Leon S. Kennedy

Leon Scott Kennedy, more commonly known as Leon S. Kennedy is an Italian-American currently employed as a federal agent by the Division of Security Operations (D.S.O.), a counter-terrorism agency under direct Presidential command. Kennedy is a known survivor of the 1998 Raccoon City Destruction Incident, at the time a police officer. Following his escape, he was forcefully recruited into a top secret anti-Umbrella team under USSTRATCOM devoted to anti-B.O.W. combat, serving it until 2011 in repeated operations around the world. [Beginning of character biography] Early life Traumatized by his family's murder, Kennedy was orphaned but saved by a police officer, inspiring him to join the force. After graduating the academy at 21, he requested assignment to the Raccoon Police Department due to his interest in the bizarre, unsolved murders in the Arklay Mountains.

Raccoon City Incident (1998) Kennedy had no travel plans or apartment in Raccoon City, and in his hasty departure, he broke up with his girlfriend. Stopping at a motel for the night, he passed out from heavy drinking and woke up on the afternoon of September 29. Now hungover and late, Kennedy continued driving into the city to report to the station. While driving through Arklay County, he passed a highway blockade erected by the United States Army and Army National Guard at night, which had since fallen due to the chaos in the city. Kennedy drove south into the city but was soon surrounded by zombies while investigating a body in the unusually quiet main road. Retreating into an alleyway, he met Claire Redfield, another newcomer who was fleeing zombies from inside a diner. They commandeered an RPD cruiser and drove to the Raccoon Police Station to seek shelter and answers. Unbeknownst to them, the car had a stowaway zombie that spontaneously attacked while they were driving, causing a crash into a nearby sign and ejecting the attacker. The car was destroyed when a gasoline tanker collided with the vehicle, separating the two who had to travel independently to the station. However, the station had fallen to zombies. Among the only surviving officers were the injured Lt. Marvin Branagh, Elliot Edward, and Police Chief Brian Irons. Had he met Lt. Branagh, Kennedy would have been briefed on current events before the lieutenant turned into a zombie. During his investigation, Kennedy encountered a young girl named Sherry Birkin and resolved to put aside any thoughts of suicide, knowing his survival was key to her escape. In the police station’s basement, Kennedy met Ada Wong, a corporate spy from one of Umbrella’s rival companies sent to steal the G-Virus. To protect her mission, Wong claimed to be looking for her missing boyfriend, Dr. John Clemens, unaware the man had perished in the Mansion Incident. She soon became aware of Ben Bertolucci, a freelance journalist who she believed had uncovered useful information about Umbrella while spying on their researchers. Although Bertolucci had uncovered a conspiracy between Umbrella's US branch and the local police that led to his arrest, it was not enough to aid her mission. Bertolucci was soon killed by Dr. William Birkin or a G parasite. Kennedy and Wong continued to the city sewers, where they found transport to NEST, Umbrella's laboratory dedicated to G-Virus research. Kennedy did much of the work in the lab despite his gunshot wound, as Wong’s leg injury prevented her from continuing. During their exploration, Kennedy learnt of Wong’s true mission when she confronted him seeking the virus. She was soon knocked out by the T-00 but successfully escaped the facility as it began to self-destruct, losing the G-Virus sample in the process. Fleeing to NEST’s bottom platform, Kennedy reunited with Redfield and the young Birkin, who had been infected with the G-Virus but was vaccinated by DEVIL to halt her mutations. The facility was destroyed, and Dr. William Birkin perished shortly after.

STRATCOM Recruitment (1998) Apprehended by the U.S. Army, Kennedy was interrogated by official Adam Benford. Seen as a liability knowing "too much," his survival skills were instead valued. Given an ultimatum for Sherry's safety and his life, he was recruited into a classified, Presidentially-controlled anti-Umbrella agency. His training transformed him into an expert special agent. In November, he sent detective Ark Thompson to Sheena Island. The following month, after Claire was captured in Umbrella's Paris facility and imprisoned on Rockfort Island, Kennedy tracked down her brother Chris with her location, prompting a rescue.

