Chapter 28

Stringfellow Hawke stood before his brother and held up a t-shirt. He stated bluntly, "You are my brother, Sinjin and I love you more than anything but we need to talk." He motioned towards the Airwolf t-shirt design, "This is not a good design. I'm helping you with the new design." He placed the shirt over the nearby chair.

Sinjin welcomed, "Sounds good to me."

The audience looked on as Bonnie and KITT ended collecting the research data on Ralph's suit.

Bill Maxwell retrieved the t-shirt and held it up. "Airwolf. Top secret attack helicopter of the 80's." He asked, "Who wrote that?"

Sinjin confessed, "I did! We sell t-shirts at our air shows to help pay for fuel and maintenance. When you are self employed…marketing is key."

Dom agreed, "I know! Hey, Sinjin…if you need help running your business, let me know." He then added, "How about the tagline be…Airwolf…the only chopper capable of reaching mach one."

"Not bad." Sinjin agreed.

String figured, "I do like adding the mach one to it. That's what sets Airwolf apart."

Sam kidded, "Airwolf…the top secret attack chopper of the 80's capable of reaching mach one."

Her father debated, "That's not bad, Sam."

"I was kidding." she replied amused.

Dom told her, "But it hits all the highlights about Airwolf. You are better at advertising than you think, kid."

"Really?" she asked surprised.

String agreed, "That's not bad. If we are selling Airwolf to a crowd at an air show to help raise money, it's got to be eye catching." He asked Sinjin, "Do you also have a picture of you and Jo as the crew?"

He retrieved his cell phone, "I got some shots saved on my phone from last year. Here's me, Jo and Sam all in our flight suits."

String gently grasped the cell phone. He found an audience surrounding him as he looked at the photos. There before him was a picture of Sinjin, Jo and Sam standing in front of Airwolf wearing the classic flight suits that he helped design. "You should put this picture on some shirts." he suggested.

Sam shook her head and objected, "No! I don't want my face one someone's clothing."

Dom grinned, "That's a real nice of shot you all with the lady. You should frame it. And put it on a poster."

Sinjin looked at Sam and grinned, "Poster!"

She shook her head, "No." She suggested, "Just used a picture of Airwolf in flight. Don't put us on it."

Dom told her, "We have to use your Airwolf to help raise money and divert attention from your engine. Few pilots can fly her without a computer to assist in transitioning from rotors to jet engines. You can! Your dad can and so can String. Not even Cait can do it and I'm too old."

Sam shook her head, "I bet you could still do it, Uncle Dom. You still have good reflexes. I've seen you play those video games."

He countered, "Airwolf is not a video game."

Sinjin stated, "Actually there is a video game for Airwolf."

String, Dom and Caitlin all traded glances surprised. "What?" String asked.

Sinjin brought up the app store for his phone, "Sam made a video game for Airwolf and we sell it online. It's not huge but we do make a little money off it."

String asked, "Airwolf has a video game?" The news was rather disturbing for the man.

Sam suggested, "I could tweak the game to simulate transition without a computer to assist. Be like a flight simulator."

Dom cheered, "Now that would be interesting. Can you put it on one of them fancy laptops?"

She nodded, "Sure."

He grinned, "I can have a flight simulator for Airwolf on my own personal computer."

Bill stated, "Just make sure no one in our time finds it." He glanced about, "Gotta admit, this is a good cover for this little time travel program you got going here." He held up a bag from the local restaurant, "Food is not too bad either." He looked to Ralph, "I can't believe how much Mickey D's changed."

He agreed, "That changed a lot. Everything changed!" He then sighed, "And I go insane."

Sinjin stated, "It was Sam who wanted you brought in on this. The whole idea is to change that outcome. Now we have that chance."

Sam added, "And you are not insane. You are telling the truth but since everyone else has an alien induced amnesia, you only appear insane. You are not crazy, Mr. H."

He gave a grateful smile, "You can call me, Ralph. You don't have to call me what the class calls me. And you obviously don't need my help."

