Ryder Heitzman

Character Description
Ryder Heitzman (or E42) is the protagonist of Happy's Humble Burger Farm. E42, like the player, seems to have no recollection of their life before living in New Elysian City, and starts the game on their first day working at Happy's Humble Burger Farm. E42, like most people in New Elysian, seems to be a fan of the Barnyard Buds judging by their apartment decor. Their best friend and coworker is Toe. After inadvertently discovering the monsters plaguing Happy's Humble Burger Farm and New Elysian City, E42 follows clues left by E7 to escape.

Background
'''THE FOLLOWING CONTAINS END OF GAME SPOILERS. Proceed with caution.'''

E42, prior to the end game fight with Asset Farmer, experiences flashbacks to their life 5 years prior. At the time, E42 was staying in a King's Comfort Resort on Jurri-Dongo Island. In their room, we can see that they were investigating the disapearance of multiple individuals who they believe to now be Paragon test subjects, and were deeply suspicious of Paragon Biotechnologies. Following a nuclear meltdown outside, an emergency warning on the TV instructs E42 to escape via underground evacuation tunnels.

At some point E42 is captured by Paragon, and two surgeons plant an Paragon technology chip inside their brain. These two surgeons reveal in conversation that E42's real name is Ryder Heitzman, a journalist and "buddy" (presumed coworker or partner) of Cooper Maverick, who had been kidnapped months prior.