Spider Quinn 17 Tempestuous Origin of Mysterio Part 9

 

The whole group moved carefully through the trees, using SpiderGirl’s webbing and occasionally Ninja Talon’s zipline, towards the dock. It was difficult, but not impossible, especially with Kalina refusing to let go of SpiderGirl. ‘I’m not a therapist! I haven’t even been to grief counselling yet!’ SpiderGirl thought.

 

“Almost there,” Ninja Talon said.

 

“It’s still a lot of trees,” Dafoanairi said.

 

“We can do it,” SpiderGirl said. “But I need to be unencumbered.”

 

“I can take her,” Ninja Talon said.

 

“Is that alright, Kalina?” SpiderGirl asked.

 

“Yes,” Kalina answered.

 

Ninja Talon wrapped her arms around Kalina. “You can let go of Spidey now.”

 

“OK.”

 

 

SpiderGirl then swung around, creating a web bridge for the others to take towards the boat. It held amongst the trees that stopped swaying as much, despite the high winds. Another lightning strike hit somewhere out on the lake. “Done,” she said when she had finished it.

 

 

At the same time, the Enigma and Peterson met near where the vehicles were. “Everyone has been rescued,” she said.

 

“That’s good news.”

 

“They should get to the boat shortly and then they’ll head back to Lawndale on the creek.”

 

“Then we’ll meet them somewhere between the two bridges.”

 

 

At the same time, Leung and his team approached the cabin and saw the damage that the fourth vigilante had done. “We need to act quickly.” He knocked on the door. “Quentin Beck, come out with your hands up.”

 

There was no response.

 

Leung lead the team in and saw that the room was empty.

 

The television then showed a video. “Agent Leung, I presume. Either that, or it’s Officer Peterson. Doesn’t matter. What matters is, that I am presently making my escape. But I will be back in Lawndale in future. As for motive, that’s for you and the other one to piece together. But the Morgendorffers being ambitious in their young age is part of it.”

 

“Making his escape?” Leung asked himself. But they still needed to search the cabin.

 

 

The Enigma figured that she could walk back to Lawndale, despite the storm. ‘It will be an opportunity to refine the forcefield. I can catch up with Dafoanairi later.’

 

 

The others made it to the boat. SpiderGirl hotwired it as they all boarded and then started it moving.

 

“You do know how to pilot a boat, right?” Dafoanairi asked.

 

“Of course, how hard can it be, even in this storm?” SpiderGirl responded. The lake surface was choppy, waves whipped up by the winds. She cleared the dock, and turned the boat to starboard, heading westwards towards the creek from Lawndale.

 

 

Leung and his team methodically searched the cabin, but found that Quentin Beck had made himself scarce.

 

“He has gotten away,” one of his colleagues said.

 

“Unfortunately. But we’ll have tech’s go over this place with a fine-tooth comb.”

 

“The fourth vigilante has made herself scarce too.”

 

“She didn’t need to stick around. She wasn’t here to take him in, just to be involved in the rescue operation,” Leung said. ‘No need to jump to accusations,’ he thought.

 

 

The boat soon reached the creek and SpiderGirl easily turned the boat upstream, despite the reed beds. “We should be back in Lawndale in ten to fifteen minutes,” she said.

 

“That’s good,” Dafoanairi said. “Because I’m getting seasick.”

 

SpiderGirl took something out of her utility belt and handed it to Dafoanairi. “Here, some ginger,” she said.

 

“Um, thanks, but is it fresh?”

 

“Of course. I bought it yesterday.”

 

“OK.”

 

 

Dafoanairi ate the ginger cube. ‘I guess that if she’s carrying people, they sometimes get nauseous,’ she thought as she looked ahead. It would be while they would see much of Lawndale yet. She knew that SpiderGirl was familiar somehow. ‘I know who she isn’t,’ she thought as she looked at Jane and thought of the Enigma. ‘But whoever she is, I’ll protect her identity as I’m protecting the Enigma’s.’

 

 

SpiderGirl’s estimate was accurate. The boat arrived at Lawndale’s dock, a third of a mile upstream of the Jefferson Bridge, almost fifteen minutes after entering the creek. The storm was beginning to subside. SpiderGirl could see Agent Leung waiting. “OK, everyone out, we’re here.”

 

“Good,” Dafoanairi said. “I’ll be off.”

 

“Are you sure?” Ninja Talon said.

 

“I need to rest before something I have to do later today,” Dafoanairi said.

 

Ninja Talon indicated her understanding with a nod.

 

 

SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon lead Jane and the critics up from the dock to the waiting FBI agents.

 

“Here are the former abductees,” SpiderGirl said.

 

“Jane Lane,” Jane said. “We’ve all been through a lot.”

 

“We can go to the field office right away,” Leung said.

 

“Good, because some others are a lot worse off than others,” Jane responded with a look at Kalina.

 

“Understood,” Leung said.

 

“We’ll be off,” SpiderGirl said.

 

“Wait! You need to take some statements,” Leung said.

