Spider Quinn 20 The Imitation Tempest Part 8

 

Sandi entered Cashmans and saw that the knockoff clothes were still on sale. “There are still a lot of them,” she said.

 

Theresa appeared from behind a rack. “Sandi,” she said. “They haven’t really been selling.”

 

“They haven’t?” Sandi asked.

 

“No. Only the occasional person. But most look at the quality and just put them back with disappointment.”

 

“Just as well.”

 

“I haven’t heard anything of clothes based on the other heroes of Lawndale,” Theresa added.

 

“That’s probably just as well,” Sandi said. “Like, SpiderGirl as the first, draws all the attention.”

 

“I don’t think that’s right.”

 

“Ninja Talon too, I guess, as she was the second, but it was Dafoanairi who disabled that robodactyl.”

 

“I’m sure they did it together,” Theresa said.

 

“You’re right.”

 

“I have also heard people talking. Many people don’t like the fact that someone is trying to commodify SpiderGirl.”

 

“That is exactly what is happening,” Sandi groused. “It’s like what happened with the interview, just different.”

 

Theresa nodded. “I knew something was wrong when I watched it. What was surprising was that Lynn Anders went along with it.”

 

“I know. Like, I met her briefly in the Historia just before the robodactyl incident, and how she acted then was completely different to when she took over the airwaves.”

 

“You’re saying that it was more than that she was drinking?”

 

“Exactly,” Sandi answered.

 

 

Fields arrived at the Historia shortly after six. She went up to the box office. “One to see Tempest tonight, please,” she said.

 

“That will be 25 dollars,” the girl said. “It will start at 6:30.”

 

“Thanks,” Fields said as she took the ticket. She then went to the café. There were many teenagers there. ‘Any of girl’s could be SpiderGirl or Ninja Talon,’ she thought as she went to the counter.

 

 

Quinn was having dinner with Daria and Jane when she saw Fields go up to the counter. ‘Maybe she knows some part of what Osborn is up to with all these agents and clothes,’ she thought. ‘But I’ll have to meet her as SpiderGirl another time.’

 

“Something up?” Jane asked.

 

“Just thinking about something. About how Mom thought Lawndale was normal before we moved here,” Quinn answered.

 

“And it turned out to be anything but?” Daria asked rhetorically.

 

“It may have been boring suburbia on the surface, but there was always things lurking underneath,” Jane added.

 

“Besides the subcultures of the unpopular?” Quinn asked. “Like the places Mystik Spiral plays?”

 

“That’s part of it,” Jane said.

 

“More that Oscorp has been here for a while,” Daria said.

 

“You told me that last week, after the incident with William was resolved,” Quinn said.

 

“I remember,” Daria said.

 

“Have you found out much more?” Jane asked.

 

“No. It’s buried deeply, like Osborn knows what he’s doing. But I have found that Oscorp first bought what is now the headquarters a little over fourteen years ago, shortly after Harry’s mother passed away,” Daria answered.

 

“That might be more of a clue,” Quinn commented.

 

“I thought so too,” Daria said. “That his grief started him and his company on the path they are now.”

 

‘It’s like we’re twisted reflections of each other,’ Quinn thought. ‘Different responses to grief. She didn’t say ‘with great power comes great responsibility’.’

 

 

Daria could tell that Quinn was thinking about their father again. “I’m sure he would be proud of how we’re thriving without him.”

 

Quinn smiled at that. “Thanks Daria.”

 

 

Sandi was ready to search again. After Petra Hollier in the yearbook was Lara Ingurman, with short brown hair. “I don’t know Lara either,” Sandi considered. She picked up the energy drink.

 

“Findu mann sem heitir: Lara Ingurman!”

 

She found Lara at the Historia, waiting for the play to start.

 

 

That evening’s production of Tempest went well.

 

As the curtain went down, Fields reflected on the play. ‘This Daria Morgendorffer is very good,’ she thought. It was still raw in some places but it was obvious that Daria had potential as a playwright. The same was true of the actress playing Ariel.

