Metropolis-
Sun rise was a beautiful sight for some. The sun rose high about the golden globe of The Daily Planet. Hal Stark had seen it before, he'd seen it many times as Iron Lantern. He streaked across the sky in his emerald green and yellow armor. He twisted in mid air diving down toward downtown.
People pointed and called his name as tourist snapped photo's of him. Behind the golden faceplate, Hal Stark grinned. And some people hate their lives, me? I love mine. He thought. Iron Lantern jerked up, swooping over Hobbes bay toward Stark Tower. Life was good.
"Does he always do that?" Bruce Wayne wondered out loud. Beside him, Alfred Pennyworth gave him a nod. "Yup." Happy Kalmaku said joining them. "Sometimes I don't think Hal can't complete a test run of his new armor with out buzzing by the Daily Planet." Happy flipped a switch on the console in front of him. A section of the ceiling opened up letting the sunshine in.
"Not all of them Happy." Iron Lantern called landing in the center of the room. He removed his helmet showing Hal's sweaty face. "Sorry Bruce I got carried away." He said with a grin. "And as far as Mr. Kalmaku's statement, I only wave at the pretty ones." He flashed Happy a grin.
"Over compensating again sir?" Alfred asked, smartly. Bruce let out a chuckled, but covered his mouth to hide his grin. Hal frowned. Two tech men rushed over to Hal and began to remove the armor. A few seconds later, Hal stood in a pair of shorts. "I brought your vodka and orange sir." Alfred said handing him a tray with a drink on it.
Hal took a sip of his drink. "So give me a second to process this Bruce." Hal said. He slipped on his robe and turned away from the armor. "There's me, the Van Dyne girl, and whatever Banner is suppose to be." He frowned at Wayne. "Couldn't we ditch Banner, I mean the guy isn't himself." Hal jerked his thumb over to a bulky version of the Iron Lantern armor, it was dented and torn. "My boy's are still fixing it." He grunted, taking a sip of his drink. Wayne waved his comment off. "Team needs a leader and Bruce Banner is it." Wayne snapped. "Plus he's the best chance of getting a new Super-Solider." Hal paused and frowned deeply.
They moved silently down the hall toward Hal's office. There sat was a fresh suit and tie waiting for him. "How about Orror Munroe?" Hal asked. Wayne raised an eyebrow at him. "The woman who believes she can control the weather?" He asked. Hal nodded. "They did a piece on her on 60 minutes." He told him. Wayne shrugged. "I placed the call, but she didn't answer." Hal nodded, stepping into his changing room. "What about Darkclaw?"
Wayne frowned. "You know him." Wayne said rolling his eye at the mention of The Darkclaw. "He says he'll help if we need him." Hal chuckled. He stepped out of his changing room, fully changed. "Then there's Iron Lantern." Hal chuckled straighten his tie.
"Meaning?"
"The armor, no one really knows where it comes from." Wayne said, "And you won't tell anyone even S.H.E.I.L.D." Hal stood silently for a moment staring out the window. "I was hoping you'd share it with me." Wayne said, letting his words hang in the air.
"Sorry Mr. Wayne, but I simply can't say." Hal said with a grin. Wayne rose from his chair. "Is all this mystery necessary Hal?" He asked. Hal sat down behind his desk and shook his head. "Makes me more dangerous." He said, winking at Wayne.
"Mr. Stark, sir." Alfred said stepping in. "Miss Ferris wishes to see you." Wayne shook his head. "I take it that's my cue then?" He asked, then turned and left the office.
"Perhaps, you should have told him sir?" Alfred suggested. Hal let out a sigh slumping in his chair, he wheeled it around to look out the window. He closed his eyes remember the day that changed everything. The day he found the Lantern.
It was a year ago. Hal was making last minute modifications to a test plane, which He was about to release to the world. Then suddenly it took off with Hal inside. Hal did his best to land the plane, only to crash it into the side of a mountain. Hal staggered away from the wreckage with a jagged metal in his chest. The he saw it.
A large emerald green ship stood before him. It looked as if it had been there for months. Hal staggered toward it, but once he approached it a door slid open. Hal gasped, shielding his eyes from the green pool of light. A figure lie slumped over the controls. The alien name was Rhomann Sur. The alien had come to earth seeking help against the evil Mandarinestro, but was killed during his landing.
Within the wreckage, Hal found a lantern like battery. Hal spent months forging armor that would link to the battery. With the armor and the battery which healed his wound, Hal battled Mandarinestro and earned the name Iron Lantern.
"Sir?"
Hal blinked. "Are you alright sir?" Alfred asked. "Yeah, I'm fine." He squeezed the bridge of his nose, then rose up from his chair and moved toward the elevator.
"Come on Alfred, time to face the world." He called. Alfred nodded. "Very good sir."
