Spider-Man (2002)
Rewatch. 8.82/10.
Thursday 24 February 2022
Changes in Time and Space - Chapter 4 - The Search for Felicia
The Search for Felicia
The Doctor followed Sigrun into the console room and immediately went to the scanner. “Just as you said, Sigrid,” she said after she looked at the scan results.
“So, Felicia is in an earlier version of the TARDIS?” Jia’hale (now dry but still au naturale) asked as she entered the console room.
The Doctor pointedly made eye contact with Jia’hale as she said. “Yes, she is. Now we need to find out which earlier version.”
She turned back to the scanner and ran an analysis on the scan data. The result soon came back.
The screen said:
Type-40 TARDIS, younger identical capsule. Inter-chronal data suggests immediate previous incarnation.
‘That’s better than an earlier incarnation,’ the Doctor thought. The earlier Post Time War incarnations would not have reacted well to an intruder in the TARDIS, and it would be difficult, although not impossible, to go pre-Time War.
“Where is she then?” Sabir queried, as he ruffled his brown hair.
“She is, or was, in my twelfth incarnation’s TARDIS. Therefore we are going to look for him at a time when she is travelling with him,” the Doctor answered.
“Wouldn’t it be easier to just look in Norwich?” Danielle asked. 'him?' she wondered.
“Not necessarily, Danielle. She wanted to continue travelling, remember?” Jia’hale answered.
“Right,” Danielle said, trying not to look at her.
“Alright, this is going to take a while, and the TARDIS may still go off course,” the Doctor said.
“I guess so,” Sabir sighed.
“Doctor, we are arriving somewhere,” Sigrun pointed out, as she noticed the TARDIS sounds changing.
“Tau Ceti III, a good a place as any I suppose, but I don’t remember being there. On the other hand, Felicia will certainly change events,” the Doctor said.
“Your earlier self may look for you?” Jia’hale asked.
“That is a possibility too,” the Doctor considered.
The TARDIS landed. The landing was rougher than usual.
Sabir went to the doors. “Let’s have a quick look,” he suggested.
“Yes,” the Doctor said.
Tau Ceti III
4 July 2211
The Doctor, Sabir and Danielle exited the TARDIS. “Are you sure that you don’t want to come?” Sabir asked.
“It is unlikely that we would find Felicia on our first attempt,” Sigrun said from just inside the door.
“True,” Danielle said.
“Watch the TARDIS. If we’re not back in a day, come after us,” the Doctor said.
“Right,” Sigrun said, as she closed the door.
“Ok, this way,” the Doctor directed...
In the TARDIS
Sigrun turned to Jia’hale. “So, why didn’t you want to go and look?” she asked.
Jia’hale looked back at Sigrun. “You know why,” she said.
Sigrun rolled her eyes. Jia’hale’s proclivity. ‘She really doesn’t like wearing stuff, doesn’t she?’ “So what are you going to do in the meantime?” she asked.
“Not sure, maybe some sparing?”
“Um, sure,” said the not-so-sure Sigrun (given that Jia’hale was usually not-so-modestly attired when they spared).
Jia’hale saw Sigrun’s discomfort. “It won’t take long.”
Sigrun breathed heavily in and out as she calmed herself. “OK,” she finally said. “But if I feel too uncomfortable...”
“You can stop,” Jia’hale interrupted.
“Deal,” Sigrun said, sounding slightly relieved.
The two friends then left the console room.
A few hours later, the Doctor, Danielle and Sabir returned to the TARDIS. “That was a waste of time,” Danielle said.
“Not entirely, Danielle. We did solve that mystery,” Sabir said.
“Oh yeah,” Danielle said.
“Not a total waste of time, Dani,” the Doctor said, as she opened the TARDIS doors. She found the console room empty. ‘Of course they would be off doing whatever,’ he thought.
“Where to next?” Sabir asked.
“Another random destination,” the Doctor answered.
“Are you sure?” Sabir asked.
“Yes, Sab, I’m sure. If I plot a course, to a place that I do remember, it is likely that we will arrive before Felicia does,” the Doctor said, as she walked up to the console.
“I suppose so,” Sabir said.
The Doctor set the TARDIS in motion.
The TARDIS in flight
After she had set the TARDIS in motion, the Doctor left the console room.
