"Really? Like a makeover?"
With Moon seated and head tilted down you get to inspecting the back of his head. Unlike the front, the back was concave, a few plates attached hiding exposed wires, not visible where his neck entered into them.
Once upon a time the wires were visible, exposing some of his innards, namely a control panel for which technicians to work on them. You put an end to that after the last time a child tried playing with it.
It was also something that Moon liked way more than Sun, the night animatronic understanding the added safety over Sun who didn't appreciate the 'fashion change'. Unscrewing the panel it pops off, parting in half so as to not get caught on the animatronic's neck.
Inside you were met with a familiar sight. A tangle of wires of orange and black, fitting into slots and tiny white boxes, several slots meant for memory additions, diagnostic tools, an assortment of slowly blinking lights and a number of symbols scribbled in sharpie indicating what each piece and section meant. Said symbols meant things though without a manual you could only guess what they meant.
There were more electronics deeper into Moon though most times they had issues it came down to the wires here. And 'operating' past this panel would've required putting them under.
"Is it bad?" Moon asked.
The wires, while tangled was the least of the problem. Several of them had scratches on them, tiny gashes and splits throughout. Many of them appeared bulged in parts, a few of the coating frayed where it couldn't contain the voltages. While the battery was in a strange condition this looked terrible.
At least one of the lights were burst, the signal sent through it too much for the glass. A few of the boxes where wires entered his head had black etchings around them, the kind that occurred when a short circuit fried off. Not to mention the heat coming off it. All animatronics produced a kind of ambient heat though all had exceptionally well cooling systems. Just being close to it you could feel it a few degrees higher.
It was strange. Last time you checked them this in depth these problems weren't here. This had to have been something that happened really recently. Though to have this much damage done in so little time AND have nobody notice it meant either Moon/Sun were hiding it, or they didn't even know. It didn't even seem like this was the result of the battery issue.
"It doesn't look good. I can repair this though. Just not tonight. I'm gonna need parts."
"Please do."
You start noting down all the things you needed to replace along with what new parts you needed, even mumbling what parts were needed. This was to be a major job.
Somethings still didn't make sense though. You check the animatronics at least once a week. Though it had been a little longer since the last checkup you still can't believe they accumulated such wounds so fast. It rose another question. And for Sun and Moon to not notice it or grit through it was unusual as well. Foul play was considered though you couldn't imagine what could have happened. You make a note to check tickets, see if anyone worked on Sun and Moon recently. It was like that just suddenly started 'decaying'.
Digging in your bag you pull out a contraption. A simple hand-held console with a digit display. Attached to the end was a wire and tool meant for plugging into the diagnostic slot. Digging around in the animatronics sometime ago you found that most had a 'diagnostic port' that, like a car would display its driven kilometres.
Said tool was never used and often forgotten about. The animatronics were all more than intelligent enough to know what was wrong with them. Not to mention the security system could detect issues with them. But since Sun didn't even know he had a problem; you hoped the code could give you a better reading.
Plugging it in to Moon the device beeps, neon green display lighting up. Outdated, it didn't even display their proper name.
NAME: PLANETS
ERROR: CODE -999
It let out a high pitch chirp indicating it was done. While you only used the machine rarely, you at least knew a few of the codes, battery issues, low power, blockage in gears, etc, this one was unfamiliar.
You note it down, reminding yourself to send an e-mail to the rep asking what a -999 meant.
"Ah! What are you doing?!" The attendant shouted, jerking forward and jumping up, turning to face you. He ripped out of the wires from the machine. In what was now the fastest transition, Moon turned to Sun, clothing swapping back to a bright visage.
"Relax. I was just diagnosing you."
"No! You were trying to replace me!" He said frantically, pointing to the diagnostic device.
You put the machine down but stay seated. Holding both hands out you speak plainly. "I was just trying to see…how I can fix you." The attendant was clearly distressed. The last thing you wanted to do was add to it.
"Y-you were?"
You nod. "I just want to help."
"No! They all say that! Get out! Leave!" Sun shouted.
With how volatile Sun and Moon were the moment you decide it best if you left them to 'nap' and relax, making another note to tell them not to open the daycare, or at least figure out an alternative. The Attendant was not capable right now.
Sun watches you leave, even peaking his head out the castle from up top when you walk through the daycare. Only when you look back does he return inside, going back to whatever he was doing prior.
As you start walking up the stairs to leave the daycare you get a call. From Sun.
"Sun?"
