Greasel

The Greasel is a reptilian transgenic pest that roams the sewers throughout the post-Collapse world.

Background
Originally created by VersaLife before the Great Collapse to serve as a guard animal, the greasels proved to be very difficult to control, and when the Collapse hit and wiped out the security systems at VersaLife's various facilities, they escaped along with the grays and the karkians.

Resembling dinosaurs, greasels are vicious predators with keen senses and the ability to expectorate a highly toxic venom. They mainly eat small live mammals, particularly cats, but they aren't picky.

Development
Greasels were mentioned in the 1997-1999 Deus Ex development document. These greasels were originally called 'greazels', which is what they're still internally called sometimes. Interestingly, these greasels are said to be developed from seagulls.

Official greazel development section:

"Greazel Size: Medium (turkey sized)

Demeanor: Flock mentality. Easily frightened when alone; hostile in groups.

Description: Genetically manipulated, nano-augmented seagull. Greazel look like seagulls devolved back to their dinosaur origins. Feathers cover the wings, allowing flight, but the rest of the body is covered in dinosaur-like quills or spiky fur. They have no teeth but their sharp beaks can inflict a bit of damage. (However, the beaks are designed more for pecking and digging out chunks of meat from dead animals).

Location: Found in Majestic 12 nano-labs, particularly VersaLife. Not really a threat unless released from their pens. Then they can threaten the PC or be unleashed on unsuspecting NPCs. If released, Greazels will do everything in their (limited) power to get to and/or stay with a Karkian.

Role: Greazels are like nano-rats with wings and were created as part of the same experimental program. Designed as a super-scavenger for use in cleaning up large open areas or shallow water areas. The end result was something the researchers never anticipated: a bio-weapon capable of incapacitating its victims.

Combat Notes: The Greazel incapacitates victims by flying above them and regurgitating caustic, venomous globules on them. The venom, absorbed through the skin, blurs the victim’s vision and affects aiming ability and movement speed. What they can’t do is actually kill a victim. For this reason, they’ve developed a symbiotic relationship with Karkians. They disable their target and then flank, land on and/or huddle behind a Karkian, waiting for it to make the kill on the helpless victim. Then, they scavenge whatever remains of the kill when the Karkian is done."

Deus Ex
Greasels are typically found in MJ12 facilities, such as VersaLife and first seen in the Liberty Island MJ12 lab. Greasels can be found in Paris, which Tracer Tong suggests were either released by MJ12 or had escaped from a nearby facility. Escaped greasels can be found in the Pasadena Ocean Lab after the attack on the facility opened their cases and are also created in Universal Constructors in Area 51.

The caged greasels in the Liberty Island MJ12 lab can released via button or computer, causing them to attack all humans in the area, including the player. The greasels in VersaLife can be released, causing them to befriend the player and attack MJ12 in the area.

Unlike karkians, greasels will prioritize fighting over eating, if left alone they will eat any corpses nearby, restoring 2 health on munch.

Greasels move slowly in water, but their ranged spit still works underwater. Greasels also don't drown when swimming.

Deus Ex: Invisible War
The unlucky scientists who became trapped in JC Denton's Sanctuary, encountered a pack of escaped greasels from the nearby VersaLife labs slowly hunted them until none of the scientists remained alive. As seen in Antarctica, the creatures exhibit the ability to survive in very cold temperatures.

In spite of the danger greasels pose, they are sought after by certain segments of post-Collapse society (the street value as of 2072 is around 350 credits). In Lower Seattle, greasel fights have become a popular attraction at the "Greasel Pit Bar", where an intrepid trainer (or a smart gambler) can make considerable amounts of money with the right greasel. The current champion is Gobzilla, whose trainer is Tina.

Some greasels are kept as pets, with training manuals wrote with instructions on how to care for them. Greasels are often kept in cages and fed cats when kept as pets.

"At least one whole cat per day. Live cats are the best. If you must use a dead cat, warm it up in the microwave first, then wiggle it around for the feeding. Never feed your greasel table food. It encourages bad habits. Make sure your pet has fresh water everyday."

- Greasel Care

It is implied by some conversations in the games that greasels taste good like chicken when cooked.

VersaLife later developed an additional variant, a red version of the greasel that is more deadly, killing rather than causing fainting.

"We've discovered that one of VersaLife's final projects was the development of a meaner, tougher, red-colored breed of greasel.

Rather than natural evolution, it looks like the DNA was infused with new data from outside the existing green greasel genome.

This genetic manipulation has made the animals considerably more aggressive."

- Red Greasels, Next Rev

"There's no stopping the red greasels though. Their attacks are too...effective. No feints and no play. One mistake and the trainer ends up dead."

- Red Greasels

Red greasels are said to be more aggressive, more deadly, have better endurance and faster breeding than green greasels, with female greasels preferring red greasels over green.

"Greasels were created via the de-evolution of avine DNA to it's dinosaur origins. They share a flock mentality and are hostile in these groups, but easily frightened when alone. They attack by spitting a caustic venom that blurs the vision and affects the physical coordination of their prey.  They possess an unexpected symbiotic bond with karkians, and when attacking in the company of one, they will disable their target, then flank, waiting for the karkian to make the kill.  Then they will scavenge the remains when the karkian has finished feeding."

- Cut Museum Guide