The Submariner

by Zarek Dragon

I know that Zarek mentioned a few things about training and I don't want to repeat too much. I share a space with him and a guy named Ryan Martin. At the time that we met, I didn't know if either of them were gay, I just knew that I was. For two solid months, we trained and we trained hard. One little slip and you were doing push-ups. The company hired over two hundred crewmen but only about a hundred twenty-five of us will end up on the sub.

When they selected who they would hire, they started with straight "A" students who had perfect attendance first. That may have included Zarek or Ryan, but that wasn't me. I had the perfect attendance but while I also mainly had "A's", I had a few "B's". I think I barely made it in.

Then, our work day started at zero five hundred (0500) every morning. We would do physical training for an hour, get an hour for morning chow, and then train on various equipment to see where we excelled until eleven hundred hours. After an hour for mid chow, was more training. We trained or filled out forms clear up to twenty-two hundred hours. Yeah, that's five in the morning to ten at night that we were training for those not accustomed. We were given an hour for evening chow staggered in there somewhere.  Evening chow, wasn't a set time like the others. That is, unless some important announcement was going to be said. Mind you, that schedule was just for the first two months.

Did you know that a bathroom is called a head? I like to give head, but I've never given a bathroom before. We learned all kinds of jargon like that, passageway for a hallway, chow hall, or mess deck if on a ship, for where we eat. Our bed is called a rack. Sometimes, I think a rack may be more comfortable.

Zarek never knew this, but I thought he was very attractive from the get-go. He stood five feet eleven inches tall, just an inch taller than me. His brown hair was always brushed back and parted in the middle. I would lay in my rack pretending to be asleep until after he stripped and headed for the showers on many mornings. I had my eyes open enough to watch him, but yet closed enough to appear asleep. I've wanted to kiss him but was scared he would reject me. Like I said, I didn't know if he was gay.

Ryan wasn't very attractive. I think he stood five feet seven inches and weighed a hundred forty-one pounds. His face looked like he tried walking through walls instead of doors, I mean it was flat. Think of Frankenstein and you're thinking of a better-looking guy.

We had just finished the two-month period and the Captain stood in the chow hall and let us know that the boat officially had a name, the SSN Leonard S Nimoy. He also let us know that training had been extended for a few months. They already told us that training wouldn't be as extensive, we would start getting more personal time. Maybe this is why. When the Captain left the chow hall, he took Zarek with him. I didn't see him again during any of our training that day, so I was worried that he was being fired.

After training, I went back and was sitting on my rack. Zarek came in and let me tell you, that boy smelled so sweaty that I couldn't stand it. He flopped down on his rack face down, so as nicely as I could, I suggested a shower. He agreed that he needed one but complained that he was too tired to take one.

I got off my rack and started stripping him. He surprised me by not saying anything about it. After I had him naked, I stripped myself and then helped him to the shower. I think he smiled, but I wasn't sure and then I don't know what came over me, maybe it was staring into his blue eyes. I started to kiss him and he didn't seem to resist, so my tongue slipped into his mouth. After a moment, I thought, "What am I doing? What if he doesn't like being kissed, especially by another guy? Sure, he's not resisting, but maybe he's too tired to resist." I started thinking of all kinds of excuses why he didn't stop me, so I pulled away and apologized. Zarek didn't say anything, he just smiled and pulled me against him. I'm not sure what he tapped into to gain the strength.

I know that Zarek shared what happened right after, so I won't go into it any further. Instead, I will jump to what happened after our fire training. We were all tired, especially Zarek. He should have taken the training off when he had the chance, but I am proud of him. He didn't let up or make excuses when he slipped. I had to help him back to our space. That's more jargon we use for our room or quarters.

As we entered, Ryan Martin had his bags packed like the COB told him, but he was asleep in his rack. I looked at Zarek and he looked as surprised as I was that Ryan was still here. We both stripped and headed for the shower.

In the morning, I woke up before Zarek. Ryan was coming out of the head as I was getting off my rack. "Can I talk to you in private?" he asked. I obliged and we went into the shower room.

Looking at him, I inquired, "I thought the COB sent you packing. What's up?"

"As far as the COB is concerned, I'm planning to file a complaint and get him fired, transferred or whatever. But that's not what I wanted to talk to you about."

