A
minute later, they were on top of the Historia.
“So,
those goggles have night vision?” Philippa asked.
“Yes,
amongst other modes.”
“And
you don’t have powers?”
“I’m
neither confirming nor denying. Let’s just say I wouldn’t be doing this without
these gadgets,” the Shadow explained. “It’s like my own play. It seems that in
the drama of Lawndale, I have taken this role to help.”
“And
the other vigilantes?”
“SpiderGirl
does have powers. But I am not sure if her webs are organic or not. Ninja Talon
seems to be just a teenager skilled in martial arts who also uses some gadgets
alongside her weapons. The fourth vigilante is telekinetic and can project
energy blasts. I haven’t yet met the apparent fifth.”
“You
don’t know what name she’s taken?” Philippa asked.
“I
do, but it seems she wants to remain in the shadows as she helps Lawndale in
her way. I just hope any battle between her and SpiderGirl is short.”
The
Shadow was about to say more, but she then heard something to the northwest of
the Historia, in Dega Street. “Duty calls!” she said to Philippa.
“You
are going to leave me here?” Philippa asked.
“You’d
be a liability. I trained with my mentor a while before I started doing this,”
the Shadow then handed her the spare grapple gun. “It is relatively easy to
use. But I’ll be back soon. Keep an eye on Daria and Sandi.”
Daria
and Sandi also heard the noise as they examined an Oscorp building. “What’s
that?” Daria asked.
“Sounds
like something to respond to,” Sandi replied.
Daria
nodded. “Right. There are plenty of places along here…”
Sandi
nodded and ran off to some cover.
‘What
are they doing?’ Philippa wondered.
The
Enigma and Dafoanairi then met up. “What do you think it is?” the latter asked.
“Not
sure,” the Enigma said as she led the way.
‘Great!
They disappeared!’ Philippa thought. ‘What will the Shadow say?’ She kept
looking.
The
Shadow came to the spot first. A person who had just left the Zon/Zen had been
mugged. She sighted the mugger running from the scene down the street. She
moved into action, appearing in her usual dramatic fashion through dry ice.
“Going somewhere?”
“Shadow!”
the mugger said, before throwing his ill-gotten wares at the vigilante and
running off. But then was cut off by energy blasts.
“Like,
what the Shadow said, going somewhere?” the Enigma asked.
“Don’t
need your help,” the Shadow said. “But’s it’s appreciated.” She then returned
the items to the victim who was nearby.
“Thanks,
Shadow,” the young lady, whom she knew in passing from Lawndale High, said.
‘Burnout
Girl or Jennifer Burns, I’m sure it is,’ the Shadow thought. “You’re welcome.
Remember. Crime in Lawndale is getting worse.”
“I
didn’t quite believe it, even after Groundhog Day,” the blonde girl said before
turning and leaving.
The
Shadow turned and saw that the Enigma had left. ‘Of course.’ Then she saw
another cloaked figure nearby, holding some sort of staff. “Who are you?” she
asked.
“So,
you’re the Shadow,” the other said in a high, yet quiet voice.
“Yes.
And you are?”
“Dafoanairi.
I helped SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon at the Solarium as Lawndale’s Fifth Snarky Vigilante.”
“I
see and you use that staff?”
“Yes.
It has been effective.”
“Effective
is good,” the Shadow said. “Lawndale needs all the help it can get. But I need
to get going.”
“Of
course.”
Philippa
didn’t need to wait long before the Shadow returned. “I’m afraid, Daria and
Sandi disappeared somewhere,” she said as she handed the spare grapple gun
back.
“I
knew it was a long shot anyway. Plenty of spaces for them to duck into,” the
Shadow responded.
“Something
happen?”
“I
helped avert a mugging. But the fourth vigilante and the actual fifth also
responded.”
“Did
the fifth have a name? Or is that being hidden as well?” Philippa asked.
