Airwolf is somebody else's, probably Universal's or Bellisarius', and I freely admit that whoever's it is, I'm borrowing their show and they retain all rights, etc. This story refers to moments from the episode 'Ground Zero'; no copyright infringement is intended.
NOTE:
This is the first in the new set of stories set in the Airwolf universe based on the previous stories in my 'Lost Season Series'. You can effectively start here without reading any of the others as I provide a recap below but I did want to spend just a few moments explaining my rationale behind this new set of stories.
I have to admit I'm not a big fan of Season 4. I have gradually come to accept it primarily because I view it as a different entity to the other three Seasons. For me the story of Airwolf was always Hawke's search for his brother and when that ended with Saint John's return in Blackjack, the story was over. In fact, my own initial plan was only to complete the 'Lost Season' which bridged the gap between the 3rd and 4th Seasons and explain what happened to the original characters beyond the bare facts given in Season 4. However, in writing the Lost Season, there were a couple of storylines and themes that I felt had potential to go beyond that close and I admit that I've been encouraged to continue by a number of the reviews and messages that I've received – all gratefully appreciated.
So, this new set of stories concentrates primarily on the relationship between Hawke and his brother, Saint John, and tries to address how the two brothers work through the issues raised by Saint John's absence and his return. In amongst that, I'll be continuing the character relationships built up through the Lost Season and developing the relationships between the Season 4 characters. The action will remain primarily with Hawke and, whilst occasionally events from Season 4 might be mentioned, there won't be a strict reference to them although I still intend to stick as closely with canon as I can. Obviously there'll be the usual fun and games with the missions – both official and unofficial. For regular readers, a warning that I won't be updating to quite the regime I had for the Lost Season; once a week was a fairly harsh schedule to keep to. Anyway, enough of the explanation and on with the story. I hope you enjoy!
RECAP:
When Stringfellow Hawke reunites Le, the boy he incorrectly believed to be his nephew, with the boy's newly found mother, it is the start of a hectic time for the Airwolf team as a series of missions test their ingenuity, abilities and even the strength of their relationships…
An attempt to take Airwolf by the power hungry General Bening almost results in Dominic Santini's death as his crazed sister, Rosalind, tries to take revenge. His niece, Jo, comes back into his life to help him recover. The General's daughter hands over her father's information on Hawke's missing brother, Saint John which eventually leads Hawke on a mission to Cambodia to find Saint John; the mission is ultimately unsuccessful and Hawke leaves Asia believing his brother has been rescued by the intelligence agency he is now believed to work for, the Company, the same agency the FIRM is being amalgamated with by order of Congress.
The merger of the intelligence agencies prompts a number of revelations and events: Michael Coldsmith-Briggs III knows the Company will not honour the deal he has made with Hawke and the spy confesses to Hawke that the FIRM is building another Airwolf. It is a fortunate project as the original Airwolf starts showing signs of developing artificial intelligence and provides them with an opportunity to devise a strategy to keep an artificially intelligent Airwolf out of the Company's hands. When the merger happens they will transfer the artificial intelligence into the new machine.
In addition, the whole idea of the merger incites Zeus, the director of the FIRM, to make an attempt to take back Airwolf to consolidate his own position that leaves Michael's former senior aide, Marella badly injured. The incident encourages Michael into moving his relationship with her to a more personal footing, asking his former senior aide on a date.
The merger also reveals that Jo Santini may be a Company spy and although Hawke confirms that she isn't, it worries him especially when she is duped into revealing information to someone that leads to the kidnapping of Hawke's pregnant wife and the third member of the Airwolf team, Caitlin O'Shaunessy. Hawke is devastated when he believes for a short time that Caitlin had been killed by her captor, John Bradford Horn but he works out Horn's plan and rescues her. As the couple recover from their trauma at the hands of Horn, the merger finally takes place.
Michael is relieved of his position as Hawke's contact on the original Airwolf file handing it over to an agent called Jason Locke. Michael, along with Marella, remains in charge of the new Airwolf project although Locke is told that the former deputy director of the FIRM has been reassigned to the Far East to keep the new project need-to-know. Michael agrees that Caitlin can work on the project to keep her safe and the team ask Jo to join the Airwolf crew as an additional back-up pilot whilst Caitlin is pregnant.
Before Hawke can fully engage with Locke though, he is given new information on his brother's whereabouts. The Company's rescue attempt of Saint John in Cambodia failed and he is being held hostage by a mercenary named Buchard. But, before Hawke can set out to rescue him, tragedy strikes…Dom is killed in a helicopter explosion caused by a bomb and Hawke is badly injured …someone is after the team.
Whilst Jo, in an attempt to make up for her previous indiscretion, agrees to keep Caitlin secret and run interference with Locke, Caitlin works secretly with Michael and Marella to move Hawke to a private clinic in Switzerland where he can recover from his injuries. They transfer the artificial intelligence and soon discover that it can move seamlessly between the original Airwolf machine and the new helicopter.
When Hawke encourages Jo to go after Saint John, the two plans are merged by Caitlin who completes Jo's training in Airwolf so the other female pilot can join Locke and an airforce major called Mike Rivers in the rescue. When the rescue is complete, Caitlin steals Airwolf back and flies her husband and newly found brother-in-law to Switzerland. On the flight there, a guilt-ridden Saint John Hawke suggests he takes Airwolf back and muddies the water on the fate of his brother…it will help protect Caitlin and Hawke from whoever is still after them and remove the possibility of Locke coming after them because of Airwolf. Caitlin reluctantly agrees. Saint John arrives back at the Lair with Airwolf to find Locke, Rivers and Jo have a proposal; a new Airwolf team.
When Hawke finally recovers from his injuries and returns home with his heavily pregnant wife, he learns that Michael has tracked down Dom's killer – Rosalind Bening – and that she is now after him. A plan to entrap her goes horribly wrong but thankfully Hawke works out the truth after remembering a conversation with Dom. He manages to save his wife, and they stop Rosalind for good although Marella is once again injured much to Michael's dismay. The attack also causes Caitlin to go into labour and she gives birth to a baby boy. Hawke proudly introduces his brother, Saint John, to the new member of the Hawke family; Dominic Alan.
And now the next instalment: Resurrection.
A review mentioned this was similar to Cindy R's 'Clipped Wings'; I do use the same plot device (twist or circumstance to move the story on) at one point in the story and given both deal with the 'merger' of the two teams, there are similar themes/scenes between characters. Although the similarities and duplication of the plot device were completely unintentional, I have revised this to ensure any similarities are minimal and I think overall as authors we have fairly different takes on the universe. I would recommend Cindy's story though – it's a great read.
The Lost Season Series (bridging the 3rd and 4th Season of Airwolf): Single Parent Hawke, The Jade Wolf, The Truth About Caitlin, Old Friends New Enemies, Hawke's Wolf, Father Figures, Personal Business, Hidden Truths, Homecomings, The Ex Factor, A Question of Loyalty, You Are Cordially Invited, The Odd Couple, Spirit of the Wolf, Ghosts, A High Price to Pay, Prime Suspect, Traces in the Mist, Duplicity I & II, A Child Friendly Date, Reality Check, The Other Blackjack and Closure.
