08/28/3122 YDB – August 28^th, 3122

Up high in the mountains of Arcadia where snow covered the area even during the summer months, there was a town. It was a small, simple town, the type of place where everyone knew everyone, and whenever news was to arrive in town, it spread quickly.

This small quaint town up in the cold was currently going through one of the worst summer blizzards of recent years. Temperatures were several degrees below freezing, and a mixture of snow and hail pelted down onto the mountains.

Even the tough mountaineers who lived in this climate all their lives didn’t dare leave their homes for the past couple of days of snow unless necessary. Despite the dangerous storms, the buildings here were built sturdy and it was unlikely that any damage would occur as long as everyone stayed indoors.

This at least had a benefit for the local emergency services as they could simply stay in their offices and relax. Worry about any problems after the storm was over, just enjoy their own quiet time for now.

Within the local precinct, all the officers on duty were currently huddling among themselves next to their fireplace discussing their current missing person.

“Where in the world is that kid?” One of the officers named Mac asked.

“Who are you talking about?” Officer Barkley asked having just finished locking up the snowmobiles outside and returned back into the building, “Damn it’s cold!” Barkley cursed as he took off his snow-covered winter gear.

“Did you see the kid out there?” Another officer Charles asked.

“Who? The city boy? He’s not back in his home?” Barkley asked as he sat near the fire to warm himself up.

“No, he said something about catching a suspect or something?” Officer Bob asked.

“When was that?” Mac asked as he took a sip of his coffee.

“Right before the storm hit.” Sheriff Marge said leaving her office and approaching the group.

“What? Are saying that he’s out in the mountains?” Mac chuckled.

“He radioed in yesterday saying that he was going near the peaks and that he would be radio silent from there on out. So if he was to be believed, yes.” Sheriff Marge said with a shrug.

“In the middle of the storm? How old is he? Sixteen? He have some sort of death wish? That’s Yeti territory up there.” Barkley scoffed.

“Well he’s one of them fancy city boy officers in training, isn’t he? An Arcadian Defence agent? Maybe he got overconfident. They are said to be the toughest of the tough.” Charles said.

“Should we go out to find him?” Bob asked.

“We don’t know where he is and in the middle of this storm it would be suicide. We’ll only be able to search once things settle.” Sheriff Marge said before muttering, “Kid was so small. Don’t think he’ll do well in this storm. If we’re lucky, he’ll be holed up in a bivouac when we find him.”

“If we don’t?” Barkley asked.

“Then we’ll have to call the AGDF and report him missing.” Sheriff Marge said sternly.

“What was the kid’s name again?” Mac asked after a moment of awkward silence.

“Archer Griffen.” Bob said.

“That’s a weird name.” Mac said just as the door to the outside swung itself open.

All the officers inside the precinct turned around in shock as they saw what caused the cold air to billow in. Entering through the door was a smaller man covered from head to toe in winter gear, and strapped onto his back was a massive man who looked semi-lucid.

The man who entered the room and turned and closed the door. Swivelling back to the officers he removed his snow goggles and face cover to reveal a jovial smile as he looked at them, it was Archer Griffen. He straightened out his spiky crewcut that had been flattened due to his hood.

“Hello Sheriff Marge. I found him.” Archer said as he gave a salute while the man behind him groaned out.

“The holding cells are on the left, right?” Archer said as he walked over to the holding cells with his snowshoes to the empty holding cells.

“F-f-f-five daysss. It’s finally over.” The man moaned out as he was being carried.

“Here you go.” Archer said as the five-foot-six boy effortlessly tossed the nearly seven-foot man into the cell, “That’ll teach you to try and hunt without a valid license.”

Shutting the cell door behind him and locking it, he walked his way over to Sheriff Marge who was looking cross. Archer greeted his host kindly.

“Is something the matter ma’am?” Archer asked concerned at her expression.

“What is this?” She said sternly.

“I caught the suspect ma’am.” Archer reported.

“You’ve been gone for the past two days travelling through the mountains during one of the worst blizzards in years to arrest someone over paperwork? Do you know how much danger you put the two of you in?” Sheriff Marge asked incredulously. The rest of the group looked to Archer who continued his calm demeanour.

“Oh, yes ma’am.” Archer said nodding his head, “I am well aware of Leonard Howitzer Strauss, a millionaire big game hunter who is wanted across the world for his illegal hunts of endangered and sacred wildlife.”

“Strauss? As in the Huntsman Strauss? Famed psycho hunter? The one that snuck into the country three weeks ago?” Mac said stunned.

“I first caught wind of him when a camera caught his face in a gas station a few hundred kilometres down south. I’m assuming he stopped for a simple resupply and didn’t think anyone would notice his presence.” Archer said continuing his report.

“Why is a supervillain here?” Sherrif Marge asked currently floored by this sudden information.

“The endangered species of carnok rock eagles mate during the summer up here in the mountains as you already know.” Archer continued to explain as if he was giving a presentation, “In the past they were fearsome creatures that ruled the mountains and have been hunted to near extinction because of that. Their feathers are prized for their use for fletching arrows and Strauss was prepared to hunt down the pair residing in this area.”

“So that’s why you’re here?” Officer Bob asked.

“Yes. After indication of Leonard Strauss being in the country a few provincial officers attempted to arrest him a couple weeks ago and were unfortunately killed in the line of duty. I was then sent after him, caught him, and stripped him of all dangerous equipment.” Archer said finishing his report.

“You caught the supervillain. By yourself?” Sheriff Marge said after a long pause of silence.

“Yes. We AGDF tend to be a peculiar bunch. I will be taking him to be extradited out of the country tomorrow. I have already contacted my superiors and you should be receiving a call soon.” Archer said and on cue, the phone rang.

Sheriff looked at the phone and then back at the politely smiling Archer before slowly picking up the phone, “Yes.” She said still in shock, “Your agent is here with Strauss. Yes. Thank you.”

***