In the dim glow of the city skyline, Robert Robertson sat on the edge of his modest apartment window, gazing out at the bustling metropolis he once swore to protect. Once a hero known as Mecha-Man, he had spent years wielding his colossal suit to keep the peace, battling foes both fierce and formidable. But that chapter had come to a crashing halt when his Mecha-Man suit was torn to shreds during a desperate chase after Shroud, his arch-nemesis—an elusive villain who had once been a shining hero himself before succumbing to the darkness. It was Shroud who had taken the life of Robert's father, Robbie Robertson, the original Mecha-Man, igniting Robert’s relentless quest for justice.

Now semi-retired, Robert found himself working behind the scenes at the Superhero Dispatch Network, a job that kept him close to the hero community without the risks of active duty. Yet, he couldn’t shake the feeling that his true purpose wasn’t gone—that somewhere, somehow, his legacy could still make a difference. That’s why he led the Phoenix Program, a daring initiative dedicated to redeeming former supervillains and giving them a second chance. It was a long, difficult road, but Robert believed in redemption and second chances.

One night, after a grueling shift with his team—composed of reformed villains and hopeful heroes—his team members, sensing his weariness, decided to invite him to unwind at a local villain bar—a place where outlaws, reformed or not, could be themselves without fear of judgment. Robert hesitated. The idea of mingling with former enemies, even in a place of camaraderie, stirred old instincts and doubts. Yet, deep down, he knew that sometimes, the best way to rebuild what’s broken was to step outside his comfort zone.

With a slow nod, he agreed. As he prepared to leave, the city’s neon lights flickered behind him, whispering promises of new beginnings—whether through heroism, redemption, or simply, a night spent among those who, like him, were trying to find their place in a city that never slept.