Mysteries of Aurora - The Manuscript Part 3

 

They left the Library through the QuinMillennial wing. “Even this most modern part of the Library echoes the earlier parts,” Janara said.

 

“Building on what came before,” Olivia commented.

 

“Like everything else. But what led you to seek out this Freya, really?”

 

“I had heard about her.”

 

“You said that,” Janara pointed out.

 

“Right. I thought a synesthete would have an advantage I wouldn’t.”

 

“That makes sense. But they also said she has ADHD.”

 

“That also means that she can think outside the box easily,” Olivia responded.

 

“That’s true.”

 

 

They arrived at Sigrun Sigurdottir Hall fifteen minutes later, and saw that it was more prestigious than Janus Hadrian Lodge, but that wasn’t saying much.

 

 

“Freya Andersson? I think she is in one of the common rooms,” the other student said.

 

“Thanks,” Olivia said.

 

 

Freya had made a tactile version of her sketch of the area where the manuscript had been. She then heard two people enter the common room. “Hi!” she said.

 

“Freya?” she heard someone say.

 

“Olivia?” she asked.

 

“Yes, and my roommate Janara.”

 

“Hi.”

 

 

“I have put together what I have found so far, although I still need to think more on it,” Freya said as she stood up, while holding the pieces of paper she had been working on, although she kept her eyes closed.

 

Olivia looked at it. She saw that Freya had accurately depicted the layout of that small area of the Library. But there was more. “So, what are these other lines? The synesthetic impression?”

 

“Yes,” Freya answered as she ran her fingers lightly over some of the lines. “It’s not only flair.”

 

 

Olivia looked at the lines again. There was a pattern there, but she wasn’t sure what to make of it. “Mind if I take a photo of it?” she asked.

 

“Not at all,” Freya responded.

 

“You’ve noticed something?” Janara asked.

 

“Something I have to think about,” Olivia answered as she took the photo with her tablet.

 

“Same here,” Freya added.

 

“But what have you found?”

 

“The obfuscation,” Freya said as she grabbed a loose piece of paper and a piece of charcoal. She then sketched something with the charcoal.

 

“Someone knew what they were doing,” Olivia said a she made a recording on her tablet.

 

“Had they brought in the forensics department yet?” Freya asked as she continued to sketch.

 

“They hadn’t,” Olivia answered.

 

“Then that’s what we’ll check up on first thing in the morning, as soon as the Library opens,” Freya said.

 

“And when does it open?” Janara asked. “I haven’t checked that.”

 

“Around 8:00 in the morning, I’m sure of it,” Olivia said. “I did look up the opening times. 8:00 to 11:00.”

 

“That will work. I can get up early,” Freya said.

 

“I can do that too,” Janara said.

 

 

Olivia looked at the photo of the sketch again as she and Janara stepped out of the northern door of Sigrun Sigurdottir Hall. “There’s a pattern to this obfuscation,” she commented.

 

“Or maybe it’s Freya’s artistic flare.”

 

“Or maybe it isn’t. That’s why I sought her out. Her synaesthesia allowed her to notice some things.”

 

“But are you sure you can make something of her synesthetic impression?” Janara asked.

 

“Yes, even if not right away.”

 

“So, we’re going back to the Library?”

 

“I’ll have another look before going back to the Hall,” Olivia said.

 

“I’ll come too.”

 

 

It was already getting late as they arrived back at the Library. The evening crowd of students using the various study nooks were already there. But Olivia had already determined that the Ancient Section didn’t have many of those.

 

Talia and David were still there, and there were are few others there too.

 

“You talked to Freya?” Talia asked.

 

“We did,” Olivia answered. “But she’s still figuring it out.”

 

“She did another sketch though,” Janara said.

 

Talia looked at the photo on Olivia’s tablet. “I still can’t make any sense of her synesthetic impression.

 

“I’m thinking about it,” Olivia said. “There is a pattern to the obfuscation. But I will have to have a closer look.”

 

“I have some programs that can analyse images,” Janara said.

 

“That will be helpful,” Talia said.

 

 

One of the forensics techs came over. “Inconclusive. There were no prints,” he said.

 

“No fingerprints?” Olivia asked herself rhetorically. “If they were prepared to obfuscate, that would be obvious.”

 

“Talia told us of what the art student found.”

 

“What’s your opinion?”

 

“Whoever it was definitely moved things around,” the tech said.

 

“She drew a sketch, but she hasn’t interpreted it yet.”

 

“Do you have a copy?”

 

“Yes,” Olivia answered. “I’ll get a print copy soon.”

 

 

Dana entered the common room where Freya was sketching. “I heard about the missing manuscript,” she said.

 

Freya stood up, with her back to the setting sun and squinting. “It’s an interesting puzzle,” she said with her usual energetic manner.

 

“Is that all?”

 

“It’s that Olivia sought me out for it.”

 

“Oh?” Dana asked.

 

“It means that news of me, not by name, but by description, has spread through AAUA.”

 

“Does that bother you?”

 

“A little,” Freya admitted. “If Olivia can seek me out, anyone could.”

 

Dana looked Freya in the eyes. “I wouldn’t worry too much.”

