Spider Quinn 22 Attractions of Lawndale - Part 5

 

Brittany was doing her homework, going over a problem she and Daria had talked about at the tutoring session, when she heard an email notification on her laptop.

 

“Oh, Andrea sent something,” she murmured before reading it.

 

She then forwarded it to Quinn, adding I think we need to talk about this tonight.

 

Quinn soon responded. Can you be at the Bridge in half an hour, given what Jodie told you today?

 

Brittany twirled a pigtail as she thought about it. She could pull it off. I’ll be there.

 

 

SpiderGirl slipped out of the house via one of the rear attic windows a few minutes later. She decided that she could patrol for a short time before meeting Ninja Talon at the Bridge.

 

She averted a few muggings before arriving at the Bridge to find that Brittany wasn’t there yet. ‘She’ll be here soon,’ she thought as she unmasked.

 

 

She didn’t have to wait long. Brittany arrived and unmasked a few minutes later. “Hey, Quinn,” Brittany said in her usual playful tone.

 

“Hey, Brit,” Quinn responded with her usual exuberance.

 

Brittany took out a map of Lawndale. “Landon Engineering is larger than I thought, but I found the location of the warehouse.”

 

Quinn looked at the map, which also showed the locations of other Landon Engineering properties. “I suppose that’s one reason why Osborn wants to take it over.”

 

“I agree. But we need to be cautious, given the agents.”

 

“I wouldn’t put it past Osborn to have agents present around there, but they wouldn’t be there all the time.”

 

“That’s true, but they may be there tonight,” Brittany argued.

 

“Then we’ll approach along the ground. They won’t expect that.”

 

“The streets or the alleys?”

 

“The alleys,” Quinn decided. “Less open.”

 

 

Ten minutes later, SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon approached the warehouse in question. They saw agents moving on the rooftops nearby.

 

“Oscorp is definitely doing something,” SpiderGirl whispered.

 

“We can approach slowly,” Ninja Talon said.

 

SpiderGirl nodded and the two heroes approached the warehouse carefully.

 

 

Osborn was present personally. He had wanted to see if what his sources told him about what Andrew Landon was working on was true. He had broken into the premises when he realized something was wrong. Some of the agents tensed up as radio channels went silent. “Vigilantes!” he said to one of the agents. “Find out who they are.”

 

But the agent hadn’t moved when he heard a tell tale thwip! “SpiderGirl. You’re always getting into my business!”

 

“Always?” SpiderGirl asked. “Not always. Just when you’re breaking the law.”

 

“Just as well, I’m prepared, SpiderGirl,” Osborn said as he took out a pumpkin bomb.

 

A shuriken knocked it out of his hand before he could arm it. “Ninja Talon!” he grumbled.

 

“Why are you breaking into a place you’re trying to acquire?” Ninja Talon asked.

 

“Seeing what Andrew Landon is up to.”

 

“So, you admit that Oscorp is trying to take over Landon Engineering?” SpiderGirl asked.

 

“It must have leaked,” Osborn murmured. “Or… you were told by Andrew’s daughter.”

 

“You can’t find out who we are that way,” SpiderGirl taunted.

 

“No? I’ll try,” Osborn said. “But this hasn’t been a total loss. I know you’re here.”

 

“A distraction,” SpiderGirl said.

 

“We’ll find out what you’re up to though,” Ninja Talon added.

 

“True, but too late,” Osborn said. He wanted to do what he came for, but the vigilantes’ presence made that impossible for the time being. He brought up his radio again. “Withdraw,” he ordered.

 

 

SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon watched Osborn and his agents withdraw from the roof. “That was weird,” SpiderGirl commented.

 

“But what do you think he meant when he said he wanted to know what Mr. Landon is up to.”

 

“His trade secrets probably,” SpiderGirl said. “But that means we probably need to infiltrate Landon Engineering too.”

 

“Andrea probably wouldn’t go for that.”

 

“Maybe if we tell her everything, even if we don’t have much.”

 

“She’ll at least think about it,” Ninja Talon responded, as she made a twirling motion with her left hand as if her hair was in its usual pigtails.

 

“Then let’s go there now.”

 

 

Osborn returned to his mansion. He was still annoyed that the first two vigilantes had shown up. ‘They had to have found out somehow.’

 

One of his security division was waiting for him in the home office as ordered. “You wanted to see me, sir.”

 

“Yes. I want you to find out who Jodie Landon hangs out with most, besides Michael Macckenzie, at school.”

 

“Wouldn’t Fields be better suited, sir?”

 

“No, I’m asking you. Fields won’t do it well, or drag her feet.”

 

“Understood, sir. First thing in the morning.”

 

 

SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon arrived at the Hecuba-Croft’s to find that only Andrea’s light was on, as usual.

 

Andrea opened her bedroom window. “Quickly,” she said.

 

The two vigilantes clambered inside.

 

 

Andrea took in what Ninja Talon and SpiderGirl said. That Norman Osborn was trying to take over Landon Engineering didn’t surprise her.

