#hiddenphantom

And there it was. X was starting to feel like a human grandfather that the kids surrounded asking for stories or something. Leaning back in midair, X frowned thoughtfully.

Well, as much as he’d like to ignore the request, considering he’d already given each of the others a story… Well, that wouldn’t be fair to the loyal ninja. Although, if they had been more accurate… Perhaps teaching him the ways of the samurai would have been more… In place. Bushido and all. Samurai were loyal to the core to whatever their lord demanded, and in many regards, Phantom fit that bill perfectly.

Odd that he was created in the image of the force that dealt with the samurai in the first place… Shaking his head clear X slowly spoke as the story came to him.

"During the days of Sigma’s rebellions, I had a great deal of support from a multitude of sources." X began.

Memories of Zero, Alia, Signas… They all came back in a flood.

"But, one of those people that supported me, was Doctor Light. Yes, he was gone but… He left me an assortment of armors to utilize should I need them. One of them in particular I think would have interested you." He observed, once again turning his focus on Phantom.

"He called it the ‘shadow armor’, an armor that specialized in stealth. I’m sure that it’s what the lead scientists used to come up with your design." He explained.

A strange thought flickered through X’s mind. All these stories were getting to him, making him think of things that weren’t worth it. X’s story… Had ended, and all that remained was to support the ‘leading roles’ until the end.

This was a highly unfavourable result.

The four of them, so easily paralysed by the red biometal, had been trapped under the rubble as Ouroborus fell apart. Had what programmed instinct of self preservation been less quick, he would not have been still functioning, still here, still alive and thinking, dull as it may have been.

The ninja seemed awfully distracted, his body somewhat slowed. A large coolant loss would have been apparent, had his eyes been open, yet he just laid there, systems still restarting, his body purely limp upon the edge of a bit of some large shrapnel. As his thoughts got clearer, the artificial male reflected upon this failure, unable to deduce where his calculations went wrong.

Siarnaq had discovered that Albert was planning to use them early on, and had reported this to Aeolus in attempts to gain assistance in the man’s assassination, or at the very least form a false sense of trust. But the human male had already assumed this himself. There could be only one Megaman king, after all. And why would the old man hand over the precious title he was holding onto? The reploid followed his partner’s logic, and while he held no concern towards being used, deduced that this knowledge would be his hidden card to play when the moment came. One that would no doubt win him the game.

Yet this had not mattered at all, as despite all the precaution and knowing, unforeseen circumstances arose and destroyed his means of pursuit. The ninja had no idea what had happened to the old man, but what with the ship having fallen into the sea, and their survival rate having been so small, it was not probable that he had lived.

Thinking of survival in this calculated manner was enough to snap him back to reality, as his damage sensors finally regained their function. To this sudden regaining of senses, the reploid’s body tightened from the delayed pain, a cringe contorting what could be seen of his face. It was as if he had been struck by lightning with how the pain shot through him. Siarnaq only now noticed that his fans were whirring viciously to this movement, his air intake unsteady. It seemed this was no minor wound. Escaping from this place would be no easy task…

Steadying his breathing best he could, the reploid opened his eyes, attempting an assessment of the bloody scene. Had he been more human, the male may have ‘felt sick’ at the sight of his own coolant dripping from his sides. While Siarnaq had not been completely impaled, his back had fallen directly onto the blunt edge of a metal chunk, stabbing into him at least 10cm, he hypothesised. Another piece of it was laying against him as well, limiting movement.

Taking a moment to deduce the safest route of procedure, the ninja gathered his strength and pushed up at the adjacent metal, leaning in its direction before forcing his body to roll the opposite way. The metal crashed atop the spot he had just been as he fell to the ground with a muffled thump. It was fortunate that the sand softened the fall. He was in no shape for additional bodily trauma…

Lifting himself up to rise, his damage sensors were becoming a numbing constant as the ninja removed his scarf in order to tie it around his torso section. The artificial male had to keep what coolant he had left… And unfortunately, the ‘clotting’ effect that the Reploid coolant of 25XX had was not as efficient to that of a human. Nothing was truly equal…

Looping the fabric twice around him, the reploid halted in anticipation before tightening a knot behind him to create pressure. The only noise that came out of his mouth in this action was the electronic crackle of a voice box struggling not to utter sound. It had been a long time since he felt pain such as this… Likewise a length time it had been since he had been bloodied by his own coolant… But memories of this had been shoved to the back of his mind, and were nowhere near him now.

