Spider Quinn 17 Tempestuous Origin of Mysterio Part 2

 

It wasn’t long before Peterson arrived at the Historia. “I knew you would be here, Daria,” she said after she had ordered breakfast herself.

 

Daria saw that she was off duty, as she was in plainclothes. “I knew you would be here. Has something come up?”

 

“Very perceptive. I suppose that’s one reason why you’re now fighting crime,” Xanthe said quietly.

 

Daria nodded. “Something else, to do with what’s going on.”

 

“You’re planning something and you’re putting it by me.”

 

“It’s Jane,” Daria said. She then explained Jane’s plan.

 

 

“I see,” Xanthe said when Daria had finished. “It’s very risky.:

 

“I’m sure she’s already talked to the DJ.”

 

“True. I will try to be there tonight.”

 

“Of course, nothing might happen. Or Jane could be abducted as she heads home,” Daria said.

 

“Make sure that the latter doesn’t happen.”

 

“The Enigma will be here. I’m sure she won’t let it happen.”

 

“You know who she is, don’t you?” Xanthe asked.

 

“I’m not answering that.”

 

“I’m taking that as a yes. The same with SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon.”

 

‘That makes sense,’ Daria thought.

 

“Anyway, I came because another critic is missing and I want you to have heads up about that.”

 

“WSBC?”

 

“How did you know?” Xanthe asked.

 

“Because the Enigma and I looked around the studio last night.”

 

“You did?”

 

Daria nodded.

 

“What did you find?”

 

“Not much, other than that they may have used the stormwater system.”

 

“How do you figure that?” Xanthe asked.

 

 

Daria explained what she and the Enigma had found.

 

“I see. You are right, of course. Trying to search the storm water system would be difficult. And it’s also unlikely that the abductees would be down there, given that the are forecasts for some storms this weekend.

 

“So, we’re still at square one,” Daria said.

 

“Pretty much. It could still be Quentin Beck.”

 

 

Xanthe soon finished and left, to get ready to go on duty. Daria grabbed ordered a coffee, and then Quinn entered the café. “Hey, Daria.”

 

“Hey, Quinn.”

 

“Something up?” she asked.

 

“Jane has come up with something.”

 

 

Quinn took in what Daria had said. ‘I guess I will have to be ready to be SpiderGirl and also find Brittany before the rehearsal starts,’ she thought.

 

“What do you think?” Daria asked.

 

“It’s quite risky, but I’m sure Jane has taken that into account.”

 

“She has, and I have also asked the fourth vigilante to be present.”

 

‘That will complicate things,’ Quinn thought. “I guess so. I just hope her powers don’t prove destructive.”

 

“I’m sure she can control them.”

 

“You haven’t met the others?”

 

Daria shook her head.

 

‘If she is Dafoanairi she didn’t want to answer verbally because she knows that I can tell when she’s lying,’ Quinn thought. She still wasn’t sure of that. “Right.”

 

 

‘I don’t want to her to know that I’m Dafoanairi. She would probably worry too much,’ Daria thought. She didn’t want Quinn to worry about her, on top of her ongoing grief for their father.

 

“So, what’s the plan?” Quinn asked.

 

“There isn’t one. Just for the fourth vigilante and Peterson to be ready to intervene.”

 

“I suppose that’s the best we can do.”

 

 

Sandi arrived at school, and soon found Harry.

 

“Sandi?” he asked. “Something up?”

 

“It’s just that I’m looking for an extracurricular activity after the last one ended abruptly.”

 

“I heard about that.”

 

“I’m trying not to be like that,” Sandi said. “That was me being who Mother wants me to be.”

 

“I get it,” Harry said. “I don’t want to be who my father wants me to be either.”

 

They were silent.

 

“Sorry,” Sandi said, sincerely.

 

“His condition is unchanged. But there is hope.”

 

“I’m sure he will get better.”

 

“Thanks, but anyway, take your time. You shouldn’t rush into these things,” Harry said.

