Chapter 7, Panchaea
The shuttle is launched by a railgun.
Wooooo
And we're in space. You can see Versalife's space station from here.
Er
Uhm
Jensen crashes into the water.
Manages to get out somehow. Welcome to Panchaea. That tower is our destination.
If Jensen had enhanced legs we could jump up here and get into the giant air vent on the center-right.
Instead we enter a corridor below.
Kill the mines
Not sure if I really want to go down there. This level has a System Shock 2 vibe to it.
I found a PEPS, but it's only got 1 ammo. I was an idiot and didn't collect the ammo throughout the game because I didn't know if I would find a PEPS toward the end.
I destroy the box bot because it would be trouble later.
We rode an elevator up, here's the view.
You can move it out of the way by shooting it with the frag revolver from the side.
I found more PEPS ammo, and also a bloody toilet. Uhh, women are disgusting.
Alright the path to Darrow is uneventful. Time to confront him.
Afraid to die, Darrow? Or just unwilling to face what you've done?
Oh, I know what I've done, believe me. I take no pleasure in it.
And yet, you still did it.
I did what had to be done!
Twenty years ago, I gave the world augmentation technology. I thought I was giving it a bright future but instead, I gave it the means to destroy itself. No law, no U-N regulation was going to fix that.
People are dying out there! Hundreds of thousands of people, driven to the brink of insanity -- because of you!
I had to convince the world. Before today, people believed we should steal fire from the gods and redesign human nature.
But human nature is the only thing we have that gives us a moral compass, and the social skills we need to live in peace!
Destroy it, and you destroy our very species.
Don't paint yourself a savior in this. What you've done is insane.
Is it? When this is done, the Illuminati won't be able to control men and women like you, as they had planned -- from the inside out.
No one will be able to use the technology I invented to make others into beings they desire. Something we both know has happened already...
You think you're Frankenstein... killing his own monster...
Actually, Mr. Jensen, I prefer to think of myself as Daedalus, watching helplessly as his child crashes into the sea.
I'm ending this. Now.
You can't. The signal is being generated from the broadcast center at the base of this facility. Panchaea's security system has been programmed to protect it -- and will kill you before you even get close.
You designed that system, Darrow. You can tell me how to shut it down.
But I won't. You think what I'm doing is extreme... You simply don't understand.
For humanity to survive beyond this century, it must abandon ill-conceived notions about transcendence and embrace change.
But for this to happen, the hard lesson must be learned. Blood... must be shed.
What you're doing is horrific; it has to stop. You can't force people to change -- they have to do it on their own or they'll end up resenting you for it! And doing it like this -- My god, Darrow. It's insane.
It is not insane, Mr. Jensen. Tragic, yes. Unavoidable? ... No.
History has shown us again and again that the human race is hidebound and governed by inertia.
As a society, as a species -- the only way to elicit any kind of reaction from it is through an act of tragedy, a horrible cataclysm.
I regret what I have been forced to do, but given what I know about mankind and the dangers facing us, this was the only viable choice.
You want us to see what you are -- fine. Our humanity is threatened because technology is messing with our minds.
But how can we recognize this message, when we're grieving over the people you've forced us to leave behind?
Friends and neighbors -- people we care about! Is the image of their murders the vision you want us to have?
Of course it isn't! I don't want to be remembered as a... a monster!
Oh, why did I expect this to turn out differently?
People like you, people who willingly surrender their humanity a piece at a time -- you'll never understand.
And browbeating won't get me to change my mind. You can talk and talk and talk, but in the end you'll still fail to grasp the fundamental, underlying truth.
People like me?... People like me? ...
You're not interested in saving humanity, Darrow, no matter how loud you shout it.
This is about jealousy, pure and simple! Everything you're doing today is in service to your wounded ego - because you can't stand anyone leaving you behind!
My ego has nothing to do with this. And if your mind, you psyche, wasn't so addled by the technology I invented, you might be able to see that.
All of this is academic, Mr. Jensen. As long as this technology exists, men like you and me will still crave it, still do anything to have it, despite the cost to our bodies... and souls!
Well today, I have set the dominoes falling to change that. I have altered the course of human history... for the second time.
And this time, it is setting things right.
You cover it up with all that pretense about saving the world, try to justify it... But deep down inside, you're nothing more than an angry child! Spiteful, full of hate, envious, and bitter... How petty is that?
