Present Day-

CASSIE

Food had a tendency to improve mood- and it certainly helped in Cassie's case.

She found herself forgiving Gregory more easily- as it wasn't within her nature to hold grudges as well as she thought, not that she told him that yet. She was going to let him sweat it a bit longer. After all, what Gregory did to the animatronics still had Cassie making a stink eye at him- even though she knew he cared about Cassie herself in some capacity. Beyond that, perhaps she had that more in-line with Freddy's own gentle demeanor- as holding onto wrath took too much energy. And frankly, she didn't have enough energy to be doling out disgusting or barbed comments when they had more to worry about- like say the Mimic and that... thing.

She told them about it- and she was shocked to know Gregory already knew it existed. He told her Freddy and himself had to dodge it before, but they couldn't ever figure out how to deal with it. Moreover, it's just too strong and ferocious- it literally couldn't comprehend more than raw malice; explaining the unnerving sensation Cassie got every time it was near her. Instinct told her something was, beyond the obvious, very wrong with it- that its madness was a corrupt and toxic force of nature within itself. Leaving it to die in the PizzaPlex didn't seem right however- as it may tunnel out with time on its own.

As for the Mimic- apparently it had a deviant copy of the Vanny virus in its head. In fact, its blueprint formed the Vanny virus. Freddy told Cassie that when the PizzaPlex was built, some old circuit boards were scanned in to help with programming certain electronics in this place to help shorten workload- the bots all used it in general, but a more tame version of it; including the Glamrocks. It helped them learn human behavior apparently, and was a vital component in the older animatronics in the past being used to help children feel safer around them by emulating certain emotions- to appear more human. The original reasoning for this base program had been done with seemingly good intentions; and since it seemed sound at the time, the program stuck around a while and became a general backbone for all animatronics following.

The old program in those circuit boards was called mimic1. The mimic1 program apparently also went back very far into the past; to times where the pizzeria chains were a bit more common and the animatronics weren't sentient. The program was flawed though; and on one occasion, started emulating bad behavior when the tragedies started up-

Like say, murder.

So apparently it learned murder was fine and it should imitate it. Who would've guessed? As to how, what, why and where all this began, it eluded everyone. They didn't know who built the Mimic itself, why it had a copy of the PizzaPlex circuit blueprint, and why it wanted to hurt others. Some suspected a Fazbear technician built it in his own home, as it did look jury-rigged. And it so happened it could've drawn its cruel side from whoever owned it in the past. Vanessa thought so, anyways. And after she supplied this, everyone agreed that was the most sound explanation they may get.

What confused Cassie was the fact the Mimic showed more intelligence than that. It learned to lean on sentimentality to lure Cassie here; manipulating certain behaviors and adapting voice syncing to form complex, structured dialogue and actions that went beyond just pale mimicry. If Cassie didn't know better, she'd think this thing was doing more than just emulating violence. It's demonstrating mannerisms more in line with a well-versed psychopath.

She told everyone some of the things it said and did; like the ways it controlled Helpi and how it made an adaptable jammer program to combat the M.X.E.S with. Vanessa and Gregory raised brows, but Vanessa could only say, "Still sounds like its behaving to a 'T' in its programming. But... who knows, maybe it is more than that? The Glamrocks themselves are an intelligent breed of bots unlike any other. But they had to LEARN to become that way, using the mimic1 program they have in their own boards to kick them off. Maybe that thing is..." She passed Gregory a look. "Sentient. Not gonna lie, that is definitely not relieving."

Gregory fidgeted, and nodded, "It does sound like it became more than a mime... and while I feel like I should feel bad that it's just learning from bad behavior and it may not know better... it should also know, given it IS intelligent, right and wrong in some capacity. It could hear me talking to Freddy somehow- and it knew about Cassie, so it may know her link to the Glamrocks. It knew kindness was a thing that existed. And yet it leaned on manipulation to get Cassie of all people to free it. And then, it proceeded to try and kill her! If it really is as smart as a Glamrock, it isn't very nice. Not at ALL."

"And it doesn't change the fact we came to decommission it," Vanessa continued with finality.

So the Mimic had to be removed as well. How? Not like she knew. Roxy held it off on her own, but it's a tough customer. If they have any hope of getting rid of it, they'd ALL have to go at it at once- Freddy, Chica, Roxy, Bonnie, Eclipse, and even Monty if they can manage it... ALL would be needed to take it apart.

Back to the matter of the thing, Cassie simply didn't know. It went beyond whatever they can do. The only way they figured they can deal with it was to set the whole PizzaPlex on fire and collapse the ENTIRE building on top of its head. And they'd have to trap it in place while they did that. It's already ludicrous just thinking about it; a tall order that would have the group bent over it and pondering what to do for a while.

In the meantime-

Roxy thankfully returned safely- but Cassie didn't expect the reaction she was going to get from the encounter.

The wolf had a hold of Bonnie's torso; having some trouble hulling him in but managing anyways. She left the broken endo parts behind; mostly carrying his chassis pieces, upgrades, and more intact limbs in with her. It lightened the load, but Bonnie was Monty-sized as well- not small in the least. His motor was left behind, but Roxy had taken the upgrades and batteries Bonnie had in it and carried them in her own hatch. The new improved drive he had prompted for a raised brow on her end.

"Cassie? Cassie-" She stuck her head into the cylinder room. "You there?"

The girl was sitting with Gregory, having not only finished lunch, but helping Freddy with reassembly with Chica. Eclipse had been sitting with them as well, getting to know Gregory a bit better while Vanessa tended the details with some of the tech lying around. She'd been studiously welding and fitting wires for the hen; the woman showing a proficiency that was both remarkable and thankfully helpful.

Roxy blinked in confusion for the longest minute, pondering what the hell she was walking in on- she hadn't known Gregory, Freddy, and Vanessa were here, and it rightfully baffled her. Eclipse told her about some intruders but he never said...