Sabir looked at the console. The current destination was Colorado Springs. ‘America? Unlikely!’ he thought.
“Come on, let’s see what Sigrun and Jia’hale are up to,” Danielle said.
Sabir turned to him. “Sure,” she said.
Danielle and Sabir arrived at the TARDIS’s gymnasium a few minutes later. Sabir looked in, and quickly turned around “Aggh!”
“Jia’hale is bare?” Danielle asked.
Sabir nodded.
“And yet she and Sigrun are sparing?”
Sabir nodded again.
“I imagine that Sigrun must be uncomfortable.”
“I guess so. Besides all I saw of her was that she is dressed as she usually is for that sort of activity.”
“Still...”
“I think they’re using padded quarterstaffs,” Sabir added.
“Let’s do something else,” Danielle suggested.
“I’ll be in the library.”.
“I’ll be in bed. It has been a very long day.”
A while later, an exhausted Sigrun dropped to the floor. “Come on Jia’hale. We need to stop,” she said. She was tired and covered with sweat. Her pixie-short blonde hair was sticking to her forehead.
“Yes, it has been a rather long exhausting day,” Jia’hale said as she moved away. She placed the padded quarterstaff back on the rack. She walked back to Sigrun. “I’m going to bed. See you at breakfast.” She brushed against Sigrun as she went towards the door...
Sigrun stood up and watched Jia’hale leave the room. “What just happened?” she wondered. She definitely needed sleep. She put own padded quarterstaff away, then went back to her room. She was soon fast asleep.
The ‘Day’ after Felicia’s disappearance
Sabir entered the kitchen to find Daniel already there. “Good morning,” he said.
“Have you been to the console room yet?” Daniel asked. He looked at Sabir. He was dressed in his usual clothes, referencing an obscure British science fiction series, different to the one from the day before.
“I came straight here.”
“I think we may have landed somewhere.”
“Let me have breakfast first.”
“Sure,” Danielle said with a smirk.
Sigrun entered the kitchen a short time later. She saw that Danielle was brewing some coffee and that Sabir was making an omelette. “Having your usual large breakfasts, are you?” she asked.
“Yes, my metabolism hasn’t changed just because one of my friends has disappeared,” Sabir said.
“I still have my appetite, Siggy,” Danielle said.
‘Siggy’ sighed as she grabbed her cereal. She didn’t like that nickname.
“So, where do you think we are?” Danielle asked.
“Earth, first or second millennium AD,” Sigrun said.
“Is it that predictable?” Sabir asked. ‘I would have thought the 1st millennium BC too,’ he thought.
“It is, of the places we have been since the TARDIS began going off course, less than 10% were not on Earth, and less than 15% of those on Earth were earlier than the fall of the Roman Empire or later than the Drahvin invasion that we had just stopped,” Sigrun said.
“I disagree,” Danielle said.
Sabir turned from his cooking. “Please don’t fight over breakfast!” he said with a shake of his head.
“We will discuss this later,” Danielle said.
“I promise you that,” Sigrun said.
Sabir breathed a sigh of relief and turned back to his cooking.
A while later, but while the three were still eating their meals, Jia’hale entered, still bare...
Sabir dropped his knife onto his plate.
“What?” Jai’hale asked.
“You’re usually attired when you come to breakfast,” Sabir replied.
“Maybe,” Jia’hale said as she flicked her hair so that it fell down the front of her torso.
“More than that,” Sigrun said, remembering the previous night’s sparring session.
“I’m hungry and I have eaten like this a few times,” Jia’hale said.
“Just don’t make a habit of it,” Danielle said, looking her in her dark brown eyes.
Jia’hale rolled her eyes as she went to get her cereal. “We’ll see,” she said.
Sabir sighed.
A short time later Danielle and Sabir exited the kitchen and went towards the console room.
“What were you thinking?” Danielle asked.
“What?” Sabir asked.
“The way you confronted Jia’hale.”
“Every time I have seen her at breakfast, she was dressed.”
“There were a few times prior to now in which that I recall she wasn’t.”
“Maybe.”
“That’s not all is it?” Danielle asked.
“Of course not, I miss Felicia!” Sabir said, almost in tears.
“She’s out there somewhere, we’ll find her,” Danielle said reassuringly.
