Sometime during the PizzaPlex's prime-
GLAMROCK BONNIE
Bonnie had been looking at the map for no less than several minutes- unsure whether or not to show it to Freddy after retiring to his room for the eve. He didn't want his friend to worry so much more than he already did- and its bad enough that showing him the paper would only add to that stress. All things considered, he should show it but... for some reason, he couldn't.
The rabbit glared into the map, sighed, then FINALLY let his heavy arms drop with the map hitting the floor. It worried him a bit, don't get him wrong, but it didn't seem to bother him as much as one would think after a while. He found the idea of not having any sense of self-preservation a strange and quarrelsome thought; but he wasn't programmed to have any self preservation now, was he? He was designed to protect and entertain: That was the epitome of his life. If he should be the only one to worry about his OWN safety, and steer the attention and danger from his friends and onto himself, then it literally couldn't pacify him more. He was fulfilling his purpose as a bot, technically.
Bots did not have the same capacity for it- just the permission to protect themselves as part of a greater directive. While he and the others had very sentient thoughts and feelings, it seemed lacking to not possess self preservation. They had no instincts- for they were not organic. Instinct was a feature the organic had, and its something eluded the bots entirely. Sometimes, Bonnie wondered how he and the others could 'feel' to the capacity they do. There must've been something with their programming or structure that endowed them this ability to perceive their environment in such a truly organic way-
But he didn't know. How could he?
They feel sadness and fear and hope of some kind- but sometimes these inflections seemed to hold a quality to them that almost felt far away. Things he can see, and almost touch. Things they see so clearly, they THINK they can feel them for themselves. Things they can see reflected in the patrons around them and experienced so closely that a bot can convince itself they too can perceive these complicated nuances.
He used to not feel these much at all in the beginning of his life. After a time though, they all 'learned' to experience these inflections and make them their own. He didn't know how, but something about their programmers and techs helped the bots to feel like humans do; to become relatable to their patrons and to process as any human can for the most part. It took a lot of time to do so and a few years for the PizzaPlex to remain open and allow thousands of patrons to come in and for the bots to observe them- to assimilate as best they can. Something changed within their minds- and something in their bodies enabled them this ability to learn to feel. Maybe it was a special upgrade or something, but whatever it was, it endowed them this ability to feel.
He felt discontent, even now. He felt unsatisfied and unrealized. Restless. A quiet frustration with his place here, and the fact he was limited to very few meaningful contacts outside of his friends. He felt somewhat annoyed that he wasn't allowed to feel concern for his own wellbeing even though it was an important part of life. It was natural to want to desire to fight for yourself. It was HUMAN.
And yet, he just didn't care about himself. He just. Didn't. Care.
He felt he should, somewhere... a normal person would be scared out of their wits of the message in the map. Pissing themselves from fright from an ominous threat of an unseen enemy in his own home. Hell, a REAL rabbit would run and find a warren to bury itself into.
But he wasn't one. He was a bot. And as Herman said, he was a menacing 8 foot tall (if you include his ears), 440 lbs. mechanized entertainer dressed several decades out of date with a cute, boopable nose.
For some reason, he found that his existence was a tad bit- dare he say, paltry. He'd never say that aloud to his friends of course, as they place a lot of importance in their roles as entertainers and protectors- and for good reason. He'd feel like he was devaluing the very nature of their sentient existence. He couldn't bear to say any of this aloud. It hurt too much to do so.
But he just couldn't care about his role as a glammed up show-pony parody of the original purple rabbit himself. He wasn't the original. He wasn't original at all. He wasn't art; but an extension of their owner's greed. He wasn't allowed to value himself. He literally wasn't programmed to.
He had an owner. He was some glorified, sentient robot PET. And yet they made him smart and self-aware? What were those assholes thinking? Couldn't he have stayed an unintelligent and simplified moron like the S.T.A.F.F bots? Their caretakers would have a lot less work to deal with. Less emotional baggage to deal with, that's for sure.
On a side note, if there's one good thing a rabbit does know how to do, its to be quiet. No matter if they're a bot, or a body. Actual rabbits were creatures of silence and vigilance. They wouldn't scream unless its to warn their comrades of their impending demise. And as it were, the day Bonnie decided something happened to him, he'd send the distress signal only then. But not before. He'd still give some kind of warning, but the day a rabbit actually screams would be to warn them away from the dangers; not come to his aid. No rabbit screamed if they wanted to be rescued- they screamed only when they knew they would be dead.
No. He'd never want to be rescued. Ever. He'd never want Freddy or his friends to come and save him if he was in the vice of something far greater than themselves. He'd want them to get far away-
But get away to where? We have nowhere to go but this place. If there is truly some hidden danger here, how could I possibly help them?
A rabbit was a listener as well as a runner; a watcher with the swiftest response. And while Bonnie was a grotesque parody of such a creature, he's still the greatest listener of all here in the PizzaPlex. If it came to giving warning for ample reason, his friends will be the first to know. But he didn't want to worry them now, so he did the next best thing a good rabbit should be good at: To wait in silence. To observe and evaluate.
Even if he could warn them though... where would they go? They're relegated to this place forever more. And while the PizzaPlex was HUGE and had many floors, once one got used to it and was forced to accept the fact that they LIVE HERE and cannot leave, then their entire world just becomes that much smaller.
This. This place was their whole world. The only world they'll ever know. The only world that should matter. The world that also doubled as a prison. And for carrots' sake, why are the security doors rigged with a controlled shock feature? If that doesn't spell 'prison door', he didn't know what else did!
