Introduction, Ch #0
This story is one of heroism, sacrifice, and determination. This story is about Shepard, the legendary soldier, specter, and savior of the galaxy.
Mikhail Shepard, son of Lee and Ellen Shepard, was raised aboard the great 'Arcturus Station', a locale distinguished as either the gate to humanity, or humanity's gate to the universe depending on one's point-of-view. A child of military personnel, Mikhail was raised by a combination of his father, mother, and family friends. Following a relatively uneventful and undisciplined childhood, adolescence, and education, he became a marine. He was good at his job, and made few apologies or mistakes. His mother loved him dearly, and regularly sent him extranet messages. Her darling "Mickey" usually replied. Some called Mikhail ruthless. Others were impressed with the results. He never heeded others' words so long as his freewill was unimpeded. He prided himself in his stellar numbers and his ability to convince, haggle, interrupt, and generally talk his way out of any situation.
-October 10, 2175-
During the celebration of his 21st year of existence, he accepted a dare from drunken buddies to get "the number of that hot Asari over there". An easy euphoria burst into existence. The parties involved both assumed and expected the best.
-Winter, 2175-
The thrill shortly wore off. He grew tired of the philosophical overtones and 'embracing eternity'. Mikhail quickly resorted to excuses, and pursued other social, temporal, and intellectual distractions.
-February 17, 2176-
Mikhail had been postponing, but resolved to 'be free' of Adriadne, the Asari. He informed her that he'd moved on. His mistakes were numerous. Letting slip that he had been seeing someone for three months was, if not chief among them, close to it.
He could not talk himself out of the situation that arose.
Caius Scipio, attached to the Citadel Security Fore office overseeing that quadrant of Zakera ward, reported to an incident in hotel room 140 of 'Zakera Suites'.
The Salarian owner, visibly nervous, insisting that "This sort of thing never happens here.", went on to state that "I operate a reputable establishment" in a way implying he himself didn't believe it. Caius growled quietly that "I'm not getting paid enough for this", and did what any good Turian did in uncomfortable situations; he shouldered his way past. The agent boarded the elevator moments later.
The lift ride was surprisingly short, considering they were usually in poor repair, and operated at a rate that annoyed even Elcor. Forty rooms down a cheaply furnished, extensively carpeted, hallway attempting to project class lay room #140.
There were remains splattered all over the hotel room wall. Red blood meant the remains were Human or Quarian. Remains of clothing, not a suit, eliminated the possibility of a Quarian. The only witness, and Asari by the name Ariadne, suppressing what he deduced were tears, told him she arrived to find what she assumed to be her boyfriend plastered to the wall. She recognized the boots.
Caius ran the name on his omni-tool, read the dossier, sighed, and opened up the 'crime report' app. He was tired after a long day at work, and chalked the incident up to 'spontaneous combustion'. He heard humans sometimes do that, and had no great desire to investigate the death of another xenophobe. Caius, quipping to the Salarian "the room's all yours, looks like another accident to me", took Ariande to a meal he would expense to C-sec, and finished another long day in a good mood.
Mikhail Shepard is not the subject of this story.