V.I.R.A.L

The whole alley was torn to shreds as the drones kept on firing. Once the dust subsided Team Rhapsody was gone as a giant ice wall was constructed. Alton lay on the roof panting. "Is everyone alright?"

"Super-duper." Percy groaned, holding his head, feeling dizzy.

Zinnia began coughing shivering as she looked over the edge seeing their drones scouting around. "What the hell was that? The drones tried to kill us? The drones tried killing us! How is that possible?"

Iris stood up, looking concerned. "Seems like V.I.R.A.L liked to keep that small detail from us during the interviews. Come join V.I.R.A.L, get rich and famous but be warned your drones might one day turn on you and gun you down!"

"It's like that scene from Star Wars. You think V.I.R.A.L targeted us?"

"Unlikely. No one else has been attacked. Although we can't be certain."

"Maybe it was P4R4D0X? Do you think she ordered the attack?"

"She?" Alton asked lost.

Emil spat over his shoulder, frustrated. "Creepypastas don't use drones to kill their targets."

"My thoughts exactly."

"So what?" Zinnia questioned, trying to piece the puzzle together. "I don't understand."

Alton chuckled, folding his arms still blind to the fog. "The fact that this P4R4D0X is fake. It seems somebody liked the urban legend a bit too much and decided to scare the nation with the hoax."

"Is somebody seriously taking the joke this far? Somebody could die." Gale argued squatting up and down, keeping himself active.

"Somehow I think the imposter doesn't really care."

"What are you doing?"

"Getting ready to run!" Gale panted. "I can guarantee you that they are going to find us any moment now. I'm not sticking around when they do."

"We still sure it isn't V.I.R.A.L?" Iris muttered hands shaking slightly.

"I can't be sure for certain. However, I doubt they would attack us like that for no reason. To V.I.R.A.L we are money bags. They wouldn't just dispose of a stable income." Alton argued still locked on all possibilities. "For now, we should get out of here. Find somewhere safe to lay low."

"The karaoke bars?"

"No, that's a known place. We've streamed there a few times."

"The orphanage is a bad idea. I don't want to put the others endanger."

"Well let's just hide out at Alton's place."

"What?! Hell no, I just got that place paid off!"

"Oh, for cry out loud! We'll head to my estate!" Iris screamed. "Now can we go before the murdering drones come for us?!"

"You mean those murdering drones?" Gale asked, pointing towards the streaming drones.

"Everyone move!"

"Where?! I can't see shit with this fog!"

Zinnia rushed forward pushing Gale forward as they all began jumping between rooftops. Percy jumped spinning around, calling a clone to slam on the drone. A clone of Gale appeared taking all the gunfire before smashing a drone out with a single hit.

"Why does everyone just see me like a bullet sponge?" Gale muttered.

"You're not just any bullet sponge Gale; you're out bullet sponge!" Zinnia argued as she tripped on the last jump hanging onto the edge. "Whoa!"

"Shit, Zinnia!"

Scarlett slid over, holding her hand out. "Zinnia hold on! I've got you!"

"Alton the drones!" Percy yelled. Alton bit his lip, unable to see the drones. He was still in the dark.

As they closed in on the girls, Scarlett prepared for the worst. That was until they flew past her firing at Alton and Iris. "What the?!"

Emil caved into the floor as the drones began firing at him too. "Why are they ignoring Zinnia and Scarlett?"

Percy stood in confusion. "Me too!"

Gale tackled a drone to the ground smashing it. "Well, the little shits are coming after me!"

"Wait…" Alton muttered lost in thought.

Iris summoned her cube to cover Alton as his cover was bombarded with gunfire. "Is now really the time to think?"

"I need just a moment!"

"Oh, for goodness sake! Emil, Gale cover us!" Iris snapped as the cubes surrounded them both blocking off all areas. Iris kneeled as Alton continued to think. "We won't have long. You better be coming up with a plan!"

"As long as we are streaming more drones will be sent to us when they are destroyed. Yet they aren't attacking Percy, Zinnia or Scarlett. It isn't a gender situation as they are attacking you… wait. Those three couldn't see the fog, yeah?"

"I suppose yeah, wait? Does that mean the drones are only targeting the ones consumed by the fog? Why?"

