Sanctuary Zero

"We will be lost unless we find a new host." ― Al-An, in response to Robin

Sanctuary Zero is an Architect Base that is located in the Twisty Bridges. It serves as a location for the Architects to transfer their consciousness to during an emergency. Unlike other sanctuaries, Sanctuary Zero seems to be capable of holding only one consciousness.

An S.O.S. signal, as well as multiple pillars blinking with morse code for S.O.S., will attempt to draw the player towards the sanctuary. However, if the player has yet to trigger the story event inside of the sanctuary by the time they scan an Architect Artifact, a beacon will mark the approximate location of the sanctuary, further prompting the player to visit it.

Story

For many years, Sanctuary Zero had been sending out an S.O.S. signal in the hopes of rescuing its occupant consciousness, Al-An, from the failing structure. However, despite the signal being detected by multiple groups (including the crew of the Mercury II), none were able to access the building. Eventually, Al-An's savior would arrive in the form of Robin Ayou, a rogue Xenoworx employee who received the signal after crashlanding near the Twisty Bridges.

As Robin makes her way through the cavern leading to the sanctuary proper, Al-An reveals that the facility's power is nearly depleted, and that he will die if not transferred to a different storage medium. Working under the assumption that her PDA will make for a fine substitute, Robin begins the transferal process, only for it to be revealed that Robin's brain is the only suitable storage medium available. After the transferal is complete, the sanctuary powers down, causing the containment cube that previously held Al-An to collapse into pieces. With Al-An now in her head, Robin must construct a suitable vessel in order to get him out.

Sanctuary Cavern

Before the player can reach the sanctuary proper, they must first pass through a short cavern. The cavern consists of a winding path including several bridges, one of which has been destroyed in a small cave-in. Water can be seen leaking from affected parts of the ceiling, further conveying the sorry state of the sanctuary. At the end of the cavern is a small corridor with three Ion Cubes. Players should be wary in this area, as a number of Alien Robots patrol the cavern.

Entrance to Sanctuary Zero

Overview of the cavern

Close-up of the damaged bridge

Sanctuary Chamber

The Sanctuary Chamber is an ornate, square room with the Architect Containment Cube floating in the center. On the side opposite the entrance is the console for the Consciousness Transfer Device, which can be interacted with to initiate the transfer of Al-An's consciousness. Once the process is completed, all lights in the room will shut off, and the cube will collapse into pieces.

Entrance to the Sanctuary Chamber

Sanctuary Chamber overview

Close-up of the Architect Containment Cube

The Consciousness Transfer Device console

The remnants of the cube after power failure

Relevant Databank Entries

Architect Containment Cube

While advanced human civilization has attempted for centuries to develop successful ‘whole brain emulation’ techniques, it appears that the Architect race has built a platform for accomplishing this holy grail of life extension technology.

Physically, the containment cube appears to be comprised of a redundant array of quantum holographic storage layers, supporting a hyper-dense capacity of 35 bits per electron.

The energy field that feeds a suspended, animated cube also serves to power the operating software, allowing the intelligence in storage to maintain consciousness throughout the storage period.

Once a stored consciousness has been transferred out of the cube, the component parts will become inert. Without witnessing and carefully observing the backup process, it is difficult to ascertain how the transfer works, and whether or not the process is truly lossless.

Source: Scan the cube in Sanctuary Zero

Achievement

Xenobiology Encounter a sapient alien lifeform.

How to obtain: Find Sanctuary Zero and initiate the download sequence in the storage cube's chamber.

Gallery

Concept Art - by Cory Strader

Unfolded Containment Cube concept art

Ditto, another view