The mysterious man known as The Traveler enters Eddie’s office. He is a tall older muscular man with long white hair. He wears a tailored black suit with expensive leather shoes. Eddie could tell this man meant business and he became concerned for his own safety. Eddie stood up from his desk to greet The Traveler. “Mr. Traveler, please have a seat, make yourself comfortable.  Ya wanna drink?” Eddie said motioning to the leather chair in front of his desk. The Traveler walked past Eddie and sat in his office chair at the head of the desk. He put his feet up on the desk and leaned back in Eddie’s chair. “I’d love a drink, Carpathian Brandy, do you have it?” The Traveler asked.

Eddie looked dumbfounded as he walked over to his bar picking up a fine crystal glass. “Uh, I have cognac and carvalos.” he said. The Traveler motioned his fingers in the direction of Eddie and the glass he was holding blinked away and reappeared in front of The Traveler. Eddie watched as the glass filled up with Carpathian Brandy magically. He looked at Eddie and motioned him to sit in the guest chair in front of his desk.

Eddie felt his anger rising, but knew better than to blow up at a man who could make rare brandy appear out of thin air. Eddie poured himself a fresh drink and sat down begrudgingly. “Nice magic trick.” He said nodding towards the glass. “Magic, no trick. Magic is simply ancient technology most don’t understand.” He replied. Eddie said nothing glaring at the stranger sitting at his desk.

The Traveler sat motionless looking at Eddie. Eddie’s anger quickly subsided when he realized The Traveler was waiting for him to talk. “So, Mr. Dark sent you to kill Superwoman for me.” Eddie said.

“Incorrect, Mr. Dark paid me 50 million dollars to give you the means to kill Superwoman.” He replied. “Okay, so then how do I kill Superwoman?” Eddie asked.

The Traveler produced a small blue crystal from his pocket and tossed it on the desk. “A crystal? Are you kidding me? They don’t work no more. That Majick bitch cancelled them.” Eddie said. “This is a blue Null crystal. My own design. Majick has nothing to do with this. This one will do more than the null crystals you’ve been using. This one will not only instantly nullify her powers, it will also make her sick, dizzy and weaker than a baby.” The Traveler replies. “Yeah? and what happens if Superwoman laughs at it and kicks my ass?” Eddie asks.

“She will be helpless. You have my guarantee. In return I want her belt and choker.” The Traveler said. Eddie raised an eyebrow. “What do you want those for?” He asked. “That’s my business.” He replied.

That Night…

The blizzard had been raging for a few hours. The streets of Delta City were desolate as people stayed in the warmth of their homes. It seems even crime took a break for the winter storm.

Detective Rebecca Hunt opened the door to her apartment after a long day. She took off her coat and hung it on a chair. She put her badge and gun on a bookshelf and turned on the lights. She was surprised to see Eddie Winter sitting at her kitchen table. “Detective Hunt, shitty place you got here.” He said. Rebecca knew a distraction when she saw one. She spun around to see Big Sal ready to attack her. She quickly sent a kick into Sal’s chest sending him falling back. “Hey Sally, looks like Eddie didn’t kill you.” She moved towards the big man when suddenly a chloroform soaked rag clamped over her mouth and nose. “You’re coming with us bitch!” Eddie said into her ear. Rebecca felt herself getting dizzy and quickly elbowed Eddie to get him off her. Rebecca leaned back against the wall trying not to pass out. “Fuck!” She said to herself.

