Tales from the Club Room

Episode 25: The Protector (Season Premiere part 1)

"Let's Dance!" Lance said, his stance showing he was poised for a fight. Suitengu took off his coat and threw it by the curb and raised his fists. Lance landed the first blow with a right jab that hit the pimp square in the jaw, Suitengu attempted a counter attack but Lance dodged and kicked Suitengu's legs out from under him. Suitengu hopped up and tried to hit Lance again, this time Lance kicked him under the chin, knocking out some of his front teeth. Lance then punched him in the stomach and raised the pimp's head up to his level, giving him a ferocious head butt. Dazed, the pimp collapsed to the ground, Lance was going to begin kicking him in the side when Angela pulled him away. "Jesus Christ, of all days to get in a fight you had to pick today! Your nose is bleeding, babe." Lance took out a handkerchief and held it up to his nose. "I couldn't stand to see this girl get beat up. The question is now what do we do with her?" He said, Angela shrugged, "Call the police I guess, I'll dial 119." She said and turned on her cell phone, Lance walked over to the girl, and "What's your name?" he said, as the girl wrapped her arms around him and began to cry, "Maka, Maka Albarn. I can't thank you enough whoever you are." Lance smiled "Call me Lance, and don't worry you'll be in good hands." He said as Angela closed her cell phone, "They said they'd be here in a little bit. Should we take her inside the shrine? I don't think the newlyweds would appreciate it if we brought a whore in there." She said as Lance placed the blood stained handkerchief in his pocket. "The damn thing is about over, I'll take her back to my place, give them my address and phone number if they need to contact me. I'll see you at the meeting tomorrow, okay?" He said, Angela nodded and watched as the two of them walked away, "God Lance, what have you gotten yourself into now?" Angela said to herself as the first police car made its way to the shrine.

Two Hours Later

Matsuri "Medusa" Albarn sat her desk, in a glass case behind her was a Burmese python, pictures of snakes decorated the walls, and ornate serpentine carvings were etched into the woodwork. "Now Choji, would you like to tell me why my stepdaughter isn't here right now? Why do you look like hell?" she said picking up a cigarette and lighting it. "This guy comes out of nowhere, and he beats the hell out of me. The next thing I know I am being interviewed by some pigs for two hours, if you want the short version of it." He said as Medusa took a drag of her cigarette, "Luck, do we have any info on this guy?" He said, Luck Gandor pulled out a file from his suit coat and slapped it on medusa's desk, "Guy's name is Lance Ryan. I dug up some dirt on him after Choji gave me a description of him. This guy is a big anime writer but he still teaches at some puissant little college in Tokyo. He shuns the whole fame thing, likes to keep a low profile. I did most of my work by hacking into his studio's database. I guess Maka is with him." He said as Medusa thumbed through various photos, "I want this man dead, no exceptions. All of our top assassins must be on this guy. I don't want any messes either!" She said and then turned to Choji, "As for you Choji-kun I think you need some work done! Firo?" she said as a blond haired young man opened the door, his hands and white apron stained with blood. "Yes Medusa?" he said, Medusa pointed to Choji, "When you're done with that cop, take care of this worm for me will ya?" she said, Firo nodded. Through the door Suitengu could see Firo's victim strapped to a chair, his intestines were hanging out in heap on the floor, in Firo's right hand was his trusty linoleum knife. Suitengu shrieked, "Please boss, think about what you're doing!" Medusa laughed, "I have, and you're of no use to me now, so you must go!" Firo came out of his room and grabbed Suitengu, dragging him back to the horror chamber. The screams could be heard from all over the mansion.

One day later.

