Monday, 30 June 2025
Saturday, 28 June 2025
Church notes - June 2025
On LiveJournal: https://fardell24.livejournal.com/634659.html?newpost
On Dreamwidth: https://fardell24.dreamwidth.org/940644.html
Church notes - 29th June 2025
29th
Acts 8:26 - 40
Acts 16:11 - 15
Baptism Sunday
A response to believing the Gospel
Ethiopian Eunuch
- A response to belief
- Declares a changed heart
Lydia
- The LORD opened her heart to respond to what Paul was teaching.
- A way of telling the world 'I'm following Jesus now!'
Why get baptised.
Because we believe in Jesus
Because we want to show that He has changed our hearts
Because we want to make a strong declaration that we we are taking after Him.
Deuteronomy 32:4
Tuesday, 24 June 2025
Spider Quinn 17 Tempestuous Origin of Mysterio Part 5
“Daria
Morgendorffer, please report to the principal’s office,” Ms. Li announced
straight after Homeroom.
Daria
sighed. She knew that was going to happen.
“How
are you feeling?” Ms. Li asked when Daria had sat down.
“My
best friend has been kidnapped! How do you think I’m feeling?”
“Mrs.
Manson is ready to talk if you…”
“No!”
Daria said. She didn’t want to deal with that quack of a school counsellor.
“Are
you sure, Ms. Morgendorffer?”
“Of
course I’m sure, Ms. Li. The best way for me to keep from thinking about what
might be happening to Jane is for me to be in class doing schoolwork.”
“I
see that you have made up your mind on that.”
“Yes,’
Daria said as she took the hall pass off the principal’s desk.
At
the same time, as she went to her first class, Andrea looked for one of the
students she knew had at least one sibling at Lawndale State.
She
soon sighed one of them. “Tania!” she called out.
Tania
Ashworth turned upon hearing her name. “Yes, Andrea?”
“Your
brother is at Lawndale State, right?”
“He
is,” Tania answered. “What is this about?”
“Ninja
Talon and SpiderGirl asked me to help search for Jane.”
“And
how would my brother be able to help with that?”
“He
could give me access to one of the computer labs,” Andrea answered.
“I
see, you want to access camera footage,” Tania surmised.
“Yes,
I still have dial up at home.”
“I’ll
if I can contact him at lunch.”
“Then
that is what I’ll tell Ninja Talon later,” Andrea said as she left.
“Wait…”
Tania said as Andrea disappeared into the distance. ‘Does she know who Ninja
Talon is?’
She
thought about it more. ‘Quite likely, but I’ll keep it to myself. Besides, I
need to focus on the play tonight.’
Agent
Leung returned to the Lawndale Field Office, where he typed up his notes and
started writing on the whiteboard in the office. He started with the timeline.
“Quentin Beck. Arrived in Lawndale on Saturday, 17th February,
whereupon he goes to the Historia and is immediately hired by Quinn
Morgendorffer as the theater’s special effects person.” There wasn’t anything
suspicious there.
“Anything
on the four business partners?” One of his fellow agents asked.
“Daria
and Quinn Morgendorffer, sisters who have recently lost their father,” Leung
said as he put up recent photos of the two, reflecting their changes in
appearance. “Their mother, Helen, is associate in Vitale, et al.”
That
brought about a silence. Jim Vitale’s reputation was well known in the field
office.
“Daria
is Jane’s close friend,” Leung added. “Thus she has no motive.”
“And
the other two?” the other agent asked.
“Joseph
Green and Robert Allen, cousins who are also nephews of the Historia’s former
owner. All four are students at Lawndale High.”
“Could
Angela Li be a suspect?”
“Unlikely.
There is no impact on the school from the Historia opening. The Morgendorffers
grades appear to be unaffected by their involvement in the theater. Quinn won
the spelling bee, the day before the theater opened,” Leung said.
“And
the cousin’s grades?”
“Steady,”
Leung said as he turned back to the timeline. “Sunday, February 18th. The first
rehearsal for Tempest. And later, Kalina Ondrovick says it’s amateurish
on radio and Daria calls in to argue with her. That’s the first time the play
is mentioned on the radio. That’s the main connection. That the play was
mentioned on the radio.”
He
continued through the timeline up to Jane’s abduction.
“But
one thing is eluding me,” Leung said when he was finished. “And Peterson too.
Motive. What reason does Quentin Beck have to disrupt the play.”
“Jealousy?”
“Quinn
said that he was condescending of her age.”
“Which
is?” the other asked.
“She
turns 16 next week,” Leung said, and wrote her birthdate in late February of
1985 beneath her photo.
“And
Daria?”