 

“Easy for you to say,” Freya responded. She closed her eyes and spun around. “But I won’t dwell on it.” She opened her eyes and looked into Dana’s with determination. “Wait.”

 

 

Freya then turned again and picked up the sketch.

 

“You have come up with something?”

 

“Yes,” Freya answered with a slight bounced. The obfuscations are in some kind of pattern, like a code.

 

“A code?”

 

“But I don’t have experience with cryptography.”

 

“Maybe someone else does,” Dana suggested.

 

Freya wrote down what she had just said in her notebook. “I’ll find Olivia and Janara in the morning. Maybe they would know what to do.”

 

“That’s a good idea.”

 

“But for tonight, it can wait.”

Church notes - 6th April 2025

 6th

Matthew 27:11 - 31

The crewd was calling out for Jesus to be crucified.

Jesus as a threat to the Jewish elite.

We should not be a part of the crowd.

John 11:45 - 50

The Romans usually ruled lightly.

The Temple priests, Pharisees and Saducees were comfortable. They didn't want a Messiah.

Matthew 26:63 - 65

Daniel 7:9 - 14

Jesus was saying that He was whom Daniel was talking about.

He was there for us.

He was saying that He is Divine.

John 18:29 - 32

Luke 23:1, 2

They were accusing Jesus of rebellion (which the Romans did come down hard on).

He was not guilty.

Pilate went out of the way to avoid the crucifixion. But he rubbers stamped it anyway.

The crowd

Over a million people were in Jerusalem for the Passover.

But it was just after dawn, so hardly anyone was up.

The religious leaders had organised the crowd.

How do we not drift away or misunderstand what was going on?

We have to be willing to have Jesus disturb us, and the Holy Spirit in us.

Spider Quinn 15 The New Challenges Part 5

 

Dafoanairi also emerged onto the first floor, and had heard Ninja Talon point out the ‘fourth vigilante’

 

“I know you’re there, fourth vigilante,” Sam taunted. “I also know you took my grandfather out.”

 

Dafoanairi grasped her staff tighter and stepped out into the fray.

 

 

“Someone is behind us,” SpiderGirl said.

 

“I hear it,” Ninja Talon said.

 

“Another vigilante,” Sam said. “Is it the Shadow?”

 

“It doesn’t sound like her,” SpiderGirl said.

 

“A fifth?” Ninja Talon asked.

 

 

Dafoanairi came up alongside the other two and inflicted her voice high. “Dafoanairi, the snarky fifth vigilante of Lawndale. I know you’re the first two, SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon. But what is the plan? Are we just going to talk his ear off and let the fourth vigilante do the work?”

 

“Dafoanairi?” Ninja Talon considered.

 

“The fourth vigilante is here, but she doesn’t know where the furnace is,” SpiderGirl said.

 

“Not any less than you would,” Dafoanairi said.

 

 

‘Great!’ SpiderGirl thought. ‘How to do this without revealing our secret identities to Dafoanairi. As if Lawndale needed a snarky vigilante who might be reminding me of my sister. Like, Daria is far from the only one who is sarcastic.’

 

“Now there are three of us we can all take him,” Ninja Talon said.

 

“I must point out that I’m inexperienced,” Dafoanairi pointed out.

 

“Don’t worry,” Ninja Talon said. “I’ll plan for that.”

 

“A plan on the fly?” Sam asked.

 

“Yes!” Ninja Talon said. “That’s something I am as good at as I am with martial arts.”

 

“That’s good,” Dafoanairi said. “Then lets do it!”

 

“OK, you follow behind while Spidey webs up stuff and I look around.”

 

“Sure,” SpiderGirl said.

 

 

At the same time, Jamie entered the Pizza place, which wasn’t experiencing the brownouts as of yet. He wasn’t sure where SpiderGirl was. He then saw that Elly and Freya were there, waiting for him. “Hi, Elly.”

 

“I have heard that it was Quinn Morgendorffer who actually stopped the brownouts,” Elly said.

 

“I was there,” Jamie said. “Was it Freya who told you?”

 

“No!” Freya said. “It was Stacy Rowe.”

 

“As well as Tori and Tiffany,” Elly said.

 

“I see,” Jamie said.

 

“You were just trying to impress me!” Elly said, and she slapped him across the face.

 

 

At the same time as Dafoanairi joining SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon at the solarium and Jamie getting slapped by Elly, Jane got home and found Trent in the kitchen listening to the radio. “A situation, Janie,” he said.

 

“What kind of situation.”

 

“SpiderGirl, Ninja Talon, the fourth vigilante and an apparent fifth are all in the solarium, trying to resolve the brownouts, a second time.”

 

“That seems like too many cooks,” Jane considered. “I thought I’d come back here first.”

 

“Maybe you’ll be needed anyway, if SpiderGirl and the fourth vigilante come to blows.”

 

“Maybe that’s why the apparent fifth is there.”

 

“How to you figure?” Trent asked.

 

“Probably trying to mediate,” Jane said as she headed upstairs.