"Ohoohoho! Hey! Is everything alright? Why are you running off all glum?" He said, face taking up the watch's screen.
"Well, you just, er-" You pause, figuring this may be the real Sun now, or at least a moment of clarity. "Is everything alright with you? You were acting a little weird earlier. I uh, checked your room. Couldn't find you."
"Silly! I was probably in the pillow fort. We should play, do you have a moment?"
"I, uh, maybe. Is everything alright with you though? Feeling sick, strange, just, uh, weird?"
"Hmm. It's better you ask Moon about that. I think there is something wrong though. Weird stuff's been happening. Like sometimes I hear voices. I think it's Moon's thoughts. I dunno."
This was even more concerning. One hand free, you take out your phone and start making notes.
"Anything else? Physically. Arms, legs, any parts feel odd?"
"Hmmm? Now that you mention it, I can't really feel my hook right now."
"Your hook?"
"Yeah!" Sun said cheerily. Looking at the camera he looked completely normal. "Er..I don't have a mirror to show you but it's on my back!"
"Lastly. These 'spells', flashes and stuff. How often do you get them in a day?"
"Not often. One of the employees has been helping me keep focused. Gives me a little shock when I start to get lost. But at night, the past few nights have been a blur."
"He what?!"
"Er, is that a bad thing?"
"Uh, yeah it is. Who's doing that?"
You take more notes as Sun gives you the employees name and ID. He couldn't elaborate more on what a 'shock' was, but you make a note to get the employees supervisor to speak to them. If it was something simple like a minor reset or power boost that would be fine. But if the employee was actually electrocuting the poor animatronic then someone was getting fired.
"Thanks Sun. I'm going to order a bunch of parts and I'll get you and Moon good as new."
"Really? Like a makeover?" Sun's eyes beamed.
"Maybe. Either way you're gonna feel a lot better."
"Ooohoho! I can't wait. But since you're here can we hang out right now? I have so much to tell you since your vacation!" Sun said, the spitting image of his usual self.
Tempting as it were Sun was still unstable. You decide to heed his earlier warning and leave. "Sorry Sun, no can do. I have to get to Chica. But we can hang out tomorrow."
"Promise?"
"I promise. We can have, uh, a tea party or something."
"A tea party!" Sun exclaimed. "Oh well then I gotta get this place ready for that! Gasp! My pictures!" Sun shouted, looking away from the camera. "What happened to them? (Y/N) gotta go, got a big problem here." Sun said, finally noticing the blown about pictures.
With a sigh you march back to your office quickly, not bothering to check on the other animatronics tonight. You figure if anyone really needed your help they'd call.
Something was seriously wrong with Sun and Moon. Something both in his power supply and 'brain'. Having already familiarized yourself with his internals you knew the exact parts to order. "Surgery" wouldn't be hard, but it would be time consuming. The code was concerning though, -999, you'd never seen a code that high, let alone a negative one.
Back in the office you take a break and get to sending multiple reports. Fixed Chica's arm, fixed some piping, fixed the environmental alert in the attendant's room, diagnosed the attendant and demanded someone look into an employee who was 'shocking' Sun.
A brief look into Sun and Moon's diagnostic history indicated nobody but you had gone deep into their internals. The security system didn't list any 'unauthorized intrusions' either.
Many e-mails and tickets later you finally get some free time. With some more time to kill you decide to conclude the night dealing with that Chica shell, or rather the body Chica dumped in your office.
It still looked horrible and beat up. Bloated and rusted metal likely caused from water damage, the liquid corroding the metal. Though you hadn't touched it you were paranoid enough to expect it to come to life any second.
Figuring this a good a place as any (the animatronic's dust and debris were practically all over the floor anyways) you roll up your sleaves and get to salvaging the animatronic.
Of course, just from the first screw a single question rose up. Chica said she found it in a sewer she uncovered. She apparently found it in the previous few days, deciding to discard the 'corpse' in your office. But what if, the current Chica was a fake and this mess was the original Chica? It certainly didn't look good.
Taking a deep breath you consult the facts, starting a mini argument in your head.
Chica developed a 'special personality', diving deep into comic book aesthetics. She got this way from being influenced by another employee who she worked with daily. Could she have killed a Chica? Though all the animatronics have 'received' special personalities lately. Chica wasn't the exception.
As you take off the padded metal clothing, leaving them on a towel you start to accumulate oil stains, black spots covering your arms and hands. Nobody said it was an easy job.
In addition, any parts that could have given Chica a personality from the voice chip, to battery, to any parts in the head were long gone and judging from the severed wires, ripped out violently.
