I had to climb high in a crane and then go through the ventilation system where several annoying electricity-shooting spider bots were expecting me... Not to mention the huge rotating fan blades which would cut me in half while I was climbing down the ladder if not careful enough... I managed to get through, and found myself on the ship, with sailors strolling around the corridors. They were only armed with handguns, but I thought I'd avoid fighting them completely. Browsing the cabins, I eventually came across an Ambrosia vial and picked it up for Dowd. I was quite hesitant about whether saving him was a good idea... After all, Majestic-12 all but destroyed The Illuminati, and if I helped whatever was left of the latter, they could rise up to enslave humanity again. I couldn't make up my mind, and eventually, I read that the guy actually survives whether you give him the vial or not... Anyway, that comes later.

There were also more heavily armed guards on the ship, eventually I learned they were the Chinese military... It was a Chiense ship. They weren't aware what they were carrying, of course, they were fed the Simons version that it was "pesticide." I made my way to the lower decks, and had to destroy 5 critical points there. The first one was right in the engine room where I first entered, it was practically impossible to blow it up without soldiers immediately discovering me, so I had to run away from them, taking some fire, but not much. Then, I went through a corridor, and eventually found some engineer trying to fix electrical problems. I went in and fixed them for him, conveniently also clearing my path towards other points I needed to blow up.

Eventually, after some more hacking computers, knocking out Chinese soldiers and blowing up critical spots (oh, and I was told I'd be going to Paris next by Daedalus), I had to go back to the engine room where the last spot was, apparently hidden... Two more soldiers were standing motionless, just looking at opposite walls, with their backs towards one another. I snuck behind and zapped each with the riot prod, then blew up the last spot which was not visible, but it was marked on the map - it was behind some big boiler thing. And the ship immediately started shaking heavily, I had to make my escape promptly and head to Jock.

I managed to leave the ship and make my way back to the ventilation system... I'd have to go back to the roof where Jock was expecting me. Had to waste all my EMP grenades and LAMs to take care of the annoying spider bots, and then had to reload many times before lucking out climbing the ladder without the fan slicing me. But finally, I was on the helicopter, and Jock took me to Dowd. His place was in a cemetery... A family one or something. I played grave robber for a bit - some of the stone caskets even had tunnel entrances and long tunnels stretching to the outside reaches of the place. Then, I went back to Dowd and was about to talk to him, but I think I should be consistent and refuse to give him the Ambrosia... This decision will be made next time.

Played again on Saturday. I left the metro station wandered around for another minute, finding the entrance to the catacombs, where I'd find Silhouette, the French anti-globalist group. As soon as I entered, though, Tong informed me that MJ-12 had laid a siege on the Silhouette base... Great. There were lots of human skulls and bones laying around... Would probably be a bit creepy if we weren't talking 2000 graphics. I went around some MJ-12 soldiers and commandos, and eventually found the base... The group was even more ragtag than I expected, there were 2 guys, 2 women, and a kid, with some black guy named Chad as their leader. "Skeleton crew," as JC put it, was too generous. I barely managed to stop one man and one woman from going out and getting themselves killed by a commando. I kept closing the secret door to the base as he kept opening it... Somehow, they killed him at the end.

Chad told me to go save a couple of Silhouette members that MJ-12 had taken hostage in a bunker nearby in the tunnels. One of them was the kid, Pierre's mother, too. In exchange, he'd let me know where I could find Nicolette DuClare, whom I needed to contact to carry on with my main mission. I agreed, and set out again. I passed by an empty bunker some bum had occupied... The guy generously offered to sell me some First Aid kits and poison darts.

Eventually, I made it into the MJ-12 bunker, which had quite a few soldiers and commandos patrolling... Fortunately, there was a waterway going through the place, so I swam in and was able to survey the surroundings without being discovered. Eventually, I came out at the other end, where a lone female agent was standing. I attacked and neutralised her before she could trigger the alarm, hacked the nearby computer to disable the camera near the jail cell's entrance, and then quietly approached and took out the normal guards standing there (commandos were patrolling). I entered and freed the two hostages, but the commandos quickly killed them as they went outside... I'd have to try another approach.

