Spider Quinn 14 Battle and Consequence - Part 3

 

They came to a corner office, after evading another of those robot arms. “She’s in there,” the Enigma said.

 

“The door could be trapped,” Daria pointed out.

 

The heard the ding of the elevator somewhere behind them.

 

“Uh oh!” Daria said. She turned around and put her staff in a ready position “Whatever you’re going to do…”

 

“Got it,” the Enigma said.

 

 

The Enigma telekinetically pushed the door open and smoke came from the lock mechanism.

 

“Now, Daria,” Peterson said.

 

“Don’t have to tell me twice,” Daria said.

 

 

They entered the room and found Verity tied beneath a desk. Peterson took out a pocket knife and cut her ties.

 

“Thanks,” Beresfield said. “I didn’t see who it was, but I suspect it was Osborn.”

 

“We have to get out of here first,” the Enigma said.

 

“And I can see them coming,” Daria said from the door.

 

“The ventilation system,” the Enigma said as she pulled a vent off.

 

“Better than the window,” Daria quipped. “Get her up first.”

 

“Sure,” Peterson said. “But I don’t want to have to come back for you.”

 

“You won’t need to,” Daria said.

 

 

Verity climbed up the rope into the ventilation shaft, followed by Peterson.

 

 

Daria saw one of the guards coming and used her staff to trip him and then knocked back his partner before the Enigma grabbed her hand and pulled her to the rope.

 

“Let’s go.”

 

 

“That was close,” Daria said.

 

“Do you know the way out?” Verity asked.

 

“We’ll find the way,” the Enigma said.

 

“And you are?” Verity asked. “I heard about the new heroes in Lawndale.”

 

“The Enigma. I’m the newest one. Or maybe Daria is.”

 

“Maybe,” Daria allowed.

 

“The Enigma. I’ll just say that I was rescued.”

 

“That would be best,” Peterson said.

 

 

Less than ten minutes later they emerged onto the roof. “We have to get you somewhere safe. But the station is on the other side of town,” Peterson said.

 

“I always thought it was a strange location for it,” Daria said. “But there is somewhere.”

 

“Where?” Peterson asked.

 

“There!” Daria said pointing.

 

“The Historia? How is it safe?” Peterson said.

 

“It’s that new café bookshop, right?” Verity asked.

 

“Yes,” the Enigma said.

 

“There are apartments at the rear that were used by the actors in the old days,” Daria explained. “I can put Verity up in one of them for tonight.”

 

“Could you explain that?” Peterson asked.

 

“When we get there,” Daria said.

 

 

Meanwhile, Tania (and SpiderGirl) had arrived at the Griffins.

 

Linda had come to the door. “Sandi has gone out,” she said to Tania.

 

“Oh,” Tania said. “Is that the truth.”

 

“If Sandi was here, she would be at the door right now,” Linda said. “Why are you here.”

 

“Like, I was checking something and you might have confirmed it,” Tania said.

 

“And what might that be?” Linda asked warily.

 

“That Sandi might be the Shadow.”

 

Linda sighed. ‘No Tania,’ she thought. ‘Sandi is the fourth vigilante.’ She didn’t say that of course. “I would know if Sandi was the Shadow. The same if she were Ninja Talon. She’s gone out after our tense dinner at the Osborns earlier tonight.”

 

“Sandi did say something about that at school,” Tania responded. “But I see that you believe that Sandi isn’t the Shadow. It’s like the Morgendorffer sisters aren’t the fourth vigilante.”

 

‘She thought Daria or Quinn was the fourth vigilante?’ Linda thought. ‘I doubt either of them are the Shadow, Ninja Talon or SpiderGirl.’ The latter of whom she had sensed sitting on the top of the roof. “You’re not going to get any more answers by going around accusing people, Ms. Ashworth! I suggest you go home.”

 

“Sandi was last on the list, Mrs. Griffin. I may as well go home. It’s still too early to go to the Park,” Tania said. She then turned around and left.

 

“What is Lawndale coming to?” Linda asked herself, once again. “What do you think of this, SpiderGirl? I know you’re there.”

 

SpiderGirl swung down. “How did you know I was there?”

 

“I just knew,” Linda answered carefully. She didn’t know who SpiderGirl was, and thus didn’t want to give anything away.

 

“Right,” SpiderGirl said. “She was at the Morgendorffers and the Lanes earlier…” she began and explained what happened, starting by repeating what she had said to Jane.

 

 

“I see,” Mrs. Griffin said when she had finished.