Bonnie found it hard to get motivated enough to move, but he had to eventually. He couldn't keep the map here- as his digs weren't super exclusive. He eventually found his way up off his couch; deciding to head to his dressing room in the bowling alley even though it was a reasonable walk away. He wanted to put the map in a room that isn't visited often: one where even the human staff rarely went. The dressing room was actually more private than his Green room in Rockstar Row. At least in the dressing room, he'd keep all the rest of his secrets. Not even Freddy would know.
He put the map in his chest cavity, sighed, then slumped out the door. He didn't need his friends finding it in his room by accident some random day. He didn't want some fan who come in for a photo to see something like this either. No sir. This thing SHOULD go into the garbage, but Chica went dumpster diving when she could- so even then it may not be safe from her. It was also evidence to him: Evidence that someone here meant ill-will. He doubted he could scrutinize anymore clues from it, but he kept it for that reason regardless.
He didn't stop anywhere else- didn't see anyone else. He went straight to his dressing room, put the map in one of the lockers, then shut and locked it with a claw. He'd stay in that room for some unseen period of time as well; never budging or moving despite the sounds of the building and ambient music around him. He didn't startle when a lone rat scuttled by; nor did he move when a S.T.A.F.F. Bot rolled by and picked up some pins with the intention to clean them.
No. He stayed there in that same position in front of the locker for a while until his batteries (both primary and secondary) beeped at him to head to his recharge station. He'd so so, and he'd stay there the rest of the night. A rabbit in his own personal, dark hole- a creature struggling to realize that its whole world was just one giant hole, and something was sleeping in the warren with it.
And there was no running from it.
~The next day~
It was the same that following morn.
Him waiting and watching. Eyeing the people around him. Barely touching his bass until it was time for rehearsal. Even now, he was sitting in the back of the daycare theater, eyeing every single bot and staff that rolled by. His nose twitched irritably. Someone was wearing cologne and it was offensive. Someone may be allergic to that!
He almost complained, but Roxanne beat him to it. "HEY! Whoever's wearing that crap, don't wear it again! Its itching my nose!"
Some of the human staff muttered between each other- With Mr. Willard looking suddenly quite sheepish and moseying away rather swiftly. The smell receded with him. Good- it was starting to clog Bonnie's sensors.
The rabbit stuck his paw to his nose and constantly sniffled and chuffed; with Roxy doing the same next to him. She glanced at him, then said, "What, it's bothering you too?"
"Yeah," his tone was lifeless, disinterested.
"Why'd ya not say something?"
"Why should I? They don't listen. I wager he may come back next day wearing that sh-er, crap, and it'll repeat until some patron gets hit with an allergic reaction. Happens all the dang time." Don't swear around Freddy, you fool, he had to remind himself.
Roxy shrugged at him, then picked up her keyboard. She practiced her warming key strokes; stretching her graceful talons across its exaggerated face. Bonnie watched with interest, always finding the sight a little oddly poetic in motion. He'd stop after a minute, then stared disinterestedly at his bass.
"Bonnie? You okay?"
Freddy's voice. When the rabbit looked up, both the bear and chicken were looking at him now. Chica was furrowing her expression as best she could; her fingers twitching in strange, nervous and frenetic motions across her guitar's bridge. He wondered if she got into the Monty mix again recently and was just bugging out a little- but the sight was also an indication of her unease.
"M'fine. Just not feeling it today," he admitted. "Not feelin' very musical."
"You could tell the managers?" Chica very slowly and rather shyly offered. There was no vibrant chirrup or cluck in her tone- no high-pitched warmth. She sounded timid- the opposite of her usual self. The observation struck Bonnie as a little strange. "Maybe they'd let you go?" she continued with her head lowered.
Now Freddy was looking at her. He darted glances between the both of them in an almost comical manner- although there wasn't anything funny about the worry on his face.
"You and I both know that ain't happening, Chic-a-Rita senorita. Not-uh. When have they ever forgiven tardiness and slacking off?" Bonnie shrugged.
"I know... but you haven't been performing your best recently, and its starting to show," She went on to say lowly. "Forcing you to play when you won't even do so in your own attraction is only gonna spell problems for them. I wouldn't think a break is completely out of the question."
Bonnie huffed and smiled ironically. "You and both know that ain't happenin' either, you know. Doncha know I'm a little too high demand for that?"
She produced a saddened warble.
Freddy rapped a talon on his microphone, his expression troubled as well. "You've been refusing to see the techs lately... Vanessa put in a report regarding you to them. And now, you don't wish to play-" He stepped forward and placed a paw to Bonnie's chin, cupping it and leveling the rabbit's gaze squarely onto himself. "Any reason for that, my friend? You know you can tell us."
No. I'm not programmed to even care. Why should I mention it?
And that was the conundrum: He should care about his safety, but did not. He knew his friends would, but the idea of mentioning it to them made him feel the closest equivalent to unwell as one can figure a bot is capable of. He only listlessly let his head sit in Freddy's paw, trying his best to find something within himself that did care- but no. No such thing happened. His programming was stuck in an odd limbo there, despite the fact that recently, Bonnie had been tampering with his system more than he cared to admit.
"I know I can tell you," was all he said. He finally extracted himself from the bear's paw by lifting his head free of it. "But I don't even know where to begin with that- or how to explain it. Its not that I distrust you- never is that the case. Its just... carrots, I guess its a computing error-?"
"All the more reason to see the techs-" Freddy urged.
"Not-uh, brother bear. Sorry. If they refuse to see Chica there for her bugs, why the heck would I stick my nose in their business just for them to turn it away? 'Sides, I also don't much like the idea of 'em messing with me," He said without outright admitting that he'd been tampering with his own system and just didn't want them correcting that. They will certainly take away his ability to take charge of his own system.
