It's A Long Story… (Part II)
District 13
Annie Cresta-Odair pushed Haymitch Abernathy in his wheelchair down a corridor. Finnick walked beside them with his trident. They never left their quarters unarmed. It was late at night so only soldiers were in the hallways. They entered the war room, where Commander Smith was waiting for them.
Leonidas Smith stood erect with his hands around his back. He was in his late 40s, he had a crew cut of salt and pepper hair, he had a healed scar above his right eye and that was his only visible scar, and he wore the battle dress uniform of his rank. "Mr. Abernathy, Mrs. Odair, thank you for seeing me. I know this is a difficult time for you but this is urgent. May we speak in private?" Commander Smith said and glanced at Finnick.
"Finnick, go and check on Rose and Cinna." Annie said. Finnick reluctantly left. Smith then pulled out a device turned it on and set it down on the table. "What is that?"
"A jamming device, ma'am. On the feeds, it sounds like we are talking about keeping up morale. I am here at the request of Plutarch Heavensbee and your friends." Commander Smith said.
"The only friends I have are dead and one is about to be sent back into the arena." Haymitch said. You could see the sadness in his eyes.
"They're alive. Jackson Coin betrayed them, betrayed all of us. He is working with Snow or so he thinks." Smith said.
"What?" Haymitch and Annie said at the same time.
Annie covered her mouth and tears filled her eyes. Haymitch took her hand. "They're alive." Annie whispered to herself.
"They sent word to me once they established encrypted communications. They are with Heavensbee as we speak and Katniss Everdeen is going back into the arena at her own volition." Smith said.
"And why would she go and do something stupid like that?" Haymitch exclaimed.
"To rescue President Paylor. They say they have a plan but the situation has only become worse. Snow is planning an attack on District 13 and soon. Coin has given Snow everything on the defenses of this place. However, my forces have relocated and Commander Hawthorne and the victors are on their way back to help us repair the district's defenses." Smith said.
"And why tell us all this?" Annie asked.
"Because they asked me to. I will speak to the proper chain of command of Coin's betrayal. Commander Hawthorne will contact me again once the attack is underway. I must return to my men." Smith said.
"Thank you for telling us this." Annie said.
Smith nodded. "But for now, no one else can know, not even Axel Collins. You victors are the only ones I trust here in 13." Smith said, grabbed and turned off the jamming device, and left.
Annie pushed Haymitch out of the war room. They were almost back to Annie and Finnick's quarters when alarms began sounding. "What the hell!" Haymitch exclaimed.
Commander Smith then came running from around the corner with a group of soldiers. "They only just got word to me. The attack occurs in under an hour. Get you and yours to a bunker now!" Smith said and runs off in the opposite direction with his soldiers.
"You heard the man. Let's move!" Haymitch said and they entered the Odair's quarters.
"Mom, what's going on?" Finnick asked.
"Grab only what you can carry. The Capitol is about to invade this district. We have to get to a bunker." Annie said.
Jackson Coin burst into the war room. He saw Commander Smith giving orders. "Just what the hell are you doing? I am in command here, not you!" Coin yelled at Smith.
"You are no longer in charge, Coin. Plutarch Heavensbee has given me command of the Panem army and you are under arrest for treason. You can add murder to the charges against you after the Games are concluded." Smith said.
"You bastard!" Axel violently pushed Coin up to a wall and had a small axe at his throat. "You killed my wife!" Axel was rugged looking, his eyes were red, his hair was a mess, and he hadn't shaved the excess of his beard. He had barely left his quarters since he was told Johanna was dead. He was here now only because Commander Smith asked for him.
"Mr. Collins, drop the axe and give him to me!" Commander Smith said. Annie then entered the war room, wheeling in Haymitch.
"You told Snow that they were going to District 3, didn't you! It's because of you that Johanna is dead!" Axel yelled. He was furious and ready to hack Coin to bits.
"Axel, stop!" Annie exclaimed.
"Why should I? He not only is responsible for Johanna but for everyone else we cared about who was on that hovercraft. And now Katniss is going back into the arena." Axel said fiercely.
"Yes, Coin told Snow where they were. But he's not responsible for their deaths." Haymitch said.
"Not responsible…? Not responsible! I am going to rip him apart limb from limb." Axel said fiercely.
"Damn it, Axel! They're alive! Johanna is alive!" Haymitch cried. That got everyone's attention, especially Axel and Coin.
"You're lying." Axel said. His eyes filled with tears.
"They knew they were betrayed once their hovercraft was shot down. They faked their deaths. Johanna did it to protect you. She knew Snow would come after you to get to her. Put the axe down." Haymitch said calmly. Axel yelled and swung the axe.
