Biodroid: Dawn of a New Age

Promises

- "How many have we completed already?"

-"*pant* *pant* I don't know...around 75? *pant*" Replied an exhausted Ryan. "This is all your fault, I'm gonna need compensation, you better be prepared!"

-"*pant* I know... I owe you dinner, how does that sounds? *pant* *pant* " Said Ken. They've been running for a hour and a half straight with no breaks. The training field was as big as an old football stadium, big enough for the pilots to practice basic maneuvers with their droids, it had no trees nearby, nowhere to sit but a small roofed area probably designed for the supervisors of the trainees and that was a bit outside the whole area, there in the supervisor's area,  was Lt. Cruz closely monitoring their progress, keeping counts on the laps and paying attention to every detail of their behavior and body language, both of them passed their physicals before joining the academy, but this was the first time Cruz was actually watching them in person performing any activity. "So they both have some degree of physical capabilities, but they should be reaching their limits in about more laps" thought Cruz while writing the number 78 in his notebook.

-"I don't think I can make it..."Ryan was exhausted, to the point of nearly falling over "*pant* One Dinner is not gonna be... enough... I'm gonna...kill y..." an audible Thump was the only sound left  as Ryan fell to his side.

-"RYAN!!" as Ken tried to grab him by the shoulder while Ryan fell, he nearly tripped and fell a few steps in front of him.

-"So.. 78 is your limit cadet Walker?" asked a seemly unsurprised Lt. Cruz "What about you Edwards? Can you go on?" 

-"*pant* I...think so... *pant*" replied Ken as he watched Ryan sit on the floor panting heavily.

-" That's the wrong answer Edwards, lesson 'numero uno' in the EDF: Never leave a man behind."

Said a serious Lt. Cruz and, pointing at Ryan, continued "Pick him up and bring him inside the supervisors area, you need some rest and you still have 122 laps to go."

-" WHAT?" both Ryan and Ken shouted surprised, they only knew about the 100 lap punishment.

-" Those are 'el jefe's orders, next time, you better think twice before being late" said Lt. Cruz as he walked both of them to the roofed area, once they were in the shade he continued "Listen well both of you, inside this walls I am 'Lt. Cruz', I need you to understand that I can't be permissive with either of you, especially you Ken, your father is our leader,  the commander of us all and precisely that's why you need to be better than the others, you will be under the microscope here, the other cadets will surely try to find anything to use against you because they might think that you are cutting corners because of your father. Ryan is well known as well thanks to his father, his sacrifice is well known among the EDF and the cadets are no exception, so people expects a lot from you too, this is why I must challenge you both even more than the rest, this is why your father will make your training much harder, so once you rise above the rest, for you shall do it if you share at least a bit of both your parent's blood, it will be because of your own efforts and the rest of the squadron will have no choice but to recognize you both as fine pilots."

-" I understand, Sir" Replied a less exhausted Ryan while Ken remained silent. 

For Ken, this was no news, his mother Aiko told him so when he decided to join the EDF Academy, he had no clear goal like stopping the war or becoming the best pilot, he joined because he thought it was what was expected of him. Being the son of the commander of all the EDF was a heavy burden for him since everyone always compared him to his father or mother who was an accomplished robotic developer herself 'There he is' he'd heard people whisper 'he is sure to surpass both of them', over and over the bar was being set to him higher and higher by people's expectations so the pressure of being better than everyone else has always accompanied him much to his distaste. 

-"I'm sorry Ryan, I should have helped you sooner, I promise this will never happen again" said a determined Ken much to Lt. Cruz's surprise. "I know what's expected of me..." he continued while shifting his gaze to Cruz, but the latter noted a not so determined gaze, like something was amiss. 

-"Alright, that's enough rest, both of you carry on with your punishment, 122 laps to go, we shall have another break at the 150th lap and I don't want any of you falling or surrendering, if you surrender during the first day of training, how will you reach the bar that has been set for you?" said Lt. Cruz with a tone that was directed to light a fire inside of them, which worked for Ryan who promptly stood up but seemed to add another layer of weight to Ken's Shoulders.

-"Yes sir" they both replied in unison while they worked their way back to the training field and began a light trot . 'These  two show promise, but something seems amiss with Ken, I'll need to keep a close eye on him' Thought Cruz while bringing out his notebook to keep track of the laps.

