Chapter 16

After a night of camping, we continue our journey until we reach another Pokémon Center. We take the opportunity to heal our Pokémon and regroup. As we exit the Pokémon Center, we come across some blockades adorned with flags featuring Dark Type symbols.

It's at this moment that our Pokégear rings, and Cassiopeia's voice comes through the device. "Cassiopeia here. I see you're getting close to one of Team Star bases. I take it this means you've decided to join my operation?"

"Yeah," I reply firmly. "We are."

"Thank you. With this, you're officially members of Operation Starfall!" Cassiopeia declares.

However, our conversation is interrupted by the arrival of a man with a unique haircut and blonde hair. He confidently introduces himself, saying, "Hold on a second! Does this "Operation Starfall" of yours have room for one more member?"

Cassiopeia, taken aback, questions him, "Wha-? Who are you?!"

Undeterred, the man named Clive strikes a cool pose while adjusting his hair and responds, "The name's Clive."

Cassiopeia is understandably suspicious and questions Clive, "Oh? And how long have you been spying on us?"

Clive responds with a relaxed tone, "No need to get your hackles raised. I'm a pal of our mutual friends here. Isn't that right, you six?"

I gauge his aura and recognize the person behind the disguise, prompting me to affirm, "Yeah, we're friends."

Golly leans in and whispers, "What the hell, Brother? You know this guy?"

"Obviously it's a disguise," I mutter back to Golly.

Cassiopeia remains skeptical, reminding Clive, "We're talking about going up against Team Star here. It's not something you can join in for fun."

Clive reassures her, saying, "I'm well aware. I just need to sort out some... unsettled business with Team Star, that's all. Besides, I tend to get the job done well. Not that you can take my word for it, but it's true."

Cassiopeia falls into contemplative silence for a moment, seemingly lost in thought. Eventually, she speaks up, saying, "I suppose I'm hardly in a position to refuse help. Welcome to the operation, Clive."

"Great, that settles it, then," Clive responds. "I think I heard your name earlier... Cassiopeia, was it? Who exactly are you?"

This is a question that piques our curiosity as well. Cassiopeia, choosing her words carefully, replies, "Team Star and I... share some history. That's all I'll say for now."

"I see. In that case, I won't press you further," Clive acknowledges, respecting her boundaries.

"Good. Now, back to business - let's talk Operation Starfall," Cassiopeia directs the conversation back to the task at hand, shifting the focus to our mission against Team Star.

Lucine is the first to inquire, "So what do you want us to do?"

Cassiopeia explains, "Simply put, I want you to raid each one of Team Star's bases. Then you'll defeat the bosses of the Team... and put an end to their rule!"

I seek clarification, asking, "Put an end to their rule? You mean we need to oust these bosses from their roles somehow?"

"That's right," Cassiopeia confirms. "Team Star is made up of five squads, and each of those squads has its own base. You should be able to see the front gates of one of those bases now, in fact."

We turn our attention toward the visible base gates, and Drandon points out, "We can see them over there."

"On the other side of those is the base proper," Cassiopeia explains. "And somewhere within that base lies one of your targets: a squad boss."

"Okay, I'm starting to get the idea," Clive acknowledges.

Cassiopeia continues, "Well, that's just the outline. The key to the whole operation is the code that the team has to follow. If someone challenges one of the squad bosses to a battle, they have no choice but to accept. And what's more, if they just so happen to lose that battle... they must forfeit their role as boss altogether! I went ahead and issued challenges to each base under your names, Ash and Serena."

We're taken aback, asking in surprise, "Our names?"

"They're basically declarations of war. Now all of Team Star knows that we're looking for a fight," Cassiopeia explains, highlighting the gravity of the situation.

Clive poses a crucial question, inquiring, "So let's say we defeat all the bosses and they step down from their roles... What happens next?"

Cassiopeia responds with a clear plan, saying, "The rest of the team crumbles with no one left to lead them. That's what happens. It's a solid plan, but not without wrinkles. Each base has a bunch of Pokémon inside to fend off intruders, and the bases themselves are a considerable size. Your garden-variety Trainer would be overrun long before they'd get anywhere near the boss. That's why your skills are essential to this operation, Ash and Serena. Defeat the Pokémon inside the base, and drag the boss out from where they're hiding."

