I have changed the plot a little from the original. So keep that in mind. It's not fun if it's predictable.
****
The night air over Gotham was cold and sharp, the city below glimmering like a restless machine.
From above, the jet cut through the clouds in silence, a streak of light against the dark sky.
Inside, Batman sat at the helm, focused and wordless. Superman stood near the viewport, arms folded, his expression tense. Beside him, Faora watched the distant city with thinly veiled disdain, while Diana sat quietly, her composure calm but alert.
"What do you think is going on Batman?" Superman asked hesitantly. "How is Luthor alive? "
"We'll find out soon once we interrogate him." Batman replied in usual dry tone.
Suddenly his phone rang, making them look at him weirdly.
"What?" Batman stared without blinking. Superman looked away, while Faora smirked. Dina chuckled. "You carry your phone with you?"
"It's necessary." Batman replied without looking back as he put the jet on auto pilot and walked to the back.
He picked up the call after he used the sound isolator to make sure he couldn't be heard. A small smile appeared on his face as he answered. "Not a good time Athena."
A feminine chuckle was heard from the other side. "Sorry Bruce, busy with your club activities?"
Bruce smirked. "You could say that. Was there anything important?"
Athena replied gently. "I saw what's going on and wanted to check on you. Are you alright? I hope you can make it to our dinner plan tonight."
Bruce sighed. "Something just came up. I'll try, but not sure if I can make it. "
Athena was silent for a moment, then replied gently. "It's alright. I understand. Let me know if I can help in anyway."
Bruce smiled. "I thought you planned to live a normal life, no more divine intervention."
Athena laughed. "I don't. But I might make an exception for you. It would be a shame if you were to end up in the hospital."
Bruce shook his head. "Thank you. I'll contact you if I need backup. "
"Alright then. Won't take up any more of your hero time. Talk to you later." Athena ended the call.
Bruce walked back to the cockpit where Faora, Clark and Diana were discussing something, but paused as he returned. He looked questioningly. Clark blinked innocently. "What?"
Batman stared for a little longer , then sat down. "Hmm."
None of them spoke as Gotham city came into view. Gotham had that effect, even gods and aliens felt its weight.
The moment they landed on the rooftop of the Gotham City Police Department, the city's noise rushed in—the hum of traffic, the distant sirens, and the murmuring wind through steel and concrete. Commissioner Gordon was waiting, trench coat pulled tight against the chill, a cigarette dimly glowing between his fingers.
He nodded at Batman first, then glanced at the others. "You made it. He's downstairs," Gordon said simply. "Walked in about an hour ago, no resistance. He's been calm. Too calm."
Batman's eyes narrowed. "Security footage?"
Gordon exhaled smoke. "Checked twice. It's him. Blood tests, scans—everything matches. But… he shouldn't be alive."
Faora folded her arms. "Did he leave something behind to clone him?"
Batman fell silent hearing that, his mind calculating the possibility. "I'll take a look into Cadmus."
Superman looked at Gordon, his voice measured. "He hasn't said why he's here?"
"Only that he'd talk to Batman," Gordon replied. His tone was uneasy. "Be careful. There's something different about him. He seems... pleasant?"
They entered the building together. The narrow corridors were lit in pale yellow light, the hum of old bulbs mixing with the faint buzz of police chatter. Officers watched as they passed—uneasy, wary. Even in a city accustomed to chaos, seeing the Justice League walking through their halls was unsettling. Specially with the recent situation regarding meta humans.
They descended into the holding level. The corridor leading to the interrogation room was empty, save for two armed guards posted outside. Batman gave them a nod, and they stepped aside.
The door slid open.
Lex Luthor sat alone at the metal table. No restraints. No arrogance in his posture, either—just quiet composure. His head was shaved as always, his suit sharp but unfamiliar, almost militaristic. His eyes lifted as the group entered, and for a brief moment, Superman's heart stopped.
Lex smiled faintly. "You look surprised, Superman. I suppose I would be too, seeing me alive again."
Faora's tone was cold. "You're supposed to be dead."
"I know," Lex replied evenly. "And that version of me—your world's Luthor—is dead. I'm not him."
Diana stepped forward, her voice calm but edged. "Then who are you?"
Clark spoke solemnly. "This Lex Luthor is from another universe."
