fardell24 | Entries tagged with spider-man

Straight after they finished their meal, Daria and Jane went to the art staffroom, where they found Ms. Dafoe.

“Jane!” Ms. Dafoe exclaimed as she saw Jane come in.

“I’m fine. It’s the first critic who really had a bad experience.”

“I heard about that. But are you sure?”

“Yes. I haven’t had flashbacks yet. But there is something else we need to talk about,” Jane said.

“Oh?”

“There’s this poem I found,” Daria said.

“A poem?” Dafoe asked. “That isn’t really my area of expertise. But that is a form of expression I have some experience in.”

“The thing is, I found it at my father’s grave and it’s has significant influence from Shakespeare,” Daria said.

Claire took that in. It seemed unusual, but with what was going on in Lawndale lately, it didn’t seem that unusual.

“What do you think?” Daria asked.

“It definitely is Shakespearean,” Claire said. “But I see that you’re concerned because someone may have intense feelings for you.”

“Yes. But I’m careful anyway. I just have to be more so when visiting the cemetery,” Daria responded.

“Whoever it is, knows their Shakespeare,” Claire added. “That may narrow it down.”

“Especially at this school,” Daria quipped.

“Thanks for your time, Ms. Dafoe,” Jane said.

“But I wouldn’t go to Mr. O’Neill. You know how he is,” Claire said.

“It will be one of the other Language Arts teachers,” Daria said.

“Or Ms. Li. She was a Language Arts teacher before she was Principal,” Claire said,

( Read More )

18 A Birthday and Stormy Sonnets
The teenage girl approached the grave site at sunset while fog was settling in.

The headstone read.

Jacob Elias Morgendorffer
June 23, 1952 – November 4, 2000

The girl flipped back her cloak, allowing the fading sunlight to reflect off her glasses and hairclips. “Hi, Dad,” Daria Morgendorffer said. “I’m sorry I haven’t been here a for a while.” She paused. She still knew it was silly, but it was one way of processing her grief. “Things have been busy lately, especially since Groundhog Day.” She paused. The search for information on Oscorp’s plans for Lawndale, and then becoming Dafoanairi had taken up more of her time than expected. Then there was the unresolved situation with Quentin Beck.
“There are now fourth and fifth vigilantes here in Lawndale. I can imagine you ranting about that. Anyway, the Enigma and Dafoanairi. Can you guess who the latter is? Me. That’s right, I’m fighting crime and rescuing people, armed with a quarterstaff. Can you believe that? At least Jane being abducted didn’t stop my play being played. That’s right, Tempest is now being shown at the Historia. That despite Quentin Beck showing his true colors.” Daria shook her head, she didn’t want to dwell on Beck. She took out the newspaper she had brought with her.

Lawndale Sun-Herald
Sunday, February 25, 2001
Critics and Jane Lane Rescued by Vigilantes including SpiderGirl
Quentin Beck Escapes

“I’ll read out the business section. There’s a lot about Oscorp having a rollercoaster ride on the stock market.”

Daria then heard something. She turned around with her quarterstaff at the ready (as she had walked to the cemetery as Dafoanairi). “Who’s there?” she asked.

There wasn’t an answer. She turned back to her father’s headstone. She then saw that something was behind it. “What’s this?” She grabbed it and saw that it was a sealed envelope. “Who places letters next to a grave?” she asked herself. She then wondered if she would open it or not. ‘Come on, Morgendorffer, what’s going on in Lawndale has you paranoid.’ She then ripped it open.

“A poem?” she asked herself after reading the first couple of lines.

What’s more, it seemed to be a love poem. ‘Really? Who asks grieving teens out in such a way?’ She looked around again. There was no one there. “Sorry. Someone seems to be leaving poems here.” Daria then read out the business section, as well as the front page article.

( Read more... )

Daria hung up from Jane, who had said that she would be at the Historia an hour before the play started. ‘That’s a good time,’ she thought. Plenty of time to continue gathering information on what had happened in Lawndale since SpiderGirl first appeared. ‘Another two hours before Ted gets here with the next senior,’ she thought as she headed back to her table to clean up.

“That was quick,” Peterson said.

“We’ll catch up properly later. I’m continuing my investigations, and the fourth vigilante will be here, but I will talking to many people, so you can’t find her identity that way.”