If this was the original Chica, or rather the Chica that you'd come to know there would be a serious problem. Then it hit you. They all had serial parts.
Taking, or rather, ripping off the already cracked beak you peer inside the skull, looking for a specific piece. Sure enough, it was inside, a small rectangle attached to the neck. You grab it, easily unlatching the small metal bar. Now curious to know if The Avenger was The Imposter, you try to pull it out, finding your arm stuck in the hole where the mouth was. You manage to pull the piece, dislodging the head and knocking the bar to the ground.
More worried than caring, you use your other hand to get the bar, reading the serial number. A damaged Chica headpiece still on arm, looking as if you punched through her head you sit at the desk, hastily typing in the serial number.
A sigh of relief escapes your lips as you read the results. This was an old Chica model. At the very least it was possible that was an original Chica, but it was not the one you had come to know and the one you saved during that 'trial'. Perhaps she got into the system and swapped the numbers? Much as you considered Chica a friend, did not consider her smart enough to pull off something like this.
Judging by the state of the shell too, it had been in that sewer far longer than a few months. The possibility that Endo running around was the Chica arose as well, though one look at the rusted shell before you shone that her endoskeleton was still inside, albeit beyond repair.
With your desk now stained partially with oil, gunk and the floor of the office looking like an animatronic murder scene you get to cleaning what you could. You already knew the janitor would refuse to clean it anyways.
"Knock, knock." Someone says outside your door, not actually knocking at the door.
"Come in." You say.
"Hey, uh, (Y/N)..." Entering the door, and even partially ducking under it was Bonnie, voice getting quieter as he surveyed the scene.
While you didn't think another thought of it, the image of you siting at a desk, practically covered in oil and grease while pieces of metal, debris and 'body parts' were strewn about the room didn't look particularly good. And that was not even mentioning the head that looked to be jammed onto your arm. That you weren't visibly distressed was the sole reason he wasn't immediately panicking. That and, well Bonnie just saw Chica, how on Earth would she have gotten here so fast and then get killed by you even faster?
A sort of shock on his face, Bonnie asked, "Is, this, uh, a bad time?" He scratched the back of his head anxiously.
"Oh, uh, no. I was just working on that scrap, Chica brought me in." You said, closing your laptop and using your free hand to push that head off your arm. Sharp pieces within scratched your arm, likely leaving marks if not for your shirt stopping it. It popped off, hitting the ground, cracking loudly.
With a free rag you start cleaning your hands, ignoring the many other 'work stains'. "Have a seat." You add.
For times just like this you always kept a beanbag chair in your office. Larger than a regular one it was custom built. Oversized to most, its purpose was just to just withstand the weight of the animatronics. It was originally for Bonnie, the rabbit animatronic often stopping by your room to chat for weeks after those events ended.
"Well things kinda got side tracked." Bonnie said as he took a seat, being careful to not step on any of the scrap.
"And I really wanted you to try this." Bonnie reached into his chest, the pieces parting and pulled out two plastic-wrapped muffins. The same ones from earlier, completely with an almost blueberry glow and streaks of filling.
You gladly took them, unwrapping them over the laptop, uncaring of crumbs scattering all over the desk
Though the muffins a few hours old they were still just as fresh. The scent strong too, blueberries with a hint of bran. By keeping them in his chest, Bonnie inadvertently warmed them up, after all, his ambient heat always went up when he saw you. Thanks to it, it kept them warm, not like they came out of the oven, rather having spent a few seconds in a microwave. The outer shell gave a little pushback, having browned perfectly while baking.
The inside was like eating a cloud, soft and fluffy throughout. While the muffin contained full blueberries, streaks of mashed blueberries moulded with the dough, giving the entire muffin a consistent sweet flavour regardless of the number of full blueberries present in any bite.
Not overly sweet, Chica managed to balance the amount of the sugars with the natural sweetness of the berries.
From the fibrous texture present you guess she also added finely grained oats, the grittiness a perfect balance to the soft berries within. Wherever the oats clumped, the blueberries liquid softened them.
While Chica was supposed to be an exercise expert and promote healthy foods, there was no denying that she was an outstanding baker. With all the running around and now labour disassembling an old model, it was a perfect, albeit probably unhealthy snack.
The look on your face told Bonnie all he needed though the bunny still wanted confirmation. With hands clenched under his chin, he looked expectantly at you. "Well?" He asked.
"They're perfect."
You don't bother saving the other one, unwrapping it as well.
