The Two Rico's (Starship Troopers Male Oc)

Transferred

The Rodger Young limps to port, a huge chunk ripped out of its mid-section. Although stable, she flies inverted.

Carmen: "Ticonderoga, this is Rodger Young requesting approach vector..."

Ticonderoga: "Affirmative, Rodger Young...one zero zero niner five two...welcome back."

Zander and Carmen stare at the battle scared starships and burnt-out hulks that line the docks of Ticonderoga.

Carmen: "You know, we're lucky to be alive."

A bloody bandage wraps Carmen's head. Zander nods grimly.

The dead bodies of crewman and cap troopers are being off-loaded via conveyer belt. Zander and Carmen make their way up the steep companionway beside the ghastly conveyer belt.

Zander: "Give me your hand, will Ya?"

Carmen takes his hand. Zander kisses her.

Zander: "I was thinking. Maybe we should get married, Carmen."

Carmen: "You weren't thinking...you were dreaming!"

Zander: "If we're gonna be a team, why not be a real team?"

Carmen: "There's a war on. I want a command, I want my own ship, you do, too..."

Zander: "So?"

Carmen: "So who's got time to get married?"

Carmen lets his hand go and leaps through the hatch. Zander falls back onto the conveyer belt, finding himself eye to eye with a horribly maimed trooper, he scrambles to get off.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Zander joins Carmen in the crowded common area where dead bodies compete for space with wounded awaiting triage. Survivors watch casualty lists scroll by on a Federal Net terminal.

Zander: "Fleet encourages marriages among flight officers. You'd probably get a promotion out of it.

Carmen: "Funny..."

Zander: "I'm not kidding. Marriage is-"

Carmen: "No, funny there's almost no wounded at all."

Zander: "Hey, bugs don't take prisoners."

Carmen looks at the words on the terminal: WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE? She bites her lip, enters Johnny's name. In an instant, she has the news: RICO, JOHN D.-KIA

Carmen: "Oh no."

Tears fill her eyes.

Zander: "Carmen...?"

Carmen: "Excuse me...!"

She rushes away. Zander looks at Johnny's name on the screen, shrugs, presses the erase button.

Zander finds Carmen, sagging against a wall, weeping.

Zander: "I'm sorry, Carmen."

Carmen: "Please, I... Everybody's lost someone by now. This shouldn't be any different..."

Zander puts an arm around her. She holds on tight.

Carmen: "No, I... Oh Zander, I'm a fool."

Zander: "You're upset, that's alright."

Zander kisses her hair. Tears roll down her face.