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strength. A meaty hand crashed into Toby’s face causing him to see the lights again.
    “Are you going to behave yourself, or do I have to give you another smack?” said the man, with his hand raised for another strike.
    Toby struggled to stay on his feet. If it hadn’t been for the man holding him by the arm, he would have hit the concrete again.
    “Take it easy on the kid,” said the other man. “You might give him brain damage, or break a bone, then it will be our asses on the line.”
    The man holding Toby grunted. He bent down close to Toby’s face. His breath stank of liquor and onions. The man showed Toby a long, nasty looking knife. “Listen to me, you little shit. You give me any more trouble and I will gut your mother and make you watch. Am I clear?”
    The thought was too much for Toby, and he finally broke down and began to wail.
    “That’s better,” said the man. He stood up and to Toby’s relief re-sheathed his knife.
    The man turned Toby around and forced him to walk back through the gate and into his house. He pushed Toby through toward the front door. His mother was on the floor crying, the side of her face already swollen. When she saw him she reached for him and caught his free arm.
    “No! You can’t take him!” she screamed. “You can’t-”
    The second man kicked her in the stomach, and she doubled over, gasping desperately for air.
    “Mommy!” Toby yelled, as the men pulled him into the waiting darkness.
     
     
    Colonel Bast woke up screaming. Filled with panic he tried to get up, but couldn’t. He tried again, still screaming, but his arms and legs wouldn’t move. He looked down to see restraints holding him in place. He fought with all his strength to break free, but they wouldn’t budge.
    “Let me go!” he pleaded. “They’re coming!”
    A woman approached him. He recognized her. Dr. Ellerbeck. She held something in her hand. “This will help you calm down,” she said.
    It pinched his shoulder. He fought with the restraints again to no avail. Then he began to lose his strength. Drowsiness filled him and he knew he would soon be asleep. He looked back at Dr. Ellerbeck and whispered, “No.”

Chapter 7
     
    Franz Stumpf, CEO of Amboss Corporation, warily eyed the hideous creature seated before him, and questioned the wisdom of this meeting. There was a strong possibility that he would die here today. He could be tortured, or beaten, which at his age would likely lead to the same result. These creatures, these Kemmar, had a savage reputation, yet he had no choice but to try and come to terms with them, because the alternative was unthinkable. The one speaking to him was unbelievably terrifying to look at. Every time it spoke, he caught a glimpse of the rows of razor sharp teeth. When it locked eyes with him he felt like he might lose control of his bowels. He managed to maintain his composure, barely keeping his emotions under control. Still, with every twitch of its nose, he wondered if it smelled the terror permeating through his pores.
    “Why should the Kemmar Empire trade with such a weak species?” said Lord Koft, the Kemmar liaison. “Why shouldn’t we just invade your territory and take what we wish? You are too old to make a good slave, but I am sure there are many younger, stronger members of your species who would fetch a decent price.”
    Stumpf laced his fingers together to prevent them from shaking. “The Kemmar Empire is indeed mighty, Lord Koft. Of that there is no doubt. But why waste resources invading human space, when we are willing to trade? I’m sure your forces are busy pacifying Otan space.”
    “You presume much, Mr. Stumpf. The Otan situation is well in hand. Human space is divided. Nothing prevents the Empire from invading.”
    So why are you talking to me? thought Stumpf. “Lord Koft, as I’m sure you already know, human space is governed by corporations. We are not a nation to be conquered. We are a marketplace.”
    “Why should the