This is high on the list of places I don't want to be, Ava Sharpe told herself, as she gazed through the perimeter gate the assembled Greenworlders Council. Ulrickssen was currently spending the day explaining recent events to Oversight and had told her to go to Greenworld in his stead – along with the Oversight quartet standing next to her. It had, as the Director was fond of reminding her, been her who'd 'caved in' when Professor Stein and Joe West had declared their intention of setting up a colony of Earth 266 humans here.

Looking through the gate, she saw West himself -looking much older and more grizzled than the last time they'd met, but plainly still at the heart of things. He was flanked by a woman who was probably his daughter and his scar-faced son-in-law. She was not too pleased to see the Snart/Lance trio. She'd never got on with Snart and the days when Sara and she had been colleagues were long gone. That must be one of their twin sons glaring at her from his parents' side. The rest of them she didn't know – and they didn't look an y friendlier than the ones she did.

''We should let our visitors in'' the Oversight penpusher standing nearest to her announced.

She gritted her teeth for a second and nodded to the gate guards.

They trooped in, two of the younger ones carrying a long box that put her somewhat in mind of a coffin.

She pointed, demanding ''What's that?'' She didn't want the base contaminated by whatever this was.

''One of the dolphin-types'' Joe West told he coldly. ''The pollution got into the sea, It seemed to be mutating''.

''We brought it along for proof'' Iris added, in a tone much like her fathers.

''We'll investigate'' she said hurriedly. That would get it into containment at least.

''We'll take it'' one of the two youngsters said, when she motioned two of the guards forward.

She looked at West, who nodded agreement with the younger ones.

''And I'll go along too'' a new voice said. 'As a scientist.''

''Dr Palmer?'' One of the Oversight group asked. ''Dr Raymond Palmer?''

''The same''.

''You're Kaznian'' the woman pointed out. ''And this base is under the control of the U.S. Government''.

''Control?'' that ironical question came from two voices, Snart and the scar-faced man (what was his name?) at West's side.

''Dr Palmer'' Joe chose to ignore his companions' question ''is here as scientific adviser to the Council''.

West had been speaking in the flat tone that Ava recognised as a warning that he wasn't going to give way.

She sighed. She definitely wished she was somewhere – anywhere -else.

X

''Stanley – ''

His brother jumped – he actually jumped. That did give Ray a small measure of satisfaction.

''Just what is going on here?'' He tried to make his voice brotherly and concerned. He wasn't very good at that.

''I can't talk to you. I'm still an American – you're not''.

Stanley would have walked away but Ray caught hold of his twins arm. It had taken half an hour of manoeuvring – with the help of Iris, Catherine and others – for him to have this relatively private talk with his brother. Even now, Sharpe and a couple of others were headed their way.

''Listen – if this isn't sorted out – with more honesty than A.R.G.U.S. have been showing – Greenworld will be going to the UN to get this base closed down – or worse''.

''You think this backwoods bunch have more say on Earth than us?'' Stanley was actually sneering.

''Don't underestimate them'' Ray warned.

''And what exactly would they do if we pull out? Use their bows and arrows to fend off the Holaristans?''

''The what?'' Ray stared. What did a long-dead evil species have to do with this?