| “In the early years after the Exodus, when our ships began to fail and leak chemicals and radiation into our atmosphere, the shadow of death hung over our entire race. When we finally understood we were dying, and all other sentient beings were dying with us, we began to have a burning, almost heartbreaking sense of the fragility and preciousness of each moment and each being, and from that grew a deep, clear, limitless compassion for all beings. “And that is how a Type Two experiences its entire world, every day. They are nothing more than children who have been endowed with the wisdom of life's end. And that is a thing of terrible beauty; Both our greatest sin and our proudest achievement.” – Mastermind Ashlesha Five One 51-1283-7552 The Art of Never Again, Chapter 197: Looking Maker in the Eye |
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| Image: | A Type Two in a Voidwalker Suit |
Of the entire Free State population…
… 7% are Type Two Freespacers
… 33% are Type Two Automata
Therefore the Type Two caste makes up 40% of the Free State
From their birth and childhood in communal nurseries (or assembly plants if they are Automata), Type Twos are constantly indoctrinated with the idea that they are inevitably going to die, that their individual existence means nothing, but they can make a difference in the world by helping society and building a better future. They are made to believe that they are nothing more than cells to a body, or neurons to a mind. One in billions, but when working together, they become a piece of a grand creation capable of amazing things. This idea of self-worthlessness may cause clinical depression among some, who are then promptly killed and recycled. Those that remain are Type Twos are those that have successfully accepted the idea, and hold little or no chance of becoming depressed.
These beings think absolutely nothing of themselves, only of others in society. This makes them beings of amazing virtue: Completely selfless, cooperative, loyal, caring, optimistic, and fearless yet pacifist. Many consider them the very essence of the words, 'It's not how long you live, it's how you live.' They tend to be highly idealistic and noble, preferring to maintain ethical integrity over their lives. Being outspoken, optimistic, and whimsical are also traits of this caste, as they have a tendency to live for the moment more than they prepare for the future.
They are also especially cooperative and communal in comparison to other castes. Their selfless mentality causes them to divert their efforts completely to helping others, to the point they have little regard for their own lives. Yet at the same time, they hold a sacred regard for the life of others and as such are very pacifistic. They are also innately innocent and naive; They have difficulty understanding when they are being deceived or manipulated. More so due to the fact they rarely, if ever, experience self-centered emotions, so they usually cannot comprehend things such as greed.
Since they are taught to think nothing of themselves, they would much rather prefer to be among others where they can help more. This also means they tend to be almost clingy, and hate to be left alone. When they are isolated or are left idle for long periods of time, they have nothing to distract them from their own wants and needs, which can start to reverse of the indoctrination process. As such, isolated or idle Type Twos often become bored, vocal, and even neurotic; they may exhibit malaise, lethargy, or even revert to depression. The only happy Type Two is a working one.
Due to the caste's high affinity for off-ship and hazardous work spacesuits (see image) are standard issue among all Type Twos, and is the only possession a Type Two is given by their nurseries. They are an important part of Type Two tradition and are symbolic of the hard work and selflessness of their forerunners, who in the early years had to mine manually in nothing but similarly unarmored suits, losing many lives doing so.
Even Automata Type Twos wear these suits. While they are machines and therefore do not need life support to work in space, the extreme temperature variance can sometimes cause considerable damage to their components.
These suits are typically worn whenever on duty, acting as a uniform of sorts for the entire caste. Often they are colored or painted with decals, so Type Twos working in space can easily identify one another.
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The Type Twos are the predominant working class of society, fulfilling most of the labor needs. Miners, technicians, and factory workers are the norm for this caste. Their willingness to die for others also makes them volunteer for the most dangerous tasks in society, including soldiers and scouts if need be. Their strict adherence to orders also makes them ideal as trusted assistants, messengers or bodyguards.
Despite being a 'lower' caste, they are still highly respected among the Freespacers for their selfless nature. They are often seen as a role models for society: ideal citizens, always putting the greater good first and never thinking about themselves. Despite being the primary working class, they serve many different roles in nearly all trades and fields of work. This is likely in hopes their selflessness nature will influence others, and that their loyalty to the commune will help solidify society against fragmentation.
Unfortunately, the use of indoctrination upon Type Twos causes foreigners to perceive their existence a form of slavery and brainwashing, even the Type Twos appear willing to do the bidding of their superiors. Ironically, the Freespacers themselves are fiercely opposed to any form of sentient life dominating another, even if merely political.
They justify their indoctrination as merely a form of education. They say the Type Twos are simply told the truth: That they actually just a tiny, insignificant piece of the universe, and that there short lives are just a blink in the eye of the universe. And that lone individuals can do very little when isolated, yet can achieve great things like civilization when working together. Or akin to insignificant cells, worthless on their own, performing great things as a single superorganism; the human body. The Freespacer do not believe this is as brainwashing because it is, effectively, the harsh reality of the universe.