A company of soldiers marched through the empty lands of Russia. They stumbled upon the occasional village that was completely dead or occupied by a few souls. Sometimes, Artyom and his men would find themselves in a ghost town, scavenging for rations and materials to help them on their journey. The inhabitants of these locations, who did note their arrival, found themselves at odds with their lives. A few restless souls seeking out adventure or desperate families willing to take what they could to join them in exchange for honest service.

It was a difficult position for the young man to be in as he wanted to reach Vladivostok with great haste, yet, his heart could not handle leaving such innocents behind. Finding good people was a rarity in these dark times; however, it seemed to earn the ire of some of the soldiers. The ones who expressed their disdain the most were, unsurprisingly, the Nazis of the Fourth Reich. Despite putting a bit of trust in Artyom's ability to bring them home, ideological purity stayed within their hearts.

Recon elements had managed to report in ahead about a local train station that seemed to be occupied by a few families. It was hopeful news since there was a possibility of finding a working train and a few carriages to take them across Russia and meet with the expedition in Vladivostok.

When the first platoons of soldiers had entered the train yard, their training kicked in. Barrels were raised and squads pushed past idle carriages that had seen better days. Yet, these dispersed troops maintained proximity with each other as they made their way over to the building housing all of the supplies necessary for a train and its passengers.

Artyom was accompanied by Pavel, two Nazis, and one of the Red Line soldiers as they climbed up the platform and made their way to three main entrances. Only one had its door cracked while the two adjacent doors were barricaded off by panels of wood and spikes to ward any assaults. Then they began to stack up near the doorway as the men peaked through the gaps in-between, shadows moving around a single campfire. Then a loud roar of laughter echoed from within the building that was full of men, women, and children.

The group of soldiers exchanged a quick glance before the young Polis Ranger spoke. "Lower your guns, I think we can talk to them."

His hand reached out to the door before his knuckles knocked on the wooden boards three times. The announcement of their arrival had caught the strangers off-guard as cheerful laughter turned into cries of terror. Artyom could not tell what happened inside; however, he could hear the thunder of overturned furniture being used against them. Then a fierce demand called out to him. "Who goes there?!"

"Do not shoot, I mean none of you no harm," He answered as he released his grip on his assault rifle just to put his hands up in the air, "May I come in?"

"There's more of you."

"I know, but let me come in and I'll talk with you. Is that okay?"

A momentary silence before one of the strangers replied, "Just you. Keep your boys back!"

"Loud and clear!" Artyom yelled out as he slipped through the doorway and entered the structure. He took one long look at the people inside, scared innocents trying to live through the day, "Morning."

There was an old man to his right, carrying a double-barrel shotgun in hand. His full of wrinkles, but his eyes were full of fear. "Are you here to rob us?"

He shook his head with doubt about his intentions. "No, my comrades and I were searching for a train that we could salvage."

"What is it to you? There's nothing here except us. So why don't you and your merry bandits leave us alone."

Out from the overturned furniture was a little girl who popped her head behind cover. "Grandpa, we do have a train!"

The old man turned towards his relative with a scowl on his face. "I told you to stay down and quiet."

Then he returned his focus on Artyom. The old man stepped forward and pressed his barrels against Artyom's chest.

"I don't care if we're outnumbered, but we'll fight!"

It was time to defuse the situation before his body would be splattered against the door. "Sir, I am not a bandit. My comrades are not bandits, we're soldiers passing by."

The revelation of the news seemed to have caught the defensive civilians off-guard as they whispered amongst themselves. Yet, the grandfather was not convinced. "Soldiers? Bah! We've been living in this part of Russia for twenty years and it took the government this long to show themselves. Horseshit!"

A younger man behind him had voiced his concerns. "What if he is a soldier? Maybe they're finally coming out?"

"You have to be very naive to think the government is still alive after all of this time."

"It's not," Artyom answered as he considered the possibility of using his life to understand these people, "I'm from Moscow and can attest to that."

