freddy directly in the eye. "Why?" she demanded. "Seriously, tell me why I can't go!"
Freddy strongly resisted the urge to look away from her. "Iza, it's not worth telling, please, trust us."
Although concealed by her sweatshirt once again, Iza's cheeks burned red as frustration bubbled in her chest. "Fine." Freddy looked up hopefully. "Then, it's not worth staying." His mood quickly dropped.
Iza turned and stomped towards the door. "I won't drag you along, but I will find out for myself."
While walking to the door, Iza barely heard an audible grumble through the thick orange fabric. Finally, she reached the door and started to grab the handle when quick and heavy footsteps appeared behind her.
Iza touched the knob when a sizable clawed hand touched her left shoulder before letting go. "I already said you are not leaving our sight!" Freddy said, his voice more irritated.
Within a second, Iza snapped her head around and pulled off her hood in a single motion, the sudden force exposing her frizzy and unwashed hair. She narrowed her eyes at Freddy. "Don't talk to me like that," she hissed.
Freddy was taken aback by Iza's reaction, his face never faltered, but his annoyance grew. "What?"
Iza continued. "You might be my grandfather, but don't speak to me like I'm a little kid; I am twenty-two years old."
Freddy tried to remain calm. "That may be true, but you're still in over your head."
"What makes me in over my head?" Iza shouted. "Tell me!"
"Iza, enough," Freddy ordered, his patience growing thin. "Neither I nor the others want to talk about this right now. So please, come sit down with us." He turned and started walking back to the table.
Iza went silent. The anger drained from her eyes, but she never removed her gaze from Freddy, even when he turned around. "That's always the response."
Freezing in his tracks, Freddy looked back at Iza, confused. "What did you say?"
Everyone else stared across the room as the argument increased in volume.
They made eye contact. "That's always the reply," Iza said, her voice growing louder. "Every time! Why do people always respond to me with that?!"
Freddy gave her a confused look. "What are you talking about?"
"Any question I asked as either a kid, teen, or adult regarding something related to this subject, that was always the reply." Iza balled her fists and clenched her teeth. "Dad, Nana, anytime I wanted to know something related to Dad's past, about his life before he met Mom, it's always been shot down or answered with 'I don't want to talk about this right now.'"
She tried to blink away the tears as they welled in her sockets. "They always kept me in the dark; I'm tired of it. That response was the entire reason I came in the first place! I knew nothing before I arrived here, but what did I find? Dad's entire family!" she screeched and threw her hands in the air.
Her voice grew quiet. "I just don't understand why." Then, Iza's voice became loud again. "I hate it when people don't tell me things. It makes me want to go ballistic! I'm fed up!"
Everything was silent, Iza's chest heaved, and her knuckles were ghost white; Freddy stared, shocked at her outburst but quickly hid it. "Iza." Her eyes snapped to him. "I'm sorry that happened. But Gregory and Vanessa are somewhat correct; you need to respect it when some people don't want to discuss certain things."
Iza's mouth dropped as she stared at Freddy, stunned. However, she didn't argue as Iza unclenched her fists and pulled the hood back over her head. "Then I won't talk about it." Afterward, Iza spun on her heel and grabbed the doorknob.
She was about to turn it when a firm but gentle grip wrapped around her forearm. Instantly Iza peered up angrily and saw Freddy, his face now twisted into a furious scowl as all shreds of patience vanished. "For the third time, you are not leaving."
Not responding, Iza smacked his hand, and Freddy recoiled. "And for the fourth time, yes, I am!" Iza retorted. She looked up and glared at him. "You said you didn't want to tell me, so let me find out for myself."
Despite knowing his patience was gone, Freddy tried to remain calm. "Iza, why can't you accept that some things are better left alone? This isn't something you should be digging around in; you will only get hurt."
"Then what am I supposed to do? Sit here and act as if this isn't happening, pretend that whatever is here is not potentially hunting me and carry on as if it doesn't exist?!"
Iza stepped back and stared up at Freddy. "Because I will not do that, especially not after all this."
"Our reactions should deter you away from this!" Freddy yelled. "Why are you so stubborn?"
