One of the men held out a bar of soap saying “I’m Reed, this here is fancy stuff, so I’d like you to have it”.
“Thank you Reed it smells lovely”.
“And this here’s women’s shampoo, no good to me,” a shaven headed man said.
“Thank you all, you’re so kind”. Jo said tears coming into her eyes.
“Right” the one with the clothes said “here’s a towel as well. We’ll show you the shower if you follow us”.
Jo followed them, grateful that the tee shirt she had on was so long. They went further back into the cave, through the barracks, where some men still slept, and ended up entering a small cave, carved out as a wet room.
“Right ma’am, a couple of the lad’s will stand outside, just in case anyone doesn’t know that you’re having a shower. The lads are filling up the water barrel and all you have to do is pull on that chain to get it started”.
“Thank you” Jo said hoping that she wasn’t too chicken for a cold shower.
The men left her in private and she stripped off the tee shirt and bravely stepped under the shower head. Bracing herself she pulled on the chain only to gasp in pleasant surprise when hot water cascaded over her, feeling wonderful. Soaping her hands she washed herself thoroughly and then did the same with her hair. She thought she ought to hurry in case the water ran out, but it just kept on coming.
Finally she pulled the chain again and as the water stopped she reached for the towel. Once dry she put on the fatigues, the trousers were the perfect length and the tee shirt was only slightly too big. Fully dressed, and feeling warm and comfortable, she stepped out of the wet room to find two soldiers at attention guarding her privacy.
“Thank you for taking care of me, I’m so grateful to be feeling clean again”.
“No problem ma’am,” they snapped saluting her.
Jo made her way to the kitchen, where a few men were eating a late breakfast. Looking around for Acorus but not seeing him she made her way to the table where Josh was sitting reading reports.
“Good morning Josh, I have to thank your men for a lovely shower”.
“Glad you enjoyed it. Hope it was hot enough”.
“It was great, I was expecting cold water and it was a lovely surprise”.
Josh laughed “They’ve had giant pans of water boiling on the stove, and a chain gang to carry it to the barrel that feeds the shower. They wanted to do something for you”.
“I wish I could do something for them, but you seem to have everything covered”.
“I’m afraid there is only one thing we all crave” Josh shook his head.
Jo looked down and blushed and Josh smiled contritely “Sorry, forgive a soldier’s crudeness”.
“No, I understand. Have you got a wife or girlfriend?”
“No I’m a career soldier, my wife divorced me years ago. I thought I was unlucky in love but now I think I’m the lucky one. Some of the men here had wives and children and they’ve lost them all; don’t know how they’ll recover from that”.
Jo sat down beside him and one of the cooks brought her coffee, bread and eggs. Thanking him Jo tucked in, wondering how the Sceriae could help these men. She remembered how the young males on Scerior had looked at her with longing when she first arrived there. Now all those males had mates and children. Now the men of Earth were suffering because of a shortage of women. Were they still alive, or alive and so traumatised they’d be better off dead. She must discuss all this with Acorus but where was he?”
Turning to Josh she asked where he was. Josh explained that he’d gone out with a patrol and wouldn’t be back until evening. While she understood why he had gone she felt a bit abandoned, he’d left her alone with an army of strange men. Then she shook her head at herself, he trusted Josh and the other men. That was a great advance between him and human males.
Once she’d eaten her breakfast she turned to Josh and said “There must be something I can do to help, in return for all the men have done for me”.
“We’re very self sufficient, each man has his chores, but there is one thing that we all hate”.
“What’s that? Maybe I can do it”.
“You’ll be sorry you asked. We’re short on socks, searched the whole area and only found a few. We’re always having to darn them”. Josh grinned.
`Gosh` Jo thought `I haven’t darned since home economics`. But out loud she said “I haven’t darned since school but I’ll give it a go. You may regret asking me, I’m probably worse than any of you! Have you got needle and wool?”
Before she could blink the table was covered in socks, luckily very clean socks but undeniably men’s socks. Slowly but surely she worked her way through the giant pile, improving as she went. The men stopped by to chat to her, craving female company, and the cooks brought her coffee and cookies, then a hearty lunch and the day passed more quickly than she would have thought possible.
Supper was well underway, smelling delicious before the patrol Acorus was with arrived back at the cabin, laden down with all the things they had scavenged. The other men went to help bring all the goods in and took them to the quartermaster’s store. When Acorus re-entered the kitchen Jo stood up and went to him. Without thinking he pulled her into his arms and frowned when she resisted.
“What’s the matter?” he growled.
“I’m so pleased to see you, but these men have no women to come home to”.
“Ah love, I’m sorry. I am trying to come up with a plan to find where the Xenorii have taken them”.
The call came “Grub’s up” and everyone hurried into line, Jo being pushed to the front once again. Tonight Acorus managed to join her at the table and they ate as he told her about the patrol he had been part of. At one point Jo looked up and noticed that some of the men were watching them longingly. Sighing she finished her food and told Acorus that she needed the latrine, knowing well that he wouldn’t let her go out alone.
