by Viola Grace
Arguing for a living isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but Koara embraces her calling to analyse societies and fight for change.
Koara has always loved being able to predict the effects of social change and what is needed to make it happen. On her own world, she set matters in motion when she was twelve years old, and it cost her her planet. While some folk enjoy an evolving society, others fight to remain the same, and their actions can take a violent turn.
Citadel Lowel becomes her home and a Yaluthu adopts her as its own. Life is going along well until she is given an assignment that removes her from her comfort zone and she has to alter the way she sees the worlds around her or disaster will take over.
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Arguing the Basics
Copyright © 2015 Viola Grace
ISBN: 978-1-4874-0375-1
Cover art by Carmen Waters
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.
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Arguing the Basics
Tales of the Citadel Book 48
By
Viola Grace
Chapter One
Koara sipped at her water and straightened her shoulders as the last of the ruling class filed in and settled down.
The sea of faces showed contempt as well as a certain amount of curiosity. Koara deliberately placed her water at the edge of her podium and waited. The moderator glanced up at the unoccupied balcony and nodded, beginning the proceedings with a delicate chime that stilled the audience.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we are here to listen to the debate between Master Councillor Fremon Dralkin and Koara Ulings. Master Councillor, you have the floor.”
Koara stood and listened while the master councillor composed a verbal hymn to the status quo.
When he finished, she drew on her inner strength and spoke slowly and clearly.
“Our world is in stagnation. All of our resources are squandered and that includes our young people.”
She took a breath. “The current existing class system provides education in the basics of trade to the ruling class, but those not born to privilege are left to begin work at the age of twelve. Their potential is locked in the manual labour that provides the trade goods that are sent off world without appropriate tariffs being levied. We are ignoring part of our future and throwing away the rest.”
Koara continued her speech, bringing out examples on the display that showed the intellect being squandered as well as the potential for profit if the goods were processed and manufactured on Trimel. Each report and example was backed by alien researchers who were astonished at the degraded development of the economy of Trimel. She had asked them, and they had provided the data she needed for this moment.
After she finished her report, she looked to the master councillor and waited.
His mouth opened and closed. Finally, he scoffed and looked to those assembled. “Well, what do you expect of one so low born?”
The room erupted in laughter. Several faces were serious, but there was an overall motion to drown out what their minds were thinking about with noise.
Koara sighed. She had tried. Nothing would crack a ceiling that tightened as you approached.
The moderator looked over his shoulder. “Thank you both for your words. We now await a decision.”
The laughter ceased as if cut off. The condescension turned to wariness.
The balcony that she faced slowly illuminated. A figure got to its feet and stepped into the light of the chamber. Koara had seen the Avatar in news vids, but she had never seen him in person.
The Avatar smiled at her, and light swirled in his gaze. “Koara Ulings, you are very wise for one of your years. May I have a copy of your report?”
“Um, of course, Avatar.”
The master councillor had his mouth open. “Avatar, you cannot be serious.”
The Avatar looked over at him and smiled slightly. “When it comes to the security and prosperity of my people, I am always serious. I will look into the details and assess the plan that Miss Ulings has proffered. If it is as thorough as I think it is, a school will be built and the class system will gradually be dissolved into a merit system. You had better start studying, ladies and gentlemen. The free ride is over.”
Koara was suddenly the focus of dozens of pairs of eyes. The crowd rushed at her, but the Avatar leaped over the balcony edge, landed on the stage after a graceful arc over the crowd and he caught her up and kept her safe while he used energy to throw the nobles back on their butts.
Koara held the report to her chest and closed her eyes as the Avatar moved through the crowd. They might not be happy, but no one messed with the Avatar.
“Well done, Koara. I have been waiting for someone in your class to finally make it this far. How old are you?”
“I am twelve. I wrote this for a school project and ended up here.” She smiled shyly.
“Heh, at twelve, I was still trying to get second desserts.”
“Desserts are only for birthdays.” Koara crossed her arms.
The Avatar sighed. “I am guessing I have more work ahead than I thought.”
He was walking through the halls with her in his arms, and she was getting the idea that she was being taken to her home.
He asked her where she lived, and when she answered, he took to the skies. Koara waved at her teacher and looked at the city around them.
“Why did you set up the ruling class?”
He shrugged. “Originally, it was a meritocracy, but a few folks kept their riches instead of investing it in the future of those they cared for. The rich got richer and the number of those in charge dwindled. I hadn’t realised how bad it had gotten until your lovely dissertation.”