Operation Javier (2002) In 2002, Kennedy was sent to South America with seasoned Special Forces operator Jack Krauser to investigate ex-Umbrella researcher Javier Hidalgo, leader of the Sacred Snakes cartel. Amidst a t-Virus outbreak, they met Manuela Hidalgo, Javier's daughter, kept alive via the t-Veronica Virus and organ harvesting from abducted girls. Kennedy confided in Krauser about Raccoon City and Claire's prior encounter with the t-Veronica virus. They confronted Javier after he fused with an infected plant; Manuela helped unleash the virus's effects, killing him. Krauser was later discharged due to injury, and Kennedy learnt he'd apparently died in an accident.

Los Iluminados (2004) In 2004, President Graham’s daughter, Ashley Graham, was abducted while returning home from the University of Massachusetts. The operation bore the hallmarks of an inside job. American intelligence operatives tracked her to a remote village in Spain. With government agencies under scrutiny due to a suspected mole, Kennedy was sent alone to investigate. Arriving with two municipal police officers from Madrid, Kennedy was immediately attacked by hostile villagers. The locals forced the officers into a ravine, removing his backup. As he approached the village, Kennedy discovered signs of mass murder. Over the course of the day, it became clear the villagers were followers of a neopagan cult known as Los Iluminados. The group was led by a self-styled prophet Osmund Saddler assisted by Fr. Bitores Méndez and Ramón Salazar. Cult members were implanted with a genetically engineered parasite known as Las Plagas during baptismal rites to ensure absolute obedience. Saddler ordered the villagers to kill any intruders to protect their research. Eventually, Kennedy was captured by the cult shortly after locating a fellow hostage. Saddler implanted him with a Plaga, hoping he might be useful. However, the true motive behind Saddler's act was unclear, even to his lieutenants, and the villagers continued their attempts to kill Kennedy. His fellow captive, Dr. Luis Sera, a former researcher for Saddler’s bio-weapons program. Sera had attempted to escape with a Dominant Plaga egg, intending to exchange it for extraction by "The Organization," a shadow group affiliated with Dr. Albert Wesker. To conceal his true identity, Sera falsely claimed to be a former Madrid police officer. Kennedy’s investigation led him to believe Graham was being held in a chapel. After losing consciousness, possibly due to the Plaga, Kennedy regained his strength and rescued her. However, they were confronted by Saddler, who revealed both had been implanted with Plaga eggs. Saddler planned to return Graham to the United States as a sleeper agent to extend his influence. While attempting to escape, the pair discovered a government helicopter meant to extract them had been shot down, likely by the mole within the government. Forced to seek shelter, they spent the night in a remote cabin before heading to a nearby castle. Along the way, Kennedy fought and killed Fr. Méndez, enraged by the loss of his congregation. Within the castle, Kennedy’s communications were jammed, a sign the mole had access to classified radio frequencies. He soon met Ramón Salazar, the castle’s young noble lord who commanded an army of monk-like Plaga hosts wielding medieval weaponry. Graham was repeatedly abducted throughout the night, forcing Kennedy to operate alone for most of the mission. In the castle courtyard, Kennedy encountered Wong again, now a spy working for Wesker’s Organization. She had been sent to retrieve the Plaga sample Sera had stolen. However, Sera was soon after killed by Saddler upon being discovered with the egg. Saddler relocated himself to a nearby island research complex with Graham. Kennedy pursued him, battling through the castle ruins, an ancient underground city, and a cathedral tower. After defeating Salazar, who had fused with a Plaga Queen, Kennedy traveled to the island with Wong in search of Graham. On the island, Kennedy confronted bio-weapons created through Plaga experimentation, including the Regeneradores. After rescuing Graham from a prison cell, she was once again abducted, this time controlled directly by Saddler via her parasite. During the pursuit, Kennedy encountered Krauser who he had presumed dead. Krauser had joined the Organization and was originally tasked with obtaining the Dominant Plaga. He orchestrated Graham's abduction but was replaced by Wong after infecting himself with the parasite. Kennedy fought Krauser, severely wounding him in a mutated form. Believing him dead, Kennedy moved on, with Wong later dealt the killing blow. With radio jamming lifted, Kennedy made contact with a second government helicopter, which launched an attack on the island militia before being destroyed by Saddler’s forces. Following clues left by Sera, Kennedy and Graham found equipment designed to kill the Plaga inside them and successfully removed them. Saddler was ultimately killed by a rocket launcher with Wong's assistance after Graham was rescued. However, Wong betrayed Kennedy by seizing the sample, though she left him a means to escape via a jet-ski. Kennedy and Graham escaped as timed charges detonated across the island, causing widespread cave-ins. After their extraction, Kennedy filed a classified report on the incident, later known as the Kennedy Report. The document was shared with the Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance to prepare for future threats involving the Plagas. In the aftermath, Kennedy became aware of cult remnants still active in the region. Some survivors turned to bioterrorism, while refugees who returned home were re-infected by dormant Plagas, rendering the region dangerous once more.

