08/28/3122 YDB – August 29^th, 3122

After finishing his report for the AGDF Archer Griffen returned back to the WDO and laid in his bed reading a recently published novel by his favourite horror novelist. It was a story about a group of college students lost in the woods and slowly their numbers were being whittled down one by one through mysterious forces. It was an interesting read.

            While officially he was an Acadian Global Defence Force recruit, unofficially he was part of the WDO as a hero in training, what was once considered to be the greatest league of superheroes. These days it was far less popular and the number of members had dwindled greatly.

“Hey there Archer! I knew you would be hiding in your room after coming back.” A voice called out, entering Archer’s room without knocking. It was Anderson Flash, a fellow WDO in training.

“I’m resting. I was up in the mountains of Arcadia. It was freezing.” Archer replied not looking up from his book.

“Weren’t you born there? Shouldn’t you be used to the weather?” Anderson said with a grin. He was six-foot-four, with long curly brown hair that had been tied up into a ponytail, and his muscles popped out in contrast to the colours of his brightly coloured Hawaiian shirt and shorts. In contrast to Archer’s babyface, he had a fully trimmed beard adorned on his face. It also helped that he was three years older than Archer.

“I wasn’t born up in the mountains.” Archer said dismissively as he finished reading his chapter and put a bookmark into where he was at and closed the book.

“Well from the reports it sounded like you were. Did you really hunt the big game hunter for three days?” Anderson asked as he walked over to Archer’s mini fridge and dug out a can of Archer’s lemon iced tea stash.

“Five days actually.” Archer said with a casual shrug.

“Really now?”

“What’s happening? Are we listening to Archer brag again?” Another voice said from the doorway. It was the face of the new generation of WDO heroes, Zachery Moore. He had a bright friendly smile on his face with sparkling blue eyes and his well-kept, combed-over blonde hair.

“I’m not bragging. He just asked for details over the last mission.” Archer said.

“So bragging.” Zach joked which caused a visible roll of the eyes from Archer, which in reaction got a few laughs from the other two.

“How did you catch the psycho hunter anyway? Heard you stalked him?” Zach asked.

“Something like that.” Archer said giving a small nod, “Once he killed the two local officers, he left enough hints for me to follow. I was then able to isolate him and keep him away from other civilians. I got lucky and he was in the middle of a resupply when he was forced to run.”

“You starved the man for five days?” Anderson said with a laugh.

“He still had the ability to hunt so I had to keep hounding on him. I forced him up the mountains earlier than he wanted and I stayed at a town while waiting.”

“How was fighting a poor, hungry, and frostbitten man?” Zach asked.

“Oh, rather easy.” Archer said which got more laughs, “Finding him was the hard part with all that snow. Found him in a makeshift bivouac. Complained about me hunting him which I find a bit of a double standard.”

“The young Cerberus of the WDO can sniff out a man through snow.” Zach said grinning.

“Yeah, yeah. My bad for doing my job. Don’t you have some schoolchildren to give speeches to?” Archer said shaking his head.

“Actually, no. My schedule has been cleared for the last couple of days.”

“Why?”

“Same thing why every trainee is coming back by tomorrow morning.” Anderson explained, “It’s selection time for the special assignment.”

“Oh, right the thing for that school.” Archer recalled, “Is that why they shipped me back immediately?”

“Yep, every trainee available is to be part of the selection process. Though it’s not really needed I think. They sort of already know who the top three choices are.” Anderson said scratching his beard.

“I mean there are a large number of people who want to be the one picked.” Zach said.

“Why? Most of what they would teach for at least the first two years would already be known.” Archer asked, not really understanding the popularity of this job.

“Well, it lets people go to school and act like a kid. Most of us don’t really have normal childhoods considering how we’re training to be heroes.” Zach reminded him.

“Training to be WDO members. Not heroes, they are correlated but not always connected.” Archer said.

“Yeah, not everyone is planning on being plastered on cereal boxes and action figures, ‘Soaring Comet’.” Anderson said pointedly at Zach.

“Unofficial cereal boxes and action figures. I don’t make a dime from that.” Zach corrected.

“Shame, most hunters and adventurers have sponsorship deals and everything.” Archer said. At a period in which monsters and magic nearly wiped out the planet, these occupations were created to try and control the chaos.

The romantic notion of making riches through vanquishing monsters and taking back lost land from the wars of the past was prevalent worldwide. Plenty of people grew famous from their success and have been able to successfully commercialize. Much to the dismay of some of the more traditional-minded, but it was more than understandable to Archer.

