Carter is a Gen Inc researcher and Soldier (presumably a Medic originally) that was stationed at the Strata Medical Laboratory in Antarctica.
History[]
Carter was first seen trapped in one of the chambers in the laboratory during the initial outbreak of the Thing. Blake was able to repair the chamber's Junction Box to access the area where he was trapped; however, he was later revealed to be an imitation and was immediately killed by Blake and his team.
In the Remastered version, he'll flip Blake off and refuse to follow unless a firearm is given. Furthermore, it is possible to avoid him bursting and he will follow Blake throughout the level.
Strategy to keep Carter from turning into The Thing[]
- There is a way to prevent Carter from bursting and keeping him in your squad, which works every time: when the level starts, fix the junction box to get outside the hallway, where the walker is patrolling. Fix the junction box to recruit Falchek, give him ammunition so he trusts you and make him follow you. Ignore the Walker or lock it in. Fix the junction box in the hallway where Carter is waiting (don't go past the junction box or too near the door yet). The door to the infirmary will open, have Falchek kill the things in the next hallway. Go to the savegame room in the infirmary. Save your game just in case. Now we're ready to get Carter. Follow the same strategy as with Parnevik: do not go further past the point where you meet him, bring up the squad menu immediately, and give him a weapon so he trusts you (if playing without the have-all-weapons cheat, Falchek's Machine Gun will do, but beware, as he won't trust you after you take the weapon from him). Before closing the menu, make sure you select the option to follow you. Get away from him as soon as you open the door and he'll immediately follow if done right. The most important part for him not to turn seems to be opening the door without getting too close or waiting too long, bringing up the squad menu very quickly to make him follow. All of this should be done very fast without getting too close to the door, just barely enough to get the command to open it. When he follows, go to the infirmary and save your game. Then go past the point where you first met him, towards the security gate, to see if he bursts or not. You'll notice immediately if it works because he won't stop momentarily to burst, as he would usually do here. If you did it right, he'll follow you throughout the entire facility and even help you in combat against Things. If done wrong, he usually bursts after going to the holding cells, To prevent him from bursting at all, do not go to Dixon before getting Carter past the point where he's first found, as this will trigger him to burst when going past the security gate laser beam to the holding cells. First get Carter, then go past the security gate, then get Dixon.
- Even if you manage to get Carter not to burst, he won't follow you into the next area, as he's programmed not to be kept for the next level.
Gallery[]

The Carter-Thing after bursting out.

Proof that Carter can follow Blake well into the holding cells, even as far as to meet with Stanmore. One of the five squadmates will be left out if more than four are encountered, since the game can only hold four at a time.

Remastered Carter in a Soldier uniform.
Trivia[]
- Despite wearing a Medic's outfit, he is designated as a Soldier. Many Imitations in the game get their uniform and character class wrong, hinting at their ruse.
- He shares the same name with Carter (Engineer). It's unknown why, as no other NPCs share the same name.
- Carter, like Ryan, is one of the few already-infected NPCs found that are able to talk and are not completely silent.
- Carter will almost immediately burst out after encountering him, just like Parnevik, Stanmore and Guy, unless using the above trick.
- Sometimes, after recruiting him, he will test negative when using the blood test on him, despite the fact that he's supposed to be infected. It seems to depend on how quickly you can get to join the squad.
- It seems there is a higher chance to prevent him from bursting when accompanied; if Blake goes to Thing-infested areas with just Carter instead of more squadmates and fights The Thing, Carter will usually reveal himself as an imitation quickly, whereas he won't if there are more squadmates nearby, proving that The Thing in the game is programmed to not reveal itself when in a large group. For instance, he will reveal himself if alone with Blake and Stanmore, after Stanmore bursts. If in a group, he won't. He will even kill Stanmore with flame weaponry if its given to him, to not blow his cover.
- There is a glitch whereby, if you activate the security switch sequence cutscene while he's still human, he will appear as human after the cutscene, yet acting like an imitation, complete with animation, spitting paralyzing venom and growling. Ryan has this same bug.
- The Remaster gives him a Soldier Uniform.