"You are not worthy. That's what the P4R4D0X imposter keeps taunting. They attacked me on the train but left Scarlett unharmed. Maybe, just maybe it seems them as worthy?"

"So, the plan?"

"Use us as bait while the others take them down."

"It's the best we've got," Iris argued, dropping the barrier. "Percy! Take care of these drones, we'll hold them back!"

Percy gave a smug look cracking his knuckles. "You don't have to tell me twice!" Serval clones emerged mimicking Percy as they were jumping onto each other's backs to reach the drones. The last Percy grabbed the drone switching it off. As he hit the floor, the other clones took care of the rest as the targets were left exhausted. "Easy peasy lemon squeezy."

"Maybe for you! Next time you try and dodge barrages of bullets!" Emil snapped.

"Hey, I don't apricate the aggressive tone. I saved your life."

"Cut him some slack Emil. Good job Percy."

"I think that is all of them!" Scarlett sighed. "Thank Goodness."

The fog was only thickening making it now impossible to see anything. But what was crystal clear was the number of lights emitting all around them. Gale's face dropped by the thought. "Don't tell me!"

Zinnia stood up frozen on the spot looking on in pure horror. There were now dozens of streaming drones everywhere. "Give us a break…"

Alton gripped his fist tightly mumbling. "Everyone get behind me. I'll handle this." Preparing to push his body to the limit and freeze the area, he let out a frozen breath. "Here goes nothing."

"What's that?!" Percy yelled, pointing above them as a blinding light consumed the area; it was so bright it even was visible clearly through the fog.

Iris' eyes lit up as she began freaking out. "No way! She found us! She found us!"

"Who?" Zinnia questioned.

Each of the drones exploded as a storm of arrows ripped through each one like paper. The night sky was met with an array of explosions which even lightened the fog, making it visible. Iris threw her fist in the air with a triumph cheer. "Always getting yourself in trouble I see little sis. Why am I never surprised?" Everyone turned around, seeing a small girl in a penguin onesie. She had long silver hair going down to her waist with two coloured eyes, one red and the other golden yellow. She looked on with a blank, lifeless expression holding a white bow behind her as the sky exploded around her. "I hope you all have been putting up with her."

"Alice!" Iris yelled, running over and hugging her sister. "You saved me again, sis!"

"No way it's Ruby! The great and powerful Ruby saved us! That's awesome; she's awesome." Percy said, geeking out. "This has been a good day."

"So that's Iris' sister."

"She took down all those drones with a single draw of her bow," Scarlett stated, looking conflicted.

"Doesn't surprise me!" Zinnia bold commented. "We saw how crazy strong Iris was against Vanguard; she said that her sister was stronger. Yup, yup. My theory was correct."

"It's not a theory if it was already confirmed," Emil said.

Alton took a moment to adjust himself after preparing a devastating attack on the foe and himself. "You alright?" Scarlett asked.

"Just about, actually quite thankful I didn't have to use my powers. Ha, ha…" He looked at his phone as the last notification came through. You will never be worthy of his place. The cult of Vanguard. "What the fuck?"

****

"Your worthiness! Your worthiness! The drones we hijacked. They were all destroyed."

"Expected as much. I wouldn't imagine mere drones could exterminate those vermin. They did manage to take down his lordship."

"What should we do? They will be known of us now."

"As they should. We have no reason to hide. We have nothing to hide. What we want is simple and pure. We don't want a war. We don't want bloodshed or terror. We simply want him back on top. Tell the others. The time has almost come!"

"Yes, your worthiness!"

"Your drones failed us Paradox."

"It's going to take more than V.I.R.A.L's drones to kill remarkable streamers like them," P4R4D0X whispered. "They are not worthy to die such an easy death. False believers should die by my hand."

"Why didn't you target the other two members of Rhapsody? Ingrid and Vanguardian are just as much to blame as Alton and Iris were."

"They are of pure heart and motive. I will not target the worthy."

"What about the other one?"

"I couldn't work her out. The member of the Dawn family kept me out. I chose not to attack her."

"They are all targets now. Team Rhapsody. It's your fault all of this happened. Crime going through the roof. People's disapproval of V.I.R.A.L. Worst of all, forcing our hero into a cell to rot away for crimes he didn't commit. That will change soon enough. The golden age of Vanguard will return once Team Rhapsody falls under the boot of the heroes of justice. The cult of Vanguard will win."