The Hunger Games Galaxies: District 11
McKinley High School had lost the lottery in so many ways. First, it was their country who was picked in the Initial Reaping. Then came the state. Then the county. Then the town. Then the district. Somehow, Lima City Schools drew the shortest end of all of the sticks in the world, and would be entered into the Reaping for the Hunger Games. That meant, out of the small school district, one boy and one girl would be sent to the slaughter in the arena, because District 11 hadn't had a victor in a generation
"I just don't know if I could handle it if either of you got sent into the arena, that's all I'm saying," said Rachel Berry, talking very quickly to Kurt and Blaine. "I mean who would I have to compare the newest Broadway hits with or obsess over my idol Barbara Streisand oh my God, but if I got picked do you think she'd come see me you know as a charity thing to root me on and send me too my death?"
"Rachel. Relax," said Kurt. "The odds of any of the Glee club getting picked are incredibly low. We've got 1500 people at this school alone, not to mention the other high school and the plethora of middle, junior high, and elementary schools. And Dalton.
"Don't remind me," said Blaine, rolling his eyes. "Who'd've thought that the private schools would be included in this ridiculous ritual."
"Maybe Sebastian will get chosen," said Kurt, mumbling.
"Not cool," replied Blaine, stalking off.
"Porcelain!" came a snarl from down the hallway.
For a High Priestess, Sue Sylvester certainly didn't look the part. Sure she had a robe… made out of an old sweatsuit, of course. As she marched down the hall, trailed as always by her right-hand woman Becky, everyone skirted around her and out of the way. In some bizarre way, she was more frightening than the handful of Peacekeepers they had patrolling the halls of the school already.
"What do you want, Coach Sylvester?" asked Kurt.
"I just wanted to confirm: do you want your name placed in the girls' pool, the boys' pool, or both?" she asked. "After the debacle that was prom last year, I just need to be certain.
"Coach Sylvester, that is incredibly sexist of you and I fail to see how you can find any humor in this day at all," said Rachel, standing in front of Kurt.
"Now don't get your sweaters all in a bunch, Jewish Celine Dion, I'm just trying to set the record straight… after all, it will be me pulling the names of students from those huge orbs on stage in a few hours," replied Sue.
"Oh God…" replied the other two, horrified.
"Ah, don't look so scared," said Sue, smiling… or grimacing… whichever… "Much as your singing constantly creates ulcers in the lining of my G.I. tract, I wouldn't be petty enough to send any of you to the death for it."
"You're a good woman, Coach," said Kurt, flatly.
"Thank you," she said, turning and walking away with her tracksuit robe flowing out behind her. As she turned the corner, she nearly collided with Santana, Brittney, and Mercedes, who were quietly discussing who they thought would have a good shot at winning the Hunger Games, if they were picked.
"Well… much as I'd hate to see it, most of the meatheads in this place would have a huge up on most of us…" said Mercedes.
"And then there's Jacob Ben Israel," said Santana, as they watched the AV Geek hurtle after some students, begging for quotes on their thoughts on the Reaping. "If he's the guy they pick, he won't last more than 30 seconds."
"I think Coach Beiste is going to win the Hungry Games," said Brittany. "She'll just eat the other competitors."
"Even with the relaxed age rules, I doubt Coach Beiste will qualify for the games," said Mercedes. "But then… Coach Roz would probably just sneer her enemies to death…"
The girls' conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Finn.
"Hey! Mr. Schue wants us all to have a meeting in the choir room right after school, but before the Reaping," said Finn.
"One last big family reunion before we send some of our classmates off to the grinder?" said Santana, sarcastically.
"Santana… no… forget it, now's not the time," Finn said. "Just be there, all right?"
"We'll pass on the message, Finn," said Mercedes. "I'm gonna go find Sam and make sure he knows what's going on."
"We'll tell Quinn," said Santana, grabbing Brittany by the shoulders and dragging her in the opposite direction.
Finn continued up the hall and met up with Rachel and Kurt, who were still in deep, terrified discussion about the events later in the day. Finn's arrival broke the tension when he and Rachel shared a 10-second-long kiss. After eight seconds of it, Kurt checked his watch and wandered away to find Blaine.
"Are you ready for today?" asked Finn.
"No, of course I'm not… to think that someone's life could be snuffed out for this… barbaric show to these so-called merciful Game Gods…" Rachel said, her voice shaking with fury.
"I know, I know," said Finn. "But we have to be positive… Schue wants us to perform a tribute song for whichever tributes get picked, as a send-off…"
"But what if it's one of us, Finn? Or… or both of us? I mean, not like you or me because even the Gods know that my destiny lies not in this bloodbath but in battle on the Broadway stage… but… but…" Rachel said, almost immediately launching herself into hyperventilation again.
