Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games and this story is written only for the entertainment of the writer and readers.
Important: The line break signifies a change in POV. Happy reading!
Chapter 2
We're returning to Thirteen.
District 13 has become the country's secondary military base, the main base being the one in District 2, stilled called the Nut. It has grown alot since we left it. Most of their residents are soldiers and the people who work in the research and production of the district's nuclear weaponry. Being underground has its advantages, as demonstrated when the Capitol unleashed a raid of bombers on the district three years ago. The disadvantages make it Panem's secondary base. Their underground farms can't feed as much, and you can only dig so far down. Even so, that's where we will be hiding.
The old ruins come into view as we descend into the runway of the district. Cayes reports to us that we are entering the elevator which will take the hovercraft to the underground hangar. Like it wasn't obvious when the windows became dark.
We come to a stop and Cayes slides down the ladder before us. When we get down he tells us he'll be guiding us to our compartments .So we follow him, and when we walk through the hallways I get a flood of memories into my head at once. Most of them ones I rather forget. Peeta and Haymitch seem to be experiencing the same thing.
We reach an entrance of section D and Cayes stops to hand us each our keys.
"The third key isn't necessary," says Peeta."We're married so we will be sharing a compartment." he gestures to me as he tells him.
"Alright then," he says plainly. He swipes the key from my hand and goes straight into the hallway without bothering to see if we're following. I'd like to know what this guy's problem is. Peeta seems to read my mind and he just shakes his head. "Let it go."
Cayes stops at our door and hands Peeta the key. He tells us he'll come back in twenty-five minutes to escort us to Command for a meeting. We close the door after him. I make an examination of the room and see it looks just like the one I stayed in with my family: bed, dresser, bathroom. No window, but we don't have Buttercup.
"I guess this is home for a while," Peeta says.
My head slags. "I rather spend my first few days married with you in District 12."
He wraps his arms around me from behind. "I would too, but anywhere I could call him home as long I'm with you." He smiles at me and I kiss him in return. I swear his words are going to be the end of me.
"We don't have to call it home," he says. "We could think of it as the honeymoon."
I smiling at how ridiculous it sounds when we're here because somebody is out to kill us. "Not exactly how I pictured our honeymoon to be like."
He only shrugs, keeping his smile. We both start to unpack and in twenty minutes, Cayes is knocking on our door.
We stop for Haymitch and we're taken to Command .Cayes slides his ID to unlock the doors. Inside is a large table with digital images of maps and photos. Surrounding it are multiple chairs and there's a screen in the back of room with the seal of Panem. The images disappear as we enter the room. President Paylor stands with two uniformed adults, who I'm guessing are generals. I was almost expecting to see Boggs, but then I remember he's dead.
"The victors from Twelve are the first to arrive," Paylor announces to the other two. The three of them step towards us. "Katniss Everdeen, Peeta Mellark, and Haymitch Abernathy. I will introduce to you General Conrade. He is involved with the investigation." Conrade is an older man. Tall, wide, and sort of resembles Boggs with his square chin and short haircut. Although this guy has a dark complexion and beard.
"And this is Lieutenant General Verges," Paylor says. "She is the one leading this investigation." Verges is a woman about 50. She has a paler complexion, keeps her hair in a tight bun, and her lips stay in a straight line throughout the greeting. She has laugh lines, but I don't think she does too much laughing.
"We will be commencing shortly. Just as soon as the other victors arrive," Verges speaks for the first time. The three of them walk to the screen again and start talking amongst themselves.
"You think Plutarch is in on this?" Peeta asks Haymitch.
"Could be. The man is secretary of communications," he replies.
The last thing something like this need is propaganda. Although I think the news won't stay too quiet for long. My thoughts of back then are cut short. The doors slide open and in come Annie, Enobaria, and Johanna with a pair of soldiers.
"It's a party now," Haymitch mumbles.
"Happy to see me? Nice of these circumstances to bring us all together again," Johanna says sardonically. "Well, look at you, Everdeen. You gain an inch. And Mellark buffed up some, didn't you?"
"Ha, I guess," Peeta replies.
