Phantom of Aurora

Disclaimer: The following is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons alive or dead is coincidental. The venue is fictional and any resemblance to actual bases, locations, is coincidental.

This story takes place in 1976 Canada and reflects the mores, traditions, customs, etc., of the times. I urge all of those who read this story to remember that what is "politically correct" today, was not thought of back then. If you are Lib-Left, politically correct and have jumped on the bandwagons of whatever causes are the fads of the month, please do not continue past this point. This also applies the so-called "Religious" Right and "Moral" Majority. I respectfully remind you that the "Good Book" also contains proscriptions, restrictions, do's and don'ts that I don't see or hear any of you thumping bibles about. Write me, I'll be glad to give you some excellent web sites. To all the anti-this and anti-that, Bible Thumpers, Libertarians and the ACLU, the bankrupt and increasingly irrelevant United Nations, please do not send me e-mails espousing whatever cause your touting. I have no time for claptrap.

As this work contains scenes of explicit sexual acts of a homosexual nature, if such erotica offends you, please move on to a tamer site. If your mainstay in life is Bible-thumping cant, please move on. If you are not of legal age to read, possess or download writings of an erotic nature, or if possession, reading, etc., is illegal where you live, please move on.

This story is written in an age without worry, and as such unprotected sex is practiced exclusively. I urge all of you to NEVER engage in sexual acts without proper protection. The life you save will be your own.

I will respond to all e-mails (except flames).

The Phantom of AURORA: Chapter 6

A look flashed between the Twins and they stared at Chris, who was beginning to sweat and wring his hands nervously. "I mean it," he said slowly. Chris matched their gaze and shrugged slowly. "I would like to experience everything." He swallowed hard. "I want to get fucked."

The Twins again exchanged a glance. Cory nodded. A message had been passed. Todd reached out his hand and ran his fingers down the contours of Chris's smooth face. "What you are asking is a big step, Chris," Todd said with a soft smile. "Are you sure that you would not rather wait for someone . . . special?"

Chris shook his head. "There is no one more special than you and Cory." He took Todd's hand and gently kissed his fingers. "We have been through so much together, you, Cory and I. You have taught me so much and I want you to teach me more." Again he shook his head. "I want you to be the first." He glanced at Cory. "And you as well, Cory."

"Todd will be with you first, Chris," Cory said. He held out his arms and drew the trembling boy to him. He embraced him and then kissed him tenderly. "The first time is so special that only two people can be there. We love you, Chris, and we will not cheapen our friendship or our love for you." He released Chris and backed away. "Todd will help you undress. Enjoy the moment, Chris."

Cory unlocked the door and left the small office, returning within minutes with a pile of blankets in his arms. These he laid on the deck, blanket upon blanket, forming a comfortable barrier against the scarred, splintered, wooden deck. When he was finished, he kissed first his brother, then Chris. "I will see you both, later." With a slight, loving wave of his hand, he was gone.

With slow, deliberate, almost ceremonial motions Todd began his act of worship. He motioned for Chris to sit on the desk, bent down and unlaced the boy's boots. As he removed first Chris's boots, then his grey woollen socks he saw that the slight, fine-featured boy was trembling. "Don't be afraid, Chris," he murmured as he pulled Chris from the desk. He reached down and unbuckled the brass buckle of Chris's belt, then pushed down the zipper of the boy's bell- bottoms. Chris was panting with nervousness and eager with desire. The deep pink head of his erect penis peeked shyly from the slit in the boxer shorts he was wearing.

Todd continued to undress Chris and gently pushed down Chris's underpants. He saw a delicate, clear drop of precum marring the smooth lines of Chris's curving glans. He knelt down, pushing Chris's boxers down to his ankles and leaned forward. Chris gasped as Todd's mouth, his warm, wet mouth, engulfed the head of his dick. His knees bent as a small wave of ecstasy coursed through his body as Todd sucked delicately on his erect member. He thrust his hips forward, trying to put as much of his quivering penis into Todd's mouth as possible.

Smiling inwardly Todd continued to suck on Chris. At the same time he ran his hands up and down the boy's legs, then across his firm, round backside. Chris began to moan softly as orgasm approached. He growled and rose up on his toes. He threw his head back and his eyes rolled wildly. "Ugh . . . Todd . . . AHHHHH . . ." he moaned loudly as his orgasm overpowered his senses. He thrust rapidly as his penis pumped stream after stream of his thick, warm semen into Todd's waiting mouth. When he could give no more, Chris mewed softly and fell back against the desk, his legs splayed, his penis softening rapidly. When he regained his breath, he looked down at Todd, who was on his knees, looking up at Chris's flushed, sweat-beaded face. "That was great, but I thought we were going to . . ." he complained, a look of confusion on his face.

Todd grinned and stood up. He reached out and pulled Chris to his feet. "You were too tense. You needed something to take the edge off," he said slowly as he pushed Chris's gunshirt over his head. "When you make love to another boy, the idea is to make love. Your first time should be a wonderful, glorious, thing." He neatly folded Chris's clothing and then began to strip. "It is very easy to get fucked. Dogs fuck. Men make love." He cocked his head and grinned at Chris. "There is a difference, you know."

Chris slowly nodded his understanding, his anxiety of the unknown replaced by hopeful anticipation and excitement. He returned Todd's grin. "Show me the difference?" he asked with a growl.

Cory left Boatswain Stores and walked back to the Staff Barracks. Todd had been right, of course. Chris's first time was supposed to be a wonderful experience, an experience that could be shared by only two people. A threesome was definitely not on the cards. Besides, Todd was the much better lover, and preferred to be on top while Cory enjoyed being on the bottom. Chris was about to experience the best and Cory knew that his presence would have been an intrusion.

The heat of the day had hardly been lessened by the cool of the evening. The air was muggy and the Gunroom, for all that every window was thrown wide open, was oppressive. Harry and Jon, stripped to their briefs, were going through the motions of a dispirited card game. Jon and Fred, also in their white underpants, were griping their way through a game of chess. Alfie was sound asleep, lying on the top of his bunk. From the look on his face he was obviously having a very happy dream, confirmed by the purple head of his erect penis, which poked boldly above the wide elastic band of his blue-striped boxers. On the other side of the Gunroom Thumper was curled into a ball under his covers, grunting and snuffling, apparently unable to wait until Lights Out when he could repair to the heads. Two Strokes was nowhere to be seen.

Not interested in watching Alfie have a wet dream or listen to Thumper playing the skin flute, Cory returned to the stoop and sat down. He was idly speculating on which of the galley hands - Ray or Sandro - would be interested in a little private time with him when he heard Two Strokes' complaining voice. He looked up and saw the skinny Regulating Petty Officer coming down the path. Three cadets, each of whom was carrying a kit bag, trailed him. "Where in hell is Todd?" demanded Two Strokes without a preamble. "He's never around when he's wanted!" Two Strokes, who was marginally less obnoxious than Little Big Man, was not one of Cory's favourite people. His remarks of the night before had only confirmed Cory's low opinion of him. "The last I saw of him he was in Boatswain Stores with Chris," replied Cory truthfully.

"Yeah, well, I have three lost little lambs for him." Two Strokes waved his arm in the general direction of the three new cadets. "Goofy fucks missed their flight and just now got here!" Cory regarded the three boys. One was slim, with a vulpine face. The other two were taller than the first boy, and heavier set. All three boys looked angry. "I don't have time to go hunting up your brother!" snapped Two Strokes. "They're gunners so they're on your slop chit. You can log them in!" With that he wheeled and stomped into the Gunroom.

Dumfounded, the three new cadets stared after Two Strokes. "What's biting his ass?" asked the tall, thin cadet.

The imp in Cory rose to the fore. "Don't mind Two Strokes," he said with a slight, leering grin. He held out his hand for the travel orders each cadet carried. "He hasn't been laid in a year and he's horny," he said as he leafed through the first set of orders. He did not see the look that passed between two of the three cadets. "So, you're here for your Gunnery III Course?" The three cadets nodded. "Which one is Leading Gunner Ryan?" The thin cadet raised his hand. Cory nodded. "Leading Gunner Peters?" The second cadet, who had a stocky build and a round, smooth face, raised his hand. Cory looked at the third, and final cadet and smiled. Now this cadet was something special, he mused. He looked at the file he was holding. "Then you're Leading Gunner Berkeley?" he asked, using the proper English pronunciation of "Bark-lee" of the cadet's name, rather than the common North American pronunciation of "Burk-lee". The cadet nodded, secretly pleased that somebody other than his family knew how to pronounce his name.

The third cadet, who stood just short of six feet tall, was stunning. He had a smooth, square-jawed face and a ready smile. While Leading Gunner Peters was as tall, Berkeley was well proportioned with a broad, smoothly muscled chest and a handsome smile that revealed perfect white teeth. He held out his hand. "My friends call me Kevin." He jerked his head toward the other two cadets. "The skinny one is Billy." Billy nodded and gave Kevin a sour look. "The chubby one is Chad," Kevin finished with a snicker. Chad's face mirrored Billy's.

Cory grinned and stood up. He shook Kevin's hand and then reached out to shake the hands of the other two boys. "Officially I'm Petty Officer Arundel. My friends call me Cory." He dusted off the seat of his shorts and nodded toward the line of barracks. "My brother is also here. His name is Todd. He's the Senior Gunner after the Cadet Chief Gunner." He began to lead the cadets up the path. "We'll get you settled in Barracks 8 tonight and tomorrow you can do your In Routine. If you're hungry, you can drop by the Mess Hall. There are always sandwiches and growlies left out."

"We're sorry about being late," apologized Kevin as he hefted his kit bag.

"The bus from Kingston broke down and we were hours late for our flight from Montreal," continued Billy. "We were put on an Air Canada flight to Vancouver." Kevin snorted. "And, of course, when we got there, nobody knew a thing about us! We ended up taking the ferry over to Esquimalt and then a van up from NADEN." Cory nodded his understanding. Training officers back in the home units were constantly overbooking courses. Harried Movement Officers were constantly scrambling with itinerant cadets scratching at their doors looking for transportation somewhere. All things considered the three cadets were lucky that they had not been required to walk to AURORA.

As they approached the Gunners Barracks Chad turned to Cory. "You called Petty Officer Home 'Two Strokes'." His eyes suddenly widened. "Say, I heard a story about a cadet who was here last year and who got lucky at the banyan but he . . ."

"The very same," interrupted Cory with an evil chuckle. "He has never been the same since." He indicated the barracks. "Well, guys, here is home for the next little while. Enjoy it and revel in the knowledge that Petty Officer Home sleeps in the Gunroom."

"Why is that?" asked Billy.

Kevin snickered. "He sleepwalks and likes to play drop the soap in the shower!"

Billy's jaw dropped. "He . . . he . . . does?"

Cory, who never inadvertently said anything unkind about anybody laughed and shook his head. "No, he doesn't. Kevin is only pulling your pisser. A guy is safe in the arms of Jesus when it comes to Two Strokes." Chad looked disappointed. Cory ignored him. "Now then, in you go. You will find fresh linen in the sea chest at the end of whatever empty bunk you can find. After you've settled in the rest of the night is your own. Just remember, gentlemen, the day starts at Zero Six Dark with callisthenics at 0620." He chuckled as the three boys groaned their displeasure at the thought of having to crawl out of their fart sacks at 0600 and then jump up and down for half an hour. "Sorry, but everybody does it," apologized Cory. "Even the instructors. And besides, your bodies are still used to Ontario time so it will feel like 0900 when you get up."

Mollified to a degree the cadets nodded. "When do we meet the Senior Gunner?" asked Kevin.

"Oh, you'll see him tomorrow morning," replied Cory airily. "He is a little busy this evening helping out the Seamanship Instructor." He stifled a wicked smile.

"Todd is very good at helping out when one of the other instructors has a problem."

Chris trembled as a shiver of delight passed through his body. He and Todd were lying close together, their hard penises rubbing against each other, and every time the tip of Todd's erection crossed the sensitive underside of his penis Chris moaned softly. He could feel Todd's warm hands as they explored his body, the soft fingers caressing his chest, slowly massaging his stomach, fingering the solid length of his erection, gently probing the soft skin between his legs and rubbing gently across his rosebud anus.

