"Warden" attempts to make progress with Vega. He is expectedly evasive, continuing to redirect the conversation back to notions of D[a]emonic mistreatment at the hands of the Department and the Department's difficulties managing affairs. He mentions that CloseKnit is undermining confidence in them, and the Solitaires, a group devoted to D[a]emonic independence, is putting increased pressure on them as well. Before the conversation can finish, a group of Solitaires invades the containment facility. They release all the D[a]emons in containment, knock out "Warden" (who had tried to resist them), and briefly try to draw Vega to their side, but he defeats them easily and escapes with the unconscious "Warden".

"Warden" awakens to find themself in Vega's care, heavily wounded from their conflict with the Solitaires. Vega attempts to help them, but requires that it be done on his terms, providing only sadistic energies to feed on.

Vega and "Warden" grow closer as his care for them continues. He begins answering more of their questions, though he continues to guide the conversation into the areas he prefers. He affirms that he is not a member of the Solitaires, desiring a more complete form of independence from humanity. He wants to find a way to again use the Sovereigns as a food source so that d[a]emonkind can leave Terra completely. "Warden" believes the Sovereigns to be myth, but Vega insists that isn't the case.