Not a day passes without remembering.

The cold, dark tank where I was confined like a caged animal. The pain of their 'tests' the sharp instruments tearing into me without care. The indifference in their eyes as I screamed.

And her lifeless body…

"Mr. Mercer!"

A voice cut through the haze, yanking me back to reality. A firm hand landed on my shoulder, grounding me.

"H-Huh?" I muttered, blinking. The shadows of the past faded, replaced by the sterile lighting of the office. A blond man with sharp, calculating eyes sat at the desk in front of me, his expression unreadable. Beside me stood another man, taller, with a friendly but firm demeanor.

"I see you're back with us." The blond man—Captain Wesker—said dryly, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Sorry, Captain Wesker." I apologized quickly, sitting up straighter.

Wesker sighed, shaking his head. "No matter. I called you here to introduce you to your direct superior, Enrico Marini." He gestured to the man beside me.

Enrico extended a hand with a small smile. "Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too." I replied, shaking his hand, though my mind still felt distant.

Turning back to Wesker, I hesitated. "Does this mean…?"

Wesker gave a curt nod. "You've aced the written and physical assessments, and your performance on the range speaks for itself. There's no reason not to hire you."

"Thank you, sir. But…I thought the chief would make that decision." I said, still a little unsure.

"The chief is out of the city this week." Wesker explained, leaning back in his chair. "I'm in charge until he returns."

Beside me, I noticed Enrico's brow twitch slightly, but he said nothing.

"I see…well, thank you for the opportunity." I said, bowing my head.

Wesker's lips curled into the faintest smirk. "Words don't mean much to me. Your actions will prove whether I made the right choice."

"Yes, sir."

"Good. That's all for now. Enrico will handle the rest."

Taking the cue, I stood, Enrico motioning for me to follow him. As we stepped out of the office, Wesker's voice called after us:

"Welcome to S.T.A.R.S."

…

We walked down the quiet hallways of the station, Enrico leading the way. "Well, kid, you're officially part of Bravo Team now." He said with a grin. "I don't allow screw-ups, so keep that in mind."

I chuckled, relaxing a little. "Understood, sir."

As we rounded a corner, I glanced back toward the office. "Not to sound ungrateful, but…I don't think Captain Wesker really likes me."

"Hah!" Enrico laughed, clapping me on the back. "He's like that with everyone. Don't take it personally."

"That's…reassuring." I said, though I wasn't entirely convinced.

"Although." Enrico added, smirking, "you did mess up by spacing out in front of him. He didn't like that."

"Then why'd you say not to take it personally!?" I shot back, exasperated.

"I meant in general." His amused smile didn't falter.

"Not exactly what I'd expect from my captain." I muttered, rolling my eyes.

"Don't take it for granted." Enrico warned, his tone turning serious for a moment. "I'm only this laid-back during downtime."

We stopped at a locker, and he handed me a uniform. "This is yours for now. Starting tomorrow, you'll check out a gun here and return it after your shift."

"Yes, sir." I said, taking the uniform.

Enrico glanced at his watch. "That's all for today. The rest of the team already left, so you'll meet them tomorrow. Good luck, kid."

"Hope I don't need it." I said with a grin.

Enrico chuckled. "I'm sure you'll fit right in. Just focus on doing your job, and we'll have no problems."

"Yeah…" I murmured, looking away.

By the time we reached the station's entrance, the evening air had cooled.

"See you tomorrow, kid!" Enrico called out as he left.

"Till tomorrow, Captain!" I waved back, watching him disappear into the night.

For a moment, I stood there alone, staring at the darkening sky.

…

As I walked down the dim streets of Raccoon City, a nagging question echoed in my mind.

'Was I truly safe?'

The answer came as quickly as the question: no. Of course not. Every step I took, every breath, felt observed. It wasn't paranoia; it was fact. Their reach was vast, their eyes always watching. I couldn't fool myself into thinking I'd escaped their grasp completely.

They were still out there, hiding in the shadows, waiting for the right moment. The best I could do was fight back when they came.

I glanced down at my hands, flexing my fingers unconsciously. When I looked up again, the world had changed. The streets dissolved into sterile, white walls and harsh fluorescent lights. The scent of antiseptic filled my nose as I stood in a lab—their lab. Blood coated my hands, dripping onto the floor. Around me lay bodies, lifeless and crumpled.

Before I could even gasp, it was gone. The streets returned, bustling with civilians who barely noticed me standing frozen in the middle of the sidewalk. A few glanced my way, but I quickly shook my head and moved on.

'It's nothing. Just the past trying to haunt me again.' I thought bitterly.

