(A/N): Hello and once again I apologize for the delay. This is the full first chapter of the New York arc which is one I have been itching to write for a while. This arc gets off to a slow start but it has an explosive finish I assure you.

That being said I can't wait to dive into my own little twist on the original Division's storyline. Please enjoy and thanks for all the support.

- MattFromWii

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3rd Person POV:

Three weeks ago the Division lost its base of operations in the post office and agents were scattered across the city in a desperate attempt to survive. (Y/n) and Kelso spent the weeks scavenging for food and supplies, sleeping wherever they could, preferably some place warm but without power, there were very few warm places left in the city.

The pair were currently sneaking around Chinatown, heading for a supply drop that was scheduled to be dropped in from a cargo plane.

Kelso: "If we manage to get this supply drop we should have enough food and ammunition to start taking back key infrastructure. Maybe we can even get the power back on."

(Y/n): "Let's just focus on this supply drop. If we get it, then we can focus on the next step."

Kelso: "Hopefully Noble squad got my coded message, it's going to be difficult to move all the supplies by ourselves."

(Y/n): "Hopefully they aren't dead. We need to secure our comms. Sending coded messages takes too long, we need to be able to use our radios."

Kelso: "I know, hopefully the new radio encryption key for ISAC is in the drop."

As (Y/n) and Kelso approached the main intersection in Chinatown, they heard the rumbling of a plane overhead. The agents watched as the cargo plane dropped three crates out its ramp. The parachutes opened and the three crates slowly drifted down to the street, landing in the middle of the intersection.

(Y/n): "Right on time, let's move. We need to be gone before any hostile factions show up to claim the drop, they definitely saw the plane."

(Y/n) and Kelso rushed to the middle of the snow covered intersection and tore off the lid of the first supply crate. They found loads of food, water and ammunition. Along with the communication equipment for ISAC.

Kelso quickly grabbed the communication gear and stuffed it in her backpack while (Y/n) was stuffing his vest with magazines of ammunition.

Kelso: "Now, where the hell is Noble. We need to get this stuff back to the safe house as quickly as possible."

Kelso placed the lid back onto the crate and turned to check her surroundings. The late morning sky was filled with clouds and a freezing cold breeze swept through the streets.

Kelso: "Cleaners!"

(Y/n) snapped his gaze up and looked down the street to see a large group of about twenty Cleaners heading straight for them.

(Y/n): "ISAC, launch the drone!"

(Y/n) rushed forward and slid behind an abandoned delivery truck as the first wave of gunfire erupted. Kelso moved off to the side of the street, pressing up against a decorative pillar for cover.

"Kill them! They're letting the virus spread!"

The first squad of Cleaners leveled their custom made flamethrowers and unleashed a massive wave of fire.

(Y/n) fought through the flames and continued firing, cutting down the first wave of the Cleaners with a hail of gunfire. The rapidly increasing temperature and flames forced him to fall back. Moments after he abandoned the delivery truck, the vehicle exploded in a massive fireball. The building closest to the truck caught fire, the blaze quickly spreading to the upper floors.

(Y/n): "Shit!"

Kelso: "KID GET DOWN!"

(Y/n) dove to the snow covered street just as a rocket screamed overhead, slamming into the supply drop and creating a bigger explosion that sent the agent tumbling into a car.

The massive explosion forced the Cleaners to pull back, allowing Kelso to rush across the street to (Y/n).

Kelso: "Come on! We've got to go! They're heading towards the refugee camp in the community center! If we don't stop them they're going to kill everyone in the camp!"

(Y/n): "Yeah, yeah I'm good. Let's get going."

(Y/n) pushed himself to his feet and brushed the snow off his coat and plate carrier.

The agents then turned and ran in the same direction as the Cleaners, hoping to somehow arrive at the undefended refugee camp before the Cleaners.

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*Watchtower*

Zatanna awoke at the crack of dawn and immediately took the zeta tube to the Watchtower with Titan, just like she'd done every single day for the last three weeks.

She wore her magicians uniform and has yet to tell anyone outside of those staying at their new house about her engagement.

Artemis, Mary and Traci agreed to keep the news to themselves until (Y/n) was back, though they could see Zatanna growing more and more depressed each day.

When Zatanna arrived on the watchtower she made sure her white magician glove properly covered her engagement ring before taking a deep breath and walking out into the main observation deck.

She was the first one there and immediately pulled up the satellite feed of New York, letting out shaky breaths as she surveyed the burning and abandoned city.

Black Canary: "Pulling 14 hour shifts on monitor duty every day isn't healthy."

Zatanna jumped and turned around, quickly composing herself before letting out a stressful sigh.

