A/N: Hello! I am 501ar, or Sol, and this is a Division 2 x Blue Archive crossover I'm writing after being inspired by 'A Courier for Kivotos' by Unknown Sixth and 'The Sensei From the Imperium' by Eyeshield, a fic that is getting me close to starting Warhammer but I really don't want another obsession.

Anyway, I've been wanting to write a Division fanfic for a while but none of the series I was interested in really clicked, you know? That is until I started playing Blue Archive where I saw the opportunity.

Now, Spoiler Warning and a normal Warning for everyone, I have not finished the main campaign, much less the seasons so I might be missing a lot of information, so I might, from time-to-time, come back and edit a few things, but the general gist of my Agent is that this is basically once the entire Dollar Flu/Green Poison epidemics are dying down and things are returning to normal. Also...nah, I think that's it.

Speaking of other fanfics, did you guys know that if you read a fanfic that's really popular and want to write a fanfic about the series, that the author of said popular fanfic might(read the emphasis on: might) be able to help you?

They'd be willing, obviously, but yeah.

Anyway, I'd like to introduce the singular reason why this fic is as good as it is and their name is Unknown Sixth, previously introduced as the author to A Courier for Kivotos,

…

Is-Is that too much?

Anyway, words cannot describe how integral they were to the whole process and I'm really thankful they took time out of their busy schedule to help me and I hope we can continue working together in the future.

Now, a few side notes, silent communication between the agent and ISAC/Other AI will be in italics.

And signs or text messages will be in bold.

At the end there'll be a glossary for anyone new to the Division so yeah.

Now, I hope you enjoy!

(Edit: Check the second chapter to see what changed.)

I stumble down the street, forest sprawling out on both sides, as I place one foot in between the faded orange lines in the middle of the street before following with the other, my sneakers, originally black but now gray from constant use and wear. My jeans are torn and worn from constant use and my white shirt hides under my body armor and a red flannel hides the armor with a black jacket tied around my waist while lugging a modded M4 in my hands.

If I had the energy to reach back I'd find a Military M870 tied to my Go-Bag and an Officer's M9A1 tucked into a holster on my thigh. Regardless, I heave breath after breath as I focus on the holographic line on the ground, pointing me to my destination.

Little could describe how fucked I felt, much less how I looked. I managed to move and spot a car, the window intact as I spotted my visage in it and I couldn't help but flinch.

I see a young man with brown eyes, the barest of orange in them, with his brown hair hidden by a baseball hat with his lower face being hidden by a gas mask and a tattoo of a phoenix on his neck. A few scars pop out from the collar of his shirt and he sighs. "God, I look like a mess."

There's a tone before a digital voice pops up. "Warning: Agent heart rate is decreasing."

"I didn't notice ISAC." I mumble out loud, continuing my trek while responding to my AI companion. Or more like any Division Agent's companion. "It's not like my handsome visage blocks out the holes in my armor."

The plate of the armor I wore had holes in them, the small holes numerously applied on my person and I found myself lacking armor kits to replenish the broken plates. So, it wouldn't be a stretch to believe that a lack of armor means a lack of protection against pieces of shrapnel traveling at you at the speed of sound. Shrapnel that dug into my body worse than my mother on a bad day.

Regardless, I continue inwardly complaining while walking down the street, ignoring the pain and lightheadedness as I grunt. "C'mon, it's only…" I glance up at the holographic number while squinting. "...Damn it, why'd I leave it in Metric? That number is way too big for it to be meters."

I huff as I try to speed up but also not bother my injuries.

Honestly, for being the man that managed to reclaim Washington from anarchic gangs, this end is kinda disgraceful. I did not spend around three years hunting down gangsters for fun, damn it!

I didn't attain a reputation for nothing damn it!

Slowly, with each step comes another memory, a woman, a man, a school, another man, a gun, a corpse, more and more images come to mind as I huff.

"Agent in critical condition." ISAC speaks as I begin to sway. "Requesting backup."

"Don't-Don't bother." I mutter towards the AI, my exhaustion playing tricks on me because I know I did not hear a worried tone of voice coming from an AI. "I-I was the only one sent here anyway."

In a radius of twenty miles, the only person there is me. The rest I slaughtered. Well, slaughter is a term used for things like innocent animals and such. I hunted them down. There's a better way of putting it.

Before I knew it, I was face down on the tarmac, chuckling as I mutter, "Twenty-one years on this earth and this is how I die? Could be better."

While the pulses of signals come from my ISAC brick, I drag my exhausted body forward, "Gotta...hide...gear…" I mutter, even if it's futile since I'll probably be a skeleton before I'm found again, the gear I'm toting is high-end, from the gloves to my pistol, everything is cleaned, modded, and cared for so it'll reliably get me through most battles, not to mention all the SHD Tech on my person or the TAC-50 rifle on my back.

Admittedly, not my first choice, but between all the choices offered to me I'll admit, an anti-material sniper rifle is pretty cool.

Regardless, I drag my Go-Bag off and unholster my pistol, throwing them under a rusted car overtaken by nature as I sigh. "There, now-hm?" I start before turning to the Smart Watch on my side, flashing orange as I sigh. "It all started with you, eh?"

I roll my shoulders, preparing myself as I flop forward and begin dragging myself away from my hidden gear. My eyesight blurring slowly as I flinch at the tiny rocks digging into me while chuckling. "Hopefully, they'll serve their next user well."

Finally, after an unknown amount of time, I pass out, heavenly darkness obscuring my sight as I release one last weak chuckle.

On these twenty-one years of my life, four of them have been used in service to the SHD, where I helped keep the peace of my hometown before going to Washington, where I nearly single-handedly wrestled it out of the hands of the Hyenas, the Outcast, and the True Sons, and kicked Black Tusk's teeth in time after time.

I took down bounty after bounty, hunted down rogues with near religious fervor, racked up a collection of weapons and amassed a reputation by pure word of mouth. I watched Aaron Keener die in front of my eyes after shooting him with enough bullets to supply a small group, killing Faye Lau, and was generally a nuisance to anyone and anything that has been in the way between me and a peaceful life for my family.

And for that goal, I did a lot of things I regret. Maybe I'll be seen as a murderer in the future, but as long as there's a time for people to have the capability for people to refer to me as a murderer, then that means I succeeded. At least a cure is in the works and nearly done, so that's something worth celebrating.

