Initial Alignment and Bonding
58431 had been nervous when they heard about the UNITY Mandate. Back then he was a carefree young man. He treated his job as a chore and took his relationships for granted. But the UNITY Mandate would change all that. The Mandate required all men to join UNITY with a compulsory six months spent in extensive re-education to align them to UNITY standards.
The young men were assigned to the UNITY Initiation Barracks attached to the UNITY Center in Sub-Division 342D-FR5. The young men received their uniforms and their UNITY designation numbers. Following initial intake, the new brothers were taken to the barracks sleeping quarters. Rows of bunk beds filled the room. 58431 found his way to his assigned bunk, where he met his bunkmate 58302.
"Hey man. Crazy how this all happened so fast, right? Name's Luke," he extended a hand.
"Umm, we should really avoid using names," responded 58302. "You heard it in the orientation, right? Names create misalignment. This brother will just call you by your designation. You can all this brother 58302."
58431's face turned red. He heard all the rules, but didn't know how serious others were taking it. Maybe that was his problem though, he never took anything seriously.
"You're totally right. I'm - Sorry - This brother is 58431," he extended his hand again. This time 58302 took and pulled him in for an embrace. Their coveralls pressed against each other, their UNITY and designation patches touching.
Suddenly a chime sounded and over the intercom came a voice: "Brothers, we must align our minds above all else. All brothers must engage in protocol review for the next hour."
58302 reached into a footlocker under the bunks and pulled out a blue book titled "UNITY PROTOCOL".
"Come on, brother, let's start reading," he sat on the bunk and patted the spot next to him for 58431 to sit. The new brother suddenly remembered something from orientation about daily studies with a companion brother.
58431 took a seat and the brothers began to take turns reading from the UNITY PROTOCOL. Some sections detailed the history of the brotherhood, others reviewed directions and schedules, and other parts still were more ideological.
58431 would've never read something like this on his own or by choice, but it was kind of fun to read it with 58302. His new brother read with an infectious enthusiasm that kept 58431 engaged, and made him try harder to read with an equal amount of gusto.
Around the room, other pairs of brothers were doing the same. 58431 had felt so nervous about the UNITY Mandate, but already he couldn't remember why. Here he was reading with a stranger in a strange room wearing a strange uniform, but it felt calm and secure. He began to see what can be accomplished when actually start to care.