[ WP ] A warrior from a planetary culture with literally no concept of surrender or quarter sits detained in a POW camp .

Ben felt the impact of the large mans fist as it collided with his jaw. These guys had been working him for five hours straight. His mouth tasted like blood, he could n't see out his right eye, and he was pretty sure at least two of his ribs were cracked or broken. He spat out a mix of blood and saliva and righted his head to look at his interrogator in the eye. 
 
 `` The last guy hit harder, and he hit like a bitch. Who taught you how to punch?'' 
 
 Another punch sent his head flying the other way. Little bits of lights clouded his vision and he could hear a ringing in his ears. Sure it hurt but he'd been through worse back home. He shook his head slightly and rolled his tongue around the inside of his mouth. 
 
 `` No, see, you have to turn your hip into it. You ca n't just punch like that.'' 
 
 This was the fourth guy they'd sent in to interrogate him. The first guy tried to be `` civil'' and would try to coerce him into talking by promising him food, a better cell, and no more beatings. Ben not only laughed at the proposal, he also bit the guys ear off when he got to close. After that was when the real fun started. They hit Ben with clubs, shocked him, tried to suffocate him, but to no avail. Now he was dealing with a gorilla of a man who looked like he was more muscle than sense. The guy was winded, his knuckles were red and swollen, and the whole time he was trying to get Ben to talk, Ben was just making him angrier. The brute put his hands on his knees and took in a couple of deep breaths. Ben could see the sweat on the guys forehead and arms. 
 
 `` Oh what, are we taking a break? Is it time for tea? Do you want to go go lie down for a nap? It's no big deal, I'm tied up at the moment as it is, I can wait.'' 
 
 The big guys head snapped up. His eyes were filled with rage. He reared back and prepared to throw a right straight at Ben's face. Ben leaned his head forward to meet the fist halfway. His attackers fist met with the top of Ben's head. Ben heard the audible crack of bones breaking. The giant man reared back, clutching his right hand. 
 
 `` Oh my bad, did I break your hand? Sorry about that pal. Sounds painful.'' 
 
 `` That's it! I do n't care anymore,'' Ben's attacker reached towards his back with his left hand and brought out a gun, `` you're not gon na talk, then I'm just going to put a bullet in your fucking skull!'' 
 
 He pressed the cold steel barrel to Ben's forehead and pulled back the hammer with his thumb. Ben looked up with any icy glare. He did n't fear death. His people were taught from a young age to not fear death. Death was inevitable. Whether it was in combat, from old age, disease, whatever, death was a certain part of life. This was not the first time he'd faced certain death, and if he made it out, it would n't be his last. 
 
 `` If you're going to pull a gun on someone, you better have the balls to pull the trigger. Either kill me or send in the next schmuck.'' 
 
 The gun trembled slightly in his attackers hand. Ben knew these guys were n't allowed to kill him. Not yet anyway. He knew they were just trying to make him talk, but it was n't going to happen. Next to treason, surrender was the highest crime to his people, and rather than be met with an honorable warriors death, you'd be exiled for either crime. Forced to live out your days as a coward or until you committed the ultimate sin and killed yourself. For his people, to die in combat or in service to country was the highest honor, so when faced with the option of talking to the enemy or taking a bullet to the head, he would happily take the latter. His interrogator lowered the gun. Ben's resolve proved to strong. He tucked the pistol back into the back of his pants and turned to the door. 
 
 `` You get five minutes to catch your breath, then we send in the next guy. You will break eventually. They always do.'' 
 
 Ben chuckled. 
 
 `` Well I do n't know who *they* are, but you should n't lump me in. I wo n't break. Either kill me or let me go. If i were you guys though, I'd just kill me. If you let me go, or I escape, I will destroy this entire camp and everyone in it. That's the difference between us: you guys take prisoners, my people do n't. It's either unconditional surrender or total annihilation. Send in whoever you want, I'm here for the long haul.'' 
 
 The large man spat on the ground and grumbled slightly. He threw open the door then slammed it shut. Ben sat in the cold, dimly lit room. He leaned his head back slightly and shut his eyes. Might as well squeeze in a nap as long as he was waiting. He'd be here for a while.
