Date: Sat, 27 Feb 2016 07:00:58 -0500
From: Jim <zarek@roadrunner.com>
Subject: The Submariner - Chapter 2

Disclaimer: This story is fictional.  All characters were made up and any
similarities are just coincidental.  This is gay romance between older
teenage boys, there may be sex, but for the most part, it's about their
true love of each other so if that offends you, please discontinue reading.
Also, if it is illegal for you to read such material, you have been warned.
Continual reading could cause a knock at your door.

I hope you enjoy it and that the story draws you in wanting more.  This
story was "inspired" by watching a YouTube about submarine life. While some
of the ideas are based on the U.S. Navy, the story does not take place in
the Navy so some things may not seem exact.  If you have any suggestions or
concerns, don't hesitate to email me at zarek@roadrunner.com
<mailto:zarek@roadrunner.com> .  Thoughts and suggestion are always
welcomed and may or may not be implemented.  Concerns will be considered
and addressed as much as possible.

AND, if you enjoy the stories on Nifty.org, please give a donation to help
cover their expenses.  While the site is currently free, only donations
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The Submariner

Chapter 2: Training

James P. Bolt



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.