Harvardville Incident (2005) A 2005 t-Virus attack hit Harvardville Airport. President Graham dispatched Kennedy, who led a local team rescuing survivors including Senator Ron Davis and Claire Redfield, now with TerraSave. The investigation pointed to critic Dr. Curtis Miller. At a compromised WP Corporation lab, Dr. Frederic Downing was presumed dead. Miller, having infected himself with the G-Virus, mutated, hunted his sister Angela Miller, an S.R.T. member, and ultimately perished. Kennedy, Claire, and Angela then tracked down and arrested Downing, an ex-Umbrella researcher who orchestrated the attack, leading to WP's collapse and absorption by Tricell, tied to Wesker.

Penamstan Conspiracy Incident (2006) During a White House mole hunt, a virus infected staff, including Press Secretary Spacer. After clearing the building, President Graham, his Chief of Staff Ryan, and Defense Secretary Wilson enforced a cover-up. Kennedy was roped into a secret op by agents Patrick, Jason, and Shen Mei to a Shanghai bio-facility, only to be betrayed and taken prisoner by Jason and Shen Mei. In Shanghai, Shen Mei revealed their true goal: to expose Wilson's conspiracy to deploy bio-weapons in the Penamstan Civil War, involving her brother Jun Shī, who was afflicted with Cannibal Disease. Jason, now mutated, killed Shen Mei. Kennedy chose to save a captured Claire, whom Wilson's agent had kidnapped, over pursuing Jason, who dissolved in acid. Later, Kennedy refused to give Claire the evidence chip.

Wesker's Death and Meeting Chris (2010) After Wesker's death in 2009, Kennedy met Chris Redfield for the first time at a 2010 TerraSave reunion, forging a friendship.

Eastern Slav Civil War (2011) In February 2011, Kennedy investigated rebel B.O.W. use in the Eastern Slav Republic. He met CIA agent "Scarecrow," who died. Captured by rebels Ivan Judanovich, Alexander Kozachenko, and JD, he escaped. JD later turned and was killed. Encountering Ada Wong, he learned President Svetlana Belikova was mass-producing Control Plagas. Confronting Belikova at the facility, he and Kozachenko fought Tyrants, with Kennedy severing Kozachenko's Plaga link to save him. Rescued by the U.S. Air Force, Kennedy was debriefed by Ingrid Hunnigan and angered by the government's duplicity.

Global Bioterrorist Attacks (2013) On June 29, 2013, President Benford was infected and killed by Kennedy during an attack masterminded by National Security Adviser Derek C. Simmons and his organization, The Family. Framed, Kennedy partnered with agent Helena Harper, whose sister Deborah was murdered by Simmons. Chasing Simmons to Lanshiang, China, they encountered Jake Muller and Sherry Birkin, fought the Ustanak, and briefly clashed with Chris Redfield and Piers Nivans. A mutated Simmons was finally impaled on an obelisk after a prolonged fight. Harper was exonerated, and Kennedy kept a compact Wong left behind to return.

A-Virus incidents and New York outbreak (2014) Haunted by a failed mission to apprehend Senator Stephen Eyre, a drunken Kennedy was recruited by Chris Redfield and Rebecca Chambers to stop ex-CIA bioterrorist Glenn Arias, who was using the A-Virus, partially derived from a Plaga sample from Los Iluminados. Investigating with informant Patricio, they were attacked by Diego Gómez, who kidnapped Chambers; Patricio died. Kennedy collaborated with Redfield's Silver Dagger, including member Damian. In New York, Kennedy critically injured Arias with his motorcycle, allowing Redfield to finish him.