“Seventeen
and half,” Leung added, writing her birthdate in late July of 1983 beneath her
picture. “The cousins are 16, born in late 1984.”
They
continued their brainstorming.
Between
classes, Quinn caught up with Anna and Ben. “We have to do the mentoring at the
Historia, rather than the Library,” she said.
“Any
reason?” Ben asked.
“I’ll
also be re-interviewing the previous applicants for the special effects
position.”
“Because
of what happened to Jane?” Anna asked.
“That’s
part of it,” Quinn answered.
“Because
Quentin Beck is responsible,” Anna surmised.
Quinn
nodded.
“We’ll
be there,” Anna said. “But what about Gerald? He won’t like it.”
“I
know,” Quinn said. “He’ll be difficult to convince.”
At
lunch, Tania went to one of the school’s payphones straight out of class. “I
hope his in his room,” Tania murmured as she put in a couple of quarters. She
then dialled the number.
“Yes?”
“Scott!
It’s Tania.”
“Why
are you calling me in the middle of the day? I have a class in twenty minutes.”
“Sorry
about that. I have a favour to ask of you.”
“I’m
already seeing the play.”
“That’s
good but that’s not what this is about.”
“What
is this about then?”
Tania
then began explaining what Andrea had asked her about.
“You
want me to allow this Andrea to use my account to try to find this Jane? Because
of SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon?”
“Yes,”
Tania said.
“I’ll
have to think about it,” Scott said.
“Let
me know before the play starts tonight.”
“I
shall, bye.”
In
the library, Andrea found Brittany hiding somewhere near the back. ‘She looks
100% the cheerleader she has been the past few years,’ she thought. ‘Apart from
that time in the Zon when she had her hair dyed dark.’ She shook her head. That
wasn’t what she wanted to think about. She saw that she was reading a book on
the history of Lawndale. “Brit?” she asked.
Brittany
looked up. “Hey, Andy,” she said with a slight smile.
She
almost ignored the nickname. Brittany was the only one who could get away with
calling her that. ‘Still is, it seems,’ Andrea thought. “I found Tania
Ashworth. She said she would talk to her brother.”
“Tania.
She’s in the play too,” Brittany acknowledged.
“I
had heard about that.”
“I’ll
let Spidey know, later.”
“Good,
I’ll be off,” Andrea said.
“You
don’t have to.”
“We’re
still too different.”
“I’m
in the play because I want to change,” Brittany said in a vulnerable tone.
“So,
you’re a cheerleader and an actor, as well as a vigilante, not the imaginative
girl you were.”
“I
guess so,” Brittany said with a twirl of a pigtail. “But small steps?”
“Yes,”
Andrea said with a slight smile as Brittany went back to reading her book.
Daria
and Sandi entered the cafeteria at the same time. “How are you after last
night?” Daria asked.
“I
just needed to rest,” Sandi answered. “I’m fine now. Mother says that when she
had overextended herself that way, it took overnight for her.”
“Does
she usually search for people like that?” Daria asked.
“Not
often. But she was active in Boston before I was born.”
“Meaning…”
“Exactly,”
Sandi confirmed.
‘That’s
something. I think Boston does have hero vigilantes occasionally. It happens
more often in New York.’
They
came to the usual table to find only Harry and Tania waiting.
“So,
any clue as to where Jane is?” Tania asked, hoping that she get some clue to
tell Andrea and Scott later.
“No
clue, but probably near the lake,” Daria answered. “Also, the FBI are now
involved in the investigation.”
“Not
surprising,” Sandi commented between bites.
“But
the play is going ahead?” Harry asked.
“Of
course,” Daria answered. “The show must go on. It’s what Jane would want, and
tonight is sold out.”
“That’s
good,” Tania said.
“Are
you ready?” Daria asked.
“I
am,” Tania said. “Last night was a bit scary, but I’m ready.”
“You’re
in the play?” Harry asked. “You haven’t said.”
“Yes,
I’m playing Ceres, one of the muses.” Tania answered.
“But
what if something happens again?” Harry asked.
“Not
only would Peterson be there, but the FBI agent as well,” Daria said. “Besides
the theater has been checked over many times.”
“So,
it won’t happen?” Harry asked.
“No,”
Sandi answered.
Quinn
joined Stacy, Tori and Tiffany for lunch. “What’s up, Tori?” she asked.
“I’m
fine,” Tori said. “But now the paper has mentioned the play.”
“They
did have to report that something happened last night,” Quinn pointed out.
“That’s
true, but what if Mom is targeted, even if it’s not her byline? Like, I know
that being a reporter can be dangerous, even a local one. But with everything
going on in Lawndale…” Tori said before shedding a tear.