"I said relax!" Finn said, hugging her. "We're going to be fine."
In the choir room, several of the members had simply skipped their afternoon homerooms and gone there early. Puck, Artie, Mike, Tina, and new-comers Rory, Joe, and Sugar all sat in a group, quietly discussing the afternoon to come.
"If I'd stayed in Ireland, I wouldn't even be having to deal with this," Rory muttered, as Sugar sat on his lap and stroked his hair.
"And if I'd stayed home schooled, maybe I would have spared my mom this worry…" added Joe.
"No, the home schooled kids are here, too," said Artie.
"Yeah," added Mike. "They're the horrified-looking ones standing in the cafeteria right now."
"Probably 'cuz they've already got my number… or their Mom's do," said Puck, leaning back lazily in his chair. "I figure they'll need some consolation if and when one of their precious children are Reaped…"
"That's really not funny, Puck," said Tina, who seemed to be permanently stuck in wide-eyed terror. "It could be any of us… even you…"
"And if it is, I'll kill anyone who gets in my way," said Puck. "Who gives a shit if they're from another world? I'll crush them all."
"All right, everyone," came the voice of their leader, as he came in with most of the missing members of New Directions. "Since nobody actually wants to go to homeroom anyway…"
"I don't even know where that is," said Brittany, raising her hands. "… actually, sometimes I forget where my home in general is…"
"… you… you really can't be reaped," said Kurt. "You'll get lost on your way to the arena."
"Kurt, please, no more talk about anyone from New Directions getting chosen, please," said Mr. Schue. "Just as soon as the others get here…"
"We're here, Mr. Schue," said Quinn, as she entered with Mercedes, Sam, and Santana. "We just had to escape Hall Monitor Washington and her game of sixty questions…"
"All right, gang," said their teacher. "I won't pull any punches. Today is not a happy day. Still, Figgins wants us to perform after the ceremony, when we send off the two tributes from District Ten."
"I still think it's messed up that we're singing for the people who are going into the goddamn Hunger Games arena…" said Sam, shaking his head. "What does that say about us?"
"The idea was actually really well-received by the Gods, according to Figgins who heard it from the Heaven Liaisons," said Will. "But it's going to be a simple, solemn rendition of two or three songs… so… I figured we should start coming up with ideas."
"What about 'Keep Holding On?'" suggested Mercedes. "It's got a message of support and strength and overcoming obstacles."
"But what about the part where they say 'there's nothing you can say/nothing you can do' and all of that?" asked Artie. "Seems to paint a pretty bleak picture."
"Realistic, though," said Quinn. "What can we do or say against the Gods?"
"Okay, it's on the short list," said Mr. Schue, trying to keep it moving. "Any other thoughts?"
"What about… 'For Good?'" suggested Rachel. "I know it's typically a duet, but we can probably figure something out… Kurt and I sang it in New York, and it's really the perfect number for this…"
"True… it's all about saying good-bye to someone who changed you, for better or for worse," said Kurt. "That should cover whomever gets elected, whether we love them or hate them…"
"I'm a big fan of Here's to Us," said Puck. "Especially that part where we go 'tell em go FUCK THEMSELVES' and flip a double bird to the cameras and all those other bastards in the other Districts and the Heavenly realms…"
"That… that really doesn't seem safe…" said Tina.
"What about 'We Are Young?'" suggested Sugar. "It's all like… 'let's set the world on fire!' and other rebellious phrases of fighting spirit."
"But this is a send-off, so we should have an element of farewell in there, too," said Rachel. "Otherwise, the message won't be appropriate."
"Question: is there a reason we're only focusing on songs we've already done? What about something new and unexpected?" suggested Mercedes.
"Well we don't have enough time for Berry to get all her solos perfected, so that won't fly," said Santana.
"Okay, this is going nowhere fast," said Will, rubbing his face in his hands. "Let's just… take a break and figure this out later…"
Unfortunately, they never got a chance to, because they were soon called to the large gymnasium for the Reaping. Family was allowed to come, but they were kept separate in the auditorium, where they could watch the Reaping on the big screen. As the students from all over Lima filed in, they saw the blazer-clad guys from Dalton sitting a bit away from them.
"I was wondering where Blaine went," said Finn, as they took their seats in the stands.
