Birdie Malik

Birdie Malik is the sister of Vikram Malik and the final rescued civilian in Year 5 Season 2's Manhunt. 
== Biography ==
=== Before the Outbreak ===
Birdie grew up with her adopted brother Vikram Malik. Due to not being properly diagnosed on the spectrum, she was known as one of those "weird kids who's super smart" in her upbringing. Nevertheless, she became well known as a genius savant, having attended Stanford University at the age of 12. Since graduation, she dedicated her life to creating alternative power solutions and being instrumental in building ODEA Tech with her brother. Moreover, she's known to be a technical genius who's always in need of a challenge.
ODEA Tech's work would gather the attention of many defense contractors, including Calvin McManus and Natalya Sokolova. On one occasion, Birdie was contracted by Cal to help create stable power solutions for the holograms that are part of Descent Combat Simulation Program, developed by Ortiz Robotics. Claire Ortiz refused at first due to not wanting to work with Vikram, but she accepted after being informed that she'll work with Birdie. Furthermore, she worked on stabilizing power systems for underground bunkers meant for United States officials and high-value individuals with ties to the government. One such bunker was occupied by the Ortiz Couple when the Green Poison outbreak hit the United States.
In the months after the outbreak, Birdie was contracted to do work for both McManus and Sokolova when need be. For McManus, she worked on creating autonomous power systems for bunkers that are custom-built depending on the region. During her time with Black Tusk, she felt the need for a challenge as maintaining bunkers occupied by the organization got boring. As such, she asked Sokolova for a couple of modifications to the simulation that Claire was working on by evolving the area of effect and giving dummies live rounds. Sokolova agreed, then showed the technician blueprint schematics of what possibly may be an underground city built to support as many people as possible.
== Year 5 Season 2: Puppeteers ==
After Vikram was rescued by Division agents from Black Tusk's custody a second time, he asked the agents to go and rescue his sister, who was being held at Camp White Oak. During the fighting, Birdie was contacted by Manny Ortega and Vikram, who clarify that the Division were sent to rescue her. However, the two got puzzled when they learned that Birdie was informed by Sokolova that Black Tusk and the Division are "allies" now. Furthermore, she informs them of a Division agent who sent her to White Oak, describing him as someone who looks like a park ranger.
Regardless, agents make contact with Birdie at the Lake House. With revelation that Agent Johnson is The Recruiter and having the Mobile SHD Server in his hands, she decided to aid the Division by hacking the Black Tusk mortar systems and turning it against them. Agents face off Johnson, though he'd prove a challenge to them due to his Defender Drone. Therefore, Birdie used the countermeasure to disable the SHD Tech for both the agents and Johnson. Despite making a dent to the Hunter, he still managed to survive, forcing Birdie to use the mortars against him. With The Recruiter dead, the Division managed to secure the server.
Birdie was sent to the Castle Settlement, reuniting with Vikram. Despite being casual about her captivity, Vik was glad to see his 'sister' alive and well. She was later debriefed by Manny, asking her what Sokolova wanted with the Mobile SHD Server. She explained that Nat wanted the server to modify Black Tusk's tech. When asked by Manny if it's possible, she explained that with the right code and right coder, anything is possible. Given her profession, she didn't give the right code to Nat as something like that requires a professional coder like Wally, Claire, or Maira. 
Birdie got briefed with Manny about Black Tusk's HQ and its security systems given she was often sent there to fix the problems they had like getting the AC back up and running, especially given the bunkers were not built below ground and above the water table, causing structural issues. She explained that she was often accompanied by one of Nat's inner circles like Dolores Jones, Jack Bonney, Ellis Galveston, and Bardon Schaeffer. Though for the last few months, it was only Bonney who was escorting her. Moreover, she explained the HQ's security systems are only accessed by a biometric lock which is unlocked by hand, retinal, biorhythm, and voice confirmation at the same time. 
Birdie got settled in well in the Castle, as she and Vik worked in stabilizing the settlement's power grid.
== Afterwards ==
Later after the events of Puppeteers, Birdie was asked by Manny as he was confused how Black Tusk's communication systems is the same as the Division's. She explained to him that they're both fundamentally in the same network, likening it as both working in the same place. While Manny is grateful that means intercepting Black Tusk's plans, Birdie mentioned that Natalya Sokolova was aware of the exploit and has been working on fixing it, even though it'd take a lot of server power, so she had Birdie fix the problem.
When asked by Manny if she worked on the fix, Birdie admitted it, as she initially thought she was working for him. But she was manipulated by Agent Johnson as he told her what she's working on would get rid of the Rogues plaguing the Division and wasn't aware that the Division and JTF were rogues the whole time. While Manny protests the notion, Birdie strictly believes that to be the case since as the Division are fighting Black Tusk and Calvin McManus is working with them. So in her eyes, as long Cal is in charge, they're rogues.
Birdie was also asked by Manny regarding Black Tusk's biometric security systems as he was confused how they work. She explained that Claire Ortiz went extra steps for the systems, adding biorhythm and voice recognition as they can be unique. But because deepfake tech can get past those, Claire made the systems require the eye, hand, biorhythm, and voice recognition at the same time. However, the security systems aren't completely fool-proof as the wrong key or wrong biorhythm signature can lock a user out. Best-case scenario, someone else resets the security systems and the user gets sent for interrogation. Worst-case scenario, it activates a killswitch, killing the user and everyone around them. 
However, Birdie maintains that this only happens in high-security locations. For other territories that Black Tusk has control over like a cargo ship, for example; activating the security system the wrong way would give the user a shock or gas treatment.
== Shades of Red ==
During the Division's incursions to the Combat Simulation Program facility to gather intel from NSA databases, they learn that Birdie was considered for recruitment for Aaron Keener's settlement. However, Keener's partner; Bridgette "Viper" Douglas, recommended against that. Arguing that despite being brilliant, Birdie is notorius for having no filter and her adopted brother Vikram is a well-known dick. Furthermore, Natalya Sokolova values Birdie's expertise and would never lose tabs on her.
And in spite of Birdie being sent to the Castle Settlement after her rescue, Douglas believes it's only a matter of time before Nat tries to take her back.
== Personality ==
Due to being on the spectrum, Birdie became a genius savant who's able to fix problems on the fly. Her work in creating alternative power solutions at ODEA Tech made her well known in the tech sector. Some folks find her work ethic eccentric.
Birdie get easily bored when she finds her work no longer exciting and is in need of a challenge, as was the case when she asked Natalya Sokolova to do tweaks on Claire's simulation program to stave off the boredom of maintaining the Black Tusk bunkers.
Similar to her brother, Vikram, Birdie has a cocky attitude. During the Division's fight against The Recruiter, she took delight in using Black Tusk's countermeasure to disable their SHD Tech, even mocking Recrutier's dogma to "the mission".
However, Birdie seems to have somewhat of a lack of appreciation towards human life. When she decided to assist the Division in White Oak, she took over Black Tusk's mortar systems, not caring of the collateral damage. Moreover, when she was asked by Manny regarding Black Tusk's Biometric security systems, she found amusement in how the failsafes against false access (like gas or shock, as an example) affect the person.
== Trivia ==
* As confirmed by Massive, Birdie is on the Autism Spectrum.Celebrating Neurodiversity: Autism Representation in The Division 2. (ubisoft.com)
* As of Descent comm "Birdie" which was released on the week of December 3rd, 2024; Birdie is confirmed to have been adopted
==Appearances==
*Tom Clancy's The Division 2
== References ==
Category:The Division 2
Category:People
Category:NPC