Castles Burning Part Two Read Free Page B

and helped them fold the coveralls. As we did so, girls came and went, grabbing their uniforms and sometimes others who shared their cubicle, and placed the uniforms on their rack. When we finished I made my way down the stairs to the hanger bay for muster.
    I saw Jessica standing next to a short, but bulky man who had dark brown hair and glasses. They were laughing, there was a Chief standing before them, he was very tall, and well built who was also enjoying the conversation. He rolled back on his heels as he laughed charismatically, his distinguished chin covered in stubble already. I came to fall in line next to Jessica, whose coveralls read Johnson. She had one chevron on her collar which meant she was a rank above me, a third class petty officer. I stared out at the other end of the hanger bay and watched as about a dozen guys in blue coveralls approached. They fell in line in front of and behind me chatting with one another about computer games they’d found for deployment and coffee stashes. I looked ahead at the Chief; he had thick black hair and blue eyes. He was older, maybe thirty eight or forty, but he was astonishingly attractive. His khaki’s read Hudson, and I was mesmerized with his handsome smile until I heard a familiar voice behind me.
    “ Pst! Sonny!” He whispered.
    I turned and saw Tony Cravats. He had been in school with me, after boot camp. He’d been friends with Jarred, who I’d dated for a few months while in Chicago.
    “ Cravats, holy crap you’re on this ship? I’m so glad!” I really was, he was a really nice person, and even more nice to have on your side in a tough situation.
    He nodded and smiled at me, “Yeah I’m glad you’re here, you’ll like our division.” He whispered loudly.
    Another Chi ef came to stand beside Chief Hudson and they looked at us, there were three rows of us in blue coveralls, maybe twenty of us total. The second chief was not very tall, and he was more round. He had a strange air about him, as if he were looking down his nose at all the rest of us. He cleared his throat and the division fell silent.
    “Good morning.” He said.
    “Good Morning, Chief.” The division said in unison. I noticed his khakis said his name was Morose, and silently giggled to myself. How fitting.
    “I have to bring it to your attention,” he said as he looked down at his papers, “That we have a new Fireman joining us today, Fireman Carlson.” He offered gesturing to me. I felt my cheeks flush as all eyes turned to me, there was a cat call from a guy to my right, he was short and had an unusually deep voice for his height, I thought he might be messing with me.
    “Hey now, behave.” The taller Chief said , smiling blithely at him, I noticed that he had a very handsome smile. There were some hushed snickers.
    “There will be two more new Firemen joinin g us before the end of the deployment somewhere around Dubai or Thailand, but they’re all fresh from boot camp, LPO’s will be glad to know that Fireman Carlson is joining us from Great Lakes where she worked with new recruits and check in. All of her evaluations are impeccable.”
    “Sweet, Chief.” DC2 Harlow called, a few of the guys laughed again.
    “Okay then, cleaning stations.” Chief called, waving his hand in front of him before he left.
    Chief Hudson rocked on his heels again; his hands clasped behind his back and looked out at us, once Chief Morose was out of the hanger bay he spoke to us.
    “Everyone take your c leaning stations seriously this morning, we need our compartments sparkling clean today.” He said, he smiled directly at me before he made his way out of the hanger bay, the same way Chief Morose had.
    “Fixed Systems! Meet in the shop!” A tall, very attractive black man with a shaved head and honey colored eyes called to us. He was a DC1 and, I assumed, my Leading Petty Officer. His voice boomed across the hanger bay. I followed close behind him, he smelled of vanilla, cigar smoke, and