 

“But he might be right that Andrew Landon might be up to something,” SpiderGirl added.

 

“Or he wants you distracted,” Andrea said.

 

“I realize that,” SpiderGirl said.

 

“But maybe finding out what he might be working on will help us,” Ninja Talon added.

 

“And provide something to the Sun-Herald again,” Andrea mused.

 

“Penelope Jericho has been digging up information on her own,” SpiderGirl said, referring to one of the paper’s more serious journalists. “We only leaked the expansion plans shortly after Groundhog Day.”

 

“Why doesn’t that surprise me,” Andrea said.  “I’ll dp it tomorrow night,” she decided.

 

 

It was in the early hours when Dafoanairi and the Enigma met on the Morgendorffers’ rooftop. Dafoanairi could see that the Enigma was tired. “Couldn’t sleep?” she asked.

 

“I was thinking about the list, as well as the fad,” the Enigma answered with a yawn.

 

“I didn’t to sleep straight away myself. I’m sure that all this nighttime vigilantism has given me insomnia.”

 

“Most likely.”

 

“But I have the feeling that something is happening tonight,” Dafoanairi said.

 

“Sounds like a hunch.”

 

“More that the fad is a distraction, even if Osborn has nothing to do with it.”

 

“Probably,” the Enigma said, as she looked to the south, over Glen Oaks Lane towards where the Osborn mansion was hidden behind many blocks of houses and the occasional warehouse.

 

“I was thinking we’ll talk to Tania first.”

 

“Isn’t it a bit late for that? The Wiccans would have finished by now.”

 

“But she might still be up,” Dafoanairi said.

 

“Lead the way,” the Enigma said with a sigh.

 

They swung down to the back yard with a rope and headed towards the Ashworth’s to the southeast through the laneways.

 

 

But something happened halfway. Oscorp agents appeared at the end of one block. The Enigma reacted quickly, and raised a forcefield protecting both her and Dafoanairi.

 

“Fourth Vigilante! Mr. Osborn doesn’t want you out this late,” one of them said.

 

“Oh, really?” the Enigma asked rhetorically. “Then this is my message. He would have to do a lot more to stop me from defending Lawndale!”

 

“We’re not stopping,” Dafoanairi added as she twirled her staff for emphasis.

 

“I knew you would say that.”

 

“And you know what happened the last time…” the Enigma said as a threat, while breaking a nearby tree branch telekinetlically.

 

“Mr. Osborn is on edge due to an encounter with other vigilantes earlier tonight.”

 

“You mean SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon?” Dafoanairi asked.

 

“No comment.”

 

“I’ll take that as a yes,” Dafoanairi said. “Where was this?”

 

“We’re not answering your questions.”

 

“You’re not escalating,” the Enigma noted. “Probably because Mr. Osborn wants minimal disruptions. Like, not disturbances of the peace.”

 

The agent was then silent.

 

“Then we’ll be, like, on our way,” the Enigma said, as she expanded the forcefield in his direction.

 

“No!” the agent said as he extended a baton.

 

“That’s not a threat,” Dafoanairi stated.

 

“Actually….” The Enigma started as she picked something up through her enhanced perception.

 

“It’s not a normal baton, got it,” Dafoanairi snarked. “It’s going to be one of those nights.”

 

 

The agent swung the baton against the forcefield. Electricity and the Enigma’s energy sparked. “That’s the best Oscorp can come up with?” the Enigma asked.

 

The agent just lunged again.

 

“Enough!” the Enigma said with annoyance before telekinetically exploding the baton in the agent’s hand, although the part he was grasping remained intact.

 

“Agh” the guard said as he dropped the remains of the baton. He then ran off.

 

“Like, he won’t be scared off for long,” the Enigma commented as she lowered the forcefield.

 

 

Tania Ashworth was still awake when she heard something out in the yard. She looked out and saw the Enigma and Dafoanairi there. “Of course,” she groused to herself.  She opened the window. “I’ll meet you on the roof.”

 

On the roof, Tania listened as Dafoanairi told her what had just happened.

 

“It’s like last week,” Tania groused as she recalled being followed by agents after leaving High Hills Park.

 

“It is likely to get worse before it gets better,” Dafoanairi said.

 

“And now there’s this fad and Mr. O’Neill!” Tania grumbled.

 

“How did you handle the question?” Dafoanairi asked.

 

“By saying something unusual, like a bee, ant or butterfly,” Tania answered. “Eventually I refused to answer, but that was after Language Arts.”

 

“That is quite annoying,” the Enigma said.

 

“More than annoying!” Tania said. “I know what failure is like! I don’t need Mr. O’Neill’s wishy washy… What does it have to do with Language Arts anyway?”

 

“Not much,” Dafoanairi admitted. “But others are using it for Language Arts adjacent assignment attempts.”

 

“Of course they would,” the Enigma commented.

 

“Who?” Tania asked.

