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SpiderGirl climbed out onto the roof at the usual time. ‘Lawndale sounds slightly better,’ she thought. But she knew that the defeat of the Green Goblin didn’t make any of the other problems go away. ‘I will deal with them as they come and Talon is here too.’ She looked in the direction of Crewe Neck with a smile before focusing her hearing to the east.
Lawndale Sun-Herald
Saturday, February 10, 2001
Page 1
Norman Osborn Hospitalised by Melinda Parris
Norman Osborn was admitted to Cedars of Lawndale late last night. No information was available on his condition as of going to press.
Page 2
Oscorp Expansion Plans Leaked by Penelope Jericho
Quinn came down to breakfast to find that Daria was listening to a news report on the radio.
“Norman Osborn remains in an unconscious but stable condition in Cedars of Lawndale after being admitted last night. Hospital staff remain tight lipped about whether he was brought in by one of the vigilantes.”
‘Something else may be happening to him,’ Quinn thought. ‘Is it the Enigma’s powers? Or something he did to himself, combined with the Enigma’s powers?’ She wasn’t sure. “Morning.”
“Morning, Quinn,” Daria said. “I’ll be heading out again shortly.”
“That seems to be the way,” Quinn said. “Coming and going. What has been going on lately hasn’t changed that.”
Daria nodded. “Something on your mind?”
“Everything, really. School, the Historia, everything going on in Lawndale. It’s sometimes overwhelming.”
“You want to talk about it?”
“I’m fine, but lunch would be good,” Quinn said with a smile as she grabbed some cereal.
“I’ll be at the Historia most of the day, albeit coming and going.”
“I was planning on being there anyway.”
( Read More )
Lawndale Sun-Herald
Saturday, February 10, 2001
Page 1
Norman Osborn Hospitalised by Melinda Parris
Norman Osborn was admitted to Cedars of Lawndale late last night. No information was available on his condition as of going to press.
Page 2
Oscorp Expansion Plans Leaked by Penelope Jericho
Quinn came down to breakfast to find that Daria was listening to a news report on the radio.
“Norman Osborn remains in an unconscious but stable condition in Cedars of Lawndale after being admitted last night. Hospital staff remain tight lipped about whether he was brought in by one of the vigilantes.”
‘Something else may be happening to him,’ Quinn thought. ‘Is it the Enigma’s powers? Or something he did to himself, combined with the Enigma’s powers?’ She wasn’t sure. “Morning.”
“Morning, Quinn,” Daria said. “I’ll be heading out again shortly.”
“That seems to be the way,” Quinn said. “Coming and going. What has been going on lately hasn’t changed that.”
Daria nodded. “Something on your mind?”
“Everything, really. School, the Historia, everything going on in Lawndale. It’s sometimes overwhelming.”
“You want to talk about it?”
“I’m fine, but lunch would be good,” Quinn said with a smile as she grabbed some cereal.
“I’ll be at the Historia most of the day, albeit coming and going.”
“I was planning on being there anyway.”
( Read More )
At Casa Lane, Jane was still thinking about what was happening with Tania when a report came on the radio. “SpiderGirl, Ninja Talon and the fourth vigilante are in a battle against an aircraft similar to the one responsible for the Groundhog Day Attack…”
“Uh oh!” Jane said. “The Shadow is on it!” she said.
Less than a minute later, the Shadowcar left Casa Lane.
The Enigma had retreated to recuperate. ‘Did Mother experience this in Boston?’ she wondered.
As SpiderGirl swung in again she could see that the glider was rather battered, and the Goblin’s suit was torn in places. She webbed up part of it and as several of Ninja Talon’s shuriken hit home at damaged areas.
“The Enigma was a tough opponent, SpiderGirl,” the Goblin said in a taunting tone.
“I’m tougher,” SpiderGirl said. “With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility and I have the responsibility to protect the people of Lawndale from your plans, whatever they are.”
“You’re deluded!” the Goblin said. He threw a bomb in SpiderGirl’s direction.
