Zhang Fan pulled up detailed data on oxygen consumption within the base to confirm that he wasn't seeing things.
1.5 kg of oxygen was consumed, and 1.8 kg of carbon dioxide was added accordingly. This oxygen was actually consumed by breathing, not leaked from somewhere.
Zhang Fan suddenly felt the hairs on the back of his head stand on end.
1.5 kg of pure oxygen is consumed.
There is another person consuming oxygen inside the Peace Station!
Zhang Fan was certain it was a "person," not some other creature like Bob. This was because the Peace Station's main computer had incorporated it into its daily monitoring data on astronauts' oxygen consumption.
This proves that there is not only another person inside the base, but also very likely an astronaut!
Why would there be an astronaut at a Mars base that has been abandoned for 10 years, or even just 6 months? And where is he/she?
Zhang Fan couldn't understand it.
Over the past day, he hadn't seen a single footprint or handprint in the dusty base.
But this is Mars, not a space station. There is gravity here, so it's impossible for a person to float in mid-air and walk without leaving any trace inside the cabin.
Where is this person?
Zhang Fan confirmed that he had searched the entire "Peace Station" and found no one else. Moreover, judging from the condition of the base, it had not been used for at least six months.
But the data doesn't lie; there was indeed another person consuming oxygen inside the base.
There must be something I forgot.
Zhang Fan tossed and turned all night, and got up very early the next day. He put aside the matter of repairing the Mars rover and conducted a comprehensive, carpet search of the "Peace Station" base.
The Peace Station is much smaller than the Bird's Nest, with only four living quarters, and the living quarters are half the size of the Bird's Nest base.
The meticulous search was completed in just half a day, and Zhang Fan was quite certain this time that he had not seen a second person in the base.
However, he checked the data in the main control room and found that oxygen was still being consumed at twice the rate in real time.
There must be someone somewhere he can't see.
Invisible man?
Zhang Fan shuddered.
He had seen a movie called "Transparent World," which, in a sense, was a horror film.
Perhaps, like in the movies, "he" is standing right in front of you now, looking at you mischievously.
Zhang Fan got goosebumps all over his body.
He looked down at the ground, then suddenly raised his hand and swung his fists wildly around him.
After several laps, all I hit was air.
Zhang Fan himself was panting heavily and covered in a cold sweat.
Damn it, I can't keep scaring myself like this.
No human being can be completely invisible; they will always leave traces.
Zhang Fan calmed down and carefully considered his next plan before getting up and heading to the maintenance bay of "Peace Station".
The main function of the maintenance bay is to be responsible for the daily maintenance of the base, and to store spare vulnerable parts and other supplies.
On Mars, every tiny part has a barcode number. Even a small screw, after traveling 60 million kilometers, can be as valuable as gold.
Therefore, every item in the maintenance compartment is recorded in detail, which cannot be faked.
Just like when you go shopping at a supermarket, there are barcode sensors at the entrance that record the entry and exit of goods and also serve as a theft prevention measure.
There is also a special metal sensor inside the maintenance compartment door to monitor the entry and exit of supplies.
As long as people live in the "Peace Station," they will inevitably consume resources and leave traces.
Although someone deliberately deleted the base's log files, the supply requisition records for the maintenance bay were still properly stored in the metal sensor inside the hatch.
Zhang Fan downloaded the inventory list from the metal sensor to the arm monitor and began browsing the detailed records.
Light bulbs, bolts, titanium alloy steel plates, motor coils... there have been records of material requisitions almost every month for the past few years.
This is quite normal, given that the Peace Station has a long service life and the maintenance frequency of easily damaged parts is relatively high.
The most recent record of supplies leaving the warehouse was 6 months ago, and there have been no records since then.
This is consistent with the fact that the "Peace Station" has been abandoned for 6 months.
But that doesn't make sense.
Zhang Fan then looked at the list records from the past few years in detail, and an anomaly caught his attention.
Six months ago, in the week before, there was a very unusual record: the supplies used by the maintenance cabin in that week exceeded the total amount used in the entire previous year!
Why bring so many things all of a sudden?
Zhang Fan circled this record separately, carefully checked every item on it, and then planned to verify it.
The verification method is not difficult. The supplies in the maintenance compartment are definitely used for repairs. The list shows that a large number of titanium alloy steel plates were used, which are the materials used to build the walls of the living quarters. Just check whether the walls of the living quarters have been repaired or replaced.
Zhang Fan thoroughly inspected the four living quarters of "Peace Station".
There is no indication of replacement or repair.
After checking other issued items, no corresponding repair or replacement service could be found.
Such a large quantity of supplies have vanished?
That's impossible!
There was simply nowhere to hide anything inside the "Peace Station." For example, these titanium alloy steel plates, each one square meter in size, would be extremely conspicuous no matter where they were placed.
Zhang Fan sat in the living quarters of "Peace Station," staring blankly at the list in his hand.
Why did "he" suddenly take such a large amount of supplies in such a short period of time? And how did all the supplies disappear?
Zhang Fan looked at each item on the list one by one, trying to find any patterns among them.
Titanium alloy steel plates, mattresses, air purifiers, water dispensers... Strange, why do these things look so familiar?
I feel like I've seen this somewhere before...
Zhang Fan scratched his head in confusion, his eyes glancing around casually... Huh?
Holy crap!
Aren't the things on the list exactly what you see in front of you?
Zhang Fan stood up excitedly, glanced around and then at the list, checking off the corresponding items on the list according to the contents of the living quarters.
In no time, everything on the list, except for a few items, was checked off.
Zhang Fan had no idea what the remaining hinges and mechanical locks were for.
But that wasn't the point. Zhang Fan had already realized that the items on the list weren't for repairing or replacing equipment; when combined, these supplies would form a complete living pod.
In addition to the four living quarters, there is another living quarter somewhere in the "Mercy Station" Mars base!
The key to finding the "invisible man" is to find the missing "No. 5" living pod!
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