DON'T MESS WITH THE NAVY
BY: THE BARD

Part One

    “Out of the way…clear out of the way!” Dialtone shouted as he and Mainframe burst into the rec room, bumping into Tripwire in the process and causing him to drop the pile of magazines he was carrying.

    “Remote….GIVE ME THE REMOTE!”

    “Man, Dialtone…for someone who can’t string two words together without stuttering you certainly find your voice every Saturday at this time…” Alpine grinned as he held the remote just out of his reach.

    “Shut up and give it to me Alpine…” Mainframe growled as he tried to grab it but Alpine was too fast.

    “Just give him it to him,” Low Light looked up from his place at the other end of the couch and snatched the remote in one fluid motion, throwing it to Dial Tone who caught it easily.

    “You are such a kill joy…” Alpine harrumphed as he moved over to make room on the couch for the two Joes, who were busy flipping the channels in a mad attempt to find their show.

    “Space…the final frontier…these are the voyages of the starship…”

    “Oh god…not again!” Shipwreck moaned as he came through the door, “Isn’t there something else we can watch? We need another television. If it isn’t these two and the bloody Klingons, its Zooks and the Nintendo or Scarlett and those damn soaps! I never get to watch anything…”

    “That’s a good thing…” Ace looked up from the pool table, “…last time you had control we all ended up spending the night in the brig.”

    “I TOLD you I had no idea how that video got in there.” Shipwreck grabbed a pool cue and chalked it up, “…I can’t understand why Duke was so upset! ‘Debbie Does Dallas’ is considered a classic.”

    “Its offensive to women…” Bazooka mumbled, not bothering to look up from his game boy…

    “Yeah…right…whatever…” Shipwreck leaned over the table “5 ball, corner pocket. Speaking of offensive to women, have you guys met Lieutenant Falcon?”

    “Oh yeah…” Gung Ho whistled from behind his newspaper, “…met him yesterday. A real piece of work.”

    “Been chasing tail since he arrived two weeks ago…” Alpine muttered. “Dial Tone, turn it down. At this rate they can hear ‘Picard’ all the way down in ops. God, I’ll never understand this show…”

    “Well…the cocky bastard has been driving me nuts. Duke’s brother or no…”

    “My ears are burning!” Falcon entered the room with Roadblock trailing behind, “You’re just jealous that I have such a magical touch with the opposite sex. What can I say, squidly…it’s a gift.”

    “You’re just a kid, what can you possibly know about women?” Shipwreck sneered and then swore as he missed his shot. Ace smiled, sensing victory near.

    “Ask Cover Girl…”

    “You son of a bi….” Before Shipwreck could reply, Lady Jaye poked her head into the room and smiled.

    “Don’t tell me it’s Star Trek night already? Dial Tone…I need you in ops right after you finish here.”

    “Sure…yeah yeah…” Dial Tone waved her off, concentrating completely on the TV. Jaye frowned and shook her head.

    “What is it with that show?” she wondered aloud, turning to leave.

    “Is there anything I can do to help?” Falcon was up, flashing her one of his winning smiles.

    She paused and stared at him for a moment. She had not yet met the new guy, having been away on a mission when he arrived. He was nothing if not good looking…Eye Candy.

    “Mmmm…no. But thanks for offering.”

    With that she was gone, leaving Falcon staring at her retreating form, his eyes alight.

    “Who is THAT? She is HOT.”

    Low Light looked up from the TV. “That’s Lady Jaye, and I wouldn’t go there if I …”

    “She’s out of your league Falcon.” Shipwreck interrupted Low Light before he could finish his sentence. “You wouldn’t have a chance.”

    “Really? I think not.” Falcon looked over at the sailor and grinned. “In fact, I saw the way she looked at me. She wants me.”

    “Ummm…I really think…” Ace began, but again Shipwreck interrupted, an evil glint in his eyes.

    “Well, she does have a thing for men in berets…”

    “Is she single?” Falcon asked, adjusting his hat.

    “Yes.” Shipwreck replied quickly.

    At his words all the Joes in the room stopped what they were doing and stared at the sailor in shock. Even Dial Tone and Mainframe had turned from the television and were staring open mouthed at the two Joes near the pool table.

    “Really…” Falcon grinned and stared out at the hallway down which Lady Jaye had disappeared.

    “Forget it. Even your so called ‘magic touch’ wouldn’t work on her.”

    “Watch and learn old man…” And with that he was gone.

    “Shipwreck!” Ace grabbed him by the arm, “ARE YOU INSANE!? Do you realize what you just did?”

    “I didn’t do anything, fly boy. I just told him the truth. He doesn’t stand a chance, and technically, she IS still single…”

    “Technically…” Low Light muttered, “…you forgot to mention Flint.”

    “Details, details…” Shipwreck laughed and chalked his cue before leaning over the table.

    “You realize, of course, when Flint finds out he is going to rip the guy another ass hole.” Alpine shook his head in astonishment.

    “If he moves on Jaye, my man Flint is going to make him pay.” Roadblock rhymed, nodding his agreement.

    “Call it a friendly ‘initiation’ to the Joe team.” Shipwreck sunk the eight ball in one clean shot.

    “Friendly?” Gung Ho mumbled, “Flint might be shy around Jaye herself, but he certainly ain’t when it comes to defending what he sees as his. I give Falcon 2 days before he is in traction.”

    “Less than that,” Mainframe stood up, “I say 24 hours.”

    At that, the Joes in the room all lapsed into an intense silence. They stared at each other, each lost in their own thoughts, before all rushing forward at once.

    “Ten bucks on 24 hours before he is scrubbing the latrines!”

    “20 dollars on 48!!!!!”

    “Forget it, bub…I bet it all on 5 hours. And not in the Latrine, in the infirmary!”

    Shipwreck merely stood the side, smiling to himself. Those Army brats never learn…old man or no…you just don’t mess with Navy.

   

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Continued in Part Two!
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