Lance had planned it in advance, he and Angela were going to take Maka down to family services and set her up with a foster family. Lance hated to do that but, he had no choice he simply could not have a teenage girl living with him. The walk to the family services building was a short one, Maka was wearing one of Angela's blouses that fit her somewhat loosely and a pair of Khaki dress pants that Lance had cinched with a belt he had brought from his hometown. Maka, Lance and Angela sat down in front of the desk of a large man with slightly thinning hair and a black mustache, his nameplate read Takamura. "I heard about this on the news and I am not surprised in the least that you two want what's best for Ms. Albarn. I can set her up with a foster family now if you'd like, I believe there is a family in a suburb of Tokyo named Kitamura that is looking for a foster daughter. I just need you to fill out some paperwork." Lance looked at Maka, she seemed content. Lance filled out the forms in silence while she and Angela gossiped about what her new life was going to be like. Lance finished and watched as the Kitamura's wandered into the room. Mrs. Kitamura looked plump with a brown perm and a pair of horn rimmed glasses. Mr. Kitamura was prematurely bald, wore a brown sweater and large frame glasses. Maka smiled, and bowed to the couple. "I hope you'll enjoy your time with us. We were just about to go on a picnic and we were wondering if you'd like to come?" Mrs. Kitamura said Maka ran up and hugged her. For once she felt as if she belonged, as if she had a real family. Lance smiled and followed Angela out of the room, "Do you think we did the right thing?" He asked walking outside and heading towards the university. Angela nodded, "You and teenage girls are not a good mix!" Lance gave her a peck on the cheek. "I sure as hell hope so!" he said not noticing the Van that had followed them to the university.

"I call this meeting of Genshiken to order at 12:01." Lance said as he looked at his watch, everyone that mattered was there. Oguie and Sassahara were on their honeymoon so they wouldn't be back for a few days, so Lance once again was the meeting leader. "Now as you know, summer comi-fest is coming up in less than a month. Oguie has signed us up for another dojinshi which I am working on right now and she will have the art ready soon. Any cosplay ideas?" he said, and then it happened. The sound of machine gun fire ripped through the club room, glass shattered and bullets riddled some of the posters. "Everyone get down now!" Lance shouted, ducking under the table. Angela looked at him, "What in the hell is going on?" She said just as the gunfire stopped, Lance looked out the window, there standing outside was two men dressed in black, who were now running back to an awaiting van. Lance ran down the steps, "You god damn sons of bitches! Come back here and fight like men!" He shouted as the van drove away, the school club president ran towards him. "Genshiken!" she shouted, Lance turned to her as the others gathered around him. "Look lady, I don't know what just happened either so don't ask me!" He said, the president looked at him, "You're club will pay for these damages you do know that! I am also suspending your club until further notice!" Lance turned to her, "Look bitch, I'll pay for the damages and if you suspend the club I just might tell everyone how you got those crabs!" he said, the president looked as if she had been hit by a Mack truck. "How did you know I had those?" She said her voice quivering, "I happened to see a bottle of lice shampoo in your office when I went to make some copies, so not only do you have foot fungus, you also have crabs. Which begs me to ask the question, who's your boyfriend been screwing lately. It seems to me you're too much of a shrew to put out!" he smirked, She looked at him, "Okay I won't suspend your club, but you will pay for those windows!" she said, Lance nodded, "Fine by me, now take your crabs and skedaddle!" he said and turned to his club mates, "Meet me at my apartment in an hour, I need to do some research. We'll continue the meeting then." Walking away, Lance wondered what kind of trouble he was getting into.

"Do you see him Liz?" Patty asked as she cocked her pistol, Liz nodded, looking through her binoculars as Lance walked away from the university. "Let's rock and roll!" She shouted and ran out from the alley. "Prepare to die, scumbag!" Patty shouted racing toward Lance, he stopped. "What the hell is with people today?" he shouted, the sisters stopped in front of him. "You want to fight huh? Well my daddy told me never to hit a lady, but he never said anything about if they had weapons." He said racing toward Patty and kicking the gun out of her hand and slugging her in the stomach. Liz raced towards her sister, "Are you okay?" She asked, Patty coughed, and Liz aimed her gun at Lance, "Okay motherfucker, now you've done it." She shouted, Lance grabbed her wrist and flipped her over his back, grabbing the gun and aiming it at her. "Who are you people? What do you want?" A young man raced towards him, his sea foam green spiky hair made him an obvious target. Lance fired at him knocking him to the ground, and then turned his attention to the girl lying on the ground, "Answer my god damn question, why are people trying to kill me today?" He said, Liz groaned, Lance cocked the gun, "You have three seconds to tell me why or I'll splatter your brains all over this sidewalk!" He shouted. Liz spoke, "You took someone important from our boss, her stepdaughter. We were told to kill you!" Lance looked at her, "Who is your boss?" he asked, Patty spoke this time, "Medusa Albarn, she is the most powerful mob boss in Japan!" Lance dropped the gun and looked at the girls, "Send a message to your boss, I am not scared of her or her toadies, if she wants a fight then she'll come to me directly, got it? He said, the girls groaned, Lance took it as a yes