She dropped Bonnie's torso and let her mouth fall open; hardly noticing Cassie as she charged into the wolf. Her tiny arms went around Roxy's waist; the girl rubbing her head into her belly and glancing up, "You're okay! Oh- your ear!"

Roxy twitched her remaining one at her, nodding vaguely when she finally recognized Vanessa, Freddy and...

Gregory.

The two definitely caught each other's attention now- the boy looking abjectly like he wanted to run in the opposite direction as far and as fast as he possibly could.

She blinked several times. Blinked some more- and then, snarled.

"Roxy-?" Cassie mumbled into her.

Roxy dipped her head into a threatening position; the few, scraggly hairs she had left on her scalp sticking up MORE despite already defying gravity. She bared every single tooth in her mouth; her last ear falling flat to her head.

"You," She growled.

Gregory's eyes were wider than a doe's; then he was up so fast neither Cassie or Roxy expected it-

Roxy surged forward-

And Freddy promptly played quarterback and tackled her.

Gregory hid behind Vanessa; the kid narrowing his eyes as Freddy scooped Roxanne into the air and started squeezing her half to death. The boy couldn't help but snicker at her expense.

"OH you're OKAY! I can't believe it," Freddy buried his head into her waist next, spinning her around and around.

"Oh my god Freddy LEGGO!"

"No! I shall never let any of you go again, NEVER," He vehemently promised. "You'd have to take me apart in order to get me to let you go!"

Roxy glowered at the bear and wriggled some more. "Wish granted if you don't leggo in the next five seconds!"

"I missed your spitfire bravado. Its so very endearing," He mumbled into her. His hold was still viciously tight; but he lowered the wolf and pulled her more into his body and rubbed his head all over hers.

Roxy spat like a drenched cat and continued to fight him. She went limp eventually, unable to sever Freddy's obscene strength. He was stronger than she was- and by a MILE. He just never used it until now.

Gregory was smirking like a chaos gremlin the entire time. Cassie glanced at him and folded her arms, "Roxy tells me you threw a cart at her face."

"Hey! To be fair-" He jabbed a finger at her. "Roxy LITERALLY jumped into the road! I don't think she mentioned that to you, did she?"

Cassie shook her head.

Gregory folded his arms, "Roxy can blame me all she wants, but it's HER fault. I tried to veer out of the way! And it just so happened that once I got thrown from the kart, it went careening right into her- who was literally standing smack dab center of the road! Go on, ask her!"

Cassie rolled her eyes.

Freddy was still viciously holding Roxy down- and at this point, its because he knew the wolf would jump the kid if he released her. He stared at Roxy and frowned, "Roxy! You did, didn't you?"

Roxy snapped her teeth, then looked Freddy dead in the eyes- and stuck out her tongue at him like a petulant child. "HE STILL TOOK MY EYES! Speaking of which, you have them now? GIVE THEM BACK!"

Now she throwing him over and shaking him around. Freddy squeaked indignantly but didn't fight her. He raised his paws in surrender, giving her a contrite look, "Alright! Alright alright- just take them! Don't hurt Gregory, please!"

"And, I WANT AN APOLOGY," She snarled. "A good, sincere one!"

Gregory bobbed his head (much to everyone's surprise), then was up and walking over to her. "Well, okay then. I'll happily give one, but I'd like one back for you chasing me around the PizzaPlex and telling me how much of a loser I am! You weren't exactly friendly, you know."

The wolf levelled a flat look, but conceded. She looked like she wouldn't do it for a moment there- but if it wasn't for Cassie being here, its possible she may not oblige the child. So, she got off Freddy; not having taken back her own eyes yet. She folded her arms and fluffed her scraggly mane, "Well kid, fine. I apologize for chasing you around and making you shit your diapers."

"Roxy!" Both Freddy and Cassie said at once.

Gregory glared back, "And I sincerely apologize for mussing your hair and shitting in your cereal bowl. So, how did being blind work for you?"

"Gregory!" Same voices, but now include Vanessa's clipped mother tone into the mix.

"Not finished-" He said to both girl, adoptive mom, and bear. His expression softened somewhat,"-I didn't have to take your eyes but... but to be fair, you guys were chasing me around, and I had a scary bunny lady chasing me around with a knife and Freddy couldn't see her. Your eyes saved my life... so, thank you for that. I guess."

Roxy blinked rapidly, cocking her head at the rapid tonal shift. She'd have to credit the boy for giving back every time he'd been knocked down. She wouldn't say it now or too soon, but even Roxy would be remiss to not acknowledge the fire Gregory had. She respected that-

Albeit grudgingly.

Still, the mention of the rabbit lady had her narrowing her eyes and shaking her head. "Wait... wait wait wait-" She held up her hands in confusion. "Wait... you saw... you saw the rabbit lady?"

"You knew about her...?"

Vanessa stopped nearby, eyeing Roxy carefully. Cassie was increasingly curious about the woman but didn't comment.

The rabbit lady, she recalled, thinking back on the daycare theater. So it was hostile...

She didn't know what to say, in all actuality. She had a hold of its mask... suddenly, she felt dirty wearing and using it. It belonged to someone who clearly meant ill will and, from what Cassie gleaned, was the one who caused all this chaos. She suddenly had the strong temptation to throw it away, but couldn't bear to do so in this instance. Its saved her life more than just a few times. How could she say she had it on her right now?

Eclipse was passing her a look- in which Cassie studiously ignored it. He and Roxy knew about the fact she had the mask, and no doubt it confused the attendant that she hadn't admitted it to them. But if Cassie admitted she had it, would they say she needed to get rid of it?

Maybe. But she was quite reluctant to let it go the more she reflected on it. After all, it's why she'd been able to digitally free Bonnie and make it past the tangible threats like a mad Monty, Mimic, the music men, and the thing. There was no way in hell Cassie was going to get rid of it yet- not until they can all leave this filthy hell-hole behind.