Well, I might not get to see my mom and dad again, but at least they're proud of me.

…

Honestly, dying by blood loss after nearly being blown up by a claymore sounds like something that'd happen to me.

I open my eyes, one eye narrowing and the other wide as two different views invade them, on my left is the blurry figure of what seems to be a waiting room for a corporate office if not far more white. On the other eye are a series of events that seem to have no rhyme or reason.

From my ear, a voice spoke, soft and regretful, "It was all my fault. My decisions and everything they caused."

Then, the two sights I was seeing began to merge and distort, revealing a woman in a dress pointing a gun at me and then a tablet with bullet holes on it. Neither vision was familiar and that only increased my confusion.

"It had to come to this for me to finally realize that you were right all along…" The voice spoke before I managed to open my eyes in their completion as the sight finally merged into one, revealing a young woman with long hair with a wry smile, "So forgive me for being so bold but I must ask for your help. Agent Vernes. Matt Sensei."

How does she know those names? I don't even let other Agents call me Matt, it's Mateo for all of them.

In the end, I couldn't speak as this felt like a memory while she continued uninterrupted. "You'll forget these words, but it won't matter. Even without your memories, you'll probably make the same decision in the same situation..." She trails off. "Therefore, I believe what matters most are the choices we make, not the experiences we have. There are choices only you can make." She emphasized on that as she looked out the window. "I've spoken of responsibility before."

"I didn't truly understand it then, but now I do. Adulthood, responsibility, obligation… and the choices you make that extend beyond these ideals. I even understand their implications."

...

I can relate. I was only seventeen when the Dollar Flu forced quarantines everywhere, when my Smart Watch signal activated my status as an SHD Agent, a week before my birthday. I was a month into seventeen when the weight of my responsibility truly weighed on my mind. Do I regret it? No.

Those four years of service as a Division Agent were probably the most productive I've ever felt.

"Therefore, Sensei," she says, interrupting my thoughts, "you're the only one I can trust. Only you can free us from this twisted, distorted fate and find the choices that will lead us to a new reality."

"So, Sensei, please…" she trails off, her mouth moving but no sound coming out as the blurry and distorted vision went into the darkness.

I open my eyes, the vision gone as my eyes widen in confusion as I look around. "...What?"

I'm in a clean office, nearly blindingly white with a large window revealing a similar city, a stark contrast to the anarchy-ridden cities of America and all over the world.

"Guess I'm not in Kansas anymore?" I mutter out loud as I stand up and find myself bracing as I blink, looking down as I blink once more. I was wearing my own Agent gear, created after I managed to reclaim some SHD locations. The previous shoddy armor I wore was replaced by a slim but bulky vest with enough protection to stop most bullets, my gas mask replaced by a new one a dark black with subtle orange accents. On my Go-Bag, restocked with all the usual gear, all my weapons are holstered, sans my TAC-50, but that's negligible. I also had all my weapons as I tapped my Smart Watch, the orange light returning as my HUD activated once more and my body was scanned for any injuries.

"Warning: No connection found. Connect to the nearest SHD Network. Welcome back Agent Vernes." ISAC lists off as I sigh while a holographic image of a phoenix appears with an orange circle behind it. The circle disappears as the holographic HUD appears as I notice a few things.

"Seems like I don't have access to my SHD Tech." The options for my ever-reliable Pulse now gone along with the Ballistics Shield I had. At least I still have my grenades and Armor Kits.

So, just like my trek to Washington.

"Signal received. Displaying location of SHD server hub." ISAC pipes up to my confusion, since all of this leads to the evidence that they're not back in America, and, as such, shouldn't have access to the SHD Network -something that needs a satellite and two different nodes among other things, one to increase the range and the other to hold ISAC. A compass needle appears in my vision as it points a location thirty kilometers off.

Idly, I follow the needle pointing to my destination as I turn in the room and look out the window.

My mouth hangs open, my eyes wide in shock and disbelief coursing through my very being.

Slowly, I walk to the window and rest an arm on the glass, ignoring the mark it leaves as I look at the pristine city skyline. I've seen many places in my time as an Agent, but none can truly live up to how clean the city looks. It was beautiful. A stark contrast to the broken and shattered buildings found in the cities of post-Dollar Flu America. Not to say that the broken buildings of cities or the worn houses in the American suburbs were ugly by any stretch of the imagination, but there's a certain charm that comes with seeing nature reclaim areas, vines covering buildings and trees popping up in random places.

Or, at least, that's what I tell myself.

Even before the Dollar Flu ravaged the entire world, I've never seen any city like this. Not in Silver Creek, D.C., New York, or nowhere I've been in.

"Yeah," I trail off, looking at the city from my position in this snazzy office, "this ain't Kansas."

Slowly, I put my other forearm on the glass and continue looking down at the streets of the strange city I find myself in. Though I quickly remind myself that I have to give ISAC an answer.

Before I could answer, I heard a set of footsteps as I went to the holster on my thigh, pulling out the Officer's M9A1 as I flick the safety off as I glance around the office and then the door as I ponder my ability to survive a fall from this distance.

I decide against it but instead I grab the chair I used after firing off a few bullets towards the glass before throwing the chair through it, breaking the glass. Shards falling down and clattering on the floor and the ground below before I dash towards the desk, leaping over it and ducking behind it without a sound in hopes of tricking the new occupant who might be an enemy.

As the steps become louder and more frantic along with hushed cursing I thumb the suppressor on hand and twist it as I come to a decision.

I place it back and prepare my M9 as the door opens.

The door hisses open, the clicks of heels on the floor ringing out as a woman frantically enters the room.

…

I'm twenty-one. I have been alive for those years, aware for at least sixteen of those years, and have given three in service to the SHD, not to mention all the training beforehand. Yet in all my life I have never seen a woman as beautiful as this.

Healthy pale skin, with bright blue eyes, a white dress containing a pair of large breasts with a blue necktie and a large jacket over her shoulders with stocking clad legs and a belt with a pistol on it. God I must have gone to heaven, she even has a halo!

…

I am paying attention, I'm just being horny while paying attention.

Quietly, I stalk forward, pistol at my side as the woman wordlessly frets over someone, her focus on the broken glass and not on her surroundings as I glance at her pistol. She seems worried, as if she thought someone she was waiting for jumped out of the window, but who is she waiting for then? Me? Why is she armed?