Heads were turned on him, but the old man was in complete disbelief. "Moscow? Are you sure? How come nobody said anything on the radio after all of this time?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "We just thought everything else outside the city was blown to smithereens as well. No point in talking over the radio if we're the only ones left."

"How can I know you're telling the truth?"

"Forty-thousand people is living in the Moscow Metro and many more living in the Novosibirsk Metro."

"Novosibirsk? No one should be living there with that amount of radiation."

Artyom turned towards the doorway. "There are a few soldiers from OSKOM who are with me. They'll explain how they have survived in their home."

The old man seemed to have a hard time believing what was being said. He took a step back and lowered his shotgun. "Is there anyone else in your group?"

"Civilians, other people like yourself we're picking up."

"Why? You have no obligation to help strangers like us."

His association with the Spartan Order had kicked in. "That is where you are wrong. If you need any protection from the bandits and mutants, we'll provide that if you come with us."

It was here that their weapons were lowered as they listened. Then the old man asked another question. "Where are you and your people going?"

"Vladivostok," He replied with honesty, "Our people have an expedition there and if we meet with them, you all will be safe. I swear it."

Footsteps came from behind as the armed civilians drew their guns on him. "Artyom, it's going to rain soon. The civilians can't stay out there."

"Will you let us in?"

The group's elder conceded his defensive posture as he waved off his young men from firing. "I hope I didn't make a mistake."

"I'll do my best to ensure it isn't," The Polis Ranger turned his head and saw Pavel standing near the crack in the doors, "Let them through."

The communist eagerly turned his back and began to widen the doorways open as he gestured to those outside to enter. Heavily armed and armored soldiers began to storm in through the entrance, catching the civilians by surprise with their equipment. It was quite clear that they rarely saw anyone of this caliber in their journey and it may have been the first for a long time.

The kingdom was much quieter since those days when Queen Elsa grieved for her friend. Now she found herself back to the affairs of the crown, working in her office and being courted by Prince Hans now and then. Yet, she needed a break to enjoy her loneliness as she stepped into the castle courtyard and approached the royal stables.

When she entered the home for the horses, the queen remembered that this is where it all began. Artyom's first attempts to help her connect with Anna for a few moments. Then she put those thoughts at the end of her mind as she sought out her horse - Alastor. As her royal cape fell upon straws of hay, the queen walked over to her steed and gave him gentle pets of her gloved hand. Seldom did she practiced her horsemanship as it was always being ridden by her Russian friend, but with his disappearance, Elsa did not want to neglect this poor animal with loneliness.

Soon she remembered the castle she had been building and it had remained unfinished ever since she left with him. The queen removed the cape and began to mount her horse. As she exited the stables and the hooves began to click against the cobblestone ground, Elsa took a few laps around the fountain before she left the confines of the walls. Her departure to her ice castle did not go unnoticed as the Russians and her people bowed or saluted her along the way. Their greetings and smiles helped brightened her day.

Once she had left the outskirts of the town, her loneliness returned when she was accompanied by the forests and hills. Yet, Queen Elsa found happiness in nature's solace when she remembered that these very trees burned furiously when Arendelle was attacked. Despite the wrath of the flames, there was still life in the trees and they would grow after what was lost. It was funny how nature could provide that insight into her own life.

While the royal continued to ride towards the North Mountain, there was an odd sound that called out to her. A siren whispered into her mind and she could not tell if her ears were hearing it as well. There was little she could do to drown out its harmonious allure; however, she seemed to notice that as she approached the unfinished ice castle its pull was stronger than ever.

The stroll through nature had finally come to an end when she arrived at the base of the ice castle, the stairs were as she had left it. What work remained was the interior and there was much to be done there. Elsa dismounted her horse and planted her shoes in the snow walking up the first steps. Before she could continue any further, the beast rushed up to her, his head brushing against her hand and calling for her attention. The young woman turned around and brushed her palm in-between Alastor's forehead. "Hey, it's okay. Nothing bad will happen to me. I just want some alone time, you understand."

Her words somehow affected the horse as the creature crept closer. Whatever he was trying to do, she wrapped her arms around Alastor's neck and rubbed the mane.