"I knew it! Oh this is gonna be so good!" Bonnie cheered.
Bonnie stood up, eyes beaming. He was ready to get the rest of the batch.
"Uh, hold on a second Bon." You say with a mouthful.
He sat back down as you cleared your throat, speaking, "So Sun and Moon. You notice anything odd with them lately?"
"Oh yes, definitely. They've been acting weird lately. Something's wrong with them. I subbed in the daycare a few times while you were gone. Sometimes Moon fell asleep!"
"Any idea what's wrong with them?"
"I'm not sure but they're really scared of the workers. They keep thinking they're gonna get decommissioned." Bonnie gasped. "You aren't gonna decommission them, are you?"
"Bon, of course not. I've already ordered some parts to fix them. That's the plan tomorrow."
"While you were gone one of the workers tried to fix them. They got really mad. It's like they don't want anyone fixing them. They even mentioned you one of those days. I've never seen Moon that mad before either! It's scary."
"They mentioned me?"
Bonnie nodded. "Yeah, they really don't want anyone working on them. Not even you. I've tried to tell them, but they won't listen. They had to get Roxanne to repair them the other day. They don't really trust anyone."
Like the previous imposter theory, another dark theory pops into your head. Bonnie must have noticed the expression on your face, the bunny asking, "what's wrong?"
"So, they don't want to get fixed, are increasingly paranoid and are acting really erratically. That remind you of anyone?"
"Uhhh, should it?"
Right. Bonnie wasn't really around in those days.
"It sounds like Monty. But he was wracked with guilt 'cause of what he did. Had a lot of trauma too." Brushing off the laptop you open it, making notes.
"You don't think they killed someone?" Bonnie gasped again.
"Pft. No. But there was a chip we found in Monty that someone forcibly put in him. Did Moon or Sun ever mention getting an upgrade recently?"
"I don't think so."
You start scanning for tickets relating to Sun and Moon. While there were plenty of minor things, not a single ticket mentioned any new parts or chips.
"Do you think you and Freddy can run the daycare tomorrow? I'm gonna order the workers to let Sun and Moon take the day off. I spoke to 'em earlier. Not sure they can run tomorrow"
Bonnie saluted. "Of course we can! We don't have any concerts planned for tomorrow anyways."
"Alright." You finish making your notes. "Last thing. You know what a code -999 is?"
"Nope!" It was probably an attendant-specific code then. "Thanks Bonnie. I'll leave you to it. Gotta clean up on this mess."
"Can I help?" Bonnie asked innocently enough.
With a smirk you nod. "It's gonna get dirty, you okay with that?"
"Of course, but I want you to help clean me after."
It was a fair trade-off. "Let me just finish this report." You CC the rep as well. He was an expert in the animatronics would definitely need to know this. Before you get to finishing the disassembly, you look at your agenda for tomorrow.
Interview Monty about Sun and Moon's behaviour. Repair Sun and Moon. Monitor until sunrise. (do any other tickets). If there's time make Chica a pizza.
Number 1 worried you. Now that it was in your head you could see similarities between Monty and the attendant If they did something to them you needed to get to them fast, before they did something gruesome. Fixing Sun and Moon would be tomorrow's priority.
Never a dull moment at the plex. Bonnie eager to help and wrench in hand, you get to finishing up the night.
The next chapter will be called Growing Pains.
Job 1 - Chicken Run is completed.
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This concludes Job 1. This was initially just an extended preview of the book to make up for continuously missing my own deadlines + having something for Halloween. Anyways, the plan now is to finish writing Pop Goes the Balloon (or at least hit the halfway phase) and then start serializing. As I've said elsewhere, I don't like releasing until the project is at least 60% complete. Since I've managed to make 2 animations (the other coming out closer to Christmas) I'm just going to keep doing what I'm doing and when it's ready I'll release it. Hell, I want to boss animations for all the major battles and after making 2 animations in Blender I'm excited to do more.
At the very least the entire outline is completed so I know what's going to happen (Job 3 is my favourite so far). Since I'm writing another novel (original) at this time that's also why this has taken so long to release. Ah well. It is what it is.
Lastly, here's a teaser image of Job 2.
Image: Job 2 - The Dragon & The Knight
Artist: Me
Link: https://www.deviantart.com/odaocer/art/1135468280
Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Next time I update this I should have a lot more chapters and pictures done! I'm also on Bluesky under Hadair if you really want updates (though if you just follow this story, you'll get updates whenever I reach the serialization stage).
~ Hadair