Alliance of the Mockingjay, Book One: The 79th Hunger Games
AN: I do not own any work by Suzanne Collins. I hope you enjoy this new series.
Katniss Everdeen had infiltrated the Capitol with a team of fighters. As they made their way through the city, each member of the team was cut down and killed until only five remained. When she finally reaches the heart of the Capitol, all she has left is Cressida, a Capitol member of the camera crew; Pollux, an avox; Gale Hawthorne, her best friend from childhood; and Peeta Mellark, a Victor from 12 who until recently was her lover and is now an insane escapee of Capitol imprisonment. By now Everdeen, Hawthorne, Mellark and the two lucky survivors have been through absolute hell to get to the central of the Capitol. To the mansion where President Coriolanus Snow resides. Their friends have died, they've been hunted by Peacekeepers and muttations alike, and at any moment they could be killed.
Everdeen is not thinking straight. All she is concerned with is killing the man who has caused a lifetime of suffering. The man responsible for reaping her sister and sending her into the Hunger Games, with a debt to the boy she would have to kill to survive. He forced her to fall in love with the same boy in order to protect everyone she cared about and to subdue the Districts. And he ordered her beloved District 12, her home, to be burned to the ground.
Of course President Snow is not to blame for everything. Effie Trinket was the one who pulled her sister's name, causing Everdeen to volunteer for the Hunger Games. Haymitch Abernathy was the one who first thought of a star-crossed lovers' angle between her and Mellark. The rebels and District 13 had been the ones to make her a symbol of the revolution. And of course, she is to blame as well. For she was the one who held out those berries and gave the rebels hope. She was the one who shot the arrow and, as a result, destroyed her district. She was the one who left Peeta Mellark- one of the only people who ever loved her- behind for dead.
No, Snow is not all to blame. Katniss Everdeen knows killing him will be purely for retribution for the wrong done to her, and by her, all her life.
Everdeen is not thinking clearly. All her thoughts are consumed with Snow and the hatred she feels for the Capitol. This goes the same for Hawthorne who, although wounded, would follow Everdeen into any battle even if it meant death. Mellark is trying to control his thoughts and at the same time fight his exhaustion; figuring out what is real and what is not is a strenuous task. Pollux mourns his twin brother's death as they run further into the Capitol.
Only Cressida seems to notice how empty the streets are. Not of citizens of course and certainly not of pods. But she would expect there to be more Peacekeepers since the rebels seems to be attacking on every street. She quickly dismisses the thought as Everdeen looks for a place to hide.
Of course even if she spoke her thought aloud, there is nothing to do to stop the events that are already unfolding to cause the downfall of the rebellion.
Fulvia Cardew hides the vial in her shirt sleeve as she walks through the underground hallways of District 13. Her head is down, watching the floor, not making eye contact with the people who pass her. She is nervous about what she has to do. Nervous she'll be caught, nervous she'll freeze when the time is right. She takes a quick breath, trying to calm herself. She knew this day had to come sooner or later. All loyal citizens must do their duty to preserve the nation. Now it's her turn.
Keeping her head down, Cardew darts around two men, who seem to be talking about Beetee's newest bomb. They grow silent as she passes and her heart almost leaps out of her chest. She glances over her shoulder and sees with relief that one of the men had only dropped his clipboard and they have resumed their conversation. No one else is around by the time she reaches Heavensbee's quarters. She knocks lightly on the door and waits. Within seconds Plutarch Heavensbee has opened the door for her and she steps inside.
"What do I owe the pleasure Fulvia darling?" Heavensbee asks her.
Cardew smiles at him and straightens his tie. "President Coin wants a meeting to discuss the next move on the Capitol." She says her tone light and friendly.
"Meetings, meetings, all the time! Reminds me a bit of the Capitol when I was a younger Gamemaker." Heavensbee's eyes brighten as he speaks. "The good old days when there was no talk of rebellion. Just wine, women, and gossip. Fulvia, at times like these, I wish I could go back."
"Do you regret joining the rebellion?" Cardew asks.
Heavensbee shrugs. "It's done now. And if the rebels don't win there will be no place for me." He easies his enormous body into a chair. Cardew looks around the room and sees a decanter half full of whiskey on a tray next to the bed.