“I can’t stick around anyway. I need to write my report on what happened, even if I didn’t see much.”

“Got it.”

Brittany came downstairs after showering and writing in her journal about the rescue.

“Afternoon, honey,” Ashley-Amber said. “You were out in that storm?”

“I was running, when it came up.”

“I see. Anyway, your father said that he might be able to make it to the play tonight!”

“That’s great!” Brittany said enthusiastically.

“Even if not, Brian and I will be there.”

“I hope he behaves himself.”

“I will make sure he doesn’t cause a scene,” Ashley-Amber said as she put some bread on a board.

“I know you will.”

Quinn went down to the hidden area of the basement, and looked at the various maps of Lawndale she had placed on the walls. “I guess I need maps of the area near the Lake too,” she mused. “In case Brit and I need to rescue people from there again.” She wrote that down in a notebook.

After showering, Sandi told her mother she would be at the Historia.

“Wait, Sandi,” her mother said.

“Yes?”

“Sam has been wanting to check out the bookstore there. Take him too.”

Sandi sighed. “Yes, mother.”

( Read More )

The whole group moved carefully through the trees, using SpiderGirl’s webbing and occasionally Ninja Talon’s zipline, towards the dock. It was difficult, but not impossible, especially with Kalina refusing to let go of SpiderGirl. ‘I’m not a therapist! I haven’t even been to grief counselling yet!’ SpiderGirl thought.

“Almost there,” Ninja Talon said.

“It’s still a lot of trees,” Dafoanairi said.

“We can do it,” SpiderGirl said. “But I need to be unencumbered.”

“I can take her,” Ninja Talon said.

“Is that alright, Kalina?” SpiderGirl asked.

“Yes,” Kalina answered.

Ninja Talon wrapped her arms around Kalina. “You can let go of Spidey now.”

“OK.”

SpiderGirl then swung around, creating a web bridge for the others to take towards the boat. It held amongst the trees that stopped swaying as much, despite the high winds. Another lightning strike hit somewhere out on the lake. “Done,” she said when she had finished it.

At the same time, the Enigma and Peterson met near where the vehicles were. “Everyone has been rescued,” she said.

“That’s good news.”

“They should get to the boat shortly and then they’ll head back to Lawndale on the creek.”

“Then we’ll meet them somewhere between the two bridges.”

At the same time, Leung and his team approached the cabin and saw the damage that the fourth vigilante had done. “We need to act quickly.” He knocked on the door. “Quentin Beck, come out with your hands up.”

There was no response.

Leung lead the team in and saw that the room was empty.

The television then showed a video. “Agent Leung, I presume. Either that, or it’s Officer Peterson. Doesn’t matter. What matters is, that I am presently making my escape. But I will be back in Lawndale in future. As for motive, that’s for you and the other one to piece together. But the Morgendorffers being ambitious in their young age is part of it.”

“Making his escape?” Leung asked himself. But they still needed to search the cabin.

The Enigma figured that she could walk back to Lawndale, despite the storm. ‘It will be an opportunity to refine the forcefield. I can catch up with Dafoanairi later.’

The others made it to the boat. SpiderGirl hotwired it as they all boarded and then started it moving.

“You do know how to pilot a boat, right?” Dafoanairi asked.

“Of course, how hard can it be, even in this storm?” SpiderGirl responded. The lake surface was choppy, waves whipped up by the winds. She cleared the dock, and turned the boat to starboard, heading westwards towards the creek from Lawndale.

( Read More )

In the cabin, Jane was growing tired of waiting for rescue. She paused in her umpteenth defense of Daria and looked at the approaching storm.

“Storm, so what?” Kalina said.

“It’s just the sort of thing SpiderGirl or the fourth vigilante could use as cover in a rescue attempt,” Jane answered.

“Are you sure?” Kalina asked.

“Yes, I have met SpiderGirl,” Jane said.

Oliver spoke up. “This is a lot different to stopping muggers, stopping that Green Goblin and rescuing kittens from trees.”

“That’s true,” Jane said. “But I don’t doubt that she could do it, despite Quentin’s illusions.”

“They’re now talking about possible rescue,” SpiderGirl said as rain started to fall.

“I’d say that’s as good as invitation as any,” Ninja Talon said.

“Another minute.”

The Enigma and Dafoanairi felt the rain as it began to fall. “We’re almost there,” The Enigma said.

