Chapter 28: Memories of A Summer Day (2/2)
”Sorry to hear that.” He grumbled. ”I'm sure next time we can get her to come. If not, I'll drag her here.”
Iris giggled, putting her sunglasses back on. ”You're a funny guy Alton, I appreciate it. I honestly I didn't expect you lot to invite me.”
”Don't go thanking me, the moment we came up with coming out Zinnia was the one to instantly suggest inviting you. See this as a thank you for the ordeal with Pokiero.”
”You don't have to go thanking me for it. We were more than happy to help. Hell, the moment I told Alice I was asked to help Ava- I mean Dauntless out she was all over it. I had to stop her from coming down herself and showing Pokiero a thing or two. She was about ten minutes away from helping you lot take down the Phantom Streamer before she was dragged home by my father.”
Alton chuckled getting the barbeque going. ”Well once we get popular enough for your father's liking, we will defiantly have to get a joint-stream going.”
”For real! Although… I still have to get accepted into the network first…”
”Wait your father doesn't let you stream with your sister?” Emil asked. ”Sounds like something the Montagues would do.”
”Oh, it's not like that. Trust me… it's. How do I put this? My sister is crazy strong and stunning. She's like perfect and is hitting it with the viewers. She's growing like crazy, and my father doesn't want me to get in the way of that. I can't blame him, I'm still brand new at this. I'll be streaming side by side with her soon just you wait!”
”If not there's always a place here,” Percy claimed sitting in the sand.
”You how I might take that deal one day…” Iris smiled, faintly lying back. She however quickly rose back up looking at her phone. ”Oh, shit that reminds me have you seen Vanguard's streams lately? He's been taking down more and more streamers going through mental breakdowns.”
Alton peered at the phone seeing another streamer like the one the fought off in the arcades a month back explode into a purple haze. He gave a concerned look. ”So, it wasn't a one-time thing… we ran into one of these streamer meltdowns cases not too long ago. Never seen anything like it. When I looked into it, I found out that the case was of some upcoming hotshot streamer. What she said before she well, you know, really stuck with me.”
”What did she say?”
”The garden grows. I have no idea what that means, though.”
Iris shook her head just as confused. ”Well, these streamer meltdowns have been happening a lot more lately. The Phantom streamer was one case. Blew up an entire police escort.”
”I know it's horrible, but what has this got to do with Vanguard?”
”Nothing, I think. But there is one thing. I find it strange how it's always Vanguard, who is the one to take down these mental breakdowns. You're the only other known streamers who have lived to tell the tale.”
”Nothing strange about that. Vanguard's track record is more than triple most streamers. I'm not surprised that he's always at the scene to take care of it. The cases probably get reported to V.I.R.A.L, which in return makes its way to Vanguard.”
”You're not wrong…” She mutters still conflicted. ”But there is one thing that has bothered me. These meltdowns only happen to famous streamers or upcoming ones. There hasn't been a single case in any low ranked streamers or non-streamers at all.”
”You've been looking into this, heavily haven't you?”
”Of course, if this could reach my sister, I have to look into it stopping it before it's too late.”
”Even I've got to admit that's strange.” Emil agreed.
Alton looked over to seeing Zinnia and Gale making sandcastles as he hummed. ”If that is the case, Team Rhapsody should be fine… for now. But if we are to get popular, then I'd rather not have someone target us directly.”
Iris sat up, sipping her drink. ”It's one of the reasons I wanted to talk to you about it. I can't mention this to my father as it is only rumours and speculation. I want you to help me. If what I believe is to be true, then I am as good as a target as ever. If I'm hit with a streamer meltdown that will only look bad for my sister. The culprit would expect my sister to give up with the loss of a family member.”
”That's if there even is a culprit… besides this is very risky and dangerous. I'm sure your sister would disapprove.”
”She doesn't have to know. And If I turn out to be wrong well, we can all go home safe and sound, and I'll buy you an ice cream. But if there is someone out here causing streamer's deaths, then I can't sit by, and I'm sure Zinnia would agree on that too.”
Alton glanced over to the other nodding. ”You have a point. I disagree with using you as bait, but we'll help. Now onto more pressing matters, I have an important question for you Iris… how do you take your steak.”
Iris snickered, rolling her eyes. ”Medium-rare.”
”That was the correct answer. Even if it's only for this mission, it still counts, so welcome aboard Team Rhapsody Iris.”
”Why thank you, kind sir, looking forwards to working with you.”