Missions of the Retrieval Team - A Kilt By Any Other Name

**Jock Scot** · 29th September 08, 10:52 PM

I was just wondering if any one has informed THE Mr. Livingston that it is alright to leave his bunker now and that his kevlar suit can be returned to the stores?

**davedove** · 30th September 08, 04:10 AM

Closing Scene

Chapel, Great Hall of X Marks the Scot

The chaplain walked up and sat down beside me in the chapel.

“You’ve been here for a while. Do you want to talk about anything?” he asked.

I sat silent for a few moments, looking down at what I held in my hand.

“They decorated me,” I said. “They gave all three of us a medal.”

Prestor John looked at what I was holding. “The Order of the Dandelion, the highest honor the League can bestow; considering what you risked by going through the portal, I think you earned it.”

I turned the medal over in my hand, looking at it but not really seeing it. “Did I? My team came back, but so many people on the other world died helping me. All those people dead and I get a medal.”

“I’m not going to act like I have any idea why they had to die, but I can tell you that they all made the choice to help you.”

“But why, why did they put their lives on the line for me?”

“Why not ask yourself the same question? Why do you put your life on the line for other people, some of whom you don’t even know?”

“I guess because I think it’s the right thing to do; that they deserve my help.” I paused and shook my head. “I see where you’re leading with this. You’re going to tell me that the people on the other world felt I deserved their help.”

“I don’t always approve of all your actions, but then none of us are perfect. I’ve known you for some time now, and I’ve seen what you do for others. You’re a good man. The eastern religions would call it karma, but I prefer scripture – ‘whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he reap.’”

“Galatians, right?”

“Very good, you’ve been paying attention in my sermons. And about the medal, you don’t wear it because you think you earned it, you wear it because others think you did.”

“Thanks, you do a good job here chaplain.”

He smiled. “I do what I can here, and we all do our part for the greater good. Now, I don’t want to keep you any longer. The rest of your team is having a little celebration for the three of you who went on the mission.”

“I guess I shouldn’t keep the ladies waiting then. But before I leave, can I ask you a favor?”

“Sure, if it’s in my power.”

“It certainly is. Keep the people on the other world in your prayers. They need all the help they can get.”

**davedove** · 30th September 08, 04:12 AM

Thanks

Thanks everyone for letting me write you another tale. I hope no one was upset by the actions of their alternate selves or the things that happened to them. I wanted to put forth possibilities of how people might have developed differently if their situations were different, including me. I also wanted to depict a darker world where the forces of the fashion tyrants had nearly prevailed and all hope was nearly gone. That’s also why I didn’t end the story in a light-hearted way. I hope I succeeded. I’m sorry for killing off some of your counterparts, but I think that added to the atmosphere of despair.
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But wait, the story is not quite done just yet …

**Livingston** · 30th September 08, 09:38 AM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

I was just wondering if any one has informed THE Mr. Livingston that it is alright to leave his bunker now and that his kevlar suit can be returned to the stores?

RETURN the kevlar suit????

are you kidding? The way things go around here I'm thinking of getting more in various tartans. I think kevlar trews in Livingston Ancient will be my next purchase.