Koara smiled. “My mom always said I had a talent for arguing. I tried to treat the master councillor with respect, but it was very difficult.”
“You did very well. That vid is being broadcast over the globe right now. There will be an uprising, and I am thinking it is about time. Changes need to happen.”
They cleared the wealthy district, and the poverty of the basic housing surrounded them.
Koara showed the Avatar into her home and introduced him to her parents. Her school project had taken an odd turn, but she was kind of happy with the way things had turned out.
Avatar Trimel-Kadoth stayed for dinner and took in the entire expanse of their home, their food and the clothing that they had access to.
As he rose to leave with a copy of her report in his hand, he asked her parents, “May I come back and speak to Koara again? She seems to have an excellent mastery of what is necessary to make our world whole again.”
Her parents agreed, and K
oara bowed her head as the Avatar ruffled her hair.
When he left, she turned to her parents. “I think I won the debate.”
Her mother hugged her. “Good girl. Now, go and do your homework. Something tells me that you are going to be consulted on a fairly regular basis.”
Wrinkling her nose, Koara did as she was told. There would be time for arguing later. There always was.
* * * *
Over the next decade, Trimel-Kadoth was a regular visitor to her house. The Ulings enjoyed a certain cachet in the area because of the visits of the Avatar, but they certainly earned it.
Koara sat at the table and went over the projected admittance for the next class of students at Trimel University.
Trimel-Kadoth smiled. “So, what do you think of my choices?”
“You have a few too many theorists, and there are two unfocused inventors that need to be included, but otherwise, I think it is a nice selection.” Koara brought up the files and attached them to the initial report.
“Why the unfocused?”
“You never know what they can come up with. Think of them as meteors with no fixed trajectory. They could go anywhere or nowhere, but they need the chance to try.”
The Avatar grinned. “You have not steered me wrong so far.”
She snorted. “I do try. The steady annual five percent increase in trade and gross planetary product is a nice sign of progress. Trimel, what do you think about it?”
The planet took over and nodded. “I believe that the people are happier and we are nearing the first vote. It should occur right after you leave for the Citadel.”
Koara blinked in shock. “What?”
Kadoth took over. “Ah, he wasn’t supposed to tell you that yet. We have arranged for you to gain an exclusive education at the Citadel Training Centre Thoola. Your talent for organisation is an actual talent. It can be focused and directed in myriad directions. You leave next week.”
Koara knew it made sense, but she was still surprised. “Why didn’t anyone tell me?”
“We didn’t want you upset. Trimel is currently hiding from that possibility. He is very attached to you.”
“So he made you break the news.”
“I am much more excited about the possibilities in your life that have opened up. I want you to keep seeking the new and exciting. Help others get on their feet as you have us. We will be fine in your absence, and I am sure that you will be able to correspond and help us out.”
He grinned and Trimel came back into his eyes. Koara laughed, and her mind spun into the possibilities of learning how other worlds were arranged. It was going to be fun. All she had to do was leave everything she had ever known. No problem.
She took her family with her in her mind with every step she took. A trip to the stars would be no different.
Chapter Two
Koara settled into her new role as student organiser with a certain amount of enthusiasm.
When she arrived, she learned that Trimel had paid her tuition for as long as she needed. She studied law, cultures, societies, the paths other worlds had taken to financial success, social balance and the bumps along the way. It was fascinating.
Calls started coming in, requesting her services as an advisor, when she had been on Thoola for six months.
She did her consulting in the headmistress’s office, and Wadara was nothing but accommodating.
“How are you doing, Koara?”
Koara jerked at the voice near her and smiled at the headmistress. “I am fine. This is a relatively simple fix. They just need to lessen government bonuses when there has been no improvement in conditions. It will save funds and improve morale.”
Wadara sat next to her and looked at her head on. “No. How are you doing?”
“Oh, that. I suppose I am fine. I can milk a goat on the first try and my l’nal speech is coming along. My parents are doing well in my absence, and Trimel has had its first election. I feel like I am missing in participating in the worlds I am working with.” Her final sentence surprised her.
She blurted it out, and Wadara laughed.
“I thought so. You do seem to be the kind of woman who pushes things into place, and being in an advisory capacity would be a little restrictive. Well, I have gotten yet another request for your services, but this one will require a hands-on approach.”
Koara would have liked to think that she didn’t perk up, but she did and she knew it.
“What is the assignment?”