However Siarnaq had knowingly been pushing himself with all this movement and exertion, so in surrendering to a short pause, his body leaned against the metal he had just been clamped between, somewhat relaxing for the time being.

If only for now, the ninja finally looked beyond his immediate surroundings to the sunset that was falling. Pinks and oranges mixed in the sky as a blinding sun fell across the horizon. It was a sight Siarnaq used to behold… In a time he had locked away in his memory banks.

Just then, it occurred to him that he had been merged before they had fallen. It was inconceivable such a fact had not been noticed by him sooner, but a plausible explanation was a lack of efficiency due to coolant loss. The male settled on that, unwilling to accept that his processing was not always as to par as he preferred. Even so, this fact brought to his attention that his biometal was missing.

Despite searching his memory, Siarnaq could not deduce when he had unmerged, data scattered in bits as if damaged. He’d assess if he had processor damage later, as there was a different objective at hand.

Bound and in chains her eyes watched as she was to be given her final ‘farewells’ by the guardians. Her head bowing as she knew these were to be her final moments. Eyes filled with tears though refused to let them fall as she finally had her last visitor. 

Blue eyes looked up at the male with something akin to a glare. Hoping it would encourage the other to leave her be as she was done with dragging this out. Though the look in Phantom’s eyes made her blood run cold and her body stiffen. Staring in shock as she received a kiss from the reploid, fear gripping her heart as this was a final respect. A seal that only death and misfortune awaited her the next time these prison walls opened.

As he pulled away tears formed in her eyes and she fell to her knees. Unable to say anything as the guardian took his leave without a word to her. Allowing her gaze to fall down to the floor as she could now register the shouts and jeers outside her prison walls. Her eyes looking up at guards came for her and forced her onto her feet after Phantom left. Guessing that she was right about the kiss being a seal of her death.

"Let’s get this over." She stated, just so tired as her head bowed slightly and she was pushed forward. Soon though she straightens herself out and holding her head high even if she wanted to cry she might as well die with dignity. To show everyone that she believed her cause was just even if others didn’t. For she didn’t regret her decision to rebel only that she couldn’t have done more.

It was unfortunate, but he’d been forced into a difficult position. One that required a… Sacrifice. It was truly regretful, but he couldn’t shield Phantom.

The reploid had trusted X of course, all the guardians did. But, due to the accident X knew that keeping the secretive member of the four guardians would only weaken his position.

He had no choice but… To let Phantom take the fall. X knew he could have saved him. He could have protected him. However, the sad fact was, by protecting him his power would be lessened, weakened. With the current state of affairs that was… Unacceptable.

"We the eight judges of Neo Arcadia have no choice but to hand down our verdict."

X looked away. He’d sold out Phantom to ensure his continuing support base.

"Phantom, general of the Zan’ei Army… We find you guilty of all charges. Your sentence is to be carried out pending a future trial."

As the guards dragged Phantom away X heard his shout of surprising anguish.

( MMZ1 based for easy use :’3 )

Battle Intro: This can’t be good…

Victory: -honestly shocked she won though shakes it off- I can’t stay, but please don’t throw your life away for a lie.

Defeat: No, please! Reconsider what you’re about to do!

Requesting Assistance: I-I need your help, Phantom!

Assisting Your Muse: I never thought I would be helping you. But don't worry I got you.

Taunt: Does stealthy mean cowardly? Cause that’s what it feels like if you’re hiding from me.

hiddenphantom replied to your photo: Mr Serious is very incapable of crack isn’t he?...

yes he is