Todd was making slow, passionate love to Chris. Twice now Todd had brought Chris to the brink, giving him such excruciating pleasure that he thrashed and groaned beneath him, moaning, begging to squirt, to shoot, to BLOW! Twice now Todd had backed away, determined to give Chris so much raw pleasure that tonight would live in his memory forever. He was masterfully introducing Chris to the joys of the physical expression of love, slowly building the boy's confidence and trust in him, slowly drawing him upward to the pinnacle of lust and transcending any pleasure he had felt before.

Chris was panting and breathing in great, loud gasps as his penis throbbed, aching for release. He felt Todd's lips as they began yet another downward journey, stopping briefly to suckle his hard, tender nipples, to kiss and fondle his navel, to nip playfully at his thick copse of dark pubic hair. He sucked in his breath and, groaning loudly, raised his hips as Todd's wet tongue once again traced the length of his erect penis, pausing briefly to cleanse his precum-coated blood-infused helmet. As his mind raced, barely able to tolerate the rapid jolts of inexplicable desire that seared his brain, Chris felt Todd's mouth move past his tight, body-hugging testicles. He felt Todd's strong hands slowly push his legs apart. He felt Todd's tongue as it caressed his perineum and then . . . His eyes flew open as Todd began to suck gently on his anus. He growled and pulled his legs back, raising his hips and presenting his brownish-pink rosebud to his lover's sucking lips and hard, probing tongue.

Spreading Chris's butt cheeks Todd slowly rimmed the boy's hot rosebud. Chris bucked and low squeals of delight punctuated the harsh gasps of heavy breathing that filled the room. Todd continued to suck and probe Chris's opening until his anus dilated slightly. Chris was almost ready.

With a quick motion Todd swept the neatly folded uniforms from the desk into his arms and used them to form a pillow under Chris's flushed body. He fumbled with the tube of Vaseline and liberally coated Chris's anus. He inserted his lubricant-covered finger into Chris's body, stimulating the nerve endings that lined his warm, moist rectum. Chris groaned as Todd's finger moved in and out of his body and he growled his frustration as the finger was removed. Through slitted eyes he watched as Todd applied a thick coating of the cold lubricant to his rampant hardon.

Todd skittered forward on his knees and placed the curving head of his penis against Chris's opening. Then he pushed forward until his rosy red glans was inside of Chris, who groaned and shuddered as a lightning bolt of pain flashed through him. Todd waited until Chris's tender rectum became used to the hard intruder, then pushed forward until half of his six-inches of hard flesh were firmly encased by Chris's wetness. Chris, experiencing feelings he never knew existed, pushed back and grunted as the full length of Todd's heated erection slid into him. He could feel the soft, curly hairs that crowned the base of Todd's cock brushing against his butt cheeks, could feel Todd's low-hanging balls as they rested against his body.

With deliberate slowness Todd withdrew until just the head of his penis was in Chris. Then he pushed forward until the curving head rubbed against the sensitive gland hiding deep inside the boy. Chris yelped and his eyes flew open as a raging hot knife of glory slashed upward from his groin. He could feel his dick throbbing with delight. Todd continued his slow thrusting and with each deep, inward thrust his penis caressed Chris's prostate, which caused the young sailor to whimper and buck upward, low growls of penultimate lust rising from his throat. Todd leaned down and hugged Chris close. Their lips met and as Todd continued to thrust gently they kissed; a deep, open-mouth, intensely passionate kiss that so stimulated Chris that he thrust his hips upward to meet his lover's thrust.

Chris could feel the dome of pleasure building deep within his crotch. Each thrust of Todd's penis pushed him closer and closer and . . . He abruptly pulled away from Todd's lips and buried his face in his lover's neck. He could feel the explosion that overwhelmed him and he clutched Todd fiercely as his penis jerked wildly. A wave of exquisite wonder crashed over him as the slit of his helmet opened and expelled a huge gout of semen. His penis continued to pump and pump as Chris, every nerve ending in his body crackling and snapping, reacted to the stimulus of Todd's thrusting organ.

As Chris growled and moaned with his ejaculation the muscles of his rectum clenched and unclenched, driving Todd over the brink. He thrust rapidly, stiffened, and pushed his penis as deep into Chris as he could. As his penis throbbed and his warm fluid filled the groaning boy's body he thrust back his head. A low, keening moan escaped Todd's lips and he collapsed on top of Chris. They could not utter a sound other than their moans of sated pleasure. Their harsh breathing filled the small office as their hearts thumped wildly. Chris clasped Todd to his chest and his legs encased his waist. He had experienced the ultimate of pleasures and refused to let the slim, golden boy leave his body. He could feel Todd's penis softening and flexed the muscles of his rectum, which sent ripples of excruciating sensitivity racing through Todd's penis. He tried to withdraw, unable to tolerate the harsh pleasure that threatened to overpower him. Chris's low, growling voice stopped him. "No," he whispered harshly. "Don't leave me!" he all but shouted.

Todd's lips again found Chris's and once again he began the long, slow thrusting that would bring them both to the edge of Nirvana and beyond.

Cory's chin rested on his chest and his hands were cupped protectively in his crotch. He was snoring softly, sound asleep as he sat on the stoop of the Staff Barracks waiting for Todd and Chris to return. He did not hear the soft footsteps on the gravel path as the two boys made their way from Boatswain Stores. Todd stopped and pulled gently at Chris's hand. "It would appear that the welcoming committee is waiting," he whispered.

Chris smiled and gave Todd a quick kiss on the lips. "He'll want a full report," he said with a grin.

Todd returned the kiss. He drew back and winked at Chris. "A gentleman never kisses and tells. Cory will have to draw his own conclusions when you and he are together."

Chris looked confused. "I don't understand." A quick look of disappointment crossed his face. "Are you saying that tonight . . .?"

Todd quickly placed both hands on Chris's shoulders. "I am saying that you and Cory will be together and you will then know even greater pleasure. We will be together again, Chris. Tonight was wonderful and oh, so very special. I will cherish the memory of what we had, just as you will cherish the memory of the first time you make love to another boy."

"Which isn't going to happen if you two magpies don't shut up and let a man sleep!" Cory rubbed the sleep from his eyes and snickered. "I won't ask how your evening went. From the looks of you both tonight was a resounding success." Chris hurried up the steps, paused briefly to kiss the top of Cory's golden head, and went inside. "It was wonderful, Cory," he murmured over his shoulder. "It was fucking wonderful!"

Cory giggled and looked at his brother as he settled himself onto the stoop. "Well?" he asked, arching one eyebrow.

Todd grinned enigmatically. "I will only say that if Chris is as, um . . . exuberant in the giving as he is in the receiving you will be well pleased."

"Really?"

"Yes, really," Todd leaned forward and kissed the tip of Cory's nose. "Chris has been made love to. Now he is ready to make love." He slipped his hand down the front of Cory's boxers. "He has a long way to go to beat you, though." Cory was undecided if he should be insulted or flattered. Todd's fingers squeezing his penis made up his mind.

"Chris was good, then?" He gently pulled Todd's hand from his underpants and gave him a look. "Don't you get enough?"

"Not when it comes from you," replied Todd with a grin. "I can never get enough of you."

"Flatterer!" Cory stood up and held out his hand. "Come along my insatiable Lothario. It is long past my bedtime." He helped Todd to his feet and hugged him. "I am glad that you made Chris happy."

"So am I," returned Todd as Cory released him. He yawned mightily. "God, I'm tired!"

"I don't doubt that," replied Cory as he pushed his brother toward the door.

"You have just enough time to have a shower. Alfie is Duty Petty Officer and he'll be around in about ten minutes."

Todd smiled. Alfie was so predictable when he had the Duty. He would sign the Log, have a dump, and ten minutes after the start of his watch begin his Rounds. He never varied his routine.

"There's still enough time to make my favourite brother happy," offered Todd. He reached down and tweaked the head of Cory's dick.

"Well, since you put it that way, I might just have a shower with you." He pressed his hand against the rising bulge in the front of Todd's work-dress trousers. "Yes, I might just have a shower," he said with a giggle as he passed into the barracks.

The Phantom spent a miserable night in his room. He was bored and frustrated and went to bed early. He jerked off twice, once in the shower and again in bed. He could not sleep and thought of giving Jeff Jensen a call, taking him up on his offer of a Coke, or something. In the end he decided against telephoning. Jeff would have to make the first move.

In the morning he awoke, still frustrated, and grumpy. He had breakfast with his parents and then went downtown to do the shopping for the Twins. They had given him a list of everything they needed.

He was just leaving the Menswear shop when he heard a car horn blare and Jeff's battered Ford convertible pulled to the curb. Jeff had his usual shit-eating grin on his face and his arm loosely around the shoulders of a stunning blonde. In the back seat Robbie glowered. The blonde, whose name was Melissa was, by any yardstick, a looker. She had a good set of lungs, which filled her bikini bra and her tight, white shorts showed her bikini line. Her hand rested on Jeff's leg, her fingers idly twirling and curling his dark leg-hair. Jeff was wearing dark blue running shorts and a white tank top, the tight garments accentuating his perfect body, and basket. Robbie was dressed in his soccer gear and had a face on him like a Forty-shilling teapot. Every so often he would look daggers at Melissa, obviously jealous and obviously hating the thought of her touching his Jeff. The Phantom wanted to tell the kid he had nothing to worry about. Melissa, unlike most of the Vestals who hung off Jeff's body, planned to keep her virginity a little while longer, a fact that she made known to every boy she came into contact with. She was also leaving in September for Victoria to attend the university there.

Jeff was all football jock, showing off and crowing his masculinity to the world. "What are you buying there, sport?" he asked in a hail-fellow-well-met tone.

The Phantom held up the heavy bag. "Underpants," he replied blandly.

Melissa giggled and even Robbie smiled, briefly. Then he glared at Jeff, his eyes full of hurt.

Jeff coloured. He wasn't at all sure that he should be discussing a guy's underwear in front of a girl. "Hey, Phantom, we're going to round up the gang and head up island for a swim," announced Jeff. He thrust his thumb back at his younger brother. "I just got to drop the Squirt off, then we're history. Why don't you skip work and come with us?"

The Phantom wondered what "gang" Jeff was talking about - he had never been a part of the Jeff Jensen Fan Club. He also wondered where "The Squirt" had come from. Jeff was being so determinedly hetero it was bordering on disgusting.

"I have a name," snarled 'The Squirt'. "Let's go, Jeff, I don't want to be late for practice."

"Keep your pants on, Robbie," snapped Jeff. "I'm talking here."

Judging from the look of pure hatred that Robbie flashed at Melissa, and then at his brother, The Phantom thought that "Squirt" was planning to keep his pants firmly attached to his ass for the next month. "No, thanks," he said to Jeff. "I have to work. There is too much to do between now and next Sunday."

"Well, your loss," replied Jeff indifferently. He waved his hand and they drove off, Melissa waggling her fingers in good-bye. Robbie sat stone-faced in the back of the car.

The Phantom returned home and prepared for work. He masturbated in the shower, dressed, and then begged a lift from his father, who threw his son's bicycle in the back of the pickup truck that was his pride and joy. As they drove through town toward the base they chattered on about nothing at all, as fathers and sons do. The Phantom reminded his father about the Commanding Officer's Anniversary Parade. His father nodded and looked nostalgic as the whitewashed buildings of AURORA came into view. The old man missed the old days when he was a part of the military. They stopped briefly to watch the cadets drilling and for a brief moment The Phantom understood what his father was feeling. He gave his dad's hand a small pat as they drove on.

As they passed through the entrance to AURORA The Phantom could not help but think that the place never really changed all that much. On one side of the parade square the Bugle Band was blaring away, playing for the Drill classes marching back and forth. On the other side the gun crews were busily stripping down their field pieces, practicing for a gun run.

His father stopped the truck in front of the Mess Hall and The Phantom got out. As the pickup drove off The Phantom stopped a moment to watch the unfolding panorama on the parade square. Cory and Todd were out there, as was Brian. He glanced longingly in their direction and then went into the galley.

Ray and Sandro were glad to see him. Ray seemed tired but smiled warmly. Sandro was chattering away, practicing his English. Everything was normal, almost boringly so. Chef was his usual self: grumpy.