Zatanna: "I-I know... but I just think if I keep looking, I may be able to find something useful or at the very least find him and monitor his movements."

Black Canary: "When's the last time you got a full night's sleep?"

Zatanna: "I-I don't know... a couple of days ago. Titan helps me sleep, he never leaves my side."

Black Canary glanced down at the German Shepherd and smiled before gently petting him.

Black Canary: "I want you to go home, obsessing over events in New York isn't helping you."

Zatanna: "Helping me?! What about the people trapped in the city?! They're just stuck there, fighting over supply drops while this virus slowly kills them!"

Black Canary: "You saw the U.N report on New York. A sample of the virus has been sent to S.T.A.R labs but they've banned us along with anyone else from entering the city."

Zatanna: "I-I know... I just... I really wanted to help him. We're supposed to do things together..."

Black Canary: "I know you well enough to know that something else is bothering you. You've adapted to him going on dangerous missions in the past, so what's changed? I promise not to tell a soul. I'm a counselor, nothing you say leaves the room."

Zatanna looked past Black Canary to the beautiful view of the star filled sky. Titan gently nudged his head against the magician's legs, attempting to comfort her as he could sense her sadness.

Zatanna: "Okay... I thought I was getting pretty good about it... you know, staying calm and not freaking out whenever (Y/n) went away on some incredibly dangerous mission. I liked it more when we were both on the Team, I could look out for him a-and everyone that we were close with."

Black Canary waited patiently for Zatanna to finish. She eventually built up the courage and gently started pulling her glove off her left hand.

Zatanna: "I trust (Y/n), I trust him to keep himself safe and save as many people as he possibly can. I realized that as much as he jokes about it, he is a professional and can handle himself in most situations. But... that changed the second he gave me this. I can't stop worrying that something horrible is going to happen and I may never see him again."

Zatanna took off the glove and showed Black Canary her engagement ring.

Black Canary: "That's a beautiful ring."

Zatanna: "I-I know..."

Black Canary: "He's going to come home. If anyone can save that city and walk out alive, it's (Y/n)."

Zatanna let out a deep sigh before petting Titan again. When she turned her attention back to the holographic screen, Black Canary was studying the League's report on events in New York.

Zatanna: "Anything new?"

Black Canary: "It looks like the Division's found a way to restore power to most of the city. There's a power relay in the subway beneath Times Square, the latest situation report from the JTF says that agents are regrouping at a community center in Chinatown before heading to fix the power."

Zatanna: "No... they're not regrouping. They're rushing to defend the community center."

Zatanna maneuvered the satellite feed to show the small army of Cleaners heading towards the community center. She then moved the feed over two blocks and saw six Division agents scrambling to build defences. The agents were identified by their ISAC bricks on their shoulders which were sending a signal to the satellite that contained all information about the agents' status.

Black Canary: "Look, this one is marked Vanguard. It's (Y/n)."

Zatanna drew in a sharp breath as she watched the small diamond marked "Vanguard" on the screen work with the one marked "White Knight" to build makeshift defences on the roof of the community center.

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After meeting up with Noble squad on their way to the community center, (Y/n), Kelso and Noble squad quickly built up their defences in an attempt to protect the small civilian community inside.

After preparing what little fortifications they could, (Y/n) and Kelso went inside to talk with the community leaders.

Kelso: "We're going to need some support here. I don't know how long we'll be able to hold them."

Community leader: "We have no shortage of volunteers."

(Y/n): "That's not the problem. We have no weapons to give them and even if we did we don't have the ammunition."

Community leader: "What if we called for a rescue? From other Division agents or maybe the Justice League."

Kelso and (Y/n) exchanged a nervous glance. These people have been cut off from the outside world for almost two months. They had no idea that the Division was scrambling to hold their own and that the Justice League had been banned from entering the city.

(Y/n): "Look without power and internet we have no way of getting a strong enough signal out for the League, and even if we had both of those... the U.N and federal government has banned the League from coming to New York. We're on our own."

Kelso: "Get your people ready for an emergency evacuation. You can use the sewer system to escape while we hold them off. The sewers will connect to the subway through a maintenance station about three hundred meters south."

Community leader: "We have wounded and sick people that can't be moved! Least of all through a sewer!"

Kelso: "Look, those Cleaners are going to kill everyone in this building! Save who you can but we won't be able to hold out for long!"

(Y/n): "Wait... what if I take Sutton and set up an ambush in the building across the street. Once the Cleaners start their attack we can use ISAC to block their escape and pick them off from both sides."

Kelso: "That could work, but if we get overrun then that leaves you two completely cut off."

(Y/n): "Well then, you better hold the line."

