Chapter 17

As we ring the bell and enter the base, Clive also enters, and we wonder if he has heard our conversation from before. He says, "Careful now, guys. Team Star has a unique way of doing battle. They call it a Star Barrage! To get through it, you need to send out multiple Pokémon and have them battle at the same time."

"I see. Thanks for the tip," I say.

"If your Pokémon get low on health, come back here, and I'll heal them up for you. The grunts you're facing will heal up their Pokémon too, so stay sharp out there."

Then we hear the speaker blaring, "Heads up, gang! Some jumped-up kids have wandered in thinking they can raid our base! Clearly, they don't know who they're messing with. Let's teach them a lesson they won't forget! To our unwanted guests - if they can defeat 30 of our Pokemon in the next 10 minutes, our boss might just honor you with an appearance!"

With the challenge set before us, we prepare for battle. Team Star wastes no time, sending out a barrage of Pokémon: Pawniard, Zorua, Sandile, Stunky, Murkrow, Sneasel, and Sableye. In response, we unleash our own Pokémon: Lucario, Spidops, Mimikyu, Kommo-o, Hawlucha, and Armaldo. Just as Clive said, after defeating one of Team Star's Pokémon, they quickly heal and send them back into battle. It's a relentless cycle, and despite our Pokémon's advantage against Dark-types, the sheer number of opponents starts to wear us down.

As we struggle to reach the goal of defeating 30 Pokémon, a grunt among them finally concedes, "They're way above our level! We've gotta get the boss!"

The grunts scramble to escape, leaving us standing there, battle-weary yet determined, as we prepare to confront Team Star's boss. The tension in the air grows palpable as we await the ultimate showdown.

Just then, the sound of an engine roars to life, and our eyes widen in astonishment as a colossal car materializes before us. It's unlike anything we've ever seen, with eerie, sentient features. The car's wheels have eyes that seem to gleam with an unnatural energy, and there's a Pokémon perched on the front as if it's a part of the vehicle's design.

It becomes evident that the car is powered by the presence of Pokémon, and their influence is unmistakable. They're not just along for the ride; they're integral to the car's existence, lending it an otherworldly aura.

Perched atop this bizarre mechanical behemoth is Giacomo, sporting a cap and headphones that give him an almost DJ-like appearance. In his hands, he holds a laptop, from which an ominous boss battle theme resonates. The music fills the air, intensifying the already surreal atmosphere. He yells, "You've done a real number on us, party crashers!"

"Giacomo! Is that really you?" I inquire, my voice tinged with surprise and concern.

Giacomo, still grappling with the unexpected presence of my sister, Serena, Luke, Drandon, Lucine, and me, appears somewhat disheartened as he admits, "To think you are all here. Ash, Serena, Luke, Drandon, Lucine, and... whoever you are." There's a slight melancholy in his voice as he acknowledges the unfamiliar face among us.

"Yeah, you've never met her; she's my sister, Golly," I explain, attempting to bridge the gap between my sister and the situation at hand. "So what have you been doing in Team Star? Your parents are worried about you!"

Serena chimes in, her voice carrying a mix of concern and curiosity. "He's right, Giacomo. Will you tell us what you're actually doing?"

Giacomo's response is laced with a touch of defiance and a whole lot of bravado. "At the deck, I go by DJ Vice! Call me whichever - it's a vibe either way. Nice to meet you all again... but how 'bout we skip straight to your outro? Don't worry - I'll play you a sick requiem as you crash and burn. Let's get this party staaarteeed!"

With that declaration, he tosses out a Pawniard onto the battlefield and taunts, "You don't really thin things through, do ya? Declarin' war on Team Star is a real bad move."

With frustration boiling inside me, I make a quick decision and call out my trusty Paldean Wooper to take on Giacomo's Pawniard.

The battle begins, and Wooper starts off with a Mud Shot, sending a high-velocity glob of mud hurtling towards Pawniard. The muddy projectile connects, dealing some damage and partially obscuring Pawniard's vision.