She threw it aside with a web, with it exploding in midair. She then signalled Talon.
( Read More )
“Uh oh!” Jane said. “The Shadow is on it!” she said.
Less than a minute later, the Shadowcar left Casa Lane.
The Enigma had retreated to recuperate. ‘Did Mother experience this in Boston?’ she wondered.
As SpiderGirl swung in again she could see that the glider was rather battered, and the Goblin’s suit was torn in places. She webbed up part of it and as several of Ninja Talon’s shuriken hit home at damaged areas.
“The Enigma was a tough opponent, SpiderGirl,” the Goblin said in a taunting tone.
“I’m tougher,” SpiderGirl said. “With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility and I have the responsibility to protect the people of Lawndale from your plans, whatever they are.”
“You’re deluded!” the Goblin said. He threw a bomb in SpiderGirl’s direction.
She threw it aside with a web, with it exploding in midair. She then signalled Talon.
( Read More )
They came to a corner office, after evading another of those robot arms. “She’s in there,” the Enigma said.
“The door could be trapped,” Daria pointed out.
The heard the ding of the elevator somewhere behind them.
“Uh oh!” Daria said. She turned around and put her staff in a ready position “Whatever you’re going to do…”
“Got it,” the Enigma said.
The Enigma telekinetically pushed the door open and smoke came from the lock mechanism.
“Now, Daria,” Peterson said.
“Don’t have to tell me twice,” Daria said.
They entered the room and found Verity tied beneath a desk. Peterson took out a pocket knife and cut her ties.
“Thanks,” Beresfield said. “I didn’t see who it was, but I suspect it was Osborn.”
“We have to get out of here first,” the Enigma said.
“And I can see them coming,” Daria said from the door.
“The ventilation system,” the Enigma said as she pulled a vent off.
“Better than the window,” Daria quipped. “Get her up first.”
“Sure,” Peterson said. “But I don’t want to have to come back for you.”
“You won’t need to,” Daria said.
Verity climbed up the rope into the ventilation shaft, followed by Peterson.
( Read More )
“The door could be trapped,” Daria pointed out.
The heard the ding of the elevator somewhere behind them.
“Uh oh!” Daria said. She turned around and put her staff in a ready position “Whatever you’re going to do…”
“Got it,” the Enigma said.
The Enigma telekinetically pushed the door open and smoke came from the lock mechanism.
“Now, Daria,” Peterson said.
“Don’t have to tell me twice,” Daria said.
They entered the room and found Verity tied beneath a desk. Peterson took out a pocket knife and cut her ties.
“Thanks,” Beresfield said. “I didn’t see who it was, but I suspect it was Osborn.”
“We have to get out of here first,” the Enigma said.
“And I can see them coming,” Daria said from the door.
“The ventilation system,” the Enigma said as she pulled a vent off.
“Better than the window,” Daria quipped. “Get her up first.”
“Sure,” Peterson said. “But I don’t want to have to come back for you.”
“You won’t need to,” Daria said.
Verity climbed up the rope into the ventilation shaft, followed by Peterson.
( Read More )
Quinn was designing something when her door was flung open. “Tania Ashworth?” she asked. “What are you doing here?”
“I know your secret,” Tania said.
‘That I’m SpiderGirl? I don’t think so!’ Quinn thought. She stood up. “What secret would that be?” she asked.
“That you’re the fourth vigilante!” Tania said as she pulled the door closed behind her. “I just saw her enter this house.”
“If the fourth vigilante is here, she’s visiting Daria,” Quinn said. “Besides, it’s not a good idea to be showing up at other people’s houses and saying that they’re one of Lawndale’s heroes.
“So, you’re saying you’re not the fourth vigilante and that Daria isn’t either?”
“Exactly,” Quinn said. “Why are you doing this?”
“Because the Shadow accused me of being the fourth vigilante last night.”
‘It’s like Sunday night,’ Quinn groused, remembering that the Shadow had thought Daria was the fourth vigilante. ‘Obviously she changed her mind.’ “So why chase the fourth vigilante here?”