After lunch the Twins drifted by to pick up their new clothes. "I guess I'm a little conservative when it comes to undies," apologized The Phantom, as the Twins examined the white and plain coloured boxers and T-shirts. "But I did get some pinstripes for Cory to wear to church. And I got you these." He held up two sets of Royal Stuart tartan boxers. "You guys can't quit cold turkey."

"Phantom, those are great!" said Todd, laughing as he examined The Phantom's purchases.

"Wait 'til the guys see us in these," enthused Cory. "Tyler will cream his jockeys."

"If he does it better not be with help from you," warned Todd menacingly.

"Hey, I'm straight," returned Cory with a false smile. After a moment's hesitation he added, "For now, anyway." Then he winked at The Phantom. The Phantom, who was wondering how long this straight routine would last, smiled broadly. Cory would always be Cory.

"Did you get the shorts?" asked Todd.

The Phantom nodded and handed him the largest pair of blue gym shorts he could find. "Who the hell are these for?" he asked. The shorts were much too large to fit either of the Twins.

"Harry," replied Todd simply.

"You heard what happened at PT yesterday?" asked Cory.

The Phantom nodded. He had heard, from just about everybody, including the ship's cat, who had been on PT Parade, and had listened as the cadets laughed about Harry flashing Kyle and Dirty Dave the Deacon. He had also listened to the awed expressions whenever the size and girth of Harry's genitals were mentioned. "We're going to give those shorts to Harry," continued Cory. "He has got some great upper deck fittings but we have cut down on the temptation factor. These will do the trick just fine." He looked thoughtful. "Now, if we can just convince him that he must wear a jock . . ."

Todd groaned. "Cory!"

"Well we must," insisted Cory. "You saw him waving his dick all over Creation this morning. It was a sight!" He waggled his eyebrows at The Phantom, who blushed. "Look at Phantom," he crowed. "He's blushing."

"You'll be hurting in a minute," threatened Todd. "Not everybody is mesmerized by the sight, or the size of Harry's parts!"

"It's all right, Todd. Cory is just being himself," said The Phantom, secretly wishing that he had been there to see Harry's well-endowed parts. "It's difficult to change overnight, Todd."

"See, Phantom understands," said Cory with a self-righteous sniff.

"I wish I did," replied Todd, shaking his head.

Shortly before 1500 the Executive Officer returned from Esquimalt. He arrived riding in the cab of the workhorse of the DND transport fleet, a huge deuce-and-a-half, which was filled to the gunwales with white uniforms, gym gear, and two sets of Chiefs uniforms. A work party was hastily organized and the truck unloaded. When everything was safely stored Number One announced that he was taking three days leave, which left The Gunner holding the can. In an uncharacteristic display of his displeasure, The Gunner grumbled and stomped gracelessly to the Headquarters Building where he began to work on Routine Orders. Greg, the Ship's Writer, who was a tall, dark haired young man with a quick and easy smile, helped him. Greg was new to the ship, having come on board only the day before. The Twins drifted in and weaseled their way into another reprieve. "It's so hot in the barracks, Guns," whined Cory dramatically, at the same time giving Greg the once over.

"Yes, it is," confirmed Todd, poking Cory in the ribs. "It's ever so hot and everybody has to take more showers just to help cool off, and you know how they're always going on about us using too much water."

"Yes, you can go swimming," said The Gunner firmly. He knew exactly what the Twins were whining about and just to let them know that he was wise to their tricks he added, "And for your sins you can report to Clothing Stores at 1800 and help them get their act together."

Both Twins groaned. They didn't mind working in Stores. At least the place was clean. They did mind having to work with Little Big Man's cronies, Rob and David.

The Gunner, who knew what had transpired outside the galley the day before, reassured them. "Both Rob and David have been spoken to. They will give you no trouble." He signed the piece of paper Greg put in front of him. "As for Little Big Man, he's suffering from ill health. He just doesn't know it yet. One more incident and he's on his way home." He smiled grimly.

The Twins nodded their thanks.

At that moment Greg dropped the file folder he was holding and bent over to pick it up, the white drill fabric of his bells stretching across a perfectly formed butt. His briefs lines were clearly visible. Cory gulped. He was an ass man, and a sucker for a well formed behind. Even Todd, who was normally much less obvious than Cory, cast an admiring glance Greg's way. Their ogling was not lost on The Gunner. He gave the pair of them the eye and nodded towards the door. They smiled weakly and fled the office.

Greg leaned over The Gunner and put yet another piece of paper in front of him. Greg's scent, a mixture of talcum, starch, and clean teenage boy assailed his nostrils. "Jesus," he thought, fighting to control the tingling that seemed to have replaced his dick. "I have got to get out of this place."

He signed off everything Greg put in front of him and then went over to his office and changed into his swimming gear. He led the long line of chattering Sea Puppies past the galley and on to the beach where the Chief PTI and The Assistant took over. As he watched the New Entries being put through their swimming tests the Twins strolled up and spread out their towels beside him, Cory placing his towel as close as he dared.

The Gunner sat with his arms around his knees, knowing full well that Cory was surreptitiously casting glances his way. He tried not to notice that Cory had boned up and that the tip of his smooth, pink, helmet was peeking past the edge of his swimming shorts. To make matters worse the 38 New Entry Cadets were laughing and splashing, roiling the calm water. In front of him the 13 and 14-year-old boys cavorted, showing off their smooth, hairless, pink and brown bodies, every one of them clad in a tight, brief-like swimming suit, which tightened their butts into perfect, taut little orbs, and compressed their little boy parts into compact bumps between their hairless legs. He continued to supervise the boys, answering their questions, trying to appear and act as normal as possible, thankful that his baggy shorts hid his semi hard penis. He groaned silently. "I just have to get of out this place."

After Swim Parade The Gunner returned to his office, changed, and checked in with Clothing Stores. Rob and David were getting themselves organized so he left them alone. He was a great believer in not fixing anything that wasn't broken. Both cadets were very competent and needed little, if any, supervision. He warned them that the Twins would be coming in to give them a hand and that there was to be no nonsense. Finally, he climbed into his Land Rover and drove along the roadway, only to see The Phantom plodding along, pushing his bicycle. He pulled alongside the boy and stopped. "Got a problem, Phantom?" he asked through the open passenger side window.

The Phantom smiled shyly and nodded. "Just a flat tire. I'll fix it when I get home."

"You planning on walking into town?"

The Phantom nodded.

"Not on my watch. Chuck your bike in the back and get in. I'll drive you home."

The Phantom could not believe his luck. He hastily stowed his bike in the large, open back of the Rover and climbed into the vehicle, sitting beside the man he loved, separated only by a large, square, brown leather briefcase. He quickly told The Gunner where he lived and they set off, chatting idly. The Phantom was thankful that he was wearing loose fitting sweat pants. The baggy cloth hid his boner, which stretched thickly along the inside of his leg. As much as he wanted to he dared not touch himself and sat contentedly, drinking in the scents of the man, tobacco, sweat, a faint hint of a pleasant aftershave, the special sweetness that was unique to every man and boy.

Barely ten minutes later they pulled into the driveway of The Phantom's house. The Phantom quickly slid out of the car, adjusting himself as he did so. He thanked The Gunner and retrieved his bicycle.

The Phantom watched as The Gunner slowly drove away and then put his bike in the garage. He all but floated into the house, up the stairs, and into his room where he lay on his bed, fully clothed, gently stroking just his most tender spot, savouring The Gunner's odour that still lingered in his nostrils. Before he knew it his balls tightened and his dick swelled. He groaned as his orgasm overwhelmed him, his pee slit expanding and ejecting stream after stream of his seed into his shorts.

He lay, massaging his cooling semen into his flesh, revelling in the delicious afterglow; his eyes closed, his mind and body at rest, and drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, after Divisions, the musicians and buglers, directed by Harry and Sylvain, lined up in a ragged queue outside of Clothing Stores, waiting to be issued new Class II uniforms. Rob, assisted by David and Ryan, had it all figured out. The Temporary Loan Cards were ready; the neat piles of uniforms were ready. Unfortunately the cadets were not. Andre, the first boy in line, had not a clue what his clothing sizes were.

"Well, fuck, look in your pants," instructed Rob. "There's a tag inside with an 'N' size on it. Just look."

Andre unzipped and opened his pants wide, revealing his black, white-banded Jockeys. "There you go," he grinned. "Take a look."

Rob glared at him. "You look, you French twit! I am not looking in there! God only knows what I'd see!" Andre glanced down and told Rob the size. David took a neatly folded pair of white drill bell-bottom trousers from one of the pre-sorted piles behind the counter and handed them to Rob, who placed them on the counter. "What's your jumper size?" he asked.

Andre shrugged. If he didn't know what size pants he wore how did they expect him to know his jumper size?

Rob sighed heavily. Why he had ever allowed himself to be talked into becoming a Storekeeper he'd never know. He should have put in for pecker checker. At least everybody knew that size! "Go and look in your jumper," he said patiently. "And tell those jerks outside to make sure they know what size pants they wear.

Several minutes later the Matron walked by on her way to the Sick Bay and almost fainted at the sight of sixty-odd boys, their uniform trousers unzipped and spread wide, gazing intently at their crotches.

Once the initial confusion was settled, each cadet was issued with a new pair of bell-bottoms, a new jumper, a large square of black rayon material, a pair of beige-white gaiters and, as an afterthought, a new RCSCC cap tally. The grumbling that ensued when the cadets learned that the new uniforms had to fitted and washed, then ironed, was loud and long. Nor were they pleased that the rayon cloth had to be folded and ironed into silks, the new tallys bent on caps, and the gaiters washed and bleached to white perfection.

Tyler spoke to Val, who spoke to Harry, who yelled at the Twins, who muttered and grumbled at the Gunroom crowd. Operation Warm Fuzzy would commence at 1600 and continue through the Dogs and First Watch and the senior hands, who would help out as much as possible, would visit each barracks.

The Twins, in addition to having to finish their extra duties, were also Middle Watchmen and they complained loudly about all the extra work they could hardly be expected to do three things at once! Harry told them it was penance for their sins and to get on with the grunt.

The Phantom reported for work and carried on in his usual, efficient way. He was still in a daze after being driven home by The Gunner the night before, so much so that he nearly fouled up his tire repair as he spent much of the morning fantasizing that he was in bed with him. He was rudely awakened at lunch when Alfie, who had been loading his plate with salad, suddenly vomited all over the fresh vegetables and fell to the deck writhing in pain.

Doc was hastily summoned. He shooed the curious boys surrounding the moaning Alfie and made a quick, competent, examination. His diagnosis was appendicitis and he ordered Fred to find The Gunner and have him bring his car around. Alfie was wrapped in a warm woollen blanket and cradled in the Matron's heavy arms, then driven by The Gunner to St. Joseph's Hospital in Comox where the Doc's diagnosis was confirmed. Alfie underwent emergency surgery. He would spend a week in hospital and then be sent home.

The pall that had settled over the Gunroom was dispelled when The Gunner put in an appearance and told the assembled cadets that Alfie was out of danger. After ordering Alfie's gear to be packed up he agreed to help with Operation Warm Fuzzy.

After dinner The Gunner drove the Master at Arms, the Cadet Chief Gunner and Thumper into town where they visited Alfie who, while still a bit groggy, was alert and smiling. He showed them his incision. Thumper looked at it and snorted. "What's the big deal?" he sniped. "My circumcision scar is bigger than that!"

Alfie laughed so hard he ripped a stitch, which earned his visitors a stern lecture from the Charge Nurse. Much chastened and humbled they returned to AURORA to commence Operation Warm Fuzzy.

In the absence of the Executive Officer many of his duties fell to The Gunner, including the role of Duty Officer, which meant he would be on Duty until 0800 the next morning. He hoped the bunk in the Guard House was comfortable.

At 1800 he began his first set of rounds, visiting the New Entry barracks first. Here he found the cadets in various stages of undress, some in briefs and socks, others clothed, some wearing nothing but a towel as they came from, or went to, the showers. At one end of the long mess table Jon and Stuart were patiently ironing cap tallies. At the other, in a cloud of steam and spray starch, Nicholas was demonstrating the best way to iron bell-bottoms.

