CH 2
Not long after the last people were buried, plans were set for the infiltrators to leave. Malinara desperately wanted to go. Knowing she barely lived, and she couldn't stop bullets, no one wanted her to go. She begged on her knees to be able to go with Bob, but he turned her down, stating she would be more help here.
The only thing good about that bomb that hit them was the minimal damage. Cars not in the immediate blast area still worked. At the school, Bob found his mother's jeep still ran. He took it, thinking that in a small way, she was helping him get a tiny bit of revenge on those that killed her. Driving his mother's Wrangler, Bob got his clothes and some cash and packed the Jeep up to go. He was surprised then the sheriff showed up and asked, "Ready to go?"
"I got my things in, I'm to head south," Bob replied.
"Good, then a long drive to New York City after we're done in San Marcos. I've lived there. Trust me, you want me to come along. Don't worry, Duncan's going with Joan. He'll make sure she stays safe," Connor got in the passenger side. "Well, we going?" he asked.
"Yeah, gotta say bye to the wives first." Bob went over to where Joan and Allison were packing to go north in a 4 wheel drive truck.
Seeing him come over to her, Joan met him in a long hug and a kiss. With a smirk, she said, "I would love to have you come with us instead of Duncan, but I know why Dad did it."
"To try and make sure we don't all get killed together," Bob said.
"So we each have an experienced adult with us. And if something goes wrong we all don't get caught. This way if something happens to me or Allie, you'll still have the other one." Joan said. Seeing him frown, she put a finger to his lips. "Don't! I know you love me and I know you love Allison. We'll meet in two months as scheduled, right?"
Bob nodded. "That Cabin in the middle of PA, yeah, I got the address and directions."
"Right, so don't stand us up!" Joan said firmly, then kissed him again.
Allison took her turn and added, "Be careful, and we'll all be fine," she assured him. Another kiss and she added, "Now get going."
Bob went back over and got in the jeep. He started it, then waved to them, and drove down by the Young's house to head off cross country. The cross country drive wasn't too bad. The little jeep handled the terrain well, and after a fifteen miles they came came to a paved road. Bob paused.
"Left," Connor coaxed. "We'll catch the road to San Marcos."
Bob nodded and went left. A few miles down that road and they caught the highway.
Connor frowned and looked in the back.
"See something?" Bob asked.
"Thought I heard something."
"With the wind noise, how can you hear anything?" Bob asked.
"Must have imagine it," Connor said with a shrug. He then let out a sigh. "You know, your mother loved this Jeep. She was pretty fond of Delilah too for getting it. She thought Delilah had gotten her the perfect vehicle."
Bob frowned. "Mom died way before her time."
"At least she got to be happy for a while," Connor told him. "She though a lot of Joan too, even though she though Joan is crazy. Duncan told me that."
Bob chuckled. "Yeah. I think she really needed Duncan after Dad decided to run off and play with other women. I still don't know why he felt he had to do that."
"Some people just don't know what they have, until it's gone," Connor said in a musing tone.
"I miss her," Bob said in a sniffle.
"Yeah, Duncan said she wanted to spend a long time with you and him, and get to watch her grandchildren grow up. It's not fair what happened to her. Course, life's hardly ever fair. That is a lesson I've learned well."
Bob hit a bump, making the Jeep bounced. This time he swore he heard an 'ouch'. He looked at Connor. Connor nodded. "Someone's in the back. " He climbed in back to see who was there.
Bob watched him crawl over the small back seat.
"Come on, get up here," Connor said.
Bob watched him lift a bag. Malinara lifted herself up. "What? Malinara?" Bob cried.
Connor got back in the front, Malinara sat in the back seat, frowning.
"Malinara, WHAT are you doing here?" Bob cried.
In a pout, Malinara said, "I can't leave you alone, Robert."
Bob clenched the wheel. "Damn it! This isn't a joy ride! We're going to gone a long time, it's going to be dangerous! Don't you get that?" he yelled.
"All the more reason you need me!" Malinara snapped. "I can watch your back."
"Yeah, and maybe get shot and die! Damn it! Haven't we lost enough people already?" Bob cried.
"I won't let you go into danger alone," she stated.
"Fuck me," Bob grumbled. "You are REALLY STUBBORN!"
"Too bad, I'm going to watch out for you, like it or not!" she stated loudly.
"All right enough," Connor announced. "You brought clothes?" he asked her.
