Chapter Text
I remember the day well, the day I graduated from the police academy. I had graduated at the top of my class. A distinction I damn well deserved. I had worked hard to not only graduate, but succeed. Ever since my childhood, I had wanted nothing more than to become a police officer and help others. Now I had accomplished the first part of my goal, next was the helping others part.
However, joining the Raccoon City Police Department it seemed was not in the cards for me. As when I exited the training building, I was met on the front lawn by two people. One man was slender and wore dark clothing with black sunglasses that concealed his eyes. He looked like some kind of scheming doctor. The man next to him was a somewhat older gentleman with a bushy beard, overweight figure, and stern eyes.
"Evening, Mr. Kennedy." Sneered the slender man.
"Evening," I replied. "Do I know you two?"
"No, not yet, rookie." The older gentleman said. "I am Brian Irons, chief of the RPD."
The chief!? The freaking chief himself was here!? Why? Was he scouting new recruits to the force?
"This over here is a close associate of mine. Captain Albert Wesker, the head of our S.T.A.R.S. Branch."
"Its nice to meet you both." I spluttered, too surprised to say anything else.
"Thank you, Mr. Kennedy." Sneered Wesker. "Now, the chief looked over your scores at the police academy. Top of your class apparently. As well as the top at the academy overall. Your skills with a gun are certainly incredible, Mr. Kennedy."
"Thank you, Captain." I nodded.
"Please, just call me Wesker."
"Okay, well ... thank you, Wesker."
"S.T.A.R.S. could use a good gun guy like yourself, Leon." Said Brian, "how's about you try out for S.T.A.R.S.? You could make a valuable asset to the team."
"Wow ... this is ... so sudden, Chief. I never expected to get picked so soon."
"Well," began Brian, "we have been deciding on for some time now who to pick to join S.T.A.R.S. Bravo Team between you and and a few other candidates and both Captain Wesker and I landed on you due to your exceptional combat skills and marksmenship."
"So, will you take the job?" Asked Wesker.
"Sirs, count me in." I nodded confidently.
The two smiled at each other before shaking my hand and leaving. I was confident at first, but now I was nervous as all hell. What was I doing? A rookie who just graduated being picked for the Special Tactics and Rescue Service unit of the RPD. It seemed unheard of. But then again I hadn't officially joined the unit yet. I was just up for selection.
It was still a big responsibility. Being a Special Forces police officer and all was a big step up from just a simple patrol officer. But perhaps I could help more people with this role. I would have to wait and see where this path took me.
...
I can't do this.
That is what I told myself as I stood outside of the large gates of the Raccoon City Police Department. It was an unconventional building for a police station, apparently having been converted from a museum. I stood outside of my jeep across the street. I couldn't move, too nervous to enter the police station. It was now July and I had completed my S.T.A.R.S. recruitment training. However, the only members of S.T.A.R.S. that I had met up until this point was Wesker as well as the chief, Brian Irons.
I hadn't even stepped foot in the RPD station itself. Being trained off-site in a different facility. I wore a custom 'uniform' given to me by Wesker. It was a green tactical vest with S.T.A.R.S. written across the back, with a white undershirt with the seal of the S.T.A.R.S. unit on the arms, navy blue pants, black fingerless gloves, and black tied military boots. There was also a utility belt with a holster for my service weapon whenever I was going to be given it.
As I stood in front of the building, second guessing my decision to join S.T.A.R.S. I noticed a young girl outside of the gate. She looked to be about just as nervous as I was right now. Wanting to help out, I approached her. Tapping her gently on the shoulder. She flipped around to face me. She was very young looking and had a soft, almost child-like face. She looked rather shy and nervous as she stared into my eyes.
"Hi, there!" I said, "my name's Leon. I'm a police officer. Can I help you with something?"
"Oh, I'm a police officer too." The young girl smiled, "I'm Rebecca Chambers. Hey, you're a member of S.T.A.R.S. too!?"
"Nice to meet you." I smiled, "and yes I am. How long have you been with the team?"
"I'm the youngest member so far, been here around a month. You must be the new guy."
"Yes, I'm assigned to the Bravo Team."
"Bravo Team? Hey, that's the same team as me!"
"Oh, cool. I'm glad to be working alongside you."
"Me as well." Rebecca blushed, "I'm a little nervous about going inside. Do you mind accompanying me?"
I blushed faintly, before smiling warmly at her.
"Sure, I wouldn't mind."
I strode ahead, leading Rebecca into the police station. She held my arm tightly, it made me blush a bit. I wasn't exactly sure why Rebecca was being so ... clingy to me. But I just assumed it was nervousness. I was pretty nervous too, despite my fake confidence. We headed towards the front desk of the police station lobby. Dozens of uniformed officers walked around the building.
It was large, actually, more like gargantuan. It was shocking how big the interior of the building was. It appeared to have three floors. With officers and civilians on each balcony around it. As we approached the desk, an officer behind the desk looked up at us.
"Excuse me," I said to the officer. "My name is Leon Kennedy. I'm here to meet the members of S.T.A.R.S. with Rebecca here."
"You're the new recruit, eh!?" Called a voice behind us.
We turned and found a dark-skinned officer behind us.
"Yes, we are." Rebecca replied, "who are you?"
"Lieutenant Marvin Branagh," he replied. "I'm the head of the Bureau of Operations. Captain Marini told me to look out for you guys. I'll take you both up to the S.T.A.R.S. office."
"Thanks, Lieutenant." I nodded before we followed Marvin.
We went up to the second floor, down through a library, and finally to the door to the S.T.A.R.S. office.