"Would you care for a glass Plutarch?" She asks, already unblocking the decanter.
Heavensbee chuckles. "Yes and pour one for yourself Fulvia darling."
Cardew makes sure her back is turned as she pours the clear liquid from the vial into his glass. The whiskey darkens for a moment then returns to its normal color. She pours herself a glass as well. "Plutarch, I have a confession to make." Cardew says, picking up the glass with the clear liquid and handing it to Heavensbee.
"Confess away dear Fulvia." Heavensbee says, taking a large gulp of the whiskey.
"I didn't thought the rebels would get this far. I always thought the Capitol would never let a district become this powerful. I thought they would have a plan to keep 13 under control."
Heavensbee tosses back the rest of his glass. "That's where many people got it wrong as well. District 13 has been very secretive and very ingenious in the how they have rebuilt their district. Not even the Capitol could have predicted they would have an adversary like 13."
The corners of Cardew's lips tug into a smile. "No. They did not." She takes Heavensbee's glass and turns away from him. "They did however predict that a rebellion would happen. So they took certain precautions against such a disaster."
"Precautions?"
Cardew pours Heavensbee another glass, then picks up her own. "Have you ever heard of sleeper agents Plutarch? I doubt you have. No one outside President Snow's inner circle would know about them." She sips from her glass.
"What do you mean Fulvia?" Cardew hears Heavensbee rise from his chair, then fall to the ground, coughing uncontrollably.
"I mean the Capitol is always ready for an attack. They are always watching. Always listening. Always ready." Cardew puts her glass back down and turns to see Heavensbee on the ground, coughing up blood. She kneels to the floor and puts her handkerchief roughly against his mouth, muffling the noise he makes.
"You were such a fool Plutarch. President Snow had given you a reward and you wasted it. And on what? A rebellion?" Cardew sees Heavensbee's eyes are wide with pain. She leans down and whispers in his ear. "This rebellion is a lost cause and you know it. You just wanted to play your next Games on a different size scale." She holds his head to her breast and strokes his hair as Heavensbee's coughing starts to subside. "I'll give you a sneak peek to who this year's Victor will be. The one who wins every year. The grand and the glorious. The Capitol."
Cardew feels Plutarch Heavensbee's life slip away in her arms and he slumps forward into her. She strokes his hair a bit more then plants a kiss on the forehead.
"If only you could be here to see it with me." She says with a hint of regret. She lowers Heavensbee to the floor and stands. Cardew starts to leave but first she grabs Heavensbee's passkey. She exits the compartment, knowing no one will find Heavensbee until it is too late.
Cardew swipes the passkey and taps in the combination to the control room. There is no one inside but that does not guarantee it will be that way for long. Cardew locks the door and rushes over to the P.A. system. It's a simple red-button-and-microphone box at the front of the room. Still she has to insert the passkey and type in code that will broadcast to not only the floor she is on, but to all of District 13.
Cardew licks her lips and presses the button.
"White rose." She says into the microphone. "White rose. White rose."
Everyone in 13 hears the usual crackle of the P.A. system. This is usually followed by an announcement for certain people to meet in Command from one of President Coin's cronies. But instead Fulvia Cardew's voice rings out clear as a bell.
On the first "white rose" the citizens who had until six weeks ago been citizens of District 12, immediately fall silent. The rest of the citizens of 13 grow quiet as they notice that some of the citizens around them have frozen in place.
On the second "white rose" the frozen citizens snap up and turn to face the nearest District 13 citizen.
On the third "white rose" the citizens of 12 lunge and attack the citizens of 13.
Despite their training, the citizens of 13 are taken completely off guard by 12's attack. It is not just the soldiers who attack, but the women and children as well. They attack those of 13 with flailing fists and are relentless if they have to pursue. Some of 12 had been holding objects such as pencils, knives and needles which are used to stab citizens of 13. In a hands-on weapons class, three students open fire on the rest of their classmates.
