Expect the Unexpected. Part One: Chapter Ten.

Rawhide ran toward the front gate but stopped a distance away when he saw a group of familiar faces. When he analyzed the situation for another minute, he had an idea of what was going on in the near distance. He quickly and quietly ran to a group of bushes that lined the interior of the outer wall of the Institute and hid behind and in them, covering himself from sight. He positioned himself so he could see and hear clearly what was being said and what was happening, but not be seen by the Institute's attackers from where he was.

-/-/-

"Well, would you look at that," Sunshine mused, "Maybe your boss isn't so rigid after all."

"What?" Reno Nevada asked in annoyed tone, his tone obvious and his hand against the wound on his head soothingly and gently to ease it's inner throbbing feeling.

Sunshine blew him off. "I won't go into details- but let's just say that your boss allowed us to roam. Seems it was at the allowance and convincing from his wife."

"Peggy," Pecos said and shook her head, "Why would Peggy allow that?"

Sunshine shrugged. "Maybe all those years with the World Crime League got to her while she was away."

Perfect Tommy's head snapped up in the direction she stood. "How do you know that?" he snapped at her, his voice curious but his eyes still full of fire.

"Oh, please, Pretty Boy. The whole damn world knows that the great Buckaroo Banzai's wife was supposedly killed after their wedding, but was just recently found and returning here. It's all over the televisions, the radio, the newspapers, the magazines. It's the biggest thing to happen since those American prisoners were released while Reagan was sworn in."

"No, no, no. How would you have known that she was with the World Crime League?"

Sunshine's heart beat a little faster. "Doesn't everyone?" she tried to cover.

"We never released the information to the public," Pinky Carruthers answered.

"Not even everyone here at the Institute knows that Peggy was taken by the World Crime League," Pecos stated, her eyes narrow and her tone sharp.

Sunshine's heart beat a little bit faster than it already was. Well, I just gave away something, she thought nervously as she looked at members of the Hong Kong Cavaliers, God help me so that Hanoi Xan will not kill me for this. Or that Henrietta will not kill me for this. She tried to hide the sudden panic that she felt as result of the thought of the man who had hired her or his daughter as not to show fear in front of those who she'd betrayed and now stood in front of. One sign of fear, and they would control her like Xan. She wouldn't be the puppet of both Xan and Banzai; showing fear in front of the Hong Kong Cavaliers at this point would make her just that.

"You're working with the World Crime League," Reno stated, his eyes a bit wider and his tone a bit softer, both from the pain he felt and the shock written on his face.

Sunshine huffed. "Fine," she caved, trying not to show fear and keep her confidence, "I admit it. I now work with Hanoi Xan and the World Crime League, and that's why I'm here. Happy?"

"With," Pecos started, "Or under?"

Sunshine's eyes went ablaze and she aimed her gun at the woman. "Don't test me."

Perfect Tommy tried to help Rainy Day to a more comfortable position. "You wouldn't be offended by it unless it was true," he stated, a small smirk tugging at his lips- earning the muzzle of her handgun pointed now at him.

"Sunshine!" a familiar voice called. Rawhide revealed himself from the bush, proving the voice was his. He held a large gun in his hand and aimed it straight ahead at the intruders, who all gave some kind of sign of initial alarm, all recovering too quickly for his liking. He walked away from the bush and by his friends and colleagues, facing the intruders. Sunshine smirked a bit at his appearance, like she was amused about something. It made her seem even more insane than she already was.

"Well, well," Sunshine mused again, placing her gun back in its holster and placing her hands on her hips, "Rawhide. Good to see you again."

Rawhide didn't lower his gun but kept it aimed at her head. "Can't say the same," he said truthfully, "What're you doing here?"

"Didn't you hear all of that from before?" She rolled her eyes and placed a hand to her head. "I really don't wanna have to go through all that again. Oh! I have an idea! Once my team goes, I'll explain everything to you while you bring me to Buckaroo Banzai. How's that?"

Rawhide barked out a humorless laugh. "Yeah? And why would I do that?"

"Cause I want to see him. Catch up, that's all."

