Fanfiction: The Odd Couple - Part I
Fandom: Airwolf
Series: The Lost Season (Story 13)
Summary: As Hawke and Caitlin honeymoon, Michael takes Dom and Airwolf on a mission
Rating: PG-13
Author's Note: Hawke/Caitlin. Michael/Gemma.
Disclaimer: No copyright infringement intended. Written for entertainment purposes only.
The Odd Couple
Part 1
‘No, Michael.’ Dominic Santini wiped his hands on the rag and glowered at the deputy director of the FIRM. The spy was dressed in an all white three-piece suit with his black eye-patch and wooden cane adding the usual additional eccentricity to the outfit. Dom briefly looked down at his own simple beige overalls and decided that perhaps their contrasting clothing summed up the dissimilarity between the two men more than words ever could; his was the attire of a simple, down to earth man and Michael’s…well, Michael’s was that of someone who belonged to a different world.
‘It’s a simple pick up, Dominic.’ Michael Coldsmith-Briggs III argued passionately as he followed Dom across the hangar to where the Santini Jet Ranger was parked awaiting repairs. Michael had figured that it wouldn’t be easy getting the older pilot to agree to take a mission without the presence of their mutual friend, Stringfellow Hawke, and he’d been right.
‘And I told you, String gave me strict instructions that Airwolf was grounded until he got back and we could work on her together.’ Dom threw his hands in the air.
Michael frowned. ‘I didn’t realise there was something wrong with her.’ The systems in the world’s only technologically advanced and mach capable helicopter were sensitive and required constant maintenance but he’d never known Hawke to ground the machine unless there was something seriously broken.
Dom plastered an innocent expression on his craggy face. It wasn’t that there was something wrong with Airwolf but the older man had finally come to agree with Hawke that she was acting odd; shooting down an attacking chopper when she was on the ground and without engineer or pilot definitely fell into the odd category even if she had saved all their lives. Hawke had wanted them to run more tests before they brought it to Michael’s attention. ‘There’s nothing wrong exactly…’ he replied to Michael vaguely, ‘we just wanted to be sure of a few things before we took her out again. And,’ he stressed the word, ‘we didn’t think you’d be giving us any missions whilst Hawke was away.’
‘So that’s your final decision?’ Michael asked.
Dom nodded.
Michael sighed and tapped his cane on the hangar floor. He stroked his moustache and gestured. ‘Well I guess I have no option.’
Dom raised a bushy grey eyebrow inquisitively.
‘I’ll have to find Hawke.’ Michael said.
Dom straightened, his brow lowered ominously. ‘You wouldn’t dare.’
Michael raised his eyebrows and his good eye met Dom’s challengingly. ‘Wouldn’t I?’
‘They’re on honeymoon, Michael.’ Dom barked. Hawke had married the third member of the Airwolf crew, Caitlin O’Shaunessy almost two weeks before in a quiet ceremony at the cabin. Just the memory of the happy day had Dom smiling.
Michael sighed and adjusted his wire-frame glasses. ‘Not anymore.’ He made to leave.
Dom scooted in front of him. ‘Now wait just a minute.’
Michael waited patiently.
Dom sighed and put his hands on his hips. ‘And you wonder why they didn’t tell you where they went.’
‘Will you help me?’ Michael repeated.
‘Why do you need Airwolf?’
‘I need her stealth capability. The science team is not exactly in a location we want to advertise, Dominic.’
‘If you need stealth it’ll need someone on the engineering console to watch the radar profile and monitor all the other systems.’ Dom said gesturing. ‘I can’t do that alone.’
‘No problem, I’ll be the engineer.’ Michael said smoothly. He had acted as the engineer for Hawke on a couple of occasions and knew the systems. He knew he could handle a straight-forward mission.
Dom raised an eyebrow again. ‘I don’t think so.’
The pilot’s refusal had Michael taking another step forward as if to leave.
Dom blocked him again and waved him to a stop. ‘Just hold your horses.’
‘Dominic, we’re on a timetable here…’ Michael said.
‘What’s the rush?’ Dom asked.
‘The scientist we’re picking up needs to be returned to the US immediately for medical treatment.’
‘Medical treatment?’ Dom’s compassion rose in his breast, tugged at his heart strings.
‘The onsite medic has diagnosed breast cancer.’ Michael sighed. ‘We’ve arranged for the scientist in question to be seen by a specialist as soon as we get her back. The longer the condition is left untreated, the more likely it is to be fatal.’
‘Well I guess if it’s a medical emergency.’ Dom muttered. He sighed. ‘A simple pick up?’
Michael nodded.
‘OK. But if you’re going to act as the engineer, you have to do what I tell you. I don’t…’ it was his turn to meet the other man’s gaze with a challenge in his own, ‘I don’t want any arguments when we’re in Airwolf.’
‘OK.’ Michael readily agreed.
Dom peered into Michael’s good eye as if to check his sincerity and harrumphed as he started to clear his tools away.
It didn’t take them long to drive to the Lair, Airwolf’s hiding place in the Valley of the Gods. It was still cold in the valley with snow touching the highest rock formations. They both changed into the lilac uniforms quickly and began the preparations to leave.
Michael glanced around with a renewed sense of disbelief. Only Hawke would choose to hide a multi-million dollar aircraft in a dusty cave, he thought. The younger man’s lateral thinking was one of the reasons why he was such a good operative. The cave did provide a perfect backdrop for Airwolf though; early morning light streamed down the funnel and bathed the black and white helicopter in a golden glow; the rotors glinted and the armour gleamed. He sometimes forgot how beautiful Airwolf was, Michael mused; he never forgot how deadly. He’d lost an eye and the full use of one leg when Airwolf’s creator, Moffett had used Airwolf to destroy the Red Star Control tower during his theft of the machine.
He tore his gaze away from Airwolf and it briefly landed on the platform of equipment he had installed when he had finally discovered where Hawke had been keeping Airwolf. His lips twitched. He knew the stainless steel deck, ringed with a bright yellow railing and housing a computer console, communications and updated security system, was tolerated by Hawke at best. It put a smile on his face as he climbed into the cockpit and took his place at the engineering console
Dom finished his pre-flight check and adjusted his heavy helmet. He had often sat in the command chair of Airwolf in the last couple of years but it felt strange to be setting off on a mission without either Hawke or Caitlin. He pushed their absence to the back of his mind and started the engines. He smiled; ah, there was nothing in the world like the sound of his baby coming on line.
‘All systems showing green, Dominic.’
Dom rolled his eyes at Michael’s voice through the headset. He grasped the cyclic and took Airwolf up. They cleared the Lair and Dom requested the turbos. They shot forward clearing the Valley of the Gods quickly and taking a heading due South.
It wasn’t in Dom’s nature to remain silent for long. They’d flown for only thirty minutes when he gave in to his need for conversation. ‘So what are these scientists of yours doing in the Antarctic anyway?’
‘Examining the ice.’ Michael replied.
‘Examining the ice? What for?’ Dom asked interested.
‘Scientific discoveries.’ Michael adjusted a system. ‘Ice can tell us many things about climate and mineral changes within the earth’s atmosphere. It may even hold the key to our own evolution.’
‘Oh.’ Dom thought it sounded pretty interesting. ‘And have they made any progress?’
‘It’s early days.’ Michael said.
‘How long have they been at it?’ Dom asked.
‘About three years.’ Michael admitted.
Dom raised his eyebrows. Three years and it was early days? He shook his head. ‘You know if that’s all they’re doing I don’t get why it’s such a big secret.’ He frowned.
‘It can take years to get any kind of permission to work on the Antarctic continent.’ Michael said.
‘Because no country has a claim to it?’
‘Every country has a claim to it. That’s the problem.’ Michael sighed. ‘The research station is cleverly hidden in a radar black zone. It’s a triangle of land on the South coast between two huge walls of ice.’
‘Sounds real cosy.’
‘The station is buried into the ice itself. To anyone flying over or doing a land survey without the exact coordinates of the station, they’d never see it.’ Michael continued as if Dom hadn’t spoken. ‘It’s state of the art and a complete secret even from our own people already in Antarctica.’
‘Dodging our own people, huh?’ Dom frowned. ‘I thought you said this was a simple pick up.’
‘It is.’ Michael insisted. ‘I have the details of the planned patrols. We just need to slip between them.’
‘Hmmm.’ Dom sighed.
‘Our own real difficulty will be communications.’ Michael confessed trying for a casual tone.
‘Oh?’ The word was heavy with suspicion.
‘The station location is also a communications black zone.’ Michael kept his eye on the monitor in case Dom turned around. ‘Something to do with the magnetic forces down there.’
‘Now you tell me.’ Dom’s lips firmed. ‘Anything else you failed to mention?’
‘Dominic, as we’re not going to communicate with anyone, the communications problem isn’t an issue.’ Michael reassured him.
‘If you can’t communicate with them, how did you find out about this scientist’s medical condition?’ Dom asked puzzled.
‘They have to move out of the valley by snowmobile and then piggyback any communication on a legitimate one from the scientific communities who do have permission to be there via satellite technology.’
‘And how do you communicate with them?’
‘We don’t.’ Michael said. ‘If we want to tell them something we arrange a visitation.’
‘Then how do they know when you’re coming?’ Dom was completely perplexed.
‘They don’t.’
‘Oh.’ Dom started to smile before a thought occurred to him and he moved to look over his shoulder at the spy. ‘Then…are you telling me they don’t know we’re coming?’
‘They requested a pick up. They know they won’t know when or how exactly we’ll arrive but they know something will be arranged.’
‘Great.’ Dom muttered as he turned back to the front. ‘Just great.’
There was a moment of awkward silence as Dom assessed how the simple pick-up of a scientist for medical treatment had become more complicated in the space of a few minutes.
Michael adjusted one of the systems and decided diversionary tactics were called for. ‘So have you heard from the happy couple?’
Dom glanced over his shoulder a little surprised at the question. ‘Just a quick call to let me know they’d gotten there safely.’
‘And where is there?’ Michael probed.
Dom laughed. ‘Nice try.’
‘I don’t know why their honeymoon destination is such a big secret.’ Michael said.
