Albert Wesker arrived at Umbrella’s training facility when he was quite young, already cool, calm, and fully collected. There was no bright-eyed boy to be found in him, no childlike wonder at working with those he claimed to respect. Only commitment to his task at hand; utter brilliance, and determination to see things through to the end. He took to the work like a moth to flame, ascending rapidly above other new researchers, except for one: William Birkin, a man Albert initially found...detestable.
Wesker’s mind functions more on a psychopathic wavelength. If he feels anything for anyone, it is severely numbed, and he finds such feelings trivial in the first place. He felt no need for strong emotional attachments; it served as a distraction, something that would sideline his work. An annoyance, at worst. Though this stunted his social life when he was young, he learned to emulate certain feelings, to blend in. His mental state made it much easier to learn, as he could remove all distraction, but he had never felt a true bond with anyone. But William remains the sole individual to overcome that barrier. Though Wesker initially considered him a contemptible man, shallow and cowardly, his rivaly with William quickly became a bond. William was the only one in that damned building who could match his intellect. The only one he could carry in-depth conversations with regarding the viruses, without losing him in confusion. The only one who could match his ambition. And he quickly found William to be the only one who truly could supercede him. So he proposed they work together - an alliance of convenience, at least at first. Wesker never expected to find a long time friend in William.
Their combined efforts were beyond beneficial. Even Spencer had taken notice, as time rolled on. Wesker was ever so diligent in his work, particular about every detail; more than once he had lectured higher-level staff about taking risky shortcuts, as it would lead to instability in the final product. “What is the point of doing it if you will not do it right?” That was his question for them, one that earned him the ire of lazier staff. For Wesker was a perfectionist in his work, especially with bioweapons. In time, the order came down for them to start officially working together, dropping the facade of rivalry - preceeded swiftly by the termination of Dr. James Marcus. By then, he had long been a senior researcher, strongly influencing the bioweapon projects at Umbrella. His cold, unapproachable demeanor did him credit, more easily intimidated staff would listen to him without question.
In truth? Wesker never cared about Marcus. Nor about Spencer. To him, they were tools. Pawns of his game, elevating him over time. His true interest was in their work. The viruses he helped to develop. He played them like a fiddle, manipulation becoming among the greatest of his talents. He felt nothing when watching Marcus die, writhing pathetically on the ground - except perhaps...amusement. Yes, he did find Marcus’s position somewhat funny, in the moment. He stayed at William’s side thereafter, officially or not - aiding him in his work, making suggestions if William were ever stumped. Running distraction if William had something to hide. Finding, rather quickly...he actually cared about the man. It was a new feeling, and completely alien to Wesker. He loathed it, and yet...it comforted him. He had absolutely no idea what to make of it.
It was as he was struggling with this revelation that he left the company. The Tyrant project, the core of his interest, had hit a snag, and was stalling. His next stop was the United States Army, where he worked as a stealth operative for a time. He gained special tactics training, extensive training with firearms and close quarters combat - and this was much to his benefit when he was discharged, and recruited to S.T.A.R.S.. The new plant at the Raccoon P.D., Brian Irons, was forming a special tactics unit, and he wanted Albert Wesker to head it. The Special Tactics and Rescue Service. Wesker almost found it laughable. But he accepted the position regardless, and soon came to care for STARS as well - in a twisted way.
STARS, to Wesker, was naught but more pawns in his little game of chess. The leadership position gave him more room to do what he wanted, and free days were oft spent with William in the labs, getting updates and helping him with whatever was needed. Even then, although no longer officially in Umbrella’s employ, he still occasionally reported to Spencer and could access the labs. There was a four-month period, in 1997, when he distanced from William; STARS began to occupy more of his time, but he kept in touch digitally. He continued to support his friend at the company. But that was to change in July of 1998 - when his precious STARS unit would meet its end, at the behest of its own Captain. Wesker used them for bioweapon testing data, in a moment of convenience, as the virus had leaked in the Arklay Mountains. He did so almost giddily. He found great amusement in the work, and was fully open with William about his plans when the time came; he expected to meet up with William in the aftermath, especially with the virus William gave him, to preserve his life.
And that he did. He survived impalement by the Tyrant, though, much to his fury, failed to recover the combat data - nor Umbrella’s virus data. His betrayal bore no fruit. He returned to William some days later, now superhuman in body, but just the same as he was before in mind. The virus bonded with his DNA, stabilizing it in the process. He would not die that dark dreary night in Arklay. He spent whatever time he could with the Birkins, but had to be much more careful about it, as a dead man visiting was nothing to scoff at; he avoided public appearances whenever possible. Instead, he became a contact between the new company he worked for, and their spies in the field - one being Ada Wong. The company made plans to steal William’s research, and Wesker acted as the go-between -- initially, he had the full intention of sabotaging them. He only heard about the incident after it had occurred, through Umbrella’s channels he had tapped into. Spying on the company, just like before. He heard that HUNK had been sent in to retrieve the G-Virus sample - and that William Birkin had been terminated. This sent him spiraling into a rage, ready to enter that city and wipe out the team himself, though this did not happen. He didn’t run to Raccoon City to find his now-mutated friend. He knew better; dead or mutated, there was no returning. Instead, he did as instructed, having Ada retrieve the sample. Soon after, Wesker created a copy of William’s work, which he intended to continue, in the memory of his friend.
William’s death took a heavy toll on him. When around his fellow researcher, Wesker felt at his most human. It was an anchor he could hold onto. Losing him led to that feeling fading completely. Wesker became a monster even in his own mind, and he was proud of what he had become. He decided, then and there, he would retrieve Umbrella’s data and more for his own ends. And as he entered Sergei’s facility, to recover the data he lost at the mansion, he had only one regret on his mind.
That William Birkin, his only true friend, could not be there to witness his penultimate victory.