Kelso smiled and grabbed her rifle. (Y/n) did the same before the pair rushed back outside to take their positions. Sutton followed (Y/n) into the small apartment complex across the street. Within minutes they broke into an apartment and found a child's bedroom that had a large window overlooking the street.

(Y/n): "This will have to do. Make sure every ISAC turret and drone is fully loaded and I'll start our ammo count."

Sutton got to work and for the first few minutes the agents prepared for their ambush in complete silence. Eventually Sutton finished and set up ISAC's gadgets in their proper firing positions.

Sutton: "Have you and Kelso been to the city hall safe house in the last week?"

(Y/n): "No, we've been fairly busy keeping the struggling refugee camps afloat and trying to gather enough equipment to get ISAC's long range comms online."

Sutton: "The situation there is slightly better than up here. We've got a solid perimeter of a few blocks around city hall and have a mix of police and firefighters acting as border guards holding the perimeter. We even have extra rations to hand out. Of course they're terrible and they taste like a boiled rag, but beggars can't be choosers."

(Y/n): "I guess that's good. We're they still receiving the JTF supply drops?"

Sutton: "Yeah, that's the only thing keeping them going. The doctors say the virus has almost burned itself out, there are a few infected spots in a couple malls around the city but for the most part they think we're in the clear."

(Y/n) slumped down and sat against the wall, leaning his head back and letting out a long sigh.

(Y/n): "In the clear... millions died before we could lift a finger to help them."

Sutton: "We could never have saved the people the virus took, this bio-terror attack caught everyone by surprise. What we can do is find whoever released it and kill them. But to do that we've got to bring this city back from the brink of collapse."

(Y/n): "That's easier said than done. Time Square is completely under the control of the Rikers, and to get to Times Square we'd have to travel past all the malls that the Cleaners are in the process of burning to the ground."

Sutton: "Yeah, but we could always sneak by during the night or use the subway and sewers to pass any hostiles."

(Y/n): "I thought about that too. But the reality is we're going to have to fight the Rikers for control of Time Square and the infrastructure below it. While we're fighting the Cleaners will definitely hear or spot the fight and both factions seem to hate us more than they hate each other... so it stands to reason that the Cleaners would help the Rikers corner us. Then we'd be fucked."

Sutton: "So fighting our way through is the only option."

(Y/n): "But with little ammunition, we can't afford to send more than a few agents. A few agents against two very large armies."

Sutton: "Well, if any agents have a shot of getting through and restoring power to the city... I think it's us."

(Y/n): "I do too. That's what scares me."

Sutton lightly laughed before slumping down beside (Y/n) along the wall.

Sutton: "Since when have you been afraid of a fight?"

(Y/n): "I'm not... it's just..."

Sutton: "It's just what? Common, you're one of the best, we need you sharp and ready to go. So tell me what's on your mind."

(Y/n): "Hang on, one of the best?"

Sutton: "I'd put Kelso above you. But still number two overall ain't bad."

The younger agent let another light laugh slip out before sighing.

(Y/n): "Alright, you want the truth? I'm engaged."

Sutton laughed out loud before quickly realizing that (Y/n) wasn't joking. The older agent snapped his gaze over to (Y/n) who was running his thumb over a small photograph. The picture was of Zatanna and (Y/n) atop the eiffel tower, the pair were holding each other close in a loving embrace and smiling for the camera.

Sutton: "Holy shit you're not joking."

(Y/n): "No... no I'm not."

Sutton: "That's amazing, you should be so happy."

(Y/n): "I am... it's just that I know what we're about to do. The odds that everyone makes it back from Times Square is slim to say the least. I don't want any of us to end up like the police the Rikers captured."

Sutton: "What happened to them?"

(Y/n): "It's better if you don't know. I wish I didn't know."

An awkward silence overtook the agents as they sat and listened to the wind howling down the street.

(Y/n): "I'm afraid I'll never see them again... Zatanna, the girls, Titan a-and all my friends. I've never been worried about not coming back before, I've always figured I'd find a way to get home. I... I don't know what's changed."

Sutton: "You're engaged, constantly worrying about your significant other is a natural. Especially since both of your occupations are rather hazardous to say the least. But trust me when I say this, you'll get back to them safe and sound."

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*Watchtower*

*4 hours later*

Zatanna walked back into the observation deck after breaking for lunch. Black Canary agreed to keep the news about Zatanna's engagement a secret, much to the magician's relief.

As Zatanna walked up the steps to the main observation deck, she noticed that she was no longer alone. Miss Martian, Superboy, Tigress, Aquaman and the entire Team were assembled on the deck. Zatanna immediately noticed both Mary and Traci were in the middle of the Team. Seeing her students take their place on the Team forced a smile to her face as she stepped up beside Miss Martian and Aquaman.