District 13 citizens still defend themselves rather well. Those who are able to disarm their attacker are quick to incapacitate and bind them up so they will not harm themselves and others. However they are not aiming to kill as the 12's are. A woman takes out a man's eye in the cafeteria while a man wraps his hands around another's throat and chokes him. Greasy Sae seems to have lost her mind as she brandishes a soup ladle and chases the other cooks around the kitchen. Even sweet Prim Everdeen punches one of her classmates in the eye. A door bursts open and the three children of 12, from the weapons class, run out shooting at every citizen of 13 in sight.
Just when the 13's are able to regroup and strike back, doors to the above ground open and Capitol Peacekeepers flood into the underground hallways. They do not seem to care which citizens are on their side. The Peacekeepers open fire on the groups of soldiers from 13 and the former citizens of 12, killing and fatally injuring too many to count.
Johanna Mason bolts up in her hospital bed as she sees Mrs. Everdeen attack a doctor and cut his throat with a scalpel.
"Shit." She says, tearing off the IV's attached to her and swinging her legs off the bed. She stands and grabs a needle, jabbing it into Mrs. Everdeen's neck. The sleeping solution does not take long to hit the woman. She slumps into Mason's arms and passes out. Mason lifts Everdeen onto the bed and buckles the wrist and ankle straps around her.
Mason next kneels down by the doctor but he is already dead. She stands and looks around her. The rest of the ward is empty. Grabbing the scalpel covered with the doctor's blood-not much of a weapon but it will have to do for now- Mason leaves the hospital ward and makes for the nearest stairway. She climbs the stairs hearing the sounds of battle all around her. She lifts the scalpel to guard herself as she opens another door.
She recognizes Leevy from 12 as the big girl attacks her. Mason catches her arm and throws the girl over her shoulder. Another man jumps on her from behind. She backs up into a wall and hits his head against it. He lets go of her and slides down. Mason sprints through the hallways, seeing Capitol Peacekeepers cutting down citizens 13 and 12. Out of the corner of her eye, she spots Posy Hawthorne caught in the crossfire. Without thinking she scoops the girl up and carries her over her shoulder.
However the little Hawthorne girl starts flailing in her arms, her legs kicking her stomach.
"Oof! What is with you 12's today?" She sets Posy down on the ground, trying to keep ahold of her. "Why is your district attacking? Did the Capitol put you up to this?" Mason asks shaking Posy's shoulders. Posy does not say anything. She spits in Mason's face.
Mason grits her teeth, fighting the urge to slap the brat. "Listen you little-" Posy tears away from Mason and runs down the rest of the hallway.
"Hey! Get back here!" Mason groans and wipes the spit off her face. "What the hell is going on?"
She chases after Posy but stops when she hears a blood curdling scream. "Annie!" She yells, spotting Annie Odair trapped in a corner by a man holding a knife above her head. Mason runs up and slits the man's throat with the scalpel. With a hideous sounding gurgle, he falls to the ground and drops the knife.
"Annie, Annie calm down." Mason says holding Annie's shoulders. "It's just me, it's just Johanna. I'm not gonna let anyone else hurt you."
Even though Annie's eyes are filled with fear, there is a glimmer of recognition when she sees Mason.
"Annie, listen to me. Look at me Annie." Mason forces Annie to look her directly in the eye. "Annie you need to tell me what happened. Annie, tell me."
"They-them from 12. From District 12. They attacked all of us." Annie says in a shaky voice. "They all just stopped what they were doing then stood really still and attacked."
"Did they get a message or something? Did you see or hear anything?"
Annie nods. "White rose. White rose. It was said three times over the P.A. system." Annie buries her head into Mason's shoulder. "I want Finnick! I need him!"
"Shush." Mason quiets Annie. "It's okay, we'll find him. We need to get out of here first. Annie look at me." Annie lifts her head. "Can you walk?" Annie nods and whimpers.
Mason helps Annie stand up then grabs the knife from the dead man. She looks around the hallway. "This way." She says, taking Annie's hand and leading her through the halls.
Mason walks quickly through 13's maze of hallways, avoiding as much fighting as she can; for Annie's sake. She sees citizens of 12 and 13 battling in the corridors. At one point she spots a squadron of Peacekeepers. She pushes Annie through a doorway of an elevator and punches the top button.
"Hold the door!" Someone shouts from the hallway. Recognizing the voice, Mason thrusts out her hand so the elevator door does not close all the way. Beetee wheels himself into the elevator and she pushes the button again. The doors close before the Peacekeepers could catch them.
