The Sleep Master Strikes
Part 1
by
Boomer
The name on the frosted glass door read Diana Duke Reporter, and inside the small office a woman in a plain white, button down shirt blouse sat behind a maple desk clicking away at the computer keyboard. Her hair was a dull brunette color, tied in a bun behind her head, and her face was mostly obscured by the large black horn rimmed glasses, that kept sliding down her pert little nose. Suddenly the desk phone rang, and the voice on the other end announced there was a major fire in an apartment building downtown. The woman quickly hung up the phone and yelled to her photographer. “Birdie, grab your gear we got an assignment.” The two women raced from the Times Herald building, leaped into the panel truck with 'NEWS of the DAY' printed on its sides, and sped out of the parking lot to head for the fire.
“Look at the smoke.” Birdie pointed to the billowing cloud that hung over the downtown area. “Must be a biggie.” She pulled the truck next to the wooden barricade, then the two women raced to where the firefighters were aiming huge hoses at the flames spewing forth from several windows. Birdie set up her camera while Diana went to interview one of the firefighters.
“Did everyone get out.” She asked the tall man wearing a rubber suit with an oxygen mask covering his face.
“There's a kid trapped on the third floor, but we can't get to him.” The man announced with frustration.
Diana didn't hesitate, as she raced to a nearby alley to spin in place, transforming herself into a tall brunette wearing a skimpy red white and blue costume, which barely covered her femininity. It was Wonder Lady, the scourge of the underworld. Wasting no time the Super Heroine leaped to one of the third floor windows, broke through the glass and entered the blazing building. Her keen hearing picked up the sound of a child crying. “It's coming from down the hall.” Wonder Lady said, and then fought her way through the raging fire to where the sound was coming. “He's in there.” Bursting the door down, the Heroine entered a smoke filled room, which was empty except for a box lying on the floor. “It's a recording.” She announced, kneeling down to pick up the disc player. “WHUMP!!” A dull thud signaled the impact of a black jack hitting the back of Wonder Lady's skull. “UUNNGGHHH!!” The Heroine cried out as the pain surged through her head, and the long lithe legs crumbled beneath her. She fell to her knees, holding the sides of her aching head.
“Here Wonder Lady...Let me help.” A firefighter spoke from behind the strickened Heroine, and a mask was quickly placed over her nose and moth, and then fastened around her head. “This will help you breathe going through the smoke.” He claimed, lifting the dazed and confused Wonder Lady to her feet.
The unsuspecting Heroine breathed heavily, trying to recover her senses, but instead of her mind clearing, she became dizzy and disoriented. “Ether..the mask is pumping ether into my lungs.” Her eyes bulged wide as panic overtook her. She tried to pull the mask away, but the firefighter clamped his hand firmly in place to prevent it from being removed. “This was a trap....But whooo?” Her resistance was gone as the ether did its job to sedate the super powerful woman.
“Just relax and breathe...You've lost the battle, so don't fight it.” The voice echoed from the fog that slowly overwhelmed the helpless captive of the Sleep Master. Wonder Lady knew he was right, and felt herself slowly drift into the darkness that quickly engulfed her senses.
The Sleep Master lifted the unconscious Super Heroine's limp body, flung her over his shoulder, and carried her to a waiting ambulance. “Let's get out of here, Elmira.” He yelled to his evil assistant.
Meanwhile, Wonder Lass arrived from the nearby Metro University Campos in time to see a fireman carry her sister to the ambulance and then drive away with sirens blaring. “Oh no, Wonder Lady is hurt.” Leaping into the air, the young super heroine followed the ambulance from above.
Also at the scene was the young nerd, who had planted a GPS device on Wonder Lady's belt to keep track of her movements. “That fireman just carried Wonder Lady from the building.... Man, I hope she's alright.” He decided to follow the signal. “I need to make sure she's not hurt.”
An hour later the ambulance stopped at a pair of old rusted iron gates, and Elmira got out to shove them open. Several yards down a weedy gravel road was a large Ivy covered stone building silhouetted against a full moon background. The sound of loons filled the cold night air, when The Sleep Master lifted the unconscious Super Heroine from the gurney, and carried the limp body into the musty foyer. “Light the lanterns, Elmira.” He said, laying Wonder Lady onto an old worn sofa. “We'll need wood for the fire.”