Roxy knelt and met Gregory at eye-level. "Its just... Bonnie commented on seeing her and... well, Freddy couldn't- I never imagined that she'd be a reoccurring problem into the present. After Bonnie vanished, I was stupid to assume he took care of it. I..." She shook her head, looking contrite as she watched the boy. "Shit. Well, double shit. I guess I really am sorry, kid. I get needing to run for your life but..." she frowned, her gaze sliding over to Bonnie's now eyeless head nearby. Vanessa and Freddy had repaired it already and it was charging. The sight had the wolf blinking, "Guess I'll be asking carrot-breath to be answering a lot of questions. In the meantime, I can forgive the eyes and the kart."

"Really?" Gregory blinked.

"I can... eventually. My Security mode dictated that... now that I'm thinking back on it, it would've prompted me to see you as a threat and hurt you. I stayed in Security mode for a LONG time after that- and every time I think I heard your voice in all the time I was trapped here, I perceived it as a threat... and it didn't help you threw the kart at me," She shrugged, then got back to her feet. "So I get it. You were defending yourself. I'm sorry I deviated so badly from my code."

Gregory nodded, then fidgeted, "M'sorry for taking your eyes and leaving you blind a while. But it saved my life so... thank you."

Roxy bobbed her head. Then, "Okay. So, if you pull a shit stunt like that again, and you're Chica chowda. Got that?" She said this, but her tone bely the mock threat.

Gregory nodded and held out his hand.

Roxy took it and shook on it. She backed away from him, certainly feeling a bit better herself. She turned to Freddy next, "So, Fredbear. Can I have my eyes now?"

"Absolutely," He nodded, his smile so huge it left his face glowing. "I thank you for their use. I'm just sorry about the circumstances it fell under!"

"I guess we're all sorry. I don't think we have the time to pandering around this shit anyways..." She placed weight on one leg, bobbing a single shoulder at him. "Don't have the luxury."

Freddy walked over and grabbed Roxy's muzzle; turning her to face him fully. His naked paw cupped her chin, then he leaned in and bumped her forehead with his own in the now familiar sign of affection. She returned it; the motion slower and more deliberate. Her tail gave a slow wave at the tip.

"Sorry about the tackle," She said.

"I quite liked it. I've always loved your energy and spunk. Its contagious, and in a good way," Freddy smiled. "Don't stop doing it. Goodness knows its a flare that always got the crowd to roar!"

She shrugged in response, her lip line toothy.

Vanessa stood nearby, her expression completely unreadable. She blinked a few times, then put her tools down and wiped her hands off with a grease rag. "Can one of you guys give me Bonnie's pieces next?" She started. "I'm done with this endo here. I've finished retro-fitting it. Its got all of Chica's upgrades, repurposed frame, and the proper chips installed. Just need to get the chassis pieces we have welded on and do something with the old body..." She cringed. "I don't think it'll be good for her if she saw herself sitting in the same room as a dismembered, rotting corpse."

Freddy nodded grimly, though there was no denying his anxiety edging the stiff way he walked. He caught Roxy's eye, promised to give her eyes back shortly, then made his way over to Chica's old body. Roxy blinked; realizing that Vanessa had the thing finished when she returned. She hadn't expected that. In fact, she didn't think the naked endo in here was new Chica. The wolf whined, then followed Freddy over to the older body and leaned over it. Both touched it affectionately; bumping their heads and clutching her cheese-slathered hand and gripping.

Cassie found herself a littler weirded out by what they were doing. They were still essentially throwing Chica's old body away- but its not like they can do anything more to it than salvage what they can. It's so destroyed at this point that there's no use in trying to deep clean and repair the rest of it. It'd not only take too long, but her body's functions were too buggy from all the food consumed. They tried salvaging what they could from it to help preserve as much of Chica as they could; like choice motor parts and certain frames that were only stained and not ruined.

Her old chip was left in it... but the memory in it was wiped completely at this point. A final goodbye to the body Chica would be leaving behind entirely and a way to keep from having two of the same individual in the same place. She was being reborn.

They were still essentially replacing her with an old/new version. And the thought was so obscene that Cassie almost spoke aloud the idea of stopping this but it's too late now. They went this far, and there's no turning back. Cassie had resolved to fix Chica, and here they stood; having completely perverted morality and going forward with it.

Cassie swore she'll probably be going to therapy one day- not that she'd say this now. But this whole rotten situation still left the sensation of bugs crawling under her skin.

Next to her, Gregory was fidgeting as well. He was biting his lip and unable to look anyone in the face as Freddy and Roxy picked up old Chica's body. With her old chip left in it, scrubbed clean of whatever personality had been leftover, and it made it so that Chica only existed as an individual in one place instead of two. It still no less bothered everyone present- as the looks everyone had right now said enough. Cassie herself would rather personally not want to come back from the dead at all if she'd been like this, but she also knew she couldn't speak for another person on the matter.

Cassie had argued this: That Bonnie had saved her personality for this very occasion. And no doubt, there was still a lingering wrongness there within itself. The bunny lady fucked up as well as Bonnie. Morality had been completely subverted and thrown promptly out the door at some point- and at this juncture, its best not to continue dwelling on it. It only maddened the mind.

The two bots dragged Chica's old body out; likely taking it to one of the old padded rooms. There, Cassie later learned they locked and barricaded the door; akin to some sort of artificial tomb. Old Chica was gone- but her brain was still here in this room with them. Wasn't there some solace in that?

Why did that feel so flimsy?

Roxy and Freddy returned- and their expressions couldn't have been more perturbed. Freddy looked ready to call it off- as if anyone in the room can speak up about this and say to leave Chica where was, and he'd agree with it. Roxy wasn't far off either; pulling at her arms and mashing her jaws. Freddy's arm went around her and guided her forward as well; the bear staying right by her as Eclipse and Vanessa placed the new endo into the cylinder and attached Chica's new chassis pieces to the armature. Then, they stepped out and Vanessa let the machine do its thing.

