Born to an ambitious Galante businesswoman and a humble Minmatar agriculturalist, Deacon was torn between the natures of two cultures. Not feeling at home in either realm, Deacon immersed himself in the studies of culture, the better to understand them. He entered the Republic University on scholarship for progressive diplomacy. His studies caught the attention of the Minmatar capsuleer program.

At first, Deacon declined the program. Having researched the immortal condition, he reported on the importance of mortality as part of retaining one's moral humanity in opposition to Donna Haraway's Cyborg Manifesto (his freshman paper was published in RU's graduate library). But a mentor took Deacon under his wing and explained how the Manifesto actually enabled connections. With much reluctance, Deacon took on the training with purpose. He swore he would not become a blind god like many others who forfeited their mortality. Deacon Sloane would be a unifier, a representation of hope.