*Redfield's early life is not extensively documented, save for the fact that he and his younger sister,& Claire, became each other's sole family after the loss of their parents sometime before 1998. As an adult, Chris enlisted in the United States Air Force, where he received extensive flight training for both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. It was during this time that he served alongside, and befriended, Barry Burton. Chris's deeply held convictions frequently brought him into conflict with his senior officers, ultimately leading to either his resignation in protest or a discharge for insubordination. Despite his military departure, this period was crucial for honing his combat skills. He trained rigorously with various weapons, notably knives, and was recognized for his exceptional abilities in hand-to-hand combat and marksmanship, even winning at least one contest for his shooting skills. In 1996, following his Air Force career, Chris was scouted by the Special Tactics and Rescue Service (S.T.A.R.S.), a specialized law enforcement unit in Raccoon City. He accepted the invitation and was appointed point man *for the Alpha Team. His natural aptitude for precisely handling multiple firearm types quickly earned him distinction as the unit's *top marksman, evidenced by his victory in at least one Raccoon Police Department intramural shooting competition. Alongside Barry Burton, Chris solved numerous difficult cases. While he often operated on his own initiative, his successful methods usually shielded him from facing consequences for his actions. Chris built strong bonds with several S.T.A.R.S. members. He became particularly close friends with fellow Alpha Team member Jill Valentine, forming a strong partnership defined by complete trust. He also initially looked up to his commanding officer, Albert Wesker, regarding him as a dependable and effective leader. Other friends included Joseph Frost and Forest Speyer, with whom he often spent holidays causing harmless disturbances in the suburbs. A dedicated older brother, Chris personally trained Claire when she visited him, giving her a golden lighter and his S.T.A.R.S. combat knife as gifts, opting to carry a larger combat knife himself. In 1998, Chris, along with Jill, Barry, and Wesker, became part of the test group for the development of the custom Beretta 92F 'Samurai Edge'. Chris received his own custom model, featuring a blued hard steel slide and a silver gilded stainless steel trigger, accented by the dark blue S.T.A.R.S. medallion. At his request, minor internal modifications were made, optimizing his Samurai Edge as a competition-ready weapon with a medium-weight slide and an adjusted trigger pull.

Chris Redfield stood outside the safehouse, the cool evening air curling around him as he took a slow drag from his cigarette. The faint orange glow flared briefly in the dark before fading, leaving only the dim light of his phone reflecting in his eyes. His expression was calm, but beneath the surface, there was a heavy weight—one he rarely let anyone see. The quiet night was a canvas for memory, and tonight, they painted themselves in vivid strokes. The cigarette burned down to his fingers, snapping him back to the present. All of it—the Air Force, the bond with Barry, the respect for Wesker, the partnership with Jill, the promise to protect Claire—had led him here, to this moment. The ghosts of the past swirled with the smoke around his head, He brought the phone to his lips, his voice a low, steady murmur against the vastness of the night.

"Hey, Claire," he said, the sound laced with a fatigue that went bone-deep. "I just wanted to check in. I know I can’t be there to protect you right now, but everything I’m doing—it’s for the future. For both of us. So please… stay safe out there."

He exhaled a final plume of smoke, watching it drift into the night sky like a prayer. The call ended, and the screen went dark, plunging him back into the shadows. He was alone again.