 

 

She was still thinking about that when she emerged onto the roof to find SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon already there.

 

 

Ninja Talon saw the lady first. “Someone’s here,” she said.

 

“Relax, Talon,” SpiderGirl said. “It’s the woman who was the fake me. I’m sure she has a reason for being here.”

 

Ninja Talon nodded. “I’m sure you know who we are,” she said in a more welcoming tone.

 

“Lawndale’s first two vigilante heroes,” the woman said. “You can call me Fields.”

 

“Fields,” Ninja Talon considered as she fidgeted with one of her throwing stars in her belt.

 

“Why are you here?” SpiderGirl asked.

 

“I have brought something Osborn has me working on,” Fields answered.

 

“What is that?” SpiderGirl asked. “And why?”

 

“Maps of the routes through Lawndale’s rooftops,” Fields answered.

 

“So, that is how the agents are able to find us?” SpiderGirl asked.

 

“But they’re incomplete,” Fields added.

 

“So, you want to give us an advantage?” SpiderGirl asked.

 

“Yes,” Fields answered, as she handed a folder over.

 

Ninja Talon opened it and they both saw a map of Lawndale’s downtown with many lines marked.

 

SpiderGirl also looked at it. “It looks like a lot of work has already been done.”

 

“I’ll leave you to it,” Fields said.

 

“Wait!” Ninja Talon said.

 

“I have no idea if Osborn is using satellites to spy on Lawndale or not,” Fields said.

 

“He wouldn’t get much that way. Oscorp would have to have a limited number of satellites,” SpiderGirl said. “And limited opportunities to photograph Lawndale in a way that would show you up here with us.”

 

“You have thought about it before?” Fields asked.

 

“Sometimes,” SpiderGirl responded with a shrug. “Thanks for the heads up.”

 

 

SpiderGirl watched Fields go back through the door and down the stairs before turning to Talon. “Yet another thing.”

 

“There seems to be two copies here,” Talon said.

 

“Then we can both have a look before we decide what to do about it.”

 

“True.”

 

 

Fields looked around as she got back to the Lobby. Most of the people had already left after the play. No one looked suspicious. Still, she was nervous after giving the folder to the vigilantes. She then dashed out.

 

 

As soon as she got home, Quinn started looking at the maps in the hidden room. ‘Fields is meticulous, but where did she get this information from, if not from satellite imagery?’ She looked closer. “Not satellites,” she murmured. Some of the paths were obscured by trees, rooftop equipment or other buildings, depending on the angle. She pinned one of the maps up on the wall, and wrote on a post it. Cameras. ‘I wouldn’t put it past Oscorp to use tech like the robodactyl to hover over the rooftops.’

 

But she knew that she hadn’t seen anything like that while on patrol. ‘And I’m sure Brit hasn’t either.’ She thought about it more. ‘Could I ask Daria if the Enigma has?’ She shook her head. That would just make Daria suspicious. ‘It’s bad enough that I suspect that she’s Dafoanairi, and that Peterson strongly suspects my identity. I don’t want Daria doing so too.’ She looked at where she had placed a picture of Peterson on the board. ‘But I can ask her about it. It’s likely that she would be at the Historia in the morning.’

 

 

After midnight, the Enigma looked out over Lawndale towards the downtown from her rooftop. ‘I know Osborn is trying to stop us with those agents,’ she thought, not for the first time. She thought about the previous night’s encounter. She didn’t want to damage too many houses while confronting agents. ‘I don’t want to be seen as a threat to Lawndale, when I’m trying to protect it, even when I’m willing to do anything to protect it.’  She clenched her fists, and raised a forcefield, as the memory of Peterson talking to her on the night of Quinn’s party came up.

 

She calmed herself. She knew what she was going to do. Talk to Osborn in the morning. ‘Probably won’t achieve anything more than what happened with Mother this morning, but I have to try.’ She then jumped down, ready to patrol. ‘But maybe it would be a good idea to ask Dafoanairi for backup.’

