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

[USS Fardell]

Part 8
Sandi hung up from the third member of the AV Club she had called. “No one,” she murmured. Then the phone rang again.

“Hi, this Sandi.”

“Samara Collins here. I’m letting you know that I did tape the interview, and I’m heading to the Historia now and will give it to Daria after the performance finishes.”

“Thanks for letting me know.”


There was chatter amongst those in the café when Samara arrived at the Historia. She looked at the clock. “Another hour. May as well have supper.”

As she had her supper, she thought about the changes in Lawndale in the past few months.


After the play had ended for the night, Samara found Daria backstage talking to Brittany.

“You did very well,’ Daria said.

“Thanks,” Brittany said. “Tomorrow night should be slightly better.”

“Good. But now I have to deal with this fake SpiderGirl business,” Daria said.

Brittany nodded. “I want it to be dealt with too.”

“Daria?” Samara asked.

“Yes?” Daria responded.

“Samara Collins, in the AV Club.”

“You have the tape?” Daria asked.

“Yes,” Samara answered as she handed it over. “But it’s after a lot of other stuff.”

“That’s fine. I’ll make a copy and give this back to you later,” Daria said.

“Thanks.”


“I’ll come over later,” Daria said to said to Sandi. “We can analyse it together then.”

“Just as well it’s Friday night,” Sandi said as she looked at the clock. ‘Already after 9:30,’ she thought. “Mother won’t complain too much.”

“Just make sure Sam’s already in bed. I’m sure he already knows too much.”

“Oh, he’s already asleep,” Sandi responded.

“Good to hear. It’ll be the usual time.”


It was after 10:00 when a group including Daria, Quinn, Jane, Stacy, Tori, Brittany, Jennifer and Tania met at Schloss Morgendorffer to examine the interview.

Helen looked on in bemusement at the eclectic group as Daria put the tape in the VCR. “I hope you’ll be able to prove that Anders was being irresponsible,” she said.

“I’m sure that we will, Mrs. Morgendorffer,” Jane said.

“OK, Samara said to fast forward,” Daria said as she handled the remote. “But she didn’t say how far.”


Daria soon found footage. She turned to Jane. “I’m sure that you’re the only one here that has seen her.”

“I have too,” Brittany piped up.

“You too?” Daria asked.

“Yes. She carried me home one night, in early December,” Brittany said. “And she took me to the hospital when I slipped earlier this week.”

“OK,” Daria said. There was something, careful, about how Brittany said that. She shook her head. That wasn’t what she wanted to think about, but she did recall that one of the early newspaper articles mentioned a cheerleader being carried by SpiderGirl one night, and that Brittany had told her soon after Groundhog Day that she had met SpiderGirl around the time DeMartino had been arrested. “So, you’ll be able to tell as well?”

“Yes,” Brittany answered.

“That will help with the proof,” Daria said. “OK, we’re at the beginning of the interview.”


Quinn wasn’t surprised that Brittany had spoken up. ‘She knows how to keep our secret,’ she thought.

She watched the interview again.

“Pause!” Jane said.

“Almost right away,” Daria said as she paused.

“She’s too rigid. SpiderGirl’s more animated that that!” Jane explained.

‘She’s right,’ Quinn thought.

“Like, she moves about more,” Brittany added.

“That’s not proof in of itself,” Daria said.

“Exactly, we can’t just go with, she’s too stiff,” Quinn added.


Daria pressed play again.

She took notes and Jane sketched as she commented on some things the fake SpiderGirl said in response to Ander’s questions.

They went through it twice; the second time as Daria copied it, using an older VCR that she had found in the attic.

“What do you think?” Daria asked her mother.

“You have plenty of proof with both Jane and Brittany’s recollections. That is enough for Anders to not to have a leg to stand on.”

“But someone must have put her up to it,” Quinn said.

“True, but there is no proof,” her mother said.

“There isn’t,” Quinn said.


“Another thing,” Tania said.

“What is that?” Helen asked.

“Whoever was the fake SpiderGirl is not an actor,” Tania answered.

“I agree,” Brittany said. “An actor would have been more convincing.”

“Like she was chosen at random?” Daria asked. “Or known to Anders or whoever put her up to it?”

“That seems likely,” Tori said.

“That’s a good point,” Helen said. “But it doesn’t change the fact that there is only evidence against Lynn Anders and whoever else was at the studio who knew that the woman behind the mask is not the real SpiderGirl.”

The girls all nodded.

“We’ll tell the studio in the morning,” Daria decided.


They then had a late snack before most of them headed home.


“…I heard about the fake SpiderGirl thing,” Trent said when Jane had come in. “A few called to inform either you or myself about it. Another called asking if I had taped it.”

“Daria managed to find a tape.”

“Cool.”

“But it’s not cool that someone impersonated SpiderGirl,” Jane said. “What if it was a fake Shadow?”

“I see your point. But how are you going to prove it.”

“Given that I was rescued by SpiderGirl, alongside the critics last week…”

“Got it,” Trent said with a slight smile.”

“And Brittany was carried by SpiderGirl sometime late last year, so it won’t just be me.”


The flurry of calls throughout Lawndale petered out by midnight. Shortly afterwards, Dafoanairi arrived at the Griffin’s and climbed in through Sandi’s bedroom window.

“You don’t have to do that here,” Sandi said.

“I figure that If you’re doing it at my place…” Daria said as she doffed the cloak and propped the quarterstaff against a wall.

“Got it, but what have you figured out.”

“It’s definitely a fake,” Daria said before launching into a description of what she and the others had found.


“I’m certain that Anders will be in serious trouble,” Sandi said when Daria had finished.

“Mom, Quinn, Jane, Brittany and I will present our findings to the studio in the morning.”

“But Anders was certainly set up.”

“I have thought about that, including the fact that others in the studio must have known that it was a fake,” Daria said.

“At least a producer, and one or two assistants,” Sandi mused.

“And their heads may roll as well as Anders’.”

Sandi nodded.


In the early hours, Ninja Talon arrived on the Morgendorffers’ roof where SpiderGirl had been listening to the town as she usually did. “Hey, Spidey.”

“Hey, Talon. Lawndale sounds, pensive.”

“Amazing how you seem to pick up on that.”

“I just get the general mood,” SpiderGirl explained. “And it’s centered around this neighborhood, which is why I sometimes choose other places to listen from from time to time.”

“Anyway…”

“I’m sure that Jane’s perspective, as well as yours, will be enough to convince them that Anders did wrong.”

“I hope so. But someone else obviously put Anders up to it,” Ninja Talon said.

“Norman Osborn. It’s no secret that he’s awake now. But of course, there’s no proof.”

“There’s also the person who was the fake SpiderGirl.”

“She may have been forced into it,” SpiderGirl said. “Could be some hapless Oscorp employee as far as we know.”

“Most likely.”


At the same time, Fields was unable to sleep. She was pacing the lounge room of her apartment after drinking some cocoa. ‘I’ll go to Osborn early in the morning,’ she thought. But what she would talk to him about, she still wasn’t sure.


Lawndale Sun-Herald
Saturday, March 3, 2001
Lynn Anders Interviews SpiderGirl, or Does She?

SpiderGirl read the article. It was Melinda Parris’s usual speculative style. ‘I guess Mrs. Jericho is waiting on what we find out,’ she thought. She sighed, a lot was riding on how the studio executives would respond. If it ended up as being Anders’ word against the students of Lawndale High who agreed that the interview was fake, she was sure that the tension in Lawndale would continue to increase. She put the paper back and continued her early morning patrol. ‘I hope there won’t be another trap.’


Fields arrived at a nearby convenience store as the Sun started to rise. She picked up the paper. ‘People were already questioning it last night?’ she asked herself before reading further. “Phones rang hot last night as teenagers who had actually seen SpiderGirl in action questioned whether the person on screen was actually the superheroine that has been the talk of Lawndale for the past several months…”
For the first time since she was in the studio her regret and shame faded a little. ‘I hope that they would see the truth,’ she thought. ‘But what will Osborn’s reaction be?’


Osborn was awake soon after the sun rose. As soon as the nurse had checked his vitals, he asked her to turn on the television.

“Yes, sir.”

“Controversy in Lawndale this morning. Did Lynn Anders conduct an interview with a fake SpiderGirl?”

“They’re already speculating. Good.”


“Yes, Eric, this is serious!” Helen said as she saw Quinn enter the kitchen for breakfast. “I can’t let this misinformation stand.”

“I don’t want it to blow back on the firm if you’re wrong,” Eric Schecter said.

