Chapter 1

July 21, 1998:

Artie Scarano lived in a small western-town called Raccoon City. He was getting ready to take a shower when the phone rang. It was S.T.A.R.S. (Special Tactics and Rescue Service) officer Chris Redfield. He had told him that Captain Albert Wesker wanted to see him in the S.T.A.R.S. office in one hour.

"Alright, I'll be there in an hour, thanks Chris."

"No problem," Chris replied and the phone clicked.

Chris was the only S.T.A.R.S. member Artie had met when he had applied for a position on the team. After a somewhat soothing shower, Artie got dressed and headed for the R.P.D. (Raccoon City Police Department), which was only a couple of blocks away from his apartment.

Artie was only fifteen. He had lied about being eighteen, because he wanted to join the S.T.A.R.S. so badly, though his appearance was still convincing enough. He always had an interest in law enforcement. Before wanting to join S.T.A.R.S., he had taken training at an Umbrella Corporation academy two years before when he was thirteen. The Umbrella Corporation was an extremely major organization that basically owned the entire town. Any and just about everyone were on their payroll, including the R.P.D.

The only reason he was able to start at younger age was because he had a good friend, Rain Ocampo, who lived in the apartment next to his. She took him one day as a tour around the academy and he met a few of her partners on her team. He had only met three of the six other people on the team. The leader was James Shade, who was referred to mostly as and code named "One." The computer technician was Chad Kaplan. He can hack into and override just about anything. He seems kind of like the nervous type though. The only other person Artie was able to meet was J.D. Salinas, a tough Spanish commando who, from Artie's perspective, seems to have a thing for Rain. After taking the tour, Rain had talked with One about Artie's interest and One decided to sign him up for early training. One didn't know how their boss, Major Timothy Cain, would even think about allowing Artie to train there. Rain told the rest of the team to put a good word in for Artie. Cain didn't seem to refuse only because One's team was best there was and if they say that Artie would be a great trainee, then why not. It paid off.

Now, he was going to apply for a position on S.T.A.R.S.

Following about a five minute walk, he entered through the double doors of the R.P.D. and headed upstairs for the S.T.A.R.S. office with a smile on his face. The S.T.A.R.S. office wasn't all that big. It had five desks in the room. One had been off to the far left of the room alone, and the other four were connected in twos in the center to the right of the room.

There were two teams involved with S.T.A.R.S. There was Bravo Team and Alpha Team. When he opened the door to the office, everyone in there stopped what they were doing and stared at him. That smile suddenly turned into a lifeless frown. They noticed that he had a S.T.A.R.S. bag over his right shoulder.

Forest Speyer was the first to say something.

"Who's the newbie?" he asked laughing. Artie sighed. Redfield noticed that Artie needed some help so he answered for him.

"This is Artie Scarano, he's going to have an interview today with Captain Wesker for a position as a S.T.A.R.S. member, so if you want to introduce yourself, that would make him feel better." he said

Brad Vickers, the Alpha Team pilot allowed a small giggle.

"You got something to say Vickers?" Redfield said slightly angered as Brad stopped smiling.

"No, Chris," he replied softly. Chris continued not satisfied.

"Unlike you, from what we have all seen, he's got a right to be nervous on a day like today." Almost everyone but Brad started to laugh. A woman approached the young boy.

"I'm Jill Valentine," she said offering a hand.

"Pleased to meet you Miss. Valentine, I'm....well I think Chris already took care of that part," Artie said shaking her hand.

"That's ok, and you can call me Jill. You don't have to call me nor any of the others by our last names, except for the captain," she explained.

"Oh....ok, thanks Miss....uh Jill," Artie said feeling relieved. She smiled and walked over to her desk.

As she did that, a muscular man, about six feet tall, with a light mustache and beard walked over to Artie.

"My name's Barry Burton," he said.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Barry," Artie replied. Barry looked curious. "Are you sure you really want to join?" he asked.

"You bet I do," he replied as he allowed a smile.

"Depending on what you have done best on the test will determine the position we will assign you to if you get accepted," he explained.

"Okay, sounds great," Artie replied. As he and Barry started to engage in a conversation, a man wearing shades entered the room.

He looked at a sheet of paper and then raised his head to the other members.

"Artie Scarano?" the man announced.

"That's me," Artie said raising his hand.

"Right this way," the man said pointing his finger to the desk at the west side of the office.

Artie swallowed hard as he approached the desk.

"Good luck champ," Chris said.

"Thanks," Artie answered nervously. Chris had been worried about him. He had seen him just as nervous the same way when he was about to take the test a couple of days before. Jill noticed Chris's concern.

"He'll be fine," Jill said putting a hand on his shoulder.

"Yeah, you're right, Jill," Chris replied still looking at Artie. "I just....I saw him at his testing a few days ago," he started. "He seemed so full of ambition." Jill smiled at the remark.

"Don't worry, I have a good feeling about him," she said.

"You think so?" he asked with a curious look.

"Absolutely," she answered.

Artie and the man walked over to the desk.

"Have a seat," the man said as he sat down. Artie put his bag on the floor next to the desk and sat down as well. The man then introduced himself.

"I'm Albert Wesker, captain of S.T.A.R.S," he said.