"I hope you know how to tie a tally," The Gunner said to Stuart, who assured him that he did, indeed, know how to tie a cap tally. "No butterfly bows," warned The Gunner.

He turned to face a small, fair boy, clad only in a new, white jumper and thin, white briefs. In the boy's hand was the square of rayon fabric. "Please, sir, what do I do with this?" the boy asked.

The Gunner realized that no one knew how to make a proper silk so he called the boys together and demonstrated folding the 50 inch by 12 inch fabric into one long, inch wide silk. When the large piece of cloth was one long strip, he ironed it and then pinned it together. He draped it around the young cadet's neck, then told him to zip up his jumper.

The cadet, whose name was Peter Weiss, fumbled with the stiff zipper so The Gunner reached down and helped him zip up. A small jolt of electricity passed through The Gunner as he fitted the zipper together. Quite by accident he had brushed the back of his left hand against the soft, warm, little penis hidden under Peter's thin briefs. He could not have helped himself. The tight fitting jumper extended halfway down the cadet's smooth thighs, ending just below the little bulge in his underpants.

As he removed the silk and fitted Peter's lanyard around his neck The Gunner felt beads of sweat popping out on his forehead. He replaced the silk and looped it through the lanyard, his hands shaking slightly as they brushed against the smooth, warm flesh of Peter's bare chest. After the lanyard and silk had been fitted and tied loosely with the tapes sewn into the jumper, he adjusted the length slightly. He checked the width of the tape that hung below the tied tapes, and demonstrated, using three fingers, exactly how wide the "Duff Bag" should be.

"What's this?" asked Peter in a soft, high-pitched voice, as he fingered the almost square piece of cloth held in place by the jumper tapes.

"That, my son, is your Duff Bag." Seeing the quizzical look on Peter's face The Gunner continued. "I imagine that in the long ago times a sailor would keep a piece of something sweet in there, to hide it from his messmates. Duff is anything sweet, usually dessert." He smiled warmly. Peter smiled softly back. "Now all you have to do is sew the silk together and you'll be all set," said The Gunner, breathing a silent sigh of relief now that this particular ordeal was over.

"Don't worry, Gunner," said Jon. "We'll look after young Peter. We have a dhobey parade in a little while so everything will be nice and tiddly, but I'll show him how to sew up his silk before we go over to the laundry." He smiled a crooked smile.

The Gunner groaned inwardly. Another slim, handsome boy to worry about! "I just got to get out of this fucking place! And why do three quarters of them have to be blonds?"

The Gunner continued on his rounds, visiting each of the barracks in turn. Each barracks was essentially a mirror of the other, a whirling hurly-burly of half-naked cadets who were busily putting their uniforms in order, ironing, sewing, and polishing boots. He wondered why, after walking through all the barracks, the cadets thought it necessary to strip down to their underwear the moment they entered their sleeping quarters. He noticed that boxer shorts, plain colours, stripes and tartans, particularly among the older boys, were making inroads against the ubiquitous tighty-whiteys that the majority of the cadets wore. He also noticed with pleasure that there was a senior cadet in each barracks, offering help where and when needed.

He continued his rounds and entered the Staff Barracks, inspecting the Petty Officers Mess first. The room was deserted except for Little Big Man, who was primly attired in blue, issue gym shorts and a white T-shirt. He was sitting on his bunk industriously polishing his boots. He barely acknowledged The Gunner's presence, smiling thinly and without a hint of warmth as The Gunner passed on into the Gunroom.

The Gunroom denizens were as busy as the other cadets. They were also, for the most part, just as underdressed as their juniors in the other barracks. He noticed that high fashion, at least in underwear had made its way to AURORA, the Twins surprisingly leading the cadet haute monde. They were each wearing a pair of vibrant red and gold tartan boxers. "Are you two expecting Bonnie Prince Charlie to call?" The Gunner asked them, and then moved on to where Harry was sitting.

The Twins grinned, bowed low and, as The Gunner turned to sit down Cory stuck out his tongue.

"I saw that, Cory!" said The Gunner as he sat beside Harry and watched the vibrant activity all around him.

The Gunroom was as a scene of organized chaos. Two Strokes, a steaming iron in hand, was busily forming the pieces of black rayon fabric into silks. Val and Tyler were standing on the bench, bare-chested, wearing their new straight-leg white trousers. Chris and Fred were busily folding up the unfinished hem of Val's white trousers, while the Twins were attending to Tyler. Harry, never the trendsetter, was all but naked, wearing a pair of threadbare, slightly rump-sprung tighty whiteys. The Gunner, who had heard about Harry flashing the PT parade, could not fail to notice that the cotton fabric covered a lot of pink flesh. Unaware of The Gunner's casual inspection, Harry was industriously sewing the freshly ironed silk ends together, forming them into a loop. Nearby Thumper was carefully putting large stitches in a pair of new white bell-bottomed trousers, adjusting the hem as he sewed.

As The Gunner watched the activity Cory finished pinning the hem of Tyler's trousers and told him to hop down and strip. Tyler did as he was told and unbuttoned his trousers, stepped out of them and handed them to Todd. Val quickly followed suit. Both boys stood there, wearing nothing but tight, white briefs.

Cory and Todd were momentarily awestruck. Chris, on his knee and with his nose barely inches from Val's compact, well-formed basket, felt his heart skip a beat. Two Strokes, and Fred, together with Thumper and Harry, paused to frankly admire the two senior cadets.

By any definition the Master at Arms was a superbly handsome, magnificently proportioned young man. His broad, chiselled face was set with two sparkling, steel blue eyes, a narrow, aristocratic nose, and thin, wonderfully formed lips. His narrow eyebrows perfectly matched in colour his curly, copper-coloured hair. Tyler had a broad, hairless chest, with two pink nipples in light brown, barely perceptible aureoles set in tightly defined abs. His chest flowed and tapered gradually to form his slightly formed waist and his perfect peach-like butt arced down to form his well-muscled thighs, creating fine calves and ankles. His legs, from just above his ankles to just under the curve of his behind, were faintly dusted with light copper hair, which disappeared under the elastic band of his briefs.

Under the thin fabric of his briefs it was readily apparent that God had blessed Tyler. Clearly outlined, faintly pink under the cotton fabric of his underpants his five-inch, soft, thick; cleanly circumcised, perfectly proportioned penis lay tight against his thigh. At the base of this wonder his large testicles rested snugly. Small tendrils of dark red hair curled deliciously from under the tight elastic leg bands of his underpants.

While Tyler's smooth, tanned pinkness gave evidence of his English heritage, Val's light olive skin and smouldering brown eyes proclaimed his Sicilian ancestry. He was as tall as Tyler, though not as smoothly formed. His chest was firmly defined and his arms and legs, though thinner than Tyler's, were muscular. His smooth oval face and thin nose gave hint of a Norman forebear. His hazel eyes were framed with long, dark lashes and browed with thick brown hair, which matched precisely the short, neatly combed hair on his head. His skin had tanned to a delicious darkness that his white briefs contrasted to perfection.

Unlike the other Senior Cadets, Val had a small patch of dark, curly hair that covered the centre of his chest. Where Tyler had a deliciously defined treasure trail of bright red, coarse hair leading to his small slash of a navel, Val boasted a small, almost invisible curling trace peeking from the band his briefs and rising in delicate swirls that circled his navel, not quite an inny, not yet an outy, a cute button nestling in the soft hair surrounding it.

The Cadet Chief Gunner was wearing a pair of briefs so old and worn that it was apparent that while he was not as generously endowed as Tyler, his soft, circumcised penis was well made and well proportioned. His light olive, slender shaft, which ended in a pale pink, neatly defined helmet, hung down over his small, smooth-skinned testicles, which rested snugly against the base of his penis, growing from a dark brown bush - clearly outlined under the fabric - which peeked out in long, straight strands from the leg bands of his underpants. In another age he would have been a Raphael St. George, or his lithe, muscular form part of a frescoed panel in the Sistine Chapel.

Each of the other boys, in his own way, was stunned at the male beauty standing before them. Two Strokes, who never joined in the homoerotic bantering that was part of Mess life, would have suffered torture and death before admitting to the feelings that flashed through him. Chris, Fred and the Twins stared in open admiration of the visions before them. Even Harry, who was himself a handsome youth, felt a pang of jealousy.

The Gunner was just as stunned by the beauty of Val and Tyler, but managed to recover quickly. Glancing at Val and Tyler's near nakedness, he snorted and then smiled broadly. "You guys are really not helping my reputation. Everywhere I go today I end up in a room full of boys in their underwear."

The Gunner's laughing remark broke the sexual tension. The cadets chuckled and quickly returned to what they had been doing.

"We're just getting fitted for our new duds," explained Tyler, relieved that he was no longer the object of everybody's close scrutiny. Our tailors assure us that they are the best."

Todd and Cory grinned. Todd held up Tyler's trousers, then sat down and began to sew. Cory took Val's trousers and joined Todd. The Gunner watched as they carefully stitched and smoothed the stiff drill. The Gunner looked at Cory and Todd as they expertly hemmed Tyler and Val's trousers. "You should wash those trousers when the Twins are finished," he advised Tyler, trying hard not to notice the way Val's genitals swung gently as he walked about the Gunroom. "That way the thread will be the same colour as the rest of the pants." He leaned over and watched Harry sewing the black silks. He picked up one of Harry's finished product and scrutinized it carefully. "Nice job, Harry. Do you darn socks?"

Harry grimaced and motioned for Two Strokes to come over. He draped a length of cloth around Two Strokes' neck, measuring by eye the correct length, then pinned the ends together. "Got to make sure he has a good Duff Bag," he said as he used three fingers to measure the bottom part of the silk. He made a minor adjustment, and then removed the cloth from Two Strokes' neck. He trimmed the cloth then began sewing, his needle, tiny in his huge hand, making small, precise stitches.

"Harry," said The Gunner in true amazement. "You are truly a Renaissance man. You wax philosophical, you toss the Mace with a grace I have not seen this side of the Royal Marines School of Music, and you can sew. If you tell me you can also cook, why, you would be the man of every girl's dreams."

"I can cook, and I don't need a girl," growled Harry. He flashed The Gunner a wicked grin. "All I need is a sheep."

The Gunner choked with laughter. "Harry, if I didn't know any better I'd swear you were related to those two skates." He waved towards the Twins.

Cory groaned loudly and pretended to shudder at the thought of Harry being related to them in any degree. Todd made a horrified face and then laughed aloud. "Please, Guns, don't gift him on us," he moaned as he rolled his eyes. "We have enough trouble with the relatives we have."

The Gunner laughed again and then called to Tyler. "Well, Chief, it looks like you're O.K. in the pants department. How are the jackets?"

Both Tyler and Val disappeared into their cabin and emerged buttoning their starched, white, high-collared jackets. When they were finished The Gunner motioned them to turn and watched as they revolved slowly. He studied the two teenagers with critical detachment. The tunics fit both cadets to perfection, the sleeves exactly right, the bottom of each jacket just covering their smooth, round, brief covered bums. "A very good fit," he said, nodding his approval. "Now all you need are your buttons and crowns."

Val and Tyler exchanged an uneasy look as they unbuttoned their jackets. "We have a bit of a problem, there, Gunner," said Val as he removed his jacket and placed it on the table.

"What sort of a problem?"

"Well," began Tyler, colouring slightly. "We don't know how to put the buttons on. We don't have a manual."

"Which is not a problem," replied The Gunner. "I know how to fit them. Get me your buttons and the crowns. I'll also need a small ruler, a pencil, and a pair of scissors, manicure type if any of you have them." Harry passed over a superb pair of embroidery scissors. The Gunner glanced at them, and then at Harry, who smiled enigmatically.

Val returned from his cabin with two small envelopes, which he emptied on the table in front of The Gunner, who examined first the gold coloured buttons, then the crowns. He sighed, and then spoke softly. "Well, the buttons are fine, just right, in fact. Unfortunately they've given you the wrong crowns. These are King's Crowns. You want Queen's."

"What is the difference?" asked Chris sitting down beside Harry. "Who would know the difference, anyway? A crown is a crown!"