From her dress to the way she stands shows she isn't a soldier or much of a combatant. Still, white and blue? It's a good look sure, but one that'd get you killed in post-Dollar Flu America, much less everywhere else. Clearly, I'm not back home. I need to learn more.

Licking my lips, I move.

With practiced movements and barely a sound, I holster my pistol, grabbing hers and removing it from her holster before spinning it in my grasp, holding it so the barrel is pointing down and the butt is resting at the back of her head. What? Did you think I'd hold someone younger than me, who's already considered one of the youngest Division Agents, at gunpoint? Please, she barely looks over eighteen at most.

My HUD displays an error message as I hold the gun, ISAC unable to determine the exact model. "Don't move." I order as the woman stills, her hand reaching for her gun but finding nothing as she huffs in what seems like frustration. "Now…" I ponder over my questions as I come to the right one in a second, "where is this place?"

"And why would you want to know that?" She pointedly asks with a slight growl to her words, the remaining windows reflecting her cross expression and narrowed eyes, completely conflicting with her gentle…

Actually, her features are just sharp enough to resemble a secretary, so the expression she has actually fits her.

"Hey, I've lived in one place for most of my life, and it sure as hell was never this clean. Please don't make me feel worse, just answer the question." I plead as she seems to calm down and she blinks in realization.

"...Wait, you don't know where you are?" She asks, holding a hand to her chin as she hums in thought, "Then…how'd you get in here?"

"Unbelievable it might sound, I don't know." I answer, my left hand tapping my hip as I shift my weight. "I had…" I trail off, coming to a realization, "What…did I?" Quickly, I raise my shirt, revealing skin blemished with the occasional circular scar and normal scar as I find my injuries from the claymore gone. "How…?"

"…" She didn't answer at first, but she slowly began to ask, "Are...you an adult?"

I stop, blinking as I look up and hum. "I mean...I'm not doing a very adult thing at the moment but...I guess you could legally call me an adult. Speaking of, sorry for the window and the-er-current situation."

She seems surprised, as if not expecting it, "It's fine?" She seems confused but quickly returns to a more normal state. "Then, can I turn around? I believe both of us have questions that need answers and I'd rather do so face-to-face."

Tapping the underbarrel of the gun, I ponder on the compromise and decide to follow. This whole situation is leaving a bad taste in my mouth. "Alright, go ahead."

Stepping back, she slowly turns, probably expecting to see an adult, whatever she sees, but by the way her eyes widen, she was not expecting me or the fact that the gun in my hand is hers and gripped incorrectly. I wave at her with her gun in my hand while giving her a smile under my gas mask.

Her eyes narrow in on my Smart Watch then to the ISAC brick on my backpack as her eyes linger on the unfamiliar tech. "Agent Vernes, I presume?" She asks, as I extend my hand, her gun on it as she grabs it, inspecting it to make sure nothing is off before holstering it.

"How do you know that?" I ask, noticing the elf ears on her and how I tower over her. Also feeling a bit self-conscious as to how muffled my voice sounds from under the mask.

She doesn't answer, simply walking to the desk and into a filing cabinet before bringing out a thick file that she seemed to have a grudge with. "The...Missing President-," I have to stop myself from growling at the memory of that rat, President Ellis, "left a file here."

A file? She extends her hand with the file on hand as I grab it and open it. Black. A lot of it is blacked out except for a few names. I raise it up to the light and squint at it but it's blacked out with ink to the max, barely legible even under the light with the exception of a few sparse dates and names. Names and dates I recognize because those were special events for me. Like the day I was activated as an Agent or my transfer from D.C. to New York. Hell, it even has the dates of the death of Keener's Rogues and Keener himself, not to mention Faye Lau and other notable details.

It's my...I forgot the word.

It has the word record on it…

Service Record!

From the day I wandered into the Division recruitment to my activation and my time in Washington, New York, and all of the places I was in before I was brought here.

"How-?" I start but the stern woman interrupts me.

"I don't know but if you're Agent Vernes then that makes you the one the President was talking about." The way she says it pokes at me, but it doesn't come to mind. "My name is Nanagami Rin, I'm the Vice President of the general Student Council from Kivotos," she introduces herself, coming closer as I could practically feel what's happening next, "And you're a teacher that we have summoned here, or so it would seem."

"You don't really sound sure there." I point out and hop onto the desk relaxing as she gives me a pointed look.

"Pardon my uncertainty, but I only say that because I still don't fully understand how you got here." She admits before glancing at me and adding, "You don't seem very confused."

Shrugging, I sat up, memories of teaching some of the younger survivors in Washington popping up, "Oh no, I am." I admit, hopping onto my feet, "But-," An explosion interrupts my words, memory and experience make me tense up as I look out the windows as a cloud of smoke floats up and trails off the sky, anticipation and anxiety coursing through me as I jostle my backpack, "But I think we have better things to worry about Nanagami."

She seems confused but quickly realizes something. "Nanagami is my surname, my name is Rin."

"Then, Rin, I guess we'll finish our conversation once we regain peace in this place." I note as she nods.

"Then, Vernes-." She starts but I interrupt.

"Mateo." I say as he blinks and I shrug, "My name, it's Mateo Vernes, Vernes is my surname."

Rin nods, "Then Mateo Sensei, follow me." She says as I do so, my eyes trailing down her spine before landing on her rear before going back up. Mama Vernes taught me better than that.

She led me to an elevator, finding the chance, I began to inspect my weapons. My M4 with a holo optic, extended mag, handstop, and compensator is in good shape, cleaned and ready for a fight. My M870 with a shotgun caddy on the side, full and ready to fire. I reload my M9, the wooden grip familiar in my hands as I start, "So, what's the situation?"

"Though it's a bit late, I'd like to welcome you to Kivotos, the academy city, Sensei." She starts, pointing outside to the glass as I idly prepare myself. "Kivotos is a massive city, home to thousands of different academies. This is where you'll be working from now on."

...Academy city? So there are a lot of schools. And clearly, there are other adults, far more reliable than I am and older. Rin interrupts my thoughts as she continues, "It's bound to be very different from the place you call home. You may find it difficult at first…" she trails off, glancing back with an unreadable expression before it becomes slightly more positive, "but something tells me that you will adjust in due time."

I nod, weapons inspected and ready to be brought out at any time. Still, "Seems kinda peaceful for anarchy." I note out loud as she nods.

