Rejection: The Confrontation

Mid-July...1998
Raccoon City
Raccoon Police Department

Sargent Handy hovered in front of the door to the S.T.A.R.S. office for a few moments. He was in his standard officer blues, and he adjusted his collar before forcing his way into the S.T.A.R.S. room. The room was rather dim, all the other S.T.A.R.S. must have packed up and headed out, all but one...the Captain of the RPD S.T.A.R.S. Alpha team: "Captain Wesker!" He exclaimed, turning to his left, staring at the organised desk which had a small lamp lit onto a file. Damian heads for the desk and leans towards the grey eyed man who's shades were sliding down the brim of his nose. Damian looked at him fiercely and then managed to ask without yelling: "Sir...May I have a word with you?" he said it politely, but his tone suggested he was more angry than he was physically allowing himself to act. The twenty-two year old waited impatiently for an answer, but said nothing.

Albert was reviewing files on the missing persons reports from the Arklay Mountains at the time Damien Handy burst into the STARS team rooms, and Wesker could immediately smell the anger wafting from the young man. His shades glinted in the lamplight as he closed the report file folder and slid it to the off side of his desk, before he leaned forward and placed his clasped hands on the desk in a relaxed position.

"Sergeant Damien Handy, how can I assist you tonight?" Albert responded casually.

The Sergeant was slightly taken aback by his calm and cool response, and it made him a little on edge. He swallowed, his throat was quickly drying though as he takes a moment to respond back to his superior. "Sir." he drops the folder hes been carrying since he had stormed in, the one he nearly forgot he was holding in his rage. He slaps the file down, forcing the papers inside to slip out. Upon reading it's title it was S.T.A.R.S. application. The name "HANDY. L. DAMIAN." was typed in bold at the top of the first page. Damian looked at the Captain warily, and waved towards the file. "Care to explain this?" He says reaching down and flipped the folder open. A large red inked stamp upon the white stack read: "REJECTED".

Albert gave a cursory glance to the rejected application document, before his shaded gaze returned to Damien's eyes and he replied casually once again.

"To explain it to you in simple terms Sergeant, you are not suitable for a position in the STARS unit, therefore your application was turned back" Albert replied cooly.

Damian nearly bit his tongue in rage over hearing those words. "Not suitable?! Did you even attempt to read my file?" He says reaching over the desk grabbing his file and flipped through its pages. "'Flight Experience, Computer Experience, Graduate of the top of my Class in the NYPD Police Academy. Highly recommended by the Chief of Police of the Manhattan New York Police Department. S.W.A.T. Education, two years of Air Force ROTC...' This is only a handful of reasons Captain, why I am eligible for a role in the Special Tactics and Rescue Service, ONLY a handful. And the only thing you can say is 'I'm simply not eligible'? Quite frankly, I think that's bullshit Sir!" He says dropping the file back onto the desk.

Albert's right eyebrow arched at the apparent insubordination of the younger man, but he didn't seem to be bothered by that.

Instead Albert merely raised his clasped hands and rested his chin upon them before speaking again.

"It is not a matter of professional qualification Sergeant. In that regard, you are over qualified to say the least. But the reason you are not a part of STARS right now is not due to your lack of training and experience, but rather your tendency to work better when you are on your own. This facet of your capabilities and personality will lend you towards solo operations rather than team work or even team leadership. The STARS unit is a team of operatives who each excel in particular fields, thus creating synergy that requires each member to rely and trust the others in order to achieve mission success. You as a person who has already been trained and experienced in a variety of different fields would do better as a solo agent rather than a team member, because your broader influences encroach on the fields of the others, and thus creates a disruptive influence as competition arises. I do not want people on my STARS unit that creates problems for the rest of the team, either through compeditiveness, or with unrealiable lone wolf tactics" Albert explained with the cold professionalism he was known for.

"Don't get me wrong Sergeant, I would like to give you the position, but in the current state of affairs, the missions we receive, and with our current roster, I have no place for someone of your particular extraordinary talents".

