Power inhibitors

PHASE 1

Item: Power Inhibitor
First Seen:	May 2003

Power inhibitors are technological devices designed to restrict the use of mutant powers. These devices are usually fragile, short-range, and extremely expensive.

Inhibitor technology

As far as any rare technology can be considered "basic", a basic power inhibitor works by transmitting a specific frequency of energy that affects enzyme transmission in human cells containing the x-gene. The reason for the prohibitive cost of power inhibitors lies in both the extremely sensitive scanning technology and energy emitters involved in their construction.

To suppress a mutant's power, the inhibitor first does a cellular scan to determine the presence of the x-gene. From there, a series of common templates is used to provide an initial baseline for the energy frequency needed to prevent the x-gene from expressing itself through the specific biological process used to activate mutant powers. This initial baseline scan is often accompanied by a brief power surge, and is often compared to an electric shock by mutants who have had an inhibitor used on them.

Most inhibitors have a short battery life, unless specifically designed for long-term use. Due to the nature of the power inhibition, there are also assorted side effects that are noted below.

Most inhibitors are designed to be worn, either as a bulky bracelet or a large collar. There are also designs for power inhibitors that are larger and intended for stationary use in hospital facilities and holding cells.

Use of inhibitors

To date, no government has authorized production or official use of power inhibitors, as their long-term effects are still being studied. Private organizations have been the only groups known to produce this technology for uses varying from medical purposes to illegal acts such as kidnapping and hostage-taking.

Because of the energy fields used and the effect on the genetics of the inhibited mutant, long-term use of inhibitors has been known to cause serious side effects. Nausea is the most common, followed by symptoms such as headache, loss of energy, loss of appetite, and loss of mental acuity leading up to and including a semi-comatose state. Short-term physical effects can include irritation of the tissue around the inhibitor site, while the long-term effects of inhibitor use can lead to development of cancerous tumors.

The Xavier Institute has used inhibitors, but sparingly, short term and only with no other option. To date, individuals who have worn inhibitors are: Jubilation Lee, Manuel de la Rocha and Danielle Moonstar.

Similar technologies

The Box

Neutralizer

"Natural" Inhibitors

There are also some mutants whose powers are such that they can remove the powers of others, deliberately or otherwise. For the most part there are no ill-effects of this type of powers supression, however it is not always used in a beneficial way.

There are also those whose power-supression abilities extend only to a certain type of power, such as the Exemplars, who proved to be able to prevent probability manipulators from using their abilities and who took it upon themselves to attempt to remove those powers permanently.

Power-surpressing mutants

Miles Blaire/Leech

Wipeout

Plots

Something Wicked (psionic dampener placed on Manuel)

Remy's Eleven (psionic dampener)

Lost In The Woods (psionic dampener)

Wendy (full powers blocker, worn on the wrist)

Voodoo Child (full powers blocker, worn on the wrist)