Everyone held their breaths. Axel dropped the axe, put his hands up, and stepped back from Coin. Coin was screaming in pain and holding his hand over his left side of his face.
"Get him out of here." Commander Smith ordered and men dragged out Coin. "You can put your hands down, Mr. Collins." Axel put his hands down and a soldier handed him his bloodied axe. "I have sent for my forces. They should be here…" Then the base was rocked by explosions.
"Peacekeepers are attacking! We were hit with a series of fire bombs and now they're landing!" A soldier yelled.
"Get the victors to a bunker and have men secure all entrances to this room. They'll want to secure this room first!" Smith ordered.
"I'm staying!" Axel said.
"Fine!" Smith said and handed Axel a handgun.
Soldiers jogged alongside Annie as she pushed Haymitch's wheelchair as fast as she could. "Mom!"
"Finnick!" Finnick then began to jog beside them. "Why aren't you in the bunker?" Annie asked sternly.
"I got Rose and Cinna into a bunker and came back for you and Haymitch!" Finnick said. They could hear gunfire. "This way!" They went around a corner and nearly bumped into a squad of Peacekeepers. Finnick speared the first one with his trident on instinct as Annie pulled Haymitch back.
"Get down!" A soldier yelled and Finnick dropped to the floor as the Panem soldiers and Peacekeepers fired upon each other, killing or wounding each other. Finnick quickly got back up and grabbed his trident. "Get to the bunker!" A soldier said. The wounded Panem soldiers kept firing on incoming Peacekeepers.
Finnick led the way. The sounds of gunshots echoed throughout the halls. The bunker was just down the hall. They founded a wounded man crawling towards the bunker. "Go!" Finnick cried and helped the wounded man up. Soldiers opened the bunker door and quickly ushered in Annie and Haymitch. Finnick was almost to the bunker when the wounded man he was carrying was shot in the back.
They both fell forward. "Finnick!" Annie screamed. Finnick groaned and grabbed his trident. He flipped onto his back and speared a Peacekeeper running towards him. More Peacekeepers fired upon the bunker entrance. Soldiers began closing the bunker door. "No!" Annie screamed again. The last Annie Cresta saw of her only son was him being surrounded by Peacekeepers.
A soldier held her back saying, "I'm sorry but we have nearly a hundred people to protect in this one bunker." Annie fell down to her knees beside Haymitch. He wrapped his arms around her and stroked her hair as she cried in his arms. He knew Finnick would go down fighting like his father but he knew saying that would bring no comfort to Annie so he kept his mouth shut. There was no sign of Finnick on any of the micro-cameras outside the bunker doors, only Peacekeepers.
A Peacekeeper punched Finnick on the jaw as two more Peacekeepers held him by the arms. He had killed several Peacekeepers before they restrained him. The Peacekeeper laughed and punched him again. "Stop!" The Peacekeeper looked over his shoulder, stood erect, and stepped aside. Cornelia Snow approached, holstering her sidearm. "Well, well, the son of Finnick Odair and Annie Cresta. This is a treat. Put him in my hovercraft and sedate him. The rest of us will move on to take the war room. They are putting up a fight over there." Snow said.
"Ma'am, our hovercrafts are being blown out of the skies and reinforcements are surrounding the area!" A Peacekeeper cried over the communications device in her ear.
"I thought we fire bombed the coordinates Coin gave us on the Panem army." Snow said. They had used all their fire bombs on those coordinates and District 13.
"We did, ma'am. And they have regained control of their automated defenses. Our men are being gunned down at strategic points all over the complex."
"Damn it!" Snow swore and Finnick began laughing. Snow nodded and a Peacekeeper knocked him unconscious with the butt of his gun. "Give the order to retreat." Snow said.
"Retreat. All remaining Peacekeepers retreat to the hovercrafts. I repeat, retreat to the hovercrafts," was said over the comms.
"Have a garrison sent to District 12. This small victory will make them overconfident. They'll try to retake control of the train system. Tell the commander there, no prisoners." Snow said as they walked back to her hovercraft.
"President Snow wants you and your men in District 12, captain, in case any rebels try to retake the train system." Commander Markus Thrash said.
"Yes, sir. Breaking off and making our way to District 12." Gale said and smirked under his helmet. He ended the transmission and their hovercraft broke off from Snow's retreating fleet. When they were at a safe distance, Gale contacted the Capitol bunker on their new encrypted communications network. "Good job, Beetee. Your device worked. We intercepted Snow's orders and are making our way for 12."
"Yes, yes. All Peacekeepers hovercrafts have been tagged and we are tracking all of them now. I have also tapped into their communications network. We can now intercept all communications from the districts and send back false transmissions to the Capitol." Beetee said.
