Non Trek Fic: Spider Quinn (Spider-Man/Daria)

[USS Fardell]

The characterization of Norman Osborn should be similar to Willem Defoe's portrayal in the 2002 movie.

12 Rise of the Green Goblin Part 1
Norman Osborn threw aside the latest Sun-Herald in disgust. More reports of crime that hadn’t been foiled by SpiderGirl or those two new vigilantes. ‘Of course it hasn’t!’ He then went to his laptop and logged into a specific server on his company’s network. He looked at the progress in testing of the Glider design.

Prototype complete.

That was good news. He could take it and use it. He left the office and went to the workshop.


“Mr. Osborn!” one of the techs said.

“Mr. Cross. You report that the prototype is ready?”

“It is Mr. Osborn. Testing will start this afternoon.”

“Excellent! Keep me apprised.” He grabbed a document that lay on the table next to them. It was a manual for the prototype. He looked around. There was no one there. He took the manual and left.


He then took it to his office. ‘I’ll read it later,’ he decided. He had a grand opening to attend.


Quinn and Daria arrived at the Historia early. “Today is going to be a great day,” Quinn said.

“I hope so, with how busy that week was,” Daria responded.

“I’m glad it’s over,” Quinn said, feeling the achievement at the Spelling Bee. But she knew she would be continuing to visit Sarah Robyn in the hospital. They then entered the lobby, where they found that Stacy, Joey, Robert and Angie were there before them.

“Morning, Quinn, Daria,” Stacy said as she came up to them.

Quinn saw that Stacy was quite excited. “Morning, Stacy.”

“The place has come alive,” Stacy said.

“It’s amazing what a few weeks of refurbishment can do,” Daria commented.


It wasn’t long before Norman Osborn arrived, along with his son, Harry. “Welcome, young people. Is everyone here?”

“We’re waiting on a few more people,” Quinn said.

“Of course,” Osborn said.

The door opened again and Jane and Trent entered. “This looks rather cool,” The latter said.

“Yes, it is rather like those old photos from before World War II,” Jane said. “Except in color.”

“I knew you would say something like that,” Daria said.

“This is going to be very good for Lawndale,” Jane said.

“Jane Lane, an optimist?” Daria asked.

“She can be optimistic about something,” Trent said, enigmatically.

That gave Daria something to think about.


Brittany arrived at the Historia with Kevin, Donna and Nikki. She saw that Quinn, Daria, Jane, Stacy, Osborn, Joey, Angie and Robert were already there. “Good Morning,” she said.

“Wow, like, this looks really old,” Kevin said.

“That was the point, Kevy,” Brittany said.


Soon, more people came as the time came.

“Welcome to the Historia, the former Global Theater,” Osborn said. “It is the vision of four ordinary high school students, but it is something extraordinary for the people of Lawndale. A place where young people can meet and socialise without fear of the crime occurring elsewhere in this town. It is a coffee house, bookshop and more. A place for plays and the occasional exhibition. A place for connection. Please stay for brunch.”


“Interesting speech,” Jodie Landon told Daria.

“It certainly is, but I’m sure you’re concerned about the crime he mentioned.”

“Absolutely, including those vigilantes. SpiderGirl may have good intentions, but I’m not sure about the other two.”

“I’m not sure either,” Daria admitted.


Jane heard what Jodie and Daria were talking about. ‘I have the best intentions,’ she thought. She hadn’t been sure about SpiderGirl and less sure about Ninja Talon, but the interactions they had as they investigated the compound the cheerleaders were held in had erased most of the concerns she had. ‘They will find out that we have the best of intentions towards the people of Lawndale.’ She looked around at the other Lawndale High students and wondered whether any of them were SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon. ‘I seriously doubt Daria would be either of them’


Quinn was talking to Tori when she saw Sandi enter and approach Harry. ‘Uh oh!” she said.

“Sandi?” Tori asked. “The Historia is open to everyone, isn’t it.”

“Of course, but I didn’t think she’d be here now,” Quinn said.

Tori put a hand on Quinn’s shoulder. “Don’t worry about it. I’m sure she won’t cause trouble.”

“I hope so,” Quinn said. But that wasn’t all that was on her mind. ‘I wonder if the Shadow is here?’ She hoped it wasn’t Sandi. ‘That would be quite awkward.’


Brittany had also noticed Sandi arrived. ‘Why is she hanging out with Harry Osborn?’ she wondered.

Like Quinn, she also wondered whether the Shadow was there. She knew it wasn’t Daria, as Quinn had told her so. ‘If she is here, I have no idea who her secret identity could be. But she was sure that the Shadow was wondering the same thing about her.’


The morning tea went well, and more Lawndale High students and their families arrived as noon approached.


Daria, Quinn, Joey and Robert joined Norman at the podium. “And now for the moment you’ve been waiting for. Daria.”

Daria went to the microphone. “I now declare the Historia open as a place for the young people of Lawndale to be able to come together despite their differences and no matter what they’re going through. Thank you.”

The crowd went into an applause and Daria stepped down, hoping that the Historia would make a difference.

Then it was time for lunch, which Elisabeth Rowe had catered for.


Daria found herself sitting across from Brittany. “That was a great speech, Daria.”

“Thanks.”

“More inspiring than Mr. Osborn.”

“You think so?” Daria asked, although she knew that Brittany would answer in the affirmative.

“I know so. I know you, Daria. But Mr. Osborn, I don’t know him. I think he’s just here for the publicity.”

“That’s a good point. I became involved in this because I knew that helping Joey and Robert save the theater would help this town and help it overcome this time of crisis.”

“I’m sure it will,” Brittany added. “But I’m sure it will take more to turn things around.”

Daria looked into the cheerleader’s eyes and saw determination there. She wasn’t sure what to make of it.


“Sandi?” Harry asked.

“Yes?” Sandi asked.

“You’ve hardly touched your plate.”

“Sorry, I was lost in thought.”

“About your former friends?” Harry asked.

“Yes, they’re all here and enjoying themselves. Qui-inn has a crowd around her of both sexes, as usual. It’s like she’s thriving despite her grief.”

“Oh, maybe you should forgive her.”

“No!” Sandi shot back, quietly. “She ruined everything.”

“It’s eating you up.”

Sandi just looked down at her plate and ate slowly.


Jane found herself next to Joey. “So, what are your hopes for this place?” she asked.

“Much like what Daria said,” Joey answered.

“Good answer,” Jane said. “But I asked you.”

“I hope it would be for our peers as it was for our grandparents and parents’ generations,” Joey answered.

“A good answer. I seem to recall my mother talking about this place once, as a place she hung out with her friends at.”

“Seems to be a common story,” Joey added.

“That’s true.”


Quinn found herself across from Jodie. She looked in her eyes and asked. “What do you think about recent events?”

“You mean with the Oakwood cheerleaders? Or more generally?”

“Generally.”

“I’m not sure that SpiderGirl has been actually helping, The crime has been getting worse.”

“Oh?” Quinn asked, hiding her reaction.

“Mostly in the poorer neighborhoods. Did you know that most of Lawndale’s Black population lives in Lawndale Flats?”

“I didn’t know.”

“It isn’t widely advertised,” Jodie said. “A stain on the town’s reputation. But my parents made sure that I knew it.”

“Of course.”

“But, so far SpiderGirl’s mostly been seen on the west side of the Creek.”

“But that’s where most of the town lies,” Quinn responded. ‘I guess I’ll have to make more patrols in Lawndale Flats.’

