Once the teleporter had been opened, the expedition made up of the Spartan Order and OSKOM had their forces reduced to mere recon elements. Almost everyone was gone; however, Uhlman remained in his new post on the outskirts of Vladivostok. He - and those who remained - hid in the ruins as part of a cohesive network of listening posts that kept track of the various bandit crews that lurked within the ancient city. It reminded him of the church back in Moscow, the only surface outpost that one could breathe in relative safety while the wind howled radiation and chemicals. He now envied that quiet place since it didn't have to deal with armies of mosquitos and the small spider bugs that found a way into his living space.
The career soldier scanned the surrounding land, from the flooded streets to the collapsed Soviet apartments, with his binoculars while sitting comfortably in a sofa chair that was conveniently placed underneath the shade. The chatter from the enemy communications revealed the disunity amongst their kind. Trust amongst cutthroats was an impossible existence and so they fell into petty gang wars on what kind of loot they should have received or who committed which slights. Fortunately, these stories gave him a bit of suspense to kill the boredom that would creep into his shifts.
A Polis Ranger climbed a ladder onto his floor with a radio on his backpack as he raised his helmet's armored mask. He quickly placed his equipment on the floor with urgency in his voice. "Do you have the time? You might want to hear this."
Uhlman lowered his pair of binoculars and looked at him while the dials on the radio were adjusted. As the volume was increased, he heard a series of code words that seemed to be spoken onto the channel with. The problem was that signal intelligence was something way beyond his expertise. "Tomlin, what exactly am I hearing."
"You hear those code words?" He pointed out, "Only the Order uses them and I'm picking them up on the long-range. It could be a complete coincidence that the bad guys are using it, but every time I listen in, the signal is getting stronger every day."
He noted the discrepancy and felt that it was no coincidence that someone was using it. Colonel Mel'nikove had to be told about it; however, there was a concern that there was some motive behind it. There was little he could do about it other than listen in and hope a bit of patience would provide him some fruitful insight into why this was happening.
"Sir?"
"Keep a close eye on this frequency and see if you can learn anything from this," The senior soldier replied, "Part of me thinks that this is some kind of ruse to catch radio jockeys off-guard."
The radio operator nodded his head to acknowledge his orders. "Understood, I'll send you my logbook when I have something."
The teleporter had been fixed and the Baron intended to make his entrance into that strange world that Saul had scouted out. However, he would not repeat the same tactic of kidnapping the royals as before, knowing full well of their reprisal. Instead, he would bide his time gathering his men in the service of a benefactor who was willing to backstab his fellows. While he waited for promising developments on his throne, he looked to the masked gangster and the radio behind him. "Contact the search team for that witch. I need to know if they killed him."
His operator quickly turned the dials and pushed the buttons on the radio before the sound of static echoed throughout the room. "Yes, base?"
"Have you caught Giul yet?"
"Well boss, we think we cornered the bitch, but we have a slight problem."
The Baron looked at the radio with a hardened stare. "What kind of problem?"
"She managed to free a group of slaves from the salvaging operation from one of the ships and attacked nearby outpost full of our guys. Giul armed them."
"I give you more men than the last guy and you still haven't given me results," He had every right to be furious at his man. This was a woman that needed to be eliminated as much as possible before she undermined his right to rule in the eyes of the slaves, "If you can't salvage the slaves, kill them. I'll compensate whoever is in charge of salvage. Until then, come back to me with her head or don't come back at all."
He gave the radio operator a gesture with a flick of his hand to turn the machine off lest he beat it with his cane. Then he rose from his seat of power and made his way to a nearby balcony atop of a palace of pleasure and wealth. Out in the distance was the sands of what was once the Caspian Sea, but it was now a wasteland full of monsters. The Baron had no intention of simply being a ruler of such ever since he bit into the forbidden fruit that showed him the world beyond.
