(A group of people armed with knives and arrows while wearing winter clothes surround Flare, Focus, and Shay, who have just arrived in Alaska. Focus glances around and grits his teeth at them, and both he and Flare take a fighting stance, ready to throw hands if needed. It’s then that the leader of the bandits steps up, cockily smirking as he holds his dagger tight.)

  Bandit Leader: (chuckling) Feeling lost?

  (Focus squints his eyes a little to analyze the leader of the bandits standing before him. He’s a man with very little facial hair and long white hair, wearing some heavy winter clothes on this cold night. Upon examining his appearance, Focus reacts with his trademark unamused expression and places his hands in his pockets, to Flare and Shay’s surprise. Upon seeing how unbothered he looks, the bandit’s smirk quickly wavers in bafflement.)

  Focus: (unamused) Wow. That’s a lot of commitment for a first impression.

  Bandit Leader: (baffled) You don’t look afraid.

  Focus: (deadpan) I’m trying to be, I swear. It’s just… not happening.

  Flare: (low whisper) What’re you doing?

  Focus: Hold up, lemme cook.

  Bandit Leader: (irritated) You think this is funny?

  Focus: No. That’s the problem.

  Shay: (murmuring) Ah, jaysus… he’s in that mood.

  Bandit Leader: (scowling) In case you haven’t noticed, punk, you three are surrounded. Now unless you’d like me to slit your throat where you stand, you better hand over all of your valuables.

  Focus: (glancing around lazily) Surrounded? Ohh, you mean the winter-themed cosplay!

  Bandit Leader: (faintly smirking) Think you’re being smart, huh?!

  Focus: (confused) Are you threatening us, or is this just your way of flirting?

  Bandit: (flustered) You call that flirting?!

  Focus: I mean… yeah? Although you’re coming off a little too strong for my liking. Sorry, ma’am, but you’re not really my type anyway.

  Bandit Leader: I’M A MAN!

  Focus: Oh. (glancing up and down at him) You sure?

  (Shay can no longer stifle his laughter, and he chuckles a bit at Focus’s sheer nonchalance, and Flare too giggles a little, while the leader of the bandits remains frozen in shock and confusion. So do the other bandits, who exchange glances in bafflement and then approach their leader.)

  Bandit 1A: Boss, is he serious?

  Bandit Leader: (raising his dagger at Focus, shouting) Do you not understand the danger you’re in?! You think you’re strong enough to mock us?! We’re feared in these lands! We’re the reason why no road is safe around here!

  Focus: (sarcastically) Yeah, yeah, and I’m sure the penguins tremble when you walk by.

  Bandit Leader: There are no penguins here!

  Focus: See? That’s how I know you’re lying about everything else too.

  Bandit Leader: You brat! (angrily, to the bandits) Surround them! Now!

  Focus: (deadpan, looking around) They already did. Congrats. Gold star. Now if you’re done, I’d like to know if there are any good diners around.

  (The leader of the bandits grits his teeth and immediately signals his men to engage. Some aim their arrows at the trio, and others tighten their grip on their daggers. Shay and Flare grit their teeth as they look around, while Focus remains ever so nonchalant, his hands still in his pockets. Suddenly, the archers get struck by a barrage of ice blasts that knocks them unconscious.)

  Bandit 1B: What the — ?!

  Bandit Leader: (horrified) Could it be… him?!

  (The other bandits get frozen in place when ice envelops their legs all of a sudden, and as their leader panickedly glances around and makes a run for it, he too gets frozen, his entire body enveloped with ice. Flare and Shay glance around in surprise, while Focus does so with subtle annoyance, and they all see a boy in his early teenage years standing over a plateau. The hand he extended at the bandits maintains its icy glow, but the effect quickly goes away. He’s got short white hair and blue eyes, wearing a blue winter jacket and gloves. He jumps off the plateau and meets up with the trio.)

  Ethan! The Ice Surge! He can generate ice with his bare hands, using it for offense, defense, and mobility. He can even freeze people in place! He barely passes as a teenager, but at the age of thirteen, he’s the real deal!

  Ethan: (amiably) You guys okay?

  Shay: Aye. (grinning) Cheers, lad.

  Focus: (bitterly) I got denied an opportunity to aura farm on a bunch of side characters, and it’s all your fault.

  Ethan: (letting out an anxious chuckle) Uh… what’re you talking about?

  Flare: So that ice… that was you?

  Ethan: (grinning, scratching his head) Yeah. (baffled) Though honestly, I thought you’d be more shocked by this, you know? Other people took time to get used to this whole thing.

  Flare: (grinning, forming a flame from her palm) Does that answer your question?