"Well," said Marvin. "Here we are. Good luck you two."
Marvin then turned and walked past us down the hall. Rebecca and I then turned to the door to the office. My hand shaking as I grabbed the door knob. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before turning the knob and heading inside. Once Rebecca and I stepped inside we found the room populated by the members of S.T.A.R.S. their multi-colored outfits revealing as much.
They were talking to each other before we stepped inside. Then they all fell silent and turned towards us. Some with stern or confused expressions. Rebecca appeared to want to back out of the room. But I stayed firm and cleared my throat before speaking.
"Hi ... everyone," I said nervously. "I'm Leon S. Kennedy. I'm trying out for S.T.A.R.S."
The team said nothing, as if they didn't know who should speak first. Suddenly, an athletic-looking man with short hair stepped up and approached us.
"New recruits, huh?" He said.
"That's correct, sir." I replied.
"Hey, don't call me sir." The man told us sternly. "I may be your superior, but we're still teammates, rookie. Call me Chris, Chris Redfield."
He then shook my hand.
"Nice to meet you, Chris." I replied.
Suddenly, more and members of S.T.A.R.S. approached us. Introducing themselves one-by-one.
"I'm Jill Valentine."
"Barry Burton's the name."
"I'm Brad Vickers."
"Edward Dewey."
"The name's Forest, Forest Speyer."
"Richard Aiken, its nice to meet you."
"Joseph Frost, good to know ya."
"My names Kenneth J. Sullivan. But just call me Kenneth."
The final person left to greet us was a stern, older man with a mustache. He was silent for the most part until he shook my hand.
"The name's Enrico Marini." He told us, "I'm the captain of Bravo Team."
"Nice to meet you, Captain." I smiled rather sheepishly. "Where's Captain Wesker?"
"He's talking with the chief about something." Chris replied as he and the others sat at their desks. "He'll be back up shortly."
As if on cue, the door to the office opened and Albert Wesker stepped inside. He stared at everyone before ominously closing the door behind him. He then walked past us and stood in front of the whole squad.
"I see you all have met the new recruit." He said.
"Indeed we have," replied Enrico. "So, what did the chief want?"
"Well, he said that there has been a number of disappearances in the Arklay Mountains. He thinks its best if Bravo Team investigates the scene with Leon joining in and shadowing the team on the mission."
"Really?" Asked Jill. "Why not send us?"
"Well, he thinks it would be best to send him with the Bravo's so that he can get more experience apart of the unit. He has completed the required training for the team, but he lacks the field experience you all have."
The team seemed to accept this answer before Enrico approached Wesker.
"How long before we move out?"
"We'll move out tonight. So, get prepared for the mission and bring anything you think you'll need."
Wesker then approached his large desk and sat down behind it before Barry approached us both.
"Here," he said as he handed me a silver modified Beretta 92FS. "This will be your service weapon, Leon."
"Copy that," I replied with a smirk before putting the Beretta in my holster.
"I'll call you tonight when we head out for the mission." Enrico said to me. "For now, you're dismissed for the day, Leon."
I nodded before turning and leaving the S.T.A.R.S. office. Before I could close the door, however, Rebecca followed me out. Chuckling at my nervousness as she closed the office door.
"Those guys are tough, aren't they?" She said.
"Yeah, no doubt." I replied, "but I'm sure they're a good bunch."
"Oh, don't I know it. Well, I hope you have a good time tonight. S.T.A.R.S. isn't an easy gig."
"That's what I hear," I nodded. "But I'll pull my weight, don't worry. I'll see you tonight, okay?"
"Okay, Leon." Rebecca smiled.
We then went out separate ways. I returned home and when I stepped through the front door of my apartment I felt and immediate sense of dread. What the hell was I doing? I had my first mission apart of S.T.A.R.S. tonight! Shit ... was I really going to go through with this? It made me feel sick. I needed a drink.
I walked to my fridge before grabbing a beer bottle. I stared at it, unsure as to if I should really take one drink. I then shrugged, one drink wouldn't hurt after all. It would be a small stress relief after all. Combined with the fact my longtime girlfriend had recently dumped me and I was feeling down in the dumps. So, I needed this to take the edge off.
...
I woke up to the sound of something blaring in my ear. I blinked my vision back to normal before sitting up. I looked out of my window and realized it was pitch black outside. I quickly searched for the source of the noise, discovering it was my portable phone. I picked it up and answered the call.
"Hello?" I moaned.
"Rookie! Where the hell are you!?" Shrieked the voice of Wesker.
"Huh?" I asked, "Captain, what's wrong?"
"What's wrong? What's wrong is the fact that you were late to meet with Enrico tonight."
Fuck ... I missed the time! Dammit!
"Captain, I'm so sorry, I-"
"Save it, rookie. Just get down here, we'll need your support on the mission to find the Bravos."
"Find them? You mean they're missing?"
"Yes, now get the hell down here now! If you're not here in one hour we're leaving without you and you can kiss your spot on the team goodbye."
Wesker then abruptly hung up the call. I sat back against my sofa. Tired and now even more stressed out than I already was. But I didn't let that stop me. I hurried to grab my service weapon and put on a sleek black turtleneck, jeans, gray jacket, and black tied boots before grabbing my car keys and heading out. I raced down the dark roads, putting my foot to the gas. I wouldn't ruin this opportunity to join S.T.A.R.S. and I would help them find the missing Bravos. This was my one and only chance to finally make a difference in the world. I couldn't and wouldn't screw this up! ... hopefully.