A mere prince who was eager for power, but needed his assistance to make up for the lack of firepower to match those soldiers. If he could get into his good graces, the Baron could make his nickname into a real title for himself. Should the opportunity arise, he could dispatch the mere boy and surpass him with his men taking over the best land and women into his rule.
The days of the wasteland were coming to an end and he would make sure that his army would make it out alive enough to cement his authority. A new day was coming, not just for himself, but for a civilization of humanity as a whole. He just had to be there before anyone else does as it would give him the power to rewrite history as he knew it and erase the traces of his enemies into obscurity.
He put the time of daydreaming to an end and returned to his throne. There was work to be done.
The train had arrived in the valley and its beauty was unmatched. It was indeed one of the few locations in this world that had not been touched by the bombs. Unfortunately, the train full of soldiers and civilians was not there for sightseeing. A small team of soldiers had been waiting by the railings as they slowly reached the dam. As the train began to slow down to a halt, Pavel jumped off and began to lead the crew of comrades from the interstations of the Metro to those from beyond Moscow.
Dozens of men began to search and scour the remains of the cars and crates that were left abandoned since the days of the bomb. In another place and another time, looting the dead might have been looked down upon, but times change when one must do something to survive. However, Pavel had no intention to focus his full attention on the dam's treasures. What truly worried him was the hole pouring out water into the valley. He looked below to see a green misty glow cover a building close to the dam.
There was something wrong and he had to check the other side of the dam. He brushed past the communists and the Nazis, only to reach the opposite end and find a sea of radiation before him. "That is terrifying."
Someone walked up to him and the communist officer looked over his shoulder to find Artyom accompanying him. "What's wrong?"
"That," He pointed at the glowing waters, "Maybe we shouldn't have gone here? The dam is leaking water and if it breaks, the radiation will wipe out this entire valley if we stay here."
"It is only temporary, comrade," The Polis Ranger replied as their Geiger counters ticked the more they exposed themselves, "We stay until Winter is over and then we move on."
Pavel was not assured by those words as he grabbed him by the shoulder. "Are you sure? This is radiation we're talking about. A single sneeze from the weather and this place will come crashing down on us."
Both men stared at each other, knowing that they had different opinions of what should be done. "You have to trust me on this. The Dark Ones wouldn't consider giving me a hint if it meant I got killed."
It was hard to take his word and it made the officer incredibly uncomfortable about the good faith of such creatures. "I don't know. These people that are with us are not accustomed to this kind of risks. No one wants their child to be this close to the radiation."
Artyom lowered his head as if he was acknowledging his companion's concerns. "I know, but where could we go? The last thing I want is to lead these people to their deaths."
They were both silent as they waited for a good response for his decision-making. Suddenly, one of the soldiers shouted to the top of his lungs. "There's a settlement out there!"
The duo switched sides as they brandished binoculars and scanned the valley's landscape for any signs of human habitation. Rivers full of freshwater were valuable and it would not be out of place for people to settle down and drink well. Then they saw a small village built into a cliffside overlooking a small beachhead that led into a palisade protecting its people. "I'll be damned."
"It's not the only one out there," Artyom stated, "Look across the river."
Pavel shifted his gaze on the opposite side of the river, only to find a collection of riverboats and barges parked on the ground, waiting for deployment. Not far from the marshes, there were several campfires and tents gathered. Figures moved in-between, but it was quite clear that inhabitants were surviving in the wild. "So, what are we going to do? Should we at least make contact with the locals and see what dangers they have?"
"We can probably afford a nightly reconnaissance and hope they're friendly enough not to shoot us."
"Are you sure it's worth taking a bullet?" He wondered, "Shoot first and ask questions later is something most people would adhere to these days."
"It depends on how we approach it," The young man replied, "I can make my way around with a pair of night-vision goggles. Perhaps they're simple traders."
It seemed wrong to get a closer look without any assurance on their safety, but the communist had his ways. He reached for his radio and called for those on the train, "Hey, can we get a sniper team up here?"