 

 

“You’re going to do it anyway, aren’t you?” Daria asked.

 

“Yes. It’s like the way I want to confront SpiderGIrl,” Sandi said.

 

“Which you haven’t done yet.”

 

“The opportunity hasn’t come up.”

 

“Or you’re having second thoughts. You know, at some level, that it mightn’t be good for Lawndale,” Daria said.

 

Sandi sighed as she looked at Daria’s investigation wall. “Maybe Peterson did get to me. But back to Osborn.”

 

“I will provide backup, as I don’t want you to get captured. I want to see where this unexpected friendship will go.”

 

“Like Eclipsing Jane?”

 

“I don’t think so,” Daria answered. “We’re friends in a different way.”

 

“Because we’re superhero partners?”

 

“That’s part of it.”

 

 

“Anyway. I was thinking quite early,” Sandi said.

 

“Just after sunrise?”

 

“A little later. Like, he probably wouldn’t go to the office first thing.”

 

“Showing up at the office when he’s not there probably isn’t the best way to confront him,” Daria said, as she made a note on the wall.

 

“Obviously not.”

 

Daria went over to her computer and brought up a diagram of the Headquarters building she had put together.

 

“You drew this?” Sandi asked.

 

“Yes. I may not be as visually creative as Jane, but I can draft.”

 

“It is functional, which is what matters.”

 

“Yes,” Daria said as she zoomed in on the office. “I shall wait outside on one of the ledges while you confront him in the office. As far as I could tell, the CCTV is on the roof, but not on the walls.”

 

“Risky.”

 

“I know, but I have been practicing and improving my balance,” Daria answered. She briefly remembered rescuing that man who had tried to imitate one of Lynn Anders’ stunts, which she still hadn’t told Sandi about.

 

 

Sandi smiled at that and looked at the wall again. At the map of Oscorp’s footprint in Lawndale, which had grown slightly over the past month. ‘How much more?’ she wondered, not for the first time. “We’re also not sure what Osborn wanted Conner’s research for.”

 

“Whatever it is, certainly isn’t good. It wouldn’t surprise me that there are more like William out there.”

 

“I hope not! But you may be right, which is why I have to do this.”

 

“I agree,” Daria said. She grabbed her staff. “But scoping it out first might be a good idea. We can’t go in without much of a plan.”

 

“I knew you would say that.”

 

 

Twenty minutes later, Dafoanairi and the Enigma looked at the headquarters from the top of the building next door. “At least it’s not all smooth glass,” Dafoanairi said. “That would have made it difficult.”

 

“Apparently Lawndale’s more stylized.”

 

“Or just old fashioned.”

 

 

SpiderGirl listened to the town on her roof at the usual time. The town sounded subdued, as if it was holding it’s breath for something. ‘There are more difficult times ahead,’ she thought.

 

 

Lawndale Sun-Herald

Saturday, March 10, 2001

No comment from Norman Osborn About Possible Surveillance

 

Ninja Talon put the paper back. She saw that Penelope Jericho had asked a question of Osborn about the agents that had been seen. ‘Maybe I’ll talk to Peterson later,’ she thought. But she wasn’t sure where.

 

 

The Enigma and Dafoanairi arrived behind the headquarters at 6:45. “Harry says that he leaves about 6:30 on most days,” the Enigma said.

 

“So, he’ll be here in a few minutes.”

 

“Like, better be prepared.”

 

“I know a way up,” Dafoanairi said confidently.

 

The Enigma smiled as her hands glowed faintly.

Church notes - 8th March 2026

 8th

Ephesians 6:10 - 18

vs 10

Be strong; be strengthened.

It is God's armour - not ours.

Jesus has already won.

vs 12

We have new life in Jesus.

But we will face opposition.

The struggle isn't against flesh and  blood.

Choose to forgive.

Choose faith.

vs 13

One complete picture, not six separate pieces.

Righteousness guards the hart.

Your standing doesn't rely on performance.

vs 16

The shield of faith stops the fiery arrows from attacking your mind.

vs 17

The sword.