“I’m
sure she’ll be safe,” Quinn said.
“Safer
than the critics and Jane?” Tori asked.
“Yes,”
Quinn said. She looked at Stacy, who was fretting as she usually did. She took
her hand. “It’s going to be fine.”
“But,
Jane? What if Mom’s in danger because she works there?”
“She
hasn’t mentioned the play on radio,” Quinn said. “And I’m sure Jane will be
found soon.”
“But
she has been mentioning it in the café,” Stacy said.
“By
SpiderGirl?” Tiffany asked.
Stacy
looked at Tiffany. “Maybe. Or maybe Ninja Talon or this Dafoanairi.”
“Probably
the fourth vigilante,” Quinn said. “Besides, I’m sure the vigilantes have been in
the Historia as their secret identities.”
“Weren’t
most of them there last night?” Tori asked.
“They
were, but it seems that things happened too fast,” Quinn said. “But they will
probably be prepared for tonight.”
“I hope
so,” Stacy said.
Kevin
looked around after he had got his lunch. Most of the students were as usual.
He had heard about what had happened the previous night and hoped that Jane
would be found soon. He looked around again and didn’t see who he wanted to
see. He knew that something was going to change soon, but Brit had been a
constant since they had started going out.
Mack
saw Kevin sit across from him. “Hey, Mack Daddy, do you know where Brit is?”
“I
don’t, and how many times I have I said not to call me that?”
“She’s
probably preparing for the play,” Robert said.
“Oh
yeah, that’s tonight,” Kevin responded.
“But
I have seen her today. She is at school,” Mack said.
“But
where in the school?” Kevin asked.
“You
know where she will be,” Robert said.
“But
Mom and I won’t see the play until tomorrow,” Kevin said.
Quinn
caught up with Gerald after leaving the cafeteria. “Gerald!”
“Quinn?”
Gerald asked as he approached the cafeteria himself.
“We
need to do the mentoring at the Historia today,” Quinn said, and then explained
as she did to Anna and Ben.
“I
don’t think trying to mentor and do job interviews at the same time is a good
idea,” Gerald said.
“I
know, but I didn’t want to cancel, and besides the play is starting tonight.”
“Is
that a good idea?”
“There
will be police, and the FBI there, and maybe one or two of the vigilantes,”
Quinn said. “Besides, Jane wouldn’t want the play to not go ahead on her
account.”
“I
suppose. I’ll be there.”
“Great.
It’ll be in the bookshop.”
Quinn
caught up with Brittany between classes. “What did Andrea say?” she asked after
they ducked into a bathroom and made sure that the stalls were unoccupied.
“That
she will be able to do it with Tania’s brother,” Brittany answered.
“That
is, Tania Ashworth?”
“Yes.”
“Interesting.
But does she know when?” Quinn asked.
“Tania
hadn’t got back to her yet.”
“She’ll
probably get back to her this afternoon.”
“I’ll
try to find out before school finishes,” Brittany said.
“You’ll
know where I’ll be.”
Brittany
nodded and headed out.
As
school finished, Andrea caught up with Tania. “I told Ninja Talon that you
would call your brother,” she said.
“I
did,” Tania responded. “He said that he would get back to me before the play
starts tonight.”
“Got
it. I guess I’ll be waiting at the Historia, then.”
“That’s
probably a good idea.”
Daria
came to the Lexus to find not only Quinn, but also, Anna, Ben and Gerald
waiting. “Just as well there aren’t more people,” she said.
“True,”
Quinn said with a giggle.
“Let’s
just get there,” Gerald said.
“Don’t
worry, I’ll be driving safely,” Daria said as she opened the driver side door.
“You
should have seen her on the way to Freemont,” Quinn said.
Daria
sighed. “I never imagined that a crime I’ll be trying to solve would be Jane’s
abduction.”
“Same,”
Quinn said.
“Any
clues?” Anna asked as she got in after Ben.
“Other
than the stormwater system, none,” Daria answered as she turned on the engine.
“What
did Ms. Li want to talk about earlier?” Quinn asked.
“Offering
Mrs. Manson’s services,” Daria answered.
“And
you turned her down, of course,” Quinn said.
“Yes.
I don’t want a repeat of self-esteem class,” Daria said.
“Of
course.”
Brittany
and Andrea caught up in the parking lot after the Morgendorffers’ Lexus had
driven away. “So, what did Tania say?” Brittany asked.
“She’ll
get back to me before the play starts,” Andrea answered.
“I
guess I have to wait at the Historia too.”
“Or
you can come and go.”
“That’s
true, but I’d be patrolling close to it,” Brittany said.
Daria
and the others entered the Historia from the rear and saw Peterson in the lobby
when they got there.
