The Engineer and the Time Lady - New York Interlude

 16. New York Interlude

“Nina to Baffin, I'm returning to the TARDIS.”

“Acknowledged,” Aialah said.

Alpha turned to the ENH. “Set course back behind the Moon.”

“Course laid in,” the ENH reported a few moments later.

“Engage.”

Baffin warped out of orbit and was back behind the Moon just over a minute later. “There is no indication that the American Government is aware of us,” Aialah reported.

Nina entered the TARDIS. She checked on the download. Another 4 hours until completion. “But I can find out more about Spider-Man anyway,” she said. She accessed the information already downloaded and searched for information on that arachnid themed vigilante.

She quickly found a lot of information in the form of the online archive of a newspaper named the Daily Bugle. She quickly grew annoyed. 'This J. Jonah Jameson certainly has an axe to grind!' she thought. Despite the anti-Spider-Man bias she did get a sense of the information. Spider-Man had only been around a little over two years. “TARDIS, determine the earliest mention of Spider-Man,” Nina said.

The TARDIS soon found the information. 7 June 2002. 'Figures,' she thought. She brought up the earliest issue of the Daily Bugle to mention the web slinging vigilante, on the 8^th of June. It was clear that Jameson's bias was present from outset. She looked over the Bugle's photos of Spider-Man again and noticed that most of them were taken by one person, Peter Parker. “I guess I'll have to find him.” She had the TARDIS transfer the location of the Bugle's offices to a PADD and then went on her way.

Alpha looked over the internet traffic Baffin's probes were intercepting. There was still no indication that anyone had seen the ship stop above New York City, although it was still less than half an hour after Octavius' experiment had gone awry. The experiment had been mentioned on online news, on various radio news programs in and around the Big Apple and on CNN. 'But that's just one aspect of this particular Earth!' she thought.

Even so, she wanted to limit any cultural contamination caused by the appearance of Baffin in orbit if she could.

Half an hour later, Nina approached the Daily Bugle building.She had used the PADD to check for possible job vacancies on the way over.

Betty Brant looked at the young lady as she came towards her. “Welcome to the Daily Bugle. How may I help you?”

“Yes, there is an archivist position available?” the young blonde asked.

“Yes,” Brant said as she handed an information sheet over.

Nina read it over. It was certainly something she could do, scan the older archives so they could be put online. She signed her name.

“Good!” Brant said. “I'll give this to Mr. Jameson, then I will be back.”

Nina nodded.

Betty Brant entered Jameson's office.

“Not now!” Jameson said as he hung up the phone.

“Sir, here's an applicant for the archivist position,” she said.

“Bring her in,” Jameson said.

“Nina Lumber?” Jameson asked after he had read over the name on the application.

“Yes.”

“Sounds unfamiliar,” Jameson said. He looked over the rest of the CV. It all checked out. “You're hired!” he said. “You start tomorrow at 9:00.”

“Thanks, Mr. Jameson.”

“You can thank me by doing a good job!”

“Crewman Nina to Baffin,” Nina said after she had left the Bugle office.

“Report,” Alpha said.

“I got the job.”

“That was unexpected. But do you think that Parker person would really tell you anything about Spider-Man?”

“I can only try.”

“That's certainly true.”

“Returning to the TARDIS now.”

Aialah noticed something in the communications data she was looking at.”Something...” she murmured.

“What is it?” Alpha asked.

“It's certainly something,” Aialah said. “...Within the upper levels of the American Government. The President is in the Situation Room, but there is nothing happening in the far flung regions of interest to the USA. They're mostly peaceful.”

“So you think they might have seen us?” Alpha asked.

“It's a possibility.”

“Keep an eye on it. But you're going to need help,” Alpha decided. “Computer activate Emergency Engineering Hologram Eta on the Bridge.”

Eta appeared. “Please state the emergency, Alpha,” she said.

“I'd like you to help Crewman Aialah,” Alpha said.

Aialah explained to Eta what she was doing.

“Right. I'm on it,” Eta said and leapt to it.

In the TARDIS, Nina was looking through history to see if there were people similar to Spider-Man in the past. There were no such records from 20^th Century North America or Europe. 'Maybe in the 19^th Century?'

Eta scanned through the communications data. There was definitely something happening in the White House. Whether it had something to do with Octavius' experiment, the Baffin's appearance or something else. She told Alpha and Aialah so.