Aquaman: "Zatanna, I did not know you were here. How are you doing?"

Zatanna: "I'm fine Kaldur, thanks. I was just having lunch."

Zatanna sent a reassuring smile to Mary and Traci. Traci smiled back but Mary awkwardly scratched her head and avoided eye contact at all costs.

Miss Martian: "Okay, Garfield, you called this meeting."

Beast Boy: "And I appreciate you hearing me out. Kaldur, though the Justice League's ranks are divided, you stand center stage, defending a world seemingly committed to stopping your good works. And M'gann, you lead the Team against our adversaries while avoiding the spotlight. Despite all obstacles, you're both making a difference. But something is missing."

The founding heroes of the Team looked around at each other before they all shrugged in unison.

Tigress: "Okay, I'll bite. What?"

Beast Boy: "A public version of the Team. Young heroes rebelling against the system to fight the good fight in clear view."

Aquaman "No. We do not put those kinds of targets on our underage heroes. That is what the Justice League is for."

Beast Boy: "The League can't do what we need, because you're playing on the Light's game board. Have you seen the headlines lately?!"

Beast Boy pressed a button on the Watchtower's holographic keyboard and several news articles popped up. Zatanna looked away when she saw the large one from GBS highlighting the massive death count in New York and how the Division's grip on the city was slipping away.

Beast Boy: "Lex Luthor's grip on the United Nations. The public fear of meta-humans, this virus and meta-teen trafficking. Bad guys like Granny Goodness and Baron Bedlam are capitalizing on all of it. New York is falling apart and the Division can't stop it, people are losing hope! We've lost the hearts and minds of the people we're trying to protect. People have given up and fallen prey to the demagogues and fear-mongers, causing them to give up on the heroic ideals of why the Justice League was founded in the first place."

Tigress: "Great, now I'm thoroughly depressed."

Beast Boy: "Don't worry. I've gotcha covered. See, we're gonna break the rules the League can't. We're gonna connect with people in ways that can't be blocked by governments. We're gonna quiet the fears of the public, terrified by the meta-gene generation. And we'll do it all by inspiring that generation. Because we are them. Raised alongside them in the fallout of a scary, meta-human world, we can be the heroes that empower them to conquer their fears."

Miss Martian: "That's a great speech, Gar, sincerely, but how's that any different from what the League's trying to do now?"

Beast Boy: "The League and the Light are fighting spin campaigns, and the Light's winning. That's not what I'm talking about. Look at this."

Beast Boy displayed several images from various social media sites, all showcasing recent heroics of himself and various members of the Team that were with him.

Beast Boy: "Without even trying, our actions have generated something organic, something beyond spin, something that could never emerge from under the thumb of Luthor or Granny. It's something relatable. It's something we can build on by giving people something they can brand. Something they can own on social media. Something that makes them part of the story. We're going to be highly mobile and accessible and together, we're going to start a revolution! Well... a small one, anyway."

Aquaman: "You have given us much to consider-"

Beast Boy: "No. We haven't."

One by one, Wonder Girl, Kid Flash, Blue Beetle, Static, Geoforce and to Zatanna's shock, Mary, stepped forward and stood by Beast Boy's side.

Beast Boy: "Get on board or get out of the way."

Superboy rolled his eyes and groaned in annoyance.

Kid Flash: "We all heard the story."

Blue Beetle: "You guys built this team..."

Wonder Girl: "It's time to take it to the next level."

Tigress: "Are you sure you're ready for this kind of spotlight?"

Beast Boy: "Green skin. Can't hide."

Blue Beetle: "The Reach outed me during their invasion."

Kid Flash: "Kid Flash is out too, from back in Wally's day. Plus, the public doesn't always get that I'm a different guy and I don't really rock with the whole secret ID thing anyway."

Geoforce: "Markovia and the world already know what I've become. Now it's time to show them who I've become."

Wonder Girl: "There was no way Mary and I would let this be a no-girl squad."

Static: "The group needed a little colour."

Blue Beetle: "Uhh, hi, brown skin here."

Static: "Might as well be blue skin under that faceplate."

Miss Martian: "And the rest of you?"

Halo: "Not ready, not yet."

Miss Martian: "That's fine, I was afraid I was losing my entire team."

Zatanna: "Mary..."

Mary: "I know what you're going to say but I'm ready! I won't be Sergeant Marvel but I'm still going to use the code name. I want to help, you've shown me so much and I'm ready to use my magic to help people."

Zatanna's gaze shifted to the news article showing mountains of dead bodies in New York and satellite footage of the city burning before snapping back to Mary, her lips quivering.