“You get it, I'm not your servant.” Elmira protested. She walked over to the unconscious Wonder Lady and noticed her eyelids twitch. “Hold it the B***H is waking up.”
Wonder Lass landed on the edge of the woods near the old deserted Mansion. “What is going on here?” She wondered. “That was Elmira driving the ambulance, so who was the fireman?......The Sleep Master.” She remain crouched near an old oak tree pondering her next move.
Within minutes a van slowly drove past the iron gate entrance, and then pulled off the road to park nearby, “This isn't no hospital.” Jerry astutely observed. “So what's going on?” He exited the van to sneak through the woods towards the large stone Mansion. “Looks like something from an old Frankenstein movie.” As the young nerd approached the building he caught sight of a shadowy female figure. “That looks like Wonder Lady, but how's that possible?”
Wonder Lass was about to move closer for a look in one of the windows, when she heard someone sneaking behind her. She turned as a dark figure charged from the darkness, tackling the surprised super heroine to the ground. “UUNNFFFF!!” Quickly recovering, Wonder Lass leaped to her feet, and reached down to lift the attacker, when the man raised an object to touch her breast. “AAARRGGHHH!!” A charge of electricity surged through the startled heroine's body, tossing her backwards onto the damp grass, where she lay twitching violently.
Jerry removed a plastic zip bag from his pocket, took out the enclosed chloroform soaked rag, and pressed it against the helpless woman's face. She made a futile attempt at pulling it away, but her hands limply fell back to the ground. “Breathe deep and this will ease the pain.” He advised her. “How did you escape?” He wondered aloud, as his eyes scanned the woman he thought was Wonder Lady. “You don't look the same.” In the moonlight Jerry began to see his victim more clearly, and when he removed the rag... “You're not Wonder Lady!”
“The animals are really stirred up tonight.” The Sleep Master observed, laying the wood in the fireplace. “They were either fighting or humping one another over near the woods.” He lit the fire and watched the flames grow into a nice warming glow. “There, that should do it.”
Elmira finished injecting Wonder Lady with the serum, and watched the Heroine's body go limp. “I found some vintage Brandy in that old cupboard. Would you like some?” She showed him the bottle, while handing the tall balding villain a snifter.
“Get Vlad to cook up something.” He said, sitting next to the fireplace in a large over stuffed recliner, as he swirled the Brandy around in the glass. “This one's out of the way, but I was hoping the other super broad would show up to rescue her.”
Wonder Lass was pinned under the young nerd with her eyes glazed over and her arms and legs feeling like lead. “Uhhh..whoo..are..you?” She managed a very labored question.
“Are you Wonder Lass?” Jerry asked, ignoring her question.
The young Heroine felt her strength returning. “Yes, I'm Wonder Lass...What are you doing here?” She rolled over, pushing Jerry away, and then struggled to her feet. “Why did you attack me?”
“I followed Wonder Lady here. Somebody kidnapped her from the big fire, and I was going to rescue her.” Jerry stated.
Wonder Lass was distracted by the young man's presence, so didn't notice the tall man leaving the Mansion, and going into the woodshed. “You stay here, while I find out what's happened to my sister. I don't want you fouling things up.” She sneaked across the open lawn to the front porch, where she peered into the parlor window. “I know that woman. She was with the Sleep Master.”
A shadowy figure moved towards the front porch, walked up the wooden steps, and approached the unsuspecting Heroine. There was a creaking sound from one of the boards causing Wonder Lass to spin around....Too late to prevent a syringe from being plunged into her left breast. “AARRGGHH!!” Her eyes met the attacker's evil stare, while she made a futile attempt at striking him. “Uhhhh..nooo..Shleeeep Masher.” The drug did its deadly work very quickly, as the beautiful super heroine sagged into the villain's arms.
“I got you this time.” Sleep Master smiled down at his helpless captive. He watched those large blue eyes slowly disappear behind her closing eyelids, and then roll back behind them. The magnificent body went limp, and was tossed over the villain's shoulder. :Look who came to visit.” He announced, carrying the unconscious Wonder Lass into the parlor.
