webnovel

Similar yet Different

-(Lex Luthor)-

 

 Lex couldn't believe what he was witnessing, how can beings of such power be so… normal? If anyone, even a child dared touch Ultramans cape he would at the very least pull it from their grasp. Most likely taking and hand and arm with it. But this Superman was afraid to hurt someone.

 

 When he saw the blue and red outfit first appear, for a moment he feared that Ultraman had followed him somehow. But the presence of this man with an S in place of the U was calming and gentle, instead of the smell of blood and feeling of barely contained violence Ultraman had.

 

Looking at Logan, the young man he first met, he finally realized why he brought him here. Seeing this worlds heroes interacting in a way that was so contrary to what Lex was used to, made him want to trust them with everything, not just what he needed to say to get their help.

 

 With the arrival of a man that moved with the speed of Johnny Quick, Lex was surprised to hear a voice coming from the house. "Now that Silverflash is here, how about you tell us what's going on Logan."

 

 Lex spoke up, "I believe I should be better able to explain myself then young Logan here."

 

 Before anyone could respond Logan cut in, "Rember what I said about trust Lex, I am going to recommend that Ororo place her lightning of truth on you before anything is said."

 

 Ororo stepped forward without seeming to realize she still held Hazel, "When I place the lightning of truth on you, you will not be able to speak any falsehood. But as this is not a punishment, I will not use it to compel you to answer anything you do not wish to."

 

 Lex was blinded by a flash and then he saw a rope of lightning wrapped around his arm. It caused no pain, but it wasn't comfortable either. Taking a deep breath Lex began. "My name is Lex Luthor." Or that's what he tried to say. As soon as he tried to say Lex his muscles around his mouth cramped up. Then it hit him, "I am Alexander Luthor, also known as Lex."

 

 "I come from a world very much like this one, similar in so many ways. But very different in others" Lex had a way of speaking that made every person there feel as though he were speaking to them directly.

 

 Silverflash interrupted him, "Wait, wait, don't tell me. In your world you are the leader of the Justice League!"

 

 "As a matter of fact, I was."

 

 Ororo spoke with pity, "Was? You speak in past tense."

 

 "I'm not just the leader of my worlds Justice League. I am its only surviving member. We were systematically destroyed by a group of superpowered beings known as the Crime Syndicate. They have run rampant for years, doing whatever they pleased. Anyone with meta power that doesn't join them is hunted down as a sport, they will allow no one to stand in opposition of them."

 

 "They rule through fear, occasionally turning their powers against the populace, just to remind us that we live at their whim."

 

 "In the hope of maintaining some minimal order, the worlds governments simply pretend they aren't there. Or act like they are simply another natural disaster that must be weathered through." 

 

 "But increasingly, they refuse to be ignored. The Syndicate has completely intimidated all civil authority. The police wont arrest anyone affiliated with them, and prosecutors wouldn't press charges if they did. The only thing keeping them from completely overthrowing the government is the threat of a nuclear response. You people can bring hope to my world."

 

 "Tell us about the main members of this Crime Syndicate." Devilbat said.

 

 "Surprisingly, that are very much like you all here. It is almost like the heroes here are carbon copies of the Syndicate there. Johnny Quick can move a speed faster than the eye, thanks to a serum he injects himself with. He jokingly refers to it as speed."

 

 "Superwoman was borne on Domination Island; it was an island of ancient days with women only. They would cause shipwrecks and use any men that survived for breeding purposes before killing them by torture as the woman enters labor. Their torture lasts as long as the labor and as the child first cries out the killing blow is landed. She left the Island after killing every woman on it, then took the name Lois Lane to live in what she calls the 'Patriarch World'."

 

 Superman gasped as Luthor's words registered.

 

 "Superwoman's powers are super strength, invulnerability, flight, speed and enhanced senses. She also has a lasso that looks like barbed wire that when placed on someone it causes all the inhibitions to be released. She is a murderous psychopath that prefers to pick on those weaker than herself. She revels in the death and destruction."

 

 "Ezekiel Stain. Called Zeak for short is a brilliant scientist that made himself an armored suit that makes him exceptionally strong. He is brilliant in every computer science also."

 

 "Owl man however makes Zeke look like a child playing with Lego's. He is at the peak of the human existence. While he has some enhancements in his suit, he considers relying on them a weakness and prefers to keep things simple. He is a master tactician and comfortable in every form of martial arts known."

 

 "J'edd J'arkes, is a shape changing Martian from Venus. Though he is most likely dead as a result of my friend Jester just before I left that world."

 

 "Finally, there is Ultraman. He is an alien that was sent to our world as a child. He is able to absorb something called green kryptonite, for every piece he absorbs he gains a new power. We don't know why he was sent to earth; all we know is he says he will be the strongest or dead. He is invulnerable, can fly at extreme speed is ultra strong and has what he calls ultra vision and ultra hearing. He has also destroyed the only thing on Earth that makes him vulnerable, blue kryptonite."

 

 "These are the leaders of the Crime Syndicate, and they all lead organizations comprised of 'Made Men'. These Made Men are individuals that have powers or have been given powers for services rendered. They are ruthless to each other as bringing down someone above you is to bring yourself higher."

 

 Internally, they will fight at the drop of a hat. But externally they present a united front. Any perceived weakness is delt with harshly and usually permanently. 

 

 "What do you expect us to do? We aren't a multiverse police force?" Iron Man asked.

 

 Lex pulled out the gun looking device Logan had seen him with during their first meeting. "I built this device to travel to alternate Earth's, in hopes of finding an Earth that had heroes on a world they weren't wanted or on an Earth that could no longer support them. Or maybe I could find a weapon to use against the Syndicate and even the playing field. But I have yet to find one that meets my needs."

 

"I know that inviting a temporary team over to help would have a minimal effect, but if the people can see the Syndicate beaten, then maybe they will stand up to them. During a supply meet I was betrayed to Ultraman and locked up in his prison. While I was there, I learned that I had run out of time."

 

 "Owlman has convinced the Syndicate to build what he calls the Quantum Eigenstate Device or QED for short. He has billed it as an atmospheric energy barrier that would stop all missiles that any country tried to fire. No more nuclear deterrent, the world at their mercy."

 

 "But he is lying to everyone, it is a bomb that will destroy the earth. He believes that all mankind is a waste, and the universe would be better off without us in it. So, I have run out of time and had to come to a world with a group of heroes that can help me in the short term. Then I would continue looking for a more permanent solution."

 

 Iron man walked towards Lex and held his hand out to look over the portal device. "How did you solve the decoherence problem that comes with shifting between the alternate universal frequency?"

 

 "Would you believe me if I told you a monkey belonging to my friend Jester ran across my keyboard while I was doing some simulations?"

 

 "With that lightning bolt around your arm I would."

 

 Lex opened a compartment on his left glove and pulled out a tube with metallic pillars reinforcing the glass looking tube. There was what appeared to be a blue marble floating in the center of it. This was obviously some sort of key. "This is the Quantum trigger that had been premade by Owlman. Its energy output is enormous and getting it cost my last friend his life."

 

 Lex walked over to Devilbat and handed it to him. "Logan recommended that I leave this with you for safe keeping."

 

 Silverflash asked, "Why don't you just destroy it? No key, no starting the death machine."

 

 "It can't be destroyed; it is pure energy."

 

 Devilbat took the key and placed it in his utility belt. "I recommend we take this to the Watchtower. We can discuss this further there. You will be part of this discussion Logan, be there in an hour."

Next chapter