"You haven't changed much Haymitch," she says plainly.
Annie seems to take a second to recognize us, and when she does, a smile appears on her face. "Katniss, Peeta, how have you been?"
"Okay..." I say not wanting recent events to disrupt her cheery greeting. "How are you Annie?"
Her smiles droops a bit. "Having to leave so suddenly made Finn upset, and the ride here was... but he's in a good mood now. He bounces back and helps me. He's such a good boy." A small smile keeps on her face while she talks. Something that I've noticed happens when mothers talk about their children. I'm glad Annie is doing well on her own. I'm glad she didn't become depressed, and I know she faced problems from the phone calls we would get sometimes.
"We will now commence the meeting. Please take your seats," says Verges. "As you know, Beetee is still injured and so he can't leave the hospital. He is being informed by Plutarch Heavensbee of the news we're giving out today."
"We'll be sharing with you the information we already know and the ties that these recent assassination attempts have to do with a group that we have been keeping our eye on," states Conrade. An image of a streetin District 3 appears on the table screen. "Because of the multiple factories in District 3, we were able to catch the gunman on surveillance. Looking at his attire, we found that he or she belongs to a sort of organization that we think may pose a threat. There is the group's symbol."
The camera zooms in on the the figure and there on the right shoulder is an emblem that closely resembles the Capitol's old emblem. It's slightly different. The bird on it is just different.
"So this group..." Johanna starts. "Who the hell are they?"
"I will explain that," Verges states. She's clearly already taking a dislike to Johanna attitude. "This underground group was probably started after the Rebellion. The people in it believe that the district should all have a distributed wealth, a stronger law enforcement to prevent unnecessary uprisings, and that a president should have more power. These started out with few members and they caused no trouble. We just kept our eye on them, because there wasn't really any acts against the law. They've gained more followers since then, and they are gaining powerful supporters. This is what is making them act up now, especially since a powerful position will be open."
"Nothing was done earlier? You just let them organize their meetings? Wouldn't you worry about them overthrowing the president?" Enobaria questions.
"Well, at first they were just an underground group, doing no harm. They are a sort of political party, and so they have their demonstrations and their representatives. They want more people to see as they see and support their ideas. These ideas are dangerously close to becoming ideas of bringing back a dictatorship."
"Do they want to start another uprising?" Peeta asks.
"Not exactly. As you know, we have elections for our president as it is part of our new democracy. Paylor's term will come to an end, and then people will vote for someone new." She stops to take a breath. It's going to be long.
"So this group was established, and they find someone to represent them. Someone who could run for president. That is their goal. To get someone with their ideas to rule Panem. And it just so happens that their representative is Rosalind Snow, Cornelius' grand-daughter." A picture appears. A woman who looks about 25. I see some resemblance between her and her evil grand-farther we had to put up with. It's her eyes, I think. She has a pale complexion but striking red hair that matches her lips. I see she tried to relate her appearance with her name, although her look makes me think of blood. Since I've met Snow, roses and blood seem to go hand in hand.
"I told you we should've killed her," says Johanna. Haymitch shushes her, which returns him a glare.
"How old is she?" I ask.
"She was 18, during the Rebellion so she is 21 now. Rosalind isn't a leader of the organization, but she fully believes in their ideas. There are people behind her influencing her image as their symbol. She's still dangerous."
"So how does this group tie with us?" asks Enobaria.
Conrade steps forward, giving Verges a break. "A possible reason is that they think Hunger Game victors will be the strongest opposed to them. That you will be the ones to get in their way and influence people."
"Well isn't that the truth," Johanna says.
"Another possibility, it being more maniac, is that killing someone influential makes news. It gets people's attention. Maybe their attempts were just schemes for people to think they have power. People would be driven to join them out of fear."
"Wonderful," Haymitch mutters.
"But you won't have to worry about that. You stay within the district, you'll be fine," states Paylor. "While you stay here you all will be trained as soldiers, since this is a base. You'll be given your schedules and report to each period, including training. As soldiers you might be asked to do jobs, but none that will seriously risk your safety. We'll give some exception to Mrs. Odair, because she has her son."
"I think that is all," says Conrade.
