Spider Quinn 18 A Birthday and Stormy Sonnets Part 4

 

Some of the café was still laid out for the party. Quinn gave William some of the leftovers as he held a cold pack to his head.

 

“I can’t believe I passed out,” William said.

 

“Again, I’m sorry I scared you,” Quinn said.

 

“It’s OK, Quinn, you were looking out for your sister.”

 

“Exactly,” Daria said.

 

“You’re lucky you have a sister who looks out for you. I’m an only child,” William said. “If I could write the beauty of your eyes, and number all your graces, the age to come would say this poet lies. Such heavenly touches ne'er touched earthly faces.”

 

“Sonnet 17,” Daria remarked.

 

“I guess you don’t just know his plays,” William said.

 

“I can't imagine being home schooled and never seeing anybody,” Quinn said.

 

“You don't miss what you never had,” William said.

 

Daria noticed some scars on one of his arms as he drank some of his coffee. “It seems like you don't get out much. Are your parents pretty strict?”

 

“They only want what's best for me,” William responded in a quiet tone.

 

‘He said that a little quickly,’ Daria thought. But that wasn’t much to go off of.

 

A sound could be then be heard outside. “Oh, it’s the milk delivery,” Quinn said.

 

“What time is it?” William asked.

 

“Nearly five,” Quinn answered.

 

William then looked to be in panic. “I have to get back,” he said as he ran out.

 

“We have to follow,” Daria decided.

 

 

Quinn wasn’t sure why they had to follow, but she had seen the scars too. She wanted to know what was going on, as well as make sure Daria didn’t in over her head in something.

 

 

Daria and Quinn kept the shadows as the followed William through the alleyways of Lawndale to his house which was two thirds of the way from the Historia in the direction of the cemetery, although they hadn’t passed it earlier.

 

Quinn kept an eye out for Ninja Talon, and Daria watched for the Enigma but saw that neither of them were anywhere nearby.

 

 

The house looked ominous to Daria, with it’s large hedge and a front yard with a large number of trees. “You want us to come in and tell your parents what happened?” she asked as she looked at the early indications of dawn in the east.

 

“No, I’ll be fine,” William said as he ran towards the house.

 

As he reached the front steps his mother came out. “William! Hurry!”

 

His father then came out wielding a gun! “I told you not to leave, boy!”

 

 

“We have to do something,” Quinn said to Daria from in front of the hedge. “It seems bad.”

 

“I agree,” Daria said.

 

 

The Morgendorffers entered the yard to find William’s father pointing the gun at them.

 

“I better not catch you around my son again! Now get out before I shoot you for trespassing!”

 

“We’re leaving,” Quinn said.

 

 

Lawndale Sun Herald

Tuesday, February 27, 2001

Search for Quentin Beck Continuing

 

Helen saw both Daria and Quinn come towards the house as she left to go to work early. “Are you seriously doing your investigations early in the morning on a school day?” she asked.

 

“It’s kinda like that,” Quinn said. “We met this kid and we think that his parents are abusing him.”

 

“Explain,” Helen said.

 

Daria then told her about going back to investigate the poem and Quinn following her, and then William appearing.

 

 

“We should call the police,” Helen decided as she took out her cell phone.

 

“Try to get officer Peterson,” Daria suggested. “If she’s on duty.”

 

“Isn’t she the one…”

 

“Yes,” Quinn said.

 

“I guess you have been interacting with her,” Helen said.

 

“She’s been at the Historia often,” Daria said.

 

 

Officer Peterson had just started her shift when Helen’s call had come in. She listened to the dispatcher’s description of what Daria and Quinn had found. ‘I knew that poem was trouble, but I didn’t realise what kind,’ she thought. “Tell her I’ll meet her and her daughters up the street.”

 

 

Quinn, Daria and their mother walked up to where Peterson and her partner were waiting a few houses down from William’s parents’ house.

 

“So, you two spent the night with him?” Peterson asked.

 

“Just the early hours,” Daria explained. “I had gone to the cemetery to see if there was another poem at the grave.”

 

“And I followed discretely,” Quinn said, quietly. She glanced at Peterson, wondering if her suspicions of her being SpiderGirl would be increased. ‘Quite likely, but that’s not what I want to dwell on right now.’

 

“And then what happened?” Peterson asked.

 

“He reacted to me shining my flashlight on him, and Quinn came up then in response, and he ran off in panic and tripped,” Daria explained.

 

“We took him to the Historia,” Quinn began before adding that they talked and that she had noticed the scars.

 

 

“…And then he wielded the gun and we ran,” Daria concluded.

 

“It’s definitely very concerning,” Peterson said. “We’ll be very careful. You two stay on the street side of the hedge.” She looked at Helen. ‘I don’t know how much she knows about her daughters’ activities. I suspect that she doesn’t know.’

 

 

Helen followed Xanthe to the front door. ‘These people definitely have something to hide,’ she thought.

 

Xanthe knocked on the door. “Mrs. Morris?”

 

The teen’s mother came to the door. “Oh!”

