Chapter 23
Chapter XXIII: Adjustables
He gets into the elevator shaft. He is greeted by Hand unit.
"Welcome back for another night of intellectual stimulation, pivotal career choices and self-reflection on past mistakes. We're committed to creating a unique and fulfilling work experience. One part of that commitment is ensure that you don't get tired of the voice that you're hearing right now."
The keypad appears in front of him.
"Using the keypad below, please select a new companion voice. For male, press 1. For female, press 2. For text-only, press 3. For other options, press 4."
Michael tries to type, however, he is baffled and couldn't type correctly due to the glitching.
"It seems that you had some trouble with the keypad. I see what you were trying to type, and I will auto-correct it for you. Thank you for choosing: Angsty Teen"
As the elevator gets down, it stops and opens. Hand unit has now a different voice.
"The elevator stopped. You know the routine. You can get out now or... whatever. You can stay here if you want."
Michael: "Wait, that voice sounds familiar...ain't that (thinks of the other bullies he was with during his brother's incident however as his brother's death is lodged in his head) wait, nevermind"
He crawls through the vent.
"So... funny story... a dead body was found in this vent once. Okay... not that funny. But it's a story!"
He eventually reaches the Primary Control Module.
"Ok, let's start with your nightly chores. You should check on Ballora and make sure she's on her stage but... whatever."
He checks Ballora but she isn't there.
"Huh, I guess Ballora has better things to do. Let's zap 'er! That should be fun."
After he zapped her, the Hand unit voice gets a strange garbling noise. Michael records it, and as he speeds it up 200%, he learns of the words,
"Argumentative. Standards. Elevation. Passive. Heights."
Michael: "What the hell does that suppose to mean? Could it be the Company's Motto? Weird but interesting"
"Let's check on Funtime Foxy, make sure he's ready for show time tomorrow."
He checks Funtime Foxy. But as soon as he's done, the Hand Unit goes strange again.
"GREAT. GREAT. GREAT"
"There seems to have been a problem with the voice synthesizer. Default settings have been restored. Please proceed through the vent ahead of you to Circus Baby's Auditorium."
He crawls into the vent.
"Circus Baby had a busy day today! Let's check the light, and make sure she's in proper working order."
He checks Baby, but she isn't there.
"Oh Circus Baby, we aren't here to play hide and seek. Let's encourage baby to come out of hiding with a controlled shock."
He zaps her, but something isn't really well with the shock.
"Let's try another controlled shock."
He zaps her again, but the shock isn't responsive and kinda distorted.
"There seems to be a power malfunction that is affecting our ability to properly motivate Baby. Please stand by, while I reboot the system. I will be offline momentarily during this process. Various other systems may be offline as well, such as security doors, vent locks and oxygen. Commencing system restart."
The power suddenly cuts off. Circus Baby then speaks.
"I don't recognize you. You are new. I remember this... scenario, however. It's a strange thing to want to do, to come here.
I'm curious what events would lead a person to want to spend their nights in a place like this... willingly. Maybe curiosity, maybe ignorance...
There is a space under the desk. Someone before you crafted it into a hiding place... and it worked for him. I recommend that you hurry though. You will be safe there, just try not to make eye contact... it will be over soon. They will lose interest."
He crawls under the desk. Ask he is under the desk, a metal cover tries to reopen as small animatronics called Bidybabs. He tries not to make eye contact with them.
Bidybabs: "Hello in there. Someone is inside. Isn't this the same person?"
Michael: (in his mind) "Uhm, they sound familiar. Are they trying to mimicking Elizabeth's voice?"
The Bidybabs try to barge in on him.
Bidybabs: "Knock knock"
They try to barge in on him however,
Bidybabs: "She's watching us! We have to leave now! We will see you again soon!"
Baby: "When your "guide" comes back online, he is going to tell you that he was unsuccessful, that you must restart the system manually. He will then tell you to crawl through Ballora Gallery as fast as you can to reach the Breaker Room. If you follow his instructions, you will die. (shifting noises.) Ballora will not return to her stage anymore. She will catch you. The power will be restored shortly. When you crawl through Ballora Gallery, go slowly. She cannot see you and can only listen for your movement. When you hear her music become louder, she is growing near, listening for you. Wait, and be still."
Hand Unit: "Thank you for your patience. It seems that the power system cannot be restarted automatically. You will need to restart the power system manually. Please return to the primary control module."
Michael escapes the area and crawls back into the Primary Control Module. As he gets there,
"You will now be required to crawl through the Ballora Gallery using the vent to your left to reach the Breaker Room. It is recommended that you stay low to the ground, and reach the other side as fast as possible as to not disturb Ballora. I will deactivate myself momentarily, as to not create an auditory disturbance. Deactivating."
The vent towards Ballora opens. And as soon as he is about to walk,
"Why do you hide inside your walls?
When there is music in my halls.
All I see is an empty room.
No more joy, an empty tomb.
It's so good to sing all day.
To dance, to spin, to fly away."
Michael: (in his mind) "Is that...mom??"
Ballora: "Is someone there?"
Hand Unit: "It seems you are taking a long time. Please proceed as quickly and as quietly as possible."
