The First Mate is perhaps the Dilemma

"What lies beyond, captain?" an aloof patrol resting on a railing. "What are we supposed to do when we get there?"

"That is your decision," the captain answered.

The gentle moonlight caresses the waving hand of the tide. The stars gently watches how the story unfolds.

"What are you looking for, my good friend?" the first mate asked. "Certainly, I know most of us have found it. Yet your eyes, tells yours have yet to be."

The aloof patrol glanced at the first mate. He was talking with the captain. He has no business with them. But it seems so. The aloof patrol took a sigh and stoop his head on the railings. He was tired.

"You're not tired, my good friend," the first mate said. "You aren't. Tell us, and may our ears remedy your sorrow."

"It is already night, my dear crew," the captain said. "Should we not go back and take rest? As for you, shouldn't you be patrolling?"

"It's fine. The man in the sky is up there. No lost soul will abrupt our peace. At least for tonight," the first mate smiled. "We have time, captain. I'm sure of it. Or are you just tired, much like him?"

The captain seemed to have underestimated her first mate's intuition. He knew.

"Suit yourself, my friend," the captain sighed and left. "We still have duty, tonight and tomorrow. Rest when needed."

The first mate smiled and bid her good night.

"It is unfortunate the captain does not see the beauty of sound in this glorious scene," the first mate said. His eyes on the horizon. Perhaps even beyond.

He knew the answer, the aloof patrol thought.

"Perhaps I do," the first mate said. "But looking at it in a different place, that's what I'm still searching for."

He read my thought, the aloof patrol thought once more. The first mate smiled at him.

"Perhaps I do not. I have yet to see it all, my good friend," the first mate asked. "So what do you seek beyond the horizon? Surely, it isn't just some love story you wish to venture, or some justice you once sought and lost. To be fair, there are lands everywhere, I'm definite, it's not what I said you're looking for."

The aloof patrol basked in the thought the first mate was telling him. He may not seem like it but he is wise.

"Thank you," the first mate said.

He read my thought, the aloof patrol said.

"Thank you for being here," the first mate repeated. "I have lost some of my memories, you see. And here I am, looking forward to making more memories. I like going on adventures. The thrills it brings. We may suffer along the way but I'm sure the memories we share are all true. Am I right?"

"Lost your memory?" the aloof patrol wandered.

"Perhaps, the memories I've lost are somewhere there beyond the horizon," the first mate smiled. "Or perhaps, we've past it by, and here I am unaware of it. That's a sorrowful thought to have, but still I am glad. I'm making memories, new memories. Memories to take place for the once I've lost. As you can see, my good friend. I'm not good when it comes to memory. I often forget things, especially in the distant past. I have lost a lot. I know but at the same time I don't. I can't remember any of the memory I've lost. Ironic, isn't it?

But I am happy," the first mate said. "So tell me, what is you are looking for beyond the horizon you seek?"

The aloof patrol sighed. He was still sad. But right now, he forgot. What was he looking for again?

"Or do we have the same dilemma, you and I?" the first mate laughed. Upon realizing this, the aloof patrol also laughed. Perhaps they were both lost from the start. They have no recollection of their forgotten memories. Yet they still go beyond the horizon to make more memories.

The aloof patrol with renewed spirit waved goodbye to the first mate and continued on with his patrol. In his mind the things that they will see beyond it all.

But of course, the Firefly King lied. Was it a trick? To the the aloof patrol? To the crew and the captain? Or to himself? He knows.

The gentle moonlight caresses the waving hand of the tide. The stars gently watches how the story unfolds.