Protection
It was 5:30 and after another day at work and Hank Hill was ready to go home and enjoy a nice dinner with his wife, tonight was spa-peggy and meatballs. After that he was probably going to watch some television and go to bed around nine, ten at the latest. That was the usual night for Hank. But tonight was something different.
He was driving along, turning right in front of the High School when suddenly someone appeared right out in the middle of the road.
"Bwah!" Hank shouted. He turned the wheel, trying to avoid the figure. He managed not to hit him straight on but he did knock him down. Hank stopped his truck a few feet away and got out to inspect what had happened." Oh my God are you alright?" He asked bending down next to the man. All he heard was a grumbled response." Don't worry, everything will be okay." He quickly pulled out his cellphone and dialed 911." Hello, Hank Hill Assistant Manager Strickland Propane there's been an accident."
A short time later Hank found himself in the Hospital talking to the police.
"And your saying this gentleman just appeared out in front of you?" asked on Officer.
"Yes." Hank replied." I was making a turn and he was in the middle of the road." But the Officer's didn't seem convinced and that worried Hank." So w-what's this mean?"
"Well that depends." The cop put his hand son his belt.
"Depends on what?"
"Whether this gentleman feels like pressing charges or not."
"Oh God!" Then at that moment the doors opened up and the victim was wheeled out in a wheel chair. He was big and covered head to toe, his face wrapped in black garbs, his eyes were emerald green and there was an awe-like naivetés as he observed every corner of the room.
"My God." The Cop groaned disgusted. He saw the man bandaged from head to toe seeing the damage Hank had done." You are under arrest Mr. Hill." At the sound of the name Hill the victim cocked his head like a bird to look at Hank." Sir." The Cop said pointing a finger in his face." Would you like to press charges?" But the victim didn't look at the cop but looked at Hank.
"Hill." He said to him.
"Yes, sir. This is Hank Hill the man who struck you. Would you like to press charges?"
"Charges?" The man said confused. Hank looked just as confused.
"Would you like to see him punished?" The Cop said instead.
"No!" The man jumped up. When he yelled it sounded like he spoke with more voice than one.
"Very well." The Cop said nodding his head and releasing Hank." You're free to go." He turned and walked away as did any hospital staff, leaving just Hank and the man he'd hit.
"Well thank you for that." Hank said approaching him. He had a stare that never blinked that made Hank uncomfortable." I, I hope there's no hard feelings."
"Hill." He said reaching out and poking Hank in the chest. Hank looked at him confused.
"Yes that's my name, Hank Hill. Assistant manager at Strickland Prop-"
"Hill." He repeated. Just then a nurse walked up and interrupted them.
"Excuse me sir." She said to the victim." You have some paperwork to fill out." She handed him a clipboard and pen which he took. But then all he did was stare blankly at the paper and even more so at the pen.
"Do you uh know what your doing there?" Hank asked. The man snapped his attention back to Hank and acted as if he'd just seen him for the first time.
"Hill." He poked him in the chest once more." Bobby Hill?"
"Bobby?!" Hank said surprised." No, Bobby's my son. Do you know him?" But before Hank could get his answer a nurse interrupted them.
"Excuse me sir, but you have to finish those papers." The man once again looked back at the paper's confused.
"Uh Hey there." Said Hank stepping forward. "What's that you said, do you know my son?"
"Son?" He asked looking at Hank.
"Yes my son, Bobby."
"Bobby Hill."
"Yes, do you know him."
"We know your son." He said turning to Hank fully now." We fought with me and it was he who opened our eyes to the world."
"Fought with me son." Hank repeated. No doubt to Hank this was one of Bobby's Army Buddy's from back in the infantry. Most likely scared somehow which is why he wore that get-up on his face, but in Hank's eyes the man was a hero." Say where are you staying?" The man looked at him confused.
"Nowhere." He managed to answer.
"That won't do, you're a veteran and a friend of my Bobby. And either one of those things is welcome in my home."
"Sir." Said the nurse once more." You have to complete that paperwork." The man once again looked away from Hank and to the paper in his hand.
"Here." Said Hank leaning forward and taking the pen." Let me help you with that." The man looked at Hank in awe. Hank sat back down and the man followed his movements, doing the same." First thing's first your name." The man looked to the floor and then back to Hank.
"We are Ermac."
Then after all the paperwork was complete Ermac climbed into Hank's truck and they drove back to the Hill's home. They pulled into the driveway and walked into the house, the trio watching from the alley.
"Say what happened to Bobby?" asked Dale noticing Hank's companion.
"He's all bandaged up." Commented Bill." Do you think there was an accident?!"
"Probably." Said Dale."Ten bucks it was a gas fire."
"Yo." Boomhauer said. He and Dale shook on it.
"Peggy." Said Hank." I'm home and I've brought a guest." Then like lightning Peggy suddenly appeared in the doorway before him.
"Is it Bobby?! Has he finally come home?"
"Well No." Hank said sheepishly." But I've brought a friend of Bobby's." He step aside and showcased Ermac to his wife." Ermac this is my wife, Peggy."
"Hill." Ermac pointed to her.
"Yes, she's a Hill to." Hank nodded.
"Do you know where my son is?" Peggy asked." When did you last see him, what was he doing?!"
"We encountered your son on the great battlefields of another world." Ermac told." It was there that he opened our mind to Law and Order. Since then we traveled far and wide lead by this Purpose."
"Yes, yes but what about Bobby?!"
"Peggy." Hank said." How about we have this conversation over dinner? I'm sure the soldier here would like a nice home-cooked meal." And Peggy thinking that would get her answers quickly went into the kitchen to mix something up quick." Hope you've brought your appetite son." Hank said putting his arm around Ermac and leading him into the kitchen." It's spa-peggy and meatballs night."