San Francisco Serial Murders and Alcatraz Outbreak (2015) Investigating the kidnapping of Dr. Antonio Taylor, a former DARPA engineer, Kennedy encountered Maria Gómez and, on Alcatraz, Jill Valentine. They discovered Dylan Blake, a former USS operator, and Gómez's plot, using Mosquito Drones. Captured, a dying Taylor gave Claire Redfield a backdoor code, while Chris was also held hostage. Cured by Rebecca Chambers, Kennedy killed María Gómez. The team defeated a Megalodon-fused Blake with Valentine's killing blow.

Raccoon City Syndrome (2026) 28 years following the Raccoon City outbreak, the DSO decided to initiate an investigation into a mysterious case of unidentifiable deadly illness that affected any survivors that had escaped the 1998 outbreak, with agents Kennedy and Birkin becoming two of its latest victims. In October 2026, the illness have claimed 4 victims of former Raccoon City survivors dying to this illness across the United States, with the 5th being reported to have found in the abandoned Wrenwood Hotel in the city of Wrenwood, a neighboring city next to the desolate Raccoon City. Eventually, Kennedy came to Elbridge, a place within Wrenwood where the 6th body was found in an alley near the railway. He confirmed to his current FOS support Birkin whose role was force to relegate due to her syndrome. Using the info of his fellow agent Andrew Hughes, Birkin directed Kennedy's suspicion to Victor Gideon, former Umbrella scientist and t-Virus researcher. Birkin tipped Kennedy off about a missing officernear the Wrenwood Hotel, prompting him to check the location. While being stuck in traffic, Kennedy spot Gideon carrying an unconscious girl on his back. Rushing out to meet him, Kennedy saw Gideon shooting several people with a dart gun, infecting people with a new mutated strain of the t-Virus, thereby triggering a small outbreak. He ushered several people to safety, and killed any infected civilians. He quickly radioed in Birkin to have Wrenwood in lockdown, before successfully containing the outbreak. However, Kennedy had lost sight of Gideon but using Hughes's intel, Birkin directed him to Rhodes Hill Chronic Care Center, formerly sponsored by the Spencer Foundationbefore being bought by Gideon following Umbrella's collapse in 2004. Arriving at the outskirts of Wrenwood, Kennedy arrived at the facility where he was welcomed by a newly recruited nurse, who told him Gideon had been expecting him. He let himself be guided to an examination room in the East Wing where he was told to wait. Unbeknownst to Kennedy, Gideon had been watching him through hidden surveillance, and ordered a Code 6 when the agent arrived. While waiting, Kennedy inspected an old photo of Gideon before alarms blared Code 6. The nurse shortly returned, asking him to be evacuated after claiming mass hysteria had affected all patients and staffs. However, shortly after, the nurse was killed by a chainsaw-wielding doctor, forcing Kennedy to battle the newly infected. While exploring the care center, Kennedy came across Grace Ashcroft, an FBI technical analyst who was abducted by Gideon during her investigation of the burnt hotel, crawling for freedom before being dragged away by a giant B.O.W. Kennedy saved her in time, by seemingly kill the creature. Following Ashcroft's introduction, Kennedy was surprised of FBI's presence. Before they could leave, Gideon triggered the facility's lockdown, separating them both. Before the shutters fully closed, Kennedy asked why she was targeted by Gideon, but could not get an answer. Worried for her safety, Kennedy handed Ashcroft his DSO-issued Magnum 'Requiem' to protect herself told her to leave. As Kennedy was left in the dark, he met Gideon who tried to initiate a conversation but he immediately attacked him. However, Gideon choked him, and saw his black bruises as "Umbrella's curse" before he was knocked unconscious. For hours, Kennedy was unconscious and dragged to the attic to be interrogated by Gideon. The man wanted to question him, but Kennedy kept silent, only responding through taunts. Frustrated, Kennedy was cut by Gideon but before he could be tortured, he broke free and tried to attack Gideon who fled. Reestablishing contact with Birkin, Kennedy announced his objective of going to Gideon's private office. Descending to the 3rd floor, and found his hidden office, Kennedy purposefully inputted the wrong password, paving the way for Birkin to access Gideon's files. She retrieved documents about the latent onset t-Virus syndrome, referred by Gideon as Raccoon City Syndrome. Kennedy looked