“I was thinking that either of you were the Shadow.”
‘I know Daria isn’t,’ Quinn thought.
( Read More )
“I know your secret,” Tania said.
‘That I’m SpiderGirl? I don’t think so!’ Quinn thought. She stood up. “What secret would that be?” she asked.
“That you’re the fourth vigilante!” Tania said as she pulled the door closed behind her. “I just saw her enter this house.”
“If the fourth vigilante is here, she’s visiting Daria,” Quinn said. “Besides, it’s not a good idea to be showing up at other people’s houses and saying that they’re one of Lawndale’s heroes.
“So, you’re saying you’re not the fourth vigilante and that Daria isn’t either?”
“Exactly,” Quinn said. “Why are you doing this?”
“Because the Shadow accused me of being the fourth vigilante last night.”
‘It’s like Sunday night,’ Quinn groused, remembering that the Shadow had thought Daria was the fourth vigilante. ‘Obviously she changed her mind.’ “So why chase the fourth vigilante here?”
“I was thinking that either of you were the Shadow.”
‘I know Daria isn’t,’ Quinn thought.
( Read More )
14 Battle and Consequence
The Griffins were running late. Tom, Linda and Sandi were ready, but Sam and Chris were dragging their heels.
“I told you; we have to be there by 6:30,” Linda said to her older son.
“I am getting ready!” Sam said. “It’s Chris who’s not getting ready.”
“You’re still late,” Linda said as she went down the hall. She opened Chris’s door. “We’re leaving in five minutes.”
“Five?” Chris asked as he pulled his shirt on.
“Yes, the Osborns are expecting us.”
Sandi waited impatiently in the car. She looked at herself in her compact. She had chosen a simple dress, so that she would be ready to change to the Enigma if she needed to. ‘And Mother seems to have similar reasoning, though I doubt she’d do it.’ The same applied to her hair, a simple bun on top of her head, rather than a more complicated style. She looked out and saw her mother dragging Chris out by the hand, and Sam following with annoyed look on his face. ‘Great!’ she knew they were going to be trouble!
“Let’s go, we’re late already,” Linda said as she started the engine.
“Why again?” Sam asked Sandi.
“Because, Mr. Osborn wants to get to know his son’s friend,” Sandi answered. “And I’m sure there are ulterior motives.”
“Like Mother and Quinn’s mother?” Sam asked.
“Don’t mention that name in this car again!” Sandi said.
“Um, Daria’s mother?” Sam asked again.
‘Of course he would know her name,’ Sandi thought. “Yes, but more so.”
( Read More )
The Griffins were running late. Tom, Linda and Sandi were ready, but Sam and Chris were dragging their heels.
“I told you; we have to be there by 6:30,” Linda said to her older son.
“I am getting ready!” Sam said. “It’s Chris who’s not getting ready.”
“You’re still late,” Linda said as she went down the hall. She opened Chris’s door. “We’re leaving in five minutes.”
“Five?” Chris asked as he pulled his shirt on.
“Yes, the Osborns are expecting us.”
Sandi waited impatiently in the car. She looked at herself in her compact. She had chosen a simple dress, so that she would be ready to change to the Enigma if she needed to. ‘And Mother seems to have similar reasoning, though I doubt she’d do it.’ The same applied to her hair, a simple bun on top of her head, rather than a more complicated style. She looked out and saw her mother dragging Chris out by the hand, and Sam following with annoyed look on his face. ‘Great!’ she knew they were going to be trouble!
“Let’s go, we’re late already,” Linda said as she started the engine.
“Why again?” Sam asked Sandi.
“Because, Mr. Osborn wants to get to know his son’s friend,” Sandi answered. “And I’m sure there are ulterior motives.”
“Like Mother and Quinn’s mother?” Sam asked.
“Don’t mention that name in this car again!” Sandi said.
“Um, Daria’s mother?” Sam asked again.
‘Of course he would know her name,’ Sandi thought. “Yes, but more so.”
