Albert left as it was time for him to appear before the ethics committee, while the director remained in his office. He reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a letter, beginning to read it. As he immersed himself in the lines of the letter, his hands started to tremble. His eyes widened, and beads of sweat began to trickle down his forehead...
### Message
**Location:** Zenos Scientific Research and Development Lab, Mercury.
**From:** Head of the Elite Research and Development Team of Mercury, to the President of the X Institute of Scientific Research and Innovation on Earth.
As part of the partnership that connects us regarding the exchange of expertise in innovation and scientific research between our planets, I am pleased to share with you the results of our research in the section concerning living organisms, specifically a sample of predatory parasites we have developed to grow inside a host body, targeting the brain as their center. One of the characteristics of these predatory parasites is their ability to feed on living beings, taking over the host and adopting their emotional intentions.
I request that you test this sample, which will be sent to you aboard a spacecraft within three Earth days, on living organisms such as dogs, mice, and snakes present on your planet. This should be done following the attached instructions diligently, as the operation is crucial, and we ask that you provide us with a report on the results obtained.
**Attachments**
**Instructions for Using the Parasite on the Host:**
1. Do not remove the parasite from its designated area, except when exposing it to integrate with the host body.
2. Ensure the host is in an isolated location where it cannot physically communicate with the supervising team.
3. Present the prey to the parasite after it has taken over the host's body and monitor its behavior.
**Note:** We are not responsible for any consequences that may arise if the above conditions are violated.
---
After hours of listening to Albert's account of the bag incident, the ethics committee reached a final decision:
He was to be suspended from work but kept under house arrest until the whereabouts or fate of the missing bag could be determined. This involved fitting him with a bracelet on his wrist that would require him to stay home.
The committee was not lenient with Albert, who was considered one of the most important members of the institute's staff. This was evident in the decision made, which classified him among the suspects and mandated that he remain at home for an indefinite period. Albert's shock at the committee's decision was clear from his reaction; he exploded in anger at all the committee members, deeming them ungrateful for all the services and contributions he had provided to the institute, which had become one of the most prominent in the field.
He could not accept the decision against him, thinking it was just a cursed bag that didn't warrant all this fuss. True, he had linked the events in Tokyo to the bag during his conversation with the director, but he had not received any confirmation. Moreover, the committee did not provide him with the reasons that led them to make such a decision. Albert remained unaware of the contents of the bag and what implications its loss could have on the scientific institute, the city, the country, the continent, or even humanity itself.
He was escorted home in a private car, where he found his wife and Dekim having dinner.
"Where have you been, dear? I've been trying to call you all day," his wife said.
Dekim lifted his gaze from his plate, noticing his father's pale, exhausted face. He wanted to ask if he was facing problems at work but hesitated at the last moment.
"Dad... what's wrong!!! What's the matter?"
Albert walked sluggishly, not stopping to greet his wife or son, heading towards his office and saying, "Just tired."
Dekim noticed a black car outside the house with four individuals in it, which he found suspicious; it was the first time he had seen such a thing.
"My dad is in trouble, no doubt about it..." he thought aloud.
In the morning, Izumi, as usual, prepared a doubled portion for his breakfast. He got ready to head to the university, wearing a black coat with his backpack on his back. On his way, he took a different route than he was used to.
After a moment, his right hand spoke up, saying, "This isn't the same path you took yesterday."
Izumi pulled his right hand out of his coat pocket, staring at his palm and asking, "Have you woken up?" The palm split open to reveal a mouth and an eye, which said, "Where are you going?"
"I made a decision after thinking it over," Izumi replied.
"Share your decision with me. About what?" the right hand asked.
"I've decided to talk to the police," Izumi said, still looking at his right hand.
"Great, a new place; that means new information about you humans. What are you going to talk to them about?" the right hand said excitedly.
"You know, about the alien that took over my right hand," Izumi replied.
"Don't do that," the right hand said with a hint of superiority.
"You'll be isolated, and they'll turn you into a test subject or a specimen. Either way, you won't be able to live a normal life afterward, if they even let you live—they might just get rid of you," the right hand tried to convince Izumi.
"What should I do then?" Izumi asked.
"I told you before, cooperation for coexistence... Stop!!!" the right hand commanded Izumi to halt in the middle of their conversation.
"Ah," Izumi stopped, placing his right palm on his chest as a stranger passed by him.
"Don't be loud!" Izumi whispered to his right hand.
"One of my kind is nearby," the right hand replied in a low voice.
"What!!!!" Izumi stepped back, ready to run away.
"Hold on, you coward! I mean one of my kind," the right hand clarified.
"What did you say?!!" Izumi exclaimed, addressing his hand.
"Wait! How do you know?" he added.
"I can sense something like brainwaves. It's the first time I've felt this; I'm sure it's one of my kind," the right hand said, stretching all five fingers upwards about 50 centimeters, and at the tip of each finger was a wide eye resembling Dobby's from the Harry Potter film.
"He's about 250 meters to the right of that path," the right hand added as the five fingers merged into one, ending with a Dobby-like eye.
"Are there others who have experienced the same thing that happened to me?" Izumi wondered.
"Come on, we don't have time," the right hand urged, directing Izumi toward their destination.
"There's no doubt about it; there were uncountable insects in that glass jar," he muttered to himself, unaware that the right hand could hear him.