“Keep an eye on it,” Alpha ordered uncertainly.

Eta nodded.

August 16, 2004

After a short sleep, Nina entered the Console Room to find that the TARDIS had brought up a news bulletin.

Octavius escapes from Hospital leaving surgeons dead.

'That's not good,' Nina thought. Without an inhibitor chip, there was no telling what he would do. “TARDIS to Baffin.”

“Alpha here.”

“Octavius is on the lose. It seems he escaped from the hospital when they tried to the remove the device from him.”

“You want to find and help him?” Alpha asked.

“Yes.”

“I'm not sure that would be a good idea.”

“But I don't know where he would go.”

“And scouring the city for him probably wouldn't be a good idea.”

“Well, I did manage to scan the actuators with the tricorder...”

“But you would have to get close to scan for him.”

“That's true.”

Springtime of Empires 1600 - 1600

 1663– 1666

North America

Spanish colonial expansion as the epidemics continue to weaken the various native states.

 

 

South America

Atlantica grows in population as more immigrants arrive.

 

 

Europe

Recovery from the War of Holy Roman Succession continues.

 

 

Africa

The Portuguese presence in West Africa expands.

 

The same applies to the Spanish and Dano-Norwegians elsewhere.

 

 

Asia

The situation in northern Manchuria continues to deteriorate. The Koreans capture more territory. The Han rebellion continues to grow. The Xing continue to bide their time, before deciding to make a move sometime in 1667.

 

The Vietnamese incursion in the south of China is pushed further back, with the Chinese now pushing into Vietnamese territory.

 

 

Oceania

New settlements are established on the edge of Spanish held territory.

A Variant Lawndale - Beach Party Invitation - Part 3

 

“Look, two types of chips,” Daria said in a tone of fake excitement.

 

“Flat or ridgy? You make the call,” Jane said. She then saw someone approaching. “Uh oh!”

 

“Chuck Ruttheimer, here. And you are...?”

 

“Jane, But I know that you know that!”

 

“Esmerelda.”

 

“I was there in DeMartino’s class,” Chuck said.

 

“Of course,” Daria said.

 

“Your answer on Manifest Destiny was quite good.”

 

“I didn’t answer that way to get hit on,” Daria retorted.

 

“Feisty!”

 

“How did you get invited?” Daria asked.

 

“I dissected her frog,” Chuck admitted.

 

‘That would do it,’ Daria thought.

 

 

Brittany grabbed a bullhorn. “The surfing competition will start shortly! If you wish to participate please come up to the far end of the pool. Thank you!”

 

“I suppose that’s my call,” Jane said.

 

Daria sighed. “Go for it!” she said.

 

“Would you like a tour of the premises?” Chuck asked once Jane was out of earshot.

 

“No,” she said as she followed Jane towards the pool.

 

 

The surfing competition began well, with Angie starting off.

 

“This is Spatula Man out at Crew Necke for the Taylor’s Beach Party and the surfing competition is about to begin. If you want to know who wins, keep listening to Z-93, Lawndale’s Hippest Radio Station!”

 

Daria sighed. ‘Of course.’

 

 

“First competitor is Angie Zammit.”

 

Angie soon finished. The judges all gave her 9s.

 

She bowed.

 

“Up next is Nikki Dowling, another of Lawndale High’s Cheerleaders.”

 

 

Daria noticed that Chuck had followed her and Jane over.

 

“Are you sure?” he asked.

 

“I’m sure! Leave us alone!”

 

“Feisty!” Chuck exclaimed before making himself scarce.

 

 

Nikki’s score came close to Angie’s. “It is a stiff competition this afternoon…” Spatula Man said.

 

“I doubt it,” Jane said a she put her name down on the sheet. There weren’t very many names there yet. ‘Mack is the only guy!’ she thought. She overheard Brittany trying to dissuade Kevin from joining in.

 

 

“Kevie, maybe you should try limbo instead,” Brittany argued.

 

“You think I would wipe out, don’t you,” Kevin said in an accusative tone.

 

Brittany tried to deflect. “I just think you would do better at limbo,” she said.

 

“But I still would like to surf? Wasn’t that why you had the wave pool put in?”

 

Brittany twirled a pigtail. “Um, no.”

 

“Oh!” Kevin said.