 

 

Back at the solarium, the Enigma approached the power box. ‘I’m sure he’s trapped it, somehow,’ she thought. She opened it telekinetically and flour fell from above. She raised a forcefield as it hit the floor.

 

 

Sam laughed at the sound.

 

“What’s that about?” SpiderGirl asked.

 

“The fourth vigilante was just covered in flour,” Sam answered.

 

“That’s not so bad,” Dafoanairi said.

 

“But it’s not the only stuff,” Sam said. The lights then went out. “What?”

 

 

The Enigma had telekinetically flipped the main switch. “Now!” she called out. “Someone turn off the furnace!”

 

 

“I’ll do it,” SpiderGirl said.

 

“You sure?” Ninja Talon asked.

 

“Yes. I have a better chance of avoiding the traps,” SpiderGirl said.

 

“Of course,” Ninja Talon said.

 

 

“I didn’t quite believe that she could do that,” Dafoanairi said as she watched SpiderGirl climb along the ceiling.

 

“Back to back,” Ninja Talon said. “How good are you with that staff?”

 

“Good enough for whatever you’re planning,” Dafoanairi responded as she backed up against the other.

 

“Good.”

 

 

Sam watched SpiderGirl climb along the ceiling. He was annoyed. He hadn’t thought about that! ‘Time to get out of here,’ he thought. He ran towards the stairs.

 

Ninja Talon saw an opportunity and signalled Dafoanairi, who then tripped him with her staff. ‘Good work,’ she thought.

 

“Now. The police are waiting for you outside,” Dafoanairi said.

 

Sam leapt up and grabbed the staff and tried to wrestle with Dafoanairi for it. But only briefly as Ninja Talon then tackled him from behind.

 

“You left yourself open,” she said. She then took out some ties and tied his hands.

 

Sam squirmed. “What is this? A citizen’s arrest?”

 

“That’s exactly what it is,” Dafoanairi responded.

 

“We’ll wait for Spidey to come back, then go out to the waiting cops,” Ninja Talon said.

 

 

Back at Casa Lane, the Shadow was ready to leave. “Are you sure?” Trent asked. “Apparently the brownouts have just stopped again.”

 

“If so, I’ll just do a patrol, just a bit early.”

 

“I suppose so.”

 

 

SpiderGirl switched off the furnace again. ‘Now where’s the cable, so I don’t have to come down here a third time?’ She found it and pulled it out.

 

 

SpiderGirl rejoined the others. “Good work,” she said to the others. “The furnace is disconnected,” she called out.

 

The lights then came back on as the Enigma turned the power back on.

 

 

Peterson saw the door open and Ninja Talon leading Sam Elders out, followed by SpiderGirl and Dafoanairi. “Good work,” she said. “The power is back to normal.”

 

“Glad to hear,” Dafoanairi said.

 

Ninja Talon handed Sam over.

 

Peterson cut the ties and cuffed him. “Sam Elders, you are under arrest. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you do say will be used against you in a court of law.”

 

“I would have gotten away with it, if It wasn’t for those meddling vigilantes.”

 

 

The Enigma watched from the roof as Sam was pushed into a car by Peterson. She saw that SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon were walking away to the east. ‘Now’s not the time,’ she thought. She then looked to where Dafoanairi was walking away in the opposite direction. ‘Maybe I’ll follow her instead.’

 

 

Dafoanairi realised someone was following her and looked around. She saw the Enigma on a nearby rooftop. “You can come down here,” she said.

 

“Sure,” the Enigma called out. She climbed down the side of the building.

 

“I’m glad you and SpiderGirl didn’t come to blows,” Dafoanairi said once the other had joined her.

 

“There wasn’t much of a chance. There will be another time.”

 

“Of course.”

 

“But what did you do, given your inexperience?” the Enigma asked.

 

“Not much less than you.”

 

“Good point, but…”

 

“I helped Ninja Talon subdue him,” Dafoanairi explained.

 

“Right. Where are you going?”

 

“A base. I don’t want you following me there.”

 

“I have my suspicions,” the Enigma said.

 

“And I have my suspicions about you. Let’s not wreck things by confirming them.”

 

“I doubt it would wreck things.”

 

“Maybe not,” Dafoanairi responded. “But it will make things more awkward than they already are.”

 

 

The Enigma considered what Dafoanairi had just said. ‘She may be right. Let’s continue as things are and hope we don’t slip up.’ She stopped. “Then I’ll head to the Pizza place,” she said. “See you another time.”

 

“Bye.”

 

 

SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon arrived at the spot beneath the Bridge. They looked around before removing their masks.

“Did Dafoanairi seem familiar to you?” Quinn asked.

 

“Not really,” Brittany answered. “She was snarky, but many people are snarky. I can be snarky.”

 

“That’s true, but something reminded me of Daria.”

 

“Daria? I don’t think so.”

 

“I don’t think it is either,” Quinn said, not entirely sure. “But it also could be. I still don’t want her finding out.”

 

“I don’t think she noticed anything about either of us.”

 

“It was a short time, wasn’t it?”

 

“Like only a few minutes,” Brittany said.

 

“True, but I’m glad that the brownouts are resolved.”

 

“But?”

