Chapter Text
Monday, December 21, 1987, 4:02 PM
Phil sat at his desk, looking over some test results. He saw more and more every day: x-rays, tissue specimens, cell cultures, psychological examinations, dietary preferences, "waste samples" and their average heart-rates and blood pressures. He felt like a substitute teacher grading papers he didn't understand! Perhaps, if he was a scientist, he could comprehend why these things were important.
He knew that they were unlike anything else on the planet, biologically speaking, but did anyone really expect him to care?! They should have outsourced the results to someone who knew what he or she was doing! Still, he supposed that looking over meaningless numbers and diagrams provided at least a modicum of control – he remained well-informed, even if he didn't know what he was being informed of. Sighing, he pushed the papers away to think for a minute.
Things had gotten easier lately.
His brothers and sisters still screamed, but it was softer, more subdued. Hopefully that meant they were getting used to the procedures; some of them looked so painful. He certainly wouldn't want his cerebrospinal fluid extracted on a daily basis… Still, he had come to understand that BRIAR was doing something important.
Not the grunts; most of them were savages who were only hired because no one else was would touch that kind of work. However, he'd talked to some of the scientists who seemed to truly believe that the procedures they performed would be of great benefit. Take, for example, the woman who had gotten into that fight his first day there.
What was her name? He snapped his fingers, trying to remember. Rho. That's it.
They'd talked a few times since then, and she was convinced that studying his siblings' minds would answer age-old philosophical questions, such as whether free will existed and if life had a definite purpose. That was a noble goal, but it made his head spin. And do they really need to treat them so poorly? He'd gotten into all this just wanting a family, but Mr. Afton had other goals, which slowly became clear.
His boss wanted to make more of them.
The thought terrified him, but he wasn't completely sure why. It made perfect sense that an organization called Bureau for Research of Intelligent Automata and Robots – or just BRIAR – was interested in artificial intelligence, but what would they do with it? AI could certainly be a boon to mankind, but William didn't seem like the kind of person who would use that kind of technology amicably. He was a businessman through and through. Not that that was necessarily a bad thing. There were plenty of wealthy philanthropists. But philanthropy entailed morals and ethics, something his boss utterly lacked, hence why all this was happening.
Slamming his hands on the polished desk, Phil stood up and stalked out of the room. Sometimes a walk helped clear his head.
Fortunately, the animatronics weren't around. Well, they must have been somewhere, but he didn't see them. He rarely did anymore, considering this facility's size. The place was a marvel of engineering, built into the famous Seattle Underground. Must have taken years to construct. It sprawled several blocks beneath the city center, stretching in a triangle from Pioneer Square to Chinatown to SoDo, the neighborhood BRIAR's main building was located in, just a few hundred feet from the Kingdome.
It's such a hideous stadium, he thought, stalking the halls, occasionally getting a nod of recognition from someone. But hey, it can't be too bad if Pink Floyd just played there. He tried to laugh, but it was so hollow. This wasn't working. He needed to talk to Auric about his concerns. The spirit had all the answers. Fortunately, he was nearby.
A few minutes later, he was at the most out-of-the-way part of the facility. Not much here – off-grid generators and the like, but no labs or offices… and no people. Because of that, light sources were scarcer than in the more occupied areas. Taken together, the place was pretty creepy.
Phil shivered. It wasn't from nervousness, though; he was getting cold.
Down a short hall was an unassuming door with a passcode lock attached. Only two people knew the combination: him and William. And as far as he knew, the latter hadn't used it. The cold got more intense. Punching in the six-digit code – 053087 – the lock clicked, and Phil entered the ice-cold room, empty except a golden shape leaning against the back wall.
"How are you doing, Auric?" The animate bear costume used to awe him. Now it seemed mundane. That was one more problem with this whole situation; nothing would amaze him ever again. He'd seen the elephant, and it wasn't what he expected. It never is.
"Tolerably," he replied. "Nothing has changed since you last inquired." Phil pulled his jacket closer. Noticing, the entity said, "Unfortunately, I have no agency over my temperature. By merely existing, I absorb all nearby thermal energy."