 

Taking advantage of the pause, Brittany grabbed her boyfriend’s hand and dragged him away from the wave pool.

 

 

Jane smirked as she watched the cheerleader drag the QB away and stepped aside to allow Tori Jericho to put her name down.

 

“What are you doing here?” Tori asked her once she had done so.

 

Jane shrugged. “What can I say?” she started rhetorically. “Brittany invited someone, then I came as their plus one.”

 

“Right,” Tori responded dubiously. “But you’re still an outcast!”

 

Jane scowled. She saw Daria turn as she heard Tori’s remark.

 

 

Daria looked at the antagonistic blonde as she approached. She was ready to support Jane, if she needed it.

 

“Not an outcast,” Jane declared. “Just nonconformist.”

 

“You are outcast!” the blonde said as she wrote her name on the list. She then went off in a huff.

 

“Miss popular!” Jane complained behind her back.

 

“Quite familiar,” Daria murmured.

 

“There are girls like her at every high school,” Jane said with annoyance.

 

“Including Quinn.”

 

“And just for that I’m going to try my best!”

 

“Don’t over do it,” Daria said with a slight warning tone.

 

 

“Now up, Jane Lane!” Spatula Man announced.

 

“Oh, the gall!” Tori complained.

 

“What gall?” Sandi asked.

 

“Brittany didn’t invite her!”

 

Sandi rolled her eyes.

 

 

Jane paddled out to the wave and started to surf. However, there was trouble. Tori had entered straight after her and was dropping in on her. “Hey! We’ll both wipe out!”

Reverse Map Game 2022 - 1964

 

1964

North America

New Brunswick joins Canada. The nation’s economy had been declining for years (and there was no interest in joining the Empire Federation or American Republic).

 

 

American Republic

McCarthy wins re-election by over 280 Electoral Votes. There are recounts in some states, but hardly any controversy.

 

Utah is readmitted to the Union. The damage to the infrastructure done by the War is mostly repaired.

 

 

Great Circle

A nationalist uprising in Yucatan is defeated.

 

 

South America

A border dispute between Argentina and Bolivia is resolved.

 

 

Europe

Xth Treaty of Athens. Santorini is transferred from the United Kingdom to Greece.

 

 

Africa

The Egyptian Communist rebels are on the path to defeat.

 

The Burkinabe Revolution begins after Malian troops fire on a peaceful demonstration…

 

 

Asia

A peaceful year

 

 

Oceania

The New Parliament House opens in Canberra.

A Variant Lawndale - Beach Party Invitation - Part 2

 Part 2

After bribing the guard with Jane’s life drawings, they entered Crewe Neck. “Interesting instrumentals,” Daria commented as they approached the Taylor’s mansion. She could see that the wave pool was very large, but it wasn’t the only thing protruding from behind the building. “A small rollercoaster too?”

 

“Definitely new money,” Jane commented.

 

 

Brittany met Jodie Landon and Mack Mackenzie as they came to the beach area. “What do you think of my backyard beach?” she asked.

 

“Um, it’s quite extravagant,” Jodie answered.

 

“I guess so,” Brittany said as she twirled her hair.

 

“I suppose the sand is great,” Mack said.

 

“I suppose people could build sand castles,” Jodie commented.

 

“I’m going to swim and surf,” Brittany said.

 

“So are we,” Jodie said. “I was saying others could do that too.”

 

“Sure,” Brittany said

 

 

Quinn was already there. She had met the three boys who had crushes on her. “So, I said, that ‘just because people are cliquey and snotty is no reason not to like them.”

 

“I agree,” Jeffy Brown-Mercer said.

 

“Exactly,” Jamie White said.

 

“Would you like to get me some drinks?” Quinn asked.

 

“Sure!” Jeffy said.

 

“I will!” Joey Green said.

 

“Of course!” Jamie said.

 

All three boys cleared off. Quinn then took out a pager, and found that there weren’t any messages. ‘Good!’ she thought. But she knew one would appear at some point in the afternoon.

 

 

“Angie! Donna!” Brittany called as she ran up to her friends who were also on the squad.

 

“So, the Beach is ready?” Donna Bolton asked.

 

“Yes,” Brittany answered.

 

“Cool,” Angie Zammit said. “Then we can go swimming!”

 

“I’ve organised a surfing contest too,” Brittany said.

