V.I.R.A.L

Zinnia sat in class, waiting for the day to go by. Lunch was just about over, and she was dreading double history. She slouched over her desk, staring at the whiteboard overhearing students gossiping. "Did you hear about that phantom streamer?"

"Phantom streamer?"

"Yeah, he's this streamer who kidnaps and tortures criminals live on V.I.R.A.L, no one knows who they are."

"What a load of bull, wouldn't their account get banned?"

"They do, but a few days later the phantom streamer will show up again with a brand-new account. V.I.R.A.L can't keep them down!"

"For real?! Sounds scary, well I suppose you have nothing to worry about if you're not a criminal."

Zinnia began listening in only to jump as serval students surrounded her. She sat up, looking startled. "Was that you on V.I.R.A.L the other night Zinnia?" Zinnia gave a blank nodding. "I knew it! See Parker, I told you! You owe me lunch."

"Ahh, come on no fair!"

They turned back to her, wanting the scoop. "So, who are you and that guy planning on taking out next?"

"Does it go to our school?"

"Who is he?"

Zinnia became overwhelmed but was saved luckily by the bell. She let out a longwinded sigh crashing back down already regretting choosing her real name. "So, that's why heroes have secret identities..."

The teacher walked in, looking more excited than usual. "Settle down class, settle down. We have an exceptional guest today who wants to talk to you all about crime and being safe out there."

The entire class groaned knowing all well it wasn't anyone special. That mindscape, however, soon collapsed as a scruffy looking man walked in with a cigarette in his mouth. The class erupted all apart from Zinnia, who was just left confused. She leaned over, whispering to the student next to her. "Who is that?"

"You're kidding me! I thought of all people you would know who Vanguard is."

Zinnia's eyes widened as she turned back to the sad excuse for a man taken back. From all the stories she heard, she assumed the legendary number one streamer would be a hulk of a man which inspired hope and justice. Zinnia got more of a sad vibe, debating wherever or not she should hand him some money to get some warm food. Vanguard sat on the desk nodding waving his hand around already looking done with the whole ordeal. "Yes, yes, I know. Wow, look it's vanguard..." He leaned forward his eyes drooping over as he yawned. "Your headmaster has asked me to come and talk to you today about crime prevention and some other crap." He lit his cigarette, smoking it but to no retaliation. It didn't take a genius to know smoking was banned in school, yet the teacher was okay with it.

A student raised her hand, which Vanguard gave a little nod. She stood up bowing. "But mister Vanguard sir. Don't you do enough crime prevention?"

He gave a dry laugh rolling his eyes. "I do, but I'm more here to stop you all becoming the next thug I crush under my boot. You know the ordeal, don't steal. Don't get into fights and don't do drugs. But you didn't need me to tell you that." He looked around the room, taking another puff of his smoke. "Tell me how many of you have accounts on V.I.R.A.L?" Majority of the class raised their arms, Zinnia reluctantly did so too, sharing it with Alton. He nodded with them. "As expected, And I'm sure many of you want to be streamers one day too. Some of you might even have some extra special power to fight crime. Well, I'm here to tell you to give up on that dream. Unless you want to get, yourself killed. Leave it to the professional."

"How can you say something like that?" Zinnia barked standing up. This got everyone's attention as Vanguard stared at her with a bored tone. "You're the number one streamer, you're meant to inspire people to be like you and carry on the torch when you retire."

Vanguard smirked, putting out his smoke. "If I went around inspiring every star-struck idiot who had a dream, we would have a lot of dead bodies, wouldn't we? The whole streaming concept isn't for everyone. Why build up people who aren't built for the job when we already have very willing and well capable streamers who can do it."

"Like the streamer Ruby?"

The class began laughing as Vanguard shook his head in disapproval. "I'm right here, you know. That streamer, she won't ever catch up to me; I know that for certain. Like has anyone tried being a streamer here?"

"Zinnia is a part of team Rhapsody!" Someone yelled out.

Zinnia choked on her breath as Vanguard turned to her. "I assume you're Zinnia then. Interesting, well it's true I've heard of your little band of merry men taking down that streamer Pokiero the other day. I must applaud you there, but that is as far as my applauds go."

"We took down a corrupt streamer who was taking advantage of her viewers."

"You may see it that way, why yes she sure did have her way with her viewers many of them were already addicted to donating to the so-called e-girl scene. I'm sure that won't change with her gone. Also, what she was doing wasn't in the slightest bit illegal, those so-called victims willing gave their own money away."

"She used her powers to control their minds to donate. She even admits to it herself."

