Leon S. Kennedy

Leon Scott Kennedy was an agent for the United States Government and a former police officer assigned to Raccoon City. Upon arriving in Raccoon City on his first day as a police officer, he became entangled in the biohazard caused by the t-virus and the activities of its creator, the Umbrella Corporation. After surviving the incident, he was scouted by a U.S. intelligence agent named Adam Benford and recruited into a secret military agency under the direct control of the U.S. President. He conducted his own anti-Umbrella activities while in the employ of the government as a subordinate and completed many successful operations. He was a man with a strong, unwavering sense of justice and the ability to take action, who always put the safety of others above his own. He possessed a natural survival instinct and after receiving special government training as an agent, he displayed a great degree of comfort in dangerous situations by telling jokes and had a fearless streak, and was not easily unnerved. 1 2 3 4 5

History

Early History

Kennedy's family was heavily involved in crime, which resulted in their deaths. He became an honest and determined young man with a passion for justice, eager to serve and protect anyone. He joined the police academy for this reason. Although he had no practical field experience, his youth, passion, energy and abilities made him a valuable prospect as a police officer upon his graduation. As an easy, free-talking youth, he owned his father's lighter as a memento despite the fact that he never smoked. His personal handgun was a Heckler and Koch VP70M; which he nicknamed 'Matilda' after the movie "Léon: The Professional", and his personal emblem was a skull. He favored brandy, however the drink is expensive. On holidays he turned off the lights and quietly watches movies alone; his favorite title was "The French Connection". 6

Although barely 21 in 1998, his strong survival instinct, natural control and combat abilities were like those of someone older and more experienced, amplified by his academy training. He could handle a wide variety of weapons with ease and wasn't afraid to place himself in harm's way to protect anyone. There was very little that frightened him. He did everything he could to help others, but could't help but get annoyed when others don't follow orders he felt were in their best interest. He was somewhat immature and tended to be easily swooned by women.

In July 1998, he first heard rumors of the bizarre murders occurring around Raccoon City. Immediately intrigued, he applied for a position in the Raccoon Police Department right out of the academy. Due to the heightened number of attacks and rampant crime occurring in the city, the R.P.D. set out to recruit a series of new officers to deal with the growing level of crime in the city. Kennedy was meant to arrive in Raccoon City the very day the outbreak reached its boiling point on September 29. The reason for this was that on September 28, he broke up with his girlfriend who he had previously been living with. Due to this, he had gone to a party and gotten drunk at a motel attempting to forget the pain of his break-up, and passed out. 7

Raccoon City Destruction Incident (Sep. 29, 1998)

As a result of his drinking the night before, he overslept and donned his newly-issued armored police uniform and began the drive to Raccoon City, dealing with traffic which only made him later. He eventually arrived at dusk on September 29, after the R.P.D. itself was wiped out. This twist of fate saved him from an almost certain death. After encountering "Zombie" creatures in the streets, he met Claire Redfield, who had also just arrived in the city to search for her older brother, Chris Redfield. After saving her life, the two were separated and eventually reached the police station to seek shelter after being separated. Upon reuniting and discovering that Redfield's brother was not in the city, they each vowed to rescue any survivors and escape.

While attempting to escape Raccoon City, he encountered many creatures and witnessed the deaths of several survivors, including Robert Kendo, Marvin Branagh and Ben Bertolucci. He also encountered William Birkin, who had transformed into the creature known simply as "G". In the parking lot of the police station, he met Ada Wong, who he began to work together with after believing her ruse of looking for her boyfriend, an Umbrella researcher. Their cooperation gave them time to be close together and after Kennedy took a bullet for Ada, her feelings for him began to change. After Ada had left him to search for the G-virus, she came back to save him from the Tyrant. She was seriously wounded and pretended to be dead, professing to have fallen in love with him. Not wanting to slow him down, she pretended to be dead. 8

Distressed and even more determined over the apparent loss of Ada, Kennedy regrouped with Redfield and Sherry Birkin. Before escaping however, he was confronted by the mutated Super Tyrant. During the course of the battle, Ada threw a rocket launcher to him, allowing him to destroy the Tyrant. This caused Kennedy to doubt her death, but he carried on with the escape. After battling "G" one last time, he escaped the city with Redfield and Birkin.

After their escape, due to his injuries and Sherry's weakened state, he told Redfield, "Go find your brother", and that is the reason he remained in the United States while she set off to Europe. Afterwards, Kennedy and Birkin were taken into custody by a U.S. intelligence agent. Kennedy was scouted by the agent, named Adam Benford. He had attracted the interest of a secret military agency as a rare individual: a survivor of Raccoon City with unique survival skills such as physical strength and decision-making ability, and most importantly, first-hand combat experience against B.O.W.s. However, there was also another reason. He had learnt too much about the existence of biological weapons and B.O.W.s.