We nod in understanding, and Cassiopeia proceeds, "First things first, though - you'll need to deal with any grunts that might be guarding the front gates."

Clive, seeking clarity about her role, asks, "And what will you be doing in the meantime?"

Cassiopeia explains, "Like I said before, I have a history with Team Star. That means I can't operate out in the open. I'll back you up from afar."

Clive, eager to define his role in the operation, asks, "All right. And what will my role be?"

Cassiopeia, remaining cautious, responds, "Sorry, but I don't trust you completely just yet... For now, I'd like you to monitor the bases and act as their support."

Clive, acknowledging her caution, remarks, "You're a cautious one, all right... I respect that."

Cassiopeia concludes, "I'll be in touch again when the plan advances to the next stage. Good hunting out there."

After the call ends, I press Clive for information, asking, "Director Clavell, what are you actually doing here?"

"Director Clavell?" The shock registers on the faces of the others.

Clive responds cryptically, "I have no idea what you mean. But if anyone asks you about me, remember this... I'm Clive, a normal university student just like you. Nothing more, nothing less."

Understanding his need for secrecy, I agree, "I see... Then let's go."

As we continue our journey, Luke voices his concerns, questioning, "You say that this guy is Director Clavell? But why would he come here?"

Lucine adds, "What if he's here to punish us for going against Team Star?"

I offer a reassuring perspective, saying, "I don't think he's going to punish us. I think he's here because he'll be able to talk to whoever's the boss here. Team Star is made up of students after all."

As we approach the base, a Team Star grunt blocks our path and warns us, "Whoa, whoa! Hold it, you!"

As we approach the base, two Team Star Grunts, one male and one female, block our path.

The female grunt asserts, "Whoa, whoa! Hold it, you!"

The male adds, "Up ahead's the base of operations for Team Star's Dark crew. You may know us as the Segin Squad!"

The female continues, "Yup! And we don't take too kindly to random kids sniffing around our turf."

The male warns, "Sorry, but if you don't turn yourself around here, amigo, we'll have to send you packing!"

Serena steps forward confidently and retorts, "Then you should try us."

The female grunt starts to recognize us, saying, "Wait, hold up... Just going on a hunch here, but... are you those Ash and Serena kids? Y'know, that piece of work we're out to get for declaring war on Team Star?"

With a smirk, I respond, "Maybe we are."

The male grunt comments, "Maybe I am, he says. Cool as a cucumber! Honesty's not always the best policy, you know..."

The female grunt groans in frustration, "Ugh, you know what? Doesn't matter who you are. You're not gettin' through. Buzz off or get thrashed by me in battle, kids! What'll it be?"

Confidently, Drandon asserts, "We can take you on just fine."

The female grunt, clearly annoyed, exclaims, "Graah! Sassy kids like you are the worst! That's it - prepare to get stomped into the dirt!"

The female grunt, determined to defend her turf, sends out her Murkrow to battle. However, Serena quickly takes action and commands her Lapras to use Ice Beam, effortlessly defeating the Murkrow. The victory is swift and decisive.

Defeated and frustrated, the female grunt exclaims, "Why did such a sassy kid have to be so strong! How the heck could I lose?! Well, whatever, it's your problem now! Finish up here for me, would ya, bud? 'K, thanks, hasta la vistaaaar!"

With those words, she hastily retreats, leaving her male companion behind. He sighs and comments, "Hasta la vistaaar..." Then, addressing us, he adds, "She's new to the team, y'know. Might have to have a little chat with her about that attitude..."

Clearly unenthusiastic about the situation, he concludes, "Well, I'm gonna go into the base now and give the rest of the squad the heads-up. We'll come at you full force if you set foot inside, so you might wanna consider turning tail. Hasta la vistaaar..." As he heads into the base, we're left to ponder our next move and the impending challenge that lies ahead.

With the Team Star grunt gone, I express our eagerness, asking, "That means we can enter the base?"

Just then, Cassiopeia calls in, acknowledging our success, "I see you took care of the guards. Nice work. Now, holed up in that base is Team Star's Dark crew - the Segin Squad. Their boss, Giacomo, pretty much runs the whole of Team Star, and he also produced that wild soundtrack of theirs himself."

