American comics: I am full of martial virtues and I love to be kind to others.

Chief Henderson walked over to Lynn, a drink in his hand. "What a great idea for a party. We so easily forget to celebrate the good moments in life while we're busy with our work."

Lynn nodded. "Indeed, sir. Especially after the Black Hawk incident, these normal, happy moments are all the more precious."

“Speaking of Black Hawk,” Henderson’s tone turned slightly serious, “the final trial begins next month. Stern and other high-ranking officials face dozens of felony charges and are almost certain to spend the rest of their lives in prison. The government officials involved face a similar fate.”

“That’s good news,” Lynn said. “What about the ‘Guardians’ program?”

Henderson's expression brightened. "The board has officially approved it. Funding is in place, and the facility is under construction. Once completed, it will become a new model for cooperation between mutants and law enforcement." He paused. "Of course, you remain the project's first-choice leader."

Lynn was taken aback. "Me? Sir, I think Dr. Morgan or you are more suitable for this position."

Henderson shook his head. “Dr. Morgan will be in charge of the scientific and medical aspects, while I will provide administrative support. But this team needs a field leader, someone who understands law enforcement work and respects the unique needs of mutants. You have proven yourself to be the best fit over the past few months.”

Lynn didn't know what to say. The offer made him both honored and somewhat uneasy. Leading a completely new and unprecedented team was a huge responsibility.

Seemingly sensing his hesitation, Henderson added, "Don't rush into a decision. It's your birthday, enjoy the moment. We can discuss the details later."

Lynn nodded gratefully, then Mark called her over to participate in an impromptu toasting session. Everyone shared a story or memory about Lynn, some touching, some funny, but all filled with genuine emotion.

As the party drew to a close, Gwen came over with a small, beautifully wrapped gift in her hand.

“Ethan and I prepared this together,” she said, handing the gift to Lynn. “I hope you like it.”

Lynn took the gift and carefully unwrapped it. Inside was a custom-made photo frame containing a picture—a group photo of them all after their successful mission at Dune Outpost. Lynn, Gwen, Ethan, Banner, Eileen, and Marcus, along with Chief Henderson, all wore tired but victorious smiles. Engraved at the bottom of the frame were the words: "Family is more than just blood; it's about fighting side-by-side."

Lynn felt a surge of emotion, which was rare for his usually calm and professional character.

“Thank you, Gwen,” he said softly, his voice slightly choked, “this means a lot.”

Gwen gave him a warm hug. "You've always been my hero, brother. Now you're a hero to many people too."

Just then, Mark burst into the room, his face tense. "Commander Hall! Emergency! A bank robbery involving possible mutant abilities has been reported in Queens! Local police are requesting backup!"

The atmosphere in the room immediately changed, and everyone became alert. Lynn glanced at his watch, then looked around.

"Looks like the holidays are over," he said half-jokingly, then became serious. "Dr. Banner, Eileen, Marcus, are you ready?"

The three nodded and quickly got to work. Gwen and Ethan also began packing up their equipment, preparing to provide technical support.

Director Henderson watched this scene with slight surprise. "You don't need to wait for the official 'Guardians' project to launch, right?"

Lynn simply shrugged. "Danger doesn't wait for bureaucracy, sir. Besides, this is a perfect opportunity for a field test."

Henderson nodded, his eyes gleaming with approval. "Then go ahead. I'll handle the necessary authorizations and paperwork."

Lynn turned to his team, a determined look on his face. "Alright, everyone, let's go. Looks like this birthday party's going to end with a little extra excitement."

Lynn sat in the passenger seat of the SUV, which sped through the streets of Manhattan, sirens piercing the afternoon tranquility. Marcus drove, with Dr. Banner and Eileen in the back; everyone was in professional mode, the atmosphere of the recent birthday party completely forgotten.

“Gwen, give us real-time updates,” Lynn said into the communicator, his voice calm and focused.

