The Mighty Avengers and The Crime Syndicate are the property of Marvel and D.C. Comics, respectively. I'm not making any money of their use here, so please don't sue me. Find someone else and sue the pants off of them.
The version of the Avengers I'm using here consists of Hank Pym as the Wasp, Stature, Vision, USAgent, Hercules, Amadeus Cho, Jocasta, Quicksilver, and Jarvis; of the recent incarnations of the Avengers I like this one best since it mainly consists of their black sheep and second stringers. While Thor is not a member of this group I am including him in this story.
The variation of the Crime Syndicate I am using comes from the Direct to DVD movie Crisis on Two Earths. If you are not familiar with the crime Syndicate, they are an evil version of the Justice League with different names and personalities: Superman/Ultraman, Batman/Owlman, Flash/Johnny Quick, Power Ring/Green Lantern-though in the DVD Superwoman is based more on Mary Marvel than Wonder Woman, unlike in the comics.
Lex Luther looked up in sadness as he saw the base of the Martian crime lord J'edd Jarkis explode from an alleyway. "It won't be in vain, old friend," he choked as he thought of the sacrifice his laughing-and sometimes annoying-comrade and ally the Jester has just made so he could escape from Jarkis and his lieutenant Angelique.
"Luthor!" The scientist superhero turned and saw the five other leaders of the Crime Syndicate walking towards him. Johnny Quick. Power Ring. Superwoman. Owlman. And the worst, his old nemisis Ultraman.
"You think you could hide from my Ultra-Vision?" snarled the Boss of Bosses.
"You're going to pay for what you've done mate," added the Australian speedster Johnny Quick. "That's a promise."
"I've got a promise of my own," relied Luthor. Taking out a small device from one of the pockets in his battle armor, he pointed it at the super-powered crime lords.
And vanished.
IN A DIFFERENT UNIVERSE:
In the halls of Asgard, hovering over Broxton, Loki the god-or goddess, it was hard to say which given her current female form-of mischief, chuckled as she watched all this through a crystal ball. "So you're seeking help, are you little man? Well, I've got some for you-and maybe couse some trouble for my dear brother Thor."
THE INFINITE AVENGER'S MANSION
"Tis a most remarkable place," said Thor, as his old friend Hercules and the latter's young companion Amadeus Cho gave him the grand tour through the Avenger's Headquarters that Hank Pym had set up in the dimension he called 'Pymspace.'
"Is that all you can say?" said Cho increduously. The Mansion had thousands of rooms and doorways to various parts of Earth and other planets-and even to Asgard, and seemed to stretch on forever. Hank Pym said it didn't quite do that, so far they'd seen no evidence to the contrary. "Man, Herc wasn't kidding when he said you were short-spoken."
Hercules only laughed. "Thor is one of few people I've known who can be melodramatic and taciturn at the same time." He then punched the Asgardian god of thunder on the shoulder. "It's good to see you again old friend."
"And the same to you as well," added Thor. "Much has changed, while I and the other Asgardians were-asleep. Captain America is dead, Tony Stark is a fugitive from the law, most of the mutants on earth have been de-powered-Truly, these are strange times."
"Indeed they are," agreed Hercules. "Not least being that Norman Osborn is in charge of much of this world's security-and leads his own team of 'Avengers.'" Now the Olympian demigod scowled. "And my brother Ares is one of them."
"That indeed, I find truly unusual."
"Aye. Ares has always been a murderous psychotic #$%%&$$-" Amadeus Cho and even Thor felt their ears go red at the word Hercules used to describe his brother, "-but he was also an honorable murderous psychotic #$%%&$$. Why he agreed to work for the likes of Osborn-it is something beyond my comprehension."
"And Dr. Pym now calls himself the 'Wasp?'"
"Yeah," said Cho. "It's almost like this one guy in my old neighborhood who after his wife died, he started dressing up in her clothes and became a full fledged drag queen." That wasn't quite the same thing with Henry Pym. There was nothing effeminate about Hank's outfit or the way he acted. But still the combination of his adopting his late ex-wife's mantle and being involved in a relationship with Jocosta, the robotic attendant whose A.I. was modeled after the late Janet Van Dynne's own personality, was rather unsettling.
"And Pietro Maximoff," continued Thor. "He seems a lot more gloomy and broody than I remember."
