General Lee's Revenge--A Dark and Stormy Night

Chapter One: "A Dark and Stormy Night"

(A/N: Off to a great start 👍)

The rain was already starting to fall when the General Lee tore into the yard, quickly letting the boys out. The sky had grown dark in the span of an hour, Bo and Luke having been sent into town to run all of the last-minute errands. The boys quickly grabbed everything from General's backseat and ran to the house, the Charger making a mad dash for the warm, dry barn.

Thunder shut the door behind him with his arm, little arcs of electricity jumping around his body. General shook himself from the chilled rainwater, enjoying the warmth of the barn, the two of them exchanged glances.

"You ready for tonight?" General asked.

"Ready as I'll ever be. I can't control the storm but I can limit the damage," Thunder replied, "How's everybody doin'?"

"Everyone's all hunkered down and ready to wait it out. Caleb's on call for any search and rescue operations and Daiblo's in town at the garage."

"And Grant and Tank?"

General shifted on his suspension as if to shrug. "Indisposed."

Thunder scoffed and shook himself. "Oh, I can't say I'm surprised."

General imagined that his brother and Tank were probably doing something boring right then, like trivia or charades, or whatever anyone else would do while shut up at home on a cold and rainy night such as this one. His thoughts turned on that for a moment, imagining the two Defects huddling together to wait out the storm.

The distinct rumble of thunder across the heavens quickly pulled him away from the thought, looking over to Thunder who was headed towards the door.

"Well, that's my cue. You sure you're all right in here by yourself?" he asked.

General nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine, don't worry about me none. You stay safe out there, you got that?"

Thunder returned the nod and pushed the barn door open. General watched him leave, watched him face the gale with unbridled bravery. Thunder looked back at him once, only to shut the door behind him, and with that, Thunder was gone, out into the pouring rain and whistling wind.

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Bo and Luke came rushing into the house just as the rain was starting to fall, startling Jesse and Daisy. Bo quickly set everything from their supply run down on the kitchen table while Luke shut the front door behind them. Thunder rumbled outside, shaking the windows.

"What in blue blazes took you two so long?" Jesse asked as they sorted through the haul.

"We got everythin' you asked for!" Bo argued, then immediately flinched when he saw his uncle sour at this remark.

"Everythin' shoulda been at Rhuebottom's, and you watch your tone!"

"He was outta plywood, we had to borrow some from Cooter," Luke explained.

"What're you two doin' borrowin' from Cooter, he's got twice the windows to board up!"

"He had extra, Uncle Jesse!" Bo argued.

"Did you at least tell him you'd pay him back?"

"Of course we did," Luke said.

"Then I suppose that's all I can hope for, we gotta get the rest of these windows covered, c'mon."

The rest of the Dukes all nodded and each grabbed a hammer, making quick work of the windows. The rain was coming down even harder now and they could see Thunder making his way up to the hill overlooking the farm.