‘This from the man who was threatening to call Hawke earlier.’ Dom shot back. ‘They deserve some undisturbed time together not having to worry about anything more than…than cocktails on the beach.’
‘It’s Hawaii, isn’t it?’ Michael asked.
Dom looked heavenward. ‘Michael, I’m not saying.’
Michael smiled. He already knew the honeymoon destination; he’d had his senior aide, Marella, track them down on the first day when he’d realised Hawke had failed to offer the information. He altered another system. Dom’s refusal to tell him, his unremitting loyalty to Hawke was one of the reasons why Michael respected and liked the older man, not that he would ever tell him that. He also would never tell him that he agreed with him; Hawke and Caitlin did deserve to have their honeymoon undisturbed.
‘You know Michael, I never got to tell you that I thought it was a nice thing you did for Hawke, sealing the marriage record like that.’ Dom’s voice broke into his thoughts.
Michael shrugged uncomfortable with the unexpected praise. ‘It was nothing. It won’t do anything to deter someone who’s really set on coming after Hawke through Caitlin.’
‘I guess not.’ Dom admitted. ‘We just have to hope that never happens.’
‘I can agree with you on that.’ Michael said quietly. If Caitlin was ever hurt or worse by someone trying to get to Hawke…he didn’t want to contemplate it.
‘Ah but it was a beautiful wedding.’ Dom sighed happy to be given the opportunity to wallow in his memories of the day. ‘She made a lovely bride.’
‘When are they back?’ Michael asked.
‘Four days from now.’ Dom said with a laugh. ‘It’ll be good to have them home. It’s been kinda quiet without the two of them around.’
‘I thought your niece was staying?’ Michael asked. He’d been introduced to Jo Santini at Hawke’s wedding and the small blond pilot had impressed him. He must remember to have Marella check her out, he thought absent-mindedly.
‘Nah.’ Dom sighed regretfully. ‘She got offered another job as a translator in Germany. She headed out straight after the wedding.’ He gave another snort of laughter. ‘I think she’s considering settling down though and I have to admit it would be good to have her home.’
Michael mentally moved the background check on Jo Santini to the top of his to-do list. If the lady was going to be around Santini Air a lot then he needed to ensure she was on the level. He had a feeling Dom would take a different view. He moved the conversation on again.
A couple of hours, and a fuel pickup, later they both realised with some surprise that the journey had passed relatively quickly and they were approaching the Antarctic valley where the research station was nestled.
Dom descended between the icy walls and glanced at the snow-filled landscape below. It was stark and unfriendly. He shivered in automatic reaction despite the warmth in the cockpit.
‘You need to slow up, Dominic.’ Michael said. ‘We’ll be there in five minutes at current speed.’
‘I don’t see it.’ Dom complained.
‘I told you. You’re not supposed to.’ Michael reminded him.
‘Mark the spot then.’ Dom instructed. ‘Prepare to disconnect turbos and re-engage rotors.’
‘Yes sir.’ Michael said dryly. He had a feeling the older man was enjoying the opportunity to boss him around.
Dom harrumphed.
They set down on the ice and taxied forward to park by a concrete entrance almost obscured by the snow.
Dom looked up at the icy cliffs surrounding them worried. ‘We can’t stay long otherwise all our systems will freeze up.’
Michael nodded. ‘I know.’
Dom sighed and switched the engines off. He saw movement at the doorway to the station; their arrival had not gone unnoticed. ‘Michael we have company.’
‘Let’s get into the outdoor gear.’ Michael suggested and handed a set of the thermal wear to Dom. The older man sighed; getting into the clothing in the small confines of the helicopter was not going to be a lot of fun. He was glad though of the protective snow suit, face gear, headwear and gloves as they climbed out of Airwolf and the full icy temperature slammed into him. Dom secured the helicopter and followed after Michael as he limped into the station. They were met by a man yards from the door who waved them in.
The station was warmer than the temperature outside but was still cool. Dom was glad of the snowsuit that he wore and he didn’t remove his gloves. He looked about him with interest as they passed through. The entrance hall was obviously only used to store gear and equipment; nothing had been done to detract from the stark concrete walls and floor and it was almost as harsh and unfriendly an area as the ice outside. Not exactly welcoming, Dom thought. They were led through an open door and down a wrought-iron spiral staircase that took them into the station itself. It was another cloakroom and the concrete was in evidence but someone had painted it in a soothing warm russet colour. A door at the back was wide open and Dom glimpsed another painted corridor beyond it as he followed the example of the others and stripped off his gloves and face-gear. He stopped as the man who had greeted them suddenly turned from hanging his coat up and hugged Michael.
‘It’s good to see you, Michael.’ The curly grey-haired man took a step back from his embrace and with warm sherry-brown eyes regarded the spy fondly.
‘Gregory.’ Michael shook his hand warmly and grinned at him. Gregory was one of his oldest friends. They’d joined the FIRM together, had trained together; had worked together in the early days before Gregory’s talents as a scientist moved him out of the field missions and into research. ‘It’s good to see you again too although I would rather it wasn’t in these circumstances.’
‘The same, Michael.’ Gregory grinned back at Michael. ‘You’ve been in the wars since last we met.’
‘I’ve survived.’ Michael said dryly.
‘You always did.’ A female voice in cut glass English had all three men turning to the inner doorway.
Dom’s eyebrows raised; the woman definitely didn’t conform to his idea of a scientist. She was about Michael’s age; elegant, classically beautiful with porcelain skin, large brown eyes and dark blonde hair pulled back in a chignon without a strand out of place. She was wearing layers of sweaters over jeans. Gold glinted at her ears, wrist and fingers.
‘Gemma.’ Michael said. His good eye ran over the woman briefly taking note of the differences between his memories of her and the reality. ‘It’s been a long time.’
‘Why are you here, Michael?’ Gemma asked her arms folded tightly across her chest.
Michael met her eyes steadily. ‘I came for you.’
Gemma frowned at him and her eyes flickered to her fellow scientist. ‘You told him?’
‘You need to leave, Gemma.’ Gregory said firmly and with the air of someone who had said the same thing many times before.
‘I’ve told you already; I’m not going.’ Gemma whirled and disappeared back into the station.
‘She doesn’t know?’ Dom accused Michael with a large amount of exasperation. Simple pick-up…hah! He was going to have a few words for the spy when the mission was done.
‘I’ll go and talk to her.’ Gregory said.
Michael caught his arm. ‘Let me.’
‘You’d better hurry it up Michael.’ Dom said thinking about the outside temperature and what it was potentially doing to Airwolf’s temperamental systems.
The spy nodded and went after the woman.
‘I’m sorry,’ Gregory said, ‘we haven’t had a moment to be introduced. I’m Gregory Jackson.’
‘Dominic Santini.’ Dom eyed him with interest as they shook hands. ‘You’re a scientist here?’
‘For my sins.’ Gregory led him into the station. ‘You might as well come in and have a drink. Knowing Gemma and Michael this could take a while.’
‘Oh you know them well?’ Dom asked giving into his innate curiosity.
‘Yeah. I was best man at their wedding. Michael usually says that Gemma got me in the divorce settlement.’ Gregory said lightly.
Dom’s eyebrows almost hit the ceiling and his mouth fell open. He snapped it shut. Michael had been married to Gemma? ‘I’m sure you have some fascinating stories, huh?’ He asked as they disappeared down a staircase.
Part 2
Michael hurriedly followed after Gemma only just keeping her in sight as she marched through the maze of stairways and corridors with the easy familiarity of someone walking through their home. Emotions churned within him; more than he had expected or wanted. It had been his first sight of Gemma since their divorce and it had been startling to feel the same punch of attraction; the same pull of desire. She always had been a beautiful woman. He sighed as he limped down another set of stairs. He hadn’t been prepared for the regret or the strange mix of old love and new compassion that had prompted him to follow her instead of allowing Gregory to deal with her.
He caught up with his ex-wife just as Gemma got to the door of her quarters. ‘Gemma…’ He was breathless and her name was all he could manage to say.
‘You can leave Michael because I’m not going to.’ Gemma pushed open the door and entered her room. She didn’t try to close the door behind her; she knew Michael well enough to know that a closed door wouldn’t hold him for long. She paced to the other side and stood still, arms folded as she glared at the artwork she’d carefully chosen; anywhere but at Michael.
‘Gemma, Gregory sent us the medical reports on the crew,’ Michael began, ‘we know about the cancer.’
‘He had no right!’ Her brown eyes blazed at him as she whirled to face him.
‘It’s his job.’ Michael shot back. ‘The health and safety of the personnel on this station is his responsibility.’ He sighed and thrust a hand through the grey strands of his hair. ‘But more than his professional obligations, Gemma, he was worried about you. If you catch this early enough, the treatments for this type of cancer are good enough to save lives these days but if you go without treatment the cancer may spread.’
‘I can’t, won’t leave my research.’ Gemma folded her arms and continued to glare at him.
Michael leaned on the doorway and adjusted his glasses. ‘Your research will still be here when you return.’
‘You never understood about my work…’ Gemma muttered.
‘I didn’t come here to revisit old arguments.’ Michael snapped the bitter memory of old arguments tensing his gut.
‘Why did you come?’ Gemma asked meeting his eye.
Michael raised an eyebrow and sighed deeply. ‘Is it so unbelievable that I would come because a part of me still cares about you?’
Gemma arched her own elegant eyebrow. ‘Frankly Michael, yes.’
‘Fine.’ Michael gestured. ‘If you prefer to think that I’m acting on what I think is best for the FIRM and the research project, go ahead. Either way, I’m still taking you home for medical treatment, Gemma. No arguments.’ He held up a hand. ‘You have my word that once you’re cured, I’ll arrange for you to return to your research.’
‘And if I’m not cured, if I’m never cured?’ Gemma blurted out and for a second her fear gleamed in her eyes. She spun away from him.
Michael stepped into the room and gently took hold of her shoulders. He turned her to face him. ‘That won’t happen.’ He reached out and took her unresisting hand in his. ‘I won’t let it, Gem.’
‘Gem.’ She gave a small smile. ‘Nobody’s called me that in years.’ She raised a hand to his cheek and looked at him properly. Old emotions tugged at her. ‘God, Michael what happened to you?’
‘I trusted someone I shouldn’t have trusted.’ He said simply.
