AUTHOR'S NOTES: Schemers of this rebellion have existed since long before even the 91st Hunger Games, but this is the year where they're all finally putting their plans into motion. District 9 might not seem like a very prominent target in the rebellion, but when they get awakened to this whole revolution thing, they're quick to jump on board. On the other hand, here we get to see how the normal "career districts" are handling this thing. This isn't Mockingjay or Catching Fire all over again; I'll say that much.
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CHAPTER 4: The Revolutionaries

Other than discussing the tributes and victors, there was not much else that was said or done on the train ride to the Capitol, and soon the District 9 team found themselves joining eleven other trains in the magnificent Capitol Train Station. It was much more packed than usual—Capitol citizens were thrilled to see their old heroic victors again, as well as the new tributes that they had picked.

Zelda and Roy found themselves exposed to throngs of cheering crowds, who seemed to have a bit more faith in District 9 than they usually did. It was a touch of reassurance, especially from a district that was known for its "cannon fodder" tributes, alongside District 10. Still, the tributes, as well as Marian, Carver, and Olivia, were all in on a much larger-scale operation.

"Now," Olivia pointed out as she and the others headed to one of the nearest elevators, "a couple people I want you to talk to sometime this evening are the mentors and victors from District 8. As I mentioned on the train, Lyndis is a 3rd-generation victor who is not here by coincidence. Her mother Paige and her grandfather Alice were both victors, and just as against this whole mess as she is."
"And so what about Carver and Marian?" Zelda tilted her head, glancing at the two older victors on either side of her.

"I'll put them to use," Olivia put her hands together, leaning on her cane. "trust me on this. I know every single one of these victors better than most of them even know themselves. If you don't believe me, feel free to quiz me on anything you might want to know about them. I will know it—I am not shitting you."

Olivia was a mastermind then—that was useful news for Roy, who was already pondering things in his head. Zelda seemed to be on the same wavelength as him, and the synergy was so prominent in the two of them that it was almost tangible.

There was a surprising amount of socialization on the main floor this year, both by past victors and even by some of the tributes. The pair from District 1 were interacting with the victors as if they were victors themselves, and when they saw the young District 9 tributes approaching, the boy stepped aside to introduce himself.

"Looks like we've got a couple of fighters from '9 this year," he quipped; "that's a nice change;"

"Can't say I'd argue with that," Roy shrugged, "although I suppose you're here to make sure we die?"
"What are you talking about?" The boy tilted his head.

"You careers are usually responsible for half of the outer districts' deaths." Roy clarified.

The District 1 boy looked around before leaning in. "not this year."

"This I've got to hear," Zelda raised her eyebrow.

"Lucius Banks, by the way," the bronze-skinned boy extended his hand, "and this is my partner, Lucina Aldrich." He pointed to the slender girl behind him, her fiery red curls making her stand out almost as much as Mandy Ikezhen from District 4.

"Lucius, Lucina, Lucas, and Lux," Zelda chortled, "that's kind of funny."

"It's also off-topic," Lucina interrupted, "What Lucas is saying is—is that we were not chosen the usual way careers are. How familiar are you with District 14?"

Zelda and Roy both tilted their heads. "There is no District 14—or 13, for that matter."

"District 14 is not a place," Lucius explained, pulling out a coin and slapping it into Zelda's palm, "it's an idea. It's an idea that the Capitol cannot destroy like they did with '13."

"are you guys saying you're…" Roy trailed off.

"Exactly." Lucina smirked, "Lux and Lucas are not exactly loyalists—and as such, they chose us based on our similar sentiments. Long story short—we're you're allies just as much as rebels like District 12 are."

"Speaking of which, who is in charge of this whole thing?" Roy asked. Knowing that District 1 of all places was also in on this gave her hope.

"Korra Francisco—the buff mentor girl from District 2." Lucius explained.

"District 2?" Zelda couldn't help but gawk, "this thing is being LED by someone from '2?"

