Chapter 34

2022

Older Caitlin had returned to the hanger with Michael Knight and Tony Villicana in tow. She informed Sinjin and Jo of the danger and about the events that older Ralph warned them about. She handed him the paper that Ralph gave her.

Sinjin cocked an eyebrow, "These guys?" He rolled his eyes.

Michael asked, "You know them?"

He winced, "First timeline, my Airwolf crew came across them. Bunch of weirdoes. The Colonel is smart but a real pain in the ass and a little nuts."

KITT spoke over the wireless speaker, "Saint John, the first timeline has been altered. There is a high probability your Airwolf crew will not cross paths with the team."

"That would be a plus!" he cheered.

KITT offered, "Considering the scope and danger the engine and Samantha are in, might I recommend recruiting another specialist for the project."

Sinjin asked, "Who you got in mind, KITT?"

"I have access to many classified and declassified files. I would recommend a man named Angus MacGyver to assist." he stated.

Sinjin rolled his eyes, "Mac?" he gave a heavy sigh.

"You know him too?" Caitlin asked surprised.

He nodded, "Meet him a few years back doing air shows. He's a pilot. He was interested in Airwolf. Wanted to fly her. Smart guy! Him and String would get along great. I bet those two could play chess for hours on end."

Michael asked, "So in the first timeline you don't meet this MacGyver guy until when?"

"About 2015 or so." he replied. "He's retired. He's my age."

"Meaning in 1984 he's a younger guy." Michael stated. "KITT what does Angus do?"

Sinjin knew Angus MacGyver hated his first name. He smiled to himself in thought.

KITT replied, "He worked for the Phoenix Foundation…Another CIA front. He was an agent. He is multi skilled and had a proven track record. He served in Vietnam in bomb disposal. He has masters degree in chemistry and physics. He has experience with nuclear energy. I do believe Angus MacGyver would be a recommended asset to our mission."

Sinjin asked, "Do you think Mac could help save Sam and the engine?"

"I believe he could make a difference." KITT concluded. "I would recommend exercising caution if brining in the Colonel or his team. All have criminal records. I do believe establishing contact and befriending them in advanced so when they are approached they will question the task."

Michael stated, "Sounds like a plan, KITT."

"I do my best." KITT informed.

Tony confessed, "I wish I could do something. I feel so helpless. I wish I could go back myself. Like when I was young and do something."

KITT informed, "Perhaps you can. There was be failed time travel experiment in 1999 called Quantum Leap. The inventor, Dr. Samuel Beckett entered the chamber and had managed to travel through time, essentially taking the likeness of a subject and work to change a life on a personal level. He never returned home and is lost in the project. It was his work that helped me to determine that the timeline shift on a personal level are more effective than on a grand scale."

Michael suggested, "Maybe we should find Dr. Beckett in 1984 and bring him in."

"He does not have his theory in 1984. It would be too soon." KITT determined. "I do however have access to the blue prints for his accelerator. I have corrected a miscalculation that got by Dr. Beckett. I do believe we can build a quantum chamber and send one back to target oneself as Dr. Beckett did so when he was a child. We can use his theory and technology to build an another quantum accelerator. Also, Sam should see the plans. I believe there is another application for his accelerator that could be used with her engine to stabilize it."

They paused and looked at one another.

Sinjin asked, "When were you going to tell us about all that, KITT?"

"I just did." he declared. "There are 100 years worth of classified files that I have to comb through. I have also accessed files for the Philadelphia Experiment. Another quantum physics experiment that was conducted during World War Two that resulted in time travel."

Sinjin picked up his coffee cup and rose to his feet. "This is too much. What else are they hiding?"

"My access to Roswell Incident is limited but it I conclude it was not a weather balloon that crashed." KITT replied.

Sinjin went to the coffee maker and poured a cup, "Why am I not surprised?" he asked himself.

KITT replied, "I have no idea why you lack surprise. However, I also concluded that placing the engine in Airwolf would give two advantages. The first would be to traverse flight in seconds. The second would be more difficult to navigate but possible to travel through time by wormhole. Sam's engine can not only open up the possibility to travel to another planet but also to transverse a ship through time as well."

Sinjin sat back down with his coffee cup. He placed his hand on his chin and gave a sign, "I really wish String was here."

"He is reachable by wormhole." KITT reminded him.

"I know. I mean our String. My brother would be closer to my age and not buried in that cemetery. I wish I had him here." he confessed.

Michael understood what he was saying. He assured, "We will save String and Dom and you will get your brother back."