( Read More )
23rd January 2025 Writings
Jan. 23rd, 2025 11:12 pm23rd
Excerpt from: The Youngest Barksdale
“Then let’s find her,” Daria suggested.
“OK,” Quinn said.
“But we have to be quick. She leaves rather quickly when school lets out,” Sandi said.
“Got it.”
They quickly walked out of the school to the front entrance.
They looked around, but they didn’t see Tori. “So, she’s blonde, right?” Daria asked.
“Yes,” Quinn answered.
“To her shoulders, usually worn loose,” Stacy added.
Words: 63
Excerpt from: Mysteries of Aurora
“That’s interesting.”
“There are many other campaigns, mostly in the Roman Era.”
“I suppose I could look into it, at some point,” Olivia said.
“Or you could watch let’s plays on VideoSpace.”
“Would there be any in Auroran?”
“Of course. Aurora’s gaming community is quite large for it’s population,” Janara answered.
“Got it. I’m heading to the Library again.”
“Already?”
“It may be early, but there is a lot to find,” Olivia said.
Janara turned to her. “Just don’t wear yourself out, OK?”
Words: 83
Excerpt from: Spider Quinn
SpiderGirl waited near Osborn’s room after reassuring Harry again. She had considered webbing up the corridor, but decided that wouldn’t be a good idea, given that it would take time for the cleaning staff to deal with. Soon, there was an echo as William slammed open the fire doors at the end.
“SpiderGirl!” he called out.
SpiderGirl could see that he was beginning to revert, but he was still mostly in his altered form. “William! I can’t let you hurt Osborn!”
“What? So his son won’t be an orphan?”
“That’s part of it! The other is that there are certainly others in Oscorp who are more responsible than he is.”
“But I don’t know who they are,” William said.
“I repeat what I said!” SpiderGirl stated as she saw the tell tale purple glow of the Enigma’s powers appear at the door behind William.
William continued running towards SpiderGirl.
Dafoanairi followed the Enigma into the corridor and saw SpiderGirl trying to keep William from entering a room. “Fire some warning shots over his head, but not near SpiderGirl,” she said.
“I suppose,” the Enigma said. “Low intensity,” she added as she pointed above William and then fired.
SpiderGirl saw the small projection fly over William’s head. “See, the fourth vigilante is here too, give up!”
“No!” William cried out.
SpiderGirl blocked the doorway.
“No!” William cried out again and tried to get past her. But he found that he couldn’t move.
The Enigma was trying to hold him in place telekinetically. “This is very difficult,” she said.
Words: 257
Total: 403
Excerpt from: The Youngest Barksdale
“Then let’s find her,” Daria suggested.
“OK,” Quinn said.
“But we have to be quick. She leaves rather quickly when school lets out,” Sandi said.
“Got it.”
They quickly walked out of the school to the front entrance.
They looked around, but they didn’t see Tori. “So, she’s blonde, right?” Daria asked.
“Yes,” Quinn answered.
“To her shoulders, usually worn loose,” Stacy added.
Words: 63
Excerpt from: Mysteries of Aurora
“That’s interesting.”
“There are many other campaigns, mostly in the Roman Era.”
“I suppose I could look into it, at some point,” Olivia said.
“Or you could watch let’s plays on VideoSpace.”
“Would there be any in Auroran?”
“Of course. Aurora’s gaming community is quite large for it’s population,” Janara answered.
“Got it. I’m heading to the Library again.”
“Already?”
“It may be early, but there is a lot to find,” Olivia said.
Janara turned to her. “Just don’t wear yourself out, OK?”
Words: 83
Excerpt from: Spider Quinn
SpiderGirl waited near Osborn’s room after reassuring Harry again. She had considered webbing up the corridor, but decided that wouldn’t be a good idea, given that it would take time for the cleaning staff to deal with. Soon, there was an echo as William slammed open the fire doors at the end.
“SpiderGirl!” he called out.
SpiderGirl could see that he was beginning to revert, but he was still mostly in his altered form. “William! I can’t let you hurt Osborn!”
“What? So his son won’t be an orphan?”