The room fell silent. Even Batman, who had come prepared for deception, felt his mind race. Alternate universes weren't new concepts—but when Lex Luthor seems to have come from one, it meant something was wrong.
Diana frowned. "Another universe?"
"Yes," Lex said. "A parallel world—a mirror to your own. Similar histories, familiar faces, but reversed in every way that matters. On my Earth, I led the Justice League."
That caught even Faora off guard. She frowned. "You expect us to believe that?"
Lex turned his gaze to her, unwavering. "You can verify it easily. My DNA will show differences—minor, but there. And I wouldn't have risked coming here if it weren't urgent."
Batman's voice cut through the tension. "Then tell us. Why are you here?"
Lex drew in a slow breath, then pressed a small control device on his wrist. A holographic projection flickered to life above the table—a globe, fractured by crimson lines. The image zoomed in, showing a devastated metropolis, burning beneath clouds of black smoke.
"My world is dying," Lex said quietly. "Because of them."
The hologram shifted again. Figures appeared—familiar yet wrong.
Superman's eyes narrowed as he recognized their outlines. Himself, Diana, Faora, even Hal and Barry—but twisted. His counterpart wore dark armor, eyes glowing red with cruelty, the symbol on his chest warped into a blade-like U.
"The Crime Syndicate," Lex continued. "They're the Justice League's counterparts on my Earth. They call themselves the 'Crime Syndicate'. Ultraman, Superwoman, Owlman, Power Ring, and Johnny Quick are the main leaders. They control everything—governments, military, even the criminal underworld. They call it peace, but it's tyranny. they have their agents who are called the minuteman. All empowered individuals. An army of them."
The air thickened with tension and disbelief.
Diana's jaw tightened. "You're saying these evil versions of us conquered your Earth?"
"They didn't just conquer it," Lex said grimly. "They consumed it. Anyone who resisted died. Entire cities reduced to ash. The League I led fought back for years, but one by one, they fell. Me and the Jester decided to travel to an alternate earth to ask for help, but before we could make it here, they found us. They... killed the Jester."
He paused, eyes heavy with something rare for him, genuine loss. "I'm the last one left."
He continued. "I did my research after coming here to ensure you were not like them. Your world, it's very different. It's like someone had manipulated the original flow of time to change it. It's not a bad thing if I say so.
There's also a person I read about in the database, who is considered the ultimate symbol of heroism on this world. If possible, we should try to reach out to him. He might be able to help if what I read about him is true. This world has hope, something we lacked on ours. "
Diana clenched her fist. 'Father', she thought.
Clark's voice softened, though still cautious. "If what you're saying is true, how did you get here?"
Lex tapped his wrist device again. "Dimensional gateway. My world's Flash, Johnny Quick, had been experimenting with interdimensional travel. We captured one of his prototypes before he could destroy it. It brought me here."
Batman folded his arms. "You expect us to believe you risked your life crossing universes just to warn us?"
"I didn't just come here to warn you," Lex said, meeting his eyes. "I came to ask for help. They've found a way to breach realities. The Crime Syndicate is coming—to your Earth. And when they do, they'll do what they always do: dominate, manipulate, enslave."
Superman and Faora exchanged a look.
"How do you know they're coming?" Superman asked.
Lex's expression darkened. "Because they've already begun. Before I escaped, they sent agents through—operatives to weaken your world from within. Her name is Model Citizen. Political leaders, military officials—some are already compromised. They use mind control, coercion, manipulation. They'll make it look like your own governments turned against you."
The weight of his words sank in. Even for the League, that kind of infiltration was catastrophic.
Batman's eyes narrowed. "You said they manipulate government heads. You think they've already gotten to ours?" His mind was already connecting the dots.
Lex nodded once. "Almost certainly. It's how they prepare a world for takeover. By the time you realize it, the system is theirs."
Faora crossed her arms, skeptical but uneasy. "And we're just supposed to take your word for it?"
"You don't have to," Lex said, sliding a small data drive across the table. "Everything I have—intel, records, visual feeds from my world's battles, communication logs. You'll see what they're capable of."
Batman picked it up, examining it carefully. It looked alien but functional, similar in design to Earth's tech yet more refined.
Diana's voice was firm. "If what you're saying is true, then every second we waste brings them closer."
Superman looked to Batman. "We can verify this quickly. Cross-check with Watchtower systems."