“How
was school?” she asked.
“It
went well,” Quinn said.
“But
Jane’s absence was noted,” Daria aid.
“I
have heard from Leung. The local field office has started a search of the Creek
between the Jefferson Bridge and where it flows into the lake,” Peterson said.
“That’s
great, isn’t it?” Anna asked.
“It
is, Ms.”
“Coultard.”
“Coultard,”
Peterson repeated. “It is, as you put it, great. It means that something is
being done.”
“Thanks
for the information, Ms. Peterson,” Quinn said. “But we need to start our
session now. I have a busy afternoon ahead of me.”
“Of
course.”
Officer
Peterson waited until Quinn and the others had entered the bookstore. “I
wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to make your own search of the area, but if
you do be sure to keep out of the agents’ hair.”
Daria
sighed. “I wouldn’t, although the temptation is there. It would take me too
long. Dafoanairi is remaining downtown this afternoon. Besides, I need to
prepare for tonight. You know that I’m the director, as well as the
playwright.”
“Of
course.”
“Now,
write about your experience with Shakespeare’s works, or adaptations of it,”
Quinn said. “The first of the previous applicants should be here in five
minutes.”
“Including
The Tempest?” Anna asked.
“Of
course,” Quinn said with a giggle. “But the play doesn’t count.”
At
the same time, Brittany, Andrea and Tania arrived at the Historia separately.
Brittany went over to Daria. “How are you holding up?” she asked.
“Well
enough. Peterson told me that the FBI is searching downstream of the Jefferson
Bridge.”
“I
see,” Brittany said. “I’m sure that she will be found soon. If not tonight,
then, tomorrow.”
“We
can only hope,” Daria said with a slight smile.
Monday, 23 June 2025
The Youngest Barksdale - Part 9
It was disappointing that there wasn’t anything she could
use against Ms. Li in what Quinn had told her, Daria considered as she entered
her room. But she was sure that there was something else she could use. ‘Just
not right now.’ She had to settle into Lawndale first.
“Daria?” Helen asked. “You talked to Quinn?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“Nothing I can use against the principal, just the
modelling agency,” Daria explained.
“I expected that,” Helen said.
“It’s going to take a while,” Daria said. “Probably
longer than with the previous schools.”
Helen wondered what those other schools were like.
The next day, Daria met Scarlett and Andrea before
school.
“So, what did you find out?” Scarlett asked.
Daria then told them of what her sister and niece had
said.
“Nothing new then,” Scarlett said when Daria had
finished.
“That’s right,” Andrea said.
“And so, we’ll need to find out other stuff,” Daria said.
“I agree,” Andrea said.
“Same,” Scarlett added.
The day was as usual, although rumors about what had
happened to Val spread. Daria did her best to ignore them. However, Quinn and
her friends came up to her as school let out.
“Quinn?” Daria asked.
“I should let you know, um, Daria,” Stacy said.
“Let Quinn say!” Sandi interjected.
“Sorry!” Stacy said.
“What?” Daria asked with a glare at Sandi.
“Rumors about what happened to Val,” Quinn answered.
“I see, although I should say that it was Andrea and Ms.
Li who were actually there,” Daria said.
“I know that,” Quinn said.
“So, what are these rumors?” Daria asked.
“That you had sabotaged Andrea’s chances,” Sandi said.
“And how would I have done that?” Daria asked.
Sandi shrugged and looked at her pedicured nails.
“Well?” Daria asked.
“Like, I’m not sure how, but that’s what I heard,” Sandi
answered.
“Or are you spreading them yourself?” Daria asked.
“Dar-i-a!” Quinn exclaimed.
Sandi was aghast. “Of course not!”
Daria could see that she was telling the truth. “Then it
was someone else who started it.”
“I have some idea,” Sandi said.
“Which is?”
“Tori Jericho, or someone she’s friends with,” Sandi
answered.
“Tori is well known for repeating anything she hears,”
Stacy said.
“Then let’s find her,” Daria suggested.
“OK,” Quinn said.
“But we have to be quick. She leaves rather quickly when
school lets out,” Sandi said.
“Got it.”
They quickly walked out of the school to the front
entrance.
They looked around, but they didn’t see Tori. “So, she’s
blonde, right?” Daria asked.
“Yes,” Quinn answered.
“To her shoulders, usually worn loose,” Stacy added.
“Got it,” Daria said. “But I have noticed that there are
many blondes at the school.”
“Like, we’ll see her,” Sandi said.
“Got it.”
Sunday, 22 June 2025
Church notes - 22nd June 2025
Matthew 3:13 -17
Jesus's baptism
Look at it in context.
Bringing the message of who God is.