The peacefulness of the royal garden was a great scene for a fine dinner between a queen and her prince. It had been a quiet meal between the two, but it was quite clear their relationship had been changing into something more. Elsa cut down a small piece of meat from her plate and ate the piece with delight. At the same time, Hans laughed to himself inviting a response from her majesty. "What?"
"I do not know what it is, but the way you eat is an attraction of itself," She could not help herself from a smile, "It would be better if you washed it down with a drink."
Her eyes shifted from her plate and towards the glass of red wine to the right. It hadn't been touched ever since they began eating; however, the queen was reluctant to be accustomed to fermented drink.
"What is wrong?"
"It is my first drink," She answered, "Don't know how it will taste."
He smiled. "How can you tell that it will be a horrible experience if you do not try? A simple sip will do and if you are unsure, we can drink together and you can tell me how you feel. Suffering in the company you prefer tends to minimize the shock."
Elsa slowly reached for her glass and pulled it close as her love did the same. His confidence helped as they were ready to drink; however, it appeared he was preparing for a toast when he stood up from his seat.
"To your first drink."
They gestured their drinks in the air and a moment later they drank to her well-being. She savored the flavor of the dark sweetness that evoked emotion from her thoughts. Prince Hans was right about that sentiment where the ills of the world can be overcome through friendship. As she put down her drink, he walked over to her side of the table and gave out his hand. "What is this?"
"Shall we have this dance?" He asked cordially as he gazed towards the sky, "The stars seemed to align on this night and it would be a shame to waste the opportunity."
"Of course, how can I not dance with you?"
When the queen rose from her seat, the garden became their ballroom as the uneven grass troubled the duo from enjoying their evening. Yet, Elsa took the quick second to let her powers unwind to make a flat dance floor for both royals. With each step, they rotated in a circle and graced each other with perfection. For the bliss that came underneath the moonlight, the dance was somehow different from the prince.
She should be enjoying the night, but all it did was remind her of the Caspian and Artyom's earnest tries. Although the place where it took place did not have the same level of beauty as the royal garden, the Russian showed her an honest heart who simply wanted to do more than be a soldier of the apocalypse. The queen began to slow her pace down before the prince held her close. "What is wrong? Do you have something on your mind?"
Elsa considered what she should say, but let her thoughts in the back of her mind. "I do not know. It is as if the mood does not move me enough to try."
"Perhaps there is a way to motivate us to enjoy this personal time together on this earth?"
She was confused by the meaning of those words as he leaned in close. Her lips quivered and her breath was taken away by a tender kiss, which evoked strange feelings in the same way the glass of red wine did for her thirst. The temptation to enjoy every second of this moment had almost overtaken her; however, that fateful day at the North Mountain had forced her to break away. Kristoff's words about the prince's intentions invoked a strong reaction for her.
"Elsa?" He asked, "You've been acting strangely."
The queen needed to maintain some degree of the reason for her behavior. "What are we doing? I understand that we love each other, but it seems like we're moving so quickly."
His hand reached for hers, comforting her fears. "I understand. Maybe I was a bit eager to express it in such a manner, but forgive me if I should have known better."
"It is not your fault," She smiled as she lowered her head to give her a bit of time to think, "It takes much for me to enjoy the things in life."
"Do you need some alone time?"
The offer was necessary. "Yes, I truly do."
Prince Hans took a few steps back as he maintained his grip on her glove before bowing forward to leave a kiss on her hand. "Than I shall adhere to my dear's wishes."
Soon after, the young prince made his way into the castle, leaving her alone to think about the future. What if Kristoff was right about her significant other? What if this was all a ruse to try and take her throne? She wanted to deny its plausibility; however, the thought of her sister going missing felt like a line had been crossed. Her only family had been threatened and if all of this was true, why did he express his love for her?