Batman nodded. "Agreed. I'll have Martian Manhunter run the scan."
Faora remained silent, her expression unreadable. Despite her skepticism, something in Lex's tone had struck her. She'd seen tyrants before, she had served them once.
Lex stood slowly. "You're all skeptical. You should be. But I'm not lying. The moment they breach your world, you'll know it."
Superman studied him carefully. "You said your Earth's version of me, Ultraman, leads them?"
Lex nodded. "He's nothing like you. He draws strength not just from sunlight, but also from kryptonite. He rules through fear. On my world, the symbol you wear stands for oppression and fear."
The room grew quiet again.
Faora's voice was low, cold. "Then we'll show him what it truly stands for."
Batman turned to Lex. "Where's the breach point? If they're coming, we need to know where they'll enter."Lex brought up the hologram again, zooming into the coordinates of a decaying city bathed in energy signatures. "They'll arrive where I did—through the residual tear between our worlds. I stabilized it long enough to escape, but it's deteriorating fast. When it ruptures completely, the portal will open from their side."
Superman frowned. "How long?"
"Days, Hours," Lex said. "Maybe less."
Diana drew her sword from her back, the sound of metal cutting through the silence. "Then we should prepare."
Clark nodded. "Batman, contact the others. We'll need the full League."
Batman was already tapping his communicator. "On it."
Faora turned to Lex. "If you're telling the truth, you'll fight with us."
Lex met her gaze, unflinching. "I didn't come here to hide behind you. I came to finish what I started on my world."
The lights in the room flickered for a moment—then the power surged. The air vibrated faintly, as if reality itself had been stretched thin.
Batman looked up immediately. "They're here."
Clark's eyes flashed. "Faora, outside. Now."
They burst through the rooftop access in seconds. The night sky above Gotham shimmered with a blinding pulse of energy, blue and violet lightning crackling across the clouds. The wind howled as a massive circular rift tore open in the air above the city.
From the heart of that storm, silhouettes began to emerge—dark, familiar, and wrong.
Faora clenched her fists. "So it begins."
Superman hovered beside her, eyes blazing red. "The Crime Syndicate."
And as the lightning raged, five figures descended from the rift—each a distorted reflection of Earth's greatest heroes.
Ultraman's eyes burned like molten glass. Superwoman of the Syndicate floated beside him, her grin cruel and knowing. Behind them came Owlman, Power Ring, and Johnny Quick—each exuding a darkness unlike any .
Batman, standing on the rooftop, watched in silence. His voice was calm but grave.
"They're here." He sent out a quick message. "Justice League, this is code red emergency. We're under invasion." But something kept gnawing in his head. 'Where is Cyborg? He didn't show up for the meeting.'
He turned to Diana. "Someone needs to go and secure the civilians. Call flash. You two clear the perimeter so Clark and Faora can go all out. We need it."
Diana snorted. "You need all the help you can get. I'll protect Luthor and provide support."
The storm widened, swallowing the skyline in light and thunder.
And just like that, Earth had its first contact with the monsters wearing its heroes' faces.
******
The clouds over Gotham were split by streaks of red and blue as Clark and Faora arrived first, their presence breaking through the smoke and chaos below. The city was in ruins — streets cracked, buildings burning, civilians running in panic. Above them hovered the invaders, the twisted reflections of the Justice League: the Crime Syndicate.
Superman's eyes narrowed as his gaze met Ultraman's. The resemblance was uncanny — same face, same posture, but a sneer where he had restraint. "You must be the other me." Clark stated, voice steady.
Ultraman's lips curved into a grin. "No, I'm the man you could be if you stopped pretending." He launched forward, fist colliding with Clark's jaw, the impact shaking the clouds apart.
Below, Faora faced Superwoman, the air between them tense like drawn wire. Superwoman's armor glinted under the broken sunlight — her lasso humming with energy. "You must be the substitute," she said mockingly. "Pretty face, borrowed strength."
Faora said nothing. Her movements were sharp, precise — a strike to the jaw, a counter-blow that sent Superwoman crashing through a skyscraper. The building's glass rained down as Faora followed, slamming her into the ground with a shockwave that cracked the pavement. Superwoman only laughed, blood at her lip. "Good. Let's see if you can also bleed."
At the same time, Batman was already facing Owlman and Power ring in the alleys below. They moved like predators circling prey — identical minds in different skins. Owlman's tone was calm, almost clinical. "You're predictable. You think three moves ahead. I think six."