"I need to stay in your class." she countered. "My only lead to this…advanced technology…is through you. You need to keep in contact with us…all of us and at both ends of the wormhole."

He asked, "That's why you started throwing all the test. To keep in contact with me."

She nodded, "Of course. I don't care about the test. I care about what happens to you."

Ralph stepped closer and gave her a hug. He whispered, "Thank you for caring about me."

"You deserve it." she assured him.

Bill stated, "When you are in school you have to treat Sam like one of your students. You are too nice to her and oh' boy…the rumors that will fly."

"But I'm engaged to Pam." he rebutted.

He warned, "Teacher-student relationships are the most fertile grounds of rumors."

String glanced at Caitlin as they were both still undercover in the school as well.

Sam grinned, "Don't worry about it, Bill. I think Tony really likes me anyways."

Ralph agreed, "He does like you. Rhonda is not very happy about that."

She assured, "He's too old for me."

"He's eighteen and you are twenty two." he countered. "You are an adult."

"But here in my time he's nearing retirement." she countered.

Caitlin smirked, "Oh'…so you found a boy you like after all who is not a dullard."

Bill stated, "Trust me…all those kids are dullards." He then found another dog biscuit and began to eat it.

All eyes fell on Bill as faces soured.

"What?" he asked.

String shook his head and but didn't say a word.

Sinjin stated, "You guys better be getting back soon."

Ralph agreed, "We should. I will need the suit."

Bonnie had removed it from the mannequin with Michael's help. They had listened to most of the small talk. She handed it to Ralph, "Here! KITT managed to decipher some of the code. He's still working on the rest. He set the commands to Sam's phone. She can go over them with you."

"Thank you for this." he replied grateful as he took the suit in his arms. He looked to Bill and stated, "Let's go home."

1984

Bill and Ralph returned to their proper time and were back to work. Bill decided to see Ralph before class started once more to go over the new plan of action as they now had not only the source of the money but had to help get the money back to the future and help keep the engine secure along with the inventor.

Bill began, "I don't think you should tell Pam about any of this. She can help out with FBI cases but this is above that."

Ralph hated the idea. "I don't like keeping secrets from Pam."

"It's too dangerous, Ralph. Even with that suit this is beyond top secret." he insisted. "This is like D.O.D. level stuff."

"Department of Defense?" he questioned.

He nodded, "They would love to get their hands on Sam and that engine. They would disappear her, Ralph. Or maybe some other country would. She's the brains behind that engine. That makes her a target."

He came to attention, "I'm not letting anyone lay a finger on Sam."

"Her being in your class let's us keep an eye on her." he informed. "The kid thinks she is helping you but in reality, we can help keep her safe from harm. A teenager in high school is the perfect cover for her. Her father knew what he was doing when he sent her back and had Dom pretend to be her dad and enroll her. The Hawke brothers are not stupid."

Ralph assured, "Sam will be safe and sound in my class. After school, we can work on the decodes for the suit."

Bill agreed, "That would help. Nanites! Who would have thought the suit is filled with microscopic robots?"

Amused Ralph asked, "What did you think they used to give the suit powers?"

"I have no idea." he confessed.

Tony entered the class room and greeted, "Morning Mr. H. Mr. Maxwell."

A warm comforting feeling came over Ralph as he knew Tony's future. The boy would go into the Navy and then own a business and collect coins. He also knew Tony figured out his secret and would remember when everyone else forgot. He gave a warm smile, "Morning Tony."

Bill grinned, "Morning sailor." He hinted to the boy's future.

Tony paused, "How did you know I enlisted in the Navy?"

Bill replied brightly, "I got my sources."

Ralph played dumb, "You enlisted in the Navy, Tony?"

"I go after graduation." he told him. "I haven't told Rhonda yet. I haven't told anyone yet."

Ralph encouraged him, "I think the Navy is a great opportunity for you, Tony. What will you be doing in the Navy?" He knew he would be a mechanic but decided to let Tony disclose the information.

