Finn hadn't even been on this planet for a full solar cycle, and this was the second time he was shoved in some cramped room, being watched by people he didn't know and couldn't understand. Wonderful.
The place was packed with agents whose eyes were hidden behind (what looked to be) mini face plates. Back home, Troopers kept their faces hidden so that the enemy would only know them as agents of the First Order. The best way to instill order is to be a unit, at least, that's what Captain Phasma always drilled into him.
His new "room" was even more crowed, and less comforting, than his old room with the Avengers. There wasn't even a bed to lay down on, all Finn had was an old chair that squeaked whenever he shifted his sitting position. And when he did, a whole room full of uniformed men (and women) pointed black pistols straight to his face.
Finn looked to his left, and sighed, "Uh, not to be rude, but could I get a glass of water?"
No answer.
"Right." Finn only leaned back in his chair, careful not to make his chair squeak. Fury wanted him alive, that much was true, but a soldier under stress was capable of forgetting orders.
A woman walked in, her hands at her sides, and her eyes focused. The other agents stood at attention, saluted, and then returned their hardened gazes to their guest.
"Dismissed," she said.
The other agents nodded, lowered their weapons and promptly exited the room, leaving Finn and her alone.
Crisp and commanding, Finn thought. I bet she and Captain Phasma might get along well.
She raised her wrist, and tapped her watch twice, and then scowled. She looked back to Finn, her eyes taking in everything about him. His ashy hands. His cheeks, rough with a budding beard.
"Alright, if this is going to work, we're going to need some communication," she said as she reached into her pockets and pulled out two small devices. She leaned down and gently one of them in Finn's hand.
"Tttthhhhiiiisssss," she said slowly, waving the device back and forth "Is a cccccoooooommmmmmuuuunnnnniiiiiccccaaaatttoooooorrrrr."
Finn looked down at his palm, and rolled it in his hands, and in between his fingers. He looked back to the woman, and she waved her device, and then proceeded to stick it in her ear. She took it out again, and then placed it back. Over and over.
Finn cocked his eyebrow, it was pretty obvious she wanted that thing (whatever the hell it was) inside of him. Now, this would be the second time Finn was placing something inside of him that he didn't understand. He didn't know how technology worked here, and this device could be some kind of tracking signature, or a mind dormant control parasite. It wasn't uncommon for Separatists to use such tactics during the Clone Wars.
He took a deep breath, and did as she suggested, praying that he wouldn't regret it later. His ear was instantly filled with loud static, annoying buzzing, and clicking that made Wookie lullabyes sound pleasant.
"….can…understand…"
The buzzing only grew louder, and slowly the static began to subside.
"Can you understand me?" she asked, in the pristine Basic Finn had ever heard since crash landing on this planet.
"You speak Basic too?" Finn asked, trying to keep his surprise to a minimum. This was now the second time he had been taken by surprise.
The woman smiled, "My name is Maria Hill, second in command of SHIELD." Hill titled her head, "And you would be?"
"Finn," he said.
"Just Finn? You don't have a last name?"
Finn only shrugged. A last name implied family. An identity. A namesake that tied you to something besides the First Order. Storm Troopers did not have "families" only brothers in arms, fellow Troopers they lay their lives down for. Finn had known this since, as all Storm Troopers did. But that didn't meant he liked it entirely.
"Either way," Hill said, "I need you to come with me."
Finn stared out into a chrome room that seemed to reach out into forever. Maria Hill had lead him from his quarters, and straight to this place…and then promptly left. Unwilling to answer any of Finn's questions. He kind of thought the communicator was malfunctioning.
"Hello?" he called out. His voice echoed through the room and out into infinity. "Is there something I'm supposed to do here?"
"Finn…" came Maria Hill's voice from some hidden speaker. "Authorized by Director Nick Fury, you're mission is to reach the other side."
Finn frowned. Great, now he was forced to run in circles like some bantha rat? "May I ask why?" Finn looked up to the ceiling, hoping to find something else to look at besides dulled chrome walls. No such luck.
"The mission has already begun."
And deep within himself, Finn felt a cold rumbling, a premonition of something coming for him. Big and bold, like a Deathstar…he had to move. He had to move now.
And he did, he leapt into the room, just as a wall of fire arose from the floor, licking his boots. The once calm, chrome room, was now filled with flame in all directions…once false move, even one wrong breath would mean his end.
"W-what?" He looked all around him, trying to find some friendly face, or cautioned answer. "What the Force am I supposed to do?" he screamed, watching as the fire ate at the floor, and the walls around him. Underneath the crackling sound of flame, he heard his answer.
"Survive."