Batman didn't reply. He dropped a smoke bomb and vanished from sight. Owlman tilted his head.
"Cute trick." Power Ring fired, green light carving through the smog, exploding concrete walls. He was about to crush Batman, but Diana smashed through his constructs with a shout. "Get out of our world."
Power Ring whsitled. " You are pretty. I'd take my time breaking you."
From the shadows, Batman's voice came low. "You rely on toys. I rely on discipline." He threw two EMP grenades — one hit Power Ring's chest, the other his wrist. The construct flickered, breaking the shield. Batman darted forward, striking the weak spot between armor plates, forcing the ring bearer back.
Diana took the opening and smashed thorough, sending him back flying. Batman took the chance to charge at Owlman.
But Owlman intercepted, catching Batman's punch midair. "You're still just a man," Owlman said quietly. "That's your flaw."
"Maybe," Batman replied, twisting his wrist, breaking the hold, and countering with a knee strike.
Across the battlefield, Johnny Quick blurred through the streets, searching. "Where's your speedster?" he shouted, darting across the skyline, moving faster than bullets. "Come on, Flash! Don't keep me waiting!"
Barry appeared in a streak of gold lightning, skidding to a halt. "I'm here guys."
Johnny Quick smirked. "You are rather slow, Flash."
"You talk too much." Barry replied annoyed.
"Then catch me, if you can that is." Johnny Quick grinned, and they vanished into the horizon, Flash chasing after him, two streaks of color ripping the air apart.
While the clashes raged, Owlman's voice cut through the chaos, transmitted to all via hacked communication lines. "You really don't get it, do you? We've already won."
Batman frowned. "What are you talking about?"
Owlman smirked under the cracked visor. "Model Citizen. She's already here — and she's been working with your Cyborg for weeks. Our Brainiac Sphere gave her the access he needed. Your systems, your networks, your secrets — all belong to us now."
Batman hesitated, thinking about the missing pieces that came together. "Cyborg isn't easy to control."
"See for yourself." Owlman raised his wrist, triggering a command. "Do it."
Across the world, digital screens flickered. Billboards, monitors, even personal devices — all synchronized into one broadcast. And then came the unthinkable — faces, names, locations. Every Justice League member's secret identity revealed to the world in a coordinated global feed. Clark Kent. Lara Croft . Arthur Curry. Barry Allen. Hal Jordan. Billy Batson. Hank Henshaw. Carter Hall. Shayera Hall. Victor Stone.
All except Batman.
Owlman raised an eyebrow. "Huh, you are craftier than I expected."
Clark froze mid-flight, eyes wide. His real name — his home, his mother's identity, displayed for billions to see. "No it can't be…"
That hesitation was all Ultraman needed. "Look up, hero." His fist smashed into Clark's chin with a vicious uppercut, sending him hurtling into orbit. The shockwave rippled through the atmosphere, lighting the horizon.
"Clark!" Faora shouted, trying to ascend, but Superwoman intercepted, wrapping her lasso around Faora's neck, pulling her down.
"Stay with me," Superwoman hissed, slamming her into the rubble. "Let's make this personal."
Faora broke the lasso with a flare of heat vision, countered with a punch that cratered the ground. Dust filled the air as the two blurred into a violent dance — neither holding back.
Batman, cornered by Owlman , took a defensive stance. His armor was scorched, the cape torn. He analyzed every move, every breath of his opponent. "You're not trying to kill us," he realized.
"Not yet," Owlman replied. "Killing you now would ruin the point. You need to watch your world burn first. Then you'll become one of our pawns to conquer more worlds."
Batman's jaw tightened. "Not today." He pressed a detonator on his gauntlet — smoke and flashbangs filled the air. He leapt to a nearby rooftop, calling through comms: "Everyone, retreat. Regroup. This fight's not ours anymore."
Diana's voice crackled through static. "Retreat? They're killing civilians! I'm about take out the other guy! We can hold them till the rest shows up."
"We need to fall back for now! Our identities are compromised. Others must be in confusion." Batman barked.
Diana hesitated, shield up against Power Ring's blasts, but nodded reluctantly. Faora disengaged, wings of dust trailing her as she shot upward. Ultraman tried to pursue, but Superman reappeared from above the stratosphere, slamming into him like a meteor, driving him into the ocean. Clark and Faora flew towards the watchtower, followed by Diana, who was carrying Bruce as their jet was destroyed.
