Shepard Stories - Chapter 5: Meeting Red
Main Characters – Liara and Alex Shepard
The Red Dragon was once known as Ensign Alexander Shepard and is Jon Shepard's twin. He and Jon were supposed to be identical twins, but while in utero their mother Hannah Shepard was exposed to a large amount of eezo. No harm came to Hannah, but the boy's become biotics. They never figured out why the boys' appearances were modified, and they were no longer identical twins but just twins. Jon Shepard had crystal blue eyes and brown hair. While Alex Shepard had emerald green eyes and blonde hair. Everything else was identical except those two things. When the two got older they were both in an accident, and Jon received his infamous scar on his hairline, and Alex gained a scar down the side of his temple that lingered slightly into his cheek. Jon was always a paragon, but Alex's temper always leaned him into being more towards Renegade. The boys were always the best of friends and practically did everything together. Even joined the Alliance together. Jon always seemed to keep his brother in check and his temper under control. Once they were separated Alex didn't really mesh well with the Alliance. The Alliance released him from duty after he broke a commanding officer's jaw from multiple punches to the face. Alex did a six-month sentence in prison and rarely saw or heard from his family.
Once released, Alex went to the depths of Omega and received a translucent dragon tattoo that began at his cheek and slithered down the side of his neck. The dragon tattoo would light up red when his biotics would flare. He always wore a specialized mask that hugged his face as if it was his own skin and wrapped around the sides of his head to the back. One side was clear and practically non-existent. This side is where his dragon tattoo would shine through. His other side was black, and it covered his scar. His mask was made of a highly advanced specialized material that had a heavy kinetic barrier built in. The sides and the back of his head were shaved, and his blonde hair draped over the side of the black part of the mask. On top of that, he wore a top-of-the-line specialized cloak. The Red Dragon became one of the deadliest assassins out there. He was swift and moved like the air. His assassination weapon of choice was a poisonous dagger. If the slashing of their throat didn't kill his target, then he knew the poison would. He was just as deadly when he used his biotics accompanied by his pistol or submachine gun.
The Red Dragon awoke to his Omni tool dinging and grunted as he grabbed it. His eyes widened as he saw that he received a message from his mother that he hadn't heard from in years.
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Message from Unknown Source: Hey, it's me. We need to talk. Highly important! -H
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Message from Unknown Source: Call me at this number. Five minutes. It's Secure. -A
-/
As soon as his video communicator dinged, he answered it. He smiled slightly the moment his mother appeared on the screen then his smile faded when he noticed how distraught she was and quickly asked "What happened?"
Hannah looked at him with tears in her eyes. "It's your brother... he's dead."
His eyes flashed then he shook his head in disbelief "Dead?! How? When?"
Hannah's closed her eyes briefly then said, "I just heard from your brother's fiancé Liara that they were attacked, and he didn't make it into an escape pod." She grit her teeth as she furrowed her brow then continued, "She informed me that Commander Mark Finot didn't bother to rescue any of the bodies that were in space."
Alex clinched his fists as he growled out "What?! They just left him out there to DIE?!"
She nodded, "Yes, son, from my understanding. But listen to me... and please do this for me. I need you to get in contact with Liara. I've sent you, her info. She'll be at the Citadel in eight hours. Find your brother and find out who did this."
He snarled out, "You have my word on that!"
She looked around, "Good, I must go. I love you. Hannah out."
As the video cut out. He was shaking with anger, and with clenched fists, he released a growling yell. He breathed heavily as his tears continued to trickle down his face. Then softly said "I'll get to the bottom of this brother, I will. I can promise you that."
-/
Message from Unknown Source: Liara, I was told to contact you by a similar source regarding the current issue at hand. I can meet you at the Citadel. -Red Dragon
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Message from Liara T'Soni: Red, Meet me at the Presidium Grande Hotel, room 483. 2000 hours? -Liara
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Message from Unknown Source: Liara, Perfect! See you then -RD
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Red quickly packed his bags and headed to the Citadel in his private transport, the Fire Breather. I should be there just at 1800 hours. Plenty of time to get supplies for the Fire Breather.
-/
Liara arrived in her room at the Presidium Grande Hotel just at 1500 hours. She grabbed the clothes from the counter that she had ordered prior to her arrival and walked to her bedroom. She dropped her gear and clothes beside the door and went to shower. After her shower, she plopped on to her bed and slept. She woke to the sound of knocking at her hotel door. She looked at the time, and it was 2000 hours. "Damn it" she murmured then yelled out "Just a minute!" She quickly grabbed the clothes she purchased and got dressed. As she walked to the door she said: "V.I Lights at sixty percent please." When she reached the wall panel, she tapped at the screen to see who was there. She scrunched her brow markings then pushed the intercom button and said "Hello?" When no one answered she opened the door and looked down the hallway to see no one there. Then from within the room, she heard a man's voice. "Dr. Liara T'Soni?"
