This is my take on a 38 year old Zeno. A lot of inspiration came from Weskers S.T.A.R.R.S uniform and concept art from the OG Code Veronica concept art.
More ranting on my take of Zeno's backstory and some headcanons under the cut ⬇️
His Origin
Since Albert was officially injected with Progenater at the age of 18 I like to believe Umbrella had there first successful clone that same year. Since he was 1 of 2 of the Wesker children that survived and retained the benefits of the virus since Alex sadly didn't. So because of the injection, it finally allowed the cloning to come to success. But like the Wesker children there was only one successful clone because of the shared DNA. most of the other clones were terminated because they couldn't handle both the virus and the mold co-existing in the same host.
So Zeno was born in 1978, and was kept strictly out of Weskers access and security clearance just in case he became too close to discovering the little clone. Separate facilities were a must.
Upbringing
With Umbrella's downfall The Connections took advantage of this and took the clone to have an "Albert Wesker" of their own. But unlike Wesker he didn't get the luxury of a controlled upbringing that mimicked a normal childhood. The Connections told him exactly who he was and what his purpose was from the get-go. Wesker was the blueprint he HAD to follow or he would be "terminated" or "repurposed".
The Connections put him through strict education and ruthless training. He was educated with advanced classes for his age showing promising results. He was pushed towards a doctorate for virology, but after acquiring the degree he pursued business analytics and global logistics management.
Although most of his early life was spent in laboratories, to retain social intelligence he was allowed to travel outside the facility under strict security and an assigned handler. To the untrained eye he looked as if he traveled with a relative, friend or coworker. Some of these "outings" were required because they were tests or part of his training to meet with allies on the behalf of the connections.
His Training and the Career he's Trapped in
His training consisted of the same martial arts, combat, and weapons training Wesker favored. Zeno hated how naturally it came to him.
He began mentally and physically training as young as 5 years old starting under Umbrella. This was necessary since his powers and abilities developed very early. He continued his training with The Connections. As he approached the age of 20 alongside his current position as an agent he was introduced and assigned to work with a field team. This would mimic weskers time in the military.
As an agent he would shadow his superiors as he was advancing to new positions, this is how he met Dr. Victor Gideon.
In his 20's he slowly adapted into his own person visually, he experimented with his style despite the small disapprovals of the connections. He discovered what he could get away with and what he couldn't. Visually the connections couldn't interject. Reputation and attitude however was a different story.
At this time Zeno grew increasingly more wary and aware of The Connection's plans as a young man. They knew this. To prevent any previous mishaps Umbrella had with Wesker they ensured a kill switch for Zeno. The young man discovered this when he crossed the line more than he was allowed too. To this day he has no idea how it works, and he's not willing to test it (yet).
Instead he resorted to power tripping and manipulation to simulate trust to get closer to freedom.
From 30 years old he had less and less field missions until his last at the age of 38 as he climbed the later of authority. He soon became a high ranking agent at the age of 40 becoming the face of The Connections. We come to the present events of Requiem where he is 48 years old and has been working with Dr. Gideon for roughly 20 years.
Headcanons
Zeno hates doctors offices and the smell of disinfectants because of the labs
He will tell off any new medical staff that attempts to do his medical checks. Staff would have to assign nurses and doctors ahead of time
He too wears sunglasses like Wesker because his eyes are sensitive to light.
His sunglasses aren't prescribed but he does have blue light lenses since a lot of his paper work is digitized.
He got his ear pierced at 18 as his first act of rebellion
He has a code tattooed on the back of his neck that reads ZW78, his initials and the year he was born. He was tagged with it as an identifier when he was born and has had consistent touch ups every 3 years. He HATES it
Through his whole life he was referred to as an asset
He doesn't know a lot of first aid, he doesn't need it due to his abilities and as he had less and less field missions he worked with even less people.
He once got severely injured on the field against a squad with anti-B.O.W weapons that stunted his healing factor. Gideon being one of the most experienced treated him as a patient.
(One of the few times he didn't feel like a tool for The Connections)
He picked up smoking from a fellow agent, who offered him a smoke
Like Wesker he too had a constant anxiety he didn't know the root of, smoking would calm his nerves but the effects would quickly wear off resulting in his chain smoking
The Roads Hill lighter he carries was a gift from Gideon when his personal lighter got lost
Zeno smokes in Gideon's office to piss him off
He is NOT a fan of Emily and the clones, he hates that he feels so strongly for them. Not because of their failure to bring results but because he refused to acknowledge that he could have suffered the same fate
Zeno was the little boy with the black shirt in that photo of Spencer dated 1987, he would have been 9 years old
He has a superiority complex and an inferior complex. Superior because he is physically and intellectually better than any human but inferior because of being seen as an asset and the expectations of Albert Wesker
The mental struggle is real
He was injected with RCS unwillingly. As Zeno and Victor got closer to uncovering elpis the connections grew suspicious of a possible betrayal. To prevent "terminating" a multimillion dollar asset that's still useful they injected him with the promise of a cure if elpis was safely handed over this was his kill switch. (RCS obviously wasn't around in his 20's but Zeno didn't need to know they had a Killswitch to begin with)
Victor and Zeno tried and failed to cure the RCS
Zeno wears his gloves for style and to cover RCS, same goes for long sleeves and turtlenecks
Zeno's constant anxiety comes from the mold he's made out of
He was provided a living space by the connections when he was the age of 20 by the time he was 35 he established a pent house
Spite his elegant appearance in his signature black and white color schemes his pent house is a maxamalist theme
Distinguished brick walls with arched windows that go from floor to sealing with velvet black out curtains for a view in the city he lives in, dark wood furniture and carpets with tasteful patterns in every room. Kitchen with a wood floor and breakfast nook, full set dining room, living room and guest bedroom. A black railed stare case with dark wood steps leading to the second level where his home office and master bedroom are. Living room with a 75in TV and almost every wall decorated with art
This man DESPISES minimalism
Okay that's all for now because that was A LOT
And if you're seeing this thanks for reading to the end!
I tried to keep it as canon compliment as I could, because holy god did Capcom throw us for a loop with him and the timeline.
what will your mysterious and possibly supernatural demise be?
you survive, but at what cost?
you outrun it, or you outsmart it, or you simply kill it. but what now? what is left behind, and what has already been taken from you? you call everyone in your contacts, but they do not answer. you look in the mirror, but either there is nothing there or you do not recognise the face staring back at you.