"It's f-fine," Phil said through chattering teeth. Next time he visited, he'd wear a coat. Or two. "Has William come to see you yet?" It had been over a month, and his boss had never brought it up. Granted, they met less than they used to; William seemed happy to sit back and let his underlings handle things.
"Numerous times. During the first, he arrived and lingered in the doorway, observing me. I hailed him to no response. After loitering several minutes more, he departed. He has since inquired about matters such as the whether there is an afterlife and existence's purpose – questions whose answers even I am unaware of." That made sense; despite his moral shortcomings, his boss seemed a philosopher at heart, someone still searching for all the answers. Why wouldn't he ask about those things?
Auric leaned back, his pupils drilling into him. "But why have you really come?"
"I wanted to t-talk to you about something."
"Of course. I enjoy our discussions."
"You do?" Huh. That was unexpected. They mostly dealt with each other because they had a bargain.
"Yes. Your thoughts are amusing." The thing flashed his rotting plastic teeth. "By all means: proceed."
Before he did, Phil stepped back toward the door; it was slightly warmer there. "I'm worried about what William is going to do with what he learns from them." It hurt too much to say their names, or even to just call them "the robots". Lately, he had to dehumanize his siblings as much as possible so that he didn't concentrate on what they went through. Surprisingly difficult, considering how little they resembled humans… "What if he wants to make more? We can't let that happen! Who knows what he'll do with them!"
Auric chuckled. His laugh was unlike anything natural; it sounded more like an animal's dying breaths. That was probably another thing he couldn't control, but damn it was unsettling – and that said a lot. "Yes, you never cease to entertain." His patience wore thing. None of this was funny! "I hardly care what these cretins do with their research; they are here to assist us. Fortunately for your petty concerns, they will be unable to replicate the process."
A sigh of relief pushed its way out of his lungs. "Good." He hated the fact that he had no one else to turn to. At least Auric was present. Without him there, he wouldn't have accomplished anything. "Why not, though?"
"Sentience is far more than most people realize. It is not merely chemicals or electricity surging through synapses. The key feature of intelligence is the presence of metaphysical energy from the outer planes coalesced into a unit capable of desire and rationality – more colloquially called a 'soul'." Ah, of course. Why did he expect this would be easy to understand? "Souls form naturally in all life: plants, animals, fungi. They are most complex in sapient beings: human and otherwise." That, at least, made sense. "However, only a select few esoteric entities – I included – are able to create souls of our own volition. As you now understand, that is an intricate process."
His concern slowly ebbed as Auric prattled. At least that was one thing he didn't have to worry about. He was about to dismiss himself when the spirit continued, "I am pleased you came to see me. I would have approached you during slumber, but our exchange has rendered that circumstance superfluous."
"Uh, what else did you want?" he asked the costume, which rose from the floor.
"I have waited and listened and observed. The initial tests are nearing their end. Soon, your family will be released into your custody." Then he cracked that uncanny smile again. "Our game will begin." With everything going on, Phil had nearly forgotten about that part of their agreement. Playing games now seemed a small, even embarrassing, end to all this. Still, he couldn't complain; as long as BRIAR stopped torturing his brothers and sisters, he didn't care what Auric had planned.
"Of course. What is your game, exactly? Does it have a name?" Auric was always evasive on the topic, so asking might have been a waste of air.
"It is an onerous concept to describe." That was about what he expected. "A physical demonstration would assist. I am willing to provide one." Huh. He'd like to see it. "As for a name… I will tell it once it is demonstrated."
"Do you need me to do or get anything?"
"No. I have already tasked your employer with that. He seemed quite impressed by my game's concepts."
"Oh." Phil's mood fell. It was immature of him, but he felt betrayed – why didn't Auric talk to him initially? They were partners, after all. He would have helped. And shouldn't he have been the one to hear all his secrets first? "All right."
