Earth `, Star City/Kaznia/Washington
They were grounded, pending the official investigation into the previous night's events.
''You can't really think that we were responsible for those deaths?'' That was a statement from Martin Stein rather than a question.
''Of course not'' Lyla replied, although there were one or two lingering doubts in her mind. It would have been possible for some of them to have done some of the things that had occurred. The investigators would certainly pick up on those aspects.
What started as a relatively peaceful night in the city changed when fighting broke out between two groups, for what appeared to be little reason - in all probability Savage had arranged it or someone acting on his behalf. From there the fighting had spread - probably the original group had turned on bystanders that hadn't been involved until that point. Then the looting started, with vandalism and a bit of arson thrown in.
''Someone planned that'' Leonard observed, having watched CCTV recordings taken last night.
The recordings showed police and then National Guard trying to get things back under control. Tear gas and water canon were being deployed before the night was over. Footage was also present that showed several familiar figures - two women in matching white and red outfits, a figure in black accompanied by a man in a ski-mask, two individuals with wings, another flying figure in some kind of high tech suit - he actually descended to punch a couple of the thuggish rioters - and the rather scary 'burning man'.
''We were there too'' Nate pointed out, managing to point out brief places where they appeared on screen. The 'Mole Hunters, Leonard, Dinah and Evelyn had turned out - for the same purpose as the others.
''You can see'' Rip pointed out ''that we were rescuing people who'd got accidently caught up in the riot. The two Ray punched were muggers.''
''That's true'' Lyla admitted. ''With regard to what shows up on the recordings. But that doesn't cover the whole area.'' She paused. ''There were at least thirty instances of what looks like deliberate murder. There has to be an investigation.''
''We know Naomi's been in the area - with at least one friend'' Carter voiced what no one else had been willing to so far. ''Does she show up in any of the footage?''
''We can run a facial recognition scan'' Nate nodded.
Sara sighed. It would be like Naomi, she thought regretfully, to treat last night as an excuse to settle what she regarded as 'old scores'.
X
It was the first operation that she'd overseen since she had been rescued from the prison zone on Earth X and she felt a quiet satisfaction about how things as a whole had gone.
Sitting in her newly assigned office this morning, she was also thinking about scores that she had to settle. Principally against those who had captured her during her campaign against the Avianoids - and delivered her up to her enemies on her home Earth.
Now she knew where they were. She'd caught glimpses of their faces when she'd been studying last night's footage.
I'm coming for you, she thought.
X
Perhaps I underestimated Savage, Mallam thought. Liberating this ex-Nazi (whatever that was) General had been a clever move. Her ability to orchestrate a riot was impressive.
At the same time, he saw how last night's events could be useful to him. America - which would probably be one of the leaders in any action taken against him - would be distracted. It would be a good time to move to the next phase of his own operation.
X
One wall of the room was covered with images taken from CCTV recordings and other sources during the riot three nights ago. She'd walked slowly from one end to the other, studying them.
Today, she'd gone back to the one image that especially caught her attention. It showed six people, four men and two women, apparently walking in a group. From other recordings, she knew they were on their way to the riot area.
They'd been identified - some she already knew about. Nathaniel (Nate) Heywood, investigative reporter - a very good one. Leonard Snart, major felon. Oddly, last sighted in Central City, helping a group of meta-human 'do-gooders' take down a particularly unpleasant meta. The others included Dinah Drake, ex-Police Captain, now A.R.G.U.S. agent. Michael 'Rip' Hunter, pulp fiction writer, now fallen from grace with his publisher. Ralph Dibney, ex-cop (sacked), now private investigator - although he hadn't been to his office for weeks. The last was Evelyn Sharpe, apparently a junior employee at A.R.G.U.S.
A.R.G.U.S. was what connected two the group. A.R.G.U. was where she would start her investigation.