Sal and Eddie stood up and moved towards the weakened Rebecca. “She’s weak now, Sal. Work this bitch over and we’re square.” Eddie said. “You got it boss.” Sal said happily. He grabbed Rebecca by the throat with his left hand and tossed her backwards to Eddie. Eddie grabbed her arms and pulled them behind her back. Now completely defenseless and weakened from chloroform Rebecca saw Sal cocking his fat fist back. Shot after shot landing on Rebecca’s tight belly. Each shot knocking the air from her lungs. “YOU FUCKING CUNT!” Sal screamed as he started slapping Rebecca. “Look at the big bad detective now! Not so fucking mouthy when I’m not cuffed!” Sal yelled. Rebecca looked up weakly with a smirk from her bleeding mouth. “Go..fuck… yourself SALLY!” She says enraging Sal. Sal takes out his brass knuckles and cracks Rebecca across the jaw. The force of the punch ripped Rebecca out of Eddie’s grip and she crashed to the floor unconscious.

“Nice work Sal.” Eddie said reaching down and grabbing Rebecca’s hair. He pulls her head up and clamps the chloroform rag over her face. A soft moan escapes her lips through the rag as she goes completely limp. Sal handcuffs Rebecca with her own handcuffs. “Let’s get her in the car before it gets bad to drive.” Eddie says to Sal worried about the storm. Sal smiles at the unconscious Rebecca. The feeling of satisfaction seeing her defeated made him happy. He picked up the limp Rebecca and slung her limp and handcuffed body over his broad shoulder. Eddie scribbled a note and left it on Rebecca’s kitchen table. The two walked out with Rebecca into the snowy winter night to the car and drove away.

The next day there was 43 inches of snow on the ground and the storm was still raging. The city was shut down from the snow emergency. Josephine received a call at home from Captain Randolph of the Delta City Police. “Don’t suppose you and Rebecca are recovering from a hangover from last night?” He asked. “What? No? I haven’t seen Rebecca.” She replied. “Okay, sure. Well, since she doesn’t like to answer her phone tell her if she doesn’t report for duty in the next hour I’m busting her down to patrol.” He replies with a tone of light sarcasm. “Andy, I’m serious. She’s not here. Can you send a car to her apartment?” Josephine said. “I’ll try but the plows can’t keep up with the snow and my officers are stuck.” He replied. “I’ll go check on her.” She said. “Yeah? That BMW you drive has snow tracks now?” He asks. “Something like that.” She replies.

A moment later Superwoman was flying towards downtown Delta City in the heavy snowfall. Her red leotard with shimmering pantyhosed form cutting through the storm like a missile. The beautiful protector of Delta City landed at Rebecca’s apartment and walked through the front vestibule. She knew the code to enter and floated up the 3 flights of stairs to her unit. The door was partially open and she walked in. “Rebecca?” She called. She noticed her gun and badge on the bookshelf  and her jacket was hung on the chair. She noticed signs of a struggle. The kitchen chair she never sits on knocked over. Then she noticed the note on the table. She picked it up and read [Superwoman, Oh baby it’s cold outside. But Hunt’s gonna keep us warm. Nothing beats an Ice Cold Winter. Love, Eddie.]. Her blood boiled with anger at the audacity. She knew what she needed to do. She left the apartment and flew to Eddie Winter’s mansion.

At the mansion Rebecca Hunt sat tied strictly to a chair in her jeans and a t-shirt. A rag stuffed in her mouth with packing tape over her mouth. She watched as Eddie played with a small metal box. Opening it up and smiling while he looked at it. A slight blue glow on his face each time he looked at it. He noticed Rebecca watching him. “My boys watching your apartment across the street tell me Superwoman just visited your place. When she gets here she’s dead.” He said opening the box and showing Rebecca the blue glowing crystal. Rebecca started laughing behind the gag which pissed Eddie off. “You think it’s funny bitch? You won’t be laughing when I kill Superwoman!” He said scowling while reaching down and ripping the tape off her mouth. Rebecca spit the gag out.

“You fucking dip shit! The crystals don’t work. When she gets here she’s gonna rip your place apart and then I’m gonna shove my foot so far up your ass it’s gonna come out of your fucking mouth!” She screamed. Eddie backhands Rebecca across the face, the slap echoed across the large office. “You’re a fucking pussy Eddie and your stupid plan won’t work!” Rebecca screamed while looking behind her hearing the library door open. She saw a man in a high tech suit of armor. He is an older man with long white hair. “Who the fuck is this rusty old tin can?” She asked looking at The Traveler.