Zatanna: "No! Absolutely not! You're not joining this team."

Mary: "That's not your call! I'll be 18 in two months! I should be able to decide when and where to put my life in danger!"

Zatanna: "That's not what this is about!"

Mary: "Oh so you think I can't be a good role model?! That's great! That's for all the confidence! I'm joining this team whether you like it or not! As we said, get on board or get out of the way."

Zatanna: "This isn't about that, you're a target for-"

Mary: "Oh come on, hiding away isn't going to solve any problems. If someone's after me, let 'em take their shot. You've trained me, I'll be ready."

Zatanna sighed knowing that (Y/n) would wholeheartedly disapprove but she couldn't bring herself to push Mary away. 

Zatanna: "Fine, you can join. But you still train with me regularly, you're good but you're not a master yet."

The anger on Mary's face washed away in an instant and she leaped across the small distance to Zatanna, hugging her quickly. Zatanna accepted the hug and wrapped her arms around Mary, she was just glad another person wouldn't be leaving their house.

Zatanna: "Mary, just promise me you'll be careful. Some bad people are after us and we don't know who they are or what they want."

Mary: "I promise. I won't bail on you either, I know what it's like to be left alone in an empty house."

Zatanna smiled before releasing her student to go with her new team.

Aquaman: "So it is decided. Miss Martian's covert Team will now consist of Superboy, Tigress, Thirteen, Halo, Forager and Terra. While Beast Boy will lead this new team but still covertly answer to the League through Miss Martian. Agreed?"

Beast Boy: "Oh and there's one more thing I've got covered."

*Small Time Skip*

About an hour later the entire group was walking around a state of the art building in Hollywood. Beast Boy had used his money from his acting career to purchase a two story penthouse in this brand new building and convert it into a large base of operations for his new squad.

Beast Boy: "Welcome to the Premiere Building. The new squad's base of operations. I call this "The Hub."

Mary: "Names taken, pick a new one."

Zatanna smiled as Mary stood tall before her new team.

Mary: "The Division's main base is called the Hub, we should pick a new name to avoid confusion."

Beast Boy: "Oh... okay. I guess we can just call it the Premier Building for now or maybe something like the Tower... Anyway we've got a holographic computer interface, secured link to Watchtower systems, this is basically our mission room. When not in service, it'll double as our super-stylin' living space."

Kid Flash: "This is so crash!"

Beast Boy: "And whether you're with the squad or not, there's enough space upstairs for me, Brion, Tara, Violet, Vic and Fred to have our own separate bedrooms."

Geoforce: "Finally! Uhhh, I mean, thank you."

Beast Boy: "Got you covered, B. And if anyone's hungry, got that covered too. And just like Mt. Justice, we'll eventually have a medical bay, a science lab, a gym, even a zeta-tube."

Tigress: "Wow, it's really starting to feel like the Cave back in the day. But, um... Who's paying for all this?"

Beast Boy: "Ha, Gretchen Goode. She might still have me locked into a contract, but that means old granny has to pay me. Enough to finance the mission to take her down."

Wonder Girl: "Now that's what I call payback!"

Wonder Girl turned for a fist bump from Static who was busy cringing along with Mary.

Static: "Yeah this is a sympathy bump."

As Static gave Wonder Girl a fist bump, the rest of Beast Boy's new team spread out, checking out their new headquarters.

Miss Martian: "The new place is great, Gar. But there's no way six teenagers are going to live here alone and unsupervised."

Artemis took off her mask and started giggling while she elbowed Zatanna.

Artemis: "Yeah, who knows what might happen."

Zatanna swatted Artemis's arm away and lightly blushed as Miss Martian smiled and elbowed Artemis in the ribs.

Artemis: "Ow."

Miss Martian: "Behave."

Dr. Jace: "I would be happy, honoured to move in and act as the children's "den mother". I'm already working with Victor, so it would help to stay close to him. Plus, I've been living in a hotel for the last five months, and well, it's not for me."

Beast Boy: "Got a bedroom with your name on it, doc! Well... not yet, but let me get a pen and an index card!"

Mary slowly made her way to Zatanna's side and gently elbowed her mentor's arm while she bent down to pet Titan.

Mary: "I-I wanted to thank you for letting me join."

Zatanna: "Just promise me you won't turn into Sergeant Marvel. You can be a great hero with the magic I've taught you. I don't want you falling victim to your own powers again."

Mary: "I know... I know my powers are like a drug and I promise I won't ever use them again."

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*New York, Midtown*

The ambush worked perfectly. (Y/n), Kelso and Noble squad were able to completely encircle and destroy the Cleaners entire attack force.

