Arguing the Basics Read Free Page A

accurate description of the vids. She took in three of the medical lectures before changing to etiquette and the subtleties of body language.
    Ioko returned when she was watching a display of hand-to-hand combat in a primitive weapons lecture. Apparently, a fist was sometimes the best means of attack.
    She smiled at him as he settled in the command chair. “Interesting stuff.”
    “It really is. My family has sent me to three dozen of those lectures, and each one has taught me something.”
    She extended his data pad to him. “Thank you for the distraction.”
    “Keep it for the trip. The Citadel will issue you another one.” He smiled.
    “Did you get enough rest?”
    “I did. Thank you. When you live in space, you learn to adapt your sleep patterns. I sleep when it is safe to do so and can stay up for thirty-six hours.”
    Koara listened to her mind translate the measure of time and nodded. Kozue measured time in heartbeats. Her mind translated the unit of measure he was using into hours. His culture defined his measure of time.
    She didn’t mention that her own sleep pattern wasn’t all that different from his. With the Tremil being raised to work and little else, sleep was sudden, heavy and taken whenever it was feasible.
    “How did you come to be at Thoola?”
    Koara smiled. “I was ordered to go by the Avatar of Trimel. He simply told me I was going, so I went.”
    “Why did he order you to leave?”
    She rubbed the back of her neck. “Some of the changes that I suggested in our societal structure resulted in some unhappy people who had begun to threaten my life. I learned of this after I was on Thoola. My parents were relocated and their names changed, and I had to be taken off world. My face was too recognizable.”
    “What did you recommend?”
    She wrinkled her nose. “Breaking apart the high class and going to a merit-based social elevation system with equal opportunity for education.”
    He winced and checked the navigation computer. “I can understand the hostility. That is quite a change. How long has the shift been going on?”
    “A decade. I wrote a report on how to make the change when I was in my last week of school, and it took me to the high council and got me into a debate with the master councillor. He managed to deride my point by harping on my class, but the Avatar was listening and he wanted change. We came up with a plan and change started happening.”
    “You helped reshape your world.”
    She grimaced. “And a vocal minority thought that killing me would stop it from happening. They couldn’t go after the Avatar, so they went after me.”
    “You had attempts on your life?”
    “Over the years? Sure. About seven. I even have the scars to prove it. Folks don’t like change, and they really hate it coming from within.”
    Ioko stared at her. “They tried to kill you?”
    “Yeah, but the attacks were growing more violent. It was time for me to leave. The last attack was planned at one of the primary schools where I was supposed to speak. It didn’t just focus on me; it was going to be aimed at the entire school. That was when Trimel hauled me out and mailed me to Thoola.”
    “Your family?”
    “They were taken away that same night, and I still have no idea where they are; I just know they are still on Trimel. We are not allowed to discuss their location when I call them.”
    “How long have you been away from them?”
    “Less than a year and more than I wanted.” She chuckled. “When Trimel sent me away, I was sure that I was supposed to come home as soon as things calmed down. Now, I realise that things will never calm down, and to some of my people, I am a monster.”
    Knowing that her parents could not even have an image of her in their home was a little hard to take, but their lives were improving rapidly, and she had to accept that it was better that things went on without her than having her back home with unrest following her around. It was just safer for all of