Claire's heart was pounding as she climbed onto the improvised rostrum. The grunts, if anything, were even more agitated. They all knew what was coming, even if she had yet to make it official. They were whispering excitedly, and some were shifting like Basculin that scented blood. Rasmus, standing at ease to her left, raised his hand for silence.

"The order has just come through from the Grandmaster," Claire began, reciting the words her father had made her memorize months ago. "Tonight, Nanzo falls before Team Power. Order vanquishes chaos. The tyranny of Virtue, Balance, and Truth and the reign of the corrupt Pokemon League comes to an end. Your group leaders have their orders. Crush all resistance. Spring & Autumn are over. There is only One School of Battle."

Claire couldn't help but smile at the enthusiastic response of the grunts. She looked over at Rasmus. He was smiling too, only his mouth was curled in a cruel, vengeful malice.

"Tonight, we both have our revenge," said his voice in her head.

Claire couldn't help but smile back.

"So, it was you sending those notes all this time?" said Liam, taking a sip of strong green tea.

Jiu nodded. They were all crowded around the small coffee table, medicating their shared amazement with tea and slow, careful conversation.

"We have friends in Team Power," he explained. "We needed to pass on what we knew to someone. So, I sent Kecleon. I'm glad to hear he did his job well. I was… a little skeptical at times."

Kecleon turned brick red, as if simulating a blush.

"But you are not members of Team Power anymore?" asked Marsha.

"We left Team Power," explained Ivy. "All of us. It was Jiu's idea. He found this place, helped us hide, kept us safe."

"You were all in Team Power?" said Liam, looking from Jiu to Ivy to the other two men.

Jiu nodded.

"After Jacob Werner crushed me in battle, I couldn't think about anything but what he said to me. He told me I was like the Kantonian soldiers that burned down my great-grandparents rice farm—like the monsters who butchered their Pokemon and threw the meat to the Raticates. I told myself I couldn't be. I was fighting for a just cause. I was making a name for myself—becoming a strong leader. I had told myself I was saving Nanzo."

He chuckled.

"Of course, I was really destroying it. When I realized that, I couldn't stay with Team Power any longer. Lucky for me, I found them, and we left Team Power together, and went underground. We've been hiding ever since."

"Why are you in hiding?" asked Marsha.

The former grunts exchanged dark looks.

"Team Power punishes betrayal with death," said Jiu. "Until Team Power is gone, none of us are safe. As for me, I'm not afraid. But for them…"

"There are others," interjected Ivy. "Jiu has a whole network of former grunts he's helped escape Team Power. He risks his life for them."

"And why shouldn't I?" said Jiu. "I was so careless with the lives of others before."

He looked at Chelsea.

"I have no excuse for what I did," he said. "I hated you because it made me feel strong. I'm sorry."

"I understand," said Chelsea."I don't mean you were right, or that everything's somehow okay, but… like I said, I forgive you. I've been wanting to tell you that for a long time."

"Just my luck," said Jiu bitterly. "I would've liked it better if you hated me."

"I think I've got that covered for you," said Liam, but his heart wasn't in his words, and Jiu could tell.

"I have an inquiry," said Marsha. "Why did you bring us here, if secrecy is so important for you? Why did you reveal yourselves?"

Jiu stood up and began pacing the room.

"There's something I can't risk giving to Kecleon. Something I…"

He glanced at Ivy and the other former grunts. One of them went to the door—Liam guessed he was checking the peep hole. Another peeked through the curtains. Ivy picked up a cracked Silph Scope and hastily scanned the room.

"All clear," she said. Jiu sat back down with the visitors and beckoned them closer.

"Team Power is moving tonight," said Jiu in a whisper. "They're going after the gyms, the Pokemon centers, the schools. It's an all-out attack on Nanzo, with Rasmus at the head."

"How do you know?" said Liam.

He was still a little skeptical. At least, he was trying to be. It was hard when he was becoming more and more convinced that Jiu really had changed his ways.

"One of my old friends in Claire's brigade," said Ivy. "She said Rasmus came back from Shizo with the order, just a few hours ago. She sent her Noctowl to me, and Jiu sent Kecky to you."

The Kecleon gave a bow. Clearly, it was quite proud of its part in this adventure.

"So what do you want us to do?" said Liam.

"Contact the Pokemon League," said Jiu urgently. "If Silas and all the remaining gym leaders converge on Nanzo, there may still be a chance to hold Team Power back."

Liam yanked his PokeGear from his pocket and began composing a text message to Sylvia.

Contact Silas. Team Power moving TONIGHT. Three=One.

"How strong are they?" asked Chelsea as Liam sent the message. "I mean, last year they weren't so tough—at least, Liam and Cass handled them okay—uh, no offense."

"The crippled girl—Cass, you called her—is she still here?" asked Jiu.

Liam shook his head and put away his PokeGear.

"She's gone. But she wasn't the only strong trainer at our school."

"Uh, you'll need more than a few strong trainers," said Ivy. "There were less than a hundred of us spread across the whole region last spring. That psychic creep. Rasmus, he's been moving grunts into Nanzo for months. Like, just in Everspring alone, there's—."

"I know of nine different Secret Bases spread across the city," said Jiu. "You're looking at hundreds of grunts. Maybe even thousands."

Liam and Chelsea shared a nervous glance.

"I think we need to go," said Chelsea. "If they're on the move, we need to get ready."

They stood up.

"Are you gonna fight them?" said Ivy. "You can't be serious. You especially." She looked at Chelsea. "Don't you remember what—."

"Ivy," said Jiu sharply.

"They won't have mercy. They won't spare you or your Pokemon. You kids really need to—."

"I've faced Team Power before," said Liam. "Three times. He was there for two of them." He jerked his head at Jiu. "I can handle them. And if I can, Chez can too."

"You lost the first time," said Jiu grimly. "By the way, the short one, with the Blaziken and the temper?"

"That's Ruth," said Liam, smiling at his description. "She's still around."

Jiu looked at Ivy.

"They just might have a chance."