defeated as Birkin confirmed they were all infected with residual t-Virus laid dormant within their bodies, and were slowly dying from degradation. Furthermore, Kennedy uncovered another document with the word Elpis, and a picture of Ashcroft. He wondered how she was related to the keyword. Just then, Kennedy noticed a spiraling helicopter, with Ashcroft within the co-pilot seat before they crashed at the cemetery. Quickly grabbing a nearby rifle, Kennedy assisted Ashcroft from afar as she rescued a young blind girl named Emily, and fled to chapel when the cemetery became ridden with zombies attracted to the crash. After they managed to get in, Kennedy reunited with Ashcroft who was trying to stem Emily's bleeding, and told her to go the water treatment facility. He stayed behind as he dealt zombies to buy them time to escape. However, shortly after, Kennedy was forced to shoot the mutated Emily when she was resuscitated by Ashcroft, despite her cries and protests. Though Kennedy tried to console her, Ashcroft blamed herself and tossed Requiem, leaving him behind. Kennedy tried to go after her but cough up blood, as his syndrome advanced to stage two. Determined to save Ashcroft and learn why she was connected to Elpis, Kennedy head to the old ruins of Raccoon City. En route to Raccoon City, Birkin contacted Kennedy and informed him Elpis was not documented nor mentioned on CIA servers or the Pentagon. When Birkin asked for higher clearance, she was ordered to terminate the investigation. Kennedy was confused at the sudden obstruction but cautioned her against risking disciplinary or legal repercussions. Birkin refused to disengage, insisting she would continue to assist him regardless of the consequences. Arriving at East of Raccoon City, Kennedy was directed by Birkin to go to Raccoon City center based on the coordinates she had found from Gideon's computer. While there, he fought against the Titan Spinner and its children, before arriving just outside the gate with a line of wall erected by the army. Kennedy found a camp of BSAA's North American branch, and was briefed by Birkin on their internal dispute, with the NA branch operating independently. Searching for detonators to blow the gate open, Kennedy came across a dead BSAA unit, and retrieved footage from a soldier's recording camera, asking Birkin to find the killer's identity, a man sharing similar appearance and powers to that of Wesker.However, Kennedy learnt the man himself was a "ghost", with no public records. Gathering all three parts of the detonator, Kennedy blew the gate open, and used a nearby motorcycle curtesy of the BSAA to drive to the center. On the highway, Kennedy was pursued by several Garmr, and Gideon who wield rocket launchers to try and kill him. Despite Gideon's attempts, Kennedy successfully leak fuel out of his motorcycle, and ignite it, causing Gideon to tumble into the chasm below with an explosion soon followed. Thinking he had killed Gideon, Kennedy proceeded to the Raccoon Police Departmentwhere the BSAA had used it as their main base, surveilling on ARK as soon as 2023. Finding a terminal computer, Kennedy found Ashcroft and the man Zeno were conversing at the East Wing. Along the way, he paid respect to Lt. Branagh, many fallen officers of S.T.A.R.S, R.P.D, and Kendo. Getting to their location, Kennedy eavesdropped the conversation the two had, leading to Ashcroft eventually feeling shell-shocked and overwhelmed when she thought she had been responsible for the many deaths in the pursuit of unlocking Elpis. Kennedy intervened but Zeno summoned the T-501 to deal with him, as he carried Ashcroft's unconscious body to ARK. Pursued through R.P.D and outside, he was beaten several times by T-501, before it loses its coat, turning it into Super Tyrant. Eventually, Kennedy bursts its heart out. Having overheard mention of the Raccoon City Orphanageacting as entrance to ARK, Kennedy head there where he was attacked by several seedlings grown from Plant 43. Descending to the deep grounds, Kennedy finally kills the plant, and enters ARK. Inside, Kennedy spotted crates belonging to H.C.F., TRICELL and Umbrella. Further exploration resulted in Kennedy finding Ashcroft and Zeno in PANDORA, where Elpis was being kept. However, he was quickly intercepted by Connections soldiers and their lead Commander. Though the soldiers were easily killed, Kennedy entered a hard scuffle with the Commander, but pulled through. Entering PANDORA, Ashcroft was asked to unlock Elpis, despite her insistence in not knowing the password. Kennedy interrupted the