“The first thing that you will do is go to Citadel Lowel and meet the starborn. You have been taken on as an instructor and will be giving lectures when you are not on assignment.”
“So, you are not going to tell me about what I am needed for.”
“Nope.”
Koara blinked and took in the rest of the statement. “I have graduated?”
Wadara chuckled. “You were only sent here to get you through the basic orientation of someone new to the Alliance. You have gotten that education and now are ready for your next phase.”
“Like an insect?”
“Something like that. You leave in six hours. Make your farewells and prepare for your first step into your new life.” Wadara patted her cheek and got to her feet.
“Um, thank you, madam.”
Koara’s mind was reeling. She had just adjusted to life at Thoola, and now, she was going to have to start all over. It was hard to see her own future when she had to keep moving. Ironic that she could see up to fifteen years into the future of any world she looked at, but she couldn’t figure out what would be happening within a week in her own life.
Koara finished her reports and sent them out to the concerned parties before tidying up and heading to the barn. She took her leave of Halwen, made her way to the barn and said a clumsy goodbye in l’nal to the weaving master before she returned to her quarters to pack.
When the ship arrived, she was ready to go.
A final round of hugs and she climbed onto the ship that was taking her to Lowel.
“Please strap in.” The Kozue with blonde hair gave her a sideways smile.
“Um, you don’t look like a Citadel representative.”
He grinned. “I am not. I am transporting you as a favour to my sister. I am Ioko Hanikada, brother to the Citadel Lowel Master, Iara.”
“Oh. Well, I am Koara Ulings. Long-range planner or societal seer.” She settled in and strapped the harness on for takeoff. “Pleased to meet you.”
“Very polite. You will have to explain to me how that works. The planning, I mean.”
He sealed the ship, and they lifted off with a smooth move of metal controlled by man.
Koara tried to keep her breathing calm, but she was nervous about what happened next.
To focus on something else, she stared at Ioko and took in his neatly arranged braids, the small metal bands clasping certain ones in the front that probably had some sort of significance. His skin was a rich brown that contrasted nicely with his bright eyes.
She used what she knew of the Kozue and asked, “What is your position in your clan?”
“I am a warrior under one of my brothers. As the youngest son, it is my duty to serve the needs of my family.”
His future outlined itself rapidly. He would attain modest success, have a family and remain with the clan, unable to get a warship of his own.
She kept silent.
He pulled them out of the grip of Thoola’s gravity and programmed their direction into the navigation station.
“Your silence speaks volumes. What is your conclusion?”
“That you are wedged in by your honour.” She quirked her lips.
“That was not all of it.”
“It is close enough. If you adhere to the traditions of your people, you will live out your life as a second in command, have at least three children and your mate will die giving birth to the last child.”
“How do you know that?
”
“Law of averages. One in four Kozue brides dies in childbirth at some point. With three pregnancies, the likelihood increases.”
“How do you know about three or more children?”
“Again, Kozue averages. That is what I do. My talent, if you will. I assess a society—or in your case, a person—and make my guesses based on projected changes or likelihood of things remaining static. Kozue are in the static setting.”
He cocked his head. “But if I was in the static setting you have just described, would I be here running an errand for my sister?”
“Um, no. But that indicates that you are not currently mated and that alters the number of children you could safely have. If we take the number down to two, you will have several exciting years with your partner before you are killed in battle.”
He looked at her with amusement in his bright blue eyes. “You are a cheerful little thing, aren’t you?”
She sighed. “Apologies. I have been gouged for assessments and just had to rush a report. My sense of decorum and my sense of humour are in dire need of recuperation.”
“Then, rest and I look forward to more conversation when you wake. This trip will take a few jumps and nearly a full standard day. Rations are in the dispenser, and you can simply dial them up as you need them.”
Koara nodded. “I will sleep if I may. I do not have an excellent constitution for space travel. Sleeping through it keeps my mind from trying to imagine the future of the stars.”
She unclipped her harness and got out of her seat. Her legs wobbled, and she reached out, touching Ioko on the shoulder. She jerked her hand back and blinked, smiling weakly. “See? I said I was pathetic when it came to star travel.”
Before he could reply, she moved swiftly through the ship to the berth and curled up on the bed, pulling the blanket up and over her head.
She had seen Ioko laughing, smiling, and then, the image had spun away to show him kissing her. They were both older, and she had a weird pink animal on her shoulder. The raptor had stretched its wings and chuckled approvingly as Ioko kissed her.