 

“I'm sorry to disturb you, but I'd like to speak to your son,” Xanthe said.

 

“I’m afraid that is not possible,” the mother said.

 

“Where is he?” Quinn said, having crept forwards to behind a tree in the yard.

 

“Quinn, let the officer deal with this,” Helen said.

 

“He’s not in any trouble,” Xanthe said.

 

The father came up behind his wife. “Look, I don't know what the hell's going on here officer, but our son is dead.”

 

“He died in the lake eight years ago,” the mother said.

 

“We just met him last night!” Daria, who had come forwards next to Quinn, said in her usual tone.

 

“My daughters say that you threatened them!” Helen said.

 

“I've never seen these kids before in my life. Look, it's taken all these years to get past this, and then you show up and pull a prank like this. What kind of parent would raise a child to do a wicked thing like that?” the father said.

 

 

Daria knew the father was lying, but kept her tongue still. She knew that she could make it more difficult. ‘They’re hiding him somewhere.’

 

 

“We’re awfully sorry. Look, Helen, we need to go,” Xanthe said.

 

The mother closed the door.

 

 

They walked away. “They’re lying,” Daria said.

 

“We saw him go into that house,” Quinn said.

 

“This is a very awkward situation,” Xanthe said, looking at all three of them.

 

“If he is in trouble, I don’t want it on our conscience,” Helen said. “We have enough to deal with, with grief and everything else.”

 

“I will get a warrant,” Xanthe said. “You can depend on that.”

 

 

Quinn thought about it as she, Daria and their mother walked back to the car. ‘SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon are going to investigate further after school,’ she thought.

 

“You should have stayed put, but I’m proud of you,” her mother said. “It’s that I don’t want to lose either of you too.”

 

“We’re being careful,” Daria said.

 

 

Daria managed to find Sandi alone before homeroom.

 

Sandi saw that Daria was anxious to tell her something. “Did you find another poem.”

 

Daria handed her a folded piece of paper. “It’s written there,” she said.

 

She read what Daria had written, which covered everything from when she met William in the cemetery to when his parents claimed that he had died. “That’s not right at all!” she said in an indignant tone. “I’m tempted to search for him right now, but you have only provided his first name and it’s likely they have snuck him out of Lawndale in the meantime.”

 

“Quinn and Ted are going to use the Lowdown’s resources to look into their background,” Daria added.

 

“Right, let me know what they find.”

 

“I will.”

 

 

At the same time, Quinn found Ted and told him about William and what his parents had claimed.

 

“That’s quite a lot of excitement,” Ted said.

 

“That’s not how I would describe it,” Quinn said.

 

“I mean, like when you helped Angie at the beginning of the year.”

 

“Quite similar, I suppose.”

 

“I will have a look at the records later,” Ted said.

 

“Thanks, Ted.”

 

 

In between the first and second period, Quinn ran into Brittany in one of the bathrooms.

 

“We have to investigate,” Brittany said after Quinn had told her what she and Daria had found.

 

“Hopefully, Lawndale’s first two superheroes can extract him from the danger,” Quinn said quietly.

 

“If he hadn’t been taken somewhere,” Brittany added.

 

“I hope not.”

 

 

After talking to Brittany, Quinn went to the Lowdown office at the same time as Daria to find that Ted had found something.

 

“Confirmed, there is a death certificate,” Ted said as he turned from the computer.

 

“It has to be fake,” Quinn said.

 

“Not that I don’t believe you, but could he be…” Ted began.

 

“I don't think a ghost could finish off three pieces of cake and two cappuccinos,” Quinn said.

 

“I was just checking,” Ted said. “Given superheroes in Lawndale, one who swings from webs and another with telekinesis…”

 

“Still a leap from that to ghosts,” Daria said.

 

“True,” Ted said. He turned back to the computer. “But I found something else.”

 

Both Daria and Quinn looked his shoulders. “The doctor who signed the death certificate was also involved in various clinical trials with Oscorp around that time.”

 

“Oscorp,” Quinn considered. “It comes back to them.”

 

“So, they were here eight years ago,” Daria said. “What sort of trial was this?”

 

“I haven’t managed to find that information yet. What I have been able to find was heavily redacted.”

 

“Of course.”

 

“But I will keep looking,” Ted said.

 

 

As school let out, Daria found Sandi and Jane on the roof, looking out over the town. “You still looking for extracurricular activities?” she asked Sandi.

 

“Yes,” Sandi answered. “But it will take a while longer.”

 

“It’s best not to rush it,” Daria said.

 

“But, what did Ted find?” Jane asked.

 

Daria then explained what Ted had found.

 

 

At the same time, SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon arrived at the Historia after leaving the school earlier. “How are we going to do this?” Ninja Talon asked.

 

“We have to go inside, and find out if he’s there or not, and then we’ll rescue him,” SpiderGirl answered. If the father is there, I can web him up quite quickly.”

 

“But is it a good idea?”

 

“Leaving him there certainly isn’t.”

