Greenworld. Acheron. Earth 1, Kaznia/Star City
Team Acheron was Rip, Carter Kendra, Nate, Ralph and Evelyn. Team Kaznia was everybody else, apart from Clarissa, Lily and Sylvia - who were staying on Greenworld for the present - and Lisa - who was going home.
The first step had been to breach to the Acheron, shielded and in a secure location on Earth 1. There had been a delay of a couple of hours, while Morris briefed Team Kaznia about the country they were headed for. It sounded very much like what Savage had wanted America to become. They also had to be equipped with face modifiers, Kaznian currency, clothes and miniature language translator devices.
The Acheron dropped Team Kaznia off in woodland about three miles from a small town and then headed off for America.
For a moment the team members looked around, at each other as much as at the landscape.
''Not quite the Kaznian Conglomerate'' Ray looked down at his rather threadbare clothing. The rest of the group wore a motley collection of garments in similar condition as his own.
They set off in the direction of the town, keeping to the cover of the woods - although no one could take us for a group of hikers, Jax thought. Luckily they didn't encounter anyone before they reached the outskirts of the town.
A brief survey of the central area of the town confirmed their suspicion that there wouldn't be any place for them all to stay, without attracting more notice than they wanted to, so they headed for the railway station.
'Six hours'' the station manager informed them indifferently when he was asked when the next train was due.
The weather was cold and the half-roof didn't provide much shelter from the wind. Most of them huddled together while Mick and Joanne went to see what they could find in terms of food to keep them going until they reached a good sized city. ''The women should try to avoid being on their own - especially at night'' Morris had cautioned. ''Yes, I know you can all fight - but you don't want to draw too much attention to yourselves. Yet.''
A sharper gust of wind blew down the platform and Sara huddled closer to Leonard. She wasn't sure how she felt about Dinah, seated a healthy four places away, being with the group. She didn't dislike the woman - not at all - and felt that they might have become friends in different circumstances. Leonard hadn't changed towards her, Sara, and although he and Dinah talked to each other, she couldn't see that they never went out of their way to do so. But, when they did speak, there was plainly chemistry between them.
Mick and Joanne came back with a motley collection of hot pies and hot drinks, assuring the group that these were local delicacies.
When the train arrived, forty minutes late, they were all beginning to shiver and were glad to pile into its rather limited warmth.
It was a slow train, lunching its way through the countryside and then into the city suburbs. Most of them had begun to doze when Martin took it on himself to nudge them awake.
''There'' he said in a soft tone, nodding towards the window.
Reluctantly they looked and then their attention was caught. A large area of land had been cleared in the midst of a rather run-down industrial sector. A new building - probably a factory - was under construction and already boasted a sign announcing itself to be Savage Electronics.
''Man of the hour'' Leonard commented ironically.
Twenty minutes later, they were in the city centre. This time there were a number of places offering basic accommodation. A big group might have attracted notice, so they split up into three couples and the trio of Martin, Jax and Dinah.
X
Ava breached back to the A.R.G.U.S. base and then back to Earth 1. She was still undecided about taking on the role that Evelyn wanted her to. It was very much in her thoughts when she went back to A.R.G.U.S. the next day, which meant that it was only when they were about to collide that she realised that someone was standing in the middle of the hallway, waiting for her.
''I know where they are'' Sandra Watson announced.