Meanwhile Jerry decided to enter the Mansion by an entirely different route. He jimmied one of the windows, and climbed into the dark and damp basement. “I can't see anything.” The young nerd stumbled around, bumping into things, until coming to a door. Upon opening it he saw a strange unreal scene in the dimly lit room. “Wonder Lady?” He mumbled, but got no response. “It is her.” Opening the glass door, Jerry released the unconscious Heroine from the hook, and laid her on the cold cement floor. “I hope you're not hurt.” Jerry checked the Heroine, but found no marks, and she was breathing regularly, so he lifted the tall shapely figure to gently cradle carry her back past the dark room to the window he had jimmied. It was difficult shoving the unwilling limp body through the small opening, but he was determined to save his idol.
While the nerd was saving Wonder Lady from the fate Sleep Master had arranged, the villain was carrying Wonder Lass down to the basement to hang next to her sister. “I have a very special room for the two of you to spend your last remaining hours.” He mentioned to the unhearing Heroine, but when he reached that room Wonder Lady was gone. “NOOO!! IT CAN'T BE!” Dropping Wonder Lass onto the hard concrete floor, the Sleep Master ran into the empty glass chamber, disbelieving his own eyes. “But how?”
Jerry struggled through the woods carrying his heavy burden, and then laid her still limp body in the back of his van. “Now to get you out of here.” Suddenly the young nerd remembered the other woman. “Wonder Lass...What happened to her?” He sat behind the wheel wondering what to do, when Wonder Lady stirred.
“Ohhhhh...my...head..where...uhhhhhh.” Her eyes fluttered, but then closed again, as the dazed Heroine slipped back into the darkness.
Jerry knelt next to the beautiful, and vulnerable super heroine. “Sorry dear, but I have to do this.” He soaked a dust mask with chloroform, and strapped it over her nose and mouth. He was surprised to see her big blue eyes snap open, when the fumes stung her nostrils. Her arms raised up to make a feeble attempt at grabbing him, but then flopped back down to her sides. Those big blue eyes rolled up in her head as the magnificent body went limp once again. “I don't think she really saw me...She was still to dazed.” Leaping from the van, Jerry sneaked back through the woods. “I hope they didn't capture Wonder Lass.”
Back in the Mansion's basement Sleep Master discovered the broken window, and surmised the missing Heroine had help in making her escape. “I hope she doesn't have another sister.” He mused and went back to Wonder Lass. “Uh oh....Can't have that.” He saw the young Heroine raising to her knees, and struggling to get to her feet. Making a fist the tall villain struck the dazed Super Heroine with a vicious upper cut to the jaw, snapping her head backwards.
“UUNNNNNN!!” She groaned as her legs melted under her, sending the stunned beauty back to her knees. Wonder Lass shook her head trying to clear away the haze, when another wicked blow finished the job. Her body fell to the side from the impact, sprawling the unconscious Heroine's body onto the cold concrete floor. She was completely oblivious of being severely hog tied. “We can't stay here.”
Jerry peered into the parlor window to see a stunning red head dressed in a skin tight black leotard. “Wow, that's a real looker.” He took the wet chloroform soaked cloth from the plastic zip bag. “I need to ask this one a few questions.” The young nerd knocked on the door.
Upon hearing the unexpected knock, Elmira went to see who it was at this time of night. She looked through the dirty glass pane to see a young man, who appeared to be harmless. “Maybe he's lost.” Opening the door, Elmira was startled by a cold wet foul smelling rag thrust over her mouth. “MMMPPHHHHH!” The villain struggled to remove it, but was pushed back into the foyer, and pressed against the far wall. “MMMPPHHHH!!” She continued to scream into the rag, inhaling the potent fumes as she did so. “Gettin..dizzy..has..to do shumpin.” Her knee jerked upwards crashing into Jerry's Groin.
“OOWWWW!” The young man groaned in pain, while backing away and bending over.
Elmira tried to stagger away, but fell to her knees. “Ohhh..has..to..get..away.”