“I suppose so.”


Anna Coultard found herself across from Robert. “So, what does the Historia mean to you?” she asked.

Robert gave a similar answer to Joey. “A place where we can hang out like our parents and grandparents.”

“Good answer,” Anna said.


The lunch continued, but it was soon over. Some stayed at the Historia to explore the bookshop, like Daria and Jane. But others, including Quinn and Brittany left. So did Norman Osborn.


Quinn headed home, to continue her new mask design, for a while before returning to the Hospital to keep Sarah Robyn company in the evening as SpiderGirl.


Norman Osborn headed to the Lawndale City Hall, for he had an appointment with Lawndale’s Mayor.
“Norman Osborn, at 1:30,” he said to the receptionist.

“Mayor Lawson will see you, sir,” she said.

“Thank you,” Osborn said.


Mayor William Lawson was a busy man. The stresses of governing Lawndale were growing every passing week and it was showing on him. He was sure that he was going bald faster than he had been before SpiderGirl showed up. He was already annoyed that he had to work on Saturdays, so having an appointment with Norman Osborn was unwelcome. He saw the tycoon enter his office.

“What is the purpose of this meeting?”

“An exchange,” Norman answered.

“What do you mean?”

“I would like access to the municipal CCTV network.”

“For what purpose?” the Mayor asked.

“I may be able to help with your vigilante problem.”

“SpiderGirl has brought good publicity to Lawndale. With crime increasing, people need hope. SpiderGirl provides it.”

“But what about those two new ones?” Osborn asked. “A ninja and some shadowy figure? They don’t sound like they would inspire hope to me.”

“Maybe not…” Lawson began.

“I can make it worth your while,” Osborn grinned. “Both personally and I’ll be willing to help with any civic improvements that may be needed in proximity to my various facilities, including around the Historia.”

“The Historia, you say? How did that go this morning?” the Mayor said.

“Very well, and one of the girls behind the idea gave an inspiring speech as she declared it open. But, what do you say?”

“I’ll have to give it some consideration.”

“I’ll let you think on it, but don’t take too long,” Osborn said.

“I won’t. I’ll get back to you on Monday.”

“I’ll hold you to that,” Osborn said as he left. ‘I’ll be sure to have better luck with the High School Principal.’


SpiderGirl arrived at the hospital two hours after leaving the Historia.

Sarah Robyn greeted her with a sign.

“Learning ASL I see?” SpiderGirl asked. “I’m sorry, I don’t know it.”

Sarah Robyn then wrote; I might not regain my ability to speak, but I still want to communicate.

“Maybe I could learn it with you.”

You don’t have to. I know you’re quite busy looking after Lawndale, along with whatever you do as your secret identity.

“That’s true, but I may need it for communicating with others.”

That’ll be good.

“I’m also working on an expressive mask.”

Don’t do all this on my account.

“You’re as important as any other person, Sarah Robyn. Your situation has inspired me, that’s all.”

Thanks

SpiderGirl stayed a while, keeping Sarah Robyn company.


While SpiderGirl was at the hospital, Ninja Talon was patrolling downtown in the vicinity of the Historia. She wanted to be sure that the area was peaceful. But then she heard some sirens from the edge of town to the south. ‘Another time,’ she thought as she headed in that direction.


‘That’s Officer Peterson,’ Ninja Talon thought, as she had seen SpiderGirl talk to her on more than one occasion. She approached her.

“Who’s there?” Peterson asked. “Ninja Talon?”

“That’s me,” she said. “What’s happened?”

“We caught a someone in a stolen vehicle. There’s nothing else to be concerned about.”

“Oh. Good to know it’s been handled,” Ninja Talon answered.

“Tell SpiderGirl I know she’s been visiting Sarah Robyn more.”

“I haven’t yet,” Ninja Talon admitted. “Maybe I should.”

“Probably.”


Ninja Talon soon left the scene. ‘I’ll visit the hospital later,’ she decided. She then continued to patrol for a while.


Meanwhile, Daria continued to look through the books at the Historia’s bookshop. There were many volumes she wanted to read, but she was sure that they’d still be there later.

“Daria?” Jane asked, coming over from where she had been looking at art books.

“Yes?” Daria asked.

“I’m heading out, continuing my project.”

“Oh,” Daria said. She had hoped to spend more time with Jane.

“You can come over tonight, if you want.”

“Sure.”

Jane then headed out, leaving Daria to wonder which part of Lawndale would get Jane’s attention that afternoon.


Jane exited the Historia to find Trent waiting for her. “So, what did you tell Daria?” he asked.

“The cover,” she answered.

“Of course,” Trent said. “We’ll head home first.”

“I didn’t bring the suit with me,” Jane said as she got into the car.

“Good idea.”


As the old Plymouth drove away, Sandi stepped out of the shadows next to the Historia. “What is Jane hiding?” she asked herself. She had gone off earlier, and then wanted to return to the old theatre, to look at it further. With Lawndale on edge with the recent events she wanted to get away from what she usually did. She missed the companionship that the Fashion Club had provided, even if she held resentment against Quinn.


Daria saw Sandi enter the bookstore and come over to her. “Sandi?”

“This has nothing to do with Quinn.”

“I think it might,” Daria said as she picked up a historical novel.

“Actually not. I like, heard Jane say something mysterious outside.”

“You were eavesdropping on her.”

“Be as it may, I think you would be interested in what she and her brother said,” Sandi rebutted.

“Trent too?” Daria asked rhetorically. “No! Whatever they had to say is between them.”

“I’ll tell you anyway! He said ‘What did you tell Daria’ and she said…”

Daria interrupted. “Stop!”

“She said, ‘the cover.’ She’s hiding something.” Sandi continued.

 

[USS Fardell]

Part 2
Daria paused. She knew Jane was hiding something. But she didn’t want to give Sandi the satisfaction. “I know what you’re doing. You destroyed your friendship with Quinn and the other two former fashion drones. Now, you’re trying to drive a rift between Jane and I.”

Sandi was undeterred “She also mentioned a suit.”

“Ah! Stop! Sandi!” Daria said. “I don’t want to hear it.”

“Aren’t you curious?”

“No, I’m annoyed. I will be later, but now, you’re facing my ire!”

“You don’t think I have ire?” Sandi asked.

“If we come to blows, it would be your fault,” Daria said, her nose not far from Sandi’s.

“Good point, but at least think about what I have said.”

“I know I will.”

Sandi then turned and left.


Daria wasn’t sure what to make of that. ‘What is Sandi trying to prove?’ She turned back to the historical fiction, hoping to distract herself from thinking about what Sandi had said about Jane.


Sandi left the Historia, heading for home. She didn’t expect her confrontation with Daria to end up the way it did.


The Lanes got home, and soon, the Shadow was jumping from rooftop to rooftop along Howard Drive.


Norman Osborn got home, where he retreated to his study, where he began reading through the manual for the glider.


SpiderGirl looked out the window. The sun would set soon and she needed to patrol before heading home for dinner. She turned back to Sarah Robyn. “I’ll be going now. I’ll be back tomorrow.”

Sarah Robyn smiled wrote and wrote I’ll see you then.

SpiderGirl waved goodbye as she left the room. She found a nearby courtyard, where she swung away, heading towards Lawndale Flats.


The Shadow arrived back in the vicinity of the Historia, where she saw Daria leaving. But she knew that others would still be there. She climbed to the old theatre’s roof, where she looked out over the area and took in the afternoon scene. She knew that she would commit it to canvas at some point. She noticed something down the street, in an allyway.