 

“Pretty much what Daria said.”

 

Harry chuckled. “I guess we agree on some things.”

 

 

At lunch time, Quinn entered the library and found Brittany looking at a math book with a perplexed expression. “Hey, Brit,” she said.

 

“Hey, Quinn. I’m trying to get my mind around this Algebra, using what Daria told me.”

 

“How are you going so far?”

 

“Slightly better, but It’s still difficult,” Brittany answered. “Is something up?”

 

“You could say that,” Quinn said, and she then told Brittany what Daria had told her about Jane’s plan.

 

 

Brittany thought after Quinn told her Jane’s plan. “There’s not much I can do, given that I’ll be on stage most of the time.”

 

“That’s true, but I thought that I should let you know.”

 

“I’ll have my gear in my car, just in case something happens afterwards.”

 

“Thanks,” Quinn said.

 

 

Soon afterwards, Angie arrived there. “Quinn? You wanted to talk?” she asked,

 

“We have to be at the Historia again this afternoon,” Quinn said.

 

“I suppose that’s fine,” Angie said in a resigned tone.

 

 

“Daria?” Jane said as she left the science classroom.

 

“Yes?” Daria asked.

 

“I’m going to talk to Ms. Dafoe.”

 

“About your plan?”

 

“Yes,” Jane said.

 

“Got it, see you later.”

 

 

Daria arrived at the lunch table to find Sandi, Harry and Phillippa there. ‘Philippa Bynon again?’ she asked herself.

 

“Hey, Daria,” Sandi said.

 

“Hey,” Daria said. “Ted will be here with one of the seniors again, given that the Historia has been taking priority in the afternoons this week.”

 

“What’s that?” Philippa asked.

 

“I have been interviewing each senior about their experiences since SpiderGirl appeared in November.”

 

“So, you can understand what’s happening in Lawndale overall, not just Oscorp is up to and now the missing critics?” Phillipa asked.

 

“That’s right,” Daria responded.

 

 

It wasn’t long before Ted Dewit-Clinton and Lawrence Callaghan arrived. “Hey, Daria,” Ted said.

 

“So, you want to know what I know of SpiderGirl and the others?” Lawrence asked as he said.

 

“Yes,” Daria answered.

 

 

At the same time, Jane entered the Arts staff room.

 

“Jane?” Ms. Claire Dafoe asked. “Is something wrong?”

 

“Nothing wrong per se,” Jane said.

 

“But something’s bothering you?”

 

“Yes. I’m kind of putting myself in danger,” Jane said before launching into a description of her plan.

 

 

Claire listened what Jane had to say. “You don’t have to do this, if you don’t want to.”

 

“I do want to. I want to stop this happening and for the Historia to have a chance. Not just for Daria and the others, but for Lawndale overall.”

 

“But you’re having second thoughts?”

 

Jane shrugged. “More like being in need of reassurance.”

 

“So, you do want to go ahead with it?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“I could be there, at the Historia if you want,” Claire offered, although she still needed to do some lesson planning for the next week.

 

“You don’t have to, but thanks for the offer.”

 

“Tell you what. I’ll be there for dinner at least.”

 

“Thanks,” Jane said.

 

 

Jane was still anxious as she arrived at Lawndale State’s studio shortly after school let out. She met Sarah in the staff room.

 

“Having second thoughts?” Sarah asked.

 

“A little,” Jane admitted. “It probably be better to do it in the form of an interview, rather than a simple announcement.”

 

“I can do it that way.”

 

“Thanks.”

 

 

“You’re listening to 107.1 WLDS The Voice of Lawndale State Students.”

 

“And not just Lawndale State today,” Sarah said. “Lawndale’s youth in general. Joining me this afternoon is Jane Lane, who is involved in the Historia, which has been in the news recently, as a new café and bookshop and now as a Theater. Good afternoon, Jane.”

 

“Afternoon, Sarah,” Jane said.

 

“I understand that a play is due to open at the Historia tomorrow night.”

