While chemical glands were originally intended to produce insulin for diabetics, megacorporations soon learned that there was a market for any number of unusual natural pharmaceuticals and organs that could produce them, and the streets quickly followed suit. The chemical gland is a small organic sac that produces a single substance. Often implanted in place of the appendix, the chemical gland can also be located in many other spots inside the body, such as the roof of the mouth so it can be used with fangs, or perhaps near an internal weapon system to provide a coating of venom. Even more unusual placements have been dreamed up. Each gland can only produce a single compound, chosen when purchased, and the selection cannot be changed. These compounds must be naturally occurring and not synthetic. The gland produces a single dose every twenty-four hours and can hold as many as four doses at once. An expanded reservoir is, of course, available. Note that the implantation of a chemical gland in no way provides immunity, or even improved resistance, from the substance for the user. The gland’s protective sac keeps the compound from leaking into the body naturally, but if introduced in another way (such as biting one’s self with fangs), the user can be exposed to it.
In addition to the base price, the chemical gland’s cost is further increased by an amount equal to the cost of one hundred doses of the chemical compound it produces. The Availability of the chemical gland is 12, or equal to the compound created, whichever is higher, and is Restricted or Forbidden if the chemical carries such a flag. A user may have several chemical glands.
The chemical gland may be connected to a cybernetic reservoir, or have a release methodology chosen from below.
Gradual Release: A chemical gland can be used to leak its substance continuously into the body, ensuring that a dose is present at all times. This leaves the user under the effect of the chemical at all times and eliminates any reserve. This can easily lead to terminal addiction for certain chemicals.
Exhalation Spray: Implanted in the neck and sealed off via a sphincter, the exhalation spray is triggered by an active learned reflex, where the user frst takes a deep breath, then hand pressure against the throat opens the inner sphincter, which disperses into a strong exhalation, expelling the chemical in an aerosol spray. Only contactor inhalation-vectored chemicals are of much use in this method, and the user must be careful not to inhale until the dose is fully discharged. Alternately, the user can manually activate the sphincter and inhale a dose themselves, a popular approach for many asthmatics.
When exhaled, the dose expands in a cone two meters long and two meters wide at its widest point, which may catch multiple targets if they’re placed closely enough. The Exotic Ranged Weapon (Sprayer) skill is used for any attacks with this augmentation. A user may only have one exhalation sprayer.
Internal Release: The most common method is a simple internal release, triggered by mental command not terribly different from flexing a muscle. In this way, it serves as a sort of biological auto-injector. This is the default method of release and is included in the cost of the gland.
Spit: An unusual choice as it always exposes the user to the chemical, spitting involves a sphincter added to the mouth that can be opened by contraction of facial muscles or continuous tongue placement, unlocking a single dose of the substance for use. Metahuman spit with a concentrated chemical core can be launched up to 5 meters. A user may only have one implant, and they use the Exotic Ranged Weapon (Spitter) skill to employ it.
Weapon Reservoir: By connecting the chemical gland directly to the root system of a weapon augmentation, the weapon can be coated with a single dose each time it’s extended. Alternately, it can be connected to fangs or a stinger, allowing for injection only upon penetration.
If used as an injector, a natural weapon attack must score two additional hits, which must be used for an injection rather than used to increase damage.
Expanded Reservoir: A chemical gland may have up to four additional reservoirs attached to it, each holding up to four more doses of the chemical in question. While a character may have multiple chemical glands, they may not share reservoirs.