I reloaded the save and decided to take out the commandos first. However, I didn't know how to take them down without killing them. They could take too many hits with non-lethal weapons... While I was trying to find out how much HP they have on the internet, I came across the info that the prod could actually take them down in a single hit if attacked from behind... Well, that's cool. Otherwise, I would've had to let those two get killed. It wouldn't have hindered my bigger mission, but better to save them... Thus, I took the commandos out after carefully tailing them, and ran away, accompanying the two former prisoners.

We made it safely into the Silhouette base, and Chad told me I'd find Nicolette in a bar nearby. Thanks! Chad warned me that Nicolette would probably have her own agenda once the fighting is over... I would know! The Illuminati cannot be trusted. They're only using me to get rid of the splinter group, after which they'll try to take control back. Chad then went on an interesting tirade about the state of the world, government surveillance with terrorism as the excuse, and the war being fought over the very meaning of words... Another insightful prediction by this game - keep in mind that Deus Ex even came out before September 11th.

Played some more and, surprisingly, the DuClare chateau was all empty, no MJ-12 waiting to kill me. I could roam around and loot at will. The goal was to find Beth's secret computer room. Before going in, I talked to Nicolette, who told me about her mum's work for The Illuminati and her chats with Everett... She flat out said that if she'd been successful, it'd have been The Illuminati we'd be fighting now instead of Majestic 12. That's what I think, too, so I will show no mercy for either. Nicolette apparently delivered money from her mum to Silhouette. They were being used by The Illuminati to have some resistance active against MJ-12. I came across a very interesting interview with Majestic 12's leader Bob Page, too...

Eventually, I found the keys for Beth and Nicolette's rooms hidden behind vases on the second floor... OK then. I entered Beth's room to find a storage behind her favourite painting, and the key to the wine cellar below was there... No doubt it'd eventually lead me to the computer room... And it did. After going through some sewers connected to the cellar and breaking some wooden blockages, I made it into the room and sent a signal to Everett, who immediately contacted me on the radio.

Next, I'd have to head to a Kinghts Templar cathedral that had recently been taken over by MJ-12... Nicolette revealed that Templars were actually the ones behind the banking system... Heh. Should this mean that they are not connected/part of The Illuminati? Hardly. Nicolette said she'd stay behind to go through some of her mother's things. I went ahead through a maze, knocked out one of the two MJ-12 commandos guarding the entrance (my only confrontation today), and went into a sewer system connecting to the Cathedral. Everett wants me to steal some gold from it for him. Well, I'd prevent MJ-12 from stealing it themselves if I did... Neither party deserves it.

The last play session was not very eventful, but I got to confirm my suspicions about Everett. First, I needed to escape the cathedral and make my way to the metro, though, and that took a while because of all the goons patrolling around. Finally, after reading some Templar history, I managed to take out a couple of commandos and make my way outside, then sneak by all the bots and out of the castle... As I was going into the metro, Icarus (the apparent MJ12 AI) called me to warn me I was aiding the Illuminati with my activities... Don't worry, I know about that possibility, and won't allow it to happen.

Page then called to tell me I was to be just a prototype for him... We do look vague alike, I guess. After chatting with some French policemen, I met a black guy who was Evetrett's messenger. He told me he'd take me to the guy, but only if I let myself get drugged, so I wouldn't know the way... I refused. Annoyingly, that changed nothing, I still got drugged, and woke up at Everett's place. It was full of interesting paintings. I chatted with the black guy again, he explained Everett's worries regarding Majestic 12. Also talked to a maid who told me about some guy named Lucius DeBeers... A friend of Everett's, who was very sick. She refused to give further details.