Still, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease. 'Captain Wesker actually allowed me to join…Why? Sure, I passed the tests, but with a gap of several years in my past? That should have raised more than a few eyebrows.'

I sighed, burying the thought. It wasn't like I had many options. A legal job was the safest bet—even if it meant constant scrutiny. Any other path would've been riskier, and I'd be caught eventually.

Lost in thought, I didn't even notice I'd arrived at the apartment block I was renting. As I approached the entrance, a hand already reached out, holding the door open.

"After you." A woman said with a friendly smile.

"Oh, uh, thanks." I replied, stepping inside.

"No problem." She said, following me in. Her gaze flicked to the uniform I was carrying. "New job?"

"Yeah." I replied with a nod. "Just moved here, actually."

"Figured." She said with an easy smile. "Not a lot of people walk around carrying uniforms like that. Welcome to Raccoon City."

I raised an eyebrow. "How do you know I haven't lived here before?"

She shrugged casually. "I've been here a long time. I make it a point to remember faces, and yours? Definitely new."

"Fair enough." I said with a small chuckle, extending a hand. "Alex Mercer."

She shook it firmly. "Jill Valentine."

I blinked. "Valentine, huh? That's a…unique name."

She smirked. "Mercer isn't exactly ordinary either."

"What's wrong with my name?" I asked, faking a hurt expression.

"Mercer…mercenary…feels fitting, doesn't it?" She teased.

I stared at her blankly. "I…never thought of it that way."

We both laughed as we climbed the stairs. Reaching the top floor, Jill suddenly stopped in front of a door. "This is my stop."

I looked at the door next to hers, realizing it was mine. "We're neighbors?"

"Looks like it." Jill glanced at my door, frowning slightly. "That place has been empty for a while."

"Something wrong with it?" I asked. "I didn't get a chance to inspect it. The cheap rent was too tempting."

"You rented it sight unseen?" She asked, her tone half-amused, half-incredulous.

I scratched the back of my head sheepishly. "I just needed a place fast."

"Well, as far as I know, it's fine. Maybe the landlord just wanted to fill it quickly." She said thoughtfully.

"Maybe…" I murmured, stepping toward my door.

Jill smirked. "And hey, keep the noise down, alright? I like my peace and quiet."

"Noted." I replied with a grin. "I'll try not to cross you."

"Good." She said with a playful wink before disappearing into her apartment.

As I unlocked my door and stepped inside, I couldn't help but think. 'She seems nice—but definitely someone you don't want to mess with.'

…

The apartment was…less than ideal. Small, with a single bedroom, a tiny bathroom, and a cramped kitchen. That was fine; I didn't need much. What caught my attention was the state of the place.

The windows creaked with every movement, and I spotted mold lurking behind the furniture. The doors hung loosely on their hinges, as if they might fall off at any moment.

"Did they just give up on maintaining this place?" I muttered. "Is this even legal?"

Setting my bag down, I decided to clean up as much as possible. It took hours, but eventually, the place started to feel less like a health hazard.

"Hoo…" I wiped my brow, surveying my handiwork. "Still a dump, but at least it's my dump."

The doors and windows, though…I shook my head. "Who needs them anyway?"

With a shrug, I set about making a quick snack. Instant soup wasn't much, but it would do for now. Once finished, I flopped onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling.

"Man…not having a TV sucks." I muttered, the silence closing in around me.

Restless, my eyes drifted to the bag on the counter. A few syringes peeked out from the unzipped opening, their presence almost taunting me.

I clenched my jaw and turned away, forcing the thought from my mind. 'I should just sleep.' I told myself firmly. 'Don't want to be exhausted on my first day.'

…

The next day, I woke up early, put on the uniform given to me by Enrico, and set off toward Raccoon City's police department.

As I approached the imposing building, its towering architecture felt both impressive and a little intimidating. The early morning sun cast long shadows across the front steps, giving the station a sense of quiet authority. I squared my shoulders, adjusted my uniform, and stepped through the front gate.

Inside, I was greeted by the sight of a dark-skinned man standing near the reception desk.

"Good morning!" I called out, my voice bright with enthusiasm.

"Hm?" He turned, his expression briefly puzzled before realization dawned. "You must be the rookie." He said, a small smile tugging at his lips.

"That's right. Alex Mercer." I extended my hand, which he shook firmly.

"Lieutenant Marvin Branagh." He introduced himself.

"Lieutenant…I'm sorry, sir! I might've acted a little impolite!" I stammered, suddenly worried I'd overstepped.

Marvin laughed, a deep, warm sound that put me at ease. "No need to be so stiff. You're fine."

I managed a sheepish smile. "Thank you, sir."

