INT. BANK – DAY
The sound of chaos lingered in the air. Glass crunched beneath Levi's boots as he stepped into the ransacked bank. Papers were scattered, desks overturned, and a handful of shaken employees huddled in the corner.
Levi's sharp eyes swept the room."Looks like we're too late," he muttered to Lily.
She scanned the debris silently as Levi knelt near the vault—its heavy door blown clean off."Explosives," he noted. "Industrial grade... not something you pick up at a general store."
"Mining compound," Lily said, already one step ahead.
Levi nodded. "Exactly."
INT. COMMAND CENTER – NIGHT
Maps and blueprints covered the table. Red markers circled caves and old mining shafts north of town. For weeks, Levi and his team scoured the caverns until one day—
EXT. MINES – TWILIGHT
Gunfire cracked through the air. A firefight erupted between Levi's squad and the bandits holed up deep in the mines. It was a quick but brutal skirmish.
When the dust settled, Levi stood with arms crossed, watching his men cuff the subdued criminals.
He sighed. "Man, these small-timers barely get my heart rate up. What's the point of having powers if I never get to cut loose?"
Lily shot him a look.
"Oh don't give me that face," Levi said. "I'm not trigger-happy. I just imagined a little more action and a lot less paperwork when I took this job."
"Peace isn't a bad thing, Levi."
"Tch... I know, I know."
They walked side by side down the dusty trail from the mines, dusk painting the sky.
"You know, the town wasn't always like this," Levi said, voice distant.
"What do you mean?"
"You don't know, do you? About why this station even needed a lieutenant."
"I was just told you were shorthanded. HQ assigned me."
Levi gave a bitter chuckle.
"Not exactly. We never needed a second-in-command... until he showed up."
"Who?"
Levi looked up at the darkening sky.
"The man in black, 6 years ago a drifter came to town the guy was on edge spouting nonsense about the darkness coming, the townsfolk tried to calm him down but the second they laid a finger on him he snapped killed a man sucking him to this black void we tried putting him down but bullets went right through the bastard"
"I've heard a story like this before, they called him."
(Levi and Lily speak in unison)
"The phantom."
"So what happened next?"
"Captain Stone stepped in. And that's when the stories stopped being stories."
"Are you referring to Captain Stone, the war hero from the early days of 5 Point?"
"Not a hero, the man was war itself, cloaked in lightning. I had never seen anything like it, but it still wasn't enough. The captain was quick, but each hit took a greater toll on him. In the end, he was left with only one choice."
Levi's head dropped.
"Stone saved many lives that day, but it ultimately cost him his own. Since then, we've seen an increase in thugs coming through town. That day made me realize that without a strong leader, this town would crumble. So, I worked tirelessly for six years, just waiting for my chance to honor his legacy."
Lily put her hand on Levi's shoulder
"Let's get back to the station."
INT. STATION – LATER
With the bandits in custody, Levi was praised for his quick thinking. The mayor sent a thank-you letter, and the townsfolk contributed food to express their gratitude. It was the kind of quiet victory that Levi never celebrated.
Later that evening, as the station settled down, Lily cleared her throat.
"Levi, can I talk to you?"
"Sure, what's on your mind?" Levi asked, curious.
"I've noticed that your methods tend to be a bit... unconventional. While that's not necessarily a bad thing, we do need to follow the protocols and procedures set by the capital. Also, I've observed that you've been slacking off on your paperwork lately."
Levi groaned.
"I understand, believe me. But we're a team, and if we are going to keep this town safe and running smoothly we also have to keep up with reports."
Levi nodded. "I hear you, Lily. Thanks for keeping me on track. I'll do my best to stay on top of my paperwork from now on, but no promises. It's good to have someone who grounds me and reminds me of my responsibilities."
Lily smiled back. "Anytime, boss."
Levi stood, stretching his arms with a grin. "With that said, are you ready to tackle a mountain of forms?"
"I'd rather face another Phantom," Lily replied, deadpan.
They both laughed, and as they stepped into the quiet of the night, Levi felt something rare—peace. For now.