"Okay. Now, we work on the killer terminator rabbit from hell," She mumbled.

"I really wish you wouldn't say that..." Freddy mumbled.

"Did Bonnie ever tell you the dirty thing he did before he went Vanny hunting? You know... the grody, sordid, bloody thing he did?"

There was a series of rapid blinks. That answered her question.

Cassie was now completely stumped. "You keep talking about him and... I'm confused. What do you mean? How is Bonnie dangerous? What did he do? You keep going on about that and its just WEIRD."

"...It's... well, I think I've said enough already," Vanessa immediately back-tracked. She faced Freddy however, her expression a quality that left it skull-like in appearance. "But there's a reason why it took the cleaners a whole day to get that recharge station in his green room cleaned up so Monty can move in. You saw and heard them!" She jerked a thumb over her shoulder, "I'm shocked you still haven't guessed it yet."

Freddy slowly shook his head, as if in denial.

Vanessa slumped, "Guess it'll take me being dead before it sinks in. But, once we go to waking him up, I'm going to humbly request I'm not in the same room when you press his on switch."

"I don't get it," Now Roxy was asking. "What the heck are you even going on about?"

Eclipse was fidgeting more and more, then he turned to Vanessa, "I'm curious as well... These things you've done... was there a means to an end? What were you thinking at the time?"

Roxy's eyes widened; going completely spherical in their sockets as something seemed to click in place for her. Cassie saw the shift just as it happened; the wolf's muzzle suddenly all hard lines and her fangs tipped into full viewing. That's when it clicked to Cassie too, finally:

"Wait... you're the rabbit lady?" She babbled.

Gregory nearby winced, his eyes now on Roxy- whose fur was bristling increasingly with each second.

Freddy caught it too; his borrowed eyes sharp as he watched the wolf. He flexed his talons, in preparation of stopping Roxy just as she'd charge-

Ding.

"Process complete!"

The cylinder's cheery voice was such a rude and obscene intrusion that everyone was left blinking in drunken stupidity. But then the reminder fell upon the fact they now had this old, and yet new Chica to deal with. Roxy was promptly (if for the moment) snapped out of her blood-fevered haze; her glare unblinking as it stayed lingering on Vanessa. The scowl was so intense she looked like she'd devour the woman right down to the very marrow in her bones from glances alone.

"We're not through," She hissed to the woman.

Vanessa nodded rapidly, then pressed the button on the repair module to finally awaken and release Chica.

Vanny was suddenly gone from everyone's minds as the crowd absorbed the sight before them: There's no telling how well the process worked- and everyone in the room was rightfully on the edge of their seat when Chica was seen moving from within the glass prison and sitting up.

The hen blinked several times; her eyes moving in sync and normally- already a good sign. She scratched at her new and shiny head; her chassis pieces thankfully having been a near full assemble when it was put together. She was probably the most NEW looking animatronic here, on that note. It seemed the technicians before had thought ahead about possible accidental visits to the trash compactor on Chica's part- as she had pretty much every piece of her shell. It was remarkably good luck. Yes, she was missing one arm and both leg pieces, but she had her hands, feet, torso, and face. That counted for something.

The hen rubbed at herself; her expression contemplative and heavy. There was no telling what she had going on in her head right now- no telling how bad or good her memory was. No diagnostics in the machine could tell the group specifics and details and what memories remained- only a percentage of what was useable. Only talking to her will yield final results- as well as supervision, as according the machine's own recommendation.

Chica didn't move immediately. She took her time; as if she truly didn't understand where she was and how she got there. She kept frowning and moving her face; but at least she wasn't bugging out and twitching constantly. Already that was a marked improvement over her old chip reader. She rubbed her naked wrists; confused no doubt as to why she was missing so many pieces of her shell.

Now she looked up: Locking eyes systematically with each person in the room. She counted the people and faces- and it was curious when her gaze fell on Gregory and didn't move for a solid minute. Her face scrunched- no doubt she was struggling to remember him. Her chip was set to a date before they met officially; and whatever little of the 30% that was synced into the old personality was rightly baffling and contradicting what she new. She blinked several times and slowly got to her feet- shakily staring around like she was scared of something.

Freddy was the first to move.

The bear steadily but slowly moved towards the cylinder and opened it, opening his naked paw to her. No doubt his lack of chassis on it was baffling; not to mention the broken nature of his torso pieces (which he hadn't replaced yet) and his cracked visage. His smile was still present though; warm and endlessly patient.

Chica reached out; touching his naked paws and gripping timidly at first- then it tightened considerably more and she slowly crept into him. Her arms were uncertain in their trajectory, but found themselves over his shoulders and embracing the bear for all he's worth. She produced a thrill noise; then a soft cluck that burred. Freddy bumped his head with hers and picked her up; carrying her fully into the room with the others.

Roxy hesitated, then narrowed her eyes as the hen slowly withdrew from him. "Hey," She began, being the first to speak. "Chica, how do you feel?"

The hen put a digit to her beak. Then frowned, "...Confused. But better? I haven't this good in a long time." Her voice bubbled; the sound airy, soft and buttery. Her expression darkened when she noticed the injured Cassie, the dirty Gregory and Vanessa, the still-damaged daycare attendant and friends. "I don't get it... How are you all so roughed-up looking? Why am I missing some shell? What's going on here?"

Freddy gently stroked her head, his ears waggling once. "Before we can say, I want to know just how much you remember. What can you tell us?"

She blinked helplessly, then very slowly moved her head. "Erm... uh... not a whole lot... um, oh-" Her face took on a more distressed note, her fingers moving to Freddy himself and touching his cracked visage, "You collapsed on stage? I remember the twitching and the crowd screaming..."

