„There.“

The nurse finished Memis‘ treatment. „All patched up now.“ „Thank you...“ Toby petted Memis a bit. The nurse has taken care of his own injuries as well. „When will he wake up?“ „It shouldn‘t take long. He just needs a little more rest.“ „Okay...“

„So...“ Charlotte came into the treatment room. She was accompanied by a blue lizard with a blonde ponytail, about Memis‘ size. „Are you two alright?“ „Hmm... Guess so.“ Toby looked at Memis. „I... I didn‘t know he belongs to.... your organization?“ „Hmm, he doesn't really.“ „But- he is a ‚Morpho Mon‘, right?“ „That‘s true.“ „He didn‘t tell me...“ „Possibly because Morpho Mons don‘t refer to themselves as Morpho Mons.“ Charlotte stepped closer to the two of them. „They refer to themselves as Vitæ, usually. When they work with us, they start calling themselves Morpho Mons.“

„...“ Toby looked at the little lizard that was with Charlotte. „Is- Is that?“

„Hm?“ Charlotte looked down as well. „Yes. She‘s the one who attacked Memis.“ „But- why?“ Toby looked up to Charlotte again. „I thought you were supposed to help... Memis didn‘t even do anything!“

„Yeah, that‘s true. Cinq wasn‘t supposed to hurt Memis. She was only supposed to catch him and bring him to me. She is a very, very bad girl. Aren‘t you, Cinq?“

Cinq growled.

„Apologize for what you did. It was very bad. Stuff like that hurts our reputation.“

„.... Srry.“

„Uh... it‘s- fine... I guess.“ Toby blinked twice. „Why is she small now...?“ „Hmm...“ Charlotte smiled a bit. „You don‘t know a lot about us, do you?“ „No... not really.“ Toby sighed. „I kind of knew about this whole thing... but whenever I wanted to talk to mom about it, she cut me off or avoided the topic.“ „Hmm... I see. She probably thinks very badly of us.“ She crossed her arms. „Come with me, and take Memis as well.“ „Uh, okay...“

„I don‘t know what you know from the news.... but the Morpho Defenders are an organization whose job is to catch and work with the Morpho Mons that come to our world.... as well as research the portals that connect our worlds.“

They were walking down a hallway. It was very open, and a handful of people and different kinds of Morpho Mons were walking around, doing a variety of things. „We have been doing this for almost 20 years now. We‘re funded by the government, and have to follow quite a lot of rules because of that.“

„I see...“ Toby looked around, his mouth agape. This place was fascinating. There were so many kinds of people and Morpho Mons. „But- what are those Morpho Mons anyway?“ „Well... they are the inhabitants from another dimension. It has a very complicated scientific name, but we usually call it the Morpho Dimension.“

A very large Morpho Mon passed by, and Toby turned around. „Whoa...“

„They come in many different shapes and subspecies- but they all have one thing in common. They can transform to greater shapes as they develop their powers. Even more so, when they are accompanied by a partner.“ Charlotte stopped walking, Toby bumped into her. „Ah- Sorry!“ „It‘s fine.“ She opened a door. „Come in.“

Toby entered the room. It was some kind of large scientific laboratory, with different people and Morpho Mons researching at several workplaces.

Charlotte closed the door. „Go over there, and place Memis on the metal examination table.“ „Okay...“ Toby did as he was told. „I will be right back. Just need to look where my colleague is.“ Charlotte dissappeared into a different part of the lab.

„...“ Toby carefully pet Memis forehead.

„Mhhh...“ Memis huffed. „Mhhyaaaahh...“ Then he yawned.

„Hm?“ Toby tiled his head. „Memis?“
„Hmmmh...“ Memis slowly lifted his head and blinked. „Memis! You‘re awake!“ Toby smiled. „I was worried... are you alright?“ „Hmmh...“ He stood up. „It hurts a bit. But I‘m fine.“ He looked around. „Where are we?“ „Don‘t worry- these are specialists! They seem to know everything about Morpho Mons.“ „Morpho Mons, huh? That‘s what you guys call us?“ Memis sniffed on the desk.
„That‘s what the lady told me,“ Toby confirmed.
„That‘s fine by me." Memis turned his head back to him. „So, what are they gonna do now?“
„I don‘t know to be honest...“

„Oh, he‘s awake. Very well.“ Charlotte returned, accompanied by a blonde, young man with glasses in a labcoat. He had a small, ferret-like, purple Morpho Mon resting on his shoulders, it was asleep.

„Toby, this is Roy Fitzgerald. He‘s from our science department, and will inspect Memis. Don‘t worry, this won‘t hurt him.“

„Hmmh...“ Roy got closer to the desk and started to inspect Memis.

„Uhh- I- hope he‘s okay?“ Toby watched Roy doing his work. „Please... don‘t talk.“ He replied in a cold voice. „I have to concentrate.“ „Oh- okay—“

„Hmmh...“ He checked Memis paws, his fur, his wounds, his eyes, his mouth, and made notes about everything. Toby looked worried, but the cold stare of the scientist intimidated him into silence. He just hoped that Memis was fine and could come home.

„Hm.“ Roy pushed up his glasses. „Everything‘s looking fine so far. He‘s not corrupted, possibly an ice element type. We have received a blood sample from the nurse, we‘re not quite done with the tests, but we will be soon.“ „So- can I take Memis home again?“
„...“ Roy looked at Charlotte. „Who is that guy anyways? He‘s not a Defender.“

„Hmmh... Toby...“ Charlotte smiled and looked at him. „I don‘t think we‘ve told you this but.... you can‘t keep a Morpho Mon if you‘re not a Morpho Defender.“

„... what do you mean by that?“ Toby glanced between the two.

„Memis will stay here. He will either find a partner or get sent back to the Morpho Dimension.“

„You- you can‘t just take him away from me!“

„Toby...?“ Memis looked at him.

„I‘m sorry...“ Charlotte sighed. „But you have to be a Morpho Defender to have a Morpho Partner.“

„Well— then I‘ll become a Morpho Defender! How do I sign up??“

There was silence for a few seconds.

„You- I mean... sure...“ Charlotte was a bit baffled. „Applications are still open... but it‘s not that easy. First- if you‘re under 18, you need your parent‘s consent. And then-“

„I don‘t care! I‘ll do anything!“

Roy sighed. „Boy, I don‘t think you understand what you are getting into here.“

„Well..." Charlotte sighed. "if you really intend to join... I will give you the papers. Your parents sign it, and you can come in for the recruitment test.“ „Okay fine! Fine. .....“ Toby looked at the ground. „M-Maybe- can someone come with me? I don‘t know if I‘m good at explaining my mother what all this is about.“ „Hmmh. Of course.“ Charlotte looked around. „We will come.“
„We?“ Roy looked at her. „Why are you pulling me into this?“ „Because you barely ever leave the lab, this might be interesting for you.“ Charlotte nodded. „Also, I‘ve done this quite a few times already, and usually it‘s better when there‘s two of us.“ „... tch. Fine.“

„Thank you.“ Toby smiled. „I just hope this goes well...“