 

Dafoanairi hesitated before answering, “According to rumor, Quinn Morgendorffer.”

 

“I could believe that,” the Enigma said quietly.

 

“That doesn’t surprise me. Probably due to her tutoring Anna and the others,” Tania said.

 

 

Dafoanairi didn’t think saying what she said about Quinn would expose their identities. She then noticed the Enigma looking out the window.  “Is there an agent there?”

Church notes - 21st June 2026

 21st

Romans 12:1

Deliberately facing God.

Ephesians 5:18 - 21

Filled with the Holy Spirit

- Continuously through your life.

- Something to want and pray for.

We always need God.

Be open to something new from Him.

vs 19

Our singing is both corporate and personal.

Exodus 15:1, 2

Miriam leading singing.

Psalms of Ascent

Spider Quinn 22 Attractions of Lawndale - Part 4

 

“Welcome to the Historia, Kevin,” his classmate, Nikki Dowling said. “How may I help you?”

 

“I’d like to get up on the roof.”

 

“Why?”

 

“Because SpiderGirl might be up there,” Kevin answered.

 

“I don’t think she is up there now. Would you like something?”

 

“I’m cool for now, but I would like to see if she is.”

 

“Fine, it is the second door to the left when you come in, after the bookshop,” Nikki answered.

 

“Thanks, Nikki.”

 

“But are you sure you want to meet her on the roof? I don’t think she would want to go out with you.”

 

“I want to ask her,” Kevin said as he turned away.

 

 

Nikki sighed as she watched Kevin leave the café. “At least he’s no longer bothering Quinn,” she murmured. She supported Brittany in her decision to permanently break up with him. She still didn’t know what she had seen in him.

 

 

Kevin emerged onto the rooftop, which was empty. SpiderGirl wasn’t there. But waiting was boring, especially when it was long. ‘I can look at Lawndale, maybe I could see her in the distance.’

 

He wasn’t methodical. His gaze wandered over the sprawl of Lawndale randomly. He saw nothing but the streetlights, buildings and vegetation where they were lit up.

 

After about two minutes, he glanced at the Giant Strawberry. “Wait, I heard SpiderGirl had been seen there sometimes.” He paused, briefly. He didn’t want to miss her by going on a wild goose chase.

 

 

He looked around at Lawndale again before he heard a sound. He turned in a slight panic. The same kind of panic he had had since he had been kidnapped by Lynn Anders over a week earlier. “Who’s there?”

 

“Relax, Kevin,” Jane said as she came out from behind the roof access, carrying a sketchbook.

 

“Oh,” Kevin said. “I was just looking for SpiderGirl.”

 

“I know you told Mr. O’Neill that you’re looking for her, but I think you should have chosen something else.”

 

“I didn’t like the fourth vigilante.”

 

“That makes sense,” Jane said.

 

“Oh yeah. She helped rescue you, right?” Kevin asked, referring to the time Jane and some theater critics had been abducted by Quentin Beck.

 

“She did, but I didn’t meet her then.”

 

“So you met her another time?”

 

 

“Yes,” Jane answered. She had thought about lying about having met the Enigma (he was certain to blab about it if she did share the name, not that she considered it) but even Kevin would pick up on the lie. ‘He won’t press about it, given his focus on SpiderGirl.’

 

 

Kevin turned and looked at the Giant Strawberry again. “Maybe she’s there.”

 

“Or maybe she isn’t.”

 

“I’m going anyway.”

 

 

‘Of course he is!’ Jane thought. ‘I guess I can follow as the Shadow and make sure he doesn’t get into trouble if he does start a wild goose chase across Lawndale.

 

“But first, what did you choose to try to fail?” Kevin asked.

 

“Being conventional.”

 

Kevin laughed. “Really? I’d like to see that,” he said as he went to the door.

 

 

Jane waited until she was sure that he was well down the stairs before she changed to the Shadow and used her grapple gun to rappel down the rear of the Historia to where she had parked the Shadow Car in the alleyway behind. She then found Kevin’s jeep and placed a tracker on it so she could follow if he meandered through Lawndale instead of making a beeline for the Strawberry.

 

 

Kevin emerged from the Historia and went to his car. He was sure that going to the Giant Strawberry was a good idea. ‘She has been seen all over town, but the Strawberry is the second most common place,’ he thought as he started the engine. He was quite sure.

 

 

The Shadow listened to the police bands as she followed Kevin at a distance. Lawndale was quiet but there was still chatter. It just wasn’t something she needed to respond to.

 

 

At the same time as Kevin driving to the Giant Strawberry, Sandi finished looking through the list of extracurricular activities offered at Lawndale High for the umpteenth time. “Ugh! The only thing I’m failing tonight is, like, failing to make a choice!” she grumbled.

 

She turned to her yearbook, which lay open to where she had left it two nights earlier. She had been searching for SpiderGirl’s identity every night, but she and Daria had gone to Oakwood the previous night, which had precluded the search.

