Earth 1, Star City
Ava Sharpe was about to interrogate yet another suspected participant in Vandal Savage's campaign of creating unrest, civil disobedience, rioting and so on. She sat behind her desk, while two guards brought the prisoner int the room. This one was in late middle age, short. tubby, almost bald and short sighted - not in the slightest like the popular image of an agitator. Yet the National Guard had thought otherwise and delivered him to A.R.G.U.S.
Like anything else in her unit, this would be done by the book.
''Have a seat, Mr Delgado.'' Her voice was almost polite.
He did sit down, but glanced nervously over his shoulder at the two guards, who were now standing behind him.
She folded her hands on her desk.
''So - which Earth are you from, Mr Delgado?''
''Which - Earth? What do you mean? I'm an American citizen.''
''Of course'' she opened the slim file lying on her desk. ''A resident of Tucson, Arizona. Married. Three children. Retired - until recently you managed a sporting goods store?''
'''Yes.''
She leaned back in her chair.
'I currently have two men at your house, Mr Delgado, recording a conversation that they're having with the occupants. Would you like to see live footage from there?''
Not waiting for an answer, she picked up the handset and switched on the screen in the side wall.
Her men were, officially, interviewers for a project ''How Americans Live', interviewing a wide cross section of ordinary people, talking about their everyday lives. It was a genuine project - the interviews would be sealed for a hundred years and then made available to Twenty Second Century historians.
The real importance, from her point of view, was currently visible on the screen. An older, but still attractive, woman was sitting on a couch, flanked by her husband, children and grandchildren. She was talking freely and happily about her life. The man sitting beside, her husband, was Mr Delgado.
Ava let the recording play for a few minutes, then switched off the screen. She folded her hands in the desk in front of her.
''I know that you don't have a twin brother. So, which Earth are you from?''
He didn't reply. He was tougher than she'd hoped he'd be.
''There is more than enough proof - from his family and from other locals - that Mr Delgado is living his life in Tucson, while you are here. Which Earth are you from?''
Continued silence. She sighed.
''Then, in accordance with A.R.G.U.S. policy you will be given three days to reconsider your refusal to answer. If you choose to identity your Earth of origin, you will be returned to that place.
Should you fail to do so, you will be sent to Earth 266. That planet is currently in the throes of ecological transformation brought about by human related climate change. Extreme weather events are a regular occurrence and life there can be difficult. Detainees will be given regular opportunities to rethink their position.''
Her attention shifted to the two guards. She nodded. They took hold of the prisoner's arms and escorted him out of the room.
She slowly got up and headed out of the room, knowing that she was about to face her own interrogation.