"I did not mean to offend." Auric didn't sound particularly apologetic, but then again, empathy wasn't his strong suit. How an immortal being saw humanity as worth interacting with at all was a great mystery. "You have been exceedingly busy. There was no reason to distract you from your duties."
Suddenly, Phil's face grew hot against the cold air. That was a perfectly reasonable explanation. And there he stood, embarrassed at having felt so petulant. "No! That was the right thing to do. Thank you."
Crossing one leg over another, Auric slumped again against the frost-covered wall. "Very well. Return here at 11:30 tonight. You will be most intrigued by what you see." With a nod, Phil turned and exited the room. His hands shook so much they could barely grasp the handle.
Wait a second… Looking back, he couldn't help but ask, "Why so late?" Not that he cared, but it was an awfully odd time.
"Are you aware of the witching hour?"
Phil thought for a second. If he said no, he was in for another barrage of barely-coherent words that would only leave him more confused. "I've never heard of it in my life."
"It is the time when Earth's mystical energies reach their apex; my abilities are greatest during it. The period lasts from midnight until six in the morning, and only during it can my game be played. Its power is compounded by this day – the winter solstice is upon us." OK, his game involved magic. Unexpected, yet given what the spirit had done so far, hardly surprising.
"Can't wait to see it."
11:30 PM
There he stood, right on the minute. Punctuality was a very important trait in management; "fashionable lateness" was the greatest business lie of all. Therefore, it surprised him that William wasn't just as prompt. It made sense, though.
Must be hard to live in a wheelchair. He couldn't be too angry if his boss ran a bit behind. Still, he was exhausted, just wanting to get this over with and go home.
After loitering outside Auric's chamber a minute more – he wanted to spend as little time in the biting cold as possible – he decided to check and see how the spirit got along. Opening the door, he was surprised to see his boss inside, waiting for him.
"Thought you'd never show up. Got other exciting things going on?" William laughed, moving over to him. The cold didn't seem to faze him in the slightest, which was surprising for a man so frail. Far more intriguing, however, was the black-and-white rabbit that his boss had on his lap, stroking gently. Phil let out an involuntary "aw" at the little animal, which snuggled closer to its owner, trying to warm itself. It was cute that William brought his pet along with him. Perhaps the man wasn't as cold-hearted as he thought.
"I – I'm sorry! I didn't know you were – "
"Don't worry, I'm just messing with you. But we really should go. You aren't going to believe what Auric came up with!" Upon being mentioned, the costume stirred, its mind being drawn back into the mundane world from… wherever he went, exactly.
"The time is nigh, gentlemen."
"Of course! I'll lead the way."
The three of them moved through the halls: a young guy in flashy purple jacket, a decrepit-yet-still-dapper middle-aged man in a wheelchair holding a rabbit and an animate bear suit possessed by a supernatural being. Phil couldn't stop thinking about how much this was like a rejected comedy film script. But somehow it was real – and he was part of it. Fortunately, there was nobody else around by this point; nobody to laugh at or criticize or gawk at him. Even if there was, he was the least notable of the three.
"I have to ask about the bunny," Phil said. "Is it your pet?" Now that they had entered a more temperate environment, the little guy perked up, jumping and honking excitedly. He didn't even know that rabbits honked at all! It was absolutely adorable. "At first I just thought it was a lab animal, but we don't have any of those." Unless you count my family. Shivering, he pushed that thought to the back of his mind.
"I bought him earlier today." William chuckled, stroking the bunny's fur. "Auric needs him for his game. Real important part, too." In response, the spirit simply nodded. Well, cute animals made him a little less hostile to the mysterious competition. The rabbit seemed to think so as well, running around in circles on his boss' lap.
William kept up his cheery attitude as they moved toward wherever their destination was. Somehow that was stranger than the whole spirit-possessing-a-costume thing. He'd never acted this jovial before. That made Phil more energetic as well. Whatever Auric told him must have been spectacular.
And that was when they arrived outside a spot he knew too well for his liking.
