Metal Boxes - Trapped Outside Read Online Free Page A

her beyond anything not related to navy business. Ignoring her classic beauty and oozing sexuality wasn’t easy, but Allie was always on his mind. Truth be told, he might have caved into Ryte’s advances—he was a guy after all. With MCPO Thomas and 1LT Hammermill around all of the time, he couldn’t figure out how to get Ryte out of her uniform without word getting back to Allie. Making his girlfriend mad at him was something he wouldn’t do again, no matter how tempting Ryte’s wiggles, giggles, and jiggles. Maybe Ryte had grown tired of him ignoring her and filed a complaint against him as nothing more than an attempt to get his attention.
    The room was quiet and warm. He kept himself from checking his dataport or the time on his personal dataport, not wanting to appear impatient with his supervisor. Stone began to realize he would have had time to change into any uniform he wanted and still be on time for whatever this meeting was about, and even bathe Jay and Peebee, relax in a steam bath, get a massage down at the gym, eat a leisurely lunch, and go see what the medical corps wanted. His eyes were beginning to droop when MCPO Thomas’s voice rasped, “Admiral on deck. Room ‘ten-hut.”
    Left to his own reflexes, Stone might have groaned, grunted, and levered himself to his feet in some semblance of attention. However, his reflexes weren’t his own. His body had been taken over by the navy, infusing him with muscle memory, so he was on his feet before his mind registered the command. After months of legal wrangling, award ceremonies, and social functions, admirals held no special place in his heart. Even catching the reflection off three brass stars didn’t cause any shiver of excitement, just a tingle of curiosity.
    The admiral said, “As you were, people. Thom, I appreciate your kindness in inviting me to your briefing.” He glanced around the room, staring at Stone longer than a good-sized bowl of ice cream would last at a fat man’s convention, but he said nothing to him. His eyes slid past Ryte and the first lieutenant as if they weren’t there. He grinned at MCPO Thomas. “Percy! Good to see you again, you old fart sniffer.”
    Stone almost choked on his breath, master chiefs were not as rare as vice admirals, but they were gods among the enlisted. He wasn’t surprised an admiral would call a lower rank by their first name, admirals held that right if anyone did. Calling a master chief a fart sniffer was a little over the top, but he wouldn’t argue with an admiral. What caused his momentary brain freeze was the name; who in their right mind would name a child Percy?
    The master chief laughed. “Takes one to know one, boss.”
    The admiral asked, “How’s Silvie?”
    The master chief frowned in concentration, “Two wives ago, Admiral Temple. She left me for a commander with a larger pension.”
    “What is it now, five wives?”
    Butcher laughed, forgetting for a moment he was supposed to be angry about something. “Four by my count, Admiral.”
    Thomas shook his head while counting on his fingers. “GayLynn, Tressa, Silvie, Bobbie, and—and—dammit, boss. What was her name? Anyway, it’s five now.”
    Butcher nodded, “I forgot Tressa.”
    Thomas laughed, “I would like to forget Tressa.”
    Admiral Temple said, “I think we would all like to forget Tressa. Nevertheless, let’s get this show on the road.”
    Butcher didn’t sit. He displayed a set of orders on the desktop. “I have been sent a packet of orders. I will be taking command of the Vasco de Gama, a class three explorer ship.” He pointed at the lieutenant in the corner. “Lieutenant Bhutros will be my XO. On our first deployment, we will be transporting an ensign junior grade and Master Chief Petty Office Thomas with a contingent of navy support personnel and a platoon of marines with their officer to their next duty station.”
    Vice Admiral Temple hadn’t taken a seat and they were standing at as-you-were status so