“I know, thanks.”
They entered the console room.
The Doctor was there. “Morning, had a good sleep?” she asked.
“Mostly, but I’m still worried about Felicia,” Sabir said.
“We’ll find her,” the Doctor reassurred.
“Where are we?” Danielle asked.
“We have landed on a southern Pacific Island in the 1850’s. It should be relatively safe,” the Doctor said.
Sabir thought for a moment. “Let’s explore it,” he said.
“I agree,” Danielle said.
“What about the other two?” the Doctor asked.
“Let’s just go without them,” Sabir said.
“Are you sure?” the Doctor asked.
“Yes,” Sabir said.
“Let’s go then,” the Doctor said.
26 March 1850
Bora Bora
The Doctor, Danielle and Sabir emerged from the TARDIS. They could see the sun rising in the distance.
“Polynesia?” Sabir asked.
“I did say the South Pacific, Sab,” the Doctor said.
“It’s just that we haven’t been to Polynesia,” Sabir said.
“Good point,” Daniel said.
The Doctor closed the TARDIS doors. “Let’s find out what’s going on here.”
The trio entered a settlement located a kilometre away from where the TARDIS had landed. “It seems like a normal Polynesian village,” the Doctor said.
“I’ll take your word for it,” Sabir said.
“Only seems like it,” the Doctor said, “there could be anything here.”
“Of course.”
“Let's find out what those things could be.”
“Yes,” Sabir said. They then went further into the village.
Back at the TARDIS, Sigrun exited her quarters. She was concerned about Jia'hale. There was something 'off' about her, that had become apparent after Felicia's disappearance. 'She needs help,' she thought. She then went to Jia'hale's quarters and knocked on the door. There was no response. “Jia'hale? It's Sigrun?” Still no response. 'She's somewhere else,' Sigrun realised. She sighed, realising that if someone did want to hide deep in the TARDIS that they wouldn't be found.
'Still, I will try the areas she frequents first, before giving up.'
Sigrun entered the kitchen. She found it empty.
Next was the Console Room. It was empty. 'Of course.' She looked at the scanner. “Bora Bora, huh?” Of course, they had to land in a tropical environment after Felicia had vanished, and something was going on with Jia'hale. “OK, 'old girl',” she said, considering that if the Doctor called the TARDIS that, she could too. “If someone is hiding somewhere aboard, you would know where they are?”
There was silence for a second. The TARDIS gave a noise as if replying in the affirmative.
“And the scanner can scan the interior?”
The TARDIS gave the affirmative noise again.
“Right. Locate Jia'hale,” Sigrun directed.
Then there was an alarm sound.
“Error?”
The TARDIS was silent.
“You can't locate Jia'hale?”
More noises.
“The Doctor wouldn't want me to use the Scanner to find her?” Sigrun thought for a moment. Certainly that made sense. The Doctor wouldn't want her companions to use the Scanner to spy on her other companions. 'But how to get past that restriction?' she considered.
After a few minutes, she still wasn't sure. “Look, something may be wrong with her. I'd like to be able to help.”
More noises, and a list of directions appeared on the screen.
“Thanks,” she said.
Having followed the directions, she found Jia'hale in a room that reminded her of an indoor greenhouse. “Jia'hale?”
“Sigrun?” Jia'hale asked, as she came out from behind a particularly large plant.
“I have been looking for you.”
“You have?”
“Yes. I'm concerned. You've been, reclusive, since Felicia vanished.”
Jia'hale nodded. “If she can vanish like that, then any of us can vanish.”
“That's not all, is it?” Sigrun asked. It was obvious that there was something else up with her friend.
“No. But that's all I can articulate at the moment.”
“You want to talk to the Doctor instead?”
“No. But you have to give me time,” Jia'hale said.
“But you can't just wander the TARDIS alone. You can spend time with myself or the others.”
“I suppose so.”
Outside the TARDIS, the Doctor and the others found the village largely deserted. “What's happening?” Danielle asked.
“I have no idea,” the Doctor answered. “Can't wait to find out!” She whipped out the sonic screwdriver and ran a scan. “Nothing out of the ordinary.”
“Where do we start?” Sabir asked, as he looked around.
“The chief's hut,” the Doctor said. “He should be there.”