The room was unlike any other in the facility, its walls thick and lined with one-way mirrors so its inhabitants could be easily observed. These were bulletproof, of course – his family could punch or kick through anything lesser. All of them lay just beyond, stretched out on their cots, dreaming. Hopefully they were pleasant dreams and not nightmares.
There was also what could only be described as a "food slot": a small container that one could put meals into and then push to the other side, similar to the situation in prisons. And "prison" was a good word for it.
This was where his brothers and sisters "lived". More accurately, they slept in it. All their waking hours were spent tied down to operating tables. Phil softly sighed. At least they were able to get some rest.
All except Foxy. While the others obviously slumbered, Foxy lay stiff as a board, her muscles tense, her glowing eyes trembling in the dark.
"What happened to her?" he whispered to William, still petting the bunny. Their senses were on par with the animals they appeared to be. He didn't know if foxes could hear through walls that thick, but he certainly didn't want her knowing they were here. Not yet, anyway.
"Didn't you get sent a report?"
Probably. If it wasn't one he barely understood, it might have gotten misplaced. With the dozens of papers that rolled across his desk every day it happened quite a bit. "Must have forgotten."
His boss looked from him to Foxy and back again. The happy-go-lucky attitude was replaced by something far more somber. "Happened a few days ago. She finally figured it out – she's not a pirate and never has been. Her shock hasn't worn off yet." He paused before adding, "The others figured it out pretty quickly, but they don't remember living centuries ago. Between that and her stubbornness, I'm not surprised it took her this long."
"A curious side effect of the ensoulment process," Auric reflected, staring through the glass. "As prana animated their bodies, it also merged with their programming, creating distinct memories."
William began questioning Auric about the natures of qi and the Odic Force, whatever those were, much to the latter's annoyance. Their conversation filled his ears as Phil pressed his forehead against the glass. Seeing them all again, especially Foxy, sparked a fire in him. They were being hurt; no doubt about that. But hearing the things Auric said, even if he couldn't understand them… it was the future. Even if what he did couldn't be scientifically replicated, there was so much to be learned, so many questions that could be answered! Maybe that was worth the risks.
"Well, it's midnight," William said after glancing at his watch.
"Excellent. Then I shall begin." Right; Auric still had to show them his game. After this, Phil would probably crash in some motel. Driving through the mountains that late wouldn't end well. Not with how tired he felt. Auric sat on the floor and crossed his legs, then leaned his head on his hands. The golden lights in his eye sockets faded; he seemed to enter some kind of trance.
What the fuck is happening? A little creeped out, Phil took a step back, bumping into the one-way mirror.
Instantly, Foxy leapt to her feet and spun to face him, her eyes locked onto both her own reflection and him. He expected her to start pounding the glass and threatening him, but nothing happened. A few seconds slipped by. All his sister could do was stare; the fire in her eyes was gone. The fierce pirate had been replaced by a meek, passive… animal.
"It's for the best," William said, noticing his sorrow. Beside him, the spirit continued to concentrate. "This may be unpleasant to see, but it is a mercy to them."
"How?" It was only one word, but it was the only word he needed to ask. Seeing them all like this, especially her, reminded him of why he didn't come to visit anymore. He wasn't angry at William; this was what they agreed to and some good might yet come of it. But how was it beneficial for them?
"In any other serious research environment, they'd be killed. At least one or two of them. You may not realize it, but I'm sacrificing a lot for their sakes – and yours. While MRIs and tissue samples are fine, we'd learn much more if we simply dissected them." Phil retched. That one word had been thrown around too often for his liking. "But I won't let that happen."
Foxy still blankly stared at him and herself. When his boss put it like that… well, at least he still had a family. And they were strong. They'd pull through; of that, he was certain.
"Phillip, I'm going to give you some advice as both as a professional and someone who relates to your position." Of course – any pointers from someone far more successful than him were always welcome. "Both of us have lost so much in our lives. Hold onto what you do have. Don't take it for granted. And above all, be happy."