If anything, could I reprogram myself like that on a whim? He wondered. And not ever have to worry about them doing it for me ever again?
Roxy whuffed nearby, dragging Bonnie's gaze to her. She was scoffing, blowing hair out of her face and looking exaggerated with him. "You're just bein' butt-hurt about somethin'. Why doncha suck it up and let them at least TRY?"
Bonnie rolled his eyes, but said nothing to that. "Nevermind... let's just keep practicin'," he grumbled eventually.
Chica however was watching him rather raptly; the hen furrowing her lids and gakeling lowly to herself. She looked like she wanted to say something, but nothing came forth. Her fingers kept their twitchy dance across her instrument's fretboard, now intrusively drawing Bonnie's eyes too. The rabbit couldn't help but feel upsetted by the fact that her bugging out was now so visual; unable to control certain motions some moments due to an error.
"Chica," he eventually said. "Instead of worrying about me, why not worry about yourself? Are YOU feeling okay?"
"I-" She shifted upon her footing uncertainly, displacing her weight from one side to the other. She didn't muster any other words.
Bonnie did something bold; and as Freddy had done for himself, reached out for her too. He got a hold of her shivery mitt on the neck of her beloved instrument; squeezing on it affectionately while rubbing a thumb across the top of it. Chica produced another low noise, but Bonnie didn't speak 'chicken' well enough to understand it.
"You okay?" He asked again, tenor velveteen.
She opened her beak to say something, then clamped it shut immediately with her lavender eyes arrested on a point beyond him. Bonnie turned as well, feeling Chica tentatively take her hand away as if afraid. Bonnie perked an ear at the arrival of one of their managers who walked up as if his name had been said three times in a mirror in an attempt to summon a demon- and he wasn't alone. Monty himself was next to him, his huge head bowed and his red eyes firmly placed on the floor as if in submission.
"We having an issue here, fellas?" their personal manager said politely.
Bonnie worked his jaw for a second, his now alert gaze swapping between the man and gator. What's Monty here for?
"Ah... no sir. Just ah..." Shit. He can't even say anything interesting or convincing. How is a bot tongue-tied?
Their manager was... an interesting man. He wasn't super high profile or anything, but he tended to frequent the premises and make sure some things are rolling well between performances. If there was any problems however, their reports go up the chain- and eventually, to their own OWNER. Bonnie felt nervous looking at him, his ears fully erect and pitched forward in a rabbits' universal sign of danger. He'd lost the characteristic droop in his front right ear when he walked up.
His name was Mr. Cromwell, but Bonnie won't even say the name- none of them can. If a lawsuit happened and the Glamrocks themselves were somehow ever addressed by any outside law enforcement, they were strictly prohibited and programmed to not give any names. Fazbear Entertainment never gave names directly in most cases after one lands a certain position in the job. They held their cards to their chests, as the saying goes.
Right now, Mr. Cromwell had his eyes on the rabbit; but then it casually swapped to the group, then the rabbit again. There was a smile like an intrusive oil bloom spreading across the surface of the ocean. "You sure you're not having trouble? I was informed by security of some interesting and errant behavior on your part."
Bonnie only snorted to that.
Freddy's expression leveled into something like suspicion; the bear frowning at the man but not daring to say anything. Hell, the bear even folded his arms, looking almost challenging for once. Bonnie! Acting aberrantly! The nerve! Chica meanwhile was fidgeting with increasing intensity all the while, her face darting between the manager and her lagomorph friend. Roxy kept an impassive air in contrast to her friends- perhaps the smartest move.
"The last few weeks. You've been rather diligent in your pursuit of any oddity in the PizzaPlex," the manager began professionally- almost welcoming in that manner. "Its something to be applauded, and you're doing job well-"
"...'But'?" Bonnie would raise a brow if he could.
"-But, we have Vanessa and other security bots for a reason, Bonnie. You don't need to keep doing that and wearing your motor out doing so. As for the banging in the vents- well, I hear tell there's nothing that can be done with that." The man shook his head, "-I saw the receipt from the Ventilation contractor- Keith I think his name was? You don't need to keep undertaking another person's job when you have enough to do. We good?"
Wear out my motor. HAH! Could that sound like a poorer excuse?
Bonnie's alert and wary expression slipped into an annoyed one. His ears went to half-mast upon his scalp and his eyes noticeably narrowed, "Just so we're clear, sir, am I being told to not do this anymore? Period?"
He said nothing. Just dipped his head. It might as well be a nod despite how his next words sounded, "I know you're just obeying the programming in your Security Mode- that's what its there for. And... I'm also aware of the fact that it has its flaws... But, I feel as if all its done is take away your time for recreation and relaxation. Its distracting, basically. You don't need to be distracted with something someone else is getting paid to do. You know what I mean? You should be taking your nights as a time of respite! Not work. Its, out of character for a Bonnie. You get my drift?"
"...I understand, sir."
"Good! Now, I'd like to direct all your attention to Montgomery Gator here?" He clapped his hands and jovially gesticulated to the reptile. "I think all of us here can appreciate the fact that Mr. Monty here has been gaining some traction amongst some of our consumers on his own merit! Yes?" He saw nods. "Alright. Good. I wondered then, seeing as you don't seem quite yourself today, Bonnie, if we can take a shot in the dark here to run an experiment I've been pondering for the past while- To let Monty here take on being an 'understudy'? Maybe play alongside you all and see how he does on stage eventually!"
"Wha- huh?" Freddy finally vocalized, now he was looking between each of his friends as if to find the same surprise there he felt. Bonnie meanwhile looked rather silly with his jaw hanging lop-sided on his face. The girls were glancing at each other and shrugging.