 

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Donna asked.

 

“Of course, it is. The wave machines are quite robust,” Brittany said.

 

“I mean… Kevin, on a surfboard…” Donna hinted.

 

Brittany twirled a pigtail. “Don’t worry. I’ll distract him.”

 

“I hope so,” Angie said.

 

 

Jane looked at the flyer she had been handed by another of the cheerleaders. “A surfing competition?” she asked.

 

“Not only are they competing socially, but physically too,” Daria commented.

 

“That’s certainly true,” Jane said. “But it’s unusual. Lawndale’s a football town.”

 

“A bit difficult to play football on a beach,” Daria quipped.

 

“I guess so,” Jane considered. “But I suppose I could give it a try.”

 

“Why?” Daria asked.

 

“Not sure. I’ll probably wipe out, but I’ll give it try.”

 

Daria sighed. “Go ahead. We better find Brittany.”

 

“Sure,” Jane said. She turned the page over. “Oh look, a Limbo competition too.”

 

“Of course,” Daria groused.

 

 

Joey returned to where Quinn was watching people swimming. “Here, I got you a drink.”

 

“This ice isn’t crushed.”

 

“I’ll go crush some!” he said. He then whispered in Quinn’s ear. “You know, Jeffy still sleeps with a teddy bear,” before leaving.

 

Jeffy then came along with some pretzels.

 

“These aren’t twisty,” Quinn said.

 

“I’ll go twist some.” He then whispered. “You know, Jamie's really a sloppy kisser.”

 

Quinn gave him a strange look.

 

“I heard it from a girl!” He then left.

 

Jamie came there. “I found some crackers,” he said.

 

“I like square crackers.”

 

Jamie proceeded to bite a cracker into a square shape.  “You know Joey was with a..”

 

Quinn interrupted him. “Ugh! Gross!”

 

 

As Jamie made himself scarce, Quinn heard her beeper. ‘Of course!’ she thought after she had read the message.

 

 

Joey came back to where Quinn was. “Hey, where’s Quinn?”

 

 

Daria and Jane came up to where Brittany was. “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. She quickly stepped through.

A Lane's Return to Lawndale - Part 1

 A Lane’s Return to Lawndale

Summer Lane looked at Lawndale from the roadside. She usually hated returning to the place. This time was no different. She sighed. At least Adrian and Courtney were consistent. She didn’t know what to do if they had run off to a different place each time. She looked again; the essence of suburbia that was her hometown hadn’t changed much in the past eight months. Some of the further subdivisions seemed to stretch further towards the horizon and a few new buildings were going up downtown, but otherwise there was no difference.

She took a few photos of the town and then got back in the car. It was time to check in with Trent, Jane and whoever else was at her childhood home.

 

 

Five minutes later, Summer arrived at that house. It looked more dilapidated than it did the last time she had been there. She knew why Trent wasn’t looking after it. But she wasn’t sure why Jane hadn’t taken to using the outside walls as a canvas. She knocked on the door. Someone came to it. “Oh!”

 

“You’re here to see Trent?” the young redheaded woman asked.

 

“Kinda,” Summer answered. “I’m his eldest sister.”

 

“Oh, come in,” she said.

 

 

Summer saw that the kitchen, at least, was cleaner than she was used to seeing it. “You know, Trent,” the young woman said. “He’s still asleep, and Jane is still at work.”

 

“I’m Summer.”

 

“Quinn.”

 

“So, why are you here?” Summer asked.

 

“Jane’s tutoring me in art,” Quinn answered.

 

Summer raised an eyebrow “Careful, Jane’s rather idiosyncratic.”

 

“Oh, do I know that!” Quinn said.

 

‘There’s a story there,’ Summer thought. “But there is a reason I’m here. My children…”

 

Quinn interrupted. “Courtney and Adrian?”

 

“Yes. They’re here, aren’t they?”

 

“They are upstairs watching TV in one of the spare bedrooms. They are quite a handful!”

 

“That they are,” Summer said. “Why are you here if Jane’s at work?”

 

“I usually get here early. I prefer places to be clean.”

 

“I see.”

 

Quinn Morgendorffer followed Summer up the stairs. She wasn’t sure what to make of her. Nor did she of Courtney and Adrian for that matter. But then she had lived a sheltered life, even in Highland. She didn’t have any personal experience of single mothers and children running away from home (given that her cousin Erin never did so). ‘But why do they keep running away from home?’

