Law and Order
After his eventful day at work Hank drove back home. Standing out in the alley was Dale, Bill, and Boomhauer.
"Hey Hank." Bill said upon seeing Hank exit his truck." Why don't you come over here and stand with us?" Hank let out a deep sigh.
"Not now Bill." He said in an exhausted tone.
"You sound like you've had a rough day." Said Bill." You know what would help with that?" He bent down from Hank's view and then reappeared. "A nice cold Alamo beer." He showcased it above his head.
"Sorry Bill." Said Hank. " But I don't think even Alamo beer can help me right now." His friends gasped.
"Blasphemy!" yelled Dale.
"Yea man tell you what man." Said Boomhauer." Dang ol' Hank man loves his Alamo beer. Be it day, night, sun, rain Hank man never turn down Alamo. Tell you what man dang ol' somethin upsettin him, dang ol' something ain't right."
"That's exactly it Boomhauer." Said Hank." Something's terribly wrong and I'm afraid there's nothing I can do about it." He turned and prepared to enter his house.
"Say Hank." Called Bill." What happened to Bobby?"
"What?" asked Hank turning back to him confused.
'Why's he all bandaged up?" asked Dale.
"Dang ol' growing boy man, he's big as a dang ol' house!" Boomhauer said.
"Well he came out here a while ago and started raking the leaves the pulling out weeds. Then Peggy send him over to my house to clean the gutters."
"That's not Bobby it's his friend from the Army, Ermac." Said Hank as he walked closer to his friends. Looking across the street and onto Bill's roof he saw Ermac walking back and forth along the gutters." Oh dang." He said with another sigh.
He walked across the street and around the side of Bill's house.
"Hey Ermac!" He called. The man turned and poked his head out along the side of the roof.
"Hank Hill." He pointed to him.
"Yes. How long have you been up there?"
"We've been here for the afternoon. The Lady Hill sent us to clean so he cleaned. This is but another step on our quest to pursue order. The Hill Friend's gutters were clogged and we fixed them so that they may flow like a river."
"Well that's all well and good." Hank said." But why don't you call it a day and come down." Ermac took it as an order and did as he was told. Hank watched as he stood up and jumped from the roof and landed on the ground calmly. Hank looked at him in shock." Well um.. that, that was quite the jump. Didn't that hurt?"
"We feel no pain." Ermac answered. Hank looked at him confused but soon dismissed the idea.
"Well you've probably had a long day of working. What's say we get a beer." He put his arm around Ermac and led him to the alley." Bill!" Hank called from across the street." I'll take that beer now."
"Oh boy, oh boy." Bill grind with delight. He reached into the cooler and reared his arm back." Catch Hank!" He swung his arm forward and the can flew into the air….only to land right in front of Bill and split in half, spilling beer into the alley.
"Damn it Bill." Hank shock his head. He reached into the cooler and pulled out two beers. Handing one to Ermac and then joining his friends.
"So." Said Dale." How was work."
"Hank Hill!" called another voice. Everyone looked to see Kahn 's head bobbing above his fence until he came to full view at the end of the driveway." Where little Redneck son? Connie go on all day and all night how she not seen Bobby Hill. So where is he?"
"He's right there." Bill pointed to Ermac.
"Wha-"
"No, No it's not." Hank said shaking his hands and his head." I haven't seen Bobby in over a month, Kahn." Hank told." And I haven't heard where he is either. Boy when he gets home I tell you what he's gonna get grounded."
"Oh Hillbilly son run away." Kahn said." Big surprise. Maybe he tired of living in redneck shack." Kahn laughed and pointed to Hank's home.
"Hey now that is uncalled for." Hank pointed a finger at Kahn." I've invested nearly twenty years to make sure my house is in top condition. And Bobby didn't run away." But Kahn did nothing more than laugh his reply. And the disgruntled look on Hank's faced caused Ermac to step him.
"We will not hear you insult the honor of the Hill clan." Said Ermac stepping up and between the two." We challenge you to combat." He raised up his fists and prepared to fight.
"Bah!" Kahn groaned as the menacing bigger man." You sent son over to see my daughter." He pointed to Hank before turning and leaving.