 

“Jamie,” Quinn said. “I need to talk to him.”

 

“But you don’t know where he would be.”

 

“True, he might be at home, the Pizza place, the Historia, or even at Elly Aitkins’ place.”

 

“You could try the Historia first,” Brittany suggested.

 

“Well, it is the closet,” Quinn said.

 

 

At the Historia, Daria entered the café. She found that there were many people there.

 

“Daria!” It was Mrs. Rowe.

 

“The school let out early,” Daria said.

 

“I know. The brownouts. But it seems they have been resolved.”

 

“What is the news saying?”

 

“That SpiderGirl turned up and resolved the situation, along with Ninja Talon and an apparent fifth vigilante,” Mrs. Rowe said.

 

“I see,” Daria said as she went up to the counter. “As if Lawndale needs that.”

 

“It seems that Quinn’s resolution of the issue was temporary.”

 

“Maybe,” Daria considered.

 

 

Quinn entered the café soon afterwards. “Daria? Has Jamie been here?”

 

“I haven’t seen him,” Daria answered. “But I haven’t been here for long, you might ask Mrs. Rowe.”

 

“I shall.”

 

‘Haven’t been here for long,’ Quinn thought. She shook her head. ‘That doesn’t prove anything!’ She entered the office.

 

“Quinn?” Mrs. Rowe asked.

 

“Has Jamie been here?”

 

“I’m sorry, he hasn’t been.”

 

“Then I’ll have to look at the Pizza place,” Quinn said.

 

 

Daria saw Quinn leave just as quickly as she arrived. ‘I guess Jamie is somewhere else,’ she thought. She then saw Brittany enter through another door. “Brittany,” she said.

 

“I’ll order something first,” Brittany responded.

 

‘I wasn’t asking her to sit with me,’ Daria thought. ‘Or maybe I was.’ It seemed she and Brittany had bonded more than she thought. ‘And yesterday evening, she did say that I’m her friend.’

 

Brittany returned. “You have heard the brownouts have been resolved again?”

 

“Yes,” Daria answered. “From Mrs. Rowe. You have a portable radio with you?”

 

Brittany took one out of a pocket. “Of course.”

 

“Oh.”

 

“They’re also saying that there’s an apparent fifth vigilante.”

 

Daria hid her reaction. “What are they saying?”

 

“Just that she was there along with SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon.”

 

“Is that all?”

 

Brittany nodded.

 

‘I don’t need the media attention SpiderGirl has been getting.’

 

 

The Shadow arrived on a rooftop across the road from the solarium. ‘Of course, Trent was right,’ she thought. She took out her sketchpad and began to sketch the view to the north. ‘Once again I catch Lawndale in the late afternoon,’ she mused. ‘I wonder what Daria would make of this.’

 

 

Quinn entered the Pizza place not long after leaving the Historia. “Jamie?” she asked as she entered. She then saw him sitting alone in a booth, holding a soda can to his face. She went to order a cheese less pizza before going over to him.

 

 

“Jamie?” It was Quinn.

 

“Quinn? What are you doing here?” he asked.

 

“I want to talk to you about what you have been doing.”

 

Jamie took the can off of his face.

 

 

Quinn saw that there was a welt there. “What happened?” she asked.

 

“It was Elly. She slapped me! She found out that it was you who was the investigator who stopped the brownouts the first time.”

 

“Oh, Jamie! She shouldn’t have done that.”

 

“I’m sorry, Quinn. I wanted to impress her.”

 

“Is that all?”

 

“Yes. I was bragging,” Jamie said in a contrite tone. “I’m sorry for taking the credit.”

 

“That’s not all is it?”

 

“No. I like, I have seen how you have changed and I thought I could change too.”

 

“Oh Jamie…” Quinn said with a sigh. “Was that why you asked me to cut your hair?”

 

“Yes,” Jamie admitted.

 

“You know that I have changed due to grief, right?”

 

“You may have said that.”

 

“I changed my hair as part of my grieving,” Quinn said, leaving out the fact that it was also part of her becoming SpiderGirl. “It’s just a reflection of what I am still going through because Daddy died. If not for that, there would still be a Fashion Club and I wouldn’t be helping Angie, Anna, Ben and Gerald, and probably would not be involved in the Historia. I would still be a shallow, selfish girl. Do you understand, Jamie?”

 

“That change came from a tragedy?”

 

“Yes. Just trying to change because you want to probably isn’t helping either.”

 

“I see,” Jamie said as he put the can back on the welt. “I’ll be myself. At least you remember my name now.”

 

Quinn giggled. “There is that.”

 

 

Quinn was thinking on that as she arrived home before dinner. She entered the kitchen from the basement to find Daria setting the table. “You don’t usually set the table.”

 

“I have been trying to do more,” Daria said. “We both have to be responsible, so Mom doesn’t have to do too much.”

 

“Too true,” Quinn responded. “She’s still doing twelve hour days.”

 

“Not that much,” her mother said as she entered the kitchen. “More like 10 hours.”

 

“That’s still a lot,” Daria commented.

 

“That part of me hasn’t changed due to grief,” her mother said. “There is regret that I didn’t spend more time with him of course. I hope that I’m not missing things in your lives.”