Stop fighting the wrong enemy.

Not against flesh and blood.

Put on the armour daily.

- It is intentional.

Guard your mind.

Prayer is not optional, but Oxygen.

Walking in righteousness as an unshakeable church.

Spider Quinn 20 The Imitation Tempest Part 7

 

It was still quite early when Daria arrived at the Historia. It was early enough that Angie was still setting up the café when she arrived.

 

“You haven’t been this early before,” Angie said.

 

“I wanted to get here with plenty of time to spare before school.”

 

“It has been one of those weeks, hasn’t it?”

 

“Yes. But every week is different. This time last week, the robodactyl had just appeared and the fake interview was about to happen that night.” Daria answered.

 

“Don’t remind me,” Angie said, as she checked the coffee machine. “Over a month since Groundhog Day.”

 

“I’m looking into something a lot less troublesome, although it’s still troublesome in a different way.”

 

“You mean the knock offs? Mom told me there aren’t that many coming into her store asking about them.”

 

“There aren’t?” Daria asked.

 

“There haven’t been. But maybe most would know that the boutique wouldn’t have them.”

 

“That could be it.”

 

 

Peterson arrived at the Historia shortly after seven. She saw that Daria was already there, waiting for her breakfast. She went to order a coffee first.

 

 

“Morning,” Daria said when Peterson had sat across from her.

 

“You’re here early.”

 

“I wanted to be sure that I met you this morning, as I’ll be busy with the play this evening.”

 

“You mean the new rooftop activity?” Peterson asked.

 

“Yes. I encountered one yesterday evening.”

 

“And the Enigma?”

 

“She did too,” Daria answered. She didn’t mention the fact that the Enigma had damaged a house in dealing with him. ‘She would think she’s more of an antihero than she already is.’

 

“And you have suspicions.”

 

“Oscorp, but there’s still no proof.”

 

“And actual proof might be difficult to obtain,” Peterson mused.

 

“Even if the other heroes may have had their own encounters.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“And then there was Tania last night,” Daria added.

 

“Tania Ashworth? What happened?”

 

Daria explained what had happened.

 

 

Peterson took in what Daria had said. That Oscorp were suspecting Tania as one of the vigilantes and was having her followed was troubling. ‘It still doesn’t mean that she’s not one of them, either Ninja Talon or the Shadow.’

 

“Obviously LDPD can’t be present at the Park all the time,” Daria said.

 

“We can’t, but I can talk to Tania after school, or tonight before the play starts.”

 

“That might be a better idea.”

 

“As for the agents, we can only intervene if they are caught red handed,” Peterson said. “But I will talk to Osborn later.”

 

“I suspected that.”

 

“I can’t tell you everything, of course.”

 

“Such is the lot of an amateur when working with someone with a badge,” Daria responded.

 

“You’re lucky I like your wit,” Peterson murmured lightly.

 

 

SpiderGirl looked at the High School from the strip mall across the street. It wasn’t open yet, but she wanted to get there early, to be sure of catching Ted before homeroom. The area was calm, quiet compared to later when students would be rushing to get to class. She didn’t see any Oscorp agents nearby. ‘One thing at a time,’ she thought.

 

 

Tania was still a little jittery as she arrived at school. She heard a sound and turned to see Quinn walking towards her. She let out a sigh of relief.

 

“Are you OK?” Quinn asked.

 

“Not really,” Tania admitted.

 

Quinn put her hand on Tania’s shoulder. “If you want to talk about if…”

 

“I did talk to a couple of people last night, but thanks.”

 

Quinn smiled.

 

 

Quinn and Tania waited near the front doors for a short while before Pavlov opened them.

 

 

Ted arrived at school at his usual time. “Quinn?” he asked when she came up to him.

 

“We’ll have to talk to Ms. Li about the clothes today,” she said.

 

“Have you come up with a reason?”

 

“A few,” Quinn answered.

 

 

Daria parked the Lexus in the school’s parking lot to find Jane waiting for her. “You’ve been waiting long?”

