15 years earlier

"Welcome home, Master Kane" said the synthesized voice, as a young man strode through metallic slide door and into the large manor. The light brown haired, twenty year old man had only one large bag wrapped around his chest. He had a dirty look to him, as though he hadn't had a shower in months and his hair had grown long, past his ears

"I'm not staying long" the weary traveler retorted as he lifted his bag over his head and dropped it on the floor.

"Sir, don't you think Casey Kane should make an appearance after his five year hiatus?"

Hearing someone call him by his full name, brought it all back again for that one moment. He had just spent that last five years travelling over the Eastern part of Earth. He left when he was 15 years old. He got fed up with the people talking behind his back and always giving him a special treatment. It had been that way since the day his parents were shot down in front of him, when he was only 10 years old.

Casey's father had been a renowned tech specialist, creating some of the most influential programs in leading virtual intelligences. And his mother had been a doctor with the Alliance military. Both of them were very giving, creating one of the largest charity foundations humanity had ever known. Kane's Charity was first established on Earth and grew to be featured on every continent and eventually taken to the stars of Citadel space.

On that fateful day, the Kane family was taking a nice family weekend off to visit some of the other Citadel sites. Before they left though, Casey's father had to take care of some business at the Kane's Charity Citadel House. They had their automated vehicle park and they made their way into the main lobby. The charity took care of numerous ventures from rebuilding homes, disaster relief or homelessness. That day when the two CEOs of the charity along with their ten year old came into the lobby, they were met with many inquiring and questioning people. The family was used to the crowds and publicity.

In the large lobby area was three groups of people, those crowding around the Kane's, the employees and a small group of homeless trying to find help. Casey's father and mother were busy signing some papers, leaving young Casey sitting on a couch nearby. He was kicking his feet with an innocent smile, waiting for his parents to be done with their business. As he scanned the room, he briefly locked eyes with a man who was sitting at a table across the lobby. The dirty looking man was playing with an antique set of cards with two other homeless people. He gave an angry snarl to the young boy and then went back to gambling.

Young Casey frowned and quickly smiled again seeing his parents conclude their business and start making their way towards him. They took him by the hand and began their way to the exit. Security was on hand now and kept most of the photographers and other media at bay. The Kane family strode the doors, where the crowd of homeless was waiting for appointments. There were tables and the same man playing cards, gathered his cards and angrily stormed towards the same door.

Casey's father had reached the door first and being the ever thoughtful person he was, he opened the sliding door and gestured for the gambler to go first with a smile. The gambler walked midway through the doorway and then paused. He turned around slowly and unholstered a hidden Phalanx pistol from his belt.

"Looks like my luck has changed" the gambler sneered as he slowly walked forward with the heavy pistol pointed directly at charitable billionaire's throat.

"We can work this out" started the elder Kane as he put his left hand up and his other around his wife, "What do you want?" Casey was standing behind them both, terrified as to what was happening. He noticed security had circled them with weapons drawn.

The desperate gambler shook the gun back and forth, "Tell them to put their weapons on the ground, NOW!"

"Okay, settle down" calmly said Casey's father, "put the guns down guys. I don't think he wants to hurt us, right?" he gestured back at the gambler.

"I know who you are; hell the whole galaxy knows who you two are. The Kane family: The charitable billionaires. And here I thought my day was going to be unlucky" smirked the gambler.

"Okay, here's my credit chit, all the money you could possible want. Now we have done everything you have asked."

The gambler took the chit, with his gun still pointed at the man's face. He rocked his head side to side and slowly, "Not quite," he then looked directly at the young Casey, who peeked around his father's side, "it's too bad kid, the game was rigged from the beginning.

The young boy stood in horror as he heard two shots ring out followed by another. Everything slowed down and faded into silence. Casey saw his father fall first, then his mother on top of him. The young Kane dropped to his knees to comfort his parents, but they were already gone.

Security scrambled in slow motion to get their weapons, but it was too late. The gambler had already fled, running as fast as he could.

People hurried, screaming and trying to make sense of the chaos, but Casey was slumped over the bodies of the only two people who mattered in his life. He had a single tear fall from his sullen eyes, as he looked around at the whirling people. His whole world had just collapsed around him.

After that day, everything had changed. Casey didn't speak to anyone for days, instead he had to listen to lawyers and bankers talk day after day about what to do with the Kane fortune. The newly orphaned Casey didn't care though, everything felt numb to him. A few days after the incident, he was sitting in one of the large business rooms. The adults around him bickered on, but Casey wasn't paying attention. He heard someone mention his parents, and he nearly broke down in tears right then and there. Suddenly the lights flickered in the room, causing everyone to stop talking; even Casey started to look around curious.

"I apologize for the dramatic entrance gentlemen, but I needed to access your systems", chimed the well-mannered synthetic voice, "I am Alfred, the personal assistant to the Kane's. I have the last will and testament of Sir Kane, which states that young Master Casey will continue to live in his family estate after the deaths of Mister and Misses Kane. He will be under my care with supervision with key members of the charity to visit regularly. Also I will be integrating myself more into your systems as acting chairman until Master Casey turns 18. I have a vehicle waiting for him outside, good day gentleman."

The voiced then buzzed off and the other members of the board made looks at each other and then agreed to the terms and signed the holo pads, making it official. Casey left the building and then went home with Alfred. Happy to back somewhere he knows and with someone who was as close as family, Casey tried to settle back into his life.

This was the setup for years, Casey still attended school and tried to live his life as well as he could, but there was always an underling feeling that he didn't belong. He heard the things people were saying about him, snickering behind his back. He made friends, but he never really knew if they really liked him or if they just felt sorry for him. He did his best to get through the days, but eventually it all started to catch up with him. He began to get fed up with the glares and jeers.

When he was fifteen years old, he had just got back from a school field trip. He was greeted by Alfred, but did not answer him back; instead he paced the large hall way back and forth. Finally he told Alfred that he wanted to leave, go far away so no one would find him. Alfred questioned why and he replied that he wanted to find a way to channel his rage and get away from it all. Alfred hesitated to answer, but the AI cared about the boy and so agreed, but on one condition, he builds a portable unit so that Alfred could accompany him.

"No, this is something I need to do on my own Alfred. I need you to stay here and take care of my Dad's legacy."

"It is your legacy now sir, but I will stay here. Any idea where you will be go first?"

"Earth"

That was five years ago. Now Casey was twenty years old, and in total control of his family's charity. He was older, stronger. He had travelled all over Earth in the five long years. He was in Asia, learning ancient mediation and martial arts to channel his young rage and emotions. He then wanted to learn more and mastered samurai ways as well as making his way to Africa, to learn methods of old warriors. When he turned eighteen, he had to come to a Kane embassy in the U.S to sign papers and while there found the champions of boxer and judo, studying under them. This was all he did for five years, train and learn all he could, but it was never enough.

He had found ways to calm himself, but over time he wanted to do more, he wanted to help others in ways no one could. He learned to fight and ways to stay completely hidden. Now home, he wanted to put the skills to use.

"Alfred," Casey said as he munched on a sandwich made by Alfred in the fridge, "I have seen so much, travelled the world. I can control my anger and pain; I learned to blend with shadows, to use fear to control my enemies and never to be seen. I have tools and skills, but I just don't know what to do with them. " Casey paused, "There is a whole new galaxy out there. I want to see it all, I want to fight to protect people and I know how."

"How is that sir?"

"I am going to join the Alliance"