"Welcome to New York, all passengers please report to the bottom deck. We hope you enjoy your stay." The plane captain announced.
That morning through the high escalated facility, a young Japanese girl leaped out of the plane and stretched her body. She was ready for whatever journey or adventure to get into for her latest story. So with her camera and bright smile on her face, she wondered. "So what will be my scoop for today?"
"Where's that front page article? What's taking so long with the printing? What numskull proofread this thing; I want him in my office ASAP. Where the heck is Parker? And where is my coffee?" Jameson rambled on and on as the Daily Bugle employee worked as fast as their boss commands. Because with Jonah Jameson, perfection was everything, no half jobs allowed. And he certainly hated to be repeated.
"Printing is finish with repairs sir. The front page will be done in five minutes. And Parker is on his way." Betty replied.
"Well he better hurry up, that kid is so slow these days." Jameson shot back. "And where is that new foreign intern? She was supposed to be here fifty minutes. Teenagers are so unreliable these days."
Betty paged Jameson. "Mr. Jameson, the new intern is here at the Bugle."
"Well don't just sit there, bring her up right now." Jameson shouted. "I have time, but I don't have time to waste."
As the new intern stepped in the main Bugle office, she was already faced with Jameson's deadly scowl. Already, she was wondering what she did wrong. Still while in the presence of the boss, she stood firm and steady like an honored soldier, awaiting further orders.
As Jameson blew smoke out of his cigar, he faced the girl. "So they tell me you want career in journalism, huh?"
She took an honorable bow. "That's right sir, I'm working to pursue that goal."
Jameson grasped his cigar with his two fingers. "Well you better pursue hard enough, girl, because in this business, we can't have any mistakes or setbacks that may cause retraction."
"I understand sir." She continued to stand straight like soldier being given orders. "I'm always in pursuit of new stories, life or death."
Jameson gave mid grind. "I like your attitude kid. It's just the determination the Daily Bugle needs." He placed his hand on her shoulder. "Parker, where in the world have you been?"
"Sorry Mr. Jameson I was just…" Peter was about to explain.
"Never mind; I have a young new intern at the Daily Bugle right here." Jameson presented. The new intern was young Japanese girl with a long purple ponytail, orange sunglasses, blue opened vest, white button up shirt, black cycling shorts underneath blue skirt, red shoes, red logo on the left of her shoulder, and wearing black fingerless gloves. "What did you say your name was again?"
"My name is Ran Hibiki, sir. And I look forward to working here with you." She introduced.
"Parker; since you're not doing anything, I suppose you can take her as your protégé. I'm sure her hot bloodedness will benefit in the capture and exposing of that wall crawling menace, Spider-Man."
Ran gave Peter and introductory bow. "I'm pleased to meet you Mr. Parker."
"I'm glad you two are well acquainted. Now get out of my office and fetch me more photos of Spider-Man Pronto. Before I…"
"Yeah Mr. Jameson, I heard it before, before you get Frank West to do my job for me." Peter and Ran quickly exit the building to avoid further shouting from Jameson. Because they knew his yelling was almost as intimating as Drill Sergeant.
"So I trust your camera aim is as good as your English?" Peter inquired.
Ran aimed her camera at Peter and just replied. "Yep Perfectly."
"Sorry about my boss, he can be a real hot head sometime. He throws more insults at me then angry villages chucking rocks. This always happens when he does not get his vitamins this morning."
Ran shook her head. "Don't sweat it. Compared to my harsh superiors back at my high school, this is nothing Mr. Parker."
"Please call me Peter; I'm not like JJ so you don't have to be so formal."
For the last half hour Peter and Ran talked about cameras, photo styles, positions, and embarrassing encounters. Ran even got a few laughs on Parker's most sticky situations or unfortunate moments. They have even debated different camera styles and compared and contrasted lens.
As the two walked along, Peter found Ran wondering off more than usual as he turned his back. Still, he kept his role to a minimum since Spider-Man. She was either sightseeing or taking pictures of something else. Peter found her to be energetic, active and very passionate on her work. She almost reminded him of himself back in his early days.
Peter had even given her pointers and tricks on using her camera. And to his surprise, she was very cunning on her camera. She was almost like hidden sniper with her camera, kind of like Spider-Man. But this was to be expected since she was known as "scoop girl" back in high school.
This was bothering Peter for a while, but he had to ask. "By any chance, do you know anyone named Dan Hibiki?"
"Dan Hibiki? Oh you must mean my cousin. Yeah, he always gets himself into quite a mischief, while trying to do the right thing but he means well. He even rants to me on how he thinks Spider-Man is a criminal and his desire to bring him down."
Peter nodded as he thought about his unpleasant encounters with Dan Hibiki. Most encounters would usually lead to another situation or even another encounter. But he was still harmless at the very least. Because even he knew that Dan may have been skilled, but it still was not on the same par as Ryu or Ken.
Taking a break from their work, Peter and Ran took a hot dog break. As he took his last bite, he heard a break in at a nearby bank. Tempted as he was to step into action, he could not leave the girl behind in the big city. Before he looked again, Ran was already gone. And Peter though he was shady. Nevertheless, after he changed, he rushed to the scene.
"Rhino; come out with your hands up! We have the place completely surrounded." The police called out surrounding the New York National Bank.
With fist full of money, Rhino busted through the front door and the squad cars. "Out of my way, you pigs!"
As the squad cars were about to land on them, Spider-Man quickly put up a web net. Fearing the outcome, the policemen wiped the sweat off his forehead. It was close call, but Spider-Man had managed to make it in time.
"Thanks Spider-Man, I don't know what we would have done without you." The police shook Spider-Man hand.
