If being in the Navy wasn't bad enough going out to sea was even worse. Especially when the ship wasn't up to standards and the new Captain forced the crew to go on the sea trial. And Alex couldn't stand it. The extended working hours took a toll on her. She found herself working over 16 hours a day doing menial tasks. She rarely actually saw the sea. The ship obviously wasn't built for comfort, but being out to sea punctuated it. The constant noise and the take off and landings of the Harrier jets made it worse. She wished she could do something else; what was supposed to be a two week out to sea period soon turned into a near month long excursion. She tried to masturbate after work but couldn't bring herself to do it.
"I can't take it," Alex said to Huff as they were eating dinner.
"Neither can I," he laughed as he took another bite.
"I just want this shit to end," she smirked.
"Whatever happened to that Butler guy," he asked.
"He got sent to A-School."
"Lucky fuck."
"I know," she started, "fucking Robinson."
"What about him."
"He popped on the piss test."
"Figures," he laughed, "are you going to try and work out tonight?"
"Hopefully," she replied, "I'm starting to get fat."
"You're not getting fat," he replied, "it's the stupid uniform."
"Wanna work out together?"
"Why not," she smiled.
Alex met Huff by the gym. She was little late getting there. Huff was standing outside of it.
"You could've started without me," she said.
"Looks like we won't get started," he said as he looked her over, "you look good in your sweats. And your tattoo is looking great."
"Awww," she smiled, "so why can't we work out?"
"Khakis only in the gym today," he said.
"What," she said in amazement.
"We didn't have this problem on the deployment," he said before hitting the wall with an open hand.
"Excuse me shipmates," a Chief said as he walked into the gym.
After the Chief showed up a couple of Marines walked and joined Alex and Huff.
"What's going on," one of them asked.
"Khaki day," Huff replied.
"This is bullshit," the Marine said.
"Go get Gunny," one of them said.
"Be right back," the other one said as he took off.
"What can Gunny do," Alex said in amazement.
"Get us in there," he smiled, "nice tattoo."
"Thanks," she smiled.
Huff, Alex and the of Marines stood there waiting for the Gunnery Sergeant to show up. Alex kept looking over the Marines. She was in aw of how disciplined and in shape they were. They were better looking than any of their Navy counterparts. Alex thought for a second that she should've joined the Marines. It probably would've been more fun than wasting away in the Navy.
"Even better," the Marine said as he found his way back to the gym.
"What's that," another Marine asked.
"I got Gunny and Major Thompson," he smiled.
"Fuck yeah," another one said.
Two large older Marines showed up and walked into the gym. The small group of Sailors and Marines that amassed outside the gym tried to listen as they tried to talk them into the gym. Before they knew it the Captain, a diminutive Filipino who was miles away from Captain North, and the Command Master Chief showed up. They soon barged in the gym.
"Maybe we should leave," Alex whispered to Huff.
"Let's see how this plays out," he replied.
"Nice tattoo," one of the Marines said.
"Thanks," Alex replied.
She looked over her left arm and how much work she'd had done. It was sort of a half sleeve at the moment; she was debating about going all the way and getting a full sleeve. Lastly she had ensured that the tattoo that she got with Cindy was never covered up. She wondered if Cindy herself ever got any more tattoos.
A few minutes later the Commanding Officer and Command Master Chief emerged, defeated and the Command Master Chief allowed all the sailors and Marines into the gym.
"Thank god," one of the Marines said.
They all filed in and worked out. Only two people were in the gym when they started working out. The next day the Commanding Officer announced that Khaki days in the gym were canceled. They crew saw this as a victory they were tired of the blatant problems the ship was exasperating.
The time out to sea was beginning to wind down. Alex was sitting in the galley eating when some of the Marines from the gym sat down with her.
"You were at the gym right," one of them asked.
"Yeah," she replied.
"What are you up to when we pull back in," he asked.
"Nothing much," she replied.
"Would you want to kick it at our barracks on Friday?"
"Yeah," she smiled, "you guys are at Miramar, right?"
"Yeah."
"If you get me a bottle of Aftershock, I'm all yours," she smiled, "I'm a cheap date."
"Cool," he said, "just meet me in the hanger bay tomorrow."
"What was your name," she asked.
"Harris," he replied extending his hand.
"Lundz," she said grasping his hand, "but you can call me Alex."
"Cool," he said while letting go of her hand.