Rise of the Half-Bakugan

As time passed, everyone began retreating to their own corners. Mira stood still for a moment, her thoughtful gaze lingering on the glass where the screen had been moments before. Then, she looked at the hand still resting on her shoulder—Siren's hand. 

The Vexos were cruel. To Mira, calling them nothing more than King Zenoheld and Prince Hydron's brutal puppets wouldn't be an exaggeration. Yet Siren stood out in stark contrast to that cruelty, projecting a warmth that caught Mira off guard. Her eyebrows lifted in surprise. 

Almost immediately, though, her lips curved into a soft smile. Even though she knew she needed to maintain a certain distance—after all, Siren was still a Vexos—she couldn't help but be affected by her kindness. For the first time since arriving, Mira allowed herself a faint but genuine smile as she gently removed Siren's hand from her shoulder. 

"Thank you… You said your name was Siren, right?" 

Siren nodded enthusiastically, her warm smile quickly transforming into her usual energetic, lively grin. It was almost as though she couldn't stand still, practically bouncing on her feet. 

"Yup! Nice to meet ya!" 

Mira couldn't help but chuckle at Siren's boundless energy, a vibrant, purple light in the otherwise bleak atmosphere of the Vexos. It wasn't the time or place, but she found herself asking anyway: 

"Forgive me if I'm being rude, but why did you join the Vexos? A place like this… it doesn't seem fitting for someone as genuine as you." 

The Vexos weren't exactly in their prime, either. Mira suspected that the events in Alpha City had severely damaged their reputation. Being associated with the Vexos at this moment didn't make much sense, no matter how you looked at it. 

Siren, in response, hopped back a few steps like a rabbit, her tone playful and enigmatic, almost as if she were reciting a riddle. 

"Who knows~! Maybe a friend asked me for help. Or maybe… my family's here." 

She shrugged, her tone shifting to casual indifference. 

"What does it matter?" 

Then, placing her hands on her hips, she leaned forward slightly, the red iris in her mask glowing faintly as her voice grew more serious. 

"But what about you? You're the leader of the Resistance. What are you doing here? Shouldn't you, I don't know, be fighting us?" 

For a moment, Mira was silent. Her brows furrowed with hesitation as she took a step back. Ever since learning that Spectra Phantom was her brother, Keith Fermin, she'd been caught between her principles and her emotions. 

Shaking her head as if to clear her thoughts, she replied in a slightly sharper tone: 

"That's none of your business." 

Turning away, she walked off without another word. Siren didn't follow her, choosing instead to watch her leave. After a moment, she sighed softly and began making her way to her own quarters. 

As she walked through the corridor, its walls split into white and yellow metallic panels, she muttered under her breath, 

"She's got issues." 

Despite her words, her tone carried a hint of empathy. Something about Mira's gaze and demeanor struck a chord of familiarity in Siren, a connection she couldn't quite put into words. 

From her inner pocket, James spoke in his usual calm tone: 

"She's stronger than she looks. She's just dealing with emotional struggles, like you." 

Siren stopped mid-step, placing her thumb and forefinger on her chin as if deep in thought. Resuming her walk, she murmured thoughtfully, 

"Like me, huh? That's… weird." 

She paused for a moment. 

"Still… are you sure about Spectra?" 

The memory of her earlier encounter with Spectra made her heart race with a mix of fear and excitement. Among the terrifying figures she had seen, none were as imposing as Spectra. His mere presence screamed, "I am superior." 

And as someone who had once witnessed the devastating power of his Bakugan, the memories resurfaced, intensifying her unease. 

James reassured her: 

"Think of it as a temporary alliance. Trust me, Siren. I'll get you, your mother, and everyone else safely out of this pit of treachery. But don't forget…" 

As they entered her room, his tone turned serious. 

"Our only side is ourselves. We're with whoever survives." 

***

Hours passed, and soon, Vestoria's breathtaking morning light replaced the night's darkness. Just as Vestoria's nights were mesmerizing, its mornings were brimming with life and energy. 

