Blue Cop sat in the repair shop, adjusting his visor when Jun stormed in, dripping wet. His blue hair stuck to his face, and his clothes were soaked through. His expression was a mix of frustration and exhaustion.

Blue Cop raised an eyebrow. "You look like you just went swimming."

Jun groaned, shaking his arms. "I wish that were the case! Some stupid fire truck Cardbot sprayed the whole place while putting out a tiny candle—on Anna's birthday cake!"

Mega Trucker, who had been leaning against the wall, burst out laughing. "Wait, wait, let me get this straight... A fire truck ruined a cake?"

Jun glared at him. "It's not funny! Anna's party was completely ruined! The fire truck just blasted the whole table, got me and everyone soaked, and then acted like it was 'just doing its job.'"

Blue Cop sighed, standing up. "Did you catch its name?"

Jun nodded, squeezing water out of his sleeves. "Yeah. Blaze Breaker."

Mega Trucker scoffed. "Oh, great. That overcautious nutjob. He probably saw the candles and thought the whole place was about to go up in flames."

Jun crossed his arms. "Well, we're gonna go find him and make him fix this."

Blue Cop nodded. "Agreed. If he's a Metal Cardbot, we need to keep him under control."

Mega Trucker cracked his knuckles. "This is gonna be fun."

Jun groaned again, still dripping. "Can we at least get me a towel first?"

As Blue Cop grabbed a towel and started drying Jun's soaked hair, Mega Ambler, sitting nearby with his arms crossed, spoke up.

"You sure it was Blaze Breaker? Sounds more like something Phoenix Fire would pull."

Jun groaned. "Ugh, don't remind me. If it was Phoenix Fire, then this is gonna be even worse..."

Blue Cop carefully dried Jun's hair, his movements precise and mechanical, though gentle. Jun sighed, finally feeling less like a walking puddle.

Just then, Mega Trucker strolled into the room, fresh from the shower, steam still trailing from his damp orange-and-white metal plating. He stretched, then looked at Blue Cop with a smirk.

"Hey, since you're already drying people off, how about you do the same for me?" He spread his arms expectantly.

Blue Cop immediately froze, his visor flickering slightly as his cheeks turned red. "W-What?"

Mega Trucker chuckled. "C'mon, be a good little partner and help me out."

Blue Cop tightened his grip on the towel, his expression unreadable. Jun, watching this unfold, raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, good luck with that, Trucker."

Mega Trucker grinned, leaning closer. "Aww, don't be shy, Cop. I don't bite... much."

Blue Cop quickly tossed the towel at him and turned away. "Dry yourself."

Mega Trucker caught it effortlessly, laughing. "Tch, cold as ever."

Jun sighed. "Can we focus? If Phoenix Fire really is the one responsible, we're in for a mess."

Blue Cop took a deep breath, his blush fading as he refocused. "Then let's track him down before he causes more damage."

Mega Trucker threw the towel over his shoulder. "Fine, fine. But you owe me that drying session later."

Blue Cop shot him a glare, but Mega Trucker just winked.

Jun knew it was risky, but there was no better way to get Phoenix Fire's attention. He reached out and yanked the fire alarm.

The blaring sirens echoed through the school hallways as students and teachers scrambled outside in confusion. Jun, however, calmly slipped out, heading toward the back of the school where Blue Cop, Mega Trucker, and Mega Ambler were already waiting.

Mega Trucker leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "Took you long enough, brat."

Jun rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. I had to make sure no one saw me. Now we wait."

Mega Ambler adjusted his visor. "If Phoenix Fire is nearby, he won't ignore something like this. He loves chaos."

As they waited in silence, Mega Trucker suddenly smirked and nudged Blue Cop. "Y'know, you really turned red back at the shop earlier. Never seen you flustered before."

Blue Cop stiffened, his visor flickering. "I wasn't flustered."

Mega Trucker leaned in, lowering his voice. "Oh? So if I asked you to dry my hair right now, you wouldn't hesitate?"

Blue Cop's jaw clenched. "...Now is not the time for this."

Jun groaned. "Can you two not do this right now?"

Mega Trucker chuckled. "What? I'm just saying—it's funny seeing Mr. Emotionless actually react to something for once." He playfully elbowed Blue Cop. "Maybe you do have feelings in there."

Blue Cop sighed heavily. "You're being insufferable."

Mega Trucker grinned. "And you love it."

Before Blue Cop could retort, the temperature in the air suddenly spiked. The sound of crackling flames echoed in the distance.

Mega Ambler's visor beeped. "He's here."

Jun clenched his fists. "Alright. Time to put this fire out."

As the air grew hotter, the sound of crackling flames intensified. From the distance, a massive fire truck came screeching to a stop in front of them. The metal exterior gleamed under the afternoon sun, its red, white, gray, and black paint job reflecting the light in a way that made it look almost alive.

Phoenix Fire.

His sirens blared once before shutting off. Steam hissed from his vents as he transformed into his humanoid form, standing taller than the others with a strong, battle-ready stance. His red and white frame was sturdy, built for both combat and rescue operations.

