Zayto sat in the bunk and stared down Colin. It had been two months and despite her constant prodding that he wouldn't make it a week he was still going strong. He never showed his cards that her tactics had never altered his original sleep cycle but even if she had his parents had spent good money sending him to a sleep deprivation clinic. He could make it almost two weeks paired with extra meditation. He wasn't much fun at that two week line but he could function and he could train.
Colin had been right about one thing however. Many of those knights from the Commoner class as she called him hadn't made it a week. Zayto credited it to the fact that sleep cycles were always pushed and pulled and for majority of the day they were out constantly improving themselves.
While they were full knights they were not allowed out of the barracks until they had proven competency with all tools and trades of the system. He was beginning to understand why average people feared knights and how a knight could not be caring towards its own offspring. He was determined to hold onto what made him mortal if it made him weak it made him weak. So far even restricting himself in that way he was still holding his own against the likes of Colin and his bunk mates.
Colin blinked she never blinked. When she set out to do something she completed it and that included staring contests just as much as spear throwing contests. It wasn't a surprise that she could throw a spear the farthest out of anyone.
Looking around he felt confident that the only other person in the bunk was Shio who was in his sleep cycle. Rules were that two people had to remain in the bunk so that it wasn't too quiet while someone slept and the other four had to do drills.
"Whats wrong with you?" Zayto asked confidently.
"Who says anything is wrong commoner?" Colin sneered back.
"Two months and you haven't given up like that. Your sleep cycle was last night so its not like you should be tired. I am not like all the brainless bred knights and I actually care so spill."
"That is going to be your weakness!" Colin stated as she went into the lavatory.
Zayto jumped up and followed her, "tell me and maybe I can make it better for you. Is someone from another squad razing you because you are female? The only female from our class?"
"A little privacy would be fine because as you just stated I am female!" Colin said as she tried to shut the door.
Zayto stepped back and waited after she opened the door and saw him still there she groaned, "commoner you're not going to give up are you?"
"I never give up Colin! Its been two months. If I fail I go again until I succeed. You should have seen that by now."
"Fine, if you must know. Father has decided to put mom out. I got a brief blast earlier telling us to send our farewells. She has been getting sick and is costing him too much money." Colin frowned, "she may be a breeder but she us my mom. She always made a good place to run and hide when training got too much. She had the best hugs and unlike our fathers she actually cared atleast in her limited ways."
Zayto gulped air. He was reminded of the unfairness assigned to those who were breeders. He was certain that his sister would be better off but how many breeders got a union. For everyone that did at least fifty others got the bad end of the stick.
Zayto fingers his coins. It took ten coins to make a five minute call home. He had earned all ten and was planning on calling his mother during his next free session. He decided then and there that he would make a different type of call. If he wanted to be a different type of knight it had to start with justice for all.
Standing at the entrance to the lounge he stepped in and took the phone pass before placing his ten coins on the counter. "I would like to use this time to place a call.
"You have five minutes once connected to the system make sure it counts. This includes the time it takes to connect the other person.
Zayto nodded, if he was lucky Alward would allow Gianna to pass a message onto his parents.
Putting in Alwards ID information he was surprised when Alward picked up immediately.
"Zayto! How are you? This is a surprise! Checking up on how your nephew is doing?"
"No, not exactly. I wasn't sure who to call Alward with this matter." Zayto spoke softly into the receiver and looked at the older man.
"Your mot in any legal trouble are you?" Alward asked, "because I'm not sure I would be the best person to…"
"No, I'm not in any trouble Alward. I just thought you might be able to help. I only have a few moments."
"OK, your a big man if you give your five minutes that you worked hard to earn to talk to me rather than your parents Zayto."
"I need to enquire as to the legal rights of Breeders." Zayto explained cutting to the chase "your a councilman and you have been very fair to my sister so I feel comfortable asking you."
"Unfortunately there isn't much legal right that they do have. It is one way that our society is broken Zayto. The best you can hope for is a person who treats them with respect and dignity and gives them their fair share. I can look into the books and see if there is something to help whatever your cause is though." Alward nodded as he wrote something down on a note pad.
"One of my squad has a mother who is a breeder. Her mother wasn't in a camp but resides at the family compound." Zayto explained as he checked to make sure no one was looking to get into the booth.
