Chapter 46

A few weeks had passed for Sam after meeting with Wilton Knight. With a steady stream of funding and the help of Dr. Sam Beckett progress was being made on the engine and stabilizing system. They were ready to put the system into a test vehicle. Airwolf in the year 2022 was the perfect choice as it was no longer used for special operations. Using the cover of air shows, Sinjin Hawke could fly the bird in public and planned the first test over the desert.

Stringfellow Hawke returned to the year 2022 with Caitlin and Dom. They were invited to participate in the first air show of the season. The original Airwolf crew could not tell anyone they were the original crew. They simply could not expose that information and much to String's dismay he had to use a cover of being Sinjin's son and Sam's brother. The only joy he found in the situation was teasing Jo Santini and calling her "mom."

String found himself standing before Airwolf under the bright sun and surrounded by spectators. Sinjin had roped off the helicopter to prevent onlookers from climbing inside but that could lean in and get a look inside the bird. String watched as men, women and children gawked at Airwolf and took pictures with their phones. He soured as he realized the "selfie" was a hot trend and he was about to become a target of that trend the moment he donned the flight suit.

Sinjin was more use to the attention and could work the crowd. He wore the flight suit and allowed picture of himself to be taken with a spectator with Airwolf in the background.

Dom walked up to String with a Italian sausage on a bun in his thick hand. He grinned, "Boy ain't that something to see, String. All this attention to Airwolf and Sinjin out in front like that."

"It is." he agreed. He looked at the food, "I see you found the food booths."

He grinned, "Come on, String. It's an air show. And Airwolf is a feature. You, me and Sinjin are scheduled to fly. Enjoy it! Neither one of us should be around to see this." he reminded him.

"Girls in the booth?" he asked.

He nodded, "They got it all set up with the canopy. Selling t-shirts, videos, posters and coffee mugs."

"Coffee mugs?" he asked.

"Looks nice." he nodded and then bit into his food. Dom then chewed and swallowed, "Go get some lunch, String. We go up in a hour."

He knew Dom was right. He should relax and enjoy the show. "Alright. What else they have other than sausage?"

"Hots, hamburg, pulled pork." he replied, "Usual fair food."

String miffed, "I'll go see what I can find." He left Airwolf to go check on the sales booth. He looked about the many displays and booths on his walk around the grounds. He spied vintage aircraft, biplanes, vintage cars and fire trucks on display. He had to admit, it was fun looking at the old equipment. He then came across the re-enactors who set up displays of World War Two and Korean War military units. He even spied an old machine gun that was disabled on display before a fox hole and sandbags. Men and women dressed in reproduction uniforms answered questions and took pictures with the show attendees. He found it most educational and to be a living museum. He could see why Sinjin liked to do the shows. It was fun to simply walk about and interact with the guest as planes buzzed by over head.

He made his way to the Airwolf sales booth. He spied two familiar faces at the booth buying merchandise. Older versions of Ralph Hinkley and Tony Villicana had come to see the show and visit their friends.

Ralph looked at young Caitlin and Sam. He admitted, "I know for you two it was just yesterday but…it's hard getting use to this…" he confessed.

Caitlin agreed, "I saw you just yesterday in 84. Today I see you in 22. It's odd."

Tony held up a shirt, "I'll take this one." He handed it to Sam to ring up the sale.

Sam took the shirt and placed it in a small bag, "Twenty dollars." she requested.

He handed her a bill. He mentioned, "Look at the date."

She squinted, "1984."

"I saved it for 38 years just to spend it here." he told her. "Now you can use it when you go back."

"Neat." she laughed.

Tony then removed a small white envelope from his jacket pocket. He handed it to her. "Think you can exchange this for some modern money."

She took the envelope and opened it. It was cash all dated to 1984 or before. She squinted, "You saved bills for us to use when we go back?"

"There is two hundred dollars there." he told her.

She asked, "Do you have pay app? I can transfer the two hundred to your account."

He shook his head, "Keep it. I save it for you to use when you are back in 84."

"Thanks." she smiled at him and then placed the money in her pocket.

Ralph stated, "That was a good idea to do that, Tony. Wish I thought of that." He then found a coffee cup and t-shirt, "I'll take these." he paid with cash.

Caitlin rang up the order and placed the articles in a bag. "Here you go Mr. H."

Ralph asked, "Who is flying Airwolf today?"

"String and Sinjin are the pilots. Dom is the engineer." she reported. "I'll fly later today to give Sinjin a break."

String made his way to his friends, "Ralph! Tony!" He offered a hand shake. "Good to see you again."

Ralph grinned at him, "String." He shook his hand.

Tony offered his hand next, "Mr. Hawke."

"I think you can call me, String here." he told him as he found Tony was much older than he was physically. "Came to see the show?"

Tony stated, "We came to see you guys and Airwolf."

Ralph added, "We want to help with the test flight of the new engine too. This is our time now. You are our guest. We are here to help you guys when you are here."

"I appreciate that." String agreed. "We could use observation and filming crews."

Tony assured, "We can do that."

Jo then walked back to the booth with her arms full of food. She spoke to Sam and Caitlin, "I got your orders." She handed out the food to the girls. She greeted Tony and Ralph, "Good to see you two again. How's it going?"

"It's going." Ralph told her.

Jo looked to String, "Dom send you to go eat?"

He nodded, "He did."

"Sausage is real good here. The VFW has the booth." she informed.

"I'll check it out." he assured her.

Jo looked to Caitlin and laughed a bit, "The young guy manning the booth thought you and Sam are both my daughters and tried to get me to give you his name and number."