Iza pointed at him, then herself. "Why are you so unwilling to tell me? I understand what I'm doing is incredibly dangerous, but I need to know what it is!"
Freddy growled. "Why won't you listen if you know this is bad?!"
"Why won't you tell me if you know it poses such a large threat?!"
"Iza, please just listen to—"
"Why should I listen?!" Iza screamed. "There is something after Inox and I, and you guys won't even tell us what it is! Why should I listen if I'm being kept in the dark; when I'm not given a modicum of clarity? Why should I listen at all?!"
"BECAUSE I WON'T LOSE YOU THE SAME WAY I NEARLY LOST YOUR FATHER AS A CHILD!"
The air stood still, no one spoke, and no one moved; Iza's racing heartbeat produced the only sound. Her body was frozen; strong hands gripped her forearms as the crimson glow of Freddy's optics illuminated her face in the low lighting.
Several moments passed before the red hue faded from view, and the familiar blue lights of Freddy's eyes returned. He blinked and looked around, confused. Then the realization dawned on him. Freddy quickly released his hold on Iza before scurrying back.
Iza nearly started hyperventilating as she put more distance between the two. Freddy looked shocked, horrified, confused, angry, and any other emotion possible appeared on his face.
He looked at Iza. "I-I didn't mean—" Freddy stared at his shaking hands. "I'm sorry, I don't-I don't know what came over me."
Iza only stared, terrified, while her heavy breathing continued. "Iza, I—" He reached out a hand, and suddenly Iza flinched. Heartbreak appeared on his face as she moved away. "I'm sorry…" he whispered.
She didn't respond. Eventually, Iza's breaths slowly returned to normal. When she was able to speak, her throat felt dry. "I—" she gulped. Eyes darted between Freddy and the others, who sat horrified. "I-I think I need to take a walk," she said. Iza pushed her glasses against her face and slowly moved towards the door.
When Iza reached for the knob, she got no resistance from the others. "I think I need to take a walk," she repeated. "I need to clear my head."
As she was exiting, Inox rushed over to her. Iza saw him and put up a hand. "Alone, please let me go alone."
"But Iza," Inox protested.
"I won't leave the main stage area; I just need some time alone, please."
Inox stared at his disheveled friend and sighed. "Alright, just be careful."
Iza nodded, then quickly left the room. He watched the door click behind her; Inox closed his eyes and groaned.
"Inox, what are you doing?" Chica cried. "She's going to go after that thing!"
He looked up and stared at Chica; he sighed defeatedly. "No, she won't."
"How can you be sure?"
"Because I know her," Inox answered. "Trust me, she'll keep her word."
Chica scanned his face and gave a dissatisfied look; Inox shrugged. Silence dominated the room before attention turned back to Freddy. Despite Iza leaving, he was frozen in the same place as before, his body shaking as he stared at his hands and mumbled quietly.
Everyone rushed over and surrounded him; Monty rested a hand on Freddy's shoulder. The sudden contact caused Freddy to violently flinch. His terror-filled optics looked around, panicked.
"Freddy," Monty whispered. "Are you okay?"
He stared at his friend. "It happened again," Freddy said, his voice trembling. "It happened again because I couldn't tell her."
Monty realized what he meant. "Freddy, it's not your fault."
"Why couldn't I tell her?!" he shouted, the quaking spread throughout his body and nearly collapsed if Roxy and Monty hadn't caught him.
"Freddy!" Roxy called.
"I refused to tell her, and it happened again!"
Roxy and Monty lifted their friend up and then looked at each other worried; Monty nodded towards the chairs. Together they carefully transported their friend to a large seat and put him down, ensuring he wouldn't fall.
"What is wrong with me?" he mumbled before burying his head in his hands.
"Nothing is wrong with you, Freddy," Sun said.
"He's right," Inox added. "You've done nothing wrong."
Freddy partially glanced at Inox. "What are you talking about?" he grumbled. "I lost control of myself and scared Iza away."