Are you fucking SERIOUS?
He couldn't help it, his mind was already spinning on its axis. Why the hell was THIS a good idea? Bonnie literally couldn't compute after a point. He was left blinking rapidly, his grip on his bass tighter than expected.
The gator meanwhile moved his large jaw uncertainly, his tail was stiff behind him. There was a flash of teeth too- something Bonnie knew indicated his distaste and...
Was that a sneer mixed in there somewhere?
Oh you little green rotter, the rabbit couldn't help glaring.
Freddy was staring hard at the manager meanwhile- and the expression Bonnie wasn't too sure of. He'd never seen anything like it. The rabbit found himself staring between the bear and man next.
"Now, I never said he's replacing anyone. I just want to see how he does with you all," Cromwell clarified when he caught Freddy's cerulean stare. "We're running an experiment here. That's all. And since Bonnie seems to feel under the weather, I'm willing to let our long-eared companion here have a day to himself to unwind for once? All he's been doing is work himself at odd hours and ALL hours. Frankly, I think he needs a little break. Don't you think, Freddy? Friends?"
TWANG!
The noise made everyone jump somewhat; forcibly landing their attentions on both the chicken and rabbit in question. It had been the sound of a string snapping.
Bonnie looked at his bass, a little alarmed to find that an errant talon had pressed too hard on a string and ripped it in twain. He winced at the sight of it, completely ignoring Cromwell's raised brow and the worried glances of the girls. He fidgeted with it, gave up, and set the bass down on the bench he sat on.
Now he stood up slowly, nose twitching a million miles an hour and expression harder than granite. "Look, boss-man. This thing you're figurin'- you know as well as I do that Monty and I ain't uh... well, yunno. Close?"
"And?"
The rabbit narrowed his optics, "I'm just sayin', besides the fact we don't know what he'd be playin', I just dunno if Monty would be a GOOD fit."
"That isn't your call to make. And besides, I DID say he was only an understudy!" Cromwell smirked a little too blithely for his tastes. "You're just trying him out. We're trying to help 'socialize' him some. Perhaps him playing alongside you all will help smooth out those rough edges, eh?"
Bonnie growled in answer, his maroon optics flashing to the gator next. Monty was scowling right back.
Now the ursine focuses on the manager, "We'll take him under our wing-"
"Freddy-" Bonnie started, turning towards him.
The bear held up an authoritative talon, "BUT! I need to beseech something of you, sir. One thing I must add if we are to do this."
Cromwell only raised a brow again.
Freddy said with absolute authority, "If Monty and Bonnie clash too much... if the shows don't go so well, then you understand if I have to ask he is removed as an understudy for a time until he's further conditioned socially. Understandable?"
There was a click of the tongue and a sigh. Cromwell nodded and waved it off, "As you wish, Freddy."
Now he said this, but even Bonnie couldn't deny that there was also something odd about the situation that rubbed wrong on his sensors. He didn't know what however, and couldn't hope to parse it out.
Meanwhile, the manager turned towards the gator, "Now, Monty, you will be practicing with them today, and from hence forth, every day they have practice. Maybe you'll find an instrument you like?"
The reptile grumbled as a response.
Bonnie snorted- he didn't mean too, but for some reason, he felt like some sort of power shift happened here. The manager paid him no heed of course, blatantly waving at all of them like it was a merry day and he didn't just tell Bonnie off for feeling the way he did and for DOING HIS OTHER JOB. The rabbit almost growled again- but it was a waste of energy at this point.
Cromwell finally bowed his head at them, and turned to leave, "Make sure to have a great rest of your practice, fellas. Keep in mind, we'll be expecting a visit from Mr. Morris soon- to see how things are going. He's going to watch your next performance personally and have it relayed to the bosses at headquarters- see what can be arranged. Be on your best behavior now!"
And just like that, he stalked off, hands behind his back and humming a merry tone.
There was an awkward pause that followed, with Bonnie gritting his flat teeth and fighting the urge to twitch an lid on one of his optics. He only relaxed when he felt a hand on his wrist; turning somewhat to face Chica. She was giving him a long and unreadable look.
She was the one who spoke next- and this time to Monty, "We're sorry, Monty! We're not trying to shrug you off... its just, we didn't get the memo and... its taking us by surprise. I promise, no bad blood here. Okay? It ain't you, I promise."
The gator's expression switched to impassive there. He even cocked his head at the hen, sizing her up. Chica wilted somewhat under the scrutiny but didn't balk.
Bonnie sighed again, hoping to free up some of this tension. He felt bolstered by the hen's touch. While he didn't like Monty that much and wasn't completely thrilled about this, Bonnie was someone whose gifted at 'rolling with it'. They might as well try it out- no harm no foul there.
But fuck if I ain't already disliking this.
"Heya- so... Monty," He clapped his paws together, freeing himself of Chica and approaching. "Maybe... just maybe, we can get along long enough for me to uh... show ya bass, if ya want? Or... I wonder if we can try asking management about a drum set-?"
Now Freddy removed his gaze where the manager had gone- having been staring after him for a very long time. He clapped his paws together energetically, "Oh, YOU'RE RIGHT! This could be the very thing we need in our recent performances! I felt we needed another paw on hand. Right Chica, Roxy?"
Roxy nodded once, with Chica doing the same but at a speed that'd make a human get a headache from the motion.
Monty's gaze followed hers to the rabbit, his visage completely unmoved by the idea of maybe being a potential drummer. His nostrils puffed out condensation- his motor cooling off. He really didn't seem excited about it. Bonnie noticed his eyes was going to his bass instead.
"Oh... you want to try this, huh?" He said as he followed the reptile's gaze to the prone instrument- now in need of a new string.