"That happened, yes. What else?"

She blinked, frowning at him as he shoved past his own welfare again. No doubt a common occurrence with them. She booped his nose in a chastising manner; the honk escaping it prompting for a slight lightening of the mood. "...Not a lot, sadly... um, a security alert...? Maybe," She hummed.

"Good. You seem to have that much of your faculties," Freddy's expression got noticeably lighter. He gestured to Gregory next, "Do you recall this boy?"

Chica frowned as she eyed him; even going as far as to lean and run a facial scan. Gregory jumped when her eyes blinked on and ran a blue light field over his face. She pulled back, then, "I think so... hm. Actually... the more I dwell on it, I'm almost CERTAIN we've met before and I can't say I recall with fondness." Her stare turned suspicious, then heated.

There was a terse silence. Then-

"YOU! YOU PUSHED ME INTO THE TRASH COMPACTOR AND TOOK MY BEAK OFF! I REMEMBER THAT!" She bellowed.

Her voice box, in all its woeful charm, rattled the bots around her; Freddy, Roxy, and Eclipse glitched and flopped; stumbling around and bumping into objects or Vanessa. Gregory helped Cassie move when Freddy bumbled over where she was just standing.

Chica's furious expression turned to alarm and she gasped, "Oh my god I'm so sorryyyyyy... I forgot I can do that!" She helped Freddy straighten up, tossing Roxy and Eclipse a worried look but relaxing when they got to their feet on their own. "I'm so... oh, I'm sorry! I didn't mean that," Her voice took on a whispering note, lowering her tone and darting her face frantically between them.

But then, Freddy was hugging Chica and sweeping her off her feet again; his baritone a mirthful and happy hum through the otherwise strangled room. Chica bawked in shock and flailed; but settled as Freddy finished his rotations with her and put her down. It seemed she still had something of herself here- now if only it wasn't the part where Gregory messed up.

Freddy cupped her cheeks and rattled her face, his smile so energetic it was spreading amidst the group. "I'm so glad you remember something! We'll hafta cover of it in more detail but... otherwise, I can't be happier to see you again!"

"Not like I went anywhere..."

He shook his head and embraced her again; Chica's beak on his ruined shoulder.

"...Still confused," She clucked as she eyed the room as well as the bear. "Why do you all look like that? Is this some sorta fancy trend I don't know about? Why is that lost little boy here still? Where's his parents? How come Cassie's hurt? Where's her dad? Her dad should be here! Why is this place closed? Why has it been god-knows-when since I recall being actually awake? Did I actually go somewheres? I think I did-? Can I also ask why I remembering eating so much garbage I think I actually PUKED at some point? Like, I totes remember puking. I didn't know I could do that? I also think I remember diving into a syrup vat at some point-?"

"Oh my god Chica, shut up," Roxy snapped. Her words sounded barbed, but couldn't be more the opposite as she leaned in and joined Freddy in on the hug.

Chica meanwhile blinked, bobbed her shoulders, and hugged them back. She burred again, then opened her eyes-

And they went utterly round in her sockets when her alarmed gaze fell upon Bonnie's head nearby.

"BA-BAWWWWWK!"

She struggled so fast and so suddenly nobody expected it; and very much in the manner of a real chicken. She flailed so badly in panic that she kicked Freddy RIGHT in the pelvic region and dropped him like a rock; the bear whimpering on the floor. She also knocked Roxy over just rushing by. Had she any real feathers and they would've gone flying.

"OH MY GOD! BONNIE-"

She skidded onto her naked knees and pulled his head close; turning it over with shaking hands and getting the jitters so bad she almost dropped it. She gakeled and hugged it tight to her chest; unable to get back up again. Now she was full-blow hysterical wailing.

"Wow... she's is so much more dramatic than I thought," Gregory commented.

"I'd freak out too if I saw my friend's severed head!" Cassie flicked him in the nose.

Vanessa dug into her ear and winced, "I feel bad for the bots... Chica's crying is really bad for them and Bonnie's trying to get charged and recalibrated. She'll blow his ears out before he even wakes up, and he doesn't have ANY replacements!"

She moved on over, touching Chica on the shoulder, "I know its fast but, you're going to hurt Bonnie if you don't tone it down a bit. Okay? We're fixing him. I promise, he'll be up in no time!"

"My... *SNIFF*... Blue... BOY."

She cackled almost every other syllable; Vanessa kneeling beside her and rubbing the hen's back. Yup, Chica passed the personality inspection- so it was something.

"Chica, please. Everything can be explained. I promise. Bonnie is getting everyone's efforts to be fixed. It only looks worse than it is."

The hen sniffled; her arms almost completely blanketing the blue metal of Bonnie's head completely. Her lavender eyes went slowly to Vanessa, then she mussed the rabbit's hair. "I'm so confused," she mumbled in a tone that sounded borderline pleading. "I only remember so much... and what I do remember involves a lot of hurt and pain. I remember getting the news Bonnie was..."

She shut her eyes, inhaled, and released; her chest cavity miming breath.

"And... I have a huge blank spot there after that. I remember Bonnie disappearing... Freddy dropping on stage... this boy and him being mean... but... I also recall that he was doing that for a reason-?" She passed Vanessa a helpless look. "I remember... crying a lot. A lot. Like a whole lot. Like I was crying super loud, but I couldn't cry on the surface? Like I was trapped in my own body. I literally don't have anything else to go by."

Vanessa blinked and sat back on her heels. She put a contemplative hand to her chin. "Weird. You seemed to have attached to the most traumatic parts of your memory... All of those instances are rather specific."

Freddy by now had recovered, his expression war-torn as Roxy finished helping him up. The pair passed each other glances.

"You were in a long nap," Said Eclipse nearby. "And were left in a nightmare you couldn't wake from."

This prompted Chica to finally look at him, the hen burring at the sight of him. She stroked Bonnie more but her gaze furrowed. "Who're you?" she queried. "I don't think I can recognize this personality."

