Developed by ViRep BioIndustries (a subsidiary of the Yamatetsu Corporation), NegaSol is a product representing many years of research and development into the area of sun protection.  ViRep BioIndustries, based in San Francisco, developed this product technology as an extension of research that has been conducted previously with melanin.  Melanin is a naturally occurring substance and is found in the eyes, hair, and skin.  Melanin provides the human body with color and sun protection, and it also acts as an antioxidant and free radical scavenger.

By augmenting various cellular and metabolic processes, the body's natural production of melanin is slightly altered and greatly enhanced.  The NegaSol process darkens the skin's natural color to a level that is dependent on the depth of treatment.  A NegaSol treated body will appear anywhere from deeply tan to midnight black -- so black that the skin will fail to reflect light.  At levels 1 and 2, the body displays a deep tan.  At levels 3 and 4, the skin appears black.  At levels 5 and 6, the skin appears black and reflects absolutely no light.

By undergoing NegaSol treatment of any level, the body is rendered immune to sunburn and any sun related diseases.  As can be guessed, this augmentation is very popular amongst the populations close to the Equator and in any other area where the sun shines strong and bright.  The NegaSol process is very easy to administer, as well -- a simple, tailored injection and one week of waiting will bring the skin to its new color and level of protection.

The NegaSol process was developed far beyond its original projections due to an observation regarding the tailored melanin that is produced by the body following the treatment process.  The body's skin, following NegaSol treatment, demonstrates absorption and diffusion capabilities across a wide variety of electromagnetic wavelengths.  As a result, NegaSol reduces the power of laser and other light/energy related attacks by one for every level of this augmentation.  For example, a character with level 4 NegaSol augmentation who is hit by an Ares Firelance laser system (normally 15S damage) resists against a power of 11, not 15.

This absorption/diffusion effect also carries over to visual tests regarding the character at night (partial light or worse).  For every three levels of augmentation, tests that involve "seeing" a NegaSol-treated character (such as targeting them in combat, perceiving them, etc.) suffer a +1 penalty.  Low-light vision is handled normally but does not compensate for nor negate this penalty.  Should the NegaSol character be wearing anything colored or bright, though, this penalty may be nullified at the GM's discretion.

The engineered melanin demonstrates an ability to diffuse energy leaving the body, as well.  For every two levels of augmentation, target numbers to perceive/target the character thermographically increase by +1.

NegaSol is compatible with orthoskin, dermal plating, and all other known forms of epidermal/dermal augmentation.  The maximum level of NegaSol augmentation that a character can possess is six.
 

[Surf's up, dude!  Now I can get rid of all the cream I smear before I hit the beach.]

Point Break

[This stuff has come a long way since its inception.  Excessive pigmentation (blackening of the skin) is minor compared to some of the problems suffered with earlier "prototypes."  In situ polymerization and crosslinking of the engineered melanin was one of the problems that had to be worked out.  The poor slots who had that stuff would swell up horribly because their skin had almost become plastic and wouldn't let natural perspiration take place.  Fraggers stunk like devil rats, to boot.]

Doc Fingers

[You can bet militaries everywhere are watching this drek.  Heh, all their developmental wiz-bang laser toys may be rendered DOA by the fraggin' "sunblock of the century."  On top of that, they've got to deal with an enemy that won't necessarily go "blip" on the sensors.  Yup, Yamatetsu has got their hands on something big here.]

Bingo

[Combine this augmentation with thermal dissipators and ruthenium polymer systems, and you've got one nightmare of a broad-spectrum detection problem.  You won't see me pulling the ultrasound sights off of my weaponry anytime soon ...]

Solace