Biodata
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | USB drive 1 |
| Alias(es) | Plane key; quantum USB drive 418 428 |
| Role | Energy-powered means of retrieving objects from films and opening passages to their worlds 193 497 |
| First Appearance | Chapter 1 1 |
Power Progression
| Stage / Realm / Level | Chapter | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Phase One — object retrieval | 2 3 193 | Materializes film props in reality, consuming stored energy. Chen Chen's first retrieval is a cap from Detective Pikachu 2 3. |
| Phase Two — traversable passages | 189 191 193 | After charging to approximately one billion kilowatt-hours, the drive opens a passage into a film world. The same passage can be closed and reopened 189 191 230. |
| Full charge — Rosen Bridge | 497 | After three years of charging from fusion reactors, the drive stops absorbing power and activates a large, stable wormhole. Its first test begins tearing apart the Blacklight cruise ship's superstructure 497. |
Background
Chen Chen finds the drive concealed in a university lecture hall. His computer initially fails to identify it and reports zero storage capacity, but he opens it to find four horror films: Ju-On, Final Destination, One Missed Call, and The Ring. After copying Detective Pikachu onto it, he discovers that it can bring an object from the film into reality 2.
Chen Chen later finds a drive identical in appearance at the end of Lucy, but cannot establish whether the film explains his drive's origin 48 130. A recording identifies Zhao Shanhe as an earlier holder who left the plane key for a successor; Zhao says he obtained it in CD form in 1984 418 595.
Appearance
The drive's visible condition changes with its energy reserves 3 130 497.
- Its original casing is seamless, unmarked, jet-black, and roughly 12–13 centimeters long; only the connector identifies it as a USB drive 1.
- It looks older and dimmer as its energy is depleted 3 130.
- Under a large electrical supply, it emits a flickering red glow 78 189.
- After reaching Phase Two, its surface displays points of light resembling stars. At full charge, the light covers the casing, making it appear white 189 497.
Abilities & Limitations
Film-prop retrieval
The drive lets its user reach through a playing film and pull an object into reality. Retrieved objects can be much larger or heavier than the apparent opening: Chen Chen extracts the several-ton Medpod 3000 with one hand 222.
- Retrieval consumes stored energy; an attempt can fail with an “Insufficient Energy” message 9 31.
- The drive accepts some live-action works but rejects other media or films. Chen Chen also finds that an incomplete story prevents retrieval 4 8 289.
- Retrieved high-energy props retain only limited energy. Chen Chen cannot transfer energy from the Men in Black pendant back into the drive 130 164.
Passage creation
In Phase Two, the drive opens a dark, traversable passage to a film world. The same world's passage can be reopened after closing, while moving people or objects through it consumes energy 189 191 230 519.
- A passage can expose travelers to dangers in the destination world; Chen Chen prepares armed Black Knights before opening one to the Gantz world 293.
- Opening a passage appears to make its associated film undeletable 230.
- At full charge, the drive creates a much larger, stable Rosen Bridge. Its first test damages the ship on which it is opened 497.
Charging and durability
The drive absorbs electricity through its connector. Chen Chen progresses from a dormitory power strip to a factory transformer, a superconducting interface, and fusion reactors to supply it 9 28 188 497.