The General - S01 E66

4 months ago

The General - S01 E66

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 66

Chop. Chop. Chop.

My basket dangles loosely in my hands as I watch Raw from afar. He's under the sun, glistening like a glazed donut as he swings his axe in the air and chops wood. The man looks so good that I consider cannibalism.

"Mrs?"

"Huh?" I turn and clutch my basket tighter.

A master stands there, looking concerned. He's one of the few that followed Raw and me out of camp after we declared we were retiring. There was a wave of shock and displeasure that shook up the camp to its core, but twenty of Raw's most loyal and curious men followed him to our new home. Only three of the men brought females with them. Since the rest are no longer consuming the emotion-damning drugs but aren't interested in counseling, I've been trying to convince them to go to the cities and date at least once a month.

They don't quite understand my advice. I tell them to smile at females to look less deadly, communicate that they're looking for a wife, and ask to spend more time with the females. Somehow, my advice is never understood. The masters fuck women in the cities, and come home empty-handed because they don't know how to follow up their flirting. The women think they're only one-night stands since they don't ask them out on dates, but I have hope.

"Are you alright?" The Master asks. "You are drooling."

I wipe my mouth. Surely enough, I've been salivating over my husband.

It's still odd using that title. I've only had it for a month. The wedding ceremony was small, and it came after many headaches. He insisted on giving me an elaborate, ridiculously flashy and expensive wedding that everyone far and wide could attend. I was extremely upset with the idea of sharing the most important day of my life with strangers that wish us ill. After seeing how drained I was, he agreed to a wedding of five— him, me, Yenni, her male, and a priest.

We were married under a full moon at night, the stars above us with my first home— Earth, twinkling somewhere in the sea of diamonds.

Now we're here, on this settlement that we have yet to name. Most of the day I run around with Yippy and Yenni at my heels as I complete chores. Yenni doesn't seem to understand that she's no longer my maid, but she insists that she follows me.

She has been less chirpy than usual, so I have been keeping a close eye on her. She moved out of Camp with her male— a master called Sollon that is taken by her. I'm glad it worked out for my friend, but I want to make sure she's as happy as I am.

"Mrs?" The Master repeats.

"Uh, yeah. Sorry. I was just... hungry?" I cringe. Who drools while standing and staring at the distance?

The Master looks concerned. "Were you recently bit by any wild animals? Some are rabid. Drooling can be a sign of infection."

Kill me now, please.

"I'm fine. Thanks!" I rush away.

Yenni finds me sharpening tools— a skill I was recently taught by my reluctant husband who feared my "delicate, twig-like fingers will get cut."

"Hey Yenni," I greet.

"Hey. I have bad news."

I lower the knife I'm sharpening. "What's that?"

"A new Master is hoping to join us. He thinks he found his soulmate, and it's that mean Entertainer that you fought at camp. He brought her with him."

I sit up straight, ready for round two. I've gone through a lot to establish my title of Raw's wife. I won't let my dominance be questioned by any power-hungry parasite. That is a thing of the past.

"They're on their way to meet with Raw right now," she adds.

I look his way and surely enough see the couple approach him. The female spots me, and b-lines towards me.

I stand up, knife still in my fist.

"Joan," she acknowledges.

She wears a long brown dress. Her typical jewelry is gone, and she is bald.

"You may call me Mrs," I correct her. I typically don't care what anyone calls me. It's the masters that fuss over my title. This case is different, because this woman disrespected me. We fought and I was tossed in jail, and while I take responsibility for swinging first, she's not blameless.

The Entertainer, whose name I will not ask for, nods. "I came to apologize for my behavior at camp. I was out of line."

I don't know if she's being sincere or kissing my ass because she's hoping to get accepted at the settlement by us, but it doesn't matter. I doubt they'll be accepted. We don't need the drama, and others have been rejected others for less.

I give Raw my input whenever he asks for it, but I don't have much interest in who is admitted. There are other things that need my attention.

"You're forgiven," I tell her. "Good luck wherever life takes you."

I walk off, and Yenni follows behind me.

"You handled that well."

"Thanks, Yenni. And hey, what did I tell you about walking behind me? There's plenty of space to walk beside me."

She becomes silent after that. I stop and take her hand. "What's going on with you? You've been distant lately. Is something wrong with Sollon?"

"Oh, Joan," she sighs. "I don't know how to tell you."

I squeeze her hand. "Tell me. I'm your friend, and I'll be with you rain or shine."

She opens and closes her mouth, computing her next words, before delivering them.

"I'm pregnant."