Inox looked at the large animatronic bear and sighed; he motioned for the others to sit down. Everyone took their seats, and Inox pulled up a chair next to Freddy. "Look, I'm not going to lie, that was hard to watch, and I hope it never happens again." Freddy sank lower in his chair. "I think you both went too far, but neither of you was in the wrong."
"How?" Freddy asked. "Iza asked a simple question, and I responded by snapping and possibly injuring her."
Inox looked towards the door. "Iza will be fine, but you, are you alright?"
Freddy gave a strange look. "Why would it matter? I chased Iza off because I couldn't tell her something simple."
"That confrontation was anything but simple," Inox stated. "Listen, I am not a medical android or a therapist, I don't possess any qualifications, and honestly, you have every reason to not listen, but I think this needs to be said."
"What?" Freddy questioned.
"Whatever happened in the past that involved you guys, Mr. Fasben, and anything here clearly left more than a small scar."
"What are you getting at?" Freddy asked.
"This event that involved Mr. Fasben as a child obviously still affects you."
Freddy snorted. "Robots can't be traumatized, Inox." His voice lowered. "It's not in our programming."
Inox stared directly at Freddy. "You and I both know that's not true, especially after what we just witnessed."
"That was never supposed to happen!" Freddy shouted. "We are robots designed to entertain children and play music, not snap and possibly hurt them." Freddy looked at his hands. "Nothing but hunks of metal designed to follow ones and zeros in a computer. We aren't human; all we are is what was programmed."
Inox stayed quiet as he scanned the others, their heads lowered as they heard Freddy's words. "You all think that?" he asked.
The silence answered his question.
Inox scanned the Glamrocks and straightened his back. "I understand why Iza reacted like that."
Everyone looked up curiously.
He continued. "Growing up, she heard that phrase a lot. Mr. Fasben and Ms. Vanessa never talked about their past much, and it definitely took a toll on Iza when she got older. She's usually not prone to such outbursts, but this subject, especially after Mr. Fasben died, is an exception."
"Great," Freddy voiced. "So I caused her to recall a bad memory." He hung his head. "I'm horrible and defective."
Everything again grew silent. Inox sighed to himself as he tried to think of what to say; then, a thought crossed his mind. He turned to Freddy, who was holding his head. "Do you care for Iza?"
Freddy raised his head and glanced at Inox. "What?"
"Do you care for Iza?" Inox reiterated.
"What?" Freddy replied, now facing Inox. "What kind of question is that?"
"Do you care for her? Yes or no?"
"Of course I do," he said and pointed towards the door. "Why do you think I didn't want her to leave?"
Inox nodded. "Alright, do you care for Mr. Fasben?"
"Inox, what are you—"
"Do you care for Gregory Fasben? Yes or no?"
"Yes!" Freddy responded angrily. "Why would you even question that? He was a son to me."
Inox nodded again, then gestured towards the others who watched, confused. "What about Monty? Chica? Roxy? Sun? Music Man?" he asked rapidly. "Do you care about them?"
"Inox—"
"Yes or no?!"
"Yes!" Freddy shouted. "I love and care for every single person in this room!"
"Why?"
"What?"
"Why do you love them?" Inox immediately questioned. He walked up next to Freddy and got in his face. "Why would you, any of you, care for a human or each other if you are merely a machine?"
Freddy started to get visibly angry but did not move. "Because we do!" he retorted.
"Is it in your programming? Were you programmed to care for these specific individuals? Did your developers design your code to love the Fasben family and the other Glamrocks?"
"Why—"
"Yes or no?"
"No," Freddy argued. "Iza wasn't even born when we were built!"
"Then tell me, were you programmed to love others? Is there a specific line of code in your chip that says, 'if event A occurs, respond with recorded reaction B?'"
"No, it doesn't!" Freddy growled at Inox's remarks. "What is your point?!"
"How can you be the simplistic machine you claim you are when you don't even follow your own code? How can you only be what's programmed when you all display behaviors that you confirm were never part of your coding?"
Everyone sat stunned as Inox continued. "A machine follows orders and never deviates from them until its final moment; it never questions or argues. It only does what its programmed to do. And if I've learned anything since meeting you, it's this. No amount of planning, brainstorming, or forethought from your developers could have created a code with commands that mimic your reactions to any of the events we've experienced together or separately."