The
Shadow considered Philippa’s question. ‘It will come out soon enough, even if
the Enigma’s hasn’t.’ She thought some more. “Dafoanairi, but I would keep that
to yourself for now.”
“Dafoanairi,”
Philippa repeated before yawning. “Something to consider in the morning.”
“I’ll
get you home.”
Daria
and Sandi met back in front of the Oscorp office they were examining earlier.
“That went well,” the latter said.
“Except
the mugger got away.”
Sandi
shrugged. “Burnout Girl got her stuff back.”
“You
mean, Jennifer, right,” Daria said. “I’m not sure why she has that nickname.”
“Jennifer,
of course.”
“Anyway,
she’s in the play.”
“I
see,” Sandi said.
“And
I have now met the rest of the vigilantes. I still have no idea who they are.”
“Maybe
if you spend more time with them.”
“Maybe,
but I’ll continue as I have been,” Daria said as she peered into an office
window.
As
she and Philippa headed back towards Glen Oaks Lane, the Shadow considered her
encounter with Dafoanairi. ‘She was quiet and was pitching her voice up. But I
change my voice, SpiderGirl speaks confidently, Ninja Talon pitches hers down
and the Enigma speaks blandly.’ No proof to identities there.
SpiderGirl
emerged at the usual time. She reflected on the changes in herself and those
around her. ‘Before I got bit by that spider and Daddy died, I wouldn’t have
dreamed that I would be a superhero and helping to run a theatre at my young
age.
A
short while later, she heard something to the north and swung away.
Lawndale
Sun-Herald
Sunday,
February 18, 2001
Cafes
in Cranberry Commons losing Customers
Jennifer
Burns arrived at the Historia at 12:30. The previous night’s experience had had
her jittery. More than Groundhog Day had. She went up to the counter.
“How
may I serve you?” Stacy Rowe asked.
“Hamburger
with coffee,” Jennifer responded quietly.
“Got
it!” Stacy said.
“So, you’re in the play?” Stacy asked when she
had passed the order on.
“As
a stagehand,” Jennifer said. “I’m not cut out to be an actor.”
“You
won’t know until you try.”
“Have
you tried?”
“Yes,”
Stacy admitted. “It’s much like when I’m behind the wheel. Exhilarating. As
long as I don’t look at the audience.”
“I
still don’t quite believe you street race.”
“It
will start up again soon. I hope the vigilantes won’t get in the way.”
“They
might,” Jennifer mused. “I’d inevitably look at the audience.”
“I
try looking at the fellow actors or offstage.”
“I
guess so.”
Quentin
arrived at 1:00. ‘I’m sure Quinn said she’d be here.’ He entered the café and
looked around. No Quinn. But he did see a girl with long auburn hair who he
supposed was her sister eating with a girl with raven black hair and blue eyes.
“Hello,
you’re one of the Morgendorffers?”
“Who’s
asking?” Daria asked.
“Quentin
Beck.”
“The
new special effects person? Yes, I’m Daria, and that’s Jane.”
“Yo!”
Jane said. “I’m involved in the set design.”
“Quinn
says that you select the plays?”
“To
put it succinctly yes. Quinn will be here soon, you can order some lunch while
you’re waiting. The rehearsals won’t start for another hour and a half,” Daria
said.
“I
will do that,” Beck said.
Ninja
Talon arrived on the top of the Historia, where SpiderGirl was waiting. “Ready
for the play?” the latter asked.
“I
am,” Ninja Talon answered. “But you’re worried about something?”
“Two
things. First, Daria knows the Enigma’s secret identity. Second: I have hired
the special effects artist.”
Ninja
Talon thought about the first point. “How do you know?”
“Jane
saw the note she had made and told us at Dinner,” SpiderGirl answered. “It’s on
her wall, where she has been putting newspaper articles about me up.”
“Oh.
It must be because she has been spending a lot of time with her.”