In order to keep a close eye on them, Kennedy was offered a position in the secret military agency as an agent in exchange for Sherry Birkin's safety. Desiring to keep her safe, he accepted. She was kept under the watchful eye of the government due to the presence of the G-virus and its antibody in her body. 9

Training & Anti-Umbrella Activities (1998-2002)

Kennedy became an agent of the secret military agency and began to receive special training. Despite his already impressive skills, he still needed to learn much more than he had learned at the police academy in order to become an agent, and his training would require many days of hard work. At some point, he participated in O.R.E. (Operational Readiness Evaluation/Exercises) as part of his training. As a subordinate in the government, his life held a new purpose: to eradicate Umbrella. With the resources now available to him, he began his own investigation of Umbrella and became indirectly responsible for a number of major blows to Umbrella's global operations.

In October 1998 he requested for his friend, Ark Thompson, a private detective, to investigate the company's activities on Sheena Island. During the course of Thompson's investigation, the island became the site of a second t-virus outbreak and the extremely important "Tyrant Plant" on the island was destroyed. Meanwhile, using his connections within the U.S. intelligence community, Kennedy searched for the whereabouts of Chris Redfield.

In late December, he managed to discover Redfield's location and attempted to inform Claire, but found her to be missing herself. On December 27, Kennedy received an e-mail from her, learning of her confinement on Rockfort Island. After relaying this information to Chris, he requested that Kennedy arrange a rescue mission before setting off on his own to save her. Kennedy was therefore indirectly responsible for the destruction of Rockfort Island, the Umbrella Antarctic Base and the end of the Ashford family. After learning of the events from Claire and Chris and reviewing the government's own investigation into the incident, he became aware of the existence of Albert Wesker.

 While employed by the government, his attitude took a new turn. He became a more mature, serious individual with a quiet, mission-orientated nature. Under the direct order of the President, Kennedy received a mission: "Anti-Viral Weapon Protocol No7600". The eradication of the viruses developed by Umbrella. In order to fulfill this, he needed to learn about the channels through which the viruses were being passed or sold. As an agent, he was to take on secret missions under the directives of the White House, and lend his expertise to large-scale military operations dealing with bioterrorism.

Operation Javier (Summer 2002)

In 2002, four years since his last encounter with B.O.W.s, Leon was partnered up with a Jack Krauser, a U.S.SOCOM (U.S. Special Operations Command). They were ordered to take part in Operation Javier. Their objective was to locate Javier Hidalgo, a powerful drug lord with suspected direct contact with a former Umbrella scientist who had escaped U.S. custody, and suspected of possessing biological weapons. During the mission, Kennedy and Krauser encountered a carrier of the t-Veronica virus, Javier's own daughter Manuela Hidalgo. Kennedy began to inform Krauser of the events in Raccoon City, Rockfort Island and the Antarctic Base, as Krauser quietly listened.

After fighting their way through Mixcoatl Village, the Javier Dam and finally Javier's Mansion itself, the trio managed to cooperatively defeat the V Complex, preventing the bioterrorism incident proposed by Javier which involved the destruction of the surrounding Amazon ecosystem and the beginning of a global crisis. Kennedy returned with Manuela, who was taken into the custody of the U.S. Government. Krauser was forced out of the military due to an injury sustained during the operation and Kennedy was later told that Krauser had died in an accident. 10

Ashley Graham Abduction Incident (Autumn 2004)

During his special training, Kennedy became aware that Ada Wong was alive and had joined Albert Wesker's secret underground organization. Following the fall of Umbrella, bioterrorism began to spread even further. Kennedy was now one of the top agents in the U.S. Government, having completed many successful missions, and had grown considerably both physically and mentally. After careful and extensive investigation of his background, thoughts and experience, the government determined that he was well-suited to the protection of VIPs. As his first assignment, he was scheduled to join the guard detail of Ashley Graham, the new U.S. President's daughter. However, shortly after completing his training, she was abducted by someone on her way home from her college in Massachusetts.

Normally a large scale team would be deployed to search for her, but since there was growing suspicion that someone had accessed highly confidential internal information, the government chose Kennedy, who had completed background checks, in order to protect the secret investigation. Based on eyewitness information obtained from the FBI, he immediately began investigation activities in Europe. Before departing, he travelled to San Francisco to enlist Joseph Kendo to manufacture a custom firearm for him. The completely new handgun was dubbed by Kennedy as the "Silver Ghost", and he set off on his mission proper and flew to Europe alone. 11

Reliable eyewitness information from the FBI on a sighting of a girl being withheld by a black-clothed group who looked similar to Ashley led him to a rural mountain village in Southern Europe. Upon his arrival, Kennedy encountered a new type of enemy unlike any ever encountered before: seemingly crazed villagers known as "Ganado", as well as other creatures throughout the surrounding region, and he was left with no choice but to engage with force. During his investigation, he realized that this was not just an ordinary ransom kidnapping. 12

Kennedy discovered that the strange occurences in the village and surrounding area were the result of the Plaga parasite and the actions of the ‘enlightened ones’ – the Los Illuminados, a cult who were native to the region for a long time and worshipped the parasites. They were using them in a plot to control the world and develop their own B.O.W.s through genetic experiments, similar to the research conducted by Umbrella. During his mission, Kennedy was injected with a Plaga egg and later encountered Ada Wong. With little surprise, he asked her what she was doing there, but she disappeared. He had brief encounters with her throughout his mission as she both aided and ignored him. He also encountered Jack Krauser once again, who now also belonged to Wesker's organization. He had no time to be surprised by their appearances.