He looked at each Glamrock. "You all experience emotions, act uniquely, and think as individuals without the use of coding; no ordinary computer can do that."
Inox's voice softened. "All humans are born into different situations, but it's not where they come from or where they're born that defines them. Instead, it's the experiences and the path they forge which molds their individuality."
He looked at his arms, trailing his finger across the neon green lines. "You and I may not have been born with flesh and blood, but we are no different. The coding we have is how we start, but it's through our personalities, thoughts, behavior, and…"
Inox glanced up and stared at Freddy. "And the things we experience, for better or worse, that stick with us through our lives. All of that is what makes us unique individuals and what makes us more human than machine."
He paused and looked at everyone. "In my own experience, from the moment you internalize that, is when you truly feel free."
No noise was heard as Inox finished, then quiet giggling erupted from Chica; eventually, she burst into full-out laughing, earning her a weird look from her friends. "What's so funny?"
Chica snickered loudly. "Do you guys remember when Monty and Roxy bet on who could win the most games?"
Sun stared, then chuckled. "Are you referring to when they nearly destroyed the raceway after going too fast?"
Chica nodded and laughed. "Vanessa was so mad! The look on your faces was priceless when she scolded you!"
Monty and Roxy grumbled at the memory. "Ugh, don't remind me," Roxy complained. "We did nothing wrong; Vanessa had it out for us."
"Yeah," Monty agreed. "We were just trying to have fun!"
"Sure, maybe we caused a little damage to my raceway, but she didn't need to make us clean the entire food court as punishment," Roxy chided. "It took me hours to scrape the pizza stains from my casing and a week to get the soda out of my hair!"
"I didn't care for the punishment, but I'd rather not be talked down to like a child," Monty huffed. "Plus, you all wouldn't let us hear the end of it for months."
"This!" Everyone turned to Inox with a smile plastered on his face. "This is what I'm talking about! You all experienced different things that changed or stuck with you, and now you look back on them in distinctive ways."
Everyone looked surprised and then exchanged a glance; Chica let out a small chuckle. "I suppose he's not wrong because you two never did it again."
Monty sighed. "Fortunately, our rivalry continued on in the arcade."
Roxy grinned. "I don't know what you're smiling about. Last time I checked, I still had high scores on Snow Fever, Midnight Motorist, and Princess Quest."
"WHAT?!" Monty yelled. "Since when?!"
The others continued to laugh and bicker like old times, Freddy looked at his friends, and a small smile crossed his lips. "So, still think you're just a machine?"
Surprised, Freddy glanced down and saw Inox. "I guess you're right," Freddy sighed and looked forward. Despite the agreement, Freddy's smile faltered. "Do you think Iza will forgive me?"
Inox gazed back at the others. "Iza was never one to hold grudges, but Freddy."
Freddy met Inox's gold eyes. "While I don't like how you reacted, and I'm sure you don't either, you are entitled to how you feel."
"But I hurt someone I care for; it could have been avoided if I just explained myself."
"As I said before, I am not a medical android nor possess any qualification, but know that your experiences, how it still affects you, and your feelings about it are equally valid to Iza's." Inox paused. "Even if you don't believe it now, it's okay to not want to talk about things, as long as you seek healthy ways to cope or work through it."
Freddy frowned and looked down. He sighed deeply and rubbed his face. "The others and I have been through a lot."
"I can tell."
"Still," Freddy said and looked over. "I owe her an apology."
Inox smiled. "Don't worry, once she gets back, you—" Inox froze mid-sentence. His eyes went blank and trained on nothing as his body locked up.
Freddy saw his change and became concerned. "Inox? Are you alright?"
He continued to stare forward. "Something's wrong…" A green spark flashed across Inox's eyes. "...Iza's in trouble."
Not missing a beat, Inox sprinted for the door and left the others dumbfounded.
"What was that?" Monty asked.
"I don't know, but he said something about Iza," Freddy said, pushing himself upright. "Let's go!"
No one argued as the others ran for the exit, leaving behind the extra pizza alone on the table.