{2}

My hotel room is on the 3^rd floor, and we had to take the elevator and then walk all the way to the very last room of the hotel. For that, I am extremely grateful and annoyed at the same time. Too far away from the stairs for a quick escape, and pretty far away from the vending machines and ice machine. This was going to be the death of me, until I move to my apartment. But at least it seems like the quieted part of the hotel. That was the only perk. Hopefully they don’t put any obnoxious sailors who want to get away from their commands, in the rooms near mine. Sailors like to get hotel rooms, just to be able to sleep in real beds, occasionally. I was the same way, whenever I was in port after being out to sea.

Haller helped me drop my bags in my room, and he stepped out, to give me a few minutes to freshen up before taking me to the command. I changed into fresh clothes, black leggings, and a fitted t-shirt, and my sneakers. I splashed cool water on my face and ran my fingers through my long dark brunette hair, so dark it was almost black. My hair was to my butt, and super thick, and this humidity, is not doing it justice. I narrowed my eyes at my reflection in the bathroom mirror and decided to just pull it back up into a sloppy bun on top of my head. I didn’t bother with makeup or looking cute. I spent the entire morning on a flight, and I was tired and hungry, and just wanted to shower and climb into bed and relax and order room service and sleep. But I had to go sign into my new command, my new job, my new hell.

I opened the door to my hotel room and made sure I had my phone, my wallet, with my IDs and my room key card, and looked up and saw Haller waiting for me. He was leaned up against the wall, messing with his phone, and he looked at me as I came into the hallway. “Ready to go meet the command?” he asked. I nodded. We walked silently for about 2 and a half minutes before I spoke up. “Am I the only female in the command?” He laughed and shook his head no. “You might be the nicest female though.” I looked at him dumbfounded. What did he mean by that? Usually, women in the military aren’t the meanest, but some are super slutty and just want to sleep their way through all the men they can. I was no where near that level. In fact, I was still a virgin, and I probably will be until I retire at 20 years. I wasn’t planning on dating and haven’t dated anyone ever. It wasn’t for me. Haller chuckled, as if to answer my unasked questions, “They only look out for themselves, like they are trying to prove they can do their jobs, just as good as the men, and maybe even better, and also trying to impress the guys at the same time.” I scrunched my face. I knew a few women in my last command like that. It annoys me. I shook my head. “I promise I am different than that. I just want to do my job, and if I can go TAD to a ship being deployed, I will try my damn hardest to be out to sea again.” Haller was clearly shocked at my response.

We made our way to the other side of base, and he parked his car in the lot, and we had to hoof it from there. I didn’t mind, but this humidity. UGH. It was a good 10-minute walk from the lot, he was permitted to park in, from the building I was going to be working in. I hope they had shuttles from the Navy Lodge to the main part of base, because there is NO WAY in hell, I am walking across base just to go to work every day. Fuck that. We got to the building, and he slid his military ID into the slot next to the door, until it beeped to open. Great, I hated IDs being used as door keys. If I lost my ID, I would have to go to the CAC office to get a new one made, and then get into the building to have security program it, to be able to get into work, and blah.

Haller led the way to the security office, and the female petty officer behind the desk, in her peanut butters, smiled as she looked up. She nodded for me to approach the desk, and I did. I pulled my ID out of my wallet, and unfolded my orders, I had shoved in there, and placed them on the desk. “Hi, I am MM1 SW/AW Bree Lee, I am checking into the command.” She reached for my ID and orders, and I noticed that her nails were out of regulation. She was a Petty Officer 3^rd Class Yeoman. I was going to have to squash my urge to correct her. I will have to make a mental note to pull her aside later, and let her know, her nails were not acceptable. It’s not being rude, but I’d rather inform her, so someone higher ranking than me, doesn’t do it. I didn’t want her to get into trouble. She clicked away on the computer in front of her, and she smiled brightly up at me. “MM1, I am programming your ID to be able to get into the building, and to your office. I know you probably aren’t used to being in an office, considering your last command was on a naval ship, but I assure you, you will like it here. Being in an office will take some time to get used to, but it’s not bad.” I nodded as she handed me back my orders, and ID. I smiled gently and looked to Haller, and he held out his arm in a sweeping motion, in the direction we had to head down.

We walked up a flight of stairs, and to the 2^nd floor of the building. All buildings on naval bases were the same. The bland ivory and tan walls, with grey or blue carpeting. And this is another reason why I begged for going to another ship instead of shore duty. I hated being stuck on land, in a building. It was bad enough when I was injured and had to stay back from a mini deployment, for a month. I was stuck in a building, working a TAD, and had to file paperwork for the base. UGH. Not what I signed up for.