“I get wanting to be a hero. Give hope to people, stroke your own ego. But why is everyone so interested in going to school? I thought the premise of this job was to stop disasters from occurring.” Archer asked finding all the clamour of being selected rather overblown.

“Well they’re going to a place where it’s filled with mystery and wonder and they know that they’ll automatically be one of the best in their year. It’s a nice place to go to if you want to be the cool kid.” Zach offered, “Don’t forget half the guys we know have origin stories that would fit a cliché villain. Being liked is always nice.”

“That’s pretty stupid.” Archer said with a face of judgement.

“Why? People like good things to happen to them.” Anderson said raising an eyebrow.

“This isn't vacation though. This is a job. A job regarding security for one of the most important places on Gaia. At a time when it is most crucial as the largest influx of students Trinity Academy has ever had is entering the place. As reports have stated, not all of these students might be there to learn as they could be potential spies, terrorists, killers, monsters, and the like.” Archer said gesturing with his hands as he explained everything.

“You know the name of the academy.” Zach pointed out, “You’ve been reading the reports haven’t you?”

“Well, it is very important.” Archer said shrugging as he leaned back on his bed, “Whoever goes should be prepared to do what needs to be done.”

“Is that person you?”

“Hell no.” Archer said making a face, “That is at least a full three-year commitment, and it sounds like a whole lot of work, which, while I would do if I could, if I can avoid it I would.”

“Still, the three-headed lunatic might be able to do it and have some free time on his hands.” Anderson nudged.

“Why are you asking me to take the job?” Archer asked.

“Because if anybody I know could use a bit more freedom and also be responsible enough for this type of long-term job. It would be you Archer.” Anderson said.

“I agree. But considering how little Archer works with his other alter ego out on field duty at least, I don’t think he’ll take it. But I think you should.” Zach added his own input.

“Ah right, the mask. Heh. That was a sight to behold.” Anderson nodded along remembering Archer’s work when in uniform.

“It’s a helmet now.” Archer corrected.

“You upgraded?”

“Upgraded most of the outfit, it works better now.”

“Ah right. I saw you with it in the training rooms.” Zach recalled.

“Yeah, haven’t used it on a mission yet.”

“Who knows, you might be able to use it if you accept this job.” Zach mentioned.

“Sure. But doubtful considering I’ll probably not be going.” Archer said with a shrug.

“Can’t convince you to take it?” Anderson asked.

“Who knows?” Archer said as he got up and stretched, “I’m going to walk around a bit. What about you guys?”

“I’ve got a meeting with the brass actually.” Anderson said checking the time on his phone, “What about you Zach?”

“Actually, I think I’m needed elsewhere.” He said looking distracted as he opened a window and flew out of it.

“Super senses are convenient aren’t they?” Anderson said watching Zach turn into a tiny blip in seconds, “Well I’m out. Enjoy your walk.” He said before heading out the door.

I should too I guess. Archer said looking out the opened window. He gently put his book back on his bookshelf before jumping out the window.

***

“Where is he? Where in the world is Archer Griffen?” Mariel asked Sariel as they flew around the city cloaked in a veil of invisibility, “We already looked around the city, we see other heroes but not him yet. Where is he?”

“Uh. I think I found his location.” Sariel said looking at a scrying disc she held in her hands.

“Lead us to him then Sariel.” Mariel said as they flew in a different direction. The two neared the WDO complex a few minutes later and slowed their flight speed.

“We have to move on foot now. Otherwise we’ll risk getting caught.” Sariel said.

“Really? Do the humans have that advanced sensors?” Mariel said getting caught off guard.

“If what the reports say are true.” Sariel said as the two sneaked into the area and began to search the area.

“Are we not going outside?”

“No, the scry says he’s outside. Hmm, strange he should be somewhere right in front of us.” Sariel said reading the scry.

“I don’t see anyone matching his description. Just one person here and he’s just some kid and a gardener.” Mariel said.

“Could it be the gardener?”

“Doubtful, he’s big enough but looks a bit too old.” Mariel said looking at his face, “Oh, he’s leaving. Just the kid now. What does the scry say?”

“He should still be in the area.” Sariel said looking up at the kid still standing next to the garden.

The boy then bent down and plucked a raspberry from one of the bushes and popped it into his mouth at the same time he spoke aloud, “So. Explain to me why you two are hiding?”

“Huh!?” Sariel gave an audible gasp.