Night over Keifer Square, the seedy underbelly of Astro city. Many didn't even know that this section of town exists, preferring to think of Astro as the gleaming metropolis of tomorrow, one were the sun never stops shining. But Keifer does exist, and every now and then it spits out some new tragedy, just to remind every one that it isn't going away any time soon. Tonight that tragedy was twenty two year old Kimberly Green, a waitress at the nearby bar and grill, Grant's. On her way home from work Kimberly had been murdered by an unseen assailant, her corpse left in a grimy back alley. A shadowy figure was crouched next to her cooling body, but he wasn't the killer. 

"Looks like your source was right A. The knife-work is professional, yet passionate, and the body is missing part of the liver. All trademarks of Dr Whitechapel. He's here. He's in Astro city." The figure stood, the light of a nearby street light catching him to reveal his identity. He was the Phoenix, grim guardian of New York. He has come to Astro hot on the trail of Dr William Whitechapel, better known as Jack the Ripper, arguably the most infamous serial killer of all time.

"Hmm, strange. What is Whitechapel doing in Astro City?" responded Ambrose through Phoenix's highly encrypted comms channel. Ambrose was Phoenix's long time mentor, friend and confident, and was as dedicated to catching Whitechapel as the dark avenger himself.

"He's killing innocent girls, A, that's what he's doing! She's still warm God dammit, if I'd only been faster, I might have caught him!" Spat Phoenix. He had been canvassing the area for several nights now after reports of a strange figure in the area. To know he had been so close yet to have missed his target was galling. 

"You might have saved her you mean," responded Ambrose, a slight edge to his voice. Through the two way camera's in Phoenix's cowl he could just make out a slight slump in the heroes posture, as he realised his callous choice of words. 

"Make sure you don't leave a trace of your being there then get home Phoenix. Just because Astro is accepting of their heroes doesn't mean you need to be announcing your presence." This order was a mere formality now, the young hero had been doing this so long that investigating crime scenes was almost second nature to him now. Still, it was a comforting routine for the two. 

The immortal protector of New York pulled a grapple gun from behind his belt and fired it at the closest rooftop, beginning his slow trek back to Valiant enterprises pent house he was staying in during his visit to Astro City. The scene that he had witnessed weighed heavy on him, the knowledge that Whitechapel was still out there heavier still. The Phoenix made a silent promise to himself that he wouldn't be late the next time, that he would catch Whitechapel and make him pay for Kimberly Green, and for Mary Robert's, and for all the other innocents who had fallen for that sick psycho's pleasures.