Pretty Fearsome

There was only one rule: don’t open the door. “We call it a hatch,” United States Navy Commander Bolivia Bryant, 40, reminded.

“Does it matter? We’ve been told to not touch it, ma’am,” civilian Hill Tarker, 24, replied. They exchanged glances and continued on their mission to not be intimate with one another or they would be obliterated. As a senior officer in the Navy, Bolivia could of course be with the young man romantically. They began to move towards each other. Their eyes sparkled under the lights of the aircraft carrier on the seas. The experiment seemed to be a bit straining on both of them. They kept their hands at their sides whenever they got too close, however.

The Department of Defense wished to see what would happen on a space vessel with a military officer and a private citizen.

“You know what’s behind that hatch, right?” Bolivia asked.

“What, your soul?” Tarker said with icy cynicism.

“No, movie buff. There’s probably a group of Marine Drill Instructors ready to take off our heads if we just slightly brush each other’s cheeks,” Bolivia kept her composure and cleared her throat. They leaned slightly.

“That’s pretty fearsome.”

“You don’t know. They ruled my training. Total professionals, though. They earned their Smokey hats.”

The two of them went to their separate bunks and waited for the next bit of information to reach their smart devices.

“Now, they want us to stand in the middle of the floor,” Tarker announced.

“Okay.”

The two of them found their place again. Once more, their eyes met and twinkled. Grins crept onto their faces.

They both shot their heads at the hatch as it began to open. Their grins transformed into smiles. Until, they saw water rush into the cabin as the ship sank.