Arguing the Basics Read Free Page B

them.
    “I cannot imagine being away from my family or clan for that long.”
    “I wish I could not imagine it.” She shrugged. “Ah well. There are so many more worlds who want me to tamper with them.”
    He blinked slowly. “Seriously?”
    “Yes, social analysis is my talent. Devising plans to execute and implement change is what I am paid for. I see approximately one generation into the future, and I design the plan to the benefit of that generation.”
    “Why?”
    She chuckled. “Because most species want their children to have a more stable economic and social base than that which they had growing up in. I make the plans to make it happen. At this point, only my own world has proved my theories, and there is a price to pay for it.”
    He asked her about the price, and they continued to discuss it for hours. All of the reactions from the various social layers were examined, and by the time they landed on Udell, Ioko had a working knowledge of Trimel social structure.
    He settled the shuttle next to a tunnel that fastened to the hull of the ship over the door. Koara unbuckled her harness and got to her feet, colliding with Ioko as they tried to leave the command area.
    “Oh, excuse me.” She backed up against her seat, and he stepped clear before he extended his hand to her.
    “Come along. We need to grab your bag and take the zip to Lowel.”
    “The zip?”
    “It is a transport method that will take us through space in a pod from Udell to Lowel. Lowel is a domed settlement. There is no atmosphere to land in. The zip was created as a tetherless connection that uses two beacons and an energy line for secure transport. It is being used in at least three other sites for planet-to-orbital body transport.”
    She put her hand in his and followed him through the ship, retrieving their bags before leaving via the attached door, entering an intermediate chamber that pressurised before they stepped through once again.
    Once they cleared the entry tunnel, a medical team greeted them.
    “Ah. Right. I forgot that you were coming from a world with agricultural interests. You will need to go through decontamination procedures.”
    She sighed. “Of course. I was warned about this; I just didn’t think about it.”
    “I will wait for you.”
    Koara smiled shyly. “Thank you, Ioko.”
    The medical team bustled her into a decontamination unit, she peeled off her clothing at their direction, and the scans went over her from head to toe over and over until they were satisfied that they had expunged the foreign bodies.
    The suit that they handed her was a new design, sleeveless with a slick skin. It set off her loose tumble of pink hair quite nicely.
    “This suit is wonderful.”
    The medic nearest to her grinned. “We have a designer on staff. She does wonderful work.”
    The medic completed the reports and smiled. “We will send the rest of your clothing along when it has been certified decontaminated. We try to be a little gentler with items that can’t heal.”
    Koara nodded. “So, can I go now?”
    “You can. Battle Master Hanikada has been waiting for you. He will take you to the zip and, from there, to Lowel.”
    Koara followed the direction the medic was pointing and left the chamber opposite the door she had entered.
    Ioko smiled and closed down the data pad. “Are you ready?”
    “Apparently.”
    “Let’s go then.” He offered her his arm, and she took it, listening to his short tour of the hallways of the Sector Guard Base Udell.
    The zip terminal was a little bit odd. A small, clear plexi pod was sitting in the centre of the room, pointed at a flat panel on the wall. The low railing that it rested on was the only indicator that it was designed to move.
    The pod opened as they approached, and she noted the two seats.
    “What if there are more than two people?”
    “They have to take turns.” He grinned.
    She took a seat in the pod, and he settled in the seat behind her. The top of the pod sealed; it