“We might get soaked, but it will be worth it,” Dafoanairi said.

Lightning streaked across the sky and the thunder soon followed.

( Read More )

Ninja Talon hadn’t been waiting long on the Hecuba-Croft’s roof when SpiderGirl arrived. “Ready?” the former asked.

“Of course,” SpiderGirl said. “I’m just worried that she didn’t find anything.”

“Same here. But we will find Jane and the critics anyway.”

“But just searching near the Lake probably wouldn’t be a good idea.”

“Not if it’s done randomly,” Ninja Talon said.

“Another plan?” SpiderGirl asked with a slight giggle. “I’d like to hear it.”

“After we talk with Andrea.”

Andrea saw the two vigilantes enter her room again. “I did find something,” she said.

“Which was?” SpiderGirl asked.

Andrea brought up a document she had compiled the data on. “Someone was seen leaving the Historia at the time, carrying someone else to a manhole nearby.” She then brought up a collage of screenshots.

“So, that proves Jane was taken,” SpiderGirl said after she had had a look.

“It does, but not where she was taken,” Ninja Talon pointed out.

“Too true,” SpiderGirl considered.

“So, what now?” Andrea asked.

“We’ll scout the area now, and return sometime tomorrow for more intensive search,” SpiderGirl decided.

“I agree,” Ninja Talon said.

“Let me know how it goes,” Andrea said. “I’ll be at the Historia for morning tea.”

“Great!” Ninja Talon said.

Up on the roof the heroes paused. “Which way?” Ninja Talon asked. “By the Creek, or along the road?”

“Probably the Creek, but what do you think?”

“The Creek would have more cover, if he’s looking out for us.”

“He probably wouldn’t be, in the middle of the night,” SpiderGirl said. “But we’ll be careful anyway.”

They then swung away.

( Read More )

Quinn Morgendorffer returns to Lawndale after travelling with the Doctor in the TARDIS. However, she is drawn into another adventure when the Doctor picks up a strange energy reading in town. Team Possible investigate a portal that has appeared in Middleton that leads to Lawndale several years in the past.

fanfiction.net: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/14486471/1/Convergence-on-Lawndale

Archive Of Our Own: https://archiveofourown.org/works/67097887/chapters/173246860

The third of the previous applicants entered the bookstore.

“Let’s see. Dani Moreno, a sophomore at Lawndale State,” Quinn said.

“That’s right,” Dani said.

“I looked over your CV again. You said that you study visual arts and also are experienced with sound equipment.”

“Yes. But I may ask.”

“You can,” Quinn said.

“Is the person you actually hired responsible for Jane Lane’s disappearance.”

“Possibility.”

“I see,” Dani said with a frown.

“Do you know Jane?”

“Yes, my brother is in Mystik Spiral.”

“I guess that’s some of your experience in sound equipment comes from,” Quinn guessed.

Dani nodded.

“Right. I need to talk to more people, but I think you might be in.”

“I’ll wait in the café.”

“Thanks.”

Dani entered the café and saw that Scott Ashworth was there. ‘I didn’t think he was interested in Shakespeare,’ she thought. She then went up to the counter.

“How may I help you,” the pigtailed waitress asked.

“A white tea, thanks.”

“Coming right up.”

( Read More )

Linda had felt Sandi’s search for Jane and thus knew what had happened when she opened the door to find Daria holding up her daughter.

“I know about her powers, Mrs. Griffin. I promised to keep them secret.”

Linda took Sandi into her arms. “You know everything, I suppose?”

“Not everything,” Daria said. “She did tell me about her powers and that the ESP only works within Lawndale, or very close to it.”

“And about her mentor?”

“I think it might be you, Mrs. Griffin. I’ll keep your secret as well. You didn’t look that surprised when you opened the door.”

Linda sighed. “Come in.”

“Will Sandi be OK?” Daria asked after Mrs. Griffin had placed her on the couch.

“She just needs to rest,” Mrs. Griffin said as she went over to the kitchen. “Yes, I am her mentor and I have had similar experiences in the past.”

“And I suppose you still don’t approve of her being the fourth vigilante?”

“No,” Mrs. Griffin said with shake of her head. “She’s being rebellious, challenging my authority, going through a phase. But at least she’s accepting my advice. But what about your mother? What does she think about what you’re doing?”