Bodies littered the street as fires burned from the makeshift flamethrowers each of the Cleaners used.

(Y/n) and Sutton exited the building, each agent notably low on ammunition.

Hoopster: "Well, that worked spectacularly. That was an insane number of Cleaners."

Ann: "If we split our remaining ammo, we should have enough for four mags each."

Kelso: "That's better than I expected, everyone ready?"

Grazia: "As ready as we're ever going to be."

Sutton: "This could end up being a really bad idea."

(Y/n): "With the loss of this attack force the Cleaners will have a massive gap in their perimeter. This is our only shot if we want to get through undetected."

Kelso: "Face it, we need power to call in more medical supplies and ammunition. (Y/n)'s right, this is probably going to be our only shot at getting the power back on."

Ann: "Well then. Let's get moving, if we hurry we can be past the Cleaners front lines before sunrise."

The agents quickly grabbed everything of use before stuffing their backpacks with a small amount of rations and heading towards Times Square.

The city was completely covered in darkness. Clouds of a coming snowstorm covered the sky, blocking out the moon and the stars.

The agents stuck to the side of the street, walking along the sidewalk and staying as close as possible to the buildings without tripping over garbage or body bags.

The impressive skyscrapers all were without power, leaving the agents to carefully trudge through the snow while barely being able to see six feet in front of them.

The group lacked any sort of night vision goggles and couldn't use flashlights for fear of being spotted by any Cleaners guarding the edge of their territory.

(Y/n) shivered as he snaked his hand in a pocket on the inside of his jacket, making sure the photograph was still safely in its place. He let out a small sigh of relief when he felt it. He zipped up the pocket just as the group saw the headlights of a large garbage truck round the corner.

Kelso: "Fuck, get down."

Kelso whispered to the agents as they all ducked behind two parked cars. (Y/n) cautiously poked his head up and saw four Cleaners on either side of the garbage truck. The truck was heavily modified, armour covered the windows and windshield while a large battering ram was welded onto the front.

(Y/n): "Holy fuck, they're going to use that truck as a battering ram."

Sutton: "What's the call, boss?"

Kelso: "We don't have anti-tank weapons, if they use that thing to attack a civilian settlement or our base of operations our agents will be helpless to stop them. We've got to take it out while we have a chance."

(Y/n): "Eight guards total, four in each side plus the driver. We clear out the guards out and roll a grenade underneath, that'll take out the engine and we can use the Cleaners flamethrowers to torch the rest so they can't salvage it for parts."

Kelso: "Good plan, let's do it. We'll cover you and make sure your suppressors are on. I don't want to alert every guard within earshot that we're here."

Sutton: "Well, they're going to hear the explosion and come running."

Kelso: "Yes, but we'll be long gone by that time."

(Y/n) moved up, taking out his suppressed handgun and holding a hand grenade in the other. He carefully maneuvered behind the Cleaners as they carelessly strolled down the street at a slow pace.

A few seconds later the agents fired, cutting down all the Cleaners on one side of the truck. (Y/n) a rounded the far side and quickly shot all four Cleaners in the back of the head before they had time to react. He then pulled the pin on the grenade and rolled it under the slow moving and heavily armoured garbage truck.

(Y/n) slid behind an abandoned car just as the grenade exploded. The truck ground to a halt and the driver climbed out. Before the driver's feet hit the ground, Kelso placed two shots in his body and one in his head.

The rest of Noble squad grabbed the large tanks filled with gas that the cleaners wore on their backs and gently stacked them on the driver's seat. When all the tanks were in the cabin, Sutton took his handgun and shot one of the tanks before running as fast as he could away to catch up with the group.

(Y/n) turned back as they were half a block away and watched the small blaze from the truck's cabin trigger a massive explosion.

Kelso: "Let's turn down here. We can sneak into the subway just up ahead."

The agents proceeded down the street and eventually arrived at the subway entrance. They cautiously moved down the steps but had no idea they were being watched from a building nearby.

ISAC: "Entering a contaminated area, use of respirators advised."

The agents stopped their descent into the subway and quickly put on their respirators. (Y/n) hesitated for a brief moment before slowly walking down the steps into the pitch black subway.

All the group could smell was the unmistakable stench of decomposing bodies. Body bags stacked up to the ceiling and covered most of the platform. Where body bags weren't stacked, mountains of garbage bags lay scattered about.

Sutton: "How the fuck could they let it get this bad?"

(Y/n): "They intended it to, there's no other way."

Kelso: "I don't know about that, but we should be extra careful. We won't be able to clearly see when we enter Rikers territory so stay sharp. The last thing we want to do is start a fire fight down here."

