Author: DJ Comicbook Knux00@hotmail.com

Title: EMERALD

Of course: All this stuff belongs to DC Comics, don't sell it cuz it's not yours. just email me if you're gonna repost it.

Setting: non-continuous YJ (Robin, Impulse, Superboy, Wondergirl [leader], Secret, Arrowette, Empress, Lagoonboy, Slo-Bo, The Ray, Supercycle.)

Summary: Introduction of a new character, Emerald, who is, well, a GL to be short.

Intro

Steelworks... 10:30 Sunday morning...

Emil Hamilton runs out the door, late to collect some contracted item for his latest research project. Pat Dougan is waiting outside in Steelworks' Van, having pulled around from the secure garage while Hamilton ran in to retreive his wallet or some such small item. Emil passes a man in a dark green jacket and black jeans walking towards their front door. It's not someone Emil is used to seeing in Metropolis but he is able to recognize readily. The man is all over the news as the newest member of the Justice League of America nowadays.

Hamilton raises his eyebrows as he stops for a moment.

The tall dark stranger nods and speaks slowly with a high level of strength and confidence. Superheroes tend to do that. "I'm looking for John Henry Irons. It is very important that I speak to him this morning."

Emil Hamilton, a world renoun scientist is not daunted by dealing with supertypes to any real degree, but it's just not everyday that someone comes to visit Steelworks uninvited.

"He's inside... you have an appointment..."

The hero smiles. "Not yet."

Hamiton glances toward the van as Pat Dougan, also known as S.T.R.I.P.E.S of Stars and Stripes fame honks the horn. "C'mon, Emil! These guys aren't trying to spend their sunday morning in a warehouse!"

Hamilton nods towards the door. "I'll let him know you're coming, but he's on his way out I think..." Hamilton nods again to the hero as he scuffles down to the van mumbling about not enough employees and Star Labs not sending him to pick up convereters and so forth....

Inside, John Irons is sitting by the breakfast bar in the more domestic looking part of steelworks, cultivated from many many late nights in the facility. He finished and pulled his tie back from around his neck, where it was placed to keep from soiling. He grabed his suit jacket and his orange juice and picked up a newspaper, glancing towards Natasha.

Natasha Irons, his neice is nearby, using a program to create a simulation of a new technology's function. John Irons once fought beside Superman as Steel until an encounter with the Aegis, Imperirex of Our Worlds at War fame's suit left him with a severely impaired immune and recovery ability, far below the level needed to deal with the stress of heroism. Natasha felt ready but an overprotective uncle was hesitant to let his baby girl go out and deal with the likes of Doomsday and Braniac. The new techonolgoy on hand was a suit she used once to help the Kryptonian Army, which was actually Superman, Superboy, Eradicator, Krypto and Two Supergirls, defeat Darkseid to rescue John. The book is out now, go read it. This same suit was suffering major function failure if in use for more than 30 minutes. Far too short to save the world on a typical superhero mission.

"Unc... Dr. Hamilton just IMed you... he says someone's at the..."

Bleepbleepbleep

"...door." She looked up and flicked on the monitor.

John just smiled as he recognized the visitor. "Let him in... and go get changed... we need to get going soon..." Natasha sighed and snapped the monitor she was working on off as she headed back to her room to change for their 11:00 appointment.

John Irons stood up and greeted a good acquaintance of his. Someone whom he hadn't talked to in quite a while, but the two held a special respect for each other.

"John..." the hero smiled as they firmly shook hands.

"John..." Irons smiled as he shook hands with the Green Lantern, out of costume of course. "I've been hearing good things about you..."

John Stewart nodded and smiled as he glanced over the visible parts of Steelworks... "And I'm seeing good things about you."

The two just stared at each other for a while, grinning.

"C'mon, Stewart, sit down, talk to me man, what brings you to this little shop of mine... Coffee?"

"No... I'm good... I'm great actually... It's like for a moment I'm on top of the world..." Stewart grinned in spite of himself.

"Just don't forget where you've come from..."

Stewart nodded again, as he took the orange juice that Irons had absent mindedly gotten for him. "Definitely. Got to."

John Irons sat down and looked over the paper one more time, sitting on a stool as did John Stewart by the breakfast bar there. Irons leaned on the counter. "What can I do for ya?"

Stewart stopped grinning and sobered up for a minute... "I've been meeting with the Justice League all week... they talk about a lot of things, a lot of accultration things... get used to teleporting up to the Watchtower I suppose..."

Irons nodded as Stewart continued...

"The other day we talked about the future... about the heroes of tommorrow, they spoke about the Titans and Young Justice espeically, and a few independents... like Star Spangled Kid... she's here at Steelworks, as well, yes?"

Irons nodded. "Yes... I believe she's out with the JSA now..."

Stewart smirked... "Right... well... I've spoken with Green Lantern Prime..."

"Rayner?"

Stewart laughed... "Yeah, the kid... I've also had a long talk with Superman..."

Irons nodded... then stopped. He knew where this was going all of a sudden.

"I asked for suggestions for an apprentice... someone who would carry on the legacy that I leave when I'm done... Kyle doesn't need to yet, he's still young, but me... I'm not gonna be around forever... I'm not planning on being absorbed into my ring..." Stewart chuckles for a second. "I also know of a young lady, by way of Superman, who wants nothing more than to be a superhero like her Unlce."

Irons stood up and began pacing. He could barely believe they would do this to him... how dare they put his neice in danger, willingly... two people short of a conspiracy!

Stewart keeps pushing it. "I know you're concerned John, you don't know if your technology is good enough to keep her safe because it doesn't make her nigh-invincible... and you can't be out there to teach her. You trust Superman but you know he's got divided interests."

Irons turns and glares at Stewart. "You have some nerve, you know that? Do you know what you're asking me to do?"

"John..." Stewart looks around for a moment. "We've recommended her to Young Justice... and I think the JLA has just a little pull with their kiddie conterparts... I will personally train her and teach her... she will have one of the most powerful weapons in the universe..." Stewart laughs just a bit... "She can make a Steel suit in a moment..."

Irons let his thoughts escape... "She has the creativity..."

Stewart nods. "And, if she actually did get herself to Apokolips and last more than 10 seconds against Doomsday, she has the Willpower."

Irons nods and turns to face Stewart. Just then a far door slides open and Natasha, in a black church dress comes walking out. She looks at the two men and raises her eyebrows... then starts to blush as she recognizes the visitor. She very lightheaded heads over two her uncle, almost wanting to hide behind him.

"Natasha, this is John..."

"Stewart... Green Lantern of Earth, newest member of the Justice League ex- millitary founder of Shining Light Architectural Firm... I..." Natasha stared up wide eyed, after that she fell kinda speechless.

Stewart looked over at Irons and almost laughed. He smiled down at Natasha.

"And you are Natasha Irons, yes?"

She nodded daftly. Still star-shocked.

"I heard you did great things on Apokolips with some good technology you helped develop."

She nodded again, then blushed as she began to come out of it. "Wow... uh... yeah... I mean... yeah..." She started to hate herself for being so socially crippled at the sight of the latest greatest... 'pull yourself together girl'

John Irons began to grin too, surely this would be great ammunition for their next round of teasing. He looked at his watch for a moment, realizing they were a little behind schedule.

"Mr. Stewart has something to give you."

Natasha looked up at her uncle quizzically for a moment then back at Stewart.

Stewart held out his hand and opened it. In his palm was a Green Lantern Ring.

"AIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"