The revelation about Giacomo's involvement with Team Star leaves us all stunned. Luke is the first to voice his surprise, asking, "Wait, Giacomo? Are you talking about 'Giacomo'? Our friend Giacomo?" Our collective gasp reflects the shock we're experiencing. Golly, being unaware of Giacomo, seeks clarification, inquiring, "Who is this Giacomo, and what are you talking about?"

I provide some context, saying, "Giacomo has been our friend since childhood. His family is the Team Alpha family who guards the Dark Gem. They are also the ones who taught us how to play instruments so that we can form a band, 'the Colors'."

Luke expresses his disbelief, saying, "But Giacomo is not someone who would join Team Star..."

Cassiopeia clears her throat and interjects, "Sorry to interrupt, but Giacomo's a sharp guy. Even our declaration of war won't have ruffled him in the slightest. His plan is probably to wear you down with a wave of grunts, then finish you off himself. No use trying to outthink strategic types like him. Bring him down with a head-on attack! Just keep on defeating as many Pokemon as you can until the big man himself shows up. Ring the bell on the gates once you're ready to kick off this phase of the operation. Time to wipe the Segin Squad off the map!"

After the call ends, we decide to contact Giacomo's parents, Jackson and Isabelle, in the hopes of gathering more information and understanding what might have driven Giacomo to join Team Star.

As we call Isabelle, she is delighted to hear our voices again, and she says, "Judging by those uniforms, I see that you've also enrolled in Narauva Academy! How's Momo?"

I respond, "That's what I wanted to talk to you about. Is something happening with Giacomo? He has joined Team Star, and we've been tasked with stopping them."

This revelation leaves her startled, and she quickly asks, "Team Star? What are you talking about? What has happened?"

"That's why we want to know if something is happening to him," Serena adds.

Isabelle takes a moment to contemplate before saying, "The thing is, we've also been trying to contact Giacomo... Director Clavell has given us a letter indicating that Giacomo has been absent from school and may face suspension if he continues. Jackson and I have exhausted every means to locate him, even going as far as Mesagoza, only to find him missing. So, where are you now, and why do you think you've found him aligned with Team Star?"

Lucine explains, "We're currently near the Team Star Base close to Casscarafa City in West Province Area One. We were on the verge of launching a raid on the base, and we suspect that Giacomo might be the boss."

Luke adds confidently, "We're almost certain he's the boss. Take a look at this." He displays the Rotom Phone, showing both Cassiopeia's description and a picture of Giacomo.

"Since he only recently began training Dark-type Pokemon, he's not too much challenge in battle. He used to be a straitlaced star student, but certain events set him on a very different path."

Serena adds, "It's mentioned that certain events have set him on this path... I'm really curious to know what happened to him."

I express my concern, saying, "But my worry is, even if we manage to stop him, what do we do next? He's been absent from school for a reason. Are you both going to punish him as parents?"

Isabelle's expression shifts to one of contemplation, and she replies, "Punishment isn't the first thing on our minds, unless his actions are truly inexcusable. If Momo is indeed the boss, it's a grave concern. Perhaps, in some way, our absence contributed to this. We'll do everything we can to help him, and we trust you both."

With gratitude in her voice, Isabelle continues, "Thank you so much. Please be careful inside that base. If anyone can reach him, it's you."

We hang up the call and prepare to enter the Team Star Base to confront Giacomo and the Segin Squad, determined to help our friend in any way we can.

And as you can see, Giacomo is actually from a family who is also a Team Alpha member, what drives him into joining Team Star? I hope you like this chapter.

Ash and Serena's Pokemon:

Charizard x2, Pikachu x2, Primeape, Lapras, Wooper (Paldean), Girafarig, Dunsparce, Steelix (Crystal), Sceptile, Gardevoir (Shiny), Garchomp, Lucario, Krookodile, Zoroark, Bisharp, Greninja, Sylveon, Noivern, Lycanroc (Dusk), Mimikyu (Shiny), Corviknight, Indeedee x2, Kleavor, Sneasler, Floragato, Crocalor, Quaxwell, Oinkologne x2 (Male/Female), Spidops, Nymble, Pawmot, Fidough, Smoliv, Nacli, Charcadet x2, Squawkabilly x4, Bellibolt, Wattrel, Maschiff, Shroodle, Klawf, Scovillain, Flittle, Tinkatink, Wiglett, Bombirdier, Flamigo