V.I.R.A.L

Chapter 20: My Mentally Unstable Streamer Part 3

"Clark! Clark! Are you ready? We're going to be late!" Clark's mother yelled from the bottom of the stairs.

Clark glossed over his belongs, getting the last watch from serval streamers. He was ready to give the final donation as he heard his mother yell out again. He sighed donating all while waiting for the confirmation. "We have a ten-dollar donation from Clark Henderson. Unity you've been a real inspiration for me these past six months, I'm about to take the test to become a streamer myself! Well, it's been an absolute honour kid. When you get in shoot over a private message. Maybe we'll do a stream with you? What do you think, Avalanche? Avalanche? Oi, Oi! Are you even listening to me?! Avalanche I swear to God! "

Clark turned off the stream, grabbing the paperwork and his backpack which he had his costume ideas and a bottle of water. He rushed down the stairs feeling ecstatic bobbing up and down. "Sorry, I'm ready, I'm ready to be a streamer."

His mother ruffled his hair up, smiling. "Well, what are we waiting for let's go! In the car." Clark rushed out of the house, hopping into the car. His mother soon was after as she closed the door turning to him. "You good? No turning back?"

"Go, Go, Go! My streaming days are about to begin!"

"Alright, sport. Viral HQ here we come." She laughed, pulling out of the driveway. The drive wouldn't take too long, but to Clark, it was a lifetime. He had been dreaming of this moment for his whole life. He was going to be a streamer. Just like his favourites, Vanguard, DawnBreakers and Hero's Might just to name a few. He was going to be big. No huge. No. The number one streamer. He kept fidgeting around in his seat as he looked to his mum. "Did you sign the paperwork they gave you?"

"Yup!" Said Clark, in an enthusiastic tone bobbing his head to the music. "I made serval copies so I could practice. I've got my name all figured out! I'm going to be Hero's Might."

"You can't be called that. Isn't that the name of your favourite streamers?" She laughed.

Clark smacked his hand against the car seat grumbling. "Mum! I've told you! That's the name of the group. There are serval streamers apart of that group, there's Avalanche, the leader Unity, Vertigo, oh and Peacekeeper… I guess, Hero's Justice."

"I think they will allow it. Just, don't get your hopes up too high dear. It will take you a while to get to the numbers of those guys."

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"I know mum… Hero's Might isn't that big. They only have 200 followers. Their streams only get seventy to eighty views… but. They look like they have so much fun. I want that!"

"I'm sure you will knock them, dead honey. You're going to be the best streamer all of time."

****

"I'm sorry kid, you can't be a streamer." Clark froze falling silent as his mum sat next to him, confused. "There is nothing we can do."

"My son is a good boy. He's never been in trouble. I don't see the problem here!"

"We understand how you feel Mrs Henderson. But your son will only be a danger to himself and others if we allowed him to participate."

"He's old enough to be a streamer. Is it because he has no powers? Lots of streamers have no powers. I just. I just don't understand the problem here!"

The interviewer sighed, shaking his head. "His sanity level is well below the recommended streaming capacity. We run this test for everyone wanting to be a streamer. It's to avoid mentally unstable people causing problems and putting the safety of others in risk. Surely you must understand?"

"No, I don't. Clark, he doesn't have any mental health problems. I've taken him to every check-up. He's a good boy at school. The test must be wrong!"

"I can ensure you, mam, the test is 95% accurate. We don't get this wrong."

"What about the other five-per cent?"

"Excuse me?"

Clark's mother began shaking her leg, nervously. "What about the five per cent of tests?"

The interviewer sighed glimpsing over the test results. "Mam if I were to let someone with a sanity level this low on the programme it could be devastating. Even if he doesn't cause any problems, online harassment, trolls and attention could cause your son to have a mental breakdown. I've seen it happen. Look if you disagree with the test, you can put through an appeal and try the test again next year, although it will cost you this time and I'm afraid to say, mam, you just can't afford it…"

"This is a joke. An absolute joke! Paying money to skip over the tests. How can you live with yourselves?!" She snapped, standing up, taking Clark by the arm and pulling him away. The two left the room as they stood at the reception to V.I.R.A.L HQ. "Don't listen to them Clark, they don't know what they are talking about. I'll work extra hard at work. Yes, and Daddy too. Forget the holiday. We'll save up and retake the test!"

"Mum… am I not good enough to be a streamer?"

"Of course, you are sweety. They just got it wrong. We'll show them. We'll show them they got it wrong and you'll be the best streamer in the world!"

"Mum…"

"Yes."

