Rockstars

For Fin…
Rock on!

"Guess what just came in the post!" Bomber grinned, holding aloft a photo as she stood on the bridge. The crew turned as she waved it frantically. "You have to see this."

Behind her RO frowned, wishing he hadn't allowed her into the room when he was opening and allocating the mail. As she waved the picture he tried to snatch it out of her arms, but he couldn't get it off her frenzied movements.

Standing nearby, ET held out a hand for it and she stopped, passing it to him. He laughed loudly when he saw it. "Oh good lord." He passed it to Spider who had to put a hand on a chair nearby to hold himself up as he bent over with silent laughter, then to Charge whose laugh boomed over the bridge until finally Nav took it. "Let me see that." She ordered, snatching it out of Charge's grasp. The room fell silent, watching her, then relaxed when she cracked a smile. "Is this who I think it is?"

Bomber pointed to the back and Nav turned it over, reading it silently. Then… she laughed. Laughed so hard she had to sit down. ET took it from her and read it aloud. "Mikey, the band are rocking a reunion at the Cairns RSL in May. Hoping to see you there, 4pm on the 25th. Here's a pic to remind you of the good times. Signed, Clarkey." He flipped the picture over. "So, he had a mullet and a fender." ET passed it on to Charge then back to Bomber before finally RO was able to snatch it off them.

"The CO cannot find out I let you see this." He protested.

"Calm down RO. If I were the CO the last thing I'd want to admit was that that was me." Bomber said, her hands on her hips.

"The CO was who?" A voice came from the stairs. RO frowned. Bomber's eyes went wide. ET and Charge froze while Nav tried to wipe her tears from her face. Only Spider was left laughing silently, clutching his side as he dealt with laughter pains. "What's so funny Webb?"

Spider spluttered. "CO… tight pants… guitar… he…" Spider stopped when he realized who the voice belonged to. "Nothing ma'am." He finally managed under a glare from both RO and Bomber.

Kate went for the weakest link. "Leading Seaman Dixon, what's going on?"

RO frowned. "This came in the mail ma'am." He handed her the picture.
"It wasn't my idea to bring it up here ma'am, it was Bomber."

Bomber glared. "I'm constantly amazed you are able to stand without a spine."

Kate frowned. "Is this the captain?" They all nodded. "Okay." She held back a smile. "I'll take care of this. You can all get back to work and forget you saw anything."

"Yes ma'am." They echoed back as Nav caught the X's eye with a grin. The X just turned and left the bridge.

***

"What were they called?" Kate asked as she stood in Mike's doorway. The CO turned with a frown as the X held the picture up for him to see. "The 80s cover band."

Mike frowned. "Where did you get that?" He stood and took it from her, reading the back quietly to himself.

"I managed to take it off the bridge crew before everyone saw it." She smiled at him. "So, what were you called?"

"Hair Guitar." He answered. "We played RSLs." He glanced at her. "This wasn't when you knew me."

"I guessed as much." She narrowed her eyebrows. "Hair Guitar?"

Mike shrugged. "We weren't very clever." He shook his head. "A 15-year-reunion sounds like a very bad idea. The reason we broke up was because Clarkey and Smithy didn't get along."

"Clarkey and Smithy? Who were you? Flynny?" Kate cracked.

Mike raised an eyebrow with a wry smile. "No, Mikey." He waved the picture then his smile fell. "So, the crew know?" Kate nodded. "Great. Any idea how to deal with this?"

Kate smiled. "I have one."

***

A week later the crew stood on the deck, assessing his crew. Buffer wore a long wig, Swain sported some horrible faded denim overalls and Kate had on a sparkly silver top and huge heels and hoop earrings.

"As you well know," Mike said, walking back and forth down the line of sailors. "A week ago I received a reunion invitation. And yes, I will admit it, I used to be in a cover band. But to help my cause, that was 15-years-ago. Goodness knows fifteen years ago we were all very different people. So, for this reason, I call this fifteen years ago. For the 10 hours, only if we aren't required for a boarding, we will celebrate how dorky we were fifteen years ago. 90s music, 90s fashion and days when Buffer had hair." Buffer raised his fists in achievement as the crew laughed. "So whether you were an embarrassing rocker." He gave a rock signal. "A roller chick." The X clapped. "A denim-loving teen." Swain grinned. "Or…" he stopped at Spider. "Webb?"

Spider wore what looked to be his old overalls dyed a nasty shade of baby blue. "Sir, 15 years ago I was only four."

Mike laughed. "Or a baby." Spider cheered. "Today we celebrate. Now you bunch of dorks and children… get back to work." They all left with a grin. Mike went to Kate. "That actually worked."

Kate smiled. "I was brilliant then and I'm brilliant now, back here in 1993." He touched the mullet. "Oooh, is that real hair?"

"I'm not sure but it itches like heck. How long till we return to 2008?"

Kate checked her watch. "9 hours, 49 minutes."

Mike nodded. "Great. If anyone needs me I'll be hiding in my cabin. Call me when we hit 2000." Kate frowned, asking silently. Mike answered. "Yes, I had a cover band until 2000." Then he left, spurned on his way by the laughter of the roller chick standing on his quarterdeck.