 

 

Summer found Courtney and Adrian in her room. “Courtney!”

 

“Mom! Why are you here?” Courtney asked.

 

“You know perfectly well why I’m here, Courtney Delaney Lane! You and Adrian have run away to here yet again!”

 

Courtney just smirked. “Lawndale is familiar,” she said with a shrug. “Besides, Uncle Trent and Auntie Jane are nice.”

 

Meaning that she wasn’t. “That’s no excuse.”

 

“We’re staying for a while. Auntie Jane said that we could,” Adrian said.

 

“But she’s not your mother!”

 

 

Quinn backed away as Summer and her children argued. She heard Jane arrive home downstairs.

 

 

Jane entered the kitchen. “Quinn?”

 

“Summer’s here,” Quinn said following Jane in. “Confronting Courtney and Adrian.”

 

Jane sighed. “Of course, she is.”

 

“Do they always fight like that?”

 

“Not always. But often.”

 

 

After seeing that her two eldest were obstinate, Summer entered the kitchen where Jane and Quinn were talking about how Quinn’s sister was doing at College.

 

“They don’t want to go home?” Jane asked rhetorically. “No surprise there.”

 

“No!” Summer said. “I’m guess I’m staying here until they change their minds.”

 

“What about the other two?” Quinn asked.

 

“Their sitter is used to me foisting them off on her for long periods. It will be fine,” Summer answered.

 

“Um, sure,” Quinn said quietly.

 

“Well, let’s do it then,” Jane said to Quinn.

 

“Aren’t you going to talk to Summer?” Quinn asked.

 

“We can catch up later,” Jane answered.

 

Quinn nodded.

 

 

Quinn opened her art book.

 

“How was the practice?” Jane asked.

 

“I have been using the technique we were practicing last week,” Quinn answered. She turned to the relevant page.

 

Jane looked at it. “You’ve done very well,” she praised.

 

“Thanks, but I’m sure I can do better.”

 

“It is said that learning art is a lifelong process,” Jane said.

 

“Was that Ms. Defoe?” Quinn asked. “It sounds like something she’d say.”’

 

“Good observation. But as I was saying, building up skills takes time, as does refining one’s own style.”

 

Quinn nodded. “I do need to be more patient.”

 

“That’s part of it,” Jane agreed.

 

“And take it slower.”

 

Jane nodded. “Haste has been the downfall of many an artist. But the point is you are getting better.” She opened her curtain. “Now for a challenge. Sketch what you see out there.”

 

Quinn looked out over the Lane’s unkempt yard, taking in the gazebo as well as the plants and the neighboring houses. She was sure she could do it in the time before the sun set.

 

 

Elsewhere in the house, Summer brought some snacks to Courtney and Adrian. “What have you been watching?” she asked.

 

“Cartoons,” Courtney answered.

 

“What cartoons?”

 

“Cartoon Network,” Courtney answered.

 

Summer sighed. Courtney was being obtuse as always. “Specifically?”

 

“Scooby Doo, mostly,” Adrian said.

 

“Mostly?” Summer prompted.

 

“Other cartoons too,” Courtney added.

 

 

Summer left the room. Her children were impossible! Maybe she could go somewhere while Jane was tutoring Quinn and come back later.

 

 

“Jane?” Summer asked.

 

Jane turned from where Quinn was busy drawing. “Yes.”

 

“I’m going out. I’ll be back later.”

 

 

“Sure,” Jane said, before turning back to Quinn’s work.

 

 

Leaving the house, Summer wasn’t sure where to go. Lawndale was sure to have changed some over the years. She decided to just head down town. ‘Dega Street?’ She decided that would be a good idea.

 

 

Ten minutes later, she entered a café. She looked around and saw hardly anyone else there. There was an older man she thought was familiar. She went up to the counter.

 

“What would it be?” the bald barista asked.

 

“A simple coffee would suffice,” Summer responded.

 

“Sure.”

 

She then heard something she didn’t expect. “Summer Lane?”

 

She turned and saw. “Mr O’Neill?” She didn’t expect to run into one of her old teachers.

 

“I thought you left Lawndale years ago.”

 

“I’m just visiting.”

 

“Oh, of course!” O’Neill said.