"I don't think so. There is still more information that I think they should hear," says Paylor.
Verges looks to Paylor, confused or surprised. "The information we have on that is limited, and we still have our people looking into it.," says Verges in a low tone.
"Please General, they have a right to know ," Paylor says rather sharply.
Verges gets this look of disapproval, but Paylor steadies her gaze on her to give in.
She gives in.
"We have found out recently that this group sponsors their own lab. They somehow gotten the research of the Capitol's old labs and are working underground. They have all the blueprints of the Hunger Games and the things in between."
"What does that mean?" I ask.
"We haven't found that out. They could be making weapons for a war, or creating an arena somewhere. We don't know. We have spies currently working on finding out."
The sound of it tells me these people are a serious threat. Did we lose lives, homes, and our minds for nothing? Was the whole Rebellion a waste of time? Finnick, Prim, Boggs… Somewhere during my thinking, Peeta grabs one of my hands trying to get me out of my thoughts. I guess the meeting is over.
The generals stay in Command, but Paylor and everyone else exits. Soldiers walk in front, while Annie and Johanna follow behind to their compartments. Enobaria walks behind them and there's Haymitch.
"Are you really recruiting Haymitch as a soldier?" Peeta asks Paylor.
"He can handle it. We won't have him just sitting around doing nothing. I'll be counting on you two to get him to training." she says it seriously, but with a small smirk. I'm waiting to hear she's kidding, but the words don't come.
"President Paylor," Peeta addresses. "If the group wants the presidency, wouldn't they try to eliminate the competing candidates?"
Paylor already understands what he's getting at. "Don't worry about me. I have soldiers at my side around the clock, and there is the fact that I was a Commander. I can take care of myself. You worry about yourselves. Goodnight, Soldier Mellark, Soldier Everdeen."
Paylor walks the opposite way with soldiers following.
"Everyone has been addressing me by maiden name," I say.
"They just don't know we're married, but I don't think it would be important to them," says Peeta. "As long as we know we're married, then we're good."
Peeta and I go back to the compartment. When we get there I tiredly get ready for bed. This day has exhausted me, but I don't know if I'll be sleeping much with all this new information I just learned.
Peeta is sitting in bed, lets out a yawn, and then makes room for me. I get into my spot, laying my head on the crook of his shoulder and chest. "I don't think I want to fall asleep," I say.
"Because of the nightmares?" he asks in a soft tone. "Don't worry, I'll be here. Try to fall asleep."
I close my eyes and try to keep my mind blank. Eventually sleep comes. I hear Peeta's soft I love you before I drift off.
I wake up gradually.
My mind is in a fog.
The only thing I feel is my breathing.
It's completely dark. I can't tell if my eyes are open or not.
Sounds. I hear a small distant uniformed sound. It sounds like beeping.
Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.
It becomes clearer.
I slowly gain the feeling in face and in my fingers. I move them around, but I feel nothing.
Or maybe it's not nothing. The sensation feels like I'm surrounded in warm water. I gain more feeling in my limbs, but I only move them a little.
Where am I?
"…subject 1204 has gained consciousness..."
Now there are voices, and I'm surprised I hear them so clearly.
"…heartbeat is normal. Brain activity has increased..."
There's another voice.
"We should report this. They'll want see..."
I strain my ears to listen for more things. I need a clue to where I am, but it goes silent and I don't hear a thing for a long time. I think I fall asleep.
…
I hear clicking. It sounds familiar. Maybe they're footsteps.
"... gained consciousness and should be ready in a week's time."
"I don't understand why we revived this one. Why is she so important?" That was a female voice.
"She's related to one of the remaining victors, and she'll be of great use to us against her." Another voice.
They're talking about me? Against who?
"She's lovely isn't she? It's too bad she died and had to be revived like this..."
Died? I… was dead?
"... what was her name?"
"I think it was Primrose. Primrose Everdeen."
"What a lovely name."
Sorry for the wait. I lost the files and had to rewrite it, while juggling events that keep me busy. I hope this chap came out okay in the end. I'll be working on the next one! Commets would be lovely.
-cheezebuns