"Hello Miss Mason. Mrs. Odair." Despite having a few cuts on his face, Beetee looks unharmed and unfazed by the attack.
"Volts I never thought I'd be so glad to see you." Mason says.
"And you Johanna. I suspect you've realized our predicament."
"Something turned the District 12 citizens from sweet little district miners to highly trained killers." Mason says. "Some kind of code word said over the P.A. system."
"Yes," Beetee nods. "And if you haven't noticed there are Capitol Peacekeepers in the hallways. Also…you aren't wearing any clothes."
Mason realizes she is still in her hospital gown but brushes that aside. "They must have been planning this for a long time."
"What do we do?" Annie asks.
"We can do nothing to stop it. District 13 will fall." Beetee's voice is full of regret. "We can at least escape before they start capturing and executing the traitors."
"Right." The elevator doors open. A Peacekeeper spots them but before he can raise the alarm Mason throws the knife into his head. Annie's breath hitches but Mason squeezes her hand and puts her finger to her lips.
"We need to be very quiet." Beetee says, as he leads the way to the Hangar. Mason follows, pulling Annie along behind her. The Hangar hasn't been discovered by all the Peacekeepers yet. Beetee gestures to the closest hover craft and the three Victors climb up the ramp. There is one Peacekeeper aboard, sitting in a chair his back turned to them. Mason snaps his neck before he sees them and throws him off the deck.
"Do you know how to fly one of these things?" Johanna asks Beetee.
"Theoretically yes. However from this chair I doubt I could manage." Beetee looks at Johanna. "If you flew Johanna, I could probably tell you how to operate the hovercraft."
Mason grits her teeth. "Fine."
With Beetee's help, Mason raises the ramp and lifts the hovercraft into the air. Annie closes her eyes and puts her hands over her ears. She remains that way the whole flight.
No Peacekeeper seems to notice the lone hovercraft rise up and fly into the sunrise.
President Coin has been barricaded in her office for her own safety. She watches her screen intently as it switches from each surveillance camera, showing her the massacre of her people. Suddenly the door in front of her explodes, throwing the barricade of boxes into the air. The Peacekeepers enter the room, clearing the doorway so that Fulvia Cardew can step through.
Coin had ducked beneath her desk to avoid getting hit by shrapnel. She stands quietly, her gray eyes sweeping the room, taking a count of the Peacekeepers surrounding her. "So this was the plan." She says, glancing at Cardew. "The Capitol couldn't find a way to get into my district so they send in a spy in the form of a Capitol bottom-feeder."
Cardew smiles coldly at Coin. "But you never could tell could you Alma? I fooled everyone. Even Plutarch."
"Plutarch wouldn't know a spy if it bit him in the rear." Coin says. "Which I assume, might have been one of your many duties."
"Don't pretend Alma. You were fooled too. Sure you had Plutarch checked out before you hired him, but you never suspected to his little assistant. She was beneath your notice." Cardew tells Coin. "President Snow thought you would be that arrogant."
Coin knows she is right. She should have been more watchful of Fulvia Cardew. "You played your part perfectly." She tells Cardew. "And the citizens of 12?"
Cardew nods. "Why do you think we let so many of them survive? Honestly Alma, did you realize they were in the woods around 12 for three days? Anything could have happened to them."
"What did you do? Bribe them?" Coin asks.
Cardew shakes her head. "Even if we convinced them to fight for us they would be too frightened. They don't even know they are attacking now."
"Ah I see," Coin smirks. "Sleeper agents. Crude, Fulvia, but effective. I should have guessed."
"The use of sleeper agents is only known to the Capitol. We've been using them since the dawn of Panem."
"And no one would suspect them, since the even the sleeper agents do not know what they are."
"Indeed." Cardew sighs. "And now, Alma, I'm afraid the time has come for you to surrender, or your whole district dies."
Coin stares coldly at Cardew. Without a single word, she opens a drawer and pulls out a slip of paper. "Snow was supposed to sign this when we took the Capitol. But seeing as I am President as well, my signature will suffice." Coin signs the paper and hands it to Cardew. "I surrender District 13 to you Fulvia Cardew. Now would you kindly order your soldiers to stop attacking my people?"