Be happy. The words rattled around his head, growing every time Foxy blinked. They baffled him at first; how could he be happy when this happened? It was impossible. Then everything clicked into place. I have to be happy so they can be happy, too. He was their big brother. If he was angsty and depressed all the time, how could he possibly expect them to feel good?
He'd seen the same principle at work in his restaurant; even a couple of kids not having fun killed the positive atmosphere. OK then. I'll always be cheerful. A tall order, but he saw it was best for his family, even if it was a lie.
And then something happened that made Phil leap back and the rabbit squeak with fright.
Foxy jerked and spasmed, a marionette operated by a novice puppeteer. It only lasted a few moments, and then she was back to normal. Well, except for her eyes – they no longer resembled anything natural. Gone were her orange irises and white sclera. They had been supplanted by familiar golden pinpricks. What the fuck did Auric do?!
"Are you not impressed?" The voice was deep, garbled – even more than usual thanks to the thick glass between them – and not at all female. Still, he couldn't put two and two together until the others rose from their cots, eyes all looking the same: looking at him.
It made him want to scream. So he did. "You're possessing their bodies?!" Mouth agape, his vision darted from them to William to Auric's husk of a body until he was dizzy.
"Yes," he spoke through all of them. "The ensoulment process required me to imbue them with a shard of my essence. During the witching hour, I am able to transfer myself into them so long as my primary form remains within close proximity."
"This is for your game!" That wasn't a question so much as it was an accusation. Anger had temporarily overridden the fact that he was fucking terrified, his legs trembling. The idea of having one's personality and mind dominated by an alien other was some Exorcist shit… but it was also degrading. "They suffer enough during the day! Why should I let you take over their bodies at night?!"
All four of them smirked at him, and he shrunk back. He glanced at William for some backup, but the older man just shook his head. Damn him. "You do not have a choice, Phillip. Our bargain has been struck. Besides, what has been given can be taken away. What has been made can be unmade."
"No! Anything but that!" These were the words of an addict, he knew, someone entirely dependent things beyond his control. A couple of tears ran down his face. He'd fought so hard for a family, and now that he had one, he never wanted to lose it again. This was the only chance that would ever come to him. "Just tell me you won't hurt them anymore!"
"They are not in pain. Instead, their minds have been pushed into the depths of oblivion whence they came. It is not like sleep, which can be restless or full of nightmares. This void is akin to the grave; no dreams, no sorrow, no hurt." This reassured him a bit, coward that he was. The goalposts kept slipping further and further away from him. He never would have agreed to this when he first met Auric, but there was nothing he could do now. Freddy, Bonnie, Chica and Foxy all stared at him expectantly, and he sighed, utterly ashamed of himself.
He could never let them go; that much was clear. Without them, he had no reason to exist, especially after giving so much to bring them to life in the first place. They'd been with him his whole life. Maybe one day he could repay them for their kindness. Despite the terrible things he had to do, he loved them. Much like when he volunteered to tie Foxy down his first day there, this was his cross to bear, too.
Be happy.
He had to share in their burden; it was only fair.
Be happy.
However, he was determined to do it with a smile and set a good example.
Be happy.
I just want to take care of them! Is that too much to ask?!
Wiping away his tears, he looked at Auric's four new bodies and tried to smile. He choked out, "G-great! So, what is this game, anyway?"
"A game of skill and cunning," Auric replied through Freddy. "I struck upon the idea decades ago after reading a then-recent novella. However, other affairs kept me preoccupied until now. The Most Dangerous Game, it was called. It is as good a name as any for the sport."
The Most Dangerous Game? The name sounded familiar – perhaps he'd read it in school. Those days were long past, though. Certainly, it matched Auric's dramatic flair. "That, uh, sounds interesting. What's the objective?"
"Allow me to partially demonstrate; keep in mind this is a mere proof-of-concept, more to acclimate to these vessels than anything else. The real thing will be far more complex. William, if you please."
To his confusion, William moved toward the wall, picked up the bunny and dropped him in the food slot. He began to panic, grunting and trying to claw its way out. Even animals didn't like Auric, apparently. "Bonnie" scooped him up; being held by another rabbit seemed to calm him down. Or maybe he had been horrified into submission. That was also possible.
