Mysterious Hermit

Discover a reclusive character living in a Gravitas relic, and persuade them to join this colony.Revelations from their past could have far-reaching implications for Duplicants everywhere.Even their makeshift shelter might be of some use...

First Encounter

An unfamiliar building has been discovered in my colony. There's movement inside but whoever the inhabitant is, they seem wary of us.If we can convince them that we mean no harm, we could very well end up with a fresh recruit and a useful new building.

Recovered Pod Entry #022

<smallcaps>Day: 11/80</smallcaps> <smallcaps>Local Time: Hour 7/9</smallcaps>

<indent=%5>Notable improvement to nutrient retention: subjects who participated in the most recent meal intake displayed minimal symptoms of gastrointestinal distress.Mineshaft excavation at Urvara crater resumed following resolution of tunnel wall fracture. Projected time to brine reservoir penetration at current rate: 41 days, local time. Moisture seepage along eastern wall of shaft is being monitored.Note: Preliminary subsurface temperature data is significantly lower than programmed estimates.</indent> ------------------

Debris Analysis

ENCRYPTION LEVEL: THREE

<smallcaps>[Voice Recognition Initialized] [Subjects Identified: B577, B997, B083, A216]</smallcaps>[LOG BEGINS]A216: The Director said there were supposed to be three of you on this task force. Where's the geneticist?B083: In the bathroom-B997: He went home.[long pause]B997: It's the holidays. He has a family.A216: We all do. That's exactly why this project is so urgent.B997: It's not our fault this stuff sat in a subterranean ocean for a year, and took another year to get back to Earth! The microbe samples didn't fare well on the journey, and most of the mechanical components are completely corroded. There's not much to-B083: -we're analyzing it all and salvaging what we can, Jea- ...Dr. Saruhashi.A216: Good. And take down those ridiculous lights. This is a lab, not a retro "shopping mall."[LOG ENDS] ------------------ [LOG BEGINS]B577: Thanks for getting all the debris packed up for disposal.B997: I thought you did that.B577: No, I-B083: Who took my sandwich?B997: Not this again.B577: Ren, did you load the shipping container?B083: Seriously, I haven't eaten in thirteen hours. This isn't funny.B997: It's a little funny.B577: Can we focus, please?B997: Nobody took your sandwich, Rock Doc.B083: Then why does my food keep going missing?B997: Maybe the lab ghost took it. Or maybe you just shouldn't leave it out overnight. Gunderson probably thought it was garbage.B083: He doesn't even clean down here!B997: Right. Because if he did, I wouldn't have to keep sweeping up the magnesium sulfate deposits that someone keeps tracking all over the floor between shifts.B083: It's not me!B577: Listen, I know we're all tired and things have been a little strange. But the sooner we get this sent up to the launchpad, the sooner it starts its trip to the sun and we can all get out of this creepy sub-sub-basement.B083: Fine.B997: Fine.B083: Fine![LOG ENDS] ------------------

Pudding Cups

Hey kiddo,We missed you at your cousin's wedding last weekend. The gift was nice, but the dance floor felt empty without you.Dariush sends his love. He's really turned a corner since he started eating those gooey pudding things you sent over. Any chance you have a version that doesn't smell like feet?Come home sometime when you're not so busy.- Baba ------------------

Challenge Completed

My sweet Duplicants' efforts paid off! Our reclusive neighbor has agreed to join the colony.The only keepsake he insists on bringing with him is a toolbox which, while rusty, seems to hold great sentimental value.Now that he'll be living among us, his former home can be deconstructed or repurposed as storage.