The door swooshed closed as she whipped around towards the voice with her biotics blazing. "Yes? I'm Dr. Liara T'Soni!" she said then quickly glanced around and saw nothing. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a shimmer then a man appeared beneath a red cloak. He stepped toward her and slightly pulled his hood back so she could see part of his face. She looked at him and saw hardened emerald green eyes and blonde hair that draped over the dark side of his face.
He spoke to her in an almost familiar voice, but it was hardened and different. "I'm The Red Dragon. I was told you had some information for me?"
Her arms were still raised with her biotics blazed. She furrowed her brow markings. "What information exactly?"
He stared at her for a moment as he looked her over then saw a small price tag dangling from her armpit. He opened his mouth to reply sharply but his eyes drifted back to the annoying price tag just dangling unnoticed by her. He raised his hand and pointed toward her armpit and said "Umm you have something, there. Can you? It's highly distracting."
Liara pinched her brow markings as she looked down "What?" she quickly grabbed the tag and pulled it off "Oh! Umm thank you."
Once the price tag was gone, he said "Information about Shepard. Where is he?"
She shook her head as she replied "I'm sorry, but I don't know where he is exactly just that he died, and he was left in space. I plan to track him down and bring him home. I'm assuming he's out there somewhere or on the nearby planet Alchera."
Red nodded then said his thanks as he headed for the door. He opened it, and she said, "Wait! where are you going?"
"To Alchera to retrieve my target," he replied.
"Please wait, my crew and I are going with you!" Liara demanded.
Red turned as he laughed then said, "Absolutely not this is MY contract, not yours! Besides I work alone!"
Confused, she said "Contract? What contract? You know what I don't care, but you will NOT do this without me. I WILL be there when he's found!"
Hearing her determination in her voice, he knew she wouldn't let it go. He dropped his head and grumbled "Fine. How big is your crew?"
A smile crept across her face "Just me and my Turian friend Garrus."
He nodded, "Ok well... I have a ship that's equipped for four. With gear, there should be plenty of room still for three. Pack what you need and grab your friend, we leave tomorrow on the Fire Breather at 0600 Dock B42.
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and when she opened them, he was gone. She went to the door and looked down the hallway to see nothing. When the doors closed Liara quickly called up Garrus from the hotel vid com to inform him of what's happening.
Garrus looked at her for a moment then said "Spirits Liara did I hear you correctly? The Red Dragon is coming with us?"
She nodded "Yes."
He shook his head as rubbed the back of his neck then said "Liara... he's a deadly assassin. He's a man of nightmares! He's there..." He took a soft breath before he blew into his talons as he said "then he's gone."
She nodded as she replied, "I know, I just witnessed it!"
He blinked rapidly as he replied "Wait... you met him in person?! Why didn't you tell me! Are you insane Liara?!"
"I know Garrus! By the Goddess, he scared the hell out of me when he just appeared out of thin air in my hotel room! You know how I told you Hannah said someone I could trust would contact me? Well, he's that someone."
"Why would Hannah personally know the Red Dragon?"
Liara shrugged then said "That Garrus... I do not know. Meet me tomorrow at Docks B42 at 0600. Liara out."
-/
Three highly trained commandos were on their way to the Citadel from Thessia, Shandri, Kirre, and Teyr. These three commandos were loyal to House T'Soni and were part of Liara's mother's crew but were now part of hers.
Shandri's omni tool dinged and her eyes widened when she saw the message.
Message from Liara T'Soni: Shandri, Met our new contact The Red Dragon. We leave on his transport tomorrow at 0600 to head for Alchera. I know you, Teyr and Kirre are on your way to the Citadel but change course and head for Alchera and wait. We'll meet you there. -Liara
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Message from The Newton: By the goddess Lady Liara! The Red Dragon?! Are you out of your mind?!
-Shandri
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Message from Liara T'Soni: Shandri, so, I've heard... -Liara
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Message from Liara T'Soni: Hannah, Met with your contact. Not what I expected but trust you completely. We set off tomorrow at 0600. -Liara
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Message from The Kilimanjaro: Liara, Thank you for the update. Stay safe. - Hannah
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Message from Unknown Source: Met with L. Not what I expected! I will get the job done! -A
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Message from Unknown Source: I know you will. Stay safe! -H