Gwen's voice came through the car's system clearly: "First National Bank in Queens, three armed robbers, at least one of whom has displayed unusual abilities. According to witnesses, he can briefly become invisible or manipulate light to make himself undetectable. There are currently about twenty civilians trapped inside the bank as hostages. Local police have cordoned off the surrounding area but are hesitant to take any action."

"Are there any casualties?" Lynn asked.

"No casualties have been reported so far, but the situation is tense. The robbers have shown a willingness to use violence against the hostages."

Lynn nodded, quickly considering a strategy. "Eileen, your invisibility might be our greatest advantage. Dr. Banner, can you maintain control?"

Banner took a deep breath, his expression resolute: "Okay. I'll try my best to remain in human form, but if the situation worsens..."

“Understood,” Lynn nodded. “As a last resort, Marcus, your energy barrier can protect the hostages during their evacuation.”

The vehicle swayed as it made a sharp turn, but Marcus maintained his impressive driving skills. "Four minutes to the scene," he said briefly.

Lynn adjusted his bulletproof vest, checked his weapons, and began to formulate an action plan in his mind. "Gwen, can we access the bank's internal surveillance system?"

“It’s already underway,” Gwen responded, the sound of keyboard clicks coming through the communicator, “but they may have compromised the internal cameras. I’m trying other methods, etc. I’ve accessed their security system! Transmitting images.”

The vehicle's central control screen displayed live footage of the bank's interior. Three masked robbers, armed with guns, stood at different locations in the bank lobby, monitoring the hostages. One of them—who appeared to be the leader—stood in front of the counter, shouting something. The hostages huddled on the floor, their faces filled with terror.

"Could you give us the audio?" Lynn asked.

“Trying.” Gwen’s voice was focused. “Okay, audio connected.”

"You have ten more minutes!" the robbery ringleader's voice suddenly blared from the loudspeaker. "If the vault isn't opened, I'll start killing one hostage every minute! I know you can do it, bank manager!"

Lynn quickly analyzed the situation: the leader was emotionally unstable and posed a high threat; the second robber seemed nervous, constantly glancing out the window; the third was unusually calm, and this was likely the one with the superpowers. "We need a precise entry plan," Lynn said. "Eileen, can you use your invisibility to infiltrate the bank and assess the best point of entry?"

Eileen nodded, a determined glint in her eyes: "Okay, but I need an opportunity to distract them. Especially if one of them really does have abilities similar to mine, he might be more sensitive to the invisible."

“I have an idea,” Banner said, drawing everyone’s attention. “I can partially transform—just my arm—while staying conscious. Let them see the Hulk outside the window; that will distract them.”

Lynn considered the suggestion for a moment, then nodded: "It's feasible. But we need precise control; we don't want to cause panic."

The vehicle finally reached the police cordon outside the bank. Chaos reigned; police car lights flashed, a news helicopter hovered overhead, and curious onlookers were kept outside the cordon.

Lynn displayed his FBI badge, and the team was quickly led to the command center—a mobile police command vehicle. Queens Police Chief Sergeant Green greeted them.

“Detective Hall, thank you for your prompt response,” Sheriff Green said, his voice visibly tense. “We’ve never handled a case involving superpowers before.”

Lynn nodded briefly: "We'll handle this. Please let me know as things progress."

"The robbers demanded five million in cash and a safe escape route. They gave the bank manager twenty minutes to open the vault, and we had about eight minutes left. We tried to negotiate, but they refused to listen. Most worryingly, one of them seemed capable of disappearing. One of my snipers reported seeing him standing by the window, then suddenly blurring out, as if blending into the background."

Lynn quickly gestured to the team, who gathered around a bank floor plan. “Our plan is this: Erin will use her invisibility to infiltrate the bank and pinpoint the exact locations of the robbers and hostages. Dr. Banner will create a distraction. Marcus, you'll be responsible for protecting the hostages after we storm in. I'll enter through the front door and try to negotiate with the leader to create space for Erin and the others.”