 

‘Just one major thing,’ Quinn thought. ‘She can’t find out.’

 

 

Soon, they started dinner. “So, SpiderGirl stopped the brownouts permanently,” Helen said. “And caught the young man responsible?”

 

“I’m sure it was Ninja Talon who did the latter,” Quinn responded.

 

“I guess,” Helen said. “Point is, it was the vigilantes who resolved the situation.”

 

“Are you saying the police are incompetent?” Daria asked.

 

Helen thought for a moment. That wasn’t where she was going with that. But she could see how Daria could come to that conclusion, given her opinion about the power company. “No. I guess they were trying to figure out how to go in without causing collateral damage. Anyway, I’m relieved that the brownouts are gone,” she said. She then wondered what would happen in Lawndale next.

 

 

Quinn took a bite and glanced towards Daria. She had decided not to worry about whether Dafaonairi was her or not. ‘But I will be careful around her as SpiderGirl.’

 

 

Daria had also come to a decision. She realised that she did know that Sandi was the Enigma. But she also remembered what they talked about after helping stop the brownouts.  ‘I will make a note of it, but that is all I will do. I’ll see what happens next.’

Monday Writings - March 31, 2025

 

31^st March

Excerpt from: Mysteries of Aurora

“Easy for you to say,” Freya responded. She closed her eyes and spun around. “But I won’t dwell on it.” She opened her eyes and looked into Dana’s with determination. “Wait.”

 

 

Freya then turned again and picked up the sketch.

 

 

Excerpt from: Spider Quinn

“I hope you’ll be able to prove that Anders was being irresponsible,” she said.

 

“I’m sure that we will, Mrs. Morgendorffer,” Jane said.

 

“OK, Samara said to fast forward,” Daria said as she handled the remote. “But she didn’t say how far.”

 

 

Daria soon found footage. She turned to Jane. “I’m sure that you’re the only one here that has seen her.”

 

“I have too,” Brittany piped up.

 

“You too?” Daria asked.

 

“Yes. She carried me home one night, in early December,” Brittany said.

 

“OK,” Daria said. There was something, careful, about how Brittany said that. She shook her head. That wasn’t what she wanted to think about, but she did recall that one of the early newspaper articles mentioned a cheerleader being carried by SpiderGirl one night. “So, you’ll be able to tell as well?”

 

“Yes,” Brittany answered.

 

“That will help with the proof,” Daria said. “OK, we’re at the beginning of the interview.”

 

 

Quinn wasn’t surprised that Brittany had spoken up. ‘She knows how to keep our secret,’ she thought.

 

She watched the interview again.

 

“Pause!” Jane said.

 

“Almost right away,” Daria said as she paused.

 

“She’s too rigid. SpiderGirl’s more animated that that!” Jane explained.

 

‘She’s right,’ Quinn thought.

 

“Like, she moves about more,” Brittany added.

 

“That’s not proof in of itself,” Daria said.

 

“Exactly, we can’t just go with, she’s too stiff,” Quinn added/

 

 

Daria pressed play again.

 

She took notes and Jane sketched as she commented on some things the fake SpiderGirl said in response to Ander’s questions.

 

They went through it twice; the second time as Daria copied it, using an older VCR that she had found in the attic.

Church notes - March 2025

 On LiveJournal: https://fardell24.livejournal.com/629634.html?newpost

On Dreamwidth: https://fardell24.dreamwidth.org/920710.html

Church notes - 30th March 2025

 30th

Matthew 26:57 - 75

King Jesus' Determination

Injustice

Betrayal

- When those you love let you down.

Redemption

- How God's grace changes everyting.

Determination

vs 56 - 68

Jesus on trial

A clash of kingdoms

- Also in our hearts

Caiaphas

- The High Priest

- A Sadducee - who were as rude to their peers as they were to foreigners.

- In charge of worship at the Temple.

- Sanhedrin - 71 members

vs 63

Jesus remained silent against the false testimony.

vs 64

Quote from Psalm 110.

Reaction

vs 65 - 68

Contempt, anger and hostility.

Micah 6:8

Betrayal

Our human frailty.

Peter

Betraying Jesus is

- Such a sad thing to do, and yet we all do it.

vs 69 - 72

Servant girl - the lowest of the low.

vs 75

Sorrow or regret

Judas had regret. Peter had sorrow with genuine repentance.

2 Corinthians 7:10, 11

Readiness to see justice done.

Our riftuals and lists aren't enough.

We need to repent of our sin and righteousness.

The Heart

External activities can't change us, says Jesus, because sin comes from our hearts.

Idols of the Heart

What are the idols of my heart?

Spider Quinn 15 The New Challenges Part 4

 

Quinn arrived at school not long after. She began hearing rumors of Jamie’s claim as she headed to Homeroom. ‘What is Jamie doing?’ she groused to herself. ‘He wouldn’t have found the off switch or the Solarium itself if he hadn’t joined me on the search!’ She wasn’t sure what to do about his bragging other than to insist on the truth.

 

 

Conflicting claims would spread through the school as the day went on.