 

SpiderGirl then swung away, Ninja Talon following her.

 

 

“And Dafoanairi?” Leung asked.

 

“She’s gone too,” one of the other agents responded.

 

Leung sighed. “Of course.”

 

 

Dafoanairi looked back from where she was hiding behind a tree between the Creekside pathway and the Creek itself. ‘I don’t want the FBI to know my secret identity. That would be too much. I can trust Peterson. Leung, I’m not sure of.’ She then continued walking, to continue along the path before heading back to the Historia.

 

 

Meanwhile, SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon arrived on the Historia’s roof themselves.

 

“That was intense,” SpiderGirl said. “A lot more so than when we rescued Sarah Robyn.”

 

“But not as much as Groundhog Day.”

 

“Or as much as when we fought the Goblin a week later.”

 

“I agree,” Ninja Talon said. “But Jane and the critics are safe now.”

 

“They are, but they have been through a lot, especially Kalina. I’m sure she’s going to need therapy.”

 

“I do too.”

 

“But we worked well with Dafoanairi despite her inexperience,” SpiderGirl said.

 

“But she’s had more experience since the solarium, I can tell.”

 

“I can tell too.”

 

“I need to go, I’m wet through,” Ninja Talon said.

 

“Oh, of course. I’ll see you later, before the play.”

 

Ninja Talon then headed southwards, towards home, as SpiderGirl swung off to the west.

 

 

It wasn’t far from the dock to the FBI field office, which lay somewhere between the Historia and the High School. Kalina was immediately taken to the psychologist assigned there for assessment. Leung decided to interview Jane first.

 

“Has my brother been notified that I have been rescued?” Jane asked.

 

“Peterson called while you were on the Lake. Trent was asleep, according to a Jesse Moreno who answered.”

 

“He has narcolepsy, but Jesse will let him know when he’s awake.”

 

“We have tried the Morgendorffers but no one was home,” Leung said.

 

“That’s not unusual for a Saturday these days.”

 

 

Jane looked at the board, where Leung had laid out the case, including the details Leung had laid out about Daria, Quinn, Joey and Robert.

 

“Motive,” she said.

 

“What can you tell us?”

 

“Not much more. He just subjected us to his plays that were all visuals and no actual story. Made this artist annoyed. He gave us plenty of food and water and let us alone. Whatever was done to Kalina was done before he took me from the theater!”

 

“I see. He left a message for us when he escaped. He said that part of his part of his motive was the Morgendorffers’ ambition,” Leung said.

 

“Ambition?” Jane considered. “Both Daria and Quinn want the Historia to be a force of good in Lawndale. As a place where people can come together despite the troubles out on the streets.”

 

“And that’s all?”

 

“I know Daria. She wants to know what’s going on, with the vigilantes and rising crime and all. But I’m sure that would be the same of any similar teen in her position,” Jane answered.

 

“And Quinn?”

 

“She’s similar, but she wants to use her grief in a constructive way. She wants to get past her past as a self-absorbed girl and use her social nature as a way to connect people in positive ways.”

 

 

Leung thought about Jane’s answers. They made a lot of sense. But how did it connect to Beck’s motives? He was still stumped. “You can stay a little longer, Ms. Lane.”

 

“Of course.”

 

 

At the same time, Daria emerged from the Morgendorffers’ apartment in the Historia, having showered after being soaked during the rescue mission. She was still thinking about the unexpected familiarity of SpiderGirl. ‘I haven’t got it from Ninja Talon, and I didn’t from the Enigma before I figured out she’s Sandi,’ she thought as she took out a notebook. She paused.

 

Who SpiderGirl isn’t

Jane Lane

Sandi Griffin

 

That still left a lot of people. ‘But I’m sure it isn’t Quinn.’

 

 

She entered the café for lunch and saw that Peterson was waiting for her. ‘Of course,’ she thought as she went up to the counter.

 

 

“That must have been difficult,” Peterson said to Daria after she had joined her.

 

“It was,” Daria admitted. “Especially with the storm being stronger than expected.”

 

“And SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon did most of the work?”

 

“They had already taken most of them out of the room and onto the roof before I got there.”

 

“I guess I have to hear it from either of them. But SpiderGirl’s been elusive lately, since Groundhog Day.”

 

‘There’s something there,’ Daria thought. ‘Like she probably suspects who she is.’

 

“Anyway, Jane seems to be taking it well. She should be able to go soon. As soon as Trent is able to pick her up from the field office.”

 

“That’s good. I’ll see her later, before the play starts tonight. Stacy told me that tonight is sold out as well.”

 

“That must be good news,” Peterson said.

 

“It is encouraging. That many people in Lawndale want to see it.”

 

“But I must say that you put yourself at risk.”

 

“I couldn’t stand by and do nothing,” Daria said.

 

“And I’m happy that you didn’t. It’s that professionally, I have to say that.”

 

“I know.”

 

Stacy then delivered their lunches. “Here you go.”