  (Ethan is surprised upon noticing that Flare’s got fire powers, and he stares at the flame she’s lit up on her palm in awe. He instinctively takes off the glove on one of his hands and forms a blast of ice on his palm as well, comparing it to Flare’s flame. The two cancel out their respective blasts and chuckle together.)

  Ethan: (grinning) Wow, I… didn’t think I’d see anyone else with powers and all! (awkwardly chuckling) I thought I was the only one!

  Focus: (deadpan) You’re in for a shock. Anyway, thanks for all the help. Though we could’ve handled it ourselves, you do deserve a bit of credit for saving us all the minimal effort.

  Ethan: (chuckling sheepishly) You’re welcome… I guess?

  Focus: So… you are…?

  Ethan: Oh, sorry I didn’t introduce myself earlier on! I’m — !

  Focus: (cutting him off, still unamused) Frost.

  Ethan: (raising an eyebrow) Frost?

  Focus: Icy?

  Ethan: Uh…

  Focus: Cold?

  Ethan: What’re you talking about?

  Focus: Zane?

  Ethan: No…?

  Focus: Reverse Zuko?

  Ethan: Who?

  Focus: Elsa?

  Ethan: Can you please just… let it go?

  Focus: (narrowing his eyes) You’re not helping your case.

  Ethan: I’m Ethan, okay?! Ethan!

  Focus: (blankly) Bummer. In any case… (introducing Shay) this is Shay, also known as Mr. Gallagher.

  Shay: (chuckling) Oi there, me lad!

  Focus: (introducing Flare next) This is Flare, also known as ‘Code Red With Legs’.

  Flare: (irritated) Not funny!

  Focus: And I’m Focus, also known as ‘him’.

  Ethan: (grinning amiably) Nice to meet you all! You’re not from around here, are you?

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  Focus: (unamused) How perceptive.

  Ethan: (glancing around) The storm will come anytime now. I could have you stay somewhere for the night. (smiling at them, friendly as ever) How does that sound?

  Shay: (chuckling heartedly) It’s grand of ya, lad.

  (Ethan nods at the trio with a smile, all of them firmly nodding back in response. The wind suddenly gets colder and a tad more intense, and seeing that, Ethan signals the trio to follow him, and they promptly do so. The bandits and their leader — all still frozen in place — see the quartet leaving them behind, to their horror.)

  Bandit Leader: (yelling) Hey, come back here! You can’t possibly just leave us here! Damn it! COME BACK!!!

  (A couple minutes later, Flare, Focus, Shay, and Ethan are still walking on this snowy path, the latter leading the way. The cold wind keeps blowing past them, a precursor to a storm. Focus has a grim expression on his face, apparently lost in thought.)

  Focus: (thinking to himself) This kid… he was rather surprised when he saw Flare’s power. It’s either that he’s a very smart liar… or that he genuinely has no prior experience with Surges other than his own. If so, then he wasn’t formerly affiliated with Aegis or the Sparks bounty hunter group, and given that only those two groups are experienced in Surge development, I can only assume one possible explanation, but that too is inconclusive. Could he be… a Surge Beacon?

  Flare: (to Ethan) Soooooo… for how long did you have that power?

  Ethan: (momentarily taken aback by the question, then chuckling sheepishly) Since I was s. (his voice only subtly less energetic) It just showed up all of a sudden, and back then, I was panicking, not gonna lie. Mom and Dad were here to help me through it… and everyone else too! I got better at it over time, and I’m trying to help out whenever I can with that power.

  Shay: (concerned) Ah, but that’s a fair bit o’ responsibility fer someone yer age, isn’t it now? Don’t ye reckon ye might be pushin’ yerself a wee bit too much?

  Ethan: (warmly) It’s okay, Mr. Gallagher. The people back at the camp, they’re… they’re really good people.

  Shay: (chuckling heartedly) Jus’ call me Shay, will ye?

  Focus: (internally) He’s hiding something. I sensed the faint shaking in his voice, as if that question stirred something inside him. I don’t want to assume the worst, especially when he’s so young and helpful, but… I don’t know.

  Ethan: (pointing at a camp in the distance) We’re here! Look!

  (Flare, Focus, and Shay glance ahead and find a small camp in the distance consisting of several large tents and huts, with several lanterns placed across the camp to light up the area amidst the cold night. A few minutes later, the storm finally forms, and the trio are inside Ethan’s house, his parents offering them dinner and warm tea.)

  Ethan: (sitting down to eat, to his parents) I was on my way back to the camp when I saw them getting surrounded by a bunch of bandits, so I dealt with the situation and took them in. They need somewhere to stay for the night.

