"Listen, he's coming for us. We're both gonna die!" — Brad to Jill, shortly before his death.[5]
Brad Vickers (ブラッド・ヴィッカース,Buraddo Vikkāsu?) was a member of the Raccoon Police Department's S.T.A.R.S. Alpha Team. Vickers wasn't much of a fighter, and it is not mentioned as to whether or not he had served in any combat capacity before his recruitment into the S.T.A.R.S. unit. He appears to have served primarily in the team's administrative role and as primary pilot, while also being trained in other skills. Brad's hometown was Delucia.[6]
Vickers was recruited into S.T.A.R.S. after its 1996 founding—an elite counterterrorism, search and rescue, and counter-narcotics unit within the Raccoon Police Station. S.T.A.R.S. was funded through private investment by local businesses and hired professionals from outside the police force. While known for his timid behavior, he made up for it by serving multiple roles. As a qualified helicopter pilot, he transported the Alpha Team around the city.[7] As a computer expert, he could deal with obtaining digital evidence.[7] Trained in chemical protection, it was also his job to deal with hazardous substances.[8] When on patrol, he took one of two Rear Security positions.[7]
Mansion Incident[]
On Friday, 24 July 1998, Alpha Team was sent out into the Arklay Mountains over a region northwest of the city. Having lost radio contact with Bravo Team the night before, the mission was to investigate this loss. Landing the helicopter near the derelict Bravo Team's helicopter, it became clear that its pilot - Kevin Dooley - had been savagely killed and partially eaten. Soon after, Joseph Frost was attacked and violently killed by a pack of dogs in the area. Terrified, Vickers took off into the air, leaving his teammates behind.[9]
Quickly regaining his composure, Vickers attempted to re-establish contact with his S.T.A.R.S. teammates whilst flying over a mansion near where Bravo's helicopter had crashed. Unable to contact Alpha due to all specialty equipment still being aboard the helicopter and Bravo's comms officer, Richard, being severly injured and with damaged equipment, Vickers could only make sporadic contact. Flying over a helipad adjacent to the mansion, he spotted his surviving comrades battling a superhuman dubbed the "Tyrant." Having taken off with all of the team's equipment still on board, he dropped them a rocket launcher to use against the monster and evacuated them as the complex exploded from an underground self-destruct device.
S.T.A.R.S. disbanding[]
After landing back at the Raccoon Police Station, Vickers would soon understand from the others that the mansion was the site of a covert bioweapons research facility owned by Umbrella U.S.A. A series of murders and animal attacks that plagued Arklay County for the previous two months was the result of an outbreak of T-virus. This zoonotic retrovirus caused "Cannibal Disease" in humans. Though S.T.A.R.S. began investigating Umbrella, the company pressured the R.P.D. through bribes. Chief Brian Irons formally disbanded S.T.A.R.S. to strike a blow to their investigation, something Vickers timidly sided with. Later, he tells Jill in a note that he slipped in with a pizza she ordered, asking her if she was mad at him for keeping his head down, as he feared losing his job.[10] Umbrella kept tabs on Vickers, seeing him as just a threat as any other.[11] Nonetheless, he continued the investigation covertly with Jill Valentine after Chris Redfield, Rebecca Chambers, and Barry Burton left the city.[12]
Raccoon City Destruction Incident and Death[]
From 23 to 24 September, a modified ε strain t-Virus was released into the sewers of Raccoon City and, via rats, contaminated the municipal drinking water. Over the next week, thousands who had drunk the water were quickly exhibiting symptoms of Cannibal Disease and became Zombies. Vickers participated in R.P.D. efforts to suppress the rioters, but casualties escalated. Soon, he discovered he was stalked by one of Umbrella's latest B.O.W.s, the Nemesis-T Type, which he correctly deduced was sent to hunt down S.T.A.R.S. officers. Vickers was able to warn Valentine, the only other officer still in the city, and they met up in Uptown Raccoon City. The two went their separate ways at Bar Black Jack. During their separation however, Vickers was bitten, though it's unknown whether it was by one or multiple Zombies.
Vickers was attacked and mutilated by Nemesis-T Type in the Raccoon Police Station's front yard on 28 September. Infected with t-Virus, his mutations allowed him to survive an otherwise fatal injury, and he became a Zombie. Whether he was killed by survivors or during the city's thermobaric bombing is uncertain. In Resident Evil 2, Zombie Vickers can be found by Leon Scott Kennedy or Claire Redfield (if they don't pick up any items before reaching the RPD in Leon A or Claire A) in the RPD's entrance, where he/she can finally lay him to rest; if they do, Brad will drop the Special Key. However, accounts differ as to Vickers' final moments. In a second account, Vickers reached the police station, already suffering the late stages of Cannibal Disease, and attacked Lt. Marvin Branagh. In this account, he was shot and killed by UBCS Cpl. Carlos Oliveira, either in the front yard or the Safety Deposit Room.