Samara Collins had been at the Historia’s opening and had witnessed the standoff between Daria and Sandi. Thus, she was preoccupied thinking about that when a mugger appeared.

“Hand it over!” he said, brandishing a knife.

However, some kind of fog appeared between them and a hand grabbed hers. “Run!”

They ran and then the figure fired a grappling hook and Samara found herself on the rooftop looking at her rescuer and the afternoon sun reflecting off Lawndale’s rooftops. “You’re not SpiderGirl.”

The figure chuckled, sounding like a teenage girl. “No, I’m the Shadow. You need to be careful. Situational awareness is a thing! Especially with Lawndale going the way it is.”

“Oh, I was preoccupied,” Samara explained. “Two girls were arguing in the Historia’s bookshop before I left. But I will make sure to look around me in future.”

“I see,” the Shadow responded. “I hope you weren’t eavesdropping.”

“No, they were too far away.”

“Right. Can I get you anywhere?”

“Home, I suppose. It’s on the east side of the creek, but not in Lawndale Flats,” Samara said.

“You didn’t need to clarify that. Lawndale Flats is a small part of East Lawndale.”

“But it is near to it.”

“Right.”

They then descended to the street level and were on their way.


It was a relatively quiet afternoon. Ninja Talon headed home early.

“How was the Historia, honey?” Ashley-Amber asked once she had changed and come down to the lounge room.

“It was great. Many people from school were there, and Daria gave an inspiring speech.”

“Not Norman Osborn?”

“He did say something, but Daria’s was on point. That the Historia will be a place where people in Lawndale can come together,” Brittany answered.

“That’s inspiring,” Ashley-Amber responded.


SpiderGirl approached Lawndale Flats. The subdivision looked different to the rest of Lawndale, with many more apartment blocks than houses. She could see various people walking around taking in the Saturday afternoon sunshine.

As she patrolled she noticed the people looking at her. Most of them appreciated her purpose, but see did see some individuals who seemed fearful. ‘There is a lot to be afraid of,’ she thought as the sun began to set. ‘But there is hope.’


Quinn arrived home half an hour after sunset and found Daria pacing in the kitchen. “Daria?”

“Hi, Quinn.”

“What’s wrong, did something happen this afternoon?”

“Yes. It was Sandi, she said something about Jane.”

“Whatever it was, ignore it,” Quinn said, trying not to see red.

“Thing is, Quinn, she overheard something I can’t ignore.”

“I know Sandi, she’s trying to drive a wedge between you two,” Quinn said as she sat down.

“I know that,” Daria said as she also sat. “She said something about a cover and a suit.”

“That could mean anything,” Quinn said quickly. She wasn’t sure what to make of it. ‘I doubt Jane is the Shadow. It’s someone else.’

“I am going over after dinner,” Daria declared, “But that was decided when Jane left the Historia to do more on her project.”

“Tell her straight up that it was Sandi who said it,” Quinn said.

“Of course I will,” Daria said. “I don’t intend otherwise.”

“I don’t want you to lose Jane as a friend over a misunderstanding.”


Helen entered the kitchen and saw her daughters talking. “How was the Historia opening?”

“It was great,” Quinn answered, showing her usual enthusiasm. “Daria gave an inspiring speech.”

“That’s great, Daria!” Helen praised. “What about?”

“That the Historia can be a place where Lawndale’s young people can come together despite their differences.”

“Sounds great, but it’s going to take more than that to turn Lawndale around,” Helen said.

“I know that,” Daria said.


The dinner was quiet, before Daria headed off to Casa Lane.


Meanwhile, Sandi’s dinner was more tense.

“How was the Historia?” Linda asked.

“It was fine,” Sandi responded.

“Just fine?” Linda asked.

“Yes. There was morning tea, everyone talked, then there was lunch and the building declared open.”

“That sounds good, but I think you’re hiding something.”

“Daria Morgendorffer was the one who declared it open,” Sandi responded with ire in her voice.

“I see. Helen is spreading her influence in Lawndale…”

“I don’t think Mrs. Morgendorffer has anything to do with it. It was apparently Joey and Robert reaching out to Daria for help that lead to the old theatre becoming the Historia.”

“Maybe, but I’m sure Daria and Quinn talked to their mother about it,” Linda responded.

Sandi remained silent.


Daria arrived at Casa Lane with the discussion with Sandi on her mind. She thought on what Quinn had said as she knocked on the door.

Trent opened it. “Janie will be back from a run shortly,” he said.

“I can wait,” Daria responded as she entered the house.


Jane changed from the Shadow into her usual self in the garage and entered the house.


“Daria! You’re here,” she noticed something up with her friend as she entered the kitchen. “What’s wrong?”

“I had an encounter with Sandi soon after you left the Historia. It was something she said.”

“What did she say?”

“That she had overheard you and Trent talking as you left,” Daria responded.

‘What did she hear?’ Jane asked herself.

Daria noticed her silence. “She said something about a cover and a suit. Quinn said not to worry about it, but…”

“Daria, sometimes words can mean different things,” Jane said as she sat down.

“I know that. But, are you involved in something? Like, are you SpiderGirl?”

“I’m not SpiderGirl, Daria. I have as much as a lack of clue as you do about who she is.”

“Or Ninja Talon?” Daria asked.

“Same answer.”

“But you are involved in something?”

“Something I can’t tell you about,” Jane answered, her voice quiet. “Not yet. But it does have something to with my project.”

“I see.”

“See, Sandi is trying to split us.”

“I know, that and Quinn pointed that out,” Daria responded.

“She’s growing isn’t she?” Jane said with a smile.

“Yes, but I wish that it didn’t take Dad’s death.”

With Daria thinking on that, Jane realised the immediate crisis was past. ‘Daria will find out sometime, just not soon.’


While Daria was out, and their mother working in her room, Quinn went down to the basement. She wasn’t only working on an expressive mask, she was wondering if there was somewhere in the house other than her room that her mother and sister wouldn’t be able to get into. A place to store SpiderGirl related objects secretly. She found the blueprints to the house where they were stored in an old dresser. ‘Question is, can the house be modified without Mom or Daria knowing?’ She went over to a table next to the washing machine and unfurled them.

 

[USS Fardell]

Part 3
While Quinn was looking at the Schloss Morgendorffer architectural blueprints, Norman Osborn was looking at the engineering blueprints for the prototype glider. It was perfect for his needs.


Lawndale Sun-Herald
Sunday 28 January 2001
Historia Opening is a Great Success
SpiderGirl emerged from the house in the early hours after about four hours of sleep. She did what usually did, sat on the roof, closed her eyes and listened to Lawndale. ‘Of course, I realize that I’m mostly listening to the part of town on the west side of the Creek,’ she thought as she did so. ‘Anything in Lawndale Flats would have to be particularly loud.’ She paused, opened her eyes and walked to the edge of the roof and looked in that direction. The downtown area hid that neighborhood from view.
She went back to her previous position and closed her eyes again and listened.

Half an hour later, she heard a cry for help a few streets to north. Opening her eyes, she swung into action.


Quinn arrived at the Historia, ready to start her first shift, at 11:00. She had spent most of the morning either on patrol, copying the blueprints or designing the mask. She saw Stacy there, ready to start. “Stacy!”

“Hi, Quinn!” Stacy said enthusiastically. “I’m ready for my first day.”

