Vek's experiences of humanity were different from Zyn's. Taking the identity of commercial traveller Eric Plumrose, Vek lodged at Mrs Souster's bed and breakfast in Bradford, keeping her and her two young sons under permanent hypnosis, so that he could remain in his own identity, as being in other forms sapped his strength. Meanwhile, he determined Zyn's fate and recovered Zyn's energiser ring. Without someone like Harvey to harry him, he concluded – in contrast to Zyn's absolutist judgement – that humanity's problems were mostly social rather than inherent; humanity's leaders deserved the focus of blame, with the vast majority guilty of only apathy, ignorance and powerlessness. Vek petitioned the Council for a review of Zyn's judgement, who gave him one year to secretly influence humanity for the better, with execution to be carried out if he did not succeed.