"I don't want to be a streamer anymore…"

****

"Damn it banned again… give me a BREAK!" His head cranked to Zinnia as his anger built into an unbridled explosion of rage. "I'll make you pay! I'll crush each of you under my boot and make sure Team Rhapsody never see another stream again. Only I can stay standing!" Zinnia kept pulling away, hoping to break free as the Phantom Streamer moved towards her. He scrunched his grip as his hand fazed through Zinnia's chest, going straight for her heart. She let out a scream as no one was coming to help her. "Die!" He tore his hand back as he pulled Zinnia's heart clean from her body. She fell back dead as he held the heart up laughing. He began to crush it in his hand only for it to vanish. He stepped back in confusion. He turned around to Zinnia's dead body only to watch it fade away. "What the?! What the hell!"

"Clark, you fool! Percy!" The voice roared in his head.

His eyes widened as he fell for Percy's powers. "Damn it! Where?!"

Before he could react, Percy came out of nowhere kicking him to the floor. The Phantom Streamer tumbled over as Percy vanished. Soon dozens of clones appeared around the Phantom Streamer as drones began to show it all off. He laid back coughing as his phone went off. A notification from V.I.R.A.L, Team Rhapsody's stream had changed the title. Exposing the Phantom Streamer, the mentally unstable streamer. He gritted his teeth as Zinnia was standing on a new warehouse shelf boldly laughing. "Did you honestly think we would fall for your little trap Clark Henderson?!"

"How do you know my name?!"

"When we caught wind, we were streaming with you, I got in contact with DrDestruction, and although he can't be here today, he was more than happy to dig up your record. Failed streamer who couldn't pass the test. So, you buy fake accounts in hopes of making it big, your twisted ways in killing criminals and hunting down other streamers out of jealousy are unforgivable! Therefore, see it that Team Rhapsody shall take you down once and for all!"

"You can't let them win Clark! Only through me can you find your true Salvation. Take the future yourself. Don't let anyone stand in the way of your story. The story of the number one streamer!"

Clark held his head gagging. He felt the powers given to him reacting. Growing. He began rolling around, crying out. He stopped pulling at his hair as he began to laugh. "I get it now. This is a test. One in which I am backed against the corner. This, however, isn't a problem. This is just a hurdle for my origin story. The origin story of the Phantom Streamer the number one hero! I won't let you get in my way!"

The Phantom Streamer shot up as each of Percy's clones rushed him. Phasing through each one he stepped behind them kicking one in the back of the knee and stacking it up with a punch which took down the clone instantly. The other clones were slightly startled as the Phantom Streamer shook his head hissing. "Who's next?!" The other clones crowded around, blocking his escape. The Phantom Streamer threw a punch which predictably Percy's clone reacted trying to block the attack. He phased through the clone swiping at his head which came clean off. The clone faded as each of the remaining clones looked, even more, conflicted and worried. And that showed too as each clone was much slower and weak compared to the first one letting The Phantom Streamer plough through them like grains of sand till all there was left was Percy. He fell back on the floor devastated, unable to call any more clones wholly overwhelmed by his opponent. The Phantom Streamer glared down smirking readying his fists. That was until Zinnia jumped down, reaching her arms out. He turned around, allowing Zinnia to phase through. That was what she wanted as she scooped Percy in her arms throwing him on her back before running into the blitz. The Phantom Streamer looked on tutting falling for another one of Zinnia's tricks.

Gaining distance Zinnia collapsed to the floor unable to carry Percy as the two were roasting under the fire. "Are you alright?"

Percy curled up, looking defeated as he gulped. "It's useless. We can't beat him. I can't even land a hit on the guy. He's invincible… who am I kidding to think I could live up to Vanguard… I'm useless."

"Whoa?! Where did this come from? We don't have time for this; he simply took us by surprise. We didn't know his powers. But now we do. Just, make more clones or something. Vanguard clones. More of those Ruby clones. Just clone, clone, clone!"

"I can't. I don't feel like it…"

"Huh?! What do you mean?"

Percy curled up more. He couldn't even dare look Zinnia in the eyes. "It's the drawback in my powers. If I don't have enough self-confidence in myself, neither will my clones. They will turn out sloppy and weak… it's why I always have to act so grand and big if I let my guard down for a second, it's over. I can no longer fight if I just pretend to be strong. Convince myself I could be Vanguard's sidekick I thought, maybe I could do anything. If I can't even defeat one simple streamer, what hope do I have."