"So she is in a union then. Very little is left to be done then. There are rules considering unions as you know."
Zayto shook his head, "my squad member has been very clear that her mother is not in a union but is instead a private business venture for the members of the squad most likely."
Alward paled, "that is some grey water for sure. Do you know the location of this compound?"
"I don't all I know is that one of the children is called Colina. Her breeder mom is set to be turned out because she is costing too much money." Zayto acknowledged what he knew.
"I will see what I can do. Just do me a favor and don't tell this Colina what you have done especially if she didn't actually ask for help. People have different ways of expressing their feelings about Breeders." Alward nodded as he started to sign off.
Zayto said suddenly, "before you go can you tell Gianna that I say hi and that I'm doing well? Have her give mom a message for me? I am not sure when I will get the chance to call again."
Alward nodded, "I am sure your sister can do that for you Zayto. I will see about furthering your cause.
Four months had passed Zayto nearly had another ten coins and knew without a doubt that this time he would call his parents.
Sitting in the commissary with the other knights when the view screens suddenly turned on. Everyone snapped to attention as this only happened during a state of emergency.
"Breaking News! Councilman Alward pushes for new legislature concerning Breeders!"
Everyone began to talk with annoyance. Zayto felt a bit of pride as he bet this was in response to his last phone call to Alward.
Colin started muttering and cursing and even spit on the ground in the direction of the TV.
Zayto looked confused, "why all this hate? He hasn't even announced what the proclamation will be?"
Colin spun around, "don't tell me that your an Alward supporter! The man is a crook, a liar and a thief. His family is the sole reason we have the breeder program. His father created the program and declassified them as people as an answer to our increasing infertility problems."
"He is not his father. He treats his breeder with respect and dignity. He believes in the beauty. I should know! He is in union with my sister!" Zayto announced as he glared down Colin.
"OH it is worse than I ever thought. He probably has the poor girl in chains for his sole amusement!" Colin shouted, "everyone zayto here is an Alward supporter!"
The room seemed to break as many people came to his support but the bred knights mostly supported Colin.
Alward came on the screen, "I councilman Alward do solemnly swear that I have the full backing of the council with this proclamation." Alward turned to face the camera, "all too many years my father laid in motion the brickwork to increasing our population. The breeder program was created to give purpose to people who often couldn't serve a full bodied purpose in our society but may not be infertile as we were finding more and more people to be. The original brickwork was also to get these people off the streets who more often than not carried disease and just congested our social welfare system when there was a purpose they could serve. They could bear us our next generations. Genetically there is nothing wrong with them but mentally they were slower and not able to keep up with our fast paced life. Through my own breeder I have learned that this slowness is not always a curse, they can have beautiful souls and spirits and see our reality in a whole new way that we might not be able to. Her family was good to her and brought her up right they didn't turn her in for a subsidized payment and instead stood by her for as long as they could until a match could be made. This is where I want to see our society go. Effective immediately I am ordering the creation of proper support systems to allow these children to grow up with their families whenever possible education camps will no longer be able to accept new cases unless there is no one else to care for the child. They should make the attempt to unify any children in their care with their families if at all possible. If families have already received their payments they will not be expected to return it. Grants will be available to help families who need extra income to support them. And finally while camps and unions will be preserved as we are far from the end of this problem of infertility. I am stamping out the monetizing private breeder facilities. If you have a breeder in your house and they are not in union with yourself then YOU are breaking the law and treating THEM other than you treat yourself. There will be prosecution for throwing them out on the streets when you no longer have use for them. If this fits you you have two choices apply for a free union with your breeder or pay to send them to a new retirement facility. It is time that we take a stand and give breeders back the voice that was stolen from them."
Alward indicated for someone to join him on stage. Gianna came up holding her baby along with Toru.
Gianna looked timidly at the cameras and the lights, "I want everyone to know that Alward tried to talk me out of coming here but I begged that he allow me to speak. I am very proud that he is trying to restore rights to people like me. We have been wronged because we are different. I also want to thank my brother who is a knight today because he believed in me."
Zayto smiled as for a brief second she looked straight into the camera as if she was almost making eye contact with him before walking away from the stage.