 

“I didn’t want to head downtown this morning,” Jane said with a slight shrug.

 

But Daria could tell that something was up. “Something happened?”

 

“More the ongoing situation with Oscorp. I have seen agents on the rooftops during my runs.”

 

“Are you sure they aren’t the vigilantes?”

 

“They are different to the sketches I have of them,” Jane answered.

 

“Of course.”

 

“Just more evidence that Lawndale is changing,”

 

‘There’s more to it than that,’ Daria thought as they walked into the school.

 

 

Norman Osborn arrived at the Headquarters, but first he looked at the graffiti that the Shadow had left in the night. It showed the Oscorp logo being squished by a stylized version of Lawndale’s municipal crest, along with a stylized ‘S’ in a dark grey.

 

“What message do you think it’s sending?” one of his workers asked.

 

“Defiance,” Osborn answered. “Clean it off.”

 

“Yes, sir.”

 

 

Fields saw Osborn come in. She then turned back to her screen, where a small portion of the routes through West Lawndale had been mapped.

 

“What’s your progress?” Osborn asked.

 

“Not sure. Lawndale is sprawling, remember.”

 

“I am well aware of that. I still expect results, Ms. Fields.”

 

“Yes, sir. I’ll post daily updates,” Fields said.

 

“Get on with it then.”

 

 

At the beginning of lunch, Quinn and Ted entered Ms. Li’s office.

 

“So, you want me to let the Lowdown investigate the SpiderGirl knockoff clothes?” Ms. Li asked.

 

“Yes,” Ted answered. “It is obvious that they are aimed at Lawndale’s young people.”

 

“Maybe, but it doesn’t seem to be something a high school publication should be investigating.”

 

“Or maybe it is,” Quinn said.

 

“What are you getting at Ms. Morgendorffer?”

 

“I have looked at them a few times. It obvious that whoever had them made is looking to exploit not only the image of Lawndale’s first superhero, but also the young people who look up to her! You’re always going on about the honor and glory of this school. But what would be more honorable than exposing such a scheme?” Quinn answered as she leaned forward.

 

“You make a good argument,” Ms. Li said. “But it is very risky.’

 

“I know that, but that is part of journalism isn’t it?” Quinn responded.

 

“I agree,” Li said. “But I am allowing you to do it.”

 

“Thanks!” Ted said.

 

“But I expect updates every week; say each Friday,” the principal said.

 

“No problem,” Quinn said. “I’m sure we’ll have something to start with by this time next week.”

 

Ms. Li nodded. “That will be all.”

 

 

After the two students left, the principal opened a document on her computer. It contained a picture of Norman Osborn. “You think you have this school under control because of our agreement, Norman?” she said quietly. “I can outmanoeuvre you by encouraging the curiosity of my students. Lawndale High will thrive where Oscorp won’t.” She then closed the document and went back to work.

 

 

“That was easy,” Ted said as they walked away from the office.

 

Quinn shrugged. “I knew what to say.”

 

“Maybe.”

 

‘But it was easy,’ Quinn thought. ‘Li probably has her own reasons for agreeing.’

 

 

At the same time, Daria, Jane, Sandi, Tania and Harry were talking as they had lunch.

 

“So, you were followed last night,” Harry asked Tania.

 

“Yes,” Tania answered. “It’s good that the fourth vigilante and Dafoanairi were there. But I’m sure it was Oscorp.”

 

“My father wouldn’t be aware of everything,” Harry responded.

 

“I’m sure he’s aware of this!” Tania said.

 

“He’d probably deny it anyway,” Daria said.

 

“Unfortunately,” Sandi added.

 

Daria took out a sheet of paper a mind map she had made earlier that morning on it. “This is what we already know. That Oscorp has been present in Lawndale for nearly a decade…”

 

“That long?” Tania asked.

 

“Yes,” Daria answered. “The Morris incident proves that.”

 

“Oh, of course,” Tania said.

 

“But, there was still no proof of wrongdoing there,” Harry said.

