Chapter 70

Sam returned to the hangar after the meeting with the L.A. Resistance in the alternate reality. She made a list of the parts that String and Sinjin would need to complete Airwolf so the resistance would have a fighting chance at throwing off the alien invasion. She knew Airwolf would only give them a limited tactical advantage but is was better than no advantage at all. She walked into the bathroom with the intent to return to her home reality and gather the parts.

Once inside the bathroom she spoke aloud. "Okay nanites dudes. I need you to bring me back to my home reality." She stood with her eye closed tight and she concentrated on where she wanted to go. She felt much like a child making a magic wish. She opened her eyes and took a deep breath and then opened to door hoping to see Dom and Caitlin. She stepped out of the bathroom door and walked to the hangar.

"Where the hell were you?!" Caitlin called out from the office door wearing jeans and a western style pink blouse. She fast walked towards Sam, "We have been looking all over for you." She wrapped her arms around her glad that Sam was okay. "We began to think some bad guys got ya."

String and Dom emerged from the office next. Both had a look of relief on their faces. Dom asked, "Where did you go, Sam? I was about to file a missing persons report. You had us worried."

"The nanites brought me to an alternate reality." she stated and then looked around to ensure no one else heard. "It was just like it is here but these aliens invaded and Airwolf was not finished. You were there Uncle String. So were my parents but they were young, like you. You weren't there, Cait and Dom…the aliens took you. I was taken to this abandoned water treatment plant and met the resistance. These aliens took over everything including the government. I met one of the aliens. His name is Willie. They are reptiles but wear some kind disguise. They don't sound like us. Anyways, I showed Willie the symbol on Ralph's suit and he told me there is this intergalactic peace keeping force, kind of like the Jedi Knights, and they are dying out. I think they gave Ralph the suit to prevent us from being invaded by these reptile aliens." Sam had no idea how crazy her tale sounded.

The three paused and traded glances.

String asked, "Did you fall and hit your head?"

Caitlin suggested, "Maybe that was a dream, Sam?"

Dom blinked, "I get taken by aliens?"

"I'm not crazy. It wasn't a dream. It was real. Multi-universe theory is correct." she told them.

Dom asked, "Multi what?"

Sam fell back on Robert's analogy. "Imagine the whole wide universe is a cake. And inside the cake are layers. We exist in one of the layers of the cake. Now each layer can looked exactly the same or different. Say our layer is chocolate and another is vanilla. I just slipped from the chocolate layer of the cake to the vanilla layer and back again." she told him. "The nanites did it! Come on! They pushed us through a wormhole to Korea during the war. Now, how hard is this to believe?"

String had to admit, "It is possible."

Dom asked, "Do you understand what she is talking about with cake?"

"I do." he nodded. "It's a mathematical theory that says there are infinite versions of earth." He asked, "Airwolf isn't finished in this other version of Earth?"

"The FIRM wasn't able to finish it because the aliens showed up. You and dad brought it here to the hangar to finish it. Dad was never a POW in that reality. As I said, it can be very similar and yet different." she repeated. She handed him the list, "This is what other you needs to complete his Airwolf."

He looked at the list, "These are critical components." He handed the list to Dom who looked on.

"We got spare parts." he nodded.

Caitlin glanced at the list, "I can help install that."

String looked at her amused, "Help install."

"I want to see this other reality with these aliens." she confessed.

Sam suggested, "I figure is we get Ralph and bring him there with the suit he can help repel the invasion and maybe free the people on the ship."

Dom asked, "How did I get taken by aliens and what are they doing to me?"

"There are mother ships, huge mother ships, around the planet and above every city. They are sucking up all the water and taking the people for food. I guess their planet is in dire straits and is dying. Maybe Ralph can help them too. You know, fix their planet and stop some war they are in." she suggested.

String smirked, "Sure…just go to class and tell your teacher that he has to go to another reality, fix an alien invasion, go to another planet, stop an alien war and save their environment. I'm sure he will believe that."

She asked him, "A bit much?"

He pinched his finger, "Just a tad."

"Okay, how about we get Airwolf completed for them then?" she requested.

Dom stated, "I'll get the parts. They need fuel?"

She nodded, "And ammo."

"I'll get the stuff." he told her.

String looked at him rather surprised, "Dom?"

"Well, if I have been taken by aliens, I would want you and Airwolf to get me back." he stated.

Short Time Later

Dom had gathered the part and the fuel onto a large delivery cart. He and Caitlin stood by ready to make the delivery in the hangar.

Sam spoke with String. "You will have to cover for us while we are gone. There is no time differential. The hours we are there are hours we are gone here."

"Just try to be back by morning." he told her. "I'll tell everyone you three went out for a night on the town."

She looked at her watch, "Twelve hours."

"Keep an eye on the time." he confirmed. He looked at Dom and Caitlin, "be careful and make this quick. I don't like the idea of sending you three to another reality and not being with you."

"There is a version of you there." Sam reminded him.

"That's not assuring." he miffed. He stepped back. "Okay! Give the commands, Sam."

