Earth 1, Kaznia/Central City
''You're quite the man of the hour'' Alice Murphy observed to the man lying beside her.
This was the first time when she'd been intimate with Vandal Savage, but not - she thought - the last.
Since they'd arrived in Kaznia, Savage had been gradually building his power base. Nikki had spent a number of years in the nearby Russia and knew how influence was wielded here - often through bribery. It didn't make many weeks for Savage to have a bunch of politicians in his corner. He was quietly funding the campaign of someone who hoped to be the next President.
His public face was that of benefactor. The Time Master technology, under Nikki's guidance, was being mined to come up with cutting edge technology that could be produced in the factories Savage was having constructed - he'd even obtained international grants and loans to fund the construction. He was creating jobs. Kaznia had the chance to become a major world power in terms of industry.
The fact that things were not going so well in the USA was an annoyance - he wanted America to diminish as Kaznia rose. Instead, they were fighting back. Somehow word had got out - probably deliberately leaked - that capture could lead to being sent to Earth 266. Some of his recruits had deserted, gone to ground. And there was the unknown player in the game - the one who'd apparently set up a matches between opposing meta-humans. Who the third party might be and why they were doing this was a complete mystery.
The return of General Lance might, he hoped, tip the balance in his favour.
Still, there were compensations, like the woman lying next to him. He had a non-hostile 'Kendra' in his life. Cassandra had asked him if he was still going to track down Hall and Saunders.
''Yes'' he told her. ''When the time's right.'' He did need to strengthen his immortality.
X
''Interesting'' Mallam said.
Persusis had taken advantage of a string of meetings to slip away from Savage and back to her island sanctuary. She and Mallam had been watching a series of encounters between Inferno, a meta who was one of Mallam's recruits and some opposing metas and their allies.
Inferno did what his name suggested - he set thins alight. He didn't really care what they were. (''He's worse than Mick ever was'' Captain Cold had commented). The Flash had tried using his speed to create a vacuum around Inferno - the meta had simply set the engine of a bus alight, outside the Flash's vortex. Killer Frost had quickly put that out before the fire could reach the passengers.
Killer Frost had tried next, pitting her ice against his fire. Every time she put a fire out, he started another one. It was difficult to decide which one of them would have tired first.
The final sequence involved Flash, Kid Flash, Jessie Quick, Vibe, Killer Frost, and a newcomer on the scene, all advancing against Inferno. Flash and the extra members of his team had been there to get any bystanders out of the vicinity. Inferno and Killer Frost went back to 'playing' Ignite and Extinguish. The newcomer had targeted Inferno himself, within some kind of weapon that fired an icy blast. Inferno had tried to use his power to defend himself, with some success, until the Flash hurtled back in and knocked him out. The Flash appeared to get minor frost burn in the process.
Mallam had recently had the report back on what his thief had stolen from A.R.G.U.S. The scientist had been able to adapt the sample to match Mallam's orders. That had included making a human test - the scientist apologised for not being able to resolve one particular glitch. Mallam had thought about that and - after what he'd just ben viewing - decided it probably wouldn't matter. Fail Safe could still be 'a go'.
X
When Barry had recovered, they went out for a celebratory drink. And one other thing.
''Are you sure?'' Barry asked. ''Forever?''
''Yes'' he'd been thinking about this for some time. ''As soon as this business with Savage is over.''
''I think we can come up with something like that'' Barry said. An implant, probably.