There was the clatter of boots outside. Too many boots, too many to fight their way out.
'I don't suppose jumping out the window is an option?' Face said with a wavering smile.
'Unfortunately I forgot my mask,' Ka'iulani replied sardonically. She checked her blaster, tested the weight in her hand.
There was a knock on the door.
'Uh,' said Face, 'hello?'
'This is station security,' said a voice on the other side. 'Come out with your hands up.'
'Sorry, we're closed for renovation,' said Face, unable to resist. 'Come back later.'
There was the sound of furious whispering on the other side. Another knock, more insistent this time. 'Come out with your hands up,' growled the voice. 'Or we're coming in there. And we'll be the only ones coming out.'
Face looked around the room, and sighed. Given time, they could probably come up with a solution. Find some panels to sneak through. Jury rig an explosive. Blow open the window and hope they can get somewhere safe in the whole fifteen seconds they'd stay conscious in the wilds of space. But he doubted the stormtroopers outside would be so generous with their time. 'All right,' he called out, resigned. 'We're coming out!' and to the others, he said, 'keep your weapons in your holsters. Let's fight for another day.'
'But, Face,' Ka'iulani, eyeing up the data card in his hand. 'We're so close. We can't just give up now.'
Face hid the data card under his uniform top, fitting it snuggly against his belt. 'Ugh,' said Ka'iulani. 'You can keep that, after we're done.'
Face winked at her, then led the way to the door. 'Don't shoot,' he called out again. 'We're unarmed and coming out.' Slowly he opened the door. He just barely had time to register a mass of black and white skeletal armour before one of the stormtroopers grabbed his arm and pulled him roughly to the floor, his head hitting the deck hard. He was quickly joined by the other Nexus.
'This is DE-0435 to security control,' said a stormtrooper above them. 'We have the intruders in custody.' the stormtrooper reached down and plucked Face's blaster out of its holster.
'Copy that, 0435,' replied someone on the comm. 'Hold them there until further instruction.'
The stormtrooper waved at some of his other stormtroopers, and the Nexus were manhandled up onto their feet. Face shook his head slowly, the movement sending throbbing waves of pain through his head.
'What were you looking for?' the stormtrooper snarled at him, holding Face's own blaster to Face's temple.
Before he could answer, something started beeping in his pocket.
'Oh, that'll be for me,' said Face mildly, trying hard to keep his face passive. 'Do you mind if I answer it?' and without waiting for a reply, Face reached into his trouser pocket and fished out the handheld communicator, counting the beeps, making sure he translated them correctly.
The stormtrooper looked to his comrades. 'Can you believe this guy?' he said incredulously.
Face smiled and shrugged, then spoke into the mic. 'Okay, Boomer, you're up.'
There was a screech of joy in reply, and a second later the floor shook violently beneath them. The stormtroopers were not ready for it, but the Nexus were, and as the stormtroopers struggled and fell, Face snatched his blaster back and shot his brief captor in the neck. 'Let's go!' he urged to the others, but they needed no encouragement, Ka'iulani having already regained her weapon and was blasting wildly about her. She didn't need to be accurate. They were surrounding by white armour and everywhere she aimed, she hit something.