"This beat drop'll bust your ears open! DJ Vice bringin' the house dooown!" Giacomo announces as Pawniard retaliates with a swift Metal Claw, slashing at Wooper with its sharp, metallic blade. The attack lands, leaving a visible gash on Wooper's skin.

"Ha! How's that for an openin' track?! I'll spin you up good, party crasher!" Giacomo declares.

"I wonder about that." I mutter before commanding Wooper to counter with a Tackle, attempting to knock Pawniard off balance. Wooper charges forward with surprising speed, ramming into Pawniard. The collision forces Pawniard back a step, but it remains resilient.

Giacomo isn't one to back down easily, and he orders Pawniard to unleash Fury Cutter, a rapid succession of slashing strikes. Pawniard's blade glows with energy as it lunges at Wooper repeatedly, each slash more powerful than the last. Wooper takes a series of hits, but its determination remains unwavering.

As the battle rages on, the energy in the arena intensifies, and the unthinkable happens. Wooper's form starts to shift and change, and before our eyes, it evolves into Clodsire. Lucine gasps, "It evolved!"

"That's not Quagsire..." Serena mutters.

Clodsire: The Spiny Fish Pokemon: Poison and Ground Type. Evolve from Paldean Wooper at LV:20. It lives at the bottom of ponds and swamps. It will carry Wooper on its back and ferry them across the water from one shore to the other.

"Clodsire, let's use Mud Shot again!" I command, hoping to take advantage of Pawniard's dual typing.

Clodsire complies, and it unleashes a powerful Mud Shot. The muddy projectile strikes Pawniard squarely, dealing significant damage and also muddying its metallic body. Pawniard stumbles back, temporarily hindered by the thick, clinging mud.

Giacomo remains determined, urging Pawniard to shake off the mud and retaliate. "Pawniard, use Metal Claw!" he shouts.

Pawniard, despite the mud slowing it down, slashes with its gleaming metallic claw. However, its movements are hampered by the mud, causing the attack to miss its mark. Clodsire seizes the opportunity and lunges forward with a Tackle. The force of the collision sends Pawniard tumbling, and it struggles to regain its footing.

Seeing an opening, I command Clodsire to use Mud Shot once more. Clodsire complies, and another Mud Shot engulfs Pawniard. The combination of damage and the sticky mud makes it increasingly difficult for Pawniard to continue the fight.

Giacomo clenches his fists, realizing that the odds are now against him. "Pawniard, hold on!" he implores.

But the relentless barrage of mud takes its toll, and Pawniard finally succumbs to its injuries and the restraining mud, fainting in defeat.

"Now you've lost!" I confidently declare. "Your Pawniard is defeated."

However, Giacomo doesn't seem fazed by the loss of his Pawniard. He smirks and responds, "Time to up the tempo! This show ain't over yet!"

To our astonishment, Giacomo jumps off the car, and the Pokémon perched on top of it leaps into action, emanating an aura of intimidation that sends shivers down our spines.

"Are you telling me that car is a Pokémon as well?" Golly gasps, his shock palpable.

Giacomo, now fully in control of the situation, commands with gusto, "Go! Segin Starmobile! Use Wicked Torque!" The massive car, named Segin Starmobile, roars to life, its wheels spinning with incredible force. With a deafening crash, it charges at Clodsire, who struggles to evade the relentless assault. The impact of the attack not only deals damage but also lowers Clodsire's Special Defense.

We exchange nervous glances, realizing that the battle has taken another unexpected turn. "We'll help too, Ash!" Serena exclaims, her determination unwavering as she releases her Sylveon to join the battle. Sylveon, empowered by the Pixilate ability, unleashes Swift, the Fairy-type move. The sparkling projectiles slam into Segin Starmobile, causing visible damage to its sides.