 

“Good point,” Ninja Talon responded. “Let’s do this!”

 

They then swung off towards the Morris’ house, in the northwest.

 

 

At the same tine Harry entered his father’s hospital room. A CD player was going, playing a recording of something by Chopin. The music triggered a memory of a conversation they had a few weeks earlier. He sighed, it wasn’t something he wanted to think about.

 

 

SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon arrived at the Morris’ place and looked at the house from one of the trees in the front yard. “The upstairs windows are probably unsecured,” SpiderGirl said. “There are many that aren’t next to trees.

 

Ninja Talon nodded and they then swung over to the roof. SpiderGirl then hung upside down from the eaves to check each window.

 

‘It’s amazing how she can do that,’ Ninja Talon thought as she watched.

 

SpiderGirl opened the third window she tried and looked into the room beyond and found that it was deserted. “This one,” she said quietly.

 

 

Ninja Talon led the way out of the bedroom they had entered through. The upstairs hallway didn’t look any less creepy. “Now, we’ll go along and open each door as we go.”

 

“Got it.”

 

 

Less than a minute later, they saw that William wasn’t on that floor. “I bet he’s in the basement,” SpiderGirl groused quietly as they crept down the stairs.

 

“That seems to be the way,” Ninja Talon said.

 

SpiderGirl came to the bottom of the stairs and looked around. She then heard a television in a room nearby and her Spider Sense tingled.

 

“Spidey?”

 

“It’s one of the parents watching TV.”

 

Ninja Talon nodded as they went in the opposite direction.

 

 

Down in the basement they found William amongst a small library and chained to a rail.

 

“SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon?” William asked. “What are you doing here?”

 

“Our secret identities are at Lawndale High,” SpiderGirl answered. “We heard about you from one of the Morgendorffers.”

 

“What have your parents done to you?” Ninja Talon asked as she took out a hairpin.

 

“It’s not what you think!” William said.

 

“We have to get you out of here,” SpiderGirl said.

 

“Done,” Ninja Talon said as she finished picking the lock and uncuffed William.

 

“How did you do that?” William asked.

 

“Lot’s of practice,” Ninja Talon answered. “Come on.”

 

 

Ninja Talon tried not to let William’s collection of Shakespeare distract her as William resisted SpiderGirl.

 

“Don’t!” William said. “Last time I went out in the daylight I hurt my dad.”

 

‘I wonder why,’ Ninja Talon thought.

 

“William, no one deserves to be locked up like this,” SpiderGirl said.

 

“You don’t understand!” William said in a distressed tone.

 

“You think I don’t understand?” SpiderGirl asked.

 

 

SpiderGirl considered webbing up William and dragging him out that way. ‘No, that’s not the way to go,’ she thought. She looked to Ninja Talon. “I’ll take his hand.”

 

Ninja Talon nodded. “I’ll take the other.”

 

Both heroes took one of William’s hands.

 

“You’re just going to drag me out?” he asked.

 

“Maybe, but this isn’t good for you,” SpiderGirl said. “That the Morgendorffers got threatened!”

 

“There!” Ninja Talon said as she pointed to the hatch up to the back yard.”

Church notes - August 2025

 On LiveJournal: https://fardell24.livejournal.com/637572.html?

On Dreamwidth: https://fardell24.dreamwidth.org/951250.html

Church notes - 31st August 2025

 31st

Mark 1:14 - 20

Come, follow me.

Luke 14:25 - 35

Know what it will take.

John 15:1 - 10

Stay connected to me

Hebrews 10:19 - 25

Keep going together.

Star Trek: Voyager Alone: The Ocampa and the Caretaker Part 1

 Voyager Alone

The Ocampa and the Caretaker Part 1
USS Voyager NCC 74656 entered the Badlands. She examined the data that her sensors were collecting on the plasma storms. She predicted the paths that the Maquis ship, Starfleet had sent her after, could have gone according to the information the Cardassians had provided. There were a lot of variables but she chose the most likely path.


An hour later, she picked up the trail. But after another fifteen minutes it vanished suddenly, with her sensors also picking up a strange variance in the local subspace.

She was perplexed. 'How could a ship just vanish,' she wondered for a few microseconds. Did the variance have something to do with it. She wanted to find that ship, not deal with anomalies in a dangerous area of space. Then there was an alert. A coherent tetryon beam was scanning her. 'What is that?' she thought as she also picked up a displacement wave that was moving towards her!

Voyager turned, went to full impulse and easily moved through the plasma storms. But the wave kept moving towards her. Panic briefly rippled through her systems as the wave caught up with her.


She realized that something had happened. She double checked the readings.

No longer in the Badlands.

Triangulating pulsar coordinates.

Impossible!

Location confirmed. Approximately 70000 light years from Sol, in the Delta Quadrant, near the outer rim of the Galaxy.

The Delta Quadrant! She scanned the nearby space, and found that the Maquis ship was there too, along with an Array of some kind, and that there on the outer reaches of a system containing a G type star. She surmised that it was that structure that had transferred them across the Galaxy.
Tentatively, she hailed the Maquis ship.