I headed to the lab, where Everett was supposed to be, and unexpectedly met Jacobson on the way, the UNATCO computer guy. He told me that Tong didn't trust The Illuminati (I know this Chinese dude was not so stupid, what with being involved with The Triads), so he was here essentially to do some spying. Apparently, Tong had gone off somewhere after acting worried, though... Anyway, I met Everett and he was as sneaky as expected. Apparently, next I'm going back to the Vandenberg - a US military base where some scientists have withdrawn after standing up to MJ12, and I'm to help Everett gain control over the US military network currently in the hands of MJ12... Not sure if that'll do more good than bad, but the game doesn't let me refuse.

And then, the weird stuff started happening. First, I hacked some door, and came across a weird blue head representing an AI system, which told me details about myself (apparently, JC is 23 years old... Sure looks at least late 20s). It was named "Morpheus," and said it was prototype for Echelon IV. It then explained in an unnecessarily winded way that humans strive towards AI because they need to be watched and judged, and to worship, and AI was but a "more modern version of God." Another one of Deus Ex's interesting statements on the world.

Finally, I came across Lucius DeBeers... Apparently, he was the former Illuminati leader (despite believing he was still the actual leader) whom Everett had frozen in a complex machine so that he remains alive. After telling me that The Illuminati had harsh punishment for anyone who would cross them, even their former puppets, and gave Kennedy as an example, Lucius complained that he was very cold and asked me to ask Everett to turn up the temperature a bit. As I went to, Everett revealed that he only took advantage of DeBeers for his knowledge, and would never actually grant him a living body, despite the technology already being there. What an asshole. As I told that to DeBeers, he chose death over living like a slave, and asked me to turn off his life-supporting machine. I did. Lucius died, and Everett scolded me over the radio, but expectedly didn't seem to mourn his "friend" much.

Then, I went to Jock who had been contacted by Everett, and had arrived to pick me up and take me to Vandenberg. I was about to board, but I chatted with a strange mechanic who was acting quite dodgy. I decided to bash him with the baton a bit, and, after Jock asked me why the hell I knocked him out, I told him to check whatever he was fixing. Sure enough, there was a bomb planted in the fuel system, which Jock managed to disarm. He told me I was quite the detective, and we took off. (Interestingly, the trip to Vandenberg takes place safely even if you don't beat up the mechanic and nothing is done about the bomb. So this is Everett's work, not MJ12's, and he probably blows you up after you do his dirty job. Clever thinking on the game creators' part.)

Finally played again on Friday and yesterday. I talked to some scientist chick as I landed at Vanderberg, and she explained the situation. I'd have to override MJ-12's control and disable some military bots to make my way in... Well, I kinda forgot about that, and fought them anyway, but that comes later. Since I'd landed on the roof, I had to first make my way down the building. I took out a few goons, and then reached another female scientist who asked me to look for her friend. He was close enough, hiding in a closet. The two gave me some passwords for the computers, the guy also gave me an EMP grenade that I'd make good use of later.

Soon enough, I was outside, and sure enough, four bots, two big and two smaller ones, were patrolling the area... Since I forgot to look for the switches to disable them and Jock called me to let me know I wouldn't make my way in to meet the main scientist Gary Savage unless I took them out, I started fighting them... After a few tries, and several wasted EMP grenades and LAMs, I managed to take them all out, and gained access to the building in question. As I did, Jock let me know that Tracer Tong was coming, and was in trouble... Doesn't sound good.

I talked to another scientist and a couple of engineers inside, and they told me I could sneak through some tunnels to reach Savage. But of course, the tunnels had annoying spiders in them... So I used my last EMP grenades, which weren't enough, and then had to make do without any. Wasn't pleasant. Still, I made it, and overheard a conversation between some goons and a MIB, who told them not to panic and to complete the mission... Yeah, that's not happening. I attacked them with tear gas, and then took them out with tranquliser darts.

Eventually, I made it to Savage's room... Only to be greeted by Sam Carter at the door! The military veteran had also made it out of UNATCO successfully. His wishful thinking about them had finally been sobered up. We had a nice chat, and then I went to talk to Savage. He asked me to fix the computers right next to his room, and I did so after suffering a couple of eletric shocks. Then, Everett called me to upload Daedalus into the military network, where he'd try to take over... That backfired, and Daedalus and Icarus merged into "Helios", under MJ-12 control...