 

 

At lunch, Jamie was eating with Elly and Freya. Joey saw that and turned to Jeffy Brown-Mercer. “We need to do something about this?”

 

“But how?” Jeffy asked.

 

“We’ll go to Quinn,” Joey said.

 

“Or Daria?” Jeffy asked.

 

“Quinn first,” Joey decided.

 

“Sure.”

 

 

“And so, it’s annoying,” Quinn said. “But I have been insisting on the truth. That I was there at the Solarium and he wouldn’t have been there if he hadn’t come with me.”

 

“That’s all you can do,” Tori Jericho said.

 

“I know,” Quinn said.

 

“Quinn?” Joey said as he approached.

 

“Jeffy?” Stacy Rowe asked.

 

“It’s about Jamie,” Joey said.

 

“He’s bragging that he was the teen investigator that stopped the brownouts,” Jeffy said.

 

“I know,” Quinn said with annoyance.

 

“But what can we do about it?” Joey asked.

 

“Also, it seems he’s going after Elly,” Jeffy said.

 

“I’d say let him,” Stacy said.

 

“What?” Tiffany Blum-Deckler asked.

 

“So, he wouldn’t annoy Quinn,” Stacy said.

 

“He hasn’t been doing that lately,” Quinn pointed out.

 

“Nor have I,” Joey said. “I mean we have gone on dates, but it’s been more as friends, especially given we’re partners in the Historia.”

 

“That’s a good point,” Stacy said.

 

“But Jamie?” Jeffy asked.

 

“I guess you can ask Daria,” Quinn said. “I’m at a wits end.”

 

 

Daria was slightly annoyed that Tania Ashworth seemed to be joining her and Jane, along with Harry and Sandi, for lunch more often. ‘What about her friends?’ she wondered.

 

“….And so, we toilet papered the building,” Sandi concluded, having told Harry, Jane and Tania the previous night’s activities with Philippa.

 

Harry Osborn shrugged. “It’s fine that you did that,” he said. “But I would be annoyed if you did it to the mansion.”

 

“I wouldn’t,” Sandi said. “But I doubt it would stop Philippa.”

 

“But was it Quinn or Jamie who actually stopped the brownouts?” Tania asked.

 

“Both,” Daria answered. “But it was Quinn who was investigating, and Jamie was tagging along.”

 

“Is that right?” Jeffy asked as he and Joey came up.

 

“Hi, Jeffy,” Daria said. “Yes. It was mostly Quinn.”

 

“But Jamie is bragging that he is the one who did it,” Joey said.

 

Daria sighed. “Of course he is. I’m sure Quinn said she doesn’t know what to do?”

 

“Other than insisting on the truth,” Joey said.

 

“Then I would wait for the truth to come out,” Daria said.

 

“But he’s also trying to impress Elly Aitkin,” Jeffy said.

 

“Then let him. I’m sure she’ll find out the truth at some point,” Daria said.

 

 

It was 2PM when Sam returned to the Solarium after college classes and lunch.

 

“You’re here early,” his grandfather said, when he entered.

 

“I thought I would be here early,” Sam responded.

 

“That’s fine, but I know you were here this morning.”

 

“I may have been.”

 

“I know that you’re up to something,” Mr. Elders said.

 

 

At 2:20, Sam saw that his grandfather was in the office. He then locked him in there, and blocked the door.

 

 

“There it is,” he said as he found the switch to the furnace. He switched it on and then turned the thermostat up to maximum.

 

 

The brownouts started again almost immediately.

 

 

“…Here,” Elisabeth said as she served a customer. Then the lights started flickering again. “Uh oh!”

 

“The brownouts?” the customer asked.

 

“Yes, they’re back!”

 

 

“The brownout problem has returned in downtown Lawndale, but they are worse than before…”

 

 

At 2:30, Lawndale High was hit by the new brownouts.

 

“Oh no!” Li said as her office blacked out.

 

 

Quinn noticed straight away, as did Stacy. “Not again!” Stacy said.

 

“I guess It’s the owner’s grandson,” Quinn said.

 

“What makes you say that?” Stacy asked.

 

“Attention students! Due to power disruptions, school will end early today!” Ms. Li announced. “Please leave carefully.”

 

 

“I didn’t tell you something. Jamie compared the Solarium to a lair,” Quinn said, answering Stacy’s question, as they left the Language Arts classroom.

 

“Why did he do that?” Stacy asked.

 

“You didn’t see inside that building. It was old. The owner brushed it aside, but the grandson may have overheard.”

 

“So, what do we do now?”

 

“You go to the Historia. I’ll go to the Solarium, see what I can do,” Quinn answered.

 

 

Daria and Jane left the History classroom. “Do you know where the Solarium is?” Jane asked.

 

“I think jumping to conclusions is a bad idea,” Daria said. “But I have no other idea what’s going on.”

 

“But…”

 

“It’s on Third Street,” Daria answered. “But what are you going to do?”

 

“At least sketch the situation,” Jane answered.

 

Daria smirked. ‘But what can I do as Dafaonairi if one of the other vigilantes doesn’t respond first.’

 

“What are you going to do?” Jane asked.

