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

[davedove]

Scene 53

X Marks Mountain

As I approached in silence, all the men had their attention focused on following Julie. I slowly crept up behind the rear guard.

I had to carefully silence the man, but I didn’t really want to harm him. After all, he was just doing his job. I rose behind him and quickly clamped my hand over his mouth, bringing my knife to his throat at the same time.

The man started to struggle, but quickly stopped when he felt the blade. I took his rifle from him and set it aside as quietly as I could.

I took the knife from his throat and quickly brought the pommel down on the back of his head. I quietly eased him to the ground as he slumped into unconsciousness.

I was moving up on the next man when gunshots rang out. Some of the men had spotted Julie and were firing at her.

As I watched, I saw Julie dive behind a group of rocks for cover. She began to return fire.

The Bureau men all took cover as I watched. One of the men gestured and I saw two smaller groups move off to the side, obviously trying to flank Julie’s position.

I quickly weighed my options and decided my best chance would be to outflank one group of the flankers. I moved quickly to circle around.

It took several minutes to make the circle, as I didn’t want to be detected. Meanwhile, the shootout continued. I peered over a rock and spotted one group of flankers ahead of me. Unfortunately, I could see that they had closed on Julie’s position and could see her ahead, unaware of them. Two of them were raising their rifles to fire at her.

I quickly brought my rifle up and fired, taking one of the flankers in the back. His shot went wild.

The other man, however, fired true and the round caught Julie in the back. She fell forward against the rock.

The other two flankers spun around to face their new threat, only to be hit by the shots from my rifle. The man who had shot Julie tried to turn, but I shot him before he could.

I sprinted to Julie’s location and dove to her side.

“What are you doing here?” she demanded through her pain. “You’re supposed to be getting David to safety.”

“He is safe; the others took him into the mountain. I came to help you.” I quickly examined her wound. It was bad.

“That was stupid,” she choked out. “You should have gone with them.”

“I couldn’t, I don’t leave a member of my team behind. Don’t talk, you’re hurt pretty badly, but you’ll be okay,” I lied to her.

She coughed and shook her head. “No, I won’t. I’m glad I got to know you; you’re a much better man than our Dave ever was. I hope you can forgive me for trying to kill you.”

“Completely forgiven,” I told her.

She smiled, then coughed again and breathed her last.

[LadyGriffin]

um, ouch?

[davedove]

Let's see, who should I kill off next?

[Arlen]

Ahhhhh... what an ending!

[davedove]

Scene 62

Media Room, Great Hall of X Marks the Scot

I had told Hank and the Moderators all that had happened on the alternate Earth and the conditions I had found.

“What’s the condition of the portal generator?” Hank asked.

“It’s completely burned out,” Jerry answered.

“Can it be repaired?”

“We can repair the machinery, but I don’t know if we can duplicate the effect.”

“Why not, wouldn’t the same machinery do the same thing?”

“You would think, but we have no idea why it worked in the first place.”

“What about the last time?” I asked. “Why did the portal stay open so long?”

“Again, we don’t know,” said Jerry. “We opened the portal and watched as Ms. Hawk guided David through. We thought it would close down then, like it always had. Instead, there was a sudden surge of energy and the portal just stayed open.”

“Where did the energy surge come from?”

“Again, no idea, it just appeared. This may sound crazy, but it’s almost like something didn’t want the portal to close until you had all come through, like someone was holding the door open for you. Then, as soon as you came through, there was an even greater surge and the console was fried.”

“So what you’re telling us,” said Jamie, “is that we won’t be able to go back again. We won’t be able to help out that other world.”

“I’m afraid so,” said Jerry.

“What about the injuries?” Hank asked.

“David is responding well to the treatment,” Todd answered. “Ms. Raven’s wound was serious, but she’ll heal up fine.”

“Good,” said Hank. “Then I guess the mission was a big success. Our missing Moderator was returned and we didn’t lose anyone. Well done, Mr. Dove.”

[LadyGriffin]

[FONT=Times “Then I guess the mission was a big success. Our missing Moderator was returned and we didn’t lose anyone. Well done, Mr. Dove.”[/SIZE][/FONT][/QUOTE]

[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?

[davedove]

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.”

[Livingston]

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.

[Fox]

Bravo Mr. Dove! I think this tale might be your best thus far. Thank you for your efforts.