"Good. We'll contact you when it's done." Gale said and ended the transmission. He engaged the auto-pilot and left the cockpit. All thirty seats were filled and twenty men were standing. They all wore Peacekeeper armor.
The soldiers nodded to Gale saying, "Commander," Gale Hawthorne's history with the Star Squad was well known and he had long ago proven to everyone that he was not just a political puppet. Everyone quieted down and looked at him.
"We'll arrive at District 12 in just a few hours. I want each and every one of you to remember that this is a stealth mission. We hide in plain sight until we are given the order to attack. We are going to see some bad things when we land but for now do nothing. I know it will be hard but…" Gale held up patch of a mockingjay on fire. "When the time is right, we will wear this bravely as we take back the districts and then we will wear them bravely when we march on the Capitol!" Gale said. The soldiers cheered.
A Few Hours Later
The hovercraft landed and the garrison exited off the hovercraft in perfect formation. Some Peacekeepers were waiting for them. The streets were deserted and they could see people looking out the windows of their houses. "Report." Gale said to Peacekeeper Captain Matthews.
"The district is secure. Most people don't even leave their houses. A curfew is in effect and anyone outside after dark will be shot on sight, no excuses." Captain Matthews said.
"Good. Half my men will join your men in protecting the train station. The rest will join up with the others in securing the perimeter. Any word on the Hawthorne brothers?" Gale asked.
"They have killed some of our men and they cover their tracks well. We don't know if they're still in the area." Captain Matthews said.
"Be on the lookout!" Gale ordered his soldiers over his shoulder.
"I didn't catch your name, captain." Captain Matthews said to Gale.
"Captain Hemsworth… You're free to check my credentials but it would be a waste of time. Until then, we'll bunk in the victors' village. Move out!" Gale ordered. The garrison split into two groups, one going for the train station and the other to secure the perimeter. Gale and Peeta walked with the Peacekeepers to the victors' village.
They walked past the gate. "Just over there was the home of Peeta Mellark and Katniss Everdeen. President Snow wants it untouched for now." Peeta glanced over at his house, relieved to see it still standing. "Victor Haymitch Abernathy's house burned down some days ago." Only charred ruins remained of Haymitch's house. "You and your men can sleep in this house, Captain Hemsworth." Captain Matthews said.
They approached a house a few houses down from the ruins of Haymitch's house. Peeta touched the door frame as they entered, planting one of Beetee's micro-cameras. They entered the house and saw that it had been furnished. "This will do." Gale said.
"There's a screen to view the Hunger Games. They've been delayed again since they only have twenty-three tributes. But they have Katniss Everdeen as a tribute so the Games should be exciting to watch." Captain Matthews said and Gale nodded. Peeta tightened his grip on his gun handle. Even though they wore helmets, Peeta could tell Gale was looking at him so he loosened his grip and tried to relax as much as possible.
"After we finish settling in, I will go over your reports at your assigned residence." Gale said.
"My residence is across from yours. I'll go ready my reports, captain." Captain Matthews said and left the house with the other Peacekeepers.
Peeta pulled out a portable screen and watched Captain Matthews return to his assigned residence. Gale pulled out and activated one of Beetee's jamming devices. They then took off their helmets and took in deep breaths. "What do you think?" Peeta asked.
"Securing the Seam and merchant sector shouldn't be a problem but most of their might is being focused on the train station… But we've been in tough situations before." Gale said.
"I can discretely make contact with Thom and he can get us some archers in helping us secure the Seam and merchant sector while you send more men to secure the train station." Peeta said.
"Wow, Peeta! You could have been a hell of a soldier." Gale said.
"Not for me." Peeta said with a grin. "Just know as soon as this district is secured, I'm on the first hovercraft to the arena."
"I know. And I'll be on it with you." Gale said and patted Peeta's shoulder. Peeta nodded.
Some Days Later
Panem soldiers tied the patch of the mockingjay on fire to their left upper arms. They checked their guns and their extra magazine clips. Peeta opened up a bag and pulled out his new bow and a quiver of arrows. He pulled back the bowstring and found everything to be satisfactory. Gale did the same with his own bow. It was lighter than he was used to but Beetee promised to make him a new bow, just like the one he lost in the wreck.
"The Games start in ten minutes. Hold your positions until I give the signal. Peeta, we'll enter the house and make sure all the officers are there and then…" Gale pulled out one of Beetee's incendiary grenades. "Captain Logan and his men will secure the train stations. We'll secure the Seam and merchant sector. We don't have to worry about the perimeter. Citizens of District 12 are handling that. We'll have archers assisting us in the merchant sector, since most of the Peacekeepers sleep there." Gale said.