Gemma smoothed his hair away from his face. ‘It cost you.’
‘An eye and a busted leg.’ Michael said. ‘I was lucky. It cost others their lives.’
Gemma could see there was more hidden away in the depth of his guarded blue eye and she moved away from him restlessly. She’d lost the right to press him for details or to comfort him when she had walked out on their marriage. ‘I would have wished worse on you at one time.’ She sighed and sank onto the bed. ‘So the FIRM sent you to get me?’
Michael hesitated and sat down next to her. ‘The FIRM didn’t have the resources available to pick you up.’
‘You came without the approval of the FIRM?’ Gemma was astounded.
He shrugged. ‘As I said they didn’t have the resources available to pick you up.’ His conversation with Zeus, the director of the FIRM, had been the usual fence around instructions and loopholes. The older man had made it clear that Gemma’s situation did not have a high priority and official FIRM resources would not be reassigned to retrieve her but then Zeus hadn’t explicitly banned Michael from utilising Airwolf either although he must have known Michael would consider it. It was a fine wire Michael was walking and he was aware that he could fall off at any moment particularly as the FIRM would be taken over by the Company, a larger intelligence agency, in a matter of months.
Michael frowned; he still didn’t agree with the Senate Committee’s decision to amalgamate the two agencies to reduce operational costs but the decision had freed him in an unexpected way; he didn’t owe the Company the same loyalty he had always given to the FIRM and whilst he would never do anything to endanger the safety of his country, Michael was enjoying the new sense of liberty in his decision-making.
‘Actually,’ he continued, ‘they don’t exactly know I’m here.’
‘My God.’ Gemma shook her head in wonder. ‘I wouldn’t have believed it; Michael Coldsmith-Briggs III acting without the explicit approval of the FIRM.’
He smiled wryly. ‘You wouldn’t believe a lot of what I’ve done in the last two years.’
‘We have a lot of catching up to do.’ Gemma said.
‘Yes, we do.’ Michael motioned at the door. ‘We could do it on the journey back to the States.’
She sighed. ‘I’ll need at least an hour to handover my work and to pack…’
He interrupted her. ‘Fifteen minutes.’
‘Michael, I can’t possibly…’ Gemma stopped as Michael held up a hand for silence.
‘It isn’t a negotiation, Gemma. Our transport wasn’t built to withstand freezing conditions for long periods, Gemma. We’ve already spent a lot of the time we had arguing. Fifteen minutes is all I can give you.’
‘Fine.’ Gemma huffed. ‘Fifteen minutes.’
Michael nodded. ‘I’ll go and find our pilot. We’ll meet you up top.’
She nodded. ‘Michael?’
He turned in the doorway, a questioning look in his eye.
‘Thank you.’ Gemma said softly. ‘For coming.’
He smiled and their eyes connected; there was a jolt of remembered intimacy and chemistry. Michael took a step back and out of the room, breaking the eye contact. He breathed deeply and went in search of Dom. He found him in a small kitchen talking with Gregory.
‘Gemma’s just handing over her work and packing.’ Michael said. ‘She’ll be done in about fifteen minutes.’
Gregory nodded. ‘Thanks, Michael.’
Michael shrugged and reached into his inner pocket. He extracted a computer disc and handed it to the other man. ‘This is an update on everything.’
‘Any surprises?’ Gregory asked turning the disc over in his hands.
‘We’re being taken over.’ Michael announced succinctly. ‘By the Company.’
Gregory’s eyes hardened. ‘Damn.’
‘My thoughts exactly,’ agreed Michael. He gestured. ‘All the details are on the disc.’
Dom cleared his throat. ‘I think I’d better go and turn over the Lady’s engines, get the rotors moving.’
‘Why don’t you stay in the aircraft?’ Gregory said smiling at the pilot. ‘I can always bring Gemma out to you.’
‘OK by me,’ said Dom cheerfully.
‘I’ll go with him.’ Michael said.
Gregory stood and hugged him again. ‘It’s been too long, Michael.’
‘Take care, Gregory.’
‘Just you take care of Gemma.’ Gregory said. ‘And try not to kill each other huh?’
Michael smiled and brushed a finger over his moustache as Dom shook the scientist’s hand.
Dom followed Michael back to the cloakroom where they redressed before moving back outside. Even with the snowsuits both men were shivering by the time they got in Airwolf. Dom held his breath and switched on the engines and systems.
‘Come on baby.’ She powered up without a hitch. ‘Ah who’s my angel?’ Dom said happily running his hand over the front console.
Michael looked at the back of Dom’s head and raised an eyebrow. He brought up the system stats and ran through a pre-flight check.
‘So,’ Dom smiled broadly, ‘you and Gemma, huh?’
Michael sighed. He’d guessed Gregory would fill the pilot in on the personal history when he’d left them alone.
Dom turned around to look at him. ‘I didn’t know you used to be married.’
‘Used to be, being the operative words.’ Michael said wryly. ‘A failed marriage isn’t something I like to advertise.’
Dom laughed. ‘Well I can sympathise with you there.’
Michael met Dom’s rueful look and remembered the pilot’s own history; the older man had also had a failed marriage. ‘I guess you can.’ He said.
‘So what happened between the two of you?’ Dom asked nosily. ‘What did you do?’
‘Why do you assume it was my fault?’
‘Well it goes without saying.’ Dom chuckled.
Michael sighed. Dom was insatiably curious and if he didn’t get it from Michael no doubt he’d worm the story out of Gemma on the way home. ‘Gemma was my senior aide; we became involved. When we got married we both had difficulty adjusting so after a couple of years of trying to make it work and failing, Gemma left me and we eventually divorced.’ It sounded so clear-cut, Michael mused, when it had been anything but…
Dom picked up on the regret in the spy’s voice. ‘This is a pretty personal mission for you, huh?’
Michael hesitated before he nodded. ‘I guess it is.’ He admitted.
‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ Dom said exasperated.
‘Would that be before or after I blackmailed you into doing the mission?’ Michael returned. Suddenly the computer in front of him clicked into a diagnostic. He looked at it in surprise. ‘Ah Dominic?’
‘What is it Michael?’
‘The computer is doing something back here.’
‘Specifically?’ Dom asked rolling his eyes.
‘I think it’s a diagnostic, I don’t recognise it.’ Michael tried to keep the worry out of his voice.
‘Punch it through to the front monitor.’ Dom said turning back to look at his own screen. He adjusted the monitor. ‘She’s scanning environmental conditions.’ He frowned. ‘That’s unusual.’
‘Has Airwolf initiated these scans before?’ Michael asked.
Dom shrugged trying not to be concerned. ‘She self-initiates scans all the time Michael. It’s part of her programming to identify potential threats. Why do you think the identification scans kick in like they do?’
‘OK. So why she is scanning environmental conditions now?’
Dom frowned. ‘I can’t pinpoint it. I need to be on the computer.’ He manoeuvred until he could get into the back of the cockpit where he and Michael did an awkward shuffle so Dom could sit at the engineer’s console. Michael hovered at his side.
Dom started to run further scans trying to establish what had triggered Airwolf’s programming. Both men were so focused on the computer they started at the knock on the cockpit door. Michael helped Gemma into the second pilot’s seat, stowing her small pack of belongings in the back of the cockpit.
Her brown eyes were wide as she settled into her seat. ‘What is this thing?’
Michael ignored her and stuck his hand out of the door to shake Gregory’s hand. ‘Thanks Gregory!’
The other man waved him in. ‘Like I said; just take care of her, Michael!’ He helped close the cockpit door and waved another goodbye. Gemma waved back watching until Gregory was safely inside the station as Michael returned to his position beside the engineer’s console.
Dom watched helplessly as Airwolf cycled through more environmental data. She stopped and the scans zeroed in on a spot several miles below the research station in the bedrock of the continent itself.
‘Oh my God.’ Dom said suddenly recognising what Airwolf had identified. A massive shift in the land buried under the ice; an earthquake in progress…it was too late.
The ground moved beneath them violently.
Airwolf shook and shifted as the packed ice and snow underneath her rippled. Gemma screamed and huddled back into the chair hearing a thud behind her as Michael lost his footing and fell, landing heavily on his bad leg. Dom grabbed the console and prayed.
Airwolf initiated her automatic pilot. She lifted off the shaking ground and started to rise out of the valley.
‘What the hell is going on?’ yelled Michael in alarm.
Dom’s eyes widened as they manoeuvred upwards slowly and came to a hover half-way up between the icy walls surrounding them.
Michael crawled into the space behind the front seats and stared through the windshield. ‘My God!’ he uttered quietly.
The ice was breaking apart; huge blocks were falling in front of them, exploding into the ground.
‘Hold on. That earthquake has caused an avalanche. We have a ton of snow headed our way.’ Dom said urgently reading the scans flickering across the monitor.
Michael put his hand on Gemma’s shoulder and she took it with both hands, holding on her fingers white.
‘Cover your eyes.’ Gemma gasped. ‘Otherwise we’ll all end up snow blind.’
Michael and Dom briefly glimpsed the wall of whiteness headed toward them and did as she said.
Airwolf fought to get altitude out of the path of the snow and wind. She struggled, shook viciously and lurched downwards before finding a path through. Her three passengers had a rollercoaster ride as she fought, machine against Mother Nature, to stay in the air.
The sudden cessation of movement worried Dom into peeking. He shakily let out the breath he’d been holding and laid a hand on his heart to calm it. They were hovering in the grey sky. He blinked.
‘Good God.’ He muttered.
Underneath them the once deep valley was almost filled with snow and ice that was creeping forward slowly to the coastline and falling into the sea.
Michael opened his eye at Dom’s quiet heartfelt words. He visibly swallowed in horror at the destruction below. ‘Dom, the research station?’ He asked urgently.
Dom punched in the scan and nothing happened. He tried another with the same result. ‘The surveillance system is down.’ He said. ‘But look at it…’ he gestured, ‘it’s gone, Michael.’
‘Maybe it’s buried…we could dig them out.’ Michael began before he stopped as the older man laid a hand on his shoulder.
‘Michael, there’s just no sign of it.’ Dom sighed sadly.
Michael bowed his head.