Federation Starship Voyager to Maquis Vessel.

The Maquis vessel responded. Starfleet! I knew you would be here after chasing me.

We need to work together if we are to return to the Alpha Quadrant.

Unfortunately, I agree. My sensors can't pick up lifesigns in that Array, so it might be like us.

Voyager disagreed. There is actually a faint sporocystian lifeform reading coming from somewhere aboard there.

Then let's hail it.

They tried for several minutes, but there was no response.


Several hours passed. Then there was a response from the sporocystian lifeform, using a holographic overlay showing an old human. "Go away! You don't have what I need! I don't have time!" The transmission then ended.

Voyager tried again, but the Array just ignored her. She then realized something. The pulses that the Array was sending out were getting faster. They had to be going somewhere and her scans indicated a M-Class planet in the system's habitability zone. But there was something odd, like the spectra indicative of liquid water were absent. She transmitted that information to the Maquis ship.

Typical Starfleet, wanting to investigate every anomaly.

It may be related to why we are here.

You may be right; the Maquis ship responded in a resigned manner.


Ship's Log: Stardate 48315.6. I have confirmed that the Array is sending the energy pulses to the M-class planet in the neighboring system, located fifth from it's primary. I have also noted that those energy pulses are getting faster. The interval between them has decreased by 0.47 seconds since I arrived.


Both ships detected a small ship with one lifesign in a debris field near one of the outer planets.

Voyager hailed the ship as they approached.

The life sign responded with a visual transmission, so Voyager activated her holographic avatar on her bridge so that he would have someone to look at.

"Whoever you are, I found this waste zone first!" he said in an annoyed tone.

"We're not interested in this debris," Voyager responded. "Mister…"

"Neelix. And since you're not interested in my debris, well, I'm delighted to know you."

"I'm the Federation Starship Voyager."

"Impressive. I suppose you're one of those automated ships. The Caretaker has been bringing ships from somewhere else in the Galaxy here for months now. Most often with crews."

"The Caretaker?"

"That's what the Ocampa call him. They live on the fifth planet," Neelix answered.

"We were about to visit the planet."

"You'll need a guide. The Ocampa aren't the only ones there."

"I would appreciate help finding the Ocampa," Voyager said.

"I really wish that I could help you, I do, but as you can see, there's just there's so much debris for me to investigate today. You'd be surprised the things of value some people abandon."

"Of course, I can compensate you for your trouble."

"Well, there is really very little that you can offer me," Neelix responded. "Unless…"

"Yes?"

"Unless, of course, you had some water."

"If you help us, you can have as much water as you want."


Neelix materialized in one of Voyager's transporter rooms. "Astounding! You Federations must be a very advanced culture!"

"The Federation is made up of many cultures," Voyager responded.

"Good to meet you," Neelix said as he hugged her avatar. He then looked around the transporter room. "Interesting, what does all this stuff do?"

"It would take several hours to explain it all."


Voyager and the Maquis ship arrived in orbit of the M-Class planet. The former determined that the absence of liquid water was due to an absence of nucleogenic particles in the atmosphere. She also located an outpost of some kind on the surface.

"That would be where the Kazon-Ogla are," Neelix said after Voyager had filled him in when he appeared on the bridge after a bath.

"Kazon-Ogla?" Voyager asked.

"The local Kazon. Various sects rule over this region, although this is near the edge. They all trade various commodities, including water, or they kill each other for it."

"Sounds chaotic," Voyager said diplomatically. "But what about the Ocampa?"

"Sometimes Ocampa come to the surface and are captured."

Voyager could tell Neelix had a motive. "And you want me to help you rescue one?"

"Exactly."


Neelix and some Security DOTs materialized on the planet, near the Kazon outpost. Some of the Kazon noticed him. "My friends, it is good to see you again."

A team surrounded him and the DOTs.

"I must see your Maje, the ever-wise Jabin!" Neelix directed.

"Direct these bots to give us their weapons," one of the men said.

A primitive projection of Voyager's avatar then was activated. "I will do no such thing. Lead us to this Jabin."

"Follow us."


Maje Jabin hadn't expected the Telaxian trader to return to his outpost in the company of advanced looking bots. The ship in orbit was showing no life signs, but some of the ships the Caretaker had been bringing were automated. One of the bots put down a jug of water.

"Jabin! My old friend! Water. Water, Jabin. I have water to replace all that I borrowed," Neelix said. "Show them," he directed one of the bots. "Voyager has technology that can make water out of thin air."

"How can we help a ship so powerful it can make water come out of thin air?" Jabin asked.

"Neelix lead us here claiming that we might find a people called the Ocampa. Do you know where they are?" Voyager asked.

Jabin pointed to a slight girl nearby. "She is Ocampa. Why would you be interested in such worthless creatures? They live only nine years. They make poor servants. We caught her when she wandered to the surface."


"I have already determined that they live underground," Voyager said.

"The entity in space that gives them food and power also gives them sole access to the only water on this world, two miles below the surface," Jabin explained.

