The Hunger Games
The Odds in Your Favour
PLEASE READ
The Following is a Hunger Games Crossover Fanfic
All characters that take part come from different universes with different abilities
None of the characters from the Hunger Games will appear to avoid Bias- except Ceasar Flickerman
For narrative reasons, all characters ages have been changed from between 12 and 18
All characters can use the same abilities they had in there own universe
This means magic and/ or KI can be used if a character has access to it in the original story
This is to make the story more interesting
Voting will occur when two characters meet face to face to fight
YOU decide on the Winner of this Game
May the odds be ever in your favour
Prologue:
The logo flashed on screen and the audience gave a massive round of applause that immediately set Caesar Flickerman at ease. The sound of the people of the Capital, cheering his name, was for him the sign that the new series of the Games would be beginning. They cheered his name because he would, from this year forward (for the 64th Games) be the face of the games and the presenter and the person that would be the go-to guy in the most amazing reality TV show of all time and, Gee Louise he was nervous...
The test audience had been a success though and he had been styled in the colours that he felt were appropriate for this year (a very deep green from head to toe, he felt, was a good message for the fans that the series was going back to it's roots), so all he had to do was step out on that stage and then start the announcements.
The Reaping, he was being told by a woman with a clipboard, had been a success and none of the Tributes had yet to suffer any calamities or try and kill themselves. Also, his first interview would be the new Game Master for this year and he wasn't an easy man to get along with.
He gulped as he read the name and looked up at the cameras that were trained on him and made sure to think as hard as he could; "Well thanks for making it easy on me..."
The theme song ended and, throwing on his best Sunday Smile, he ran onto stage to the warm greeting of the crowd and the spotlight flashing down onto his face and soon it was like every show he had ever been on in his life. Back when he'd been an actor he had had on occasion been forced to improvise on stage and that had lead to the movie roles that, in turn, had thrown him onto his own chat show. Now he was on the biggest stage of his life, standing in front of the entire Panem as a figurehead for what was going to happen- and it would be bloody marvellous if it was a success.
Rumour had it that if the host failed in keeping the audiences interest however, well, they were out of the job... One way or another.
But as it stood the music had ceased and before he knew it he was speaking and he realised that he had the audience in the palm of his hand already. He followed the words on the auto-cue and soon things were falling into place. This would be his destiny, he figured, smiling as he continued;
"And so, ladies and gentleman, welcome to the 64th Annual Hunger Games and what a day it has already been! The Reaping, as I'm sure most of us saw..." He paused, letting the audience cheer in approval at the revelation that, why yes, they certainly had (as had he, but then, it was a job requirement now); "... was a fun event for all with many interesting Tributes selected to make this the most jaw-dropping, action-packed, Hunger Games, EVER!"
The cheer from the audience was unanimous in it's approval as Caesar made his way from the stage to a nearby seating area where he would be bringing out his guest, the new Game Master for this year who the online forums were already debating about, for it had been advertised for weeks about the special surprise guest.
As the screen behind him flashed with highlights from the Reaping he took a sip of water as names and faces filled the screens behind him and, soon enough, the narration ceased and the cameras and the audience were back on him.
"But first, before we learn a bit more about our Tributes, we have a special surprise guest. This year brings about a few new changes to the Games as we introduce two new additions to the behind the scenes crew that make it such an enjoyable event for all of us. So put your hands together as I welcome to the stage..." He extended his hand and paused just long enough for the audience to get fully invested, and then the reveal;
"John Kramer!"
The cheer nearly threw him from his chair, it was that loud and soon the Game Master himself was wheeled out onto the stage. He was a cancer sufferer, sure, but he looked noticeably healthier than the images he had been shown led him to believe, but then this was likely due to the Capital Medicine that was no doubt flooding his system to keep him going. If the Games were a success then maybe a cure was on the cards, but as it stood, John Kramer would be allowed to live so long as the people were tuning in.
He shook hands with John, the pair posed for a moment to let the cameras take there images for the paper the next day, and soon they were both fussed over by the stage crew as, behind him, a behind the scenes video played.
"John Kramer" it began; "was a former soldier and many of us know him from his popular Web Series, the Jigsaw Diaries, where he would place criminals and Axons in a deadly game to see if they had the necessary survival instinct to live. It was so successful that the government implemented it for many years in prisons and had John on as a technical support until... Tragedy struck."
The image flashed to still images of John, now bald, looking thinner than he was even here, in front of Caesar. His voice from years ago, on an old video, filled the screen and made the crowd silent.
"The cancer, frontal lobe it... I feel as though it strengthens my cause."
"And so it did, as John worked feverishly with the prison system and his community outreach programs and for the last few years has kept himself alive through his work in rehabilitation."
A woman appeared on screen, the text read; "Amanda" and she smiled at the camera cheerfully.
"John helped me, before I was a drug addict and now... I work for him. He makes me happy to be alive. Grateful."
The audience awed and John smiled, but Caesar continued to look at his cards. They were missing out the scandals, obviously, and the vigilante killings but they did include a touching interview with President Snow where he talked about how he was a massive fan of the Jigsaw Diaries and was glad to have John on the team to truly test the tributes. His personal opinion though didn't matter, Caesar was a presenter and he knew how to bring out the best in people...
"Yes" the Narrator continued; "John Kramer is a man fit for the role of Game Master and he has worked tirelessly with the crew to make this years Hunger Games, the best ever."
The image froze on a black and white image of John, smiling and looking off camera, and suddenly the lights were on the pair of them and Caesar immediately took to speaking.
"John, it's true, we're all glad to see you and may I be the first to say, if I may, you look good."
"Well thank you Caesar, the make-up department do a wonderful job... Though I had to decline the hair piece."
