Liam, Mori, Vasilio, and Jonah met Sylvia and Stephanie at the Karst Forest Pokemon center around dinner time. The day had been a huge success—even Mori had earned a Limestone Badge, bringing her total up to three despite her best efforts to the contrary. Stephanie and Sylvia admired Liam's new Espeon and spread off their finds for the day, including some Energy Roots and a basketful of rare Strib Berries.
"I can't believe we're going back to school next week," said Jonah as they sat around a steaming hotpot, "You guys think we'll get anyone new in our class this year?"
"No way," said Sylvia, "Liam was a fluke. Our class never gets new kids."
"Fine with me," said Mori through a mouthful of tofu.
"With Rain gone, we could use another girl," said Vasilio, "You know, gotta keep our feng shui in balance."
"That is not how feng shui works," laughed Sylvia, "Believe me, I would know. Every time my aunt visits she starts rearranging my room so I can't even get to my bed."
They all laughed. Liam reached into the pot with his chopsticks to fish out another slice of potato.
"Ruth gets back from Ferrum on Friday," said Stephanie, "And that's everyone."
They were all quiet for a while. Liam dunked the potato slice into his bowl of broth and took a bite. By his ankles, his Espeon was snoring contently.
"I like our class," said Liam at last.
"Do we make you regret leaving Johto a little bit less?" asked Vasilio.
"Yeah," said Liam, "Just a bit."
Claire waited a long time outside the Grandmaster's office. It made her nervous. Capturing Dustra, the last of the former gym leaders of the Shizo region, should have restored her access to the Grandmaster after what had happened in Nanzo in the spring. She had spent the last three months working hard to get herself back in good standing with him. Dustra should have been her ticket.
When she was finally ushered into his office, she found the Grandmaster accompanied by two attendants, who were carefully painting his face into an ornate white and gold Beizo opera mask. To his left stood Zhang, his adjutant—a coldhearted bootlicker that Claire loathed.
"Come in, Claire," said the Grandmaster.
His voice was soft, but emotionless. Claire approached somewhat reluctantly.
"I brought in Dustra," she said, "Just like you asked."
Claire set the belt of Pokeballs she had confiscated from Dustra on the Grandmaster's heavy wooden desk.
"Good," said the Grandmaster, motioning for the attendants to leave the office and taking the Pokeballs to examine them, "That should be the end of resistance in Shizo, at least for now."
Claire nodded, but didn't say anything.
"Is there anything else?" the Grandmaster asked.
Claire hesitated. There was a lot she wanted to ask.
"Dad, I'd like to…."
She paused, then decided to start over.
"Grandmaster, I'd like to go back to Nanzo."
The damage had already been done. The Grandmaster leaned back imperiously in his chair, touching the tips of his fingers together.
"And what of Rasmus?" he asked, "Did you learn anything from Dustra?"
His voice was calm, almost soft, but Claire heard the hint of icy disappointment. She lowered her eyes.
"No," she said, shaking her head, "She… she didn't tell me anything."
"Then your work in Shizo is not yet complete," said the Grandmaster, rising from his chair with Dustra's Pokeballs in his hands.
"They're not going to tell us," muttered Claire.
"We will find a way," said the Grandmaster, eyeing the Pokeballs with contempt, "It's simply a matter of applying the right kind of pressure in the right place. Team Power values both strength and knowledge. The more you know of your enemy and the less they know of you, the greater is your power over them. So, what is the point at which these gym leaders will break?"
Despite herself, Claire shuddered.
"Their Pokemon," she said.
The Grandmaster nodded.
"Given the choice between giving up Rasmus and seeing Pokemon suffer, they will make the wise decision," he said, "Begin with Dustra. She is the youngest, and will have the least strength of will. If she does not see reason, another of the gym leaders will."
Claire nodded, and the Grandmaster handed Dustra's Pokeballs back to ber.
"I am restoring you as an Admin of Team Power," said the Grandmaster as Claire was about to turn and leave, "Remember the mistakes of your past and do not repeat them."
"Yes sir," said Claire with a bow, "Thank you,"
With a final contemptuous glance at Zhang, Claire left the room. She was torn. She knew that, on one level, she had pleased her father—he never would have restored her Admin status for any other reason. That was a victory—she had finally repaired the damage done by her failure in Nanzo three months ago. However, her eagerness to return to Nanzo still seemed a weakness to him. Perhaps it was. The one virtue of Team Power that Claire never could seem to master was patience. She wanted to go back to Nanzo and force her former friends to respect her. They had humiliated her over and over again, and she wanted—no, she needed—to put them in their place.