"I'd like to speak to Mr Stark."
She looked up at him like a model from the cover of vogue, in the midst of some super futuristic set, but this was her station, in the here and now at Stark Enterprises. Her hair and makeup faultless even the ambient light favoured her. It wasn't an accident, nothing in this sprawling office suite was, with everything an example of precise design; from the windows, floor to ceiling. Stark was that kind of genius. His secretary looked right through him as if he wasn't there.
John Stewart figured that Howard Stark didn't get many unannounced visitors to his penthouse office suite wearing army surplus clothes.
"Mr Stark has no room in his diary." She told him, pushing back her golden hair. She played him with her eyes, in another life she'd have made a great actress. He knew her other hand had already triggered the silent alarm.
"Howard always did excel in recruiting the right people." He told her. It was a genuine compliment; she was cool when faced with a stranger in worn combat fatigues, who had inexplicably got around some of the world's best security measures, to get into Stark's inner sanctum. His secretary was probably even more efficient than she was beautiful. "But we both know that security won't be here for another forty seconds. So if you're finished flashing your lashes at me, please tell Howard, that John Stewart is here to see him." He smiled. "What have you to lose – at least I'm asking nicely rather than barging my way in?"
She pursed her lips in annoyance for a brief second, ready to deny him, to point out the steel barrier between them and Howard Stark, but then she relented, perhaps realising Stewart had already passed a number of these by already. She depressed the intercom switch.
"A Mister John Stewart wishes to see you."
"I don't see that name in my diary." Came the curt reply.
"No sir." She replied. "You don't."
"A-huh." The voice of Howard Stark said. "John Stewart, I'm sure my security detail will ask you how you avoided them, I admit I'll look forward to reading their report, but even as I commend you for your ingenuity in bypassing my security, I won't be seeing you – as I am a very busy man."
"Gunnery Sergeant John Stewart, Mr Stark. It's been twenty years."
The intercom switch glowed on; the silence was broken by the sound of armed men emerging from the elevators down the hallway."
"Cancel Security" Stark said. "I'll speak with Mr Stewart now."
His secretary frowned at this volte face. Surprises did not enter themselves into a schedule.
Stark added. "As I recall even that hot head Colonel Lane Ross and his Thunderbolts couldn't get you Gunny to shut the hell up and stand down. I doubt my Security will either, that is without breakages. Stand down gentlemen." Starks voice boomed the last three words loudly across several hidden speakers.
His secretary tried again. "But sir your diary,.."
"Make the necessary adjustments Miss Plate." Her boss answered.
The double doors to Stark's office opened on their accord with all the swish of a Star Trek episode. Stepping around the bemused guards Stewart entered. Inside the white minimalist chrome and glass theme continued.
"I did all I could John." Howard Stark said, standing up from behind his glass desk, the billionaire industrialist arms manufacturer crossed to shake Stewart's hand. "Ever regret not taking that deal I brokered with Ross?"
"If I had – I wouldn't be here, but thank you for believing in me Sir."
Stark looked good, lean and grey haired, his fresh skin belied his age. "I wouldn't go so far as that, but I never doubted you believed your account, let's say I gave you the benefit of the doubt."
Stark had been a young man at the outbreak of World War II he had worked alongside his father in the family business ensuring the Allies got the tools they needed to defeat the Axis. Never a soldier, too damn bright, his uniform was a lab coat, and his camouflage a business suit. Howard Stark was however first and foremost every soldier's friend; because Stark gear worked, and didn't break, even if you tried.
"It's been a while, I'm glad you remembered our conversation." John said letting his relief show.
Stark smiled, his moustache was a thin rakish line, grey now like his hair, but reminiscent of the screen idols of yesteryear. "I never forget a promise."
"Sure." Stewart knew this was no idle boast, it was reported that Stark's intellectual armoury included an eidetic memory.
"Let's cut to the chase John, right now you're eating into time diarised from the Secretary of Defence. If your here I guess this means you've finally got the proof – proof that you saw something not of this world that night."
"Not exactly" Stark's eyes at once registered annoyance, he raised his eyebrows, but John assuaged him by raising his hand saying. "But something as near as damn it." From his middle finger green flame burst forth, creating the glowing lamp, whose brilliance at once painted the huge office emerald.
"I was chasing a lead all the way up in Alaska, and long story short, I found this." Stewart explained. "A green crystal was found and then I guess, because it glowed, its finder placed it into an antique lamp; an object it either transformed by it, or even copied and replaced, because what you're seeing it is how this old railway lantern looks like now."
Stark reached out and touched the green glass like object. "Hologram," he whispered, then with certainty he said. "Solid to the touch" He looked at Stewart. "What is this technology – and where did it come from?"
"If I had all the answers, or at least answers I could understand, I wouldn't be here Mr Stark, but I remembered our conversation back in Nevada, and I thought you were the guy that would be able to help me understand what this is."
The older man laughed and nodded in agreement. There was no point pretending. "There was always Luthor Corp." He suggested as he peered into the verdant light.
This time Stewart shook his head. "Stark gear was something a Marine could trust."
"Okay John," Howard said, "but let's be straight from the start, you don't believe this green lantern is from Kansas, that's for sure."
"That it's extra-terrestrial, yeah that much I do know." Stewart replied. "And not being from this world explains why I've found communicating with it to be more miss than hit."
"Just you – or is it.." Stark asked with uncertainty. "The light – does it talk back – is it learning too?"
"It talks after a fashion, riddles almost, not even recognisable sentences sometimes, to me at least, more like random words. But is it learning, well I think we both are." John told him.
"Fascinating" Howard Stark looked both puzzled and excited. "Tell me if not where, if not how, at least what can it do?"
"Do you have anything in here that you are tired of – that you won't miss?"
"Well I've ordered a new desk this week. I've grown bored of seeing my feet." Stark replied, stepping aside.
Stewart concentrated, and from his hand, from the ring around his middle finger a beam of light took the shape of hammer which smashed the glass and twisted the steel frame of Howards Stark desk. The billionaire looked on agog.
Then Stewart his face drawn in the expression of man intent, concentrating, made his projection change. Green light morphing into the jaws of a vice like grips. The solid light construct crushed the shattered remains into a small square cube, fractured glass and all. John held the cube for a moment as it cooled, glowing faintly with residual heat from the sudden compression.
"I'm still learning what I can achieve, what I can create – and what those creations can then do." Stewart explained filling in silence. "The first thing I made was little more than breakers ball, then came a hammer shape, and lately I've been forming simple tools with basic moving parts."
He placed the glass and steel mass on the stone floor.
Stark laughed, and crossed the room, opening the doors to the outer reception lobby, Howard spoke to his secretary.
"Miss Plate. Call the Secretary of Defence, reschedule our meeting."
"What shall I tell him Sir?" The stunned woman asked.
"Why, isn't it obvious my dear, something more important has come up." Stark replied.