"Perhaps, doesn't change the fact she was still no different from the other streamers scamming their audience. We all need to make a living somehow. I assume from the lack of insight you don't know that 20% of all donations go to V.I.R.A.L. In return is passed back into the economy which helps fund schools, hospitals even orphanages. Not many people know that so I don't blame you for knowing. Do you watch the news?"

"Why would I watch the news for?"

"It's different every day, you might learn something."

"Yes, I knew that."

"Well, that's news to me." Vanguard comments. "But I must admit it did cause quite the stir. Your partner, Dauntless, was it? He put on quite the show. For a newly formed streaming group, he seems like quite the professional. But maybe I'm looking into the situation a bit too much." Zinnia stared at Vanguard with spite as she was about to speak up only for him to stop her. "I don't think we need to have a heated argument. As one streamer to another, let's just leave it there. You don't need any negative press against you." Zinnia looked around seeing people recording she bit her lip falling for his trap. She sat back down, cursing herself. "Now, shall we get back to the reason I'm here? Let's discuss how many thugs I've taken down, which were no older than yourself."

****

The class had finished as Zinnia was quite ready to go home having enough of the embarrassment. As she was about to leave Vanguard bumped into her in the hallway. "I'm sorry, sir."

"No need to be so formal, I'm just a streamer like yourself. Since I've got you here, I would like to have a word with you, in private."

Zinnia sighed nodding as she went back into the classroom. Vanguard sat on the teacher's desk, getting another smoke ready. He slouched over, scratching his stomach. "Look, Zinnia, all that back there was just fun and games to put on for the naïve and stupid fans. They are all a joke if you ask me."

"They look up to you."

"They are a real pain in my neck, always expecting you to save them, always expecting you to sign every piece of paper thrown in your face. Since I'm the number one hero I should just roll over and do what they say, give me a break. Now we can just talk one to one I can speak my mind without having every word taken out of context and used as clickbait for some shitty streamer's drama show."

"I don't understand."

Vanguard took a puff breathing it out everywhere. "I guess I wanted to thank you for taking down Pokiero, you did me a real favour."

"Huh, did she get to you too?"

"What, fuck no, I wouldn't fall for some whore shaking her tits around for money. The way I see you taking down 'corrupt' streamers makes my job easier. Fewer people to go up against. At least now with her went maybe some of her carefree money throwing fans might watch my streams and be just as generous."

"Is that all it's about for you? The money?"

"It's how the world goes around. I take it money is tight for you, right? The whole hero idea doesn't exactly scream profit."

"We're... we're still growing. Rome wasn't built in a day."

"And it also wasn't built by incompetent dreamers. I'm going to get real with you Zinnia, it's clear to me you don't run this team Rhapsody group. Dauntless is the leader yes, since you did cause quite an uproar in the community, I'll lend you a hand. I'm going to be streaming tomorrow. Probably take down more thugs than you will takedown in a month. How about we do a joint-stream?"

"Wait, you want to work together?"

"It could be amusing. You have nothing to lose. Your group streams with me, you get free publicity, attention and you get to play hero taking down thugs for the evening. It's also a great way to grow, trust me just streaming with me tomorrow, and you will break the top 100 streamers by the morning."

"What's in it for you?"

Vanguard laughed, throwing his smoke to the floor and stepping on it. "Does it matter what's in it for me? You won't get much of an option like this again."

"We can do a joint-stream with Ruby. She's also a popular streamer. We are already acquainted with her sister, and she was the one who broadcasted our stream the other day."

"You could do that, but why risk streaming with a to be a dead streamer. She won't be around for much longer. All of that is just some fluke. She will fade away in the coming weeks. I've been number one for years. Only an idiot would turn that down. And if you must know what I want. I simply just want to meet your leader."

"You want to meet Alton?"

"That's his name? Well, yes, I would like to meet Alton, I'm very much drawn to other powerful streamers. Your friend seems like quite the superhuman. So, what do you say?"

"Let me talk to the others about this first. We make decisions as a team."

"Quite right, that's understandable. Here I'll give you my card. Don't leave it too long, of course, if you want to keep taking down small-time streamers you can, I judge your group not lasting any more than a month max. Or you could stream with me and reach heights you never dreamed of. Think about it, hero."

Vanguard walked off as students were crowded around the room. They began swarming in asking Zinnia all sorts of questions. She didn't answer any of them too fixated on the card.

"Did he ask you to join him?"

"What did he say?!"

"Are you doing a joint-stream? You're going to say yes, right?"

"Of course, she is. Why wouldn't she say yes?"

"Well, Zinnia?"

Zinnia looked at the card crushing it in her hand. "I'll show him just who he is messing with."