URICH
ONE SHOT
DISCLAIMER:
Yeah, I still don't own Ben Urich, who was created by Frank Miller (or so say Wikipedia, though I think it may be Roger McKenzie and Miller- could someone confirm? I'm sure he appeared in the pre- Miller stories. Anyway, all these characters are owned by MARVEL CHARACTERS INC. On to the story, kids!
CHAPTER 7: Heroes For Hire
Ben Urich smiled as he was led into his new apartment by the superintendent, a large bald man named Smith. He walked in, clutching two briefcases, and looked around. It was a nice apartment. VERY nice. It had to be thrice their last place's size, and much homelier.
Ben smiled as his wife, Doris, entered and laid down her things. Ben kissed her on the forehead affectionately, and Smith departed, with a welcoming smile. The middle aged reporter slumped onto his sofa and slipped a piece of gum into his mouth. He had finally managed to quit those damn cigarettes, thanks to his sudden rise in both pay and popularity as a writer. He'd already been called to report on every Daredevil incident, though J. Jonah Jameson was not keen on letting him handle NYC's other vigilante, Spider-Man. Jonah had too much hate for that 'hero'.
Ben's brief contentment was interrupted as his mobile rang. It was Jameson:
"Urich! Drop everything! I mean EVERYTHING and write this down! Tomorrow night. 6:30. 67 Spector Crescent. They're unveiling a super- team of sorts."
"Of sorts?"
"Call 'emselves Heroes For Hire. Selling their services like decent members of the public," Came Jameson's reply, "Be there, Ben. 6:30. Spector Crescent. I'll send Parker along with you."
That night, Spector Crescent was jam packed, causing traffic to be diverted. Ben mentally congratulated himself for being thoughtful enough to leave at three for a prime place, right at the front of the crowd, directly before the stage set up outside number 67.
It was almost seven when an overweight, balding man in a pinstriped suit stepped onto the stage, shouting into a microphone.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" He bellowed, "My name is Jeryn Hogarth and I shall be your host for this evening, as the official business advisor and financer of the Heroes For Hire!"
Cheering. Urich sighed in embarrassment as his photographer, young Parker, whooped and cheered manically.
"Thank you very much for attending this magnificent event," Continued Hogarth, "But now, without further ado, I preeeeeesent to you… THE HEROES FOR HIRE!"
Ben clapped as Parker whistled and whooped some more, along with the rest of the crowd, mostly kids, out to see the start of their beloved superhero team. Urich couldn't have felt more out of place if he were in the real Hell.
Two men stepped onto the stage. One was a huge black man, seemingly made of pure muscle. He wore a vest, a beanie hat and tight jeans, his arms crossed in the universal sign of a 'badass'.
The other was a slightly younger man. He was pale, wearing some kind of green ninja suit and a yellow bandana over his face.
"I proudly present to you Messrs. Luke Cage, Power Man, and Danny Rand, also known as THE IRON FIST!" Cried Hogarth. More screams. More whistles. More cheering, "Mr. Rand has an extraordinary talent for martial arts…"
The ninja suited young man promptly somersaulted across the stage, flipping several times in mid- air and landing cat- like on the far side of the stage. The fans screamed even more. Ben scribbled something on his note book, while Parker caught several perfect shots of Rand's moves.
"Wow, did you see that, Mr. Urich?" Exclaimed the boy, "That was incredible!"
Urich sighed.
"And, people, if you thought that was amazing, behold Mr. Rand's other talent… his namesake, THE IRON FIST!"
Rand clenched his hand into a fist and it burst into some kind of golden flame! Parker clicked on his camera again, laughing in sheer shock.
"And Mr. Cage is hardly a puny kitten!" Winked Jeryn, "Behold his unbelievable strength!"
Cage punched a hole in the wall behind him.
"And, gentlemen, please help Mr. Cage demonstrate his awesome skin!"
Two men with shotguns stepped onto the stage. People screamed… and the men shot Cage between the eyes. The titanic man just stood there, smiling faintly. The crowd erupted!
Suddenly, there was another scream. A huge monster stood on the building above…
"Mr. Hyde!" Parker raised his camera. Urich stared, as everyone else scattered. The Heroes For Hire leapt into action. Hyde punched Iron Fist far off the stage and even knocked Cage to his knees. People were being trampled… it was awful… and then Urich saw Parker was gone. But the boy hadn't run! He had been there moments before!
Suddenly, a red and blue clad hero dropped onto Hyde's back and fired web- like gunk into the monstrosity's eyes! It was Spider-Man! And for a moment, Urich thought he saw something flash from the corner of the stage… something metallic… like a camera…
It was over soon enough. The three heroes together managed to fell the terrible creature, and it returned to its human form. Parker ran in, moments later, apologising, claiming he was dragged off in the crowd, but Ben knew that was a lie. He just wasn't sure of the truth. Whatever the disaster, the incident had done wonders for the Heroes For Hire's publicity, too…
MONSTER DEFEATED BY NEW HEROES
Yesterday, New York's newest defenders, Luke Cage and Daniel Rand of the Heroes For Hire, proved their worth in a dramatic showdown with the monster known as Mr. Hyde at their own formation ceremony.
The heroes had just demonstrated their incredible powers when the beast, having not been seen since its vicious encounter with Daredevil, appeared and was in fact easily defeated by the duo, who were assisted by the Amazing Spider-Man (must you edit this, Jonah?). However, the true tragedy lies in the death of fourteen people, trampled to death in the crowd's rush to escape.
Full story: Page 3
END
NEXT IN "URICH": It's back to court for the epic two-part tale Crime & Punishment, as the Urich VS Fisk law-suit gets underway! Be there, True Believers!