Jerry recovered and clamped the cloth over the woman's mouth once again. He leaned over the helpless woman, pressing the rag hard against her nose, cutting off the air supply. He had trouble hanging on to her, as the woman panicked from not being able to breathe. She violently twisted her head, trying to loosen the man's grip, but it was in vain. Suddenly jerry let her breathe, and the woman inhaled a fatal dose of the knock out drug. Her lovely body went limp, and the nerd quickly tossed the unconscious body over his shoulder, and ran through the woods towards the van. He nearly fell a couple times as the limp form bounced uncomfortably, making him stumble. “You're heavier than you look.” He complained, lying the woman next to Wonder Lady. After tying her hands and ankles Jerry stared down at the vulnerable Heroine. “First, I've got to get you out of harms way.” He jumped behind the wheel and sped off.
Meanwhile, Sleep Master picked up the helpless Heroine, and carried her back upstairs. When he passed through the kitchen, Vlad was preparing dinner. “Sorry Vlad, but you'll have to pack up dinner. Elmira and I are taking our guest to the Yacht., so meet us there.” He then went into the parlor, finding it empty. “What happened here?” Several pieces of furniture were out of place and a white cloth lay in the middle of the floor. After putting the Heroine's limp body on the sofa, picked up the rag, and smelled it. “Ugghh...That's chloroform...Where's Elmira.” Looking around once more the Sleep Master lifted Wonder Lass, and hurriedly carried her to the big black sedan, placing her in the trunk. “I don't know what's going on, but I'm getting out of here.”
It was morning, when Wonder Lady stirred. “Uuhhhhh...where?” Her eyes fluttered until she was able to open those heavy lids. “Don..unnershtan.” Her mouth felt like it was full of cotton. “I'm in my own bed.” She was lying there in her bra and panties with the Wonder Lady costume hanging on a chair. “This is all so confusing.”
Jerry was also waking up, but he was laying on a very large old four poster in the stone Mansion. After taking Wonder Lady home, he took Elmira back to the Sleep Master's hideout, hoping to free Wonder Lass. However, everyone was gone, and the ivy covered stone Mansion was once again deserted. The young nerd looked over at the beautiful red head, tied securely to a wooden chair near the foot of the bed. She was still unconscious from the drugs he had given her. “You have to know where that creep has taken Wonder Lass.” He said, lifting the woman's chin. “I'll use the pentathol.” He went to a little brown bag to retrieve a syringe and a small vial.
“Ohhh...wha...?” Elmira raised her head to see Jerry filling the syringe. “What are you going to do?” She strained at the ropes, trying to get loose. “Don't do that.” She pleaded as the young man slowly approached her. “I'll tell you anything...Just don't stick me again.”
“Tell me where Sleep Master has gone.” He rubbed her bare arm with a cotton swab soaked in alcohol. “Tell me....” He started to insert the needle.
“Stop...He has a yacht moored at the Metro docks...That's where he'll be.” She was shaking from the expectation of being put under the influence of the unknown drug. “That's the truth...MMMPPHHHHH!!” The beautiful red head protested as Jerry pressed the cloth over her mouth. “OHH..NOO..He's chloroforming me.” Weakened from the previous night's ordeal, Elmira had no resistance to the fumes, and quickly succumbed.
After rechecking her bonds, and placing a chloroform soaked dust mask over her nose and mouth Jerry left to head for the docks. A couple hours later he eased the van into a parking space near the wharf. Elmira had given him a description of the Yacht and the name...Sleepy Time, so he exited the vehicle to search the docks.
Wonder Lady thought the whole thing was just another dream. “I need to talk to someone.” She dialed her sister's cell phone, but only got the mail box. “Where is she? I've told her a hundred times to keep her phone on and nearby at all times.” The Heroine donned her costume, and leaped from the balcony to soar into the sky. “I need to find that Mansion.”
“There it is.” Jerry spotted the large white boat anchored in the middle of the inlet. “How do I get to it?” He wondered.
Wonder Lady soared over the large estate, and landed in front of the wrap around wooden porch. “I wonder if the Sleep Master is in there?” She cautiously entered the marble foyer, slowly moved to the parlor, and then searched the entire first floor. No one here.” After checking the basement, the intrepid Heroine climbed the stone stairway to the second floor to begin searching the bedrooms.
