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Mathieu represents one of the most controversial cross-species attempts in recent history. Natural conception between humans and salarians is impossible due to profound genetic incompatibilities. However, the father, field marshal Sceaphierde, provided intelligence regarding the clandestine experimentation which took place via the mother, salarian genetic researcher [REDACTED], who sought to overcome this boundary.
The vitro fertilization took place aboard a remote station within the Attican Traverse shared by Alliance military and STG. The human father, at the time stationed at the outpost, became involved in a romantic relationship with the salarian scientist that was assigned to the same mission. Unknown to him during the time of fraternization, the scientist began a personal project in secret to splice and manipulate the both of their genetic material, attempting to gestate a viable hybrid embryo through artificial means.
After only months of development in a growth chamber, the infant was formed with a fully human appearance, male in sex, indistinguishable from other human children, to the chagrin of the salarian scientist. She found this outcome to be a scientific failure, lacking any visible traits of her species, and being the opposite intended sex according to found research. She sought to dispose of the attempt in favor of more hopeful subsequent endeavors. The father, eventually discovering both the child’s existence and the salarian scientist’s dispassionate motives, removed the infant from her possession and departed the station with the assistance of [REDACTED].
The father began raising the child in adolescence among Terra Nova, until subtle but unmistakable salarian traits began to emerge. These included:
Accelerated growth: reaching physical stature and cognitive milestones far earlier than peers as well as quick regeneration.
Fast acting metabolism: requiring more food consumption.
Sleep cycle alteration: only a fraction of the standard human sleep cycle (around two hours per day).
After these developments, the father and the child departed Terra Nova within an unclassified ark and lived in isolation among the Terminus Systems for about a decade as further traits came to the surface, including:
Morphological traits: greying skin tone, heightened stature, elongated limbs and other bone structure, pronounced cranial ridges reminiscent of salarian head crests, textural ridges under the skin, digits and toes fusing together, pupil shape changing to a slit and sclera becoming entirely black, receding hair.
His existence represents an unprecedented biological anomaly and raises difficult ethical and political questions. An act of pioneering science, one of the first steps towards bridging an evolutionary gulf between species, or a profound violation of both species’ boundaries?
As of current records, the human father, incapable of entirely caring for the hybrid’s needs, brought the child to the attention of the Alliance and provided any and all information related to the salarian scientist [REDACTED] who has yet to be located (if even still living as salarian lifespans rarely exceed 40 years). The father’s concern for the hybrid to live a life of normativity, as a son rather than an abnormality, has mostly been met with empathy because of his decorated service with the Alliance.
However, trials, tests, and experimentation were still necessary. The hybrid’s upbringing was then structured and disciplined, with routine, standard education, and survival training. It became apparent that the hybrid was immensely receptive to learning in all capacities, with an intense capacity for observation, analysis, and recall. Except for that of social development, struggling with small talk, sarcasm, humor, reading social cues, recognizing nuances- though unnecessary for galactic demands.
Ultimately, he is invaluable in tactical and investigative scenarios, albeit many officers have remarked his mannerisms as apathetic, his labor and precision as cold. Only those who have worked closely with him are able to recognize the underlying humanity, which is the final struggle. Identity. Unsure of his place in human society. Though raised as human, one cannot ignore the accelerating divergence. At times, the hybrid will try to conceal or even reject his salarian traits, deliberately almost mimicking human mannerisms or downplaying instincts to avoid distrust from humans who view him as too alien.
Presently, Mathieu Sceaphierde has risen within the ranks of the Alliance as one of the youngest decorated commanders, and is now stationed aboard the Normandy class-SR.
