“Donaldson, Steven R. Lieutenant, Earth Corps. Serial number AP71396 .” He had repeated it a hundred times, and would repeat it a hundred more if he had to. That’s all these things would get from him.

The interrogator sighed. He flicked a switch, and a jolt of electricity shot through Donaldson. Fire seemed spring from every individual nerve ending. But a slight grunt was all they got from him. The torture stopped.

“One more time. Your last chance. What…”

“Donaldson, Steven R. Lieutenant, Earth Corps. Serial…”

“Fine. We’ll get nothing from him.” He turned around. “Guard, take him to the mines.”

Donaldson’s eyes went wide. He’d heard the stories, seen the vids. Men reduced to animals! Cannibalism, while the victims still lived! “No! Wait! I’ll…”

The interrogator held up a hand. “Understand, human. We may look like you, but we are not human. ‘Last chance’ means just that. We do not use it as an idle threat. So, if you’re very, very lucky, you’ll die in the mines before your sanity goes. Take him!”