Understanding

Posted on Wed Oct 26th, 2022 @ 7:26am by Captain Gary Taylor

Mission: Season 5: Time Warp
Location: Holodeck 1
Timeline: Current
617 words - 1.2 OF Standard Post Measure

Gary was in the holodeck, at his ranch, he needed to think, he had a huge decision to make. One that didn't just affect him but Lia and Phoenix and the crews of both the Elysium and Arizona. The ranch provided an area of quiet solace, where he could hear his own thoughts, He didn't go to Catlin's grave but instead the stables and he saddled Vic and he rode out onto the wide prairie in front of him and looked at the setting sun, The sky was a majestic purple and gold. There was a light breeze, but it felt good, and he felt free. His talk with Lia had given him some more insight into his decision. As he rode a song came to him about making tough decisions. "Computer play Understanding by Bob Seegar." An instant later the song began.

It seems like only yesterday
I didn't have a clue
I stood alone not knowing where to turn
Now suddenly I look around
And everything looks new
I don't know why but I think I'm starting to learn
They call it understanding
Understanding
A willingness to grow
I'm finally understanding
Understanding
There's so much I could know
Until the day you came along
I used to just get lost
I only heard the things I wanted to hear
It always seemed like no cared
Then you took the time
And now I look and everything seems clear
You've got me understanding
Understanding
You've really helped me see
I'm finally understanding
Understanding
It's meant so much to me
You've got me understanding
Understanding
You've given me some pride
I'm finally understanding
You're really on my side
Really on my side
Got me understanding
Understanding
Understanding
You've got me understanding
Understanding
Understanding
You've got me understanding
For the first time
You've got me understanding
You've got me understanding
Understanding...


The song ended and he still hadn't made a solid decision one way or another, but he understood more clearly what was at stake and all those who would be affected by his decision. This was the Kobayashi Maru for him. It was a no-win situation. If he took command of the Arizona, he would make a number of people sad, most notably Lia even though she didn't say it. He could read her body language; she was happy here on the Elysium (he was too) However command was something he always wanted, what he strove for, what he pushed himself for. But that was before he met Lia. Now, he was respected and liked. He felt comfortable here, the Elysium crew were like family to him, and one didn't desert their family. He sighed. He always liked a challenge, and the Arizona would provide that, he was sure of it. It was a new ship (to him) and a new crew, and they had to teach each other and learn how to trust each other, They would obey because he was captain, the trust would come later. When President Harry Truman had said command was lonely, he was absolutely right. He could talk to Lia, Sam and Phoenix, Alicia and Mattias, Rin and others. Take a poll of the entire crew, listen their opinions and their advice but in the end it all came down to him and what he felt was right and what he wanted.

He turned Vic around and rode slowly back to the ranch and after putting Vic in his stall, giving him a good rubdown, covering him with a blanket and then finally topping it off by giving him a healthy amount of oats, then he exited the holodeck. A man alone with his thoughts, with a momentous decision to make.