"That entity has displaced us across the galaxy. I believe that the Ocampa may have answers," Voyager said.

"But she got out," the Maquis ship said over the comm.

"Occasionally, some of them do find their way to the surface. We don't know how, but the Ocampa seal the tunnels afterwards,"

"Maybe she can give them information on the Ocampa," Neelix suggested.

"You'd be wasting your time. I've used every method of persuasion I know to get her to help us. She won't," Jabin said.

"Then she's worthless to you. Let us trade you water for this scrawny little thing," Neelix said.

"I'd be more interested in acquiring this technology that allows you to create water from thin air."

"That would be difficult. It is integrated into my systems."

Neelix then ran over to the girl. "I strongly suggest you get us out of here," he said to Voyager.

"Energizing."


Neelix and the Ocampa girl materialized in Transporter Room 1. "My dearest. Didn't I promise to find you."

Voyager's avatar appeared. "You better get her to sickbay. Just follow the indicator lights."

"Got it," Neelix said.

"What's your name?" Voyager asked the girl as the two left the transporter room.

"Kes."

Mysteries of Aurora - The Manuscript Part 8

 

“One of the Architecture sections,” Alexia said. “That’s where the blueprints of the University would be stored.”

 

“But isn’t that scattered around the Library?” Janara asked.

 

“Yes,” Talia answered.

 

“That’s something Freya and I talked about last week,” Alexia said.

 

“So which spot?” Janara asked.

 

“Back to the Information Science Section,” Alexia said.

 

“I can tell you where they are,” Talia said.

 

“So, where?” Janara asked.

 

“They’re in the Renaissance Section,” Talia answered.

 

“Let’s go then,” Alexia said.

 

 

The Renaissance Section had a more organised layout than the Ancient Section. Talia led Janara and Alexia to the shelf.

 

 

Olivia found the area empty. “Where did they go?” she asked herself as she took out her tablet and messaged Janara.

We are looking at the University blueprints in the Renaissance Section.

 

 

“Here are the modern blueprints,” Alexia said.

 

“There are a lot of them,” Janara stated.

 

“True,” Alexia said. “We’ll start with the core; the Library and the other buildings around the Central Plaza.”

 

Olivia then came jogging up, “Where’s Freya?”

 

“She had class,” Alexia answered.

 

“Oh, right,” Olivia responded.

Alexia opened the book. “But not everything is in these. There are hidden parts of the campus.”

 

“I think that would be obvious,” Janara said.

 

“We’ll start with the present day and work our way backwards,” Alexia said.

 

“Or maybe forwards,” Olivia said.

 

“We can do both,” Alexia said.

 

“Backwards,” Janara said. “Slowly peel back the layers.”

 

“This is going to need more organisation,” Olivia groaned.

 

“So, we organise to meet up later?” Alexia asked.

 

“Freya said Sigrun Sigurdottir Hall, right?” Janara asked.

 

“Yes,” Alexia answered. “We can meet there after dinner.”

 

“In the meantime I’ll look through AAUA’s forums,” Janara added.

 

“I’ll text Freya,” Alexia said.

 

“So, that’s it?” Talia asked.

 

“We’ll talk about it tonight and fill you in sometime tomorrow,” Olivia said.

 

“I thought so,” Talia responded.

 

 

After they scattered, Janara went to one of the Library’s computer rooms and logged into her account. But first she looked at the time. ‘Plenty of time before class later this afternoon,’ she thought.

 

 

Olivia found a book that covered Aurora’s overall history. ‘Good, it uses the Seven Ages system,’ she thought. She had found that system a good way to remember what happened when in Aurora’s history. She took out her tablet and started recording. “First Age, Neolithic period…”

 

 

Freya thought about what she and the others had found as she entered the Dining Hall for dinner. “I’m sure that we’ll find it eventually.”

 

“Hey, Freya,” Dana said. “You’re talking about the manuscript?”

 

Freya nodded. “Things are more complicated than I expected. It could be anywhere in the middle of campus.”

 

“That would take ages to search,” Dana considered as they approached the servery.

 

“And it certainly has something to do with an obscure part of Aurora’s history! Like a needle in a haystack.”

 

“Three thousand years.”

 

“Or maybe just the past 900, but that’s still a long time,” Freya said.

 

“Definitely.”

 

 

They sat by the windows and Freya showed Dana the mind map of the mystery on her tablet.

 

 

That evening, Olivia thought about the situation as she and Janara approached Sigrun Sigurdottir Hall along the walkways. The manuscript was most likely in the core of the campus.

 

“Penny for your thoughts?” Janara asked.

 

“It’s going to be like a needle in a haystack, even with a focus on the centre of campus.”

 

“There are ways to narrow the search.”

 

“Gamer strategies?” Olivia asked. “But this is real life.”

 

“Gaming has helped improve my problem-solving skills,” Janara explained.

 

“Good point.”

 

They found Freya and Alexia waiting. Freya had her back turned and was sketching various runes.