For such a master planner, Everett sure failed in a lame manner. Is he in cahoots with Bob Page after all? Of course, he's still pretending he doesn't know what happened. It'd be lamer if he was in cahoots with Bob Page, actually. Two different evil sides is something I'd like more. But we'll see... Anyway, a triumphant Bob Page also called me on the radio to let me know how screwed I was, and then he talked to us all, telling Savage he'd kidnapped his daughter (who'd been sent out on a mission against MJ-12 in the meantime). He wanted some modules from Savage in return for her life, and set up a meeting as a gas station... Who do you think is going? JC Denton, of course. We'll try to rescue her without giving up the modules.

As I made my way to Jock on the front gate of the complex, Tracer Tong showed up with him... And he was in bad condition, suffering from the plague. I wonder if I'd have been any difference if I'd kept the syringe I denied to Stanton Dowd. Well, Ambrosia only lasts 48 hours, anyway, so it wouldn't have made much difference. Tong stayed behind with Savage, and me and Jock took off for the gas station, where the story will continue next time. Also, why the fuck is Savage's daughter's face all tiger-striped? Gross.

Finally played some more in the last few days... Completed the Ocean Lab mission. It was mostly action, and in the beginning it looked quite grim because I had just one charge of the riot prod and no tranquiliser darts. Somehow, I managed to knock down a few MJ-12 divers - a new enemy unit in this watery level, and take some tranquiliser darts from them, after which it went smoothly. Fortunately, there were no commandos on this level except a dead one I came across near the end of it.

I took a mini-submarine to the lab itself. During the course of the mission, I talked to a few scientists sympathetic to Savage, and they helped me out with computer passwords and such. But I was mostly on my own. There were a bunch of those annoying genetically engineered animals, which I dispatched with the Dragon's Tooth. Good thing I decided to carry this bulky thing around, after all. Fighting them with the gun would've been such a pain. With this, they die in one hit, I just had to get them fast, before they could spew poison at me.

On my way through the mission, I got some unsettling calls from Helios and Bob Page, telling me I was basically doing their bidding at the moment. That sounded strange, but I suppose I'll find out what they mean soon enough. Meanwhile, I found reports making it clear that UNATCO had gone all out, not even pretending to respect national governments anymore.

Eventually, Bob Page talked to me on one of those hologramic communicator things, informing me that my chances of leaving the Ocean Lab alive were "mathematically unlikely." I'd soon find out what he meant, as Walton Simons started radioing me out of nowhere... A fight with him was imminent, and he showed up as soon as I started making my way to the lab's exit. He was armed with a plasma gun capable of taking me out in 2-3 hits... And a gunfight would've been almost impossible. But I rushed at him with the Dragon's Tooth, slashed him a couple of times, and he stopped attacking and turned invisible, a hit away from death. I left him like that, but I suppose the game will treat him as dead, anyway... Haven't heard of Gunther since the same thing happened there. I wonder if the same would've happened had I not finished Navarre off. If you kill Simons, a couple of those animals spawn out of nowhere and start chewing on his corpse... Quite nasty of the developers. But you can slay them, too, before they've devoured him. Anyway, I left him invisible, not dead.

After beating Simons, I got on the little submarine again, and eventually met Savage, who assured me that the UC would be up tonight. But more pressingly, Page was about to launch a missile on Vandenberg. I thnik I'm going to fight him in Area 51 next.

Yesterday, I beat Deus Ex. Choosing, of course, the ending that by far corresponds best to my views. But anyway, let's go in order. I actually made a desperate attempt to beat the game in 2017, playing a bit on December 30th and 31st. It wasn't enough, though, and I only finished it yesterday.

