F.A.S.T

If there was one thing everyone agreed on about Crestfall City, it was that it was beautiful.

From the hills surrounding it, the city looked almost unreal. Towering glass buildings reflected the morning sunlight like polished diamonds, while rivers shimmered as they wound between neighborhoods filled with colorful homes and blooming gardens. Wide streets were lined with lush green trees, elegant fountains decorated busy plazas, and parks offered breathtaking views that attracted visitors from all over the country. At sunset, the entire skyline glowed in shades of gold, orange, and crimson, making Crestfall seem like a city pulled straight from a dream.

It was the kind of place people wished they could live in.

But dreams often hid nightmares.

As the city awakened, so did its darker side.

A convenience store owner discovered his shop had been broken into overnight. A woman clutched her purse tighter as she hurried through a crowded street known for pickpockets. Across town, the sound of distant gunfire briefly interrupted the peaceful morning before fading into the background, almost as if it were normal.

Because in Crestfall City... it was.

Robberies, gang fights, kidnappings, smuggling, and violent crimes had become part of everyday life. Police officers worked tirelessly, yet every time one criminal was caught, another seemed ready to take their place. Some neighborhoods were safe enough for families to enjoy a quiet afternoon, while others became dangerous the moment the sun disappeared below the horizon.

The city's beauty was undeniable.

So was its darkness.

Most people simply carried on with their lives, hoping they would never find themselves caught in the middle of it.

Tamara pulled her worn sweater tighter around herself as she wandered through one of Crestfall City's quieter streets.

The city that looked so lively during the day felt completely different now. The colorful buildings faded into shadows, and the distant glow of skyscrapers seemed far away. Streetlights flickered overhead while the occasional siren echoed through the night.

She was only twelve.

She didn't understand why hospitals charged so much money.

She didn't understand why adults always said, "That's just how the world works."

She didn't understand why her father—the kindest person she knew—had to be the one lying in a hospital bed instead of someone who spent their days hurting others.

All she knew was that the bills kept getting bigger.

And she had no idea what to do.

Tamara stared at the folded paper in her hands. Rows of numbers covered it.

"...There's no way..." she whispered.

Her stomach growled.

She hadn't eaten since earlier that day, but she barely noticed. Every thought in her head circled back to the same question.

How do I save Dad?

She couldn't even cook without burning something.

She still got confused when people used complicated words.

She had never lived on her own.

She wasn't even old enough to get a proper job.

"So... what am I supposed to do?" she murmured.

A loud shout suddenly echoed from another street.

"You little—! Get back here!"

"Shut the fuck up and run!"

A bottle shattered somewhere nearby.

"Crap! The cops!"

Tamara flinched.

Moments later, two people sprinted past the end of the street, disappearing into a narrow alley while police sirens grew louder behind them.

She hugged the hospital bill against her chest.

Crime was everywhere in Crestfall City.

She knew that much.

Her father had always warned her never to wander alone at night.

"If anything dangerous happens, run the other way," he would always say with a smile.

Tamara looked down.

"I'm sorry, Dad..." she whispered. "I just... I don't know what else to do."

The cool wind brushed against her face as she kept walking.

She hoped that somewhere in this enormous city...

Someone...

Anyone...

Could tell a frightened little girl how to save the only family she had left.

Tamara tightened her grip on the hospital bill.

The paper crumpled in her trembling fingers.

A distant explosion shattered the quiet.

BOOM!

Car alarms screamed to life.

People began running in every direction.

"What the hell is happening?!"

"Everybody move!"

"Get down!"

A black armored truck had skidded sideways across the intersection, completely blocking the road. Behind it, two vans screeched to a halt.

Doors burst open.

Eight masked gunmen poured out with military rifles.

"Nobody fucking move!" one of them barked.

Another fired into the air.

BANG! BANG!

The screams became louder.

Parents grabbed their children.

Cars reversed into each other.

Within seconds, the criminals had surrounded the entire block.

"You!" one of them yelled, pointing his rifle toward the terrified crowd. "Phones. Wallets. Jewelry. Everything. If I see anybody trying to be a hero, I'll decorate this street with your brains."

Nobody argued.

Nobody even breathed.

Tamara froze.

Her legs refused to move.

She looked around.

Every exit...

Blocked.

"...Dad..."

The robber nearest her shoved a businessman onto his knees.

"Hurry the hell up!"

The man threw down his wallet.

Another criminal laughed.

"Easy money."

Then...

A deep voice echoed through the street.

"I'd advise you gentlemen..."

"...to surrender."

The criminals turned.

So did everyone else.

Standing at the end of the street were four figures dressed in sleek black tactical uniforms marked with silver letters across their chests.

F.A.S.T.

The city's guardians.

The crowd erupted.

"It's them!"

"F.A.S.T.!"

"We're saved!"

Leading them from a distance was a tall bald Black man .

His posture alone radiated authority.

Commander Eugene Isaiah Palmer.

Director of the Federal Advanced Security Taskforce—better known simply as F.A.S.T.

Among the four of them, stood an enormous albino man whose muscular frame looked capable of stopping a truck.