 

“Anyway, I’ll be off, I’ll see if Tania actually goes home.”

 

 

SpiderGirl followed Tania down the street and saw her go into her house. She swung onto the Ashworth’s roof and breathed a sigh of relief. She decided to wait there awhile and observe Lawndale from that position.

 

 

Five minutes later, she saw the glider in the distance to the southwest. “Uh oh!” she said. ‘Uh oh! Time for our plan, but where is Talon?’

 

 

Ashley-Amber Taylor answered the phone. “Hello?” she asked.

 

“It’s Quinn, is Brittany there?”

 

“I’m sorry,” Ashley-Amber said. “Brittany has gone out. Can I take a message?”

 

“Don’t worry. I’ll see her another time.”

 

 

Daria, the Enigma, Beresfield and Peterson arrived on the Historia’s roof. “So, we’re going to go down to the café and talk to Mrs. Rowe first. She’ll be finishing up for the day,” Daria said.

 

“OK,” Peterson said. “Is that Elisabeth Rowe?”

 

“Yes,” Daria answered. “Is that a problem?”

 

“None at all,” Peterson said.

 

 

Elisabeth had finished closing the café when Daria appeared. “Daria? Why are you here?”

 

Daria then explained.

 

“You know the way then,” she said. “But the fourth vigilante? Wasn’t that what you were worried about on Saturday?”

 

“I was, but it was the attack that had me spooked more than I thought,” Daria explained.

 

“Stacy told me that you’re investigating everything now.”

 

“Yes, and that’s part of it.”

 

“OK,” Elisabeth said.

 

 

Daria lead them through the theatre to the backstage area. “As you can see it was a theatre, before it became a cinema later in the century.”

 

“Interesting,” Verity said. “But where?”

 

Daria lead them to a door, which she unlocked. “This is one of the apartments. The one assigned to Quinn and I, as you can see our name emblazoned on it.”

 

“Morgendorffer,” Verity read. “What a name.”

 

“Of German origin,” Daria said.

 

 

Daria unlocked one of the rooms. “That’s mine, although I don’t know what I’m using it for. I suspect, Quinn, Joey and Robert aren’t using theirs either. You can use it for tonight.”

 

“Thanks, Daria,” Verity said as Daria went to the kitchenette.

 

“There is coffee, long-life milk and canned food here, and a microwave.”

 

“But first…” The Enigma said.

 

“What can you tell us?” Peterson asked.

 

“There isn’t much I can say without violating Doctor-Patient Confidentiality,” Verity said. “But I believe Norman Osborn is very dangerous. But I can say that he is responsible for the event that occurred a week ago,” she dropped her voice. “And that it was the result of a mental break.”

 

 

‘That explains Harry’s concerns,’ the Enigma thought.

 

“How many people know, is hard to say. I couldn’t say anything to his son. Now he has to take on the responsibility, as he is his heir,” Verity said. “But others within Oscorp are certainly involved.”

 

“I will stay here,” Peterson said.

 

Daria nodded. “That’s fine. There is an additional sleeping pad in the closet. But I will be going home and will be back in the morning.”

 

“You have done enough,” Peterson said. “But we will have to talk about what you are doing tomorrow.”

 

Daria nodded.

 

 

The Enigma and Daria exited the Historia. “Heading home?” the Enigma asked.

 

“It’s been a long week,” Daria explained.

 

“It been a long year.”

 

 

Ninja Talon and SpiderGirl met on a rooftop near the Jefferson Bridge. “…I agree Tania could be an issue,” the former said after SpiderGirl had explained what happened. “But the glider…”

 

SpiderGirl looked at where the glider was. “It is close to that area of town. It won’t take much to lead it there, even though it’s risky.”

 

“Right.”

 

The Spider Talon team then headed northwest.

 

 

The Enigma also saw the glider as she and Daria headed back to the Morgendorffers. “Uh oh!” she said.

 

“I’ll get home myself,” Daria said.

 

“Are you sure?” the Enigma asked.

 

“Yes. An inexperienced teen with a staff may be effective against Oscorp goons, but they would be definitely be a liability against that,” Daria said.

 

“Good point. See you later.”

 

 

SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon stopped on a rooftop of an abandoned building that had been purchased by Oscorp. “If this building is damaged, or falls down, the damage should be minimal,” SpiderGirl said.

 

“Then we call the Fire Department quickly,” Ninja Talon added.

 

“Yes,” SpiderGirl said with a nod as she saw the glider approach. She knew it was a tall order.