"Yeah, he wanted to go say hi to his former classmates, just in case," said Kurt. "I was gonna go too once we finished our business in the choir room, but, obviously that didn't happen…"
He went to the far side of the bleachers to speak with them, before the Peacekeepers came in and he scurried back to the New Directions. Once the white-clad men and women were situated around the entire gymnasium, the bowls with the names of all the students ripe for the Reaping were brought forward. It was stifling in the huge room, with virtually no air conditioning. Down front, they could see some of the elementary students, usually too young for the Reaping, already weeping.
"Hello, students," said Principal Figgins. "Welcome to this year's Hunger Games, the Reaping of District 10. Today it is my honor to present to you… our very own High Priestess Sue Sylvester."
A smattering of unfelt, lukewarm applause rang out through the room as Sue swept forward. She surveyed them imperiously, soaking up the attention and setting the mood before she began to speak.
"When I was a young woman, I sat where you all have sat before, awaiting your names to be called for this glorious event that honors the Gods who are kind enough to let us live under their thumb. As literally the only High Priestess in the entire tri-state area, it is my duty to select the tributes from our fine district… which I shall do… now."
She marched over to the bowl, dug her hand in the mess of papers for a good whole minute before she finally selected one and returned to the stage. She lifted the paper dramatically up in front of her and opened it.
"Our first tribute… oh… Jesus…" she muttered. "… Quinn Fabray."
At first their was silence… and then all of McKinley began to let out horrified shouts, curses, and sobs. Quinn sat there, dumbfounded for several minutes. Joe looked like he'd seen a ghost. It wasn't until the Peacekeepers started making their way through the path of angry students that she finally came to her senses and stood up, shakily, and worked her way down the steps to the gym floor.
"She just got out of a wheelchair a few months ago, you bastards!" snarled Santana. "Who do you think you are?"
"Santana, let it go…" said Finn, grabbing ahold of her arm. "That'll be good, because the sponsors will love her fighting spirit."
"But… still… why Quinn…" muttered Rachel, tears glistening in her eyes. "I can't… this isn't happening… I just refuse to believe it. I'm going to wake up in my room with Broadway's finest smiling down at me from above on my ceiling where they always are… and… and it's not going to…"
She trailed off, and buried her face into Finn's shoulder. They watched as Quinn took her spot next to Sue, showing very little emotion on her face, other than an indifferent sort of smile. Sue seemed to struggle with herself, as if she wanted to say something to the cheerleader, but then she abruptly turned and headed to the other bowl without so much as a word. She picked up a name and went back to the microphone, hesitating a bit before she opened it.
Kurt looked over to where Blaine was still sitting with the Warblers. Their eyes met, and the all-boys academy tightened their grip on each other. Kurt couldn't bear the thought of any of them going, especially not Blaine. But… what if another McKinley guy went… worse, someone in New Directions…
Sue stared at the name, her face a mask of pure shock and anger. After a few seconds, without any of the usual pomp and circumstance that usually accompanied her speeches, she merely read the name: "Noah Puckerman."
A fresh wave of fury went through the students of McKinley, who began to shout obscenities at the Peacekeepers and the Gods in general. It was quickly becoming quite the spectacle. But the cameras did an expert job of avoiding the near-rioting students, instead focusing on the relief of Dalton and the still-scared faces of the elementary students. Puck extracted himself from the building cloud of violence and worked his way to the stage, ignoring the steps and merely climbing up the front.
"I present to you this year's tributes…" Sue said in a hollow voice.
Quinn and Puck stepped forward, standing towards the end of the stage, as the chaos continued down in the crowd. They glanced at each other, and Puck wrapped his arm around Quinn's thin shoulders. She followed suit, and they raised their other hands, fists clenched, up into the sky, glaring into the cameras and steeling themselves for the difficult goodbyes they'd have to go through soon.
Author's Notes:
Short explanation time on how this whole ordeal is going to work!
The games themselves are still in progress, so for now I'm only doing the intro stuff. All events that take place in the Districts will be in their appropriately-titled stories in the proper crossover section. Once that's all taken care of and it collapses into one story, I'll put the title at the end of each District Introduction Section (or just click on my author name to find it yourself).
The entire story is being decided solely on a complicated series of dice rolls, to prevent bias on my part and to make it so even I have no idea how this is going to end or who is going to win.
Let me be clear: this is not going to be an "everyone bands together and fights the evil powers and they all survive" story. As of writing this paragraph, twenty tributes are dead. So if you see your favorite character selected… well, don't get mad if they don't make it through.
That's all for now. May the odds be ever in your (favorite characters') favor.
ALSO: Starting from here-on, I've put the schedule of updates on my profile, so you can know when the next installments of my stories are coming out. It's not going to be perfect due to my job, so I might miss a few deadlines here and there, but, overall, it's a good indicator of when you can expect things to be out.