Ryan's pale skin was bright red because of the sun and exercise, his gentle hazel eyes showed a determination to complete the punishment with no more setbacks, he was lightly build but muscular, although his physique wasn't his most noticeable feature with his 5,9" height, for his brains was his best asset, he wasn't weak by any means and overall was well built for a 15 year old, light brown hair in a short military like cut covered his head from the sun. Ken on the other hand had long black straight hair, which he got from his mother no doubt, so light that it danced in the wind at the trot's rhythm, pale skin also red because of the sun and exercise, very thin nose opening and closing his nostrils at the beat of his breathing, he was taller than Ryan around 6,0" and had quick reflexes and well build body,  his gray cat like eyes lacked the fire and determination that Ryan's had.

-"What's wrong? You seem out of it..." asked a concerned Ryan.

-"It's nothing, I think I'm just tired." replied an unconvincing Ken. 

The rest of the laps went according to plan, they rested at the 150th lap, asked a few questions about the academy and the grade system and how are the pilots chosen to which Cruz Replied with a firm: -" You will know in due time, I recommend that both of you focus on what you can control, like being on time, let the rest of it take care of it self." he continued "Discipline is essential, once you understand and adopt that way of thinking the path to becoming a pilot shall be clearer for both of you." 

As the 200th lap was about to be completed, Lt. Cruz took his notebook back inside his pocket while thinking 'This is only the beginning, but you both delivered, keep it up Ryan, Ken.' As soon as they finished the last lap, Lt. Cruz formed them up, one next to the other, told them that the assignment was completed in a satisfactory way and dismissed them while saying

-"Remember: 0500 hours tomorrow, Don't. Be. Late!" being awfully emphatic on the last 3 words.

-"Yes Sir."

As both of them walked to the main door of the academy, several members of the current EDF squadron gave some glances to them, some smiled politely, others looked at them as if they were something to be avoided. 'So this is what Cruzie was trying to explain to us' thought Ken while crossing the big double door that separated the academy from the rest of the world. Since both of them were tired they walked at a relative slow pace, passing the market which was lively as always, then the village's only bar, which was closed due to the time of the day, and then they reached the small monument known as the 'Wall of the Defender'. This monument was no taller than 10 feet and not wider than 15 feet, as its name suggested, it was a wall made of marble, same material of the academy and most of the houses in the village, it featured several  banks and stools so the visitors could sit while they were there. Ryan gave a good glance at the Wall of the Defender and Ken noticed it and said

-"Lets go, its time you let him know..." said Ken to Ryan, which replied with a tired smile and a nod. 

The Wall of the Defender was a testament to all of the heroes that died in the battles against the Federation's  Biodroids , for that was how they chose to name themselves, and Ryan's Father was one of them. His name was Ron Walker, like Cruz, he was also a Lieutenant in the EDF and a great biodroid pilot recognized by everyone as the only one  who could match Cpt. Edwards in single combat. 

-"Hey dad..." he said at the same time his eyes watered "I'm in, i made it!" tears now rolling down his eyes. "Today was my first day, I hope I can be half of the pilot you were, I will keep my promise to you, I'll behave, I'll try my best and I will protect my friends just like you did... I... I..." and he lost his grasp for words as he started crying while Ken threw an arm around his shoulders. 

-" Don't worry uncle Ron, I'll make sure he keeps his head up" Said Ken solemnly with watered eyes. 

-"I just wish...*sniff*...I Wish he was here!" cried Ryan to Ken. Ron's Death was heralded as a significant loss to the EDF, but also regarded as a hero since he saved a whole town of being overrun by the federation. The battle was fierce, as recounted by the surviving members of his platoon, Sgt. Morrow and Sgt. Miller,  a combat platoon is formed by 5 members including the platoon leader Lt. Walker, Sgt. Pissant and Sgt. Decker were the other members and combined to stop the attack on Callx, the southernmost town from Zre village, but things got bad quickly as the Biodroids they destroyed began to explode as if it was a self destruct order and got Walker's, Pissant's and Decker's biodroids caught in the explosions and destroying all of them in the process. They managed to save the town and the rest of the platoon by chaining the explosions to the other biodroids of the federation and destroying them before they reached the town and Morrow's and Miller's Biodroids, saving them too. 

-"Let's go Ryan, we need to get home." said Ken as Ryan followed reluctantly. They were silent for the rest of the walk home, both aware of the people around the village laying eyes on them, judging most of the time, hopeful that they deliver on the promises that were laid before them. Some of the watchers were also new comrades in the academy, new cadets just like them that watched intently at the 'two that got grounded on the first day', some of them were talking to their parents, others were celebrating and others were just moving on with the day. 'This sure is gonna be fun... not' thought Ken.