Petty?! I was betrayed by my own genetics! Ruined by my own flesh!
What right do you have to condemn me? To curse me? All I ever wanted was to build something good... Something magnificent...
And now, there's so much blood... So much blood...
I... I will give you what you want, Mr. Jensen.
Codes to shut down Panchaea's security system... But you'll still be in danger. Much of the system is self-determining... and lethal.
When you see it - maybe then, you'll understand. THe technology I created... will not be the future any one of us desires. Please. Help the world understand that.
Now there are zombies and shit. It's best to just run, since they can't jump.
Taggart, that slimeball. He's somewhere here. We'll go find him.
The PEPS is very useful, but ammo is running low. I still have 3 gas granades.
These can be skipped.
Monsters, Taggart? You mean people. Augmented people who've lost all control, lost their reason.
Isn't that supposed to be my line? ... Unfortunately, it seems your esteemed Mr. Darrow decided to appropriate my point and turn it back on me. In madness and in blood. He has betrayed us all.
So you finally admit it. You are a part of this, after all. You have been all along.
It would be pointless to deny anything now... But despite what you think of us, we never wanted augmentations outlawed. All we've ever sought is regulation.
Rules, governing how the technology is developed, and laws that ensure it's used for the good of society.
You've raised society above humanity. So... who gets to make those rules?
Men with the wisdom, strength, and tenacity to know what's right. Proven leaders who distinguish themselves... like, like you, Mr. Jensen. You've certainly earned the right to be one of us. All you have to do is take it.
I'm not looking for glory, Taggart.
Just remember that without control, there's no room for freedom -- only anarchy. You were a policeman once. You know the importance of order.
I know there's a difference between order and slavery.
The biochip wasn't supposed to force people to do anything. It merely limited powers, so that people couldn't go on killing sprees like the one taking place right now!
Amazing how well that worked out.
Say what you will, but I know that some part of you agrees with me. Absolute freedom is no different than absolute chaos.
Society needs boundaries if it has any hope of surviving. And you, Mr. Jensen, can be the one to give us that hope...
Shut down Darrow's signal.Then help me get a message out, saying that an accident at Versalife contaminated the world's neuropozyne supply.
Versalife? And what if I decide to blame the illuminati?
The Illuminati is just a name to get rich financiers to invest more money.
Besides, do you really think the world will believe in some 18th Century conspiracy theory? Do this for us, and you'll ensure a future for mankind. All of mankind -- augmented or otherwise...
The future Hugh Darrow offers doesn't allow for both.
All of this is as much your fault as it is Darrow's. You and your cabal.
Perhaps. But all we sought was a safety valve, Mr. Jensen. A means of making sure the world would never spin out of control. The potential of this technology is great, but as we've seen, its potential for destruction is even greater.
Your doomsday scenario doesn't impress me. You'd say anything to stay in power.
Do you think humanity will simply police itself?! We do not live in some Eden, Mr. Jensen.
Or are you that much like your boss, David Sarif -- who envisions a world where everyone is enhanced and suddenly, they all love each other?
There will always be a need for methods of control.
And conveniently, in your future, the Illuminati will hold the reins.
Not directly. There are organizations already in place that are better equiped to handle certain things. The U.N., for instance.
Re-imagined, no doubt.
At least somewhat... And this technology will be a great part of it. Imagine it, Mr. Jensen. A world governed by common principles.
The end of international power struggles; terrorism. These things can be accomplished. If you join us.
Fuck you, Taggart. I think of all the characters in HR I hate this one the most. A dirty, old, cynical, power-fetishizing bureaucrat. Go die in a fire!
Hi5 to HR writers.
Next, Sarif calls out for help. He's hiding in the machine room.
If we had the leg aug, we could just jump down there.
Instead I have to find an elevator. I use up some of the gas grenades. Now I'm running low on everything. Will I make it?
Last grenade. At least they worked well.
This vent leads to Sarif.
We can't move anyone yet. Not until I get to the base of the station and shut down Darrow's broadcast.
What? Why--why?
The chaos you experienced here? It's everywhere. The Illuminati created a biochip that stop people from using enhanced abilities, and Darrow turned it into a kill switch.
Ah, my God, Hugh... We've got to fix this, Adam. If people realize what's happened -- if they believe augmentation technology created this chaos! -- they'll ban human enhancement research forever!
And that would be a bad thing.
Yes, it would! Don't you see what's at stake here?