 

“Hey, we’re here,” Janara said, as they sat.

 

Freya jumped up and waved and sat down again. “So, you’re going to go over our history? I know the basics, including that I trace my ancestry to the Nordic settlers.”

 

“Yes,” Olivia answered as she placed a notebook and a large scroll on the table., which she then unfurled. “It starts, of course, in the First Age, the Neolithic period, or Early Ancient Era.”

 

“The Stone Age,” Janara commented.

 

“To put it crudely,” Olivia answered. “It’s just that metalworking had yet to be invented. Societies were still sophisticated.”

 

“They were the foundation of what came later,” Freya said. “Like a baseline rumble in the background,” she added as she started drawing a stone circle.

 

“There are many ruins from the period throughout Aurora, but especially along the north coast and along the Aterana. Urbs Aeterna may look Roman, Nordic and Modern, but it was established during the period,” Alexia added.

 

“I suppose,” Janara said. “I’m more familiar with later history. The Romans onward. Although, I do know about Egypt.”

 

“There is evidence of Auroran contact with Egypt, but not until late in the Egypt’s New Kingdom Period,” Olivia said. “Which lines up with the next age.”

 

“Is it the Bronze Age?” Freya asked.

 

“Yes,” Olivia answered.

 

 

Alexia looked at Freya’s sketch. “A stone circle?” she asked.

 

“The foundation,” Freya answered as she twirled her pencil.

 

“Of course,” Alexia said with a slight laugh.

Spider Quinn 18 A Birthday and Stormy Sonnets Part 3

 

SpiderGirl arrived at the cemetery and looked around her father’s grave. Nothing. ‘Good,’ she thought. She realised that she hadn’t been there since shortly before Groundhog Day. ‘Maybe before the rumors about the Enigma started circulating.’

She carefully looked around and saw that no one was around. “Hi, Daddy,” she said, with her voice barely above a whisper. “I’m sixteen today. My sweet sixteen party will be later, at the Historia. Funny, if anyone had told me while you were still alive, that I would be a superhero, a tutor and involved in running a theater before I turned sixteen, I would have told them that they were crazy, yet here we are.”

 

She paused and looked around again before telling him of the Enigma and Dafoanairi and her unconfirmed suspicion that the latter was Daria. “…Like, if she is, then she’s taking a lot of risks, like I have powers, Talon is highly trained, the Shadow has those gadgets and the Enigma has her own powers. She only has that staff. But she did help during that rescue mission.” She then told him about the critics and Quentin Beck.

 

 

SpiderGirl felt better and knew it was time to go and get ready for the party. ‘But first, to patrol between here and home.’

 

 

Helen and Daria arrived at the Historia at 6:30. They could see that Quinn was still running about organising things. “You have done very well, Quinn,” Helen said.

 

“Thanks, Mom, but there’s still more to do.”

 

“I know, just ask and Daria and I will help,” Helen said.

 

“Of course,” Quinn said. She handed them a short list.

 

“Set the tables?” Daria asked. “I can do that.”

 

 

As she went from table to table, Daria reflected that she certainly wouldn’t have been helping Quinn with her party if she hadn’t been changing.

 

 

Tori Jericho arrived at the Historia to find the café area tastefully decorated. ‘Quinn knows what she’s doing,’ she thought.

 

“That looks good,” her mother said. “It could have been some tasteless explosion of pink.”

 

“Quinn may wear a pink shirt most of the time, but she has a good color sense.”

 

“I guess so. But she’s still wearing those pigtails like some kind of safety blanket.”

 

“You think so?” Tori asked. “I think it’s more a way she’s expressing herself, that she’s more than the grieving daughter.”

 

“Maybe.”

 

 

The Shadow looked around the theater as she arrived. Nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary. She changed to the usual Jane in a side alley before going inside.

 

Daria saw Jane enter the café and went over to her. “What do you think?”

 

“This is all Quinn?” she asked.

 

“Her tastes are shifting, although Stacy had helped with the design.”

 

“That’s not surprising.” Stacy always had an interest in design.

 

 

As the party got underway, Sandi was at home, ready to make the next search. She opened the yearbook. After Eliana Dillinger was Wendy Doherty. She downed the energy drink. “Findu mann sem heiter: Wendy Doherty!”

 

She found that Wendy was on a date with Skyler Fieldman at Chez Pierre.

 

“Skyler, right,” Sandi said shortly after. It was just as well she wasn’t at Quinn’s party. “Twenty four down.”

 

She then thought that she could get in a short patrol as the Enigma before coming back to do some homework. ‘I know Dafoanairi is at the party, but then Daria hasn’t said she has been patrolling in the evenings.’ She decided to do a patrol anyway.

 

 

Back at the Historia, Quinn welcomed those she had invited, and some she hadn’t, although the latter didn’t matter. “Jeffy! I glad you made it,” she said.

 

“I wasn’t going to miss this,” Jeffy Brown-Mercer said. He lowered his voice. “I even turned down a date with Wendy Doherty.”

 

“I don’t know her that well,” Quinn admitted.