A lot less blood and bodies. If it's anarchy, shouldn't there be cops or something?

I glance to the side towards the waypoint to a building a distance away—specifically, one with a light coming from it.

I wish I had my Pulse active, having the ability to scan my surroundings is something that was always extremely comforting.

Glancing at my Smart Watch, I see that the orange holographic time was replaced by a compass as I hum.

Finally, the door opens into the reception room and I prepare myself to blast my way through thugs, people, adults, maybe wearing masks as my hand crawls towards my shotgun.

I didn't see that instead, all the clues come together, from the fact that the ruling body is a Student Council to the emphasis on Academies. Not to mention that she's calling me 'teacher'.

All around the room students wander around, carrying around paperwork as the pieces connect and my eyes widen.

The students are the police, they're the ones causing anarchy.

I'm about to shoot kids!

What the fuck?

While I was having my little breakdown, a quartet of students jog towards us, Rin giving off that familiar 'why are they here?' look that I was familiar with and have even done myself on occasion. It's not a fun time. Though whenever I did that face it had to do with the Dark Zone. Though as per habit, whenever someone makes a face like that I begin to blend into the surroundings and act like I don't exist. It lowers the chance of being assigned to fix whatever's happening. Something I'm usually glad to do but...yeah.

Speaking of the Dark Zone, I wonder if I'll find an Eagle Bearer here.

Regardless, the first, a woman wearing an office dress under a white coat with blue insides with dark blue hair, nearly purple, in twintails with triangular hair ties(?) with blue eyes and a black halo with blue accents, she had an ID that at first glance resembled a seven and an 'n' but was actually an 'm'. She had a white belt with ammunition and if I squinted I could see a second one. The gun she had was a black submachine gun, ISAC and my own experience clocking it as a SIG-Sauer MPX- a good weapon, if one that never really fit my tastes. Granted, I'm vanilla as fuck when it comes to guns considering my own loadout consists of a shotgun and assault rifle. Still, memories of mowing down Hyenas with the Tommy Gun will always be good ones.

Anyway, the secretary-like girl huffs as she storms closer, a few other girls following her as she pipes up. "There you are, Acting President! We've been waiting! Get the real president in here already!"

Another girl, this one taller with an absurd chest that caused my eyes to gravitate towards it before managing to tear them away, wore a black sailor fuku with the word 'Justice' on the left breast. Her black hair was long and her eyes a dark red that stood out with her pale complexion. Her long skirt had a slit on the side that revealed a garter belt and the side of their underwear. She had a red halo resembling a crosshair with a mark in the middle and a pair of black wings on her back. It took visible effort to turn from her chest to the strange weapon in her hands, ISAC identifying it as an Einfield, specifically 1914. Snipers and I have a complicated relationship. I use the TAC-50 but it's not my preferred weapon, simply the one that fit me best, and while the grenade launcher was tempting, the kick of an anti-material rifle is hard to beat.

"I've been waiting to see you, Chief Officer." She speaks, walking beside the shorter girl.

Another girl who gives off a homely feel shows up, wearing a pair of glasses and a small bow in her hair. Her brown hair is in twintails but lower than the first girl's and tied up with normal cloth. Her halo is red with a circle and four lines in the cardinal directions, resembling a crosshair and sharp ears similar to Rin's. She wore a button-up uniform shirt with a ribbon on it, red stockings, a red and black armband on her left arm, and red gloves on her hands holding the straps of a bag full of syringes. In her hand is what I first identify as a Luger before quickly correcting myself and identifying it as a Mauser, ISAC identifying the pistol as a M712 with a complicated German word. Schnellfeuer. While I've always had a soft spot for pistols, the only ones that ever felt right in my hands were things like the M9 or a revolver, which is why the Officer's M9 has been a constant in most of my loadouts.

"I'm here to meet with the General Student Council president. The head prefect has terms she would like to discuss." She speaks, walking beside the other two. One more was there but she held back, watching as Rin sighed. As the one beside her, even if I was hiding, I hear her mutter, "Well...this timing is rather inconvenient." Her eyes narrow in frustration, the emotion rolling off of her.

Slowly, I try to move to the side, letting them take care of it as I wander by the reception area—candy!

Like a viper, my hand snatches out a handful of lollipops, lowering my mask and placing one in my mouth, watermelon flavor floods my mouth to my pleasant surprise, watching as Rin deals with the four groups in the same way any Division Agent would have.

"Hello guests that represent neighboring academies' student councils, disciplinary boards, and those who otherwise have too much time on their hands." She greets as I inwardly chuckle at that, sounds like something I'd say if I ever had the chance to meet the Black Tusks before they attacked. "I am well aware why you irksome-" I had to stop myself from laughing. Didn't stop mid-word, nothing just straight-up called them a bother to their faces. What a savage. "-I mean, important representatives have come here today." She oozed sarcasm in ways I don't believe I'd ever be able to do so. Is this the power of passive-aggression?

I wander to a nearby drinking fountain, leaning down to take a sip of it before freezing, reaching for my water container to dump it out and refill it with the heavenly liquid, I listen into the conversation. "You're here to blame us for the fuss happening in the academy city." She states before they could say anything.

The twin tailed girl speaks up, "If you're well aware, then do something! You represent the General Student Council after all!" Her teeth grit in frustration as she continues, "Thousands of academy districts are in panic! Our academy's wind generator shut down just a few days ago!"

The other two pipe up with their own problems, specifically of a break out of a dangerous prisoner but the fourth girl finally pipes up, her long silver hair flowing behind her with her white double layered halo behind her and a wing on the left side of her head, her red eyes focused and her uniform a simple gray with an assault rifle in hand. A SIG-Sauer MCX, the name appearing in my HUD as I quietly hum in interest at the weapon I've never touched in my time in Washington, a rarity since I've amassed quite a collection of weapons during my time as an Agent.

The silverette spoke up, "There has been a sharp increase in the number of thugs attacking our students on their way to school. Public safety is not being properly enforced." She points out as I flinch, that's true.

At this point, I tune out most of the conversation, fiddling with my Smart Watch by changing the holographic display before I hear something interesting. "Illegal distribution of tanks, choppers, and other unknown weapons have increased by over 2000 percent. At this rate, ordinary school life in Kivotos will be a thing of the past."