There was a commotion around the hut as they approached. Some of the warriors turned with their spears raised.
“Uh oh!” Sabir said.
The Doctor raised her hands in a peaceful gesture. “Wait.”
The warriors stopped. “Why are you here?” It wasn't any of the warriors. It was the Chief.
“We were sailing by,” the Doctor began.
“You have no right to be here.”
“What if you need help?”
“We don't. That's what I don't like about you Europeans! You think you're better than us!” the Chief raged.
“I'm not like the others,” the Doctor said.
“I have no proof of that!” The Chief then signalled and the warriors seized the Doctor and her companions.
After talking to Jia'hale, Sigrun had returned to the console room. She was still concerned, but she was happy that they had talked. However, the TARDIS beeped and a message came up on the console.
The Doctor needs your help, Sigrun.
“Huh?”
If you don't go, she will do something she will regret.
'I guess I better get moving,' she thought. She then ran out of the ship.
Saturday 19 February 2022
Friday 18 February 2022
The Engineer and the Time Lady - Reflection
14. Reflection
“A day to Earth,” the ENH stated.
“24 hours exactly?” Alpha asked.
“Yes,” the Pilot answered.
“Getting to Earth will be a good change of pace,” Alpha said.
“You mean, not as boring?” Nina asked.
“More that we’ll be doing more than research the Baffin’s journey, learning and worrying about Aialah,” Alpha answered.
“That’s true.”
“But I’d like to know more about how you rescued Aialah.”
“You mean, more than what I put in my report?” Nina asked.
“Yes.”
“The TARDIS’s records can be uploaded to the Baffin without an issue.”
“Good.”
In the TARDIS, Nina accessed the Scanner records. “Interface with Baffin’s network. Upload data from the rescue of Aialah as you would to the Matrix on Gallifrey,” she said.
Error: Baffin isn’t the Matrix.
“Then upload as much as possible. Maybe Alpha or others would need to use a Holodeck to get the full amount of data.”
The TARDIS then gave an affirming sound.
“Uploading data in various formats.”
“Downloading from the TARDIS now,” the ENH said from the Operations Console. “It’s very large, about 147 Teraquads.”
‘That is large,’ Alpha thought.
Nina returned to the Bridge as the data transfer completed. “It is ready now.”
“Thanks,” Alpha said. She then went over to the Operations console herself, as the ENH returned to the Conn. She then accessed the files. Textual Narrative, Textual Overview, Audio-visual Narrative, multimedia overview. Holo-interactive Narrative (requires a Holodeck), Holo-immersive Overview (requires a Holodeck). ‘That is a lot of options,’ she thought. “Let’s start with the Audio-visual Narrative for now,” she said.
“Affirmative.”
TARDIS-Earlier/Baffin-Later
Nina’s hearts beat fast as the TARDIS travelled back to the moment after she had left in the Emergency Subset.
‘I can do this,’ she thought, as she tightened her grip on the phaser. She glanced at the console. The TARDIS was about to land. She approached the door as the last Voorrp!! of the materialisation sequence sounded.
She bounded out of the TARDIS and saw Aialah, surrounded by the Mayor’s son’s goons as they left the disused station. There was a black van nearby. ‘It’s going to be difficult,’ she thought. She leapt forward and fired at some of the goons to one side of Aialah. They fell, stunned. The others surrounded Aialah and fired. “Quickly!” the mayor’s son said. They tried to rush Aialah to the van and fired their guns in Nina’s direction.
Nina let herself fall to the ground, and quickly changed the setting on the phaser. She then fired at the van, which was still empty, vaporising it. That shocked everyone there, including Aialah. The goons kept firing. Nina’s hearts beat faster. She had to save Aialah! She changed the setting on the phaser back to stun, and fired again. “Run Aialah!” she called.
“Nina!” Aialah called.
“Run!” she said again.
Aialah ran, but back towards the railway station.
Nina sighed as she stunned the remaining goons. But the Mayor’s son had escaped and was chasing Aialah. ‘Great!’ she said as she stood up. Her hearts were thundering away. She knew a panic attack was coming on. She focused on her breathing as she looked where Aialah had went. She turned and went back into the TARDIS.
“OK, materialise on the tracks…” she said as she set the ship in motion.
