The third member

"You look nice… how have you been??"

Ilara asks has Dan leaves the door open and walks back to his bed to lie down

"Ugh… This place stinks, when last did you clean up."

Ilara asks with visible disgust as she placed her hand to her nose due to the smell coming out of the room.

"What do you want??"

Dan asks brashly.

"Hmm… I came here to ask a favor of you."

Ilara says as she walks towards the bed and takes a seat next to Dan on the bed.

"I'm not interested, you can leave now."

Dan replies bluntly turning his head away from Ilara.

"she smells nice."

Dan thinks to himself.

"something bothers you, what is it??"

Ilara asks with a worry on her face, Dan grunts and moves further from Ilara.

"why are you being so stubborn, just tell me what's bothering you."

Ilara says as she shifts closer to Dan, Dan turns his face back to her and eyes her carefully before then getting up and sitting with her.

"I've been suffering from several nightmares for three months, all of them concern what happened to Hermit… I'm dying of guilt and I don't have anything to take my mind from it, I feel so empty now… a man with no goals or ambitions, someone who has spent his life swearing revenge on the man that took everything from me but now that it's all over, what's left??"

Dan laments has he drops back into the bed, Ilara turns to look at him and gives him a reassuring smile.

"I think I have a solution to your problem and it has to do with the reason I came to you."

Dan raises an eyebrow at what Ilara said prompting her to speak further.

"I came here to ask you to join I and Sai in taking part in the D.O.D's defense exams that will be taking place in a month's time."

Ilara says but her statement doesn't inspire interest in Dan causing him to get up from the bed.

"law enforcement??... I'm not interested."

Dan says with scorn.

"But why… I feel it's gonna be a great opportunity for you to get your mind off things and reassert your goals."

Ilara replies with a calm voice.

"if I remember properly your puny police force were in the pockets of Cheng and his associates, how sure are you that the D.O.D isn't tainted has well??"

Dan asks has he turns to face Ilara.

"Yes I know there's a chance that's possible but we can still make a difference, we can't just give up cause we think the D.O.D is tainted, these guys are the best of the best… I doubt any criminal would be able to just buy his way out."

Ilara remarks but still Dan is unconvinced has he waves her off.

"Dan, I can understand why you'd have your reservations but now is not the time for that, you were the one that said you had lost your way, that you had no goals… well here is one right now, a chance to go out there and make a difference, a chance to reassert yourself and realign your goals. Sitting here isn't gonna help, a wise man once told me that there are those that go out there and do something instead of just laying in wait for a miracle, it's time you got off your aging butt and start doing stuff, I'm not saying you should enter into the D.O.D because I'm telling you too, I'm just saying that getting yourself cooped up in here will only make things worse… if you don't want to join for yourself then join for the sake of Hermit who would then be able to rest easy knowing you are using your ability to help people, it could basically be a form of atonement for you. please Dan lend me your power."

Ilara gets up from the bed and stands in front of Dan, Dan looks at her intently before replying.

"No"

"Oh c'mon, you can't be serious, did nothing I say touch you??"

Ilara groans in disappointment.

"I don't care for inspirational speeches, they cringe me."

Dan says as he drops back into bed.

"Fine, I'll pay you to participate and I feel there will be a lot of strong people for you to face there."

Ilara remarks in a sly tone.

"Do you really think you can buy me over to your side so cheaply??"

Dan asks in a pitched tone.

"Well I wasn't really planning on pulling that card but I really do need your help."

Ilara replies as she hung her head in defeat.

"Why me??"

Dan asks passively.

"Because, like it or not, I have made a connection with you and I trust you. it might sound cringe to you but that's the truth."

Ilara says with her hands behind her back. Dan thinks for a while with Ilara hoping he would agree.

"OK then, how much are you willing to pay for my services??"

Dan asks as he turns his head to face her.

"Any amount you want, name your price."

Ilara replies as she raises her head to hear Dan's response.

"I'll think about it."

Dan says before returning his head to the bed.

"Yayy… we'll be expecting you in a weeks time."

Ilara rejoices has she walks out of the apartment.

"A week??... I thought you said the exams were in a month's time so why a week??"

Dan asks with the a frown.

"Well you see I and Sai were able to convince the scout that came for us to train us before the exams begin, I'm guessing since you've been cooped up in here for a while you might need some training to get back in shape cause honestly you look a mess."

Ilara replies as she walks out.

"Humph.. I'll think about it."

Dan responds has the door closes, when she is out of the house she takes in a deep breath.

"fresh air at last."

Dan thinks to himself as Ilara leaves.

"Atonement, aye….. a chance to reassert my goals. if only I did that before you guys left maybe you'd still be alive."

Dan mutters as he forms his palm into a fist.