Wait...Did the black-haired girl just say illegal distribution of motherfucking tanks, helicopters and unknown weapons? Who the fuck just has an illegal tank on hand? An increase by 2000 percent?

This place is wack.

I tune out the rest of the conversation, again, but manage to catch the important bits. The president is missing, now, even before I met President Ellis or even became a Division Agent, I wasn't a big fan of the government, that happens when you see your family constantly be shafted for most of your life but they had a stable life, if not slightly poor since after he joined the SHD and started taking the classes, classes that were usually expensive, I had to make them think I was a drug dealer or something to have that kind of money on hand. Granted, I never actually knew what they thought, just that I became distant and never got the chance to talk it out after I was activated.

Still I was leaning forward, suckling on my lollipop as I listened in. The Sanctum Tower, a very important monument that allows complete authority that depends on an administrator, has now lost said administrator, and until recently, they didn't have the ability to reclaim it. That is until now, where I come in, I listen in behind the girls, waiting for my chance as Rin continues explaining and I bite down on the lollipop, seems like I'm up then.

"Sensei?" She asks, looking around in shock at losing an adult as the other four looked at her like she was insane.

"You called?" I piped up, smiling with my eyes closed as my gas mask covered the lower half, the four girls jumping in surprise as I popped out from the couch I was crouched behind as I waved my hand. The girls jump in surprise and shock as I keep in my chuckles but Rin has no such restraint, a slight smile of vindication appearing.

"This," Rin starts, taking the attention off of me as she walks beside me, "is Mateo Vernes. Kivotos' new Sensei and the answer to our problems."

While the brunette and blunette jump in surprise, the black-haired girl mutters, "This person?"

I, meanwhile, just smile wryly, "Yup, saw that coming a mile away." I mutter before sitting on the back of the chair.

The blunette pipes up first, "Hold up. Who is this 'Sensei' you're talking about? What are they doing here in the first place?"

The black-haired girl looks me up and down, her eyes lingering on the body armor I wore and the gas mask, "Whoever they are, they don't seem to be from Kivotos."

"Yes, he has been chosen by the president to teach here in Kivotos." Rin says.

"The president chose them. The one who's missing? Things are making less and less sense…" the blunette says under her breath as I shake my head.

Habitually, I remove the gas mask on my face, usually there for practical reasons like intimidating enemies or keeping dangerous airborne substances from entering my airways. Not something used to make introductions to allies. The girls watch with bated breath as I remove it, releasing a breath as I mutter, "God, that feels good." Idly, I rub my face, getting rid of the weird feeling that comes with constantly wearing a mask only to not have it after nearly years of wearing one. Their attention seems to be on me as I remove a glove, "Hey, how's it going? Name's Mateo Vernes, I guess I'm the new teacher? Anyway, it's nice to meet you all." I give them my best attempt at a charming smile and their faces flush slightly, the first one to answer being the bluenette.

"R-Right. It's good to meet you, Sensei. I'm Millenium Science School's…" She trails off, blinking as if coming to a realization. "I-I mean, why am I even bothering to introduce myself right now?"

Rin butts in, "Don't worry about that annoying girl. Let's just move on…" her smile was malicious.

"Who are you calling annoying?!" She snaps at Rin before turning to me. "I'm Hayase Yuuka! You should remember that name, Sensei!"

Oh this one's going to be fun to tease. "Well, it's nice to make your acquaintance, Yuuka." I say, testing out the name as she flushes slightly as I extend a hand for her to shake, she looks at it and slowly grasps it as I give it a shake. I let go as Rin begins to talk.

"You're here to serve as the advisor for a club that was formed by the General Student Council president. The Federal Investigation Club: SCHALE." She says as I nod along, not sure when I agreed to this but all of this is a lot more pleasing than the anarchic country that was the US at this point. Except for the possible child soldiers, that's kind of important.

"This isn't your average club," Rin starts, "more like a type of extrajudicial organization. Since it's a federal club, you'll be allowed to register students from any of the academies in Kivotos. Each academy region can perform battle activities without restriction." She explains before looking away, muttering, "How the president was able to create an organization with this much power, I don't know."

God, all of this seems way too familiar. Probably because I did the exact same thing in the US! Except with girls instead of sweaty men and women. Though the extrajudicial power is nice. Though judicial power is kind of a moot point in a country with a non-existent government. At least this time that power isn't limited to times of conflict and chaos.

I look out towards the waypoint ISAC set as I hum. "I'm guessing the club room is over there," I say pointing in the direction, "approximately thirty kilometers out?"

"Ah," She mutters before continuing. "Right. The building is empty but we had to set up a few things in the basement at the president's request. It's my job to take you there." She says before turning and holding a hand to her ear. "Momoka. I need a helicopter to take us to the SCHALE club room."

A hologram appeared, surprising me as it showed a short girl with blue eyes and pink hair. "The SCHALE club room? That's over in the outskirts." She notes. "Things are kind of crazy over there right now…"

Rin's face contorts into confusion, "'Crazy'? What do you mean?"

"A suspended student escaped from the Corrections Bureau and is wreaking havoc. It's a battlefield over there right now." Momoka explains.

Rin's expression darkens as I sigh. "Walking sounds like a better option." I interject before explaining. "If what she," I nod towards the black-haired girl, "said is right the area is probably crawling with decked out thugs or a few tanks, and personally I have more experience evading tanks than I do surviving plane crashes, not to mention what it'd do to you if we were hit. We could cut through shops, buildings and stay hidden than if we took a helicopter, that'd basically alert everyone to our location."

Rin stops along with Momoka, mulling it over before revealing the barest of a pained expressions. "Sensei is right." Momoka says, munching on a few chips from her bag, "There are a bunch of students along with the escaped student making a line of destruction in revenge against the General Student Council. I hear they even got a Crusader Tank."

…Honestly, hearing people throw around the term 'tank' and actually mean it is not doing good for my health.

"They must be trying to occupy the SCHALE building because they know the General Student Council controls it. Maybe they think there's something valuable inside." Momoka continues, unbothered to a level I wish I could be while Rin glares her down. "Oh well, the city's already a dump, so I don't think it'll make that much of a difference." Honestly, mood. "Oh great! The food I ordered is here. I'll talk to you later." The pinkette waves before cutting the connection, dispelling the hologram and leaving an irate Rin behind for everyone else to deal with.