The start of Jesus's Ministry.
Wednesday, 18 June 2025
Mysteries of Aurora - The Manuscript Part 6
Janara and Olivia were looking
at the information on the remaining manuscripts. “Most of these are from the
same era,” Janara said.
Olivia togged the audio function
on the catalogue terminal.
“…These manuscripts date from
a time when Aurora hadn’t yet expanded to the entire island.”
“We’re going to need someone who
studies the period,” she commented.
“They shouldn’t be hard to
find,” Talia said.
“Then I’ll go and find someone,”
Olivia said.
Freya and Alexia returned after
Olivia left.
“You found something?” Janara
asked.
Freya nodded enthusiastically
and showed her the rune in the book.
“I don’t read Auroric.”
“Oops,” Freya said.
“This is the Auroran version,”
Alexia said as she showed her the page on the other copy.
“…Said to provide protection,”
she murmured. “It kind of reminds me of some of the lore in some of the RPGs I
play.”
“Which would those be?” Alexia
asked.
“There are a few,” Janara said.
“Mostly Quests of Alanara. It was developed here in Aurora.”
“I might have heard of it,”
Freya said.
“Same here, put in passing,”
Alexia added.
“There should be a game book, in
one of the more modern sections,” Janara said.
“Back to the Information Science
Section then,” Freya said.
“They may be near the Computer
Science Section,” Janara mused.
“I’ll go to the Information
Science Section,” Freya said.
“Aren’t we being distracted?”
Talia asked.
“Maybe,” Janara admitted.
“Not really,” Freya answered.
“This is how I work things out; by using tangents.”
“I suppose so,” Talia said.
“Come on,” Freya said as she
twirled around.
Talia rolled her eyes.
“I’ll go with her this time,”
Janara said.
“So, what does that say?” Janara
said as the left the Ancient Section into the Late Roman Section.
“It’s the same as the Auroran
version,” Freya answered.
“I guess so, but sometimes I
listen to Auroric songs as I game.”
“I’ll read it and translate it.”
“And your translation will be
different,” Janara said.
“That’s obvious.”
“I’d like to hear it.”
“Sure,” Freya said. She opened
the book again as she walked. “The rune was used as protection in the pagan
traditions brought by the Viking settlers in northeastern Aurora…”
They soon came to the
Information Science Section.
Freya flipped open one of the
Library catalogues. “Game Design… In the Post-Modern Section.”
“On the other side of the Grand
Atrium from here,” Janara commented.
“That’s good,” Freya commented
as she flipped a page. “Looks like it’s near the back.”
“Next to the information on
board games. That makes sense.”
Only several other students were
in the Game Design area as they entered.
“The games should be listed by
genre,” Janara said.
“You said it was Real Time
Strategy?” Freya asked.
“One with RPG elements.”
“Then we’ll start with the Real
Time Strategy.”
The RTS books were arranged on a
middle shelf between Turn Based Strategy and Platformers
“Here it is,” Janara said.
“Quests of Alanara game
guide, Auroran edition,” Freya said with slight disappointment. She had
wanted to find the Auroric edition.
Janara grabbed it. “Lore…” she
murmured as she turned to the index.
Freya continued looking for the
Auroric version.
“Here it is.”
“A rune of protection,” Janara
said. “There are many such runes.”
“It’ll go quicker with both
books.”
“Sure.”
Olivia wandered through the
History Department. The faculty offices were all over the place and the signs
were often not in a font she could read, so she had to rely on the online
directory. “Up on the third floor. Why?” It was one disadvantage of the
University being so old.
She eventually found the office
she was looking for. “Professor Hrafsson?” she asked.
Professor Harald Hraffson
responded. “Who is it?” he asked as he stood from his desk.
“Olivia Marcus. I’m a first-year
student.”
“Why are you here?”
Oliva finished explaining about
the missing manuscript and what Freya had found.
“I am not an in expert in the
Mid-Ancient Era or the Nordic Era, I’m afraid.”
“But you are an expert in the
Late Inter Roman-Nordic Era, right?” Olivia asked.
“Yes. But what did this Freya
find again?”
“That the outline of the
university buildings from that time match a rune.”
“I can’t help you there,”
Hraffson responded.
“But you were only one person I
was looking for.”
Tuesday, 17 June 2025
Spider Quinn 17 Tempestuous Origin of Mysterio Part 4
Linda
had felt Sandi’s search for Jane and thus knew what had happened when she
opened the door to find Daria holding up her daughter.
“I
know about her powers, Mrs. Griffin. I promised to keep them secret.”
Linda
took Sandi into her arms. “You know everything, I suppose?”
“Not
everything,” Daria said. “She did tell me about her powers and that the ESP
only works within Lawndale, or very close to it.”