"I would," said Val.

"As would I." Tyler picked up one of the small brass crowns backed with crimson cloth. "He studied the small artefact. "We could not possibly wear these because we are not entitled to wear them."

The Gunner nodded his head sagely. "Which explains, Tyler, "why you beat out 23 other Cadets for Master at Arms and you, Val, triumphed over 116 other senior Chiefs."

Both cadets beamed. They knew of course that they had been selected over quite a few others, and not a few senior, cadets. They did not know the numbers. The Gunner turned to Chris. "The difference, Chris," said The Gunner, "is that the King's crown is modeled after the Imperial State Crown. Her Majesty's is modeled after St. Edward's Crown. The crown is changed at the beginning of every new Reign. When the old King died in 1952 his Crown . . ." he held up a miniature Imperial State Crown . . . "was replaced by this." He picked up the miniature of St. Edward's Crown. "Sort of like changing your cap tally when you leave one ship and sign aboard another one."

"So what do we do?" asked Tyler.

"Never fear, Gunner fix." The Gunner reached into the pocket of his trousers and withdrew a ring of keys. He handed them to Chris. "In my desk there is a large cash box. Inside there are two jewellers' boxes. Would you fetch them, please?" "Sure, Gunner," said Chris. He took the keys and hurried from the Gunroom, smiling happily, his faux pas over the crowns forgotten in his realization of the trust that The Gunner had just shown in him.

The Gunner watched the smiling boy leave. "Sometimes," he thought pensively, "It takes so little to make them happy." He hid a frown, wondering if there was an attraction for him behind Chris's happy smile. He certainly hoped not. He had all he could handle with the Twins and The Phantom. He turned to Val and Tyler. "While we are waiting for young Christopher to return, watch and learn as I make for thee a grommet."

He smoothed the wide sleeve of one of the jackets. "First you find the centreline. Then you measure 3 inches from the bottom edge of the cuff." With an expert eye The Gunner made the measurement and marked the centre of the sleeve of the jacket with the pencil, marring the white drill with a small dot of carbon. Using the scissors he carefully pushed the point through the fabric and made a small, round, ragged hole. He then borrowed a needle and white thread from Harry and began lining the edges of the hole with neat, almost dainty stitches. Five minutes later he held up the sleeve and showed the small, perfectly formed and reinforced grommet. "That gentlemen, is a grommet."

The Gunner next fitted one of the gold buttons into the grommet and dogged it in place with a small metal toggle. "Now comes the hard part." He began measuring again, placing a loose button on either side of the fitted one. "Each button has to be two inches centred on either side of the centre button." His measurements complete he again pierced the fabric. "See, easy as pie." He hand the jacket to Val, who promptly handed it back.

"Gunner, I can't sew worth a shit," confessed Val, blushing.

"And my mother did all my sewing." confessed Tyler.

The Gunner pretended disgust. "When I was your age I could sew so well I could build you a new pair of pants and a jumper. Jesus, what is my Navy coming to?" He picked up the jacket and began forming another grommet. "I guess I have to do everything myself," he said with an exaggerated sigh.

Fortunately for Val and Tyler's egos Chris entered the mess and placed two oblong, navy blue and gold leather boxes on the table. "These what you want?" he asked The Gunner as he returned the keys.

"Exactly." The Gunner handed one box to Tyler, one to Val. "You can wear these." Tyler opened his box and saw that it contained, nestled tightly in thick, tufted satin, six gold buttons and two gold and crimson Queen's Crowns. Val read aloud the inscription written in black lettering on the cream satin lining the top of the lid. "Garrard & Company. Goldsmiths and Crown Jewellers to HM the Queen and HM The Queen Mother." He whistled loudly.

The box in Tyler's hand bore the same inscription. He examined the contents closely and his eyes widened. "Holy fuck, Gunner," he ejaculated profanely. "These things are real gold!"

Ignoring Tyler's oath The Gunner replied quietly. "They had better be or there is a three-ringer who's going to be mighty pissed of."

"May I ask where you got them?" asked Tyler. He sensed that the gold insignia meant a great deal to the man sitting and sewing diligently.

"No big deal." The Gunner shrugged. "When I graduated Whale Island my Term Lieutenant shocked the shit out of me by giving me one set. When we switched over to the green uniform the Command Chief Gunnery Instructor gave me the other. He said even though I wouldn't be able to wear them I should keep them to remind me of what a Chief should look like when I got up there."

Tyler sat down beside The Gunner. "We couldn't possibly wear these. I mean they are your history."

The Gunner was feeling decidedly uncomfortable. Tyler and Val were wearing only their briefs. He could feel the maleness their bodies exuded, and he tried desperately not to look at the smooth bulges hidden by the cotton. He concentrated on forming a new grommet. "They're not doing me any good mouldering away in some drawer. You wear them. In fact, keep them. One day, when another cadet or sailor comes along who you think deserves them, pass them on." He pricked his finger and swore under his breath. Then he had an idea. He looked up at Val. "Tell you what, I'll trade you for a sip of that white lightning you keep hidden under your clean undies in your locker."

Val's jaw dropped. "How did . . . how did you know?"

"Easy. Who do you think inspects this hole before the Captain does?" The Gunner grinned and pointed his thumb at his chest. "Me does." He laughed uproariously a Val's discomfiture. "Don't worry. I shall never tell. Nor will I tell about the bottle of Johnny Walker Black that Tyler keeps hidden under his dirty socks and underpants in his laundry bag. Or . . ." He thought a moment. "Ah, yes, the bottle of brandy in Two Strokes' kit bag, wrapped in two gunshirts, or the jug of black rum that Thumper keeps in his kit bag." He stared down at the Twins who sat with hunched shoulders, busily sewing. "And, lest we forget, the two forty-pounders of vodka that a certain set of fraternal twins keep hidden in their sea chests, in shoe boxes, under their civvy clothes. Did I get them all?" he asked no one in particular. He heard Harry snuffling and coughing as he plied his needle in a silk. The Gunner looked at him. "I have not forgotten you, Harry me lad. I also have not forgotten the bottle of Mother's Ruin you have hidden away in your locker. It's no wonder you never wear your jock, not when you've got it wrapped around a bottle of gin!"

Val sat down, stunned. "However did you find them?"

"Easy, I looked." The Gunner looked at the assembled cadets. "Guys, as long as you're discreet, I personally do not give a fuck. You are all trusted. If you weren't, you wouldn't be here."

Shaking his head Val stood up and went to get the grappa. He placed the bottle and a clean glass on the table.

The Gunner held the bottle up and studied it. "Must have been a good party. By my eye measurement this was full a week ago."

"We sort of had to celebrate Cory's victory," explained Tyler, a sheepish look on his face. "We had a small party."

"From the state of a certain moose-like Drum Major this morning and the fact that this bottle has a serious evaporation problem, it seems to me that you had a large party," opined The Gunner. "Never mind. Little git deserved a drink after hitting that homer." He waved the bottle at Val. "So, then, boychick! Where are the glasses?" Glasses and mugs appeared as if by magic. "One short - very short - snort apiece, and cut it with water," ordered The Gunner.

The cadets crowded around Val who poured each of them a small drink. He poured The Gunner and Tyler an even larger drink. Drinks in hand the cadets returned to their work. Val and Tyler sat and watched as The Gunner's needle worked its way around the next grommet.

"Where did you learn to sew?" asked Harry, casting an admiring glance at The Gunner's stitching.

"An old Chief taught all of us new recruits when we were in CORNWALLIS. Back in the dawn of time we didn't have anyone else to do our sewing. It was either learn or walk around with your ass hanging out if you ripped your pants. Where did you learn, Harry?"

"You'd laugh if I told you."

"No, I wouldn't," said The Gunner as he finished the grommet. "Almost every sailor knows how to sew. We had to learn." He smiled tightly. "No Moms at sea, Harry." Harry nodded and picked up the other jacket. He began sewing a grommet. His needle slowly forming neat, exact stitches.

"I learned from the old Chief," continued The Gunner, his voice tinged with nostalgia. "He was a fine old duck. He joined the RN in 1913 as a boy seaman, went through the First War, came out here and joined the RCN, went through the Second War, then Korea. After that he looked after the young recruits. He was a father figure, if you know what I mean. He scolded us when we needed it, and gave us a shoulder to cry on when we needed one. He taught us a lot about looking after ourselves, and each other." He put down the jacket he was working on. His eyes clouded as he remembered. "Looking back, now, we were awfully young. I was just past 17 when I joined the RCN. Most of the other guys were 18 and a bit. We were all homesick and lonesome, very much like the young cadets who come here for the first time. The old Chief, he was just there for us. He took us all under his wing, yelled at us, praised us, and, like I said, listened to our problems. At Christmas he had all the guys who couldn't get home, and, well . . . the guys who had no homes to go to, over to his house. His wife and daughters cooked up a bang-up dinner. They were great cooks. Between the Chief, his Missus, and his daughters, they turned out some pretty good matelots." He picked up the jacket and began sewing again. "I see Operation Warm Fuzzy is up and running," he said casually, referring to the presence of the senior cadets in the barracks earlier.

Tyler nodded. "There will be no little cadets crying themselves to sleep if we can help it," he said sipping his drink. "And we made sure that there's a senior cadet in every barracks tonight, just in case."

The Gunner returned Tyler's nod. "You're learning." He jerked his head towards the Twins. "Are they behaving?"

"As good as gold," said Val sitting opposite The Gunner. "They claim they're on the straight and narrow. They haven't groped or grabbed anybody all day."

"That will last about a week," said Harry dubiously.

"Oh, ye of little faith." replied The Gunner.

The Twins walked up and handed the hemmed trousers to Tyler and Val. "Here you go," said Todd. "All tickety-boo."

Tyler nodded his thanks. "It's getting late and I want to do a walk about before I tackle my dhobey." He grinned at The Gunner. "The next time you go looking for a drink I promise that my laundry bag will contain only clean undies."

The Gunner chuckled and reached for two gold crowns. He began to position one on Tyler's jacket. "I appreciate that Tyler, I really do. Skids marks do nothing for me!"

Tyler groaned and looked at the Twins. "You have Mids. Try to keep out of trouble." He motioned for Val to follow him. "It might be a good idea if we put on some clothes."

Val looked at The Gunner as he expertly fit the small crown into the grommets he had made. "We owe you, big time, Gunner," he said.

"I'm just carrying on a tradition." He looked at the Twins, who were dressing, putting on their uniforms. He smiled fondly. "I'm Officer of the Day. I'll keep an eye on them."

"Or they'll keep an eye on you," replied Val with a grin. "I always sleep with one eye open when I have the watch with them!"

Harry smiled at the look on The Gunner's face. He watched the two Chiefs disappear into their Mess. "I always sleep with both eyes open!" he said with a loud chuckle.

The Gunner laughed and then pointed with his chin at the small pile of complete silks that lay on the table in front of Harry. "So, Harry, who taught you how to sew?"

Harry picked up the embroidery scissors. He looked embarrassed. "You won't laugh?" he asked.

"No, I promise."

Harry grinned. "My old Granny. She taught all of us how to sew and do needlepoint."

"Needlepoint?" The Gunner almost forgot his promise, unable to picture the ham-handed Harry doing delicate embroidery.

Harry nodded firmly. "You ever live on a farm, in winter? The snow is up to your ass and half the time you can't get out. All you do is feed the stock and sit around drinking or smoking, or beating off."

"Harry! You have been hanging around the Twins too long."

Harry laughed boisterously. "They wish!" He looked seriously at The Gunner. "Honest, Gunner my old Granny taught me and my brothers to sew, and my mother taught us how to cook."

"You're lucky, then," replied The Gunner sadly. "I never knew my Granny. She was dead by the time I was born." He lapsed into silence as he finished fitting the buttons and crowns into the jackets. For the first time in a long while he thought of the family he had never really had.

As the other cadets finished their immediate tasks they dressed and drifted away. The Gunner finished his sewing and asked Harry to make sure the Chiefs got their jackets. He stood up. "I'll see you around, Harry. Duty calls."

