Chapter 22 - Unity(Part 2)

Looks like this room is some kind of study, there's a bunch of bookshelves and a large desk at the back of the room, where the leader was seated, though I couldn't see his face clearly since the window was right behind him.

As he stood up and walked around the desk as we entered the room, I got a better look at him. He looks like he's somewhere in his late forties or early fifties, more or less.

He had graying dark blonde hair, the sides fully gray and the top with a few gray streaks across, pale, light blue eyes, on taller side and looked like he was in good shape for his age.

He had a thick mustache and a bit of stubble, looking kinda scruffy. He also had a burn scar on the left side of his jaw, under the corner of his mouth.

"Uh, hi...nice to meet you, Mr Charlin," I replied with a nod.

"Oh, you can just call me Yale. Here, have a seat. Theo, Xandra, I'd like to speak to Ariodred here alone," He remarked as he glanced at the other two.

"Got it, boss, we'll head out then," Nodded Theo, before the two of them walked out the door.

"See you later, Red," Xandra waved at me with a smile, before Theo swiftly shut the doors.

"So, uh...what did you want to talk to me about?" I inquired awkwardly.

"No need to be so on guard, you're safe here. I just wanted to let you know what our organization, Unity is all about, and what it means to be a member. We try to help as many Alters as we can, out goal is to make the world a better place for Alters. We don't force anyone who we take in to risk their lives unwillingly for our cause, but that said, we don't take care of freeloaders.

If you would rather live a peaceful life, we're more than willing to help you achieve that and live comfortably. We'll help you with the bare minimum in regards to controlling your powers, so that you'll be able to defend yourself. The choice is entirely yours to make," He surmised with a smile.

"You know...for the longest time, all I cared about was living a comfortable life, it didn't have to be anything grand, I'd have been happy to accept a simple life so long as it was peaceful. But after my time as a lab rat, that's changed.

I wasn't sure about it at first, but after my nap, I feel like I've gained some clarity. Even as we speak, there are people who are going through the same thing I did, or maybe even worse. And those that are responsible for such atrocities, I want them to get what they deserve.

I'm not going to claim to be noble or righteous in my motivations, because I'm most definitely not...I'm just really pissed that I had to go through all that. So I want to bring down scum who treat Alters like shit, it's as simple as that," I stated without hesitation.

Huh, I didn't totally realize any of this myself until I put it into words just now.

"In that case, let me tell you about our organization. I founded Unity thirty years ago here in Cahgo, when Alter prejudice was rampant in this country. I gathered like-minded Alters to the cause, to make this country a better place and get the so-called 'normal' humans to see that Alters are no different to them.

We were effectively vigilantes, apprehending anti-Alter terrorists, revealing their crimes for the whole world to see and then handing them off to the police. Eventually, we struck a deal with the government, we would help them keep the peace in the country, and in return, they would recognize us as a legitimate force of justice.

It took some time, but eventually, we turned Cahgo into one of the countries most accepting of Alters in the entire world. We then began expanding into other countries and doing the same thing in those places, and we've-...," He remarked with a nostalgic look on his face.

"Hey, uh, I don't mean to be rude, but I kinda know all this...I mean, Unity's history is pretty public knowledge," I interrupted as he began rambling.

"Ah, my apologies, I got a bit caught up in reminiscing," He replied with a sheepish smile, before clearing his throat and continuing, "To put it simply, Unity is a force of justice, not vengeance. That's why we don't kill our enemies...instead, we reveal to the world what they truly are, and imprison them so that they may reflect on their actions."

"That seems kinda flawed...I mean, wouldn't most of them just grow more hateful and resentful while locked up instead of becoming better people?" I pointed out.

"Yeah, I can't deny that that's often the case...but we need to try and see the best in people, no matter who they are. And that doesn't mean forgiving or forgetting their crimes...but instead giving them the chance to atone and make up for what they've done.

Additionally, not killing our enemies is one of conditions the government has set for us if we want to continue being officially recognized. Exceptions are made in the cases of genuine accidents, of course, but we can't exploit that and take advantage of their goodwill."

Seeing the best in people, huh? That's what my aunt used to say, it was the core of the values she passed onto me...but as I've come to realize, and like I just said to Yale, it's flawed. Some people just aren't going to become better simply because they fail to accomplish what they set out to do.

"And does everyone in Unity agree with it? The whole no-killing philosophy you guys swear by," I responded curiously.

"Well...a lot of us do, but there have been a number of our members who disagreed with it. The first was twenty-five years ago, five years after I founded Unity. That almost derailed everything, when the first person to leave Unity started his own organization, Liberty..."

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