All right, I'll admit it-- I just about forgot about this one.  Now that I'm at it fresh, I think this one has hit stride.  Hope you like.

Disclaimer: Characters and associated details are property of HB and are used for non-profit, entertainment purposes only.

Archiving permission granted.

THE REAL ADVENTURES OF JONNY QUEST

Synopsis: The two paths we've been straddling start to cross.

Categories: E, ALT (sort of)

"BLOOD MONEY"

by Eric R. Umali

Chapter 4 - "Unfinished Business"

*Why is it that the bad guys' guns never seem to run low on ammunition?* Jane asked herself as the barrage continued to pit the rocks of her small band's refuge.  Her mind whirled, trying desperately to come up with a plan as she dropped the spent cartridges from her revolver and replenished them from her quickly dwindling supply.

"You're running the show, Janey!" shouted Hickock.  "Any suggestions?"

"Aim better!" she snapped, then fired twice over the rocks.

They were in a fair position, tactically speaking-- behind heavy rock for cover and actually looking down into the basin where Doolin and his gang were hidden.  Unfortunately, they hadn't come prepared for a prolonged gunfight, and their adversaries were holed up nice and cozy with all the guns and bullets they could lay their hands on.

Letting another pair of .45 cal shots fly, Jane slumped against the rock.  "What in blazes are we gonna do now?"

"We need us some kind of distraction," said Joe Presto, coughing in the smoke-heavy air.

Hickock pulled off his hat, smoothing back his long, dark blonde hair.  He turned to the older man.

"Joe-- you still got that bottle of fire water?"

"Aww, Bill, that's my last bottle!"

Without a word, Hickock simply held out his gloved hand towards Joe.  After a few moments, the older man drew the nearly-full bottle of hard liquor from a saddlebag, grumbling the whole time.  Joe pressed it into Hickock's hand.

"What're you planning on doing with that, Jimmy?  Toasting your last moments?"

"Not on your life, Janey.  You two just keep your heads down for a minute, and I'll see what I can do about a distraction."  Hickock spun the camber of his pistol, then re-holstered it.  He was about to head out when Jane placed a hand on his arm.

"Be careful," she said softly.

"I will," he replied, then was gone.

Jane and Joe fired several shots to give Hickock cover.  Crouching back down behind the rocks, they waited.  It was a near eternity that passed before the shouting began from the camp below them.

Jane cautiously tilted her head over the rock.  From their vantage point, they could see a number of Doolin's men rushing around frantically, and they all seemed to be yelling at the top of their lungs.  Shifting her gaze, she finally saw the column of black smoke rising from one of the tents.

They all seemed confused-- some running towards the fire, some away.  Jane was confused as well by this.  That is, until all hell broke loose as the Doolin gang's main ammunition dump exploded with a massive booming noise.

Not wasting a second, Jane was over the rocks and scrambling down the basin's side in a flash.  She fired with one hand, and steadied her descent with the other.  Somewhat less gracefully, Joe followed a few yards behind her.

Jane and Joe both let the few men who'd gotten to their horses pass them on the path.  They recognized them, and decided to let the small fish go.  It was Doolin they were after.

They didn't have long to wait, as the man came screaming at them from the smoke, guns blazing.  Jane and Joe both dove for cover behind long tables upturned durin the ruckus.

"Damn you!" shouted Doolin, over and over.  "Damn you!"  After a few seconds, he was reinforced by a few of his closest men.

"Hey Janey," called Joe from his hiding place, "isn't this about where Hickock ought to make a miraculous rescue?"

"Just about," she agreed.

Right on cue, they saw the bandits come under fire from another direction.  In the distance, there stood Wild Bill Hickock, a stolen rifle in one hand, a double-barreled shotgun in the other.  In a few seconds, Doolin's remaining men were whittled down to three, all with just pistols.

Not being fools, the men dropped their guns to the dusty ground.  Jane, Joe and Hickock came forward slowly, carefully.

Desperate and crazed, Bill Doolin made a run for it, heading for the one pass in or out of the basin.  Standing close by, Hickock raised his pistol, but Jane shook her head.