“That’s great!”


Sandi was at home, in the backyard, which still bore the scars of her frustrated use of her powers following the Fashion Club’s dissolution. She was wondering whether she could use her powers in a way that would be helpful. ‘But I’m not like SpiderGirl,’ she thought again. She was tempted to try to find SpiderGirl’s secret identity using an aspect of her powers, but her mother had warned her against that when she had broached the subject the night before.

“Sandi, I told you before if you try to locate someone not in Lawndale, you’ll get knocked out by the sensory overload of perceiving all of Lawndale at once.”

“But SpiderGirl is in Lawndale.”

“If she’s her secret identity at the time, you may not locate her.”

“So, I risk getting knocked out if I try to find a random girl in Lawndale?”

“I would not suggest going through the yearbook and trying to locate every girl. That would be exhausting.”


Sandi blinked and brought her mind back to the present. ‘Of course, I would need a disguise,’ she thought. With that, she went back to her room to see if she had anything that could hide her identity.


Anna Coultard entered the Historia. She wanted to see if the bookshop had books on Welsh folkflore. Quinn came over to her. “Would you like something, Anna?” she asked.

“I’m just browsing for now,” Anna answered. “Seeing if there are books on what I’m looking for?”

“What the High School library doesn’t have?”

“Exactly.”

“Let me know if you find anything,” Quinn said playfully, “either today or tomorrow.”

“Of course,” Anna said.

“What about Ben?”

“He might visit here at some point, after the fuss has died down.”

“When there aren’t that many people,” Quinn surmised.

“Exactly,” Anna said.


Meanwhile, Brittany was at home musing on changes to the Ninja Talon suit. She was still wondering how to use flames in a way that wasn’t dangerous. ‘How did the Shadow come up with those paint bombs anyway?’ she wasn’t sure. She continued to design the changes.


After her shift at the Historia ended, SpiderGirl headed to Cedars of Lawndale.


Sarah Robyn saw the superheroine enter her room. You’re here! She wrote.

“Sorry, I was carried away designing a new mask this morning,” SpiderGirl said. “Also thinking of ways to modify my house without the rest of the family noticing.”

Why?

“So, I can have a secret place for my superhero stuff. It will help me keep my secret identity better.”

OK.

“Then I was at work.”

SpiderGirl spent another hour there before heading out to patrol.


Later that night, Quinn looked at her copy of the house blueprints in her room. She noticed something that could be useful. ‘A laundry chute down from my closet to the basement?’ she realized. She hadn’t noticed anything in her closet that could indicate that, but then she didn’t really look at it other than to sort her ever growing wardrobe. She went over and started putting most of her clothes onto her bed.

She looked at the floor of the closet. She saw that it was a couple of boards of wood. ‘But is there anywhere to lift it if it’s not nailed down?’ she wondered. She looked at the one on the right and saw that there was an indent near the corner. She webbed the board near the indent and pulled. It came up and she grabbed her flashlight and looked down. She saw the disused laundry chute. ‘It’s fairly large,’ she thought. Perfect for storing the SpiderGirl suits and useful as a quick way to leave the room unseen.
‘But I have to look at the other end before I decide anything further.’


Back down in the basement, Quinn found that the other end had a large counterweighted hatch. She pushed it open and saw the light coming down from her room two stories above. ‘Good!’ she thought. ‘I can use it.’ She went back up to her room thinking of ways to use the chute.


‘Some kind of pulley system to store the suit and to lower myself down the chute,’ Quinn wrote on a piece of paper. ‘And an inconspicuous locking mechanism for the closet floor and the hatch, that would allow both of them to be opened and closed from either end.’ That was a start. She looked at the time. ‘Time for a patrol,’ she thought as she put the copy of the blueprints and the notes away. But first she put the board in the closet back where it was and put her clothes back.


Lawndale Sun-Herald
Monday January 29, 2001
SpiderGirl seen in Lawndale Flats

The talk of most of the students as the school day began was of the opening of the Historia. Quinn found herself congratulated more for her win at the Spelling Bee. But only a few students saw Norman Osborn park instead of merely dropping off Harry. Hardly anyone saw him make a beeline for Ms. Li’s office.


“Good Morning Mr. Osborn,” Ms. Li said. “What can I do for you?”

“The question is, what can I do for Lawndale High in exchange for something.”

“It would depend on what that something is, wouldn’t it?”

“Access to your surveillance system. Specifically, your CCTV cameras,” Osborn answered.

“Out of the question!” the Principal said.

“I am aware that SpiderGirl has been sighted on school grounds from time to time.”

“So, you want to find her secret identity?”

“Yes,” Osborn answered.


Angela reconsidered. “I too want to know which of my students is that vigilante.”

“Good,” Osborn said. “What can I do for Lawndale High? I have looked into the records. You have outlaid vast sums on security improvements. However, early last year, the Library roof fell in due to lack of maintenance. Then there was a hastily planned medieval fair to raise funds for repairs.”

“So, improvements to the buildings. I can work with that,” Li considered.

“And my company can also improve your security systems, making it more likely that SpiderGirl, and possibly Ninja Talon and the Shadow, get caught.

“I doubt the latter two are students here, Mr. Osborn.”

“But they might be. If it comes out, think of the reputational damage,” Osborn said.

‘He can’t blackmail me!’ Angela thought. “I will handle whatever issues come up, Mr. Osborn. Lawndale High will survive any scandal.”

“So, your answer is no?”

“My answer is ‘Maybe.’ I have to think about it. I’ll get back to you later in the week,” she sat down. “Good Day, Mr. Osborn.”


Osborn left Lawndale High and headed towards City Hall to get the Mayor’s answer.


In the meantime, the principal tried to get the conversation out of her mind as she tried to focus on her paperwork.


“Mr. Osborn to see you sir,” the secretary said.

“Send him in,” Mayor Lawson said in a resigned tone.


“Good Morning, Mr. Lawson,” Osborn said as the door closed behind him.

“Morning, Osborn,” Lawson said in a tired tone.

“I’ll get straight to the point. What is your answer?”

“Yes. I will provide access to Lawndale’s CCTV network, but not right away. I’ll have to negotiate with the Council first. They might vote against it.”

“Are you trying to stall me?”

“Maybe. But I still need to inform the Council that I have been approached in some manner. I won’t say who.”

“And how soon will you call this vote?” Osborn asked.

“Tomorrow. I’ll let you know as soon as I know the answer.”

“Then I’ll be back tomorrow!”


Quinn met Anna, Ben and Gerald in the library after school. “So, you found a Welsh folklore book at the Historia?” Quinn asked.

“Yes,” Anna answered. “I haven’t bought it here, but it’s great!”

“That’s good. Maybe we could see those standing stones you mentioned,” Quinn suggested.

“Remember what Ms. Li said,” Gerald said.

“That any field trip has to be outside school hours,” Quinn responded. “I remember.”

“So, how far are these standing stones anyway?” Ben asked.

“Not far, only a third of the way to Oakwood,” Anna answered.

“I see where this is going,” Gerald said.

“Not right away,” Quinn said.

“But soon, within the next couple of weeks?” Gerald asked.

“Yes, but we could do it around sunset. Think of how bright the stars would be outside Lawndale,” Quinn said.

“There would still be the light pollution,” Gerald said.

“Probably,” Quinn considered.

“Sunset at the standing stones would be great!” Anna said with wonder in her eyes.

