Strength (Book Two of the Into The Fray series)

Chapter Seven

Armitage stood in the lift, hands folded in front of him, looking up at the ceiling. Flanking him on either side were Ben and Poe. Armitage sighed heavily.

"What part of I'm on leave don't you people understand...?"

It was decided that they would go to the Finalizer since Armitage knew the layout the best. He could get them to a panel with ease, leading them towards the brig to raise the least suspicion. He also had the added advantage of knowing the security rotation.

Poe turned to Ben, taking off his loosely placed restraints. Armitage glanced at him but then back at the ceiling.

"Can I punch you?" Poe said to Ben.

Slowly, Ben turned to Poe. "Excuse me?"

"Can I punch you?"

"Why?"

"Well we're supposed to be prisoners. Hux already has a black eye, but it's weird no one else has marks."

Ben rolled his eyes. "I guess, if you must. Just don't--"

Poe punched Ben squarely in the face. Ben doubled over, clutching his nose immediately. Poe laughed gleeful.

"Woo! Yeah! Man, I've wanted to do that for a really long time."

"I think you broke my nose, you nerf herders ass!"

Without warning, Hux punched Poe. Poe reeled, falling back against the wall. Poe looked at him, stunned.

"What was that for!?"

Armitage grinned. "My eye."

By the time the doors slid open Poe had his restraints back on, Ben was getting two black eyes, holding his cuffed hands to his bleeding nose, and a bruise was blossoming on Poe's cheekbone. Armitage wore a shit eating grin while the two men beside him glowered.

"This is turning out to be a rather enjoyable leave," Armitage quipped chipperly. "Perhaps I should do this more often."

"Just take us where we're supposed to go," Poe muttered.

After a little bit of walking, Hux hurried to a piece of wall. "Here."

Ben slid off his cuffs, squatted down, removed a screwdriver from his pocket. Quickly he began unscrewing the panel. Hux went on his left side. He leaned against the wall, crossed his arms, and stared down at Ben. Poe took up a defensive stance in front of them, still wearing the useless cuffs.

"So," Hux said, sounding slightly amused. He moved back a little when Ben put down the wall panel next to him. "How's it feel being back here?"

Ben unscrewed a second, smaller panel, and then put the tool back in his pocket. This panel revealed a small keypad. "Weird."

Ben removed a chip from his pocket and inserted it into the side of the keypad. He then began typing.

"It doesn't make you excited?"

Ben paused long enough to give Armitage a withering look.

"You know," Armitage said, "we could have avoided all this and I could have just told you what I know."

Poe looked over his shoulder. "You said you'd rather go out an airlock. Besides, like I trust you to actually tell me the truth."

Just then, four stormtroopers turned the corner. Everyone froze.

"What the--" said one of the storm troopers.

Poe flipped his wrists, the cuffs falling away, and he grabbed the blaster he had been hiding.