"Its new. Er... old? Its my default personality," Eclipse supplied. "It just got consumed when I was turned into the daycare attendant. I was originally built for the theater, if you recall. My system was bugged out pretty bad so... this personality, Eclipse, drowned in the rift between Sun and Moon."

"Oh wow..." She tilted her head prettily, the plastic hair on her head spinning on its axis. She stood up, gently cradling Bonnie and leaning in to look at him. She then asked, "Um... 'nightmare', you said?"

"I was trapped in an endless limbo in myself for a very long time," Eclipse continued, moving to stand nearer to her. "Besides being lost between Sun and Moon- Moon became the dominant personality when darkness took this entire place. Still warped by Security mode, he became erratic, unpredictable, and hostile; and neither of us could wake up from it. Prisoners in our own body- same as you. The only thing I recall from this entire period is wanting to fight my own body. That seems to be a reoccurring thing amongst us."

The hen nodded vaguely, her expression somber as she rested her chin on Bonnie's head. She watched Eclipse with some sort of fascination, then reached out and touched his face plate, "Are you okay? I can see I look better than everyone else right now... I'm so confused. Was I really that bad? So bad that, everyone here is like..." She frowned at Roxy now, noticing how she was wearing Freddy's paws and missing so much hair- while Freddy himself meanwhile looked like a scrap-yard nightmare. The hen inhaled again, "None of you actually really took the time to fix yourselves good, did you?"

"No. None of us stayed tuning ourselves too long," Eclipse dead-panned. "We had more... pressing things to do."

"Like me? I was THAT bad?"

When the attendant nodded, Chica rubbed his face plate and pulled it back, "Thank you for being honest. I know Freddy there would made it sound like I got a boo-boo or something."

The bear coughed; the sound more like static as it escaped his throat.

Chica returned her attention to Bonnie, her gaze strangely far away. She returned his head to the desk, her hand on his head and resting between his ears. She glimpsed his body nearby too, and then let her eyes slowly migrate towards the humans. She released Bonnie, then moved slowly over to both Gregory and Cassie; kneeling before them.

"I'm so sorry," She said to Gregory, her apology so candid it took the boy off-guard. "I... I was just searching my head and... I think I remember scaring you now. And a long time ago, Bonnie told me we were being hacked... so... I'm sorry."

Gregory nodded, "I'm sorry too. That was rotten what I did."

Chica touched his fluffy head, leaning in and eyeing him in a rather studiously focused manner like she was trying to parse him out. Her gaze narrowed, then it took on a more pained note. "You don't have family, do you? Your guest profile... you had one here before."

"...Wha- wait, you..." He babbled, stepping back from her grip.

Nearby, everyone- and especially Freddy- blinked. Even Vanessa looked puzzled.

Chica continued in an eternally calm but lower note, "You're like, one of those orphan kids that sometimes slipped into the PizzaPlex. I know sometimes the street kids try to get in here to eat and sleep for a while. I've met a couple..." She shook her head. "And every time I try to scan their profile, I'd get negatives on their identities. No parent phone, no address, no anything. I had one kid admit to me that he was an orphan and it tended to happen a lot. Your profile was buggy but... it did exist in the system for a time."

"You... how'd you-" Gregory looked so alarmed he may just run.

Cassie was gawping at him in blunt horror all the while- clearly having not known this.

Chica sighed wistfully, "I learned to keep doubles of children's profiles. The staff here have a messy habit of editing the guest profiles we have access to. Bonnie also noticed it early on. I kept this one thumb drive in my room-" She flicked a thumb over her shoulder, "Where, I'd plug it into my head and... scan it. And I'd update it every time I got a new profile. Doing this got to be very useful when I noticed the disappearances started happening, and I start bugging out and forgetting things. Children tended to vanish a lot. And then Bonnie told me about the hacking and... well, it justified what I was doing. I gave him copies of what I knew and he stored it somewhere."

She bobbed her shoulders now, "Glad I did. But as for you, I do know your name, Gregory. You'd been in the PizzaPlex a while here and there. I forgot about you for a while- the times our heads were messed with and I didn't think to check the drive. I think my knowing your profile though was how the person hacking us got a hold of your name eventually. I apologize for that."

The boy flapped his trap like a beached fish, then avoided her gaze and couldn't afford to meet anyone else's.

Chica gently touched his head again, then gazed at Cassie, "I remember you, baby bird. Sorry, I wasn't trying to ignore you."

"I know! You're just absorbing stuff," Cassie smiled.

Chica patted her next, "You and your dad. Always too nice to us. I'm happy seeing you but... what happened? Why're you hurt?"

"Long story... and at this point, it seems we all have one to share," Cassie continued. "I don't think we all shared everything?"

"No, I don't think we have," Roxy added nearby, walking over and staring between them. "But we're kinda a little pressed for time. I personally think we can afford to share stories later when we're not trapped here. We have stuff to do- and friends to repair."

Chica got back up, her eyes moving to Bonnie. She sighed audibly, "That seems to be putting it mildly..."

Vanessa was now on her feet; taking parts of the rabbit into the cylinder. She snapped her fingers at Freddy, who'd been eyeing Gregory with an odd amount of interest. "Alright! Let's get this going too. And Freddy, didn't you say you still wanted to find Monty's upper body?"

"Yes. The frame on it we can use for his new body. He doesn't have a lot of spare parts available so we'd need to get it, regardless, for materials," The bear continued. "Wouldn't be able to use his wires or chip but... the facial structure and pieces may be useable."

"Right. Well, its in a utility tunnel not too far from here. And since there's so many of us-" She counted the room, "I think we can send two of us out to get him while we work on Destruticus here. All the while, we need to figure out what to do with the PizzaPlex..."

"What do you mean?" Chica pressed.