“I know I’m not wrong, something seemed off about SpiderGirl in that interview, and I trust Jane Lane.”

“I think you are taking a risk, that’s all. But the Senior Partner has thrown his weight.”

“Good,” Helen said. ‘But why would Vitale support me on this?’ she wondered. She shook her head. That wasn’t what she wanted to dwell on. She wanted to continue preparing her case in case the studio wasn’t reasonable.

“Thus you can take time to deal with it next week if it’s not dealt with this weekend.’

“Thanks. But I’m sure the executives will listen to us.”

“Good luck.”


Tori arrived at the Morgendorffers at the same time as Jane, who clearly looked tired. “Burning the midnight oil?” she asked.

“Yes,” Jane answered. “I had to go on a run to clear my mind. And inspiration struck for my streetscape project.”

“I see,” Tori said, as she opened the door. She saw that Daria and Quinn were rewatching the video, while their mother was taking notes.

“Morning, Tori,” Quinn said.

“I see you are making sure you have everything in order,” Tori said.

“Absolutely,” Daria said.

“We’ll be ready to go soon,” Helen said as she closed as she closed a briefcase.


It was a busy morning at the Historia. Angie and Stacy could barely keep up with the orders as the café was full of students talking about the fake interview.

Sandi was also there, with Harry.

“Penny for your thoughts?” Harry asked as she took a slow sip from her cappuccino.

“Thinking about Anders’ reason again.”

“For staging a fake interview?”

“From my brief talk with her on Thursday, I thought she would, like, just be persistently chasing interviews with the vigilantes,” Sandi responded.

“So, you’re thinking that someone pushed her, like my father?”

“The thought has passed my mind. I’m certain that Daria has thought about it too.”

“But he’s still in the hospital,” Harry said uncertainly.

“I doubt that would stop him.”

“True. He is running Oscorp again, even if it’s part time.”

Sandi looked out the window. The usual Saturday morning foot traffic was there, but it seemed a little subdued.


Brittany was waiting with Ashley-Amber outside the studio when the Morgendorffers, Jane and Tori arrived.

“Ashley-Amber?” Helen asked, when she got out of the car.

“Hi, Helen. Brittany told me about it,” Ashley-Amber said. “And I got calls from some of the other parents last night.”

“Sure,” Helen said.


“Hey,” Brittany said as she came up between the sisters. “I see that you’re ready.”

“As I’ll ever be,” Daria said.

“We have to succeed,” Quinn said.

“I’m certain we will,” Brittany said in her usual cheerful tone.

Quinn smiled. “I know we will.”

“That’s the spirit,” Mrs. Morgendorffer said. “But it will take determination.”


“Do you have an appointment?” the young lady behind the desk asked.

“Yes. Morgendorffer at 9:00,” Helen said.

“A yes, the complaint about Lynn Anders’ show last night. Lynn Anders is here, as is one of the executives.”

“Good.”

“Is everyone coming in?” the assistant asked.

“Yes.”

“It might a tight squeeze in the meeting room.”

“I’m sure we can handle it,” Helen said. “Although I might insist on a larger room.”


Anders hadn’t expected to be called into the studio on a Saturday, as she had the weekends off. She had figured out that people were onto the fake right away. She didn’t expect those against her to be a pair of sisters, their lawyer mother and some of their friends.

“Welcome, Mrs. Morgendorffer,” the executive, Leonard, said. “These are very serious accusations you and your clients are bringing against Ms. Anders, so let’s get to the point.”

“Very, good,” Mrs. Morgendorffer said. “Because misinforming the public about a public figure, even an elusive one like SpiderGirl, is immoral.”


‘What is right is one thing, and what’s legal is another,’ Tori thought. She had said it before, regarding rumors of SpiderGirl and the others investigating Oscorp, but she felt it applied to the current situation. ‘But I’m sure that Anders did is also illegal.”

“Let’s get to it,” Mrs. Morgendorffer said.

“What proof can you provide, besides Ms. Lane’s affidavit from her rescue from Quentin Beck.”

“It should be enough,” Jane said with slight annoyance.

“Jane, your turn will come,” Mrs. Morgendorffer said.

“There’s my experience,” Brittany added.

“We’ll need more than your unsubstantiated experience from December last year, Ms. Taylor,” Leonard said. “But Ms. Lane’s evidence is rather compelling.”

“Changing your mind?” Mrs. Morgendorffer asked.

“I’m considering things,” Leonard said.

 

[USS Fardell]

Part 9
Daria then made her play. “I have compiled newspaper reports of SpiderGirl’s activities from November, through to just before Groundhog Day. There are also excerpts from interviews I have conducted with some of Lawndale High’s seniors over the past few weeks. They paint a picture of a rather confident young lady who isn’t afraid to talk to people. What I saw when I watched last night’s interview was not that.” She handed a binder over to Leonard. “These are copies of many of those articles, including of the report covering the time she and Ninja Talon responded to a thief in the Mall.”

“Thanks, Ms. Morgendorffer,” Leonard said as he leafed through the binder.

“And that’s my mother’s impression,” Tori added.

“Jericho. You’re Penelope’s daughter, aren’t you?” Leonard asked.

“That’s right,” Tori said. “And I will tell her everything.”

‘That’s what I expected,’ Helen thought.

Leonard took the binder from Daria, and skimmed it. “I see.”

“So, you see that this is not the hysterical outburst of a few teens who only thought that they saw something wrong,” Helen said.


Twenty minutes went by, as Leonard looked through the evidence the Morgendorffers and the others had brought. Anders was stressing the entire time. ‘Anders’ didn’t expect something like this to occur,’ Daria thought.

“I see from the Mall incident that SpiderGirl was confident when she said that she and Ninja Talon were colleagues rather than rivals,” Leonard said. “That can easily be corroborated.”

“I would think so,” Brittany commented.

“But that will take time,” Leonard said.

“I expect that it will,” her mother said.


“I have examined enough,” Leonard said.

“Meaning?” Helen asked.

“That I’m convinced that this needs to be investigated,” Leonard said. He turned to Anders. “Pending investigation, you are suspended from your duties until further notice.”

“What?” Anders asked.

“You heard me, and Mrs. Morgendorffer. These accusations are serious. Go to your office and clear out any personal items.”

“Yes, sir,” Anders said in a contrite tone.


Anders stormed out of the small meeting room. ‘I shouldn’t have listened to Osborn! It’s his fault!’ She thought as she held back tears. ‘What will he do when he finds out?’


Daria watched as Anders stormed out. “I have a feeling that we haven’t seen the last of her.”

“Well, this is just the beginning,” her mother said.

“Of course,” Daria responded.

Her mother turned back to the executive. “Thanks for your time, Mr. Leonard.”

“Your welcome. And now I must begin the investigation.”

“Then we won’t keep you.”


The group emerged from the studio.

“We did it!” Brittany said, as she hugged both Quinn and Daria.

“We certainly did,” Quinn said.

“But as Mom said, it’s just the beginning,” Daria said.


Ten minutes later, they arrived at the Historia.
“I’ll see you later,” Helen said. “But be prepared if whoever put Anders up to it reacts.”

“I have some ideas,” Daria said.

“I know, but there is no proof. If Oscorp, for example, wants to sue for defamation, I wouldn’t be able to get you off.”

“I’ll find proof,” Daria said. “Although I know it will take time.”

“You have a lot on your plate,” Helen said.

Daria nodded as she got out of the car.


Daria found Sandi in the bookstore looking through books on journalism.

“Like, a good collection here,” Sandi said.

“Thanks. I wanted a broad selection.”

“How did it go?”

“Anders has been suspended,” Daria answered. “Pending further investigation.”

“That’s good news.”

“But the investigation will take time. Who knows what might happen in the meantime.”

Sandi shrugged. “Anything. But at least she won’t be trying to interview the vigilantes while she’s under investigation.”

“There’s that at least.”

“Now, like, we go back to the other concerns.”

“Like who was controlling that robo-dactyl,” Daria mused.

“Maybe we could look at the Mall later.”

“You can. I’ll look into the reports.”

“Are you sure it’s because you don’t like shopping?” Sandi asked playfully.

“Not when there’s something better to do.”


Quinn and Brittany went up to the roof.

Quinn breathed a sigh of relief as she looked towards the studio. “It might not be over, but at least people know it was a fake. Like it was the last thing I thought I needed.”

“But we did it, didn’t we?” Brittany asked.

Quinn brightened up. “We did. Daria was meticulous in the presentation of her research.”

“As she usually is.”