Colin leaned on the table, "your sister is pretty I'll give that to you commoner. I still don't believe that he has the best interests in mind for people like your sister and the other breeders though."
A senior knight came to thier table, "The commander wants to see you Zayto."
Colin and a few other knights booed and hissed as he walked away from the table. but Zayto was sure he had seen something behind Colin's big words and tough talk. he knew this road that had just been paved would be a rocky one but that it was hopefully going to be better for all.
Stepping into the Commanders office the commander set down a file folder, "It is my understanding from the press releases that you were potentially behind this new motion filed by Councilman Alward."
"On a knights honor, sir, yes. I have always felt that breeders have been treated as unjust. my sister is not dumb or slow in any shape or form. she is just different. I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for her and her dreams of what I could be." Zayto nodded, "If it is your intention to throw me out for upsetting the balance then so be it. but I think I was meant to be here for more than just this."
"You are right that I don't like upsetting the balance of the status quo or the fact that I now have to personally enter every one of my knights personal homes and find out if they have been taking advantage of a breeder or not. and while for a split second a dared think about throwing you out and turning a blind eye to the councilman. I know that those actions would be wrong. I also know that not many of my senior knights would willingly enter another home to search their comrade in such a way. That is why I am going against better judgment and pulling you to the head of your class. you will lead the searches. evaluate your fellow first years and get back to me on who will be in your search party."
Zayto stood and saluted the Commander but remained emotionless.
"You have a good reason to show no emotion knight. you have just been drafted for a mission which will get you a lot of dislike. it will be a miracle if you survive this." The commander dismissed him and he left the office.
Zayto entered the bunk and looked at his squad.
Colin leaned back in her chair, "Wow never thought we would see you again!"
"YOu can't get rid of me that easily. while The commander is not a fan of this new act. he has put me in charge of leading the home inspections and I get to draft whoever I want to join me. I have half a mind to just use the commoners like myself but I want to give the six of you a chance to prove that you can move past our old ways and come join the new ways." Zayto extended the offer.
Everyone laughed, "We are not turning our backs on our families!"
"Serves you right then. I will make sure the Commander knows where everyone falls when I tell him my choices." Zayto turned to leave the Bunk to find others who would stand with him. he knew that most of the bred knights would refuse so he decided to start with his fellow commoners or those that were left.
As he rounded a corner an arm reached out and pulled him into an empty bunk, "YOu are the stupidest yet most forward thinking person in this place. I cannot condone what you did to upset our peoples delicate balance with what now falls on us to enact however as long as you don't make a big deal of it I will follow you."
"Colin are you sure? we will most likely have to knock on your own doors to serve your father and whomever else might be there." Zayto asked searching his counterparts eyes.
Colin nodded, "I am ready to make a stand. but like I said you cannot make a big deal out of this lest my older siblings try and talk me out of it."
Zayto nodded, "I will be glad to have you by my side."
Colin nodded, "I have to make this look good."
"What are you going to punch me?" Zayto asked as he read into what Colin was aiming to do.
He braced himself but was not ready for her to sock him right in the stomach. he had been expecting her to go for his eye or to box his ear and or twist his antennae but instead she went for his stomach and knocked the wind right out of him.
As he struggled to breathe he watched her leave. there was a person inside that was worth reaching and he saw it but he wondered how many other people saw it as well. after she was gone and he could stand up straight he went on his way with his assignment.
He tried his hardest to avoid the corridor where the specialists trained because he knew that Colin's brother was not one to be messed with and if he even suspected his sister of having a soft side he would take it out on him hard core.
The next morning he lines up with the twenty recruits he had managed to find. some more seasoned knights had volunteered to join but like most of the knights of his class they were commoners who were willing to make a change. for a task like this he wished he would have more than twenty but knew that they could manage if they stuck together.
As they were selecting their armor and ensuring that their swords were sharp he noticed when a line of other knights entered the room. everyone put their hands to their hilts expecting to be stopped because the new comers were all bred knights and there were forty of them in total. Colin stepped forward, "I hope you don't mind but I did some recruiting of my own."
Zayto scanned the crowd and nodded, "They will follow my lead?"
Colin looked back, "Yes they will just as I will."
"Get your swords and helmets we will pull out as soon as everyone is in formation." Zayto ordered and moved to begin inspection of the original twenty knights.