Location: Stranded Tanker, 2100 hours
Striker 1-1's POV
I groaned as the shock effect wore off from trying to open the SHD crate. As I stood up, the memories of what happened hit me like a truck and I grinded my teeth together in rage. Kelso has turned against us.
I radioed in: "Striker 1-1 transmitting in the blind. Do anyone copy?"
The radio crackled as Manny replied: "We hear you, Striker. What happened?"
I replied, "Kelso went rogue. Keener is alive. I am headed back to Haven. I will brief everyone once I am there. Echo out."
I picked up my ouroboros SMG and did an ammo count. I was on my last mag. I must have gone through so much ammo against the hunter. I sighed and swapped it with my secondary carbine 7 assault rifle. I used my rope ascender to travel back up the way I came down and went through the door and back out of the tanker.
As I was walking through the courtyard, I looked around and saw the bodies of True Sons and Black Tusk soldiers laying there. I shook my head and continued walking. Just then, my transmitter on my shoulder pinged and ISAC said: *Unauthorized network access. Remote communication established.* I heard a female voice in my ear: "Hello Agent. Are you ok?"
I immediately replied: "You have a lot of guts contacting me after what you did, Rogue Agent Kelso."
Kelso replied sadly: "I did what I did for the sake of the mission. Manny and you would not understand. We are losing this war. Natalya and Anderson stand at the brink of creating a new world order. I am doing what needs to be done to save what remains. I hope you will understand."
I replied: "We have a responsibility to the remnants of society. To help them rebuild what they have lost. ISAC kept us in line by making sure we do not go off mission and run amok doing whatever we want. You committed treason by throwing in with Keener and his Rogues."
Kelso immediately replied: "Agent, please try to understand. Everything is falling to shit and The Division is struggling to hold on. I am doing what needs to be done to make sure that the Division and the remnants of society can survive."
I replied: "Let's agree to disagree. You threw in with a psychopath who tried to blow up the city with a biological weapon. We do not put innocent lives in danger, no matter what. You know that more than anyone and you turned your back on us. You know what I must do." I immediately said: "ISAC, terminate remote connection."
ISAC said: *Terminating connection.* Kelso's voice rang out: "Agent, wait, you don't-" Her voice cut off as ISAC said: *Remote connection terminated* I rolled my shoulders and marched out of the tanker. As I made my way back to Haven, I kept my head on a swivel, making sure no one gets the jump on me. As the gates of Haven come into view, I relaxed slightly as the gates opened and allowed me entry. Manny Ortega, Paul Rhodes, and Roy Benetiz were there waiting for me. The moment I walked in, Manny asked,
"Agent, what happened?"
I replied: "Somehow, Aaron Keener is alive. I have no idea how. He cloned the watch that we have in our possession. In the SHD crate was a mobile SHD server. They have it now."
Paul then said: "It was a shock sure, but I'm pretty sure we all seen this coming the moment Kelso went missing."
I replied: "I found a note from her. She said that we would not understand and we would try to stop her. She said something about finishing Cassandra's work so that we can win this war." Roy then said: "Then that is your objective. Whatever Faye was planning, alongside with Keener, it can never be good. Find her, and bring her home. If not, you know what must be done."
I nodded and said to Manny: "It is a shock I know. But Kelso is an enemy now. Unless she proves otherwise, I will take her down." Manny remained silent for a while, and then said: "Do what you have to, Agent. I will head back to Washington to coordinate Division forces to keep the city safe." I nodded and replied: "Meet at the helipad in five."
I turned to Paul and Roy and said: "Are you guys sure you no longer need Division assistance?" Paul nodded and said: "Haven forces have taken and held all Control Points and the hostile factions have been pushed back. We have it under control here." I nodded and said: "Radio over the comms if you require assistance. See you guys around." With that, I walked down to my private quarters to pack up.
Just then, ISAC pinged *Unknown network detected. Remote connection established.* I shook my head and said: "If you called to apologize, do not bother. There is no forgiveness here." To my shock, a familiar male voice replied: "Oh I know Agent. But now, after all that you had seen, are you still in the right?" I gritted out, "Aaron Keener."
He chuckled and replied: "I know what you are thinking, the First Wave prodigal son has returned. Now I still believe, deep down, that you really do get it. After everything you've been through, after everything you've seen, can you really still believe in "The Division"? In Cal's Division? You know I have to admit that I made a mistake. I misjudged you. Misjudged Lau too. But eventually, she came around and I hope you will too. The more you know, the more you will realize that I was right. We're the same. We're survivors. But you need to ask yourself, who has earned the right to tell you what to do? How many more good people have to die for the brass to survive? How many more people need to die so that Natalya can have her little empire? I know you signed on to "save what remains." But sometimes what remains isn't worth saving, if all it does is kill you faster. I know, you… you thought you got me. You saw my body, you felt my corpse, you watched my lips flap through your contact lenses and ISAC declare "agent deceased." Agent. Deceased. But, uh, the identification was never confirmed. Our little performance was enough to convince the powers that be we were gone, no longer a threat, and Lau was with the Black Tusk, so we could continue with our work. Agent, I know you're wondering if you made the right choice, staying the course. I want to build a bridge between us. Another, uh, safe haven, if you will. And now that Kelso has seen the light, I hope you will to. See you soon." With that, ISAC pinged again *Remote connection lost*. I gritted my teeth and shook my head to clear my thoughts. I sat down and let out a heavy sigh. The radio crackled and Manny's voice came over the comms:
"Agent, where are you?"
I shook my head and replied, "Just packing up. I am on my way to you."
I finished packing up my equipment and headed back up to the main square of Haven. All around, civilians walked about, completing tasks, and making sure that the community survives. I slowly walked to the elevator that led to the helipad on the top floor of Haven. As I entered the elevator and rode up, the silence stuck to me. Doubts entered my mind. What if Keener is right? Is the Division really the good guys or are we just enforcers of a government that has already fallen and warlords are now fighting to establish their order on the populus? A pleasant ding shook me out of my thoughts and I put on an emotionless mask and walk out to the helipad.
Manny was there in the helicopter waiting, and as I entered, he asked, "You ok?"
I nodded and replied: "I'm fine. Let's head home."
With that, I pulled the sliding door closed and the helicopter took off and headed southwest. Manny closed his eyes and went to sleep, no doubt exhausted from the revelations that occurred. I however could not sleep. I looked out to the ruined cityscape and as we headed past the Statue of Liberty, my thoughts turned back to the words that Keener had said. Unknown to both Manny and myself, my ISAC brick started to flicker from orange to red and then back to orange. I shook my head and closed my eyes, slipping into an uneasy rest, while keeping my hands on my carbine 7, making sure that I was ready for anything that may happen on the trip home.