His voice was deep, very deep, but it got a laugh from the audience. Perhaps he had been coached?
"I must be honest I like the look, gives you a mad scientist vibe. Maybe that's what we need this year, eh? A bit of mad scientist?"
The audience cheered and John laughed, but it was clearly fake and he didn't keep it up for long.
"Maybe maybe... Though I like more the idea of testing these Tributes. The Odds picked them, let's see if the Odds are in there favour..."
It was the games official catchphrase near enough and it made the audience cheer loudly and wildly to hear it stated by the Game Master. It gave it connection, continuity, and the online fans loved it. Those in the audience now were just sheep, it was the viewers that would no doubt make there own opinions but normally it was pretty solid.
"Anything you want to give us in advance, John? Any teasers for what you have planned for these games?"
John mm'd loudly and encouraging whoops from the crowd, urging him on, made Caesar smile and add; "Please John, if not for me, for them? Just one spoiler?"
To this, his guest turned and slowly gazed at the camera with deep eyes and his voice dropping even deeper- impossibly so.
"There will be blood."
The audience exploded into spontaneous cheer and they cut to an ad break.
"So what do you think of the Tributes so far?" Ten minutes later Caesar was asking, now fully comfortable with the new setting. He'd had his make up touched up in the ad break and John had been given some water and the interview was just wrapping up, but this question was essential. It needed to be addressed.
They would be at the Capital tomorrow, after all, and in a few days they would be on his stage- but before that he'd be presenting at his first Opening Ceremony. That would be an interesting experience for everyone.
"They look like a healthy bunch," John offered in way of an answer; "Should make for an interesting game."
"Anyone stand out so far?"
"The boy from District 4 has caught my eye immediately."
Most people murmured in agreement and the screen behind Caesar, he knew, had instantly flashed to an image oft the fifteen year old. He'd been selected for the games but was the only one to be placed there in chains, right from the get go. Plus there was that thing he kept on his face, he looked like a monster that was ready to be unleashed but then Caesar would know all about that when he interviewed him in person in a few days time.
"Seems like he's a favourite already John, but let me just say thanks for coming."
"My pleasure Caesar."
"Keep up the good work!"
And with that the interview was over and now was time for the second announcement. First another recap was to occur, the Reaping had been shown many times that day alone, but then this was the main show and it was important for the audience to familiarise themselves with the Tributes on offer as most of them would be worth something and others would be worth... well, nothing. The boy from District 4- his name escaped him- was popular in the polls at the moment but from his research that could all fall apart at any stage in these next few days.
And in the games that could fall apart in a few minutes.
He stood at a podium now, smiling as the show neared completion, but he had one last video to show the crowd to wet there appetite.
"Ladies and Gentleman, as we all know, the games are home to the most advanced in technological equipment in order to keep the games functioning and naturally keep them entertaining for you at home and, thanks to our friends at Aperture Laboratories, we have a new special friend to introduce you to today. Ladies and Gentleman..."
The middle of the stage opened up and from it, a small tube ascended with a small ball on the top. The ball was moving, as though it had an eye (although it had a circular spot that was glowing like one) and when it stopped it focused itself on the audience and then at Caesar.
"...May I invite you to welcome our new Game System, the GLaDOS."
"Excuse me." A voice said, in a seductive female voice; "My name is just GLaDOS. No the is required... thank you."
The audience again applauded but this time it was with less excitement. John Kramer was a celebrity already, but this was just a machine, granted an advanced machine, but nothing about it stood out. Hence why it was being introduced last and in the final minutes of the show.
A short video would play, GLaDOS would disappear back to it's simulations and then he could go rest. But first the questions, oh yes the questions...
"...the most advanced AI in the world, created by the Late Cave Johnson, GLaDOS will carefully monitor all the Tributes whereabouts and calculate exactly where they need to go to provide the best in entertainment for you, the audience."
The lights resumed and the audience feigned interest a bit longer, and now it was time for the killer question.
"GLaDOS, what can you tell us about the Tributes from your data so far?"
The answer was instantaneous; "23 will die."
The audience laughed. Well, yes, that was obvious...
"Very good, well, that's all we have time for-"
"But there are variables to consider. Chance, probability, Darwinism... With my superior brain I calculate that the victor will be none other than-" And the voice was silenced.
Now THAT was a clever tactic, Caesar thought, give an artificial intelligence enough foreknowledge to predict the entire game and then stop it just before it was about to. The forums would now be exploding over the possibilities and the debate over the machine would probably split the internet apart, but that was it, his job was done, they would show the Tributes one more time and then his sister show would take over on the cable networks for the rest of the night.
But as it stood, he was going to rest and then his night had only just begun- but from the sound of the audience, it was a success. From his point of view, the Hunger Games had begun.
To Be Continued.
Author notes: First up, I think it's important you all know that I've only read the first Hunger Games Story (am reading the second one as we speak) and have seen the movie but this idea for a fanfic came to me first and I really wanted to give it a go.
Second, the next chapter wont focus on the opening ceremony, as you all know what that entails. From this point on the chapters will focus on the games themselves and the POV of the characters will be determined by selecting from numbers between 1 and 24. References will be made as the characters think back to the ceremony, or back home, or to there Training Scores, so it will be shown and explained one way or another- but doing it in one go isn't as interesting.
Finally; Characters will range from Anime, Comics, TV shows and Movies for a wide variety and the games will not be the same as the movie- there will be traps, events, and whilst it may seem similar the terrain will change as the story progresses. John and GLaDOS will make this interesting, as will I.
Also, I am aware that sometimes my spelling and grammar is sloppy, I hope you can forgive me for this and any help will not be frowned upon so long as it is constructive.
And lastly, I hope you enjoy! Reviews are appreciated, if only for the votes.