Rise of the Half-Bakugan

As Siren returned to Beta City, the atmosphere aboard the ship was heavy with tension. The usual chatter and jokes were absent, leaving the metallic walls of the ship cold and eerily silent.

Siren's lips were pressed tightly together, and James chose not to press her further. Her trembling fingers as she piloted the ship betrayed the immense effort it took her to maintain her composure.

This left James in a conflicted state. He could understand, to some degree, Siren's mother's perspective, flaws and all, due to his own past life. But he also empathized with Siren, and in his tiny form, he couldn't help but feel powerless.

When they finally arrived in Beta City, they quickly left the ship's hangar behind. The white, metallic walls of the facility reflected Siren's somber mood like a mirror. Her usual rhythm was gone, her movements mechanical, as though her vitality had been drained.

Once she reached her quarters and locked the door, her legs gave out under the weight of her tumultuous emotions. She sank onto her bed, removed her mask, and placed it on the table.

James quickly emerged from her pocket, unfurling himself in his miniature form and hovering midair. Siren looked at him with teary eyes, stroking his small head with a trembling finger as she forced a shaky smile.

"Thank you, James… for what you did back there."

Taking a deep breath, she could feel the tears welling up in her eyes. James spoke in a gentle, emotional tone.

"You're welcome."

He hesitated for a moment, then brushed her cheek with his wing.

"It's okay to cry, you know. Especially when you have every right to. Don't hold it in—it'll only make things worse."

Siren couldn't reply immediately. Tears began streaming down her face, and James's words seemed to unlock the last barrier holding back her emotions. She let out a sob as she ripped off her pink wig and tossed it aside, burying her face in her pillow.

"Stupid… stubborn… idiot…"

Her sobs were punctuated by these muttered words, their target unclear. Some seemed directed at herself, while others were clearly meant for her mother. Her trembling body mirrored the emotions pouring out of her in broken sobs.

James watched silently. A sense of guilt gnawed at him; if he hadn't dragged Siren into this, she wouldn't be hurting like this. At least, her heart wouldn't have been so deeply wounded.

Hovering close to her, he began to gently stroke her cheek with his wing in a futile attempt to offer comfort. For now, there was little else he could do.

But that didn't mean it would always be this way.

***

A week passed in the blink of an eye. In the pitch-black depths of the ocean, it was hard to gauge the passage of time. But if one ascended to the surface, they would see Vestoria's breathtaking, star-studded night sky.

One of the Vexos' bases, shaped like a horizontal capsule, housed the room where the next chapter of their plans was unfolding.

Shadow Prove leaned against a dark blue wall streaked with purple, his arms folded behind his head. His spiked white hair stood out against his pale complexion, and his crimson eyes glimmered with a mix of boredom and restrained madness. The desire for something exciting to happen was etched into his face.

"So boring~!"

Mylene stood nearby, speaking with Volt in her usual measured tone. Volt, true to form, maintained his strong and stoic demeanor, his arms crossed firmly over his broad chest.

And then there was Siren.

She stood by the window, staring absentmindedly at the sky. Twirling the gauntlet on her hand aimlessly, her expression was flat, her lips drawn into a thin line.

"He's coming, right?" she murmured quietly. From her inner pocket, James's voice echoed in the same low tone:

"He'll definitely come."

The only reason they had gathered here was the anticipated arrival of Spectra Phantom, the true leader of the Vexos. His return necessitated a formal "reunion," at least to receive updates on the current situation.

Over the past week, Siren had come to realize one thing very clearly: not a single person here truly viewed Spectra Phantom as a leader. This group operated on a foundation of suspicion, where anyone could betray anyone else at any moment.

Among the others, Volt was perhaps the only one she could trust to some extent. He was reliable, strong, and a man of his word.

"Are you sure about this?" she asked again, her voice a quiet murmur against the background of Volt and Mylene's steady discussion.

"Yes," James replied firmly. The iron was hot, and it needed to be struck now. He had placed everything in Siren's hands, but he trusted her. He had to.

At that moment, the automated doors hissed open, and he appeared.

Thud.

Thud.

Thud.

A tall figure with spiked blond hair stepped into view, his presence commanding the room. The raven-black trim of his crimson coat glistened in the light, accentuating his aura of power and ruthlessness. His smirk completed the image of a victorious, merciless warrior.

The sound of his boots echoed with authority as he strode in, his movements exuding confidence. The blue iris behind the visor of his red mask gleamed sharply.

With gloved fists clenched and ready to address his "team," Spectra Phantom radiated an aura of fear and awe, a living nightmare for the common Vestal.

Trailing behind him were Gus and Lync, their expressions reflecting smugness and treachery.

Mylene, upon seeing Spectra, narrowed her eyes and spoke in a mocking, condescending tone:

"Spectra, so you've decided to grace us with your presence."

Gus smirked, his voice oozing amusement as he chimed in, "Of course. One of the six legendary warriors lent us a hand."

Volt, his ever-stern expression unchanged, responded flatly: "Sure, Gus. Whatever you say." Despite his stoic demeanor, there wasn't a trace of sincerity in his tone.

Shadow Prove, relishing the opportunity to mock, cackled with wild irony. "I'm so disappointed. I thought you'd stay on that trash heap of a planet!"

Ignoring the commotion, Lync maintained his polite demeanor, flashing a smile. "It's good to see you all."