"Yes, but someone's sword was sticking me in the side," she complained.
Connor told Bob, "We can't go back now. Better or worse, she's coming with us."
Bob grumbled. This was NOT how this trip was supposed to start! "How did you pack yourself back there? There's hardly room for the bags?" he asked.
"Wasn't easy," she admitted. "It was that, or let you go off by yourself."
"You do see Connor here, don't you?"
"Not when I got in. I was hiding," she grumbled. "Robert, unless you can cast fire, you need me."
That made Connor turn you look at her. "You can cast fire?"
"Yeah, cast or cool things down. Look, I was at Yellowstone with Joan. That was No picnic. I was pretty sure we weren't going to survive, but we did." She was quiet for a moment, then added, "Robert, if something does happen to me, then ... I want you to do with me like Hanna wanted, but didn't get."
Bob winced. In a groan he said, "No! That's just ... perverted."
"Yes! You couldn't get Hanna's, so take mine. And it's NOT perverted!"
"Mal, I don't even want to think about that!" Bob complained.
"Then don't think about it, just do. Promise me!"
"What's this?" Connor asked.
"Can we please stop talking about it?" Bob begged.
"Promise me, and we can," Malinara stated.
"OK, I promise, now stop talking about it. Not another word!"
"Just what did Hanna want?" Connor asked.
Bob glared at Malinara through the rear view mirror. She said, "Something Robert has to do if I die. Hanna wanted him to, but he wasn't able to do it. Robert it is a token of love and devotion, it's not perverted like you think it is!"
Bob grumbled, "I don't need your tits in a jar to remember you by!"
Connor raised his eyes at Bob, then Malinara.
Staring at Connor, Malinara said, "It's a gift to those you loved with all your heart and soul. Breasts can only be offered, never asked for. It's a reminder that even if the woman is dead, her heart still belongs to her loved ones. Very few are offered this form of dedication. Accepting such a gift also is proving his devotion to her. It has to be earned, and Robert has earned it. He saved Hanna, all of us, from horrid abuse. He did his best for us and gave us a decent life that we loved and he deserves the honor! Hanna came to me in a dream after she died and asked me to make sure Robert gets his reward."
"That's ahhh, some reward," Connor said weakly.
"It is, it's very special," Malinara said firmly. "I've only seen it once, we were taught how in case we had the chance to have someone as kind as Robert has been to us. After they are off, let the breasts bleed out as much as possible, put them in boiled, heavily salted water while it's still hot, a heaping handful of salt for every pint of water. Seal the jar with wax and let it cool. The ones I saw came from a woman who died eleven years prior. They still looked freshly cut. She was the wife of a businessman for most of their lives. He was an old man by then and never remarried. When he died, her breasts were to be buried with him so part of her would be with him forever."
"What if he died first?" Connor couldn't help by ask.
"Then again, her breasts would be buried with him," Malinara stated. "I do want that too! For myself and for Hanna who was burned up and didn't have the chance to Honor Robert properly."
"And you're serious about that," Connor said.
"Yes, I am. Hey, if I die or am about to die, I'll be done with them anyway. And I do want Robert to have this honor," she stated firmly. "He deserves it!"
"Wow," Connor said to himself. He was really hoping Malinara didn't die, at least on this trip.
Anne then appeared in the back seat beside Malinara and put an arm around her. "Dear, I think that is a very sweet offering. I'll make sure Robert does as you want."
"Thank you Anne!" Malinara said with a sigh of relief. Seeing Connor stare at her, Anne asked, "What? did you really think you were going to leave me behind?"
"I suppose you heard the whole conversation?" he asked.
"I did! And I support Malinara. Of course, you can have mine whenever you want," Anne said with a big smile.
"Now that's perverted," he stated.
Anne smiled. "You know me, if you wanna try it, let's do it," she sang and winked.
Maliara stared at her. "You'd ... just for fun?" she asked in disbelief.
"I stick back together, hon," Anne told her.
.
Joan watched Bob leave. "Bye, my love," she whispered. Her and Allison were going together to Austin to check out things there.
Duncan looked in the back of the truck. "We ready to go?"
Joan noticed Jackie getting into another Jeep by herself. "Who's going with Jackie?" she asked.
Jackie yelled behind her, "Come on if you're coming!"
Judas came plodding up to the Jeep.
"I think she's going to have to look out for him," Allison noted.