 

“Didn’t your father say he’s chasing down those responsible?” Sandi asked, in a tone of slight disbelief.

 

“That’s what he said,” Harry answered. “But I’m absolutely certain he was obfuscating.”

 

“That’s obvious,” Sandi responded while rolling her eyes.

 

“But if he is having people followed because he thinks they are the vigilantes, even if they aren’t, that just makes Lawndale more dangerous!” Tania said with a tremor in her voice.

 

“I’ll try to talk to him about it,” Harry said.

 

 

Daria thought about it. ‘Dafoanairi can’t always be there to protect Tania, nor can the Enigma or the others.’

 

“What good will that do?” Jane responded to Harry.

 

Harry shrugged. “Something.”

 

“Probably would make him more on his toes,” Sandi said.

 

 

“Penelope Jericho to see you, sir,” his assistant said.

 

Osborn sighed. “Send her in.”

 

The journalist entered the office like a silent storm.

 

“Good Afternoon, Ms. Jericho.”

 

“There have been reports of figures moving along rooftops downtown and in some neighborhoods that don’t match the hero vigilantes,” Penelope said.

 

“And you think I have something to do with them?”

 

“They match what has been reported of Oscorp agents in other places with an Oscorp presence.”

 

“What do you expect me to say, Penelope?” Osborn asked.

 

“So, you’re denying that you have anything to do with them?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“I don’t believe you,” Penelope said.

 

“No, you believe in facts. And the fact is, you don’t have proof.”

 

“I don’t. But I will keep digging.”

 

“You won’t find anything,” Osborn said.

 

“I will find something. If there are agents, they will be noticed by more people. They will think that Oscorp is spying on Lawndale for some reason.”

 

“No comment.”

 

 

After Penelope left, Osborn went up onto the roof and looked out over the town. “How difficult is it to find the four vigilantes in this suburban town!” he complained to himself. ‘The information so far indicates that they have been seen all over town. That doesn’t give me any information on where their secret identities are.’

 

 

As school let out, Quinn entered the library to see that Anna and Ben were waiting.

 

“I heard you went to Ms. Li earlier,” Anna said.

 

“I did,” Quinn responded. “She agreed to let me investigate the knockoffs with school resources.”

 

“She did?” Ben asked in surprise.

 

“Like, I said that It’s the school’s responsibility to protect it’s students, even from something like a dubious clothing line,” Quinn said.

 

“That’s taking things further than people would usually expect,” Ben said.

 

“Not the first time,” Quinn responded with a shrug.

 

 

Gerald entered the library to find Quinn, Anna and Ben looking over back issues of the Sun-Herald. “Reading the paper?” he asked.

 

“Yes. I thought we could talk about recent events,” Quinn answered.

 

“I suppose,” Gerald said. “But not just Groundhog Day.”

 

“Of course not,” Quinn responded. “More what has been happening since then.”

 

“Like the robodacytl or may have happened to Lynn Anders? Pass,” Gerald said as he sat down.

 

“More those clothes that have appeared,” Quinn said.

 

“Like, I was going to buy some, but I realised that they probably wouldn’t last long.”

 

“Really?” Gerald asked.

 

“Yes. Quite poorly made, probably in a sweatshop,” Quinn answered.

 

“I suppose that is why you want to investigate. But it will be difficult,” Gerald said.

 

“Duh!” Quinn said as she turned a page in one of the papers.

 

Gerald sighed. “I will help you.”

 

“Good,” Anna said.

 

 

Fields got home from work. After making some tea she got out a map of Lawndale she had bought earlier in the week. ‘Now, how to sabotage Osborn’s plans?’ she wondered. She colored in the areas she remembered working on that day. ‘But how to get it to one of the vigilantes? Just leaving it on the Historia’s roof wouldn’t be a good idea.’ She looked at the Historia on the map. ‘Maybe it is a good place to start. Seeing the play might be comforting.’ She made a decision, she would see Tempest and try to meet SpiderGirl or Ninja Talon afterwards.