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the two creatures filed out.   Shortly a Bug stepped through the door.
    "Grab your tool bag and follow the other workers," the Bug said quietly.
    "Why don't you go try to breathe vacuum, you sewer filth!" Tik growled dangerously.
    "Come right now!   We don't have time for foolishness," the Bug replied, as it started to reach inside its robe.
    Tik was ready for trouble and before the Bug could pull its arm out of the robe, she leaped from the bed and in one more leap covered the distance from the bed to the Bug.   The Bug pulled the stingerray out of its robe but before it could fire, Tik hit it head on.   She knocked it to the ground and grabbed the arm with the stingerray in her mouth.   She bit down and twisted at the same time.   She felt a satisfactory snap and felt the arm break off.   She spit it out and went for the hood.   She was trying to get it off and get to the Bug's face when another Bug came up behind and blasted her.   The same excruciating pain as yesterday knocked her out and she fell off of the crippled Bug.
    When she came to, both Bugs were holding stingerrays on her.   The crippled Bug asked, "Are you ready to get your bag and go to work or would you like another dose?"
    Tik tried to get to her feet and show the two Bugs how ready she was to work but her body just wouldn't do as she willed.   She finally pushed up on her arms but they wouldn't hold her and she crashed back to the floor.   After a few seconds she tried again.   She wasn't going to give these Bugs the satisfaction of thinking she was beat.   This time she pushed up on her arms and stayed.   It took another two minutes before she could get her feet under her and stand on all four.   She tried to take a step and almost fell again.   Her tail was drooping and didn't offer any balance.   She took a tiny step and made it so she tried another.   Gradually, feeling was returning but she decided to get her tool bag rather than attack.   The odds were too great and she just didn't have another charge.   She laid her ears back to show that she would cooperate; but the Bugs had better beware, because if she got half a chance she would attack again.
    Tik could hardly carry the bag and could barely move to keep up with the other creatures already lined up in the passageway.   As she moved, her body started responding better and soon she was close to her old self.   The Bugs took them to the dining hall and everyone picked up a tray of food.   Tik took hers but didn't like the smell or texture.   She knew she was going to have to force herself to eat to keep up strength.   She ate about half of the meal and then the Bugs lined them up again.   They walked the line to a large room that Tik figured was a repair room.   There were robots, tools and all sorts of equipment in various stages of disassembly.   The other creatures in the line stopped at work stations on benches lining the center of the room.   The Bugs indicated that Tik should sit at the next empty station.
    The crippled Bug explained, "You will check out the computers in the robots and other equipment.   You are to program these computers to interface with the mother ship computer so the mother ship can control the robots and equipment.   We will have someone else check your work, so do not think about sabotaging any of the programs.   You have had a sample of our training methods and we can extend the pain a long time before you pass out the next time."
    Tik laid her ears back to show her displeasure but she didn't say anything.   A large robot brought a disassembled robot to her work station.   She ran some diagnostic tests and found a couple of bad parts.   She turned to the Bug who had been observing her.
    "These parts are bad.   I can't make them so where do I get replacements?" Tik said sourly.
    "Use that computer terminal to check about replacement parts.   If we have them in the mother ship, a messenger will bring them.   If we don't have them, the