Find the mechanism, then visit CEG Employee Lockers

In Clara Woods’ ground-level district, follow Atlas Way to its end. The barricaded Strange Gate has a circular pipe structure to interact with. It is not a keypad lock and Boltcutters do not operate that mechanism.

Use the constructed device at this mechanism. Screenshot: PowerPyx, Clara Woods illustrated route.

Visit CEG Employee Lockers, beyond the staff-parking route. Use its back-office computer to read the Lost and Found clue. Open that locker with 772 and take the South Brae House Key. This key begins the first component branch.

Part 1: South Brae → Locker 17

  1. Use the South Brae House Key to enter 5 South Brae. Upstairs, search the bedroom drawer beside the bed for the Disk Case Key.
  2. In the computer room, use the Disk Case Key on the case to the safe’s right and collect the Grouped Floppy Disks. Go to Atlas Computers; the same key opens its side-room case for Fix-A-Disk! Software.
  3. Back at South Brae’s powered computer, insert Fix-A-Disk!, select its scan prompt, and remove the software disk from the drive without cancelling the scan session.
  4. Insert Floppy Disk (2 of 3), choose Repair Volume, and remove it. Then load 1 of 3 → 2 of 3 → 3 of 3, following the Unzip to RAM prompts.
  5. Turn on the printer, print MANUAL.EML and collect the Reciprocating Compressor clue. Its part number 956 opens the nearby safe.
  6. Take Barcode (South Brae), scan it at CEG Employee Lockers and open Locker 17 with 575. Take both the Mechanical Part and Boltcutters.

The Boltcutters open the North/Upper access gates. The safe’s 956 and locker’s 575 belong to different objects; typing one where the other belongs will not advance the branch.

Part 2: North Brae → Locker 204

  1. Use Boltcutters on the chained gate at the top of the stairs near the lockers, then enter 6 North Brae through its rear door.
  2. Upstairs, find the Lamenting Poem on the chair in the second bedroom. Match its objects to the paintings around the house: the count sequence gives 736.
  3. Open the table safe with 736 and collect Barcode (North Brae).
  4. Return to the scanner, use this barcode and open Locker 204 with 971. Take the second Mechanical Part.

The painting-count clue is for the house safe. The scanner provides the separate locker PIN. Do not search the hall for a fourth component just because the device has several visible pieces.

Part 3: Upper Brae → Locker 94

Cut the gate above CEG Staff Parking to reach the Overpass and 5 Upper Brae. Its cassette puzzle changes the house state. The full Upper Brae tape walkthrough gives every pickup; the required route is:

  1. Keep Today and collect Yesterday. Play Yesterday to find Tomorrow, then play Tomorrow to find Do Not Play.
  2. Play Do Not Play and collect the Back Door Key from the kitchen counter.
  3. Play Today, use the rear door and collect Ammonite Disk from the open alley room.
  4. Play Yesterday and use the disk at the upstairs computer to read Current Count.
  5. Play Today again, open the safe with 129 and take Barcode (Upper Brae). Scan it at the lockers and open Locker 94 with 490 for the last Mechanical Part.

Build the device and open the gate

Component sourceHouse/container codeEmployee locker PIN
South BraeSafe 956Locker 17 → 575
North BraeSafe 736Locker 204 → 971
Upper BraeSafe 129 in Today stateLocker 94 → 490
  1. Check inventory for three Mechanical Parts. Reaching or scanning the barcodes does not automatically collect the parts.
  2. Combine the two discs with each other, then combine their result with the cylindrical piece. Inventory should show Constructed Mechanical Device.
  3. Return along Atlas Way to the Strange Gate. Interact with its pipe structure and insert that completed device.
  4. Pass through the opened route and continue toward CEG HQ. Key To The Castle marks this story progress.
Original dependency diagram. The part pickup is after the barcode scan and locker unlock.

Compare 70:09 — device assembly ▶ and 70:46 — gate interaction ▶ in the collectibles recording. If Combine does not offer the final device, check that you combined the discs first and actually picked up each part.

Video walkthrough

All collectibles, keys and puzzle locations

PowerPyx · Watch on YouTube ↗

Sources & image credits

Source links and credits

Source footage and game images are credited beside the relevant figures. This guide does not claim a personal playthrough.

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