 

“Emma King,” she said as she looked at the next girl. She grabbed her energy drink.

 

“Findu mann sem heiter: Emma King!”

 

 

She was getting better at it. The search process took a second less than when she had started her search several days before Groundhog Day. She found Emma at her home not far from the Giant Strawberry.

 

“Thirty-eight down,” she said. It was still only a fraction of the girls at Lawndale High.

 

She then turned back her homework.

 

 

Kevin arrived at the Strawberry and parked. “Now, the telescopes are at the top. Maybe I can see SpiderGirl through them.”

 

He ran from his car to the landmark and started climbing the stairs inside.

 

 

The Shadow parked a short distance away before approaching the Strawberry and scaling the western side, so as not to be seen most of the town, if they had happened to be looking in the direction, as even without the direct moonlight, the lower half of the landmark was well lit.

 

 

While he was looking through a telescope at the downtown, Kevin heard something. He jumped, hitting his cheek against the scope. “Ow!” he said as he rubbed it. He didn’t see anyone at first. “SpiderGirl?”

 

A cloud appeared and a figure walked out of it. “No, I’m the Shadow,” she said.

 

Kevin calmed down. “Oh. Why are you here?”

 

“Oh, making sure that nothing untoward is happening at the Strawberry. There are also rumors at school that the quarterback wants to meet SpiderGirl to ask her out.”

 

“That’s true. I do want to ask SpiderGirl out, as I’m the QB!”

 

“Is that because you were rescued by her over a week ago?” the Shadow asked.

 

“That’s right.”

 

“But I don’t think SpiderGirl wants to go out with you. I’m certain that she has heard about it as her secret identity by now.”

 

“Oh, yeah,” Kevin said. “All of you go to Lawndale High.”

 

“That hasn’t been in doubt, but I don’t know any of the others’ secret identities.”

 

 

The Shadow thought about that as Kevin took in what she said. She still suspected that Tania Ashworth was the fourth vigilante, but she wasn’t going to tell Kevin that.

 

“I wasn’t going to ask you that. I know that Ratboy never answers when he’s asked.”

 

“This isn’t a comic book. But does anyone try to ask Ratboy out?”

 

“Not in any issue I’ve read,” Kevin admitted.

 

“So, asking SpiderGirl out is wrong.”

 

“Exactly.”

 

 

Kevin wrestled with his thoughts with his thoughts for a while. His crush on SpiderGirl was intense, and he was sure Mr. O’Neill would ask him to find something else to try or fail at if he changed his mind.

 

 

The Shadow waited as she looked over Lawndale. She itched to sketch the scene, and the conflicted quarterback, but she decided to wait until Kevin had gone, as there weren’t all that many Lawndale High students who identified themselves as artists.

 

 

Kevin looked at his watch. “I better get going, Mom’s going to wonder where I am.”

 

“But what’s your answer?” the Shadow asked.

 

“I haven’t changed my mind. I still like SpiderGirl, and I don’t want to come up with something else for O’Neill.”

 

“You can’t just blame O’Niell.”

 

Kevin just left.

 

 

The Shadow waited until she saw Kevin drive away before taking out her sketchbook, and sketching his conflicted look from the surreptitious photo she took with the camera in her mask.

 

 

After dinner, Quinn told Daria what she had decided about Mr. O’Neill’s assignment.

 

“So, you want me to recommend a book for you?” Daria asked, as she opened her bedroom door.

 

“Yes,” Quinn answered. “Even if I fail to get through it, I will be exposed to more literature.”

 

“That’s a good point. You know that I have a great many here.”

 

“Let’s look at your shelf.”

 

 

Daria’s shelf was bursting at the seems as it were. Quinn was sure Daria also stored books elsewhere in the room.

 

“What genre would you like. I have a variety.”

 

“I was thinking something classic,” Quinn answered. “Maybe something about change.”

 

“Many of these books have change at the core. You just want me to recommend something, don’t you?”

 

“Consider that part of the assignment,” Quinn answered with a slight giggle.

 

Daria took out a large book. “You can’t go wrong with Charles Dickens.”

 

“Little Dorrit.” Quinn considered. “I suppose a large book would have a lot of change in it.”

 

“Yes,” Daria said as she took out another book. “David Copperfield, there’s less change, but more villainy, but different to what’s going on in Lawndale. But inspired by what Dickens saw around him.”

 

“If I can get through this… I might try that other one. Thanks, Daria.”

 

 

Daria put the volume of David Copperfield back after Quinn had left. ‘I don’t think Osborn is like the Murdstones, Steerforth or Uriah Heep, but there might be those like them here.’ She shook her head. She wasn’t sure how she would be able to deal with such villains as Dafoanairi, especially any Murdstone-like ones. ‘If there is anyone like Uriah Heep here, Upchuck would seem likely.’

 

 

Around 9:30, Andrea received a tip in her email inbox.

