Deja Vu - Somebody had better look out... (complete)

My head is throbbing, I can feel that I don't have much time left. It's about time I went to that pharmacy.

A cheap building. Cheap like my life. I search for Dr.Brody's pharmacy.

Nobody's here, the door is locked. Damn.

Your pockets are filled with keys, bud. Stop your whining and try them.

I'll try that unmarked key I found at that broad's place.

BINGO !

The shelves are filled with bottles bearing names like "Sodium Bicarbonate" and "Chemopapain". If I am to do something about the poison running in my veins I need more information. I shift my attention to the file Cabinet.

I use the combination I found in that piece of paper. It doesn't work. My patience is running thin.

I frantically search the files...

All right, so, the dame's name is Marsha Vickens. Then I find something even more interesting...

Ace Harding... Is my name Harding ?

Sheesh, haven't you noticed the morgue tag in all those death pics ?


The rest of the files are filled with drug descriptions and symptoms. I search through them, I must do something about my situation...

I've most likely been infected with Soduim Pentahol to be interrogated and then with Diethanol Trimene to make me loose my memories. Let's take a look at the symptom files :

That last batch of files wasn't of much help. I must somehow treat my condition, or I'm dead. I can't decide which drugs to use, so I randomly pick some of them and pour them into the syringe...



Suddenly, I get a case of Cardiovascular Shutdown.

Are you insane, man ?!

Well, I'm talking to myself, aren't I ?

Ace, Get your shit together. Since you don't know which drugs to use, you must try to decide by checking out their descriptions.


I look at the drugs again and curse my stupidity. Bisodiumitis' description says it's the antidote to Deithanol Trimene ! Hopefully it can bring my memories back.


I pour the contents into the syringe and inject myself...

My head is spinning, memories are flooding in...

It's an onslaught of random images...

And then it comes to me. My office... it's in the same building ! I quickly run up the stairs.

Private Eye... I'm a private eye.

You shouldn't be so happy, it's a lousy profession. Believe me, I know.

I'm happy I even have a profession.


The door is locked, but among the keys I've found I spot the one I need.

I step inside with wild anticipation. All the answers could be waiting for me here !

That's right. That drunken bum warned me. There was a killer looking for me. I take a better look at the door. At first I thought that it was just my image reflecting on the glass, but then I realize that someone is standing there !

Damn, what now ?

Maybe you should whistle for him to come out. You know how to whistle, right ? Just put your lips together and blow.

Blow me. That moron probably hasn't realized that I'm standing right here, because light is coming in from the window behind him. He's dead meat.


I take a shot, point blank, without hesitation.

I enter the office. It's neglected. It feels like home.

Another memory assaults me.

I shake off the past and search around the office. Inside the desk I find some ammunition.

Looking through the window I see only the blackness of night.

Either that, or you haven't cleaned that window for decades.


What interests me more is the file cabinet. I browse through its files :

That bitch was called Sugar Shack ? Moar like Venom Cabin, am I rite ?

Ace, your talent is obviously wasted in the P.I. business. You should have been a comedian.


Huh, so now I know why that crooked broad tried to kill Siegel and me. Still rummaging through the files I find a letter. This is what I've been looking for...

ACE,

I've got a deal for you, a way that you can get off the hook with
your gambling debts. It's a simple kidnap job. All you gotta do
is pick up this wealthy woman and deliver her to me. I'll worry
about the rest. If all goes well, I'll collect a nice fat ransom,
while you get to live. You even get to consider your gambling
debts as being paid.

I trust you to pull it off right, because if you bungle it,
you'll take the rap. I've got everything planned so that nothing
will lead to me. This is the only offer you'll ever get, so think
it over ans call you know who. If you refuse, then it's been nice
knowing you.

Click to expand...

So, I had gabling debts and got myself involved in a kidnap racket. Did I really go along with such a deal ?

Nobody knows how a man can react when he gets cornered into a wall. Maybe you tried to foil their plans, maybe you went along with them. Anyway, the game was rigged from the start.

Yeah, but now at least I'm holding some of the cards.



Go get them Ace !

Stereotypical Villain said:

You missed a hilarious death.

Tip: Enter the office BEFORE curing your amnesia. Enjoy the outcome.

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ghostdog said:

Stereotypical Villain said:

You missed a hilarious death.

Tip: Enter the office BEFORE curing your amnesia. Enjoy the outcome.

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Hmm, I believe I died that way in the NES version... It was the usual death by brain-melting though, wasn't it ?

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I decided to get back to the scene of the crime. It's dangerous, but I don't have much choice.

I take another look at my old picture on the wall...

Then I take a look at the bastard himself.

It seems that eventually he got what he deserved.

Yeah, but not before ruining my life...


I came here for one reason, open Siegel's safe. I'm sure the combination from the dame's house will work.

Indeed it does.

Inside I find an envelope and a box. The box holds a key...

And the envelope has my name on it. "Ace's bad checks."

I pocket the checks, since they have my name on them I'm the rightful owner

Bad luck, bad breath and bad checks... Not much going for you, right Ace ?

You forgot to add bad disposition in that list.


A hunch tells me that this key is the one that opens the trunk in the car.

She seems familiar...

Mrs Sternwood ? Can you hear me ? Wake up !

She's knocked out cold. She's in candy-land now.


I decide to employ a more extreme approach.

Nothing.

A sudden flash of anger runs through me. It's all that fat-bitches fault !

Whoops.

***




I suppress my anger and decide to be a bit less extreme. Just a bit.

Look at her, she's obviously drugged.

Yeah, maybe I can help her. Sodium Pentathol could fight back drug induced unconsciousness.


I take off her gag and inject her with the drug :

Then, another memory rushes in...