"He's been through a lot," said Hercules. "He's been abducted by Skrulls, his marriage is over and he's become estranged from his daughter Luna. On top of that, his sister Wanda is still missing."
"Yeah, that'd make anyone melancholy," quipped Cho. "Though from what I've heard of him and his sister, were they-?"
"Not that I can think off," answered Hercules. " They always have been rather close for a brother and sister. Although, back before he married Crystal, when I first joined the Avengers, he and I would frequently go to nightclubs or bars in search of ladies. And now I recall the women he'd leave with did bear at least some resembelance to Wanda."
Well, Cho thought, there's nothing technically perverted about that. Still, I think Pietro's got an unhealthy sister complex.
"Are you sure you don't want to join us?" Hercules asked Thor. "There is more than enough room here, and you'd be more than welcome."
"Nay, my friend," said Thor. "Though I appreciate thine offer. With my father Odin gone, Asgard is mine to watch over, and that duty-"
All of a sudden from out of nowhere, a bald man dressed in some kind of yellow armor appeared before them. "What! This wasn't where I wanted to be!" He then looked the two gods and one child standing before them.
"Who art thou, intruder!" Thor cried, holding his hammer aloft. Hercules prepared himself, ready to fight if need be.
The stranger, however simply held up his hands. "My name is Lex Luthor," he said. "and I've come in search of help."
A few minutes later, Thor, Hercules, and Amadeus Cho, had assembled the rest of their group: Hank Pym, USAgent, Quicksilver, Stature, the Vision, and Jocosta inside the Mansion waiting room. Jarvis had left to bring refreshments for their guest.
"What I'm about to say may sound strange," Lex Luthor said. "but I come from a paraellel world, that's very similar to your own in many ways. But in others, very different."
"I can see that," Hank Pym replied. He was holding a micro scanner and could see that Lex Luthor's heart was on the right side of his body, not his left. And his other internal organs were reversed as well.
"On my world," Luther continued, "I was the leader of a group simalier to your, called the Justice Legion."
"Was?" Amadaeus Cho arched up an eyebrow.
"We were wiped out-killed off by the Crime Syndicate."
"Boy, you weren't very tough if a bunch of gangsters took you out," replied. USAgent.
"These are more than just 'mere gangsters,'" Luther said to the Super-Soldier. "They're super powered beings, who've used their powers to take control of nearly all organized crime on my world. They've run rampant for years; what they can't get with their powers they get through bribery and blackmail. The police won't arrest them-and even if they did, the courts wouldn't prosecute them. To maintain some sense of order, the governments simply look the other way. But increasingly, they've refused to be ignored. The only thing that's kept them from completely taking over our world is the threat of a nuclear response.
"But over the past several months, they've been working on a device would topple over even that check on their power." The strange man sighed. "I've managed to escape here, in search of help-and a dear friend paid with his life to make sure I could."
Luthor looked over at the large computer nearby. "May I?" Hank Pym nodded. Walking over to the computer console, Luther took out a small computer disc from a small compartment in his armor, and inserted it into the mainframe. "Here are the leaders of the Six-no, Five Families that run the Syndicate." He deleted one of the images that appeared on the screen. "All of them lead formidable organizations, of lackeys who they reward by giving them superpowers.
The Avengers got up from their seats and gathered around the computer. Luther clicked on one image.
"Ultraman. Boss of Bosses. Strongest person on the planet. Other powers include flight, super speed, invulnerability, super-hearing, x-ray, and heat vision." Hank Pym let out a whistle; this guy sounded as powerful as the Sentry.
Luther then clicked on another image. "Superwoman. Don't let her pretty face fool you. She's a murdering psychopath whose almost as strong as Ultraman. She's also a weather manipulator, and unlike Ultraman she can withstand all but the most powerful magic and mystic forces."
"Gee, it's almost like Storm meets Ms. Marvel," added Stature.
He then clicked on the third image. "Johnny Quick. "The fastest man alive."
Pietro snorted. "Oh is he now?"
Ignoring the speedster, Luther went on. "Owlman. No powers of his own, but a superb hand to hand combatent, scientist, and a keen stratigist. Also, his armored suit greatly enhances his strength and reflexes. Power Ring. His ring emits a green arura that he can manipulate into anything he can imagine."
"Do they have any weaknesses?" Hank Pym asked.