Ever since man first crawled out of that ocaen, we have been striving to be more than we are! Augmentation technology is just the latest, greatest step on a very long road --
but we've barely scratched the surface of its potential. We can't let fear stop us from continuing.
That's your belief, Sarif. Not everyone shares it.
But you do, Adam. I know it! And if we work together, we can really make a difference. We can improve the lives of everyone! But only if we fix this.
Go on...
We'd have to get a message out -- after you shut down Hugh's signal. Tell the world... tell them Humanity Front did this. That their doctors created a virus that only affects augmented people.
You mean, lie.
It will give us time, son. Time to figure out how to destroy the Illuminati biochips, and move on.
And what about the people who've been hurt by this? Don't they deserve the truth?
Ah, Adam... if we want the freedom to become more than we are, we can't be blinded by a misguided morality. Some people will be left behind -- it's reality. It's evolution, son.
Right. Evolution based on my DNA.
Please, son. You have to stay with me on this.
You've got no remorse about using me at all, do you?
I never used you, son.
You experimented with my D-N-A! Without telling me!
Ahh, Adam. This is difficult. Listen. Megan --Megan came to me with the sample. When she showed me her finding, when I saw, when we saw the incredible potential of super-compatibility--
You just had to share it with the world.
Adam... Think about it!
Would you have been able to do any of the things you've done without enhancements? Huh?
Most people's bodies aren't as accepting of this technology as yours is. Sharing your D-N-A makes it possible for us to be like you.
How can you deny us that change?
Who said I would deny it? You stole my DNA and lied to me. You didn't give me a choice.
I'm giving it to you now. Adam, look. I admit it. I haven't done things the best way. But don't punish the world to spite me. Darrow wants us to live in the dark ages. The Illuminati want to limit evolution to those they control. You and me--
Don't group me with you, Sarif. I'll make my own choices from here.
I believe that son. And I believe you'll make the right ones.
I know blaming Humanity Front leaves a sour taste in your mouth, but it's the only way out of this. So go. The longer the signal broadcasts, the harder it will be to convince people.
Sarif makes some good points.
We're running out of stuffs to shoot things with.
At least the laser rifle has enough ammo. Way more than we'll need, actually.
We're left with 3 tranq darts.
But this is the end. There are no zombies beyond this point
The elevator stops at the broadcast center
In it, we find bizarre things going on.
A quantum computer, and Zhao.
She's going to merge so she can broadcast the Illuminati message.
But she can't control it
JC picks up a gun and tries to shoot Helios, but it doesn't work. Zhao is behind some sort of barrier.
The computer activates turrets. Time to duck and take them out.
Normally there would be several more steps, more enemies, hacking, etc. However, the laser rifle shoots right through the Hydron project barrier and kills Zhao after burning around 600 battery life. This is the only reason I took the laser rifle with me.
She dies
Fascinating.
We're done.
In the broadcast center, I find Eliza. She will spin any story I like. I can either go with the truth, Taggart's lie, or Sarif's lie.
Alternatively I can destroy the entire facility so that no one ever finds out what happened. I won't be doing that though. There are thousands of people still alive here, and if I am anything, I'm not a murderer.
Taggart is out.
Sarif's ideas are much more attractive.
But I am no liar.
Albert Einstein said, "Technological progress is like an axe in the hands of a pathological criminal."
It took me a while, but I finally see his point.
How often have we chased the dream of progress, only to see that dream perverted?
More often than not, haven't the machines we built to improve life shattered the lives of millions?
And now we want to turn that dream on ourselves, to fundamentally improve who we are.
Experience has shown me how dangerous that can be.
How many times, in the call of duty, did I almost fall into the trap of taking the shortcuts, abusing my abilities or the resources at hand?
I resisted -- barely at times - because I valued human lives and considerations.
But can I truly despise others who fall?
Technology offers us strength, strength enables dominance, and dominance paves the way for abuse.
Darrow understood this. He knew that using technology to become something more than we are risks losing our ability to love, aspire, or make moral choices - the very things that make us Human.
It also risks giving some men the power to make others what they choose - regardless of the cost to human dignity.
The suffering Darrow inflicted is not the end of the world.
It is merely the seed for change.
And change never comes without pain.
The End
here are the videos for the endings:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_DBeMx5ZWM
I should note that this ending is bittersweet for me. I agree the most with Sarif, but I didn't want to lie to everyone. That would make me as bad as the antagonists in the game.