Aialah approached the platform. He was still behind her, despite Nina’s near impossible intervention. (It was like something out of speculative fiction.) She could then see something else impossible, a rail motor appearing with a strange grating noise. Nina stepped out of it, and fired the (ray gun?) weapon somewhere behind her. She turned and saw that He had collapsed as the others had earlier. “What?” she asked.
“Come with me!” Nina said.
“Why? how?” she asked, still in shock.
“Come in and I’ll explain,” Nina answered., pointing at the rail motor that had mysteriously appeared.
Baffin
Alpha finished watching the rescue. It did explain how Aialah was rescued, but it didn’t explain why Aialah wanted to join Nina. 'I guess that will have to remain a mystery,' she thought.
Tuesday 1 February 2022
Psalm 75
Psalm 75
75 Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare.
2 When I shall receive the congregation I will judge uprightly.
3 The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved: I bear up the pillars of it. Selah.
4 I said unto the fools, Deal not foolishly: and to the wicked, Lift not up the horn:
5 Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck.
6 For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.
7 But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.
8 For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them.
9 But I will declare for ever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.
10 All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.
Give thanks to the LORD and praise Him.
31st January 2022 Writings
31st
Excerpt from: Reverse Map Game 2022
2001
North America
Canada
In Winnipeg, the last native speaker of Manitoban Norse
dies of old age.
United States
The state of Dakota splits, due to population growth and
disagreements between the north and south on how to apportion funds between the
regions.
Monsters Inc is released around Thanksgiving.
Apple releases the first iPod.
South America
Peru
drops it’s claim on Acre.
Europe
Iceland leaves the Commonwealth.
The Concorde makes its last flight between New York and
Paris.
Africa
The Central African Civil War continues.
Madagascar withdraws from the Commonwealth.
Asia
Oceania
Oceania
In Australia, the Howard Government increases their
majority.
The New Parliament House opens on the 9th of
May.
Samoa and Kiribati gain independence from New Zealand.
Words: 119
Excerpt from: Convergence on Lawndale
“Notice anything different?” Peter asked.
“Nothing,” Quinn answered.
“Not from the outside,” the Doctor added. “We’ll have to
go in again.”
“Of course.”
Peter watched as the Doctor used his sonic device to
unlock the door. ‘It’s certainly advanced,’ he thought.
As they entered the building. He surreptitiously shot a
web to close the door after them.
“What was that?” Quinn asked.
“Nothing,” Peter said. He saw that the Doctor didn’t
notice. ‘She must have good hearing,’ he thought.
Words: 79
Excerpt from: Daria – A Variant Lawndale
“Hi, Brittany,” Daria said.
“Daria, you’re here. I’m so glad. Now we’re even.”
“This is Jane,” Daria said.
“I know who she is,” Brittany interrupted.
“I know I wasn’t invited,” Jane said. “I’m Daria’s plus
one. You know I’m good at art.”
“But I have Daria for that now,” Brittany said as she
twirled her hair. “Wait, What do you know about geometry.”
“It’s the one aspect of Math that I’m good at,” Jane
said. “Lots of circles, squares and triangles.”
“Wow!” Brittany said, sounding impressed. “You’re welcome
to stay.”
“Cool,” Jane said.
Quinn found a ceramic tiger statue to the side of the
Taylor Mansion. She looked around and saw that there wasn’t anyone nearby.
‘Here goes,’ she thought. She turned the tiger to the side and a hidden door
opened on the side of the house.
Words: 138
Excerpt from: Daria – Quinn and Stacy
“Okay, question one: ‘Self-esteem is important
because...’”
“It's a quality that will stand us in good stead the rest
of our lives,” Quinn answered.
“Very good. Now, ‘The next time I start to feel bad about
myself...’”
“Stand before the mirror, look myself in the eye and say,
‘You are special. No one else is like you.’,” Stacy added.
“You two really have been paying attention! Okay,
‘There's no such thing...’”
“As the right weight,” Stacy started.
Words: 77
Excerpt from: Voyager and the Convergence
“I'm sure,” Thor answered. “It will get more intense the
further we get in, but we'll get used to it.”
Clara nodded. “I guess that's reassurring.”
“It's going to be fine,” Thor said with a smile.
The convergence region enveloped Voyager.
“Full scan,” Janeway ordered.
