Hi! I felt Gale was cheated in the end of the Mockingjay. So this is his happy ending. It will probably be a romantic-action-drama kind of thing. I'm not too sure yet. Warning, this is post-Mockingjay, so there will be spoilers. I'm awful at starting stories, so I apologize in advance for this first chapter but I promise it will get better. I just feel like I have to give all this background information of the context and such. Not to worry! There will be romance VERY soon. Anyway here is The Untold Story of Gale.
I stare at the two small scars that dot my chest and the large ones that zigzag across my back. They are a daily reminder of what happened and what I did. Of what cannot be undone. They are a reminder of who I am and where I've been. What I've lost and left behind. They are also the reminder that what happened can never happen again. We cannot let history repeat itself.
I toss my shirt over my head and cover them. I walk to the kitchen and start some coffee. The kitchen itself is almost as big as the house I grew up in. The counters are marble, the floor is stone and it's equipped with the newest appliances. It's too bad I can't cook.
I begin to smell the coffee as I look through my missed calls and see three from my secretary-slash-manager, Amy. I call Amy her back to figure out today's schedule. She answers on the first ring.
"Well someone's finally awake." She says in her shrill voice. Amy was hired for me to make sure I got where I needed to go and to handle everything I didn't want to. She is my saving grace some days and the biggest pain in the ass others.
"Yeah, yeah. What's on the agenda for today?" I ask. Whatever she has planned will be a nightmare today I think to myself.
"Do you even know what time it is? I have been calling all morning!" I look at the clock and realized I've slept in pretty late. It's ten, three hours past when I normally get up. No wonder she is mad.
"My bad. So I slept in. I think I deserve it. I'm getting old you know." I tell her. I really am getting old though. In fact today is my 29th birthday. I realize it's been ten years since I saw Katniss. I also realize that it's been ten years since prim died, since the end of the war and ten years since Katniss killed Coin and Paylor took office.
"Okay, okay. Today you have a meeting in The Capitol with Paylor at noon and then you are flying out to district five." She says.
"Why am I flying to five?" I ask. I never usually go anywhere unless it's really important. I've been in control of district two now for almost ten years and I've only ever left to go to the capitol for meetings or to districts when something serious happens. Like a few years ago there was talk of Paylor's assassination in eleven. I was sent in to shut it down.
"I'm not supposed to tell you. It's classified. They will tell you in the capitol. Don't be late! Have fun!" She says and clicks off.
I have to go all the way to the capitol then turn around in the opposite direction to five for god knows what. I fix my coffee and turn on the TV.
Television has become something entirely different than what it used to be. Back before the rebellion tv was only used to watch the Hunger Games. Now there are daily TV shows, people who act and pretend to be characters for entertainment. There are dramas, comedies, informational and shows for children. I really only watch TV for news. The capitol now puts on a daily news show so people can know what's going on all over Panem instead of being confined like before.
The news gives me no information about five. I shut it off and realize it's now eleven. I go pack my bag and ready my hovercraft. The capitol gave me a small hovercraft for my own personal uses and for when they need me certain places. It's faster than the train, and more secure. I hop in and begin the ride to The Capitol.
…..
When I arrive at the President's mansion I am welcomed by the usual two guards. They let me right in. I walk all the way to the meeting room by myself, which is unusual because whenever I'm in the Capitol there are always people who want to talk to me. I wouldn't say I'm famous, but I'm definitely not a nobody. Either way I'm not much of a talking man.
I scan my hand that lets me into the secured conference room. The light turns green and I open the door. I expect to find many people in the room, usually most of the important leaders of the districts are in these meetings. This time it's only Paylor.
"Well you finally made it." She says and situates herself in her chair at the head of the table. She looks down at her papers in front of her and then looks back up at me. "Well, are you just gonna stand there?"
Paylor Is the same as ever. Straight forward and to the point. I take a seat next to her. "Well, where is everyone?" I ask. I look around the room to exaggerate my point.