“That’s
obvious. It’s making me even more wary of spending any amount of time with
Dafoanairi. I don’t want her figuring out that I’m her sister that way.”
Ninja
Talon still wasn’t sure that SpiderGirl was right about that. Dafoanairi didn’t
remind her of Daria much. She decided to change the topic. “But the special
effects person?”
“He
was rather condescending when he saw that I was the one doing the interview.
The others weren’t so much. They were more likely to believe that teens would
be running a theatre.”
“And
you think you made the wrong choice?”
“I
rarely second-guess myself, Talon. It’s like an intuition, but not normal
intuition. The Spider Sense isn’t tingling either. Something just seems off.
Like, why would someone from Hollywood come to Lawndale?”
“I’m
not sure, Spidey, but I’ll help you figure it out.”
“Thanks,”
SpiderGirl said as she looked at her friend, and then around at the town.
“Let’s go down.”
Quinn
and Brittany entered the café. “There he is,” Quinn said, as she pointed out
Quentin to Brittany.
“I
see,” Brittany said. “I’ll talk to Daria and Jane.”
Quinn
ordered and found Stacy where she was sitting near one of the windows. “Hey,
Stacy.”
“It’s
been a busy morning,” Stacy said.
“Like,
everyone in Lawndale is curious about the Historia now,” Quinn said.
“The
interest has only grown since the opening, which is why this is a good time for
the play to start.”
“Which
is what I said in the interview yesterday.”
“Something
up?” Stacy asked.
“It’s
just that I have a bad feeling about Beck.”
“And
yet you hired him?”
“His
credentials are good, better than the others I interviewed,” Quinn explained.
“Maybe
you should keep an eye on him,” Stacy suggested.
“I
was thinking the same thing.”
“He’s
coming over now.”
Quentin
found Quinn next to a window, talking to the pigtailed waitress. “Good
afternoon,” he said.
“Quentin,
this is Stacy.”
He
sat down.
“Hi,”
Stacy said shyly.
“We
are having lunch first,” Quinn said. “Then we will talk in the theatre.”
Quentin
nodded.
Brittany
ordered and then sat with Daria and Jane. “Hi, Daria, Jane.”
“Hi,
Brittany,” Daria said. “I’m sure you’re ready for the play.”
“Isn’t
that what the rehearsal is for?” Brittany asked.
“Yes,”
Daria said. “But it takes more than that.”
“That’s
true. I have read up on various Shakespeare plays, not just The Tempest,”
Brittany responded.
“That’s
a great start, Brittany,” Daria said with a slight smile.
“Something
else,” Brittany added in a serious tone and a glance at Jane.
“Yes?”
Daria asked.
“I’m
wondering If you would tutor me, like how Quinn is doing with the former
misfits and Angie?”
“I
saw how Mr. DeMartino reacted when you got that B-,” Daria said.
“And
you want to get similar reactions from other teachers?” Jane asked.
“That’s
part of it,” Brittany asked. “I know I can do better than I have been.”
“I’ll
have to consider it,” Daria answered. “You know I’m busy with the theatre, and
the investigation.”
“But
the latter can take longer?” Brittany asked. ‘Two birds with one stone,’ she
thought. ‘She can help me achieve academically, and she’ll probably take longer
to figure out I’m Ninja Talon and Quinn, SpiderGirl.’
“That’s
a good point,” Jane said.
Daria
sighed. “True. It is a long-term project anyway. We can start tomorrow, after
school.”
“That
will be great!” Brittany enthused.
Daria
winced at the squeak.
“Sorry.”
Philippa
entered the Historia café and saw that Jennifer was there. ‘Why do people call
her ‘Burnout Girl’ anyway.’ It made no sense to her. ‘Sure, her last name is
Burns, but…’ She went to order something.
“Hi
Jennifer.”
Jennifer
looked and saw that it was Philippa Bynon. “Hi Philippa,” she said quietly.
“Mind
if I join you?”