 

Tip – Possible break in at Landon Engineering warehouse

 

Andrea clicked on it. She saw that there was a possibility of Oscorp involvement. ‘I’ll forward this to Brittany,’ she decided. ‘I hope she and SpiderGirl can do something.’

Spider Quinn 22 Attractions of Lawndale - Part 3

 

Anna thought about it. “Maybe you could do something similar to Ben. Like remembering all the moons of Saturn or something.”

 

“Saturn does have the most moons,” Gerald considered.

 

“So, is that it?” Quinn asked.

 

“Or I can add Jupiter too,” Gerald said. “Yes.”

 

 

At the same time, Daria was talking to Brittany.

 

“A marmoset?” Daria asked, rhetorically after Brittany had answered her about the fad. “I suppose they are cute, in a way.”

 

“That is one reason,” Brittany responded as she opened her Math textbook.

 

“But what are you considering regarding O’Neill’s assignment?”

 

“As I said, the science thing.”

 

“Sure,” Daria said. “But in what branch of science?”

 

“Botany, maybe? Try to tell the difference between different kinds of plants.”

 

“That would be a good start.”

 

 

The Enigma paused her patrol on the roof of the Historia half an hour after school had let out. Lawndale was quiet, but she knew that the tensions were still beneath the service, and she had prevented a mugging on Dega Street.

 

‘The muggers still think they wont get caught,’ she thought as she looked at that street. But she knew that she and the other heroes were making a difference. She turned and looked at Oscorp tower, which loomed ominously to the southeast. ‘Osborn may know who I am, but he hasn’t really done anything with that.’

 

Then there was the fact that she hadn’t really confronted SpiderGirl yet. ‘It will happen soon, I’m sure of it,’ she thought. She then changed to the ordinary Sandi and headed down to the café.

 

 

Stacy Rowe was having a normal afternoon working at the Historia. It was relaxing compared to the school day. The animal fad had her slightly more anxious than usual. She shook her head as she saw Sandi come up to the counter. “Your usual, Sandi?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“It will be ready shortly,” Stacy said before pausing. She then added. “Thanks.”

 

“Thanks for what?” Sandi asked in surprise.

 

“For not asking the question nearly everyone else has been asking.”

 

“I’m tired of it too.”

 

 

Sandi sat next to a window and looked out across the street at Zammit’s Boutique. ‘How long is it since I have been there?’ she wondered. She saw that they still didn’t have the SpiderGirl knockoff clothes that had arrived the previous week. ‘I don’t think they have been selling.’

 

 

Stacy soon brought out Sandi’s latte. “Here you go,” she said before retreating back to the counter.

 

“Thanks,” Sandi said.

 

“Now I know something is up,” Stacy said.

 

“I’m thinking about things.”

 

“That’s obvious.”

 

“You know, you’re getting more confident,” Sandi said in an appreciative tone.

 

“I don’t feel like it most of the time. But that’s what happens when one is working in a café,” Stacy responded before heading back to the counter.

 

‘Of course,’ Sandi thought. ‘She’s turning out to be a great barista.’

 

 

After their mentoring sessions had ended, SpiderGirl, Ninja Talon and Dafoanairi left the high school in different directions. SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon were patrolling in different areas before heading to their spot below the Jefferson Bridge.

 

 

Dafoanairi headed towards the Giant Strawberry. As she approached, she reflected once more upon the events since Groundhog Day. It seemed that events in Lawndale were still getting worse. ‘There are still Oscorp agents chasing us, albeit not this afternoon,’ she thought as she crossed the parking lot and looked up at the observation platform at the top of the structure.

 

 

As she looked over the town through the telescopes, she thought about the animal fad and O’Neill’s assignment. ‘It’s definitely a coincidence, that they’re occurring at the same time, but it’s adding to the chaos in this town.’

 

 

She paused a she made a note in her notebook. ‘No agents visible. They could have been instructed to hide from the Strawberry.’ She pondered that. ‘But who knows about this? The Enigma and I. Possibly SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon. Osborn hasn’t been reported having been seen here. But he could have learned about it anyway.’ She shook her head. It was unlikely that the agents would have been instructed that way. ‘But who to talk to about it. The Enigma is on her own patrol and I don’t know where Jane is.’

Although if Jane was sketching from rooftops, she might have been visible. Dafoanairi shook her head. She wasn’t going to spot Jane that way. ‘Maybe Sam Griffin, given that he knows our secrets,’ she thought as she looked in the direction of the Griffin residence, despite it being out of sight behind a ridge line. ‘I’ll do that.’

 

 

Sam Griffin was bored. His younger brother, Chris wasn’t home yet, and he didn’t want to do his homework. He was about to start to do it anyway when he heard a knock on the sliding door.

 

“Daria?” he asked as he let her in.

 

“I wanted to talk to someone, and Sandi is on her own patrol,” Daria said as she sat on one of the couches.

 

“Oh. About what?”

 

“I’m sure the students in the middle school are also asking each other about their favorite animal?”