“And
about her mentor?”
“I
think it might be you, Mrs. Griffin. I’ll keep your secret as well. You didn’t
look that surprised when you opened the door.”
Linda
sighed. “Come in.”
“Will
Sandi be OK?” Daria asked after Mrs. Griffin had placed her on the couch.
“She
just needs to rest,” Mrs. Griffin said as she went over to the kitchen. “Yes, I
am her mentor and I have had similar experiences in the past.”
“And
I suppose you still don’t approve of her being the fourth vigilante?”
“No,”
Mrs. Griffin said with shake of her head. “She’s being rebellious, challenging
my authority, going through a phase. But at least she’s accepting my advice.
But what about your mother? What does she think about what you’re doing?”
“She’s
supportive,” Daria answered. “She’s worried, of course, about both of us taking
on too much with the Historia and investigating what’s going on in Lawndale.
But otherwise, she’s still working overtime and coping with her own grief.”
“Good
to hear,” Mrs. Griffin said as she turned on the kettle. “Cocoa?”
“Sure,”
Daria answered. ‘Better than the energy drink I got earlier.’
Daria
stayed just long enough to have the cocoa, to be sure that Sandi would be fine
and to tell Mrs. Griffin about what happened at the Historia. There was a lot
she wanted to ask Mrs. Griffin about, especially what she thought about the
recent events in Lawndale since SpiderGirl appeared, but she decided that it
could wait until after Jane was found and the opening weekend of the play.
Linda
watched Daria go. ‘I’m certain that she will keep the secret. She seemed very
sincere about that.’ She turned back to where Sandi was sleeping on the couch.
‘I hope she has learned something from this, but I also hope that Jane and the
critics will be found soon.’
Daria
changed to Dafoanairi as soon as she was out of sight of the Griffin’s place.
She then headed back home through the back alleys, keeping alert for anything
that might happen.
At
the same time, Quinn arrived home.
“Quinn,
what happened?” her mother asked.
Quinn
then explained what had happened at the theater.
Daria
entered the kitchen as Quinn finished explaining what had happened.
“Daria!
Are you alright,” her mother asked.
“I’m
fine,” Daria answered. “Concerned for Jane and determined that the show must go
on, but fine. It’s Trent that you should be worried about.”
“Good.
I will call Trent shortly,” her mother responded.
“That
would be a good idea,” Daria said.
“And
the show will go on?” her mother said.
“Of
course,” Quinn said. “It’s what Jane would want.”
“Of
course,” their mother said. “I haven’t heard back from the PI about the other
theaters. They could still be behind the abductions. They could have hired Beck
themselves.”
“That’s
a possibility,” Daria allowed.
“Or
Beck could have been approached by people in Oscorp,” Quinn said. “Those
illusions couldn’t have come cheap. And how would he have knowledge of the
stormwater system otherwise?”
“That’s
a good point,” Daria said. ‘The others would have told her about the stormwater
system,’ she thought.
“Stormwater
system?” Helen asked.
Daria
then explained about what the vigilantes had found.
“Oh
my. It is unlikely that someone new to Lawndale would know how to use it
without help. But Oscorp would have to have Council files.”
“I
wouldn’t put that past them,” Daria said.
“Good
point,” Helen said. She then wrote that down. “But it’s still far from proof.”
She decided to call Trent.
Trent
was in the kitchen, wondering how to go about searching for Jane when the phone
rang.
Jesse
picked it up. “It’s Mrs. Morgendorffer,” he said as he handed it over.
‘Of
course,’ Trent thought. “Hello?”
“Hi,
Trent. How are you holding up, with what happened?” Mrs. Morgendorffer
asked.
“I’m
worried for Janie, but otherwise I’m fine.”
“That’s
good to hear, but you’re welcome to come over if you want someone to talk to.”
“Thanks.
I might take up that offer.”
“I’ll
be up for a while.”
Trent
hung up. He knew what he was going to do. He wasn’t going to mope around. But
he wasn’t going to the Morgendorffers either. “Time for the Shadow’s off sider
to look for her.”
“Offsider?”
Jesse asked.
“I’m
sure that’s what either SpiderGirl or Ninja Talon called me in Middlebury.”
“Right.”
Trent
then suited up as he had when the cheerleaders were rescued and went to the
garage.
“This
is the Shadowcar? It looks like an ordinary car,” Nick said.
“It’s
been modified,” Trent said. “It will help me find Janie.”
“But
where are you going to start?” Nick asked. “Are you just going to drive around
Lawndale aimlessly?”
“To
start with,” Trent said. “Be ready to follow with the Tank or the Plymouth.”