“Normally I would agree with you Detective Hunt, but that crystal is of my own design, not Majick’s. I assure you, Superwoman will die tonight.” He said to her. “Even if you don’t appreciate the sophistication of my armor. I am The reckoning of destiny, I am the reaper of souls. I am The Traveler.” He said sending a chill down everyone’s spine. Rebecca looked at him unfazed. “You look like a fucking idiot.” She said harshly.

“What’s with the outfit?” Eddie asked The Traveler. “This is no mere outfit. It is a tool which will power the Quantum Compass.” He replied pressing a button on his chest opening a compartment and holding up a small rune with symbols and etchings. “This is why you will give me Superwoman’s power artifacts. They will charge the Quantum Compass.” He said.

“Quantum Compass? The fuck is that?” Eddie asked. “It’s an ancient magical artifact that will allow me to travel across the Multiverse.” Traveler said.

“You are both fucking crazy. I can’t wait to see you morons in prison.” Rebecca said. Suddenly a voice over Eddie’s radio breaks through with a static voice. “Superwoman’s here. Flying from the front.” He said. Eddie picks up the radio. “Make it look good.” He says. Eddie shoves the rag back in Rebecca’s mouth and takes it shut.

Suddenly gunfire can be heard outside. The gunfire outside stops after men scream. Suddenly the loud crashing echo of a smashed heavy oak door hitting a marble floor. More gunfire, more men screaming, gunfire stops. The sound of heels hitting the mable floor then tipping and tapping on the floor with each step. The steps stop outside the door. Eddie reaches into his pocket and feels the box with the crystal in it. The double doors are ripped off their hinges revealing The red costumed Superwoman. Her red leather boots walking into the office. Her high end pantyhose shimmering in the office lights. The muscles of her legs flexing with each step she took. Her toned stomach flexes with each motion. The artifacts of power shining red and glowing as her red mask draws your attention to her perfectly shaded eyes. She is an intimidating sight to anyone with evil in their hearts. The red costume letting villains know she doesn’t care who sees her coming.

She saw Rebecca tied up and gagged on a chair and Eddie closer to the door to her left. She saw a man she didn’t know in armor. She glared at Eddie. “You made a big mistake Eddie.” She said with the confidence only a powerful Superheroine could say with conviction. She began to walk towards Eddie. Rebecca began shaking her head trying to tell Superwoman to stay back. Eddie smiled and pulled out the small metal box. Superwoman was raising her arm to grab Eddie when he opened the box and held the blue glowing crystal out in front of him.

“No bitch! You made the mistake.” He said with a sick twisted grin on his face.

Superwoman’s blood suddenly felt like it was on fire. She grabbed her chest as her confidence washed away. She fell to her knees in extreme pain. She had never felt this weak before in combination with the internal pain, even the most powerful Null Crystals never made her feel this kind of extreme pain. She looked up to see Eddie laughing at her. Eddie looked with joy as Superwoman’s face twisted in pain as she moaned and struggled to breathe.

Rebecca watched in horror as Eddie grabbed Superwoman’s hair and forced her to look at him. She looked in horror and fear as her body felt like it was burning from the inside out. “I’m gonna fucking kill you tonight Superwoman. It’s over bitch. You walked right into my trap and this time you finally lost!” He said bending down and forcing his tongue into Superwoman’s unyielding mouth and kissing her, tasting her warm mouth and exploring with his tongue. He pulled her head back and watched as she looked at him helplessly. Eddie smiled. “But first I’m gonna have fun before you die.” He put the blue glowing crystal in front of her face and watched as she looked at it twisting her face in pain. He could see the fear in her eyes behind that red mask. “N…no… please…stop.” she said weakly wheezing from her lungs.

TO BE CONTINUED IN CHAPTER 4