“Why am I getting the feeling that something is going to happen there too,” Gerald murmured. “Maybe we could wait until the equinox.”

“But that is two months away,” Quinn objected.

“Fine!” Gerald said.

“Thanks, Quinn,” Anna said.

They then continued their session, with Quinn reading from her design book first.


After the mentoring session, Quinn changed to SpiderGirl on the school roof and headed downtown. It wasn’t long before she reached her destination.


As her usual self, albeit with oversized sunglasses, Quinn entered the hardware store. She had to see what was available before she started designing the locking mechanisms for the chute. ‘It’s not like I can just intuit it, right?’ she pondered as she looked around at the large selection of merchandise. It was both like, and unlike, any other shopping experience in her life.

She looked around taking note of various tools, and other items, before realizing that she need to do more research to find what she needed, so she grabbed a brochure and approached one of the staff members.

“How may I help you?”

“I’m looking at some locking mechanisms for a school project,” Quinn answered.

“What kind of locking mechanisms?”

“Something complex, possibly involving electronics with a manual backup.”

“I’ll see what we have.”

“Sure.”


The salesman soon came back. “We have many different locks, including pinpads.”

“Also, I would like some tools, mostly screwdrivers and hammers.”

“Sounds like you’d need a drill set too.”

“Then I’ll take two,” Quinn said.

“That will be expensive.”

“Then I’ll just have one,” Quinn decided. She could come back for another one later. She didn’t want her mother to be questioning her about unusual purchases on the credit card if she could help it.


Quinn headed home from the hardware store and placed the tools beneath the table where the blueprints were still laid out. She looked at the blueprints again. She knew where to start, but there were other ways she could use the house for her superheroic purposes. She looked at the attic. Could she create a discrete opening from her closet into the attic? She knew that the attic windows opened, especially the ones facing into the back yard. ‘But there is another way,’ she considered. There were stairs up from the basement to a hatch in the back yard also.
‘Two ways,’ she thought. It would be best to have two routes rather than just one in case she needed to leave in a hurry. She decided to have a look in the attic.


Quinn looked around the attic. There was a lot of stuff stored up there, including a lot of her father’s belongings that they hadn’t given away. The grief intensified as she looked around. ‘With great power comes great responsibility,’ she thought. She located the spot above her closet and saw that the floor was a simple masonite slab. ‘It should be relatively simple to modify.’


However, she then heard Daria calling for her downstairs.


“Why were you in the attic?” Daria asked as Quinn pushed the stairs into their closed position.

“Just looking for something,” Quinn answered.

“OK,” Daria said.

“Anything else?”

“I was just curious,” Daria answered.

“OK. Wait…”

“What?”

“I’ve just noticed, your hair is growing,” Quinn said.

Daria grabbed some strands of her hair, where it reached where it hadn’t reached before. “Well, I haven’t been to a salon since before Dad died.”

“Whereas I’ve been twice.”

“I haven’t thought about it, but I guess I’m growing it out now.”

“It looks good on you, Daria.”

“That wouldn’t be the reason.”

“Of course not.”


Quinn went into her room. ‘I have to be more careful,’ she thought as she closed the door. ‘As far as Daria growing her hair goes, I meant what I said’.
She went over to the closet and looked at the ceiling as she pushed clothes aside. ‘Looks like a false ceiling.’ It would probably be easier to make the modifications than she thought. ‘But I’ll start with the chute first.’ She went over to her desk and looked at the copy of the blueprints again.

But then there was a knock and Quinn hastily pushed the page aside. “Come in,” she said.

Daria came in with a thoughtful expression on her face. “I’m thinking on what we just talked about.”

“Your hair?”

“Yes. I’m not sure I want to go to a salon, but I also know there would be split ends.”

“I can help you with that,” Quinn said.

“You can?” Daria asked in surprise.

“Yes, I have experience, helping those who had a terrible cut, or didn’t want to wait. Both here and in Texas.”

“Oh,” Daria said. “Let’s do it then.”

 

[USS Fardell]

Part 4
In the bathroom, Daria looked in the mirror. She saw herself and Quinn, two sisters who were more alike than she would have expected before her father passed. One with auburn hair that was longer than it had ever been and round spectacles. The other with shoulder length dyed brown hair caught up in high pigtails, as it had been most of the time since the funeral (and it was obvious to her that Quinn was continuing to dye her hair, as her roots weren’t visible).


“OK, so, I’ll just trim it at the bottom, where there are split ends,” Quinn said. “But what about your bangs?”

Daria moved a hand through her bangs where they hung over the top of her glasses. “I’ll grow those out too. I guess I’ll need a couple of clips soon.”

“I guess you’ll be looking for plain ones,” Quinn said with a giggle.

“Of course.”

As she began, Quinn considered that Daria definitely wouldn’t have trusted her to trim her hair before she became SpiderGirl. ‘But she can’t know. She wouldn’t understand, and I don’t want her to be in danger as a result. That’s the main reason why I’ll be making these modifications slowly.’


Daria was also thinking as Quinn was trimming her hair. ‘I don’t know what the future will hold, but I know that we’ll survive High School in Lawndale.’


Quinn took her time, as she usually did when she did someone’s hair. She felt the trust that Daria had given her, trust that didn’t come easily. “I have done the bottom,” she said.

Daria took off her glasses and closed her eyes, ready for her sister to trim her bangs. “Alright.”

Quinn carefully snipped at the split ends she found in the bangs and saw her sister’s eyelids twitch as she waited. She didn’t take long.


“Done,” Quinn said. Daria opened her eyes and put on her glasses. She saw that her hair looked better than it did before. “Thanks, Quinn,” she said with a rare smile.


Trent answered the phone. “Hey, Daria. Janie is out on a run.”

“I see. I just wanted to tell Jane something.”

“What about.”

“Oh, Quinn and my hair.”

“What about Quinn and your hair?”

“I’d like to tell her first.”

“Sure, I’ll let her know you called when she gets back.”

“Thanks, Trent.”


The Shadow was downtown, near the Historia. She was watching as Stacy and Joey finished their evening shift. She didn’t want anything to happen that would jeopardize the vision of the Historia as Daria laid out during the opening. After five minutes Stacy and Joey drove off, leaving the Shadow relieved. She then continued her patrol of that stretch of Main Street.


At the same time, Sandi had her yearbook from the previous year open, along with an energy drink. She was ready to start to try to locate the secret identity of the heroes, especially SpiderGirl. ‘But one at a time,’ she had decided, as in one per evening. That would take time, possibly months, but that would be better than her overextending her ability every night. She located the first female freshman (now sophomore) in the yearbook. “Elly Aitkin,” she considered, looking at the short haired blonde on the page.

She barely knew her, but that was fine.

Sandi downed the energy drink. She then closed her eyes and chanted; “Finndu mann sem heitir: Elly Aitkin!”
At first she perceived herself and her room, as she usually did when she used her locate ability. Then her perception expanded out into the streetscape of Lawndale.

At first, the perception close to her house was colorful, as she perceived the inside of her neighbors’ houses along with the yards and the streets. But as it extended outwards it grew more vague as more information flooded into her mind. Then her perception narrowed in as Elly Aitkin was located halfway across town, in a house not far from the High School. It appeared that she was doing her homework while watching some animated show on her TV.

Sandi then returned her perception to normal and opened her eyes. She marked a small ‘x’ next to Elly Aitkin’s picture. “One down,” she said, with fatigue in her voice.