“She’s supportive,” Daria answered. “She’s worried, of course, about both of us taking on too much with the Historia and investigating what’s going on in Lawndale. But otherwise, she’s still working overtime and coping with her own grief.”

“Good to hear,” Mrs. Griffin said as she turned on the kettle. “Cocoa?”

“Sure,” Daria answered. ‘Better than the energy drink I got earlier.’

Daria stayed just long enough to have the cocoa, to be sure that Sandi would be fine and to tell Mrs. Griffin about what happened at the Historia. There was a lot she wanted to ask Mrs. Griffin about, especially what she thought about the recent events in Lawndale since SpiderGirl appeared, but she decided that it could wait until after Jane was found and the opening weekend of the play.

Linda watched Daria go. ‘I’m certain that she will keep the secret. She seemed very sincere about that.’ She turned back to where Sandi was sleeping on the couch. ‘I hope she has learned something from this, but I also hope that Jane and the critics will be found soon.’

Daria changed to Dafoanairi as soon as she was out of sight of the Griffin’s place. She then headed back home through the back alleys, keeping alert for anything that might happen.

At the same time, Quinn arrived home.

“Quinn, what happened?” her mother asked.

Quinn then explained what had happened at the theater.

( Read More )

SpiderGirl re-entered the theater area and saw that it was still full of the green mist, she saw Peterson nearby, as well as three young men, including Trent, talking to her.

“I tried going in there,” Trent said. “But it was disorienting.”

“He clearly rigged this,” Peterson said. “But your sister could be gone by now.”

“I’ll find her,” SpiderGirl said as she came over. “They can’t have gone far, even if they’re in the drains.”

“Quickly,” Peterson said.

SpiderGirl nodded and dashed off.

“We may need to interrupt the power,” Dafoanairi said. “But the power box is out the back. It will take a while to either go around the block or over the building.”

“The latter can be quick,” the Enigma said.

“Or we could try the basement,” Dafoanairi said. “There are two entrances, but there’s a lot of props down there.”

“Lead the way.”

Backstage, SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon met up. “What’s the situation?” the latter asked.

“There’s an illusion of green mist in there, like at the bridge,” SpiderGirl answered. “And Jane has already been abducted, but he could still be here or nearby.”

“Then we have to get out there and make sure he doesn’t enter the drains again.”

“Got it.”

They then ran out back.

The emerged from the Historia and looked around the parking lot quickly. The found a manhole. “It doesn’t look like it has been used,” SpiderGirl said.

“Probably one on the street,” Ninja Talon suggested.

SpiderGirl nodded and shot a web to the roof of the theatre. “Let’s go.”

Shortly after SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon had swung away, the Enigma and Dafoanairi emerged from one of the back doors. “It’s over here,” Dafoanairi said. She then went over and opened the power box.

“What are you waiting for?”

“I’m going to turn it off and then off again. That should stop the illusions.”

“Should?” the Enigma asked.

“It might not, but we have to try. When I turn it back on, we’ll rush back in.”

“Ready.”

Dafoanairi then switched off the power.

SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon swung down in front of the Historia and looked around. “There it is!” Ninja Talon said.

They ran to the spot and saw that the manhole cover had been displaced. “Right!” SpiderGirl said.

“Right after you,” Ninja Talon said. They then went down into the stormwater system.

( Read More )

It wasn’t long before Peterson arrived at the Historia. “I knew you would be here, Daria,” she said after she had ordered breakfast herself.

Daria saw that she was off duty, as she was in plainclothes. “I knew you would be here. Has something come up?”

“Very perceptive. I suppose that’s one reason why you’re now fighting crime,” Xanthe said quietly.

Daria nodded. “Something else, to do with what’s going on.”

“You’re planning something and you’re putting it by me.”

“It’s Jane,” Daria said. She then explained Jane’s plan.

“I see,” Xanthe said when Daria had finished. “It’s very risky.:

“I’m sure she’s already talked to the DJ.”

“True. I will try to be there tonight.”

“Of course, nothing might happen. Or Jane could be abducted as she heads home,” Daria said.

“Make sure that the latter doesn’t happen.”

“The Enigma will be here. I’m sure she won’t let it happen.”

“You know who she is, don’t you?” Xanthe asked.

“I’m not answering that.”

“I’m taking that as a yes. The same with SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon.”

‘That makes sense,’ Daria thought.

