TOP GUN II Codename: Airwolf

This story is written by Kendall C. Wright, 2002

Top Gun II

codename: Airwolf

The month and year is November 1990, and America is at war in the Middle East. The hot and bright desert sand is blowing all around the battle areas by the strong fierce winds. Two brothers are in an air combat in attack helicopters. These young boys are very brave men, who have a lot of love and respect for each other. These boys’ parents died years ago in a boating accident, and were raised in foster homes ever since. The youngest brother, who is 21, Stringfellow Hawke, lost his longtime high school sweet heart in a car accident three years prior; the night of their senior prom. The other brother, St. John Hawke (pronounced Sin Jin), who is 24 is the stronger, more sophisticated individual. He is like a father to his younger brother String (Stringfellow). He would give his life to protect String from harm, and he believes String would do the same for him.

String yells, “St. John, St. John, over, I can’t see a fuckin’ thing man, this shit is just too thick, where are you man?” St. John replies, “Don’t worry, I’m right behind you!” String replies, “I need a spot, I need a guide!” St. John replies, “ Don’t worry buddy, just slow down a little and let me get in front of you.” String replies, “Roger that.” An enemy helicopter is coming at String’s chopper from the eastside, and fires. String tilts his helicopter to the side, but his gunman is shot in the legs. String’s Gun man yell’s, “Oh shit, I’ve been hit man, oh God!” The gunman falls forward and looses his balance and falls from the helicopter. String yells, “Man down, we got a man down, St. John, over, I’m going down!” St. John replies, “String no, don’t do that man, he’s probably dead anyway, just stay with me…..” The whole tail and rotor of the back of String’s chopper has been blown off! String yells, “Fuck shit, I’ve been hit, I’m goin’ down!” St. John says to his co-pilot, “Well, that’s it, we’re going down, I got to save my little brother.” The co-pilot says holding a gun to St. John’s head, “Oh no we’re not, I’m not going to die out here just for your pussy little brother.” St. John yell’s, “Fuck you, you sick fuck, he’s all I have left!” The co-pilot cocks the gun, and St. John hears it, and tilt’s his chopper very violently to the east, and the co-pilot falls from the chopper. St. John turns the chopper around and spots his little brother crawling out of the remains of his helicopter. St. John lands the helicopter. In the mean time, St. John’s co-pilot is shot down by enemy ground troop gunfire. St. John runs over to String, and say, “String are you okay man?” String replies, “Yeah, except my leg.” St. John says, “Well, looks like a pretty bad cut, but I think you’ll live, oh shit!” String says, “What?” String looks over to where his brother is looking, and sees enemy troops headed right for them. String says, “Well, looks like we’d better get to the chopper huh?” St. John replies, “We can’t, I was hit in the fuel tank, and now it is completely out of fuel, just go, get out of here, I got ‘em!” String yells, “St. John! No!” St. John grabs a machine gun and says, “Now String, don’t make me shoot you, get out of here, I got these fuckers!” String tries his hardest to run while looking back and crying at the same time. St. John opens fire on the enemy and yells, “Take that you dirty mothers!” The enemy is firing back the whole time. When St. John runs out of ammo, he holds up his weapon. String stops and looks back and sees nothing because the wind blowing sand is too thick for him to see. About 20 minutes pass of walking, and the wind dies down, String sees an American Medical Helicopter, and he is waving it to drop down to pick him up. The helicopter comes down, and the medical team helps him into the chopper. String says out of breath, “St. John, my brother, we have to find him.” The nurse says, “Don’t worry we’ll find him.” String replies, “Thank you miss.” The nurse tells the pilot. Moments later, the pilot tells String some bad news, “Sir, I’m sorry, but I think he’s dead, we aren’t seeing anything.” String says, “No, that can’t be, he has to be down there somewhere!” The pilot replies, “I’m sorry sir.” String starts to weep, “St. John, oh St. John, no!”