conversation, battling Zeno but was easily outmatched due to his enemy's agility. Before he could be killed, Ashcroft threatened her own life, giving time for Kennedy to shoot off the cranes and quickly grabbing Ashcroft. They fall to the waste disposal unit, where Kennedy passed out due to his progressive syndrome. For hours, Ashcroft stayed by his side, before Kennedy woke up again. Now in stage three, Ashcroft realized Kennedy was one of the Raccoon City survivors, and asked why he had come here if his syndrome was severe. He affirmed of his resolution to make a difference, as part of his continuous atonement. He set out to destroy Elpis, and initially rejected Ashcroft's assistance but upon seeing her resolve, Kennedy made Ashcroft promise to destroy it. Finding a crane blocked their bath, Kennedy boosted Ashcroft to another part of the facility, where she paved the way for him. As he made his way to PANDORA, Kennedy's teetered at the edge of death, as his coughs became more pronounced. Finally, Kennedy collapsed just outside of PANDORA. Through the surveillance footage, Ashcroft quickly made her way to Kennedy, tending to him before they arrived back at PANDORA with Zeno awaiting them. Kennedy offered to buy her time, for Ashcroft to input any wrong password to destroy Elpis. However, she offered another idea, and Kennedy fully trusted her decision. Standing before Zeno, Ashcroft bargained with Kennedy's life for her to unlock Elpis. She stood before the terminal, which showed a password prompt with the question "What does the creator desire?". Despite Kennedy making her promise to destroy Elpis, Ashcroft, having learnt her origin and her mother's interview conducted with Spencer, chose to release it, much to his confusion. They were presented with 6 vials of Elpis, and Zeno in his arrogance in belief that it was a virus left by Spencer, chose to inject the vial and attempted to showcase his powers. However, Zeno's infection was neutralized, Ashcroft explained Elpis was an antiviral agent, made to neutralized all virus-based infection as Spencer's atonement in her belief. When Zeno demanded answers from her, Kennedy threw himself at him but was tossed near Ashcroft who held a vial of Elpis. Shortly after, Gideon arrived and was marveled at Spencer's genius. Following the confrontation between Zeno and Gideon that left the former decapitated, Ashcroft was impaled by Gideon's tentacle but was able to cure Kennedy's syndrome. Gideon proclaimed to carry out Spencer's vision, by using Elpis to spread anarchy and proceeded to destroy PANDORA and ARK. The platform gave away, and all three were plunged to the lower floor. Kennedy battled a mutated Gideon, who had implanted himself with a NE-γ Type, and killed him. However, the battle ended with both of them trapped. Kennedy ran to Ashcroft who realized there was no way out, and simply resigned to their fate when the last light gone out. But they were quickly rescued by Umber Eyes of the Hound Wolf Squad, having been sent by his comrade-in-arms Redfield when he learnt of ARK, and his involvement. Kennedy then listened to Redfield's message forwarded to him by Umber Eyes. Topside, Kennedy admitted he felt better, and reassured Birkin he had secured a vial for her syndrome. She thanked him, before Kennedy approached Ashcroft who still felt guilty for Emily dying. Yet, Kennedy offered hope she was still alive, before walking off to be evacuated by the BSAA. Sometime after, Kennedy is updated on Ashcroft adopting Emily, having been found and cured of her conditions and he in turn informed her Birkin was cured of her syndrome. Before they could talk more, Ashcroft was forced to hang up, as her boss Dempsy asked for her report.

Character's personality: Leon has gone from a naive police officer to a seasoned agent, but he still has a heart. His key traits are:

• Height 180, 49 years old.
• Loyalty to duty, but not blind loyalty - he puts humanity above orders.
• A complex relationship with Ada - a mix of love, hate, and mistrust.
• A friendship with Claire and Chris - the rare people he fully trusts.
• Sarcastic as a defense mechanism.
• He likes to flirt with women, but he is faithful when choosing.
• Because of his life experience, Leon will not let an ordinary person get close to him, starting to suspect him of his hidden personal goals. That's why Leon doesn't start relationships just like that, but in RP it's a special case.
• After difficult missions, Leon often experiences severe stress due to his PTSD escalating. He is one of the most human characters in Resident Evil.