“That’s part of it! The other is that there are certainly others in Oscorp who are more responsible than he is.”
“But I don’t know who they are,” William said.
“I repeat what I said!” SpiderGirl stated as she saw the tell tale purple glow of the Enigma’s powers appear at the door behind William.
William continued running towards SpiderGirl.
Dafoanairi followed the Enigma into the corridor and saw SpiderGirl trying to keep William from entering a room. “Fire some warning shots over his head, but not near SpiderGirl,” she said.
“I suppose,” the Enigma said. “Low intensity,” she added as she pointed above William and then fired.
SpiderGirl saw the small projection fly over William’s head. “See, the fourth vigilante is here too, give up!”
“No!” William cried out.
SpiderGirl blocked the doorway.
“No!” William cried out again and tried to get past her. But he found that he couldn’t move.
The Enigma was trying to hold him in place telekinetically. “This is very difficult,” she said.
Words: 257
Total: 403
Quinn felt the tingle as she entered the dining room, where Daria had laid out the documents she had obtained with the fourth vigilante two nights before. She ignored it as she sat across from her sister. “So, you think there’s something in these?”
“There is something here,” Daria said. “It’s a matter of finding the pattern.”
“Of course,” Quinn said as she took one of them. She found that the writing was obtuse. “I’m not sure what this is talking about.”
“I’m not sure either.”
“Something here.”
“What?” Daria asked.
“It says something about a glider. It could be referring to what was used last week.”
Daria stood up and took it. “You’re right. I must have missed that.”
Quinn took out a notebook.
( Read More )
“There is something here,” Daria said. “It’s a matter of finding the pattern.”
“Of course,” Quinn said as she took one of them. She found that the writing was obtuse. “I’m not sure what this is talking about.”
“I’m not sure either.”
“Something here.”
“What?” Daria asked.
“It says something about a glider. It could be referring to what was used last week.”
Daria stood up and took it. “You’re right. I must have missed that.”
Quinn took out a notebook.
( Read More )
After finishing her shift, Quinn went up to the roof. But before she changed to SpiderGirl, she looked around at the town. ‘Did something change earlier?’ she wondered as she looked around. ‘Nothing out of the ordinary,’ she decided as she looked towards the Strawberry a second time. She then changed to SpiderGirl and listened for a while before swinging away. There was the usual discord that had been present for the past five days.
Towards midnight, Ninja Talon approached the Hecuba-Croft residence. She saw that Andrea’s light was still on through the dark curtains. ‘Good.’ She then went around to the backyard.
Andrea heard her door open. She saw a figure, looking like a ninja, there. “Ninja Talon?” she asked. “How did you get in here?”
“That’s me,” Ninja Talon answered. “I picked the back door lock.”
“Why are you here?”
“I would like you to hack into Oscorp for me.”
“Oscorp?” Andrea asked. She stood up. “Why would I do that, Brittany?”
“Brittany? Who’s Brittany?” Ninja Talon asked, her voice as low as it could go.
“I know it’s you, Brittany. Who else would know their way here in the night time?”
Brittany took off her mask. “How did you figure it out?” she asked.
“As I said, who else would know their way to this room at night? Not anyone else currently at Lawndale High. You came straight here; you didn’t open my parents’ door or those of any of the spare rooms by mistake.”
“Oops!”
“Don’t worry, your secret identity is safe with me and I’m not going to ask about SpiderGirl’s. But I am going to ask why you want me to hack into Oscorp!”
“Because SpiderGirl and I found out the extent of their footprint in Lawndale and because of what happened on Friday night.”
“Uh! Don’t remind me!” Andrea said with a wave of her hands. “I’m still jittery about that.”
“Sorry, but while we were able to find documents when we infiltrated an office, the computers were inaccessible.”
“They would be that way.”
“We did give copies of the documents to the Sun-Herald,” Brittany said. “But we need to find out more.”
“About what, beyond their footprint being large?”
“Where that glider craft is, that was used on Friday night.”
“So, far I’m just hearing a conspiracy theory,” Andrea said.