The agents slowly trudged through the mess of body and garbage bags for what felt like hours, moving at a snail's pace down the subway tracks for fear of being spotted, or causing a mountain of garbage bags to come crashing down on them.

Despite every obstacle and the overwhelming feeling of dread the agents pushed on, eventually making it into the Rikers section of the city.

Kelso: "That platform up head is the Time Square station. If we're lucky we can get to that platform, turn the power back on and get the hell out before anyone realizes anything."

(Y/n): "When have we ever been lucky?"

Kelso: "Good point, stay sharp."

Ann: "I see two hostiles on the platform and it looks like the Rikers have cleaned off the tracks. They may be using it for shelter or to move around the city."

Kelso: "If they're using the subway then our job just became nearly impossible. ISAC is going to need some time to assess the damage and instruct us on how to get the power back, so we need to capture and hold the Time's Square station."

Hoopster: "This is going to suck."

(Y/n) ignored the rest of the agents and got close to the platform. Two Rikers were currently guarding the platform, standing a few feet away from the tracks where (Y/n) was hidden. They each wore large police coats over their orange prison uniforms and held automatic weapons.

"Man, this shit sucks. I can't wait to get some good food."

"Well it's all we have. Maybe we'll get lucky and ambush another group of agents as they scramble for a supply drop."

"Did you see the gear the boss got from them? Holy fuck if she ever figures out how to use it she'll be unstoppable. We can walk right over the Cleaners and whatever remains of the Division."

"Barrett will figure it out. She always does."

(Y/n) suddenly sprung up and shot both the Rikers with his handgun. The criminals crumbled to the ground as blood shot out of their heads.

Hey carefully inspected the bodies and grabbed a radio off one of the dead criminals.

(Y/n): "ISAC, tap into their comms. I want to know everything they're saying."

ISAC: "Confirmed, connection established. Warning, severe weather imminent. Temperature expected to fall to deadly levels. Recommend immediate evacuation out of the predicted storm path."

(Y/n): "I really wish that was possible buddy."

Hoopster: "Who's this Barrett they were talking about?"

Grazia: "Larae Barrett, she's the leader of the Rikers. I heard several of the other agents talking about her when we stopped at City Hall for supplies a few weeks ago. Apparently she's insane and led the Rikers during their breakout from Rikers Island."

Kelso: "Well, looking at half the shit we've seen the Rikers do... I guess you have to be insane to lead them."

(Y/n): "We need to get moving or we're going to be stuck in a really bad snowstorm."

————————————————————————

Zatanna was back on the Watchtower, tracking the incoming snowstorm and getting increasingly worried about it. Miss Martian and Superboy soon joined her, both knew there was a reason she was acting far more concerned than usual but couldn't quite figure it out.

Miss Martian: "Everything alright?"

Zatanna: "No. This massive snowstorm is going to hammer New York. Watchtower sensors are predicting that temperatures will drop to extreme levels. That combined with the fact that the city is still without power and is an active warzone..."

Superboy and Miss Martian had no idea what to say. They wanted to comfort their friend but the more they looked at the satellite readings of the massive snowstorm, the more they were overwhelmed by a feeling of dread.

Zatanna sighed and waved her hand across the holographic screen, shutting off the computer display of New York. She turned around and faced her friends before forcing out a weak smile.

Zatanna: "Let's go get something to eat. Standing here worrying about (Y/n) isn't going to change anything."

Miss Martian smiled before leading the group to the Watchtower's small kitchen. Zatanna barely spoke as they ate, she simply listened and deflected any conversation attempt with small talk. Her mind was still wandering to the snowstorm in New York. She couldn't help but wonder where (Y/n) was and if he was safe. She watched his ISAC signal disappear off satellite when the group of agents descended into the subway.

Horror stories from the various refugee camps outside the city have made national news and the ones too gruesome to tell on television have made it to the Justice League. Zatanna knew all about the subways being packed full of garbage and body bags. She knew about the Cleaners and the Rikers attacking the few civilian settlements that remained. But the worst was finding out about the Division's original base of operations exploding.

If the building that was supposed to act as a safe resting place for every agent in the city could be destroyed within days of the agents arriving in the city, was there any place in the city that was safe?

She knew the answer, and she hated it.

————————————————————————

(Y/n) crashed through the door to the electrical relay at the Times Square station with Kelso right behind him. He quickly shot the three Rikers inside while the rest of Noble fought off the remaining Rikers patrol on the boarding platform.

(Y/n): "ISAC, what am I looking at?!"

ISAC: "Scanning, stand by."

Ann: "Platform secure! Someone definitely heard the shooting so we don't have long!"