Bridge Stone cracked his neck.

"You know..." he muttered with a grin.

"...I've had a really shitty morning."

In the team there is Spencer Ridge calmly analyzing every criminal, every escape route, every hostage.

"They'll attempt to retreat north in approximately forty seconds."

His twin sister rolled her eyes.

"You always spoil the surprise."

Cee cee Ridge smiling warmly at a little boy hiding behind his mother.

"It's okay, sweetheart."

"We'll have you home before bedtime."

The little boy slowly nodded.

Then Cee cee's smile disappeared.

She looked back at the criminals.

"So..."

"...whose ass am I kicking first?"

A calm chuckle came from behind her.

Pablo Cobbins.

Broad-shouldered.

Relaxed.

Standing with Eugene from the distance were three children wearing miniature F.A.S.T. training jackets.

The oldest, Skyler Palmer, leaned forward with sparkling eyes.

"Dad, let me help!"

"No."

Eugene didn't even look back.

"But—"

"No."

Skyler groaned dramatically.

Beside him, Aaron Palmer couldn't stop smiling.

"This is awesome!"

"You think Uncle Bridge is gonna launch somebody into a wall?"

The only girl among them folded her arms.

Jackie Cobbins.

Sharp-eyed.

Always thinking.

"They're positioned terribly," she whispered.

"If they panic, they'll split into two groups."

Pablo smiled proudly.

"Good observation."

"But you're still staying back."

Jackie sighed.

"I knew you were going to say that."

Eugene finally stepped forward.

His voice remained calm.

"You three."

He kept his eyes on the criminals.

"Watch."

"Real heroes don't rush into danger."

"They protect people first."

The children nodded.

The gang leader burst into laughter.

"You're seriously sending four people against us?"

Bridge cracked his knuckles.

"Correction."

He grinned.

"You're trapped here with us."

The criminal fired first.

BANG!

Bridge movedThe bullet ricocheted harmlessly away as he shot his gun and it smashed into the pavement, sending fractured concrete flying.

The shockwave knocked three gunmen flat on their backs.

"What the fu—"

Pablo was already moving.

One rifle flew into the air.

THUD!

A spinning kick folded another robber in half. Before the third could react -Pablo drove his shoulders into him and the man crashed through the side of a parked van

Spencer calmly walked forward. Three of the robbers surrounded him

He sighed. “You should’ve listened.”

He reached into his pocket and got a little stick that expanded into a staff

And he left all three on the floor

The gang leader grabbed a terrified woman and shoved his pistol against her head

“Everybody back off, I’ll fucking kill her.”

Suddenly the relief washed off everyone’s face and Skyler instinctively stepped forward but Eugene placed one hand against his son’s chest. “Don’t.”

The agents raised both hands

The criminal smirked that’s better

Something flashed,a small disc shot from Eugene’s fingers from a distance

PING!

The pistol spun out of the robber’s hand before he could blink Bridge crossed the distance and with one punch, elbow and throw. The man hit the ground so hard the breath left his body. The woman stumbled away unharmed. The entire street fell silent.

The remaining criminals looked around and every teammate was down

Bridge said “ Anyone else feeling brave?”

One by one they surrendered

The flashing lights of police vehicles painted the street red and blue as officers dragged the defeated robbers into armored transport vans.

Citizens surrounded the F.A.S.T. agents, thanking them with cheers and applause.

Commander Eugene gave only a small nod before turning away.

“Good work,” he said calmly.

Bridge rested his gun on his shoulder with a grin.

“That was barely a warm-up.”

“They’ll think twice before trying that again.”

“Statistically… probably not.”

Cee Cee laughed. “Then we’ll beat them again.”

The four agents walked away together, their black uniforms marked with silver letters that reflected the emergency lights.

F.A.S.T.

Behind the crowd, Tamara couldn’t take her eyes off the heroes…

Far beneath Crestfall City…

Inside an abandoned underground warehouse…

Silence ruled the room.

Several armed men stood with their heads lowered, afraid to even breathe.

At the end of the chamber sat a man upon an enormous black leather chair.

The room was dimly lit, but somehow the darkness itself seemed to gather around him.

His fingers tapped slowly against the armrest.

Every tap echoed through the room.

A frightened man stepped forward and swallowed hard. “Boss…”

“The robbery failed.”

“They were intercepted by F.A.S.T.”

“Our men… they’re all under police custody.”

The room became even quieter.

The crime boss slowly lifted his head.

His face remained hidden beneath the shadows.

Only his cold eyes could be seen.

“So…”

His voice was dangerously calm.“Not one of them escaped?”

“N-No, Boss.”

Another long silence.

Then the crime boss leaned forward. “If they’ve been captured…”

“…they’ve become liabilities."

The messenger's heart pounded.

The boss's lips curled into a faint smile that carried no warmth.

"Make sure they never speak."

He stood. "Kill every last one of them."

No one dared question the order or even hesitate.

"Yes, Boss."

As the footsteps faded into the darkness, the crime boss looked toward the city skyline visible through a cracked window.

"So, F.A.S.T my greatest enemies..."

His smile widened.