"Let it sink in." Lucina quipped, "we've got people from District 2—the most Capitol-friendly district in Panem—not only in on the District 14 operation, but LEADING it."

It was at this moment that Zelda glanced at the coin Lucius had slapped into her palm, turning it over in her hands. On one side it depicted a seal with the silhouette of a woman's face on it, and on the back it bore a small Mockingjay image and the number 14.

"Who else is in on this thing then?" Zelda turned to Lucius.

"Almost everyone," the boy responded, "at least that I know. Katsuo and Kaede are following Amy and Korra's orders, and so naturally they chose tributes that are just as rebellious. Zoram and Zerlinda from District 2 are on our side too."
"So we've got the career pack covered." Roy nodded, "who else?"
"Right now, it's just '1, '2, '12, '11, and I guess '9 if you two are in on it." Lucina explained, "although I imagine that number could grow swiftly. We haven't talked to any of the others yet, but I don't imagine that many of them would oppose us if we had an alliance that had four of the strongest districts in on it. Besides… do you really think that districts like '3 and '8 are going to side against the rebels?"

"Point taken." Zelda and Roy both nodded as they approached an elevator to head up to the 9th floor. This was going to be an interesting and pivotal year in Panem's history and they knew it. The fact that they had Districts 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 11, and 12 guaranteed to be in on this operation made them both feel fairly certain that the other five districts were in on it as well.

"So…" Olivia smirked as the two tributes met up with her and the team at the apartment. Carver and Marian were still absent, but that might have also been explained by the lack of seeing any of the other past victors down on the main floor. "how did it go?"
"The careers are in on this plan of yours." Roy blurted out.

"Oh, it's not my plan," Olivia chuckled, "granted, I damn well have the influence to be involved, but it's Korra's plan. I just happened to get verification from the victors of Districts 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 that they are joining this thing. No Tribute—victor or child—wants to go into that arena two weeks from now, and so we're working on a way to circumvent that."

"Where's Hera, by the way?" Zelda tilted her head. "She doesn't know about this does she?"
"Right now, she doesn't even know where her clothes are," Olivia cackled, "but yeah—she's not exactly one to speak about it to. Most of the escorts are ditzy airheads as you surely know. Prime exceptions are the siblings Delun Frost and Junichi Thatch that work for Districts 2 and 12 respectively, although I am also pretty sure that the fellow from '6 and the lady from '11 might be aware of what's going on."

"and what happens if we fail?" Roy asked, "not to be grimly pessimistic here—but has anyone actually contemplated that success is not 100% assured?"
"Then we die," Olivia shrugged, "so either we can turn against each other and kill each other and let the Hunger Games continue, or we can try to put an end to this madness and possibly all be able to crawl out of this mess alive."

"So do you know when we're going to make our move?" Zelda asked.

"Ha! Shit if I know!" Olivia laughed, "but I'll keep you posted. If you two think you're going to get out of being dressed in next to nothing as you're paraded for the entire Capitol to see… well, I've got bad news for you. Zelda, I hope you in particular aren't afraid of showing your legs."

"Not exactly the first thing I would have thought of," Zelda shrugged, grabbing a nearby beer bottle and taking a swig, "but I suppose getting dressed provocatively pales in comparison to the notion of being killed or having to kill my friends."
"I'd say so." Olivia nodded, sitting back down. "Katór and Septus will be here any moment though, and so I wouldn't go too far.

"Like we have so many places to go right now," Zelda chuckled, flopping down onto the nearby sofa as Roy followed suit. "Fine, I'll suffer through this."
"We'll do fine," Roy elbowed her, "I've gotta say though—your little revelation did a wonder on my morale just now. Do you think Carver and Marian will be pleased?"
"Considering that I helped recruit them…" Olivia smirked, "they were ecstatic."

Zelda and Roy sat silently on the sofa as they waited for Katór and Septus, thoughts blazing through their minds. They wondered how this whole rebellion thing would play out without anyone getting caught or killed, and wondered what the others were scheming. They were eager for time to pass them by—because the sooner it did, the sooner they would be able to find out…