“Anyway, I came because another critic is missing and I want you to have heads up about that.”

“WSBC?”

“How did you know?” Xanthe asked.

“Because the Enigma and I looked around the studio last night.”

“You did?”

Daria nodded.

“What did you find?”

“Not much, other than that they may have used the stormwater system.”

“How do you figure that?” Xanthe asked.

Daria explained what she and the Enigma had found.

“I see. You are right, of course. Trying to search the storm water system would be difficult. And it’s also unlikely that the abductees would be down there, given that the are forecasts for some storms this weekend.

“So, we’re still at square one,” Daria said.

“Pretty much. It could still be Quentin Beck.”

Xanthe soon finished and left, to get ready to go on duty. Daria grabbed ordered a coffee, and then Quinn entered the café. “Hey, Daria.”

“Hey, Quinn.”

“Something up?” she asked.

“Jane has come up with something.”

( Read More )

17 Tempestuous Origin Of Mysterio
The figure had light. SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon also had flashlights. The first pipe was easy, as it was mostly dry, but they noticed that there was more water as they continued towards the creek.

“Is he trying to lose us at the Creek?” Ninja Talon asked.

“Probably,” SpiderGirl considered.

‘That makes sense,’ the Shadow thought as she followed along. Just as well her shoes were waterproof. But she wasn’t so sure of SpiderGirl’s suit.

But SpiderGirl had planned for that. She had used waterproof materials in that particular suit. Ten minutes after leaving the vicinity of the WSBC studio, they approached the Creek.

The water was waist deep in the last pipe before the Creek, which made it difficult for them to move quickly.

When they emerged from the pipe into the creek, they saw that the figure had a speedboat waiting. “Quickly!” SpiderGirl told the other two. She shot a web to the boat as it started up.

Ninja Talon and the Shadow both fired their grapple guns. Both lines held as the boat speed off.

“Is this a good idea?” the Shadow asked as the figure went downstream, towards the lake.

“Not really,” SpiderGirl admitted. “But we’re coming up to the Jefferson Bridge.”

“You’re going to web the bridge?” the Shadow asked.

“Yes!” SpiderGirl said.

“Good idea,” Ninja Talon said.

They approached the bridge a half minute later. SpiderGirl shot webs to the road deck and to two of the pylons as they approached. “Be ready to hold on!” she said.

The other two nodded.

As they passed beneath the bridge, SpiderGirl shot more webs and signalled the other two. They retracted their grapples and held onto their superpowered team member. She then swung up onto the bridge. She shot more webs at the boat once they were on the bridge. That happened in less than five seconds. The boat stopped on the water, although the engines were still running at full throttle.

“Did it work?” Ninja Talon asked.

A green mist appeared on the boat.

“What?” SpiderGirl asked. “Get down!”

They hit the pavement of the walkway, with the Shadow holding a camera out over the edge. “He’s gone,” she said.

“What?” SpiderGirl asked. “Wait… I heard him go as we got down.”

“An illusion?” Ninja Talon asked.

“Most likely,” the Shadow said. She looked downstream. “He could be anywhere.”

SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon waited until several minutes after the Shadow had gone before swinging below the bridge to their spot and unmasking.

“So, you think it’s Beck, given the illusion?” Brittany asked.

“It certainly makes him a suspect, but I haven’t seen his special effects yet,” Quinn answered.

“I guess we will have to wait until Friday.”

“I doubt we have that long.”

“Tomorrow night is the dress rehearsal. Maybe Daria will want to see the effects that he has come up with then,” Brittany said.

“Maybe.”

“But in the meantime, all we know is that he might be holding the critics between here and the lake.”

“That’s still not much to go on,” Quinn said.

Brittany nodded.

They stood there in silence for a while before Quinn headed off to the Historia for her shift in the café and Brittany began a patrol before dinner.

( Read More )

Peterson then entered the café in plain clothes and saw the partners. “Just the people I want to see,” she said.

“Have you heard more about the critic?” Quinn asked.

“I’m afraid not,” Peterson said. “In fact, another of Lawndale’s radio personalities has gone missing.”

“That isn’t good news,” Daria responded.

“And who was this?” Joey asked.

“Oliver Langford. He’s Z93’s general critic,” Peterson said.

“So, he disparaged the play to?” Daria asked.

“Actually, he praised it,” Peterson said.

