"One of your tattoos seems off," Skyler said as he lifted his face from Alex's crotch.
"Shut up," Alex laughed.
"I'm serious," he said as he sat up.
"Serious," she replied as she slid up the bed.
"I'm dead serious."
Alex finally got of the bed and looked down at the "slave" tattoos above the small swath of pubic hair. She couldn't see them very well. She ran her hand over them. They felt fine.
"What are you talking about," Alex asked as she looked at her naked brother.
"The one that looks like a p, it doesn't look like it's in a straight line or whatever," Skyler said.
"Stop," Alex replied as she gathered her clothes and quickly got dressed.
"I'm sorry," he said as she opened the door.
Alex rushed to the bathroom and quickly pulled her pants down and looked over her tattoos. Skyler was right! The "p" in ΡΠ°Π± was a bit crooked. How the fuck did that happen, Alex thought to herself. How can a tattoo go from straight to crooked unexplainably? She didn't know how it happened. It had been straight for as long as she could remember. There had to be a reasonable explanation. She left the bathroom and went to her room. She sat on the bed and eventually lie down and fell asleep.
Alex was surprised when she woke up the next morning. The upcoming week was going to be a bit stressful. It was Fleet Week. She had never been to San Francisco before and was ready for the change. It may have just been up the coast, but it would be a world away for her. She had pressed all of her uniforms and ensured they looked good. She was happy to actually wear some of her uniforms.
Alex was surprised when she didn't get called for line handling. She was happy not to have to do it. She liked relaxing in the berthing and not having to deal with the crap that was going on outside. She emerged from the berthing in her coveralls and made her way to the mess decks. It was there where she caught a glimpse of someone who looked very familiar. She was certain it was Cindy Smith!
"Shit," Alex said to herself, as the woman got lost among the people on the mess decks.
The rest of the day was a blur. Alex found herself working a lot more. She and Huff ended up working together a lot. But a lot had changed since their first few times working together. She was a bit more focused and seemed to care more about her work. Huff was surprised and relieved by her work effort. They were happy when they got a break in work. They both sat in the hanger bay as they watched some of the squadron people working.
"Ever been to San Francisco," Alex asked Huff.
"No," he replied.
"Really," she shot back.
"Yeah," he smiled, "I figured you of all people would have."
"Well I haven't," he smiled.
Alex then saw the woman she thought was Cindy enter and exit the hanger bay quickly. She was for sure it was Cindy.
"But I'm sure I'll like it," Huff replied.
"I bet," Alex laughed.
"Lundz," a female voice called out.
"Yes," Alex said as she looked to see who it was, she hoped it was Cindy.
"Hey," the Deck Department Yeoman said, "they need to see you in the shop."
"What's it about," Alex asked.
"I'm not for sure," she replied, "but I think a bunch of people are getting transferred."
"Okay," Alex replied as she made her way back to the Forcastle.
She rushed there as quickly as possible. When she got there a few other Seamen waiting there. She walked up to them and waited with them until the Deck LCPO came out with a Chief from Weapon's Department. The Chief seemed a bit young. He shot a quick smile to the group and explained they were being sent to G-3. Someone asked why and the Chief said that they needed people. Other than that the transition to Weapons was easy. Alex soon found herself in a weapons magazine with a bunch of Aviation Ordnancemen. All they seemed to do was sleep, even one of the Second Class Petty Officers.
"So what do you do all day," Alex asked one of the Airmen.
"Nothing," he replied, " we don't do much of anything."
"Much better than Deck," she replied.
"I bet," he replied.
"I'm Seaman Lundz," she said extending her hand to him.
"Matthews," he replied as he grabbed her hand.
"Nice to meet you," she replied as they let go of each other.
Alex looked around the magazine to see a few other people passed out or looking through navy books. She seemed a bit out of place and didn't know what to do. She rolled her coverall sleeves up to reveal her tattoos. She felt like she could get away with it down here. She hated having to cover them up, she felt like they were a part of her.
"Nice tattoos," Matthews said as she looked them over.
"Thanks," Alex smiled.
"When are those IC people supposed to get here," one of the Airmen asked.
"Fuck if I know," Matthews replied.
"What's going on," Alex asked.
"The 46mc is broken," Matthews replied.
"The what," Alex asked.
"The intercom isn't working," he replied, "some people should be down to fix it."
Alex walked around the magazine for a few more minutes and tried to get acclimated to it. She walked to the weapons elevator and found a space behind it. She saw another Airman passed out back there. She looked over the semi-empty space. She found an empty stanchion and sat down and leaned against it. She quickly fell asleep.
"Huh," Alex said as she felt the air getting sucked out of the magazine.
"About time," the Second Class Petty Officer said as two people in coveralls entered the magazine.
"Sorry," one of them said as they entered.