"Mechanic." he replied. "Recruiter said they need mechanics in every branch. So, I picked the Navy. Figured I might actually get to be on a ship and travel the world for free."

Ralph replied, "Serving your country is a great honor, Tony. I respect that."

He smiled, "Thanks Mr. H." He then took his seat.

Rhonda, Karl and Jose entered the room followed by Sam who lagged slightly behind.

"Morning class." Ralph greeted the students.

Rhonda replied a bit annoyed, "I'm here."

Karl greeted, "Morning Mr. H. I see the recruiter today. Think I should join up?"

He glanced at Tony and then replied, "That's up to you, Karl."

Sam stated, "Join the Air Force Academy."

"The what?" he asked.

"All the branches have colleges for officers. You join the Academy and become an officer." she explained. "You can learn how to fly a plan for free, Karl. You need to have real good grades to get in though."

Karl figured, "I already flunked out." He plopped down in his seat.

Jose added, "That sounds like work. Any easy jobs out there that make a lot of money?" he too took a seat.

Ralph stated, "No."

Rhonda took her seat and suggested, "Become an actor. That's looks easy."

Ralph shook his head, "Acting is not easy. I was in theater in college. I had fun but you have to memorize lines and rehearse a lot. Takes a lot of time and effort."

Karl suggested amused, "Become a rock star."

Sam added amused, "I could do that. I can play guitar."

Tony perked up, "You can play guitar too?"

She asked, "Can you?"

He confessed, "I can play."

Ralph stated, "The school has a talent show called 'Battle of the Bands' every year. Maybe you two can make a band together." He figured Sam would be too busy and decline.

She grinned, "That sounds like fun."

Jose cheered, "I play drums."

Karl added, "I play base guitar."

Tony volunteered, "Rhonda can sing."

Rhonda looked at her classmates. "Oh' come on. We are not a band. We're a bunch of…" she searched for a word as loser nearly crossed her lips.

"Dullards?" Sam asked Rhonda amused.

Ralph stated, "I don't think anyone in this class is a dullard. Matter of fact, I think we have some very bright and talented young men and women in this class."

Bill grinned, "Make a band and call yourselves Mr. Hinkley's Opus."

Sam sighed, "Oh' god."

Karl stated, "Let's make a band and call ourselves 'Resist Authority'." He glanced about for agreement.

"Lame." Tony shook his head. He looked to Sam, "You got a good name?"

Rhonda grew jealous as Tony asked Sam instead of her. She made an annoyed face.

Ralph and Bill both looked on wondering what name Sam would come up with.

She suggested, "Warped."

The class paused for none really understood where she got the name from.

"Warped?" asked Karl. "Like…something is warped."

She nodded, "Warped! You ever watch Star Trek?"

Karl nodded, "I love Star Trek."

"In the show the ship moves by warp drive engine. In theory you can move a ship through space by warping space fabric around the vessel and move it like a surfer riding a wave." she explained. "If we could make a engine…a warp drive engine…we would have space travel to other planets."

Jose nodded, "Warped! I like it. We're all a little warped."

Sam admitted, "Kind of how my life feels right now."

Tony agreed, "This class is a bit warped, huh." He glanced around for agreement.

Karl added, "Let's call out group…Warp Drive." He grinned looking for support.

Jose agreed, "That sounds kind of cool. Warp Drive!"

Rhonda agreed, "I like Warp Drive better than Warped."

Tony agreed, "We can meet after school and practice. Call ourselves Warp Drive. Play in the battle of the bands." He looked to Ralph, "Mr. H. can help us a bit too."

"I would love to help you, Tony." he agreed.

Karl asked, "We need a place to meet up and play. The chorus room is being used."

Tony pondered, "My boss won't let me use the garage." He looked at his friends. "Anyone with a big indoor space?"

All eyes landed on Sam as she told them her father owned a hangar.

"Sam!" Tony called. "Think your dad will let us borrow a corner of that hangar?"

"Um…" she sat wide-eyed. "I will have to ask." she gulped.

Bill puffed out his cheeks, "This will be interesting."