"To catch you up to speed," Vanessa told the hen, "We found a means where you guys can exist outside the PizzaPlex. We plan on leaving, but there's several threats here that we need to take care of first before trying any daring escape attempts. If we just leave without taking care of these loose ends, they'll follow us out into the outside world and cause havoc not unlike what happened in HERE- But it'll be on a much grander scale. I'm sure Freddy can explain in better detail."

She pointed at the others, "So I think two of us can go out as a pair to snag Monty, while the others polish up blue buns here. I don't think its wise anyone goes out alone at this point- its too dangerous." She turned back to the computer, typing something on it, "We keep our numbers, or don't go out at all. And all the while, I'll try to get M.X.E.S working double-time to keep the Mimic distracted. I want to reactivate him fully but I need a more powerful terminal to work from..." She frowned, "The one that was in the old pizzeria down there was pretty powerful... and all I've done was downgrade from there... And there ain't any other decent terminals in this place that'll remain active... not with the main power grid blinking like it is."

Roxy opened her chest hatch, then slapped something on the desk next to her. Vanessa blinked, squinted, then pulled the pieces up. Now she was looking at the wolf. "Where... did you. Get. These?"

"Bonnie had 'em," She dead-panned. "He had these drives in his body."

"...That motherfucker. I knew he took them! I swear to SHIT he's just..." Vanessa inhaled and relented. "Okay, so the bun-bot here had something really precious and he so happened to have been upgrading himself with really powerful drives for computation. Of course he did. That'd make total sense." She fidgeted with the drives, narrowed her eyes, then stared at the somewhat reassembled bot in the cylinder.

Vanessa clicked her tongue and said, "I have an idea. He can keep these. In fact..." She resumed typing, then looked around, "I think we can get Bonnie to make up for the M.X.E.S, or let him get control of the program directly and use it. Bonnie's motor was pretty dang okay but not its best. If we get him a slightly better one, he can run the programs our terminals can't- including M.X.E.S. He's already plugged back into the PizzaPlex's main system thanks to Cassie... he'd have instant access to the security cameras and the few, existing defensive measures in the building right as he wakes up from his little dirt nap. Even his old motor is actually stronger than the terminals here... he can run damage control!"

Freddy grinned, clapping his paws together enthusiastically. "So if we wake him up, the Mimic thing won't be able to defend itself digitally!"

"Yes, BUT-" Vanessa pointed at him, "We'd still need to deal with the Mimic physically. That will take everyone here. As to the other threat... well, still sitting on that thought. But I'm sure with the terminator rabbit's help, we can figure it out."

"...Seriously. Why do you keep calling him that," Freddy muttered.

His question would go unanswered as the wolf coughed. "Okay, so," Roxy glanced around, "Who wants to grab Monty? Wouldn't mind the gator's help."

"I can," Freddy offered immediately.

Roxy noticed the others, like Eclipse and Chica, had also raised hands. She waved them off and said, "I think its better another one of us stays with the humans and helps with Bonnie- as well as defend them in case of something bad. How do we do this?"

"Roxy, I had another idea," Vanessa tossed.

She looked at the woman, her expression still bent in a feral manner. She listened regardless.

"Let Freddy borrow your eyes a bit longer- or at least, one of them, and let him grab Monty. He'll be able to see and smell any threats coming since he'll be going out there. Chica can go with him. Both of them have her voice box too so-" She shrugged, "If they get ambushed, they can defend themselves well and see anything coming from a mile away. Freddy can also talk to Chica about her memory. Eclipse and you can help me with Bonnie- seeing as you're both kinda tech savvy. Didn't you work on the karts sometimes?"

Roxy blinked and nodded, "A little?"

"Great. You can help me make Bonnie's new motor. Eclipse can help with details I can't reach and not physically strong enough to do."

Eclipse hummed, coming to wheel up in a spinning office chair he found- and he's no doubt having fun with it. "So, can I ask if there's other reasons as to why we're being paired up like that?"

Vanessa eyed him, then said, "You guys compliment each other's abilities in case of attack. Roxy's sense of smell and threat detection would be nice to have here for the kids' sakes. And, you're both very quick on your feet. If we get jumped here in this room, you two can take the kids and bail real fast and long before anything finds us. Freddy meanwhile can compensate for Chica physically while they're out there grabbing Monty. And since they both have the voice box upgrade, whatever they encounter will get a nasty surprise and leave them be. It wouldn't be able to attack either of them while they're on the move."

The bots glanced at each other. Apparently no arguments there can be found.

Cassie meanwhile mutinously said, "But, Freddy and Chica wouldn't know where to look for Monty! Could I go with them?"

"You can't just explain where?" Vanessa said to the girl.

Cassie puffed out her cheeks, looking rather rebellious.

Vanessa nodded, as if that's that. Then she returned to the cylinder and went in. She checked the armature, "Anyways, tell them where to find Monty, and help me out here, Cassie. You're actually really handy and I wouldn't mind the help. Gregory-" She looked at the boy next, "You still got your fazwatch?"

"Yup!"

"Get on the labtop and and sync your fazwatch. Get control of the security cameras. Keep an eye on the place and watch Freddy and Chica carefully. Cassie, guide them as needed when you're not helping me."

The girl nodded, watching Gregory take the labtop back out and open it. The boy started typing a million miles an hour already.

Vanessa turned and noticed Roxy's look; the expression no less than murderous. She met the wolf's gaze in an unwavering manner, her expression however properly contrite as they eyed the other. "I know you want to say something, so, go ahead."

The wolf stomped up, her talon bluntly meeting the former security guard's collarbone. "You have a LOT to account for. And once this is done, we'll be having a nice long chat about it."

"Roxy-" Freddy's tone nearby was clipped; edged with warning.