"I'll be fine. Go back to the stables."

In this moment of understanding, the creature took a few steps back and made its way towards home. At the same time, she quietly watched the steed walk out of sight before returning to the muse that allowed her to make this building.

Elsa climbed up the steps with haste as if the ice itself would never allow its creature to slip into the great abyss below. Then she reached the doors and entered the main hall which had remained empty of her final touches. It was ironic that she came here without her books about architecture, but she would make do without their pictures. Taking inspiration from memory alone, the Queen of Arendelle took off her gloves and went to work.

It first began with the construction of a second floor to split the castle in two; however, she left a small space for a magnificent staircase where an oncoming guest would be in awe of a host descending from above. Her fingertips sought out the nearby walls and developed articulate designs from foreign lands when her mind used to be isolated in her bedroom, reading books. Then she sought for the second floor as she grabbed her dress and ran up the stairs with haste.

She had planned for something extravagant in case she invited Prince Hans here for a few hours' worth of courting. As she pondered about the infinite possibilities, the first issue that needed to be attended was the decoration. Elsa looked up and shot a stream of ice into the epicenter of the ceiling, inciting shards of ice to shift and rotate in perfect synchronization. Her chandelier would be the beacon to move her away from the grief.

Where the Russian machinery could not connect to one teleporter, another was opened and Princess Anna took the opportunity to learn what had occurred. Colonel Mel'nikov had received contact from the expedition that was sent to Vladivostok and the news elated her heart, knowing full well that her parents resided in that city. She had pleaded and annoyed the officer without hesitation about searching for her lost family, but fortune would smile on her and a frown would be on the colonel's face that he would allocate resources for her request. Her sister seemed to be busy with the kingdom's issues that she had to do this alone.

Upon arrival, a squad of Polis Rangers was attached to her protection at all costs. Albeit annoyed by this precaution, the princess understood the necessity after her kidnapping with the bandits. It took time to get into the city proper; however, she was genuinely surprised at how drastically different the environment was to the Caspian Sea and Moscow's surface. Where survival was a breath away from death, the Arendellian princess could relax in her seat while a convoy of heavily armed boats drove past the streets of flooded buildings.

Hours passed after careful navigation and when she inquired why it took so long, apparently there were mines on both land and sea, littered across the city. The thought alone had concerned her since they could explode at any moment and at any time. Yet, she trusted the judgment of her Russian allies as the boats navigated around these obstacles with ease. Soon the sky began to rain as the princess quietly prayed for her blessings at how lucky she was to bring a raincoat for the weather.

The floating caravan had left the clustered urban area and found itself exposed in open waters, but it did not end there. The princess looked across the shore lines to find a series of watchtowers and walls separating them from a well-defended city. Searchlights from sentry positions had flickered to life and began to focus its full attention upon the leading boat. Suddenly, a strange noise was activated before a muffled voice managed to speak to them. "Who are you? Identify yourselves?"

Anna scanned the city's soldiers stationed above, only to find a man holding a megaphone in his hand. Then a soldier at the front had stood up and spoke loud enough for her to hear. "We're a convoy from the Moscow and Novosibirsk Metros. We just came from the teleporter not far from here, we're here to properly meet with Tom the Cat."

"Truly?" There was a slight pause before he continued, "Ladna, welcome to Vladivostok. We got some fresh fish waiting for you."

The sea gate immediately spurred into motion, opening a path into the city as the convoy proceeded into the comfort and shelter of this foreign settlement. As the shadow of the walls fell upon the princess, she took a quick look at the designs to realize that this was no mere wall, but the remains of a ship that was turned into one. This world, although horrifying in its own right, probably had some ghostly tales of a time when the civilizations showed power and wonder at a single point.

When the last of the boats were past the gate, she heard a number of whispers about a strange ship that rested in the harbor before them. Anna did not know why, but somehow if her own guards were whispering how special this ship was, then perhaps it was worth knowing why. It was an odd-looking vessel with no sails for the wind to push while its smooth design had a story she genuinely was interested in. Then she reminded herself why she was here, finding her parents after learning the truth from Elsa.

