Real Monster(Private)

[Kaze]

The pictures laid spread out before her along the bar counter, each showing a scene that was more terrible than the next. Jeri had to look away for a moment, but she continued to listen as Mr. Smith explained Hypnos situation. While she was listen, Gatomon just glared towards the stranger, arms crossed while she rolled her eyes. Did he really expect digimon to just jump at other digimon without a good reason? It certainly didn't help that this group of humans was acting like some kind of task force, attempting to keep them all contained like animals in one area.

While the cat could understand the need to want to defend themselves, she didn't see any reason to try and start a war with digimon, especially when they knew they were doomed to fail. Tamers weren't coming to their aid any time soon, so what was the point in trying? Even she had to wonder just how long Jeri and the other tamers would last in trying to...keep the peace as it were?

Keeping her hands on her lap, Jeri remained in the bar chair as she looked to the side before glance once again at the pictures. All that death. Could it really be because of digimon? There had to be some that were just trying to defend themselves, but the killing. It was then that she heard him speak about reviving those that had helped to fight before, and how he asked about Leomon.

"Yes..."

She didn't look at him, only staring at the pictures as she tried to make an excuse of their actions. But nothing came to her, maybe there was no excuse. What if Ryo was right about digimon needing control? Was this really what was behind the scenes? What was happening and being covered up? Were there really monsters out there?

[Observer]

Well, so far so good. The pictures he had brought along really had at least worked like they intended to do - and that would be shock and awe. He read the file alright, the girl was impressionable, thus ... predictable. His boss was right - it would not take too hard to manipulate the girl into what they wanted... Still Larry had a bad taste in his mouth because of it. This was just a kid, they were getting children to fight their own wars. And he was the spearhead of that effort.

- Our machines managed to collect data of some digimon, to revive and ... recreate them back here, on Earth. They fight for us, for they were born here, and this planet is their home, but still, those are a few. Recently we managed to intercept a strain dataflow of a ... a leomon, or what was left of it anyhow... We expected him to become as memoryless as the rest of our digimon ... We were wrong... - Larry sighed out. What his said was a half-lie, half-truth, and now it was time for a final argument.

- This one somehow retained his memories... He attacked our men and was subdued, but refused to cooperate with anyone. Instead ... he demanded for his tamer back... And called your name...

[Kaze]

While Gatomon's eyes widened, Jeri gasped as she held her hands over her mouth. Did that mean...that it was Leomon? But...His data had been absorbed by Beelzemon. She had watched it happened, everyone had watched it happen. So how did he managed to be revived? The girl could feel tears filling up within her eyes. He was looking for her.

"What do you need me to do!? Where is he!? When I can see him!?"

Jeri was quick to her feet as she looked towards Mr. Smith with a serious expression, wiping her eyes with her wrist as she prepared to go and get her coat. Though before she could go too far, Gatomon was already walked towards her.

"Woah Woah! You're not buying this are you!? He could be lying right now just to trap us some place! For that matter, he could pretty much be planning to kill me!?"

[Observer]

It worked out. Bingo. The child was on the hook, solid, mission was pretty much accomplished. But then ... why did Larry feel so sick when he saw hope and cheer on the girl's face? Because her hope, love and devotion to her long-deceased digimon will make her become a weapon for Hypnos, just as Megane predicted. A perfect soldier, who will do anything to keep her digimon with her. And he, Larry, not anybody else, would have to forge such a weapon out of her. The prospect ... was daunting... But there was no choice.

- Do not get overly excited, Jeri... - he said somberly. - We did not revive the digimon just so that you could be with him again. Unfortunately such charity we cannot afford. This one was revived to help fight our war. And that he will do, one way or another. Either partnered with you ... or someone else. We want it to be you, you know him better than anyone, but in order to keep him, you'll have to help us. Desperate times require for desperate measures, and now we're ready to recruit just about anyone... - he explained.

The gatomon, her digimon, protested of course, Larry did not expect the least from her - she was the girl's current partner, after all, and this proposal was jeopardizing her position and such. This was a hindrance ... there was a possibility the cat would make the girl change her mind. For the sake of success of the mission, the digimon should be ... got rid of. Larry sighed.

- Do not hurry things up, Jeri, we will give you time to consider our proposal. I will call in three days, in order to get your answer... - Larry replied and stood up. His work here was pretty much done, now he only had to manage it soak in. Time would do good, the impatience should grow by that time. It was a cold, calculating, bastardly scheme of playing on one's affections and emotions - Larry worked it through its pases, and the results were good, as expected. At the moment, the girl was ready to do anything for him...

