"If it weren't for that head set, I almost wouldn't recognise her." Harm said. Joey Gallagher was a different person. She wore a pair of jeans and a dark green t-shirt. Her hair was out and fell just below her shoulders. She looked ten years younger smiling and talking with the cadets around her. She sighed and shook her head.
"Lets get started," She called. Then she saw Mac and Harm she smiled and motioned for them to come over. "I want everyone to grab a partner to begin with. We're working on trust." She said. "Actual Navy ships don't have rooms like this one. There are four of these on board the Jolly Rodger, they're used for various exercises such as these." She said. "Ok, we all paired up. I want each pair to take a blindfold she said pulling a cardboard box from under a desk. "Lots of pretty colours. Come on, don't be shy." She said.
"So what are we doing exactly?" One of the cadets asked.
"We're going to lead each other around. First in the room, then perhaps a little further around the ship. We'll see how we go. Some pairs can go all over the ship, others, can't get so far. I know this ship like the back of my hand." She said and pulled a blindfold out of the box. She flicked a switch on her radio and tied the blindfold on. She walked across the room confidently. Then spun around a couple of times. "I expect you to tell each other if you're about to run into something." She said and stopped just short of hitting a table. "Like that." She said turning around and sitting on the table.
"Wow,"
"I bet it would've been pretty funny if I'd tripped over the table." She said with her blindfold still on. "At sea, things go wrong, you have to be able to trust each other and you have to be reliable. Blindfolds on." She said taking her own blindfold off. "Come on, someone has to go first." One person of each pair put a blindfold on. Mac in her and Harm's case. "Ok, just lead each other around the room. Don't trip anyone over a table." She said.
After a few minutes Joey allowed the pairs to move outside of the room. She wandered around and observed everyone. Mac and Harm were on the flight deck. She called everyone back into the room.
"Ok, switch people. Whoever wasn't blindfolded that time will be this time. Can I have everyone who isn't blindfolded just step forward two paces." She said. Everyone followed her orders. "Ok now everyone take four paces to the left. You four down there come back up here and line up." She said. "Meet your new partners." She said. "The person who volunteered to go first, got it easy. Now you're with someone you don't know so well. Even more so for the Colonel and the Commander. Some of you may have noticed them." She smiled. "Better get moving." She said.
After leading each other around, the large group was split into three smaller groups and sent to different rooms. The three groups performed various activities on trust and getting to know the other members of the crew.
"I hope that for the rest of your time here, it's easier for you to function as a crew. There will be more torpedo drills and things like that just like last night, but you know each other better now, we'll see if it helps. It's lunchtime now, and you're all of duty for the rest of the weekend. Enjoy." She said and stood up. She moved to the next group and repeated her speech, then to the third group.
Harm and Mac met up on the docks. "Hey stranger, how's it going?" Harm said walking up behind her. "What did you think?"
"I can think of less interesting things to do on a Saturday morning." Mac said.
"Sir, ma'am." A lieutenant said walking up to them. They looked at him expectantly. He held out a portable radio.
"Thank you." Mac said taking the radio. The lieutenant saluted and walked away.
"I should thank you Colonel, for your participation. You to commander." Joey said through the radio.
"That's quite all right." Mac said. "I enjoyed myself."
"I'm glad ma'am." Joey said. "Feel free to come back and visit me at any time." She said. "You're always welcome aboard the Jolly Rodger."
"Thank you captain." Mac said. "Where are you?"
"Where I always am." She answered. Mac and Harm turned and looked up towards the ship. Standing on the side of the ship, was Joey. She flicked a few more switches and spoke to other people.
"I bet you're never lonely." Harm said taking the radio from Mac.
"Never a dull moment." Joey said.
"Bye," Harm said.
"Bye," Joey waved. She smiled and turned around to walk back inside.
"Hey, what do we do with this radio?" Mac asked.
"Keep it, as a souvenir, something to remember us by. If you're ever in the area, give me a call." She said. Harm and Mac left the dock and headed out for lunch.
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