There was a grumble.
Bonnie felt something grate on his nerves the longer they stood there. He smiled- but the motion was utterly forced. He picked up his bass, turned it over and sighed as his mind reeled at what just happened.
He REALLY didn't want to say this, but they might as well roll with it for now. Not like they can do much else- beyond upsetting the manager. Still, Bonnie couldn't help but wonder- Was Monty forced into this? Or was this 'experiment' always something Cromwell thought was interesting to try every since more people started commenting on the gator's one-man show in the golf course?
The thing is, the reptile did show potential. He was quite popular and already worked with something like the banjo, considering the swamp themed nature of his section of the PizzaPlex. Having him play bass instead made more sense-
But Bonnie's ego and his wounded pride could not help but intrusively implant the idea that maybe Cromwell was trying to replace him. And letting Monty at his bass was only making it more plausible.
He also couldn't help but wonder however if Monty really wanted this. Its possible Cromwell just didn't ask him about it. Last time he checked, Bonnie was certain Monty like being a one-man show and taking the attention he got for himself. He was on his own stage here there, albeit the gator was a sullen face in his off hours. He liked keeping to himself- something that wasn't missed on the lagomorph.
The rabbit eyed him, sighed, and just put the bass back down on the bench. Hanging his head, he turned dejectedly away and grumbled over his shoulder, "Just... let him have it, for now-"
"Bonnie-" Chica was the one who spoke this time.
"Its fine! I did just say I wasn't feeling it today, right?" He said with another forced smile.
Chica was slowly shaking her head at him, as if not wanting him to leave. Freddy was looking much the same beside her.
Bonnie only turned away without another word, leaving his instrument behind.
~One week later~
Bonnie didn't try anything else for a while after that. Best to lie low.
He'd be like this for a week on and forward- and he WISHED he can say there was nothing that went on, he couldn't be more wrong. Sadly, the head of security disappeared as well; and the PizzaPlex server spread the news that Vanessa just got the position.
NOW Bonnie was suspicious and almost certain she was doing something behind the scenes. And if it wasn't her, it was their superiors. As to who, what, when, where, and WHY would elude him though.
His mind intrusively returned to not just the vent crawler too, AND the weird noise he heard in that pit a while ago when he helped Roxy find Freddy. A nasty part of him wanted to return and check it out- But his smart side said hell nah, I ain't doin' it.
Granted, he should check it out while the construction was still ongoing and it hadn't been sealed up. He couldn't help but wonder about the brown outs, power cable, and the fact the manager himself told him to stop what he was doing. If he didn't know better, he'd think the guy was aware of the fact the PizzaPlex was seeing some strange times and just wanted to let it fly. But to what benefit would that grant him or the company at large? Why keep taking on these shady practices if it just draws public eyes? Why discourage a bot they've given super-hearing to not continue what his ears were meant for? Its ridiculous!
Bonnie had ultimately sent a message to Sun and/or Moon earlier on; and emphasized that he delete its contents as soon as he read it. Thankfully, Sun was active and was quick in saying he'd happily talk to Bonnie when he could. He wondered about the secrecy though- naturally. Bonnie supplied he'd give that answer too when they met up, and was gladdened to know that Sun and Moon may be willing to help with his escapade.
That was days ago. Now, tonight was the intention to meet with the guy. Bonnie had to ask him to come to the bowling alley- as at least with Bonnie's dressing room, he had no cameras. He didn't know why he didn't think of that sooner. There was nothing weird about Bonnie doing after-hours cleanup. He even mopped the floor on occasion and sprayed disinfectant on the shoes (as well as made sure the Monty Mystery Mix was properly sealed in a vault in the walk-in freezer to keep Chica out of it- so yeah, he HAD to be in there after hours sometimes).
The rabbit meandered lazily out and plainly into view of some of the cameras in the atrium- as he knew Vanessa was watching tonight. If she was dong her job, she'd be eyeing him regardless and was likely under orders to report his behavior to the manager if he tried patrol again. So he walked his usual route to the bowling alley, made sure she saw him doing it, then disappeared into his digs. No sweat, nothing weird here.
Now the hard part- waiting on Moon. Moon would patrol most of the PizzaPlex even in the brief intervals he floated around the place; and was as thorough as he could be during the recharge cycle time. Bonnie would take the time to charge in his room until Moon appeared; then he'd get the guy to use a vent to access Bonnie's room from Fazerblast. Moon's patrol tonight would take him to the Fazerblast lobby- and that wasn't strange. What Vanessa won't know is that the jester bot would be taking the vent to the rabbit's room itself. And when it comes time for him to go, he'd have to go back the way he came; from the vent.
So now, here Bonnie was; recharging and waiting. He watched the curtains of the bowling alley flutter aimlessly in the low air flow from the port hole of the recharge station; his mind on a variety of things. Eventually, he decided to leave the station a bit earlier than usual- it'd be the only way to talk to Moon while he was patrolling. He hovered into his personal room, then stared into his vanity while tracing a claw along the Freddy statue he had. His ears told him when the bot arrived; prompting Bonnie to swivel an appendage at him but not sever eye contact from his reflection. He'd long since moved the Freddy poster to admit him.
Could a bot look haggard?
"Hrsshh... you. Called?" Moon whispered, his voice that weird, grumbling hiss.
Bonnie nodded, then finally looked at him. "You didn't see anything weird in the vent on your way in, right?"
"Nooo... didn't. Saw nothing. Should I?"
"That's the thing, see. What I wanted to talk to you about," The rabbit clapped his hands. "So you might as well get comfortable, cuz there's s lot to unpack!"
