Author's Note: This really came out of nowhere. The idea just sort of came to me when I saw a single fanart of Jinora and Ikki from Legend of Korra. It was them but as young adults. It was not just how good it was drawn but the comparison between siblings as well as the description the artist put for the image.

That and I really wanted to try a cross with the Division. I've been gone a while since I hit a massive block as well as working on my original novel. So let's see how this goes.

Phoenix Rising

Chapter 1

As of March 20, 2020, President Ellis, the current President of the United States, has immediately declared the Strategic Homeland Division as a rogue organization while giving legitimacy to Black Tusk. Despite the victories and heavy blows to them, the Division was still fighting an uphill battle. Those that were aided by them, especially the civilian settlements, could not believe what they saw when Ellis made the broadcast.

The broadcast was a double-edged sword. Those that believed in the Division had went against Ellis and deemed him a fascist. The Division on the other hand already had a contingency in place should something like this happen ever since Ellis's betrayal, having their top programmers at work in changing a bit of ISAC's code so that they would not be declared rogue.

"Gloves need to come off, Manny." an agent strongly declared.

The Strategic Homeland Division's coordinator pursed his lips at the agent before him. "You know what means, Asher."

"Not my first rodeo." the agent shrugged. "I've been doing the dirty since my days with SOG. Before that, I was Delta."

Alani Kelso, the Division's current commander ever since the betrayal of her predecessor, shrugged. "I was a ranger before the CIA recruited me into PMOO. You'll get no arguments from me. End of the day, someone's gotta make the enemy scared of the dark. I say it's about time we do. So long as they think of us as nothing but brainwashed do-gooders, they'll just keep coming after us."

"All that matters now is protecting the settlements and ourselves." Asher continued. "The America as we know it is gone. The government has pretty much abandoned us thanks to that fucker Ellis. In their eyes, we're just a rogue organization."

"Dammit." Manny cursed. "Things really have gone to shit, huh? We beat back the faction leaders here but nothing's really changed. Cut off one head, two more will take its place."

"We really should be grateful for what our programmers did to ISAC." Alani muttered. "Or we would all have red rings."

"They're also seeing if they can connect to the rogue network." Asher added. "That will give us an edge over the ACTUAL rogues. We'll continue to be the knights in shining armor to civilians but we need to start being ruthless to our enemies."

Asher nodded. "Agreed."

Manny let out a heavy sigh as he ran his fingers through his hair. "Fuck. We're really in it now, huh? So what do you expect me to do?"

"Green light a special unit within the Division." Alani said. "I talked it over with Asher and he's all in. We're taking a page from the Hunters. Time to use their own tactics."

Manny's eyes widened as he looked at the two agents. "You two can't be serious."

"We are." Asher said in confirmation. "Hearts and minds is nice and all but… extrema remedia… we need to start following our own words. The people here will not want to live in an America that Ellis is trying to build."

"Alright." Manny conceded. "So what's next?"

"We start salvaging Black Tusk tech. Tidal Basin's hovercrafts for one. The one our helicopter disabled can be fixed."

Manny nodded his head once more. "Okay. Let's do this."

~oOo~

Few Months Later

Despite Ellis's speech, nothing much had happened other than the Division salvaging every piece of technology from Black Tusk's former base in Tidal Basin. They got one operational large hovercraft and the other already being repaired after that helicopter crash.

Dealing Black Tusk a heavy blow gave them ample breathing room. They studied the Warhound ground drones and repurposed them for their own use.

As for the Joint Task Force in DC, they have chosen to officially disband and be absorbed into the Division as auxiliary forces. Their jobs had relatively remained the same but no longer wore the tainted name. The JTF had really done more harm than good during the outbreak and many like those in New York could barely trust them. Word had spread to other Division cells and the JTF units there followed suit. One of the agents joked that the Division had turned into a Brotherhood of Steel since they started hoarding the tech.

They weren't wrong.

The months went by and it was good for the Division's new special unit. Taking their queue from the enigmatic Hunters, they engaged the Black Tusk and their other enemies with extreme efficiency and lethality. Black Tusk units were confused and still are, thinking that the mysterious Hunters had targeted them. No one had expected the Division to take a more proactive and even more violent role than before. Agents across the country had begun waging an all-out war on any hostile factions they came across.

The gloves had come off.

Asher was finally able to let loose as he engaged a contingent of True Sons. Despite losing Ridgeway, they still had a chain of command that allowed them to remain organized.

The agent grabbed an enemy soldier and used him as a meatshield while his sidearm was drawn. With his ballistic mask, it made him just a little more terrifying.

Throwing the now dead body away, he ducked back into cover and brandished his black market AKM at them fired away. At the same time, he deployed his airburst seeker mine and saw as it sped towards the squad of enemy soldiers and lit them on fire the moment it leaped into the air and… burst. Firing his assault rifle one last time, the immediate area was now clear of True Sons.