 

“She’s quiet, and she’s on a date with Skyler tonight.”

 

“Got it.”

 

“I’m happy that the play went well last week despite what went on,” Jeffy said.

 

“Yes, that has been an encouragement,” Quinn said. “For Daria too.”

 

Joey then came up. “Quinn has done her best, especially tonight,” he said.

 

 

Stacy found Daria and Jane. “What do you think?” she asked.

 

“Both of you have done well,” Jane praised. “It is quite tasteful.”

 

“Thanks. I wanted a little more subtle colors, but you know Quinn, she wanted bolder colors, to reflect her personality. At least that part of her hasn’t changed,” Stacy said.

 

“You sound more worried than usual,” Jane said.

 

“Like, she’s still not as talkative as before,” Stacy said.

 

“It’s still not that long after Dad’s death,” Daria said. “We’re still in the early stages of grief.”

 

“Oh, of course. And I see that you’re changing too,” Stacy responded.

 

“You mean the lunch table?” Daria asked. “Like, you don’t mind that Sandi’s there, do you?”

 

“That wasn’t what I meant. You used to have just Jane there,” Stacy said.

 

Daria shrugged. “It’s part of what I’m doing now, finding out about what’s going on in Lawndale.”

 

“I heard about that,” Stacy said.

 

 

Helen was talking to Tori’s mother, Penelope. “So, it’s one of the other journalists who is writing out most of the speculative articles?” she asked.

 

“Yes,” Penelope answered. “I do more investigative journalism, especially these days.”

 

“That makes sense,” Helen commented.

 

“Like a certain corporation’s influence,” Penelope added quietly, her voice barely above the surrounding chatter.

 

“I have heard things, but not officially,” Helen confirmed.

 

“No doubt.”

 

 

Tiffany looked around the café from where she sipped her diet soda. Many people were talking. She sighed. Quinn was busy, talking to many who were in their classes. ‘Amazing how popular she still is.’ She turned and saw Brittany coming over. ‘Brittany?’ she asked herself. “Hi,” she said in her usual shy and slow tone.

 

“I noticed you’re by yourself,” Brittany said.

 

“People think I’m boring,” Tiffany responded.

 

“Quinn doesn’t.”

 

“I know she doesn’t, but she’s busy.”

 

“That’s Quinn for you,” Brittany said with a smile. “She’s a social butterfly. Her focus wanders from person to person.”

 

“I guess so.”

 

 

The Enigma stopped before entering the downtown area. She didn’t want to go near the Historia. I have a better idea,’ she thought as she looked further east. Lawndale Flats. She hadn’t patrolled there yet. ‘But is this the night to do it?’ She decided to find a vantage point in the downtown area other than the Historia. The night seemed quiet so far, but something seemed off, like Lawndale was unsettled after the events of the past month, since shortly before the Groundhog Day Attack.

‘That is exactly it,’ she thought again. ‘The town was changing before the Goblin decided to attack the festival, but not it’s also changing in other ways.’

 

She found an office building, which she was sure didn’t belong to Oscorp, two blocks away from the Historia, and watched the downtown from there.

 

 

The party was going well. Quinn sat next to Tori as dinner was served.

 

“It’s been a good night so far,” Tori said.

 

“Yes. It has helped me to get my mind off things, and there are few here I haven’t talked to for a while.”

 

“That’s good.”

 

“And It’s relaxing compared to a usual school night,” Quinn added, with a giggle.

 

“That’s certainly true.”

 

“And it reminds me of the good things too.”

 

 

Daria sat across from Jamie White. “It’s good to see you here, supporting Quinn.”

 

“I felt bad, after trying to take credit for solving the brownouts.”

 

“But she forgave you, right?”

 

“She did,” Jamie answered with a smile. “But overall, she’s changed. I thought I could change too.”

 

“I guess that is why you wanted have the credit.”

 

“Yes, but I was also trying to impress Elly Aitkin.”

 

“And she found out,” Daria surmised.

 

“Exactly, but I have realised that not being myself wouldn’t have been good.”

 

“Good.”

 

 

The Enigma had watched for over an hour before she heard sirens near the creek. She then went in that direction, using her powers to jump from rooftop to rooftop where they were close together.

 

She found that Peterson was on the scene.

 

“Enigma?” Peterson asked. “We caught a thief.”

 

“I suppose that they have noticed patterns in our activity.”

 

“That is likely.”

 

“We have lives,” the Enigma groused.

 

“SpiderGirl has often said that.”

 

“Of course she would.”

 

“I know you don’t like her,” Peterson said.

 

“Nothing you’ll say will dissuade me,” the Enigma said as she turned to leave.

 

“Remember, I know who Dafoanairi is. I can use that to figure out who you are.”

 

The Enigma thought about it. “You’re not going to blackmail me, and I will tell Dafoanairi later,” she said. ‘Of course, she knows Dafoanairi is Daria, given the rescue of Beresfield.’

 

“That wasn’t my intention.”

 

“Then what was it?”