"Sergeant please take President Coin into custody." Cardew orders the Peacekeeper next to her. "And as soon as the citizens of 12 are back to normal round them up in the mess hall with the rest of 13. Keep a sharp eye out for any other attacks. Shoot anyone who tries to escape. Thank you." The Peacekeeper nods to her. Coin feels something slip around her wrists and then hears the familiar click of handcuffs.
"When you hear the signal, walk her out in front of everyone to see." With that Cardew leaves the room. Coin stands quietly, the Peacekeepers watching her. After a minute she hears Cardew's voice ring out over the P.A. system.
"Dead rose! Dead rose!" As those words are spoken, the citizens of 12 freeze and seem to come out of a dreamlike state, looking around and seeing the bodies of dead and injured around them.
The Peacekeepers march Coin out into the hallways. The citizens watch silently as she is ushered through the hallways by Capitol Peacekeepers, the sure sign of surrender. Cardew waits for her at the end of a hallway.
"Your presence is requested in the Capitol, President Coin." Cardew says with a smirk. Coin's face is expressionless as Cardew leads the way to the Hangar. One soldier of 13 slumps against the wall, looking almost dead. He aims his gun and fires. The bullet goes straight through Cardew's temple and she drops to the ground. The soldier takes a last breath before the Peacekeepers open fire on him.
Alma Coin chuckles. Then she bursts into laughter, doubling over, and tears springing to her eyes, as if the death of Fulvia Cardew was the funniest thing she had ever seen.
However, neither Johanna Mason nor Alma Coin could know that in the districts Head Peacekeepers receive the alert to awake the sleeper agents in the rest of the districts. One by one the rebels are overwhelmed by the sleeper agents who were once their fellow citizens. Slowly the rebels fall and are replaced by the Peacekeepers. After a week the Peacekeepers have reclaimed the districts and the rebels have been captured or executed.
The rebels in the Capitol only take one day to surrender.
Everdeen and her team emerge from the Tigris's shop, disguised in warm Capitol style clothing for the harsh cold weather. They merge in with the crowd and go their separate ways. Everdeen and Hawthorne make sure to stand by each other so they are not separated. There is a blast as the rebels attack once again. Everdeen and Hawthorne break into a run dodging bullets from both Peacekeepers and rebels.
Suddenly, dozens of hovercrafts appear in the sky. They lower to the ground and the ramps slide out. Hundreds of Peacekeepers march down the ramps and fire into the rebel troops. Capitol citizens are caught in the crossfire. Blood spurts, women scream, soldiers cry out in pain. Everdeen and Hawthorne sprint through the crowds, taking out their bows from their cloaks. Everdeen and Hawthorne do not realize that the rebel forces are not able to fight off the new Peacekeeper forces.
Hawthorne shoots a passing Peacekeeper with one of his arrows and pushes Everdeen ahead of him. "There's too many of them!" He shouts to Everdeen. "We won't be able to reach the mansion!"
"We have to try!" Everdeen shouts back to him. She sheds the outer Capitol clothes so she can quicker. "Let's move!" She shouts to Hawthorne as he takes off the heavy cloak he is wearing.
Just then a hovercraft lands directly in front of them. Everdeen reaches for an arrow as the ramp descends. But it is just Johanna Mason that runs down the ramp.
"We need to go. Now." She says to them.
"Back to 13?" Hawthorne asks.
Mason shakes her head and starts to shiver in her hospital gown. "No time to explain. We need to leave before someone spots us!"
Hawthorne opens his mouth to contradict her but seeing the panicked expression on Mason's face he stops. "You'll tell us everything if we come with you?"
"I promise I will. Now move!"
Hawthorne nods and starts walking up the ramp. He pauses then turns when he realizes Everdeen is still on the ground. "Katniss you heard her! We need to go!"
"But Peeta is still out there!" Everdeen shouts back to him. "I can't let Snow get to him! Not again!"
"We'll try and find him later!" Hawthorne says, although he knows they will probably not return to the Capitol once they take off. Everdeen knows this as well.
"We have to find him Gale! I left him once I'll never do it again!" Everdeen turns and starts to head back into the crowd.
