Alard peered into the small room, finding a spectacled eye staring back at him. He hadn't been loud but it seemed Alden had been anticipating his entry. The sharpness the aged man showed, with the apparent addition of his ability to heal Marked individuals, made Alard wonder why he never joined them on missions.

"You can come in," Alden said.

"Thank you," Alard said, finding the sleeping Aura laying on a bed. His unnatural eyesight pierced through the dark room, noting her burns had resided but were still slightly visible outside her clothing. She looked truly peaceful as she slept which made Alard realize despite her reserved nature, she never quite looked that way when she was awake.

Alard took the seat across from Alden on the other side of the bed. The room had three vertical beds and seemed to operate as some sort of home hospital for Alden's use.

"Will she be okay?" Alard asked.

"Indeed. She'll make a full recovery, it just requires some assistance and more time than usual in this case."

Alard remembered her feral fighting back at the Wall. "In what case? I remember Jarek saying something about removing a limiter then she had extended arms...kind of like Hayaka but not a human arm and with the ability to burn through seemingly anything."

Alden adjusted his spectacles as he rubbed a hand over the burn marks on her arm. "Indeed. Aura typically fights with a limiter because she is what we call an uncommon parasyte user." Alard leaned forward, the nerd inside him eager to learn more. Alden chuckled at his gesture. "This means her connection to the parasyte's power isn't as strong as a rare parasyte user such as yourself, but it is much more potent than a normal parasyte's connection at the same time. This raw unfiltered connection makes it easier for the parasyte to surface and gain control of its host which is why a limiter is set in place and only removed when the parasyte user's full potential is needed. If you saw her in this state she may have seemed a little...unhinged."

Alard thought back to the wild look in her eyes. "Unhinged is certainly one word for it. So is that why she's so injured?"

Alden nodded. "The blowback of removing her limiter. Still, it's a better result than her losing control and turning full rogue."

Alard briefly imagined a rogue chasing him with those corrosive arms and gulped. He was sure Jarek would be able to handle her, even in that state, but the thought of her being put down like some rabid dog rubbed him the wrong way.

"If the parasyte gains control is there no chance she can regain control again?"

"There is a chance but it is remarkably low." Alden seemed to read the concern in his face, "In the event that the parasyte gains control, the procedure is to first contain in hopes that the user is able to repossess their body. However, the longer the parasyte stays in control, the more critical eliminating the person is, since the parasyte grows in strength and the window for the human shortens."

Alard shuddered, recalling his drowning experience and Jigoku being in his ear, demanding control. It had felt like something pressing against his brain and for some reason, he had known exactly what muscle to relax to grant Jigoku control in his time of need. Yet, even with death rearing his ugly head, he had hesitated, his last thread of humanity too dear to his heart. Aura dove headfirst into snapping that thread every time she took the limiter off.

It was a bravery either rooted in a strong sense of purpose or an apathetic attitude and Alard was sure it was the former.

"Can I ask you a personal question, Alden?" Alard asked, the thought of purposes sparking his curiosity. Alden nodded. "I know that most join the Underground because of some sort of revenge, but is that the reason for you? You don't seem eager to physically fight against the Peacock force."

Alden's eyes flicked to Alard's. His face was devoid of emotion - save for the thoughtfulness that never left his features. It was as if he was constantly analyzing his surroundings like the words of a book, and his spectacle magnified this effect.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Just as Alard was going to apologize for the personal question, Alden spoke. "My decision wasn't fueled by emotions as is normally the case. I realized that the fight between these two political beings would affect even those who wished to stay on the sideline, which made the safest procedure-"

"Joining one."

"Exactly. It wasn't as easy a choice as you may think. I was privy to information kept in the dark from both sides which exposed the truth to me early on; there is no good side in this battle. Only one who is brazenly tyrannical and another who manipulates with false bravado."

"And you chose false bravado?" Alard asked.

Alden shook his head. "No. I chose an unfortified evil. The Underground is still fighting for a proper foothold which means the corrupt are not yet stabilized. There's still an opportunity to eliminate those who will create another Parasyte Era and put the right leaders in place."

Alard's eyes widened. "Are you suggesting a coup?"

A shadow of a smile swept across Alden's face. "I'm not suggesting anything."

"Then-"

"I've told you quite a bit about my motivations. I believe it's your turn. What made you come to us?" Alden interrupted.

"Just the generic revenge thing," Alard said with a shrug. His reason paled in comparison. "My district was destroyed by the Peacocks and so I've pledged to be a part of their annihilation."

Alden's eyes bore into Alard's. "You were a resident of District 54 correct?" Alard's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "I've had a look at your files, naturally."

"I was." There was a new sharpness in Alard's voice at the mention of the title of the district. He hadn't heard the full title uttered in a long time.

"I understand that District 54 was stationed in section F." He waited for Alard's curt nod of confirmation. "That's as far from Vrille as a nonelitist could get. Of course, the trade-off was it being the poorest section available, but the fact that your parents made the trek there tells me they weren't much of a fan of either side."

"They detested violence, so humans fighting against each other powered by aliens were like a bad nightmare for them. They thought that getting as far away as possible would be best for us because we'd be out of the way and unimportant to both." Alard's voice stumbled upon itself. "They were wrong."

Alden bowed his head, giving Alard a moment to collect himself before speaking again. "Do you think they would support your decision?"

"No."

"Then what are you doing it for?"

"Revenge."

"Revenge is a powerful motivator, and it's likely that strong emotion is what made a rare parasyte accept you as its host in the first place. But it's also important you don't lose sight of what matters."

"What matters is putting the Peacock leaders in the ground," Alard said in a gruff voice that he didn't recognize.

Alden's spectacle seemed to catch a nonexistent light and it felt like they turned into a microscopic that allowed him to see through Alard's flesh and into his soul. "What happens when your vengeance is complete and the world continues with your district still gone?"

Alard pondered the question. "Peace?" he offered in a rather unconvincing voice.

Alden chuckled. "Vengeance won't bring back your lost ones and it certainly won't bring peace to this country. Could you even say with certainty that you've accepted the death of your parents?"

A frown formed on Alard's face. How could he even be asked such a question? Every day since he had thrown himself into danger to destroy those who had wronged him and his parents. The relentless training and missions were a necessary step. With each heavy step he had taken, a large weight had weighed on his feet, making the presence of his lost ones known.

"Of course I have."

"Then if you do complete this mission of yours, will you be happy?"

Another stupid question.

His happiness could only be achieved by wiping the Peacocks off of the map. Yet...as he felt himself being sucked into Alden's unrelenting stare and imagined his father with a similar look, mimicking the question, any words of confirmation died on his lips.

When he had walked countless miles from his district to swallow a Parasyte and pledged the Underground's destruction had he run away from his roots?

From facing the outcome of his district?

From his parents?

He shook off his own pointless questions, feeling a numbing cascade throughout his body. The same numbing he had forced into himself with every step he took toward the warehouse and away from his humanity.

"The future is not my concern."