Chapter 49

Saint John and Jo were relieved to find there was no damage to their daughter as a result of the close encounter. In a day the incident was replaced on the world wide web by yet another viral video and other things of interest and the Airwolf air show encounter faded from the public memory.

Dr. Sam Beckett and Tony Villicana had assisted in installing a miniaturized warp engine and quantum accelerator into Airwolf in hopes of being able to catch up with and track the mysterious orbs. KITT and Ziggy were both able to network into Airwolf but if that connection was lost then Airwolf and her crew would be on their own.

The A-Team had divided themselves into two teams. Two men would guard the wormhole in 1984 and two men would guard the engine and wormhole in 2022. B.A. Baracus and H.M. Murdock were left to 2022 as they seemed to fit in the most with the current oddities in the general population.

Jo was informed of Murdock's mental health and the imaginary pets he would acquire in the past. She decided to do something for the veteran and help support him by getting him an emotional support dog. Jo arrived at the hangar in the blue Subaru Outback she got from Tony. Sporting jeans and a flannel top she opened the back seat door and called, "Come on boy!"

Out jumped a large German Sheppard on a harness and a leash. She walked the older dog into the hangar with a bright smile upon her face. All eyes fell on the dog.

Sinjin knew the dog was coming but kept it a surprise. He gave a smile upon seeing the old service dog get a new life for otherwise the dog would have been put down.

String asked, "A dog?" He looked about at the expressions.

Caitlin grinned, "What a beautiful Sheppard."

Jo walked the well trained dog close to the group. She introduced them, "Everyone! This is Max…Mad Max…he was a service dog in the Marines. He's retired now." she informed.

Caitlin stated, "They normally put those dogs to sleep."

She agreed, "I found a rescue group that help re-home them. I thought he would make a good guard dog and since Max has PTSD he would make a good companion for another vet with PTSD that I know." She then handed the leash to Murdock.

Captain Murdock stood in shock and let the dog sniff his hand and clothing. He then gently petted the dog's head as he got acquainted to his new owner.

Sergeant Baracus smiled brightly at his friend for he understood Jo was trying to help both Murdock and the dog. He stated to his friend, "Looks like you have a new partner, Murdock."

"I…I…" he stammered overwhelmed for no one had ever given him a dog before.

Baracus patted his shoulder, "You deserve it."

Murdock looked at the kind faces surrounding him. Oddly, he felt more at home in the future than in the past. He stammered, "I don't know what to say. Did the Colonel okay this?"

Jo stated, "I told him we were getting a guard dog on this end. I think you and Max can really help each other out. Max served in Afghanistan sniffing out explosives. He can go back and forth through the wormhole and work both ends."

Murdock was nearly brought nearly to tears, "Thank you Mrs. H." He had his own nickname for Jo.

Jo stated, "You and B.A. can help me get Max's things and kennel out of the car." She motioned for the two men to follow.

String looked to his niece who stood and gave a deep sigh. He smiled, "Nice dog."

"I wanted a dog when I was little." she recalled. "We went to the pound and came back with a cat instead. Puffball." she gave a little nod.

"What happened to Puffball?" he wondered.

"He grew old and was put down right before I started to make my prototype." she informed. "He couldn't get up those last few days."

"You want another cat?" he wondered.

She pondered, "Maybe if we can get a big ole lion."

He cocked an eye, "Why?"

"Guard the engine." she suggested. "Anyone tries to steal it, the lion can eat 'em." She then imagined the large male lion standing near the engine, "Here kitty, kitty." she joked to herself.

For a brief second a lion appeared standing before the engine and then it was gone. String rubbed his eyes and blinked, "Did you see that?"

"See what?" she asked unsure what he was talking about.

"A lion." he paused in thought. He looked at Cait, "Did you see anything by the engine?"

She had been watching the dog and then looked over at the engine. "I don't see anything, String." she told him wishing she could have a German Sheppard too.

He shook his head, "I must have been seeing things." He wondered if he was simply tired or maybe working too much.

Dom stood by and stated, "Don't start seeing things now, String. We got a test flight today." he reminded him.

"I know." he agreed.

