FADE IN:

A light breeze blows, ruffling Power’s hair as he kneels at Pilot’s ‘grave’.He puts a gloved hand over his eyes, as the tears threaten to escape...but he can’t control his feelings for much longer. Sobs rack his body as he remembers the events of that day, once year ago...

ANGLE - LONG RANGE RECEIVER

as it lights up and we hear static, indicating someone is trying to reach Power.

SCOUT (O.S.)
Captain?

Power wipes away his tears and pauses a moment to steady himself before he picks up the radio.

POWER
(slightly shaky)
Go ahead Scout.

CUT TO:

INT. NORTHSTAR

Scout is seated at a console, headphones on.

SCOUT
I’m detecting a patrol entering your sector, Captain.

Power’s voice comes over the open radio.

POWER (O.S.)
(shakily, but hiding it well)
How close?

SCOUT
About fifteen minutes before you would be within detection.

Hawk, who is standing behind Scout, picks up a spare headphone set and slips it on before speaking to Power.

HAWK
Jon - We just got word that Dread’s planning a strike against the Archers...I know they can handle themselves against those tin cans but I think they’d appreciate some help all the same.

POWER
Roger that...
(beat)
I’m on my way.

Scout removes his headphones and puts them on the console. Ranger, who has been listening to the whole conversation slides over on her chair to where Scout is sitting, watching the monitors.

RANGER
So where the heck is he anyway?Christmas shopping?

SCOUT
Somewhere...

RANGER
Y’know what? I kinda figured that part out for myself...

She looks at Tank, Hawk and Scout in turn.

RANGER (CONT'D)
Come on! What is it with you guys? Nobody is telling me anything and as a member of this team, I think I have a right to know.

Scout exchanges a look with Hawk and Tank, but before any of them can reply, Power’s voice comes over the open radio again, catching them all by surprise.

POWER (O.S.)
Things aren’t going too well right now...

Scout stares at the console, then realises what’s happened.

SCOUT
He must have left the channel open...

But no one makes the effort to close off the channel, but eavesdrop on Power’s ritual.

POWER
Dread’s...changed.
(beat)
Before, there was always some speck of humanity left in him, some decency that made him hold back. Now...nothing.
(beat)
It’s making it harder and harder to beat him.
(beat)
Every day the battle seems to go on and on, for longer and longer.

CUT TO:

EXT. CLIFF TOP (AS BEFORE)

Power rubs his forehead tiredly.

POWER (CONT'D) Some days, I don’t know if the end is ever going to come...if we’ll ever see this war over.

He sighs and looks down.

POWER (CONT'D) We...
(beat)
I...
(several beats)
I miss you.

CUT TO:

INT. NORTHSTAR

Scout looks down at his feet as he listens to Power. Hawk looks away, not wanting anyone to see that his mask has slipped.Tank sits at his console, trying to stay impassive.

CUT TO:

EXT. CLIFF TOP

Power bites his lip and looks away, emotions kept hidden beneath the veneer of control threatening to overwhelm him at any minute.

POWER (CONT'D)
..so much...
(several beats)
And I think about you...
...every day...every night...

CUT TO:

INT. NORTHSTAR

A sniffle escapes Hawk and he covers his mouth, to try and contain his own feelings. Tank and Scout have the same haunted look of men who are reliving in their minds that faithful day...and who share in Power’s anguish, even one year later.

POWER (O.S.) There isn’t a day that goes by when I don’t think about what happened...

Ranger is for once, speechless. Although she does not know entirely the facts and events, she clearly knows, or senses enough to recognise the sadness reflected in each man’s eyes.

CUT TO:

EXT. CLIFF TOP

The candle on the grave has almost nearly burnt out in its container.

The tears that Power fought to keep under control have simply streamed down his face.

POWER
Everyday...I.. think about how much it is that I love you Jennifer...
(beat)
How much it hurts that you’re not here...
(beat)
with me...sometimes I think that...I can’t keep going on without you...
(several beat)
I wish that I could go back and tell you this...I wish that I could have found just one moment, one second in time, to tell you...
(beat)
...before it was too late.

He looks away and wipes his tears on his sleeve.

He stands up,hits his ACTIBADGE and Powers ON!

He kisses his two fingers before touching them to the cool marble surface of the plague.

POWER (CONT'D)
I'll be back...
(beat,softly)
Soon...

He blows out the candle that is nearing the end of its wick before getting up to leave. He picks up the radio and walks to the XT-7 as we FADE OUT...

THE END.