So once food was laid out on the table the interrogation began. Hank was the only one who ate since Peggy was more hungry for answer and Ermac does not require subsistence.
"So tell me about Bobby?" asked Peggy. But no matter how she asked it or how many times the answers were always the same. Ermac spoke about Bobby with high regard but could never give any information other than their battle before explaining his own mission to them.
Ermac was given Bobby's room despite the protest of Peggy. But Hank insisted since Bobby was not here and how he viewed having a veteran sleeping on the couch as unpatriotic.
Later that night Hank was sitting in front of the tv. And there was bad news.
"This is Channel 84 news with Nancy Hicks Gribble here to you live from the Goobersmooches fire."
"Oh God please don't let it be the Propane." Hank prayed.
"No witnesses have come forward." Nancy said." But it does leave the public in a frightful panic that a gang has expanded their Protection Racket in this area." Hank shook his head at the screen.
"Now that's a shame." He sighed turning off the tv. But he wasn't the only one who had an opinion on the subject.
"What is this Protection Racket?" Ermac asked. He walked over and put his hand on the back of Hank's chair. Hank turned and saw the man standing over him.
"Criminals threaten to damage property if people don't pay."
"And they call this protection!" Ermac grumbled." Where are the warriors who keep this realm in order?"
"Whoa calm down." Said Hank getting up and putting a hand on Ermac's shoulder." It gets me mad to but don't worry about it the police can handle it." And Hank's voice seemed to reassure Ermac." C'mon you've had a long day why don't you get some sleep." And Hank walked Ermac back to Bobby's room.
The next morning Hank prepared for work the same way he always has. And right as he was walking out the front door with a hot cup of coffee in his hand Peggy stopped him.
"Where are you going?" she asked.
"Work. You know the same place I go everyday"
"Well what about him?" Hank followed her finger over his shoulder where he saw Ermac sitting upright on the couch and starring at the wall." Aren't you taking him with you?"
"No I can't he's not a Strickland Employee. I thought he could help you around the house today." Peggy stood back and seemed to consider the idea." I'll see you later tonight." Said Hank as he walked past her and out the door.
"OH Ermac!" Peggy sang with a clap of her hands." Let's go we have chores to do."
Hank arrived at work the same ways he always did. And when the clock struck nine he took a deep breath and turned to the front door.
"Okay." He said with smile." I am ready for 100% satisfied customers." And before he could blink the front door opened and three men walked in." Good morning gentleman." Said Hank getting their attentions." How can I help all of you this morning?" Two of the men hung back while the biggest and most menacing of them walked towards Hank.
He was big and tall, about as tall as Hank himself. He was bald but his face was covered in scars and his left eye must have been dead because it was all white.
"No." He said in a voice like thunder." We want to talk to the manager." Hank frowned inwardly but unsatisfied customers was something he'd dealt with before.
"Well I am the Assistant Manager." Said Hank." Maybe I can help you."
"Other way around." The man said." I can help you." At the sound of that the other two men walked to separate corners of the room. One in a long black trench coat stood by the grills, the second an Asian man with a green hat stood by the desk." You see this is a dangerous neighborhood. There's bad people out there. Armed Robbers, Vandals." Hank began to sweat with the menacing glare the man was giving him.
"What are you saying?" asked Hank adjusting his glasses. The man gave a nod. And with that one nod one of the grills was knocked over and the computer was knocked off the desk and smashed on the floor." Hey now what do you think you're doing?!" Hank yelled." That's Strickland property you're gonna have to pay for-" He shot his finger forward and put it on the man's chest. But the second he did that the man reached out and grabbed Hank by his collar. Then lifted him into the air.
Something worse might have happened to him if Buck hadn't shown up.
"Now what the hell's going on in here?" He asked.
"Are you in charge?" asked the Asian man, the one closest to Buck.
"I am. Who wants to know?" The man holding Hank released him and walked over to Buck.
"I was just explaining to your friend here" He pointed over his shoulder to Hank. "About how we could help out your business." And at the thought of more money Buck smirked.
"And uh what are we talkin here?"
"Let's discuss it in the back." The man said as he forcibly moved Buck into the back room. Hank rose to his feet but was stopped in his place by the other two men.
It wasn't more than five minutes later the first man reemerged with a black briefcase in his hand.
"Hsu Hao, Mavado." He said getting the two men's attention." We're done here." And he passed off the briefcase to Hsu Hao." Let's go." They walked past Hank like he wasn't there. Hank would have said something to them but then Buck reappeared and instead spoke to him. But Buck was in a sweat and had a terrified look on his face.
"Mr. Strickland what happened?" He asked.
"Those boys are bad news old top." Buck said in a dry voice." I-I had no choice."
"Buck what's happened?"
"I um, I had to give 'em some money." Buck said with embarrassment.
"Oh my God." Hank said." We've just been held up. Sir we've got to call the police."
"You'll do no such thing!" Buck said stopping Hank before he could do anything." You'll do what I say. And what I say is we forget about the whole thing!" And with that Buck turned and walked back into his office.
The thugs meanwhile were driving away. Mavado at the wheel, Hsu Hao in the passenger's seat with the briefcase and their leader in the back.
"That was excellent work." He commented.
"Thank you Grandmaster." The both said.
"And excellent work on your end." He said to Hsu Hao." Not only destroying the Special Forces and the Black Dragon, but getting us the operations they already ran. They've already done half the work for us."
"Thank you Grandmaster Daegon." Hsu Hao smiled.
"Soon." Said Daegon with his one good eye." This entire town will belong to the Red Dragon."