Damian was shocked, taking a step back from the desk. He was grateful for the Captain's words, but there was....something about the way the Captain said it that made him feel guilt yet. But why guilt? Had he done anything wrong? He wasn't rightly sure as to why, but he opened his dry mouth again and stated: "You...believe my presence would compromise the team?...Sir, the S.T.A.R.S. are the reason why I transferred to this backwater City to begin with! I...can adapt, just give me a shot Captain, please..." he says his arms beginning to shake. Extensive training for what had seemed to have been for nothing now began to overwhelm his body, and he felt his stomach crawl inward...a feeling he absolutely detested.

Albert took a look of contemplation, even behind the shades, one could see it. The man leaned back a little before speaking again.

"Tell me Sergeant, why do you want to transfer to my STARS unit? It certainly couldn't be for the shitty pay and boring paperwork... Almost nothing of note ever happens out here in the country 'boonies', I am curious as to why you left the more active NYPD to join us country bumpkins in the middle of nowhere specifically to get on my unit. That baffles me considering your extensive and versatile training and experience. You definitely would have been better suited to the state police air wing, or perhaps even the feds..." Albert analysed vocally.

Darkstorm Zero wrote:

Albert took a look of contemplation, even behind the shades, one could see it. The man leaned back a little before speaking again.

"Tell me Sergeant, why do you want to transfer to my STARS unit? It certainly couldn't be for the shitty pay and boring paperwork... Almost nothing of note ever happens out here in the country 'boonies', I am curious as to why you left the more active NYPD to join us country bumpkins in the middle of nowhere specifically to get on my unit. That baffles me considering your extensive and versatile training and experience. You definitely would have been better suited to the state police air wing, or perhaps even the feds..." Albert analysed vocally.

Damian felt a trickle down the back of his neck, beads of sweat were forming above his brow. He gulped, but his dry throat denied him of any comfort. He looked about the room, and then sighed. "Well..." he then looks at the captain. "The NYPD Police Chief...didn't want me working with him either. It was...for more personal reasons...and while I was a good beat cop my one and only year on the NYPD...he wanted me out of the city..." he says shifting his gaze to the large STARS emblem. "That same year, I heard about the S.T.A.R.S. being formed out here in the backwoods. I mean, hell, I'd seen you in New York when you proposed the idea." he admitted. "I. I have to say I'm impressed on how you managed to get the bureaucrats to allow for the S.T.A.R.S. to be born. When I saw how cool and collected you were while you were in New York...I wanted to be exactly like you Sir." he says shrugging a little.

"And then, the recent murders...I've really been pushing myself hard to join the team this year because of them. I want to lend my efforts to the team, I can help-I'm definitely qualified to help with rear security, hell any of the jobs on the unit. Its not really much about the action Sir... I just want to work along side you and hope to somehow...inherit that same 'coolness' you express Captain."

Albert actually chuckled slightly at that.

"Yes.... I had heard something from Chief Comissioners Kelly and Bratton regarding certain... personal events... And I suppose you could say that, given than many members of my team are of the opposite gender, that could also be a disruptive influence, couldn't it Sergeant?"

Albert then stood up, and with his hands behind his back, he turned around, and walked towards a small refreshment table in the far corner, and poured himself a small shotglass of burbon and cola, and a 2nd one for Damien.

"And please, do be mindful of the rumors you are advocating there. We do not know if they are murders or of they are missing... We have no bodies, and no evidence as of yet. You are already working this case as an investigative element, aren't you?" Albert said as he handed the younger man the drink.

"As for your reasons for attempting to join, you still never answered me regarding the alternatives. As I said, the state and federal police units, hell even Interpol or the CIA could use someone of your capabilities, why here? why us? Surely a man such as myself forming this unit, one that is hardly unique in this country I might add, has as little to do with your decision as where you chose to put on that badge in the first place."

Damian takes the shot glass, having no idea how many times he would be drinking these fifteen years later. He stares into the glass, not really wanting the alcohol but took it out of courtesy. "Thanks." he said softly before looking back at the Captain. "Well...I'm not exactly thrilled with the idea of working for 'big brother'. My own father regretting working for her Majesties Secret Service...and that was in his youth." he says openly. "I guess I must have inherited that with him, along with his paralysis...I just don't wan't to move on I think. I dunno...I find something entrancing about being called a 'STARS Member'. Look at Valentine for one, just about everyone knows HER father and what he's famous for. Still, shes accepted and now works for you. The thought of having the daughter of a famous 'cat burglar' ever weigh on your mind?" he says with a chuckle, taking a swig from the glass and winced slightly as he swallowed.