Gale and Peeta entered Captain Matthews's assigned residence. They could hear sounds of excitement coming from the living room. They entered the living room and saw most of the officers with their helmets off. "Good! You made it! Take off your helmets, find somewhere to sit if you can and have a drink." Captain Matthews said warmly and poured himself a drink.
On the screen, the tributes rose from the tubes and the Peacekeepers cheered. Peeta's eyes widened when he saw Finnick Odair next to Katniss. Peeta and Gale exchanged quick glances although they couldn't see each other faces because of their helmets.
"Aunt Katniss, I'm so sorry. They…" Finnick says.
"It's okay. Just get to the Cornucopia. I'll meet you there." Katniss says and he nods.
"Let the first of the new era of Hunger Games begin. May the odds be ever in your favor," says Cornelia Snow's voice. "10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1." Boom!
The tributes swam for land and rushed to the Cornucopia. Peacekeepers groaned as Katniss beat on a Peacekeeper tribute that made it the Cornucopia before her and then she shot another with a bow and arrow. Peeta smirked until they began to cheer bloodthirsty as the Cornucopia began to spin.
Gale nodded to Peeta. They discretely pulled out two incendiary grenades. Beetee had shown them how to set the timer so they had fifteen seconds to clear out. They were all focused on the screen and cheering that no one noticed them drop the incendiary grenades and walk out of the house.
Seconds after they walk out the house, the living room blew. They took off her helmets and tossed them aside. They tie the mockingjay patch onto their left upper arms and then Panem soldiers hand them their bows and arrows. They can hear gunfire far off, most likely from the train station. They then moved in a light jog making way for the merchant sector.
"Captain Hemsworth, we're under attack!" A bloodied Peacekeeper cried when he saw them approach the merchant sector. He must've have been patrolling the perimeter when District 12 citizens began their attack.
"I know." Gale said plainly and notched an arrow. The Peacekeeper then saw the mockingjay patch on his arm and raised his gun. Gale swiftly raised his bow and shot the Peacekeeper high in the chest. Panem soldiers entered house after house firing upon Peacekeepers in front of the screen watching the Games. Those that exited their assigned residences were fired upon by Panem soldiers and archers.
Peeta kicked open a door and swiftly shoots a Peacekeeper going for his gun. He enters the house and saw the screen. "I can't think about this right now. Not when we have much bigger problems happening right now." Katniss takes a breath and runs her hand through her hair. "If anyone is going to have a spile, it's a Peacekeeper. Those still alive have probably formed a pack by now and they are hunting us down. Snow wants us dead. We have to move and find food. We'll worry about water and the clock later."
Peeta watched his wife on the screen and then he heard the floor creak behind him. He notched an arrow and spun around. A nervous Peacekeeper shot him in chest. Peeta released his arrow seconds before the bullet hit his body armor. Gale heard the gun and ran into the house.
"Peeta!" Gale cried when he saw him down on the floor. Gale knelt beside him.
Peeta groaned. "I'm alright." He groaned again as he sat up. "I guess this armor isn't so useless." He pulled the bullet out of his body armor. Gale sighed out of relief and helped him up. They exited the small house. "Do me a favor and don't tell Katniss." Peeta said.
"That shouldn't be a problem. Katniss would only kill us both." Gale said. Peeta nodded with a smirk.
More District 12 citizens appear in the merchant sector, proudly wearing the patch of the mockingjay on fire on their upper left arms. "We have the train station, commander. I repeat we have the train station." Captain Logan said over their comms.
"The district is secure!" Gale announced. Peeta raised his bow in the air in triumph. Panem soldiers and District 12 citizens cheered.
In the other eleven districts, the synchronized counterstrike proved victorious. Peacekeepers were easily killed in front of the screens as they were watching the Hunger Games.
Peeta stood in the living room of his and Katniss's house. He walked up to the mantle of the fireplace and viewed the pictures on it. One photo was a family of the Everdeen family taken before the victory tour. There was another family photo taken at his and Katniss's last anniversary with Katniss, Peeta, Rose, Cinna, Haymitch, and Mrs. Everdeen. Two photos were baby pictures of Rose and Cinna. Another photo was their wedding photo. In it, Katniss wore a simple white dress and Peeta wore slacks and a white button-down shirt tucked in.
Peeta picked up their wedding photo and smiled. Gale entered the living room. "The hovercraft is ready. And apparently, Beetee has a plan." Gale said.
"Good." Peeta put the photo back. "Let's go get my wife back." Peeta said and picked up his bow.