"You must think I'm an idiot. I know you got clearance, Heaven knows why, but I ain't taking you to Buck. No one is."

"Oh, but I don't want anyone else to take me," Sunshine shrugged, "I want you to take me. In fact, I want this lot of yours to stay right here, and Yvette here is gonna keep watch over them. Then my crew is gonna all roam, remember? While they all roam looking for my research, you'll take me to Buckaroo."

"Wackjob."

"I believe the word you're looking for is insane? Or maybe it's crazy person? Ooh, or a name of someone from that movie with Jack Nicholson, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest! I like that. Oh well, perhaps another time. Anyway, I don't care how wacky it sounds- you're gonna do it. Cause my team is now free to roam about the cabin!"

With that command, eight of the total nine with Sunshine all moved away from the group. All eight had their guns drawn, ready to shoot anyone who got in their way as they roamed and looked for the research. As said, Yvette stood a slight distance away, slowly moving closer to the group of Hong Kong Cavaliers with her gun drawn and her face hard. There was something deceiving about her facial expression, but no one could pinpoint exactly what it was. Sunshine didn't notice, but rather just kept her gaze straight at Rawhide, whose gun was still drawn. She drew her gun and cocked it ready, aiming it straight at Rawhide.

"Now," Sunshine began, "I'll repeat myself one more time. Take me to Buckaroo, or I shoot you. Now how would he feel if his second in command and best friend died twice? But this time, couldn't be cryogenically frozen and preserved until they found a cure for that Lectroid poison."

Rawhide was silent for a moment. "If I take you, you allow New Jersey to come and treat their injuries that you caused," he requested hesitantly.

"Rawhide!" Pecos cried.

"Fine," Sunshine allowed, "Call New Jersey and get him over here. No one leaves this area though!" She turned to Yvette. "If any funny business goes on, you shoot. Got it?" When Yvette nodded, Sunshine continued, "Good. Now. Let's go, Rawhide. Both of our guns down."

With that, Rawhide and Sunshine walked away from the group and toward the Institute entrance.

-/-/-

"That plan could work," Buckaroo Banzai told his wife quickly, "But they might be able to tell."

"Of course they could," Peggy Banzai shrugged, "But by that time, all will be said and done and there'd be no one to figure anything out. You said that Sunshine was the only one aside from you and Professor Hikita that could figure out how to do what she was doing off of her research notes and such, and that you guys burned the originals anyway."

Peggy had explained her plan to her husband in a five minute period. It was a risky plan, luring the enemy into the center of the headquarters, but that was the only solution to get the captain out of the picture. It was always a risky plan and situation to get one's self into, but things like that needed to be done sometimes. She knew that those at the Institute had put themselves in risky situations more than once, so this probably would be no different. But even with that as a reassurance, it didn't help to ease the nervousness she felt about her husband having to confront that wackjob.

She'd been away from him for three and a half years. That was long enough. She didn't want to be separated from him ever again.

Buckaroo sensed the sadness that overtook his wife. He was relieved that he could still read her like a book- much like she could him- but his face fell when he could sense the sadness she felt. He would be a liar if he said that he wasn't concerned at all. He was concerned for his friends, his family, his Institute, and for his wife; his friends, who were also his family, and his wife triumphed over anything else. He was concerned for the interns and the residents and the rest of the staff who had found friendly and family oriented sanctuary at the Institute. He could relate to her sadness and concern, and wished there was something he could do to get rid of both hers and his.

He could only think of one thing to do.

Buckaroo walked closer to his wife and pulled her close. Peggy didn't hesitate and wrapped her arms tight around his torso, as if her life depended on him. Maybe it did. He tightened his arms around her in attempt at comfort. She buried her head in his chest and he ran his hand through her hair.

"Do you think everyone's going to be ok?" Peggy asked quietly, her voice shaking a bit.

Buckaroo stayed silent.

Peggy looked up at him, her eyes showing fear. "You're not answering me."

"I know," he sighed. Silence again. "Come on. We should get ready for this." He kissed her forehead and let her go, walking out of the room and to another part of the Institute. She gave him a sad look and watched him walk out before she ran to go after him and stay with him.

This story may or may not be continued…