Hooded Phantom Rebirth

Season 2: Episode 22

Mike's POV

I slowly opened up my eyes, immediately feeling the soreness of my body. I groaned as I raised my upper body ever so slightly, rubbing the back of my neck as I looked around, still a bit groggy. The room itself seemed like a medical facility of some sort. Wait, why am I in a medical facility? Did something happen to me?

"Good, you're finally awake," said a female voice. I quickly turned towards the voice, noticing a figure standing along with another sitting down on a chair. I took a good look at the figure standing when I realized who it was. "L-Ladybug? Daniel? What's going on? What's is this place? Better yet, where am I?" I spoke, extremely confused. "We'll explain everything, just try to relax," Daniel said calmly. I looked at him, taking a deep breath before calming down. "First off, what's the last thing you remember?" He continued. I paused for a moment. "I-, I remember getting into another fight with my father. It must've been heated since he kick me out the house, forcing me to find a place to stay. I felt devastated. So I went to the bar which didn't end so well for me," I said, stilling trying to piece together what I can remember. "Why's that?" Asked Ladybug. "I, got drunk-, no, that's not right. Hammered felt more like it. Whatever it was, I opened my mouth when I should've kept it shut. I got the beating of my life and felt like garbage. But I can't argue. I deserved everything that was coming to me. But at that moment, I felt angry, worthless, and alone. After that I heard a voice and then some purple butterfly coming closer towards me. After that, it's all a blur," I answered.

Daniel and Ladybug looked at each other for a moment before facing me. "Have you gotten into contact with your father?" Ladybug questioned. "Not since he kicked me out. Why, did something happen?" I said, following up with a question. Daniel paused for a moment. "He was murdered," Daniel stated as my I eyes widened. "When you were akumatized, the anger and frustration took control of you and well, you came after the man that caused you so much pain," Daniel responded. I froze for a moment, holding my head for a moment. "I-I killed him? H-He wasn't a good man, but he didn't deserve this," I said as my throat began to feel sore.

Daniel sighed. "You weren't yourself when it happened, but there was more to it, wasn't there?" Daniel questioned. I paused as I heard this. "What. . . . What makes you say that?" I spoke hesitantly. "From what we've seen, people who've turned into Akumas tend to become stronger whenever there's more negativity in their lives. And well. . . . What I'm trying to say is-," Ladybug tried to explain before Daniel finished her sentence. "We know that your parents were preparing for a divorce," he claim, "We also know that your father's actions were the main reason because of it," Daniel continued. I looked at them with a slight shocked expression on my face.  "I- I thought those files have been kept in tight lock or some shit," I stated. That's when Daniel smirked. "Oh, they were. Thankfully, we know a guy who's good at breaking encryptions, among other things," Daniel answered. 

There was a moment of silence between the three of us. That was until, I tried breaking the silence. "So what happens to me now? You gonna turn me in?" I asked, lowering my head. "Not exactly," Daniel replied, catching me off guard. "Believe it or not, I've been in your shoes before. Having to deal with abuse from a young age. Having to take the beatings, the belittlement, and the trauma. It changes you. In many cases, like mine, it doesn't for the better. . . . I've done a lot of things that I'm not proud of. Hell, I've almost killed someone that has treated me like a friend. And still to this day, I apologize and thank him for all he's done for me, even if he can be reckless at times," Daniel lightly smiled. "So, I'm gonna give you an offer. The same offer that friend of mine gave to me," he extended his hand towards me. "Join us. Help us bring a stop to Shaokan's plans and let your road to redemption begin," Daniel stated, with a look I haven't seen in a long time. I weakly smiled as I looked at him. "Alright, you make a pretty convincing argument," I said, shaking his hand. All three of us were left smiling. Maybe this time. I could finally do some good.

Joseph's POV

I glanced at Davila's monitor as it kept tracking adnormal amounts of energy from a large laboratory that's been supposedly vacated a few months ago. "Looks like we found it," stated Davila, zooming into the lab as he laid back against his chair. I slightly smirked, placing my hand onto his shoulders. "Alright, there's no time to waste. How long till your suit's ready?" I questioned. He smirked. "All it's missing is a few additional paint jobs. But other than that, it's ready to go," Davila stated with a smirk of his own. "Wait, what's this about a suit?!" Eric exclaimed, stopping what he was doing as he looked at the two of us. I chuckled at this as the sounds of footsteps could be heard heading towards us.

Glancing at the hallway, I lightly smiled as Daniel, Ladybug, and Mike made their presence known. "He's in," Daniel stated, placing his hand over Mike's shoulder as Mike glanced at me for a moment. "So what they said is true. You're the Phantom aren't you?" He questioned, leaving me to answer with a simple nod. "That, actually explains a lot. . . . Listen, about all those things I did-," he said as I stopped him. "Let's, not get caught up in the past," I said, raise my hand towards him, "I'm just glad to have you on our side now," I continued. He shook my hand lightly smiling. "I'll do everything I can to help get this son of a bitch," Mike exclaimed. I smirked. "I'm counting on it," was all I was able to say with the sounds of an alarm began to echo in the lab. Most of us looked at each other confused, all the while Davila rose to his feet. "Someone's trying to get into the lab," he quickly exclaimed. "A.R.I.E.S. lock the place down!" Davila shouted as A.R.I.E.S.'s voice came from the monitors as reinforced doors began to lower from the hallway and rooms. Davila went over towards the desk, pressing his thumb onto the inside wall of the desk, opening a hidden compartment. Acting quickly, he grabbed a glock from the compartment, loading it before handing it towards Mike as he then grabbed a small mechanical watch of his own, placing it on his wrist as it began to form into a wrist ended gauntlet.

Everyone covered each other's back, getting in a defensive position as we glanced at the door overlooking the hallway.

Suddenly the lights began to go out, only leaving the emergency red lights as the sounds of frantic scratching and slamming could be heard. I transformed into my suit, frowning under my mask as I waited for what's to come. That's when we all heard the voice. Even now, it shook us to our very core. And in an almost singing yet malicious tone, he spoke to us from outside those doors. . . .

"I found you"