"Who pulled the alarm?" His voice was sharp, demanding. His golden optics scanned the group, narrowing slightly when he spotted Blue Cop.

Jun stepped forward. "I did."

Phoenix Fire crossed his arms. "And why exactly did you think that was a good idea?"

"We needed to talk to you," Blue Cop said, stepping beside Jun.

Phoenix Fire let out a low chuckle. "You needed to talk, so you set off a school-wide emergency? That's reckless."

Mega Trucker snorted. "Says the guy who used to drive through burning buildings instead of around them."

Phoenix Fire's visor flickered. "I did what was necessary to save lives back on Machina."

Mega Ambler stepped forward, his tone calmer. "And that's exactly why we need you now, Phoenix. You were built to save people. To fight. To protect."

Phoenix Fire's expression hardened as he glanced back at Blue Cop. "And yet you're standing with him."

Blue Cop met his gaze without flinching. "Because Metal Breath is the sign of the chosen one. It's not just about me—it's about all of us. We need to be together to stop what's coming."

Phoenix Fire exhaled, steam escaping from his vents. "I don't take orders from you, Blue Cop. You failed to save him." His voice was heavy, filled with resentment.

Jun clenched his fists. "You think blaming him is gonna change anything? If you care so much about saving people, then help us instead of acting like the past can be undone."

Phoenix Fire's eyes flickered with something unreadable before he scoffed. "I don't take orders from brats, either."

Mega Trucker leaned toward Blue Cop with a smirk. "This guy is really stubborn, huh?"

Blue Cop sighed. "He always was."

Phoenix Fire turned away as if ready to leave. "I have no reason to join you."

Jun took a deep breath before holding up Metal Breath. "Then I'll make you listen."

Phoenix Fire's optics widened slightly before he grinned. "Alright, kid. Show me what you've got."

Phoenix Fire raised his arm, the nozzle on his forearm shifting as water pressure built up inside.

"Let's see if you can handle this!" he shouted before releasing a powerful blast of water.

Blue Cop's eyes widened as he quickly ducked out of the way. The water shot past him—

SPLASH!

The blast hit Mega Trucker directly in the face, drenching him from head to toe. The force pushed him back a few steps, and steam rose from his metal body as the water mixed with the heat he naturally radiated.

There was a long, tense silence.

Mega Trucker stood there, dripping wet, his expression unreadable at first—until his metal fingers twitched, and his gold optics flashed with rage.

"...You did not just do that." His voice was low, dangerous.

Phoenix Fire blinked. "Oops."

Mega Trucker clenched his fists. "Oops?!" He stomped forward, water splashing beneath his heavy steps. "You're dead, Firetruck!"

Phoenix Fire smirked. "Gotta catch me first, big guy."

Mega Trucker let out a growl before charging at him.

Meanwhile, Blue Cop just sighed, rubbing his forehead as Jun stood beside him.

"Well," Jun muttered, "this is going great."

As Mega Trucker lunged toward Phoenix Fire, the red-and-white Cardbot swiftly dodged, using his agility to avoid the larger bot's wrath.

"Come on, Trucker, it was just water!" Phoenix Fire teased, but there was an underlying tension in his voice.

Blue Cop, observing from the side, narrowed his eyes. Something was off.

Jun also noticed. "Hey, does he seem... nervous to you?"

Blue Cop crossed his arms. "Yeah. He's keeping his distance—too much distance. He's not fighting back like he usually would."

Mega Trucker swung his arm, but Phoenix Fire ducked and rolled away, landing near the remains of a burnt-out trash can from the fire alarm stunt. His optics flickered when he saw the charred metal. He froze.

His fists clenched. His vents became uneven, his frame trembling slightly.

Mega Trucker took the chance to charge again, but this time, Blue Cop stepped in between them. "Enough," he ordered, holding out his arm to stop Mega Trucker.

Mega Trucker huffed but took a step back, still dripping wet. "You're lucky, Firetruck. I was about to—"

But Blue Cop wasn't looking at him anymore. He was looking at Phoenix Fire, who was stiff, his eyes locked on the burnt metal.

"Phoenix Fire?" Blue Cop's voice softened.

Phoenix Fire's vents shuddered. He swallowed hard, his optics flickering between blue and yellow. He gritted his teeth. "...It's nothing," he muttered, tearing his gaze away.

Jun furrowed his brows. "It's not nothing. What's wrong?"

Phoenix Fire took a shaky step back, then turned away from them completely. "I don't want to talk about it." His voice was firm, but there was an unmistakable waver beneath it.

Blue Cop exchanged a look with Jun and Mega Trucker. It wasn't hard to figure it out—whatever happened, whatever fire he had seen, it terrified him.

And for a Cardbot built to fight fires, that meant something terrible must have happened in his past.

Mega Ambler crossed his arms, watching Phoenix Fire tremble as he avoided looking at the burnt trash can. His visor flickered as he scanned him, analyzing his posture and breathing patterns. Then, with a knowing nod, he scoffed,

"He's scared of fires."

Phoenix Fire's head snapped toward him, his optics widening in shock. "I am not—"

Mega Ambler smirked. "Oh? Then why are you shaking?"

