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fardell24The Enigma left the facility the way she had come in. “SpiderGirl is sure to be far away by now,” she said to herself. ‘But I’m not far from the Giant Strawberry.’ She headed in that direction.
Tania saw that Dafoanairi was still there after the service had ended. “You must have a reason to stay,” she said.
“I did want to talk with you about what’s happening in town further.”
“Here? In the park?”
“I was thinking of the Historia,” Dafoanairi said.
“Up on the roof again?”
Dafoanairi nodded.
“Sure.”
The Enigma looked at the town through a telescope on the top of the Giant Strawberry. The town looked peaceful, but she knew that belied the reality. ‘It’s not like Osborn has another glider that can be seen,’ she thought after fifteen minutes. She then glanced at the Historia and saw two figures on the top. “Can’t make them out, as the Moon isn’t full,” she murmured. ‘I know it isn’t SpiderGirl, but it could be Dafoanairi. I’ll go and tell her about what happened.’
Tania wasn’t sure why Dafoanairi had wanted to talk to her. They had talked about what had happened in town over the past two weeks. ‘Harrowing enough with the illusions in the theater when Jane was abducted,’ she thought. SpiderGirl knockoffs where tame compared to that. “One thing,” she said.
“What’s that?” Dafoanairi asked.
“You just wanted someone to talk to, other than the Enigma, didn’t you?”
“Probably. I have been thinking about what this town has been coming to.”
“Obviously…” Tania started. She stopped as she heard something on the western side of the roof.
“It’s the Enigma,” Dafoanairi said.
“Something happened,” the Enigma said as she came over to Dafoanairi and Tania.
“Something to do with the clothes in Cashmans?” Dafoanairi asked.
“No, Oscorp and Alchemax,” the Enigma responded. “And SpiderGirl was there too.”
“I think you better start from the beginning,” Dafoanairi said with a sigh.
‘She still doesn’t want SpiderGirl and I to fight,’ she thought, as she put the conversation on that topic with Peterson a week earlier out of her head. “My mentor still has contacts from the old days…”
Dafoanairi took in what the Enigma had revealed. ‘I figured something has happening in Lawndale tonight,’ she thought. “That’s another thing I need to investigate,” she said.
“What this Conners is up to?” Tania asked.
Dafoanairi nodded “That is part of it.”
“What else?” the Enigma asked.
“Why Osborn decided to send a team in to take his research. I’m sure there were other ways he could have done it,” Dafoanarii answered.
“But how did SpiderGIrl hear about it?” Tania asked.
“She didn’t say and she made herself scarce rather quickly,” the Enigma answered.
“Some other way,” Dafoanairi said.
Lawndale Sun-Herald
Wednesday, March 7, 2001
Page 1: Osborn released from Hospital
Penelope Jericho
Page 2: SpiderGirl knockoff clothes. Are people cashing in?
Melinda Parris
Quinn and Brittany met beneath the Jefferson Bridge shortly before sunrise.
“You were at Alchemax?” Brittany asked after they had unmasked.
Quinn nodded. “And so was the Enigma,” she answered. “But Peterson arrived quickly after I asked the scientist to call her…” she began and explained what happened, what Conners was working on, and his condition.
Brittany thought about what Quinn had said.
“So, Oscorp thought that what Conners is working on was worth stealing?”
“I think they saw something in it.”
“But why they thought that…”
“It may be something Osborn is planning,” Quinn said quietly. “He’s seen me in action. Seen the Enigma in action. He might be planning to create his own metahumans.”
“Rather than use what he took when he was the Goblin,” Brittany added.
“Like, that was probably unstable.”
They sat there for a short while before the started coming up, although it didn’t reach the Creek flat yet.
Brittany yawned. “I better get home.”
“Same here,” Quinn said. “See you at school or tonight.”
Norman was up early, as he wanted to hear about the result of the infiltration of the Alchemax facility.
Bernard showed the Chief of Security into the home office. “Thanks,” Norman said before closing the door. “I see that it didn’t go as expected.”