I looked at him puzzled, "What then?"

"Have you noticed anything odd about our roommate?" Ryan started. "I have reason to think that he's gay and I don't feel comfortable with him in the same room as me."

"First," I started. First is always a good place to start. "I would advise you to not file a complaint against the COB. You have no basis. You were late to training and he had every right to let you go. And as for Zarek, whether he's gay or not is his business and no one else's.  And I assure you, you have nothing to worry about."

Ryan wouldn't listen, "I've read how those homos like taking good looking guys and turning them gay. I'm going to the Captain to report him."

I smiled, "You do that, please do that."

Ryan left right after our chat. He didn't take his stuff with him, I think he believes he will be staying. Shortly after Ryan left, I woke Zarek up with a kiss. He smiled and said that was the best alarm clock on the planet. I looked at him for a moment with a serious look on my face. "What?" he asked.

I chuckled before telling Zarek, "Nothing, it's just Ryan warned me that you might be gay. I think he's afraid you're going to rape him."

"What? I'm not gay," Zarek chuckled as he started to kiss me. Just as our lips connected, there was a knock at the door. I went to answer it.

It was Yeoman Dewitt, the Captain's assistant, "Crewman Drage, Crewman Daniels, the Captain would like to see you both in his office in ten minutes."

We dressed for the PT and made it to the Captain's office with a minute to spare. As we stood there, the COB came out of the office. The Captain called to him before he got completely out, "Chief, these two will not be making PT this morning. Don't hold it against them. I believe they will back your story up."

"You are a good excuse, sir," I could be wrong, but I think I saw a smile on the COB's face. The Captain told us to come in and shut the door.

"I should talk to the two of you individually, but I have a feeling that I would hear the same thing. As you are aware, Chief Barker let your roommate go. Your roommate came to my office first thing this morning wanting to file a complaint. He stated that the chief almost hit him, called him names and then belittled him in front of everyone."

Zarek was the first to speak, but I back him up. "Sir, the only name that Chief Barker called him was Crewman Martin. He made a comment about Ryan being on time when in fact he was late, and he told him to pack his bags, stating that if you can't be on time, you wouldn't be a part of the crew."

The Captain was writing, or scribbling from what it looked like as Zarek talked. "Very good, that's pretty much how the chief described what happened. He did say that Martin gave some attitude."

I spoke up first this time, "Yes sir, that is correct. Ryan thought the COB should consider himself lucky that he was even there."

The Captain grinned, "That being the case, I will uphold the Chief's dismissal and needn't even go into Martin's other complaint."

Zarek played dumb, "Other complaint, sir?"

"Yes crewman," the Captain began, "He accused you of being gay and claimed that you were hitting on him. For the record, I don't care if you are gay or not, but I seriously doubt that you were hitting on him."

"I am gay, sir," Zarek admitted. I was almost floored hearing him tell our CO. "But no, all I said was he's not the best looking guy on earth after he claimed to be."

"You needn't say anymore. Crewman Daniels, do you have any problem sharing your space with him, knowing that he is gay?"

I was surprised by the CO asking me this, but I can kinda see why he did. "No sir, I have no problem with it, and I can't believe that I am admitting this, but I am gay as well."

"I don't need to know that, but in the same token, I am glad that you trust me enough to tell me. That is your personal business so long as it doesn't affect you doing your duty."

I responded to the CO, "I don't see how it would, sir. I'm not open about it, so the only ones here that know I am gay are yourself and Zarek."

"I advise you to keep it that way, or at least to a minimum," the Captain said. "I think most of the crew would be tolerant, but there may be some like Martin who would try to cause trouble. Now, I'm not asking you to hide it, don't get me wrong. I wouldn't have a problem if I see you and Crewman Drage holding hands, but please, no public displays of affection while on company property."

"Yes sir, I believe in discretion about my sex life," I replied.

"That's all I ask. Crewman Drage, I understand that you trained with the fire training last night," The CO changed subjects.

"Yes sir, I did. I hope that doesn't upset you, sir," Zarek responded.

"We weren't training, so that's fine, but it will make it rough on you. How much sleep did you get?" the CO came off as really caring.

"Three hours, sir."