The jester slipped all the way out of the vent; dropping easily to the floor like liquid sluicing through a screen. He rolled slowly onto his chest; hands propped up under his face mask like a girl listening to the greatest of gossip with absolute attention. Meanwhile, his lower body contorted like he couldn't hold still completely; his legs draping over around his face and dancing a jig all the while he somehow looked relaxed.
God. No wonder none of the Glamrocks talk to him. He's so weird. How is he dancing and lying down at ONCE?
Okay, back to the topic at hand, the bassist reminded himself.
"You probably heard about the call we got over a month ago about the air conditioning dudes coming in and trying to 'fix' the banging going on? Well-" The rabbit jerked a thumb over his shoulder, "I think we have an intruder inside the PizzaPlex... living inside the wall or something. The banging hasn't stopped- and it has a tendency to migrate. My ears caught the times the banging occurred and its always around the time we're supposed to be in a recharge station. I'm pretty sure they know I'm listening."
"Hrrrn. Do tell," He said with what could've been mock interest- but Bonnie knew it was the contrary.
The rabbit held up a single claw as if to say, "Hold a moment," then navigated over to the locker and took out the map; showing it to the eccentric bot. Moon, without changing his position, took it and opened it without Bonnie prompting him. There was another "Hrsssh" noise from him upon seeing its contents.
"This person knows I've been listening for them," Bonnie continued. "At first, the banging occurred around the times after maybe 1 or 2 in the morning? And I was able to catch it on and off for some days before the contractor was called. At that point, I just thought it was a malfunction myself- until I noticed it started moving." He huffed, "Then, the noise I started catching the tail-end of whenever I leave a recharge station. They're definitely waiting until we can't walk around just to move. So now, we go to that pretty piece of paper in your hands."
He chuckled darkly, "When I got this map, Map bot himself gave it to me- which was already strange within itself. But as if to add icing to that cake, I found a security camera was locked on me the WHOLE time when I got it. Whoever was controlling the camera wanted to make sure I got it- as it wouldn't shut down until I opened the map's contents or didn't toss it. But that's not all..." He paced around his room a bit, head slightly cocked as he watched Moon with just as much interest as the bot returned.
"The brown outs," He continued, waving a claw around like a teacher giving a demonstration. "A while ago, I'm sure you recall that Freddy went missing for a bit? Well, Roxy and I went and found him in that pit at the raceway- apparently he'd been hacked. Yeah- I'm guessing they didn't mention that to you?"
The daycare attendant looked up with increased interest there- and from what Bonnie can discern, it seemed he'd been unaware. Guess he'll have to cover that too.
"Anyways, so there's more to it. What's interesting about that was that we found some sorta power cable being dragged from the PizzaPlex itself and into this pit- and while we never found where its end was, we believe there's someone doing work down there. Even worse, the only two people who knew about it was the construction workers Gordon and Mendez..." The rabbit gritted his teeth, "-Who, as you may recall, went missing the same day. THAT was already suspicious enough. But now I'm wondering if we're dealing with a maybe killer on our hands."
The jester said nothing, his toes no longer tapping as the bassist went on. His milky, slightly blue-lit eyes were definitely arrested on him now.
"I asked some staff about who might've known about the hole- and to my shock, nobody else did!" Bonnie held up both hands like 'why?'- open palms facing out and his face distressed. "Nobody else goes to the pit now- its all S.T.A.F.F bots doing the work! No humans- all automated. Ain't that weird? And now, we're dealing with the disappearance of the head security chief too! You can't TELL ME that ain't screwy?"
"Hrn. Go on."
Bonnie rattled his head, "So, I had the idea of wanting to try and get that pit looked at when we can- I wanna find where that cable goes. I think whoever's using the vents may be causing ALL this, seeing as nothing's ever been reported on camera and no person was ever seen going to the raceway directly. They MUST be using the vents so they're not caught on camera- and its likely they may be tapping into that too." The rabbit settled back onto his seat, twitching an ear once. "Now, I don't know this entirely for sure- but this is where you come in: You can fit into the vents. I can't, obviously. And you get places fast! I think if anyone can get proof of something shady, it'd be you. Whaddya say? Can I have some help?"
The bot handed the map back; correcting his lower body and finally getting to his feet. He got RIGHT into Bonnie's face, somewhat jarring him a bit, "You hide secrets. You haven't told friends, have you?"
"...Freddy and Roxy do know a bit of this- just not all details. Chica doesn't... nor does Monty. I'm worried about the hacking with them. I haven't showed them the map either."
"Why?"
Bonnie didn't answer, instead frowning in its place. He bobbed his shoulders like, 'duh? Why would I want to worry them?'
Moon grumbled, then walked around in slow, hypnotic motions without removing his face from Bonnie's own all the while- oddly bird-like. "What makes you think YOU won't be hacked? Like you are the odd one out?"
"I haven't found any blank spots in my memory banks," The rabbit informed him, a little confused about it himself. "I'm a bit surprised admittedly... no one's tried that with me. I've been able to rearrange my programming though, and I have control over my faculties. I cannot help but wonder if they don't hack me because they might know that-?"
Wait. Who would know that I can do that? I never told anyone except-
Vanessa. Vanessa knew. Shit. She forgot he let that slip to her. The recollection had him narrowing his eyes anew, the rabbit focusing back on Moon.
"Something occurred to me just now. Only one of the staff should know I can do that- Vanessa learned about it, and I think she reported that to Mr. Cromwell- but I do not think anyone else would kow that I can bypass my own software and auto correct what errors take place. If they don't hack me, its because they know I can do that- and the ones that know..."
The jester gargled lowly, retracting from the rabbit and humming thoughtfully. "Possible... suspect, you wager," he airily entertained.