At the same time, as she was cleaning up the small amount of Daria’s hair in the bathroom, Quinn felt something. Her Spider Sense tingled briefly, at a low volume. ‘What was that?’ she asked herself. She finished cleaning up the hair and then went into her room and looked out the windows. ‘Nothing,’ she thought. Yet there was something, or someone, in Lawndale that was searching for something to do with her secret, she was sure of it. ‘What else is new,’ she thought as she put away the copy of the blueprints and took out her homework.


After recovering from searching for Elly Aiken, Sandi decided to do something else, practice using her other powers.


Linda went out into the backyard and saw Sandi taking shots at old tin cans using her powers. “What are you doing?” she asked.

“Practicing, trying to improve my aim.”

“I noticed you searched for someone earlier.”

“So?” Sandi asked as she took another shot and hit one of the tin cans.

“So, what are you up to, Cassandra?”

“SpiderGirl, she confronted me in my room.”

“When was this?”

“Just after the Fashion Club ended, not recently,” Sandi answered as she took another shot.

“I see. You want to know who she is, then confront her. What then?”

“What do you mean?”

“Meaning, are you just going to keep fighting her?” Linda asked. “You know that our powers can have a deleterious affect on people.”

“Because you told me. I haven’t actually seen it.”

“I have, it’s not good.”

“So, tell me!” Sandi said. “All you have said is that it’s deleterious.”

Linda shot at one of the cans herself, knocking it down. “They disrupt neural pathways, causing temporary paralysis and/or vocal slurring.”

“Doesn’t sound so bad.”

“That takes until the next day to recover from!” Linda added. “I don’t know what repeated exposure would cause. I don’t want SpiderGirl to experience that! I don’t want to find out her secret identity by finding out that you’ve injured her permanently. I don’t want that to happen, Sandi!”

“I’ll be careful,” Sandi said. She deactivated the purple glow and walked to where the cans were. “That’s not all I can do.” She reached out and drew one of the cans into her hand.

“I know,” Linda said as she did the same. “But using this power to restrain her wouldn’t be any better. I don’t want you confronting Lawndale’s superhero out of jealousy. She’s bringing hope to this town.”

“Not jealousy!”

“Resentment then. Think about what you’re doing, that is what I’m asking of you. Both as your mother and as your mentor.”

“Mentor,” Sandi considered.

“I taught you how to use your powers so that you would use them responsibly.” She then went back inside, knowing that she would have many more such conversations with Sandi in future.


Sandi looked at where her mother had gone inside. She considered what she had said. But she knew that she would continue what she had started and confront SpiderGirl. ‘But not as myself.’


After an hour and a half of homework, Quinn headed out as SpiderGirl, leaving the house by the hall window, as she had been usually doing. ‘But leaving via the attic would be better,’ she thought as she swung away.


Jane entered the kitchen after her patrol as the Shadow.

“Daria called,” Trent said. “Something about her sister and her hair.”

“Her sister’s hair, or her own hair?” Jane asked, wondering what her friend was going to tell her.

“Her own hair,” Trent clarified.

“I’ll call.”


“What’s this about your hair?” Jane asked.

“I let Quinn trim it. It is a little hard to explain how it felt, but I now trust her more than I ever have.”

“How much did she take off.”

“That’s the thing. I asked her to just deal with the split ends. I have decided to grow it out, including the bangs,” Daria answered.

“I have noticed it getting longer.”

“Changes happen.”

“It goes back to your father, doesn’t it?” Jane asked.

“Yes. The changes due to him not being here anymore.”


Out in the night, SpiderGirl rescued a squirrel from a truck on the Interstate, before meeting Ninja Talon nearby.

“I have visited Sarah Robyn,” the latter said. “Twice. Once, like this. The other as the cheerleader.”

“That’s good,” SpiderGirl said in encouraging tone.

“There were some muggings I prevented earlier.”

“I was bonding with Daria.”

“That’s good. I don’t think I could do so with Brian.”

‘There’s something there,’ SpiderGirl thought.

“Anyway, Sarah Robyn will be released tomorrow, even though she still can’t speak.”

“Then I’ll see her early in the morning.”


Lawndale Sun-Herald
Tuesday January 30, 2001
Historia Proving Popular

SpiderGirl arrived at the Hospital as the sun rose. She wanted to spend time with Sarah Robyn and get to school with time to spare.


Sarah Robyn saw SpiderGirl enter. She wrote Thanks for coming and handed the note to her.

“You’re welcome,” SpiderGirl said. “I couldn’t stay away today without saying goodbye. It’s not likely I’ll be in Oakwood any time soon. I’ll be focusing on Lawndale.”

Of course.

“But it may be that I may be there, just not very often.”

That’s OK

They spent a while in silence before they parted ways.


I’ll keep an eye on the news from Lawndale and keep thinking of you and the other two.

“Thanks, Sarah Robyn. That means a lot,” SpiderGirl responded. “Although most of what we do is small and doesn’t make the news.”

That’s fine.

SpiderGirl left, although not before saying goodbye and getting a signed farewell in return.


As the business day began, so did a tumultuous session of the Lawndale City Council. Especially when Mayor Lawson brought up Norman Osborn’s request to access the municipal CCTV, albeit without naming him.

He suspected that Osborn had continued to work behind the scenes, as several of the councillors he had expected to reject the proposal supported it. ‘Of course he would!’ he groused to himself. “Lets call a vote.”

The motion succeeded by one vote.

‘Now I have to delay Osborn some other way!’ Lawson thought.


Osborn entered Lawson’s office at midday. “I heard the motion passed,” he said.

“Yes, it did. You’ll have access later this week.”

“Very good. My technicians will liaise with yours about the details.”


Quinn met with Angie after school in the library. “When are you next at the Historia?” Angie asked.

“Tomorrow,” Quinn answered.

“Right, I’ll drop by before work.”

“That would be great.”

“Now, where are we up to?” Angie asked.

“History, specifically, the Gilded Age.”

Angie opened her textbook. “Got it.”


After school, Sandi headed to Cranberry Commons. She didn’t want to go to the other Mall, as that was where she usually shopped. She didn’t want any classmates to see her shop for clothes that would make her inconspicuous. She found a small out of the way shop and started looking.


At the same time, Daria entered Lawndale Mall, hoping to be in and out as quickly as possible. After her decision to grow out her hair and the trim Quinn gave her, she decided to get the clips as soon as possible. She soon found what she was looking for in a small shop.

“Are you sure you want something that plain?” the saleswoman asked.

“Look at what I’m wearing already,” Daria responded. “Do I look like someone who wants something fancy?”

“You could change up your style a bit.”

“I may be growing my hair, but my style isn’t changing.”

“OK, I won’t press.”

“Good.”

“That will be four dollars.”

Daria handed over the exact change.


Sandi found several outfits that matched what she was looking for. All purple ensembles that matched the glow of her energy projection powers. ‘Now I need to find a mask,’ she thought as she paid for the clothes.


After tutoring Angie, SpiderGirl headed out from the school roof. After an uneventful patrol around the downtown, she headed home.


She entered the basement through the backyard hatch and changed back to her usual self. She took out the blueprints again. She looked again at something she had noticed. That the basement on the blueprints seemed to take up the same floor space as the stories above, but Quinn was sure that it looked smaller. ‘The laundry area is below the dining room and the kitchen and Daria’s room. This table and the dresser are below the garage and my room.’
She went over to the chute and looked at the blueprints again. ‘It looks like there is more empty space than the chute beneath my closet.’ She looked at the wall ahead of her. It didn’t look as far away as the end of the living room did from the front door. ‘I’ll probably need to measure it.’