They arrived at Ken's house to find the droid cleaning the front porch, Ryan quickly bid Ken goodbye as both were tired and he was specially drained emotionally, then headed towards his house on the other side of the road. 

-"Mom, I'm home." No answer. "MOOOOOOM!!!??? ARE YOU HERE!?" yelled Ken at the top of his lungs.

- " Up here, what's wrong?" he heard her voice coming from the 2nd floor so he dragged himself upstairs. "Why are you so late? the Welcome Ceremony ended hours ago."

-"Well you see..." and he recounted the events of the day, including both speeches that he remembered perfectly, his and Ryan's punishment, Cruzie's words and, of course, the visit to the Wall of the Defender. 

-"I knew you would be late..." she said with a hint of disdain. "So, they assigned Cruzie as your trainee platoon commander, huh? What are the odds..." she said with a hint of a smile on her face.

-"What do you mean?" asked Ken with a glow of genuine curiousness. 

- " Your father was his platoon commander during his academy days, it's like life finds a way to make people pay for their past" she said now laughing almost hysterically. 

- "Ok mom I need specifics! Details! C'mon!" he said as he took off his jacket  and sat to remove his boots. 

-" Oh is nothing really, Cruzie was.. How can i put it... Ah yes: 'A Pain in the Butt' as your father used to tell me everyday." she remarked with amusement and continued "Cruzie was headstrong, defied your father every chance he got, several times challenged him to a biodroid duel for the title of 'best pilot in the EDF', something he invented no doubt, was late most of the time and overall gave your dad a hard time as his instructor." then her voice softened and got a little more serious "But your father never gave up on him, sometimes he stayed late answering his questions about droid piloting, maneuvers, strategies, he was very clever for someone that was late to most of the classes and your dad said that he could be a better leader one day that anyone he had met before so he kept pressuring him and eventually Cruzie became a Sergeant."

She seemed finished so Ken asked

-"So, what's so funny about it?"

- "Your dad turned him around, he devoted himself to making your father proud and make himself worthy of the praise he received from Nick, so now he is an example to all other EDF members, cadets and even researchers." She looked directly at his eyes and said" the funny part is that now, Cruzie is stuck with you, of all cadets, you are gonna make him feel just like he made your father feel back in those early academy days, ain't karma beautiful?" she said while she burst in laughter again. 

- "HEY!!! I'm not that..." he started to say but got interrupted.

-" You are not 'WHAT'? huh? You are lazy, in spite of all the effort your father and I have put into you, you are way too carefree, you are smarter than me yet you hate studying or even thinking, which means your possible talents as a researcher are wasted, you make inappropriate jokes so you still don't know how to behave and you haven't taken ANY of the goals you or anyone has set on you seriously, yet along finish any of them, so yes, you are Cruzie 2.0!"

This was no news, he knew everything she said was true because she was constantly berating him on all of those things, he knew she meant well but he didn't have aspirations of his own, he liked his life too much, he knew he could do better but, what was the point?, he was never going to be better than his father, he didn't like the idea of using  a lab coat and stay indoors all day so the researcher job was out of the question, he did want the war to end but wasn't sure how to help with that so he did the only thing he thought and stated that he would join the academy and follow his father's footsteps and that's when everything went south, and people, beside his parents,  started setting even higher goals for him 'he is the son of the best pilot, he surely will tip the balance in our favor' some said, 'he probably makes a breakthrough and helps the researchers' said others but most of them thought of him as 'nothing more than wasted talent, he lives in his parents shadows and will amount to nothing'. All of these bothered him on different levels every day so Aiko's remarks reached deaf ears as he ignored them and asked for dinner, saying that he needed to go to bed earlier today so he wouldn't be late tomorrow. 

After having dinner with Aiko alone, for Cpt. Edwards wasn't home yet, he excused himself and went to his room and recounted the events of the day while laying in bed. He heard Lt. Cruz's words 'never leave a man behind' resonate in his head, also, remembering the story about how Cruzie used to be he also remembered part of Dr. Fu's Speech that 'there is not enough resources for everyone so not everyone can be a pilot' he thought 'well, I can't miss behave like Cruzie used to, that will get me spelled and that will make both of mom and dad sad and mad, probably get my but kicked twice a day for the rest of my life so there's that...' and then, he vividly remembered Ryan's scene at the Wall of the Defender "I will keep my promise to you..." recognizing that Ryan has a clear goal.

'What is my promise, then?' he thought as he drifted to sleep.

......