Shepard VI

Shepard VI
Race	Virtual Intelligence
Gender	Feminine or Masculine Programming
Voice Actor	Jennifer Hale (Female) Mark Meer (Male)
Appearances	Mass Effect 3

A Shepard VI is a virtual intelligence based on Commander Shepard. There may be more than one version of such a VI in existence.

Mass Effect 2

If Commander Shepard helps Thane Krios track down his son, they start their search by speaking to Captain Bailey at the C-Sec Office on Zakera Ward. Bailey points them to Mouse, a former "duct rat", who, among other illegal activities, is selling a VI personality he made based on Shepard. The VI can make snarky comments based on its owner's electronic activities like deleting files; however, it is apparently so buggy that it crashes every thirty minutes.

Bailey recommends that Shepard pick up a copy of the VI from Mouse, which the Commander may do while interrogating Mouse outside Dark Star Lounge with Thane. Alternatively, the Commander can ask for a cut of the profits from selling the VIs, or demand that Mouse stop producing them altogether. Mouse will agree to whatever Shepard wants concerning the VI, but he insists that making it was legal as the Commander was dead at the time. If Shepard obtains a copy, Mouse claims that three volus are regularly patching the software.

Mass Effect 3

In 2186, after completing a mission to Palaven to rescue the turian primarch, Commander Shepard may encounter a holographic image of themselves on display at the growing refugee camp on the Citadel. When interacted with, a prerecorded male voice states that the projection is a VI, "model 1.7 AGB, Commander Shepard", and to speak with a store clerk to unlock a demo. The nearby female sales clerk will oblige, apparently unaware she is speaking with the "war hero" her merchandise is based on. She explains that only the demo version is currently working because a kid spilled their soda on the VI's hardware.

After it is unlocked, the Shepard VI demo will speak a number of lines in a synthesized voice similar to the real Shepard's voice. These lines vary depending on the Commander's personality and reputation. After an initial greeting that only plays once, there is a set number of lines that are always spoken by the VI in the same order, ending with a goodbye, after which the real Shepard wonders aloud if they really sound like the VI. The VI can be used any number of additional times, but the same lines repeat.

Quotes (Paragon)

“Good to meet you! I'm Commander Shepard, Alliance Navy.”

“Extranet says you're Alliance Military. Take care of yourself out there, officer.”

“There's nothing this galaxy can't beat if we all work together.”

“Except the Reapers. Ever see the size of one of those things?”

“My personality matrix can predict what the real Commander Shepard would say with seven percent accuracy.”

"I come preinstalled with an SSV Normandy flight sim." Note: female variation

"I come preinstalled with a flight sim of the SSV Normandy." Note: male variation

“Got any pets? You look like a varren person.”

“Always nice to see you.”

“Hey again.”

“Anyone ever tell you you're one hell of a looker, soldier?”

“Don't be a stranger.”

Quotes (Renegade)

“Commander Shepard. Alliance Navy.”

“Looks like you've been in some fights lately. Install me in a combat mech, and I could do some pretty crazy damage, myself.”

“I find the best advanced battlefield strategy is to have more bullets than the other guy.”

“Technically, it's thermal clips, not bullets. But who says, "I filled him with five detachable heat sinks"?”

“I sound seven percent more like Commander Shepard than any other bootleg VI copy.”

"Wait, wait, forget the mech. Install me in one of those flying drones and stick a Cain on it." Note: female variation

"Wait, forget the mech. Install me in one of those flying drones and stick a Cain on it." Note: male variation

“You want help solving your problems? Get me out of this damn demo mode.”

“Listen, if you don't have the credits, just... tear me out of the terminal. Or something.”

“Ever wrestle a varren for money?”

“Well, so long.”

Trivia

• In Mass Effect 2, when Bailey first mentions the Shepard VI sold by Mouse at the start of Thane: Sins of the Father, he may quote voice lines the VI supposedly uses. Both lines are obvious parodies of things the Commander may have actually said in Mass Effect, including one line they may have uttered about killing people on their way to "real problems" if they confronted Lord Darius on Nonuel.
  • If they are in the party, Tali or Garrus may rib Shepard about the VI lines, calling them "pretty extreme," a phrase that is itself likely a callback to a common reaction from squadmates to many of the Commander's more Renegade actions in the first game.
• In Mass Effect 3, the Renegade Shepard VI's line about "bootleg" versions of the VI may be a reference to the version sold by Mouse in Mass Effect 2; it may also be referencing the fact that technically, any versions of a Shepard VI would be bootlegs, as they would all presumably have been made without the real Commander Shepard's express authorization.
• In Mass Effect 3, the Renegade Shepard VI's line about wrestling a varren for money is very similar to something that Tela Vasir may say if Shepard helps Liara hunt down the Shadow Broker in Mass Effect 2.

Cut Content

The following quotes were cut:

“You know what I like about this shop? It accepts all major credit lines...”

“Well, whatever you decide, I'm glad you dropped by.”

“You keep coming back. Your commanding officer's sure generous with shore leave.”

“Let's get this straight: I don't "do" task scheduling. I'm not that kind of program. Call me if you spot any rogue AIs.”

“Seriously, let me know. My personality matrix's gathering dust here.”