"Oh for the love of…." Mason runs after Everdeen. "Mockingjay! Hey, wait up!"
Everdeen turns, a sour expression on her face. "What?" Mason punches her in the jaw and Everdeen hits the ground, unconscious.
"Johanna, what the fuck do you think you're doing?" Hawthorne starts down the ramp as Mason picks Everdeen up.
"We're running out of time! Go!" Hawthorne and Mason run back up the ramp with Everdeen in tow and Beetee lifts the ramp. Mason lays Everdeen down across a row of seats then sits in the pilot's chair. Hawthorne walks up to her his face red with anger.
"Johanna-"
"Don't start with me Pretty Boy, I have to get this thing in the air!"
"You attacked Katniss!"
"She was being unreasonable!"
"And you don't think attacking her was unreasonable?"
"I saved your life, boy, be grateful!"
"Stop it! Both of you! Please!" Annie screams, taking her hands away from her ears. Hawthorne and Mason stare at the frightened young woman.
Mason grunts, "I'll stop. Just leave the questions till we get far enough away." Hawthorne glares at Mason but says nothing.
"Gale." Hawthorne turns when Annie speaks to him. "Gale did Finnick…was he…is he…?" Hawthorne shakes his head. Annie buries her head in her hands and begins to sob. Beetee wheels his chair over and puts a consoling arm around her. Even Mason has the tact to stay quiet as Annie cries over her lost love.
When Annie's sobs quiet, Hawthorne walks over to Mason and sits in the chair next to her. "What happened?" He asks in a much softer tone.
Mason looks at him. "13 is dead." She says quietly. Hawthorne draws in a sharp breath then exhales. "How?" Mason shrugs. "They were overwhelmed. The people from 12 went insane and started killing people. Then the Peacekeepers showed up and it was all over."
"What do you mean 'went insane'?"
"I have no idea what happened to them. Beetee suspects they were sleeper agents." Mason regards him. "You might be one too."
"I-I don't…I don't understand."
"Your people were brainwashed. At least for that amount of time. Everyone who escaped 12 attacked the other district members. Even the children. I saw Katniss's mother cut a doctor's throat. Even your little sister spat at me."
"Posy? But-"
"13 is dead." Mason repeats. "For good I think this time. There will be no recovering. We…we lost." There is a moment of silence only interrupted by Annie's sniffles.
"We can't go back, can we?" Hawthorne asks. "For our families."
"I'm afraid not." Beetee says quietly. "District 13 isn't safe anymore."
"Panem isn't safe at all." Mason adds.
"Then, where do we go?" Annie asks. That simple, almost childish, question turns out to be the hardest one to answer.
Hello everyone! I am Jacky Dupree, the "banned" author of fanfiction. I know I have been gone for several months now but I am back! And better than ever! I've decided to keep writing, but very slowly churning out chapters. Making them worth the wait. I've worked on this prologue for almost a month, trying for the perfect beginning. I think it was well worth the wait.
Now about this fanfiction, THIS IS NOT AN SYOT. I repeat THIS IS NOT AN SYOT. Reason? I have discovered I cannot write about other characters that are not mine. It is hard for me to connect to them. Also I got a lot of unintended Sue's as characters that I tried to make sense of and failed. I had a good story for We All Fall Down: Tale of the 150th Hunger Games. However it was deleted. I'm not sure of the exact reason. But it was a blessing in disguise. Now I have this little fic. Well I wouldn't call it little.
The 79th Hunger Games is the first in the series. I will write three books of The Alliance of the Mockingjay. As you have probably guessed this is an alternate ending to The Mockingjay and the rest of the series will be slightly AU. This is the story I want to concentrate on the most. I will start other fics, but this comes first. This prologue turned out to be longer than I expected but I like how it turned out. My next chapter will show what happens five years from where we left off. What happens after a failed rebellion? Do the districts just give in to the Capitol's will? Or is there still a spark?
If anyone wishes to know what I was going to do with We All Fall Down: Tale of the 150th Hunger Games you can PM me and I'll give you a brief (well this prologue was supposed to be brief so you know what to expect) summary.
Thank you for reading.
-Jacky Dupree, THE-BANNED-AUTHOR