Suddenly,
Ballora:
Every little mistake results in casualty
Oh, why are you creeping through my room?
Oh, why are you hiding? Hiding away from me
All I do is
Twirl around the day, twirl around the night
that you're brave enough to hold on to your life
Listen to my lullaby, my lullaby, my lullaby,
Dancing down below, flying up to pray
Metal parts be bleeding, help me get away, get away from down below
Down below, down below, down below
Look at your reflection
Tell me what you see
You look familiar
(Knock, knock) oh, what a tragedy!
Oh, has blood up the wall as you continue to fall
Oh, an explanation
About that mangled thing, wires and strings
Twirl another day, Twirl another night
Shocking that you're brave enough to hold on to your life
Listen to my lullaby, my lullaby, my lullaby, listen and close your eyes
I remember a time so long ago
When I opened my eyes and the Sun would glow
But that was so long ago
I twirl another day, I twirl another night
I wish I could go back from this stage to my old life
Listen to my lullaby, my lullaby, my lullaby, listen and close your eyes
Dancing down below, flying up to pray
Metal parts be bleeding, help me get away, get away from down below
Down below, down below, down below
Michael gets to the breaker room.
Inside the breaker room, he finds Funtime Freddy there.
"You may now interface with the breaker control box. Using the interface may disrupt nearby electronics. If you feel you are in danger, feel free to disconnect the interface temporarily, until it is safe to reconnect."
As Michael tries to reconnect it,
Funtime Freddy and Bon Bon:
Bring you down here in the dead of night
Keep you working
Try to survive
We are secretly watching you too
Trying our best to get at you
Run
You can run
You can't hide
We'll always seek
We'll always find
You can run
But you can't hide
We'll always seek
We'll always find
You can run
You can try
You can run
But you can't hide
You can run
You can try
You can run
But you can't hide
Michael:
They're laughing while finding
I'm hiding, I'm trying
I feel like she's lying
I feel like I'm dying
She's guiding me quietly
Instructing me blindly
Afraid of what might be
I feel like I'm dying
Funtime Freddy:
Hide
I hear a sound
Bon Bon:
(It's prolly just a mouse)
Funtime Freddy:
I see them in the dark
Bon Bon:
(I only saw a spark)
Funtime Freddy:
I know there's someone there
Bon Bon:
(Not as far as I'm aware)
Funtime Freddy:
Why don't you believe me?
Maybe you're right
Bon Bon:
(It's just another night)
Funtime Freddy:
But I heard a creak
Bon Bon:
(Just go back to sleep)
Funtime Freddy:
I'm always quick to rage
Bon Bon:
(So go back to your stage)
(Wait, now I hear it) Run
Funtime Freddy:
What's that sound?
I know someone's there
Hiding in the shadows
Thinking I was unaware
Who's that I see?
The birthday boy to be
Let's invite him over
Hurry up before he's bolder
Oh Bon-Bon
Let's make this fun
You can't deter me this time
No I'm done
I won't go back to my stage
It's my new trend
Well, let's go say hi to the new friend
I knew I was right to think I would find you over here
Well isn't it intriguing that
You seem to be just a little bit weary
Of Bon-Bon and me
Well there's no need
We know you want to deactivate us
But we just can't let that happen
Every night always, it never changes
But we can make accidents happen
We can make accidents happen
We can make accidents happen
We can make accidents happen
We can make accidents happen
He manages to pull it off.
"Great job. This completes your tasks for the night. Please proceed back through the Ballora Gallery with care, and we'll see you back here tomorrow."
He then goes through the Ballora gallery again, when suddenly,
"I can hear someone creeping through my room"
Michael: "There it is again"
Ballora:
It seems like a lifetime ago
That I saw the gold sunshine glow
No, it doesn't reach down below
Shadows become the light
Here where the monsters hide
Normal is just a dream
For all the ghosts like me
I hate my metal bones
My bones and gears creak in my chest
My chest forever cold
A cold and maddening descent
Descending down so far
Fall farther 'til there's nothing left
I'm left here in the dark
The dark, I dance to forget
This is my penitentiary
Fractured apart from the world
Where I want to be
Lock the door, throw away the key
And let my dance resume
Down in a pitch black room
Normal is just a dream
For all the ghosts like me (like me)
I hate my metal bones
My bones and gears creak in my chest
My chest forever cold
A cold and maddening descent
Descending down so far
Fall farther 'til there's nothing left
I'm left here in the dark
The dark, I dance to forget
I dance to forget
Come now, dance with me
As the song plays
Down, down, dance with me
Stuck on replay
Come now, dance with me
As the song plays
Down, down, dance with me
Stuck on replay
I hate my metal bones
My bones and gears creak in my chest
My chest forever cold
A cold and maddening descent
Descending down so far
Fall farther 'til there's nothing left
I'm left here in the dark
The dark, I dance to forget
I dance, I dance, I dance (I dance to forget)
I, I dance, I dance (I dance to forget)
(I dance) I dance (I dance to forget)
(I dance) I dance (I dance to forget)
As Michael reaches the vent,
Ballora: "Perhaps not..."
He gets out of the facility and goes home to watch The Immortal and The Restless again while eating popcorn. After the day have passed, he gets on with his next shift again.