As the JTF units and the agents walked out of the depository, Twilight looked over at the First Wave Agent "Anubis", who was maintaining his AWP.

"Anubis, right?" She asked him.

"Yep. You Second Wave?" he asked.

"Long story, actually." she replied.

"You'll have to tell me sometime. Ride's here."

As a Blackhawk set down, Lt. Bering came over and saluted.

"Take the wounded back to the post office. We'll clean up here."

Nick nodded and helped the two wounded JTF soldiers into the helicopter, and as the rest of the agents sat down, Anubis took off his cloak and mask, revealing a worn, battle-scarred face. He had brown hair, flecked with grey. A stubble beard graced his chin. He looked out of the helicopter to the streets below, and he sighed.

"So, Anubis?" Twilight asked. "How did you survive the First Wave?"

"Like you said, it's a helluva long story." Anubis replied. "Just know this. It wasn't a cakewalk."

"Fair point." Logan said. As they sat there in silence, Twilight looked over at Anubis, who seemed to be focusing on a medium-sized skyscraper near the Dark Zone. Twilight thought she saw a tear come from his eyes, but he wiped his eyes quickly.

"That skyscraper important to you?" Twilight asked.

"Yeah. I'll tell you when we get back to the Base of Operations." he replied, sighing. "Let's just say...I saw hell for the first time there."

"What happened?" Twilight asked.

"I'll tell you later." He said.

Twilight took the hint and stayed silent for the rest of the trip back to the Post Office. As they disembarked, Benitez and Lau came out to meet Anubis. Upon hearing he was a First Wave, Lau smiled.

"Good to have you back, then. I'll make sure to reactivate your status."

"Fine." Anubis said.

As they walked inside, and they restocked, Twilight looked over at Anubis, who was standing over a black crate marked with the Division logo.

"What's in there?" She asked Nick, who smiled and opened it. Inside were at least twenty different weapons, all in good condition, along with pieces of body armor and several rucksacks. Twilight looked over at Nick, who shrugged.

"That's our stash." He told Twilight. "The loot we claim from hostiles and what we find in supply caches ends up in there, alongside gear we don't really use. It's restricted access to JTF, since the stuff in there is SWAT to military-grade."

"I see." Twilight said. As they walked up to the dorms, Twilight stopped to check on her friends, who were browsing a laptop Twilight had gotten her hands on. As she smiled, she walked into Sierra-Kilo's room. As Anubis sat down and took off his combat gear, Twilight and the rest of the squad took off theirs as well.

"So, Anubis," Nick said. "Most of the First-Wave agents I've met turned traitor or are hostile. Why did you stay?"

"I swore an oath to the Division." Anubis said. "I intend to keep it."

"Seems reasonable." Harper said.

"How'd you find out about the Depository op?" Logan asked.

"I had a radio. I tuned in to a Division Channel, heard you guys yakking away." Anubis replied.

"Why'd you take the shot at Flash?" Dimitri said.

"He was going to kill someone. I don't want to see that happen. Ever again." Anubis said, and the squad took his word and were silent.

"Let's just get some sleep." Twilight said, noting the time. "We need it."

"Agreed." Nick replied. AS they shut the door, turned off the lights, and fell asleep, Twilight looked over at Anubis, who was still awake. Then, he got up and opened the door. Walking over to the window, he sighed. Twilight got up and followed him.

"You wanna know about that skyscraper?" He asked, and Twilight nodded.

"It was barely three days after the Dark Zone collapsed. A group of civilians had been pinned at that Skyscraper, and were frantically calling for help. We were sent in to rescue them. Me, Crow, Switch, and Jaye battled our way to the top, where we found the civilians. They were almost out of ammo, and they had wounded. Then, Crow hacked into the security cams, and saw more Rikers were coming in. We took up defensive positions and radioed for evac. They told us to wait three minutes. Then, as the Rikers swarmed us, we fought. Fought like starving wolves. One by motherfucking one, we killed them. Then, this son-of-a-bitch named Brooks came up. The bastard was heavily armored, and he had a machine gun with tons of ammo. We had an Assault Rifle, two shotguns, and a Sniper. Then, the helicopter came in. As the JTF fought the Rikers, they loaded the civilians. Then, they told us that they could only take one more person. Crow told me to go that they would hold them off. I screamed and kicked, but he forced me onto that chopper and as it took off, I saw Brooks...slaughter them. As soon as we dropped the civilians off, we went back. We were too late. Brooks and his crew were swaggering around when I grabbed the minigun on the side of the helo...and I cut them down. We landed...and I found they had all been killed. I set them to rest before I told them to go. They didn't want to leave me, but I ordered them to go. I took Crow's AWP...the same AWP I use, and their tags...their personal effects...everything I needed to remember them. Then, I cremated them. I've been on my own ever since, staying at civilian camps to stay under the radar. I've been on the run from it ever since. That's why I cried when I saw that Skyscraper."

"Anubis...I'm sorry." Twilight said.

"Thanks. Crow's last words to me before we headed into that Skyscraper were instructions. That if any number of us died, and if anyone survived, they would cremate their squadmates where they fell. You know, like the Phoenix rising?"

"Yeah." Twilight replied.

"To be honest, when I picked up Crow's AWP, It only had one shot. I promised myself to never spend that shot. When I saw you, about to die, I broke that promise. But in a way, I don't feel sad."

"Talking helps, Anubis." Twilight said.

"Thanks, Agent. Let's get some rest."

As they laid back down and went to sleep, the moon shone like a pure diamond on Anubis's AWP. Then, a voice spoke, as if from nowhere.

"Thanks...Anubis...You made me...no...you made us proud. Keep fighting for us. Keep living for us. Don't give up...This Dark Winter won't last forever…"

Then, Anubis whispered.

"I will…"

"Crow."

Author's Note

There's Anubis's backstory. More action next chapter.

Whadda think?