Richard Aiken was a member of S.T.A.R.S. (Special Tactics and Rescue Service) which was an elite police unit based out of Raccoon City. He was Bravo teams communications expert and was also adept at close quarters combat as he preferred to use a custom made S.T.A.R.S. shotgun as opposed to small handguns or knives like his other colleagues. Compared to other members of his team he was also relatively young at just 23 years of age but he had his feet planted firmly on the ground and was one of the most reliable members of the team.
His upbringing was fairly harsh as he unfortunately witnessed the death of his sister at the hands of a deranged criminal - he was wracked with guilt throughout his adolescence as he always felt if he could turn back time he would have done something different. However his loss also gave him the motivation to try and help as many other people as he could going forward which is how he came to be a key member of S.T.A.R.S. He was also trusted with the responsibility with taking care of the youngest and newest member of S.T.A.R.S.,
Rebecca Chambers - who was their medical expert.
His last mission was when he and his colleagues were sent to the local Arklay Mountains, responding to reports of cannibalism and other strange murders in the area. Their transport helicopter seemed to have developed an engine fault which caused it to land prematurely and they were left stranded in the dense forests at night - and they were soon ambushed by horrible creatures such as
Cerberus dogs and Zombies which attacked and chased them through the forests. The teams split up - some were killed - some survived. Eventually the remainder of S.T.A.R.S. Alpha team and Bravo team all made it inside a building which turned out to be the
Spencer Mansion. The mansion was filled with infected creatures forcing him and the others to either engage or avoid them in order to survive. He and Rebecca had become separated as she remained outside the mansion but eventually the two met again where Richard found her sleeping in a dormitory room, frightened of the horrors that lurked throughout the building.
As he was entrusted with looking after her, Richard reassured her that she would be safe with him - and they soon left to try and find their team captain
Enrico Marini.
However, on their way through the mansion they happened to awaken a creature known as
Yawn - a giant
Snake with a deadly poison. The monster attacked the duo and the ever-heroic Richard protected Rebecca from the beast and unfortunately took a bite from
Yawn while Rebecca took the opportunity to run. When the creature slithered away into a different area Rebecca returned to Richard where she found him slumped on the floor, unable to move. She then proceeded to drag his body through to an adjacent room where he would be safe for the time being.
Chris Redfield managed to find the room where Richard and Rebecca were holding up and as much as she tried to save him with her expert medical knowledge, she needed something more but she couldn't leave Richards side.
She let Chris know what she needed and it was likely that the components were available elsewhere in the mansion. Getting all of the team members out alive was imperative for Chris so he immediately set out on the hunt for a cure - time was ticking however as the snakes poison was deadly enough to kill Richard if he wasn't cured.
After some time Chris returned with the cure - a serum whixh was specifically designed to combat
Yawn's poison. Rebecca administered it to Richard who began feeling effects almost straight away, but the strain of recovery made him lose consciousness for a while.
Rebecca watched over him while he recovered, but another B.O.W. managed to ambush the two and Richard used what little strength he had to try and protect his teammates, but he was unfortunately killed by the creature.
Before he died he did manage to receive radio transmissions from the S.T.A.R.S. helicopter pilot
Brad Vickers, who originally fled the scene in fear but was attempting to reestablish contact.
He lost his life trying to protect his colleagues, in particular Rebecca. He would be remembered by all as being fearless and not afraid of death.