‘No!’ Gemma moaned. She covered her face with her hands and sobbed. She barely felt the squeeze of Michael’s hand on her shoulder.
‘There were twenty people in that station.’ Michael said softly.
‘I’m sorry.’ Dom said unable to think of anything else to say. He concentrated on adjusting systems impacted by the unexpected disaster and initiated their radar suppression. He sighed. ‘We have to set down and do a full system check. I need to get back to the pilot’s seat.’ He moved slowly out of the console and the three of them shifted places until Dom could settle into the main command seat at the front. Michael took his place at the engineer’s console and they all pulled on the heavy Airwolf helmets.
Dom put his hands onto the controls. ‘OK, Michael. Disengage the autopilot.’
‘Autopilot disengaged.’ Michael confirmed.
Dom felt the tremors in Airwolf’s frame. ‘OK, find me somewhere solid to land.’
‘It will take us out of the radar black zone.’ Michael warned.
‘Can’t be helped.’ Dom said. ‘We’ll just have to rely on her stealth and hope we’re too low to be picked up.’
‘Two miles north-east of our current position.’
Dom carefully set Airwolf on course. The two miles felt like an eternity as he wrestled to keep the machine in the air. He switched on the landing gear and brought her down gently.
There was a collective sigh of relief.
‘Michael, pass me my headgear.’ Dom ordered.
‘You’re going outside?’ Michael asked handing the face-mask to the older man.
‘I need to do a visual check on the rotors and the electronics. We took quite a battering.’ Dom answered grateful they hadn’t changed out of the snow suits as he pulled on the protective headwear. ‘When I get out, hand me the tool box.’ He adjusted the face-gear. ‘And whilst I’m outside run a full diagnostic.’ He opened the door and a wash of freezing air swept through the cockpit.
Michael quickly handed him the tool box ignoring the sharp pain in his leg. Dom closed the door and Michael sat back down with a sigh. He began to run the diagnostic. Gemma slipped into the back of Airwolf and sat down on the jump seat next to him.
‘Are we going to be able to fly?’ She asked.
Michael heard the tremor in her voice and looked across to her. Her hair had been disturbed by the helmet and soft tendrils had fallen out of the chignon to frame her tense, white face. She looked devastated and he silently cursed his own stupidity; she’d just lost the people who had been like family to her for the last three years. It was a wonder she wasn’t comatose with grief. ‘We’ll fly.’ He held his hand out to her and she took it. ‘Don’t tell him I said so but Dominic’s a brilliant engineer. He’ll get her back in the air.’
Gemma nodded and suddenly her eyes flooded with tears again. ‘All those people, Michael.’
‘I know…’ He rubbed his thumb over her knuckles. ‘There was nothing we could have done.’
‘Gregory…’
‘I know.’ He reached across and she slumped against his shoulder awkwardly. He hugged her to him, sharing her grief for a moment. The console beeped and Michael pushed his grief away to deal with the practicalities of getting them home. He slowly eased away from Gemma.
She recognised the withdrawal immediately and shifted back onto the jump seat, swiping at the tears on her face. She took one shaky breath and then another. Michael concentrated on the diagnostic, noting which systems were failed and which weren’t.
The door opened and Dom climbed in quickly shutting the door behind him. He took off the face-gear and twisted round in his seat to the others. ‘She’s shaken some of her electronics loose but her rotors look OK.’ He said. ‘I’ve fixed what I can but I need to get her somewhere where I can work on her properly. My fingers just about froze out there.’ He nodded at Michael. ‘What’s the news in here?’
‘Communications are down. I’m reading several of her surveillance systems as down. There’s some other data on her engines which if I’m reading it correctly means we might have issues with the turbos.’
‘Punch it through and I’ll take a look at it.’ Dom said. His eyes slid to Gemma. ‘I’m real sorry about your friends.’
Gemma nodded, her eyes gleaming with new tears. ‘Thank you. We…we never got a chance to be introduced. I’m Gemma Carstairs.’
‘Dominic Santini.’
‘You’ll forgive for saying so Mr Santini but you don’t seem like a typical FIRM employee.’
Dom laughed. ‘That’s because I’m not.’ He laughed again. ‘Me work for the FIRM?’ He caught Michael’s eye.
Michael’s own lips twitched. ‘God forbid.’
‘Then,’ Gemma looked at them confused, ‘but then I don’t understand.’ She turned to Michael. ‘I mean I know you told me the FIRM didn’t know you were here but I thought…’
‘The FIRM doesn’t know we’re here?’ Dom interrupted his amusement dying abruptly. He glared at Michael.
‘Marella knows.’ Michael said returning his stare evenly.
Dom turned back to the front, reviewing the data on the front monitor and muttering under his breath in Italian. Michael figured it was probably about him and probably not complimentary.
‘You didn’t tell him?’ Gemma asked incredulous.
Michael shrugged.
Gemma lowered her voice. ‘So if Mr Santini doesn’t work for the FIRM, how do you know him?’
Michael sighed and glanced to see if Dominic was listening. ‘He’s a friend.’
‘A friend?’ Gemma looked forward and then back at Michael. ‘That seems unlikely.’
‘Yes.’ Michael agreed. It was a continual surprise to him too.
‘You have changed.’ Gemma said softly.
‘OK, kids.’ Dom twisted back to face them again before Michael could reply. ‘This is what we’re going to do. We need to find somewhere to fix her properly. I figure we can just about make the west coast of Africa with the electronics I’ve jerry-rigged. It’s going to be a bumpy ride though.’ He looked at Gemma. ‘You might want to come back up to the front, Ms Carstairs.’
‘It’s Gemma.’ She said taking his advice.
‘Call me Dom.’ Dom smiled at her and helped her to put the helmet back on.
They all held their breath as Airwolf powered back up. She failed first time and Dom has to adjust her systems again before the engines ignited. In a few moments they were airborne and heading North.
‘How’s she feeling?’ Michael asked.
Dom sighed. His Lady was definitely limping. She wasn’t getting enough power in the turbos and mach speed was definitely out. ‘She’ll hold together. Never let me down yet, have you, baby?’
‘So how do you know Michael?’ Gemma asked.
‘Oh well that’s kinda a long story.’ Dom said.
‘We have time don’t we?’ Gemma pressed.
Michael sighed in the back. ‘You might as well tell her Dominic.’
Dom settled back in his seat. ‘Well I guess for me it begins with my friend Stringfellow Hawke…’
‘Stringfellow Hawke?’ Gemma asked.
‘I know but it’s a real name, honest. His mother had a real thing about wanting unique names for the boys. I think it was because she was called Jane.’
‘So your friend Stringfellow Hawke...’ Gemma prompted.
‘String went to work for Michael here when they building this lady.’ He patted Airwolf. ‘String was the lead test pilot for her only he didn’t get on with the creator, a guy called Moffett. He didn’t like or trust the guy and the feeling was pretty mutual so String left the programme and came to work for me. But about six months or so later, just over two years ago now, Moffett stole Airwolf and took her to Libya.’ Dom altered their heading slightly. ‘Michael asked String to recover her and he agreed if the FIRM found Saint John, String’s brother. We all thought he was still MIA in Vietnam at the time.’
‘Saint John. I guess his mother really did have a thing about names.’ Gemma commented.
Dom grinned at her. ‘Anyway, String asked me to back him on the mission and we recovered Airwolf.’
‘What about Moffett?’ Gemma asked.
‘There was a shoot out; Moffett didn’t make it.’ Dom said quietly. The images of the explosion of fire and sand as Hawke, in his grief and fury at the way Moffett had tortured and murdered the young female FIRM agent Hawke had been involved with during the mission, unleashed the guns and missiles would stay with Dom until the end of his days.
Gemma nodded. She’d worked at the FIRM long enough to understand it wrought its own justice on occasion. ‘So you recovered Airwolf and then…?’
‘Well String figured that the FIRM would never come through with its part of the deal…’
‘Clever man.’ Gemma commented with a smile.
‘…so he held onto her.’ Dom laughed. ‘You should have seen it when we disappeared under the noses of the guys escorting us.’
‘Yes,’ Michael commented wryly remembering the moment with an acute clarity, ‘it was highly amusing for all of us.’
Dom resisted the urge to turn around and poke his tongue out at the spy. ‘Anyway, Michael was waiting for String when he got back home and offered him a deal. The FIRM would continue looking for his brother and would help String keep her from any other agencies trying to recover her in return for him flying occasional missions.’ He checked their heading. ‘That was two years ago.’
‘Two years.’ Gemma repeated. ‘And he hasn’t found his brother yet?’
‘Not yet but he keeps hoping and we’ve made some progress; we know Saint John made it out of ‘Nam.’ Dom said. He cleared his throat and decided a change in subject was in order. ‘So Michael tells me you’re a scientist?’
The subject moved on and eventually they were quiet concentrating on the flight in the damaged helicopter. They sighted the west coast of Africa with relief.
‘Are you sure you need to put down?’ Michael asked. ‘She seems to be handling OK.’
‘She’s not right. I’d rather not to take the risk of her failing over the Atlantic.’ Dom said. ‘We’re putting down. Try to find somewhere remote with no life-signs, will ya? We’re going to need to stay a while uninterrupted.’
‘Dom, most of the scans aren’t working.’ Michael pointed out.
‘Well use the ones which are.’ Dom gestured at the night sky that had fallen rapidly. ‘We can’t exactly see anything here.’
Michael shot him a look and gave him some coordinates. ‘We should be clear of any known settlements.’
They put down in the middle of the African wilderness and Dom switched off the engines. He sighed and got out. He stretched trying to shift the tiredness and aches. He was getting too old for this type of escapade, he thought grumpily as Gemma and Michael followed him. Dom’s eyes narrowed on the way Michael limped.
‘You OK Michael?’
His question had Gemma spinning to look at her ex-husband with concern. ‘You’re limping.’ She stated.
‘It’s just a little sore and stiff from being sat so long.’ He downplayed the sheer agony of putting any weight on the leg at all.
Dom wasn’t fooled; he’d seen the fall the other man had taken. He gestured. ‘Gemma, there’s some torches in the back. Why don’t you and I set up a camp? Michael, review our supplies will ya?’
Michael opened his mouth to argue but stopped seeing Dom’s implacable face. He nodded.