The CO just shook his head, "I'm going to hold off training today for you until thirteen hundred hours.  I also would like for you to have a training partner. I believe it will be easier on you if you do."

Zarek asked him, "Can it be a roommate?"

"It would probably be easier if it is," the Captain replied. "Crewman Daniels, would you like to join us? It will only be the two of you and it will be harder than you'd be training otherwise, but the rough part is done and you'll be more knowledgeable than the others."

"Aye, aye sir," I responded, feeling a little giddy.

"Very good, then I will inform Chief Barker that you will not be training with the others as well." As the Captain was speaking, there was a knock at the door and it started to open. I thought, who would dare just walk in on the Captain without permission. The guy stuck his head in and I remembered him from the interview, but didn't know his name or who he was. Other than that initial meeting, I had never seen him before. He didn't look as old as the Captain so I would guess he was in his late twenties to early thirties. He had short blonde hair neatly combed and wore a nice, but not overly expensive suit. "Franklin, come in," the Captain seemed pleased to see him.

"Captain, I have been reading your proposal to have two teams working on the sub. It intrigues me and the university paying for the research teams' usage of the sub likes it. They have agreed to pay the additional costs involved." With that, I figured this must be the guy who owns the sub.

"Excellent, Commander Hooker agreed that if it were approved, he would command the gold team and I will command the blue team," the Captain stated.

"So, you won't be going on the commissioning voyage?" the guy asked.

The Captain chuckled, "Don't get me wrong, I have faith in the sub or I wouldn't let her go out to sea, but if anything does go wrong, Hooker gets to deal with it. Just kidding, there. Seriously, I have my reasons for wanting the blue team."

"The Navy said that they would be willing to supply a few more officers, but not enough. We have a choice; we can either hire more ourselves, if you have anyone else in mind, or we can hire some and send them through training. The Navy's Officer Candidate School is twelve weeks, but to attend, the candidate needs a bachelor's degree in their division. I was thinking that if we hire them now, they could train intensely for the duration of six months and not necessarily need the degree. Your thoughts?" the guy kept looking at us, maybe wondering why we were in the Captain's office this early.

"Franklin, I haven't introduced you to two of the best crewman we hired, or in the least, my favorite two that I've seen." That made me feel good, and I'm sure Zarek felt good as well. "Crewman Drage and Crewman Daniels, this is Franklin Andrew Fredericks the Fourth, the owner of these facilities and our boat." The man shook our hands like we were important, he didn't seem snobbish like I imagined he would be.

Mr. Frederick looked at the Captain, "So, you say that, in your opinion, they are the best of those we hired? What do you think about sending them to our Officer Candidate School?"

The Captain got a shit-eating grin on his face, "Aside from the fact that they are both fresh out of high school and therefore young, I would think they would be excellent choices."

"I'm not worried about age so much, as do you think they can do the task," Mr. Fredericks stated.

The Captain looked back and forth between us, like he was thinking before he spoke. "They both have the intelligence and character to pull it off. Yes, I believe they are quite capable of doing the task."

Mr. Frederick looked at Zarek and myself, "Good, gentlemen, how would you like to become officers aboard the sub? You will be part of the blue team and won't board her for six months. You'll have a nice pay increase, and instead of sharing a space with twenty-nine other crewman, our officer's quarters sleep two per compartment."

I looked at Zarek as if trying to read his mind, he had a big grin on his face and I knew that he wanted this. I think only a fool would have turned this down. I looked at the Captain who was smiling and just nodded at me, "Mr. Frederick…"

"Please, if you plan to accept, call me Franklin. All of the officers do," Mr. Frederick, er… I mean Franklin offered.

I smiled, "Franklin, I think I can answer for both of us; we accept your offer."

Franklin turned back to the Captain, "Excellent, personally see to these two young men's training until we have our additional officers lined up and can begin the schooling." And like that, he left.

"OK, both of you go eat, then back to your space until thirteen hundred hours," the Captain ordered.

I hope you enjoy the story and that it draws you in, wanting more. If you have any suggestions or concerns, don’t hesitate to email me.  Thoughts and suggestions are always welcomed and may or may not be implemented. Concerns will be considered and addressed as much as possible, please contact me at Zarek A Dragon.  Please let me know that you read it on The Story Lovers' Website.