“But.”

“But?” Brittany asked.

“The robot pterodactyl. Who was responsible for it?”

“And was it even Oscorp?”

“That is one thing we need to know,” Quinn said.


Jane found Trent and Jesse waiting in a corner of the café.

“How did it go?” Trent asked.

“Anders was suspended,” Jane answered quietly as she sat.

“Sounds like good news,” Jesse responded.

“It does, but Mrs. Morgendorffer said that it was just the beginning.”

“I guess so, but at least it’s a start,” Trent said.

“But what if Osborn had put her up to it?” Jane asked.

“Then he might have succeeded at something. Removing Anders from her job,” Trent answered.

“But what would he get out of that?” Jane wondered.

“No idea. But it does give me inspiration,” Trent said.


Quinn changed to SpiderGirl and went on patrol, and to think about what might be next. Brittany went down to the theater, where Andrea was waiting inside.

“I heard about the fake interview from a few people,” Andrea said.

“We exposed Anders’ role in it,” Brittany said.

“But?”

“But she wasn’t alone, and I’m sure the studio’s internal investigation will focus on what happened there.”

“Are you saying someone, like possibly a certain tycoon, put her up to it?” Andrea asked.

Brittany nodded. “But no proof.”

“There wouldn’t be. But the investigation might reveal it.”

“Might. But, back to the robo-dactyl.”

“Certainly,” Andrea said. “I haven’t been able to get a hold of Tania Ashworth.”

“She was at the Morgendorffers last night after the play.”

“And she wasn’t at home this morning.”

“She wasn’t?” Brittany asked.

“She was probably doing something.”

“But there are others that have siblings at Lawndale State.”

“I sent out a message to the Programming Club mailing list,” Andrea said, as she took out her PDA. “Some of them may come here this morning.”

“I’ll be waiting.”


It was late morning when Fields arrived back in Osborn’s hospital room.

“I suppose you have heard?” he asked.

“Heard what? About Anders being suspended? I thought that is unconfirmed.”

“It isn’t,” Osborn said. He clicked something on his laptop.

“It has been confirmed that Lynn Anders has been suspended from her duties at WSBC pending an investigation into the interview with SpiderGirl that has allegedly been faked.”

“I knew it wasn’t a good idea, asking me to do it.”

“You didn’t project the confidence that the real SpiderGirl has.”

“I couldn’t have!” Fields projected.

“I know. But it has been exposed rather quickly.”

“It must have been the real SpiderGirl.”

“She may have set things in motion,” Osborn said. “But, according to my sources it was Helen Morgendorffer who contacted the studio.”

“Isn’t she the one who drew up the agreement with the Historia?”

“The very same. She must have seen the broadcast, or obtained a taped copy.”

Fields was then quiet. She had interacted with Helen briefly when the Morgendorffers and the other two teens had approached Osborn with the business proposal for the Historia. The impression was that she was very capable. ‘If she thinks she has a case, I’m sure that Anders will be let go. But will she find out my involvement?’


Osborn watched Fields. He knew what she was thinking; that Helen Morgendorffer would likely find out that she was involved in the fake interview. ‘That’s a risk I’m willing to take,’ he thought.

Fields breathed heavily. “But were you expecting something else?”

“I knew that Helen would get involved at some point, but not so quickly.”

“I should have guessed.”

“Besides, I know who the fourth vigilante and her mentor are,” Osborn said with a hardness in his voice. “That is an angle I can use.”

“And the alias she uses?”

“Naturally, Ms. Fields, but I’m not revealing that to you yet.”


As the morning passed, Brittany remained at the Historia to wait for the Programming Club members to reply to Andrea’s message. She walked through the bookstore looking at various items.

“Are you looking for something in particular, or are you just killing time?” Daria asked as she came up.

“Maybe the latter,” Brittany admitted as she twirled a pigtail.

“You may as well find something you would like.”

“I guess I was also thinking about recent events.”

“It does seem that events in Lawndale are spiraling,” Daria said. “But we need to remind ourselves that it could be worse, that our town isn’t absolutely riven in crime, and that there haven’t been attacks like Groundhog Day again.”

“That’s true, but the robo-dacytl could have caused a lot more damage than it did.”

“True, but Dafoanairi and Ninja Talon showing up when they did, rather than SpiderGirl a while later stopped that situation escalating.”

‘If you knew….’ Brittany shook her head. It was enough that Quinn and Andrea knew that she was Talon. She smiled. “I agree. I was just wondering something.”

“I have started to investigate that, but the interview took precedence.”


Daria could tell Brittany was after something, but she wasn’t sure what. “Maybe a book would help?” she asked.

“Something on this kind of situation?”

“There are superhero novels here, some even in towns similar to Lawndale.”

“Really?” Brittany asked. “I haven’t read any. And I was more interested in games than comics when I was younger.”

“Never too late to start.”

“That’s true. What do you recommend?”

Daria lead her to the shelf with the superhero novels. “There is a wide selection. You would just have to pick whichever piques your interest.”


Quinn arrived back at the Historia shortly after noon. She looked at a clock as she walked down the stairs. “A little early for lunch,” she considered. “But I’ll catch up with Brit first.”

She found Brittany reading one of the superhero novels in the café while drinking a tea. “Daria recommended it, didn’t she?” she asked.

“Yes. I wanted to see if our reality is stranger than fiction,” Brittany answered quietly.

“I also read one of those books a while ago, shortly after Groundhog Day,” Quinn said, in a reassuring tone.

“What did you think of it?”

“It was a good story, but there were only a few similarities.”

“Right,” Brittany said she put the book aside. “Anyway, Andrea is looking for others who may allow her to search for the Mall security footage.”

“That’s good,” Quinn said. But then there was an interruption.

“Quinn!”


Brittany winced at Kevin’s voice. She didn’t expect that he would be in the Historia that day. She glared at him.

“Kevin, I told you. I’m not interested,” Quinn said.

“I know what you said,” Kevin said.

“Like, how Anders didn’t actually interview SpiderGirl, Jamie mostly made up what he wrote,” Quinn said with annoyance.

“Oh!” Kevin said. “So, you are saying that Jamie lied?”

“More like exaggerated,” Quinn clarified.

“So, he did lie, or not?” Kevin asked.

“Unlike Anders, he did think he was telling the truth, but he embellished it.”

“Got it,” Kevin said as he went.


“I don’t think he got it,” Brittany said with annoyance when Quinn had sat down again.

“Clearly not,” Quinn groused. “But he has to think about it more.”

“It will take him a while.”


Lynn Anders arrived back at her apartment on the southern edge of the downtown. She slammed the door closed. “I shouldn’t have listened to Osborn!” she groused to herself loudly, scaring her cat. ‘If I’m fired, I won’t be able to afford this place!’

She went to the living room and switched on the radio.

“What do you think of the Lynn Anders, fake SpiderGirl situation?”

‘Ugh! Of course Z93 would be talking about that!’ She thought as she turned the tuning nob. She soon found WLND. But they were also talking about it. ‘Fine! Oakwood, or Middlebury, or even Cumberland!’

WOKW.

“…Lawndale is again in the middle of controversy with an airing of a fake interview last night.’

‘Not Oakwood!’

WMBY.

With music playing, Lynn tried to relax, despite the spiral of self-recrimination and guilt occupying her mind.


Back at the Historia, Andrea found Brittany and Quinn, along with Stacy and Angie, having lunch. “Brit?” she asked.

“Andy, did someone get back to you?” Brittany asked.

“Yes,” Andrea said.

“I’ll be right back,” Brittany said.


They entered the stairwell. “Dewey Rogers’ sister is a sophomore. He said that she might allow me to use her account,” Andrea said.

“Dewey Rogers,” Brittany said as she twirled a pigtail. “He moved to Lawndale the year before, the same time as the Morgendorffers, right?”

“He did,” Andrea said. “I might be able to do it tonight while the play is on.”

“That would be great.”

“If Dewey is able to get hold of her.”

“I hope so,” Brittany said.


It was mid afternoon when Fields knocked on Lynn Anders’ door. Osborn had sent her to ask her to meet him in the hospital again. He wouldn’t say what for. ‘He’s keeping it close to his chest,’ she thought again.

Anders answered it and Fields could see that she had been crying, and also drinking. The latter was going to make things difficult. She doubted that the hospital would admit her if she was in an inebriated state (and that Osborn wouldn’t be able to pull strings to allow her to be admitted anyway). “Have you been drinking?” she asked.

