Maybe it was because she had time to think to think about it, think about her friends, her husband... all left behind in the hands of those evil bastards who had invaded the sanctuary of thier home. She had no idea if any of them were alive, or if they were hurt, in need of her help and care.
Maybe it was because she was alone and didn't have to be brave for anyone anymore. Maybe, being alone, she felt exposed. Buckaroo had always been near-by, close enough to protect, ever since she had been returned to him. he never, even wanted to lose her again. But, now, she had lost him and no one was there to protect her. And maybe it was that she could do nothing about it... about any of it!
'Course, she could be shivering just because it was a November evening in NewYork and she was still wearing her bed clothes.
"Peggy?" New jersey called as he walked back from the pay phone. "You alright?"
She smiled slightly, remebering that she wasn't completely alone. "Worrying about me? How's the ribs?"
Sidney leaned against the car. "Don't even hurt... as long as I don't breath." he assured.
"Well, don't go turning blue on me, now." she encouraged. She glanced at the phone. "Any luck?"
jersey sighed. "No one knows the go-phones are down until they try and use them. And few stay by a conventional phone." he rubbed the back of his head. "Jack Burton. Caught him at one of his favorite truck stops, but in Colorado. It'll take him a couple of days to get here. He's making a few stops on the way, rounding up some help."
"Is that all?" Peggy was shocked. There were so many of them. Why could they reach only so few? "What about the garages?"
"No answer. I'm worried they might have been hit too." He shook his head. "No, we need to stay away from them until we get some help."
"Sidney, whatever they want, they arn't going to want to keep the HKC alive." Peggy pointed out. "If we don't do something fast, they're going to die! We don't have time to wait!"
The doctor's eyes dropped. "And if we try something on our own we'll end up right beside them with no one on the outside to come to our rescue us." He looked up at her. "We'll get them back, Peggy." he swore
The woman swallowed, then nodded slightly. "But where do we go now?"
Again jersey rubbed the back of his head. Sheepishly, he shrugged.
"I might be able to help."
New Jersey jumped away from the car, pulling Peggy behind him with one hand, while the other dropped to his gun.
The young woman smile in greeting, holding her hands away from her body so as not to seem threatening. "It's alright. I'm a friend." she assured. She glanced about nervously. "This isn't a great place to be. You're too easily found."
"And who are you? And why should we trust you?" Peggy demanded, from behind the doctor.
"I'm Sandra Bull. I'm a waitress at the Jessie James' Club."
Jersey didn't relax. "That covers the who."
Sandra glanced about again. "Knuckles, my boss-lady, she's a bounty hunter. She's huntin' the bounty on that gang that took your little adobe."
"How did you know about that?"
"They flew over the place earlier, I think. And we've seen the Clan's henchmen all over the city... probably looking for you two." She waved a hand at Peggy. "Unless P.J.'s are a new fashion statement."
Peggy smiled, thinking she must look pretty silly wandering around the city in bunny slippers and pink, bunny patterened flannel shirt and shorts.
"Look... I found you just driving by and not even looking." Sandra pressed. "No one will find you at the Club. You'll be safe there. Knuckles can help."
Jersey glanced back at Peggy Banzai. With a sigh, she nodded.
Gage held up his hands, quieting the crowd that had gathered at the front doors of the Jessie James' Club."Listen up, folks! The Jessie James' Club will not be opening tonight." he annouced.
There was a collective groan.
Clapping his hands, brought their attention back to him. "Everyone in line will get a free pass to the Thanking-the-Fans Night November 29th." That annoucement recieved cheers and the crowd pressed foreward to get their tickets. Gage shook his head, trying to remeber when he was that young. he aptted another bouncer on the shoulder. "Clear the area, then make sure the crew gets home safe and sound."
"The boss-lady need a hand? You know the boys and I are more than willing to throw in with her." he offered.
Gage shook his head. "Not this time. Just make sure she doesn't have to worry about her crew and you'll be helping to no end."
The bouncer frowned, but excepted the assignment with a simple "Knuckles knows best."
"We do hope that she does." Gage mumbled to himself as he stepped back into the club.
Jessie james was standing at the bar, loading cylinders for her 1863 Starr Revolver. In front of her was a pile of large .44 caliber rimfire cartridges. Laid out on the bar was the revolver, a 1866 Winchester rifle, a pair of psitol crossbows and their quivers full of bolts, and a few other goodies anyone going off to war would want handy.
Perfect Tommy sat beside her, fingering the leather jacket Jessie had given him when they had reached the club. he couldn't get out of his mind what they had seen as they flew over the Institute. There had been armed men everywhere, and not a signal one belonged there. It would of been one thing if he had seen some fighting, some sort of protest, anything other than the Clan and their black clad henchmen. But there was nothing. It had almost been calm, peaceful even. The siege was over and the occupation had begun. Whatever had happened down there, Buckaroo Banzai and the Hong Kong Cavaliers had lost.
"It was a stupid plan." Tommy mumbled.
"It was." Knuckles agreed, not bothering to look at him.
Perfect Tommy glanced at her. "Isn't the proper response supposed to be more supportive?"
"You are confusing me with the warm, cuddly family type of person." she answered. "I am a bount hunter. I get paid to be heartless."
"Then why did you save me?" Tommy countered.
Knuckles head snapped up to glare at him.
But it was Gage who responded with "Knuckles knows best." He moved behind the bar and poured them a round of hot coffee. "Look, kid, sometimes you just shouoldn't question the good things that happen. Just be thankful and get on with it."
Tommy frowned, always feeling he was missing something with these two. Before he could come up with a response though, the stage door opened and a waitress walked in. "Looky what I found."