She felt embarrassed in the same way she had at the Sceriae officer’s dinner when she was new on Scerior. But when the men realised where she was going they ignored her and talked among themselves. They are so considerate she thought even though they must be broken up inside.
As they left the cabin Acorus took her arm and they followed the line to the latrines. Jo had been there a couple of times during the day, so knew how to use it, and she quickly emptied her bladder, then stood up and joined Acorus. “You’ve seen how these men remain hidden, the Xenorii are eluding us in the same way”.
“Yes we need troops on the ground as well as above. The camouflage I’ve seen today is good and they are very good at merging with this rough country. I need to make these men realise that we are the good guys”. Acorus pulled her into his arms as if they were having a cuddle, for the benefit of the sentries.
Jo nestled into him wondering how on Earth she could have left him. Always honest with herself, she admitted that she had known he would follow her. As he held her close she felt his body react to hers and her sex moistened.
“Oh my stars, it seems years since I last took you,” he groaned.
“You have been spoilt, my lord, these men haven’t even seen a woman for months, let alone taken one”.
“After you I think I would die if I couldn’t have you when I need you”. Taking her hand he led her back to the cabin, but instead of going to the door he led her into a shaded corner where two large pillars of rock made a secluded corner. Manoeuvring her until her back was against the rock face he bent over and once again found her mouth with his. As he slid his tongue between her teeth she submitted to him completely allowing him to ravish her mouth until an ache grew in the base of her stomach, and her sex throbbed and grew even wetter.
Acorus slid his hand under her tee shirt and traced over her satin skin and up to her breast, tantalising her with his slowness
. Cupping her breast in his large hand he squeezed gently as his thumb brushed over her nipple causing it to throb into a hard bud. His other hand found the zip on her fatigues and deftly eased it open. The cool night air caressed her sex causing her to arch towards his seeking fingers. As he slid his thumb over her clit, two fingers found her soaking entrance. Gently easing one finger then another inside her he found the cluster of nerves that caused her to gasp and say, please.
Raising his mouth from hers he grinned at her response to him “I love you Jo and promise that I’ll never take you for granted again”.
Then he slid her trousers off completely and lowered his jeans, his needy velvet cock sprang out, the tip already glistening with precum. Moving his hands to Jo’s bottom he lifted her up “Wrap your legs around me” he ordered as she felt his steely shaft already seeking its desire. As she did as he had ordered his velvety head breached her sex and as he settled her on his hips it slid in completely. Jo gasped as it reached her core then she yelped as he withdrew only to slam back immediately.
“Quietly my love, or we will have an audience!”
“Oh” she moaned as he moved inside her seeming to caress every nerve ending along the length of her throbbing pussy. “We probably have one already, what about the sentries? What will they think?”
“That I’m a lucky man” he whispered “worshipping my new bride”.
As his rhythm quickened Jo couldn’t say or think anything as she gave her body over to her building orgasm. Acorus had wrapped one strong arm behind her back to keep her off the rock as he took her hard. His other hand was on her bottom squeezing the soft curves to keep her tight against him. As he felt her body screaming for release he slipped a finger into her most secret passage causing her to tense and press even harder to him. Adding a second finger he slid inside as far as possible massaging her sex and his cock through the thin wall. Jo was sobbing for relief and he was ready to burst when finally he allowed them both to reach orgasm. Jo bit her lip and held in a scream as he continued to pump into her until her orgasm subsided, then he claimed her mouth and kissed her sweetly.
As they tidied themselves, Jo put her hand over her lips which were plump and swollen from his ravishment.
“I don’t know how I’m going to face the men. It doesn’t seem right that we have each other and they have no one”.
“A fact that we will remedy as soon as possible. Hold your head up my love. They will know what we have been doing and apart from some ribbing of myself, they won’t embarrass you. Well not much!”
Jo took a deep breath and followed him to the door of the cabin. Closing the door behind him he ushered her through the heavy blackout curtain. As she entered the living area most of the men pretended to be busy or in earnest discussion. Holding her head high she made it to the table and sat down with relief, stifling a groan as her aching sex hit the hardwood.
One of the cooks offered her coffee and she accepted gratefully. As Acorus sought out Josh and sat down beside him some men grinned at him and some flipped him the finger. He ignored them and asked Josh how the other patrols had got on, and soon they were in deep discussion.
A group of the men in the corner started to play on guitars and violins and sing hoedown songs, and some of them started to dance a country dance a caller calling the moves. Reed, who had given Jo the soap went to Acorus and asked if he could ask her to dance with them. Acorus hesitated for a second then nodded, saying it was up to Jo if she wanted to dance. Unable to turn the polite young man down Jo stood up and took his hand. The men who were dancing cheered and she was pulled into the middle of them. She was whirled round and round until her head was spinning, each man she was passed to making the most of having a beautiful woman on his arm. Seeing that none of them were too familiar Acorus settled down to learn what he could from Josh.
The questions he asked impressed Josh and he spoke earnestly of how he organised the patrols, searching for human life, and trying to work out where all the women had gone. Wishing that he could tell the truth, and that they had a better chance of defeating the Xenorii, Acorus wracked his brains about how to get these men on side.