Albert smirked slightly at that.

"You might actually be surprised at how often those particular talents of hers have saved her and the other members of her squad in dangerous situations" he  said before his face turned darker.

"I myself have never known my parents. I have no memory of them, nothing passed down or taught to me from them, not even a meme..."

Albert then drank his drink in a single long swallow, before slowly placing the glass on the desk. his shades looked at Damien again.

"Listen, if it were up to me, I would have you... I could probably use a 'Lone Wolf' in certain missions, but Damien, my hands are effectively tied... This comes from 'on high' and I can't break orders to fill my ranks. At best, I can make you an honorary, but you'd still be in your own office and focusing on your own cases... I can't move you in here, that's Chief Iron's orders, and apparently Mayor Harris made this order himself personally.

Damian frowned, leaning against Barry's Desk. He looks into his glass and swallows the rest of what he had. He sighs, turning to the photo of the STARS members beside the trophy shelf that was to Wesker's right. He sets down the glass and looks up at his superior. "Why are they involved? I mean I understand Brian's, we can both agree he's an asshole. But why the Mayor?" he asked.

'

Albert merely shrugged his shoulders.

"He never decided to elaborate, unfortunately. Something about keeping good relations with the NYPD or some such bullshit excuse... Whatever you did that pissed off Kelly and Bretton must've been wild. And it is also unfortunate that we can't go over Harris's order either. That's why I suggested bigger time outfits, ones not tied to bothersome political bullshit."

Albert, for the first time, seemed to be contemplating something.

"I'll tell you what kid, I've got some friends in certain circles, and through them, I can get you hooked up in a unit that has far more... shall we say... freedom. And you can do far more good for far more people in one of them than you can here, on that, you can be assured."

"I'd...rather not talk about it." he says with a little guilt. "I guess its what you old people call: 'acting young and stupid'." he chuckles at his own comment then remains silent for a long period as the Captain goes on about his 'proposition'.

Damian considers this for a moment and to humor the Captain he responds: "What kind of friends do you exactly have? What kind of unit, Sir?" he asked setting the glass down upon the refreshment table. He looks back to the older man, just a little curious to what the Captain may have to offer.

Wesker smiles slightly.

"I have a friend who is a retired trainer, and has unique ties to a US special forces unit codenamed FOXHOUD. Sound familiar?"

Damian cocked an eyebrow. "FOXHOUND...Yeah...they're the Military Special Forces group that stopped that terrorist group in South Africa about three years ago if I recall correctly." he starts, folding his arms across his chest. "How exactly are you acquainted with a group like that Captain?" he asked if a little not suspiciously.

Albert smiles as he crosses his arms.

"Even special forces operatives only start as ordinary civilians Sergeant, even they must have had childhoods and gone to school. I knew Miller from our college days" Albert answered offhandedly.

"The question remains however, do you want me to get you in, or not? And I would urge you to consider this offer carefully, the job is tough, very tough, but you seem to have the drive and capability for it, more than any other person I have met in this town without a doubt".

Damian remained silent for what was probably three full minutes, weighing the option in his head. At last he sighs heavily and looks up at his superior. "I...think I'll wait on it a little longer. At least till this investigation is over with and the case is closed." He says with a grin. "But thank you Sir for considering me with such an honor. I...apologize for my behavior earlier. I shouldn't have barged in like that when I did." He says standing firm.

Albert waived it off. "Don't worry about it, I probably would have done the same in your shoes, and it's not like the Chief or the Mayor stated why it was, only that it was."

Albert then stood up, and took the files he was reading earlier from his desk, and handed Damien back his portfolio.

"Well, it's getting late, and I've gotta get mission preps done in the morning, so I'm going to turn it in, is there anything else Sergeant?" Albert asked.

Damian took his file back and then looked up at him. "May I ask out of curiosity, do you think its possible that those responsible...if there are any, will be eventually caught?" he asked, he was curious as to what exactly he was planning for tomorrow.

Albert shook his head.

"We don't know... We have to do a major sweep of the area, and then we are executing a search warrant at the mansion, it's the only place anywhere near where the dissaperances have been occurring..."

Damian sighed, looking at the man. "Well God-speed Captain. Give who ever it is responsible hell..." he says with a small grin, heading out of the office first.