Arguing the Basics Read Free

placed the call to Citadel Lowel.
    “Iara, I am glad I caught you.”
    “Hiya, Ioko. Is everything going well?” Iara rocked her baby on her shoulder.
    “Yes. I have picked up your talent from Thoola.”
    “Excellent. Maybe this little man will be satisfied by the news and get some sleep.” Iara stroked her son’s head.
    “Is that why you were up?”
    “I was chatting with Rion. He is off on assignment, and I wanted to hear his voice. The baby just added to the insomnia.”
    Ioko sighed. “I feel stupid contacting you about this.”
    “What?”
    “What species is Koara Ulings?”
    Iara smirked. “Trimelic. Why do you want to know?”
    “I am drawn to her. If she was Kozue, I would be calling her family, not you.” Ioko grimaced.
    “Wow. Well, whether you are drawn to her or not, she is a member of the Citadel and will never be Kozue.”
    Ioko blinked at his sister’s blunt tone. “That is harsh.”
    “Realistic. There would be no place for her with your family. Our family. You know what I mean. She has one chance at life and that is via the Citadel, not the warships.”
    Iara let loose a jaw-cracking yawn. “I apologise. I am not normally this blunt.”
    “You have made some good points. I have just met her, but I am drawn to her. Does that make sense?”
    “It does. See how long the clan will let you remain on Lowel. For now, get to Udell and zip over here. I want to see this woman.”
    “She is coming to work for you. You will see her anytime you like.”
    His sister yawned again.
    “Go to bed, Iara. We will arrive in a standard day.”
    “Good night, brother. See you soon. Fly carefully.” Iara waved at him and disconnected the link.
    Ioko looked at the console, verified that everything was in order and picked up his data tablet, playing back the last lecture he attended at Citadel Lowel on emergency medical treatment of unknown aliens.
    It was gory enough to keep him up for hours.
     
    * * * *
     
    Koara woke after a few hours of sleep and headed out to the galley. She heated some rations, ate what she could and prepared some tea.
    With a mug in each hand, she headed up to the control deck.
    “Ioko, I have made you some tea.”
    He jerked his head up, and he gave her a dazed smile. “Thank you. Medical research isn’t stimulating for the appetite, but it does do wonders for keeping your attention.”
    She snorted. “It is definitely something that I know very little about. I am better at analysing the illness of a society than of the population.”
    “What is your species classification?”
    Koara blew on her tea before sipping. “Class Rec.”
    “Charming. I presume that you know the Kozue class.”
    “Class Nem.”
    “Correct and well done.”
    She smiled. “I am impressed with knowing that myself.”
    He closed his eyes. “Class Rec, you have three lungs, a large heart and exceptionally efficient muscle mass.”
    “So I have been told. I have the same physiology as everybody I grew up with. We were bred for labour generations ago, and the breeding remains true to this day. Even the upper classes can lift their body weight if they choose to. They will be sore the next day, but they can still do it.” She grinned. “All of those vids with women dangling off cliffs make me laugh. No Tremil woman would be stuck; we would haul ourselves up and get on with our day.”
    He chuckled. “Fair enough. Thanks for the tea. I am going to crash for a bit. Did you want the data pad? I have several lectures from Citadel Lowel on it. They are very informative, if a little gory. The medical ones are especially vivid. Enjoy.”
    He handed her the data pad, patted her on the shoulder and took his tea back to the rear of the ship.
    Alone with the stars, she took to education in an effort at distraction. She was really hoping it would work. That small touch on her shoulder had spun her mind through all possible futures, and the possibilities were endless.
     

Chapter Three
     
     
    Gory was an