"C-can you go over it one more time?" said Aziz nervously.
"Yes. From the beginning."
It was supposed to be a serious situation, but Liam couldn't help but chuckle at the terrified earnestness of Jera and Aziz. He didn't regret promoting them both to officers in Team Virtue—what they lacked in experience, they made up for in loyalty.
"Okay," said Liam. "From the beginning. I'm telling you this because you're officers now, and so you have a right to know. We think—and by we, I mean the other New Incineroars—we think Team Power is moving soon. Like really soon. So I want you guys to have you cellphones with you all the time, so I can get in touch with you if something happens. If I text you the code phrase 'Three=One,' that means Team Power is on the move and I need you to spread the word to the other initiates."
"R-right," said Aziz. "And… what are we telling them?"
"To stay home," said Liam firmly. "I don't want any sixth graders out picking fights with Team Power in the streets. I wouldn't even get you two involved if I didn't know you could handle yourselves."
Aziz and Jera shared a nervous glance, as if that they could handle themselves was news to them.
"What about Chelsea and Orchid?" asked Jera.
"They can fight with us," said Liam. "I'll be in charge of calling them. All you guys need to do is stay ready."
As effective leader of Team Virtue, Liam had been to many covert student meetings during the first two days back. He had decided—at Vasilio's urging—to come clean with everything he knew about Claire to the others. For once, Liam was glad Mori and Vasi weren't on speaking terms. It was bad enough to reveal that he had broken his word to Sylvia and Stephanie… and even worse, to Ruth. She sat in wounded silence as Liam explained everything he had learned from Claire over the past few months.
"So she's in direct command of the grunts here?" asked Sylvia.
"So far as I know," said Liam. "Rasmus is here too. At least, Claire talks like he is. That's… honestly why I don't feel too guilty about telling you guys everything. I'm sure Rasmus yanks everything I say out of Claire's head, whether she likes it or not."
"Assuming the whole thing isn't just her playin' you," Taylor pointed out.
"It's not," said Liam confidently. "Ruth, Sylv, you gotta trust me on this. Claire's not the cold, calculating type, right?"
"He's got a point," said Sylvia, looking over at Ruth. "She's always been pretty transparent."
"So here's the million-dollar question," said Arthur, leaning forward and lowering his voice. "When's the attack?"
Liam shrugged.
"Best I could get was 'soon.' I don't know if she even knows, but… this month. Probably this week, honestly."
"Shoot," said Taylor. "Keep your Pokemon healed up, everyone."
Liam was surprised to see Ruth follow him to his locker after class that day. Her round face was serious, but not angry. Her lips were pursed, and there was a determined tinge in her cheeks.
"I wanted to say," she began. "That I… understand why you did what you did. I do not agree with it. But... "
She paused thoughtfully.
"I have been very, very angry with Claire ever since… what she did last year… I thought it was unforgivable. I thought you were… foolish to befriend her."
"I was," said Liam. "Remember what Mori always says. I'm a sucker."
"You are a sucker for girls," said Ruth, with a mischievious smile. "But you are also quick to forgive. Quicker than I have been. Perhaps… perhaps Claire…"
She shook her head.
"We will see."
"Yeah," said Liam. "And Ruth… sorry. Really. I have no excuse for not being honest with you guys. I was just… afraid."
"Afraid of me?"
"Yeah," said Liam, grinning guility. "Especially of you."
Ruth looked pleased at the thought.
That Friday, Liam, Chelsea, and Marsha had stayed late as usual. Ever since Professor Lloyd had taken over Tactics class, their afterschool hangouts had been more frequent and less and less academic, but Liam wasn't complaining. Marsha, for all her faults, was an excellent third wheel. She looked tactfully away when Liam and Chelsea stole a kiss, and kept them up to date with all the latest school gossip.
"Are you sure Grace—um, Mori is doing okay?" asked Marsha as they climbed the stairs to their lockers on the fourth floor. "Because I have heard that—."
"Marsha, the last thing Mori needs is you prying into her personal life," said Liam. "Remember what happened to Chez? You don't want to be on her—."
"There's a Pokemon here," said Chelsea suddenly.
Liam looked around, but didn't see anything. The fourth floor was deserted, and even most of the teachers had already gone home. The lockers were eerily still.
"Are you sure?" he said. "Maybe it's just—."
"Shh," said Chelsea. "It's right there."
She pointed to the air just above the high school lockers. Liam was starting to wonder if his girlfriend was losing her mind.
"Uhh, Chez," said Liam. "I don't see—."
But he was wrong. There was something there. At first, it looked like a wavy red stripe, hovering a few inches in the air. And as Liam peered more closely, what had been empty air transformed into something green and solid. Liam was embarrassed by how long it took him to recognize what he was seeing.
"That is a Kecleon," said Marsha.
The reptilian Pokemon flicked its tongue by way of greeting and climbed down from the lockers, approaching Chelsea with a note in its small hands.
"Oh," said Liam. "So it was… Well, I feel stupid."
The Kecleon, evidently pleased to be the center of attention, gave Liam a cheerful, toothless grin.
"He wants us to follow him," said Chelsea as she finished reading the note. "Bro, do you think we should—?"
"No," said Liam. "I think this is a private invitation. We'll tell the others later."
"Perhaps we should inform—" began Marsha, but a look from Chelsea shut her up.
"Marsha, if you can't keep this a secret, you shouldn't come," said Chelsea. "I have a… feeling. I… let's go."
Liam and Chelsea followed the Kecleon down the stairs. After a moment's wavering, Marsha mustered enough resolution to do the same.