Continued in Part II.
Series: The Lost Season (Story 13)
Summary: As Hawke and Caitlin honeymoon, Michael takes Dom and Airwolf on a mission
Rating: PG-13
Author's Note: Hawke/Caitlin. Michael/Gemma.
Disclaimer: No copyright infringement intended. Written for entertainment purposes only.
The Odd Couple
Part 1
‘No, Michael.’ Dominic Santini wiped his hands on the rag and glowered at the deputy director of the FIRM. The spy was dressed in an all white three-piece suit with his black eye-patch and wooden cane adding the usual additional eccentricity to the outfit. Dom briefly looked down at his own simple beige overalls and decided that perhaps their contrasting clothing summed up the dissimilarity between the two men more than words ever could; his was the attire of a simple, down to earth man and Michael’s…well, Michael’s was that of someone who belonged to a different world.
‘It’s a simple pick up, Dominic.’ Michael Coldsmith-Briggs III argued passionately as he followed Dom across the hangar to where the Santini Jet Ranger was parked awaiting repairs. Michael had figured that it wouldn’t be easy getting the older pilot to agree to take a mission without the presence of their mutual friend, Stringfellow Hawke, and he’d been right.
‘And I told you, String gave me strict instructions that Airwolf was grounded until he got back and we could work on her together.’ Dom threw his hands in the air.
Michael frowned. ‘I didn’t realise there was something wrong with her.’ The systems in the world’s only technologically advanced and mach capable helicopter were sensitive and required constant maintenance but he’d never known Hawke to ground the machine unless there was something seriously broken.
Dom plastered an innocent expression on his craggy face. It wasn’t that there was something wrong with Airwolf but the older man had finally come to agree with Hawke that she was acting odd; shooting down an attacking chopper when she was on the ground and without engineer or pilot definitely fell into the odd category even if she had saved all their lives. Hawke had wanted them to run more tests before they brought it to Michael’s attention. ‘There’s nothing wrong exactly…’ he replied to Michael vaguely, ‘we just wanted to be sure of a few things before we took her out again. And,’ he stressed the word, ‘we didn’t think you’d be giving us any missions whilst Hawke was away.’
‘So that’s your final decision?’ Michael asked.
Dom nodded.
Michael sighed and tapped his cane on the hangar floor. He stroked his moustache and gestured. ‘Well I guess I have no option.’
Dom raised a bushy grey eyebrow inquisitively.
‘I’ll have to find Hawke.’ Michael said.
Dom straightened, his brow lowered ominously. ‘You wouldn’t dare.’
Michael raised his eyebrows and his good eye met Dom’s challengingly. ‘Wouldn’t I?’
‘They’re on honeymoon, Michael.’ Dom barked. Hawke had married the third member of the Airwolf crew, Caitlin O’Shaunessy almost two weeks before in a quiet ceremony at the cabin. Just the memory of the happy day had Dom smiling.
Michael sighed and adjusted his wire-frame glasses. ‘Not anymore.’ He made to leave.
Dom scooted in front of him. ‘Now wait just a minute.’
Michael waited patiently.
Dom sighed and put his hands on his hips. ‘And you wonder why they didn’t tell you where they went.’
‘Will you help me?’ Michael repeated.
‘Why do you need Airwolf?’
‘I need her stealth capability. The science team is not exactly in a location we want to advertise, Dominic.’
‘If you need stealth it’ll need someone on the engineering console to watch the radar profile and monitor all the other systems.’ Dom said gesturing. ‘I can’t do that alone.’
‘No problem, I’ll be the engineer.’ Michael said smoothly. He had acted as the engineer for Hawke on a couple of occasions and knew the systems. He knew he could handle a straight-forward mission.
Dom raised an eyebrow again. ‘I don’t think so.’
The pilot’s refusal had Michael taking another step forward as if to leave.
Dom blocked him again and waved him to a stop. ‘Just hold your horses.’
‘Dominic, we’re on a timetable here…’ Michael said.
‘What’s the rush?’ Dom asked.
‘The scientist we’re picking up needs to be returned to the US immediately for medical treatment.’
‘Medical treatment?’ Dom’s compassion rose in his breast, tugged at his heart strings.
‘The onsite medic has diagnosed breast cancer.’ Michael sighed. ‘We’ve arranged for the scientist in question to be seen by a specialist as soon as we get her back. The longer the condition is left untreated, the more likely it is to be fatal.’
‘Well I guess if it’s a medical emergency.’ Dom muttered. He sighed. ‘A simple pick up?’
Michael nodded.
‘OK. But if you’re going to act as the engineer, you have to do what I tell you. I don’t…’ it was his turn to meet the other man’s gaze with a challenge in his own, ‘I don’t want any arguments when we’re in Airwolf.’
‘OK.’ Michael readily agreed.
Dom peered into Michael’s good eye as if to check his sincerity and harrumphed as he started to clear his tools away.
It didn’t take them long to drive to the Lair, Airwolf’s hiding place in the Valley of the Gods. It was still cold in the valley with snow touching the highest rock formations. They both changed into the lilac uniforms quickly and began the preparations to leave.
Michael glanced around with a renewed sense of disbelief. Only Hawke would choose to hide a multi-million dollar aircraft in a dusty cave, he thought. The younger man’s lateral thinking was one of the reasons why he was such a good operative. The cave did provide a perfect backdrop for Airwolf though; early morning light streamed down the funnel and bathed the black and white helicopter in a golden glow; the rotors glinted and the armour gleamed. He sometimes forgot how beautiful Airwolf was, Michael mused; he never forgot how deadly. He’d lost an eye and the full use of one leg when Airwolf’s creator, Moffett had used Airwolf to destroy the Red Star Control tower during his theft of the machine.
He tore his gaze away from Airwolf and it briefly landed on the platform of equipment he had installed when he had finally discovered where Hawke had been keeping Airwolf. His lips twitched. He knew the stainless steel deck, ringed with a bright yellow railing and housing a computer console, communications and updated security system, was tolerated by Hawke at best. It put a smile on his face as he climbed into the cockpit and took his place at the engineering console
Dom finished his pre-flight check and adjusted his heavy helmet. He had often sat in the command chair of Airwolf in the last couple of years but it felt strange to be setting off on a mission without either Hawke or Caitlin. He pushed their absence to the back of his mind and started the engines. He smiled; ah, there was nothing in the world like the sound of his baby coming on line.
‘All systems showing green, Dominic.’
Dom rolled his eyes at Michael’s voice through the headset. He grasped the cyclic and took Airwolf up. They cleared the Lair and Dom requested the turbos. They shot forward clearing the Valley of the Gods quickly and taking a heading due South.
It wasn’t in Dom’s nature to remain silent for long. They’d flown for only thirty minutes when he gave in to his need for conversation. ‘So what are these scientists of yours doing in the Antarctic anyway?’
‘Examining the ice.’ Michael replied.
‘Examining the ice? What for?’ Dom asked interested.
‘Scientific discoveries.’ Michael adjusted a system. ‘Ice can tell us many things about climate and mineral changes within the earth’s atmosphere. It may even hold the key to our own evolution.’
‘Oh.’ Dom thought it sounded pretty interesting. ‘And have they made any progress?’
‘It’s early days.’ Michael said.
‘How long have they been at it?’ Dom asked.
‘About three years.’ Michael admitted.
Dom raised his eyebrows. Three years and it was early days? He shook his head. ‘You know if that’s all they’re doing I don’t get why it’s such a big secret.’ He frowned.
‘It can take years to get any kind of permission to work on the Antarctic continent.’ Michael said.
‘Because no country has a claim to it?’
‘Every country has a claim to it. That’s the problem.’ Michael sighed. ‘The research station is cleverly hidden in a radar black zone. It’s a triangle of land on the South coast between two huge walls of ice.’
‘Sounds real cosy.’
‘The station is buried into the ice itself. To anyone flying over or doing a land survey without the exact coordinates of the station, they’d never see it.’ Michael continued as if Dom hadn’t spoken. ‘It’s state of the art and a complete secret even from our own people already in Antarctica.’
‘Dodging our own people, huh?’ Dom frowned. ‘I thought you said this was a simple pick up.’
‘It is.’ Michael insisted. ‘I have the details of the planned patrols. We just need to slip between them.’
‘Hmmm.’ Dom sighed.
‘Our own real difficulty will be communications.’ Michael confessed trying for a casual tone.
‘Oh?’ The word was heavy with suspicion.
‘The station location is also a communications black zone.’ Michael kept his eye on the monitor in case Dom turned around. ‘Something to do with the magnetic forces down there.’
‘Now you tell me.’ Dom’s lips firmed. ‘Anything else you failed to mention?’
‘Dominic, as we’re not going to communicate with anyone, the communications problem isn’t an issue.’ Michael reassured him.
‘If you can’t communicate with them, how did you find out about this scientist’s medical condition?’ Dom asked puzzled.
‘They have to move out of the valley by snowmobile and then piggyback any communication on a legitimate one from the scientific communities who do have permission to be there via satellite technology.’
‘And how do you communicate with them?’
‘We don’t.’ Michael said. ‘If we want to tell them something we arrange a visitation.’
‘Then how do they know when you’re coming?’ Dom was completely perplexed.
‘They don’t.’
‘Oh.’ Dom started to smile before a thought occurred to him and he moved to look over his shoulder at the spy. ‘Then…are you telling me they don’t know we’re coming?’
‘They requested a pick up. They know they won’t know when or how exactly we’ll arrive but they know something will be arranged.’
‘Great.’ Dom muttered as he turned back to the front. ‘Just great.’
There was a moment of awkward silence as Dom assessed how the simple pick-up of a scientist for medical treatment had become more complicated in the space of a few minutes.
Michael adjusted one of the systems and decided diversionary tactics were called for. ‘So have you heard from the happy couple?’
Dom glanced over his shoulder a little surprised at the question. ‘Just a quick call to let me know they’d gotten there safely.’
‘And where is there?’ Michael probed.
Dom laughed. ‘Nice try.’
‘I don’t know why their honeymoon destination is such a big secret.’ Michael said.
‘This from the man who was threatening to call Hawke earlier.’ Dom shot back. ‘They deserve some undisturbed time together not having to worry about anything more than…than cocktails on the beach.’