A set of stairs were led into the depths of the ship, but a figure stepped out of the doorway and made his way to the docking bay. Unlike the heavily armored and armed soldiers presented in this city, he was much different from the ragged Russian folk wielding assault rifles. His hair was well-groomed and he wore a fur-collar jacket while carrying an umbrella for himself, thanks to the weather. If there was a way to describe him, he was more businessman than experienced soldier.

The stranger smiled as his free hand rested in his pocket while his men walked over to the boats and helped the passengers out. "Welcome to Vladivostok, my name is Tom and I am in charge of Vladivostok."

Princess Anna managed to catch Colonel Mel'nikov walk up to the stranger, sharing the same expression on his face. "Colonel Mel'nikov of the Spartan Order. My comrades and I, as you know full well, are from Novosibirsk and Moscow. We are glad to see that people on this side of the world have survived."

"It is fine, colonel. When I received word about your expedition, it seemed impossible, but here I am talking to people who teleported half a world away."

The Russian officer laughed. "You are half-right. Yes, we indeed teleported, but we came from another world."

Tom was taken aback by then news, his eyes hardened as if offended. "Pardon, I don't understand."

"You see, I am here to establish relations with OSKOM and the Polis Council, but there is someone that you should meet. She is quite eager to seek your assistance." His head turned and searched for her face, "Anna, come here."

The royal of Arendelle realized it was her queue to reveal herself as she climbed out the boat with the assistance of the soldiers before walking through the docking bay with haste. When she managed to stand in front of the city's leader, the young woman lowered her hood and expressed a reluctant greeting. "Hi."

His eyes observed her appearance before continuing. "I won't lie, she looks a bit too clean to be traveling with you and your men. Excuse me, miss, but I have the misfortune of not knowing who you are."

"Well, I figure you wouldn't know," She replied, "My name is Anna, I'm a princess frpm the Kingdom of Arendelle. I am here to look for my parents since some captain said they were living in this city."

"Arendelle?" He said to himself as his free hand cupped his chin and his mind was in a moment of deep thinking, "I have heard of that word being used in the city, but I paid no attention to it. What is quite certain is that you are clearly referring to Captain Baranov, the officer who was in charge of the ship behind me."

Her eyes widened that he would have known about her people. "Wait, you know about Arendelle?"

Tom shook his head. "No, but Baranov most likely have in a passing word or two. He mentioned something about an Arendelle district in the city; however, I didn't take a look at it since our people have the pressing matter of bandits to contend with."

This place had an Arendelle district? "There are Arendellians living in this city? How is that possible?"

"I have to make inquiries about that. There are men here who hold more loyalty to Captain Baranov than myself and they are less likely to speak to me since one of my lieutenants drove him from the city," He replied before turning his head, "Even then, I would have a difficult time accepting your request given that one of your men promised to bring the captain and an item of important value to me. However, he never showed up to show his end of the deal."

Then the colonel spoke up, "This soldier, what was his name?"

"Artyom, I recall."

The princess had chills down her spine, realizing who it was, but then she turned her head to see the colonel's blood drained from his face. It was as if he had seen a ghost. "He's gone. Somehow he was brought into Anna's kingdom by a strange storm alongside Captain Baranov and a submarine reactor. He died trying to Anna out of the hands of bandits."

Tom's eyes focused hard on him. Perhaps it was why he was referred to as the cat? "That is quite unfortunate, but the reactor, where is it?"

"Baranov is bringing it here. Even though the man who would bring it to you is gone, apparently, the captain was willing to honor the man by the agreement you three established."

"Color me surprised," It was a small smile before his expression changed, "The captain and I have our disagreements with each other. He would rather endure weeks in his hideout, surrounded by bandits and mutants than hand it over to me."

Princess Anna decided to press the issue that meant so much to her. "Will this be enough to help me? I'm trying to look for my parents."

He nodded his head with slow approval. "Why don't you stay in the city for the time being? With the captain returning from his self-imposed exile, give me time to bring the message to the old guard who might know where the Arendellians are."