Unison (The Spheral) (8 page)

INFINITE PRESENT

A
flock of exploiters clustered around to take my picture as I made my way down the aisle of Unity Hall. I sought refuge in the preparation room to rehearse my induction speech. After delivering the introduction to my reflection in the mirror, I directed the rest of my oration to the chipped paint on the wall that reminded me of Master Avery’s face. My recitation became more passionate as I envisioned him sitting in the audience, rubbing his hammer-shaped nose while pondering over how I surpassed his expectations.

Wade entered the room unannounced and stepped in front of me with his forehead creased. “Either you’ve finally lost your mind or…” Wade pointed at the chipped paint. “You’ve mesmerized the poor wall into silence with your hypnotic words and spellbinding gaze.” He smiled and handed me a bottle of our favorite alcoholic beverage.

“If I have the same effect with the Corporate Hierarchy, my career as a maroon will be off to a promising start.” I inspected the label.

“It’s not the cheap stuff,” Wade said. “I know better than to insult an upper color.”

“It won’t be official until after I receive my uniform.”

“Then I guess I’ll give this to you after the ceremony.”

Wade went to grab the bottle, and I pulled it back. “You were never good at keeping track of time.” I removed the cap. “I see no reason for you to improve now.”

“If that’s professional advice, I’ll gladly follow it.” Wade lifted up his half-consumed bottle. “To your success.”

We clanked our bottles together and drank.

“Enjoy it for as long as you can,” Wade said. “When you finally acknowledge Harmony’s destructive truth, it’ll be too late to do anything about it.”

“And once you experience its true potential, you’ll be thanking me.”

“For what? I can’t get into a decent fight with anyone, and every woman I date is disgustingly happy all the time. I want a female to complain over how much I talk about sports. It’s the natural order of things.”

“That’s a small charge to pay. Harmony will eventually bring an end to reintegration. You won’t need to fill out another request for a new assignment because you’ll be out of a job.”

“Tempting…but I’d gladly continue to pay the higher price for a woman to lecture me over all the hours I spend in the pleasure room.”

I was about to follow up with my own quip when I had another vision of peering over a cliff side at Wade’s dead body.

Wade waved his hand in front of my face. “Still in there?”

I clenched Wade’s wrist. “We have to cancel our camping trip.”

Wade pulled back his arm. “What are you trying to do, break my wrist?”

“I had another vision.”

“I refuse to live out the rest of my life in fear of your visions. That would be far worse than your vision coming true.”

I gulped down half my drink, trying to expunge the image of Wade’s broken body from my mind.

“Loosen your sleeves. Now that I know about my possible death, all I have to do is be more careful when we get to the ridge.” He laughed and finished off the contents of his bottle. “I’ll even slow down so you can walk ahead of me.”

The more I thought about it, the more plausible Wade’s argument sounded. His foreknowledge could very well save him, but I still wouldn’t be able to distinguish if my vision was a delusion or an altered destiny. For both my sake and Wade’s, I hoped it was the latter.

Kai started my induction ceremony with one of his parables. I can’t recall which one because I was feeling anxious. Afterwards, he went on about how his department was responsible for Unity’s reduction in reintegration sentences, without barely a mention about how Harmony made this possible. When he finally called my name to award me my maroon uniform, I stood from my chair and almost toppled over. Everything around me appeared to be moving in slow motion, and my body swayed as though adrift on a boat. I walked to the podium and clutched the corners to anchor myself.

“You may begin now,” Kai said slowly, stressing each syllable.

I leaned in towards the microphone and spoke. “Before I get started, I’d like to thank Master Kai for nominating me.”

Everyone applauded, and I attributed my preceding dislocation to stage fright. “I invented Harmony to help you find it within yourselves and each other. With three quarters of Unitians receiving Harmony’s signal, I’m confident that one day everyone will enjoy a healthy mind, impervious to the scourge. I’m honored to move up within the Corporate Hierarchy and promise to serve for as long as I’m alive and of sensible mind.”

“Can you predict the future and promise us Harmony won’t be misused by a future Overseer?” a female voice called out.

My COR alarm sounded and everything seemed more familiar than the previous moment. Flashing lights on my face and Kai directing his guards seemed more like memories occurring in present reality. I was overcome by vertigo and collapsed to my knees. The floor drew me toward it like a magnet, and I fell forward, landing on the palms of my hands. As I attempted to stand, my elbows buckled, and my chest pressed into the floor. All the surrounding voices blended and softened to a barely audible level.