By this time Elmira had awakened from her forced sleep, and managed to finally free herself. “Someone's in the house.” She heard noise outside the bedroom, and prepared for whoever the intruder might be. “I hope it's that creep, who put me to sleep.” Hiding behind the door, Elmira waited patiently, and then the door slowly opened. “It's that Super Babe.” She watched Wonder Lady enter, and then stepped behind the unsuspecting Heroine to swing her black jack. 'WHOMP!!!'
Wonder Lady heard the dull thud before the pain surged through her brain. She stumbled forward a few steps, as her head tilted backwards, and then the Heroine collapsed to her knees, holding her aching head. “UUNNNNNN!!” The room seemed to be spinning, until another wicked blow caused flashes of light and shooting stars to fill her vision, until the blackness completely engulfed her. Wonder Lady fell forward, but was unconscious before crashing onto the floor.
“It's that Super B***H” Elmira got some rope to tie the helpless Heroine, and then lifted the limp body and carried her down to the ambulance. The villain strapped Wonder Lady to the gurney, placed the plastic ether mask over her face, and then drove away towards the docks and the Sleep Master's Yacht.
Jerry jumped into the channel and swam out to the yacht. He then climbed up the anchor chain to the deck and cautiously peered in the portholes searching for Wonder Lass. “There she is.” He saw the Heroine tied to one of the bunks with a plastic mask covering her nose and mouth. “That creep has her sedated.” The young nerd pondered his options. “I can't go against this maniac by myself.” His only option seemed to be calling the police. “If I swim back and notify the police, will they believe me?” Suddenly the motor started up. “Uh oh, He's leaving.” As the anchor began to lift out of the water, an ambulance drove onto the pier, flashing its lights. “Who is that?” He slinked over to the other side of the Yacht, so he couldn't be seen from the dock. “That's the woman from the Mansion, and that's the ambulance the Sleep master used to kidnap Wonder Lady.”
Elmira waved her arms from the dock, and the tall balding villain stepped onto the open deck to wave back. “Vlad, take the launch and fetch Elmira.” He told the hunchback.
While all attention was on the dock, Jerry sneaked down the hatch to where Wonder Lass was being held a prisoner. “Wonder Lass, wake up.' Taking the mask from her face, the young nerd slapped the unconscious heroine's cheeks several times, and then slashed some water on her lovely face.
“Uhhhh...whoo?” Her eyes fluttered, but she was too dazed to get up on her own. Her hands and feet were quickly untied and a hazy figure reached down to lift her off the cot. “Wha..uhhhh..c..can't...” She was soon bouncing along and then suddenly felt herself splashing into cold water. “Gulllpp” She swallowed several mouthfuls of salt water, and began to panic, flailing her arms and legs frantically, before realizing someone had hold of her. “Who are..., what are you doing?” The cold water partially revived the Heroine.
“Shhhhh, you're free.” Jerry whispered, as he helped the young woman swim towards the shore.
Meanwhile, Elmira unstrapped Wonder Lady from the gurney, lifted her from the ambulance and then tossed her into the small Launch, when it reached the dock. “Who's that?” Asked Vlad.
“It's a surprise for the Boss.” She replied, looking down at Wonder Lady's closed eyes. In a few minutes they reached the yacht, and the two of them tossed the Heroine onto the deck at the feet of the Sleep Master.
The evil villain leaned over to roll the Heroine onto her back, but was startled when the beautiful lady leaped to her feet, “SURPRISE!!” She kicked the tall man in the stomach, and then punched him in the jaw.
“Hey, you were unconscious.” Elmira stated. “How?'
“You should've checked the level in the ether tank...I've been awake for most of the time.” Wonder Lady bragged, and within the hour all three villains were in custody.
Jerry helped the dazed Wonder Lass onto the shore. “Can't let her see who I am.” He thought, as the Heroine struggled to her feet. “Sorry about this.” He rolled up his fist and struck her with a wicked upper cut to the jaw.
“UUNNGGHH!!” Her head snapped backwards, her deep blue eyes glazed over, as those long shapely legs turned to jelly, sending the unsuspecting Wonder Lass slumping to the ground. Jerry lifted the limp young Heroine and carried her to his van.
Later that evening, Wonder Lady arrived home to find her sister lying unconscious on her bed. “What happened?” When the two women were able to discuss the events that had occurred, they both agreed there was a significant piece of the story missing.