Caitlin rolled her eyes, "I get hit on even in 2022."

Jo assured, "Not older you. You are hitting on them."

She gasped, "I do what?"

"You flirt with younger guys just to get their reaction. It's hilarious." Jo explained.

She wondered, "What is older me doing today? Going to a bar and picking up guys."

"You are in the hangar helping Michael decipher some of what he wrote on his Facebook account." she reported. "You do plan on dropping by later to see Airwolf and to help man the booth."

"You mean…I could see me?" she gulped fearing what the older version of herself might say to her.

"It's possible." she warned.

"Maybe I should go up in Airwolf when she comes so we don't meet." she suggested.

String stated, "I'll put your name on a rousted. You can take the jump seat by Dom."

Caitlin grew pale as she nodded in agreement, "I think that would be a good idea."

String stated, "After you are done eating lunch, get to the bird and suit up, Cait."

Tony asked, "Need any help running the booth, Sam?" He figured they would be short handed.

She assured, "Go enjoy the show. I normally run it by myself. Today I got mom with me and two versions of Aunt Cait."

"I'm here if you need me." he insisted. "I can stay late and help you pack up."

"We're camping here the whole weekend." she informed.

Caitlin added, "You should see the camper they got. It's thirty-five foot long, has a microwave, a TV, satellite, sleeps a dozen people…it's huge."

Sam added, "Dad bought a fifth wheel."

"Those are big," Tony agreed with a nod.

Ralph stated, "Camping out at the air show sounds like fun."

Sam asked him, "What are you guys doing this weekend?"

Tony stated, "Nothing! Well, I could do some work at the garage but we're closed on the weekends anyway."

Ralph stated, "I got nothing pressing to do. I'm retired."

Sam suggested, "There is plenty of room in the camper. You two can stay with us if you want. That way we can coordinate the test flight later."

Jo agreed, "You two can come camping with us. It will be fun."

Tony smiled, "I could do that. How about you, Mr. H?"

He shook his head and looked at Tony, "You are never gonna call me by my first name, are you?"

"You will always be Mr. H. to me." he told him.

Ralph gave in, "Fine! I'll camp here tonight."

String waved, "See you tonight." He then walked off to gather some food. His stomach churned at the thought of seeing older Caitlin as he knew she had feelings for him and there was no older version of himself for her to love.

He soon found the VFW food booth and stood waiting. He heard a familiar voice call his name from behind, "String."

He turned as it voice sounded like Michael Knight but Michael was supposed to be in 1984. His eyes settled on an older version of Michael who had come to the air show as a spectator.

"Michael." he greeted. "You came to see the show too?"

"Too! Who else is here?" he wondered glancing around the crowd.

"Ralph and Tony. Just saw them at the Airwolf booth." he mind was stunned by how own words as Airwolf was now part of a show and had a merchandise booth. He was surprised how easy the word fell off his tongue.

"I should check it out." he told him. "I want a shirt."

"Yeah," he nodded. "You drove?"

"My mustang." he nodded. He held up his smart watch on his wrist, "KITT is right here."

"Good." he nodded knowing KITT would scan for any threats.

"Tony got KITT's first body. Sam wants to restore the original interior. You think maybe we can do that and bring him to the air show too. KITT would love this." Michael Knight suggested.

String reminded him, "KITT is networked into Airwolf."

"But he can't be himself." Michael countered. "And he's just assisting Airwolf."

"Talk to Sam and Tony about it." he suggested.

"I think I will." he agreed. He then looked at the menu, "Hmm…what you getting, String?"

"Sausage." he replied.

"They have hamburgs, hots, sausage, pulled pork…think I will get the pulled pork with sauce and slaw." he mentioned.

String asked, "Does everyone have trouble making up their minds what to eat in the future?"

"Huh?" he replied.

He chuckled, "Sam can't make up her mind on what to eat half the time."

"Ah!" he gave a nod. "Just when you get old, fat and retired…ordering out and going to a show is a much bigger deal. I haven't had a pulled pork sandwich is over a year. Since I got KITT back and have been helping on this end I lost ten pounds and have a reason to shower every day again."

"Um…" String had no idea what to say.

Michael explained, "When you are young, retirement seems like an abstract concept. It's decades away. But before you know it, it's here and a lot of the people you knew are gone. You don't socialize as much. You get kind of lonely. I got Bonnie and we got each other and we try to keep busy but it's not the same as having a purpose. I haven't felt this needed in years. Kind of gave me a second chance. Your niece gave me a second chance to feel needed and that I can make a difference. I missed that feeling."

String pondered, "I guess I never thought much of that. I kind of wondered why Dom won't take any time off and works himself so hard in that business."

Michael stated, "It gives him a purpose. Dom is lucky! He can go on missions with Airwolf and you at his age. Don't take that from him. Age creeps up on ya. Before you know it, you are looking in the mirror and asking who is that old fart and it's you."

"I guess I never thought of how it is for Dom." he confessed. "I know he doesn't slow down."

"Slow down and you die." he informed. "What really blows my mind, is in my mind, I look just like I did when I was young, back in the 80's. I then look at some old guy in his seventies and I realize….I look like that too."

String asked, "You are not going to start telling me about what hurts today, are you?"

Michael confessed, "My back is sore. My left knee acts up. My thumb…" he noticed the look on Strings face, "I hope Sam is successful and that you are here with us when you are an old man like me."

"Why?" he asked.

Michael stated, "Then you will understand and we can share stories about what hurts today."