These must be the instructions I found inside the glove compartment.

Hey, Ace, somebody wants to talk to you...

You again ? You just don't learn, do you ?

Give me your money ! Or this time I'll shoot you for r-

I think this guy enjoys pain. As I rub my aching fist I can faintly hear Sirens in the distance.

It sounds like the police are getting close. I don't think you should stick around here much longer.

Right. It's time we paid a visit to Sternwood...


I leave Mrs. Sternwood in the warm safety of the trunk, for the time being, and look for a taxi.

Before going inside I decide to take another look at that dame's photo. I get another flashback.

Aren't they all ?

Can't live with them, can't live without them...


Right by the entrance a big shiny mailbox is standing. It's too tempting not to open it :

It seems I struck gold:

It says nothing here about me. Why did Sternwood involved me in this ?

Why don't you go and ask him ?

I might just do that.


I am a P.I. after all, maybe Sternwood was looking for some low-profile help with the kidnapping. As I try to think things over my battered scull is assaulted by another recollection...

This is all one fine mess. I start walking towards the big wooden door.

I ring the door and then a stuck up, old butler stands before me.

He's all spiffied-up in his tails and cummerbund.

Hello, I'd like to see Mr. Sternwood.

I'm sorry sir, but I have strict orders not to let anyone in the house, the master is asleep.

Look, it's very important I see hi-

Good day sir. :slam:


I stand facing the big wooden door again. The bronze Lion is snickering at me.

It seems I wasn't persuasive enough. I knock again and muster up all my delicate negotiating skills...

Sir, I told you-

I stand above the butler's obliterated body and a new memory is taking form. It seems that punching people does good to my mind.

So, at least it seems that my part in this racket was an honest one...

Honest and stupid.

Story of my life.


I check the door by the stairs, it's the kitchen.

Not much to do here, except wait for another memory to emerge.

The perfect bait. The promise of a clean slate. Just a glimpse of hope, but all he needed to give you.


It's time I went upstairs. I enter the first room to the left.

Just as I thought, Martha Vickens !

Joe Siegel's ex girlfriend is now Starnwood's mistress and in the meantime Mrs. Sternwood gets conveniently kidnapped.

Seems like everyone gets to profit from that kidnapping...


Unsure of what to do with Martha I decide to do what I do best:

That felt good. As expected, I have another recollection.

I'm close to finding out what the hell happened. Inside the nightstand's drawer I find a blank notepad.

I've read some Agatha Christies novels, so I know what to do. I take the pencil from my inventory and use it to shade over the indentations on the pad :

2:15 AM :
Be sure Joe's Bar is closed up and all employees are gone.

2:30 AM :
Have the Mrs. situated in the women's stall. Make sure she is thoroughly bound, gagged and unconscious.

2:45 AM :
Be waiting near the bar front for Ace's arrival.

3:00 AM :
Have Ace situated in stall. Make sure he is properly unconscious. Inject him with 10cc of diethanol trimene. Take this: gun, office key, any previous kidnap material, ransom note, delivery instructions, misc. notes, etc.

3:15 AM :
Be prepared for Siegel's arrival.

3:30 AM :
Get Siegel comfortable behind his office desk, then plug him with Ace's gun. Get Siegel's things from mhis pockets. Make sure you get his car keys.

3:45 AM :
Plant Siegel's things on Ace. Put Ace's gun back in his holster. Be sure that Ace's fingerprints are on the gun. Put Ace's prints on the new set of kidnap material.

4:00 AM :
Dump the big Mrs. into Siegel's car trunk. Put the new kidnap material in the glove compartment. Put Siegel's car key into Ace's jacket. Put the door/trunk key in the small box and stash it in Siegel's safe.

4:30 AM :
Leave bar and lock up. Make sure not to leave the ransom case behind.

5:00 AM :
On the way home, plant new Siegel letter in Ace's file.

Click to expand...

Damn, she was the one that killed Siegel !

Yeah, it doesn't seem like she wrote these instructions. My money is on Sternwood.

Double-dealing dirt-bags, all of them.


This new set of information, jogs more memories :

I move on to the master bedroom.

It looks like Mr. Sternwood is having a nice sleep. The suitcase is empty. I open the nightstand to find a letter...

You know, I could inject both of them with Ofreeall and kill them on the spot and the game lets you carry on, but it will mess up the ending, so I leave them be for the time being.

So, all the pieces have finally come together.

Yeah, Siegel wanted to make a nice profit and get back to Sternwood for stealing his girl, so he kidnapped his wife.

He wanted a middleman to take the heat and used you since he owned all your gambling bets. AT least it seems that Siegel wasn't planning on setting you up.

Yeah, that's fabulous. But Sternwood found an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone, get rid of Siegel and his wife and pin it all on me. It's strange that they let Mrs. Sternwood alive in the trunk but maybe that car-bomb was intended for her too...


Still fuzzy about the details I take a cab back to Peoria.

My dear black-eyed friend the mugger greets me again !

Ok, you convinced me this time. I'll give you my money.

Finally ! Crime does p-

...!!!

Sorry, I lied.

Enough playing around ! I feel pretty confident that I have all the evidence I need now. It's time I went to the police and clear my name.

I hand them over the evidence and tell them my story, but...

It seems I missed something.

Crooked Bee said:

Yep, it looks like a great adventure game indeed. Good job, dawg.

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RK47 said:

SOCKO! This game's a bit much on violence.

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ironyuri said:

there can be no mugger diplomacy in Deja vu.

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Stereotypical Villain said:

You will play Uninvited after that.

I am Caesar and this is my empire.

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GD said:

Too bad it's rather short. Next update will be the last.

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