She never got the time to contemplate those thoughts as Kai and Gerda had entered the garden with haste. It seemed odd that they were in such a hurry, but when they approached her, they slowed down and regained their regal professionalism as the castle servants. Both bowed before her as royal respect demanded, but the man was the one who would speak. "Your majesty, the servants and I have a surprise waiting for you in the courtyard.
"Is it so important that I must see it for myself?" The queen wondered.
He nodded his head. "Yes, your grace."
"Please follow us, dear," Gerda stated, "It is of utmost importance."
Elsa did not hesitate to follow as they quickly transitioned from the garden's confines and through the castle. The hallways were always full of suits of armor, the kitchen continued to smell of warm chocolates, and the main lobby remained empty of visitors as usual. Yet, her heart churned as they made their way towards the doors to the courtyard. The anticipation of what she may find felt far more comfortable than the kiss of a handsome prince willing to love her.
Olaf stood at the double doors, his eyes cracking open to see outside. Then he turned around and smiled upon seeing her. "Elsa! You got surprise company."
She was taken aback that her childhood friend was also in on this as well. "You know about this as well?"
"Yeah," His hand pointed outside, "Anna gave me a call saying she's just arrived from the other world."
"What is this all about?"
The servants swung the doors opened and revealed what lay outside. As she adjusted her eyes back to the night, a collection of people were being brought into the courtyard. It looked like they were the Russian civilians that were taking refuge in her kingdom, but she noticed a familiar insignia that was embroidered into the clothes of these strangers. She stepped forward to take a closer look; however, her stride did not go unnoticed as they turned their full attention towards the queen of Arendelle. They did not meet her in the same way the Russians would be in awe of her, rather, they were enamored by her very presence alone. As she got a clearer view of the symbols, it was shocking to find the colors and the emblems of Arendelle on their clothes.
A familiar black and green could be seen among the crowd before recognizing Anna stepping out from the sea of people and lowering her hood. "Elsa, I'm back!" They immediately embraced each other in a hug before the conversation would start, "You have no idea how much this makes me happy to show you."
"Show me what?" The queen wondered, "No one is telling me anything."
A man stepped forward from the crowd and took off his headwear, just to bow before them. The act started with a few people and then it exponentially grew with every man or woman bowing and kneeling. However, only two remained as they walked past those who paid the girls their respect. Their disheveled appearances did not help Elsa recognize them, but the moonlight did most of its work to show two long-lost souls that were thought gone. Her mind soon clicked and revealed the people who let out faint smiles for the soul of their loved one.
"Mama, Papa?"
It had been a long time since they had spoken, but it was the mother who decided to act as all four of the royals hugged each other once more. What was broken, had been reunited after all of these years. The pent-up emotions were finally let loose as Queen Elsa had frozen teardrops coming out from her eyes.
When the sun had rested and the darkness began to swallow the valley whole, the reconnaissance began. Artyom and Pavel were fortunate enough to find a lost boat that had drifted ashore after their descent towards lower ground. As the communist paddled the boat, the tide of the river carried them to the other side. It would take much more effort to return to the train, but the Polis Ranger was confident that they could return to the others.
They got closer to the shores of the camp; however, Pavel shifted their transport to the left side where a marsh was present. There were enough reeds to hide their advance but to also park their boat safely. The Red's radio crackled a few beeps before he spoke. "Sniper teams, do you see us?"
A minute passed before they heard a response. "Yes. Providing overwatch as tasked. If it leads into a shoot-out, we'll do everything we can to provide covering fire. We just have one slight problem."
"What would that be, chuvak?"
"Our scopes cannot be adjusted that far. Do not expect accuracy from our position."
Artyom couldn't help himself from laughing quietly at the absurdity of the situation. "If we're screaming on the radio, they'll know we're taking fire."
Pavel continued. "We'll let you know if you're shooting us."
The boat stopped to a halt upon touching land, inviting the Polis Ranger to dismount and lower his night-vision goggles over his eyes. "Wish me luck."