I follow suit, urging Clodsire to retaliate with Poison Jab. The attack lands, hitting the car's window. However, Segin Starmobile responds with another devastating Wicked Torque, and this time, Clodsire succumbs to drowsiness and falls asleep, unable to continue the fight.

"Wait, it can inflict status moves?" Drandon questions in surprise.

Realizing that Clodsire needs a break, I recall it and send out Lucario in its place. Lucario and Serena's Sylveon team up, utilizing Moonblast and Aura Sphere to pummel the Starmobile. However, Segin Starmobile counters with Metal Sound, lowering our Pokémon's Defense, and then unleashes Spin Out, resulting in Sylveon's defeat.

Serena swiftly switches to her Gardevoir, and together with Lucario, they continue their relentless assault on the car. The Starmobile begins to shake as it becomes increasingly unstable.

"Let's give it everything we've got!" I shout.

Gardevoir and Lucario heed the call, unleashing Dazzling Gleam and Focus Blast simultaneously. The combined power is overwhelming, causing the Starmobile to come to a sudden halt. Strange noises emanate from the car, and both the Pokémon on its wheels and front exhibit swirling eyes, indicating their disorientation.

"I guess that's that..." Giacomo's voice holds a tinge of resignation as he kneels on the ground, still in shock from the destruction of his prized Starmobile. "I did the best I could... I wrote that code myself, and there's no goin' back on it now. My days as a boss are over."

He stands up and walks toward me, extending his hand. "So here - take my Star Badge, would ya?"

I accept the badge, understanding that even a unique boss like Giacomo has a badge to offer. I glance at Serena, who nods in agreement and encourages me to take it. Rotom, always ready with the camera, snaps a picture as I shake hands with Giacomo.

"That sure was a tough battle, Giacomo," I remark. "But you're great as well."

Giacomo manages a faint smile, albeit a somewhat melancholic one. "Thanks... haah. So, this is how the party ends..."

As the dust settles from the battle, Giacomo changes the topic, his curiosity piqued. "But let's talk about those Pokémon of yours. They're crazy strong, huh. You learn those Trainer chops at the academy? Like, what moves you should use 'n' stuff?"

I respond, "The thing is, Serena and I just moved into the school for a month. But we did learn some more after getting into the school."

"Huh. OK... You like it at the academy? Havin' fun?" Giacomo asks.

"Well, I'm enjoying it," Serena replies with a smile.

"No kiddin'..." Giacomo responds, his interest piqued.

Just then, Clive approaches our group, and with his distinctive pompadour hairstyle, he stands out. "Sorry to interrupt, but are you Giacomo?"

Giacomo can't help but make a playful comment, "Whoa-ho! Wasn't expecting a giant pompadour to make a guest appearance today. You get a Quaxwell to style that up for ya?" We share a chuckle, knowing that Clive's unique look is always a topic of conversation.

Clive gets straight to the point, "I'm just after a quick word. Would you mind?"

Giacomo agrees, albeit with a touch of humor, "Sure. I can tell it's gonna be sometin' annoying, but I guess I'm newly freed up for time."

"Thanks. I'll get straight to it," Clive says, his expression serious. "It seems all of you in Team Star are headed for expulsion if you keep up your current activities. So why won't you break up the team and start attending class at the academy again?"

Giacomo, despite his nonchalant demeanor, seems willing to engage in the conversation. "That's what you wanna know?" he asks. "As it happens, we're actually waitin' on a pal... though we don't know if they'll be comin' back."

"A pal...? A close friend of yours, are they?" Clive inquires further.

Giacomo's tone carries a hint of admiration as he replies, "They're only the strongest boss in all of Team Star! Like how there's a Top Champion who's the absolute number-one Trainer, y'know? They're the ones who invited us other bosses to form the team. We call 'em the 'big boss.'"

"And where is this big boss of yours now?" Clive persists in his questioning.