Two weeks later, String is sitting up in his bed, and his nurse comes to him and says, “Good morning Mr. Hawke, how are you feeling?” String replies, “Huh! I could be better.” The nurse replies, “I understand, the NAVY, the ARMY and the Air Force did all they could to find your brother but they didn’t have any luck. The doctor says that you are ready to be released as of right now.” String says, “Really?” The nurse replies with a smile, “Yes, I’m going to miss such a nice looking guy like you, and by the way, there is someone waiting out side to see you.” String says, “Who?” The nurse says, “I don’t know.” String says, “Well bring him in.” The nurse says, “No problem, Good bye Mr. Hawke.” String replies, “Bye.” An aging man with gray hair and mustache enters the room wearing a white military shirt, black tie, and dark navy blue pants. He says, “Stringfellow Hawke?” String replies; “Yes sir.” The man holds out his hand and String grips it and they do a hard one small shake. The man replies, “My name is Commander Michael Metcalf.” String replies, “Nice to meet you sir, what brings you here today sir?” The Commander replies, “First of all, I like to say that I’m sorry about your brother.” String replies, “St. John isn’t dead sir, I know.” The Commander replies, “Look Hawke, I’m sorry, but sooner or later, his death is going to be something that you are going to have to come through. I’ve had a lot of people close to me that have died too.” String says, “Sir, but my parents….” The commander replies, “Yes, I know all about your parents, and your girl friend, I’ve read all your files. I also understand that now your brother is dead, and that you are now one of the best pilots in the world. Your brother was number one, but now that he’s gone, you’re number one.” String replies, “What’s that’s supposed to mean?” The commander replies, “Stringfellow Hawke, in 3 months, you’re going to TOP GUN, to fly with the best F-16 pilots in the world. Do you accept?” String replies, “umm…Yes sir, Yes, I’ll go.” The commander says, “good, I’ll be seeing you.” The commander leaves, and String sits up with his feet on the floor, and stands up and takes off his hospital pajama outfit. He puts on his deodorant and goes to the mirror and shaves. He then goes to the closet and grabs his street clothes and puts them on. He has to use the bathroom, but can’t, because it is out of order for some reason. He leaves his room and walks down the busy hospital halls desperately searching for a restroom, but can’t find one. He finds a door, and sees a flight of stairs, he goes down the stairs, and reads a sign that says basement, and says to himself, “hmmm.” He sees a sign that says restrooms pointing to the left. He heads down the left hallway, and sees an overweight man with big curly brown hair wearing a long white doctor’s style of coat. The man is carrying three boxes of pizzas and a can of Mountain Dew. String says, “Umm, excuse me sir, could you tell me where the restroom is?” The man can’t hear him, but String notices that he is wearing ear protection. String follows the man anyway; the man punches in numbers on the wall, some kind of high tech security device. String says to himself, “Neat toy.” The heavy stainless steel door opens. String looks around the big huge room, and sees a very sleek looking high tech helicopter being put together. String looks at the back wall, it reads: Top Secret: AIRWOLF “The Most Advanced Military Weapon Ever.”, he says to himself, “Airwolf?” The helicopter looked like it was about 75% put together. The entire frame and interior was all completed it looked like, and most of the body attachments with painted white primer were on as well. He noticed two big boxes labeled Jet engine on each one. String says, “Holy shit, a stealth helicopter?” He sees a man wearing white as well, with a sewn tag that read Dr. Moffet. The overweight guy in front of String yells, “Hey! Hey Charles, I’m sorry I’m late, but I brought you some left over pizza!” Dr. Moffet yells, “What? Oh, okay, just put it down over there.” The overweight guy trips over a heavy metal pipe on the floor, and the pizza goes flying. The pizza hits an attractive dark complexioned lady’s chest. The lady replies, “Christ Tommy!” Tommy replies, “I’m sorry Marella.” Dr. Moffet says to himself, “Fucking fat ass!” Dr. Moffet looked up and noticed String standing in the back. He turns off the machine that’s causing the very loud noise and says, “Hey, who the hell are you?” String replies, “The name is Hawke sir, Stringfellow Hawke, nice helicopter you got going there. I just wanted to know where the restroom is, that’s all.” Dr. Moffet replied, “Oh what the hell, you can use ours, it’s right over there.” String replies; “Thank you sir.” String comes out a moment later, and leaves the area. Dr. Moffet yells in anger, “Tommy, the next time your fat ass leaves this place, make sure you take your ear muffs off so you can hear if someone is behind you, do you understand?” Tommy shakes his head “yes” very nervously. Dr. Moffet then looks at Marella and yells, “Marella, how many times do I have to tell you to get that fucking sign fixed out side? The restroom is not to the left, but to the right!” Marella replies, “Okay sir, I’ll fix it right away.”

Three months later at String’s 2-story log cabin in the mountains by a lake, String is looking at a picture of him, his brother, and an aging man together and gets interrupted with a phone call. He picks it up, “Yeah?” A mans voice replies, “Hello Stringfellow Hawke?” String replies, “Yeah, that’s right.” The man replies, “Remember me, this is Commander Mike Metcalf, I visited with you at the hospital?” String replies, “yeah, I remember.” The commander replies, “Okay, good, go to the airport tomorrow and give them your name and they’ll put you on a plane.” String says, “Fine with me, I’m just glad it’s tomorrow and not today, cause I gotta get me a trophy before I go.” The commander replies, “A trophy?” String says, “A deer.” The commander says, “Huh, oh, do you hunt?” String says, “Yeah, so I guess I’ll see ya later.” The commander says, “Bye.” String hangs up, and goes to the hat rack, and grabs his camouflaged cap and jacket and puts them on. He then goes to the gun rack and grabs his shotgun and heads out the door.