 

“Yes, Sarah. Daria Morgendorffer’s Tempest adapted from William Shakespeare’s The Tempest into a modern day story. It will run for four weeks.”

 

“Thanks, Jane. But you have concerns?” Sarah said.

 

“I’m sure that people have heard about the missing critics who disappeared after the play was mentioned,” Jane said. “I will be at the Dress rehearsal tonight to help prepare for tomorrow night.”

 

“Three critics so far?”

 

“The police are searching for them and I have heard that the vigilantes are searching for them to.”

 

“You mean SpiderGirl and the others?” Sarah asked.

 

“Yes,” Jane answered.

 

 

Daria turned off the radio, along with the engine after parking behind the Historia. She grabbed her backpack, containing her Dafoanairi outfit, and her staff and then went inside.

 

 

Trent, and his band mate Jesse Moreno, had also listened in. “What do you think, Jesse?”

 

“We better be ready,” Jesse said.

 

“We will be,” Trent said.

 

 

Claire turned off the radio as the interview concluded and looked around the Art staffroom. As usual, she was the last teacher out for the day. ‘I’ll be there in ten minutes,’ she thought. She hoped that nothing would happen to Jane.

 

 

Brittany entered the café at the Historia. She had heard Jane’s interview and knew that something was sure to happen. She went up to the counter where Stacy was serving.

 

“Hi, Brittany, may I take your order.”

 

“A Latte, please,” Brittany said. It would be another hour before the dress rehearsal would start.

 

“Coming right up. Three dollars fifty.”

 

Brittany paid for the latte and turned around, and saw someone she hadn’t expected to see. “Mrs. Brown?”

 

“Hi, Brittany,” Alex Brown said.

 

“How’s Sarah Robyn?” Brittany asked. She hadn’t heard anything since she had left the hospital.

 

“Still much the same,” Mrs. Brown said quietly. “She still can’t speak after what happened. But that doesn’t stop her from wanting to see the play.”

 

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Brittany said. “I hope she’ll enjoy the play.”

 

“I heard that you’re in it?”

 

“Yes, as Ariel. I like, wanted to do more than cheerleading.”

 

“That sounds great,” Mrs. Brown said.

 

 

Sandi arrived at the Historia and ordered dinner. She saw Daria enter the café. “I’m ready,” she said.

 

“Good,” Daria said.

 

“I heard the interview.”

 

 

By the time the rehearsal started, everyone was as ready as they could be.

 

Peterson arrived five minutes beforehand. “I had to call in a few favors so I could be here,” she said to Daria.

 

“I hope it wasn’t too much trouble,” Daria said.

 

“Not too much,” Peterson said with a shrug.

 

‘I still hope it won’t cause problems in future,’ Daria thought. She then saw Jane arrive. “I need to talk to her.”

 

“Go ahead.”

 

 

“Are you ready?” Daria asked Jane.

 

“As I’ll ever be,” Jane said.

 

“Peterson’s here, and I saw the fourth vigilante in the café earlier.”

 

“That’s all we can do, and the band is in the café too.”

 

“All of Mystik Spiral?” Daria asked.

 

“Max may be cowardly, but Trent, Jesse and Nick aren’t.”

 

 

Claire ordered another coffee and looked around the café. She saw that there were mostly Lawndale High students there, although she also saw Trent Lane and his friends. ‘Of course, he would be even more concerned for his sister.’

 

 

The rehearsal started.

 

 

Quinn, Angie and Robert looked around the theatre as the rehearsal continued. “I did see Quentin Beck here shortly before it started,” Robert said.

 

“Where did he go?” Quinn asked.

 

“I’m not sure,” Robert said. “He could be anywhere.”

 

“Then we need to tell Peterson,” Angie said.

 

“She would say there’s not much to go on,” Quinn said.

 

“We should tell her anyway,” Angie argued. She turned to her boyfriend.

 

“We’ll tell her,” Robert decided.