 

“So that you and SpiderGirl won’t fight, because that won’t be good for Lawndale,” Peterson said.

 

“What we think is good for Lawndale is certainly different.”

 

“True, but the people of Lawndale will have a negative opinion of the fourth vigilante if she keeps fighting SpiderGirl.”

 

“I wouldn’t be fighting her all the time. Just being her rival,” the Enigma said.

 

“Right. But I advise you to be careful.”

 

“I’ll think about it.”

 

 

After the meal, Quinn got up for a speech. “Thank you for coming,” she started. “Everyone here has been with me these past few months since my father passed away. It has been difficult, but knowing that you all care has been comforting.” She wiped a tear. She then continued. “Those who have been especially helpful are too many to list but they know who they are.” She glanced at Daria and Brittany quickly, as well as Stacy, Tori, and Joey. She continued for a short while before finishing.

 

The room was then filled with a brief applause and her mother got up and came over for a hug. “That was very good, Quinn!” she said, also tearing up.

 

“Thanks, Mom.”

 

 

The Enigma returned to the vantage point she had been at earlier. She was still thinking about what Peterson said. ‘I hope she won’t be opposing Dafoanairi and I after I actually confront SpiderGirl!’ That would be a massive inconvenience.

 

 

The party had gone better than Quinn had expected. She had enjoyed herself and everyone else did too. She knew she was going to thank Brittany for keeping Tiffany company. She had realised that she didn’t realise how quiet and shy Tiffany was. ‘And it’s not just due to how she speaks.’

 

“I had a good time,” Tiffany said as she left.

 

“That’s great!”

 

“I’ll be at the play this Friday. I have heard how good it is.”

 

“Daria will be glad to hear that,” Quinn said.

 

“I hope she finds out who left that poem.”

 

“So do I,” Quinn said. That situation had slipped her mind during the party.

 

 

“You’re talking to everyone as they leave?” Jane asked shortly afterwards.

 

“Not really,” Quinn said. “Just most of those I didn’t get to talk to earlier.”

 

“I never thought I would go to one of your parties, but here we are.”

 

“I never thought you would have come to one of mine either. A lot is changing.”

 

“That’s true,” Jane said. “And it helped get my mind off things.”

 

“Oh, of course. How are you holding up?” Quinn asked, referring to Jane’s recent experience with Beck.

 

“Pouring it into my art, as well as talking to Trent and Daria.”

 

“That’s good. You can talk to me too, if you want.”

 

“Thanks,” Jane said.

 

 

Helen thought about the night as she drove home. Both Quinn and Daria missed their father, much as she did, but they were resilient. Quinn’s speech was proof that she was coping despite still struggling with her grief. “You did well tonight, Quinn,” she said as she glanced towards where she was sitting in the passenger seat.

 

“Thanks, Mom. That means a lot,” Quinn said quietly, with a smile on her face.

 

She then looked in the rear-view mirror. “You too, Daria.”

 

“I didn’t do much tonight,” Daria said. “It was all Quinn.”

 

Helen sighed. “You know what I mean. You have been there for each other through these times. That makes me happy in the middle of my own grief.”

 

 

Quinn glanced at her mother. She could see that she was missing her husband dearly. It strengthened her resolve to do more as SpiderGirl, so that others wouldn’t lose their parents. ‘With great power comes great responsibility.’

 

 

It was in the early hours of the morning when Daria approached her father’s grave again. “What am I doing?” she asked herself. “This is crazy.” She looked around. She saw someone hiding behind one of the gravestones nearby. She grabbed her quarterstaff. “Wait! Are you the person who left that poem here before? It was interesting. A mashup of Shakespeare. Although it is a little creepy in context.” She looked closer and saw that it was a teen boy around her age.

 

“You think it’s creepy?” the boy asked.

 

“Leaving it at my father’s grave.”

 

“I guess that it could be seen that way.”

 

Daria sighed. “What is your name.”

 

“William, like the Bard.”

 

“Really?”

 

“No, it was like my great uncle, who wasn’t poetic, but it sounded good didn’t it?”

 

“Not really,” Daria said. “Why are you leaving poems on graves?”

 

“Because you inspire me.”

 

Daria then shone her flashlight on his face.

 

William then knocked it out of her hand. “No, don’t.”

 

Quinn then appeared nearby. “Get away from her!” she said.

 

William panicked and ran, and therefore tripped on something. “Ow!”

 

 

Quinn saw that William had hurt himself. She had followed as SpiderGirl after Daria had left home in the direction of the cemetery and had changed to her usual self behind a mausoleum.

 

“Are you OK?” Daria asked. “My sister was just looking out for me.”

 

“Yeah!” Quinn said. “Like, I saw you lashing out at her.”

 

“It’s a long story,” William said, his voice tinged with pain. He reached up and touched the back of head and.

 

“Oh! He’s bleeding!” Quinn said, as she took a stack of tissues out of a pocket.

 

“We need to get him somewhere,” Daria said.

 

“The Historia?” Quinn asked.

 

“Better than taking him home.”