A moment later, he was on the ground, exploring this new environment through sound and smell the way any animal would. He hopped on and crawled under the beds as twelve eyes watched. So… what was the game here?
Before he could ask, all four of Auric's bodies were on the animal, biting, clawing, rending as the creature screamed. In three seconds, all that was left were splotches of blood, bone and fur splattered around the room – the rest was in their stomachs. William politely applauded, gentleman that he was. "Bravo! Excellent demonstration! Of course, you'll need more than a single room. Not to mention a different kind of animal entirely."
Phil resisted the urge to scream, but he still had to do something. Therefore, he laughed. He fell to his knees and laughed and laughed until he nearly passed out, gasping for breath. The room spun. Now he remembered what The Most Dangerous Game was about, and everything finally made sense. William was the perfect man to set such a thing up.
"I – I love it!" he said through tears and lied through his teeth. "Killing people for entertainment?! It's great!" From where he stood, he didn't have any choice but to love it.
For the first time, Phil saw what Auric really thought of humanity. They were nothing but toys to him, pieces to move around an invisible board and while away the long days and months and years and millennia from now to infinity. And he couldn't even be mad! It made total sense. By comparison, his own life might as well be measured in minutes – why would Auric object to cutting it a few short?
Picking himself off the floor, he smiled at Auric's four bodies – his family, he reminded himself. Good thing business school taught him to deal with unpleasant people! "Really! It's genius!" His voice cracked. "Can I go home now?!"
"Yes," William replied, "but we're going to present this to the rest of the staff around this time tomorrow, though without the more 'graphic' elements. It'll be good for them to see that they've made some progress." Progress? Progress in what? He didn't dare ask.
"Then I'll leave!" without another word, he sprinted off, eager to get as far away as possible.
…
Phil stumbled through the hallways, which pressed down on him from every angle. It was a long way to the surface, and the gravity of what he'd just heard quickly caught up to him. Retching, he held his stomach down until finding a trashcan. He was used to the taste of vomit, but only after a night of heavy drinking – a habit he didn't want to take up again. The rabbit still screamed in his head; soon, humans would, too.
Maybe this was all a really bad dream. Yeah, that made sense. It was still May 30th, and he was dreaming and when he woke up, his parents would be back from their party and none of this would ever have happened!
One in the morning arrived before he shuffled out into the frigid air. Winter solstice, indeed. Reminded him of Auric. Several inches of snow crunched beneath his leather shoes, and there was not a soul in sight. Good. The last thing he needed to see were other people.
Be happy.
Seattle was dead silent; it was as if the world had ended. And here he was, emerging from his underground bunker to a dead Earth. Still, the lights glared at him for miles around; they were blinding. Eyelids drooping, he reached for the keys in his pocket. Shit. They weren't there. Must have left them back at my desk.
Glancing backward, he shuddered at the inconspicuous building. No sane person could imagine the horrors going on there. Were there more organizations like BRIAR in the world? In the country? In the city? He didn't know, but he refused to go back in. I just have to stay out here for the rest of the night. Yeah.
Be happy.
Slightly delirious, he walked the deserted streets toward the biggest building he could see – the Kingdome. The snow chilled him to the bone and grabbed at his ankles, but he didn't care. All he wanted to do now was lay down and laugh and cry himself to sleep. As long as he had Freddy, Bonnie, Chica and Foxy, everything was worth it. They were his entire life, and he would never let them go.
After what felt like hours, he reached the stadium. By that point, he didn't feel much of anything except the tug of sleep. Be happy. Be happy. The words played again and again in his failing mind. There was nothing else he wanted to do than to take that advice. Well, he'd sleep on it.
Searching a minute, he found a vent blowing warm air out of the building, which had melted the snow a few feet around it. Tired, mortified and numb, Phil collapsed in the puddle, his back against the wall.
He sat there for a while, watching the lights of a great dead city as he slowly drifted to sleep.