Josephine arrived home to find a note from her roommate; “Sorry Jo, I had to head back home.  Seems some things are not as settled as I hoped.  Hope Delta City stays quiet for you.”

She flopped on the couch, unfortunately, it would have been nice to talk to Sophia, but Delta City was her problem.  She flipped on the news as she pondered her next step.  As could be expected there had been a rash of crime as small time criminals tested the Superwoman free Delta City, but unfortunately for them they found the city far from defenseless.  Reports showed that the police and average citizens were stomping down this surge caused by Black Mask. 

She felt a surge of pride as one reporter was on the street interviewing people on the events.  Overall the citizens spoke up saying they trusted Superwoman and that she would take care of this villain like the others.  One man was very vocal, “Leave town?  No way!  Black Mask can kiss my ass.  Actually he better kiss his own goodbye, because when Superwoman finds him she is going to kick all kinds of dog crap out of him.  Go Superwoman!”  The gathered crowd cheered and started chanting. 

Watching for a few hours Josephine felt energized by the amazing support that city was showing her despite facing a deadly threat.  It made her want to fly over the city, but she was not willing to risk the safety of the city.  Still she felt the need to do something and seeing it was already dark decided she should go for a run, and maybe check her one possible lead.  Donning black running tights and a dark hooded sweatshirt she took off across campus.  It felt good to exert her muscles.  She was not use to sitting at home at night.  Taking the long way she head for the dormitory where she knew Henry lived.   

Across campus in his dorm room Henry was watching the same coverage; where was the fear he had seen in the crowd that day, why were they not turning on Superwoman?  “Come back to bed Henry,” called Penelope from his bed.

“I have to go take care of something!” he then stormed out of his room. 

Josephine was coming up on his dorm when she suddenly saw Henry storm out of the building and head toward the Chemistry building.  Ducking behind a tree she let him pass and then keeping some distance began to trail him across the campus and finally into the building.  He head down the stairs to the basement and she watched him duck into an old storage room.  It seemed crazy, but she had to face it that the boy she had known for so long had become a violent criminal. 

She peaked into the dark room and saw a light coming from a cracked doorway.  She moved silently across the room, but as she reached the door she sensed movement behind her.  Ducking she dodged a punch.  She spun and kicked the figure, but it was like kicking a wall.  The figure caught her leg, but she leapt into the air to kick the figure in the head with her other foot.  The large figure staggered backward.  She charged forward and leaped to hit another kick to his jaw flattening him.  As she moved in slowly she heard a creaking and dodged but not in time as an old metal shelf came down slamming into her back. 

She slowly tried to get up only to have a boot stomp on her back flattening her to the floor, “Little snoops don’t last long around here!”  She was hoisted up by the back of her running tights and sweatshirt to be sent slamming into and through the secret door into the light.  Dazed she looked up as Henry loomed over her, “Well, well if it isn’t little stuck up Josephine, looks like this night isn’t a total loss after all.” The world went dark as his fist slammed into her jaw.

Henry carried the limp Josephine over his shoulder grabbing her ass as he did down to his hideout.  Stripping off her sweatshirt to see she only had a sports bra underneath he lay her out on table.  He was not lying that he got lots of girls, but deep down he had still wanted Josephine.  He smirked, “Now I’ll just take it then!”  He flipped her on her stomach and peeled down the back of her tights to see her perfect ass in a simple cotton thong.  He was instantly hard, but suddenly he felt that familiar pain.  “Dam it, not now!”  He then shrunk back down to weak Henry.  This just proved his formula burned through his system faster from sexual excitement.   He yanked open his fridge to find he was out of serum, and his new batch was not complete yet.

“What else can go wrong tonight,” he mumbled, and like on cue his alarms began to sound.  Flipping on some cameras he saw about six police coming through the storage room.  He turned to the unconscious Josephine, “You bitch!”  He had known someone was following him right away, but had not known she had called Barry Barnesworth as Superwoman to ask him to follow up on a tip a lead.

This was not happening, he stormed around the room, but suddenly an idea came to him.  He smirked, “I’m a fucking genius!”

Barry and the other officers made their way down the corridor with guns drawn.  Suddenly gas began to spill into the hallway, “Put your masks on men, lucky we know Black Mask’s tricks.”

In the lair Josephine groaned slowly coming awake to find herself tied to a chair. 

“Oh Josephine thank god your awake,” came a familiar voice.  She looked over to see Henry half naked and in a small holding cell.  

“Henry?”

“Yes, I have been held captive down here for weeks.  This man called Black Mask said he took my place and has been making me work on inventions for him.”

Josephine was trying to figure out what was going on, but her head hurt and the alarms were making it hard to concentrate.  The door burst in as Barry and the other offices rushed in, “Josephine, where is Black Mask?”

Henry pointed, “He ran down that hallway.  He said he said he rigged the place to explode, and set the gas bombs to go off.”

Several officers took off down the hallway as Barry untied Josephine and opened Henry’s cell, “Come on, I am getting you two out of here.”

“No, I have to disable the gas bombs!” demanded Henry pulling away and running to a computer.  “I watched him do this so I think I can shut them down!”

His fingers flew over the keyboard as Barry held Josephine on her feet.  Suddenly a voice from the computer announced, “Gas bombs disabled.” 

The three rushed out of the lair and from the chemistry building as the first explosion went off and the building started to collapse.  Outside a dozen cop cars and SWAT vans were surrounding the building. 

Several hours later Josephine and Henry stood on the lawn as the police and fire department searched the ruins.  “Josephine, I have to say, the worse thing I thought when I was sure he was going to kill me was that we were no longer friends.”

“Oh Henry, we were still friends, though I sure hated the ‘evil’ you!”

The two laughed as Barry approached, “Well we found a body, it is pretty badly burned, we think it is him.  I don’t know what you were thinking Josephine, but you are lucky Superwoman called me.”

“Superwoman called you?” asked Henry looking surprised.

Barry blushed looking awkwardly at Josephine, “It is nothing like that, I mean, its professional, oh never mind.  Anyway Henry you’re considered a hero.  Captain says they are already talking about giving you a key to the city. ”

Henry seemed speechless, but Josephine smiled feeling good for him.

A few days later Henry stood on the city hall steps as the Mayor gave him the key to the city.  Josephine had said she wanted to come, but was still recovering from a concussion.  Henry beamed as he held up the golden key.  Suddenly the crowd went wild as Superwoman flew down to land on the stage.  Besides her hose and costume even her skin and eyes seemed to sparkle in the sun light.  She smiled at the cameras nothing like a little glitter eye shadow and body gel.  

“I just wanted to add my congratulations.  People call me a hero, but you are a real hero, Henry.”  She stuck out her hand and shook Henry’s. 

Henry smiled widely for the cameras, but inside he was laughing, “You stupid bimbo.  You don’t even know you’re shaking the hand of the villain that beat you three times.  I might not have turned this city against you, but I showed them you can be beat.  I will tear you down and break you SUPERwoman!”

“Thank you very much Superwoman, I am just glad you’re here to protect us,” answered Henry which brought a loud cheer from the crowd.

THE END?