"Ahh yeah, Duncan, you should switch with him. We'll take care of Josh," Joan prodded.
"Jackie's the one who will probably need help," Allison added.
"Right." Duncan agreed. He grabbed his bag and ran over to the Jeep. "Josh, go get in the truck, I'm going with Jackie."
"Whatever," Josh said in a huff. He pulled his bad out and went to the truck.
Jackie got in and eyed Duncan. "At least you got a sword. I was thinking about kicking him out right after we get out in the wilderness."
Duncan grinned briefly. "Probably would have been a good idea. North to Johnson City?"
"Yeah, there's supposed to be a public meeting we need to be at. Some official military scum is going to explain a few new laws." Jackie said and started the truck. "It might get a little tense. Back me up."
"That's what I'm here for. Got your blade?"
"Yup, my new saber. Of course I got my plasma canon too."
"NOT unless you have to," Duncan told her.
Jackie bobbed her head. "You're right! Whether I turn them into ash or not is up to them." Jackie stated.
Duncan let out a huff. He had the feeling Jackie was going to be a bit on the aggressive side.
.
JJ watched Jackie and Duncan, then Joan and Allison leave.
"I'm coming with you."
He turned to see the pink haired Kaede eyeing him with a stern face. "Ahh, OK, I'm just going for intel, not to do much," he offered.
"I'm still going," she stated flatly and got in the truck. She tossed her bag behind the seat.
This truck was almost like his old one. It was a newer 4WD Ranger and had a big center console that took up where the middle of the seat should be. As soon as he got in and started it, an alert bell rang and the truck in a sweet voice said, "You have 10.3 gallons of gas, enough for..."
"SHUT UP!" JJ barked at it as it told him how many miles he could go.
"Ignore it, just drive," Kaede stated flatly.
"Can you figure out how to shut this truck up?" he asked.
"Easy." She looked at one speaker, then the other. they ripped out of the housings. She tossed them behind the seat.
"Thanks," he said and drove out to head northeast. He passed the base and headed out on a semi-coherent track that was more or less flat. After a mile or so the track turned south. JJ didn't want to go south, so he moved on to rougher ground. He drove up and down hillocks and in a depression between them until it ran out.
After a couple hours, Kaede asked, "Where are we?"
JJ shrugged. "Someplace. We'll hit a road sooner or later."
"Stop, I'll go take a look."
JJ stopped the truck. Kaede got out and shot straight up into the air. Surprised by this, he got out to see her hanging in the air above them. Far above them.
"How are you doing that?" he asked.
Kaede looked around then came back down and pointed off to their right. "Go that way, we'll meet a road. Get on the road, go left."
"Thanks."
They got back in, JJ drove the way she told him to. He did come to a 2 lane secondary road. Getting up on the road, the drive was much smoother. Soon they came to a housing development, and a gas station/convenience store. JJ pulled in. He only had a 1/4 tank left, and he also wanted to get a road map and talk to some people.
"Look," Kaede said, pointing to a sign posted on the side of the building by the door.
The sign read : Public meeting at noon at the civic center. All required to attend.
"Mandatory, huh?" JJ asked.
"That's what it says. We should attend." Kaede stated.
JJ looked at the gas station sign/clock. "We got a half hour. Gas up the truck please, I'll go pay for it and find out where this civic center is."
They got out, Kaede said, "Pay for the gas first."
Right, she couldn't pump until after he paid. He went in and put some money down. "Pump 3 please. What's this meeting for?" JJ asked, jerking a thumb at the sign outside.
The clerk eyed him. "Some soldier put it up. No explanation but be there or else. I got better things to do."
JJ grinned. "Sounds like he's ordering people to go, huh?'
The man snorted. "Yeah, like anyone's gonna listen."
"Where is this civic center?"
"Three blocks down, on the right. You're going?" the clerk asked.
"I want to see who's calling this meeting. Someone nuked our town. I got a feeling whoever called this meeting knows who it is," JJ replied.
The clerk stared at him briefly. "You're from Driftwood? I though there were no survivors?"
"Not many of us left," JJ admitted, "But we aren't about to take having all our wives and kids getting killed for no reason, lying down."
"Wish you luck. Mind telling me who you are? Oh, you're good to go with the pump."
JJ nodded. "Thanks. The name's John Connor Junior. Tell your friends, but not anyone involved with government," JJ said and waved to him before he walked out.