“No, sir. SpiderGirl and the fourth vigilante showed up and restrained the team. Conners then called the police. They sent Peterson,” the Chief of Security reported.
“And they were arrested?” Norman asked.
“Yes, sir. The vigilantes slipped away. It seems Peterson’s still on their side.”
“Of course she is. But did they get anything?”
“No. It seems that SpiderGIrl webbed them up as soon as they entered Conners’ office,” the Chief of Security said with annoyance.
“Thanks for telling me,” Norman said.
Harry watched the Chief of Security leave as he headed to the kitchen for breakfast. ‘Father is up to things again,’ he thought. He knew he would tell Sandi and maybe Daria.
Quinn arrived at the Historia forty minutes before Homeroom saw that Tori had got her message and was already having breakfast. She went and ordered her own breakfast before joining her.
“So you and Stacy think those clothes were made in a sweatshop?” Tori asked.
“Yes, they’re poor quality, especially the stitches.”
“So, you want Mom to investigate?”
“That is if she’s not too busy with what else she might be working on,” Quinn answered.
“I’ll talk to her about it tonight.”
“Thanks. I’ll talk to Ted too.”
“Do you think the Lowdown would be able to investigate?” Tori asked.
“A school newspaper can be underestimated.”
Tori gave a chuckle. “That’s obvious.”
“They won’t see it coming.”
Sandi found both Harry and Daria waiting for her near her locker. “Morning,” she said with a quirked eyebrow to Daria.
Daria gave a slight smirk; they would talk about the night just gone later. “Harry has something to say,” she said.
Sandi saw his expression of concern. “What is it?”
“The security chief was at home this morning,” he said.
‘So, he may know that SpiderGIrl and I interfered,’ Sandi thought. “So, something happened.”
“That is quite likely,” Harry said.
“But the question is, what is he up to?” Daria asked.
“He still not confiding,” Harry said as the bell rang.
Quinn ran into Ted between first and second period. “Ted! I have an idea for the Lowdown.”
“Usually you wait until lunch.” Ted said.
“I know,” Quinn responded with a giggle and a slight twirl of one of her pigtails. “But this is different.”
“What is it?”
Quinn quickly explained what she and Stacy had found.
“It’s not the usual fair for a school paper,” Ted pointed out.
“I know, but we can talk more at lunch.”
“This is will be interesting.”
At Homeroom, the various students talked about the SpiderGirl inspired clothes.
“I’m tired of hearing about them,” Stacy said to Quinn as they met outside their first class of the day.
“Same here,” Quinn responded.
“The clo-othes? Tiffany asked as she came up.
Quinn nodded. “I wonder what else is coming?”
At lunch, Sandi and Daria sat on the roof.
“Where’s Jane?” Sandi asked.
“She’s talking to Ms. Dafoe about something,” Daria answered.
Sandi looked out towards where the Alchemax facility was in the distance. “I still want to confront SpiderGirl, but doing so in that facility wouldn’t have been good, any more than confronting her while rescuing Kevin wouldn’t have been.”
“I still don’t know it’s a good idea.”
“Anyway, I think if we did meet up earlier, it would have gone differently.”
Daria rolled her eyes. “I’d think SpiderGirl would have handled it alone.”
Sandi sighed. “That’s true.”
“I hadn’t talked to Tania as Dafoanairi for a while.”
“You think she suspects?”
“Maybe,” Daria admitted. “But she probably doesn’t suspect you.”
“I wasn’t concerned about that.”
“But you are concerned about something.”
Sandi thought for a moment. Was it worth it to tell Daria that Osborn had found out her identity. “Something,” she said.
Daria knew Sandi was hiding something. ‘She’ll tell me when she’s ready,’ she thought as she also looked to northwest where the Alchemax facility lay. “Any more thoughts on Conners?” she asked, to change the topic.
“He’s either harmless or could be a problem. It depends on what his research is.”
“I think so too. We need to keep an eye on him.”
“I’ll see if Mother’s contacts can help in that area.”
