Colonel Shropana was willing to destroy the Jorenians just to capture Dr. Cherijo Torin for the Allied League of Worlds-so she felt little remorse for selling him out to brutal Hsktskt slave traders. But just as Cherijo made her escape, the man she once loved stabbed her in the back-and handed her over to the same slavers.

Alone, hated, and feared by her fellow slaves, Cherijo needs all her training to save those in need-a difficult task amidst the endless brutality of their captors, but a far better fate than being the League's guinea pig. As she struggles despreately to help those she can, Cherijo reminds herself that good doctors don't let personal vendettas stand in the way of duty. But then, most doctors aren't Cherijo Torin...