Arguing the Basics by Viola Grace Page B

is acceptable. Who do I contact about courting you?”
    She blinked. “Trimel. The Avatar is the one who has power of guardianship for me. He had the right to remove me from his world, so he has the right to call me back. I am one of his people.”
    “Good. As long as I know who to talk to, things will be fine.” He winked and got to his feet. “I will wish you good night, Koara Ulings.”
    “Good night, Ioko Hanikada.” She climbed backward with Sookar on her lap and scooted under the covers.
    She waited until he was on the couch before she turned the light off via the control by her bed. He was closer to her than any man had ever been, and she hoped to one day close the gap between them.
     
    Two days later, she finished the question-and-answer portion of the lecture and gave the Alliance representatives food for thought. She had mentioned social mores and gone into details. If anyone tried to make contact, they would need to know that an exposed back was lewd and a turned back was a sexual invitation.
    When the meeting was done, she headed off for lunch with Iara and Agren, as well as the elusive Rion. All their Yaluthu were also in attendance, and it made for a riotous lunch when Agren kept reaching for Sookar, and he hid behind his siblings.
    Suddenly, Agren looked up and reached for Koara.
    Iara grinned. “This should be interesting.”
    Koara was holding the baby a moment later, and the little fists closed on her hair, and he rubbed his face in it.
    “He likes pink. Problem solved.” Iara grinned.
    “Sookar will be so relieved.” Koara let the baby rub his face in her pink hair, and he was content to do so.
    Iara smiled. “Where is Ioko?”
    “Finishing up the report. I have given my all and passed along all the tourist crystals that I had collected. They got my opinion, and they will do with it what they will.”
    “Can you really give it up to them like that?”
    “I have to. I can’t push folks into doing my whim. That isn’t safe or sane.”
    Iara smiled. “But you could if you wanted to.”
    “Yup, but once in a lifetime was enough. The first time, I lost my family, my world and my home. I was sure that I was doing the right thing, but what was right for me might not have had immediate returns for someone twenty years my senior.”
    Koara shifted the cheerful Agren and looked down at him. “I have to learn to explain all possible outcomes for a decision, not just the ones I want.”
    Rion rumbled. “It sounds like you are growing into your particular style of seer talent.”
    “I really hope so. I want to use it to make sure that folks benefit, not struggle. Everyone deserves the basics of life at their government’s expense. Without those basics, there is no tax base and everything gets patchy from there. Once you take care of the poorest citizen, everything else rises. That is worth fighting for.”
    Iara smirked. “And your bias to the poor comes from living that way. It is understandable.”
    “No, and now that I know I do have a bias, it will be easier to temper my own opinions and see the truth of the effects. It makes things easier when you know what you are colouring the universe with.”
    “Compassion is a good thing to spread around.” Rion smiled.
    Koara stroked Agren’s cheek. “As long as it is tempered with an eye toward reality and sensibility, I agree. Anyway, the report is over, and now, I await my next assignment. I am really hoping that I botched it badly enough for me simply to consult. I found the undercover work a little difficult.”
    Ioko arrived as she finished speaking. “Do not worry about it. If they send you out again, you will not go alone. I am officially your new partner by every government involved.”
    She winked. “Great. You can move the couch three feet closer tonight.”
    He grinned and took his nephew but let the baby keep his grip on her hair. It was a devious binding method.
    One look to Sookar told her that he wasn’t going to pitch in. She