 

 

They quickly found Peterson. “So, he was here, but he isn’t now?” she asked as she looked around the theatre.

 

“Yes,” Quinn said.

 

“There isn’t much to go on,” Peterson said. “But I could search the building again.”

 

“Go ahead,” Quinn said.

 

Robert nodded, showing his agreement with Quinn.

 

“I’ll start right now.”

 

 

“As I told you before, I am subject to a tyrant, a sorcerer, that by his cunning has cheated me of this place,” Wolfgang said as Caliban.

 

“Thou liest,” Brittany said as Ariel, from behind a tree prop.

 

“Thou liest, you jesting monkey, you! I would have my master destroy you. I do not lie,” Wolfgang said as Caliban.

 

“Trinculo, if you make him more trouble, I shall punch out some of your teeth,” Corey said as Stephano.

 

“Why, I said nothing,” Skyler said as Trinculo.

 

“Then no more,” Corey said as Stephano.

 

“I say by sorcery he has this place in the palm of his hand. For he took it from me. If your greatness will bring about revenge on him, for I know not, but dare not,” Wolfgang said as Caliban.

 

 

Peterson returned to Quinn and the others. “He’s hiding somewhere,” she said.

 

“Then we have to be vigilant,” Quinn said.

 

 

The rehearsal went better than the previous two. Daria sighed in relief as the curtain went down at the end. But then something happened!

 

Illusions appeared. Green mist appeared throughout the auditorium. “Evacuate!” she said. She tried to look through it. ‘No luck. I need to be Dafoanairi!’ She went to the nearest door that she could see.

 

 

Sandi had finished her desert when she heard something. She looked to Ms. Dafoe, who had been working on her laptop throughout the rehearsal. “Ms. Dafoe…”

 

“I hear it,” the art teacher said.

 

“Don’t worry, Sandi,” Trent Lane said. “We’re on it.”

 

“You and your band?” she asked.

 

“Yes,” Trent said.

 

“Um no,” Max Tyler said.

 

“You can stay here,” Trent said. He turned to Jesse and Nick. They both nodded and rushed towards the theatre.

 

‘I guess I’ll have to change to the Enigma in the bathroom!’ Sandi thought. It was risky, but she could do it.

 

 

Xanthe tried to act as the green mist expanded. “Quentin Beck! Cease and Desist in the name of the Law!” She had to try something. She considered firing a warning shot, but she was sure that Daria and Quinn didn’t want the Historia damaged. ‘But it might get damaged anyway.’

 

 

Backstage, Brittany heard the commotion. She had planned for it, but she hoped that it wouldn’t happen. She rushed out into the parking lot, ready to become Ninja Talon.

 

 

Jane had pulled one of the gadgets from her pocket as the mist appeared. A taser disguised as a pen. But then she was grabbed from behind. “Help!” she said as she stabbed backwards with the taser pen.

 

“Nice try!” the person said.

 

Jane turned and saw that the person was dressed the same as when she and the other two had chased him through the stormwater system. ‘I hope that’s not where we’re going.’ He then put something over her nose. ‘Chloroform!’ she realised before she lost consciousness.

 

 

Dafoanairi re-entered the auditorium and saw that the Enigma was there also. “Can you use your powers to try to clear the mist?” she asked.

 

“I can try,” the Enigma said. She raised her hands in front of her. There was then a strong wind and only some of the mist near them cleared. “I have to be careful. I don’t want to accidentally damage a wall.”

 

‘Maybe the mentor would have had better luck,’ Dafoanairi considered. ‘Either one of her parents.’

 

“Like, No luck. It works best on solid objects.”

 

“Maybe the projections or the forcefield?”

 

“I’ll try.”

 

 

‘Protection!’ the Enigma thought. She raised the forcefield around herself as usual, then tried to focus forwards, but then she only fired small projections, or the purple glow sparked like electricity. She deactivated the powers and shook her head at Dafoanairi before trying to look for Jane with her enhanced perception. ‘Too many people and I might need the locate ability later.’