Kelso: "Fuck, the Rikers have messed this place up good. It looks like they tried to get the power back on their own but had no idea what they were doing."

ISAC: "Minimum requirements to restore power: Primary fuse blown, replacement needed, secondary relay in need of reset."

(Y/n): "Kelso, stand by the relay and wait for the signal to reset the system. Ann, get me a spare fuse from the maintenance office around the corner."

ISAC: "Intercepted enemy communications. "This is Barrett, I'm going in. Capture at least one of them alive, I want to make an example out of these fucking agents."

(Y/n): "We've got a major hostile force incoming! Let's pick up the pace!"

Ann: "Here!"

Ann quickly handed (Y/n) the new fuse and the younger agent tore open the panel, carefully ripping out the old fuse and placing the new one properly in its place.

(Y/n): "Kelso, hit the reset!"

Kelso: "On it!"

Every electrical panel in the room sprung to life with a deafening sound that rivaled several jet engines starting. Soon the sound died down as lights all across the subway platform turned on. Though the agents couldn't see the city above them, the power returned to every part but the Dark Zone.

Kelso: "Holy fuck we actually did it."

The agents secured the power relay room and exited before locking the door. They let out a small sigh of relief and hoped for a quick exit back to friendly territory.

Barrett: "Well, that was impressive. I was going to keep a few of you alive to fix the power. Now there's no need for that."

(Y/n)'s eyes widened as the agents froze in the middle of the platform. Two squares of Rikers were positioned on the tracks, covering both tunnels. Larae Barrett stood in front of the stairs leading out of the subway, two very large Rikers stood behind her, each holding a riot shield and baseball bat.

Barrett: "We're going to bleed you piggies dry and hang you up for all to see."

(Y/n): "Counter offer, you let us go because we gave the entire city power back."

Barrett: "After everything the "law" put us through?! Fat fucking chance, pig!"

(Y/n) rolled his eyes and groaned in annoyance.

Barrett: "We'll have you begging for mercy just like those pigs at the prison and that doctor from Wayne University. What was her name again? Oh yes, Jessica Kandel."

Kelso's eyes widened in fear and she gripped her rifle tighter. (Y/n) darted his eyes over to the Rikers still on the tracks, quickly noting their positions for when the fight breaks out.

Kelso: "WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO?!"

Barrett: "Nothing. We just softened her up, in more ways than one, before handing her over to our liberator."

(Y/n): "Where is Kandel? I'm not going to ask again."

Kelso: "TALK OR YOU'RE DEAD!"

Barrett: "My men hold the guns sweetheart. And I couldn't tell you if I wanted to, I don't know. He took her and left, said you'd find him eventually. He claimed to be an old friend of yours, goes by the name Crimson."

(Y/n) subtly clicked a button on his watch and activated his seeker mines. As the explosives dropped from his backpack he raised his rifle and shot the guard closest to Barrett. The explosions went off before the Rikers had a chance to fire.

(Y/n): "Run for it!"

The agents rushed to the stairs. (Y/n) had to stop and grab Kelso so she wouldn't get herself killed while chasing Barrett who threw herself onto the tracks to escape the agents.

The group stormed up the stairs and were greeted by a somewhat recognizable Times Square. Their opportunity to take in the view of Times Square, which now resembled something recognizable to the city before the virus, was cut short by a hailstorm of gunfire.

The agents scrambled for cover wherever they could find it, ending up behind cars, cement barricades or anything that looked like it could stop a bullet.

Sutton: "We're cut off! They're blocking all the exits!"

Kelso was on the ground beside (Y/n), hiding behind a small car while the younger agent traded fire with the hardened criminals.

(Y/n): "Hey! Hey, Kelso, snap out of it! I need you! Listen, if we want to save Kandel then we've got to survive this! We need a plan!"

Kelso: "R-right, right. They haven't blocked every exit."

(Y/n) turned to follow Kelso's gaze and his heart skipped a beat.

(Y/n): "That's a really bad idea."

Kelso: "Well, it's better than getting shot."

(Y/n): "Everyone fall back! Head towards the Dark Zone gate!"

The agents executed a perfect fighting retreat. Making it safely to the large portable building the JTF used to block the street and lock in the Dark Zone.

Kelso used her ISAC watch to unlock the computer lock on the door. She quickly pushed the large metal door open, allowing everyone to rush inside while gun fire bounced off the checkpoints walls.

The second Kelso closed the door she locked it, giving the agents a quick moment to catch their breath.

(Y/n): "It won't be long before they start cutting through the locks. Get your masks on and grab anything of use in here, we've got a long walk ahead of us."

Once the group was sure they had everything of value in the checkpoint, (Y/n) pushed the door open and they stepped into the Dark Zone.