‘It’s Hawaii, isn’t it?’ Michael asked.
Dom looked heavenward. ‘Michael, I’m not saying.’
Michael smiled. He already knew the honeymoon destination; he’d had his senior aide, Marella, track them down on the first day when he’d realised Hawke had failed to offer the information. He altered another system. Dom’s refusal to tell him, his unremitting loyalty to Hawke was one of the reasons why Michael respected and liked the older man, not that he would ever tell him that. He also would never tell him that he agreed with him; Hawke and Caitlin did deserve to have their honeymoon undisturbed.
‘You know Michael, I never got to tell you that I thought it was a nice thing you did for Hawke, sealing the marriage record like that.’ Dom’s voice broke into his thoughts.
Michael shrugged uncomfortable with the unexpected praise. ‘It was nothing. It won’t do anything to deter someone who’s really set on coming after Hawke through Caitlin.’
‘I guess not.’ Dom admitted. ‘We just have to hope that never happens.’
‘I can agree with you on that.’ Michael said quietly. If Caitlin was ever hurt or worse by someone trying to get to Hawke…he didn’t want to contemplate it.
‘Ah but it was a beautiful wedding.’ Dom sighed happy to be given the opportunity to wallow in his memories of the day. ‘She made a lovely bride.’
‘When are they back?’ Michael asked.
‘Four days from now.’ Dom said with a laugh. ‘It’ll be good to have them home. It’s been kinda quiet without the two of them around.’
‘I thought your niece was staying?’ Michael asked. He’d been introduced to Jo Santini at Hawke’s wedding and the small blond pilot had impressed him. He must remember to have Marella check her out, he thought absent-mindedly.
‘Nah.’ Dom sighed regretfully. ‘She got offered another job as a translator in Germany. She headed out straight after the wedding.’ He gave another snort of laughter. ‘I think she’s considering settling down though and I have to admit it would be good to have her home.’
Michael mentally moved the background check on Jo Santini to the top of his to-do list. If the lady was going to be around Santini Air a lot then he needed to ensure she was on the level. He had a feeling Dom would take a different view. He moved the conversation on again.
A couple of hours, and a fuel pickup, later they both realised with some surprise that the journey had passed relatively quickly and they were approaching the Antarctic valley where the research station was nestled.
Dom descended between the icy walls and glanced at the snow-filled landscape below. It was stark and unfriendly. He shivered in automatic reaction despite the warmth in the cockpit.
‘You need to slow up, Dominic.’ Michael said. ‘We’ll be there in five minutes at current speed.’
‘I don’t see it.’ Dom complained.
‘I told you. You’re not supposed to.’ Michael reminded him.
‘Mark the spot then.’ Dom instructed. ‘Prepare to disconnect turbos and re-engage rotors.’
‘Yes sir.’ Michael said dryly. He had a feeling the older man was enjoying the opportunity to boss him around.
Dom harrumphed.
They set down on the ice and taxied forward to park by a concrete entrance almost obscured by the snow.
Dom looked up at the icy cliffs surrounding them worried. ‘We can’t stay long otherwise all our systems will freeze up.’
Michael nodded. ‘I know.’
Dom sighed and switched the engines off. He saw movement at the doorway to the station; their arrival had not gone unnoticed. ‘Michael we have company.’
‘Let’s get into the outdoor gear.’ Michael suggested and handed a set of the thermal wear to Dom. The older man sighed; getting into the clothing in the small confines of the helicopter was not going to be a lot of fun. He was glad though of the protective snow suit, face gear, headwear and gloves as they climbed out of Airwolf and the full icy temperature slammed into him. Dom secured the helicopter and followed after Michael as he limped into the station. They were met by a man yards from the door who waved them in.
The station was warmer than the temperature outside but was still cool. Dom was glad of the snowsuit that he wore and he didn’t remove his gloves. He looked about him with interest as they passed through. The entrance hall was obviously only used to store gear and equipment; nothing had been done to detract from the stark concrete walls and floor and it was almost as harsh and unfriendly an area as the ice outside. Not exactly welcoming, Dom thought. They were led through an open door and down a wrought-iron spiral staircase that took them into the station itself. It was another cloakroom and the concrete was in evidence but someone had painted it in a soothing warm russet colour. A door at the back was wide open and Dom glimpsed another painted corridor beyond it as he followed the example of the others and stripped off his gloves and face-gear. He stopped as the man who had greeted them suddenly turned from hanging his coat up and hugged Michael.
‘It’s good to see you, Michael.’ The curly grey-haired man took a step back from his embrace and with warm sherry-brown eyes regarded the spy fondly.
‘Gregory.’ Michael shook his hand warmly and grinned at him. Gregory was one of his oldest friends. They’d joined the FIRM together, had trained together; had worked together in the early days before Gregory’s talents as a scientist moved him out of the field missions and into research. ‘It’s good to see you again too although I would rather it wasn’t in these circumstances.’
‘The same, Michael.’ Gregory grinned back at Michael. ‘You’ve been in the wars since last we met.’
‘I’ve survived.’ Michael said dryly.
‘You always did.’ A female voice in cut glass English had all three men turning to the inner doorway.
Dom’s eyebrows raised; the woman definitely didn’t conform to his idea of a scientist. She was about Michael’s age; elegant, classically beautiful with porcelain skin, large brown eyes and dark blonde hair pulled back in a chignon without a strand out of place. She was wearing layers of sweaters over jeans. Gold glinted at her ears, wrist and fingers.
‘Gemma.’ Michael said. His good eye ran over the woman briefly taking note of the differences between his memories of her and the reality. ‘It’s been a long time.’
‘Why are you here, Michael?’ Gemma asked her arms folded tightly across her chest.
Michael met her eyes steadily. ‘I came for you.’
Gemma frowned at him and her eyes flickered to her fellow scientist. ‘You told him?’
‘You need to leave, Gemma.’ Gregory said firmly and with the air of someone who had said the same thing many times before.
‘I’ve told you already; I’m not going.’ Gemma whirled and disappeared back into the station.
‘She doesn’t know?’ Dom accused Michael with a large amount of exasperation. Simple pick-up…hah! He was going to have a few words for the spy when the mission was done.
‘I’ll go and talk to her.’ Gregory said.
Michael caught his arm. ‘Let me.’
‘You’d better hurry it up Michael.’ Dom said thinking about the outside temperature and what it was potentially doing to Airwolf’s temperamental systems.
The spy nodded and went after the woman.
‘I’m sorry,’ Gregory said, ‘we haven’t had a moment to be introduced. I’m Gregory Jackson.’
‘Dominic Santini.’ Dom eyed him with interest as they shook hands. ‘You’re a scientist here?’
‘For my sins.’ Gregory led him into the station. ‘You might as well come in and have a drink. Knowing Gemma and Michael this could take a while.’
‘Oh you know them well?’ Dom asked giving into his innate curiosity.
‘Yeah. I was best man at their wedding. Michael usually says that Gemma got me in the divorce settlement.’ Gregory said lightly.
Dom’s eyebrows almost hit the ceiling and his mouth fell open. He snapped it shut. Michael had been married to Gemma? ‘I’m sure you have some fascinating stories, huh?’ He asked as they disappeared down a staircase.
Part 2
Michael hurriedly followed after Gemma only just keeping her in sight as she marched through the maze of stairways and corridors with the easy familiarity of someone walking through their home. Emotions churned within him; more than he had expected or wanted. It had been his first sight of Gemma since their divorce and it had been startling to feel the same punch of attraction; the same pull of desire. She always had been a beautiful woman. He sighed as he limped down another set of stairs. He hadn’t been prepared for the regret or the strange mix of old love and new compassion that had prompted him to follow her instead of allowing Gregory to deal with her.
He caught up with his ex-wife just as Gemma got to the door of her quarters. ‘Gemma…’ He was breathless and her name was all he could manage to say.
‘You can leave Michael because I’m not going to.’ Gemma pushed open the door and entered her room. She didn’t try to close the door behind her; she knew Michael well enough to know that a closed door wouldn’t hold him for long. She paced to the other side and stood still, arms folded as she glared at the artwork she’d carefully chosen; anywhere but at Michael.
‘Gemma, Gregory sent us the medical reports on the crew,’ Michael began, ‘we know about the cancer.’
‘He had no right!’ Her brown eyes blazed at him as she whirled to face him.
‘It’s his job.’ Michael shot back. ‘The health and safety of the personnel on this station is his responsibility.’ He sighed and thrust a hand through the grey strands of his hair. ‘But more than his professional obligations, Gemma, he was worried about you. If you catch this early enough, the treatments for this type of cancer are good enough to save lives these days but if you go without treatment the cancer may spread.’
‘I can’t, won’t leave my research.’ Gemma folded her arms and continued to glare at him.
Michael leaned on the doorway and adjusted his glasses. ‘Your research will still be here when you return.’
‘You never understood about my work…’ Gemma muttered.
‘I didn’t come here to revisit old arguments.’ Michael snapped the bitter memory of old arguments tensing his gut.
‘Why did you come?’ Gemma asked meeting his eye.
Michael raised an eyebrow and sighed deeply. ‘Is it so unbelievable that I would come because a part of me still cares about you?’
Gemma arched her own elegant eyebrow. ‘Frankly Michael, yes.’
‘Fine.’ Michael gestured. ‘If you prefer to think that I’m acting on what I think is best for the FIRM and the research project, go ahead. Either way, I’m still taking you home for medical treatment, Gemma. No arguments.’ He held up a hand. ‘You have my word that once you’re cured, I’ll arrange for you to return to your research.’
‘And if I’m not cured, if I’m never cured?’ Gemma blurted out and for a second her fear gleamed in her eyes. She spun away from him.
Michael stepped into the room and gently took hold of her shoulders. He turned her to face him. ‘That won’t happen.’ He reached out and took her unresisting hand in his. ‘I won’t let it, Gem.’
‘Gem.’ She gave a small smile. ‘Nobody’s called me that in years.’ She raised a hand to his cheek and looked at him properly. Old emotions tugged at her. ‘God, Michael what happened to you?’
‘I trusted someone I shouldn’t have trusted.’ He said simply.