 

[USS Fardell]

Part 10
“Why wouldn’t I?” Anders asked as she allowed Fields in. “Your boss has ruined my career! Interviewing SpiderGirl was going to be a stepping stone, but now it’s a stumbling block.”

“I guess that’s one reason why I’m here.”

“Why did he send you?”

“He didn’t tell me,” Fields answered as they arrived in the kitchen.

“Figures,” Anders said as she picked up a wine glass from the cupboard. “You want some?” she asked as she lifted the bottle, which Fields recognized was from a local vineyard.

Fields shook her head. “I’m working.”

“Of course,” Anders said as she took a sip.

“I think you have had enough.”

“You can’t tell me what to do!”

“I feel guilty too!” Fields said. “But I’m not crawling into a bottle!”

“I’m not you!”

“No, but drinking yourself silly isn’t the way to deal with your situation. Osborn may have come up with a way salvage your situation.”

Anders took a swig and grimaced as she did so. “So, I would be in even more debt to him? You don’t sound like you believe him.”

“I know, but I also need this Oscorp job. I don’t want to go back to New York to live with my parents as I search for another job. Besides I have settled into Lawndale.”

Anders was quiet and was starring at her glass.


Fields then looked at Anders’ kettle. “I’ll make you some coffee.”

“You know that’s a myth right.”

“Come to think of it…”

“Nice try,” Anders said.

“But Osborn still wants to see you.”


“Fields for you,” the orderly said.

“Finally!” Osborn said. ‘What’s taking so long,’ he thought as he took the phone. “Is Anders there?”

“She is, but she has been drinking.”

That wasn’t shocking but then he figured that an inebriated Anders would be more amenable to what he was going to suggest than a sober one. “I see. Bring her in anyway.”

“I’ll try, sir. But what about the hospital.”

“I’ll deal with the Hospital staff, at least that Cuddy. If not, bring her to the office instead.”

“Yes, sir.”


SpiderGirl noticed a slight commotion as she swung past the Hospital. “Is that Lynn Anders?” she asked herself as she swung closer. She arrived and saw that Anders was being refused entry by a woman with curly brown hair. ‘What’s happening here?’ she wondered as she got ready to intervene as she could tell that Anders had been drinking.


Lisa Cuddy was annoyed. “Osborn may have asked you to come, but you can’t visit patients in your condition. Come back when you have sobered up!”

“No!” Anders said as she stepped forward.

“Don’t make me have you removed by force,” Cuddy said as she noticed SpiderGirl nearby.

“See, I told you,” Fields said from next to Anders. “Let’s go to the office.”

“Yes, go to the office,” SpiderGirl said.


Anders turned from Cuddy to SpiderGirl. “Come to gloat at destroying me?”

“You’re the one who faked an interview with me,” SpiderGirl said. “But I forgive you.”

“It’s too late!” Anders said. “My career is ruined.”

“Come on,” Fields said, as she lead her away. Even in the state she was in, Anders noticed that Fields avoided looking at SpiderGirl.


Cuddy watched them walk away before turning to SpiderGirl. “Thanks for the help,” she said.

“You’re welcome, although I didn’t expect Anders to…”

“To drown her sorrows?” Cuddy asked rhetorically. “I have seen many people; even close colleagues fall to addiction.”

“Like, one thing I have been doing is trying to stop drug deals, but it’s like whack-a-mole, and they are dealing in areas that are under cover, or otherwise out of my sight.”

“I’m afraid that is something a superhero can’t do much about, as long as the demand is there.”

SpiderGirl nodded. “Which is one reason why I hang around the Historia. It’s a place that is giving people hope at this time.”

“I have been thinking of seeing Tempest. A modern take on Shakespeare by a teen is, intriguing.”

“It certainly is. I’ll see you around. There’s more of Lawndale to check up on.”

“Of course, Spidey,” Cuddy responded as the superheroine swung away.


SpiderGirl followed as Fields drove to the Oscorp headquarters.

She swung to the roof after Fields had taken Anders inside, but she found that there were cameras watching there. ‘Of course, Osborn has done that!’ she thought. She then went to the Historia to watch over the town from there.


Fields escorted Anders into the office, where the video set up was still set up. She switched it on and Osborn was there on the other end waiting.

“I heard what happened,” he said, “Cuddy complained to me personally.”

“You have ruined my career, Norman!” Lynn slurred.

“I have not. It can still be recovered.”

“And I’m not going to be working for Oscorp!”

“And you won’t have to. Fields, you come back here now. I don’t want you to hear what I’m talking to her about.”

Fields sighed. “Yes, sir.

“I want her here!” Anders said.

“She doesn’t need to know.”


Fields stepped out of the office and closed the door. Osborn definitely didn’t want her to know what he was talking to Anders about. She tired listening but found that the office was soundproofed. ‘Of course,’ she thought as she headed off.


Fields got off work at 5:00. Osborn had been tight lipped about what he had talked to Anders about. She headed towards the Historia, as she knew SpiderGirl had been hanging around there.

The café was busy, as it seemed that people were getting ready for the production of Tempest at 6:30. She went to get a coffee.


Donna Bolton hadn’t expected to find the Historia as busy as it had been. But she had quickly got used to it. “Welcome to the Historia, how may I serve you?” she asked the lady with short dark hair.

“Coffee,” the young lady answered.

“2 dollars.”

The young lady handed over a two dollar note. “I heard that SpiderGirl hangs around here,” she said.

“Apparently, although I haven’t seen her myself,” Donna responded. “Sometimes with Ninja Talon.”

“I see.”


While Fields waited for her coffee, she watched the teens in the café. ‘Any one of the girls could be SpiderGirl, even the barista.’ It wasn’t long before her coffee was ready and the red headed barista came over.

“Are you coming to the play?” she asked.

“Not yet, but I might next week.”

“I saw it last week, and last night. It’s quite good,” the barista said.

“I have heard good things, despite Ondrovick’s negative critique.”

The barista shrugged. “Not everyone likes it.”


SpiderGirl returned to the Historia after another patrol to find the lady who had been with Anders at the hospital on the roof.

“SpiderGirl?” the lady asked.

“I saw you with Anders earlier.”

“I want to talk to you about the situation. Osborn is up to something.”

“Tell me something I don’t know,” SpiderGirl responded.

“It’s to do with the fake interview. Osborn is behind it!”

“I have suspected such.”

“And I was the stand in,” the lady confessed with shame in her voice. “I’m sorry, but I’m sure that Osborn would have fired me if I had refused!”

SpiderGirl came closer to the lady. “I see that you are regretting it. What’s your name?”

“You can just call me Fields,” the lady answered. “I don’t like my name.”

“Fields,” SpiderGirl considered. “I forgive you, although the forgiveness isn’t easy.”

“I’d be understanding if you didn’t.”

“But resenting you wouldn’t have been the answer.”


Fields paused as she considered that. ‘It seems SpiderGirl is more mature than I expected,’ she then looked turned and looked towards the hospital. “I know Osborn is manipulating Anders further. Into what, I can’t guess. But It certainly can’t be good. For her, or for Lawndale.”

“Thanks for letting me know, although it is something else that Talon and I will worry about.”

“You mean, Ninja Talon? You are partners?”

“More that we’re friends that team up when something serious is happening,” SpiderGirl answered. “Which seems to be happening more often.”

“But she teamed up with Dafoanairi when that robot pterodactyl appeared.”

“I was busy, as my secret identity. Like, we have lives.”

“That makes sense.”


After Fields had left, SpiderGirl pondered what the woman had revealed. “I’ll try to keep an eye on Anders.” She glanced towards the Court House clock tower. Five twenty. ‘Talon will be downstairs.’

There was time before the play for them to catch up. She waited a few minutes before changing to the ordinary Quinn and heading down.


Brittany saw Quinn enter the auditorium in a determined manner and went over to her. “Something happened?” she asked quietly.

“Anders and Osborn,” Quinn began, and she quietly explained what had happened at the hospital and what Fields had told her.


Brittany took in what Quinn had said and was annoyed. “Osborn needs to be stopped!” she said vehemently.

“I agree,” Quinn responded.

“I’ll see if Andrea can obtain evidence of illegal activity.”

Quinn nodded. “Good idea. We’ll talk more after the play.”

Brittany nodded.


At 6:25 Daria checked the theater over. After the events of the past two weeks, she wanted to be sure that the performance wouldn’t be interrupted.

She entered the former projection room.

“All is going well,” Dani Moreno said. “I haven’t found any more of Beck’s surprises since yesterday.”

“That’s good, but we need to be prepared,” Daria reminded her.

