What was that weird ‘shock’/EMP I received

deus-ex-human-revolution

During Deus Ex 3, coming back to my apartment to speak to Sarif I ignored the apartment and went straight into the downstairs elevator, after passing the corner I got a weird 'shock' which acted like a small EMP.

What on earth was it? I couldn't see a mine or anything that could've done it…

Best Answer

It's neither a mine, or anything you did

It's actually a part of the story, and will be somewhat explained later on in the game. What you are experiencing are in fact a "malfunction" in the biochip.

Explained it a bit better with spoilers, in case you want to know:

The "malfunction" is actually a part of the bad guys' plan—to force all augmented people get an upgraded biochip from the LIMB clinics. This upgraded biochip has a remote-controlled "kill switch" that drives augmented people mad, and turns them in to zombies who attack everyone they see.