“I’ll look into other ways, but that will do for now.”
Quinn entered the Lowdown office. “Ted?”
“Hi, Quinn. You want to ask something.”
“Yes,” Quinn began and explained about the clothes.
“it’s quite a lot,” Ted said when she was finished.
“I know,” Quinn responded. “But what do you think?”
“It isn’t something that a school paper usually does.”
“But it is a current event in Lawndale.”
“That’s true,” Ted admitted. “But I guess I’ll have to have my own look.”
Fields entered Osborn’s office. “Officer Peterson to see you,” she said.
“Oh? I thought she would have been off duty.”
“She does look tired, but put together.”
Osborn raised an eyebrow. “Lets see what she has to say.”
Peterson entered the office and saw that Osborn was curious about her appearance. ‘As he should be.’
“I know why you’re here,” Osborn said as she approached the desk.
“I’m letting you know that the LDPD is pursuing our inquiries into the intrusion at Alchemax last night.”
“I deny all involvement.”
“I know you do,” Peterson said as she leaned forwards.
“I will get to the bottom of it.”
“As in, deny all involvement and try to come up with another way to get Conners’ research.”
“I know what Curt Conners’ goal is,” Osborn said. “But it’s not mine.”
“I’m keeping an eye on you.”
“And I know that you are often seen with SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon.”
Peterson heard the harshness in Osborn’s voice when he said the former name. “You can’t hold that against me.”
“No, it seems that your superiors have allowed your relationship with them to flourish.”
“I’m not here to talk about myself, or the heroes.”
“Then what are you here for?” Osborn asked.
“Letting you know that I’m keeping an eye on you. Oscorp is growing too powerful in Lawndale.”
She saw that Osborn looked more calculated.
“So, you’re supporting the vigilantes as a way to counter that?”
“Yes.”
Osborn watched as Peterson left. He then took out the dossier that he had received that morning. Her record was clean, meaning that there wasn’t anything that he could use against her. ‘But maybe there is something in her cases before SpiderGirl appeared,’ he thought.
Quinn emerged onto the roof at the end of the school day. She saw that Brittany was already there.
“I heard that Ted agreed,” Brittany said.
“He did, but I know it’s going to take a while.”
“Like with everything else that’s going on.”
“Daria’s been saying that it takes her time to look into the news since I started doing what I have been doing,” Quinn said.
“She’s told me the same.”
Quinn looked out towards where the Alchemax facility was. “I might have another look around there before I head to the Historia.”
“But it’s likely that infiltrating Oscorp could be more informative.”
“But they have increased their security over the past few weeks.”
Brittany sighed. “I have had run ins on their roof tops, but I have figured out when they are lax.”
“But is that helpful?”
“Not really, especially since Osborn has recovered.”
“I’ll have to take the risk,” Quinn decided.
“We’ll take the risk, you mean.”
Quinn smiled. “Of course, but it would be at the usual early hours.”
Brittany nodded before changing to Ninja Talon.
Quinn waited for another five minutes before changing to SpiderGirl and swinging away.
She patrolled around the school and the northern portion of Dega Street before heading in the direction of the Alchemax facility.
She looked around the area, but it didn’t look any different than the previous day. ‘Time to head to the Historia,’ she thought after looking around a it a second time.
Meanwhile, Osborn had another meeting. “We’re ready. Mr. Osborn,” the man said.
“Remember, just spook her, for now. Mr. Danielson,” Osborn said. “I want to her to feel more under pressure, so that she’ll slip up and make mistakes.”
“But didn’t you hire us to…”
“Yes, but not right away. Later this week.”
“So, you just want us to chase her down?” Danielson asked.
“Exactly.”
“We can do that. Just give us the word when you want us to catch her.”
“I will,” Osborn said.
Danielson emerged on the roof of the Oscorp building on First Street and looked out over the town with binoculars. He recalled the reports on SpiderGirl’s habits that Osborn had given him and looked towards the Historia. ‘She has been reported near there consistently on Wednesdays,’ he thought.
