Free Arguing the Basics 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