Dani nodded. “If something comes up, I’ll deal with it and let you know.”

“Thanks.”


The curtain went up and the play started.

As the play went on, Quinn kept an eye on the news. She had a feeling that something was going to happen that SpiderGirl would need to respond to. ‘And as Brit is in the play, she won’t be able to respond as Talon, nor would Daria if she’s Dafoanairi.’ She was still uncertain of that. ‘But that leaves the Shadow and the Enigma. I guess I’ll have to handle it alone.’


At the same time, Andrea was in the café, waiting for Dewey Rogers. She wondered yet again how she had got involved with two of Lawndale’s superheroes. ‘Although I’m sure, Brittany is just skilled in martial arts.’ She hadn’t yet seen Ninja Talon in action, but what she had heard about had impressed her. She looked outside, and still didn’t see Dewey, just Sandi Griffin arriving.


Sandi entered the Historia. She had spent the early evening patrolling as the Enigma and had decided to get an energy drink from there before heading home to conduct her usual nightly search. She saw Andrea nearby. “Hi, Andrea,” she said.

“More change,” Andrea said. “You giving me notice.”

Sandi shrugged. “Like, I’m friends with Daria now.”

“That’s still difficult to believe.”

“Compared to Lawndale having superheroes?”

“Yes,” Andrea answered. “I’m sure you’re up to something.”

“I’m helping Daria investigate what’s going on in Lawndale.”


Quinn considered ducking back into the theater as she saw Sandi and Andrea talking. But then something caught her attention. The television in the café, which had been showing the local station had gone to static. ‘Something’s up,’ she thought. ‘But how is that linked to the static?’

She saw Donna grab the remote. “Could it be the aerial?” Donna asked.

“Maybe,” Quinn said. “I could check.”

Donna changed the channel. That channel was also out. “If it’s not the aerial…”

“Let’s not jump to conclusions.”

Donna changed the channel again. The third channel was also out. However the reception then cleared, showing a disheveled Lynn Anders. “What?” she asked.

“What?” Quinn asked herself.

“Good Evening Lawndale and surrounding towns, I wouldn’t change the channel. I have taken over all of them for the duration. I’m sure that you’re aware that I have been suspended because of last night’s interview with a fake SpiderGirl.”

“How is she doing this?” Donna asked.

“I’m not sure,” Quinn answered.


Sandi turned from Andrea and looked at the TV. “Looks like she’s taken over the broadcasts. I have to call home.”

“I know your mother works at a station, but what could she do?” Andrea asked.

“More than you think,” Sandi responded as took out her cell phone.


Quinn was ready to head out, she just needed to know where Anders was, and what she was up to she looked back to Andrea and saw that Sandi had already ducked out into the lobby. ‘How to go about this without revealing that I’m SpiderGirl.’

“…SpiderGirl. I want you to come.”

‘No real choice there, but not for your reason,’ Quinn thought.

“She’s focused on SpiderGirl, isn’t she?” Donna asked.

Quinn nodded. “It’s a little weird, like I would have thought she would have mentioned Ninja Talon or the Shadow more.”

“Maybe because SpiderGirl is the most well known,” Donna considered

“…And I have kidnapped a member of the Lawndale Lions!” Anders revealed.

“She’s definitely gone too far,” Quinn murmured.


“I’m watching it now,” her mother said. “But she hasn’t said which member of the Lawndale Lions was kidnapped. What I can say is that she must have gained access to the Emergency Alert System.”

“And you would know where that would be?” Sandi asked.

“There are a few around Lawndale, but one of them is halfway to Oakwood, so that’s a bit far for us to search. And another is next to Lawndale Flats…”

‘So, one of us goes to get close to the one on the way to Oakwood…’ Sandi mused. It would be a waste of time if Anders turned out to be in the one next to Lawndale Flats. “We could head to two of them, then converge to at the one in the middle.”

Her mother sighed. “My Boston hero identity isn’t appearing in Lawndale. Besides, Sam already knows too much.”

“You don’t have to use the name you used in Boston, and Father can watch Sam.”

“When did you get so mature?”

Sandi rolled her eyes. “Not that mature. Just, like, being pragmatic. And I suppose Daria is rubbing off on me.”

“I shall go to the one towards Oakwood. You can go to Lawndale Flats. The third is downtown on Bernstein and Mertz.”

“Bernstein and Mertz, got it.”


At the same time, Fields was making dinner when she saw Anders on the TV. ‘Osborn must have talked her into this!’ she thought as she put the meal in the oven. ‘But I don’t know where she would be broadcasting from.’

 

[USS Fardell]

Part 11
Quinn continued watching the broadcast, even as Donna kept changing the channels. “No good. It looks like she has taken control of the Emergency Alert System,” Donna said.

“Would you know where that is?” Quinn asked.

“I know there’s one nearby, on Bernstein and Mertz,” Andrea answered.

‘I could try that, but how to get away.’


Sandi passed Dewey Rodgers as she left the Historia and headed eastwards towards the Jefferson Bridge.


“Dewey!” Andrea said as she saw him enter the café.

“Hi Andrea, what’s this about Anders?”

“Calling SpiderGirl out. Speaking of…”

“My sister, Mina, said that you could do it,” Dewey responded. “She’ll be here shortly.”

“Good. I’ll just need to inform Ninja Talon in a short while.”


‘Good,’ Quinn thought as she overheard. She turned her attention back to the TV.

“You have half an hour, SpiderGirl. There are only three Emergency Alert stations in Lawndale. Can you find the right one?”

“What kind of sick challenge is that?” Quinn groused as she headed out of the café. She then went to the stairs upwards.


Linda arrived at the Emergency Alert station between Lawndale and Oakwood five minutes after talking to Sandi. It looked like it was deserted. ‘Like on Groundhog Day, I’m the older Moretti,’ she thought as she got out of the car.

She approached the fence and closed her eyes. She sensed that there was no one inside. ‘She’s not here. But she did sense someone nearby. She opened her eyes and brought up her flashlight. “Who’s there?”

A police officer appeared. “Officer Xanthe Peterson. I’m investigating Lynn Anders’ takeover of Lawndale’s television signals.”

“So, am I.”

“And I suppose you’re the fourth vigilante’s mentor?”

Linda sighed. ‘I suppose she’s the one who helped Sandi and Daria rescue Beresfield,’ she thought. “I’m neither confirming nor denying.”

“I’ll take that as a ‘yes,’” Peterson said. “What can I call you?”

‘I can’t use ‘Moretti,’ she thought. “The Violet Force.”

“Sounds good.”

“It looks like there’s no one here.”

“Then she’s at one of the other ones,” Peterson said.

“I was going to check the one at Bernstein and Mertz with my protégé next.”

Peterson nodded.


At the same time as her mother meeting Peterson, the Enigma approached the Emergency Alert station in East Lawndale. She approached close to the building and then used her enhanced perception to sense the interior. However, she was still uncertain as that aspect of her powers still wasn’t developed as much as her mother’s, despite it being an advantage against Mysterio a week earlier. She carefully opened a window telekinetically and entered.

She quickly found that the place was deserted. She then sent a message to her mother.

The one near Lawndale Flats is empty. Heading to Bernstein and Mertz.


SpiderGirl arrived at the Bernstein and Mertz intersection, which was one of Lawndale’s main ones. She saw that the Emergency Alert Station building was nondescript. She had passed it many times before without knowing what it was. As she approached, she felt a slight tingle of her SpiderSense. ‘Some danger, but not obvious.’ It was more of a warning than an indication of immediate danger. ‘But that’s what I knew already.’ She looked at the time. Twenty five minutes before Ander’s warning expired.
And over an hour before the play went to intermission. ‘Have I come to rely on Talon too much?’ she asked herself. She considered it as she landed on the roof. ‘Probably not. I have been doing my own thing, as she has been. It’s that the major events haven’t really left off since we rescued Sarah Robyn.’
She crawled in through one of the high windows and swung down through the attic space.


Lynn Anders heard something that wasn’t her captive squirming in his attempts to escape. A tell-tale thwip! “Ah! SpiderGirl! You’re here!” she said. “Now all of Lawndale will see what happens next.”

SpiderGirl looked pensive as she swung down next to the cage where her captive was bound. “And, what will exactly happen next? And the play is on, not all of Lawndale would be watching.”

“Oh, yes. Tempest. A nice distraction that is. But enough people will see your attempt at rescuing that oaf of a quarterback.”

“Who are you calling an oaf?” the captive, Kevin Thompson, asked as struggled against his ties yet again.

