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.

Convergence on Lawndale - Part 16

 

Peter considered webslinging back to Glen Oaks Lane, but decided against it. Spider-Man appearing in Lawndale would draw too much attention. ‘But I can still get there quickly. Maybe Claire is still here.’

 

 

Claire was surprised when Peter came up to her. “Peter?”

 

“I need a lift,” he said.

 

“Why? Lawndale has a good bus service.”

 

“I need to get to Glen Oaks Lane quickly.”

 

“Is that where you’re staying?” Claire asked.

 

“Yes.”

 

“I’ll take you.”

 

 

Brittany pulled up into the Morgendorffers’ driveway. “See, five minutes. I guess they’re out the back,” she said as she turned off the engine, while also twirling a pigtail.

 

“Yes,” Quinn answered.

 

“In the yard?” Stacy asked.

 

“Yes, we don’t need to go through the house,” Daria said a she got out.

 

 

Kaelyn emerged from the TARDIS as Quinn lead the group around the side of the house past the kitchen door. “Kim and Ron have gone home overnight,” she said.

 

“But has the Doctor found more?” Daria asked.

 

“Yes, but it’s best that he explains it.”

 

“We still need to wait for Peter,” Quinn said.

 

 

“The Morgendorffers,” Claire said as she pulled up. “That’s where you’re staying?”

 

“For now,” Peter answered.

 

“Or something’s going on,” Claire said.

 

“No comment,” Peter said as he got out of the car.

 

 

The Doctor saw Quinn lead the other girls into the TARDIS.

 

“It’s bigger on the inside!” Stacy commented in a slight panic.

 

That was new. No one had been in a panic before as they said that.

 

“Dimensionally transcendental, according to the Doctor,” Quinn said. “And it’s perfectly safe, Stacy. It’s where the Doctor would take it that would be dangerous.”

 

“Oh.”

 

“But she’s stuck in Lawndale for the time being,” the Doctor added.

 

“What happened?” Brittany asked.

 

“She picked up the portal machine before Quinn and I activated it,” the Doctor answered.

 

“But what have you found?” Quinn asked as she and Stacy came up to the console.

 

“Energy readings, scattered around Lawndale,” the Doctor answered.

 

“Not scattered,” Stacy murmured.

 

“There’s a pattern you recognise?” the Doctor asked.

 

“A little,” Stacy answered. She pointed to one of them, in the middle of the extensive suburbia to the west of the downtown area and southeast of the Morgendorffers. “This is the Coulthard’s, my next-door neighbors.”

 

“Anna is in our grade,” Quinn added.

 

“What about the others?” Kaelyn asked.

 

“One is the Giant Strawberry,” Stacy added.

 

“I see that,” Daria commented.

 

“Wait!” Jane said as she came up to scanner screen.

 

“You see something?” the Doctor asked.

 

“Yes. It’s like a flower blooming across Lawndale. The Strawberry is at the end of one petal,” Jane explained.

 

“I don’t see any flower,” the Doctor objected.

 

“It’s not just the flower,” Jane said. “But the floral part is the most obvious to my mind.”

 

“Right, but what does this mean?” Brittany asked. “What are the energy readings?”

 

“They’re similar to the portal,” the Doctor answered. “Meaning that they may be similar tech.”

 

“And would there be similar readings in Middleton?” Kaelyn asked.

 

“I guess I’ll have to go and check,” the Doctor answered. “Kim and Ron won’t be back for a while.”

 

 

Jane took out a sketchpad and started copying the flower pattern. “All of Lawndale,” she commented.

 

“I said that, didn’t I?” the Doctor asked.

 

“No, you said ‘across Lawndale’, not ‘across all of Lawndale,’” Kaelyn responded.

 

“Semantics,” the Doctor said as he watched Jane continue to sketch.

 

“Can you broaden the range?” Jane asked.

 

“Certainly,” the Doctor responded. “How far?”

 

“Oakwood for a start,” Jane answered.

 

“Sure,” the Doctor responded. He input a few commands, and the screen zoomed out to show Oakwood, not far to the west of Lawndale. “There are only two readings in Oakwood.’”

 

“And in the eastern subdivisions,” Daria commented.

 

“Maybe it is just Lawndale,” Jane considered, “But zoom out to the entire county to be sure.”

 

The Doctor zoomed the screen out.

 

Carter Lawndale County

Energy reading concentration, Lawndale

“Nowhere near Middlebury or Cumberland,” the Doctor said.

 

“So, practically just Lawndale,” Kaelyn considered.

 

“The furthest is on the other side of the lake,” the Doctor confirmed.

 

 

Quinn thought about the situation. “But did they appear before, or after we activated the portal?” she asked the Doctor.

 

“Checking that now,” the Doctor said. He scanned back to the morning again, and they saw that the energy readings slowly appeared after the portal was activated.

 

“Would that mean they would be in Middleton too?” Brittany asked.

 

“Quite likely, but the TARDIS can’t scan through the portal, and I’m not sure she would travel there.”

 

“You can try,” Daria said after crossing her arms.

 

“Right,” the Doctor said. He input the coordinates in Middleton, and set the TARDIS in motion.