"Easy there killer." Said Hank with a hand on Ermac's shoulder, as he was still in his fighting stance." There's no need for violence."
"He insulted your honor." Said Ermac." As tribute to your son we will not see the honor of your family attacked."
"Oh that was just Kahn." Hank said with a wave of his hand." He talks like that all the time."
"He is not your enemy?"
"No, no. He's a valuable member of this community and a good friend."
"Community." Ermac repeated. Then the five all stood in the alley.
"Yep." Said Hank.
"Yep." Agreed Dale.
"Yep." Added Bill.
"Hmh." Finished Boomhauer.
"Yes." Ermac said last.
The next morning Hank got up to go to work the same way he did the day prior and twenty years prior. He was ready to walk out the front door when he was once again blocked by Peggy.
"Mornin Peg leg."
"Hank you have to take him to work with you today. "She pointed in the other direction where Hank saw Ermac sitting on the couch, a blank look on his face as he looked at the wall.
"I can't he's not a Strickland-"
"Hank he can't stay here." She leaned in and whispered." I think something's wrong with him."
"Peggy that's no way to talk about our veterans. Fine! If you don't want to show him alittle hospitality then I'll show him some. Ermac!" Without a moment to lose the man appeared next to Hank." Grab your coat son, you're coming with me to work today." Ermac had no objections, mostly because he didn't know what that meant.
So Ermac went to Strickland Propane with Hank and was being given a tour of the grills.
"And this is the-"
"Hank." Buck said walking into the room." I need you to run an errand for me."
"Anything sir." Hank said turning to his boss.
"Take this." Buck showcased a black suitcase at him." Down to the lumber yard." Without another word he shoved it into Hank's arms.
"Uh sir this is my son Bobby's friend-"
"Yea he can go to Hank." Buck said over his shoulder.
"Alright." Said Hank to Ermac." Let's go, we've got a mission." Hank got behind the wheel and Ermac sat in the passenger's seat with the briefcase between them.
"Now this is a real treat." Said Hank." Mr. Strickland has entrusted me with a special mission. And it's a good you get to come along and see what goes on here." Ermac turned his attention.
"What's in this?" he asked poking at it.
"Money probably." Hank said with a sigh." Probably some of Buck's gambling debt."
So he drove out to the lumber yard just as his boss had ordered.
"Alright." Said Hank looking around from the driver's seat." Now who's the guy we-" He looked over to see a figure stepping out from the shadows. It was Deagon, Leader of the Red Dragon and Hank recognized him." Uh No not these guys." Deagon waved Hank on." You uh you'd better stay in the truck." Said Hank as he climbed out.
"Okay." Said Ermac naively. Hank walked away from his car and out to meet Deagon. As he approached he saw Mavado and Hsu Hao appear.
"That's close enough." Deagon said putting his hand up and stopping Hank." You Strickland's boy?"
"I-I am a representative of Mr. Strickland. He told me to give you this." He held up the briefcase. Deagon nodded to Mavado, who walked forward and took the briefcase from Hank." If that's everything-"
"Who is that?" asked Hsu Hao." Who is that in the truck." Everyone looked over and could make out the outline of a figure in Hank's passenger seat.
"Oh that's just someone from work. He-"
"Bring him out here." Deagon ordered.
"I don't see the point in-"
"Bring him out here." Deagon said more fiercely. Hank gulped down a breath and turned to his truck.
"Ermac!" he called." Come out here." And Deagon raised his brow at the name. He watched as Ermac stepped out of the truck and stood in full view of all of them.
"He's not from around here!" Deagon shouted.
"No, no he's not. He's a friend of my son and-"
"He's from Outworld!" Deagon exclaimed. He'd heard of Shao Khan's monster Ermac, and if Ermac was here that meant Shao Khan was here.
"Well I don't know where-"
" Kill them both!" And before Hank knew it Hsu Hao had grabbed him by the collar and pointed a gun in his face.
"BWAH!" Hank yelled with his eyes shut. But he never heard the gun fire and when he opened his eyes he saw Hsu Hao's hand was empty. Looking over he saw somehow the gun had ended up in Ermac's hand.