  Ethan’s Father: I see. (warmly, to the trio) You can spend the night here.

  Shay: (grinning, sipping on a cup of tea) Cheers, lad.

  Ethan’s Mother: What’re you doing in Alaska anyway?

  Focus: (crossing his arms) Long story. We’ve got some stuff to take care of, and we’ll get to it in the morning. We appreciate your hospitality.

  Ethan: (concerned) Is there anything I can help with?

  Flare: (while eating a spoonful of rice) Nah, we’re fine.

  Focus: (giving her a deadpan side-eye) Don’t speak with your mouth full.

  Ethan’s Father: (chuckling heartedly) Why don’t you dig in?

  (Focus glances at Shay and Flare, who have already started having their dinner, the latter finishing up most of her meal, and he reluctantly eats a spoonful of rice, his expression still wary as he glances around at the others laughing and chatting. He’s especially wary about Ethan, his eyes narrowing as he glances at him. After they’re all done with their dinner, Focus and Shay sit down with Ethan’s parents while having their tea.)

  Shay: So where’s Ethan?

  Ethan’s Mother: He’s gone back to bed. It was getting late.

  Focus: Flare too went to sleep. Normally, she wouldn’t be so tired. (sighing deeply) In any case, I’d like to ask something… if you don’t mind.

  Ethan’s Father: Sure.

  Focus: Has there ever been an instance when Ethan… let’s say… lost control of his powers? You know what I mean, don’t you?

  Ethan’s Father: (frowning) I understand what you’re implying and… please don’t bring up this topic. I was there when he first awakened his powers, and… I don’t want him to lose control ever again.

  Ethan’s Mother: Regardless of his powers, he’s just a kid… and we’re trying our best to ease the burden on his shoulders. He’s a really kind person, always out there trying to help whenever he can, even when he doesn’t have to, and I don’t want him to push himself too hard. I… hope you understand.

  (Focus and Shay are taken aback upon hearing that, glancing at each other with soft frowns. After a while, Shay heads back to the guests room, seeing a travel bed prepared for him, and he promptly tucks himself in. Focus heads to Ethan’s room, which now has two travel beds ready for him and Flare. Both Ethan and Flare are already sound asleep, and Focus glances at the former with a frown, then he notices that the latter is not fully tucked in, most of her upper body left uncovered, to which he sighs deeply with a face palm.)

  Focus: (muttering) Can’t you at least tuck yourself in?

  (Focus slowly approaches her and gently pulls the blanket over her shoulder, properly tucking her in while being careful not to wake her up. Unbeknownst to him, he’s gazing at her for a tad too long, watching as she peacefully sleeps. He quickly turns away, gritting his teeth as a blush forms on his face. He glances at his trembling palm and then turns to Flare.)

  Focus: (internally) I can’t. The mission. Without the mission, I’m…

  (Focus turns back to his travel bed and tucks himself in, still grimacing and unable to shake off his anxiety and frustration. He forcefully closes his eyes and attempts to sleep, leaving a deafening silence in an otherwise peaceful room.)

  (Morning has come, and the storm that has been brewing through the night in Alaska has passed, replaced by a clear, sunny sky. Shay and Ethan are having breakfast with the latter’s parents, while Focus heads over to Ethan’s room while sipping on a warm cup of coffee, only to see that Flare still hasn’t woken up.)

  Focus: (sighing deeply, unamused) Wake up, Flare. It’s morning.

  Flare: (still tucked in, sleepily muttering) Go away.

  Focus: (with a face palm) We’ve got work to do. Get up.

  Flare: (groaning, softly muttering) I can’t. I’m stuck here.

  Focus: (annoyed) I don’t get it with you! How can you be so annoyingly energetic all the time except when I need you to be annoyingly energetic?!

  Flare: (quietly) If you want me to get up so badly… then spoil me.

  Focus: Wait, what?

  Flare: (finally getting loud again, still not getting up) I SAID SPOIL ME!

  Focus: (flustered) What do you mean ‘spoil me’?! You’re not five!

  Flare: I’m not getting up until you do it! Now spoil me like you never spoiled anyone!

  (Focus remains both perplexed and flustered, a large blush forming on his face, and Flare turns her back on him in her bed and crosses her arms with a small pouty face. Focus grits his teeth in sheer annoyance but then sighs deeply and tends his hand to Flare, forming the sweetest look on his face that he can possibly pull off.)

  Focus: (pulling off a deep, sweet voice, smiling softly) Get up here, kitty kitty.

