Chapter 2 - THE ALARM WAS NOT FOR SARAH
Jake assumed the alarm had something to do with what he had done.
That mistake lasted about three seconds.
A voice came over the galley system announcing a base-wide readiness drill.
No real emergency.
No attack.
No convenient rescue arriving because Sarah had been mistreated.
This had been scheduled for weeks.
That was precisely why Sarah was there.
Personnel began moving according to drill procedures.
Training staff appeared at the exits.
Junior sailors cleared pathways.
Recruits were directed toward assigned muster points.
Sarah did not shout.
She picked up her tray.
Set it on the return counter.
Then turned toward Jake’s group.
“Move.”
Jake hesitated.
Sarah looked at him once.
He moved.
Noah was already guiding another confused recruit toward the correct corridor.
Ethan followed Jake, his face pale.
They reached the designated staging area outside the galley where dozens of recruits assembled.
An instructor named Chief Wallace hurried toward Sarah.
He stopped several feet away.
His entire posture changed.
“Chief Mitchell.”
Jake looked at Noah.
Noah closed his eyes briefly.
There it was.
Chief.
Not civilian guest.
Not new staff member.
Not somebody’s visiting spouse.
Chief Petty Officer Sarah Mitchell.
Wallace continued.
“Evaluation team is ready at Control.”
Sarah nodded.
“Give me four minutes.”
“Yes, Chief.”
Jake’s face drained.
Sarah turned toward him.
Then Ethan.
Then Noah.
“Names.”
All three answered.
“Thompson.”
“Carter.”
“Parker.”
Sarah looked toward the fourth recruit, who had laughed but never touched her.
He answered too.
Sarah memorized all four.
Jake swallowed.
“Chief, I didn’t realize—”
Sarah raised one hand.
He stopped.
That was his second important mistake.
Not touching her.
Not taking food.
Those were serious enough.
His instinct was to explain his conduct by saying he had not known her status.
As if humiliation became acceptable when aimed downward.
Sarah looked at him.
“You have an assigned position during this drill.”
“Yes, Chief.”
“Then perform it.”
She walked away.
Jake stared after her.
Ethan whispered:
“We’re dead.”
Noah looked at him.
“No.”
Jake turned.
Noah continued.
“That’s the problem.”
“What?”
“She didn’t threaten anything.”
Across the staging area Sarah was already speaking with Chief Wallace, checking a tablet and pointing toward two exits.
No anger.
No personal performance.
She had moved on to the actual job.
That frightened Noah more than if she had screamed.
Because consequences spoken in anger could sometimes be dismissed as anger.
May you like
Sarah was documenting.
And whatever happened next would have to stand without her feelings holding it up.
Related Stories