 

“Oh, that,” Sam said. “It’s just a fad, isn’t it, even if both schools are doing it.”

 

“I doubt it’s just Lawndale High and Glenfield Middle School, but every school in Lawndale, including Fielding.”

 

“There is more isn’t there?”

 

“That one of the teachers has assigned a crazy project,” Daria said.

 

“Isn’t that normal?”

 

“Not this project. I’m sure Sandi has told you something about Mr. O’Neill.”

 

“Not so much, but I have heard her complain to mother about him many times,” Sam responded. “Go on.”

 

 

“He wants us to learn by choosing something to fail at, on purpose and then explaining how that has taught us something about ourselves,” Daria answered.

 

“That sounds like what Sandi was describing.”

 

Daria sighed.

 

“I don’t know what else to say, but what are you getting at?”

 

“That the combination of that with the animal fad is making Lawndale even more chaotic.”

 

“Maybe. But that’s not something superheroes can do anything about,” Sam pointed out.

 

“Of that I’m aware.”

 

 

Shortly afterwards, Quinn hadn’t been waiting at their spot below the Jefferson Bridge long when Ninja Talon arrived and unmasked as Brittany. She could see that her friend was a little concerned. She was concerned herself. They were quiet for a few minutes as they looked at the Creek and what could be seen of the town’s buildings. ‘Not many of those belong to Oscorp I wouldn’t think, and Osborn won’t think to look for us here.’

 

“What are we going to do about O’Neill?” Brittany asked, as she twirled some loose hairs.

 

“No idea. The assignment is something we can’t do anything about.”

 

“What about through the Lowdown?”

 

“That is something I hadn’t thought about yet,” Quinn answered. “The day has been busy.”

 

“It has been. There’s something else. Something Jodie said this morning.”

 

“What was that?”

 

“That Oscorp is trying to take over her father’s company,” Brittany answered quietly.

 

“That…” Quinn began as she thought about the implications of what Brittany had just said. “Landon Engineering is quite large. They’re a significant employer in the County!”

 

“You had looked into it?” Brittany asked.

 

“Yes. We have been looking for alternative sponsors for the Historia since Osborn got hospitalized. Guess we may have to cross Landon Engineering off the list.”

 

“But what about Mr. Landon?”

 

“There’s not much we can do to help him, and I can’t exactly talk to Mom about it without revealing too much,” Quinn answered, with a slight tear in her eye.

 

“That’s true. But what about the firm as a sponsor?”

 

“Daria and I had thought about it, but neither of us trust the Senior Partner.”

 

“I had heard about him too,” Brittany said.

 

“But back to what’s going on. The fad was still going on at the end of the day. Gerald was late to the library because of it.”

 

“He was?”

 

“Yes, and Anna and Ben were annoyed by it too,” Quinn answered.

 

“Daria and I only talked about it briefly.”

 

“But what are we going to do about it?”

 

“Just keep an eye on it?” Brittany asked as she twirled the loose hairs again.

 

Quinn nodded and they then sat there for a while, relaxing and listening to the town from there.

 

 

SpiderGirl arrived home shortly after sunset, entering via the backyard hatch. She and Ninja Talon had remained at the Bridge for about twenty minutes, mostly enjoying each other’s company as the close friends they were. ‘It will take time to come up with something to deal with the fad,’ she thought as she slid open the hidden area in the basement where she kept most of her gear.

 

In there, she unmasked and wrote in her journal about the school day.

 

 

Helen Morgendorffer arrived home to find Daria and Quinn talking in the kitchen.

 

“…So, you agree that it is a distraction?” Quinn asked.

 

“Yes. They could be thinking about that, or ignoring something important in favor of it,” Daria answered.

 

“Evening, girls,” Helen said as she entered the kitchen. “What is that distraction?”

 

“A fad,” Daria answered.

 

“Everyone asking everyone else what their favorite animals are,” Quinn added.

 

“That’s unusual,” Helen commented.

 

“But that’s not all,” Daria said. “Mr. O’Neill has given an assignment about failure.”

 

“That doesn’t bad,” Helen said.

 

“With a practical application,” Quinn added.

 

“Go on,” Helen prompted.

 

“He wants us to ‘succeed at failing’,” Daria said before tilting her head a little and shrugging. “You know, his usual babble; which isn’t good at the best of times.”

 

“And you think that now isn’t the best time,” Helen asked rhetorically.

 

Both Daria and Quinn nodded.

 

 

At the same time, Kevin arrived at the Historia after having slipped out of the house before his mother started dinner. “Now, SpiderGirl is often on the roof, but where’s the way to the roof.” He went into the café.

Spider Quinn 22 Attractions of Lawndale - Part 2

 

Daria considered Harry’s remark. ‘Not that harmless,’ she considered. She could see how some of her peers might have favorites that would cause them to be teased about it. “It’s at best, a distraction,” she said.

 

“A distraction from what has been going on since Groundhog Day?” Jane asked.