Siren jolted awake at the sound of an alarm blaring across the corridors. Her mask had slipped during the night, its glowing red irises now dimmed. 

"What the heck's going on?" she muttered groggily, rubbing her head. James's urgent voice broke through her haze. 

"Dan and Baron must be here. The Resistance. Quickly, to where the others are being held!" 

Siren snapped to attention, adjusting her mask as her visor's red lines glowed brightly in the dim light. Without hesitation, she dashed out of the room, sprinting down the corridor against the flow of panicked personnel. 

"But why?" she called out as she ran, though James didn't answer. 

Once inside the chamber, James quickly and firmly instructed her to hide. Siren obeyed, slipping behind a large crate in the shadows, where she could remain inconspicuous. 

Three young men lay suspended in stasis tanks filled with a liquid resembling water. Their faces, slightly furrowed as if reliving their final moments of defeat, also carried an odd sense of peace. 

Through the dim lighting, the ocean's depths were faintly visible outside the chamber. The room's design was stark and utilitarian, with only a few crates scattered around. Its sole purpose was clear: to keep these three and their Bakugan captive. 

Their Bakugan, encased in ball form at the center of the capsules, seemed like a cruel, decorative centerpiece. The sight was deeply unsettling, and Siren found herself reaffirming how merciless the situation truly was. 

But she couldn't help wondering why they were hiding. There didn't seem to be anything noteworthy to see here. Just the defeated Resistance… 

Then it hit her. Her lips curled into a small smile. 

"She's going to rescue them," she whispered excitedly. 

James's reply came in the same hushed tone, "Absolutely." 

Before long, the doors opened again. Lights flickered on as the floor rumbled beneath them. Siren knew the tremors were caused by Bakugan battles, making her feel like she was wasting her time here. 

Yet, trusting James's word, she stayed, curious to see what would happen. 

Mira's footsteps echoed as she entered the room. Her face was etched with uncertainty and sorrow, emotions plain for anyone to see. 

"Ace, Shun, Marucho… My friends… I can't leave you like this." 

Her voice was heavy with grief as she approached the stasis tanks. The control panel in front of her displayed the life signs of the three captives in detailed readouts. 

As she pondered which buttons to press to release them, the sound of footsteps behind her made her freeze. She turned sharply, only to see him. 

"Trying to rescue your old friends, Mira?" Spectra Phantom's voice was calm but carried an edge. His visor's blue iris shifted to the unconscious captives, his lips momentarily curling with faint disgust—so brief it seemed almost imagined. 

Mira noticed only a subtle shift in his usually expressionless face. 

"I can't leave them," she replied firmly. Though she had betrayed them, her concern for her friends was evident. 

Spectra didn't respond immediately. He stepped past her, his measured footsteps breaking the silence. Reaching the control panel, he pressed three sequential buttons. 

The liquid in the stasis tanks began to drain. Mira held her breath as the captives' bodies were slowly revealed, slumping onto the ground as the tanks opened. Their Bakugan rolled to the floor beside them. 

"They'll wake up soon," Spectra said. 

He paused, then added with a more serious tone, his gaze locking onto Mira: 

"You owe me, Mira." 

Conflicted by the sudden turn of events, Mira hesitated before asking in a soft voice, 

"Thank you, but… why, Keith?" 

Spectra's reply was sharp and tinged with anger. 

"I'm not Keith. I'm Spectra Phantom now." 

Mira froze, a mix of shock and fear washing over her. "What?" she stammered. 

Spectra's lips curled slightly into a faint, almost mocking smile before he turned and began to leave. 

After one last glance at her friends, Mira followed him, guilt heavy in her heart. As she turned to leave, a faint sound caught her attention. She froze, her gaze darting toward the source. 

It didn't take her long to realize someone had been watching. But she pushed the thought aside and hurried after Spectra. 

The moment Mira left, Siren's voice broke the silence, a hushed whisper laced with awe: 

"Wow."