Software Error

Split

After that encounter, we continue walking the pizza plex with Freddy as our guide. He says that there are two possible exits for Gregory to escape from, the loading docks or the fire escape. Gregory doesn't have a map right now though so we can't exactly find out where he is supposed to go without it. We also take the liberty to pair my and Greg's Faz-watches so that we can communicate easily. We decide to check out the loading docks first since Gregory's pass can open up the main atrium now.

We ride up an elevator that leads towards the loading docks when a map robot comes out of nowhere and scares Gregory. Really, where did it come from? Gregory begrudgingly takes a map before giving the robot a kick. Of course, he ends up hurting himself more than it. "Ow! Stupid map robot..." I put my hand on Gregory, "W-well, maybe don't i-instantly try to pick a fight next time." Gregory shoos my hand away. "Don't lecture me, what are you, an old guy?" "S-sorry..."

Freddy speaks up after our little moment, "I hate to interrupt, but now that you have a map we can send you along to the loading dock. I remember there is a vent that leads there... I think it was by sides and salads?" Gregory takes a flashlight out of his pocket. "Well, I better get cracking. What are you guys going to be up to?" Freddy takes charge. "We will be on standby and try to get a better idea of what is going on as we will not be able to join you." Gregory looks a little bit disappointed and scared. I take initiative. "D-don't be s-scared Gregory. W-we'll get you o-out of this. You j-just need to be b-brave." Something about that line sickens me like it's a fat lie you tell someone so they don't get hurt. Something you say, but not do. But why would I feel that way? Was there a time I could have prevented something from happening by being brave? I don't recall.

Gregory runs off to try and find a way out, leaving me and Freddy together. "Now that Gregory is gone, tell me, Lyle, how are you walking again? And why do you seem so different than the other animatronics?" I look kind of down at the question. "I-i do n-not claim to k-know. I've been h-having these s-strange emotions a-and thoughts a-and d-dreams. Something, s-something isn't right." Freddy looks astonished. "Dreams? But robots can not have dreams. We must get you down to parts and services to get this checked out." He grabs my hand to try and start leading me. "W-we need to focus o-on Gregory first." Freddy still soldiers on, "I insist."

Freddy starts taking me on a walk, in which I presume the place where you fix animatronics in parts & services is. This pizza plex, of course, had other plans for our intended path. As we were meandering around Freddy is suddenly afflicted by something. And he's glitching all over the place. "F-Freddy! Are you okay?!" "S-s-something is messing w-w-with my programming." He quickly peers around where we are, "Q-q-quick, let's hide b-b-behind the f-f-fence and m-m-make a box t-t-tower for Gregory to get o-o-over here." I quickly follow his instructions despite my objections. "I-i-i know y-y-you must be confused. B-b-but you w-w-won't be able to h-h-help. Only G-G-Gregory will b-b-be able to get t-t-the s-s-showtime protocol running." I look at him confusedly. "W-well, should I leave y-you here a-and try to f-find a way to help Gregory?" "N-n-no, the h-h-hourly recharge t-time is approaching. A-a-and we can't risk the n-n-nightime attendant g-g-getting us, even i-i-if it isn't coming for a b-b-bit." Freddy soon powers down. I look at him then out there. Gregory could need my help... but then I'll be leaving Freddy. Dang, I believe in you, Gregory! I swear I won't let you down if you make it! I sit down next to Freddy for a forced break and start thinking now that I have the chance.

What makes me so special? Not enough information to answer that question. Why is everyone trying to get Gregory? Not enough information. Not enough information... not enough information! Gah! This is aggravating. Well, maybe I'll try to force a "dream" to come along. Maybe some answers lie there, and hopefully, they are acceptable answers.

I wake up to see myself standing in front of a pizza place. The current time is unknowable but it is definitely very late. The presence of the moon and stars seemingly follows those who are out in the night. Always watching, ever calmly. I look at the pizza establishment Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. Now, where have I heard that before? The more I look at the building the taller it seems to get in my mind, an overbearing presence. Why would a pizza place give me such terror? Is this a place for kids, or the belly of a beast? The answer to that question, I think, can not be answered by my skewed perspective.

I see a kid to the side of me, one I feel an unspoken bond with. Most likely a brother. I hope that bond stayed a good one. Suddenly a sharp pain strikes my mind. Unintelligible words come out of my mouth without its input. The contents are unknown until the final sentence, "I'll be right back, I promise!" The sky glows red as an impossibly large version of those words towers over me. Hearing those words themselves sends a horrific tidal wave of regret coursing through my body.

'This promise was left unfulfilled. But why, he said it in such confidence. What could have kept this person from his brother?' I find my legs moving by themselves as my stand-in opens the door to the pizzeria. They hurry down to the bathroom and after a short scene of relieving, go to wash their hands in the sink. I get a good look at them in the mirror. A young boy, probably in their early to mid-teens. Fluffy, hazel hair, and soft blue eyes. I find myself in control of this body once more as I put a hand on my cheek. I can see it in my expression, an intense melancholy are my feelings for them. Suddenly there's a group of animatronics who share a shocking entrance through the mirror. The animatronics look far more monstrous than the Glamrocks.

My brain urges me to turn around and look at the potential threats, but every bone in my body refuses to listen. And slowly, very slowly, I turn around to look at the visage I saw in the mirror. But the animatronics aren't there anymore. Just an empty, unpowered, animatronic suit. 'Lyle the Lynx. But what am I doing there?' A smoldering and intense revulsion starts inflaming its way up from my core, making me feel sick to my stomach, the awful sensation spreading to my synapses. 'What, what happened here? And why does it make me feel these abominable feelings? What makes me related?' The answers to those questions already exist of course, but I disagree with them, no, reject them. That's just, that's just impossible...