[Alert: Enemy supply convoyin proximity.]

No rest for a Division agent.

~oOo~

Even after everything that has happened. Nothing has changed. The city was no closer to recovery and Asher knew that it will probably never recover, not for a long time. The world was in a similar state but word has it that Russia fared better and actually suffered the least. All those sanctions America placed on them became a blessing in disguise. As for China, reports say that roughly seventy percent of the country's population was wiped out.

Taiwan miraculously recovered with suffering minimum deaths as they learned their lessons during the SARS outbreak of the early 2000s.

America, though the people weathered through the outbreak, no longer had a working government. They had built a system so complex that it came down crashing. The country fractured to the point that various independent settlements and factions were formed. Some faction leaders became warlords, hoarding former US military equipment like the True Sons.

"We have reports that religious extremists of both ends of the spectrum have also emerged. Funnily enough, it's in California."

"No surprise there." Asher muttered as he poured himself a cup of coffee. He was currently in his safehouse after having another productive day. "Hate to be those bastards there. I heard California got the worst with criminal gangs and organizations taking over."

"The Division cells over there are hard-pressed in trying to combat them. Wasn't easy but they're handling it."

"I heard the California cells had the least agents to go Rogue."

"Probably because they believe in that Democrat bullshit. Mendez was one and looked where it got him."

Asher chuckled at Alani's jab. He always knew how much of a Republican supporter the senior agent was during the last election. "Had to go there. But you do know that Ellis is a Republican, right?"

"Don't you fucking dare, Ash! God, you can be just as annoying during your first days in SOG."

That's right, the two were sort of colleagues since both did work for the CIA. In fact, Alani was Asher's mentor and somewhat of an older sister. If it weren't for her, he wouldn't be where he was now. He probably wouldn't have been recruited in to the Division had it not been for Alani's recommendation into reviewing his service record. At only twenty-one years old, Asher is recorded to be among the youngest agents in the field.

"God another job for you by the way."

An eyerbow rose. "What's up?"

"Our scouts reported about an 'anomaly' of some kind. They couldn't exactly put it into words but our drones got a good look. I can't explain it myself."

An image then popped up on his computer. He narrowed his eyes. "What the fuck am I looking at here, sis? Looks like some kind of light in an underground sewage tunnel."

"We thought it was just some one-off thing then our other cells reported the same thing in the other states. Needless to say, Black Tusk is interested. Which explains why we haven't been getting any attacks from them."

"We still do get the occasional squads." Asher added. "But we have been seeing less and less of them. So you want me to check this out?"

"Yes but exercise caution. The anomaly is close to the Pentagon."

"That means I'll go by boat. Attracts less attention. I'll go get prepped."

~oOo~

Underground Safehouse

Seventeen year old Ikki, granddaughter of the late Avatar Aang, was troubled to say the least. She was known to be quite cheerful, energetic, hyperactive, fun-loving and a talkative girl. That was of course years ago but she had retained much of that personality. But that was only until recently. She felt like she had started living in her older sister's shadow. Not only does her sister Jinora have an uncanny connection with the Spirit World, but she's also intelligent, beautiful and earned her arrow tattoos at a much younger age than any other typical airbenders. Almost as young as their grandfather.

Her self-confidence isn't what it used to be.

She loved her sister Jinora, even looks up to her. Her sister Jinora is the same towards her and their two younger brothers Meelo and Rohan. But no matter what Ikki did, Jinora would simply outshine her. Even more, Jinora often goes out to help Korra, the current Avatar, because of her skill as an airbender and her natural connection to the Spirit World. Jinora even got herself and incredible boyfriend that has been going strong for seven years. Their relationship was as strong as ever.

Jinora's life was perfect. Ikki… she's still climbing. She had only gotten her mastery tattoos a year ago but that hardly mattered. Everyone looked at Jinora.

She was just thankful that her brothers were not suffering like she was. Meelo always did his own thing and Rohan followed him.

So she left a note at the table and decided to go on her own journey of self-discovery. They'll probably try to look for her but she will be long gone by then.

She approached the path to the Spirit World and looked back once more towards the direction of Air Temple Island, the place she was born, and returned her gaze forward, disappearing in a flash of light.

That was the last thing she remembered until waking up in a place that she could not recognize. Dusty and dreary.

"Welcome back to the land of the living."

She turned her head to see a young man. A handsome one at that with a gentle smile gracing his face. Red eye on the right and blue on the left.

"It's called heterochromia." the man told her. "Eyes have always been blue and red, had it ever since I was born. And you… you just appeared from that flash of light."

"Then…" she croaked. "I'm in the Spirit World."

"Uh… no."

"Then…" she began. "Where am I?"