Tony asked, "What do I have to do to build this time machine that Dr. Beckett made?"

"I will download the plans, Tony." KITT informed. He then stated, "Stringfellow Hawke has sent the code. I shall activate the engine so he can enter the wormhole and can be debriefed."

1984

Sam didn't realize she lost her watch until school was over. She returned to the nurse's office but it was closed for the day. She then went to the main office and asked if anyone had turned it in but as to the clerk's knowledge, no one had turned in any watch. She checked the lost and found box to no avail. She left the school rather worried and feeling down.

Caitlin waited for her in the parking lot. Sam climbed into the jeep and gave a heavy sigh, "Can't find it anywhere."

"Well, what does that smart watch do?" she asked.

She explained, "It connects to my phone and it has heath applications. It can monitor my heart rate, how many steps I take, stuff like that."

She soothed, "I'm sure whoever found it has no idea what it can do or what it is."

Sam puffed out her cheeks, "But it was my watch. What if it falls into the wrong hands?"

Caitlin stated, "I have some friends in the police. I will have them keep an eye out. I'll say it's a prototype that was lost."

"I suppose." she agreed feeling helpless.

They soon returned to the airfield and found a new red Jeep had parked next to the hangar. A handsome pilot climbed out from behind the wheel. He wore a brown leather jacket and had brown hair that was a bit long and worn in a mullet style. He wore boots with tan slacks and a red shirt. He held a resume in his hands as hr made his way over to Dom as the man was looking for a job.

Sam cocked her head as Caitlin parked the jeep for he looked rather familiar. She asked, "Is that Mac?"

Caitlin asked, "Mac?"

"This old guy who follows us around to air shows. He wants to fly Airwolf. He does a lot of traveling. Not sure what else he does but that looks like a young version of Mac MacGyver." she informed.

"Old guy who follows Airwolf around." she winced. "Like a stalker?"

"More like a groupie. He always buys a new shirt every season." she informed. They climbed out of the jeep and made their way to the hangar.

Dominic took the resume, "Angus MacGyver. You have a lot of degrees here."

MacGyver just ended his career at a nuclear power plant and wanted to do something more fun and adventurous with his life. He fiddled with a business card that was mysteriously given to him prior. "I do but I'm a good pilot."

"You were an engineer at the power plant?" Dom asked.

MacGyver nodded, "I was stuck inside all day and night. Needed a change. I'm not the office type."

Caitlin and Sam approached the two men. Caitlin smiled, "Hi there!" Her eyes lingered on the handsome man for he was just dreamy to young woman's eye.

Sam asked, "Mac?"

He cocked his head, "Have we met? Name's MacGyver. I go by Mac."

Sam came up with a cover. "I thought I might have seen you at an air show before." she told him.

He admitted, "I'm a big fan. Especially vintage war birds. I'm applying for a stunt pilot job."

Dom asked, "Have you ever flown stunts before?"

"No…not officially but I do know some combat maneuvers I picked up at the air shows." he explained.

"You know how to fly choppers?" Dom asked him.

He nodded, "I can fly a chopper."

"You were a nuclear engineer for the last 5 years." he stated debating if he should hire the new pilot.

Sam gasped, "You were a nuclear engineer?"

He wondered she looked so surprised. "Um…yes…that's what my resume says."

She grasped the resume from Dom's hand, "You have two degrees…one in physics."

"That's why I make a good pilot." he informed. "Look…I'm looking for work. And who are you anyways?"

Sam smiled, "I'm Dom's daughter. This is my sister, Caitlin." She then wondered why the man seemed to be stalking Airwolf at the shows and made friends with her father.

Mac asked Dom, "You let your daughter's help you decided who to hire?"

"Of course not." he waved the idea off.

Stringfellow Hawke then emerged from the hangar. He just got back from a briefing with Sinjin. He noted the new face. "Who is this?"

Dom stated, "He's applying for the stunt pilot position." He handed String the resume.

String cocked an eyebrow for it was as if fate had landed the man in his lap. He stated, "You're hired."

Sam cocked her head surprised.

Mac stated, "That's great. Thank you…Mister…" he wasn't sure who just hired him.

"Hawke! Stringfellow Hawke." he offered a hand. "Pleased to meet you, Mr. MacGyver."

"The pleasure is mine." he shook his hand pleased he had a job lined up.

Sam and Caitlin both looked at String. He smiled and mouthed the words, "Need him."

They weren't sure why String said they needed him but Caitlin found the new pilot attractive and charming. She couldn't imagine him as an old guy following Airwolf around. She wondered if it was as result of the shifting timelines.