Owlman watched as the Justice League began to vanish, teleported back to the Watchtower. "Disappointing," he said quietly. "I expected better."
In the aftermath, Cities were burning.
Amanda Waller stood on a rooftop far from the impact site, watching the destruction unfold through binoculars. Her earpiece crackled with reports. "They're tearing through everything. Casualties rising. We're losing containment."
"Deploy Task Force X," she ordered. "Full engagement."
Her agents hesitated. "Ma'am, that's suicide—"
"Then they better take down a few of them before they die."
Minutes later, explosions lit up the streets as the Suicide Squad made their entrance. Boomerang threw his blade, taking out a few drones before he was blasted by Power Ring's beam. It tore a hole through him. "Fucken Waller," He muttered before falling.
King Shark roared, lunging at Johnny Quick — only for the speedster to phase through him and rip out his heart before the beast even fell.
"Disgusting," Johnny muttered, shaking off the blood.
Enchantress summoned her magic, but Superwoman crushed her under debris before she could finish the spell. Diablo went berserk, unleashing a massive firestorm that engulfed an entire block — but Ultraman walked through it, grabbed him by the throat, and snapped his neck with ease.
Deadshot fired round after round from a rooftop, each bullet finding its mark, but none penetrating. Harley Quinn swung her bat, laughing manically even as chaos surrounded her. "Guess the bad guys are the heroes now, huh?"
Peacemaker reloaded, sweat running down his face. "Guys, I don't think We're making it out of this alive."
"Then make it count," Waller's voice ordered coldly over the radio.
They did. But it wasn't enough. Within minutes, only Harley, Peacemaker, and Deadshot were still breathing — barely.
Rick Flag Jr. ordered the evacuation, ignoring Waller's orders. "Retreat for now!"
On the main broadcast networks, the Crime Syndicate appeared. Ultraman stood at the center, flanked by his team. Behind them burned the wreckage of Metropolis.
"People of Earth, this world belongs to us now," Ultraman declared, voice amplified across every screen. "Submit, and you'll live. Resist, and you'll die."
His words echoed across continents. Panic followed. People were scared. Some even in confusion as to why their heroes now looked different, and why they were attacking us for no reason. Some even thought the justice league had gone rogue.
Governments fell into chaos. Riots erupted. The very system the League had protected began to collapse in fear and confusion.
Waller slammed her desk, trying to reestablish connection with the Watchtower. "Come on, someone answer…" Nothing. The line was dead.
Her aide Emilia Hardcourt rushed in. "Ma'am, the Watchtower — it's gone. Disappeared from orbit."
"What?"
"No trace. It's like it was never there."
"What about the Justice League! Where are they ?"
"They... seem to have disappeared as well. I think... they abandoned us Ma'am."
Waller stared out the window, jaw clenched. "Then God help us all."
Far above the chaos, beyond clouds and storms, in the silent floating city of Avalon — Edward watched everything unfold through a shimmering projection. His expression was calm, detached. He leaned back in his seat, arms crossed, as the Earth below fell into turmoil.
"So," he murmured, voice low but steady. "They finally got what they wanted." His eyes glowed faintly, reflecting the fires burning across the continents.
He sighed softly and looked away from the screen. "Let this be a lesson," he said to no one in particular, his tone cold and final. "Never betray the ones saving your ass."
But then his widened as he sensed a powerful entity approaching towards Avalon. Edward's face clenched. The power signature was far beyond something he has ever faced before. It felt malevolant.
Grail appeared beside him in a flash. "Did you also sense it ?" She asked softly.
"Yes. Where are the others? Tell Hera and Hippolyta to stay in Avalon and protect the kids."
Grail smirked. "They know. And what about me, dear?"
Edward smiled wryly. Thier relationship had gotten much closer since the Darkseid invasion. She became more composed after a year, and became part of his family officially. He knew her feelings for him alothough chaotic, but sincere. So he accepted her fully.
"You're coming with me. It's about time you get to fight for our world."
She smiled, holding his hand. "Of course love. I will kill anyone who poses a threat to us."
Edward chuckled and squeezed her hand. "Let's see who has decided to show up to the party uninvited."