Gemma smoothed his hair away from his face. ‘It cost you.’
‘An eye and a busted leg.’ Michael said. ‘I was lucky. It cost others their lives.’
Gemma could see there was more hidden away in the depth of his guarded blue eye and she moved away from him restlessly. She’d lost the right to press him for details or to comfort him when she had walked out on their marriage. ‘I would have wished worse on you at one time.’ She sighed and sank onto the bed. ‘So the FIRM sent you to get me?’
Michael hesitated and sat down next to her. ‘The FIRM didn’t have the resources available to pick you up.’
‘You came without the approval of the FIRM?’ Gemma was astounded.
He shrugged. ‘As I said they didn’t have the resources available to pick you up.’ His conversation with Zeus, the director of the FIRM, had been the usual fence around instructions and loopholes. The older man had made it clear that Gemma’s situation did not have a high priority and official FIRM resources would not be reassigned to retrieve her but then Zeus hadn’t explicitly banned Michael from utilising Airwolf either although he must have known Michael would consider it. It was a fine wire Michael was walking and he was aware that he could fall off at any moment particularly as the FIRM would be taken over by the Company, a larger intelligence agency, in a matter of months.
Michael frowned; he still didn’t agree with the Senate Committee’s decision to amalgamate the two agencies to reduce operational costs but the decision had freed him in an unexpected way; he didn’t owe the Company the same loyalty he had always given to the FIRM and whilst he would never do anything to endanger the safety of his country, Michael was enjoying the new sense of liberty in his decision-making.
‘Actually,’ he continued, ‘they don’t exactly know I’m here.’
‘My God.’ Gemma shook her head in wonder. ‘I wouldn’t have believed it; Michael Coldsmith-Briggs III acting without the explicit approval of the FIRM.’
He smiled wryly. ‘You wouldn’t believe a lot of what I’ve done in the last two years.’
‘We have a lot of catching up to do.’ Gemma said.
‘Yes, we do.’ Michael motioned at the door. ‘We could do it on the journey back to the States.’
She sighed. ‘I’ll need at least an hour to handover my work and to pack…’
He interrupted her. ‘Fifteen minutes.’
‘Michael, I can’t possibly…’ Gemma stopped as Michael held up a hand for silence.
‘It isn’t a negotiation, Gemma. Our transport wasn’t built to withstand freezing conditions for long periods, Gemma. We’ve already spent a lot of the time we had arguing. Fifteen minutes is all I can give you.’
‘Fine.’ Gemma huffed. ‘Fifteen minutes.’
Michael nodded. ‘I’ll go and find our pilot. We’ll meet you up top.’
She nodded. ‘Michael?’
He turned in the doorway, a questioning look in his eye.
‘Thank you.’ Gemma said softly. ‘For coming.’
He smiled and their eyes connected; there was a jolt of remembered intimacy and chemistry. Michael took a step back and out of the room, breaking the eye contact. He breathed deeply and went in search of Dom. He found him in a small kitchen talking with Gregory.
‘Gemma’s just handing over her work and packing.’ Michael said. ‘She’ll be done in about fifteen minutes.’
Gregory nodded. ‘Thanks, Michael.’
Michael shrugged and reached into his inner pocket. He extracted a computer disc and handed it to the other man. ‘This is an update on everything.’
‘Any surprises?’ Gregory asked turning the disc over in his hands.
‘We’re being taken over.’ Michael announced succinctly. ‘By the Company.’
Gregory’s eyes hardened. ‘Damn.’
‘My thoughts exactly,’ agreed Michael. He gestured. ‘All the details are on the disc.’
Dom cleared his throat. ‘I think I’d better go and turn over the Lady’s engines, get the rotors moving.’
‘Why don’t you stay in the aircraft?’ Gregory said smiling at the pilot. ‘I can always bring Gemma out to you.’
‘OK by me,’ said Dom cheerfully.
‘I’ll go with him.’ Michael said.
Gregory stood and hugged him again. ‘It’s been too long, Michael.’
‘Take care, Gregory.’
‘Just you take care of Gemma.’ Gregory said. ‘And try not to kill each other huh?’
Michael smiled and brushed a finger over his moustache as Dom shook the scientist’s hand.
Dom followed Michael back to the cloakroom where they redressed before moving back outside. Even with the snowsuits both men were shivering by the time they got in Airwolf. Dom held his breath and switched on the engines and systems.
‘Come on baby.’ She powered up without a hitch. ‘Ah who’s my angel?’ Dom said happily running his hand over the front console.
Michael looked at the back of Dom’s head and raised an eyebrow. He brought up the system stats and ran through a pre-flight check.
‘So,’ Dom smiled broadly, ‘you and Gemma, huh?’
Michael sighed. He’d guessed Gregory would fill the pilot in on the personal history when he’d left them alone.
Dom turned around to look at him. ‘I didn’t know you used to be married.’
‘Used to be, being the operative words.’ Michael said wryly. ‘A failed marriage isn’t something I like to advertise.’
Dom laughed. ‘Well I can sympathise with you there.’
Michael met Dom’s rueful look and remembered the pilot’s own history; the older man had also had a failed marriage. ‘I guess you can.’ He said.
‘So what happened between the two of you?’ Dom asked nosily. ‘What did you do?’
‘Why do you assume it was my fault?’
‘Well it goes without saying.’ Dom chuckled.
Michael sighed. Dom was insatiably curious and if he didn’t get it from Michael no doubt he’d worm the story out of Gemma on the way home. ‘Gemma was my senior aide; we became involved. When we got married we both had difficulty adjusting so after a couple of years of trying to make it work and failing, Gemma left me and we eventually divorced.’ It sounded so clear-cut, Michael mused, when it had been anything but…
Dom picked up on the regret in the spy’s voice. ‘This is a pretty personal mission for you, huh?’
Michael hesitated before he nodded. ‘I guess it is.’ He admitted.
‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ Dom said exasperated.
‘Would that be before or after I blackmailed you into doing the mission?’ Michael returned. Suddenly the computer in front of him clicked into a diagnostic. He looked at it in surprise. ‘Ah Dominic?’
‘What is it Michael?’
‘The computer is doing something back here.’
‘Specifically?’ Dom asked rolling his eyes.
‘I think it’s a diagnostic, I don’t recognise it.’ Michael tried to keep the worry out of his voice.
‘Punch it through to the front monitor.’ Dom said turning back to look at his own screen. He adjusted the monitor. ‘She’s scanning environmental conditions.’ He frowned. ‘That’s unusual.’
‘Has Airwolf initiated these scans before?’ Michael asked.
Dom shrugged trying not to be concerned. ‘She self-initiates scans all the time Michael. It’s part of her programming to identify potential threats. Why do you think the identification scans kick in like they do?’
‘OK. So why she is scanning environmental conditions now?’
Dom frowned. ‘I can’t pinpoint it. I need to be on the computer.’ He manoeuvred until he could get into the back of the cockpit where he and Michael did an awkward shuffle so Dom could sit at the engineer’s console. Michael hovered at his side.
Dom started to run further scans trying to establish what had triggered Airwolf’s programming. Both men were so focused on the computer they started at the knock on the cockpit door. Michael helped Gemma into the second pilot’s seat, stowing her small pack of belongings in the back of the cockpit.
Her brown eyes were wide as she settled into her seat. ‘What is this thing?’
Michael ignored her and stuck his hand out of the door to shake Gregory’s hand. ‘Thanks Gregory!’
The other man waved him in. ‘Like I said; just take care of her, Michael!’ He helped close the cockpit door and waved another goodbye. Gemma waved back watching until Gregory was safely inside the station as Michael returned to his position beside the engineer’s console.
Dom watched helplessly as Airwolf cycled through more environmental data. She stopped and the scans zeroed in on a spot several miles below the research station in the bedrock of the continent itself.
‘Oh my God.’ Dom said suddenly recognising what Airwolf had identified. A massive shift in the land buried under the ice; an earthquake in progress…it was too late.
The ground moved beneath them violently.
Airwolf shook and shifted as the packed ice and snow underneath her rippled. Gemma screamed and huddled back into the chair hearing a thud behind her as Michael lost his footing and fell, landing heavily on his bad leg. Dom grabbed the console and prayed.
Airwolf initiated her automatic pilot. She lifted off the shaking ground and started to rise out of the valley.
‘What the hell is going on?’ yelled Michael in alarm.
Dom’s eyes widened as they manoeuvred upwards slowly and came to a hover half-way up between the icy walls surrounding them.
Michael crawled into the space behind the front seats and stared through the windshield. ‘My God!’ he uttered quietly.
The ice was breaking apart; huge blocks were falling in front of them, exploding into the ground.
‘Hold on. That earthquake has caused an avalanche. We have a ton of snow headed our way.’ Dom said urgently reading the scans flickering across the monitor.
Michael put his hand on Gemma’s shoulder and she took it with both hands, holding on her fingers white.
‘Cover your eyes.’ Gemma gasped. ‘Otherwise we’ll all end up snow blind.’
Michael and Dom briefly glimpsed the wall of whiteness headed toward them and did as she said.
Airwolf fought to get altitude out of the path of the snow and wind. She struggled, shook viciously and lurched downwards before finding a path through. Her three passengers had a rollercoaster ride as she fought, machine against Mother Nature, to stay in the air.
The sudden cessation of movement worried Dom into peeking. He shakily let out the breath he’d been holding and laid a hand on his heart to calm it. They were hovering in the grey sky. He blinked.
‘Good God.’ He muttered.
Underneath them the once deep valley was almost filled with snow and ice that was creeping forward slowly to the coastline and falling into the sea.
Michael opened his eye at Dom’s quiet heartfelt words. He visibly swallowed in horror at the destruction below. ‘Dom, the research station?’ He asked urgently.
Dom punched in the scan and nothing happened. He tried another with the same result. ‘The surveillance system is down.’ He said. ‘But look at it…’ he gestured, ‘it’s gone, Michael.’
‘Maybe it’s buried…we could dig them out.’ Michael began before he stopped as the older man laid a hand on his shoulder.
‘Michael, there’s just no sign of it.’ Dom sighed sadly.
Michael bowed his head.
‘No!’ Gemma moaned. She covered her face with her hands and sobbed. She barely felt the squeeze of Michael’s hand on her shoulder.