"Do you need help finding anything?" He asked, leading me deeper into the station.

"If you could tell me where I can find the Bravo team, I'd appreciate it." I said.

"The Bravo team?" Marvin raised an eyebrow. "Not bad, rookie. Assigned to Bravo already? They must see some potential in you."

"I don't know. Luck might have played a part." I replied, with a sheepish smile.

Marvin chuckled. "Alright, alright. But before you get too comfortable, you'll need to gear up. Follow me."

He led me down a short hallway to the armory, where rows of lockers gleamed under fluorescent lights. After a brief explanation, I retrieved a Glock from the rack, strapped it to my hip, and followed Marvin to the east side of the ground floor.

We stopped in front of a modest office tucked near the entrance. It wasn't much to look at—its plain walls and dim lighting gave it a utilitarian feel—but it had a certain charm.

"This is where your team does its work. That office there—" He nodded toward a door on the right. "—belongs to Captain Enrico. I'll leave you to get settled."

"Thank you, Lieutenant." I said sincerely.

"Good luck, rookie." He replied with a smirk before walking off.

I took a moment to take in my surroundings. The room was small but lively, with desks clustered together in the center. Each desk had its own nameplate and was personalized with various items—photos of loved ones, small trinkets, even a few mugs of coffee in varying states of abandonment. Some desks were a chaotic mess of papers and documents, while others were neatly organized.

My eyes were then drawn to a corkboard on the far wall. A large map pinned to its center caught my attention, the bold letters at the top reading 'The Arklay Mountains'. Several spots were circled in red marker, their significance unclear.

With nothing else to do but wait, I walked over to the desks, glancing at the nameplates and decorations, trying to piece together what kind of people I'd be working with.

"Can I help you?" A girl with short hair asked as she appeared at the office entrance.

"I'm, uh…Alex Mercer. The rookie." I replied, keeping my tone neutral.

Her eyes widened in surprise before she gasped. "The rookie? Finally! The teasing will stop!" She cheered, throwing me off guard.

"That's not how it works here, Rebecca." Came a voice from behind her.

"Captain!" Rebecca quickly stepped aside as Enrico appeared, and we both saluted him.

Enrico nodded in acknowledgment. "Good morning." He turned to Rebecca. "And just because we've got a new recruit doesn't mean you're suddenly an expert around here."

"Of course not!" Rebecca agreed, though she grinned as she approached me. "Just better than him." She added, glancing my way.

"Don't want to sound rude, I'm just joking." She said quickly, holding out her hand.

"You backed down pretty fast, huh?" I chuckled, shaking her hand.

"I don't want to leave a bad impression on my junior." She quipped with a smile. "Rebecca Chambers."

"Alex Mercer." I replied, though I found myself staring at her a moment too long.

"Something wrong?" She asked, tilting her head slightly.

"No, it's just…I didn't expect someone so young to be in a team like this." I admitted, trying to sound casual.

Rebecca arched an eyebrow. "Have you looked in a mirror?" She shot back, a teasing edge to her voice.

"Right…sorry." I muttered with an awkward chuckle

"It's alright." She said with a laugh. "Just means I'm awesome enough to be here!"

"Rebecca, show him around the station." Enrico called from his office, already poring over papers. "The others won't be arriving for a while, and it might keep your ego from inflating any further."

"I don't have an ego…" She grumbled before nodding. "Come on, Alex. Let's get started."

…

We left the Bravo Team office and walked into the main hall, the buzz of activity filling the air as officers went about their work.

I glanced at the polished floor. The faint reflection of my face stared back—ordinary enough to pass as human.

"Don't worry—I've already memorized the place." Rebecca announced confidently, getting my attention.

"Oh? When did you join the RPD?" I asked curiously, catching the faint sheepish look on her face.

"A week ago…" She muttered, her voice barely audible.

"All that talk back there…and it's only been a week?" I asked, fighting back a grin.

"Maybe…but that doesn't matter! I'm still your superior!" She declared, puffing her chest out.

"Pretty sure that's not how superiority works here." I teased, earning a laugh from both of us.

"It is for me." He replied with a playful smirk.

She led me around the ground floor, pointing out key areas of the station. It was bigger than I'd expected—almost unnecessarily so.

"Is all this really necessary?" I asked cautiously.

Rebecca shrugged. "Having to keep count of a million keys for all these doors is annoying, but it never hurts to have more, right?" She rested a hand on her hip before suddenly freezing.

"Something wrong?" I asked, watching her pat her pockets in growing alarm.

"Where are my keys?" She muttered, her eyes widening.

"They must've fallen somewhere along the way." I suggested.