Harry nodded his agreement. He sensed that The Gunner, who always seemed so independent and self-reliant, was missing something in his life. He looked at The Gunner. "If you ever find yourself on King's Highway 6, about 150 miles north of Winnipeg you'll see a mailbox that looks like an old Russian church. Turn in. The door's always open."

The Gunner was touched by Harry's sincerity. "I might just do that, Harry."

Much later, as he sat in the privacy of the Duty Officer's cabin in the Guard House, The Gunner picked up the handset of the telephone on the desk and punched in the code for an outside line, then dialled the area code and number he wanted. He waited, listening to the ringing of the telephone far away. After a while he slowly replaced the handset, then lay down on the cot.

Under a full moon The Phantom pedaled his bike furiously as he sped along the road leading to AURORA. His father had gone back on duty, and would be working the graveyard shift for the next four days. The Phantom could now, in safety, come and go as he pleased.

He was particularly anxious about Ray. Always quiet, Ray had become even quieter all evening as they prepared the sandwiches that were always left out for the Duty Watch. Ray had seemed distracted for most of the day. Only this afternoon he had almost dropped a tray of fresh-baked pies, which would have caused no end of grief.

The Phantom had a very good idea of what Ray's problem was. He smiled a small, sly smile. Tonight. Tonight Ray's problems would be solved.

He glided to a halt in front of the shack, dismounted and put his bike away. He proceeded immediately to the beach leading to AURORA. He was exercising more than his usual caution. The full moon made concealment difficult and he knew from reading Routine Orders that the Twins, and The Gunner, were on duty. This threatened danger and discovery.

The Gunner was a meticulous, careful man, who believed in doing his duty. The Twins, for all their tomfoolery and nonsense, never fucked around on duty. With The Gunner being on duty with them they would no doubt be doubly attentive to detail. Still, he had to chance it. He needed release just as much as Ray and Brian needed release. He needed to give them as much pleasure as he could.

Using more caution than usual, and stopping every so often to listen and observe, The Phantom moved towards the buildings. He was about to sprint for the Mess Hall when he heard voices. He peered cautiously over the lip of the roadway and parted the small stand of sea grass that effectively hid him from view. He waited patiently as two cadets walked by, each carrying a large tray. He smiled thinly as he watched Todd and Ryan returning from a raid on the sandwiches and coffee Chef always left out for the Duty Watch.

He watched the two cadets disappear into the Guard House and then, using what little shadow there was, he slipped past the Mess Hall and into the Cooks Barracks. He stripped back the cloth hiding his watch face and looked at the time. Almost 0130. He had taken much longer than he had anticipated. Covering the watch face, he walked deeper into the barracks, and went directly to Ray's bunk.

Ray lay quietly in his bunk, hardly daring to breathe as the door to the mess creaked open. He heard the soft movement, and then felt the hand caressing his rising cock. He began to breathe heavily as the coverlet was pulled down to his knees. Soft lips brushed against his and he felt the velvet tongue outline his lips.

The Phantom slowly pulled down the young cook's briefs, not stopping until they encased the boy's knees. Ray's cock was inflamed with desire, and pulsing steadily.

The Phantom licked and kissed Ray's neck. Then he moved down, sucking and nipping at the boy's hard, stiff nipples, tracing a line down his stomach, stopping to tongue Ray's navel, then following the soft treasure trail and burying his nose his Ray's rough pubes. Without touching Ray's heated boner his tongue traced a trail around, under and up again, licking and sucking the soft flesh of Ray's groin. He lowered his head and took Ray's balls in his mouth, rolling them with his tongue, luxuriating in the soft, hairless feel of them.

Ray began squirming as the unknown visitor sucked gently on his dick, his warm, wet tongue swirling around the head. He raised his body, overcome with ecstasy, and then began to kick and scissor his legs, forcing his underpants further down until they were entangled around his ankles. With one foot he forced the garment off his body. He lay naked as the tongue and mouth sent savage jolts of pleasure rocketing through his body.

The Phantom released Ray's balls and was just about to kiss the base of the pleasure trail that led from Ray's balls to his tight, clean smelling love hole when he heard a thump on the steps leading into the barracks. Someone had tripped as he was about to enter the building. Dropping quickly he rolled under the bunk, partially hidden by the coverlet hanging over the edge of the bed. He buried his head in his arms, trying hard not to breathe. He heard a rustling and the mattress directly above his head moved. "Jesus, Ray!" he thought frantically, "Lie still!"

He heard a harsh whisper as the far door creaked open and a shaft of red light penetrated the darkness. "Jesus, David, guys are trying to sleep in here," the voice whispered harshly. "For fuck sakes try to be quiet!" The Phantom recognized Cory's voice.

"I couldn't help it," David whined. "The bottom step is loose. This place is a death trap."

"Well log it when we get back. Now shut up and let's get this over with."

The red beam moved back and forth as Cory and David walked the length of the barracks. Satisfied that everything was all correct they opened, and quietly closed, the door leading to the outside. The Phantom heard the click of the door closing and waited, getting his breathing under control. A close call, but they had seen nothing. He raised his head and was surprised to see that the coverlet extended from end to end of the bed. He crawled out from under the bunk and saw that Ray had somehow pulled the cover over his naked body.

The Phantom stood up and gently pulled the cover down and over Ray's erection, which had formed a tent in the cloth. Ray was rock hard, and The Phantom quickly resumed where he had left off, slowly licking and nipping between Ray's legs.

Ray spread his legs as wide as he could as the saliva-drenched tongue began its short journey. He gasped loudly when the tongue began slowly massaging his tender opening. He raised his legs, offering as much room as he could to the hands that spread his cheeks. The tongue probed lightly, then slowly entered and rolled around the screaming membranes. He bucked and wriggled at the frightening feeling of absolute ecstasy overpowering him.

As The Phantom sucked and tongued the clean tasting hole, Ray's body jerked and squirmed. When the tongue entered his passage Ray knew that he was going to shoot. He could feel his balls contracting into his body as they boiled and roiled. Sensing that Ray was getting close The Phantom withdrew his face and while he continued to kiss and lick Ray's throbbing boner he fished in his pocket for the tube of Vaseline. He quickly lubed his middle finger on his left hand and inserted it gently but firmly in Ray's now distended hole. He quickly placed his mouth over Ray's erection, enveloping the flaming mushroom and plunging downward until his nose was buried in Ray rough bush. He began sucking hard in a pivoting movement, his tongue working the hot, taut skin of Ray's penis. He rotated his finger as he stroked it rapidly in and out of Ray's hole, brushing against his magnificently sensitive prostate.

Ray's heart almost stopped as the finger cross his prostate and the mouth began sucking savagely on his cock. Each time the finger crossed his prostate a huge wave of incredible pleasure coursed through him, matched by an almost unbearable ecstasy that had replaced all sense of his entire lower body. As his dick pulsed and his pee slit gaped open his balls pumped a massive jet into the eager mouth. Ray tried to sit up, his eyes bulging, his heart beating so hard and fast it threatened to break through his chest. His hips jerked as another wave of cum ripped through his dick. Then another.

He felt the mouth swallowing his unbelievable load and he almost strangled as his body convulsed with each ejaculation. He lost all sense of time and space as his body stiffened and the last of his cum spurted. He collapsed, writhing, as the mouth continued to suck on his shrinking dick, and the tide of pleasure began to slowly ebb away.

The Phantom slowly sucked his way up Ray's dick, cleaning it with his tongue. As his lips passed over Ray's still enlarged helmet the boy jerked wildly, unable to stand this last assault. Reluctantly, The Phantom withdrew his mouth. He stood up, then bent down and kissed Ray tenderly. He gave Ray's semi hard dick a last feel, and ghosted away.

In the Guard House those members of the Duty Watch who were not taking a deckhead survey were goofing off. Cory, who was seated at the Quartermaster's desk, was idly leafing through a battered paperback copy of 'The Cruel Sea". He heard a muttered oath and looked over at Todd, David and Ryan, who were playing a dispirited game of cards. He watched the players for a few minutes, yawned cavernously, and returned to the book. He was an omnivorous and catholic reader, and enjoyed the adventure novels of Monsarrat and James London, any books of the genre that detailed life at sea. He had read Monsarrat's epic before but still found it interesting. He read a few more pages and then put the book aside. He had read countless books on sailors enduring the dangers of the sea and the violence of the enemy. He had read about Hornblower and Nelson, Captain Kidd and John Paul Jones. He had read of heroic battles, full of thundering cannonades and shattered bodies. Drake might sack Panama; Wolfe die heroically on the Plains of Abraham, Ulysses sail around the world in search of the Golden Fleece and not a one of them got laid!

Cory shook his head at the hypocrisy of literature. Sailors had been sailing the world for thousands of years in little boats and big ships. They discovered great lands and conquered huge cities, yet nowhere was it written that any sailor, cooped up in a ship with a hundred - or more - other men, had gotten his end wet! It did not matter if the book was fact or fiction. Jolly Jack never snuck off to the bilges for a bit of rumpy pumpy with one of the Powder Monkeys. Hornblower might lust after Lady Wellesley but his end stayed firmly dry. So far as Cory knew the only sailor who ever got lucky was Nelson, and he was branded an adulterer for doing the horizontal mambo with Lady Hamilton!

Which led Cory to consider that in all the books about the Navy and sailors that he had read, what little sex in the damned things was heterosexual. The literary world maintained the myth that there were no gays in any man's Navy, in any age or time and the closest any man ever got to another man was when Nelson asked Hardy to kiss him! Which every historian took pains to explain had actually been a corruption of "Kismet".

Cory snorted in disgust! In the old days ships sailed for weeks on end on the open sea. Naval vessels were commissioned for three years service and in wartime the crews rarely, if ever went ashore. And still nobody got laid, or dropped his drawers in the cable deck. Nobody had a "winger" to keep him company in the doldrums of the Middle Watch! Dear God, what hypocrites there be!

The hypocrisy extended to this day and age. Cory knew that hidden in the desk was a small stack of stroke books, ripped, torn, wrinkled and slobbered over, full of pictures of naked women, all tits, ass and gungas - not a decent dick to be seen! Boys were expected to drool and wank over such magazines. That was expected and condoned. Yet if he dared to smuggle one of the euphemistically called 'art books' that glorified the male physique, there would be mass coronaries from Cape Scott to Signal Hill. There were no gays in the Sea Cadets or the Navy. They were all straight and they all jerked off to pictures of naked women!

Cory, for some strange reason, thought of a line from Lady Chatterley's Lover: "His penis stirred, but did not rise." He squirmed uncomfortably. His penis was damn well stirring, and if he kept thinking about sex and sailors it would sure as hell rise, and no danger! To take his mind off of his nether portions he reached for the Manual Of Seamanship, Volume I and began to read up on his signals recognition. As he read he drummed his fingers against the top of the desk. The drumming attracted Todd, who sidled over and asked his brother what he was up to.

"Just reading," replied Cory with a sour look. "I am that bored that I think I'll memorize the semaphore alphabet!"

"You already know it," replied Todd. He gave Cory a small nudge and nodded toward the door. When they were outside Todd reached into his jumper brought out two small packets.

Cory looked at the packets and gave his brother a dirty look. "Cherry Kool-Aid," he exclaimed. "You've been holding out on me!"

Todd laughed and shook his head. He could never understand why, but Cherry Kool-Aid was the odds on favourite of all the powdered drink mixes. It was also the most difficult to come by. Nobody could ever explain why. He suspected that the cooks hid the packages and pigged out when no one was looking. "I was not!" Todd said. "I was saving them for a special occasion. I know how much you like this stuff."

"I do," admitted Cory grudgingly. He gave Todd a look. "And what special occasion is tonight? And why two packages. I can only drink one at a time!" Todd grimaced. "Really, I do you a favour and you ask questions!" He grinned conspiratorially. "Now, it just might happen that if you wandered over to the Mess Hall you might find that there is someone waiting for you in the galley lounge. You do know the galley lounge?"

"Of course I do," snapped Cory. "The cooks hide in there when Chef is on a tear. Or if they're goofing off!" A suspicious look crossed his face. "You are not suggesting that some cook is . . ."

Todd did not allow Cory to finish his question. "The cooks are in their bunks. All I am saying is that a certain Seamanship Instructor just might have decided to wait in the lounge for a certain Chief Gunner to make an appearance when he has his Stand Easy."