A
while later, Sandi awoke. She regretted it, as she still had a headache and was
still woozy. “Ugh!”
“You
shouldn’t be up yet,” her mother said.
“I
searched for Jane…”
“Daria
told me.”
“Of
course she did,” Sandi groused.
“She
also told me about what happened at the theater. It seems to be the same person
who was at work.”
“That
makes sense. How long does it take to recover? You haven’t told me that.”
‘You’ll
feel better in the morning,” her mother said.
After
midnight, Daria crept out onto the roof. She looked out over Lawndale, and
wondered where Jane was being held. ‘It has to be somewhere close by.’ She took
out a map of Lawndale County. ‘She said that Oakwood is too far for her locate
ability to work. Five miles between Lawndale and Oakwood.’ She looked at the
area south of Lawndale, and saw that Lake Lawndale was only three and a half
miles from the center of Lawndale at the closest point. ‘Or maybe she’s being
held somewhere there. But I can’t get there tonight.’
She
then went down to try to get some sleep.
SpiderGirl
arrived on the roof of the Historia in the early hours to find Ninja Talon
waiting. “Hey.”
“Hey,
Spidey. It was an interesting evening.”
“And
complicated. I got the impression that the Enigma doesn’t like the civilian me
personally. I’m not sure why.”
“I
got to the creek with Trent and Dafoanairi but we were too late,” Ninja Talon
said.
“They
said that.”
“What
happened with the theater?”
“There
were no traps, and most of the other actors were still there. But you weren’t
the only one who left,” SpiderGirl answered.
“Good.”
“Your
secret identity is still safe.”
“I
still took a risk,” Ninja Talon said.
“So
did I.”
“And
you still think Dafoanairi might be Daria?”
SpiderGirl
nodded. “She had run off and said that she had gave chase to the abductor when
she returned.”
“But
she could have done that anyway.”
“That’s
a good point.”
“But
now we need to find Jane,” Ninja Talon said. “I have an idea.”
“We’re
going to ask Andrea?”
“Yes.
Either that or infiltrate Oscorp again to get the CCTV footage.”
“Andrea
first,” SpiderGirl decided. “But would she be up?”
“We
could go there anyway.”
SpiderGirl
agreed, and so they headed in that direction.
As
it turned out, Andrea was up, gaming, as she couldn’t sleep with everything
that had been going on. She heard Ninja Talon and SpiderGirl enter the house
from the back door. Just as well her parents were heavy sleepers. She met them
in the hallway. “Why are you here?” she asked quietly. “You’re not asking me to
hack Oscorp again, are you?”
“Maybe,”
SpiderGirl said. “It’s to do with the missing critics.”
“I
doubt Oscorp is responsible,” Andrea said as she lead them into her room.
“Jane
Lane is also missing,” Ninja Talon said.
“I
heard her interview about the play,” Andrea said. “Wait, are you saying that
something happened?”
“Yes,”
SpiderGirl said and explained what had happened at the Historia earlier in the
night.
Andrea
took it in. “I’m not sure what I could do about it. Even if there are cameras
outside the Historia that might have seen this mysterious person take Jane into
the stormwater system, trying to download the video over a dial up connection
won’t work.”
“I
see,” SpiderGirl said.
“But
there could be a way,” Andrea considered.
“What
would that be?” Ninja Talon asked.
“If
I had access to one of Lawndale State’s computer labs, I would be able to do
it.”
“I
have no idea about that,” SpiderGirl said.
“My
mother will refuse to help,” Andrea said to Ninja Talon, “But other students at
Lawndale High have siblings at Lawndale State, could get back to you at lunch.
What do you say?”
“That
could work. We can meet in the library. But Spidey won’t be there!”
“I
won’t,” SpiderGirl said.
“Relax.
I still don’t want to know your identity.”
“Good.
Then Talon can tell me later.”
Ninja
Talon nodded.
“Then
I’ll see you later.”
The
two heroes didn’t leave immediately, rather they then swung up from Andrea’s
window onto the roof “What was that
about her mother?” SpiderGirl asked.
“She’s
a professor of Ancient History,” Ninja Talon responded.
“I
see,” SpiderGirl responded. “Anyway, it’s complex.”
“I
know, but I’m not sure what else we could do.”
“True.”
“I’ll
make sure no one else is around as we usually do,” Ninja Talon said in a
reassuring tone.
SpiderGirl
nodded, and then yawned. “I need to get going. Daria and I will be talking to
Joey and Robert. And I need to find a new special effects person before the
play opens.”
“Good
luck.”
“Thanks.”
Lawndale
Sun-Herald
Friday,
February 23, 2001
Abduction
from Historia in the midst of illusions. Is Tempest Cursed?
