The whole wide world, An endless universe Yet we keep looking through the eyeglass in reverse Don't feed the people, but we feed the machines Can't really feel what international means In different circles, we keep holding our ground In different circles, we keep spinning round and round -Territories, Power Windows, Rush

Lirssa sat curled over her tablet, watching Professor Nathans set down his satchel and sit on the edge of his desk. He liked to sit there, as if he were having a chat with friends. Lirssa had to admire his ability to bluff. He could sit there, smile at them, and then tell them, "This class is not easy. Most of you are going to hate it."

Those were the first words he had said to them. Now, he laced his fingers together and pulled on one knee. His smile said cotton, soft pillows. His words said hard brick and stone. "We are in the middle of an election season."

Lirssa felt the eyes of some of the nearest students glance to her. Even Professor Nathans cold black gaze looked her way. "An interesting election season as there has been the elements of assassination added to it."

It was entirely possible she might throw up in her messenger bag.

Professor Nathans, stood and started to pace. "But let us discuss one of the main points of each years campaign: slavery. Tell me, who has been keeping up with this year's elections?"

Lirssa looked around at a scattering of hands. Most of the students in that class were offworlders, with little concern for the goings on of Rhydin in their young lives. Lirssa raised her hand, and Professor Nathan's gaze fell on her again. "Yes, Lirssa, I would assume you have." There was a smattering of giggles. "So, tell me, what do you think of slavery?"

"Sir, well, we've talked about the different political systems we're going to discuss this year, we've started on our midterm projects—"

"Yes, which reminds me students, I want to see the plans for each of your projects beginning of next week. Apologies, Lirssa, please continue."

Lirssa twisted the stylus to her tablet about in her fingers. She did not want to contradict her mother or so many of her friends, but she also had questions. Questions she could not find answers for in her own head. "I don't have an answer for you, Professor. I mean, what do we call slavery' You talked about feudal systems and monarchies, and I mean, those folks do they have a choice to do what they do' Like the people that work the land they don't even own — are they slaves?"

"Yes, I should have anticipated a Rhydinian born and bred to wonder these things." Professor Nathans frowned, but Lirssa did not see anger in it. His frown had the mild curve of a man without an answer, very much as she felt. "So, you have no answer."

"No, sir. Just lots of questions."

"Good start. We will not always have the answers. In this class we are going to talk about many different political systems, and there are going to be questions each of you will have that we cannot answer. But that is the challenge, to at least know there are differences and to see if we cannot look past them to find common ground.

"Now, then in addition to your project outlines, I want an essay on one of the current candidates, your choice — though Lirssa it would be beneficial to your grade if you chose someone you did not know — and at least one thousand words. Remember, your grade in here is the primary weight for your attendance on the field trip to Isthras 5, but do not slack in your other classes. High marks in every class. No exceptions."

Lirssa did not need the reminder. The groans and sighs from her classmates proved they did not need the reminder either. It was her entire hope this semester, even beyond racing in a hovercraft match. She was going to be on that field trip even if she had to drive herself to the edge of reason.

"Right then, back to our friends, the tribal governments. Who can describe counting coup?"

Suddenly, you were gone From all the lives you left your mark upon ... We ran by the water on the wet summer lawn I see the footprints I remember ... Tried to believe but you know it's no good This is something that just can't be understood —Afterimage, Grace Under Pressure, Rush

The canopy of leaves whispered their conversations over the heads of the students at lunch. A bright noon sun drew a hot, blinding circle in the middle of the arboreal lunch room. Most of the students had chosen seats and tables in the shade of the plants twining their way along the beams above. Lirssa found her group of friends at the edge of the sunlight, just a step away from its brightness.

They were quiet in their exchanges. Smiles seemed small. Lirssa took her seat next to Robbie, opening her lunch bag to pull out the items Fio had packed for her. "What's the shake?"

At Robbie's shrug and glance around, Lirssa saw the others share an uncomfortable glance. Troy was the first to speak up. "Dance is coming up. We were just talking about Tabbie."

"Oh." Lirssa knew how they felt. Tabitha had been so excited for the dance. It had been the topic of lunch conversation for weeks. Lirssa had not listened to most of it. Since that day Tabitha was killed, Lirssa still had not thought much on it.