“But he mentioned it,” Quinn pointed out.

“More than once,” Peterson said.

“So, it may be someone who doesn’t like the fact that the Historia is being run by teens,” Daria said.

“So, Beck isn’t out of the woods yet,” Quinn said.

“Or it might be a competing theatre,” Daria said.

“That has been proposed,” Peterson said. “Not only the others in Lawndale, but also in Oakwood, Middlebury, and Cumberland. I’ll reach out to my friends in the departments there.”

“Probably need a private investigator to check out the other towns,” Daria said after Peterson had left.

“That would be expensive too,” Quinn said.

“I’ll talk to Mom about it tonight,” Daria decided.

“You mean, Peters, the guy who found Jenna’s mother?” Quinn asked.

“Yes,” Daria answered.

“I’d say, go for it, Daria,” Robert said.

“Normally I’d say wait,” Joey said. “But there’s a lot riding on this. Go for it.”

( Read More )

Across the cafeteria, Quinn joined Stacy, Tori and Tiffany.
“Have you found out anything else?” Tori asked.

“Not much,” Quinn answered. “Daria and I are going to talk to him this afternoon.”

“What do you think he’s up to?” Stacy asked.

“I’m not sure. That’s what we’re going to try to find out,” Quinn responded.

“But, if he’s hiding something, won’t he just not say it?” Tiffany asked.

“That’s true. But Daria and I have different ways of asking,” Quinn answered. “It would be like good cop, bad cop, but different.”

“Not that different,” Stacy said.

“But different enough,” Quinn said.

Around 2:00, Xanthe had returned to the Historia, where Quentin Beck had yet to show up. ‘Suspicious,’ she thought. ‘But nowhere near proof.’ She then saw a journalist she was familiar with enter the café.

“Officer Peterson,” Penelope Jericho said. “I’d like an interview about what you have found out so far about the disappearance of Kalina Ondrovick.”

“On the record?” Xanthe asked.

“Of course.”

“Yes.”

Penelope ordered a coffee first, before she interviewed Peterson.

“First, off the record. I have sources that say that you cooperate with SpiderGirl, Ninja Talon, the fourth vigilante and now this Dafoanairi.”

“That’s true, regarding SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon. I haven’t met the fourth vigilante more than twice and the same is true of Dafoanairi.”

“And what is your reasoning regarding cooperating with them?”

“That it is best to cooperate than to be antagonistic,” Peterson answered.

“Good answer.”

( Read More )

“So, where are you headed?” Daria asked. “I could drive you?”

“The Historia at first,” Anna answered. “Apparently, SpiderGirl is often on the roof.”

“I have heard that,” Daria said. “Probably because it offers a good vantage point. I have been up there, looking at the town, myself.”

“The Historia too,” Ben added.

“Just no making out while I’m driving,” Daria said.

“Um, we don’t do that,” Anna said. “The hypochondria.”

“Anna!” Ben said as they came up to the parking lot.

“Sorry,” Anna said, as she kissed her boyfriend on the cheek.

Ben rubbed the cheek.

Daria sighed as she unlocked the Lexus.

Quinn and Brittany left the school grounds before changing to SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon respectively. They then went in different directions, with SpiderGirl heading southwards, to patrol the downtown.

Daria parked in the parking lot behind the Historia. “I didn’t really know this was here,” Anna said as she got out.

“It’s one of those hidden places that people don’t think about,” Daria said.

“Like in those stories you like, only more mundane,” Ben said.

“That makes sense,” Anna said.

“I’ll show you the backstage area if you want,” Daria said.

“What about the apartments?” Anna asked.

“They’re hardly used, and therefore boring,” Daria responded.

“Oh, right,” Anna said.

Daria and the couple entered the backstage area and saw Quentin measuring something near the stage. “Anna, Ben, this is Quentin Beck, the new special effects person.”

“Hi,” Anna said.

“Hi,” Quentin said.

“What are you doing?” Daria asked.

“What does it look like?” Quentin asked.

“I don’t think anything needs to be done back here,” Daria said.

“I need to know what I’m working with,” Quentin said.

“Draw up a plan for what you want to do, then bring it to Quinn and I before the rehearsal tomorrow,” Daria said.

“Sure thing,” Quentin said.

“A little suspicious,” Anna said as they entered the theatre room.