The wolf snapped her jaws at him, "Don't you 'Roxy' me! I still don't understand why the FUCK you're hanging around this gutless wretch! She's why Bonnie's IN this state in the first place and why we're still trapped down here! And you and I both know Bonnie won't be too happy about hearing you've been LIVING with her and the boy for a pleasant while all the time we've been left to rot here!"

Freddy's gaze softened, then he looked away.

"That's what I thought-" His keyboardist snapped. She glared back at Vanessa, "We'll play along this song a bit longer, but don't expect any help from me if we get jumped while we're here. I won't hesitate to leave you in the dust if we had to run for our lives."

"ROXY!" Cassie snapped.

The wolf ignored the girl for once, her stare unwavering the entire while. Vanessa meanwhile nodded, then said, "I completely understand. I wouldn't expect anything less, really. You SHOULD prioritize Gregory and Cassie regardless."

The wolf snarled, snapped her muzzle again, then stomped flat footedly passed the woman. "I'm gonna grab carrot-breath some motor pieces. I'll be right back. If you lay a HAND on those kids' heads-" She threw over her shoulder.

"I won't! I swear," Vanessa held up her hands in surrender.

There was another growl; then Roxy went to leave. She didn't even pass Chica and Freddy a look as she brushed by them.

Eclipse meanwhile fidgeted, then looked at Vanessa with increased interest, "I have questions."

"Don't we all?" She retorted, though not unkindly.

The former attendant shrugged, "Vanny. Was she an alter?"

"A... a what?"

"An alter. You know, a completely different personality?"

"You getting somewhere with this?"

The spidery-limbed attendant shrugged, "I might be. Indulge me?"

Vanessa nodded stiffly, confused.

There seemed to be some sort of shift in the air; not that anyone can explain it. The bot's face seemed to... it was hard to tell, but soften. He dipped his head at her, his tone noticeably gentler as he said, "You are a guardian to this boy, his adoptive parent, are you not?"

"Yeah...?"

"Vanny wouldn't do that. Yes?" When he got another nod, he went on, "Okay. I see now. I see. See, this is what Bonnie got wrong-" He gestured to the rabbit within the cylinder. "He was after you for a crime another person committed. Vanny isn't Vanessa: They are two separate entities- as I am not Sun nor Moon. And they are not each other. We are different individuals, trapped in the same vessel. Sun was not held accountable for the crimes Moon committed in Security Mode- Vanny meanwhile should be held accountable for the crimes she's committed alone. Even Gregory knows this-"

He waved at the boy, who was watching them all the while. "If he didn't think this as well, he wouldn't be living with you. Am I not right?"

"I..." Vanessa stared at him, then back at the bot. She fell silent.

Eclipse reached over and waved a mesmerizing finger at the woman's face- a magician preparing for the ultimate trick, "Vanessa meanwhile is a parent who is taking care of an orphaned boy. Vanessa came to deal with the mistakes of another person in a responsible manner; of a person she had no control over whatsoever. One cannot help but be confused when bodies are shared, but alters are poorly misunderstood constructs for this very reason: They come from a sort of dark aspect of our inner psyche; and are born under circumstances beyond our control, due to stresses in our lives and us trying to cope with it. They become the epitome of the things we fear or do not understand and ultimately are shields against the things we fear most- ways to perceive what we cannot endure otherwise. Alters are individuals within themselves though; a more nuanced, and yet scarily actualized personality with their own complex thoughts and feelings."

He got nearer to Vanessa again, looking her dead in the eyes as he said, "I hear tell of something called 'multiple personality disorder', in the case of people. Perhaps you had that? It is a guess, and I won't claim to know anything about it. The staff who worked around me talked about it a few times..." He shrugged. "Guess I reminded them of it. As it were, they weren't very understanding of me and the alters inside me... but talked at length of the muddled morality of misunderstanding that stigmatized this affliction. I am accepting of the fact I have other sides that aren't me within me. You know? But I was built to be that way and I can cope with it. You meanwhile, you couldn't hope to endure in the same manner. You are not Vanny- and within reason. The other persona that's there is..." He bobbed his shoulders, "She is a murderer, and cruel beyond measure. You are a disgruntled being, but not the same person. It isn't fair to be condemned for a crime another person has committed, regardless you share a physical form-"

He reached out and patted the woman's head; Vanessa's face stiffened in blunt fascination and... something else. Her lip was trembling, her breath suddenly shallow and shaky, "You are not guileless, but you are not the instigator either. And once Bonnie is awake, I will try to help him see that. You've been very brave coming in here and facing us despite what has happened, and it wasn't kind of me to pass judgement when I of all bots know what it feels like to be put under the thrall of another person's malignant will. I hold no ire, nor any vendetta towards you, mother of Gregory. No longer."

He withdrew, his broken face almost radiating purity as he watched the woman before him shiver and stagger from the computer. Vanessa's breath got ragged and steadily shallower; leaning over the module and fighting the need to sob. The attendant placed a hand on her back, rubbing it gently as she tried to reclaim her faculties.

All the while, the others looked on- with Gregory getting up to join Vanessa's side again. He pulled on her cardigan, then leaned against her. The woman's hand slowly found its way around his shoulders; pulling the boy closer in.

From the door, Roxy had come back with a motor in hand. She flicked her remaining ear, then grunted in static. She said nothing; merely deposited the motor and walked away.

She didn't want to let go yet. This was all too fast for her- but it was as Eclipse said: It was all too poorly understood. She can forgive Gregory almost easily when she's mulled over the crimes of the rabbit woman. But both Roxy and Bonnie had spent a long time hating her for the things she's done. Roxy had to help Bonnie find Freddy after all. And endure the idea that Bonnie had been cruelly dispatched- and likely by her own claws- thanks to Vanny. Vanny also prompted Roxy to kill a child too- there was just so much!

No, she couldn't forgive yet. Not yet. Maybe in time, but not now. Not after all they've endured while being trapped in here.

But if they could escape and see the sun... then maybe. In time. There could be a final place of rest for all this madness.