Henry turned off the monitor in his lair and laughed.  Not only had he now beaten Superwoman three times, he had publicly embarrassed her.   He smirked, he actually only had one gas bomb planted.  While his new illegal drug business was picking up, being a super villain was expensive not to mention his new found popularity with girls.  Having been ignored all his life he now could not get enough.  Between Penelope and a few others from her cheerleader and sorority friends he was literally getting it every night.  He smirked, he had not planned on that last line, but it was golden.  He had seen how it had affected Josephine and imagined it devastating Superwoman the same way. 

He answered his other line, “Excellent job, Mayor Young.  I see you managed to follow my instructions and plant the gas bomb in the microphone.”

From the back of his limo, “Yes, now you said you could guarantee my re-election. “  Despite the positive turn Delta City had made since the rise of Superwoman, Mayor Young was trailing badly in the polls since many considered him part of the old guard.

“Yes I did, and I will.  You do what I say in the future maybe it will be Governor or Senator Young,” he hung up the phone.  The man was weak, but that made him an easy puppet.  Suddenly pain shook his body and he cried out as his muscles and frame shrank.  Seconds later he was back to his weak, skinny former self.  Damn, the formula was still unstable.   He went to a metal freezer and removed another sample and a few minutes later he was once again muscled.  He smirked, it was time to go celebrate and bang Penelope.

Across town a police van pulled into a deserted alley.  In the back lay the unconscious Superwoman along with a young officer.  Superwoman’s eyes fluttered open and she recognized the officer as Barry Barnesworth.  It reminded her again how she had ignored her private life. They had met when she had first started school, and he had wanted to date her, but she had always been too busy.

“Are you okay Superwoman?”

“Yes, the gas is wearing off, how long have I been out?”

“About thirty minutes.”

That meant that her immunity was improving, with each attack the gas was having less of an effect on her.   “I have to get back there to find and stop him.”

“No, Superwoman, I am sorry but I can’t let you,” ordered the police chief as he climbed into the back of the van.  He then went on to explain the threat that Black Mask had made. 

Superwoman grimaced; Black Mask was trying to neutralize her while putting the city in panic.  Then the last thing he had said came back to her; “Hey Superwoman, you’re just an overrated piece of ass. I get hotter chicks than you every night!”  That was exactly what Henry had said to her, but how could the boy she had known turned into Black Mask?

“I have a lot of faith in you Superwoman, but we can’t risk that he is telling the truth and put so many lives at stake.”  The police chief looked depressed.

“I agree sir, and I will lay low to not endanger people, but that does not mean I am helpless.”

He smiled, “That is what I hoped.  We will do our part to keep the peace, but you let us know how we can help.  Barnesworth give her your personal cell number.”

The young officer blushed, “What?”

“That way she can get a hold of us secretly if need be, I’m worried about leaks and I am too public to have her calling me, but you’re nobody, no offense.”

“None taken sir,” the young officer looked embarrassed as he handed over his number to every man in Delta City’s fantasy.

Superwoman felt a little embarrassed too, but hoped she hid it.  “I can get home without being noticed, thank you for your help Chief, Officer Barnesworth.”  She slipped out of the van and flew low cutting through some alleys until she was a few blocks away.  Concentrating she changed to her street clothes and took a taxi back to campus.  Her mind went back to the last comment; could it be that this new threat was Henry?  It was her only lead at this point so she would have to investigate it.