She found the measuring tape in the tools she had bought the day before. She measured along the wall from where she was sure the front door was, to the wall, which was of plasterboard, rather than the other three walls which were of the same red brick as the walls above. “Fourteen feet.”

Up on the ground floor, she checked that her mother and Daria weren’t home before measuring from the side of the front door to the corner window. “Twenty one feet. That’s a whole seven feet.” Was there a hidden area of the basement six and half feet wide?


Back down in the basement, she looked at the wall. The plasterboard was held in place by screws. ‘So, I can get in there at some point and look.’ But first she needed to make the other modifications before considering what to use the hidden space for. ‘I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself.’

She went back to the desk and continued designing the locking mechanisms for the chute.


Sandi found some purple fabric she could make a mask out of. ‘Perfect,’ she thought.


Daria saw Quinn enter the kitchen from the basement door. “I got the clips today,” she said.

“That’s good. Are you going to wear them soon.”

“Probably tomorrow.”


After dinner, Sandi was ready again. “Robyn Allen,” she considered, looking at a long haired brunette. She didn’t really know her either. She downed the energy drink. “Finndu mann sem heitir: Robyn Allen!”

Robyn Allen wasn’t quite as far as Elly Aitkin, but her house was in the opposite direction, near Newridge, the southwestern-most of Lawndale’s subdivisions. Sandi saw that she was having desert with her large family.

“Two down.”


Again, Quinn felt her Spider Sense tingle at a low volume. This time as she did some homework. “Again?” she commented. ‘Is it going to happen every night?’ She took out the journal she had been using since she had started being SpiderGirl. “Low intensity tingle again. Someone is still searching for my secret.”


Linda watched as Sandi again practiced against tin cans in the back yard. “I hope she took our discussion last night to heart,” she murmured. She looked around, and saw that she was alone. She then generated a forcefield around her. “Sandi isn’t here yet, but she will be soon.”


Later, after her parents had gone to sleep. Sandi slipped out of the house wearing one of the purple ensembles, the mask she had made earlier in the evening and her hair tied back into a high ponytail. She looked down Grandstaff Drive towards the downtown. She was already the fourth of Lawndale’s vigilante heroes, or in her case an antihero. “Watch out SpiderGirl, the Enigma is on your case!” she said as she ran off down the street.

 

[USS Fardell]

Part 5
Half an hour after leaving home, the Enigma arrived in the vicinity of the Historia. She remembered her conversation with Daria after the opening. ‘Is Jane SpiderGirl?’ she wondered. ‘Or she could be one of the other two?’ She wasn’t sure. ‘I’ll continue as I have been with the Sophomores. I’ll find her eventually.

Suddenly, there was a sound nearby. She turned, her hands aglow with her powers. A stray cat came out of an alleyway. ‘But there was something else,’ she thought. She looked down the street and saw that a window had been smashed in. ‘On it!’ she thought as she ran as quietly as she could.


“Quickly, before SpiderGirl comes!” one of the thieves said.

The other two thieves came over to the window with their misbegotten wares. “She’s just one person.”

They exited through the window they have smashed. “Stop right there!” came a voice.

They looked and saw a dark figure against the glare of the street lights. Suddenly, their misbegotten wares were yanked out their hands by a strong invisible force and returned into the store through the window.

“Who are you,” one of the thieves asked in fear.

“I am the Enigma,” the feminine voice said quietly. “Now, like, make yourselves scarce. You don’t want to face my other power and what it might do to you.”

The thieves with their hearts pounding then ran off down the street.


The Enigma looked at the broken window of the store. There was no way she would be able to piece it back together. She made herself scarce as a police siren made itself known in the distance.


Officer Xanthe Peterson looked at the scene. The window had been broken and merchandise strewn all over the place. “It looks like the thieves were interrupted in action,” she said.

“By SpiderGirl?” one of her colleagues asked.

“I don’t think so. There are no webs and she usually leaves the suspects webbed up for capture,” Peterson answered.

“Oh.”

“It could have been Ninja Talon or the other one.”


The Enigma continued down the street, looking for things that indicated that something would go down. It was deserted. She heard something down one of the side streets and looked. She saw that there was a store alight there. ‘Not much I can do,’ she thought. ‘But I’ll see if people need rescuing or if SpiderGirl will respond.’


The Enigma saw that the Fire Brigade had already responded. ‘Of course. I’ll head home. I stopped some thieves, that’s good enough for a first night.’


She arrived back at 512 Grandstaff Drive half an hour later. ‘It was a good first night,’ she thought, thinking of how she had thwarted the thieves.


At the same time, Ninja Talon arrived at the scene of the fire. The Fire Brigade had done their job. She saw Officer Peterson nearby.

“Ninja Talon,” the officer acknowledged.

“Any idea what happened here?

“Arson,” Peterson answered. “Any evidence of who it was lost in the blaze. Whoever it was made themselves scarce before the fire brigade arrived.”

“Oh.”

“Did you intervene at a shop break and enter earlier tonight?”

“I didn’t,” Ninja Talon answered. “It wasn’t SpiderGirl?”

“No webs and she leaves suspects webbed up.”

“Oh, of course. The Shadow then.”

“I haven’t met her yet,” Peterson confessed.

“She helped SpiderGirl and I a lot last week when we infiltrated that compound and rescued Sarah Robyn.”

“That’s good. But if it’s not you, not SpiderGirl and if it’s not the Shadow as you say, that would mean there’s a fourth.”

“There’s no proof of that,” Ninja Talon said.

“No, there isn’t.”

“If nothing else. I’ll keep an eye out tonight and other nights.”

“That would be good.”


Ninja Talon looked into the store briefly before leaving silently. She wondered if there was another vigilante hero out there.


SpiderGirl awoke at the now usual early hour. She climbed out onto the roof and listened to Lawndale. ‘Something’s a little… discordant,’ she thought. It was as if something had changed. “But what and where is it?” she murmured. She listened a while longer, trying to narrow it down. ‘Downtown? Or is it Lawndale in general?’ She then swung away, eyes closed, using her intuition to guide her.


She landed at the spot and opened her eyes. She saw a store that had been broken into and police tape around it. ‘I missed this, tonight,’ she thought. But how was it responsible for the discord? She wasn’t sure. She looked around and saw that it wasn’t far from the Historia. She went up to the old theater and saw that the Art Deco building was untouched. ‘I’ll find Ninja Talon.’ She headed to the bridge where they found out each other’s secret identities.


Ninja Talon saw SpiderGirl arrive. “I was talking to Peterson earlier,” she said.

“About that shop that was broken into?” SpiderGirl asked.

“Yes, she said someone interfered in the robbery, and she knows it’s not me and it’s not you.”

“But that would leave the Shadow.”

“She thinks there’s a fourth, and I do to,” Ninja Talon said.

“A fourth vigilante hero. That would explain the discord.”

“Huh?”

“You know I spend time listening to Lawndale at night,” SpiderGirl answered. “Tonight there was a discord. And in the evening and last evening my Spider Sense tingled briefly at a low volume. I know there’s someone out there trying to find out who I am.”

“I’m here with you.”

“Thanks.”


They sat there for a while in silence, contemplating the changes in Lawndale over the past few months. It seemed to SpiderGirl that the real changes were yet to come.