After several minutes he saw her swing onto the Historia from behind. “Got you,” he said.
Tania saw that Dafoanairi was still there after the service had ended. “You must have a reason to stay,” she said.
“I did want to talk with you about what’s happening in town further.”
“Here? In the park?”
“I was thinking of the Historia,” Dafoanairi said.
“Up on the roof again?”
Dafoanairi nodded.
“Sure.”
The Enigma looked at the town through a telescope on the top of the Giant Strawberry. The town looked peaceful, but she knew that belied the reality. ‘It’s not like Osborn has another glider that can be seen,’ she thought after fifteen minutes. She then glanced at the Historia and saw two figures on the top. “Can’t make them out, as the Moon isn’t full,” she murmured. ‘I know it isn’t SpiderGirl, but it could be Dafoanairi. I’ll go and tell her about what happened.’
Tania wasn’t sure why Dafoanairi had wanted to talk to her. They had talked about what had happened in town over the past two weeks. ‘Harrowing enough with the illusions in the theater when Jane was abducted,’ she thought. SpiderGirl knockoffs where tame compared to that. “One thing,” she said.
“What’s that?” Dafoanairi asked.
“You just wanted someone to talk to, other than the Enigma, didn’t you?”
“Probably. I have been thinking about what this town has been coming to.”
“Obviously…” Tania started. She stopped as she heard something on the western side of the roof.
“It’s the Enigma,” Dafoanairi said.
“Something happened,” the Enigma said as she came over to Dafoanairi and Tania.
“Something to do with the clothes in Cashmans?” Dafoanairi asked.
“No, Oscorp and Alchemax,” the Enigma responded. “And SpiderGirl was there too.”
“I think you better start from the beginning,” Dafoanairi said with a sigh.
‘She still doesn’t want SpiderGirl and I to fight,’ she thought, as she put the conversation on that topic with Peterson a week earlier out of her head. “My mentor still has contacts from the old days…”
Dafoanairi took in what the Enigma had revealed. ‘I figured something has happening in Lawndale tonight,’ she thought. “That’s another thing I need to investigate,” she said.
“What this Conners is up to?” Tania asked.
Dafoanairi nodded “That is part of it.”
“What else?” the Enigma asked.
“Why Osborn decided to send a team in to take his research. I’m sure there were other ways he could have done it,” Dafoanarii answered.
“But how did SpiderGIrl hear about it?” Tania asked.
“She didn’t say and she made herself scarce rather quickly,” the Enigma answered.
“Some other way,” Dafoanairi said.
Lawndale Sun-Herald
Wednesday, March 7, 2001
Page 1: Osborn released from Hospital
Penelope Jericho
Page 2: SpiderGirl knockoff clothes. Are people cashing in?
Melinda Parris
Quinn and Brittany met beneath the Jefferson Bridge shortly before sunrise.
“You were at Alchemax?” Brittany asked after they had unmasked.
Quinn nodded. “And so was the Enigma,” she answered. “But Peterson arrived quickly after I asked the scientist to call her…” she began and explained what happened, what Conners was working on, and his condition.
Brittany thought about what Quinn had said.
“So, Oscorp thought that what Conners is working on was worth stealing?”
“I think they saw something in it.”
“But why they thought that…”
“It may be something Osborn is planning,” Quinn said quietly. “He’s seen me in action. Seen the Enigma in action. He might be planning to create his own metahumans.”
“Rather than use what he took when he was the Goblin,” Brittany added.
“Like, that was probably unstable.”
They sat there for a short while before the started coming up, although it didn’t reach the Creek flat yet.
Brittany yawned. “I better get home.”
“Same here,” Quinn said. “See you at school or tonight.”
Norman was up early, as he wanted to hear about the result of the infiltration of the Alchemax facility.
Bernard showed the Chief of Security into the home office. “Thanks,” Norman said before closing the door. “I see that it didn’t go as expected.”
“No, sir. SpiderGirl and the fourth vigilante showed up and restrained the team. Conners then called the police. They sent Peterson,” the Chief of Security reported.