“Aye, Captain,” Kim responded.
“Mr. Paris. Set a course for the star system at the
center of the region. Warp six.”
“Aye, Captain.”
Words: 68
Total: 485
Return of the Runaway - Esteem of the Middle Child - Part 4
She entered the Oakwood library. “Hi,” she said to the librarian. “I'm travelling to Lawndale, could you provide information on that town?”
“Lawndale?” the librarian asked with a sceptical voice.
“Yes,” Lillian projected.
“Sorry, It's not often that we get asked about Lawndale here.”
“But sometimes?” Lillian asked.
“Yes, but they're usually referred to the libraries in Lawndale,” the librarian answered.
'More than one public library in Lawndale?' Lillian wondered. Sounded like her kind of town. The town she still called home in Colorado only had one. “But you do have information on that town right? Not just Oakwood?”
“Don't get cocky young lady. It's just that there is a big rivalry between the towns.”
“I see,” Lillian said with annoyance. 'Surely nothing like that between Springfield and Shelbyville in The Simpsons?'
“I'll check,” the librarian said.
“Good,” Lillian groused.
The librarian returned five minutes later. “There is this book about the history of the area,” she said, handing it over to Lillian.
“It's not very big,” Lillian said.
“It offers a brief overview, and fairly covers Lawndale and Middlebury as well as Oakwood.”
“Better than nothing, I guess,” Lillian said. 'Is there a rivalry with Middlebury too?' she wondered.
After reading the book, therefore gaining some information on the history of the area, Lillian thanked the librarian and headed to the Train Station.
Lawndale
The Morgendorffers were at Pizza Forest. Jake, Helen and Ronni hated it. But, Quinn was enjoying herself. “Row, row, your boat!”
“How much longer?” Ronni asked. Hardly any of the 'singers' had any level of vocal talent.
“However long it takes,” Helen said, with a similar amount of irritation in her voice.
Quinn smiled.
Lillian had arrived in Lawndale and called a taxi. While waiting in Oakwood she had called ahead and had booked a room at the Dutchman Inn. But she wasn't going straight there. First she was going to see if her family was home.
However, by the time she got to 1111 Glen Oaks Lane, night had fallen and she could clearly see that no one was home in that McMansion they now called home. 'They must have gone out,' she thought. She decided she would come back the next afternoon. “Keep driving, Dutchman Inn,” she told the cab driver.
September 20
Lillian arrived outside her family's home again. This time it was early in the morning, shortly after breakfast. She figured that Quinn (and any other siblings) would be at school, but that at least one of her parents would be there. She rang the doorbell. But there was no response. She tried a second time. There was still no response. She sighed, and decided to return that evening.
Quinn and Jane met between classes. “How did it go with Pizza Forest?” Jane asked.
“They suffered, but the Pizza was tasteless,” Quinn groused.
“Of course it's tastless. But there are other Pizza places in Lawndale.”
“I would like to see them, but first we need to get out of that class.”
“I have my notes from my other times through.”
“That would be helpful,” Quinn considered.
Quinn entered Jane's place again. “Jane?” she asked. 'Obviously in her room,' she thought.
Jane was watching Sick Sad World. “This is just astounding! Here you are, blind, deaf, and barely able to walk, yet you conducted simultaneous affairs with three members of the Royal Family! The question on all of America's mind is: how did you do it?”
“What?”
“She doesn't get it. It's the Royal Family. You'd have to be blind,” Jane said as commentary.
“Good point!” Quinn said.
“U.F.O. Conventions. once sneered at as the domain of so-called "kooks," have become big, big business, drawing hundreds of thousands of people each year, people as sane and rational as you and I, who come simply to satisfy a normal curiosity. ”
“You want to watch first?” Jane asked.
“Um, sure,” Quinn said, although she hadn't seen it before.
“It was a cone-shaped craft about 15 feet long, with an air speed of, oh, I'd estimate mach 12. They kidnapped and stripped me, examined me briefly, returned my clothes, and dropped me here.”
At the Dutchman Inn, Lillian called long distance to Colorado. “Lillian!”
“Hi, Wendy,” Lillian said to the young woman who had been more of a sister to her than Quinn Morgendorffer had.
“Mom and Dad said you've made it to Lawndale?” Wendy Addams said.
