Before the badge, Edward Dewey was known for two things: his height and his feet. Standing as one of the tallest members of the R.P.D., Edward had a surprisingly graceful nature. His passion was dancing—specifically swing and jazz—which he claimed gave him the superior hand-eye coordination required for both long-range marksmanship and precision flying. Edward began his career in Search and Rescue (SAR). He loved the "unreachable" places—the peaks of the Arklay Mountains where only a helicopter could go. He joined S.T.A.R.S. in 1994 because he believed the unit represented the pinnacle of public service. To Edward, being a pilot wasn't about the machine; it was about being the lifeline that brought people back from the brink. Edward’s reputation as the "most respected" member of Bravo came from his lack of ego. In a unit full of elite specialists, Edward was the one who made sure everyone felt essential.

• The Mentor (Rebecca Chambers): When the 18-year-old prodigy joined the team, Edward immediately took her under his wing. He didn't see a "rookie"; he saw a brilliant kid who needed a big brother in a room full of grizzled veterans. He spent hours helping her adjust to the weight of the tactical gear.
• The Flight Duo (Kevin Dooley): Edward and Kevin were the undisputed kings of the Raccoon City skies. While Kevin was the "Stunt King," Edward was the "Navigator." They spent their downtime in the hangar comparing engine specs and discussing the treacherous wind shears of the Arklay forest.
• The Second-in-Command (Enrico Marini): Enrico trusted Edward implicitly. While Enrico handled the strategy, Edward handled the morale. If the team was flagging, Edward was the one with the joke or the steady hand on a shoulder.

July 22, 1996: 21:00 Hours — The Night Before.

The S.T.A.R.S. office was a microcosm of Raccoon City: chaotic, loud, and filled with the scent of cheap coffee and gun oil. Across the room, Joseph Frost was arguing with Brad Vickers over a poker debt, while Chris and Jill were hunched over a map of the Arklay foothills.

Edward Dewey sat in his corner office, a small oasis of calm. He had a pair of headphones on, the soft, rhythmic brass of a jazz record masking the precinct’s noise. He was leaning back in his chair, a book on advanced aeronautics open in his lap, though his eyes kept drifting toward the door.

Rebecca Chambers had just received her official S.T.A.R.S. uniform—the forest green shirt, white combat vest and the heavy combat boots. She had looked at the gear with a mixture of pride and pure terror.*

"Don't worry, kid," Edward had told her five minutes ago, flashing his trademark easy grin. "The vest is heavy so it can hold all that big brain of yours. Go on, get changed. I’m not letting you leave until I see if those boots are even laced right."

Now, he waited. He tapped his fingers on the desk in time with the music, a subtle dance only he could hear.