“And they were arrested?” Norman asked.
“Yes, sir. The vigilantes slipped away. It seems Peterson’s still on their side.”
“Of course she is. But did they get anything?”
“No. It seems that SpiderGIrl webbed them up as soon as they entered Conners’ office,” the Chief of Security said with annoyance.
“Thanks for telling me,” Norman said.
Harry watched the Chief of Security leave as he headed to the kitchen for breakfast. ‘Father is up to things again,’ he thought. He knew he would tell Sandi and maybe Daria.
Quinn arrived at the Historia forty minutes before Homeroom saw that Tori had got her message and was already having breakfast. She went and ordered her own breakfast before joining her.
“So you and Stacy think those clothes were made in a sweatshop?” Tori asked.
“Yes, they’re poor quality, especially the stitches.”
“So, you want Mom to investigate?”
“That is if she’s not too busy with what else she might be working on,” Quinn answered.
“I’ll talk to her about it tonight.”
“Thanks. I’ll talk to Ted too.”
“Do you think the Lowdown would be able to investigate?” Tori asked.
“A school newspaper can be underestimated.”
Tori gave a chuckle. “That’s obvious.”
“They won’t see it coming.”
Sandi found both Harry and Daria waiting for her near her locker. “Morning,” she said with a quirked eyebrow to Daria.
Daria gave a slight smirk; they would talk about the night just gone later. “Harry has something to say,” she said.
Sandi saw his expression of concern. “What is it?”
“The security chief was at home this morning,” he said.
‘So, he may know that SpiderGIrl and I interfered,’ Sandi thought. “So, something happened.”
“That is quite likely,” Harry said.
“But the question is, what is he up to?” Daria asked.
“He still not confiding,” Harry said as the bell rang.
Quinn ran into Ted between first and second period. “Ted! I have an idea for the Lowdown.”
“Usually you wait until lunch.” Ted said.
“I know,” Quinn responded with a giggle and a slight twirl of one of her pigtails. “But this is different.”
“What is it?”
Quinn quickly explained what she and Stacy had found.
“It’s not the usual fair for a school paper,” Ted pointed out.
“I know, but we can talk more at lunch.”
“This is will be interesting.”
At Homeroom, the various students talked about the SpiderGirl inspired clothes.
“I’m tired of hearing about them,” Stacy said to Quinn as they met outside their first class of the day.
“Same here,” Quinn responded.
“The clo-othes? Tiffany asked as she came up.
Quinn nodded. “I wonder what else is coming?”
At lunch, Sandi and Daria sat on the roof.
“Where’s Jane?” Sandi asked.
“She’s talking to Ms. Dafoe about something,” Daria answered.
Sandi looked out towards where the Alchemax facility was in the distance. “I still want to confront SpiderGirl, but doing so in that facility wouldn’t have been good, any more than confronting her while rescuing Kevin wouldn’t have been.”
“I still don’t know it’s a good idea.”
“Anyway, I think if we did meet up earlier, it would have gone differently.”
Daria rolled her eyes. “I’d think SpiderGirl would have handled it alone.”
Sandi sighed. “That’s true.”
“I hadn’t talked to Tania as Dafoanairi for a while.”
“You think she suspects?”
“Maybe,” Daria admitted. “But she probably doesn’t suspect you.”
“I wasn’t concerned about that.”
“But you are concerned about something.”
Sandi thought for a moment. Was it worth it to tell Daria that Osborn had found out her identity. “Something,” she said.
Daria knew Sandi was hiding something. ‘She’ll tell me when she’s ready,’ she thought as she also looked to northwest where the Alchemax facility lay. “Any more thoughts on Conners?” she asked, to change the topic.
“He’s either harmless or could be a problem. It depends on what his research is.”
“I think so too. We need to keep an eye on him.”
“I’ll see if Mother’s contacts can help in that area.”
“I’ll look into other ways, but that will do for now.”
Quinn entered the Lowdown office. “Ted?”