"Guys we've got a problem," Lance said taking a sip of tea, "apparently I have become a target for the Yakuza. This is probably the reason why our windows were shot out today. I have to ask this of all of you; do any of you have any weapons training?" Everyone looked at him; Madarame looked at him "I have some kendo training. Will that help?" He said "Us too." Said Kousaka and Tanaka as Lance nodded as Ohno raised her hand, "I know how to use a sword well. I learned that in the states." She said; next Kasukabe raised her hand, "I have been visiting a firing range near campus for a weapons class." Lance smiled, "Good, you will all need it by this week, because I am sure that if they are going after me they'll go after you too. From now on we all carry weapons, just in case some wacko comes for us." Angela looked at him, "What do we do for now?" she asked, "Stay out of sight for a bit, let's hold off our club meetings for a while until I get this sorted out. Now let's pick up where we left off." He said pulling out his minutes for the meeting.

Two weeks Later

The Kitamura's were a wonderful family; Maka loved them more and more each day. They had bought her new clothes, took her on hikes through the wilderness, and every night they had dinner as a family. It was nine o'clock when her world shattered. The rain had just begun to fall making tapping sounds on the roof. Mr. and Mrs. Kitamura were downstairs watching TV, when the doorbell rang. Maka looked out her window; there was one of her stepmother's black vans. "Oh god, no, not good!" she said. She went to her closet and shut the door pressing the lock, which was unusual for a closet. She didn't even hear the gunshots, or the people walking up the steps. Within ten minutes it was over, walking down the steps she saw the bodies of her foster parents, their blood staining the beige carpet. Maka put on her coat, it was five miles away but she knew a place where she would be safe, Lance's apartment.

"Bravo One to Mother Hen, come in?" One of the Hitmen said into his walkie-talkie, Medusa replied, "Go ahead, Bravo One do you have the pie maker in sight?" she asked, "Roger that, do we put her in the oven or take her home?" the Hitman asked, Medusa laughed, "Take her home, I think Firo needs something to do!" He signed off and walked towards the door, kicking it in. Angela ran to her foyer and saw the two men standing in her apartment, "What the blood hell is going on?" She asked, the men didn't respond, they just fired the tranquilizer dart. Angela collapsed to the ground like a rag doll. She could feel the men pick her up, the last thought going through her mind was of Lance in his tuxedo, she wondered if she'd see him again.

Lance was working on the dojinshi when he heard a knock at his door. He grabbed his Glock nine-millimeter and walked to the door, "Who is it?" he asked as a voice spoke from the other side, "it's Maka! God you've got to help me!" she screamed, Lance threw open the door, "How did you get here? God you're soaking wet let me get you a towel." Maka stammered, "Th-They killed them. They're both dead!" Lance looked at her, "Who killed who? Are the Kitamura's okay?" Maka shook her head, Lance picked up his phone, and "I'll call the police. You stay right here and get warm. I won't let your stepmother get you." Maka raised her voice, "She's not my stepmother!" Lance looked at her, "What?" Maka lowered her head "When I was twelve my parents were out of town for a psychology conference. I was home alone. That's when they came, Medusa's men. They said my dad owed them some money; it took them three hours to realize that they had the wrong people by then it was too late. Medusa sold me into slavery. I'm her biggest money maker, without me she'd have nothing, that's why she's going after you!" Lance sat the phone down when suddenly there was a crash through his window; a DVD in a jewel case had been thrown in. The disc had the words "Play Me" written on it, Lance turned on his TV and popped it in. There on the TV was Angela bound to a chair, her mouth gagged. A woman with blond hair spoke. "Mr. Ryan I believe you have something I want. If you don't return Maka in an hour this will happen to your fiancé only on a much larger scale." She said as the camera panned to Firo and his linoleum knife slashing Angela's breast. "Oh god not now, of all times god why now?" Lance said and picked up his cell phone. "If she wants a fight she's got one now. Hello, Madarame, have you and the others been practicing like I mentioned last meeting? Good, call the others and have them meet me at my apartment, we've got some ass to kick!" He said and hung up the phone. "You picked the wrong group of otaku to fuck with Medusa, it's on now!" Lance said and grabbed his gun, Maka looked at him, "You're not seriously going to kill her? She's got tons of guards" Lance smiled, "Honey, you ain't seen anything yet!"

To be continued. . .