Kaede gassed the Jeep. JJ looked at the sign calling the meeting. At the bottom, it showed Captain Daggart was presiding. He was going to talk to this Captain Daggart.
Going to the civic center, JJ noted two military vehicles and one normal car in the lot.
"Kill them?" Kaede asked.
"Let's find out the who's and why's first," JJ told her. "See if this guy believes what's he saying, or just following orders. We want people on our side and fighting these socialist bastards." He pulled up close to the door and parked.
Going inside, two soldiers bracketed a metal detector. JJ put his keys in the basket and walked through, then retrieved his keys. "Captain Daggart here?" he asked.
"Just go in and have a seat. The Captain will be out shortly." One soldier droned.
JJ and Kaede went into the large meeting room. On the edges of the back wall were doors. By each door was a guard. Kaede guided JJ to sit in the front row, center.
"I can reach both guards from here, and anyone on the front." she whispered.
"Reach?" he asked.
"Yes. If it is beginning to look bad, I kill them all," she whispered.
They waited. Time seemed to go slow with just the two guards at the doors and no one but JJ and Kaede sitting in the room full of chairs. The clock on the wall begrudgingly made it's way up to noon. The left side door on front by the stage opened. A man with a high & Tight crew cut strode out and scowled at the empty hall. JJ looked at his uniform and asked, "Captain Daggart?"
"The utter disrespect for my orders here shows me that this town needs to be taught discipline!" He waved a hand at JJ and Kaede. "Two people is the entire town?"
"Are you Captain Daggart?" JJ asked again, louder.
The man eyed him. "I am the designated mayor of this town. Who might you be?"
"Kill him?" Kaede asked in a whisper.
The Captain strode closer. "I asked you a question!" he barked.
JJ sighed and nodded.
SPLAT
The Captain exploded backwards, pieces of him and a rain of his blood spreading out over the nice polished wooden floor. The guard raised their guns along with their eyes.
JJ stood up and held his hands up. "OK, guys, no need to get excited. Put your guns down and everything will be fine. I just want to know, was that asshole Captain Daggart?"
Another man came out. He stared at the remains of his Captain spread out on the floor. "What happened here?" he demanded.
JJ pointed to the mess. "He was being an asshole. Please, don't be an asshole. Just tell me, was that Captain Daggart? and who are you?"
The man stared at the mess that used to be a man and said, "That was Captain Daggart. I'm Lt. Newsome. I have to report this."
"No," JJ said in a groan. "You do that and you'll have to be splattered all over the floor beside him. Just get your men together here, and we can have a talk and no one else needs to die. OK?"
The Lt. turned to stride back to the door he came out of. He let out a yelp as he was stopped in place and turned around to face JJ.
"No reporting," Kaede said in an ominous tone.
The Lt. swallowed nervously. "I need to report this!" he said in a squeak.
"Who do you report to?" JJ asked.
"The command center, in Austin."
JJ looked at his uniform. It looked mostly military then he eyed the patch on his shoulder. "You're with the PSR?" he asked.
"We all are, and you're being criminals!" the Lt. said in another high pitched tone.
"No, actually, you are the criminals," JJ told him. JJ also noticed the guards were just watching, their weapons at the ready but not pointed at him. "You can call all your men together so we can get things straight. Believe it or not, you people aren't in charge here."
"The General will send a pacifying force if we are not obeyed!"
"Like the nuke that hit Driftwood? Your people did that, didn't they. No warning, just destroy an entire town of innocent people. Is that your 'pacifying?" JJ asked in a hard tone.
"Our leaders won't be disobeyed!"
"No, they will be gotten rid of," JJ told him. "Are you going to call your men together?"
"I will!" one of the guards said. He came over and said, "Corporal Lewis, formerly of the Texas Guard, now forced into the PSR. May I ask your name, Sir?"
"John Connor Junior. You are still in the Texas guard. We're going to remove this Pisser organization."
"Yes sir! I'll collect the men. Shall I get the Mayor and Chief of Police out of jail and bring them too?" the corporal beamed.
"Please do. Anyone else you think may be important also." JJ told him.
"You ... you will all be shot as traitors!" The Lt. barked.
SPLAT
JJ watched the Lt. blow apart and scatter over the floor. He eyed Kaede.
"He was an asshole," Kaede stated.
JJ let out a huff. "I'm sure there's more information on them in their office."
.
