Earth 1, The Caribbean/Star City

He looked at his latest acquisition, thinking that there was a certain irony in the knowledge that Leonard Snart would have been the logical person to have obtained it for him. As it was, Persusis had been able to locate a suitable thief.

It looked harmless - which of course it wasn't. Recent history showed it was anything but.

He had found out about it purely by chance - he had been looking at Oliver Queen's history. The playboy turned castaway, turned organised criminal/assassin, turned vigilante interested him. Despite the human's chequered career, he had qualities in common with the warriors of Mallam's home world.

He had found out about the substance he was now holding during the course of his study.

Nasty stuff has been his first thought.

Then he began to look into its origins and an idea began to take shape in the back of his mind. He always liked to have a back-up plan and the more he thought about this one, the better it seemed. A good General never put his troops at risk without good cause. All this idea risked was one of these terrestrial primitives.

So now he had a vial of the stuff an - after another moments thought - he handed it over to the scientist waiting patiently at his side.

In terrestrial terminology - Failsafe was a go.

X

Two people were considering their future, for much the same reason - government and public reaction to the 'vigilante Crisis' as some newspapers had taken to calling it.

Dinah Drake had long known that what she was doing would hardly have met with the approval of her superiors at work. When she had discovered the Black Canary's identity - more by chance than anything else - she shouldn't have kept that information to herself. As a detective, it had been easy for her to work out who the other members of the Arrow team must be. Instead, she had gradually allied herself with them on the quiet, dropping hints to Laurel, Oliver, Thea that she knew - but taking no official action against them. Now, although she wasn't a team member they trusted her - and let her steer them towards less aggressive methods. Now she was between a rock and a hard place.

John Diggle was finding it tough to reconcile his two identities - A.R.G.U.S. agent and Spartan. More accurately it was a question of conflicting loyalties. Lyla saw it as an advantage that he had a foot in both camps - she could keep the Arrow tram at a distance but also know what they were doing - and indirectly influence their decisions. He already knew that, if it came down to it, he would chose Lyla and A.R.G.U.S. but wasn't entirely sure he could forgive himself if he threw the Arrow team under a bus in the process.

X

''We've repatriated three hundred people so far'' there was anger in Ray's voice, something he didn't show very often. ''Sixty eight of whom have committed serious crimes on their home worlds. Within the relevant timeframe, that's better record than the official A.R.G.U.S.''

No one here would disagree with him, Felicity thought. They were steadily chipping away at Savage's US based operation, slowly but steadily winning this particular battle. Yet public opinion - as well as that within the government - was turning against them. All vigilantes were coming to be seen as part of the problem, rather than judged as individuals.

''They must be stupid in Washington if they don't see the difference between Joanne and Cuchilla'' Mick growled, making Sara wince. She still worried about her former friend.

''Anti-vigilantism is a band wagon'' Martin observed. ''And the next election isn't all that far down the line.''

''Lyla Michaels values our work'' Felicity was able to confirm, having got together with the Director earlier on to try and thrash out the problem. ''She sees the solution as binging us further into the fold.''

''Part of the regular A.R.G.U.S.'' Sara mused. ''To what extent?'

''Is she thinking of putting us under Sharpe?'' Leonard asked, ominously, then glanced at Evelyn. ''The other Sharpe.''

Evelyn flushed lightly. She had her differences with her cousin, but at the same time Ava had been there for her when she lost her parents. On the other hand, she'd come to respect Leonard's abilities.

''It won't go that far'' Felicity promised. ''But, yes, Lyla wants us to be a unit within the regular part of A.R.G.U.S.''

Looking round her team, he saw that she had a lot or persuading to do.