Self Discovery

Posted on Mon Jan 3rd, 2022 @ 8:55am by Captain Gary Taylor

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Gary's Ranch
Timeline: Years Ago
643 words - 1.3 OF Standard Post Measure

Gary was at his parent's ranch. He was still recovering from his injuries from his time in a Romulan prison. Catlin was on her way but hadn't arrived yet. So he had plenty of alone time and he made the most of it. On this particular morning he saddled up his horse Bingo and headed for the high country. He just needed to get away from the constant attention coming from his parents. He knew they meant well and were concerned about him but it got to be a bit smothering.

So he loaded up a bedroll, his beloved rifle given to him on his birthday, Some food and coffee pot and skillet and headed out. He had no set destination in mind, he just needed to find himself. The time in the Romulan prison had changed him and he didn't want Catlin to see him like this. He was quiet, soft spoken and walls had gone up he kept people at arms length and he didn't want to do that to Catlin.

He and Bingo had made camp up in the fur trees, It was quiet, peaceful, The perfect place to think and he did. He knew something had to give but how, he felt himself incapable on changing. It was then and there Gary realized the problem. He didn't like or love himself. He felt himself a failure for being taken prisoner. He viewed himself with same and assumed others did as well.

He shook his head, "Damnit Gary! Stop feeling sorry for yourself. You got thrown for a loss, now dust yourself off and get back up. Nobody is going to give you anything, you have to work for it, earn it. Wake up Gary!!" he admonished himself. As he lay there next to the fire, he was fille with a new determination. No more pity parties, no more feeling sorry for himself. He was going to be a new Gary Taylor. One Catlin could and would be proud of.

As he lay there a sense of peace overtook him and he thought of a song he had heard years before titled Higher Love by James Vincent Mcmorrow and he began to sing softly at first until his voice grew in strength and filled the woods.

Think about it, there must be higher love
Down in the heart or hidden in the stars above
Without it, life is wasted time
Look inside your heart, I'll look inside mine

Things look so bad everywhere
In this whole world, what is fair?
We walk blind and we try to see
Falling behind in what could be

Bring me a higher love
Bring me a higher love
Bring me a higher love
Where's this higher love I've been thinking of?

Worlds are turning and we're just hanging on
Facing our fear, standing out there alone
Oh, a yearning and it's real for me
There must be someone who's feeling for me

Things look so bad everywhere
In this whole world, what is fair?
We walk blind and we try to see
Falling behind in what could be

Bring me a higher love
Bring me a higher love
Bring me a higher love
Where's this higher love I've been thinking of?

I will wait for it
I'm not too late for it
Until then, I'll sing my song
To cheer the night along

I could light the night up with my soul on fire
I could make the sun shine from pure desire
Let me feel the love come over me
Let me feel how strong it can be

Bring me a higher love
Bring me a higher love, oh
Bring me a higher love
I could rise above for this higher love

He sang and felt comforted by the words. There would be no going back.


Commander Gary Taylor
Executive Officer
USS Elysium