Honestly I am not fond of this one at all but I am very ill tonight and wanted to do my nightly 30 days thing although I am dizzy and really need to go curl up and pass out with some theraflu at this point. Hopefully tomorrow will be better. :/ Anyway the black and red thing is a parasitic type alien but they are placed on the heads to attach only after agreement/submission from the other species after a ritual. They provide healing properties/and added intelligence in return for the mobility/strength of the other species in a mutual bond. Aliens bearing these parasitic species are regarded in their own hierarchy as a sign of honor.