 

“I’m not sure.”

 

 

Brittany wasn’t far behind. “I’ll have a look at the Solarium myself,” she said quietly.

 

“What Solarium?” Kevin asked. “You want a tan?”

 

“No, I mean the Solarium behind the brownouts,” Brittany clarified. “See you later, Kevie.”

 

“Oh.”

 

 

Sandi changed to the Enigma on the school roof and looked in the direction of the Solarium. ‘I will do whatever it takes to end this disruption to Lawndale!’

 

 

SpiderGirl arrived at the Solarium and saw that Peterson and a few other officers were on the scene. She swung down.

 

“We just got here,” Peterson said. “The traffic signals are also messed up.”

 

“Another thing,” SpiderGirl groused. “I’m going to try to find the power box.”

 

Peterson nodded. “Go ahead. We haven’t been able to get through to the power company.”

 

“Incompetence again.”

 

“Yes.”

 

 

However, it wasn’t as easy as that. SpiderGirl soon found that the power box was somewhere inside. “Inside?” Peterson asked rhetorically. “That’s risky. We don’t know what’s in there. All that we know is that the owner is stuck in his office.”

 

“Got it,” SpiderGirl said. “I’ll try to find Ninja Talon, we’ll be back.” She swung away, heading towards the Jefferson Bridge.

 

 

Peterson picked the bullhorn again. “This is the Lawndale Police Department. Come out with your hands up! If this continues we may be forced to storm the building.”

 

 

Sam heard the announcement. He was sure that they would eventually do that, but he had plans to escape.

 

 

The Enigma arrived on the roof of the Solarium and saw the police presence in front. ‘Peterson is there,’ she thought. ‘Could we both infiltrate from up here?’ she wondered.

 

 

Peterson saw the Enigma emerge from an alley next to the Solarium. “SpiderGirl found that the power box is inside,” she said.

 

“I see,” the Enigma said with an annoyed tone. “Where is she now?”

 

“She went somewhere, but she’ll be back.”

 

“I see. I thought that we could infiltrate from the roof.”

 

“This isn’t like when we rescued Beresfield. It’s a completely different situation,” Peterson said.

 

“It is the same. We can rescue the owner first.”

 

“We have talked to him. He’s safe for now.”

 

“Then I guess I have to go in on my own,” the Enigma said, with a determined look in her eyes.

 

“I’m not going to stop you, but you’ll be on your own until SpiderGirl gets back. I know you want to be her rival…”

 

“I’ll try to solve it before she gets here.”

 

 

The Enigma went back up to the roof and opened a vent.

 

 

Ninja Talon found that SpiderGirl was already at the Bridge. “So, you came here first?” she asked.

 

“No, I couldn’t find the power box on the outside of the building. It has to be somewhere inside.”

 

“So, you wanted backup?”

 

“Yes, and a better plan than just going in and finding out that Sam has trapped the place,” SpiderGirl said.

 

“That’s his name?”

 

“Yes. He might be at Lawndale State, although I didn’t ask.”

 

“Right. But we just have to risk it,” Ninja Talon said. “We won’t know until we get in there.”

 

“I knew it would be something like that. Let’s go.”

 

 

The Enigma emerged from the ventilation system in the office and saw that the owner was shocked. “You’re not SpiderGirl,” he said.

 

“No, I’m the Enigma, the fourth vigilante who’s more than a rumor.”

 

“Got it. I admit I was sceptical of there being superheroes in a town like this, but after Groundhog Day…”

 

“We have to get moving, your grandson may be listening,” the Enigma said.

 

“Of course.”

 

 

SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon arrived at the Solarium.

 

“The Enigma is in there,” Peterson said.

 

“I’ll be careful,” SpiderGirl said.

 

“I’ll keep an eye out for her,” Ninja Talon added.

 

“She went in by the roof,” Peterson explained.

 

“Then we’ll go in a side window,” SpiderGirl decided.

 

 

The Enigma and Mr. Elders climbed out of a vent onto the roof. “That was difficult,” Mr. Elders said.

 

“Not that difficult,” the Enigma said. “But then I’m, like, still a teen.”

 

“Not just that, your power, what ever it is, makes it easier.”

 

“Telekinesis.”

 

“Whatever,” Elders said. “But how are we going to get down.”

 

“How are you with ropes?”

 

“Maybe tell the cops to call the fire department?”

 

“Give it a try first,” the Enigma said.

 

“Why did it have to be a three story building?”

 

 

SpiderGirl found a window ajar on the second story. “Here we go,” she said as she webbed it open.

 

Ninja Talon shone a flashlight through it. “No one in that room,” she said.

 

“So far, so good.”

 

 

Dafoanairi emerged from the rear of the Historia, having changed from the usual Daria in her apartment. ‘I didn’t think I would use it for that.’

 

 

The Enigma and Mr. Elders made it to the ground. “Finally!” he said.

 

“Very good,” Peterson said, with evident relief in her voice.

 

“Now, I’ll go back in,” the Enigma said.

 

“SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon showed up,” Peterson said.

 

“I see,” the Enigma responded.

 

“They entered through a side window,” Peterson added.

