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A couple of seconds later, the man tossed Abbas into the pit. Sheridan heard the bears roar. They were followed right away by the sound of a man crying for his life. He struggled to sit. Through the haze in his mind, Sheridan saw a man walking toward him.
    “You okay, Captain?” asked Cole, his face coming into view.
    Sheridan reached out and touched his friend’s arm. “You’re dead. I saw you die.”
    “Not bloody likely,” said Cole as he unbuttoned his shirt. He tapped on a spot that had hardened the instant it was struck. “Liquid armor did the trick. This is better stuff than the sets they issue us back in the Corps. I told you to buy some last week when we were at the bazaar.”
    “I got sidetracked.”
    “Typical officer. Listen to me next time,” admonished Cole as he began to check out Sheridan’s wounds. “Looks like you’ll live. A shot for the pain and a couple of stitches and you’ll be as right as rain.”
    “What happened to Abbas?”
    Cole grinned. “It was feeding time at the zoo.”

Chapter 4

    The morning began like any other. Tarina and Wendy woke up to the sound of a Kurgan prayer being read out over the camp’s PA system. After washing, they joined the rest of the people from their building at the mess tent and waited in line to be fed their usual breakfast of fruit and grains. Overhead a dirigible showed the same video it had for months: a young human family finding peace among the Kurgan Empire.
    “I’d pay good money for something new to watch,” murmured Wendy so only her friend could hear. Negative comments about the re-education training were not taken lightly by the Kurgans and their Chosen helpers. Wendy pulled her long red hair back and tied it off. She had let it grow ever since they had been taken prisoner, reasoning that while they were light-years away from the fleet that she could do as she pleased—at least with her hair.
    “Some news from back home would be nice,” mused Tarina.
    Both women chuckled and kept moving in the long line. Once they had their food, they sat down at their usual table and began to eat their meal. They were joined by Diane, a single mother with a boy, named Jerrod, who was barely more than a year old.
    “So how are you today?” Tarina asked Jerrod, who saw her looking at him and smiled.
    “I think he likes you,” said Diane.
    “He’s the only thing that brightens up this awful place.”
    “Then I’m sorry to tell you that I spoke to our group leader and asked to be moved from the camp to a Kurgan colony. Growing up in a camp is no life for my child.”
    Tarina nodded her understanding. “I don’t blame you. I haven’t any children of my own, but if I did, I would have made the same decision.”
    “Thanks, that means a lot to me. I know that he’ll grow up as a Kurgan citizen, but at least he’ll live.”
    “Look after yourself,” said Wendy.  
    “I will.”
    The PA system came to life. For the next two minutes, the names of several dozen camp inmates were read out. They were told to report to the camp’s gymnasium right away. Tarina’s and Wendy’s names had been part of the list.
    “I wonder what that’s all about?” said Diane.
    “I don’t know,” replied Wendy, looking around the tent as people began to rise from their seats.
    “Oh, Lord, no,” said Tarina.
    “What’s wrong?” asked Diane.
    “Military, they’ve only called the names of people from the military.”
    Wendy turned to face Tarina; her eyes were filled with fear. “Do you think the rumors are true? Are we being moved?”
    “I don’t know, but I bet we’re about to find out.”
    Ten minutes later, a Kurgan female walked into the gym accompanied by a Chosen translator. Tarina, Wendy, and all the other prisoners of war were formed up as if on parade. Unlike the male warriors who wore segmented body armor from the bottom of their feet all the way up to their necks, the females wore long white robes that covered everything from the neck down.