 

 

The Enigma approached the area. ‘It could be it has been modified,’ she thought. ‘And I need to bring it down without killing the pilot. I don’t want Harry to lose his father, even if he’s quite dangerous.’

 

 

SpiderGirl started webbing up the street as Ninja Talon ran in the shadows along the buildings.

 

 

Ninja Talon ran behind the glider. She then started climbing up one of the buildings.

 

 

The Enigma came to the area and saw SpiderGirl close by. ‘The glider first, then SpiderGirl.’

 

 

“SpiderGirl!” the pilot called out. “I know you and your ninja friend have a plan.”

 

“But you don’t know what it is,” SpiderGirl said.

 

“That’s true, but I have a plan of my own.”

 

“Of course you do. But we’re a team, you’re just one person.”

 

“You don’t know who you’re dealing with,” the pilot said.

 

“A crazed Norman Osborn?”

 

“Osborn, yes. But not crazed. Reborn, as the Green Goblin!”

 

“Green Goblin, sounds terrible,” SpiderGirl quipped as she then swung over the glider.

 

“Take that, SpiderGirl!” the Green Goblin responded.

 

 

SpiderGirl avoided the bomb that was thrown, as the Spider Sense blared. She webbed some of his remaining bombs and threw them into the air, where most of them detonated, although some of them exploded on the street below. ‘Oops.’

 

“You can’t win that way, SpiderGirl!” the Goblin taunted.

 

 

Ninja Talon had climbed up nearby. She then fired a zipline onto the side of the glider, where there was an alerion. She pulled.

 

The Goblin reacted and paused the glider in mid air.

 

‘Uh oh!’ Ninja Talon thought.

 

“Itsy Bitsy Spider! Along came the Goblin to take the Spider and her ally out!”

 

Ninja Talon glared and extended a set of her talons, and unsheathed her katana. She then leapt.

 

 

‘That’s audacious,’ the Enigma thought as she approached the area. She raised a forcefield and telekinetically lifted some nearby debris…

 

 

Ninja Talon racked the glider’s bodywork with her talons and hacked at one of the stabilisers with her katana. She then was webbed out of range of the Goblin’s punch by SpiderGirl.

 

“That was close,” SpiderGirl said.

 

“Yes!” Ninja Talon said as she threw a shuriken towards the Goblin.

 

 

The shuriken missed, but it hit the instrument panel, causing sparks.

 

“You think a little damage is going to stop me?” the Goblin asked.

 

“Probably not,” SpiderGirl responded. “But a lot more will.” She swung below the glider and Ninja Talon racked the underside with her katana.

 

The Goblin accelerated.

 

“It’s been reinforced,” Ninja Talon said.

 

“We can still damage it,” SpiderGirl said as they swung to a rooftop.

 

 

The Enigma then telekinetically flung the debris at the glider at high speed.

 

The Goblin almost fell out. “That telekinetic metahuman again. The fourth vigilante!”

 

“I am the Enigma! I will do whatever it takes to protect Lawndale! Even make a lonely teenager an orphan, but I don’t want to do that. And telekinesis isn’t my only power.” Several projections then it the glider, exacerbating the damage SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon had made earlier.

 

 

“You won’t kill me, Enigma. Your compassion is your weakness,” the Goblin said as he stabilised the glider. “Bye Bye Enigma!” Another missile was fired, but the glider was pulled aside.

 

SpiderGirl had webbed it again and pulled down hard from ground level. The missile passed the Enigma and exploded on a nearby rooftop, causing damage.

 

“We have to work together,” SpiderGirl said to the Enigma.

 

“Of course. And with other villains too. But confrontation and rivalry will still happen,” the Enigma said.

 

“And we’re going to have a conversation after that confrontation,” SpiderGirl said.

 

“We’re still in a battle here,” Ninja Talon said.

“True,” SpiderGirl said. She then grabbed Talon and swung to a rooftop.

 

“I don’t think she wants to talk to you,” Talon said.

 

“I know,” SpiderGirl admitted. “But I just gave her something to think about.”

 

 

The Enigma focused on the glider again. The Goblin was trying to gain altitude but the damage was making that difficult. ‘Let’s make that more difficult,’ she thought. She fired more projections.

 

 

“Where is it going to fall?” Ninja Talon asked.

 

“Just onto the street,” SpiderGirl answered. “But how long can she keep it up?”

 

“Probably not long.”

 

 

Indeed, the Enigma was tiring. It had been a long day at school, and the tense dinner didn’t help either. The search for Beresfield and the rescue mission had also taken something out of her. ‘But I need to do this,’ she thought.