"Ultraman is vulnerable to magic and mystic forces as I mentioned. Also enough electricity-a very large amount-can incapacitate him. His super-hearing can make him vulnerable to sonic attacks."
"Too bad Black Bolt isn't here. He could take that guy just by whispering." quipped Quicksilver.
"But his greatest weakness is this." Opening a pocket on his guantlet, Luther showed the Avengers a glowing blue crystal. "Ultraman destroyed nearly every last piece of this. But I've been saving this one for the right time.
"Super woman can be overpowered-it's just not easy. And Power Ring's ring does not work on wood or similar organic substances."
Jarvis re-entered the room, and set the tray on the table. "We need to discuss this," said Dr. Pym.
Luther nodded and left the room with Jarvis. As soon as the door was closed, the Avengers' longtime butler asked, "May I get you anything, sir?"
"Noth-do you have any apple cider?"
"I believe I could get some, sir."
As Jarvis walked off, Luther looked around. Seeing a nearby machine console, he removed a shining, glowing object from his suit and placed it in that space right behind.
This wasn't the dimension he'd been trying to get to. He might even be stuck here. But he was going to make damn sure that the Crime Syndicate didn't get their hands on the Quantum Trigger.
Back inside the meeting room, the Avengers were discussing the stranger' news. "So what do we do?" asked Amadeus Cho.
"My scanners showed no signs of heart fluxuations," said Hank Pym. "He's telling the truth."
"Unless that suit of his was somehow jamming the scanners," added Pietro snidely.
"He didn't know I was scanning him," Hank said. Hank Pym didn't like evesdropping on people like that, but he wasn't going to take any chances.
"My gosh," said Cassandra Lang. "That's almost like our world would be if Norman Osborn had his way."
"Hey watch what you say, girlie!" replied John Walker. Unlike the rest of his teammates he thought well of the H.A.M.M.E.R director who had shot the Skrull Empress and ended their secret invasion of Earth. "Still, it's almost like a Squadron Supreme run mafia over there."
"As Avengers, I believe we have an obligation to help the billions who are oppressed on his world," said Hercules.
"But it's not our world!" said Pietro. All this is distracting us from the search for my sister Wanda. That was the only reson he had joined up with this group, because he'd heard they had been formed by her, in her astral form. But so far he hadn't seen her.
"Or maybe you're just afraid that Johnny Quick guy may be faster than you," piped in Cho.
"I am not!" the silver haired speedster retorted. "Alright, I say we go, and just see how 'quick' this Johnny Quick really is!"
"I concur," said the Vision. "We help those in trouble all over our world. It is only right we do so on another Earth as well."
"Though I am not part of this group," said Thor, "I wish to come as well."
"It's settled then." Hank Pym walked over the door and opened it. "It's unanimous," he said to Luther. "We'll help you. But first we'll need a plan."
"I have one. But we need to go back to my world, to my old group's base, in order to cordinate it." He took out a black device. "This will take us there."
"All right." The Avengers gathered around Lex Luther-who then looked at Amadeus Cho and Stature.
"I'm sorry," the bald man said. "These people are very dangerous; and it's no place for children."
"Not even children who can do this?" Cassandra made herself as big as she could and still fit inside the room-even though she had to kneel and bow her head.
"Titania," Luther whispered. The redhaired woman who could make herself a giant had been one of his closest allies-and occasionally a lover-until she was raped and murdered by Superwoman's Made-Man Commanche Chief. "Very well, you may come."
"What about me?" asked Amadeus Cho. "I'm the eighth smartest person in the world." He used to call himself seventh, but after he's seen the thing's Hank Pym could do, he willingly knocked himself down a notch.
"I think you should stay here," said Hercules. "Someone has to help Jarvis and Jocosta keep an eye on the Mansion."
Cho looked glum, but grudginly nodded and stepped back; he respected the advice of his Olympian friend.
Luther pressed a button on his diminsional transporter. "I've got to warn you, there'll be a-" and he and the Mighty Avengers disappeared.
The door to the room opened, and Jarvis entered with a glass of apple cider. "Master Cho, where is everyone?" the English butler asked.
"Jarvis, I think they just left."
Okay, I'd like some input here on what you readers think and what confrontations you'd like to see. And if I don't get any reviews, I'm not updating!