Carl's Non-Game Implants

The Illegal Implant · Non-Valtay Implant

The illegal non-Valtay implant in Carl's head, whose unknown function is now the Syndicate's highest priority.

Story so far

Orren lays the whole file on the table: the Liaisons know Carl did something with the illegal non-Valtay implant in his head, know when and how he acquired it, have finally watched the hidden conversation between Carl and the Residuals, know the exact moment he engaged it, and know what he chose not to do with it. What they cannot determine is what, specifically, the device does.

Carl claims it will stop Princess Formidable, while the residual described its purpose as manually setting off The Failsafe. Orren says the answer to how and why is worth more than the sum total of every life in the system, and inside the Zero Zone he asks whether the change can be undone and whether Carl retains the ability to blow the failsafe or to let Formidable do so. Carl refuses, pointing out he already had that option and nearly took it.

Appearance

An unseen device seated inside Carl's skull, invisible on scans that would flag Valtay hardware.

Role

The single unknown variable the Syndicate believes may decide whether the system survives.

Relationships

Carl — Carries it in his head and has already engaged it

The Failsafe — The residual said the implant's purpose was to manually trigger it

Residuals — Source of the implant and of the hidden conversation explaining it

Princess Formidable — Carl insists the implant will stop whatever she is doing

Sources — 2 recorded facts, by chapter

Chapter 42

Implants that keep working inside the parlay bubble, letting Carl read the solar system map mid-negotiation.

Chapter 45

The illegal non-Valtay implant in Carl's head, whose unknown function is now the Syndicate's highest priority.