Cory's eyes widened. "Chris? Chris is in the galley lounge?"

Todd grinned. "He was a touch upset that you left when you did last night. He was hoping that you and he might . . ."

"Finish what you started!" Cory laughed quietly. "He really doesn't owe me anything, you know."

"I know," replied Todd with a shrug. "Still, he would like to be with you. He mentioned that he cares for you and . . ."

"He's horny," groused Cory. He reached down and adjusted his rising penis. "But then, so am I."

"Well then, what are you waiting for?"

Cory regarded his brother. "Aside from the fact that I do not need you to set me up with Chris, I feel I should remind you that I am on duty," he said frostily. "The Gunner might have a small objection to me taking off. You are familiar with the phrase 'Absent From Place of Duty?' Perhaps we can have Chef write out the Charge Sheet! He writes a fine hand!"

With considerable difficulty Todd resisted the urge to give his brother a good thump on the head. "First of all, brother dear, I am not setting you up for anything. Chris happened to mention that he would like to be with you and I thought that since both of you have so little opportunity tonight would be a good time."

Cory snorted his disbelief. "Chris just happened to mention . . ."

"Will you listen to me?" interjected Todd. Here he was, trying to set up a good thing for Cory and all he wanted to do was to piss on his parade. "Chris wants to be with you and, all right, we did talk about it earlier tonight. Now, Number One is back and while The Gunner might give us some slack, Number One will not. He'll be watching us like a hawk and making damn sure that we do our punishment. Sneaking out to be with anyone will be damned near impossible." He paused and took a breath. "There is also the Commanding Officer's parade on Sunday. We will be practicing our asses off - we had some new gunners come in, you know."

"I know!" snapped Cory. "I took them around, remember, while you were busy giving Chris some extra instruction!"

Todd stifled a growl of exasperation and carried on. "Look, if you don't want to meet Chris, fine. You can go back inside and read up on your seamanship skills!"

"And leave him sitting in the Mess Hall with his dick in his hand?" asked Cory crudely.

"Hardly. I told him that if you were not there by 0230 to go back to the Gunroom."

"Aha!" crowed Cory triumphantly. "You did set this all up!"

"All right, damn it," retorted Todd angrily. "Chris wanted to experience more and I thought that you would be the one who would give him that experience."

Cory thought about what Todd had just told him and then grinned wickedly. "So, you did not return the favour." He started to chuckle evilly.

"No, I didn't!" Todd softened his tone. "You know I much prefer being on top and well, he liked being on the bottom."

"I'll bet he did," said Cory with a giggle. "Having been there I know how you can ring a guy's chimes."

"Cory!"

"Don't go all huffy, Todd. It's true. You are a very proficient lover." He frowned again. "I admit that I would not mind being with Chris, with being the first boy he makes love to, but . . ."

Todd instinctively knew what Cory was going to say next. "Cory, The Gunner is sound asleep in the OOD's Cabin. The Russians are not about to come swarming onto Goose Spit any time soon, and there are more than enough ratings goofing around, or sleeping, to do any job that I think needs doing."

"And who the hell are you when you're up and dressed?" sniped Cory.

"Had you bothered to read Routine Orders," began Todd with exaggerated patience, "you would have known that I just happen to be the Duty Chief." He gave Cory a stern look. "And as Duty Chief I am directing you to go over the Mess Hall and make sure that there are no fire hazards." He saw Cory open his mouth to protest and hurried on. "Check all the gas jets, make sure that Chef or Sandro didn't leave one of the ovens on and while you're over there take a Stand Easy." He looked at his watch. "It is now 0215. There is nothing for anybody to do until 0330. You would be performing a perfectly legitimate duty and you are entitled to a Stand Easy. If Chris just happens to be in the galley lounge I see no reason why you can't spend your free time with him." He smiled slyly. "Unless, of course, you'd rather I went over and did Rounds."

"I'll do my own Rounds, thank you!" returned Cory with heavy emphasis. He stepped down and turned to look at Todd. "I'm doing this because I want to do it, because it will please Chris and not because you decided to appoint yourself my pimp!" With that he stomped off into the darkness.

Chris sat lazing on a sofa, nodding off, when he heard the door open slowly. He looked up and saw Cory looking back at him. He smiled shyly and said, "I half-expected you not to come." He was about to rise up out of his chair when Cory's shook his head. He saw the serious look on Cory's face and coloured. "You're angry with me, aren't you?"

Cory sat beside Chris and looked sternly into the young seaman's eyes. "I am more angry with my brother than I am with you." He removed his cap and placed it carefully on the deck. "I had thought to just do my Rounds and go back to the Guard House. I changed my mind." His shoulder dropped slightly. "Chris, if you want to be with me, fine. I want to be with you, and not just because we might - might - have sex. But, dear Chris, please, never again conspire with my brother. I will make my own arranges for any trysts I might want to have."

Chris cringed at the softly spoken words. "I . . . I wanted us to be together and Todd said that . . ." He looked suddenly frightened. "You're not going to leave, are you?"

"So long as you understand what I am saying, no," replied Cory. "I would like us to be together for a while. I only want you to understand that if you want to be with me I would prefer that you talked to me, and not my brother."

"Please, Cory, I felt bad that you didn't stay," said Chris with a worried look on his face. "I like you, a lot, and I wanted you to be with us but you left and, well, I do like Todd and all, but . . ." He grinned mischievously. "I have to admit that I like you just a bit more."

Cory pulled away from Chris. "You what?"

"I like you a bit more than Todd," repeated Chris with a grin. "I always did. Todd is nice, and he is really nice to be with, and I've always wanted to be with him."

"But?"

"Well, no disrespect to your brother, but you appeal to me a lot more than he does . . ." Chris saw the disbelieving look on Cory's face. "I mean, if a guy wants a serious fu . . .um, if a guy wants someone to make love to him, then Todd is the one he chooses." He reached over and took Cory's hand. "And when a guy wants someone to hold, to cuddle with, to love, he chooses you." Cory gasped in surprise. He was about to accuse Chris of spouting arrant nonsense when he saw the serious look on his face. "You mean that?"

"I do," replied Chris with a nod of his head. "People think that because you and Todd are twins that you're the same. You are not." He scratched his chin, contemplating and choosing his words carefully. "You have a . . . gentleness about you, Cory, that Todd doesn't have."

"I hope you haven't told him that!" exclaimed Cory when he had digested Chris's words. Then he laughed. "He thinks that he is the last of the red hot lovers!"

"He is," agreed Chris as he joined in Cory's laughter. "Last night with him was so wonderful I can hardly believe what he made me feel. It was wonderful!"

"You can tell him that," said Cory. "He's really a big egomaniac when it comes to his sexual activities. Tell him he has a big dick and balls of brass and he's happy as a clam for a week."

Chris doubled over with laughter. "Well, I can compliment him on his technique, but Cory, he's the first boy I've actually had sex with! Up until now all I've ever done is dream and fantasize. I used to wonder what my first time would be like."

Cory nodded. "And now you know and from the way you are smiling you were not disappointed."

"It was everything, and more, that I hoped it would be," agreed Chris, a far away look in his eyes. "Of course, I think Todd had a lot to do with it. As I said, he is the perfect guy to make love to one." He smiled a small, serious smile. "Mind you, Cory, having been with the best I think that perhaps I might compare the others with him."

"What others?" Chris was always going on about the Fort Henry Guard, and Kyle, but Cory had always thought that Chris was only thinking wishfully.

"Well, there will be other guys, I hope." Chris unconsciously slipped his hand down the front of his gym shorts and began to slowly rub the spongy, pink head of his penis. "Kingston is a great town, and there are a lot of guys, a lot of them from Queen's." He chuckled ruefully. "Not that I'm about to jump in the sack with any of them."

"Why?" asked Cory. He watched as Chris continued to fondle himself and felt a faint stirring in his boxers.

Chris shrugged. "Well, first I'd have to like the guy. Then I'd have to like doing other things with him." He cocked his head and smiled. "I mean, we're friends and we'd be friends without the sex."

"That goes without saying, Chris," replied Cory with a nod. "You can like a guy, be friends with him, and never do anything at all. Take Phantom, for instance. Now, I like him, he's a friend. I like being with him, but he's straight, you know, so sex is out. He knows I'm gay and he doesn't care. He likes me for being me, and isn't after my ring. That is very important. If he wanted to sleep with me, well, I'd do it, because I like him, and he likes me." He noticed that Chris had manhandled himself into a full-blown erection. He tried not to look but Chris did own a fine looking weapon. "Another thing is that Phantom would enjoy having sex with me and would not be just wanting to get his rocks off. The friendship between us is what really matters. Sex, if there ever was any, would be a mutual bonus."

Chris nodded his understanding. "That's what I'd like when I leave here, to find a friend who likes me, and wants to be with me, with sex as a bonus."

"Well, if you keep doing that you might attract more than what you bargain for," replied Cory with a giggle, pointing to Chris's crotch.

Chris for the first time seemed to realize what he had been doing. He hurriedly pulled his hand from his shorts and blushed deeply. "Ah, shit, Cory, I . . ." He quickly adjusted his softening penis. "I didn't . . . well I did, but not this way." He laughed suddenly. "Shit, I'm getting as bad as Thumper!"

"You will never be as bad as Thumper," returned Cory with a grin. He reached out and his hand stroked Chris's flushed cheek. "You're a good friend, Chris."

Chris ducked his head and then reached up and took Cory's hand in his. "And so are you, Cory. I'm sorry about tonight, about being here thinking you'd come over for a quick hump." He started to rise. "I would still like to make love to you." He grinned slightly. "Stupid of me to think so ill of you." He looked into Cory's startling blues eyes. "We will be together another time, yes?"

Cory did not at first reply. He stood up, backed a foot or so away and slowly unbuckled his belt. "You know, I was ordered by the Duty Chief to do a fire patrol of the galley. I've done that. The Duty Chief also told me that I should take a Stand Easy and maybe spend some time with a friend." He unzipped his bell-bottoms and slowly pushed them down, revealing his new tartan boxers. He inserted his fingers in the wide elastic band of his underwear and began to slip them down over his hips. "Now the Duty Chief can be a right prat when he wants to be and I know he'd be very upset if I didn't take my Stand Easy."

Chris grinned and reached out his with his hand to stroke Cory's rising penis. "And a friend certainly wouldn't want you to spend your Stand Easy all alone."

The Phantom drifted into the shadows between the barracks and squatted down. His dick was pulsing and leaking massive amounts of precum and his balls ached. He had never been affected this way before. He needed to squirt or he'd explode. He unzipped his jeans, reached into his boxers and pulled out his slick, sticky hardon. Even in the dim moonlight he could see that his helmet had expanded and turned bright red. He crooked his forefinger and fisted his boner just under his enraged crown and pumped furiously. Within minutes he felt the pleasure overwhelm him and he shot a massive stream of semen into the dirt. He continued pumping, stifling his cum cry, shooting stream after thick stream from his dick. As his dick softened and hung loosely from his jeans he regained control of his breathing. He delayed an extra moment, fingering his sensitive mushroom. He then cleaned his softening penis as best he could and reluctantly stuffed it back in his trousers. With the pressure gone he felt relaxed, and much more alert. He stood up, a trifle rocky, and headed for the Gunners Barracks.

Brian heard the Duty Watch noisily clump the length of the long barracks mess room and when the door finally slammed shut he reached into his boxers and felt his throbbing hardon, praying that he would not have to beat off, as he had been doing for the preceding three nights. He also thanked God that Dylan was snoring away and not humping his mattress noisily. He did not need the extra stimulation!

Suddenly he heard the door open quietly and the soft footsteps. His dick spasmed in anticipation as he waited patiently and presently felt the soft breath against his ear. "Brian, I came back," the voice whispered.

Brian thought the voice sounded vaguely familiar, but really didn't care. He kept his eyes tightly closed and grinned broadly, nodding his head. He was ready for whatever came next.