"Could be a place to start," Bonnie wondered as he folded his arms. "But... that'd be too obvious, innit? I mean, the chief of security vanished recently and suddenly Vanessa gets bumped up after she got turned down for the position not so long ago? That would just point to her all too easily."
"Humans. Messy. Naughty," He chortled. "They may think ahead, but their impatience renders them obvious."
Bonnie rapped a claw against his bicep, having folded his arms across his breast plate. He worked his jaw, then shook it off, "Vanessa being a suspect though... I don't see the motivation- unless her motivation lies in that underground pizzeria-? Some things just don't make sense to me. Why go through all this extra effort? Why hurt people? Argh-" He threw back his head and threaded his talons through his mop top. "Guess we have our work cut out for us."
"You have said everything to me, right?"
"I've said all that I could... and whatever I may be leaving out is due to time- which we're both short on right now. But I promise, if I missed anything I have every intention of bringing it up later," The rabbit clarified.
"How have you learned to hack?" Moon queried, his faceplate suddenly thrusting itself at the rabbit.
Bonnie flinched at the motion, but didn't back away, "-Very easily. I just started rearranging my priority task list and started replicating certain code so its not corrected by any staff whose trying to get into my system." He shrugged casually, "I can teach ya that that next hour? If you wanted. I don't want whoever's on the cameras to notice you're not back at the daycare in-" Bonnie did a count, "Er... Six minutes. Tops."
"Hrnn... Acceptable. You tell me this next hour. I shall return. As for vents, I shall watch them more," the bot bowed his head while making his way to the vent.
Bonnie smirked, "Thanks again, my bouncing Astroneer Pioneer! I appreciate the help!"
There seemed to be a satisfied noise, then he slipped fully into the vent's aperture and vanished. Bonnie pulled Freddy's poster back over it, grinning at where the bot used to be.
~Several more days later. Monday night~
Apparently, Moon would take over patrol almost entirely after that.
It was load off of Bonnie's shoulders too. He appreciated the help- and while Moon did freak him out a little, the guy was diligent, dedicated and dexterous; commendable qualities. The bot was also quick and wily- with his diminutive size proving a boon. A small part of Bonnie was almost envious of the frame and the way he was built- The daycare attendant was unique in a plethora or ways- and really, his build was practical and less frightening to children. By all means, Bonnie wouldn't have minded terribly for something a bit closer to an actual rabbit if it meant he wasn't so scary to his patrons, but he digressed.
After this, Bonnie tried using his ears from afar- taking recharge stations not too far from where the clanging usually happened. He wondered about getting access to the security system, but after the manager told him off about what he was already doing, Bonnie didn't want to take chances. He could access the cameras himself... the Glamrocks were allowed that, but it was only under special circumstances and certain conditions were met. Any attempt to interface with them beyond that is presumed an abnormality and possible behavioral malfunction (and discouraged); and frankly, Bonnie wasn't keen on seeing the repair ward too much anymore.
On a side note, Monty started showing up for rehearsals too. Bonnie would sit and observe from afar, feeling a little displaced as he did. Sometimes, their manager would swing by and observe them; hum appreciatively, and leave them be. Bonnie felt like somehow, the manager was trying to get him replaced due to his errant behavior, though that also felt like its jumping the gun. It was a lot to assume from just taking in an understudy and Bonnie hoped he can write this off as just him being a bit overwrought and paranoid. After all, he has been a bit off-kilter lately and he can admit that much.
Chica came to him after one such evening rehearsing. She was babbling to herself and fidgeting; her expression worried as she did. She told him, "I don't like him there... how come you haven't come back to join us?"
Bonnie, who'd been busy checking his own systems took pause and frowned, feeling immeasurably terrible for the neglect. He looked away, wondering if he can just say, "I was busy", but that held wrong connotations- no matter if it was true.
"Just... not feeling musical," had been his eventual answer. "You don't like Monty there?"
"No. He's not very patient and tends to get angry a lot. He's also always a little... huffy?" Chica shook her head. She produced an annoyed noise, "He also seems to disagree with Freddy a lot and I don't like it. I miss YOU. Freddy is too polite to say it where everyone else can hear it, but he wants you there too."
The rabbit hummed and lowered his ears, "I'm sorry. Really, I am. I just-" He sighed and looked off to the side. "I just dunno, Chica. I haven't felt much of the usual mojo lately. Music's kinda been cleaned outta me. Have you even seen me play recently?"
"No... and that's what bothers me," she mumbled. "You know you could get into trouble if you don't come back to work! None of us want to see that."
Bonnie huffed and placed a paw atop her little egg-shaped head, bumping his forehead against hers in a show of their usual affection. "If its any consolation, nuggets, I'll show up for the next one. I promise."
"You swear?"
"Pinky swear."
She'd been content with that, leaving him be there-after to finish his work. After all, Bonnie had been messing around some of the systems in secrecy in an effort to understand the weirdness that was taking their home by storm. He wondered about telling Chica about what he was doing but thought against it. He didn't want so many of the Glamrocks getting into trouble if they were found out to be doing the same shit he was pulling.
One Monday night, Bonnie went again towards the bowling alley- as it were, he really did need to clean up. The S.T.A.F.F bots hadn't done too well- as one malfunctioned when some child got ice cream on it. And while he naturally kept an ear out, he also decided he'd take this time to meet with Moon again while he was in the alley. It made sense. He went through a mental checklist as well; deciding that today he had to go behind the bowling alley itself for pin placement and cleaning. He had to check inventory as well; and make sure the freezer was running- another brown out had happened recently.
