Logbook Entry
TELEPHONE TRANSCRIPT, Central Exchange Monitoring, August 12th, 1964
Hi there! Doctor Cooke? This is Tobias Barlow, from maintenance! I think I know why your field equipment is missing and, uh, you're not going to like this.
So me and a bunch of the folks doing requisition and inventory have been losing gear, too. But also finding it again, later, in different areas of the Zone. We thought we lost some to high winds, then some to, y'know, scrambling. But the weather's been pretty normal and we realized the Zone hasn't had a tantrum in a while. So we did a kinda stakeout, we left some old gear at a test site and ...
You won't believe it. These things are like gooey fireflies, or will-o'-the-wisps or somethin'! they come out the trees and kind of band together. They grab stuff like magpies, and then pass it around like, uh ... a football team! Anyway, I know you scientists want to know about this stuff, so I figured I'd take notes. There's, uh, quite a lot! I did some sketches, took some numbers. And I repeated things, like in an experiment! I figured you might want to see, so mind if I drop this stuff by? Those Pneumatubes are malfunctioning again.
Synopsis
Bubblegum Buddies are little pink orbs that float around the Zone. They have three sticky tendrils, which they shoot out to grab anything that isn't tied down -- this includes the Car, the Driver, items, and even some Anomalies. They are often found sticking to each other in small clusters.
When the player comes close enough, a Bubblegum Buddy will extend its sticky tendrils to grab onto them and pull them towards itself. This can be particularly hindering during an escape from a storm where Bubblegum Buddies can slow you down. On rare occasions, they can even flip the car.
Use extra caution near Tourists, as Bubblegum Buddies can grab them and set them off.
Counter
When traveling on foot, you can throw a lit flare to distract Bubblegum Buddies, causing them to release you or go somewhere else.
They cannot grab the car while the Limpulse Emitter or LIM Shield is active.