Kennedy encountered the key members of the Los Illuminados, including Bitores Mendez, the village chief who controlled the Ganado in the village and was loyal to the cult’s leader. Ramon Salazar, the 8th castellan of the region who had given the Plaga to the cult, and the main conspirator; Osmund Saddler. He was successful in his mission, killing all of the key conspirators. Before escaping, he grasped the dominant species Plaga sample, and was held at gun-point by Ada and forced to hand it to her. She escaped and activated the timer for explosives planted all over the island, but provided Kennedy with the key to a jet ski. He escaped with Ashley from the island base.

Kennedy's mission later became known as the "Southern Europe Incident", the "Plaga Incident" and the "Ashley Graham Abduction Incident". Upon his return, he wrote a detailed report on the Ganado (known as the "Leon Kennedy Report"), a confidential document unable to be viewed by anyone except the secret military agency and the BSAA. The report was used as an extensive reference by the BSAA for their information on the Plaga and Ganado. Kennedy's determination and success in the case earned him the complete trust of President Graham. In his mission report, he mentioned the activities of the Los Illuminados and the responsibility of Jack Krauser as the culprit behind Ashley’s actual kidnapping, but also made reference to a shadowy force which appeared to be the remnants of Umbrella; referring to Albert Wesker’s secret organization.

Harvardville Bioterrorism Incident (Nov. 14, 2005)

On November 14, 2005, Kennedy was deployed by the White House to Harvardville following a t-virus outbreak in the city airport. After assuming command, he planned the infiltration of the airport along with Angela Miller and Greg Glenn of the city's S.R.T. (Special Response Team) in order to rescue a group of survivors. After locating the survivors, he was reunited with Claire Redfield. Upon reporting back to Ingrid Hunnigan, he continued his investigation to stop the terrorists responsible for the plot, and was eventually led to the Air Dome Laboratory owned by WilPharma Corporation.

Kennedy uncovered a conspiracy involving Curtis Miller and Frederic Downing. The latter was plotting on selling the t-virus, G-virus and the t-vaccine to the leader of the Republic of Bajirib, General , a sponsor of bioterrorism. Curtis Miller was being used to orchestrate a series of field tests to record the performance of the products. With the help of Redfield and Miller, Kennedy successfully prevented any further incidents before departing in a helicopter.

Leon and Chris

At some undetermined time Claire introduced her brother, Chris Redfield and Leon for the first time even though interactions between their respective organizations was highly restrictive but Claire believed this meeting was an important step in breaking down the barrier between the U.S. government and the BSAA. They both shook hands, conversed for a little while and parted ways, the conversation on that meeting was kept classified.

Eastern Slav Republic Incident (December 22, 2012)

On December 22, 2012, Kennedy was dispatched by the secret military agency in order to investigate the use of Bio Organic Weapons in the war-torn Eastern European country known as the Eastern Slav Republic, which was embroiled in a civil war between the rich, ruling oligarchs and the poor rebel guerilla populace. Kennedy discovered that the rebels had access to B.O.W.s, but upon arriving in the country his mission was cancelled as the U.S. had decided to pull out of the country. However, knowing that the problem would only spread if it was not solved now, Kennedy ignored the order and stayed. After arriving at the CIA drop point to rendevous with one of their agents, he encountered a Licker and fended off its attack before it was called off by an old man, before running of steam and losing consciousness. His unconscious body was captured by the rebels and tied to a chair.

Footnotes

1. 1. Leon S. Kennedy Profile
2. 2. biohazard archives (Page 140-141)
3. 3. BIOHAZARD archives II (Page 60-61)
4. 4. INSIDE OF BIOHAZARD THE DARKSIDE CHRONICLES (Page 7, 16)
5. 5. BIOHAZARD -CODE:Veronica- Kanzenban Kaitai Shinsho (Page 222)
6. 6. RESEARCH ON BIOHAZARD 2 -final edition- (Page 041)
7. 7. BIOHAZARD 3 LAST ESCAPE Official Guidebook - Fulfillment of Her Escape (Page 146)
8. 8. Leon S. Kennedy Notes
9. 9. BIOHAZARD 3 LAST ESCAPE -Epilogue Files-
10. 10. Leon S. Kennedy Notes (Operation Javier) Notes
11. 11. ARMS Jan 06 Vol 211
12. 12. biohazard 4 Kaitai Shinsho (Page 006-007)