‘You could just check their website.”
“I will.”
( Andrea accessed the website. )
Towards midnight, Ninja Talon approached the Hecuba-Croft residence. She saw that Andrea’s light was still on through the dark curtains. ‘Good.’ She then went around to the backyard.
Andrea heard her door open. She saw a figure, looking like a ninja, there. “Ninja Talon?” she asked. “How did you get in here?”
“That’s me,” Ninja Talon answered. “I picked the back door lock.”
“Why are you here?”
“I would like you to hack into Oscorp for me.”
“Oscorp?” Andrea asked. She stood up. “Why would I do that, Brittany?”
“Brittany? Who’s Brittany?” Ninja Talon asked, her voice as low as it could go.
“I know it’s you, Brittany. Who else would know their way here in the night time?”
Brittany took off her mask. “How did you figure it out?” she asked.
“As I said, who else would know their way to this room at night? Not anyone else currently at Lawndale High. You came straight here; you didn’t open my parents’ door or those of any of the spare rooms by mistake.”
“Oops!”
“Don’t worry, your secret identity is safe with me and I’m not going to ask about SpiderGirl’s. But I am going to ask why you want me to hack into Oscorp!”
“Because SpiderGirl and I found out the extent of their footprint in Lawndale and because of what happened on Friday night.”
“Uh! Don’t remind me!” Andrea said with a wave of her hands. “I’m still jittery about that.”
“Sorry, but while we were able to find documents when we infiltrated an office, the computers were inaccessible.”
“They would be that way.”
“We did give copies of the documents to the Sun-Herald,” Brittany said. “But we need to find out more.”
“About what, beyond their footprint being large?”
“Where that glider craft is, that was used on Friday night.”
“So, far I’m just hearing a conspiracy theory,” Andrea said.
‘You could just check their website.”
“I will.”
( Andrea accessed the website. )
SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon approached the Oscorp office space from an alleyway. “But what are we looking for?” Ninja Talon asked, as she prepared to pick the lock.
SpiderGirl prepared to web up any security cameras. “Anything that could provide information on the glider.”
“Right, and anything related to expansion in Lawndale?”
“Yes.”
The door opened. SpiderGirl immediately webbed a couple of security cameras. “It should be clear now.”
They searched the office quickly but effectively, with Ninja Talon searching filing cabinets and SpiderGirl looking at the computers. “Not that easy,” the latter said. “They’re all logged out.”
“There is another way,” Ninja Talon said as she looked through a folder.
“You mean, hacking?”
“Yes. I know Andrea does.”
“Andrea,” SpiderGirl considered. “The goth one, right?”
“That’s right.”
“Maybe tomorrow night.”
“Found something,” Ninja Talon said. She put some files on a desk.
“Plans for more buildings in the business park,” SpiderGirl considered.
“More expansion…”
“Yes. Let’s photocopy them.”
“And then what?” Ninja Talon said.
“We’ll slip them under the Sun-Herald’s door.”
“Good idea.”
( Read More )
SpiderGirl prepared to web up any security cameras. “Anything that could provide information on the glider.”
“Right, and anything related to expansion in Lawndale?”
“Yes.”
The door opened. SpiderGirl immediately webbed a couple of security cameras. “It should be clear now.”
They searched the office quickly but effectively, with Ninja Talon searching filing cabinets and SpiderGirl looking at the computers. “Not that easy,” the latter said. “They’re all logged out.”
“There is another way,” Ninja Talon said as she looked through a folder.
“You mean, hacking?”
“Yes. I know Andrea does.”
“Andrea,” SpiderGirl considered. “The goth one, right?”
“That’s right.”
“Maybe tomorrow night.”
“Found something,” Ninja Talon said. She put some files on a desk.
“Plans for more buildings in the business park,” SpiderGirl considered.
“More expansion…”
“Yes. Let’s photocopy them.”
“And then what?” Ninja Talon said.
“We’ll slip them under the Sun-Herald’s door.”
“Good idea.”
( Read More )