"Allow me," she said, then uncoiled the long bullwhip from her hip.  It lashed out with a loud crack, snaking around Doolin's chest and arms, pulling him to the ground.

"Very nice, Janey," Hickock drawled.

"I should say the same for your little distraction, Jimmy."

"Why thank you," he said, placing a hand on her shoulder.

**********

The hand kept shaking her shoulder.

"Jessie?  Jessie, are you all right?  Jessie?"

Jonny was worried.  She'd spaced out again, and for longer this time.  Finally, she shook her head.

"Huh?  What?  Jimmy?"

"Jonny.  Jonny Quest, remember me?"

Jessie rubbed her eyes.  "Jonny?  Oh, not again..."

"Yes, Jessie, again," said Hadji, "You seemed to go away.  For almost two minutes this time, not just a few moments."

"Another trip to the Old West?" asked Jonny.  Jessie nodded.

"Would any of you like to explain to me what in Sam Hill is going on?" grumbled Grandpa Doug.

"I'll explain on the drive back to the ranch," said Jessie, as she hopped down off the picnic table.  The men followed after her, still confused.

Jessie waited until they had cleared the traffic coming out of the fairgrounds, then laid it all out for Grandpa Doug while Hadji drove.  Jonny hovered beside her, and Jessie said nothing as he kept a hand constantly on her shoulder or arm.

After the story was finished, Grandpa Doug sat back and gave a low whistle.  "That's some yarn, little lady.  So you figure ol' Calamity Jane's one of your forebears, huh?"

"That's the way it seems, Grandpa Doug," she said.

"Well, there's only one thing I can see to do.  You, little lady, are confined to the ranch house-- no chores.  Don't want you shutting down and getting either yourself or anyone else hurt."  He turned to Jonny.  "First thing in the morning, we give your pa a call, right?"

"Good idea," Jonny agreed.

An hour later, the ranch house was settling down for the night.  Jonny and Jessie stood outside the door to her bedroom.  Jonny jokingly tapped on the newly replaced handle and lock assembly.

"They work pretty quickly, huh?"

Jessie laughed a little in reply.

"So," Jonny started, "are you gonna sleep okay tonight?"

She shrugged.  "I hope so.  No promises, though.  Should I keep the door unlocked?"

Jonny smiled.  "Probably.  I haven't got enough allowance saved up for another replacement.  But seriously, are you sure you'll be okay?"

"I'll be fine, Hotshot.  You don't need to sit up with me, if that's what you were planning."

"Okay, but I'm just a door down, okay?"

"I'll remember.  Goodnight, Jonny."

"Goodnight, Jess."

**********

Jessie tossed and turned, sleepless.

*Maybe I just don't _want_ to go to sleep,* she thought.  *Maybe I'm scared of what'll happen if I do.*

She got up, and started pacing.  Moving quietly, she headed for the kitchen and poured herself a glass of water.

*This would be right about when I should see a hallucination standing right in front of me, if this were some kind of psychological drama or horror movie.*

Starting at every squeak and groan of the house, she made her way back to her bedroom, and crawled back into bed.  The moment her head hit the pillow, the dream began.

**********

"Calamity" Jane Canary stood atop a New Mexico butte, watching the sun go down, painting the desert in deep, smoky hues of red and orange.

Jessie Bannon found herself standing beside her, staring at vista with wide eyes.

Jane turned to the younger woman.  "Welcome to the past, Jessie Bannon," she drawled.

Jessie stepped closer.  "Are you... Am I your descendant?"

"I don't have that answer for you," said Jane, shaking her head.  "I'd say you are, in spirit, at least."

"Why have I been coming here to live your life?"

"There's something you-- _we_ -- still have left to do."

They both turned again towards the horizon, where the sun began reversing direction.  It rose quickly, becoming brighter and brighter until Jessie had to throw her arm in front of her eyes.

**********

The sun poured in through the blinds as Jessie awoke with a start.

Sighing, she got up and got dressed.

"Some vacation," she muttered.

TO BE CONTINUED...