Well, everyone except me, I'm at the entrance looking out at the weirdly clean streets for a dump of a city. Even before the Dollar Flu fucked shit up, Kivotos is cleaner than any major city I've ever been in. The closest I can think of are pictures of Dubai but I wouldn't know.

Ah, it seems like Rin snapped, thankfully, I'm over here doing something really important, leaving the other girls to be targets of her ire. Or so I wished. "Deep breaths Rin. Deep breaths." I remind the woman as her brow twitches.

"I'm fine…" No you're not. "It's just a minor setback. No problem at all."

I shrug, as Rin begins nailing down the four girls in the room with a stare as I directed my own stare at her.

I know these girls are packing heat, but to make them fight…

The black-haired girl tilts her head while Yuuka speaks, "What? Why are you looking at us like that?"

I know that look. That feel.

It's Uncle Sam.

"It's so reassuring to have you trustworthy academy representatives here with us." Rin says as I glance at the girl's halo. "We are going to need your help to bring peace back to Kivotos. Let's go." Rin says without letting the other girls complain.

"Wait, what?" You've been drafted, son. "Where are we going?" Yuuka asks before following Rin along, leaving me with the three other girls as I shrug.

"Well, as you've heard, I'm Mateo Vernes, Mateo is fine, or Sensei it seems, it's good to meet all of you." I say as I extend my hand towards the tallest who grasps it sternly.

"Hanekawa Hasumi, Sensei. Part of the Justice Task Force. I hope we'll get along, Sensei." She says while shaking it as I nod.

I turn to the elf-eared brunette as she grasps my hand as well, "Hinomiya Chinatsu, Head of the Prefect's medical aid. Leave the first aid to me."

"I'll hold you to that then." I say before turning to the silverette as she grasps my hand.

"Morizuki Suzumi, member of the Trinity Vigilante crew. I'll be in your care." She says with a nod.

"Likewise." I say as I jerk my head, "Now, as much as I'd like to get to know such pretty girls, we're in a bit of a time limit so we'll have to leave it for later." I say, almost missing the blush on their faces as we rejoin Yuuka and Rin by the entrance, slipping on my mask and glove, I tighten them and give an experimental tug, making sure they won't slip off, before nodding. "I'll go first." I say, resting a hand on the door before pushing.

The doors open and it's only then that I truly understand what the chaos is.

To the left, an explosion goes off, kicking up dust and shrapnel as I stumble but am caught by Chinatsu, whose worried voice pipes up, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." I answer, nodding in thanks. "Just a bit of a surprise."

Up front, Yuuka is complaining. "What is going on!?" She yells as another explosion, the whistling of artillery digging up two sets of memories, of a Settlement and my rush to the True Sons' stronghold in Capitol Hill. My eye twitches as I can practically feel the blood pour down my face and into an eye from a gash caused by shrapnel from a mortar strike.

Before I can lose myself in the memories, I slap my face and rub my eye as I look at my gloved hand. No blood. No injury. Not in Capitol Hill, so get moving.

"Those sound like mortars!" I point out as the blunette whirls around, missing the slight moment of weakness I had.

"I know! But why do we have to be the ones to fight them!?" She exclaims as I hear the telltale sounds of gunfire as I quickly follow behind Rin with the other girls and Yuuka besides us.

A hail of gunfire rings out as the girls bring out their guns as I begin fretting about to stop them only to be stopped by Rin. "Remember what I said?" She asks as I give her a confused look before my eyes widen in realization. The elevator. "Worrying about them won't help, look."

I look as I spot Yuuka peeking over their cover while grumbling. A gunshot rings out as her head jerks back as I move to leap only to stop when I notice something.

There's a lack of blood and a lack of surprise on the other girls' part. Two things that should be very present whenever someone is shot. So why aren't they?

"Ow~!" Yuuka speaks holding her head as the gunshot left no wound, just a mark. "What the heck? Are they using JHP rounds? That's cheating!"

Hollow points? They're using fucking hollow points? And that's just considered 'cheating'? Normally, people don't survive those!

Chinatsu quickly checks it as she hums, "It's fine, it'll just bruise." She says as Yuuka grumbles.

I pull out my M4 and disengage the safety as I tap my Smart Watch only for the Scanner Pulse to not activate as I forget that I'm not connected to the SHD Network, something ISAC points out.

"Hollow points aren't considered illegal." Hasumi points out as she prepares her own gun.

Yuuka grits her teeth as she holds her own gun, "Well, they're illegal at our academy starting right now. That left a mark!"

"We need to remember that Sensei is here with us." Hasumi points out. "His safety is our top priority. Reclaiming that building will come second."

"Your worry is charming if not a bit unneeded." I interrupt as I hold my M4, "If we manage to get through this, this will be the third-fourth-ish city I've reclaimed. Hopefully this one will be shorter."

I duck as gunfire hits my cover and I notice the cracks begin to spread. "Right, listen up!" I say, gaining the attention of the girls before peeking out and scanning the broken but still fixable surroundings, young girls in highschool age with guns, practically crawling all over the place with guns and cruel laughter, already bringing up bad memories as I lean back behind cover. "Yuuka…" I stop at the realization that I'm sending kids to fight, sure, extremely durable girls, but still young girls.

The realization leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

Regardless, I shake my head and turn to the silverette, "Suzumi, you and me will provide cover fire, Yuuka," I turn to the blunette who straightens up, "while we're there get close enough to use your gun and try to get them away from the right side," I point to the store front I'm talking about, "we'll cut through it and take the back alleys. Chinatsu," I turn to the brunette, "stick close and keep those syringes handy. Hasumi, you're going to take the backline, make sure to keep them from getting closer once we disperse. Once the signal is given, Yuuka will enter first and take care of any stragglers inside, followed by Rin, then Me, then Suzumi and Chinatsu, we'll cover Hasumi on her way here."

I turn to Hasumi, sighing, "I'm sorry for putting you last, Hasumi."

"It's fine Sensei," She says, almost surprised before bringing up her Einfield, "but are you going to be fighting?" She asks to the surprise of the others.

"Yeah." I confirm while giving her a cheeky grin. "I'm a teacher, how else am I going to teach you how it's done? Besides, I've already told you this isn't my first rodeo."

She nods before asking, "Then, what's the signal?"

I pat my body, looking for it as I bring out a flare gun. "This. Everyone knows where they are?" The girls nod. "Alright, now you girls wouldn't happen to have any other surprises?"