 

 

At the Morgendorffers, Quinn emerged from her closet after having hung her costume next to a heater in the hidden area of the basement. She then grabbed her towel and went to the bathroom. ‘I’ll write in the journal after the shower,’ she decided.

 

 

Trent awoke, and went down to the kitchen to get some coffee.

 

“The FBI called. They said that Jane was rescued by SpiderGirl, Ninja Talon and Dafoanairi,” Jesse said. “They said that you have to pick her up from the field office.”

 

“I’ll have the coffee first. We’ll take my car.”

 

“Cool.”

 

 

It didn’t take Trent long to have his coffee and to get to the field office.

 

“Trent Lane, is it? Agent Ken Leung. Your sister is waiting in one of the meeting rooms.”

 

“Thanks. How is she?”

 

“She’s good. It seems that she was treated well. That she was taken only because she mentioned the play on the radio and intended to try to trap him.”

 

“I see,” Trent said.

 

 

As soon as Jane saw Trent, the two ran to each other and hugged. “Trent!”

 

“Janie!”

 

“You are free to go,” Leung said.

 

“Thanks,” Jane said.

 

“But we may want to ask you more questions,” Leung said.

 

“If you want to find me, I’ll be at home, the Historia or the Morgendorffers today and tomorrow,” Jane said.

 

“Understood.”

 

 

“Are you really fine?” Trent asked as he drove off from the field office.

 

“Yes. I want to get home and shower and paint and call Daria, although she’s probably at the Historia or scouring Lawndale for me.”

 

“What about being the Shadow?”

 

“Not until tonight, after the play. Another reason I want to call Daria. To see how the opening night went,” Jane answered.

 

“I wasn’t there,” Trent admitted.

 

“You weren’t?”

 

“No, I was searching for you in the Shadowcar, as I had the previous night.”

 

“I knew you would do that,” Jane said.

 

“But spending time, aimlessly driving around Lawndale didn’t help.”

 

 

Quinn had dressed after her shower when she heard the phone ring. “Quinn here.”

 

“Quinn. It’s Jane. I have been rescued!”

 

Quinn feigned surprise. “When was this?” she asked.

 

“An hour ago, during that storm,” Jane answered. “Is Daria there?”

 

“I don’t think she’s here. I saw her at the Historia earlier. But I will check.”

 

 

Jane waited as Quinn checked. ‘If she’s not there. I will call the Historia,’ she decided.

 

“She’s not here,” Quinn answered. “How are you feeling?”

 

“Better than the critics,” Jane answered carefully. “He didn’t do anything to me other than chloroform at the theater. But I’ll fill you in later, in person.”

 

“Got it. I’ll see you tonight then?”

 

“I’ll be there.”

 

 

Daria had finished eating when Stacy came over in excitement. “It’s Jane, and she says that SpiderGirl, Ninja Talon and Dafoanairi rescued her!”

 

‘At least I’m somewhere there,’ Daria thought. “She told me,” she said, indicating Peterson. “I’ll be there in a minute.”

 

“Right.”

 

“It’s going to be tricky isn’t it?” Peterson said.

 

“No it isn’t. I was there, but I also wasn’t. Simple as that.”

 

“She’s not going to know?”

 

“No. I’m not telling her. ‘Jane, I’m not only investigating what’s going in in Lawndale, but I’m also fighting off muggers with a quarterstaff.’ She would think I was either making it up, or I was crazy,” Daria said. She then went to the office.

 

 

‘Both Morgendorffers,’ Peterson mused as she watched Daria go to the office. ‘SpiderGirl and Dafoanairi, although I’m still not sure about the former. They both don’t know about the other. I’m sure Helen doesn’t know either, but I’ll leave it up to her to find out. She took out a notebook and looked at the names of the other three vigilante heroes.

 

Ninja Talon – identity unknown.

The Shadow – identity unknown

The Enigma – identity unknown

 

‘Although I’m sure Daria knows the last one and Quinn knows the first one.’

 

 

Daria took the phone. “Jane? You’re home?”

 

“Hi, Daria. Trent picked me up from the FBI field office.”

 

“So, he didn’t do anything to you?”

 

“No. Other than chloroform in the theater. He just subjected us to his poorly written plays.”

 

 

At the same time. The Enigma returned to the house on Grandstaff Drive and climbed in through her bedroom window. She found her mother in the hallway after she had taken off her mask.

 

“Sandi?” her mother asked.

 

“I confronted Quentin Beck, and allowed Dafoanairi and the others to rescue Jane and the critics,” Sandi explained.

 

“That was reckless, especially during a storm.”

 

“And I don’t suppose you didn’t try to rescue people in a storm?”

 

“I did, a few times. But I was older and more experienced,” her mother said. “I didn’t start fighting crime until I went to college.”

 

“I think you said that on Groundhog Day.”

 

“Yes, but Lawndale in the late 70’s was a lot quieter than it is now. I think I would have fought crime here if the town was like it is now.”

 

“Got it, but I need a shower now,” Sandi said.

 

“Of course.”