“Hi, Quinn. You want to ask something.”
“Yes,” Quinn began and explained about the clothes.
“it’s quite a lot,” Ted said when she was finished.
“I know,” Quinn responded. “But what do you think?”
“It isn’t something that a school paper usually does.”
“But it is a current event in Lawndale.”
“That’s true,” Ted admitted. “But I guess I’ll have to have my own look.”
Fields entered Osborn’s office. “Officer Peterson to see you,” she said.
“Oh? I thought she would have been off duty.”
“She does look tired, but put together.”
Osborn raised an eyebrow. “Lets see what she has to say.”
Peterson entered the office and saw that Osborn was curious about her appearance. ‘As he should be.’
“I know why you’re here,” Osborn said as she approached the desk.
“I’m letting you know that the LDPD is pursuing our inquiries into the intrusion at Alchemax last night.”
“I deny all involvement.”
“I know you do,” Peterson said as she leaned forwards.
“I will get to the bottom of it.”
“As in, deny all involvement and try to come up with another way to get Conners’ research.”
“I know what Curt Conners’ goal is,” Osborn said. “But it’s not mine.”
“I’m keeping an eye on you.”
“And I know that you are often seen with SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon.”
Peterson heard the harshness in Osborn’s voice when he said the former name. “You can’t hold that against me.”
“No, it seems that your superiors have allowed your relationship with them to flourish.”
“I’m not here to talk about myself, or the heroes.”
“Then what are you here for?” Osborn asked.
“Letting you know that I’m keeping an eye on you. Oscorp is growing too powerful in Lawndale.”
She saw that Osborn looked more calculated.
“So, you’re supporting the vigilantes as a way to counter that?”
“Yes.”
Osborn watched as Peterson left. He then took out the dossier that he had received that morning. Her record was clean, meaning that there wasn’t anything that he could use against her. ‘But maybe there is something in her cases before SpiderGirl appeared,’ he thought.
Quinn emerged onto the roof at the end of the school day. She saw that Brittany was already there.
“I heard that Ted agreed,” Brittany said.
“He did, but I know it’s going to take a while.”
“Like with everything else that’s going on.”
“Daria’s been saying that it takes her time to look into the news since I started doing what I have been doing,” Quinn said.
“She’s told me the same.”
Quinn looked out towards where the Alchemax facility was. “I might have another look around there before I head to the Historia.”
“But it’s likely that infiltrating Oscorp could be more informative.”
“But they have increased their security over the past few weeks.”
Brittany sighed. “I have had run ins on their roof tops, but I have figured out when they are lax.”
“But is that helpful?”
“Not really, especially since Osborn has recovered.”
“I’ll have to take the risk,” Quinn decided.
“We’ll take the risk, you mean.”
Quinn smiled. “Of course, but it would be at the usual early hours.”
Brittany nodded before changing to Ninja Talon.
Quinn waited for another five minutes before changing to SpiderGirl and swinging away.
She patrolled around the school and the northern portion of Dega Street before heading in the direction of the Alchemax facility.
She looked around the area, but it didn’t look any different than the previous day. ‘Time to head to the Historia,’ she thought after looking around a it a second time.
Meanwhile, Osborn had another meeting. “We’re ready. Mr. Osborn,” the man said.
“Remember, just spook her, for now. Mr. Danielson,” Osborn said. “I want to her to feel more under pressure, so that she’ll slip up and make mistakes.”
“But didn’t you hire us to…”
“Yes, but not right away. Later this week.”
“So, you just want us to chase her down?” Danielson asked.
“Exactly.”
“We can do that. Just give us the word when you want us to catch her.”
“I will,” Osborn said.
Danielson emerged on the roof of the Oscorp building on First Street and looked out over the town with binoculars. He recalled the reports on SpiderGirl’s habits that Osborn had given him and looked towards the Historia. ‘She has been reported near there consistently on Wednesdays,’ he thought.
After several minutes he saw her swing onto the Historia from behind. “Got you,” he said.