The man pursed his lips before pulling up a map and showing it to her. "This map of the world mean anything to you?"

She looked at the map and saw… no, it can't be. Her eyes widened. And her mouth agape coupled with her silence was all the answer the man needed.

"Well then." he spoke. "Looks like we have a lot to talk about because you are very far away from home."

Ikki had a map of her world and she showed it to the man, whom introduced himself as Asher. This was surreal. She had traveled to another world. But it was a world that made her horrified as more than half of its population was wiped out in the span of several months by a madman who unleashed a manufactured virus called the Green Poison.

The people here need help.

"Here." he said as he gave her some food. "It's baked beans and scrambled eggs. It's not much but it's how we get by."

"Thanks." she mumbled. "I just… I can't believe it."

"Neither can I." he chuckled. "But there was no way you could be lying, not after seeing you pop out of that light. I'm guessing it's a gateway?"

She nodded. "It's supposed to take me to the Spirit World. I wanted to just go see it because… I wanted to get away for a while."

Asher immediately understood. Ikki is a kindred spirit. "Family problems?"

She nodded. "Kinda."

"At least you have a family." he muttered. "Never knew mine. Grew up in an orphanage and then had to jump from one foster home to another. So the moment I turned sixteen, I joined the army. Was inducted into special forces and had a good career."

She looked down. "I'm so sorry."

"Don't be." he said with a shrug. "I have no regrets. Besides, the closest person I have to an older sister happens to be my mentor and currently the overall commander of the Division."

"I can't imagine what your people went through." she said with sadness in her voice.

"To put it lightly, it was rough. But we're a resilient people. Our nation may be gone but the spirit lives on. Now we're fighting to prevent the rise of a tyrannical government. They declared us rogues and even terrorists."

She sighed. "Why is it that people lust after power so much? I've seen it time and time again."

He hummed. "No pun intended but it simply makes them feel powerful, like they can conquer anything and anyone that stands in their way. Power brings out the best and worst in people. Take me for example. The combination of my skills, weapons and technology gives me the power over life and death. But as a Division agent, I have a responsibility to not only put down my enemies but those who wish to do harm on the innocent. I have a responsibility to protect innocent life. Sometimes, in order to save lives you need take a life."

She bit her lip. "That goes against what I was taught. All life is precious."

Asher gave her a look of understanding. "And I can't fault you for that. There's a saying that I have taken to heart. When you take the gloves off you get blood on your hands. That's how it works. We get dirty and the world stays clean. That's the mission."

Ikki decided to ask the question. "But where do you draw the line?"

"Wherever I need it." he bluntly answered. "End of the day, someone has to make the enemy scared of the dark. I chose this life so that others like you don't have to."

And that made her fear for him. In front of her is a good person who chose the life of bloodshed, someone who does questionable actions because they needed to be done for the sake of the greater good. Not even someone like her can do something like that. It takes a different kind of courage to do that. History will deem him a monster.

"Thank you." she finally said it. "Thank you for saving me. I don't know what would have happened if I was just left there."

He gave her a warm smile. "Can't have a pretty girl like you be left like that now can I?"

Her cheeks reddened. No one had ever called her pretty. She also finally noticed that Asher was wearing a sleeveless shirt, exposing his rather well-built arms, the right one being covered in tattoos. He's handsome and those unique eyes of his just makes him all the more attractive.

"Well, I'm gonna get back to work and report in. Alani will want to meet you for sure."

"O-Okay."

"Oh and the stuff you came in with is at the corner. Haven't touched them."

Just as he said when she went through her things, everything was where it should be. Extra clothes, a few provisions… good for a couple of days, not for travel to a whole different and devastated world.

"Room over there is yours." Asher informed her, pointing to the door nearby. "I don't get guests so it's mostly just me. Bathroom is just right across."

She nodded. "Thank you."

"Have a pleasant night. Tomorrow we'll see about getting you home."

She smiled and shook her head. "I'm in no hurry."

He looked at her and chuckled. "Alright. Make yourself at home then."

Entering her room, she let out a breath and brought hands over her chest. The spirits brought her here. Perhaps they knew about her pain. Maybe this is where she can find whatever she doesn't know she is looking for.

~oOo~

Next Day

Alani came in as Asher requested and got a good look at the young woman.

"You know… somehow... I saw this coming."

Asher snorted. "How so?"

"I really don't know. It's good to meet you Ikki, I'm Alani Kelso, senior agent of the Strategic Homeland Division. Heard this knucklehead over here fished you out when you popped out of a portal."

Ikki bowed. "Good to meet you as well, Miss Kelso. I'm grateful for Asher's hospitality."

The senior agent laughed. "Just Alani, kiddo. Miss Kelso was my mother and she was a deadbeat asshole. So was my dad actually."

