BB

Lore & Background

BBs are born from 'stillmothers' and stored in pods simulating a womb. Their existence is defined by their ability to facilitate a mental connection that allows Porters to perceive BTs, which originate from the 'Beach,' a unique afterlife realm visited during near-death experiences. The phenomenon known as DOOMS can grant individuals similar abilities naturally, but BBs provide a reliable method for standard Porters. While Bridges instructs personnel to treat these infants as mere pieces of equipment, the story centers on Sam rejecting this protocol. He adopts his specific BB, resisting UCA orders to incinerate it after a voidout destroyed Central Knot City. This emotional bond allows Sam to navigate safely through areas filled with BTs and timefall, which rapidly ages whatever it touches.

In Their Own Story

Sam Porter Bridges initially receives an emergency assignment following a suicide in Central Knot City where the corpse was on the verge of necrosis. An encounter with BTs caused a voidout that destroyed the city, but Sam survived as a 'repatriate,' returning from the underwater world known as the Seam. He was tasked with disposing of the corpse and the involved BB at an incinerator. However, Sam refused to incinerate the Bridge Baby involved in the disaster. Instead, he evaded a horde of BTs with the BB's assistance and decided to adopt it. Throughout his journey from Capital Knot City to Edge Knot City on the West Coast, Sam carried 'Lou' in a pod simulating a womb. This partnership allowed him to receive warnings about invisible threats and complete his mission to reconnect isolated colonies via the Chiral Network.

Reader's Guide

To survive as a Porter, you must maintain a connection with your BB. The BB is stored in a chest rig or pod that mimics a stillmother's womb. Its primary function is to sense nearby BTs, which are normally invisible to the human eye. When a BB detects a threat, it reacts physically—often crying or moving—which alerts the Porter to scan the area with their odradek sensor to reveal and avoid the creature. Failure to maintain this connection can lead to being consumed by a BT, resulting in a voidout that permanently damages the location with an untraversable crater. While Bridges enforces strict rules treating BBs as disposable equipment, players can choose to form emotional bonds, influencing gameplay through Sam's ability to repatriate and survive encounters.

Did You Know?

• BBs are premature children existing in a state between life and death, reflecting the condition of the 'Beach'.
• Sam Porter Bridges nicknames his specific BB 'Lou' after refusing UCA instructions to treat it as mere equipment.
• Without a BB's assistance, Porters cannot sense invisible BTs, risking catastrophic voidouts that destroy entire cities like Central Knot City.
• BBs are stored in pods simulating the womb of a 'stillmother' during transport and missions.