Norman Osborn awoke. It was that dream again. The one where a presence whispered terrible things to him. It was getting worse, despite his many secret visits to a counselor he had hired. He got out of bed and went over to where he had placed the glider blueprints. ‘I won’t use it for what the whispers say!’ he thought, not entirely convinced. He tried to get back to sleep.


Lawndale Sun-Herald
Wednesday, January 31, 2001
Council Divided Over Controversial Proposal
A contentious vote on allowing an unnamed organization access to Lawndale’s Municipal CCTV footage passed with one vote yesterday after a tumultuous session of the City Council.

‘Unnamed?’ SpiderGirl asked herself. ‘It’s likely to be Oscorp!’ Was Osborn the one seeking her identity? ‘No, it’s someone else,’ she concluded. She looked through the rest of the newspaper, but she knew that the interrupted robbery had occurred after it had gone to press. She then placed it back on the stand and continued towards the school.


Sandi awoke and looked at the time. “Oops!” she said as she leapt out of bed. She had forgotten to set her alarm after she had come back from her first foray as the Enigma. She looked around the room, making sure that she had packed away the purple clothes she had worn. She then got dressed and raced out.


“Sandi, you need breakfast!” Linda said. She suspected that her daughter had snuck out in the middle of the night, whether to confront SpiderGirl or not, but she didn’t have proof. ‘I’ll talk to her tonight as she practices.’


Jane arrived at school to see Daria waiting. She had gone by the store that had been broken into, as Max had called Trent about it when he had seen it. She knew that she hadn’t interfered, and she knew of SpiderGirl’s habit of leaving suspects webbed up. ‘So, it has to be Ninja Talon, right?’ she asked herself again. A fourth vigilante in Lawndale seemed a bit much to her. ‘But I can’t rule it out.’

“Jane?” Daria asked.

“Just thinking about my project,” she responded. She then noticed something different about Daria. Her bangs were held to the sides by plain hair clips. “You’re a little different. I didn’t expect that.”

“I figured that I better get the clips as soon as possible,” Daria responded.

“You mentioned Quinn trimming it, but not clips.”

“I guess I didn’t.”


Sandi got to school just in time for the bell to ring for Homeroom. ‘I’ll have to make sure I set my alarm.’


“Changes,” Jane murmured as she and Daria sat on the roof during study hall.

“What was that?” Daria asked.

“Changes. Lawndale is changing. Now you’re changing,” Jane clarified.

“I may be growing my hair, but I’m still the same Daria. Still sarcastic and cynical of the world around me, including of whether SpiderGirl is actually making a difference.”

“What about last week?”

“SHIELD would still have done something,” Daria answered.

“Probably. It’s the Historia that will make a difference.”

“But that will take time.”

“I know.”


Quinn entered the Library to find Anna and Ben already there. ‘I don’t think either of them are the new vigilante,’ she thought.

“Quinn!” Anna said as she came up to the duo. “I have found out more about the standing stones.”

“That’s great.”

“Including the specific Irish stonemasons who worked on them,” Anna added enthusiastically.

“What’s this about stonemasons?” Gerald asked as he came up.

“The people who put the standing stones in place,” Anna answered.

“Oh, of course,” Gerald responded.

Anna took out a book. “This was in the town library.”

“A History of Irish Immigration to Carter County,” Quinn read. “Carter County?”

“Yeah, Lawndale County was renamed from Carter County over a decade ago,” Anna answered. “It is still sometimes referred to that way.”

“Oh,” Quinn said.

“Because Lawndale is the largest town in the county?” Ben asked.

“Probably,” Anna said.

“Anyway. Let’s, look at the original idea,” Quinn suggested.

“Sure,” Anna said as she turned to table of contents.


And so, for the next half hour they took turns reading from the book, including Gerald, who still had issues with projecting his voice.


“I could look for someone to help you,” Quinn said to Gerald after the other two had left.

“You don’t have to.”

“It would be part of what Ms. Li asked me to do.”

“And you’re going above and beyond,” Gerald said.

“I know. Maybe I’ll ask Mr. O’Neill about it tomorrow.”


She then left the school as SpiderGirl, patrolling for an hour and a half before arriving at the Historia for her first shift.


“Quinn!” Elizabeth Rowe said, as the younger Morgendorffer girl appeared in the café.

“Hi, Mrs. Rowe.”

“How’s your mother? I haven’t heard from her since before the holidays.”

“Oh, she’s busy, but I’ll tell her you asked when I get home.”

“Thanks.”


While Quinn was talking to Stacy’s mother, Daria arrived home. She went up to her room and looked in the mirror in her closet. ‘I am changing,’ she thought as she glanced at the hairclips. It wasn’t just that, or the decision to grow out her hair. It was indeed the absence of her father, affecting her more than she thought. It wasn’t only Quinn who was changing due to grief, she was as well. She took a deep breath and closed the closet. ‘I’ll take it each day as it comes,’ she thought. She also decided to talk to Jane about it the next day.


The Griffin’s dinner was awkward as the five of them ate, with only Sam and Chris talking about their day at school. “And the teacher said that my design was impractical!” Sam said.

“What design was this again?” Linda asked.

“For a slide in the playground,” Sam answered.

“That takes up most of the playground?” Sandi guessed quietly.

“That’s the whole idea of it!” Sam said.

“Sam, try to start small,” Linda said.

“I did start small. Having a slide cover all of Lawndale is too much,” Sam said.

“Was that your first idea?” Chris asked.

“Yes,” Sam answered.

“Sounds good,” Chris said.

Linda and Sandi both sighed.


As Sandi turned to go up to her room after her father and brothers had made themselves scarce, her mother called out to her. “Sandi! We need to talk.”

“Yes?”

“I know you sneaked out last night and I don’t have proof. But there are rumors of a fourth vigilante.”

“I am using my powers responsibly,” Sandi countered quietly.

“So, you did!” Linda said.

“Maybe.”

“But, there is still the fact that you want to confront SpiderGirl!”

“And maybe Lawndale needs a new hero,” Sandi said.

“And you think I haven’t been tempted to go out and use my abilities to fight crime? Especially after SpiderGirl appeared? And now this Ninja Talon and the shadowy one? I don’t want to bring danger to this family. Think about that, Sandi, please.”

“I don’t think SpiderGirl will trace me here.”

“She might when you find her identity and I know you will,” Linda said.

“I will be ready and I’m sure you will be too.”

Linda sighed, knowing that she wasn’t getting anywhere with her daughter. She saw her grab an energy drink from the fridge. “That may give you a boost, but it’s not exactly healthy.”

“What do you use?”

“Potato salad.”


Sandi entered her room and opened the yearbook again. Next after Robyn Allen was Erin Archer, another short haired blonde, although hers was slightly longer and curlier than Elly Aitkins’.

She looked at the energy drink. ‘Potato Salad would take longer to eat!’ she thought. She then downed it. “Finndu mann sem heitir: Erin Archer!”

Her perception again spread out across Lawndale. Erin Archer was found close to the Historia, heading towards it.

“Three down.”


“Quinn?” Mrs. Rowe asked.

“Something,” Quinn said, noting the third low tingle of her Spider Sense.

“Are you OK?”

“Yes.”

“Good, you just looked out of it for a second,” Mrs. Rowe said with concern.

“Stress: school, social life, here and I miss Daddy.”

“Of course. You can talk to me about that at some time, if you want to.”

“That would be great!” Quinn responded.


Sandi practiced again and noticed that she was getting better at aiming her shots.