  (Flare’s heart skips a beat upon hearing that, and a giant blush forms on her face. The sheer sweetness causes her to get off of her bed and roll around on the floor, hugging herself from sheer cuteness and giggling with a wide grin.)

  Flare: (giggling) How adorable! I feel like hugging myself! And that voice! So cuuuuuuute!

  (Focus’s sweet smile quickly turns into a flabbergasted, deeply perplexed expression as Flare continues her antics, and it gets even worse when Shay and Ethan walk in on them. They too react with bafflement upon seeing what’s going on, and Focus turns to them with equal amounts of confusion evident on his face. After a while, Flare, Focus, Shay, and Ethan continue their path uphill, the former two returning to their usual attire now that the weather has become much friendlier: Focus has his black tracksuit with white stripes on the side, and Flare has her sleeveless orange denim jacket above her sleeveless black top along with her orange shorts.)

  Ethan: So what’re you out here looking for anyway?

  Focus: We’re out on an investigation. Can’t give you the full details at the moment, but have you seen any sort of armed forces in the area? Any suspicious activity in general?

  Ethan: (placing a hand on his chin) Now that you mention it, I was sightseeing a while back, and I saw a bunch of masked soldiers patrolling the area. They were armed, and each of their masks had the same purple sign on them.

  Flare: (surprised) Really?

  Ethan: Yeah. I’ve been observing their behavior for a short period, and… they’ve always been patrolling different areas. I just wanted to make sure they weren’t planning to hurt anyone, that’s all, and I don’t think they noticed me.

  Shay: Or maybe they did, an’ just didn’t pay heed at all.

  Ethan: The point is… it didn’t look like they had any sort of urgent business going on. They were waiting for something… or someone to show up. If you guys are after them, then I’m guessing that they’ve been waiting for you all this time.

  Focus: Is that so? This checks out. (muttering almost to himself) It was obvious that the culprit planned for this encounter. The way Sylvia so readily gave away this information… that was part of his plan. He’s not afraid of the confrontation. He’s waiting for it. (to Ethan) Did those soldiers gather together somewhere? Like, some sort of base?

  Ethan: Yeah, I managed to locate their base. It’s not far off from here.

  Focus: Can you take us there?

  Ethan: Sure thing.

  (Ethan signals Flare, Focus, and Shay to follow him as he continues walking uphill, and they firmly nod, following his lead. Little do they know that a masked soldier is watching them from afar, levitating in the sky as if watching over the entire surrounding area. Through his mask, it’s none other than Infinity — wearing his black cloak and purple infinity mask — watching back at his base, finally getting to see that Flare and Focus have arrived at Alaska.)

  Infinity: (his voice warped under the mask) There they are. It sure took them long enough. (briefly pausing, as if noticing something) Oh, I see we’ve got more visitors.

  (He switches to the perspective of several other hidden masked soldiers, who watch as both Aegis and Ironclad Response Unit soldiers assume their positions, glancing at the base at the horizon and within sight of it. Elsewhere, Proxy, Mistrick, Pulse, and Hunter glance at the base, ready to begin their mission: Proxy, a girl at about twelve years of age with bright purple hair tied into a single, short braid, a form-fitting black hoodie with pants, and purple pupils underneath her small, futuristic, rectangular glasses; Mistrick, a sixteen-year old girl with silver hair tied into a ponytail and black eyes wearing a half-sleeved black crop top with black sports pants; Pulse, a sixteen-year old girl with short black hair and green eyes wearing a black operative outfit; and Hunter, an adult man with shoulder-length black hair and black eyes, wearing a dark blazer over a black sleeved shirt, his expression firm and unwavering while carrying two guns.)

  Hunter: (firmly) There it is.

  (Infinity switches to another view of the base, seeing Boltix, Jackpot, Gauntlet, and Jax getting ready as well: Boltix, a sixteen-year old boy with blue and yellow spiky hair and yellow eyes wearing a black leather jacket over a white shirt with a lighting symbol; Jackpot, a sixteen-year old boy with orange hair tied into a bun and hazel eyes wearing a red hoodie with a black cap and a pot permanently attached to his back; Gauntlet, a young man with straight black hair and a bit of facial hair with hazel eyes, wearing a sleek grey jacket underneath a plain black shirt, with futuristic shoes and his new pair of gauntlets; and finally Jax, a seventeen-year old boy wearing merely a form-fitting white t-shirt and sports pants with green pupils and neat hazel hair. As Infinity continues examining the surrounding area, a mysterious, hooded figure dressed in black with its face obscured by a glowing neon red symbol walks in, and the former turns to face him.)

  Hollow: They’re here.

  Infinity: (firmly) It’s time. You know what to do… Hollow.