 

“Yes,” Daria responded. “A very Lawndale thing to do. Something earth shattering happens. They try to get on as if nothing happened.”

 

“Not everyone is like you, Daria,” Sandi said.

 

“That’s certainly true. But the town’s changed, and most of the students are trying to ignore it,” Daria said.

 

“Not entirely true,” Jane said. “Remember what happened after the fake interview?”

 

Daria recalled that nearly all of the students had called around when the fake interview had aired, and they had managed get a copy of the interview within a few hours. “Good point.”

 

“And then there’s Mr. O’Neill’s latest brainstorm,” Jane added.

 

“Ugh!” Sandi said. “He’s foisted it on the junior class too. I have no idea what to succeed or fail at.”

 

“We could talk about that later,” Daria said.

 

“Sure,” Sandi said.

 

 

‘Is Daria just trying to make sure we’re focused?’ Harry wondered. He thought about what had happened since he had arrived in Lawndale.

 

 

Daria saw Tori exit the server area. ‘I should ask her about it now.’ She got up.

 

“Daria?” Jane asked.

 

“Tori’s here.”

 

 

Tori Jericho saw Daria Morgendorffer wave her over.  She looked around and saw that Quinn wasn’t there yet, so she went over and sat next to her and across from Harry. “I suppose you’ve been talking about the latest craze?” she asked.

 

“Yes,” Daria answered. “It’s spread through the school like wildfire.”

 

“Tell me about it. It’s exhausting giving the same answer over and over,” Tori responded.

 

“And that is?” Jane asked mischievously.

 

“A Meercat,” Tori answered as she took a bite. “They observe their environment.”

 

“You liked Timon when you saw The Lion King, didn’t you?” Jane asked.

 

Tori felt a flush of embarrassment. “That might have something to do with it,” she admitted.

 

“But how did this fad start?” Daria asked.

 

“How does anything start?” Tori asked. “I have no idea at that the moment. I just find it annoying.”

 

“It’s more of a distraction than anything,” Daria said. “But a distraction nonetheless.”

 

“Not everyone is interested in what’s causing Lawndale to go out of control,” Tori said. “But I have been keeping my ear on the ground, as it were.”

 

“And you haven’t heard anything?” Daria concluded.

 

“It might have come from Middlebury,” Tori answered after some thought. “My cousin there said something about it a week ago. But it might also have come from the Internet.”

 

“So, a meme, or more like one of those chain emails,” Daria considered as if she wasn’t sure what to make of that.

 

 

Quinn saw Tori sitting with Daria and Sandi. “I’ll talk to her later,” she murmured. She then noticed Anna Coultard and Ben Harrod, two of her fellow students she was mentoring.

 

 

Anna turned to Quinn as she sat. “Hi, Quinn.”

 

“I see you’re not asking what everyone else is,” Quinn said.

 

“I got tired of answering after the first half dozen times,” Anna responded.

 

“I’m tired of it too,” Ben added. “A few even joked about the time I got bit by that Copperhead!”

 

That almost startled Quinn. “Really?”

 

“Yes,” Ben answered with annoyance.

 

“That’s not right,” Quinn said.

 

“I told them that,” Anna interjected as she took Ben’s in hers.

 

Quinn changed the topic. “How do you feel about Mr. O’Neil’s assignment?”

 

“Like, why set us up for failure?” Anna asked. “Either way we fail something, or fail the assignment.”

 

“That’s a good point,” Quinn responded. “Do you think I should bring that up with Ms. Li?”

 

“It may be a good idea,” Ben answered as he paused in his careful eating.

 

 

Meanwhile, Brittany had joined her friends and fellow cheerleaders Angie Zammit and Donna Bolton.

 

“So, Brit, tired of this fad yet?” Donna asked. “I’m sure I have given more than five answers.”

 

“A little,” Brittany answered. “But I am a little curious.”

 

“Really, Brit?” Angie asked in annoyance. “Besides, my favorite is a spider.”

 

“You mean, SpiderGirl,” Brittany said in a slight ribbing tone.

 

Angie shrugged. “Well, her powers had to come from somewhere.”

 

“But what answer have you been giving, Brit?” Donna asked.

 

“Like a marmoset,” Brittany answered while twirling a pigtail.

 

“Good choice,” Angie said.

 

“It has been cat, mouse, dog and giraffe most often,” Donna added.

 

“That makes sense,” Brittany said.

 

 

At the Oscorp tower, Osborn’s assistant Fields was having a usual day, trying to organize Oscorp’s operations in Lawndale in a way that Osborn would find appropriate. She didn’t jump when Osborn entered the office in a storm.

 

“Find out more on Angier Sloane that is not publicly known,” he directed.

 

“Yes, sir.”

 

“And look into the ownership structure of Winged Tree Country Club.”

 

Fields nodded, although she was sure that the members were the owners.

 

 

Osborn entered his office, and looked out over Lawndale towards where the Country Club lay to the southeast. ‘But maybe an Oscorp buyout would be too obvious.’ He opened a file on his computer that he had read earlier that morning.