“You are an oaf!” Anders said. “I have obtained your non-bye grades. And yes, Lawndale, your star high school quarterback gets by on byes!”

“Who will believe that?” SpiderGirl asked.

“Enough people.”


SpiderGirl examined the cage. “I’ll have you out of there soon.” But as she prepared to pick the lock. Her SpiderSense blared.

“What’s wrong Spidey?” Kevin asked.

SpiderGirl spun and faced Anders. “The cage is electrified, isn’t it?”

“Drat!” Anders said.

“Don’t worry, Kevin, I’ll figure out a way.”

“Oh, yeah, you go to Lawndale High, right?” Kevin asked.

“I doubt a Fielding girl would be seen around Lawndale High.”


The Enigma arrived at Bernstein and Mertz first, but the did hear her mother’s car approaching, so she waited.

Less than half a minute later, her mother pulled up, followed by Officer Peterson.

“Is she in there?” Peterson asked.

“Give us a moment,” her mother said and closed her eyes.

The Enigma did so too. And sensed that there were people inside.

“Anders is there,” her mother confirmed. “Along with SpiderGirl, who’s trying the rescue the quarterback.”

“Ugh, Kevin!” the Enigma said.

“Kevin Thompson?” Xanthe considered. “He has a knack for getting into minor trouble.”

“Then let’s rescue him,” the Enigma said.

“Without confronting SpiderGirl in front of most of Lawndale,” her mother said.

“Wouldn’t have said it better myself,” Peterson said.

“Not right now. Another time.”

Both Peterson and her mother sighed.


SpiderGirl looked at the cables connecting the cage to the various outlets.

“Problem, Spidey?” Kevin asked.

“This is more complicated than I thought.”

“You could just web the cage open.”

“I thought about that,” SpiderGirl said. “But this is tricky.”

Anders laughed.

“What?” SpiderGirl asked.

“It’s quite complicated.”

“You’ve had help didn’t you? Was it Oscorp?”

“It was someone,” Anders started before she interrupted herself and looked to the side.

SpiderGirl followed her gaze and saw that Peterson had arrived, along with the Enigma and who seemed to be her mentor. ‘Oh great! At least Peterson will keep her in line.’

“Yay, the cavalry!” Kevin said. “Is that Dafoanairi?”

“No, it’s the fourth vigilante,” SpiderGirl responded.


“I’m not Dafoanairi,” Sandi said to Kevin. “But I’m not saying my hero name in front of the majority of Lawndale’s population!”

“Of course not,” SpiderGirl groused.

Her mother sighed. “Of course you aren’t.”

“Oh,” Kevin said.

“But we need to get him out of there,” Peterson said.

“Easier said than done of course,” Anders interrupted. “But you have about fifteen minutes.”

“Is there a bomb?” her mother asked.

“Nothing so crude,” Anders answered.

“I have an idea,” Sandi said.

“What is it?” SpiderGirl asked. “Because your energy blasts might intensify the electricity.”

“I had thought of that,” her mother said.

“The telekinesis. We pull from both sides while SpiderGirl webs up the top of the cage from the ceiling,” Sandi said.

“That sounds like a plan,” Peterson said. “I’ll cover Anders, in case she tries anything.”

“Everything you just said has been broadcasted,” Anders said.

“You know I’m tempted to just shoot the equipment with my energy powers,” Sandi said. “But I doubt that would restore normal service.”

“And people in Lawndale heard that.”

“She’s just riling you up,” SpiderGIrl said. “Let’s do this.”


They quickly moved into position and SpiderGirl shot the web to the top of the cage.

“Um, what is going to happen?” Kevin asked.

“The cage is going to fall apart, so be ready for that,” Peterson said.

“Um, OK.”

“Now!” The Violet Force said to her protégé,

The cage groaned as their telekinetic forces pulled in opposite directions.


It took about ten seconds as the Violet Force and her protégé slowly ramped up their efforts, although the latter had less finesse. It broke apart suddenly with Kevin falling to the floor in a yelp as SpiderGirl sent the roof clattering elsewhere in the room, before swinging down and cutting his ties.


“Thanks, SpiderGirl,” Kevin said.

“You’re welcome, but we’re not clear yet,” SpiderGirl said.

“You think you’ve won?” Anders asked.

“Maybe not,” Peterson said, as she drew out her cuffs. “Lynn Anders, you are under arrest for kidnapping, and interrupting broadcast signals. You have the right to remain silent, anything you do say may be used against you in a court of law.”

Anders struggled.

“And I might add resisting arrest to the charges.”

The Violet Force went up to the set up. “It looks like someone may need to called in to fix this.”


“I did call it in,” Peterson responded. “And someone is coming, along with an ambulance to check Kevin over.”

“No need, Officer,” Kevin said. “I’m fine.”

“No, you were kidnapped,” Peterson said. “You still need to be checked over.”

“Alright,” Kevin said.


More officers and paramedics entered and the superheroes made themselves scarce. The Violet Force and her daughter met outside near the former’s car. “You changed the plates,” her daughter asked.

“If Peterson traces them, they’ll come up with an address SHEILD set up for me back in the day,” the Violet Force answered, as she unlocked and opened the car. She then opened the glove box and pressed a button inside. The plates then rotated to the normal ones.

“Like, You’re not out of it as you said,” her daughter said with a hint of sarcasm.

“Old habits die hard. But this is still the second time I have been active in Lawndale. I know why Dafoanairi didn’t respond.”

“No, you don’t.”

The Violet Force sighed. “You don’t think I wouldn’t figure out that it’s Daria. It’s obvious, given that you two are working together. But her secret is safe with me as ours is with her.”

“Yes, you’re right.”

“I still don’t know who SpiderGirl is, nor Ninja Talon or the Shadow.”

“I’ll still figure that out eventually,” her daughter said. “Anyway, I’m heading back to the Historia.”

“Yes, fill her in on what just happened when the play goes into intermission, which should be soon.”


“A technician is enroute, normal service should be restored soon,” the female police officer, Peterson, said.

Osborn switched off the television and then dialled a number, but not Fields’, as he knew she wouldn’t be back at work until Monday.

“Yes, Mr. Osborn?”

“Find out all you can about Officer Xanthe Peterson of the Lawndale Police Department.”

“Yes, Mr. Osborn. I shall have the dossier ready as soon as possible,” the other person said before hanging up. ‘I know she’s working with SpiderGirl and the others,’ he thought. The situation at the Emergency Alert Station had gone as he had expected, although he hadn’t expected Linda to call herself the Violet Force rather than the Purple Avenger. But he still had no idea who SpiderGirl was. ‘Even with Lynn Anders out of the game, but she was unpredictable,’ he thought.

 

[USS Fardell]

Part 12
In the Historia café, Andrea breathed a sigh of relief, although Mina Rodgers had yet to arrive. She then saw Quinn re-enter. “Quinn?” she asked.

“Looks like SpiderGirl and the fourth vigilante showed up and didn’t fight each other,” Quinn said as she sat down next to Andrea.

“The fourth vigilante’s mentor showed up too,” Andrea said. “That makes six.”

“But what do you think caused Anders to act like she did?”

“I’m not sure.”

“I’m not sure either.”


The Enigma arrived on the Historia’s roof and looked at the time. “Like, it’s still a while before the play goes to Intermission. She then reflected on what had happened as she observed Lawndale. The Lynn Anders she had just faced was different to the woman she had spoken to briefly two days earlier. ‘It’s not just the booze,’ she considered. ‘The situation has broken her, and someone has manipulated her. There’s no proof that it’s Osborn, of course.’


Mina entered the café not long after Quinn returned. She saw her brother and went over to him. “Sorry I’m late, my roommate wanted me to watch what Anders was doing.”

“I’m glad you’re here,” Dewey said. “This is Andrea.”

“So, one of the vigilantes wants you to look into what happened with the robot pterodactyl?” she asked.

“Yes. We want to see if the Mall’s security footage picked up who was controlling it. Ninja Talon said that she and Dafoanairi were focused on stopping it.”

“I’ll have to think about it,” Mina answered. “It is quite risky to share my account.”

“You don’t have to answer right away,” Andrea said.

“I’ll get back to you tomorrow,” Mina said.

“You’ll sleep on it, in other words,” Andrea surmised.

Mina nodded.


As the play went into intermission, Sandi caught up with Daria before she could enter the café.

“Has something happened?” Daria asked.

“Yes, but not here,” Sandi answered.

“Up on the roof,” Daria decided.


At the same time, Quinn met up with Brittany backstage.