The next day, the plane arrives at Top Gun. Commander Mike Metcalf and another younger man wearing aviator-sunglasses are outside waiting for him. The Commander shakes String’s hand. The commander says, “Stringfellow Hawke, meet my assistant Top Gun Instructor, Commander Pete Mitchell.” String Commander’s hand. The Commander says, “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” String replies, “It’s a pleasure to meet you too sir. Looks like we got the same taste in style.” String and Commander Mitchell resemble each other a lot since they both have on the same sunglasses. The Commander says, “I was thinking the same thing, maybe we’re long lost brothers or something. I understand that you’re one hell of a pilot, is that true?” String replies, “Gee sir, I don’t know, we have yet to find out though right?” The Commander says, “Come on, follow us inside.” String says, “Okay sir.” The Commander says, “Commander Metcalf here told me all about you and your brother, and I have to say sir that I am really sorry about your brother. I had a really close friend once that felt like a brother to me die too four years ago.” String says, “Thank you sure.” The Commander says, “I also hear that you like to hunt, is that true?” String replies, “Yeah, that’s part of what I am I guess.” “I like to hunt as well,” added the Commander. Commander Mike Metcalf says, “So Hawke, did you catch that big trophy last night?” String replies, “No sir, it wasn’t a good night for game.” Commander Metcalf and Commander Mitchell both laugh. Commander Mitchell says, “Commander Metcalf will do most of your in class teachings, and I’ll be with you out in the air all the time, okay?” String replies, “Yes Sir.” Commander Mitchell replies, “Okay, let’s get started, my call name is Maverick. You are as of right now, Lieutenant Stringfellow Hawke, so what do you want your call name to be? String replies, “Hawke.” Commander Mitchell replies, “I was hoping you would say that, because that is one tough sounding name. If that was my last name, then by God I’d be using that as my call name too!” String replies, “Before we get started sir, I need to make a quick phone call to an old friend because I couldn’t get a hold of him last night. The Commander replies, “Sure, go right ahead, when you’re done, put on your flight suit, and meet me on the launch pad, we’re gonna do some one on one flying.” String says, “Okay sir.” String looks around the room, and sees a pay phone. He calls his aging friend from the photograph. His friend was his father’s best friend; a Vietnam veteran named Dominic Santini. He now runs a movie stunt company called Santini Air in southern California. Dominic answers the phone, “I’m sorry, but I’m all booked up for the week.” String says, “No, Dom, it’s me, String.” Dominic says, “String! Where in the hell have you been kid, I’ve been trying to get a hold of you all day today!” String replies, “I’m sorry, I didn’t tell you, but I did try to get a hold of you last night.” Dominic replies, “Yeah I know, but I was busy with this new big-budget Jerry Bruckheimer film.” String replies, “Jerry Bruckheimer? Damn, you with the big boys now huh Dominic? Now listen, I don’t want you to be upset for me telling you at the last minute, but I thought that you would feel like I was leaving you or something. I’m at TOP GUN Dom!” Dominic replies, “TOP GUN?” String replies, “Yeah, are you mad?” Dominic replies, “Why hell yes I’m mad, because you didn’t ever tell me before hand.” String replies, “I’m sorry, I just had too much on my mind, about St. John and all.” Dominic says, “I understand, but hey, congratulations kiddo!” String replies, “Thanks. Say Dom, I gotta go, okay.” Dominic replies, “Okay so do I, I think they need me for a helicopter-train stunt, but you be careful okay?” String says, “Okay, you too, bye.” Dominic says, “bye.” A very attractive woman with blond hair approaches String with a flight suit and says, “Stringfellow Hawke?” String is standing with his back turned, and turns around quickly and replies, “Yeah?” She says, “Hi, I’m Charlotte Mitchell, but you can call me Charlie if you want.” String answers, “Nice to meet you, hmm…Let me guess, Maverick’s wife, right?” She replies with a smile, “That’s right, and here is your flight suit, and the boys room is straight down that hall over there, then hook a right, okay?” String replies, “I gotcha.” Charlie answers, “Good bye and good luck.” “Yeah, catch you later”, adds String.