He grumbled to himself; one paw to his chin when he heard it-
He froze; optics widening in their sockets as his ears went erect and swiveled towards the source of the noise. His head slowly craned over; his nose twitching at a speed he didn't expect. He knew that wasn't Moon. Moon wasn't due for another look for a whole other 50 minutes.
"Ohhhh NO. NOT TODAY," Bonnie snapped.
He bolted; the springs in his legs working overtime as he followed the clanging along the wall of the atrium on the second floor. Gnashing his teeth, he followed it with a dogged determination; not caring where his feet took him. It was leading him pretty far too; as it was ahead when he first heard it. He was able to overtake it before long; the banging clear as day as it lead from the main entrance to the atrium- towards the prize counter.
Bonnie raised a metaphorical brow here, but press on he did. He was lead to the first floor section of it; then went into the area. On all sides, he was surrounded by walls of merchandise- plush toys smiling merrily at him as he stomped inside; maroon gaze hard beneath his shades. Now he was in Security Mode.
He chuffed; the sound obscenely loud in the relatively confined area. His ears continued to follow it, and then the banging ceased. He frowned, pitched an ear again- then moved towards where it stopped. What was it- they, doing?
He found himself in the strange, cubical security office now; entering from the left side of it and moving towards the desk. He got lower; sniffed. While he didn't have Roxy's sense of smell, his whiskers and nose weren't anything to shake a stick at. It was here, he smelled it- faux fur that had been recently washed with some of the cheap detergent from the laundry room. There was another, far more subtle smell underlaying it, but he couldn't figure it out-
BOOM.
He jumped out of shock and darted a look behind him; his eyes now on the door he came in. Now shut- and across from it, the other door as well. The alarm briefly went off, but stopped as quickly as it happened. Bonnie shook his head, disoriented by the siren for a second and glad it ceased-
And then, the monitors on the desk flicked on- only to reveal a set of crudêl eyes sitting too wide on a huge and patchy face of off-white and gray.
"Hnhnhnhn. Are we having fun yet?"
The Glamrock snapped his gaping jaw shut; staring daggers at the monitors and bracing himself on the table. "Who the FUCK are you? WHERE are you-? I know you can't be far," he immediately thundered.
She didn't reply- what else did he expect? No doubt this was already a game with her- considering the nature of her words and the constant, humming chortling.
She moved her head back from the camera, showing more of her face- a white rabbit? He didn't know the character, but damn if she wasn't horrifying to look at. Her wide, staring eyes were more fish-like than anything; unblinking and unrelenting in their hellish glow. She tapped her padded fingertips together rapidly, as if in anticipation of a grand prize as she hummed at the camera for a solid half a minute. She also seemed to be debating something, taking her time with the delivery.
"How about. Another game," she murmured- the tone ghostly and lacking any sort clarity beyond the fact it was female in nature. Static edged its whispery resonance; creating a sort of spectral hum that baffled Bonnie with its irritating ringing. She jabbed a teasing finger at him, then beckoned at him as if to come forward. "We've been playing hide and seek for a while now. I dance right in front of you sometimes, but you can never find me. Its not as fun now, you see? You can't find me. You never will unless I let you. But I'm bored of that now~"
She pirouetted around the room once; was she dancing? She merrily clapped her hands and got back closer to the screen, "So now, I show myself. I want you to chase me. I want you to play seeker. I want to up the ante. Its more fun! Don't you think, frère Rabbit?" Another giggle. "I want to see whose the better bunny: A child's bot, or ME?"
Bonnie snorted; the whine of a motor cranking as steam rose from his too-small nostrils.
"I'll say that's a yes then- but in case you get cold feet~" She held up something that was in a shopping bag. The Glamrock stared for a long second, watching as she delicately and meticulously began to extract something from it with dramatic slowness-
He jaw flopped open when he identified it- circuits going liquid-nitrogen cold as his optics froze in his skull casing.
It was a picture of JEREMIAH- Trisha's boy. The image had been taken from the kid's guest profile too- no doubt the bunny woman had access to the main server. In a way, she was flaunting the fact she had access to their systems and can do whatever she wanted.
What's worse, it had a red 'X' over it.
The other rabbit wasn't done yet though; as she seemed to giggle at something beyond her and went to remove the next, heavier article inside the bag that'd been giving it a little weight- A splattered shoe, no less- ominously stained along the tongue of the sneaker and its opening.
The rabbit woman waggled it at him, waving and pointing at it like she was being scripted to show-case something from a generic advertising commercial. Her hand tantalizingly moved around it in circles as if to frame it, then she produced a 'Ta-dah!' gesture as a finisher.
Now she leaned into the camera again, the articles placed somewhere outside the camera's view. "Find me, frère Rabbit. Play my game, and I won't touch anyone else. We play this game for as long as the night goes on! Come dawn, and you don't find me, we can pick it back up next night! Isn't that nice of me? This goes on up until you, 1) catch me, or 2) I get bored. Or 3) you run out of nights, and 4) I catch YOU." Her puffy paw-pad gesticulated to him. "No one else gets hurt or involved. Don't even think of involving your friends. Or you'll find their pieces in random spots of the PizzaPlex. Ain't that SWELL?"
Now her eyes were especially close to the camera, "You have five nights- starting tonight. Have fun! And no cheating!"
The monitors went dark; the doors opening outside the security office. The room brightened up again, but Bonnie didn't move. He'd stare into the cameras for a long minute after that- as if it'd all been a bad dream and he was struggling to wake up from it.
The price of a bot learning to dream- only to find that nightmares come packaged with it. Is that what striking a deal with the devil felt like?
Another snort, then he was off. Five days until she gets bored and hurts someone else?
Fuck. What the hell was he going to tell Moon?