‘There were twenty people in that station.’ Michael said softly.
‘I’m sorry.’ Dom said unable to think of anything else to say. He concentrated on adjusting systems impacted by the unexpected disaster and initiated their radar suppression. He sighed. ‘We have to set down and do a full system check. I need to get back to the pilot’s seat.’ He moved slowly out of the console and the three of them shifted places until Dom could settle into the main command seat at the front. Michael took his place at the engineer’s console and they all pulled on the heavy Airwolf helmets.
Dom put his hands onto the controls. ‘OK, Michael. Disengage the autopilot.’
‘Autopilot disengaged.’ Michael confirmed.
Dom felt the tremors in Airwolf’s frame. ‘OK, find me somewhere solid to land.’
‘It will take us out of the radar black zone.’ Michael warned.
‘Can’t be helped.’ Dom said. ‘We’ll just have to rely on her stealth and hope we’re too low to be picked up.’
‘Two miles north-east of our current position.’
Dom carefully set Airwolf on course. The two miles felt like an eternity as he wrestled to keep the machine in the air. He switched on the landing gear and brought her down gently.
There was a collective sigh of relief.
‘Michael, pass me my headgear.’ Dom ordered.
‘You’re going outside?’ Michael asked handing the face-mask to the older man.
‘I need to do a visual check on the rotors and the electronics. We took quite a battering.’ Dom answered grateful they hadn’t changed out of the snow suits as he pulled on the protective headwear. ‘When I get out, hand me the tool box.’ He adjusted the face-gear. ‘And whilst I’m outside run a full diagnostic.’ He opened the door and a wash of freezing air swept through the cockpit.
Michael quickly handed him the tool box ignoring the sharp pain in his leg. Dom closed the door and Michael sat back down with a sigh. He began to run the diagnostic. Gemma slipped into the back of Airwolf and sat down on the jump seat next to him.
‘Are we going to be able to fly?’ She asked.
Michael heard the tremor in her voice and looked across to her. Her hair had been disturbed by the helmet and soft tendrils had fallen out of the chignon to frame her tense, white face. She looked devastated and he silently cursed his own stupidity; she’d just lost the people who had been like family to her for the last three years. It was a wonder she wasn’t comatose with grief. ‘We’ll fly.’ He held his hand out to her and she took it. ‘Don’t tell him I said so but Dominic’s a brilliant engineer. He’ll get her back in the air.’
Gemma nodded and suddenly her eyes flooded with tears again. ‘All those people, Michael.’
‘I know…’ He rubbed his thumb over her knuckles. ‘There was nothing we could have done.’
‘Gregory…’
‘I know.’ He reached across and she slumped against his shoulder awkwardly. He hugged her to him, sharing her grief for a moment. The console beeped and Michael pushed his grief away to deal with the practicalities of getting them home. He slowly eased away from Gemma.
She recognised the withdrawal immediately and shifted back onto the jump seat, swiping at the tears on her face. She took one shaky breath and then another. Michael concentrated on the diagnostic, noting which systems were failed and which weren’t.
The door opened and Dom climbed in quickly shutting the door behind him. He took off the face-gear and twisted round in his seat to the others. ‘She’s shaken some of her electronics loose but her rotors look OK.’ He said. ‘I’ve fixed what I can but I need to get her somewhere where I can work on her properly. My fingers just about froze out there.’ He nodded at Michael. ‘What’s the news in here?’
‘Communications are down. I’m reading several of her surveillance systems as down. There’s some other data on her engines which if I’m reading it correctly means we might have issues with the turbos.’
‘Punch it through and I’ll take a look at it.’ Dom said. His eyes slid to Gemma. ‘I’m real sorry about your friends.’
Gemma nodded, her eyes gleaming with new tears. ‘Thank you. We…we never got a chance to be introduced. I’m Gemma Carstairs.’
‘Dominic Santini.’
‘You’ll forgive for saying so Mr Santini but you don’t seem like a typical FIRM employee.’
Dom laughed. ‘That’s because I’m not.’ He laughed again. ‘Me work for the FIRM?’ He caught Michael’s eye.
Michael’s own lips twitched. ‘God forbid.’
‘Then,’ Gemma looked at them confused, ‘but then I don’t understand.’ She turned to Michael. ‘I mean I know you told me the FIRM didn’t know you were here but I thought…’
‘The FIRM doesn’t know we’re here?’ Dom interrupted his amusement dying abruptly. He glared at Michael.
‘Marella knows.’ Michael said returning his stare evenly.
Dom turned back to the front, reviewing the data on the front monitor and muttering under his breath in Italian. Michael figured it was probably about him and probably not complimentary.
‘You didn’t tell him?’ Gemma asked incredulous.
Michael shrugged.
Gemma lowered her voice. ‘So if Mr Santini doesn’t work for the FIRM, how do you know him?’
Michael sighed and glanced to see if Dominic was listening. ‘He’s a friend.’
‘A friend?’ Gemma looked forward and then back at Michael. ‘That seems unlikely.’
‘Yes.’ Michael agreed. It was a continual surprise to him too.
‘You have changed.’ Gemma said softly.
‘OK, kids.’ Dom twisted back to face them again before Michael could reply. ‘This is what we’re going to do. We need to find somewhere to fix her properly. I figure we can just about make the west coast of Africa with the electronics I’ve jerry-rigged. It’s going to be a bumpy ride though.’ He looked at Gemma. ‘You might want to come back up to the front, Ms Carstairs.’
‘It’s Gemma.’ She said taking his advice.
‘Call me Dom.’ Dom smiled at her and helped her to put the helmet back on.
They all held their breath as Airwolf powered back up. She failed first time and Dom has to adjust her systems again before the engines ignited. In a few moments they were airborne and heading North.
‘How’s she feeling?’ Michael asked.
Dom sighed. His Lady was definitely limping. She wasn’t getting enough power in the turbos and mach speed was definitely out. ‘She’ll hold together. Never let me down yet, have you, baby?’
‘So how do you know Michael?’ Gemma asked.
‘Oh well that’s kinda a long story.’ Dom said.
‘We have time don’t we?’ Gemma pressed.
Michael sighed in the back. ‘You might as well tell her Dominic.’
Dom settled back in his seat. ‘Well I guess for me it begins with my friend Stringfellow Hawke…’
‘Stringfellow Hawke?’ Gemma asked.
‘I know but it’s a real name, honest. His mother had a real thing about wanting unique names for the boys. I think it was because she was called Jane.’
‘So your friend Stringfellow Hawke...’ Gemma prompted.
‘String went to work for Michael here when they building this lady.’ He patted Airwolf. ‘String was the lead test pilot for her only he didn’t get on with the creator, a guy called Moffett. He didn’t like or trust the guy and the feeling was pretty mutual so String left the programme and came to work for me. But about six months or so later, just over two years ago now, Moffett stole Airwolf and took her to Libya.’ Dom altered their heading slightly. ‘Michael asked String to recover her and he agreed if the FIRM found Saint John, String’s brother. We all thought he was still MIA in Vietnam at the time.’
‘Saint John. I guess his mother really did have a thing about names.’ Gemma commented.
Dom grinned at her. ‘Anyway, String asked me to back him on the mission and we recovered Airwolf.’
‘What about Moffett?’ Gemma asked.
‘There was a shoot out; Moffett didn’t make it.’ Dom said quietly. The images of the explosion of fire and sand as Hawke, in his grief and fury at the way Moffett had tortured and murdered the young female FIRM agent Hawke had been involved with during the mission, unleashed the guns and missiles would stay with Dom until the end of his days.
Gemma nodded. She’d worked at the FIRM long enough to understand it wrought its own justice on occasion. ‘So you recovered Airwolf and then…?’
‘Well String figured that the FIRM would never come through with its part of the deal…’
‘Clever man.’ Gemma commented with a smile.
‘…so he held onto her.’ Dom laughed. ‘You should have seen it when we disappeared under the noses of the guys escorting us.’
‘Yes,’ Michael commented wryly remembering the moment with an acute clarity, ‘it was highly amusing for all of us.’
Dom resisted the urge to turn around and poke his tongue out at the spy. ‘Anyway, Michael was waiting for String when he got back home and offered him a deal. The FIRM would continue looking for his brother and would help String keep her from any other agencies trying to recover her in return for him flying occasional missions.’ He checked their heading. ‘That was two years ago.’
‘Two years.’ Gemma repeated. ‘And he hasn’t found his brother yet?’
‘Not yet but he keeps hoping and we’ve made some progress; we know Saint John made it out of ‘Nam.’ Dom said. He cleared his throat and decided a change in subject was in order. ‘So Michael tells me you’re a scientist?’
The subject moved on and eventually they were quiet concentrating on the flight in the damaged helicopter. They sighted the west coast of Africa with relief.
‘Are you sure you need to put down?’ Michael asked. ‘She seems to be handling OK.’
‘She’s not right. I’d rather not to take the risk of her failing over the Atlantic.’ Dom said. ‘We’re putting down. Try to find somewhere remote with no life-signs, will ya? We’re going to need to stay a while uninterrupted.’
‘Dom, most of the scans aren’t working.’ Michael pointed out.
‘Well use the ones which are.’ Dom gestured at the night sky that had fallen rapidly. ‘We can’t exactly see anything here.’
Michael shot him a look and gave him some coordinates. ‘We should be clear of any known settlements.’
They put down in the middle of the African wilderness and Dom switched off the engines. He sighed and got out. He stretched trying to shift the tiredness and aches. He was getting too old for this type of escapade, he thought grumpily as Gemma and Michael followed him. Dom’s eyes narrowed on the way Michael limped.
‘You OK Michael?’
His question had Gemma spinning to look at her ex-husband with concern. ‘You’re limping.’ She stated.
‘It’s just a little sore and stiff from being sat so long.’ He downplayed the sheer agony of putting any weight on the leg at all.
Dom wasn’t fooled; he’d seen the fall the other man had taken. He gestured. ‘Gemma, there’s some torches in the back. Why don’t you and I set up a camp? Michael, review our supplies will ya?’
Michael opened his mouth to argue but stopped seeing Dom’s implacable face. He nodded.
Continued in Part II.