Eventually he noticed that Jo was looking exhausted so he stood up and as she spun by him caught her in his arms. As she collapsed against him he laughed and swept her up into his embrace causing her to squeal. Turning back to Josh he said “Time my lady sat down for a while, she’s exhausted”.
Placing her gently on a chair Acorus went into the kitchen and poured her a glass of water, carrying it to her where she sat. The men who had been dancing with her sat too and slowly a country and western song swelled among them. Dolly Parton’s version of ` I will always love you`.
By the time it ended Jo was in tears and some of the men had got up and wandered away, too affected by the lyrics. Looking around Acorus felt the sorrow of these humans and his resolve to help them hardened. Eventually the men who were on duty overnight went off, others went to bed, and Jo yawned. Noticing this Acorus stood up, said goodnight to Josh and taking her arm steered her towards her room. Firmly closing the door behind them he took her in his arms and rested his chin on the top of her head.
“I think I have come up with a plan to get Josh and some of the other men on side, once they trust us the others will follow. I’m afraid initially it will mean kidnapping them, and that could be dangerous, but I think it is the only way. Once they see that we are working with their government, I’m sure they will be a great asset”.
“What about me, they won’t let me go out on patrol with them?”
“If you could get away from the cabin, a fighter ship could pick you up before the sentries could react. The men left behind will be devastated to lose another woman, but that can’t be helped. When we return the kidnapped men to them they’ll see that you are alright”.
“I’m sure that I could go to the latrines, the men avoid watching me there, then I could go a bit further as if I’m just getting some fresh air. In these fatigues I’d be almost unnoticeable”.
“If I give you my locator they’ll pick you up easily. I’m going to persuade Josh to come with me and a patrol, to the cabin where I found you. I’ll tell him that there might be some clues there as to where the women have gone. Then my fighters will stun them and pick them up. I’m going out to the latrines now to arrange it. When I come back I’ll give you my locator, so don’t go straight to sleep”.
Jo nodded and Acorus left her to go out and speak to his ship. The living area of the cabin was empty apart from Josh, who was sitting at the table with his head in his hands. When Acorus stopped and asked if he was OK, he replied,
“No I’m not. I just don’t know how to go forward, it’s safe here but we just aren’t getting anywhere fighting the aliens. I don’t know if there’s anyone in authority left, whether we still have an army and airforce or if everyone but us is gone!
“Surely there must be more humans fighting against the invaders?” Acorus asked.
“But how many and where, it’s an impossible task”.
“Mmm, maybe. I was going to ask if we could go back to the cabin where you found us. There may be some clues there that will help us fight these bastards”. Acorus meant the Xenorii, but knew that Josh thought that his people were just as bad.
“You think? It doesn’t matter where we patrol, so OK, you can go with a petrol in that direction”.
“I’d like you to come with us Josh, you’re a good soldier and together we may spot something”.
“It couldn’t do any harm, the exercise will do me good. I’ve had enough of rotas and paperwork”. Josh said piling all his paperwork into one heap.
“I’m going out to the latrines, so I’ll see you in the morning”.
“Right, goodnight Adam”. Josh headed off to the barracks.
Acorus cautiously left the cabin making sure that no light showed outside. F
ollowing the line to the latrines he stood as if he was relieving himself, while he took out his communicator and called his ship. Once he’d made the arrangements for picking up Jo and Josh’s patrol he returned to the cabin. Entering Jo’s room he explained all the arrangements to her then kissing her deeply he finally said goodnight. Jo tossed and turned all night, worrying about how things might go wrong next day.
She was up early and breakfasted with Acorus and Josh as they planned their trek. They quickly finished their food and as the men of the patrol gathered their weapons and packs, Acorus pulled Jo into his arms to say goodbye, pressing his locator into her pocket.
“I’ll see you at my starship, be careful when you leave the latrines,” he said hugging her hard.
“I will, don’t worry. We’ll be together in our own bed tonight”. Jo told him laughing as he growled sexily.
The patrol left the cabin and Jo followed to see them off. Acorus had told her to wait for two hours before she walked to the latrines to be picked up. That would mean that the patrol he was with would be too far away to be warned or turned back, before they were picked up.
Going back into the cabin she made herself busy clearing the breakfast table and tidying up. All the men who were left behind helped and it wasn’t long before the kitchen and living room were `squared` away and `shipshape` as the men called it. She sat sipping coffee and talking to the cooks who were preparing vegetables for the evening meal, and the time passed quickly. Eventually she got up rinsed out her cup and went to the cabin door, turning to look back she hoped that she would see all these men again.
Squaring her shoulders she walked purposefully to the latrines, and once she had used it, she stood up and wandered in the opposite direction to the cabin, following a narrow trail. She heard a fighter ship coming in fast and stop, the elevator beam flashed and in seconds she was sitting behind the pilot.
“Welcome back, Lady Joanna. You will be on the starship in minutes, and I am pleased that you came to no harm”.
Scerior Part II Page 4