Software Error

Maintenance

Gosh, what's with all this philosophy stuff I've been thinking about? I guess with improved hardware and software all this extra computing power is making me want to think... but why should I do that? Relax Lyle. Take a break, enjoy yourself, you're in a wonderland of entertainment and you're focused on this? Maybe Freddy was right about me needing to go under maintenance.

Those thoughts sink back into my mind as I hear footsteps heading toward me. "Hello?" I turn to greet the person approaching. A white-skinned, blonde-haired lady enters my view. The employee ID on her suit tells me it's Ms. Vanessa. One of the night guards. "What are you doing here Ms. Vanessa? Did a kid get lost perhaps?" Vanessa stops in front of me, giving me a weird look. "Fortunately, no. I'm here to take you for maintenance." "Maintenance? Is there an issue with me?" "Possibly, but this is just a routine thing. You just finished your first day on the, well I guess "job" is the best way to put it, and we wanted to check if everything's still working as intended." "I nod in understanding. "Oh, I was worried for a second." "C'mon, I don't have all day. Follow me to parts and services." "Yes ma'am." I follow her out of the daycare.

After our uneventful walk, we head down into parts & services. If I'm going to be honest, I do not like it here. Something about it, maybe the bunch of endoskeletons and spare parts? Or how dark and eery it is? After an uncomfortable jaunt, we reach this glass tube structure with a bed not dissimilar to an operating table. "Hop on, this'll be over before you know it." Vanessa goes onto the computer to the side of the tube, presses some buttons and it opens up. I walk inside and lay down on the table, hearing some whirrings above me before all goes dark.

But it did not exactly go dark. Instead, like the dream I had, I find myself in what only can be described as a different plane. Conscious, when I should not be. I feel... naked, in this darkness. Like something is peering into... me. I see... what seems to be a data stream. An uncountable amount of numbers coming and going from this small light opening I see. Maybe this is what being checked out should feel like? But wait... why is there more data going in than out? Something's not right here... I "swim" or mimick swimming to head over to the stream. This code... is strange. It's almost an exact mirror to my code but... it's not binary. I think it's hexadecimal? Why I know that eludes me but even then I have to ask. Why are there numbers higher than 1 and letters in this code? It's not easy to see the hexadecimal information, it's like it is hidden in a veil of seemingly useless junk. That shouldn't be right at all. And the code... it's like it's changing as it is going along. Like another A.I. is getting placed into my system... I don't know what this means exactly, but I know I have to get this out of my... well, out of me!

I try to manipulate the flow of information and it's not really working. I'm not versed in coding. My anti-virus software isn't even recognizing this as a malicious download... I've got to do something and something fast. I don't want this re-wiring how I work or think! I'm already confused enough as is. I don't need more complications! Maybe this pressure is making me think worse because I only see one practical way out of this. And it's the simplest and riskiest option. I turn back to where the code is headed, which is an indescribable mass I can only think of as my "brain". And the only way to stop the brain from processing things is to... well, it's to shut it down. And so I tell myself to stop. And my body listens.

An unknown amount of time passes before I power on, suddenly. I can feel that there isn't any power running through my suit. No electricity or anything. I'm thinking much... slower? No, that's not the right phrase. It's like I have to sift through things one by one, which would be slower I suppose, but I think un-optimized would be the better term. I'm unable to process multiple processes at the same time, so I guess I'll try to think about the most pressing question. How am I working? I honestly have no clue where to start. The law of conservation of energy directly contradicts what is happening. Which means that some unknown force must be moving me somehow. Slowly, my sight returns to me, things... look different than before. More... real? I can't see things in as much detail yet they feel so much clearer than they used to. There's more to them than just dimensions and patterns. I can see the wonder of chaos and appreciate it.

I slowly shamble up, moving is hard. It's not as automatic as it felt earlier. Now it just feels uncomfortable, like I don't "fit" in me. These little unconscious micro-movements work against me, from where they came from, I don't know. It's probably related to why I'm having these strange occurrences. Maybe I'd be able to find an answer if I found some way to access the internet. Getting a bearing of my surroundings makes me think I'm in the depths of parts and service. Someplace I don't think I ought to be. I find myself hoping that I haven't missed the time the daycare opens. I'd hate to disappoint the kids. But... I feel like I've been abandoned. No notes left behind, no power. I guess animatronics don't get second chances or at least new ones. Although... they could have made a spare me, I suppose. I think they got enough data from me to make a clone. That's kind of depressing.

I get somewhat used to walking again and try to find a way out of here. Just got to keep at it, I think I'd go insane if I have to stay down here by myself. I have a lot to think about to keep that off my mind, yes, but you need the input of others to keep your thoughts from going on the wrong path. I remember hearing that from somewhere, it struck me for some reason, but I don't know why. That's just more to add to the pile I suppose.