Mavado jumped at Ermac but with a kick to the torso he was sent back to the ground. Hank managed to shake himself free of Hsu Hao, then he turned and ran into the workshop. But Hsu Hao followed after him. Now it was just Ermac against Deagon and Mavado.
Deagon tried to punch Ermac but he blocked with his forearm and then with his other arm punched Deagon to the ground. Mavado tried to kick Ermac in the head but he easily ducked under him then kicked Mavado in the torso.
Hank ducked behind a pile of lumber knowing Hsu Hao was behind him. He stopped to catch his breath and he could hear Hsu Hao's boots stomping closeby.
"Where are you?" Hsu Hao grunted as he began searching between the piles of lumber. He looked right, then looked left. But Hank had climbed one of piles and was now above him. He watched from above and saw Hsu Hao pulled out a gun." Die hiding like the rat you are!" Then he began firing his gun left and right, cracking boards of lumber in two and putting holes in the wall.
Hank knew that if he didn't do something Hsu Hao would find and kill him. But it wouldn't be the first time. He'd have to act and act fast. Next to him Hank found a smaller piles of wood next to him. Hank put his whole body against it and pushed.
Hsu Hao continued to look for Hank but became distracted by the sound of something shifting above him. He looked up and saw Hank.
"There you are!" He pointed his gun at him. Hank gave the wood one last push and that sent it down to the ground below. Hsu Hao had no time to fire off his gun before he was crushed under the pile of wood.
Hank jumped down from safety to see Hsu Hao covered with only his arm hanging out. But he heard groaning underneath and the arm moved. He was still alive.
Hank quickly pulled out his cellphone.
"Hello 911."
Meanwhile Ermac had dealt with Mavado and was now beating into Deagon. He punched him hard in the face, sending him down to the ground. Stumbling to his feet Deagon looked up as Ermac approached him.
"Listen." Pleaded Deagon as he backed away from Ermac." Your strong I can see that. What if-What if we worked together. Me and you, there's a lot of money involved." Just then Ermac grabbed onto Deagon and began choking him.
"We would never join with the likes of you!" He yelled." You blackmail the Innocent and call it 'Protection'. We should wring the filthy life from your worthless body." He placed his hands on Deagon's neck and prepared to do just that.
"No!" Hank yelled as he reached out and grabbed Ermac's arm." You don't have to do that."
"They are guilty." Ermac said." They disrupt order."
"But we aren't the law." Hank said." The real law is on it's way."
"Real law?" asked Ermac dropping Deagon to the ground.
"Yes. "Hank nodded." We've just made a citizen's arrest but it's the polices job to take these guys in."
"We are not law?" Ermac said quietly.
The police soon arrived and began putting the Red Dragon members in the back of their cars. But it wasn't just the cops that showed up Channel 84's had shown up with a full camera crew.
"This is Nancy Hicks Gribble." She said into the camera." At the Arlen lumber mill where local man Hank Hill has put down a local gang."
"What?" said Hank as the camera zoomed in on him.
"Hank how does it feel to be a local hero? Knowing that you've stopped a deadly organization responsible for robberies, deaths, and drug deals?"
"I didn't do anything." Said Hank." It was all-" He looked over his shoulder to try and find Ermac but realized he was gone. He looked left and then right but couldn't find him." Excuse me." He said to Nancy before running off.
"A modest man." Said Nancy into the camera." Not wanting to even take credit for his heroic actions."
Hank ran off and tried to look for Ermac. He eventually found him down a dirt road in the woods.
"Ermac!" He called as he chased after him." Where are you going?"
"We go." Ermac responded." We go and continue our pursuit of order."
"But you've done that." Said Hank jumping in front of him and blocking his path." You took care of those guys, those cameras and people should be talking to you."
"We need to follow order. All across the realms are those in need of it. We will travel to them all and find the Organization responsible for it." Hank was silent and he realzied now Ermac was leaving." We will not forget you Hank Hill. And we will see you again."
"I." Hank corrected." I will see you again." Ermac looked at him confused as he tried to process what was said.
"I." He repeated." Will see you again."
"Well just stop by anytime you feel like." Hank said. "Any friend of Bobby's is a friend of our's. And maybe I can get you a discount at Stickland Propane." Ermac nodded and then continued down his way along the dirt path.