Zinnia felt disheartened. She didn't know this was how Percy truly felt. He was good at hiding it to not even she could sense the turmoil. She fell next to him, sighing holding his hand. "I'm sorry… truth be told from the moment I saw you I wanted no part of it. When Alton told me, you were going to be apart of the team I lost my cool. I just thought you to be a stupid kid who loves Vanguard too much. It made me act out always wanted you gone. But Alton called the shots and kept you in. I was selfish and stupid. Like I could do much better in a fight… I've been nothing more than a burden to Alton and Gale. Got Alton into this mess picking fights I had no right in winning. Could have lost it all against Pokiero and now I failed to support you here. I sure like talking big about being a hero, but when the action starts, I'm forced to the side to watch everyone else save the day. What sort of hero is that? I guess truth be told I was jealous of having another amazing person steal the spotlight from me. It's only a matter of time before I should just quit. Who am I a hero too if I can't even save a single person?"

The flames ignited as the warehouse began to fall apart. Percy turned to Zinnia who had now also curled up deflated. But he felt different. All that harmful energy building up was now gone. He knew, he just did this was because of Zinnia. He took a deep breath standing up. He held his hand out which Zinnia looked at confused. "It isn't just about saving people Zinnia. It's about inspiring. Like you did Alton and Gale, as you've done for me. Running around school playing hero. Seeing the good in people. Streaming takedowns. How can people not be inspired by that? You're the best kind of hero out there. You might not remember, but you'll always be my hero."

The Phantom Streamer appeared from the floor kicking Percy back. He fell to the floor, struggling to get back up. "Hiding will get you nowhere! But you get it don't you! This is why you fall. Our powers are unmatched. This isn't even a challenge!" The Phantom Streamer charged at Zinnia only to hear an attack from behind. He phased for a split second only for no attack to come. As he stopped his phase, an arm grabbed him, throwing him aside. The Phantom Streamer slammed into a wall tumbling to his knees. He looked up at the clone only to flinch not seeing the clone he expected. It was of Zinnia, her pink hair long and flowing with a red armoured chest piece matched with a golden cape flying high and mighty. This was paired with red leggings and a red skirt. He pulled himself up smirking. "One mere clone to fight me. How pathetic!" The Phantom Streamer dived forward reaching out phasing through the clone to end it with one attack. As he reached her heart, he had to stop the phase ability for a split second. Percy knew this as the clone gripped his arm tightly stopping the heart steal. The Phantom streamer panicked trying to back away. "Let go of me! How are you?!"

Having no choice, he phased his escape. Zinnia's clone reacted moving through him and getting behind Clark. The streamer turned in a panic as the wind roared through the warehouse. With one single punch, half of the building was blown away by the sheer force. Clark was smashed to the floor this tornado of power soon dwindled into a soft Zephyr before fading into nothing. The Phantom Streamer lay on the floor with serval broken bones as the clone of Zinnia towered over him and faded away. Percy stood next to the now gone clone with a cheeky smile. "See Zinnia, you're a true hero."

"That's how? That's how you see me?" She whispered in shock.

Percy closed his eyes, thinking about the past.

"Don't let go! If you fall, we fall together!"

He smiled nodding. "Always have." His eyes shot up as the roof began to collapse. That was until a colossal avalanche flooded in freezing in place holding the building together. "Wait?!"

The two turned around, seeing Alton panting from the destroyed entrance, blood trickled down his arm as he dropped a blunt piece of metal to the ground. "Are. You. Two. Crazy?! Just what do you think you are doing?!"

"Alton?! What, what are you doing here?!" Zinnia cried.

Alton walked over slowly tired from the long run he did to get to here. "I saw the stream. Taking on the phantom streamer by yourselves, you could have been killed!"

Percy shook his head, being helped by Zinnia. "No, I had Zinnia, we were fine."

"Really?" He spoke in a sarcastic tone clicking his tongue. "So, like how were you going to deal with the falling roof and burning building, which I stopped for the record."

"Umm, well."

Alton glimpsed at his phone, smiling softly. "Guess I shouldn't scold you too hard. You did get quite the buzz from this. Not as much as Pokiero but that's to be expected when we don't have people hosting the stream… you really should have contacted me."

"Sorry we didn't have time! It all sort of just happened. If we waited any longer, our cover might have been blown." Zinnia spoke, holding her hands together bowing.

Alton tutted ruffing her hair up. "What am I going to do with you all… the police are already on the way. Another good job for team Rhapsody. They grow up so fast."

"What should we do about the Phantom Streamer?" Percy asked

"The world saw him for who he was. Everyone knows who Clark Henderson is. We'll let the police do the rest." Alton muttered, holding his cut arm.