Phoenix Fire took a step back, his fists clenching, but he said nothing.

Jun looked at Blue Cop. "Is that true?"

Blue Cop studied Phoenix Fire in silence before nodding. "Yeah... I can see it too."

Mega Trucker, still dripping wet from the earlier blast, crossed his arms. "That makes no sense. You're literally built to put out fires. How can you be scared of them?"

Phoenix Fire shot him a glare but quickly looked away. His entire frame was tense, his servos twitching as if he wanted to bolt out of the repair shop. "I don't have to explain myself to you," he muttered.

Jun frowned. "Phoenix, we're not trying to make fun of you. We just... want to understand."

Mega Ambler huffed. "I already do understand. Something happened back on Machina, didn't it?"

Phoenix Fire's vents hitched, but he stayed silent.

Blue Cop took a step forward. "If you want to keep it to yourself, fine. But if you ever want to talk about it..." He met Phoenix Fire's gaze. "We're here."

Phoenix Fire looked at him for a moment, something unreadable in his expression. Then, with a sharp exhale, he turned away. "Whatever. Let's just get this over with."

Jun, Blue Cop, and the others exchanged glances. They knew they couldn't push him to talk, but one thing was clear—Phoenix Fire was haunted by something, and sooner or later, it was going to catch up to him.

Jun hesitated for a moment, watching Phoenix Fire's tense frame. The fire-fighting Cardbot stood stiffly, his optics dim, but he wasn't resisting.

"...You sure about this?" Jun asked cautiously, gripping Metal Breath tightly.

Phoenix Fire let out a sigh, lowering his head. "I don't have the energy to fight you guys. I know what this is all about... and maybe I do need some time to think."

Mega Trucker raised a brow. "Wow. That was easy."

Mega Ambler smirked. "Heh, guess the big bad fire truck isn't so tough after all."

Phoenix Fire shot him a glare but didn't say anything. Instead, he took a deep breath and closed his optics. "Just get it over with."

Jun tightened his grip on Metal Breath, then held it up. "Alright, then... Metal Cardbot! Change Up!!"

A bright glow engulfed Phoenix Fire as the sealing process began. The energy from Metal Breath swirled around him, forming circuits and locks that pulled him into the device. With a final burst of light, he was sealed away.

Jun exhaled, staring down at the watch. "That was... surprisingly smooth."

Blue Cop crossed his arms. "Not everyone wants to fight. Some just need a moment of peace."

Mega Trucker rolled his optics. "Still, kinda weird he just gave up."

Jun sighed, looking at Metal Breath. Phoenix Fire... what really happened to you?

Phoenix Fire's voice echoed in Jun's mind as the watch's glow began to fade. The fire-fighting Cardbot's words were slow, tinged with regret.

"I'm sorry, Jun," Phoenix Fire's voice came softly through the device. "I didn't mean to cause any trouble. It's just... I wasn't always like this."

Jun clenched his fist around the watch, feeling the weight of Phoenix Fire's apology. He had never expected this, especially after the intensity of their fight. "What do you mean?" Jun asked, his voice a little shaky.

"I... I've been running from it," Phoenix Fire continued, his tone filled with regret. "My escape pod, it... it caught fire on the way to Earth. I barely made it out. The flames, the heat... it was too much. It burned everything. The memory still haunts me. Every fire I fight... every time I see flames, it takes me back to that moment. And I can't escape it."

Jun stood still, absorbing the confession. He hadn't known the trauma Phoenix Fire was hiding beneath his tough exterior.

"Phoenix... I—" Jun started, unsure of what to say. He had seen Phoenix Fire as this fearless, unstoppable force, but now he understood the fear that had taken root deep within the Cardbot. "You don't have to fight anymore... not unless you're ready."

"I don't know if I'll ever be ready, Jun," Phoenix Fire replied quietly. "But I need to face this. I need to heal... and maybe, just maybe, I can be useful again. Without the fear."

There was a long pause. Jun looked down at Metal Breath in his hand, then back at Blue Cop and the others. His mind raced with what Phoenix Fire had just revealed. Maybe healing doesn't happen all at once. Maybe it's about taking things one step at a time.

"I'll help you, Phoenix Fire," Jun said firmly. "Whenever you're ready, we'll face it together. No one should have to carry a burden like that alone."

A moment of silence passed before Phoenix Fire's voice came again, softer but filled with gratitude. "Thanks, Jun. I... appreciate it."

Mega Trucker glanced at Blue Cop and then at Jun. "You know, you're not the only one with a messed-up past."

Jun looked up at him, surprised by the unexpected words. "What?"

Mega Trucker sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I didn't just show up to Earth for fun. I've got my own reasons. Some things I'm still trying to figure out. But for now... we help each other."

Jun nodded, understanding the silent solidarity between them. "Yeah... we all do."

Blue Cop, watching the exchange, gave a small, silent nod. "It's a start."

As they stood in the dimly lit room of the repair shop, the weight of the past seemed to lift, even if just a little. The journey ahead was uncertain, but at least, for now, they weren't facing it alone.