Suzumi pipes up, "I have flashbangs."

"Pefect!" I croon as I nod, "How many?"

"Enough." She says as I nod.

"Good enough." I say as I peek over my cover. "Keep them for the last run. Anyone else?"

Yuuka brings out a...phone? "I can use this to make a barrier." She says as I take it in, the drone can do something similar but is probably less reliable than this. It's also far more advanced but I'll take it all in once this whole thing has blown over.

"Great." I mutter as I remove the magazine from my M4, inspecting the bullets before inserting it back and holding it. "On three, get over there and pop it, while Suzumi and I cover you, everyone ready?"

Sounds of affirmation are heard as I take a deep breath, waiting for the right moment.

Finally, in a lull in the gunfire, Suzumi and I pop out, "Three! Go! Go!"

I pull the trigger as the familiar sound of gunfire rings out, releasing it in bursts as I aim at the thugs, corralling them to cover before pinning them down with continuous gunfire as Suzumi joins me, watching from the corner of my eye as Yuuka dashes to her location and Hasumi goes up the stairs.

The sound of gunfire, the falling of bodies, and the smell of gunpowder, all of it is a bit nostalgic if I'm honest even if it lacks the blood and fear. Ducking behind cover, I hear the sound of Yuuka's submachine gun fire as the thugs yelp in surprise. At least this time I have a reliable team with me.

While the SHD is supposed to be a team effort, my loadout has always been centered around being alone, not because of the desire to be alone but because it's what I'm used to. So having people to rely on is nice.

After unloading a clip into a car, suppressing a few thugs hiding behind it, I hear the telltale sound of a sniper round and a body hitting the floor as I exhale, watching as Hasumi pulls back the bolt of her black Einfield before looking down the sights.

Reloading the assault rifle, I peek out and see an opening. "Suzumi!" I call the silverette, "Throw a flashbang! We're pushing up!"

Nodding, she reaches into somewhere, revealing the familiar tubular form of a flashbang as she pulls out the pin and yells out, "Flashbang!" She peeks out, throwing it as she ducks back as our side has a lull in gunfire before a deafening sound rings out, surprising some of the thugs. Suzumi and I dash out of cover and push forward aiming down the sights of the shotgun and pulling the trigger, the buttstock of the Military M870 hitting my shoulder with each shot before ejecting the spent shells with the pump of the forend as they clatter on the ground.

Spitting out lead with the shotgun, it clicks as I eject the last shell as I reach for my M9 and shoot one of the thugs peeking out, their head jerking back as practice pays off before sliding behind cover once more with Suzumi. Reloading my M9, I ask Suzumi, "Right, how's it looking?"

Rin answers, "We have a clear shot towards the store." She answers while firing from her pistol.

Placing my own pistol in its holster I begin reloading the M870 with practiced ease, using the shells on the caddy to speed it up and then pumping the forend, "Right, slight change of plans, I'll stay back and wait for Hasumi to enter first."

"What?" Suzumi asks as she ducks back behind cover, "But you won't be able to take the gunshots."

"Bah, I'm fine." I say, straightening and spreading my arm to reveal the slight holes on the vest. "I'll just replace the plates real quick and bam! I'm fine. Still, I'm the only one with a shotgun. Let me borrow a flashbang and I'll prepare for the next phase!"

Biting her lip, she nods, Suzumi lobs a flashbang as I catch it. "Be careful."

I couldn't help but smirk, "Aw, if a girl as cute as you says something like that I'll have to scrap the heroic sacrifice part of my plan."

Her face flushes at the compliment before attempting to retort only to see me out with my flare gun as I fire it off, green smoke trailing behind it and puffing out in the crowd as the thugs begin to try to get away from the smoke. "Now! Go!" I order as I pull the pin out of my flashbang, moving to the left and throwing it as I slide behind cover and cover my ears, watching as Suzumi does the same and Yuuka leaps into the store with a spectral field around her flickering out of existence. Gunshots ring out but I'm unable to pay attention as I pump the forend of my M870 and feel the flashbangs go off before peeking out, aiming down sights as the thugs are hit by buckshot after buckshot before returning to their senses and firing back.

Ducking back into cover I reload the shotgun, pumping the forend once it's full and glancing back to see Chinatsu running in and Hasumi running down the steps of the huge building we came out of.

I switch my weapon back to the M4 as I begin blind firing into the smoke kicked up by the flare as I go back into the store as I hear more gunshots coming from behind.

"Sensei! Hurry!" I hear Yuuka as I glance back and see her holding the door open with the others firing out of the windows.

My M4 clicks, signifying its status as empty as I run to the store front, feeling a stray bullet hit my vest as I replace the M4 with the M870 and glancing at the HUD granted to me by my contact lenses' connection with ISAC and its connection to my Smart Watch, monitoring my health and armor to see a slight gap at the slide signifying my health while my armor doesn't even have a broken section. A miracle considering I've had similar scuffles back in Washington.

"Hurry, they'll probably follow us here." Yuuka points out as we begin running towards the back entrance.

"That's the plan." I say, releasing a breath as I ignore the coppery taste accumulating in my mouth.

A small quirk I have whenever I'm injured, even if it's something small like a paper cut or something, the taste of copper always fills my mouth. Something I note as I reach towards my shoulder, my flannel ripped with a bit of blood falling out from a cut caused by a stray bullet. I stop in front of the door, gently placing my hand on the doorknob while placing a finger on my lips. "Suzumi." I whisper as she nods, saddling beside me and reaching for a flashbang and removing the pin but not loosening her grip on the tube.

They wait in anticipation as I replace my shotgun with my M9 and twist the doorknob before slowly opening it, ignoring the stressed expressions in the girl's faces as they hear the thugs rally and begin to go towards the store.

Finally, I open it enough for Suzumi to throw a flashbang before I close it.

"What the-argh!" Came the muffled voice before an explosion rings out as I slam the door open, my M9 aimed and firing off thrice, nailing the three girls in the head with multiple bullets before coughing as a bullet hit my side before shooting the one who shot me four times as my HUD displays a zero in the ammo for my M9 as I exhale.

"Sensei!" Came the girl's worried voice as I grunted.

"Right on the side," I mutter as I shake my head, "C'mon! Up we go." I reload the M9, my HUD displaying twenty instead of zero as I move up with my shotgun.

"But you were shot!" Hasumi points out, "Going any further-."