“Something did happen during the play?”

“Yes,” Quinn answered. “I’ll tell you in the apartment.”

“That would be easier than the roof.”


Daria looked out over Lawndale as she took in what Sandi had said. That Lynn Anders had apparently gone off the deep end, kidnapped Kevin and interrupted Lawndale’s television signals seemed hard to believe. ‘And yet it happened,’ she thought. “It’s definitely not her by herself,” she said.

“Do you think it’s Osborn too?” Sandi asked.

“Yes, he manipulated her in her vulnerable state. He may be responsible for the fake SpiderGirl idea in the first place. But of course, there’s no proof of that. We need to keep an eye on him.”

“Harry isn’t all that forthcoming, other than the worries about him.”

“I wouldn’t ask Harry to spy on his own father,” Daria responded as she turned back to Sandi.

“I know that,” Sandi said. “There is another thing.”

“What?”

“Mother figured out that you’re Dafoanairi.”

Daria sighed. “And she said that she’d keep my secret?” she asked rhetorically

Sandi nodded. “As you’re keeping ours.”

“Of course,” Daria said, as she glanced at the court house clock tower in the distance. The play would resume in another ten minutes.


Brittany sipped some cocoa as she thought about what Quinn had revealed. “But, what happens next? Are local journalists disappearing in Lawndale now?”

“I’m not sure that’s what’s happening,” Quinn said. “I’d say that Anders may be a one off.”

“I hope you’re right.”

“It’s more the trend.”

“Trend?” Brittany asked. “The Violet Force?”

“The Enigma’s mentor and she’s now active as a sixth vigilante. There’s a new one around every two weeks at this rate.”

“That is a trend.”

“Like, how long before we’re all stepping on each other’s toes and contributing further to Lawndale’s chaos?” Quinn asked.

“Or maybe she’ll only be active from time to time.”

“Probably, I’ll talk to Daria about it later. Even so, more will come out of the woodwork.”

“We’ll deal with it as it comes,” Brittany said.

Quinn cheered up a bit. “Of course, but it’s still a worry. Not everyone has the same sense of responsibility.”

Brittany could tell she was thinking about her father again. She placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

“Thanks.”


Peterson and the paramedics dropped Kevin home.

“I know it was SpiderGirl and the other two who got Kevin out of that cage,” Charlene Thompson said. “But thanks for rescuing him.”

“You’re welcome,” Peterson said. “We’re rarely thanked in our work.”

“Really?” Charlene asked.

“Unfortunately,” Peterson answered. “People see all the negatives.”

“I thought he was home, rather than moping about town.”

“I would keep an eye on him.”

“It’s difficult enough… I’ll see you later,” Charlene said as she closed the door.

Peterson sighed. It was time to go back to the Station, in case something else happened.


Sandi went back to the café as the play resumed. ‘I may as well have dinner here,’ she thought. She was about to go home for dinner when Anders had interrupted the broadcasts afterall.

“Penny for your thoughts?” Donna asked when she had come up to the counter.

“Just thinking about what’s going on,” Sandi answered.

“It is a lot,” Donna admitted.

“But it could be worse.”


Daria thought about the situation as the play went on.

‘What is Osborn up to?’ She wondered. She was sure of one thing; that Oscorp presented a threat, not just to Lawndale, but to the country at large. ‘I don’t know where he would stop.’


As the play ended, the Historia was filled with speculation about what had happened earlier in the evening. Quinn, Daria and Jane sat in a corner of the café after ordering supper. “So, you caught up with the fourth vigilante earlier?” Jane asked.

“The Enigma,” Quinn said.

“Really?” Jane asked, feigning surprise.

“Yes,” Daria said. “She told Quinn and a few others in the play the night you were abducted.”

‘That makes sense,’ Jane thought. “So, the Enigma caught up with you earlier?”

“Yes,” Daria answered. “She couldn’t just locate Anders, as there are three Emergency Alert Stations around Lawndale, one of which is on the way to Oakwood and there is also one next to Lawndale Flats.”

“So, she brought in her mentor?” Quinn asked.

Daria nodded. “The mentor went to the west while she went to the east, but Anders turned out to be in the one in the middle, and the rest was shown on that broadcast. I guess I’ll be asking Samara if she taped that too.”

“Someone probably did,” Jane responded.

“But it’s a bit late to be making more calls tonight, even if it’s Saturday,” Daria said.

“First thing tomorrow?” Quinn asked.

“Not first thing, it’ll be Sunday,” Daria said. “We’ll wait to mid afternoon.”

“And I bet your mother’s going to be wanting to talk to you when you get home.”

Daria sighed. “Of course.”


At the same time, Andrea caught up with Brttany in another corner. “Mina said that she would think about it overnight,” Andrea said.

“That’s good news,” Brittany said.

Andrea could tell she was thinking about something. “Did SpiderGIrl tell you something earlier?”

Brittany nodded. “That the fourth vigilante’s mentor was there when she helped rescue Kevin from Anders.”

“I did see a fourth person there, other than SpiderGirl, the fourth vigilante and the policewoman.”

“Probably Officer Peterson.”

“Peterson?” Andrea asked. “You know her?”

“As much as I can know her when I occasionally meet her as Talon.”

“Of course.”

“But Spidey has known her a lot longer,” Brittany answered.

“From the beginning?”

“I don’t think so, but certainly before I started. But there’s another thing. She suspects Spidey’s identity.”

“She does?” Andrea asked with surprised. “But she wouldn’t have known SpiderGirl like I knew you.”

“Of course not,” Brittany said, “But that’s the fact.”

Andrea thought about it. She had promised to keep Brittany’s secret, but she wasn’t sure about Peterson.


Quinn and Daria got home to find their mother waiting for them, as expected.

“I was watching something when Anders interrupted the broadcasts. It changes things,” she said.

“I knew you would say that,” Quinn said.

“She’s certain to be fired now, if she hasn’t already,” Daria added.

“But now that I have seen SpiderGirl in action, I must say that whoever she is must be brave,” their mother said.

‘Thanks, Mom,’ Quinn thought, although she knew that she still wouldn’t tell her and Daria anything. ‘It’s enough that Brit knows.’

“That’s obvious,” Daria commented.

“But someone else must be behind it. It’s not like she would have done it on her own,” their mother said.

“It could be Osborn,” Daria added.

“Maybe, but there’s no proof,” their mother said.

“That’s true,” Daria said.

“I know you’re investigating what’s going on, but trying to investigate Oscorp could be dangerous.”

“I’m aware of that,” Daria said as she went up the stairs.


Quinn leaned against the stairs and ran a hand through one of her pigtails. “I also know it’s dangerous,” she said.

“Is it because of William?” Helen asked

“That is part of it. You know Daria, always standing for what she thinks is right.”

“That is a part of her that hasn’t changed.”

Quinn yawned. “Goodnight.”


But Quinn didn’t go to bed just yet as she still wanted to write in her journal about the rescue of Kevin, the Violet Force and what had caused Lynn Anders to do what she did.


SpiderGirl awoke and crawled out onto the roof at the usual time. Lawndale sounded as it usually did at that hour. She pondered the situation. ‘Maybe there is a way I can tell my story without risk,’ she wondered. ‘But I’ll need to talk to Talon first and see what she thinks about it.’


Lawndale Sun-Herald
Sunday, March 4, 2001
The Fall of Lynn Anders

Lynn Anders awoke in the Police cell with a massive hangover and winced at the early morning light that was coming in through the barred window. She groaned as she remembered what she could remember about her conversation with Norman Osborn in the afternoon.
“You ruined my life, Norman!” she cried out.

 

[USS Fardell]

Part 13
Andrea arrived at the Historia for breakfast.

“I’m still not sure why you wanted to be here this early,” her mother complained.

“I’m meeting someone, but I wasn’t sure when she’d be here.”

“So you’re going to wait all day? Is it SpiderGIrl or Ninja Talon?”

“Could be the latter,” Andrea said.

Her mother turned towards her. “Don’t think that their visits have gone unnoticed, Andrea,” she said quietly.

“I thought you and Dad were asleep.”

“Only one time, but I heard you talking to both of them in your room. I didn’t hear what you were talking about though.”

“Good.”


Andrea ordered her breakfast and read the paper. She found that it was Melinda Parris who had wrote the article on Anders’ fall. ‘I suppose Penelope Jericho is taking her time with her more detailed version.’


It wasn’t until she had started drinking her coffee that Brittany arrived. “I didn’t think you would be awake this early.”

“Practice,” Brittany said with a yawn.

