CHAPTER 3
Marella handed her boss the disk compatible with Airwolf's computer system and containing the necessary information for the mission. Now all he had to do was persuade Hawke to take the mission. That in and of its self could be an arduous task. This really wasn't his cup of tea, but maybe he could appeal to Hawke by some past experience they'd both had, but only if necessary. Not bringing that up would sure make his life easier. Hawke's too. He didn't particularly like using past experiences to con him into doing a mission, but for nation security's sake, some of the missions were necessary. Airwolf just happened to be the perfect weapon of choice. She was practically made for this mission, her stealth capabilities and still having the needed armament if any problems arose.
Typically other nations could solve their problems between themselves, but according to intelligence and a few rumors, Iran was about to get a hold of some weapons the United States, or anyone for that matter, didn't want them to have. If the Iranians decided they didn't like the US anymore….then they just wouldn't be on the face of the map anymore.
Truly, it was in everybody's best interest to have Airwolf handle this one before they had World War III on their hands, or worse.
\A/
The threesome were still at the hangar discussing the unusual and risky mission Hawke had taken on when Saint John interrupted.
"We've got a bigger problem than him not going in with backup."
"What?" the other two asked simultaneously.
"Michael's not being held prisoner."
Michael Coldsmith-Briggs III climber out from the back of the pristine white FIRM limo, rosewood cane in hand, but not even using it. Marella followed with a stack of neat folders and a disk.
"You didn't just get rescued by Airwolf from some Iranian captors did you?"
"No," Michael answered, a confused expression crossing his features. "I've been at Knightsbridge all morning preparing the details for this mission."
"Well, you see, the Lady isn't home right now," Dom explained, "the problem is, she's supposed to be off finding you."
\A/
"You won't get away with this," Hawke spat.
"We've got you and Airwolf. What more do we need? What is there not to get away with? We could take over the world one country at a time."
"Yeah, how'd that one work out for Germany?"
"You just don't seem to see things our way, but you will, Stringfellow Hawke. It would be in your better interest the sooner you did too. I'm sure we could work out some kind of reward for your help. Taking over all these countries should bring in a very nice revenue you understand."
"I'm not helping, I don't even want the money," he smart-mouthed defiantly.
"You can't lie, Hawke. It's in human nature to want money and power, fame."
He mutely glared at them, icy cold eyes in a deadly stare.
"You inhospitable glowering will get you nowhere," his captor admonished.
He continued glaring.
"Whether you think so or not, sooner or later you will see where I'm coming from, Hawke, make my words you will."
\A/
"So the Iranians could not only have this new defense system, stat of the art machinery, but also Airwolf?" Michael ranted. "This couldn't get much worse."
"We don't know that they have any of that," Caitlin argued. "The other was only rumor as far as we know and maybe Hawke figured out it was a trap before it was too late."
"I hope your right, Cait, but we have to prepare for the worst, and I'm thinking it's the worst that we're going to get."
"If it's the worst, then it won't really matter all that much any more because all of North America will be wiped off the face of the planet."
"We'll have to stop them before they can get that far then," Saint John said without a second thought. "Preferably without getting into an all out war."
\A/
Confined to an eight by eight cell and already driving himself out of his mind, Hawke sat in the corner of his prison trying to come up with a plan of escape. There was nothing apparently visible as an aid to escape, but one thing was for sure - he wasn't planning on sticking around here.
He banged bruised knuckles into the concrete brick wall, the pain his only distraction from reality. He definitely had to get out of here, and soon, he thought, otherwise he would destroy himself trying to escape actuality.
A sudden pang of guilt hit him. Saint John had been held prisoner much like this for sixteen years, was it not fair he get the same treatment? Nothing he did made him anymore special than his brother.
This time Airwolf was involved though and it couldn't be left in the wrong hands. He had to escape with Airwolf, and if that wasn't possible, destroy her. Escaping with her would be much easier said than done though for a couple of reasons. First off, she wasn't in the best of conditions after she got shot down, and secondly, because he was confined to a square concrete cell hardly large enough to walk around in and no way of escaping.
He dropped to the floor, burying his head in his hands. Why did he have to be so easily predicted, so stupid? If he hadn't been so intent to get here as fast as possible and bring along some backup maybe he wouldn't be confined to a prison cell not much larger than a closet. Or it might be not be only him that had to escape or be tortured into living out their worst nightmares, he remedied himself. There had been a plan behind the madness.
How did people live through this sometimes for years without loosing their minds? he wondered. How had he done it for two months in those awful camps hidden in the jungles of North Vietnam? He had been here maybe a couple of days and he was already driving himself crazy. The seconds didn't drag by slowly, they seemed to stop altogether, locking him in an inescapable prison for eternity.