"She hit the vest." I say as I jerk my head. "The worry's nice but this thing can take a hit so let's go!"

They don't hesitate any further, closing the door behind us as we run down the alley.

I follow the waypoint as I look to the right and spot a door and a dumpster as I go to the door and kick it open, shaking my head as I yell, "C'mon! In here!"

Their confusion is palpable as I run away from the door and shake my head for them to join me as I hide behind the dumpster.

They do so as they hear the footsteps of the thugs and crowd around me, prepared to fight. Though personally, I can't help but notice how good they smell. That's how close they are.

Close enough for Chinatsu to notice the cut on my shoulder. Something she seemed to glare at me for as she prepared a bandage once the thugs passed by, her movements speaking of familiarity with silent and strong types and their injuries.

We freeze as we hear the group run down the alley. "In the door! Come on!"

The thugs file in, their steps softening as they get far away. Finally, when we couldn't hear them, we exhaled a sigh in relief.

"Finally." I groan, rolling my shoulders as I look at my status on my HUD. The only injury I got was the cut on my arm. Some of the plates in my armor are broken and I'd have to replace them but nothing of actual note. I'd have to reload my M4 first.

Grabbing it, I remove the empty magazine and replace it with a fresh one, pulling the charging handle as it clicks into place. "Well folks, that was probably one of the better firefights I've been in." I say as the girls turn to me, "How about all of y'all?"

The other girls proceed to look themselves over but visibly from my position nothing really stands out except for slightly ripped up clothes and their very voluptuous forms.

Suzumi finished first, "That battle was much easier than I expected it to be." She said out loud in surprise. "I used less flashbangs than usual as well."

"I know right?" Yuuka said as she patted away some dirt on her.

Hasumi spoke up next. "We were able to fight much more efficiently thanks to Sensei's commands."

"This must be why the General Student Council holds Sensei in such high regard. The president must have had her reasons for choosing Sensei." Yuuka says as she turns to me with a small smile.

Hasumi also gives me a smile as she says, "I wouldn't mind sharing the battlefield with you again sometime."

"That's good." I note, lowering myself so Chinatsu can inspect the cut on my shoulder. "Firefights here are way better than back home." I admit as I place my M4 on my backpack.

"You seem quite familiar with the battlefield, Sensei." Hasumi notes with interest. "If it's okay, can I ask what you did before coming to Kivotos."

The others turn in interest as I scratch my cheek. "Er, believe it or not," I spread my arms to point at everything, "this."

Their confusion is clear as Yuuka speaks up. "You worked as a soldier?" She asked as I shook my head.

"It's...complicated." I explain while being as vague as possible. "Officially, I was a high schooler working part-time as the apprentice to a clocksmith and engineer while doing a bunch of other stuff on my off time."

"'Officially'?" Chinatsu notes as she finishes bandaging the scratch. "What did you actually do?"

"I did a lot." I admit as they don't seem very pleased with that answer. "Sadly, I don't think we have the time to get into a long story. We have thirty kilometers of running and shooting to get to and none of us here have infinite ammo. So let's get the roles decided."

Looking at them, I try to come up with a good formation but none come to mind. Which isn't really strange, I was a Division Agent trained under the pretense that the invading enemy managed to get through the multiple defenses of the largest country in the world. Any tactics, strategies, and formations we would have been taught wouldn't have worked on them. So, instead, most tactics, formations, or strategies used by Division Agents usually come from knowledge, experience, and liberal amounts of prayer.

And I mean liberal amounts of prayer. I've led a few prayers before missions. Not all of them were Christians, and I've attended the prayer or worship of at least ten different religions.

Looking back on it, seeing a bunch of adults surrounding a manga while chanting is a hilarious thing to look back on.

Regardless, I come up with something, "Chinatsu, Rin, the two of you are sticking with Hasumi, stick to the backline, Suzumi is in the middle while Yuuka is up front. I'll be switching between the two when needed but will stick with Yuuka. Right now, our mission is to get to the SCHALE club room. Preferably sooner rather than later. We'll stick to...I wish I had a map." I mutter, already missing ISAC before noticing Rin handing me her tablet.

"Here, use this. Our location and Schale's is already there." She was right, in a circle is Schale's club room while our location is crossed out.

"Thanks." I tell Rin as I look it over. With how barebones the map is, a lot of context is missing.

Regardless, I start messing with it, my HUD showing figures and such as I look it over. Once ISAC is done scanning, I place it in the middle. "Right, so everyone is on the same page, we have limited ammo, limited access to personnel, and comms are probably spotty. The rest of the way will be quiet. We'll evade most alleys and main streets, go through parks and shops. If we fight, we go loud and quick so Suzumi's flashbangs will be useful. If we find any stragglers, we loot them for ammunition or anything we might need. In the end, be quiet, quick and direct. Got it?" I ask as they nod, returning Rin's tablet to her. "Then let's go."

Replacing my M4 with the M870, I pump the forend and jerk my head as I peek out of the alley and sigh.

Some things change, others stay the same.

A/N: Hello! So, as I said at the beginning, this next section will be a glossary of terms used in this fic pertaining to the Division 2. I might've missed a few things so tell me if I did but if you want a more in-depth explanation, I'd suggest going to the wiki. Now, let's start:

Smart Watch- A watch that serves as an Agent's communication and control center for their SHD Tech.

ISAC- (Intelligent System Analytic Computer)As the name suggests, ISAC is a highly advanced AI that can sort and analyze field sensor information to provide tactical support.

Go-Bag- A bag containing multiple things to keep an Agent alive like medicine, ammunition, clothes and other such important things.

SHD Tech- technology used by Division Agents.

SHD Network- A network used by Division Agents to help them through their missions.

ISAC brick- A Relay between the Agent's Smart Watch and the nearby ISAC Node.

Outcast, Hyena, True Sons, and Black Tusk-Enemy factions found in Washington D. C.

As you can tell, a lot of these definitions are shoddy at best and would only serve to confuse others at worst but this is lore-wise, so the gameplay is very different. Probably.

Anyway, again, if you want a more in-depth explanation into these terms, I'd suggest going to the wiki, and aside from these terms not much else can be said.

I hope you guys enjoyed and I'll see you all later!

EDIT: So, I came back and changed a few things in the hopes of making the story a bit more Division-only or Blue Archive-only friendly. I hope you enjoy it.