Jackie bounced along in the truck with Duncan holding on to the support bar over the passenger seat. The cross country run to Johnson city only ended as Jackie found a road so she could get under the highway. Now that they were on a road, Duncan was hoping she'd stay on it.
Jackie did. They made it into Johnson City to find notices up of an important city wide announcement. On the radio, the DJ told the announcement was going to be broadcast from City hall by the new military commander. Everyone was encouraged to listen due to the fact there were new laws and regulations being implemented.
"Got the route to City Hall?" Duncan asked.
"Yup, we're going to be an hour early. We can case the place out and pick a good spot to start the festivities." Jackie said in a monotone voice.
"We're supposed to gather information," he reminded her.
"We will," Jackie said defensively. "We want to know what these people are going to do, right?"
"And not expose ourselves," he reminded her.
"Right, so we go inside before this announcement, find out what they plan on doing, then let everyone know."
Duncan eyed her. "Why does that make me feel nervous? Jackie, we're not to get into a big fight."
"I won't start one."
"Let me guess, but you'll finish it."
She nodded. "Damn right! These scum bags are not going to get away with what they did to us! Duncan, Carol is DEAD, My Daniel is DEAD, most of the frigging town is DEAD! These scum want to rule the country and put everyone under their thumb! IT WILL NOT HAPPEN! I will kill every last one of these fuckers if I have to!" she said, getting louder as she went.
"Jackie, if you want to be effective, you're going to have to calm down," he said firmly. "You must make people believe you and not them! Listen, people like this PSR revel in turning your words around on you. They kill in secret and blame others, so when you kill them, they can let everyone know YOU are the bad guy. If you don't do this smart, you will do more harm than good!"
"They deserve to DIE!" Jackie yelled, tears in her eyes.
"I agree. What I'm saying is if you don't play it smart, they will use whatever you do against you, and make people believe they are right. You need to calm down and THINK!" Duncan stated. "Instead of just blasting them apart, you need to show everyone what they are. You need to expose THEM as the bad guys. I know you want revenge. All of us do, but to get it, we need to think before we act."
"I... Arghhh!" she growled in rage. Panting Jackie took a moment to breath heavily and just drive. "OK, fine! What do we do?" she asked.
"We get front row seats to this announcement and ask questions. Guard our backs yes, but if there is any violence, people need to see them starting it," Duncan explained.
"Great, so if they start shooting, we can wipe them out?"
"No, no free-for-all, Only shoot those shooting at you," Duncan stated. "Promise me."
Jackie paused. "I can't promise."
"Can you promise to do your best?"
Jackie nodded. "Yes, I will try my hardest not to kill any scum bag who's not trying to kill me or anyone else."
"That's something," Duncan said in a huff.
Coming up to the road where the City Hall was, the area around city Hall was blocked off. Jackie found a place on a side street nearby to park. In front of the city hall was a traffic circle that has several news vans in it. They walked past the traffic barriers to see news crews setting up to record events. On the steps to city hall a platform had been set up with a podium and microphones. A few people wandered in as they did. Duncan took note that a 'police' line of tape and stands blocked the steps off. Soldiers with guns were positioned on the other side.
"Those aren't Texas Guard uniforms," Jackie noted.
"Not US army uniforms either," Duncan said.
A man wearing a loose and open flannel shirt came up beside them. "Come to hear our new great leader?" he asked.
Jackie eyed him. "You should leave, I got a strong feeling there's going to be some shooting soon."
"Jackie, keep calm, think," Duncan coaxed.
The man smiled at her. "You're right, there will be. My question to you is, who's side are you on?"
Jackie bore her eyes into him. "We had a nuclear bomb dropped on our town, and your new leader is one responsible for it. Who's side do you think I'm on?" she asked in a hard tone.
"Who are you?" the man asked.
"Jackie Connor," she stated flatly.
"Any relative to John Connor?"
"He's my father," she stated, eyeing him.
The man nodded. "Still alive?"
"And getting ready to take down some scum bags." Jackie agreed.
The man smiled. "OK, we're planning on making a major disruption here. Did you came with a plan?"
Jackie looked at Duncan. Duncan told them, "We let them make their big speech..."
Jackie interrupted and added, "Then take them out. The leaders and anyone else who shoots at us."
"That's not the plan Jackie," Duncan said heavily.