There were other things to distract her, and she used them. Hovercraft team helped as did the mind-boggling geometry. She worked herself hard at school, she worked herself at home, she worked herself on weekends. She did not want to think about how Tabitha was never going to go to that dance. Her dreams of being ambassador for her people demolished, obliterated like so much else on that street.

Lirssa shook her head. It was not enough. It was never going to be enough. Death happened at anytime, and she was not going to go without living her life as much as she could. "You all are still going to the dance, yeah?"

A few nodded, and a few more shrugs. "No, you have to go. Tabitha isn't going to get to. She sure wouldn't want us not going because of it. Besides, the more of us that go, the more it's like she's with us there."

And more of them meant P'orth, too. Lirssa looked around the lunch area. P'orth still did not sit with anyone else, not even walked by now that Tabitha was gone. She was, as customary, sitting off away from everyone. The students coming and going past her. She looked pale, both sets of lips a little pinker than before.

Lirssa would meet up with her later and make sure she was going to the dance. Turning back to her lunch, she started on the croissant and tried to turn the conversation. "Hey, Penelope showed me some of the latest mock-ups of the next space hoppers her mother's company is building. They're looking —"

What had started as just a rising pitch of noise behind her turned into a full out. "Leave me alone!" Double bass and shrieking soprano. Lirssa turned around in unison with her other table mates to see P'orth facing off against Rudy and his trio once more.

"Come on." She growled. There was no reason to expect them to do so. She wasn't their leader. They had banded together out of mutual interests, but even among them there was disagreement about P'orth. Maybe it was her voice or the way she did not even look back for them, but she felt and heard them walking at her side and behind her as she approached the taller Rudy.

Teachers would be coming soon, she knew. If she was going to stop this, she had to act fast. There was no great big plan in her head, just a hand into a fist and anger driving her on. "That's enough, Rudy. P'orth doesn't bother you, so you can stop bothering her — ever."

Rudy did look a little nervous. His eyes moving from one to the other. "Look, squint, the lady you live with may be governor, but that doesn't make you anything here. Stay out of what isn't your business."

"My mother being governor has nothing to do with this. P'orth is my friend, and you are an obnoxious, overbearing, and rude scaredy-cat. Betcha only pick on her to make yourself feel oh so grand, don't ya" Well, it doesn't. It makes you a loser."

She had gone just far enough to get him angry, and he threw the punch. A dodge and she was on him. The scuffle broke out, with the younger classmen climbing all over the other three. They left Rudy to Lirssa.

His hands were like vices, griping at her arms, trying to pull her off him, but she just wrapped her arm around his neck even tighter. Then he began to punch. Throwing his head back, she caught it on her eye ridge just as she was trying to duck her head. That sent her senses whirling but she clung on.

"Lulu, let go!"

It was coach. She let go, and Rudy dropped to his knees, pitching forward to rest his forehead on the ground. Something wet was dripping into the corner of her eye and she looked around at the others all lined up between two other teachers and coach looming over her. The face that got her attention the most was P'orth's. Tears were in her eyes, but she was smiling a double smile.

"Lirssa," Coach said with a sigh, his hand to her shoulder. "Come with me."

It was the look on his face, the fact that only she was pulled away, that told her all she needed to know. She was in trouble.

A hand settled on her other shoulder, and Lirssa blinked over to see P'orth there. "P'orth, Lirssa has to come see the Head Master."

"Not without me, please."

Coach looked to Lirssa. His frown though was aimed at her brow. "Maybe a stop by the health aide station first." A tentative swipe at her brow brought a new sting to her head. Drawing her hand away, she saw the blood.

"Is Rudy going to be okay?" She asked coach, trying to look back. There was nothing to see as they turned down a corridor.

"He will be fine. Somebody taught you a very effective choke hold."

Lirssa had to smile. She was pretty sure her parents would not be pleased with where she had applied the lessons of self defense they had taught her.

She looked back up to P'orth, and she was still smiling, too. "What?"

"I was just thinking how Tabitha would be really proud of you. Thank you, Lirssa."

Tabitha. Tabitha would have found a way to talk the situation down. Lirssa looked down at her hands. Her temper had gotten the better of her. And yet, she had to grin, too, thinking Tabitha in this one matter might have agreed.