DARK BIOHAZARD

Prologue: (1/3)

(Raccoon City Police Station, Brian Iron's office. 1998)

It was a rather peaceful morning inside the Raccoon City Police Department when our story began. To be more specific, it began in the office of one Police Chief Brian Irons, who was currently in the middle of filling out some papers regarding a certain William Birkin when the voice of his secretary resounded from his answering phone.

"Chief Irons?"

"Yeah, what is it?" The police chief asked with no small amount of irritation at being interrupted.

"The new recruit for the STARS Alpha team is here for his interview. Should I send him up?" The secretary asked, causing the portly man to remember that the rookie's final interview was today.

"Right. Go on ahead and send him up." Irons confirmed before leaning back into his chair and beginning to wait. After a few moments of waiting, Irons heard several sharp raps on his door.

"It's open. Come on in." The police chief confirmed, causing the door to open as the potential recruit for STARS walked inside. He was a young man, possibly around the age of the last recruit, Chambers, if a bit younger. He had ash blond hair that was parted and was wearing the winter variant of the RPD's uniform. The same kind Kevin Ryman wore, albeit with a long sleeve shirt underneath. "So, you're the new STARS recruit. Kennedy, right?"

"Ah... yes sir, that's me." The young man answered, trying not to let his anxiety show as he spoke.

"Right right, have a seat... and stop walking like you got a stick jammed up your ass, will ya!?" The chief ordered harshly as he sorted through his desk to find the rookie's papers. Wasting no time, Leon did so and remained silent as Irons fished out his papers.

"Alright, lessee here. Full name: Leon Scott Kennedy. Born on 28/8/1980. Says here that you graduated from college at the age of 17 and were at the top of your classes in the academy. Overall, not a bad resume for someone of your age. I'm guessing that everything on these papers is true?" Iron asked after reading off Leon's information, looking at the young man questioningly.

"Yes sir. Last time I checked, everything on those papers is true." Leon answered simply.

"Hmm... well with all this in order, and considering you passed the physical and mental evaluations, seems like there should be no problem putting you in our special forces." Irons confirmed before pressing a button on his phone. "Get Branagh in here and tell him to double-time it!"

And with that exclamation, the two merely waited for officer Branagh to arrive, leaving an increasingly uncomfortable Leon alone with the curt, portly man in his office. Despite his increasing discomfort, the young rookie still felt taken aback by the apparent conformation that he was now in STARS. Was it all really that simple?

"So uh... I'm in STARS now?" Leon couldn't help but ask, surprise clear in his voice.

"Isn't that what I just said?"Irons asked rhetorically, looking annoyed as he stared at his guest.

No no! I understand that and all, I'm just a bit surprised at how uh... I guess unceremonious it all was..." Leon corrected quickly, unable to look Irons in the eye.

"What the hell were you expecting, kid? A parade in your honor? You passed all the requirements and got in. Congratulations." Was all the police chief had to say in response, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

'Sheesh. And he's saying I got a stick jammed up my ass?' Was all Leon could think of in response, mildly peeved by his boss's jerky attitude. Thankfully, this conversation got cut short when Marvin Branagh let himself into the office. Marvin definitely had an appearance that fit the role of model cop. He was an African American man currently wearing the RPD's summer uniform (which was what most of the station's officers were wearing at the time. Leon and one other officer were the rare exception to this.) and had a black buzz-cut that complimented the light beard around his face.

"You called for me, chief?"

"I did. Take Mr. Kennedy to the STARS office so he can get properly acquainted with his new role here." Irons explained, gesturing towards Leon before returning to his paperwork.

"Got it." Marvin nodded before gesturing for Leon to get up. "Come on."

Eager to get out of the chief's office for a variety of reasons, Leon quickly followed Marvin out the door and into the RPD's busy halls. The young rookie always did like Marvin. He was an affable and reasonable boss to have who did a good job showing Leon the ropes of the RPD, so he certainly he no complaints about the senior officer being his escort.

"So, you managed to make it into STARS, huh? Not bad, rookie." Marvin congratulated with a joking tone, giving Leon a friendly pat on the back as they walked. "Just try to avoid flaunting your new job to Kevin, will you? He might get jealous if he finds out you got in before he did."

"Thanks for the congrats, sir, and I'll definitely keep that in mind." Leon nodded. As they continued on their way, questions about his new job began to make their way to the forefront of his mind. "So, anything I need to know while I'll be working in STARS?"

"You're probably gonna have to ask the other members yourself, I only really know what everyone else does, about them being our answer to SWAT and Raccoon's special rescue team." Marvin explained. "I can tell you who you'll be working with though."

And with that offer, Marvin listed off all current members of STARS that Leon would be working with. There was Albert Wesker, Enrico Marini, Paula Morton, Barry Burton, Rebecca Chambers, Forest Speyer, Joseph Frost, Kenneth J. Sullivan, Richard Aiken, Edward Dewey, and Brad Vickers. Marvin then went on to explain what exactly each member's role in STARS was up until they stood outside the door into the special forces unit's office.

"Alright we're here. Good luck in there, kid."

"Got it. Thank you again for your help, sir."