“Six begin, Six alone, Six unite,” said a lone female voice.

It took all my effort to lift my head and look towards the door where the female from my vision stood. Her long hair poured down like streams of glistening black water, and I was surprised no one noticed. She extended her hand towards me, and as I outstretched my arm towards her, all the sounds returned to full volume. My body lightened, and I sprang to my feet. “Who is she?” I got up and pointed towards the mysterious woman.

Kai assisted me off stage. “Don’t you see her? She’s there—by the entranceway. Her hair is unbound!”

Kai squinted his eyes. “Where? Every woman I see has her hair braided according to regulation.”

I looked back towards the entrance. The woman from my vision vanished.

“I’m sorry your induction was ruined,” Kai said as he entered my loft.

“When I heard her voice…everything seemed so familiar,” I said more to myself.

Kai sat on the couch and rested his feet on the coffee table. I cringed at the action which never disturbed me before.

“We’ll find her.”

“She’s in her thirties, her hair was out of regulation and—”

“I meant the female who interrupted your speech.”

“I don’t care about her. The woman—I think she—” I stopped myself to run another scan on my holologue.

“The long hours you spent on Harmony is beginning to affect your mental health. Don’t allow it to deflect you from the value you’ve added to the Corporation. I can see you moving far beyond even your own expectations.”

I didn’t acknowledge Kai because I was more interested in making sense of the test results. I had to know what happened because I almost completely lost myself, and I had to know why before I lost myself again. If the woman from my vision hadn’t shown up, I don’t think I would’ve found my way back.

“I’ll cut off your access to the lab if you don’t take some time off to heal yourself,” Kai said.

My attention returned to my mentor, whom I was now starting to loathe. Except for Master Avery, I never had such a strong dislike towards anyone. “You’re right.” I bowed my head towards Kai, wanting to get him out of my loft so I could analyze my COR readings. “It’s been a long day, Master Kai. Forgive my insubordination.”

Kai bowed in return. The reciprocal gesture reminded me I was just promoted.

“You’ve been through a lot,” he said. “I strongly urge you take your vacation early.”

“I have a lot of work that needs to be done by the end of next—”

“Consider this your first day. I’ll see you back in three weeks.”

OUTSIDER

I
left for Emerald Mountain a day ahead of Wade. Between my visions and growing hatred towards Kai, the time alone worked better at easing my anxiety than Harmony. I pitched my tent at the base of the western side of the peak and went to sleep after the canopy of juniper and pine concealed the last traces of sunlight. Dreams of Wade’s death taunted me until the motion alarm I set went off. I could hear footsteps outside.

“Who’s out there?” I cautiously separated the tent flap and aimed both my plazer and flashlight towards the mouth of the trail. The woman from my vision stepped into the light beam’s path.

“Who are you?” I edged towards her, and a name came to my mind. “Sutara?” 

She smiled and entered the thicket. 

I tracked her along a dark narrowing path, but I soon lost sight of her. On my way back to my campsite, I was surprised by a wild dog. Sitting on his haunches, he remained eerily still. I clutched the grip of my plazer, stepped back, and took aim.The dog growled and leapt towards me. I fired my plazer  and woke up to the sound of my COR alarm, followed by a splash of water on my face.

Wade hovered over me with his overturned canteen. “Wake up, your Lordship. Today, we’re climbing to the top of the high ridge. Master Tyrus showed me all the blind paths of the motion sensors. Unity Forces will never see us leaving…or returning.”

I may have been half-asleep, but I still recalled our sailing adventure that ended with an interrogation, followed by three days of isolation. “I’m not risking it. I’m stopping at the beacons this time.” I turned off the alarm.

Wade yawned. “Had a rough time at work—could use some time alone.” He walked out of the tent.

“You slocking reckless—” I slid out of my sleeping bag and followed Wade out. “You know I can’t leave you alone!”

“Grab your things. I’m leaving now.”

I stormed back into my tent and rolled up my sleeping bag.

Wade pushed apart the tent flap. “What are you so worried about?”

I stuffed my lantern and the rest of my gear into my backpack.

“You’re a Unitian hero. They’ll tolerate more from you,” Wade said.

“Your death is starting to sound preferable to a reprimand from Kai.”

“Does that mean you’re coming along?”

“We’ll camp in the valley tonight and watch the meteor shower,” I said as I zipped up my backpack. “If we must risk reintegration, let’s make this trip the envy of all Unitians.”