 

“Then I’ll go back through the roof.”

 

 

Elders watched the Enigma climb back up. “What was that about?” he asked.

 

“Let’s just say that the Enigma doesn’t like SpiderGirl for some reason,” Peterson explained.

 

“I hope they won’t fight in there.”

 

“SpiderGirl knows how to handle herself.”

 

 

SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon emerged into a corridor. “Looks like this floor was apartments,” SpiderGirl commented.

 

“What about the lower levels?”

 

“Those were the areas Jamie thought was a lair.”

 

“You did say that,” Ninja Talon said.

 

“I should have realised that Sam overheard him.”

 

“You can’t blame yourself for that.”

 

“I know,” SpiderGirl responded. They then found the stairs down.

 

They crept down the stairs…

 

 

Peterson saw a cloaked figure approach. “Who’s there?” she asked.

 

“Dafoanairi, you know my secret identity,” she said quietly but with sarcasm.

 

‘Oh, Daria! What are you doing?’ Peterson thought. “Why are you here?”

 

“I’m going in and restoring the power.”

 

“But SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon are already doing that. And the Enigma has gone back in after rescuing the owner.”

 

“Oh. But maybe I can do something they can’t. And maybe I can stop the Enigma from fighting SpiderGirl,” Dafoanairi responded.

 

“I suppose so,” Peterson allowed.

 

“So, I’ll look for an open window.”

 

“That would probably be the way SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon entered.”

 

“Got it,” Dafoanairi responded.

 

 

SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon emerged onto the ground floor. “Uh oh!” the former said.

 

“Something wrong?”

 

“He has done something. He has put up screens or something.”

 

“Good guess, SpiderGirl!”

 

The two heroes went back to back and looked around. “We know you’re there,” Ninja Talon said.

 

“And Ninja Talon too, of course. It seems you now team up whenever something major happens,” Sam said.

 

“Can’t quite pick where you are,” SpiderGirl said. “Are you throwing your voice?”

 

“Very perceptive,” Sam commented.

 

“We have to keep moving,” Ninja Talon whispered.

 

SpiderGirl nodded and pointed right past the screen.

 

“A good talent for a theatre student to have. Wouldn’t you agree? Also, I wouldn’t bother going to the basement. There are traps there.”

 

“We can outwit those,” Ninja Talon said.

 

 

The Enigma entered the ducts above the first floor and overheard Sam’s conversation with SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon. ‘He doesn’t know I’m here, but the problem is, I don’t think this goes to the basement.’

 

Dafoanairi found an open window on the second story. Once she had clambered in, she looked around and saw that the room was unused. “I guess the Solarium is just on the first floor.” She then carefully left the room.

 

 

SpiderGirl carefully looked around the screen. She didn’t see Sam anywhere, but she saw that he had moved some of the tanning beds around. ‘I bet he remembers me saying that I burn easily,’ she thought. ‘But I designed this suit for winter conditions, so that shouldn’t be a problem.’ But the problem was that with the furnace up to maximum it was getting hot inside.

 

“Is it getting hotter?” Ninja Talon.

 

“He must have turned up the furnace. That is why the brownouts are worse.”

 

“We have to do this quicky, then.”

 

“What else is new,” SpiderGirl commented.

 

 

Dafoanairi also noticed the heat. ‘This isn’t good.’ She ran along the corridor.

 

 

The Enigma noticed it too as she climbed out of the ducts into an empty room. ‘This isn’t good. But I can’t just tear at wires telekinetically. I don’t know what that would cause.’ And she was sure that the locate ability only worked on people, rather than objects, given its limitations. ‘But where is Sam? I’ll forgo searching for SpiderGirl’s identity tonight, like when I searched for Beresfield.’ She didn’t have an energy drink on her, but that was fine. She took a few deep breaths. “Findu mann sem heiter: Sam Elders!”

 

 

She found Sam, but not without perceiving the rest of the inside of the Solarium. She knew where the power box, and the furnace switch, were. The Enigma then took a deep breath and opened the door.

 

 

“Spidey?” Ninja Talon asked as her friend seemed slightly out of it for a few seconds.

 

“Another of those tingles,” SpiderGirl explained.

 

“Now?”

 

“It might be the Enigma, somehow. But I’m not sure.”

 

“Now’s not the time…” Ninja Talon said.

 

“I know.”

 

 

“Something distracted you,” Sam said, from somewhere nearby. “But what?”

 

“Something you don’t understand,” SpiderGirl said. She shot a web somewhere nearby and pulled, knocking one of the screens over. “Lawndale is complex.”

 

“That’s obvious,” Sam said. “Any town is complex.”

 

“I wasn’t finished. The vigilantes aren’t united. We all have different origin stories,” SpiderGirl said.

 

“This isn’t a comic book either,” Sam said

 

“Meaning, we aren’t all working together! The fourth vigilante is an antihero who wants to be my rival!”

 

“There!” Ninja Talon said. “The fourth vigilante!”

 

SpiderGirl ducked, just in case.

 

 

The Enigma heard Ninja Talon, but didn’t look.

 

She continued to go towards where the power box was.