She stood beside the dolly with Dom and Caitlin. She took a deep breath and carefully chose her words, "Nanites! Bring me, Dom, Caitlin and the trolley with everything on it back to the reality I was just at." She closed her eyes and imagined in her mind what she wanted the nanites to do.

String observed as they disappeared before his eyes. He stood and figured, "I have to get some cameras and sensors set up to record that. There has to be an energy signature."

Visitor Reality

Caitlin and Dom felt only a small wave as they were taken to the other reality with the supplies and the trolley. They found themselves standing in the hangar once more. Airwolf was apart in the center of the hangar.

The heard String's voice, "Sam! Where did you go?"

They then heard Sinjin and Jo call as well.

I'm here!" she called out.

The trio came to the center of the hangar and found Dom was standing there looking just like he did the last time they saw him. They found a new face as well.

Dom noticed that Sinjin and Jo did indeed look young in the other reality. He grinned, "Jo! Sinjin!"

"Um…" String gasped. "How did you get off the ship?"

"I didn't." he explained. "I'm from Sam's reality. She said you guys need help with Airwolf. We're here to help." he told them. "I guess I'm still on this ship."

Caitlin asked, "You guys don't know me?"

String shook his head, "I don't."

"Weird." she sighed.

Sam cheered, "She your fiancée, String!" She then figured, "In my reality. Here, you two haven't meet."

He gave a soft smile, "My fiancée, huh?"

She smiled gave a smile for he was just like the man she knew and loved in her reality. "I can't stay but there could be a version of me here."

"I'll keep an eye out then." he smiled back. He instantly liked her and found her very attractive.

Jo looked at String dazed look, "Hey snap out of it!" She snapped her fingers. "We got a chopper to finish."

He shook himself, "Right."

Sinjin walked over to the trolley, "Fuel, Ammo and the parts, String. They got it all. Everything we need." he hugged Dom, "Thank you!"

"Just get me out of that ship before lizard people eat me." he requested.

"We will." he promised.

Jo hugged him next, "I missed you, Uncle Dom. I'm so glad you are okay in that reality that Sam came from."

"I'm fine." he assured his niece. "Me, Cait and Sam are here to help you finish Airwolf tonight."

String gathered the coveralls and started to hand the articles out. "Then let's get to work."

Home Reality - 12 hours later

Stringfellow Hawke has set up a number of digital cameras and sensors aimed at the spot where Sam, Caitlin and Dom left with the supplies for the alternate reality. He checked his watch and waited for the return intent on gather information on the nanites that Sam wielded.

From behind him he heard Dom's voice. "Hey! We're back, String!"

String turned rather frustrated and found Sam, Caitlin and Dom all stood behind him in another area of the hangar. His shoulder's slunk, "Why didn't you come back in the area that you left in?"

The three looked rather tired from working all night long. They traded glances.

Caitlin stated, "We just spent all night helping put another version of Airwolf together for another version of you. A nicer version of you I might add."

Sam figured out the intent, "You have sensors set up to capture any energy signatures on our return trip."

"Yes!" he nodded hard. He looked at Caitlin, "Nicer!" He wondered what she meant by that remark.

Dom assured, "You can get it next time we go back. String, we really went to another version of Earth and you were there with Sinjin and Jo. You three will be that Airwolf's crew. Of course, I'm still frozen in a pod on a space ship but they are going to get me out. I saw the ship, it's hanging right above the city just like Sam said. You should see it, String! These aliens just took over every government and every military in the world and people are going along with it as entire towns disappear. They are led by this alien brunette chick named Diana. Boy, she's a piece of work." he told him.

Caitlin stated, "I thought she was the head scientist."

"That lizard woman has more power than J. Edgar Hoover." Dom determined. "Trust me, she's running the show. Not that idiot, John."

String asked alarmed, "You three don't plan on going back, do you?"

Caitlin insisted, "They need our help! I mean if it was us and we overrun by…lizard people…I would want help."

Dom agreed, "And their Airwolf has yet to even go for a test flight. They will be going directly into battle with bugs and all. They need our help, String." He suggested, "We don't have to tell Sinjin or the security teams. Sam can use the nanites to slip us in and out anywhere. You just cover for us. Sinjin got the wormhole covered, your dad can cover this end of the wormhole with Steve and us three can slip over and help the other versions of us to fight off the lizard people."

String asked, "Did you listen to yourself, Dom?"

He waved it off, "I know how it sounds. Slipping through a wormhole sounds pretty insane too, String."

Sam gave a yawn, "I'm exhausted. I'm going to go crash."

Dom told her, "You can't. You have to go to school."

She looked unenthused, "I'm too tired. I was up all night putting Airwolf together."

"I know! So was I! But you need to go to school and speak to Ralph about the suit. Remember, that suit could change that situation over there for other me…who is frozen on a space ship now." he reminded her.

She let out a sigh, "I'll got to school." She then recalled, "Did anyone run my laundry?" She was out of clean clothes.

Caitlin stated, "You can borrow some things from me. I got this very pretty outfit for you to wear."

She squinted at her, "Is it pink?"

She stated, "The blouse is white. You will like it." She failed to tell her the white blouse went with pink jeans and pink sneakers.

"White will work." she agreed.