The tension in the room was palpable. Even though Spectra had barely spoken, his mere presence was enough to darken Mylene's expression.

Finally, Spectra broke the silence, addressing her with his usual calm but commanding tone:

"Anything new to report, Mylene?"

Before she could answer, Siren suddenly bounded forward, bouncing like a rabbit before coming to a stop in front of him.

"I'm here!" she announced cheerfully, her voice unnaturally loud.

Gus scowled. "Who are you, and how dare you show such disrespect to Master Spectra?"

Siren, undeterred, struck a playful pose, holding James between her fingers as if he'd appeared out of nowhere. With an exaggerated bow and a mockingly cheerful tone, she introduced herself:

"I'm Siren! Joined the Vexos on Volt's recommendation. At your service, Master Spectra!"

Her disrespectful tone and overly friendly demeanor clashed with her words of fealty, creating a sense of deliberate mockery. Only a keen observer would notice the beads of sweat betraying her nervousness.

Before Gus could snap back, Mylene's angry voice cut through the air as she pointed to the figure standing quietly at the back of the room.

"And what is she doing here?"

Her finger directed all eyes toward Mira, the orange-haired, blue-eyed leader of the Bakugan Battle Brawlers Resistance.

Mira, her expression grim, stood in silence, her stance reflecting doubt in her own decisions.

Mylene's eyebrows furrowed in anger, her voice rising in frustration and command. "What is that traitor doing here? Explain yourself immediately!"

Spectra, however, remained calm, addressing her with unshakable authority.

"Mira has joined the Vexos. It's as simple as that."

Mylene froze in shock, her disbelief written across her face.

"What?" was all she could manage as Shadow Prove's delighted laughter filled the room once more.

Spectra turned slightly, sparing a glance in Mira's direction.

"Isn't that right, Mira?"

Mira, gripping one arm tightly with the other, stared at the ground. Her voice, a hesitant whisper laced with guilt, confirmed:

"Yes, that's right."

Spectra, satisfied, left without another word, his retreating figure commanding the room's tension even as it faded from view.

Lync, wearing his usual sly grin, shrugged and casually began to leave the room, uninterested in the growing tension. Mylene, on the other hand, bit her lower lip so hard it began to bleed. Fury boiled within her, but she said nothing. 

She couldn't. Spectra had made his decision, and as the leader, his word was law. But to allow a traitor, a former enemy, into their ranks so easily? The very thought was intolerable. 

Shadow Prove, ever the provocateur, sauntered closer to Mira with a snake-like grin. Placing his hands on his hips, he let out a low chuckle dripping with mockery. 

"Quite the brilliant move, Fermin." 

He paused for effect, then burst into laughter, circling Mira like a predator. His voice oozed venom as he continued: 

"Stick with me, and you might just learn a thing or two." 

As he spoke, his tone turned mocking, and his laughter echoed throughout the room. He eventually stepped back, hands clasped behind his head, and casually commented, 

"The Bakugan Resistance is history." 

Hearing this, Mira's expression tightened. Her eyes narrowed as she focused intently on Shadow Prove's every movement, unsure of his true intentions. 

At that moment, Shadow activated a display, projecting a vivid image of Marucho, Shun, and Ace, all trapped in stasis. They were suspended in capsule-like chambers, their expressions frozen in anguish. 

Mira's breath hitched, her eyes widening in shock as she recognized her captured comrades. Shadow, relishing her reaction, leaned in closer, his voice dripping with sadistic amusement. 

"Not looking so tough now, are they?" 

He paused again, savoring the moment before adding with a dark chuckle, 

"When the others show up, they'll be put to sleep just like them." 

As he turned to leave, he briefly stopped and cast a glance at Siren. His demeanor shifted, the sadistic grin fading into a cold, deadly seriousness. 

"Stay out of my way, or I'll feed you to Hades." 

With that, Shadow broke into his characteristic psychotic laughter and walked off as though nothing had happened. 

Mira, her gaze still locked on the fading display, was visibly shaken. Even after the screen disappeared, her lips trembled as she murmured, 

"Ace, Shun, Marucho… No, this can't be…" 

Siren silently observed Mira's reaction, her usual cheerful facade slipping as she took in the scene. Mira's concern for her friends was palpable, written plainly on her face. Seeing this, Siren's faint smile disappeared, replaced by a more somber expression. 

Taking a cautious step closer, she hesitated. Was it the right thing to do? Could she say anything to make this better? 

Finally, Siren reached out and gently placed a hand on Mira's shoulder, her touch soft and almost reverent. The words she spoke tasted bitter on her tongue, but she forced them out anyway. 

"It's not that bad. They're just… sleeping." 

Her voice was uncharacteristically soft, almost soothing. Yet she knew the truth all too well—the situation was far from kind. Beneath her cheerful mask, Siren's emotions cracked through, hinting at her own inner turmoil. 

Mira turned her head slightly, meeting Siren's gaze with questioning eyes. Siren responded with a small, genuine smile. 

"At least they're not hurt," she added in a more earnest tone. 

From across the room, Spectra observed the interaction with his usual icy composure. His mask's visor silently analyzed the Bakugan Siren held, the faint light in his blue iris narrowing with intrigue. 

Slowly, he slipped his hands into the pockets of his crimson coat, murmuring to himself, 

"Interesting." 

Without another word, Spectra turned and descended the stairs, heading to rejoin Gus.