Read Unison (The Spheral) for Free Online Page B

roof of my dorm. “Six begin, Six alone, Six unite.”
    I gasped when I heard applause. It took a few seconds to comprehend that I had just come out of a vision. A wave of vertigo overtook me, and Master Kai had to help me off stage. He took me to the hospital for a full medical examination. Everything checked out normal, but I was far from the standard definition of normal. It just couldn’t be confirmed by any medical diagnostic tool.

 

    HARMONY
    A s the longest-standing member of the Chosen, Master Tyrus was favored to become the next Overseer. After his request for expedition was denied, Master Avery and Master Simon were the only two Chosen who stood by him. When the rest of the Chosen shifted their loyalty to Master Kai, he seemed relieved over his loss of popularity. I soon learned why Master Tyrus gave in so easily when Master Kai called me to his office. He wanted to go over the numbers of those whom I treated during the last phase of their reintegration. It was my responsibility to ensure they were psychologically fit to rejoin the general population. A recent increase of requests for death had me concerned over how it would affect my position as Master Kai’s First, but I also took it as a personal failure that I couldn’t help my patients.
    “Everything I read in your report tells me you did nothing wrong,” Master Kai said. “All the simulations you’ve written are exceptional. So exceptional that curates are calling you the new Master of faith design.” Kai laughed. “I can see Avery cringe every time he hears that. You’ve been a thorn at his side since your meeting with the Chosen.” Kai glanced at the report, and tapped his fingers on his desk. “Why do you have question marks after some of the patients’ names?”
    “There might be a new psychological disorder we’ve yet to encounter—one that would explain the increase in requests for death. The patients I singled out all had one thing in common: they claimed they felt as though the dome was closing in on them, and they all used a similar phrase. It sounds like a phobia of some kind—similar to claustrophobia but—”
    “There’s no new anything.” Master Kai dismissively waved his hand. “The blame for the increase falls on Tyrus and the grandiose assumptions he made about life on the outside. During our last meeting he accepted the blame, and his admission was heartfelt. He had no idea his personal passion for exploration would be dangerous to impressionable young minds.”
    My thoughts immediately shifted to Wade. Since Master Tyrus’s defeat, he spent most of his days drinking and sleeping. He only emerged from his loft to work and play paddleball with me every Seventhday. I had to start all the conversations otherwise the sole topic of discussion would’ve been what we were wagering on. When I tried to offer him my help, he threatened to quit our matches if I didn’t mind my business, so I complied. Alienating Wade would’ve made it difficult to keep watch over him, and I was afraid he’d be next in line to fill out a request for death.
    “You look troubled,” Master Kai said.
    “My friend is one of those impressionable young minds.”
    “If you’re speaking of Wade 1300-099-33M, he’s lucky you were around to save him.” Master Kai paused and looked at me reflectively. “I’m very proud of you, Damon. You’ve far exceeded my expectations—which is why you’re going to ascend with me. As my First, you’re privileged to be the first to hear my good news. Because I remained steadfast in my loyalty to the Unitian Oath, Tyrus knew I’d be the better candidate to succeed the Overseer. He transferred leadership of the Chosen to me this morning.”
    “Congratulations, Master Kai.” I bowed. “With you as Speaker of the Chosen, we should soon be seeing less requests for death.”
    “Not until those whose minds have been infected by Tyrus are emptied of his poisonous rhetoric. His rebellion caused a mistrust