"Just you and me today Hawthorne." She says and looks back at her papers. She reads a minute and I study her face. There are wrinkles that come with time, but there are also more than necessary. Her hair is falling out of its ponytail and into her face. "I've got a special mission for you."
"A special mission? What kind of mission is this? Special ops, quell and redirect, or a takeover?" I ask, acting thoroughly intrigued. This was going to be an easy job, in and out, hopefully by tomorrow, a week at the most.
Paylor gives me a look that says I don't know what I'm in for. What else could It be? Nothing ever happens around here anymore. She's got a tight run on things. "There has been an outbreak. We're sending you in to oversee the medical and science team that are already there trying stop its progress."
I just look at Paylor. Most, if not all diseases were eradicated before Panem came to be. Something this serious could mean the demise of our entire country. The only question I have now is why me?
Paylor watches me as I take the information in and sits patiently waiting for my mind to grasp it. What choice do I have but to take care of it? I've devoted most of my life to this country and it's my job to defend it. Although it doesn't sound like as much action as I had hoped, It's still my job matter what.
"Alright, I'm in." I say. Paylor nods in understanding. She hands me the folder than contains the information for the mission. It's pretty heavy. Looks like I have some reading material for the ride.
"You will be directed to your private quarter when you get there. Things get going early, so I suggest getting some shut eye. And if you need anything don't hesitate to call me." Paylor pats me on the back and walks out of the room.
…
The hovercraft floats silently and swiftly through the air on autopilot. The folder Paylor gave me has information on the outbreak, estimated calculations of what would happen if it spread, information on all of the effected so far and the symptoms. So far I see fever, extreme fatigue, and headache. Within a few days, the victim turns blue. Most patients last about a week with treatment. The only status on a cure is that It's in progress. The file says that the disease is very contagious and spreads through the air.
I look back at the autopilot and realize I'm almost there. I go and gather all my things and wait for the descend. I look out at the outline of five's city. I can see tall stacks that have clouds of steam billowing from them. Some are hourglass shaped and some are stick straight. All I know is that there are hundreds. Off to the right of the city are huge windmills, thousands of them stand spinning.
The hovercraft lands itself and I wait as someone approaches the craft. He hands me a breathing mask quickly and I put it on just as fast. He helps me unload my things and then programs the craft to store in their hover craft storage building. The man leads me inside and to my quarters. He tells me to have my mask on at all times. I unpack my things in the small condo and then head for the science building
…..
When I step in I see at least a dozen or more scientists at different tables, looking into microscopes, injecting rabbits with syringes, or mixing solutions together. I had enough chemistry in high school to see that this was where a cure was being found. No one notices I've entered the room so I make myself known.
"Uh, I know you're all very busy, and I commend you, but I'm Commander Hawthorne." They drop what they are doing and turn around to look at me. They give me a half glance before returning to whatever they were doing before. "I've been sent in to asses and control the situation. I need to know what exactly is going on around here." They all ignore me but one comes my way.
The woman coming towards me has dirty blonde hair down her back and the bluest eyes I've ever seen. She wears a white lab coat like most of the others here but you can see her tanned legs leading to tiny feet.
I look back up from her feet and see that she has caught me checking her out. I feel my cheeks burn. She comes closer and extends her hand to me. I gingerly take it and shake it gently. "Hello Commander Hawthorne, it's nice to meet you. I'm Aisley" She says. Her hand is so small in mine, warm and soft. I don't want to let go but too soon it's taken from me.
"Why don't you let me show you around?" she asks, and I let her lead me around and talk my ear off, eager to hear anything that comes out of this woman's mouth
A/n- Okay, so like I said, this chapter was kind of boring. I apologize. It will get better! Just a few things. Reviews are crucial. I'm planning some lemons with the help of my best friend, Kat, which will be separate chapters so those who don't/can't read them can easily skip them. And most importantly, if I mess any details or anything up please be sure to tell me, because I worry about everything. Hope you're in for chapter two! ;D