“I agree,” Daria said. “I’ll tell Quinn later.”

( Read More )

Shortly afterwards, Quinn changed to SpiderGirl on the roof of the theatre. The themes of change resonated with her, specially with the changes she had undergone since she got bit by that spider and after her father died. ‘Daddy! I will always miss you! Thank you for saying ‘With Great Power. Comes Great Responsibility.’ It has given me something to strive for.’ She then thought about Brittany as Ariel. ‘She’s pouring herself into the role.’ Then she heard sirens to the east, across the creek in Lawndale Flats. ‘Responsibility calls,’ she thought as she swung away.

Daria and Jane left the Historia, heading towards the pizza place. “That was rather good for a first rehearsal,” Jane said.

“The actors had time to learn the script. And many were already familiar with The Tempest,” Daria said.

“Including Brittany? That was a surprise.”

“Apparently she had read Shakespeare since she was young.”

“I must have missed that,” Jane mused. “What do you think about the guy playing Prospero?”

“Tom? He’s good. It must be because Fielding covers Shakespeare better than a public school would.”

“I mean, he’s cute.”

“I don’t think so,” Daria said. “He’s like all the other boys.”

Jane shrugged. “Maybe. Still, all of them were good, including Tania.”

“She did well in her audition. Just because she was running around town accusing people of being the vigilantes over a week ago doesn’t mean I would not give her the opportunity.”

“Of course. Of course.”

( Read More )

A minute later, they were on top of the Historia.

“So, those goggles have night vision?” Philippa asked.

“Yes, amongst other modes.”

“And you don’t have powers?”

“I’m neither confirming nor denying. Let’s just say I wouldn’t be doing this without these gadgets,” the Shadow explained. “It’s like my own play. It seems that in the drama of Lawndale, I have taken this role to help.”

“And the other vigilantes?”

“SpiderGirl does have powers. But I am not sure if her webs are organic or not. Ninja Talon seems to be just a teenager skilled in martial arts who also uses some gadgets alongside her weapons. The fourth vigilante is telekinetic and can project energy blasts. I haven’t yet met the apparent fifth.”

“You don’t know what name she’s taken?” Philippa asked.

“I do, but it seems she wants to remain in the shadows as she helps Lawndale in her way. I just hope any battle between her and SpiderGirl is short.”

The Shadow was about to say more, but she then heard something to the northwest of the Historia, in Dega Street. “Duty calls!” she said to Philippa.

“You are going to leave me here?” Philippa asked.

“You’d be a liability. I trained with my mentor a while before I started doing this,” the Shadow then handed her the spare grapple gun. “It is relatively easy to use. But I’ll be back soon. Keep an eye on Daria and Sandi.”

Daria and Sandi also heard the noise as they examined an Oscorp building. “What’s that?” Daria asked.

“Sounds like something to respond to,” Sandi replied.

Daria nodded. “Right. There are plenty of places along here…”

Sandi nodded and ran off to some cover.

‘What are they doing?’ Philippa wondered.

( Read More )

16 Tempest and Change
Quentin Beck got off the bus. He looked at the terminal in front of him. “Lawndale,” he considered. Two weeks before he hadn’t heard of the place. Then the Groundhog Day Attack made national news. Some sort of crazed villain had attacked the place. But that wasn’t why he was there. He was there because there was a job offer at some sort of community theater.

After picking up his luggage in the terminal, he found a copy of the local newspaper, the Sun-Herald.

Lawndale Sun-Herald
Saturday, February 17, 2001
Brownouts resolved a second time
SpiderGirl, Ninja Talon and an apparent fifth vigilante responded and disconnected the problematic electric furnace in the Elders Solarium.

“Five vigilantes,” he considered. There were only three when the Groundhog Day Attack occurred, he was sure.

Quinn Morgendorffer entered the theatre area of the Historia. She looked at the time. 5:30. “Is the guy here yet?” she asked.

“Not yet, Quinn.” Robert Allen responded.

Quinn sighed. “How hard is it to find a special effects person?”

“He’s probably a little late.”

“I know, but I don’t want to wait too long.”

Quentin found the Historia and went inside. He took out the note he had made. “Interview will be in the theater, not the café or bookstore,” he reminded himself as he looked around. He saw that the café was to the right of the lobby and the bookstore to the left. The theater doors were straight ahead.

( Read More )