Capability Enhancement Artifact

A medium sized red sphere of immeasurable power discovered by the PentaCore Conglomerate in their illegally kept NSM-3 (Nanite Swarm Mind). It was found to enhance the abilities of the drone or artillery it was bonded to in an effort to exploit a legal loophole from the Conglomeration, the ruling power of late 21st century Earth.
The artifact bounced through several owners throughout its lifetime.

The Adam's Apple is a bright pulsing neon red coloration with even brighter neon blue lines.
The shade of red may change slightly depending on who has control of the Adam's Apple.

The lines that course over the surface of the Adam's Apple will also change color to green, blue, purple, or whatever color represents the current bearer of the artifact.

The Adam's Apple was discovered in the year 2040. However, it's highly likely that it has existed for far longer.

After the Adam's Apple was found, the PentaCore Conglomerate would haphazardly funnel its energy into many of their projects. This included their drones, several pieces of stationary weaponry, vehicles like helicopters and APCs, and various cybernetic enhancements. On one occasion, an employee of the PCC was convinced by a prominent official to swallow a chunk of the artifact, who believed that they would be given an awe-inspiring new body and powers.
This employee later died of gastric cancer due to prolonged exposure to the fragment's radiation.

After this accident, the PCC was sued by the employee's family for over 9.5 million dollars. In response to this, the PCC sent their Eightfold Assaulter Prototype, codenamed "XERXES-3", infused it with a significant piece of the Adam's Apple, and sent it to liquidate the family, their relatives, and all other significant witnesses.
The empowered unit would accomplish its first imperative with little issue, as it systematically slaughtered the family both through conventional means and through the Adam's Apple's radiant psionic energy.

Bizarrely, the XERXES-3 unit was reported to have "Incorporated Unknown Lipo-Protein Mixture" in the attack by its mission control. When the unit was later inspected, its records didn't show any signs of the Lipo-Protein Liquid Composite in its system.

The PCC was completely clueless to what had really happened. Apparently, the psionic energy of the unit had allowed

• Swallowing the Adam's Apple will invariably lead to the consumer exploding from the inside if they don't have any regenerative capabilities




• This artifact is not to be confused with that gross, hideous piece of human cartilage stuck on the neck that Io seems to hate a lot.