The Phantom smiled, pulled down the coverlet, and then fingered Brian's erection through the fly of his boxers. He ran his fingers along the wrinkled skin of Brian's sac, and felt his tight balls bounce heavily. Removing his hand The Phantom slipped his fingers between the elastic waistband of the boxers and Brian's warm flesh. Brian raised his hips as his shorts were pulled down, and then off. He spread his legs, waiting, his iron hard cock bouncing gently as he breathed.

The Phantom coursed his tongue along Brian's hairy love trail, then rimmed and sucked his puckered hole. Brian moaned at each stroke of The Phantom's tongue, and his cock began to jerk wildly. He could feel the explosion building in his balls, and, despite himself, he began to pump his hips.

Knowing that Brian was close The Phantom quickly lubed his finger with Vaseline and inserted it. Brian stopped breathing as the finger entered him, and then began to groan as the finger rapidly fucked him. With his free hand The Phantom fisted the thick base of Brian's enraged dick, then lowered his head. His mouth engulfed the crimson mushroom and he began sucking fiercely.

Brian's brain, despite the massive sensory overload caused by the sucking mouth, remembered what had happened the last time and he stopped pumping. He slowly raised his hips as the deep pools of cum contained in his balls boiled upward, exploding from his inflamed piss hole. The mouth continued to suck greedily as his cock pulsed and trembled, and his load flew out. His fists pounded the mattress as his cock continued to expel a strong, almost never-ending jet of his sperm. Finally, it ended. Brian lay exhausted, almost incoherent from the force of his eruption. He felt the warm breath again, and heard the soft whisper. "I like the taste of your cum. I'll visit again, tomorrow."

Brian reached around and pulled the wool-covered head close. He brushed his lips against the woollen ski mask, searching for, and then found The Phantom's soft lips. He kissed the lips long and passionately, their tongues entangled, exchanging spit. Their mouths seemed made for each other and they lay there, French kissing wildly. Brian felt a hand probing for, and finding, his now soft penis. It squeezed gently and he started to harden again.

The Phantom kissed Brian with passion and squeezed and rubbed his penis to thick stiffness. Brian, his sensitive helmet screaming in painful pleasure, was forced to jerk away. The wool covered face pulled away and Brian felt the soft lips and moist tongue kissing and licking down his heated body. He felt the lips and warm breath as his pubes were licked and nuzzled. The lips moved downward and slowly sucked his hardened mushroom into the warm, wet mouth. "Jesus," he whispered. "Jesus, man, I don't think I can."

But he could. He raised his hips as the mouth engulfed him again, sucking gently. Brian's mind seemed to close down completely as, for the second time in less than ten minutes, the incredible, intoxicating, all encompassing tidal wave crashed over him. He could not help himself and he thrust his dick deeper into the mouth. His body stiffened and his dick exploded as yet again a thick river of thick juice poured from his enraged slit. With each pulse of his thickened dick he moaned deeply. He felt the mouth withdraw. His balls had been sucked dry and his dick was limp. He had never before blown two loads in succession. And such loads!

Brian relaxed, his body falling back against the mattress as he breathed deeply, gulping air into his almost empty lungs. Through the haze of post orgasmic joy he felt himself being slowly licked clean and he purred with overwhelming pleasure. The mouth was on his, kissing him deeply and passionately. He could taste the small traces of his own semen that remained in the wet, hot mouth. He groaned deeply as a hand gently squeezed his genitals. Then the mouth and hand were withdrawn.

Brian lay, breathing harshly, fingering his shrunken dick as the footsteps faded and the door opened, then closed with a soft thud. He sat up, and pulled his cover over his flushed body, then lay down and cupped his balls. Presently his harsh breathing softened, and he slept.

As he left the Gunners Barracks The Phantom saw that the moonlight was beginning to fade under a thin cloud cover. He squatted down in the small square between the barracks and collected his thoughts. Once again he listened intently. He heard nothing out of the ordinary. He had a huge smile on his face as he wiped the inside of his mouth with his tongue. "Jesus," he thought, "that Brian was some stud. Imagine cumming twice in less than 10 minutes!" Then he remembered Jeff and Robbie. Hell and sheeit, Jeff was a stud too, although not as big a stud as Brian, who had produced a second load almost as large as his first. Jeff had managed . . .

"Never mind," he thought. "Time enough to check that aspect out. Maybe soon. Maybe, at the end of the day, never."

The Phantom stood up and once again checked his watch. He had spent an hour pleasuring two boys. Part of his mind told him it was time to leave. Another part, ably supported by his throbbing erection, told him he wanted more. He thought about staying but decided against it. Time was passing and he decided to leave.

He avoided the well-travelled gravel pathway, moving along the dusty trace at the rear of the barracks and the tree-lined shore. He took his time, stopping at the corner of each barracks block to look and listen. He skittered between the Cooks Barracks and the Mess Hall and began to relax. The Mess Hall would be empty and there was very little light to worry about. He noticed that the light in the deeply recessed door to the loading area was glowing weakly, almost as weakly as the pale light illuminating the window of the lounge.

The Phantom took two steps and started. What light in the lounge? He crept closer to the open window and stopped, listening intently. There should be no lights on at all and the only illumination should have come from the small emergency light, which would have glowed red. Something was definitely not right.

He crept low until he was directly under the window. He listened and almost fainted when he heard a series of low moans. "Holy hell and sheeit! Somebody's in there and somebody's doing . . ."

Before The Phantom could finish his thought a breathless voice cried out. "I . . . ah shit . . . I'm going to . . ." A low squealing noise, followed by a series of loud pants followed. Consumed with curiosity The Phantom slowly rose up and peeked into the lounge. What he saw made his eyes widen. He blinked twice and did a double take.

On the floor of the lounge were two naked boys. One, with dark hair, was slowly pumping his hips back and forth between the raised butt of the other. They were kissing and murmuring endearments. The boy on the bottom, whose face was hidden as the boy on top continued to kiss him, had his legs wrapped tightly around the dark-haired boy's waist and his arms gripped the dark-haired boy's back. Finally the dark-haired boy raised his head, revealing the golden-haired boy beneath him. He recognized the two boys!

The Phantom sat down abruptly, a tremor of shock coursing through his body. Cory! And Chris! Cory and Chris fucking! He crabbed-crawled quickly across the path and into the tree line. For a long time he stared at the window. "Holy hell and fucking sheeit!"

The Phantom did not know if he should laugh or cry. He had no idea that Cory and Chris were fuck buddies. So far as he knew neither of the Twins fucked around with anybody. And certainly not Chris! But then, Chris was a good looking guy and the more he thought about it the more The Phantom felt the anger at Cory for letting Chris fuck him drain from his body. Cory was his own man, and could sleep with anybody he liked. The Phantom did feel a twinge of betrayal, which he quickly realized was unfair. He had gone to great lengths to make everybody think that he was straight, and he could not blame Cory for seeking comfort in another boy's arms. He had no one to blame but himself!

He reached down and felt his rock-hard erection. Damn, Cory and Chris were together and . . . His eyes widened. Todd was on duty. Chris and Cory were in the lounge. That meant that the Staff Barracks would be half empty. He thought some more, mentally ticking off the names of the boys who slept in the Gunroom and trying to remember what, if anything he had heard of their sleeping habits. There were ten cadets in the Gunroom. Three were on duty, or otherwise engaged. Alfie was over in Comox, recovering from his appendectomy. That left . . . Harry, who slept like the dead; Nicholas, also a deep sleeper; Thumper, who had to be a dead head what with all the whacking off he did; Fred, and Two Strokes. Fred was an unknown and Two Strokes, well, all the other cadets ever complained about him was what a jerk he was. Jon was another unknown; a very quiet boy and The Phantom could not remember anyone saying an unkind word about him.

The Phantom tried to think of every aspect. If he went to the Staff Barracks, would he find one of the cadets receptive to his particular ministrations? Was Two Strokes, or Fred, a light sleeper, waking at the mere hint of a strange sound in his Mess? Dared he risk it? Dare he go down the Spit? He could not make up his mind. Tonight was ideal! The Gunroom was half empty and at least one fine specimen was lying asleep in it. Nicholas was some punkin' and . . . Jon? While not as handsome as the Yeoman, Jon had an intriguing quality about him. The Phantom smiled a slow, wicked smile. He had heard that Fred was well and truly endowed and perhaps . . .

He sat up with a start and smiled. But then, why risk the Gunroom when there were two other fine specimens? Of course! They slept in a separate cabin. He would not have to go into the Gunroom at all. He smiled wickedly and stood upright. No, there was no need to go into the Gunroom at all.

Using the shadows and the buildings The Phantom moved quickly and quietly past the barracks blocks, the Stores complex, the Headquarters Building, and then between the Drill Shed and Boatswains Stores. Staying just inside the tree line he made his way to the Staff Barracks, which he entered with ease.

Immediately inside the barracks was a short corridor leading to the Gunroom proper. On his left was a solid bulkhead pierced by a closed door. Behind the bulkhead was the Chiefs Mess. He slowly opened the door and entered the small room. Unlike the Gunroom there was no emergency light glowing red. The room was very dark but there was enough light from the waning moon that The Phantom could see that on either side of the small cabin was a bunk, one directly under the window, the other abutting the bulkhead that separated the cabin from the Gunroom. On one bunk the Cadet Master at Arms lay curled, his head buried in his pillows. He lay with his back to The Phantom, facing the cross bulkhead. On the other bunk, stretched out atop the covers, lay the Cadet Chief Gunnery Instructor. Because of the heat he was wearing only a pair of dark-coloured boxers. He was lying on his side, his arms embracing his pillow. His mouth was slightly ajar and he was snoring softly.

The Phantom moved silently to stand beside Val's bunk. He looked closely and saw just the tender pink head of Val's penis poking through the gaping slit of his boxers. The Phantom smiled tightly, knelt down and placed his lips over the pee slit of Val's mushroom, kissing it gently.

Val's penis jerked slightly and The Phantom's mouth slowly enveloped the helmet. He sucked gently and felt the penis thicken and slowly lengthen, becoming a slender, light olive and pale pink, 7-inch shaft of hard, glorious, magnificent flesh. He tongued the rim of Val's cock, paying attention to the hard knot of scar tissue left by his circumcision.

As his saliva mixed with the small amount of precum oozing from Val's flaming helmet, The Phantom sucked and laved just the top two inches of the hard, smooth, sweet tasting erection, savouring the unique, wonderful taste of it and his senses drank in the wonderful, slightly musky, clean smelling odour of the teenager.

The Phantom placed his hand on Val's thigh and felt the muscles tighten and as he continued to suck softy he felt Val's mushroom swell, his erection expanding and pulsing and jerking slightly.

As he came closer to exploding Val began to make small, groaning noises, and buried his face in the pillow he was hugging. As the overwhelming feeling heated his groin and began traveling up his boner, Val's leg rippled and trembled. "Ungh . . .Ungh . . ." he moaned. His body stiffened and he thrust brutally, pushing his penis deep into The Phantom's waiting mouth. An avalanche of warm ambrosia roared down The Phantom's tongue and he swallowed the first harbinger of Val's massive load.

Groaning, his hips making quick, tiny thrusts, Val filled The Phantom's throat with an incredible, sweet, vaguely salty torrent of teenage semen. As the force of his cumming lessened he slowed his thrusting, then stopped. He tried to withdraw as the ecstasy of his orgasm was replaced by a marvellous sensitivity that overcame his senses and his helmet seemed to disappear into Nirvana.

The Phantom, knowing the effect his sucking had on a freshly drained mushroom, licked Val's shrinking glans clean of semen, sweeping his tongue around the still pulsing crown. Reluctantly, he withdrew and gently kissed the warm, flushed head of Val's soft penis, which glistened with his spit and the last vestiges of Val's own cum. He then stood up and left the room as quietly as he had entered it.

Val heard the door close softly, rolled on his back and opened his eyes. "Madonna!" he ejaculated. He raised his head and saw his saw dick hanging out of his boxers, glowing softly and resting quietly over the boxers-covered twin ovals of his now descended balls.

On unsteady legs Val got out of bed and walked to the window. He stared intently into the darkness and thought he saw a dark, ghostlike shadow disappear into the blackness of the night. He raised his arm and leaned against the window frame, breathing heavily, his heart pounding from the effects of his first ever blowjob.

"Madonna." he breathed quietly.