The team members nodded in understanding. Lynn turned to Sheriff Green: "Please maintain perimeter security and ensure no journalists or civilians breach the cordon. Things could get chaotic once the operation begins."

"Understood, Inspector."

The team quickly split up. Eileen moved to the side of the bank, searching for the best entry point. Banner stood near the security line, but still visible to those inside the bank. Lynn checked the communicators to make sure everyone was on the channel.

"Are you ready?" Lynn asked.

“Ready,” Eileen responded.

“Ready at any time,” Marcus confirmed.

“I can do it,” Banner said, taking a deep breath.

“Action,” Lynn ordered.

Banner closed his eyes and concentrated. Just as he had practiced in his treatment, he allowed a partial release of the Hulk's power. His right arm began to turn green, the muscles bulging and bursting through his shirt sleeve. The change was limited to his arm, but enough to be seen by those inside the bank—a massive green arm, clearly belonging to the legendary Hulk.

As expected, the bank robbers noticed the unusual sight outside the window. Through the surveillance footage, Lynn could see the leader pointing out the window in surprise, and the other two accomplices turning to look as well.

“Eileen, now,” Lynn said in a low voice.

Eileen swiftly activated her ability, her body gradually disappearing from sight. She easily crossed the police cordon and approached a side door of the bank. Taking advantage of the robbers' distraction, she successfully entered the building.

“I’m in,” her voice came through the communicator, almost a whisper, “Assessing the situation.”

Lynn waited, closely monitoring the surveillance footage. Banner had slowed his "performance" to avoid causing undue panic.

“Situation confirmed,” Eileen reported softly, “Three armed robbers, carrying automatic weapons. Twenty-two hostages, including six employees and sixteen customers. Among them are three children and an elderly person who appears to require medical attention. The robbers are positioned in three corners of the lobby, forming a triangular encirclement. The invisible one is standing near the right-hand window, seemingly particularly alert to the situation outside.”

“Understood,” Lynn replied. “Prepare for the next phase. Marcus, take your positions.”

Marcus walked to the side of the bank's main entrance, a position from which he could quickly enter and deploy the barrier.

Lynn picked up the megaphone provided by the police and walked towards the police line, maintaining a safe distance. “To the robbers inside the bank, I am FBI Agent Lynn Hall. I want to speak with you and find a peaceful way to resolve this.”

Inside the bank, the ringleader became even more agitated. "Get out of the way! FBI! We don't need negotiations! Give us the money and a way out, or the hostages will die!"

“I understand your demands,” Lynn responded calmly, while telling Eileen over the radio, “Prepare to move, ten seconds.” He continued to the robbers, “But I need a gesture of goodwill. Release some hostages to show you’re serious.”

"Stop playing these FBI tricks!" the leader roared. "We won't release anyone!"

Lynn noticed that the invisible robber seemed to have become more alert, frequently glancing around as if he had sensed something. He might have noticed Eileen's presence.

“Eileen, he may have found you. Move out immediately,” Lynn ordered quickly.

Inside the bank, Eileen moved swiftly. She first approached the capable robber and, taking advantage of his momentary distraction, used a specially designed sedative device—a silent, small weapon that could fire tranquilizers. The robber sensed something and began to turn, but it was too late. The tranquilizer hit his neck; he tried to activate his abilities, but the drug quickly took effect, and he staggered a few steps before collapsing.

At the same time, the leader, seeing his companion inexplicably collapse, immediately became alert. "What's going on, Jack?" he shouted, then threatened the hostage, "Someone's in! Anyone who moves, I'll kill them!"

Lynn knew the situation was about to spiral out of control and immediately signaled, "Marcus, now!"

Marcus charged toward the bank doors, arms outstretched. A blue energy barrier formed before him, expanding as he moved. Lynn followed closely behind, gun already drawn. (End of Chapter)