"We have all night so get as much information as you can."
He navigated through the reeds until they were no longer in his sight. As he quietly crept closer, the moving figures and their dwellings were much clearer than before. What had also helped was the shadows giving him the freedom of movement to sneak through without earning the notice of the strangers.
Conversations shifted between the state of camp and how many barracks were coming in for a raid. The possibility that these strangers had peaceful intentions was gone and now he was worried that perhaps bringing the train to this valley was a mistake. Yet, Artyom continued to listen in on their daily lives, but each man seemed to reveal why they were here. There was an old man who spoke of beautiful women that lived and bathed in this valley from a few sightings. That was why they were here - to make sex slaves out of the innocents.
If they had any proper sentries up, he would have been punished for staying for so long. What caught his attention was a mention of a prisoner in their care. Curious, he sought for a likely place where one could put a prisoner. The problem was that he needed to find someone willing to show him the way and so he had to wait for people to switch out. Upon hearing a mention of someone who was irritated to guard a pioneer, his body was revitalized to follow the man to the whereabouts of this person.
The prisoner's location was further from the main camp, where a lone individual watched over a ragged man who was tied up to a wooden post. When the shift was switched, the new guard took the moment to put aside his weapon and begin punching the helpless soul in the darkness. Artyom rushed to his aid as he brandished his trench knife. He grabbed the raider by his shoulder, who was taken by surprise just before the brass knuckles had punted him into unconsciousness.
When the man fell to the ground, the prisoner looked up and was speechless on the event that happened to him. "Who are you?"
"A friend," He answered as he began to cut through the rope, "Follow me. There is a boat that will lead you out of here."
He tried to push himself off the ground, but his strength gave in. Realizing the man's treatment from the bandits did little to improve his health, Artyom pulled him up and rested his arm around his shoulder as he escorted the stranger towards the exfil. His charge provoked groans from his weakened body, but hopefully, the raiders wouldn't have noticed someone with their prisoner was bypassing them.
It almost felt like they were in the clear; however, the sound of alarms had sprung the camp to live in search of its intruder. They probably found the body he left behind, but it was too late to rectify that problem. Rather he hastened his pace as he returned to the safety of the reeds while his boots splashed in the water.
Pavel's gaze had jumped upon seeing him. Then he saw the stranger being carried into the boat. "Where should we go?"
Once the man was laid into the boat, Artyom climbed in. "Anywhere, but here. Let's go."
The communist quickly began to paddle the water as the Polis Ranger hoped the tide would spring them away. At the same time, shining lights were getting closer as the raiders intensified their search. Their flashlights flickered through the reeds while the boat was further away from its assailants. Yet, the distance was not enough to save them when a single bandit shinned his light on him.
Bullets whizzed overhead and found their mark on the unlucky man, his death only brought more attention to themselves as the crackling sniper rifles continued to the bandits from following them. Someone shouted from the camp, loud enough for the soldier to hear, "Cripple those fuckers, I want to skin them me!"
More search for their whereabouts; however, the sniper support was not enough to deter a large number of men from storming through the reeds. As they poured out from the shore, knee-deep in water, Artyom lined his assault rifle towards one of them and switched his fire mode to semi-auto with a flick of his thumb. He fired away, but his focus was on accuracy than suppression with each bullet killing the assailants while conserving ammunition. "Could you paddle faster?"
The boat's paddler sped up his efforts. "It's a lot harder when you're against the current."
Their unnamed passenger began to speak up with his throat being so coarse. "Let the current guide you, I can help you once we reach the other side."
"We'll be far from the train if we do."
"Yes, but the bandits won't find us if you do."
Pavel began to shift the boat in a way that would speed them up. "I'll take your word for it. Pray it doesn't get us killed."
When they distanced themselves away from the shoreline, nature began to take its course on the three souls who would be lost to the wild.