- And do not worry gatomon, tis not a trap. What would we gain by trapping you? Nothing. Nothing. We only wish to win this war, that's all... - he said, and then placed his hand upon the file with photos.

- I'll leave this here, you can keep it. You should. - Larry replied, letting the message behind his words sink in. There was nothing to be discussed now. He gave his proposal, and it seemed everything worked out perfectly. Now all they needed was to wait ... and Hypnos will get a new member... a new tamer... a new ... child soldier... What the hell am I doing... - Larry thought as he closed the door behind and left the house. Fresh air went through his lungs, the night was comforting. Larry would go to the nearest bar. Buy himself some brandy, and forget about it...

[Kaze]

Jeri watched him leave, closing her eyes as she looked towards the counter to see the picture of Leomon. This was real wasn't it? Leomon was alive and waiting for her. But there was a price, she had to work for Hypnos. She had to work for a group that was brutal towards digimon, an operation that had threatened to hurt Ryo's family. But with all that had been shown to her, she was likely only to do it for one reason, because Leomon was there. As she prepared to pick up the photo, she could feel Gatomon's eyes resting upon her as she turned to face her.

"Gatomon.....I....I have to go to him....He needs me and....and I can't let them do something to him. If hes not with me, they'll give him to someone else and he's refused to follow them so far! He might hurt someone..."

Gatomon just glared at the girl as she crossed her arms. This just smelled wrong. It was too convenient. Not a trap, it sure as hell felt like one. Coming to Jeri, showing her pictures of a cloned Leomon. They were setting Jeri up, pulling her in with memories. Or maybe it was something else, something a lot deeper. Whatever it was, there was no way she could let her do it.

"Don't be an idiot! These guys threatened to kill someone, and you want to work for em!? It could be a total fake! Some random Leomon that just happens to speak your name, and your ready to jump into it's arms?! Its fake! A set up! A total mouse trap!"

Jeri looked towards Gatomon as she then turned towards the picture. She wasn't sure if it was just the fact that she was curious or didn't care. Maybe she was naive in thinking it, but some part of her believed. She had to believe it, because her heart was begging her too. Leomon was alive and he wanted to be with her. She was still his tamer and she owed him everything.

"I don't care....I'm his tamer and I love him! I can't just leave him there! Not when he needs me!"

"Well I think it's stupid!!!"

"You think everything is stupid!!!"

That caught Gatomon off guard as she saw Jeri frowning at her. This was new, her tamer was getting passionate over something. Course, it was shame it was over a fake digimon. If it had been anything else, the feline would be laughing her butt off.

"So your gonna work for Hypnos in capturing and killing digimon!? Just to get Leomon back!? Even though hes clearly a fake!?"

Jeri looked towards the ground as she narrowed her eyes. Even if it was a clone, it had remembered her name. That meant that Leomon was in there somewhere. She could have her partner back, and it would be just like before.

"I can't leave him Gatomon.....He would come to my rescue if I needed him, what kind of tamer would I ...what kind of friend would I be if I didn't do the same thing?"

Gatomon looked at her with a blank expression, shaking her head as she then started to laugh slightly.

"This is so sad...You have really lost it haven't you? Fine...You want to go be with some fake digimon wannabe, by all means! Go for it! I'm sure once it bites your hand, I'll be right there to say I told you so!!"

With that, the feline walked up the stairs towards the bed room, leaving Jeri downstairs alone. She hoped this was just Gatomon being worried. The digimon couldn't be that upset at her, she had to understand. But what would this mean? If she got Leomon back....what would happen to Gatomon? Picking up the photo, she hugged it close to her chest while she smiled to herself.

"Leomon...I'm coming...."

Meanwhile, Gatomon sat outside Jeri's window, looking at the moon as she hugged her knees up to her chest. This wasn't good....it wasn't good at all. Jeri was serious about this, so what did that mean for her? Would she be thrown out, just so Leomon could come back and take her place? Where did she fit in a place with another digimon. She couldn't really be expected to just step aside right? Jeri was her tamer....this was her home now.

"He's not getting her back...I don't care if he said her name...Jeri is my tamer...I'm the top cat...right?...."

The digimon felt a tear roll down her face, shocking her slightly, but not stopping her from keeping her eyes on the moon.