Kaznia was a different place these days.
Rip flew in on a state of the art commercial jet owned by Kaznia Air and landed at a state f the art airport.
His passage through the airport was not however as smooth as his flight had been. British rather than American - probably - the man behind the desk acknowledged. But still a foreigner arriving from the States. Slightly suspect, given the frostiness between the two countries at present.
''Is everything OK here, Officer?'' An unexpected voice suddenly asked.
Rip looked to his left with a feeling of relief.
''Jax'.''
His former team mate gave him a brief smile, then turned back to the uniformed man with a questioning expression.
''And you are?'' the official was not going to be so easily diverted from what he regarded as a potentially suspect individual.
Jax glanced at Rip for a moment, raising his eyebrows slightly. But he did produce some kind of I.D. card that the Officer seemed to recognise.
''Jefferson Jackson, Palmer Industries'' the former Legend recited. ''Here to meet Mr Hunter - he'll be staying with the Palmers.''
That did it. Rip found himself ushered past the barrier with the feeling that his feet barely touched the floor in the process.
'''So, how are you?'' Jax asked, as they strolled through the concourse with it's array of duty-free shops and eating places.
''Fine.'' Rip glanced at the younger man, thinking that life in Kaznia seemed to suit Jax. Certainly, he looked better than he had the last time they met - eight years ago at Martin Stein's funeral - had not been the happiest occasion for any of the former Legends. ''And you?'' Rip tried - and failed - to remember the name of the woman who'd been with Jax on that occasion.
''I get by'' Jax had what might have been a touch of smugness in his voice. He touched Rip's arm and pointed, as they left the concourse. ''Over there.''
''That's your car'' Rip whistled softly.
X
''Kaznia isn't perfect, far from it'' Nora Darhk Palmer admitted. ''But it's way better than it was.''
She and Rip were sitting on the veranda of the Palmer's surprisingly modest - even though it was in a gated community -home. The landscaped garden below them was no more than a half acre in extent. Ray had had to slip away for a business meeting and Jax had gone home - leaving Rip and Nora to catch up on old times, old friends.
Thy had worked through the list. Carter and Kendra were in Nevada now, Nate was still an investigative reporter and Ralph worked with him, Evelyn was still with A.R.G.U.S., Dinah was apparently enjoying her well-earned retirement, the other four were still on Greenworld and looked set to stay there.
The mention of the latter made Nora shift slightly in her seat. Rip glanced at her and wondered -
''I do feel a bit guilty'' Nora confessed. ''If I hadn't had the mirakuru-derivative made -''
''Millions of people would be dead'' Rip pointed out ''and the survivors be living under Vandal Savage's not-so-gentle rule.'' He could have added that Sara, Mick and Joanne had chosen to go - and that Greenworld wasn't a bad place to spend the rest of one's life.
He had changed the subject then and got her to talk about her adopted home. He kept in touch witty news from the British perspective, which took a more favourable view of her involvement in education and healthcare in Kaznia.
X
Half a world away, Evelyn Sharpe cautiously sat down, as she'd just been ordered to do.
Director Ulrickssen glared at her for a long moment, across his oversized desk.
''What exactly did you say to them on Greenworld?''
''Jut what you told me to, sir'' - even though she'd known her boss was misjudging them. Ulrickssen had fired people for attempting to second-guess him.
''So why is Sara Lance on Earth 1?'' he ground out.
''I didn't know she was -'' Evelyn began.
''She arrived here three days after you - ostensibly to visit her sister and brother-in-law, but she called on Nate Heywood first.''
Ulrickssen considered the woman in front of him for a moment.
''Have a team tail her. I want to know where she goes and who she meets. That'll be all.''
When the door had closed behind Sharpe, he continued to look in that direction, eyes narrowed. A few aging ex-crooks/vigilantes/whatever couldn't really stop the plans that were being made - but they could be a nuisance.
X
It was the evening of the second day when Rip decided to confront Ray Palmer directly.
''Greenworld?'' Ray echoed. ''I'd like to visit, but I couldn't spare the time right now. And - if I did - I wouldn't be going to the A.R.G.U.S. base.''
''Leonard Snart saw you there'' Nate said flatly.
Ray opened his mouth as if about to protest, but Nora laid her hand on his arm.
He looked at his wife for a moment, then they spoke in unison.
''Stanley.''