"Sorry about this, but can we retrace our steps real quick?" She asked, looking embarrassed.

"Sure." I said with a shrug.

…

Back in the main hall, Rebecca's shoulders slumped as we came up empty-handed.

"Can't you just make copies?" I offered, trying to lighten her mood.

"I could, but that's not the point! Captain Enrico just gave them to me, and I already lost them…" She groaned.

"Hey, it happens. Relax—you'll find them eventually." I reassured her, though I noted to myself how much of a stickler she was for rules.

"Letting things be is not how I do it!" She exclaimed, determination flaring in her eyes. "I'll find those keys, no matter what!"

"Excuse me, are you Rebecca?" A young man suddenly approached us, holding up a set of keys tied together.

Rebecca blinked in surprise. "Y-Yeah, that's me!"

"Good. I thought I'd have to search the whole station." The man said with a sigh of relief, handing them over.

"Thank you!" Rebecca said, practically glowing with gratitude.

"Thought I was done for." She mumbled, clutching the keys like a lifeline.

"Come on, Rebecca, you're overreacting." I teased, shaking my head.

"Not really." The man said with a chuckle. "If Wesker found them, she'd have to endure his nagging all day."

"How'd you know they were hers, anyway?" I asked.

"Yeah, how did you?" Rebecca curiously added.

"That." The man replied, pointing at the tag with Rebecca's name tied to the keys.

"Oh…" We both said in unison, feeling a little silly.

The man smiled and extended his hand. "Chris Redfield."

"Alex Mercer." I replied, shaking it firmly.

As Chris then turned to introduce himself to Rebeca another voice chimed in.

"Flirting at work? Never thought I'd see the day, Chris." An older man approached with a smirk.

Chris sighed. "Barry, I'm not flirting. Alex is here too."

"That's even more surprising. Flirting in front of her boyfriend." Barry continued, clearly enjoying himself.

"Okay." Chris said with a chuckle.

Barry turned to us, his expression softening. "Just joking. Hope you don't mind."

"It's fine." Rebecca said, and I nodded in agreement.

Barry's brows furrowed as he looked at us. "I've seen you before." He glanced at Rebecca. "You're the new Bravo Team member, right?"

"Yes, sir!" Rebecca replied, standing straighter.

"And you…" Barry studied me.

"Same as her." I replied.

Barry raised an eyebrow. "Are they just handing out freebies for Bravo Team now?"

Chris shook his head. "If you'd listened yesterday, Wesker mentioned a potential recruit for S.T.A.R.S."

Barry rolled his eyes. "I don't have to remember everything Wesker says. Half of it is nonsense anyway."

His words surprised Rebecca and me, though Chris seemed unfazed.

Barry gestured at me. "Weren't you supposed to join Alpha Team?"

"Do the teams really matter?" I asked curiously.

"They do, but not as much as some people think." Barry replied. "Bravo is supposed to be the support team, but you two? You're more than qualified for Alpha. Shows what people say about the teams isn't always true."

Rebecca beamed. "See? I told you I'm awesome!"

"Maybe we weren't that good…" I said before Rebecca jabbed me in the ribs.

"Speak for yourself! I'm a medical genius!" She declared, holding her head high.

"Right." I deadpanned.

Chris chuckled. "Don't sell yourself short, Alex. Wesker said your results were impressive—especially on the range. Made it sound like you're some shooting prodigy."

"He did? That's…weird." I admitted.

Barry laughed. "We thought so too. Almost like he grew a second head."

Rebecca's eyes gleamed. "Shooting prodigy, huh? You've gotta show me."

"Mind if we watch?" Barry asked with a grin.

"Another time." Chris interrupted. "Briefing's about to start."

"Fine." Barry grumbled, then patted us both on the shoulders with a smile. "Rookies like you remind me of why I joined S.T.A.R.S. So just remember…don't let the pressure get to you." His sudden maturity left both of us stunned.

Chris nodded to us. "See you two later." He said, following Barry upstairs.

I turned to Rebecca. "What now?"

"Back to the office. Everyone should be there by now." She replied.

"If Chris hadn't said anything, you would've forgotten, wouldn't you?" I asked with a smirk.

"No…" She muttered, looking away.

"You're pretty clumsy for someone trying so hard to follow the rules." I teased.

Rebecca sighed. "Let's just go."

.....

What did you think about the chapter? Is it good, bad, cringe? Please leave a comment or review so I can know what to improve, or if you simply like the fic!

There will be a lot of slice of life chapters at the beginning so I can better develop the settings and characters. And through their reception I'll see if I should continue with the story and start from the events of RE 0.