"Yenni, that's amazing! I'm so happy for you!" I hop once, twice, and next thing I know, Yippy is hopping beside me.

"I—I thought you'd want to get pregnant first."

I see now. She thought I'd be jealous or feel upstaged by her happiness.

"That's ridiculous. You and Sollon deserve this and so much more after your years of servitude to the planet. It's time for you two to work on your own lives now."

She hugs me tight. "Thank you so much, Joan. You are a great leader."

I hug her back. Her words mean world peace to me.

"Did you tell Sollon yet?"

When she shakes her head, I tap her hip. "Well go on, then! Go and make that man's year."

She smiles and leaves with Yippy chasing after her. I turn to look at my husband. He's alone again, and he's back to chopping wood like the yummiest lumberjack on Zolan.

I'm still not ready for motherhood, even a month after my wedding. I want our new home to be fully established before I bring life into it, and most importantly, I want to enjoy my husband for a while longer. We've been apart for so long, getting pulled apart by insecurities, fears, and misunderstandings.

I stroll towards him, adding a sway to my hips when he notices me and stops chopping.

I smirk, and his pants instantly tent with raging erections. Yeah, I'm going to enjoy my husband all afternoon and night to celebrate Yenni's wonderful news.

"Hi. I couldn't help but notice how sweaty you are. Do you need some help getting clean? I could lick every inch of—"

He stabs the axe on the stump, tosses me over his shoulder, and runs into the privacy of the forest where he nails me into the grass until I forget which universe I'm in.

I have a sore-throat from all my enthusiastic screaming, dirty skin and leaves in my hair, and yes— the damn drool is back on my chin.

But fuck, am I happy.

–•–

We return to the settlement after a few hours. The sun has begun to dip. The camp is warm with the smoke of dinner. Chatter has gotten louder since everyone has retired from their daily duties and now hang out with friends and family.

"Sir. A letter has arrived for you," the messenger approaches us.

I stand beside Raw and read the letter. The more words I consume, the worse my worry gets.

The letter starts with "General." The Queen hasn't yet accepted that he's done with camp. Malik is supposed to be the new General. He's talented but not the warrior that Raw is. He still has a lot to learn.

The civil war has worsened. The resistance has nearly doubled its numbers, and we are getting desperate. We will have to enlist as many males as possible. I am forced to concentrate all soldiers into a total of four camps. The title of General will be dismantled to Four Captains, whom will each have the same delegating power.

I am asking that you become one of our captains. We need you now more than ever, or we will lose the war. Captain Malik resisted the idea, but he has since agreed. Along with him, there is Captain Reth and Captain Killan. I beg of you to fill the last spot. Whatever payment you require, it will be yours.

He crumbles the letter. "She begs me? After what she did to you, she's begging me to do her bidding?" he growls. "I will never serve the crown again."

Guilt rages within me. We have served the crown for a long time and deserve a break from the violence to start our happily ever after, but I still feel like we're abandoning the planet.

"Joan." He touches my jaw. "I am done. You and my people are the only things I will concern myself with. I'll keep you safe and satisfied. The war is in my past."

I dip my head. "Are you sure?"

"Am I sure that I don't want to risk getting myself killed and leaving you behind? Of course." His lips fall upon my forehead. "I love you. It's you and me forever." He looks at his feet. "And Yippy."

I smile and exhale. "Do you think they will be okay?"

He nods. "Yes. The captains she mentioned-- Malik, Killian, and Reth, are all strong masters."

"Do you know them?"

"I fought beside them in the past. Reth is much like Malik- calculative. Killian is a hot-headed, paranoid machine. The damned beast could probably handle the entire war by himself. So don't worry."

"Okay."

He takes my hand and leads me toward the center of camp. "Good. Now come on, Sollon cooked dinner today."

I groan. "No offense, but you masters can't cook to save your life."

He chuckles. "You don't say this when I'm feeding my cocks to you. You seem to love that meal."

"Hush!" I look around, embarrassed like we weren't just sinning in the forest.

Thankfully, only yippy seems to have heard him.

We sit by the fire, and Sollon proudly tells us he cooked for us.

"Great," Raw says. "Joan loves meat."

I glare at him, but he smirks in that boyish manner of his, and my frustration melts. I love this crude, sexy man.

He tosses an arm around my back, and I lean against him. The rest of that night is shared with our friends, who bicker, joke, tell high tales, and choke on Sollon's dinner. There is no mention of the war that's raging, only happiness and unison. This is truly our happily ever after.

T H E E N D......