 

 

Oscorp Industries Glider Prototype Mark II

Construction complete.

Entering testing phase.

 

‘Maybe I can use it to destroy that building. But what about the vigilantes?’ He knew that the agents hadn’t really stopped them in their tracks. ‘But there are many ways they can be distracted.’ He looked at a map of Lawndale on one of the walls. ‘Five or six places…’

 

 

Daria and Sandi met on the roof as school let out. “Brittany is waiting in the Library,” Daria said, as she tutored Brittany in various subjects twice a week.

 

“She can wait,” Sandi said as she looked out over the town.

 

“She’ll ask why I’m late, but alright.”

 

“You said we could, like, talk about Mr. O’Neill’s assignment later.”

 

“I was going to suggest choosing an activity from the list of extracurricular activities,” Daria said.

 

“I’ll have another look.”

 

“And that way, even if you don’t like it, Mr. O’Neill will be satisfied, in a way.”

 

“I guess so,” Sandi said, as she tied her hair back, ready to be the Enigma for the afternoon.

 

“But otherwise, no pressure.”

 

“There’s still, like, some pressure from O’Neill, but it could still be worse.”

 

“Let’s not tempt fate,” Daria responded.

 

 

In the Library, Quinn saw Anna and Ben arrive. “Have you seen Gerald?” she asked, referring to the third of the students she was mentoring alongside the couple.

 

“I saw him between fifth and sixth period,” Ben said. “Arguing that he doesn’t need to pick a favorite animal.”

 

“Good for him,” Quinn commented, “but where is he? Is he concerned that I’d be asking? Or that you two would be?”

 

“I wouldn’t,” Ben said.

 

“Let’s start anyway,” Quinn said with a sigh. “But we’ll wait about five minutes.”

 

 

Gerald Brown arrived in a huff in slightly less of that time. “A very annoying day!” he grumbled.

 

“Don’t worry, I’m not asking you the question,” Quinn said.

 

Gerald breathed a sigh of relief as he sat down.

 

“I may not be asking about that fad….” Quinn began.

 

“But about O’Neill’s crazy assignment,” Gerald interrupted.

 

“Yes,” Quinn said. “What are you doing about it?”

 

“I was wondering what you are going to say about it,” Gerald responded.

 

“What Mr. O’Neill probably intends. For us to use it as a learning opportunity,” Quinn answered. “It’s like what my mom sometimes says. That you’ll never know what we can handle until we try.”

 

“That’s a good point,” Ben said. “Looking back. The past couple of months, since this started have been good for us, despite what else may be happening in town.”

 

“That’s obvious. I have been keeping track,” Quinn said. “But I’m not having Mr. O’Neill inadvertently sabotage this.”

 

“He won’t and he hasn’t,” Anna said.

 

“A good attitude,” Quinn said.

 

“But what are you getting at?” Ben asked. “Something like O’Neill’s challenge. Pick something we’ll know we’ll fail at and learn from that?”

 

“Something like it,” Quinn said with slight annoyance. “More like, going out of your comfort zone. I’ll be doing that myself. Reading at least one book Daria will recommend.”

 

“Given how Tempest is layered with meaning, that book could be anything that’s a classic,” Anna said.

 

“But whether I’ll like it would be another thing,” Quinn said. “But at least I’ll know my tastes for literature better.”

 

“Maybe I’ll do something similar,” Anna said. “Branch out to Greek mythology and try to read The Odyssey.”

 

“That’s a good choice,” Quinn said.

 

 

Ben thought about what Quinn had said, and what Anna had chosen. He too could branch out. “Something related.”

 

“It doesn’t have to be,” Quinn said.

 

He looked to Anna, and her expression backed up what Quinn just said.

 

“I guess it could be trying to memorize the names of all the insect orders,” he said.

 

“That sounds achievable,” Quinn said.

 

“But it’s tricky. The naming convention seems consistent, but it isn’t that straightforward, and there are so many,” Ben said.

 

“But it is the challenge. The balance between what O’Neill tried to set out and being defiant against it,” Anna contributed.

 

“Absolutely,” Ben said. “We’ll see how it goes.”

 

 

“And you, Gerald?” Quinn asked.

 

Gerald sighed. Quinn was her usual enthusiastic self. ‘The favorite animal thing hasn’t really affected her,’ he thought. But it had affected him, so he hadn’t really given O’Neill’s brainwave of an assignment challenge much thought. He said so.

 

“Something to do with Astronomy, right?” Quinn asked. “Trying to view something in the sky despite the streetlights?”

 

Gerald shook his head. “That would just cause eye strain. That’s not worth it over this.”

 

“That’s a good point. I’ve seen Daria struggle at the times she needed new glasses,” Quinn said. “It obviously not pleasant for her. But what else could there be.”

 

“And I still haven’t got far with the elocutionist. So, no dramatic reading yet,” Gerald added.