====== Cypher ======

{{infobox>
Vector = Inhalation, injection
Speed = 12 hours (10)
Penetration = 0
Power = 4
Nature = Viral
Effects = Disorientation, Stun Damage, Memory Loss
(see description)
}}

**Source book**: Bullets & Bandages

Cypher uses a genetically engineered retroviral vector
to encode data into a subject’s genome, which can subsequently be retrieved by gene sequencing. Subjects are usually infected using an inhaler, and they suffer from a mild,
flu-like illness, which persists throughout the infection. Encoded data remain viable for the duration of the infection,
but quickly degrade once the infection is cleared. Unfortunately, the viral vector has a propensity for attach to neural
cells of the hippocampus, so short- or long-term memory
loss can be a particularly troublesome side-effect.
If the subject is voluntary, reduce their dice pool for the
initial Disease Resistance Test by 2. If at any time the Power of the infection exceeds the subject’s Logic, they suffer
memory loss. Such characters must pass a Memory Test
with a threshold equal to (Current Power – Logic) in order
to use Knowledge Skills or recall any information learned
within the past twelve to twenty-four hours. Resources
equivalent to a medical facility (p. 124, Augmentation) are
required to encode the virus. A medical shop is required
to retrieve the data, which may also be encrypted per the
standard rules.