Ikki didn't know what to say. Alani stated those words in such a nonchalant tone that she could not find any response. It was like they were so accustomed to despair that it was all they know.

"Moving on." Alani broke the silence. "We have reason to believe that small teams of Black Tusk are examining the… portals."

"Shit." Asher cursed.

Ikki tilted her head. "Black what?"

"Black Tusk." Asher told the airbender. "Private military company, or mercenary company if you prefer that term. They have weapons and tech that is on par with ours but with far better manpower and resources. And we've been fighting them for close to a year. They're not to be trifled with. We lost a lot of good agents to them."

"And now they seem to have set their sights on your world." Alani told the airbender. "I'm sorry to have broken the news to you like this but… if they find out what they are and go through it…"

"My home will be in danger." Ikki whispered.

"Thankfully…" Alani decided to bring in the good news. "They're keeping their distance for now. Their engineers and researchers seem to be stumped."

"How many portals have they taken?" Asher inquired.

"Just one." Alani said. "Down in California of all places. They're trying to keep it quiet so they have a small team, that's it. We'll just have to pray that our cell over there can try and stop them. By the way, how were things at the Pentagon?"

"Secure." Asher reported. "Our guys there are already at work with the prototype tech. They even found a nearly completed Marauder and a facility that builds it. They hit a goldmine."

Alani grinned. "I'll be damned."

"Uh." Ikki leaned in and raised her hand. "What's this Marauder you're talking about?"

Asher turned to his computer and showed the image of the massive quadcopter drone. "The XB-31 assault quadcopter. It's an unmanned aerial vehicle. Armed to the teeth with a rapid firing gun and various guided and unguided ordnance. Was in the prototype stages until Black Tusk got their hands on one and started producing their own."

Ikki looked at the video where it was engaging Asher and widened her eyes at its actions. "It's so fast."

"Asher told me about your world." Alani said. "Sounds like 40s era technology with early cars and planes."

"And airships." Asher added. "She also showed me a picture of Republic City. Like a blend of Hong Kong and NYC. Rapid industrialization."

"I know how to use a radio." Ikki told them. "The one my family has at home is used a lot."

"Well ours are a little more advanced." Asher quipped. "But I can show you how to use it later."

"Well it's good meeting you." Alani said as she shook the airbender's hand. "I'd love to chat more but an agent's job is never done."

"Good to meet you too, Alani." Ikki said with a bright smile.

Moments passed and there was just Asher and Ikki. The former went straight for the armory and got to work with his weapons. Ikki had never seen anything like it. Firearms in her world had only just been developed. Most are constructed from wood and metal but are of limited use due to the lack of demand since benders exist. Not only that but her father Tenzin, a member of the Republic's council, was adamant against the production of such destructive weapons. Since then, the need for such weapons never really rose. An argument could be made that it would be ineffective against metalbenders.

And here she was, seeing several dozens of them on racks. But what got her attention was the mask. It was white outwardly but distorted into black in the center. At where the mouth could be were teeth.

"I see the mask got your interest."

She nearly jumped and saw Asher smiling at her. "I…"

"The mask belonged to a member of an enigmatic group called the Hunters." he explained. "They came out of nowhere. Dressed to kill and armed to the teeth. Turns out, we were the ones they were sent to kill. So the most skilled of us agents sort of made a tradition of sorts. A rite of passage into an elite group within the organization."

"Kill a Hunter and take their mask, wearing it like a trophy." Ikki deduced. The thought of it terrified her.

He nodded. "We became the Hunter-Killers, an elite unit within the Division. Name is unoriginal but it stuck. We are experts in the application of violence. In a way, we turned killing into an art form."

"Killing is forbidden for us air nomads." Ikki said. "I was taught from an early age that all life is precious. We are allowed to defend ourselves but… we never kill."

"And I respect that." he told her while he resumed in performing maintenance for his weapons. "Remember what I told you before?"

The airbender nodded, she had not forgotten. This man before her has a good heart. He's kind and gentle when he wants to be. But… she can't help but feel like he is detached. She could not explain it but it felt like Asher's soul was crying out for help, crying out for someone to embrace him and tell him that he's not alone, that he is loved.

"Alrighty." Asher chuckled as he moved to what appeared to be a four-legged machine. Like a mecha but smaller. "Time to work on you, buddy."

She watched as he lifted the thick plates of metal off. "What is that?"

"A Warhound I salvaged from a Black Tusk base." he said. "Got the programming done so I decided to add in my own personal touches to its internals. Once I'm done he's going to be the deadliest Warhound ever. Fully configurable with various loadouts from lethal to non-lethal and even a mobile medical station. Still a work in progress though."

He had that smile again. But his eyes… his eyes were sad and lonely.

Author's Note: And there we have it for chapter 1! Thanks for reading and stay safe out there folks! Stay home and please be lazy like responsible people.