Giacomo's tone grows more somber as he responds, "Wouldn't we like to know. We haven't heard from 'em in, I dunno... must be a year and a half now. We thought that if we kept Team Star going, then they'd get back in touch one day. But the teachers keep pressin' us to call quits, and then we get party chasers like you seven..."

He attempts to put on a facade of annoyance but can't quite muster it. "Maybe the big boss did ditch us... They were talkin' about breakin' up the team before and all."

Clive delves deeper into the heart of the matter, "So, Team Star and this big boss of yours... They're really that important to you?"

Giacomo's response is unequivocal, filled with genuine emotion. "Heh. Is the sky blue?" he says, "Let me put in words you eggheads at the academy might understand... They're my greatest treasure."

Clive's inquiry has revealed the depth of Giacomo's attachment to Team Star and the enigmatic big boss. It's clear that this connection runs deep, and the unresolved questions surrounding the big boss remain a central mystery in this unfolding story.

"Giacomo, like we said, your parents are worried about you," I express with genuine concern. "They are not going to punish you for your absence, but they really want to know what is going on. I suggest that you head home and have a talk with your parents. If you want to, we will be there for you as well."

Giacomo sighs, the weight of his actions weighing on him. "Yeah, you're right. They must have been too worried... considering I've never called them..."

As Giacomo contemplates his next steps, we leave the Team Star base behind. Then we receive a call from Cassiopeia. Her voice carries a mix of concern and uncertainty. "Guys... It's me. It seems Giacomo no longer carries his Star Badge, the symbol of his status as a boss... He gave it to you, did he?"

"Yeah," I confirm.

"I see. With its boss out of the picture, the Segin Squad is pretty much done for." Cassiopeia's voice trails off briefly, and we can sense her internal turmoil. "Oh, Giacomo..."

"Is everything alright?" Serena inquires.

"Sorry. Got caught up in my thoughts for a second. Now, about your reward, I'll transfer some LP over to your phone as promised. And I will also give you a replica of the Team Star Badge that I made for you as well, Serena."

The conversation continues, and I can't help but wonder about Cassiopeia's true role in Team Star. Her actions seem contradictory at times. Why would she want us to destroy the bases, and what is her ultimate goal? These questions linger, but for now, we have decided to set them aside for further consideration.

Cassiopeia proceeds to inform us of additional rewards. "I also took the liberty of adding some new entries to the range of TMs you can make at TM Machines. These new TMs should help you improve your Pokémon's battle capabilities even further. In any case... you did some solid work out there. So much so that you deserve an extra reward. Someone from my supply unit will be there soon to give you some materials for making TMs."

Shortly after ending the call, a familiar face appears. It's Penny, the girl with the Eevee bag whom we had saved back at the school stairs. "H-hello... I'm Penny... from the supply unit."

"We know, the girl we saved back at the school stairs," I acknowledge. "We were glad to help."

Penny, somewhat bashful, continues, "Oh! So you do remember... But, um, I'm helping out with Operation Starfall as part of my independent study... You know, the Treasure Hunt. I'm good with machines and hacking and stuff, so I'll be working behind the scenes. So... here you go. Your bonus reward from Cassiopeia."

She hands us some valuable Pokémon materials, and Serena receives her own Dark Badge. "And Cassiopeia said you'll get more rewards each time you take out one of Team Star's bases. Also, um... I heard all about how you had your Pokémon charge into battle. Seems you were pretty amazing. With trainers as strong as you on our side, I'm sure the operation will go just fine. There are four more squad bosses left, so, um... good luck..."

With that, Penny bids us farewell, leaving us with lingering questions about her true identity and the ever-deepening mystery surrounding Team Star and Operation Starfall.

Here is a new chapter, and but I'm not going to add the flashbacks into the story, but if you want to read that, check out my Ash's Paldea Story instead. I hope you like this chapter and the next chapter will be back to school.

Ash and Serena's Pokemon:

Charizard x2, Pikachu x2, Primeape, Lapras, 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, Clodsire