"Juliana- there's an American representative requesting an audience with you. He says it's important," Juliana looked up to Chase's father approaching. "The President just appointed him Ambassador to Arcana. You'll be seeing a lot more of him in the future, so as one of your High Generals, my professional advice is to go meet him. See what he's about." 

After her big revelation, the last thing Juliana wanted to do was go back out into the hall. She didn't want to risk catching a glimpse of Roy... she didn't think she was emotionally ready to see him and keep her composure. Even though she'd done what she presumed was the 'right thing,' it had taken everything out of her. It made her feel like a traitor on the basest level, and she couldn't bring herself to terms with it. 

Yet, politically speaking, Lord Hewkin was absolutely right. 

"Alright. I'll go talk to him." Juliana followed Lord Hewkin out of the back hallway she was waiting in, keeping her gaze focused on the path ahead of her as she actively blocked out the commotion around her. After what felt like an eternity, the pair arrived at the door to a small, private conference room. Juliana looked at Lord Hewkin for reassurance, but he shook his head, walking away. 

"This is all you." 

Juliana took in a deep breath, staring at the door and wondering whether it would be more appropriate to knock or let herself in. That question was soon answered for her. The door opened from the inside, revealing the face of the same American representative who had questioned her during her speech. He towered over her at well over six feet tall, but his expression wasn't quite as accusatory as it had been earlier. "Please, come in," he said in a deep, gruff voice that wasted no words. 

Juliana followed him into the room to see that he wasn't alone. A woman who looked a few years older than her sat cross-legged in a sturdy wooden chair. Though she knew it could be perceived as rude, Juliana couldn't stop herself from staring at her unusual outfit. The woman wore a sky blue jumpsuit with white plating and heavy white combat boots- it looked a lot like a bulkier version of a Project PROB suit. Her paper-white skin and hair matched the color of her suit, and she gazed coolly at Juliana with her exquisite light blue eyes. 

"I'm Ambassador Alan Nelson. I just received my appointment to your country- I'll be relocating to the American embassy in Arcana early next year," the man spoke, bringing Juliana's attention back to him as the pair sat down in chairs across from each other. "After... what's happened, I expect relations between our countries to be very different from now on. So, to ease the transition, I've brought a special guest who might be a little more in tune with the situation than I am. Queen Juliana, this is Astrid Bennett." 

"But people call me Winterbird," Astrid smiled, reaching out to shake Juliana's hand. "You know... like how you're the Crimson Angel." 

Juliana froze in place, looking from Astrid's suit to her face. She must've looked awfully confused, because Nelson jumped in. "Agent Winterbird works at the highest levels of the American military, taking on missions that would be too high-risk for anyone else. You didn't think you were the only country that did this sort of thing, did you? You were, however, the one to lay out a call to action. You asked if we would join us, and the answer- at least America's answer- is" 

"Yes! The answer is yes," Astrid smiled enthusiastically. "The moment I first saw Project PROB on TV - the moment I knew I wasn't alone - I wanted to work with you. And now that I know more about you and your mission, and my government's ready to have an open dialogue about a long-term collaboration... I'm very interested." 

"That sounds great!" Juliana had never considered the possibility of Project PROB working with anyone other than the four original members, let alone someone from another country. But then again, Nelson was right. She had made a call to action. And she was getting a response. 

"So, Astrid... what's your story?" 

"I've always known I was different. I mean- there's the albinism, obviously- but there were more subtle things as well. I've never burned my hand on the stove, or needed a coat in the winter. But I didn't take much note of it until my accident." 

"Your accident?" Juliana asked warily. The Order's warriors had chosen their lives of danger and sacrifice, and it scared her to think that perhaps, their American counterpart hadn't. 

"Well, I was a little girl- about eight or nine. I'd gone ice skating with my dad up north; the lake was pretty much frozen solid, so he figured it was safe. But I wandered a little too far out and I... I fell and I went under the ice. I don't remember exactly what happened, but I remember expecting it to be freezing and then it... wasn't. I was struggling to breathe, I was scared out of my mind, but I wasn't cold. In the hospital, they said my body temperature was twenty degrees below normal. According to my vitals, I should've been dead, but I was perfectly fine. Better than fine, actually. Suddenly, I had all this energy- I was practically running up the walls- until it started to happen." 

"Until... what started to happen?" 

"This." Astrid took off her white glove and grabbed a pencil resting on the table in the middle of the room. Juliana watched it, transfixed, as veins of ice ran up the tip, closing over the lead until it was fully crystallized. Astrid squeezed the ice pencil and it shattered into a thousand pieces, splattering across the carpet as it melted. "I'm a walking freezer. Everything I touch turns to ice," Astrid explained as she cautiously replaced her glove. "This suit's the only thing that's stopping me from freezing this entire building right now. The government wanted to kill me when they found out what I could do, but my dad was a Thornton Tech engineer. He built the suit, showed them I could control my power, harness it. So I've spent the past ten-ish years in Iraq and Afghanistan, fighting my country's battles. Until you showed me I could fight my own." 

"Fighting your country's battles, huh?" Juliana smiled sympathetically. "Sounds familiar."

"I'm sure there's more of us around the world. People with... abilities," Astrid continued. "You and Project PROB have shown us that we don't have to hide anymore, and that's important to us. That's why I came halfway around the world to meet you."

"I'm glad you feel that way, but I'm sure there are a lot of people who are still skeptical," Juliana added, her eyes involuntarily darting at Nelson. "We still have a lot to prove, but I think an international collaboration would certainly put us on the right path. Winterbird... welcome to the Order of Chance." 

.....................

How can you have a superhero book without at least one elemental? What do you guys think of ice-wielding Astrid?