… 17
year old Jane Lane is the latest victim in the serial abductions related to Tempest
being mentioned on radio.
Tori
Jericho took the paper inside. “Mom!”
“What
is it?” her mother, Penelope, asked. “That was entirely on Melinda. I don’t
think the play is cursed.”
“No,
but now the paper has mentioned the play…”
“Don’t
worry. The paper has security.”
Daria
was also reading the paper. “A curse?” she asked herself incredulously.
“What’s
that?” Quinn asked as she entered the kitchen.
“Speculation
that my play is cursed!”
“Of
course there isn’t. It’s just one person out to get it.”
“Or
more than one person,” Daria responded.
“Still,
not a curse.”
“True.”
“Besides,
ticket sales are still going up,” Quinn said as she grabbed some cereal.
“Or
they were last night.”
“That’s
true.”
After
a quick breakfast, Daria and Quinn arrived at the Historia, where they found
Robert and Joey waiting, along with Peterson and another man.
“Daria,
Quinn, this is Agent Leung from the FBI,” Peterson said.
“Of
course,” Daria said.
“Peterson
has told me everything the LDPD has about the case.”
“So,
the critics and Jane and what the vigilantes had found?” Daria asked.
“Yes.
I will need to make my own search of the Historia of course.”
The
four looked at each other and found they were in agreement.
“Go
right ahead,” Joey said.
“Some
good news,” Joey said after Leung and Peterson had gone on their search.
“Tonight is sold out, and Saturday has 243.”
“That’s
great!” Quinn said. “But we still need a special effects person, given that
Beck has gone off.”
“He’s
missing?” Robert asked.
“He
hasn’t been seen here since Tuesday, when we talked to him about his backstage
measurements,” Daria answered. “Although he was sighted here just before the
rehearsal.”
“So
that’s why he’s a suspect in Jane’s abduction?” Joey asked.
“Yes,”
Daria answered.
“So,
you’re just going to call the previous applicants?” Robert asked.
“Yes,
I will be back here as soon as school lets out,” Quinn answered. “It’s going to
be a long day.”
“Amazing,”
Agent Leung said as he looked around the theater. “I thought it was crazy that
teens were running this place after they convinced Osborn with a business
plan.”
“The
business plan was Daria’s,” Peterson said.
“I
had heard that.”
“And
what do you think now?”
“That
they seem to be doing very well,” Leung answered. He then came to the end of a
row. “You say that he used projectors for the illusions?”
“That’s
what I saw when the power was interrupted last night.”
“There
seem to be a lot of them.”
Sandi
awoke again and saw that it was the morning. She felt a lot better. “I better
get ready for school,” she said.
“How
are you feeling?” her mother asked, as she handed her a plate with bacon and
eggs.
“A
lot better,” Sandi answered as she took the plate.
“And
what have you learned?”
“Not
much, other than that Daria is becoming a friend, much like Harry Osborn.”
Her
mother smirked. “Just don’t expect me to accept a dinner invitation by Helen.”
Sandi
nearly spat out some egg. She swallowed and said, “Of course not, Quinn would
be there!”
“Anyway,
what else have you learned.”
“That
I know my limits. My perception didn’t even reach the Lake. Jane is being held
further out than that, maybe even at the Lake.”
“Or
maybe in Oakwood or Middlebury,” her mother responded. “You can’t jump to
conclusions.”
“Of
course not.”
“And
you’ll take your brothers to school again.”
‘Of
course,’ Sandi thought. It seemed to be a way of teaching her responsibility as
well as a punishment.
Back
at the Historia, Agent Ken Leung had examined the entire building, including
the various apartments. There was nothing to indicate that Quentin Beck had
been there since the previous night’s incident. “Other than the projectors, it appears
completely normal,” he said to Peterson and the four teens.
“So,
we’re still at square one?” Quinn asked.
“Not
necessarily,” Agent Leung said. “There is what the vigilantes said. That he
took a boat southwards from the stormwater outlet.”
“That’s
true,” Daria said. “But that would be a large area, wouldn’t it?”
“True,
but the Agency can concentrate their searches in the area downstream of
Lawndale between the town and the Lake,” Leung said.
“I
see,” Quinn said, appearing to be in thought.
The
four then ordered breakfast and Quinn started calling the previous applicants.
“Done?”
Daria asked Quinn as they left for school.
“Yes.
They will meet here straight after school. Looks like I’ll be doing that at the
same time as my usual session with Anna, Ben and Gerald.”
“I’m
sure they’ll understand cancelling,” Daria said.
“True,
but at this short notice?”
“Good
point.”
“I
can handle it,” Quinn said.
‘I
hope so.’