“Sure.”
Philippa
sat down. “Is Daria as good as they say she is?”
“What
do you mean?” Jennifer asked.
“That
she is a good writer?”
“I
have read some of the script. I would say she has done a good job of updating
Shakespeare’s themes.”
Shortly
afterwards, Quinn, Daria and Jane showed Quentin in the theatre. “It’s fairly
small.” Quentin commented.
“There
are about 300 seats,” Quinn said.
“I
meant the stage,” Quentin said. “Although the room is large.”
“It
doesn’t seem that small,” Daria said. “Besides we have practiced already. There
is plenty of room, and this isn’t the only theatre in Lawndale dating from the
same era.”
“I
noticed that it’s Art Deco,” Quentin said. “Anyway, I can work with this. I
just need to see the rehearsal and I can go from there. You have projectors,
right.”
“Of
course,” Quinn said. “There were many that still work in storage, and the main
projector had been updated a few years ago.”
“That’s
great!” Quentin said. He looked at the stage again. “I must say that the set
looks great.”
“Once
Daria described the play, and I read the script, I knew what it needed,” Jane
said humbly.
The
various actors soon arrived.
Brittany
had been practicing when she could. The role of Ariel had intrigued her, as one
who felt trapped in her role as cheerleader. (Another reason she had become
Ninja Talon, as a way to escape that feeling.) She went up to the other actors.
The one playing Prospero, was interesting as he had said he went to Feilding.
‘Is he looking for an escape too?’ she wondered.
Daria
read over the cast list again, to make sure that everyone had arrived.
Brittany
Taylor as Ariel
Tom
Sloane as Prospero
Veronica
Boden as Miranda
Wolfgang
Shuhart as Caliban
Elias
Howarth as Antonio
Ted
Dewit-Clinton as Ferdinand
Corey
Bateman as Stephano
Skyler
Fieldman as Trinculo
Robert
Korleski as Gonzalo
Cindy
Brolsma as Juno
Tania
Ashworth as Ceres
Nadia
Blackwood as Iris
…
She
looked around. All of them were there. “Ready?” she asked.
“I’m
ready,” Brittany answered, as enthusiastically as she did earlier.
Quinn
watched as the rehearsal began. She knew that Daria had re-imagined the
boatswain as a bus driver. ‘I knew that she would do something like that.’
“…Heavens
thank you for it. And now I beseech you, father, for my mind races regarding
your reason for raising this storm,” Veronica said in her role as Miranda.
“Know
this. It’s a strange accident, beautiful fortune. My enemies are now coming and
by my prescience I find my rise does depend on a most auspicious star, whose
influence I must court or else my fortunes will be reduced. Now cease your
questions, for you are ready for sleep. Approach my Ariel,” Tom said as
Prospero.
Brittany
entered the stage and spoke. “All hail, great master, grave sir, hail. I come
to answer thy best pleasure; be ‘t to fly, to swim, to dive into the fire, to
ride on the curled clouds, to thy strong bidding task Ariel and all her
quality.”
The
rehearsal took two and half hours and finished at about five.
“You
all did rather well,” Daria said. “Not bad at all for a first rehearsal.”
Brittany
came down from the stage. “Thanks, Daria. That means a lot.”
“I
know keeping the 17th Century language for Ariel must have been
difficult.”
“Not
that difficult at all. I have read Shakespeare since I was young.”
“But
speaking it is different to reading it,” Daria said.
Brittany
twirled a pigtail. “I suppose so.”
Tori
Jericho had watched it, as Quinn had invited her and her mother to watch. She
turned to her mother. “What do you think?” she asked.
“Daria
certainly is one to watch,” Penelope Jericho said. “She’s adapted the play very
well for a young writer.”
“She
would be glad to hear that,” Quinn said. “She said that translating
Shakespeare’s English into modern American English took up most of the time.”
“I
imagine it would,” Penelope said.
