"Understanding The Enemy"
6th Odoos, 10 (2189)
Ruki Of Unity
I'm five months outside Mother's body now, and growing fast. Mother has set me the task of learning how to fight in a variety of combat styles, so my sparring partner for the day is Titus Marius. He's a decent opponent, and the
gladius is a rather different weapon to the sabre and foil that Mother teaches me in, much shorter.
Mother's war doctrine of encouraging boarding actions and the resulting CQC action makes it necessary to learn melee combat forms; I've seen the recordings of how she fought to take the Flagship. He winces as one of my sets of four catches him out.
"Well done Ruki, that's... Impressive."
"Tell me more about the social context of fencing within Olinbar society."
He looks at me. He's probably thinking about the briefing the Holocron gave him. "A
parazonium-" Mother wears two of those "-is an officer's weapon that serves as a token of office, with the
gladius serving as a more commonly used weapon. The practice dates back into the mythic era of Olinbar history, although in modern martial practice it takes a largely ceremonial role outside of duels for fame and fortune."
"What purpose do those duels serve?"
"Olinbar high society is a harsh place. Shareholder status reverts on death, while the subsidiary companies needed to obtain the funds required to purchase that status typically are only inherited by one child, which is intended to ensure healthy competition among children to prove their worth to the parents and society; you could describe Olinbar society as a weirdly skewed form of meritocracy. In that context, we need a way to solve feuds in a way that settles a matter decisively. Additionally, have you heard of
panem et circenses?"
The definitions and dozens of related concepts flash through my mind from the data uploads my Mentor gave me, with Mother's teaching forming the base of my assessment of the concept. "Bread and circuses is a pseudo-benevolent Authoritarian principle of using welfare and entertainment to keep the wider population within desired parameters of morale and compliance."
"The duels are one such measure, offering a means of advancement within Olinbar society that offers a non-commercial path to Shareholder status, as well as a safe venting area for releasing certain Indentured Asset tendencies."
I extrapolate. "Which leads to offering military roles to second and third children who won't inherit to the higher classes, encouraging retention within the social structure and the formation of an officer core."
He nods. "Precisely. The lure of Shareholder status as an ultimate prize attracts, with the natural outcome of duels weeding out the unfit to lead."
"What other prizes are there?"
"Fame. Fortune. Military careers. Medics. Companionship Assets are always popular."
The last sentence is quickly spoken. "What's a Companionship Asset?"
He opens his mouth, then looks behind me just before he speaks. His face goes a strange shade of blue. He opens his mouth, then closes it again. He gulps.
Mother taps my shoulder. "Ruki, sometimes there are things that if you knew the answer to, you wouldn't want to know the answer."
Sorrow fills her tone of voice. I have no definition for the term on file. Titus is looking at his feet. Facial expression consistent with shame. I extrapolate. "Were you one, Mother?"
Titus looks like he wants the ground to swallow him. I turn to Mother as she picks me up. "Ruki, there's a reason this isn't in your database."
The pain Mother hides is apparent. I opt for hugging her, not quite sure how to respond otherwise. I look at Titus. I look at the way he avoids Mother's eyes.
I think about Mother's statement.