As I landed in Area 51, Jock immediately warned me about a sniper nearby... I ducked and advanced carefully. Tong contacted me, letting me know he was okay and the virus had an On/Off switch. Why it's "Off" now despite Page still supposedly controlling it, we don't get to know. Eventually, I made my way around the base and encountered Simons again... Should've killed him the first time, I suppose. This time, you can't proceed without killing him... Unless you don't go the route where he appears at all! Which I managed to do after reloading the save - you don't need to go through the building he is "guarding" to proceed with the game.

The main Area 51 base has 4 underground levels, and I had to make my way all the way down to finish the job. Page was bragging about he'd become a new lifeform, etc.... His face portrait had changed, too. I'd soon enough find out why. As I was making my way through the complex, Everett pulled me up for a private chat, offering me to ignore Tong's pleas to blow up Area 51 and instead just kill Page and take control over it... For The Illuminati, of course, of which I would become part. Yeah, that's not going to happen.

After that, Page decided to send me the guy who he said killed my parents... Some random Man in Black. I dodged him with some tear gas, and made my way down the elevator he came with. Tong talked to me next, detailing his plan. It involved destroying global communications and launching a new Dark Age, an age of city-states and small-scale government. Savage was apparently also on-board with this. I like it, of course. Even though the in-game JC thought it was a bit of an overkill. It's not at all - considering the other alternative that Everett gave.

Then, I made my way to the two reactors Tong told me about... And what do you know, aliens! Little grey men. They were radioactive, too, so just getting near them meant taking damage. They couldn't take a lot of damage, though - a single slice with the Dragon Tooth took care of them. I talked to a mechanic who speculated that they might just be monkeys that were bred not to have any hair. How are they shooting those beams, though?... Eventually, a hacked computer revealed that they were just another Bob Page GMO project.

I made my way further down, finally into Sector 4. To complete Tong's plan, I had to find some coolant machine and shut it down before disabling those two reactors. And in Sector 4, I got the third offer, from Helios, the AI. It told me I should merge with it and rule the world using its cold calculating nature for the better of all humanity. Yeah, that's not happening, either. Then, I talked to Savage who told me that Helios somehow took Hong Kong over already... And people were going along with it. Madness! I need to put an end to it. Savage also clarified that he disagreed with Tong about a complete Dark Age, and was leaning towards the AI solution as long as it was fair and just... As if an AI can even begin to comprehend those concepts! Not happening, Gary!

Then finally, I came into a room where they had some ready bodies for a Bob Page, a Walton Simons, a JC Denton (though that pod was empty) and... an Alex Denton? A third brother? Hm. Finally, I encountered Page himself. He was in some sort of force field... Waiting to merge with Helios. Yeah, while you're waiting, I'm going to ruin your plan. Should've been faster.

As I shut down the coolant thing, Page got increasingly butthurt, he was asking me if I was insane to destroy technology like that. The opposite, Page. It is the most rational choice. Page even offered me Europe if I let him merge with Helios... Shame the developers didn't let that as a possible ending, would've been funny. Eventually, I found out there's no "loyal to UNATCO" path in the game, actually. What a shame. I thought I was taking an alternative path back when I killed Navarre, but it seems the game wouldn't let you remain with UNATCO in any case.

As I approached the place with the aliens, where I'd complete Tong's request and destroy global communications altogether, Everett also tried to plead with me. No chance, loser. Eventually, I deactivated the two reactors, as Page whined that I'd cause complete chaos, that NOBODY would be in control of the world. Well, that's the plan, man! And finally, in the control room, the mechanic tried to stop me, after I pulled the three switches necessary to set the base on self-destruct, he even pulled out a gun and desperately tried to kill me... I smacked him down with my batton and pressed the last button, triggering the ending sequence.

The world was going back to a better age, an age of freedom. The final quote of the ending described my line of thinking well: "Yesterday we obeyed kings and bent our necks before emperors. But today we kneel only to truth..." As the credits finished rolling, a photo of the development team was revealed... No diversity whatsoever, just white males and an Asian or two!... But that's who it takes to make good games.