Spider-Man helped up the other officers. "Most likely get squashed into pancake. I'll handle big and gruesome from here."
Ran appeared out of the tree. "Spider-Man; I'm glad I caught you, hold that pose for a sec." Ran began snapping pictures Spider-Man. She was just about ready to get an exclusive. "Ran Hibiki, I'm the new intern at the Daily Bugle. And I can't say what an honor it is to be faced to face with you Spider-Man."
"Wow, I'm flattered you actually think that way, not many people do." Spider-Man replied.
Ran looked around for Peter. "By the way, where's Peter Parker?"
"Oh he's around somewhere, trying to get photos of me, just like you are." As Spider-Man heard a crash, he swung away. "I gotta go kid, stay out of danger."
Ran grinned as she grasped her camera. "You're not getting away from me that easy." Ran grabbed a bicycle and started to follow the trail of Spider-man. Even if Spidey said so, nothing was going to stop her big story, let alone her goal. With her constant peddling she cut through traffic of people and cars, no doubt burning a lot of calories or even stamina.
As Rhino continued to charge, Spider-Man caught hold of his feet, causing him drop his money. "Hey Rhino, aren't you far from wild life?"
Rhino growled, "I'm having a really bad day web-for-brains, but at least I could take it out on you by knocking the funny out of you. I just polished my horn."
"Aw, you flatter me. Taro, taro." Spider-Man taunted, but joked.
Blowing some stream, and rubbing his foot on the rough surface, Rhino charged at his foe. Like a Bull Fighter, Spider-Man waved a red flag. As Rhino connected, Spider-Man had easily avoided his attack. As he paced backward, the Rhino made his next move.
As they continued their fight, Ran had just arrived. Feeling mighty excited, she pulled out her trusty camera and started to get some pictures of the events, while keeping quiet off course. However, it was not long before Rhino had noticed her nearby after the last flash and so did Spider-Man.
And since Rhino was desperate to get out at any means, he started to rush her way. Now Ran's location was compromised and she had to do something quick. When Spider-Man had hopped from his foe's hard head, he grabbed Ran and swung her to safety.
"I knew you were ambitions, but this is ridicules. You really shouldn't be here, you could get hurt." Spider-Man warned Ran.
"Thanks but I'll be careful next time. I mean Parker faces off with stuff like this every day, doesn't he?" Ran pointed to Peter's camera hung from web line.
"This is serious, kid. Even if you are working for the Bugle, I'd have to advise against you being caught in the crossfire like this." Spider-Man continued to block her way.
Ran was starting to get annoyed as she threw a straight kick at Spider-Man. "I'll take my chances."
As Spider-Man dodged the attack, he quickly webbed Ran's hand to the wall. Even if deep down he admired her determination, her safety was his top priority. And since she was his protégé, he had to be extra careful. Spider-Man was left with very irritated citizen. One way or the other, she had to get her scoop and nothing was going to stop her. So using a sharp extra lens from her camera, she began to cut Spider-Man's webbing.
"Stop running, you freaky bug." Rhino barked, trying to pound on Spider-Man. "And where did you take, your little friend to?"
"Oh just to the nearest and safest street as possible, so she won't be lamb to your slaughterhouse."
Before Spidey could leap at his enemy, Rhino caught his attack. As he held him by the leg, he started slamming Spider-Man like an angry gorilla. "I'll be the one doing the slaughtering."
As Spider-Man was very weak, Rhino polished his horn for the final hit. As Spider-Man was directly in his crosshairs, Rhino started charging. Ran unlocked the Fire Hydrant, spraying an enormous amount of water to the ground. As Rhino hit the other, he found himself in slipping frenzy. He could not change or halt his direction. So this moment gave Spider-man the opening to knock Rhino down, while still hurt.
"Will you be okay?" Ran grabbed him and started to carry Spider-Man on her shoulder.
"Yeah, I'll heal up fine, thanks for your help back there."
"Anytime," Ran smiled. Before they could sit down and rest, Spider-Man was already gone.
As Ran went to look for Peter, he appeared behind her back in his street clothes. "I heard you helped Spider-Man out there. What were you thinking?" Peter handed back Ran's camera. "Good work nonetheless."
"There you are. Where the heck have you two been? I've been dying for those photos five hours ago." Jameson demanded crossing his arms with his cigar in his right hand.
"It's only been three hours, sir."
"No back talk. So Parker, I'm waiting, how would you rate your apprentice out there on the battlefield."
Peter took a glance at Ran. And then he made a smile. "Sir, I could not ask for a better apprentice. Because when she got it, then she really got it." Peter winked at Ran. "That is just as long as she keeps the risk taking to a minimum."
Jameson scoffed. "I find it hard to believe that you think so without deliver some results." Jameson slammed his fist on the desk. But his attitude changed when Ran presented him with Spider-Man photos. "Well, well, I must say and I really hate to say; I'm impressed. You took some really clear photos of that menace in action, maybe even clearer then Parker's photos."
"I try my best sir." Ran replied with pride.
Jameson offered her a handshake. "I guess I misjudged you. You might have future here after all." It was one of the fewest times in someone's life that Jameson actually paid a compliment to someone, much less Parker.
Happy on the compliment, Ran accepted Jameson's handshake, "Thank you sir." Ran faced Parker. "And thank you Peter Parker."
"Now then, for your next assignment, supervise and take pictures of the new memorial sight going on downtown. Maybe if you work hard enough, you may have Parker's job. So more photos on the double and hop to it!"
"Yes sir," Peter and Ran replied in unison. This would only be the beginning of Peter's new protege in the Daily Bugle.