"Don't mention it. Anyway, I'll see you around the office, Leon." And with that goodbye, the senior officer walked away to continue with his duties, leaving Leon alone in the hallway. After taking a brief moment to compose himself, the young man took a deep breath before walking inside the office. As he stepped inside, he was greeted with a fairly wide rectangular room that had several . There was a communications terminal to the right and to his left was a desk that had a large STARS banner behind it. It was presumably where the captain conducted his business. It was during this brief look around the room that Leon noticed a young, brown haired woman who looked to be a bit older than him sitting at the desk furthest to his right, clearly absorbed in her work.

"Ah... scuse me, miss?" Leon began, walking towards the girl and getting her attention. "I'm Leon Kennedy. I'm uh... I'm the uhm..."

"Our newest member. Don't worry, I heard all about you coming in today. I'm Rebecca Chambers." the girl greeted with a friendly smile, getting up from her desk and holding out her hand for him to shake.

"Right. That." Leon confirmed as they shook hands, having difficulty looking Rebecca in the eye due to his nervousness. "Sorry if I'm coming off as pretty skittish. I'm just feeling pretty nervous about all this."

"First day chills, right?" Rebecca correctly assumed, a knowing expression on her face. "Like I said, don't worry about it, I was the exact same way my first couple of days with STARS too."

"Heh, nice to know we're on the same boat then." Leon smiled slightly before he began to look around the room, noticing how barren it all was. "So uh... where are the rest of the STARS members? Are they out on a mission?"

"Yeah, both Alpha and Bravo team were sent out on missions today. I was told to remain behind so I could welcome you and provide you with your equipment." With that said, Rebecca walked towards a locker that was situated right next to the communications station and pulled out a folded uniform consisting of black pants, boots, a white undershirt with the STARS logo on it's shoulder, and a grey flak vest that had the STARS initials printed on the back. This was all topped off by a Beretta resting atop of pile of folded clothes.

"Here you go. The standard issue uniform and Beretta. If you ask captain Wesker or Marini, you can get it in a color you prefer." Rebecca explained. Leon considered possibly getting the best in a different color, but decided against it. He had nothing against grey. "So do you know what your designation on Alpha team's going to be?"

"Last time I checked, the position I applied for was sharp shooter and pointman." Leon answered, causing Rebecca to nod.

"Okay, good to know. Anyway, I'm sorry about cutting this short, but I actually have some important work I need to go take care of. If you have any questions later, feel free to ask me! Your first official day with us is going to be tomorrow, so for now, just unload all your stuff at a vacant desk."

"Got it." Leon nodded, smiling slightly at the friendly and plucky girl. "It was nice meeting you, and I'll be looking forward to working with you, Ms. Chambers."

"Likewise." Rebecca smiled back before her expression became a touch more playful. "That being said, Rebecca's just fine. If we're gonna be working together, I don't wanna start hearing you constantly calling me 'Ms. Chambers."

"Say no more." Leon affirmed with a motion of his hand. With nothing more to be said, Rebecca left the office to carry out her business, leaving Leon alone to unpack all his stuff at the new desk. Soon after, the newly made member of STARS holstered his Beretta into his old police uniform, took his new one, and finally took his leave.

"Leon!"

As Leon walks out of the front gates of the police station, he's greeted with a pleasant surprise in the form of a familiar fair-haired girl leaning against her parked motorcycle, waving towards him with an easy-going smile on her pretty face.

"Elza?" Leon began, sounding confused as he walked towards the motorcycle enthusiast. "What are you doing here?"

"What? Is it really so strange that I wanted to see how my boyfriend was doing after his first day in STARS?" The blonde girl explained with a care-free tone as she stopped leaning against her motorcycle and walked towards Leon.

"You sound awfully certain that I even got in." Leon noted, brow raised slightly.

"Oh? So you're saying you didn't?" Was Elza's reply, her smile and gaze rather smug. Leon was about to open his mouth to retort only to realize he had no comeback. Upon realizing this, the blond young man found himself unable to look the motorcyclist in the eye, only furthering her smug satisfaction.

"Well uh... yeah, you're right on the money." Was the rookie STARS member's feeble comeback. Elza merely smiled in triumph before looking at him with clear curiosity.

"Sooo? Come on, how did your first day with STARS go?" She continued to prod, curious as to what Raccoon City's special forces unit was like.

"It was really nothing out of the ordinary. They just showed me the new office and set me up with a new uniform and gun." Leon explained, holding up the uniform for her to see before gesturing towards the Beretta in his leg holster.

"Cool! Can you show me?" Was Elza's eager response, causing Leon to give her a deadpan look.

"Elza, I can't just start waving my gun around for you to see not even a day after I got accepted into STARS."

"I was talking about your uniform, you dumbass." Elza clarified dryly, but not without a playful smile clear on her face.

"Oh. That, I can do." Leon said, looking rather sheepish in wake of Elza's clarification. "But uh... preferably not out in the middle of the street."

In response to this, Elza merely walked back towards her motorcycle and started the ignition before looking back towards Leon. "Tell you what. You can show me how you look in it over at my dorm room back on campus."

"Really now? And that's all you want to do over at your place?" Leon chuckled as he crossed his arms, knowing damn well that seeing him in his new uniform wasn't all the energetic girl had in mind for him. "Very subtle, Elza."

"About as subtle as I'm ever willing to get~." The motorcyclist responded in a sing-song tone before tossing her helmet over to Leon. "Anyway, hop on!"

Leon could only mutely chuckle at his girlfriend's behavior before sliding the helmet onto his head and taking a seat behind her. "Lead the way."

And with that, the two began their drive to Raccoon University.