Short Time Later - 2022

Airwolf took flight once more over the desert. String took the pilot's seat and Caitlin took the co-pilot's position with Dom in the engineer's station. Sam sat in the jump seat holding a laptop as she was the engineer for the warp engine.

On the ground observing the flight were witnesses: Dr. Sam Beckett, Ralph Hinkley, Tony Villicana with Bonnie Barstow and her husband Michael Knight who had KITT and Ziggy networked into his Mustang, cell phone and smart watch. Jo and Saint John ran ground control and communications.

Jo had a direct communications link to the chopper via hand held HAM radio. She spoke into the radio, "Ground control to Airwolf."

"This is Airwolf, ground control." String replied.

"You are clear to make the jump." she told him they had a go.

Sam reported to String, "I have the coordinates set."

Dom asked, "Where are we going for our first jump?"

She replied, "New York City. Then we jump back."

Dom steadied himself, "Across the country in the blink of an eye."

String agreed, "If this works."

Dom asked, "What happens if it doesn't work?"

He informed, "We either go nowhere or we turn to slime."

"Well, let's not get turned to slime." Dom stated firmly.

String asked, "Ready to test your engine, Sam?"

"Almost ready. KITT and Ziggy are verifying the coordinates. Should only take a minute." she told him looking at the computer.

Dom thought back, "Did I ever tell you about my first chopper pilot job, Sammy?"

She shook her head, "No! What was your first job flying choppers?"

"I was flying the new bell glass bubble choppers for medi-vac in Korea." he informed.

Caitlin stated, "I didn't know you were in the Korean War too, Dom."

"I was! Me and String's father were both flying choppers. We took the critically wounded to the MASH units. The 8063rd and the 4077th." His mind went back to the memory. "The 4077th was run by these loony doctors and they had this head nurse who was all over your dad, String. They called her 'Hot Lips'. Mostly we flew to the 8063rd but once in a while we had to go to the 4077th and boy that place was a circus." he laughed.

String asked bewildered, "My father had a head nurse named 'Hot Lips' after him?"

"Your dad was a good looking guy." Dom told him. "He had all nurses after him."

Sam giggled, "Grandpa was a ladies' man and had a string of nurses after him. Wonder if you and dad have any siblings you don't know about?"

Dom shrugged, "Who knows."

String changed the subject annoyed, "We ready, Sam?"

She nodded, "We're ready." Her mind then wandered off the test for a moment as she thought about the nurses her grandfather had flings with during the Korean War. She looked to Dom, "Hot Lips?" she giggled amused.

"She was tall and blonde." he nodded grinning at the recollection. "Oh, and they had this once zany doctor called 'Hawkeye'. He was a trip!" He then recalled, "He stitched me up once. Good doctor. Little nuts. Not as nuts as the guard in the dress…"

Sam paused, "Wait! What?"

"They had this guard who always had on some kind of outfit. He was bucking for a section eight." he told her.

"Was that the 8063rd?" she wondered.

"No the 4077th." he informed.

She laughed, "Wish I could see that."

"I might have a picture somewhere." he pondered. "When we get back I'll look for it."

"I'll hold you to it." Sam giggled.

String announced, "Alright! Let's try that engine." He radioed, "Sinjin, we are entering warp in minus ten seconds." He noted the time.

Sam was not paying much attention as she tried to imagine what Dom was explaining in her mind.

"3, 2, 1..." String started, "engaging warp engine." he radioed and then pushed the lever that was installed on the helm.

From the ground Sinjin and Jo with the audience were watching as Airwolf disappeared. They then looked to Michael and Bonnie.

Bonnie manned the computer below and stated, "They entered the warp."

KITT then reported, "They have not emerged in NY City as planned."

Sinjin grew worried, "Can you trace them, KITT?"

"I have lost the energy signature." he reported. "The test flight has been compromised."

"By what?" he asked worried.

Ziggy interrupted, "We are detecting nanite energy signatures. It appears we have lost track of Airwolf and the crew."

Michael Knight huffed, "Nanites!"

KITT agreed, "It appears so, Michael. I suggest we get back to the hanger."

Jo asked, "What? Wait a minute. Where did they go?"

KITT answered, "I do not know."