“I have, but the Morgendorffers are rather busy. When I got to the house, there was no one there.”
“I'm not sure why you want to be with them.”
“It hasn't been the same at home since you left,” Lillian answered.
“This is my third year of College though,” Wendy said.
“And I've turned sixteen.”
“Those aren't the only reasons though.”
“Of course not. I have thought about Jake and Helen and how they must have been worried for their daughter who had run away. The same for Quinn. I may have been a handful...” Lillian added.
“You weren't that much,”Wendy interrupted.
“I know I was, but I was more of one for them. I have realised that now.”
“Call tomorrow after you meet them.”
“I shall,” Lillian said.
They talked for a while longer, Wendy about how she was doing with her classes, and Lillian about how she expected to settle in with the Morgendorffers and Lawndale High.
Lillian hung up from the call to Wendy refreshed. She was ready to meet the Morgendorffers. 'I hope they are home tonight!' She looked out from the hotel room over Lawndale. The late afternoon sun caught the fall foliage in a very aesthetically pleasing way. 'It will be more pleasing later in the Fall.'
The Morgendorffers were getting ready for dinner when there was a knock at the door. “Who could that be?” Helen asked. She went to the door and opened it. She saw a young woman there who looked strangely familiar. She couldn't place where she had seen her. “Hello?”
“Helen Morgendorffer?” she asked.
“I am she. May I ask who is enquiring?”
“My name is Lillian Adams. I know where your daughter, Daria, is.”
Lillian mentally kicked herself. She had wanted to tell the truth straight up. That she was Daria. But she had spent most of her life as Lillian, so she had introduced herself as Lillian out of habit. She could see her biological mother thinking, trying to deal with the revelation she had just told her.
“I see,” Helen finally said. “Come in.”
“Um, sure,” Lillian said.
Helen indicated the way. “We were just about to have dinner.”
“Sorry for interrupting,” Lillian said.
“Not at all. We've just moved here, to Lawndale, and we're still settling in. What's one more revelation,” Helen said in a stand-offish tone.
'How many times have they had false hope?' Lillian wondered. 'How long did they search?' She had long since known that they hadn't searched as far as Colorado. She followed Helen into the kitchen where the rest of the family was waiting. Not only Jake and Quinn, but also a younger sister who had been born some time after she had run away. It wasn't that surprising, but still came as a shock.
“You look like you've seen a ghost,” Helen said.
“Who's this, Helen?” Jake asked. “Are you one of Quinn's new friends?”
“No!” Lillian and Quinn said at the same time.
“Jake!” Helen projected.
“She could have been!”
That exchange caused Lillian to flash back to the night she run away.
Flashback
Daria gets out of bed as Helen and Jake argue.
“She's just a child. She doesn't know any better,” her motehr said.
“That's what she wants you to believe,” her father shot back.
“Where are you going?”
Door slams as Jake runs off
End Flashback
Lillian shook her head.
“Why is she here then?” Jake asked.
“She says she knows where Daria is,” Helen explained.
The rest of the family paused. There was an awkward silence. Lillian could see that they had suffered in some way from her disappearance.
“Really?” Jake ask after a minutes.
Lillian nodded as her heart beat faster.
“Ronnie, get a chair for our guest from the dining room,” Helen said.
The younger sister, Ronnie, nodded and quickly did what she was asked,
Lillian sat down with the family. It was now or never.
“So,” Helen began. “Would you like something before we begin?”
“Um, sure. Some tea would be nice.” It would calm her nerves at least.
“Tea? One sugar or two, you decide.”
“One will do.”
The kettle finally boiled and Helen poured the tea and gave it to Lillian. “Now, you said that you know where Daria is. So where is she?”
Of all the answers that she thought Lillian would give, she didn't expect the one she would get.
“The thing is... I am Daria.”
There was shock on all of their faces, particuarly Jake and Quinn's.
“That's not possible!” Jake said.
“No!” Quinn said. “Daria can't be here!” She then stood up, opened the sliding door and ran out of the house.
“Quinn!” Helen called out.
Lillian was conflicted. She wanted to explain herself to her biological parents. But she also wanted to chase after Quinn, to be sure that she wasn't running away herself. She quickly made her choice and dashed out of the house after Quinn.
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