“So, you have been going without enough sleep?”

“Most nights.”

“That’s not good,” Andrea said with concern.

“But I need to do it. Lawndale and Spidey rely on me, as their second superhero and her friend.”

“But you don’t have powers.”

Brittany shook her head. “No, but I have trained.”

“I know. SpiderGirl might be more obvious, but your exploits are also recorded.”


It wasn’t until after 9:00 that Mina arrived at the café. She saw Andrea and a blonde girl with pigtails in a corner of the cafe. ‘Wait, is she the one playing Ariel?’ She ordered something and then went over to them.

“Hi, Mina,” Andrea said.

Mina sat next to Andrea. “This is?”

“Brittany,” the blonde said. “I’m also looking into what’s happening in Lawndale.”

There was something about the way she said that. ‘Brittany sounds like she’s deep into it,’ Mina thought. “I suppose you know about what Andrea asked me about.”

Brittany nodded.

“And your answer is?” Andrea asked as she raised one of her eyebrows.

Mina sighed. “I’ll let you use my account for trying to find out about the robot pterodactyl. But it will be a one-time thing. Once is risky enough!” she said quietly.

“Looks you you’ll need broadband,” Brittany said to Andrea.

Andrea nodded. “I have been asking Mom about it.”

Brittany twirled a pigtail. “I suppose you could use mine, but Ashley-Amber is a light sleeper.”

“You didn’t say that before,” Andrea said.

“You didn’t ask, and I didn’t think of it,” Brittany said.

“You can do it after lunch,” Mina added. “But will you be there?” she asked Brittany.

“No. I’ll be doing something else.”


Ninja Talon met SpiderGirl on the roof shortly afterwards. “Hey, Spidey.”

“Hey, Talon,” SpiderGirl said she looked out over the town.

“Mina allowed Andrea to use her account. They will look through the Mall’s footage this afternoon.”

“That’s good. I hope they find something.”

Ninja Talon noticed that her friend was slightly pensive. “Something on your mind? Besides the robo-dactyl and Anders?”

“About Anders, in a way. I was thinking, after last night, that we have been reacting to things since Anders and Jamie had decided to interview me.”

“Not entirely true.”

“That was Daria and most of the teens of Lawndale calling each other,” SpiderGirl said. “But that was a good thing.”

“So, what is your idea.”

“I put together some questions earlier that Mrs. Jericho can interview me with.”

“Mrs. Jericho?” Ninja Talon asked. “What about Jamie?”

“I know Jamie would want to ask further questions.”

“Wouldn’t Mrs. Jericho?”

“She’ll respect my intentions a lot more than Jamie,” SpiderGirl responded.

“That’s a good point. It’s still risky, but I agree that we have to do something.”

SpiderGirl nodded. “I’ll try to talk to her this afternoon.”

“You want me to come with you?”

“But then she’ll want to interview you too.”

“That’s a good point,” Ninja Talon said. “I’ll patrol around here and wait for what Andrea may find.”


It was after 1:00 when Andrea arrived at the same computer lab she had used with Scott Ashworth over a week early and found Mina waiting outside. “Let’s do this,” she said.

“Quickly,” Mina said as she swiped the door open with her Student ID.

“This can’t be rushed,” Andrea responded as she entered. “It took me hours last time.”

Mina sighed. “Just as well I brought my laptop.”

“Something due this week?”

“Later in the week, and midterms are before Easter.”


At the same time, Tori answered the doorbell. She didn’t quite believe her eyes. “SpiderGirl?”

“Hi, Tori,” SpiderGirl said. “Is your mother in?”

“You want to see her?” Tori asked, surprised.

“Yes. It’s like I want to tell my own story. Not the one Anders, and whoever put her up to interviewing a fake, wanted to tell.”

“I can understand that.”


Penelope was as surprised as her daughter. Seeing Lawndale’s first superhero in her living room was nearly a shock. “I suppose you found me through the phone book?” she asked.

“Of course. Jericho. P. Not hard to find,” SpiderGirl said.

‘Or she already knew as her secret identity, but Tori knows most of the students at that school,’ she thought. “So, you have written out something then?”

“Of course,” SpiderGirl answered as she handed over a piece of paper.


Penelope read through the questions twice. She could tell that SpiderGirl wanted her side of the story told, but in a way that protected her secret identity. ‘I’ll help her do that then,’ she decided. “I’ll do it,” she said.

“You will?” SpiderGirl asked.

“Yes.” Penelope said.

“We can do it this afternoon?”

“I was planning to relax before the new week, but yes, we can. And we can do it here in the living room or the home office if you prefer.”

“The Living Room seems more natural,” SpiderGirl responded.

“I suppose it is. I just want to prepare first.”


Tori sat across from SpiderGirl as her mother went to prepare. “So, what do you think of Anders’ fall?”

“She made a deal with someone, and she paid the price.”

“That makes sense, but what about the one who actually impersonated you?”

“I met her, and she apologized,” SpiderGirl answered. “And I forgave her.”

“That must have been awkward,” Tori commented.

SpiderGirl shrugged. “She found me on top of the Historia.”

“I have heard that you’re there often.”

“That’s right. It’s provides a very good vantage point of Lawndale’s downtown area.”

“It’s like you appeared out of nowhere back in November, and Lawndale suddenly started getting crazy,” Tori said.


SpiderGirl thought about that. “More like, it wasn’t until later, after New Year. More like Groundhog Day was the trigger point, if that makes sense.”

“I guess so, but there are rumors of strange things from before then.”

“That’s true.”


It didn’t take long for Penelope to prepare. She read through SpiderGirl’s questions again before boiling some tea. As she entered the lounge room, she saw SpiderGirl drink a cup of water quickly before covering the lower part of her face again. ‘White, but that’s all I got,’ she thought. Then again, Lawndale was majority white.

SpiderGirl turned. “You didn’t see that, did you?”

“Relax. It was no where near enough for me to guess your secret identity.”

“Good. Only one other knows it.”

Penelope raised an eyebrow. “Ninja Talon?”

“Off the record?”

“Yes. I promise.”

“Yes and I know hers,” SpiderGirl answered. “But that won’t be an official answer. She turned to Tori, who had just come back into the room. “You’ll keep it secret too, right?”

“Of course,” Tori answered.

“Are you ready?” Penelope asked.

SpiderGirl nodded.

“First question: Your motto is ‘With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility.’ Can you tell us why this is so?


The interview proceeded well.

“Finally, has Lawndale become more weird since Groundhog Day?” Penelope asked.

“Yes. It’s not just the brownouts, what Quentin Beck was doing or Oscorp’s plans. It’s something Talon and I are looking into.”

“Thanks for your time.”

“And now I need to be going,” SpiderGirl said.


Tori watched SpiderGirl swing away from her yard. “Go get them, Spidey.”


At the same time, Andrea found something.

“What is it?” Mina asked.

“Someone was standing still, observing as Ninja Talon and Dafoanairi fought it,” Andrea answered.

Mina looked closer. “I can’t make them out. They’re in the shadows.”

Andrea nodded. “I need to find another angle. There isn’t much to tell Ninja Talon about here.”

“Would there be a camera in the right spot, though”

“Only one way to find out.”


Ten minutes later, Andrea had loaded an image of the same spot from a different angle. “They are more visible here.”

“Looks like a young woman.”

“That it does, but her face is hidden.”

“So, you’ll need to find a third angle?” Mina asked.

“Possibly. We know it was five minutes between when Dafoanairi responded to the robo-dactyl appearing, to when she and Ninja Talon had put it out of commission. She may have moved around during that time.”


Andrea fast forwarded and rewound the footage. She got a clearer shot at the young woman’s face, and the fact that she was holding a large controller “it’s still not enough. The resolution isn’t clear enough.”

“It is quite pixilated.”

“But it is what Ninja Talon asked me to find. What she and SpiderGirl will make of it, I’m not sure, but I’ll try to find another camera that’s closer.”


Half an hour later, Andrea had found more footage, but with a similar result. “Thanks for allowing me to use your account.”

“I just hope we weren’t caught,” Mina said.

“I made sure that we weren’t traced.”

Mina breathed a sigh of relief.”


Andrea logged off.

“I guess you’re going to meet Ninja Talon somewhere?”

“She’ll probably just show up tonight at home.”

“She does that?” Mina asked in surprise.

“Both her and SpiderGirl, but not that often.”

“You know who she is, don’t you?”

“I’m not answering that,” Andrea responded.

“Relax, I don’t want to know.”

“I know, but I’m still not answering.”