"I like her plan," the man said. "So do the 50 others who are coming to stop these tin plated dictators. 30 others are set to break into the jail to get our leaders back out." He then grinned at Jackie. "And since we got a Connor here, it's like a for sure we will take them down."
"We need them to say what they plan on doing first," Duncan stressed.
The man looked at him. "OK. Jackie, we'll wait for your cue. You tell us when to open up on them."
Jackie nodded. To Duncan, she said, "See? Even the people here are ready to fight back."
Duncan realized it was going to be a battle. "Just don't shoot anyone unless they shoot first," Duncan warned them.
"Duncan's right," Jackie said. "When the time comes, display your guns but no shooting until they do first. We give them the chance to surrender peacefully." Seeing movement up on the stairs, she saw that to one side of the platform, a machine gun was being set up to the side. "And the cue will be when I take that machine gun out. Pass the word."
"Yes, Ma'am," the mans said and walked off.
More people trickled into the area set up for the announcements. Jackie scanned them. Nearly everyone had pistols. Looking up at the buildings across the street, she also noted people inside looking out the windows. Here she noted a few rifle stocks and barrels that weren't hidden well at first.
A few minutes until the speaker was to come out, a woman came by to tell Jackie, "Everyone knows. We move after you take out the machine gun."
Jackie nodded. "Thank you." She positioned herself so she had a good snapshot at the machine gun that was being loaded with a belt, two soldiers behind it.
More soldiers came out to line the rope at the base of the stairs, then three men came out to stand on the platform. The man in the center stepped up to the microphone.
"Ladies and Gentlemen of Johnson City, as you should be aware, Martial Law has been implemented due to the recent string of assassinations to elected and public officials. While the cause is under investigation, some officials have been taken into protective custody. That is why we are here. Due to circumstances, some new laws will be put in place to ensure the peace is kept. These are nothing permanent, but are meant to last only until Martial Law is lifted once the investigations are complete and the guilty parties have been detained. The best I can tell you at the moment is we can and will endure this trying time together."
"What are the new laws?" Duncan asked loudly.
The man offered a brief smile and said, "Nothing of major concern, only items to ensure peace is maintained. We do want to get through this as peacefully as possible."
"Then why the machine gun?" Jackie asked loudly, pointing at it with her left arm.
The man paused. "That is merely to help prevent any violence from occurring."
"So what are these new laws?" Jackie asked loudly.
"There is no need to go over all of..."
His words were cut off from the whine of Jackie's plasma canon as it shot a full charge into the machine gun position, frying the men, melting the gun and blowing stonework all over anyone close by.
In the recoiling, everyone in the audience stood back up holding guns on the solders. Across the street, rifle barrels poked out of windows and doorways.
"I asked a question!" Jackie yelled. "What are these laws? READ THEM!"
Faced with all the guns, and a plasma shooting woman, the man held his hands up. "Please! The peace must be kept."
"Read the laws or I will have someone do it for you!" Jackie stated.
"If you cause a revolt, the Government will come down hard on you!" the man said, "For your own safety, do not do that!"
"Give me freedom, or give me DEATH!" one man wailed. The crowd cheered him.
"Go read the laws that he refuses to," Jackie told Duncan loud enough for everyone to hear.
Duncan nodded and excused himself past the line of nervous looking soldiers who were eyeing Jackie and her plasma canon. He walked up onto the platform and excused himself to stand behind the mike, pushing the man with gold bars on his shoulders to the side. He looked at the papers and said, "Well folks, he has no laws here. Only what to say to placate the people. He does have an order here not to fire on the crowds unless we become too rowdy. Isn't that nice."
Duncan shuffled a few more papers and said, "Here's something, to help keep the peace, he's to remind everyone that no guns are to be carried except by military personnel. They want everyone to become sheep and listen to whatever they say. That sounds like a good, fair government, don't you think?" He then turned to the man still holding his hands up. "Where are these laws?" he asked.
The man stayed quiet.
"Any of you?" Duncan asked the other two stone faced men.
Duncan looked around and said, "Well since they can't tell us anything, and it's obvious they seem to be afraid for their safety, I suggest a few men come up to escort them into protective custody. Soldiers, lower your weapons and sit down before we have an accident."
The soldiers did.
Holding up a hand, Duncan added, "So we have a government, please get our duly elected officials out of jail and guard them. If you can find an Officer of the Texas Guard, please have him come see Miss Connor here."
It was the first time Duncan ever had a crowd cheer for him.