Chapter 10 - Pods
In the morning we all gathered in front of the apartment buildings where Collins was standing, waiting. The camera crew were already there in their bug like suits waiting for their day to begin. I was the first to arrive at 07:50, the others stumbling out their doors a few minutes later. Brant was the last to show at 07:59, we was obviously one of those that woke up and left. His brown hair sticking up at weird angles and large bags under his eyes. He gave a sideways smirk, pleased with himself that he was not late.
"Good morning soldiers." Collins began. For a man of such short stature he was able to command with nothing more than the strict tone of his voice. "I hope you have had a restful night's sleep because now the real fun begins. Nice of you Brant to join us, and may I say you look rather camera ready."
Brant's smile slipped as he reached his hand up to smooth down his hair. Clearly he had forgotten that we were going to be filmed.
"We will be working from the center of the city outwards in a radiating fashion. If we do not encounter any problems we should be able to clear the city in a few weeks. Most of these streets have already been cleared and work will begin shortly on tearing down the old buildings. Our apartments will not be touched yet. I will let you know when we will be moving into other buildings as we make our way further out of the city. These.." said Collins as he motioned to the 3 camera men behind him "are our film crew. Knowing media people, they will be getting in our way, putting themselves in unnecessary risk, and being a general pain in the ass in order to get the perfect shot. We will have to be babysitters to them, and make sure they come out of this safe from their own stupidity."
The bug like crew was not happy when Collins said this, but it didn't make it any less true. I had seen camera crews like this before with Katniss. Collins was right, they will put themselves in harm's way to get the perfect shot, but unlike Collins I did not see this as stupidity, I had seen real bravery in the actions of the camera crew.
"So when do we get our close-ups?" Asked Brant as he struck a ridiculous pose. It was like he was trying to be Finnick, God's gift to women and only wanted this opportunity to get with some ladies. Several of the other younger soldiers laughed at this, but myself along with some of the other seasoned fighters scowled. Collins was not a young soldier, he did not laugh.
"Oh you think you're funny don't you?" Said Collins walking right up to Brant getting in his face. "We may be on a stupid assignment but you will always remember you are a soldier first and I expect you to act like it. I will not have you disgracing the uniform you wear for a slight chance you get too hook up after this, do you understand me Soldier Adams?" Collins glared into Brant's eyes until he shifted down out of his line of sight. Like a dog learning who is the pet and who is the master.
"Oh come on, this will also be fun, and what a great chance to showcase just how desirable it is to be a soldier." Purred a new voice coming from behind us. I turned to see a woman with shoulder length pink hair strutting toward us. "Hello everyone, my name is Amithy Rose, I will be your, " She paused and narrowed her eyes slightly, "director."
"Great." Mumbled the soldier next to me.
Amithy began her speech walking up and down the lines of soldiers, purring her words at us. "As Captain Collins was saying, we will be showcasing your heroic adventure through the city. This is all about you, we want to show all of Panem just how brave, heroic, and desirable it is to be a soldier of this great nation. We no longer want the citizens to fear your presence, rather we want them to become overjoyed by your presence. We will make you as loved as our victors were." Amithy stopped in front of Brant and smoothed down the side of his hair that refused to cooperate. Under her touch the hair obeyed. "There, that's better." She purred again. Brant's cheeks blushed crimson as he looked down shyly.
Collins cleared his throat, trying to clear the air. "Alright soldiers, let's move out."
We started out only a few blocks down from our apartment buildings. Collins produced a small electronic map that projected into the air the info structure of the section of street we were in. "This boys will be our first obstacle of the day. Com tells us there is a deactivated pod 30 feet in front of us. It was triggered by pressure sensors. There are explosions hidden under the road, every 5 feet until the next intersection. Once the pressure sensor is activated all the bombs will explode simultaneously, leaving any one in a 50 square foot area without limbs. We will be reactivating the pod and then remotely triggering the bombs. So if you like explosions as much as I do, this should be fun." Said Collins with a mad grin.
"What about the cleaners?" I said to Collins. An explosion that big would certainly devastate the surrounding buildings. If someone were to be inside, someone like Fie, they could be hurt or killed.
"The cleaners have all been rerouted to other buildings for their safety." Said Collins, clearly wanting to get back to blowing things up.
Fie wasn't a cleaner, she wouldn't have known to stay clear of this area. "But what if someone didn't get the news, shouldn't we make sure to clear the buildings first. I mean.." I was struggling to find the words I needed without telling him about my visitor. "We don't want to accidentally blow some idiot's leg off on our first mission. People aren't like us, they are stupid."
Collins considered my words and then decided I was right. "Split off." He yelled. "There are 3 buildings on each side of the road, they will all need to be systematically searched and cleared of idiots before we can set off the explosions."
We divided up and searched the buildings, there was not anyone found. Collins was frustrated with the amount of time we had taken to do the search but at least I felt better knowing that Fie was not in one of the buildings.
It was nearing mid-day when Collins reactivated the pod. He stood smiling with anticipation. He held on to his thin electronic map with the now active pad blinking orange in the sky. "You all might want to back up, this should be fun." Announced Collins widely with fire in his eyes as he pressed the orange sensor on the map.
The explosions produced a wave of heat while shaking the ground we were standing on. Windows rattled and then burst open, raining shards of glass down into the street. We were all back far enough, with Collins the closest. He laughed wildly with a huge grin on his face watching the fireball recede. "Well boys, I don't know about you but I think I'm ready for lunch." Said Collins as he turned and marched away. We followed behind him heading back for the apartments.
"Alright let's see, it is 13:12, lets meet back at 14:00 sharp." Said Collins as we disappeared into his building. The bug-like camera men started the tedious task of shedding their equipment, buzzing to each other about the great footage they got.
I walked away from the group to my apartment on the far end of the building. I was happy that everyone else had decided to stay closer to each other and further from me. As I entered the door I heard a squeal as I was enveloped into a hug.
"I was so worried, I heard the explosion and the ground shook so bad. I hurried back here and waited for you. I figured you would have a lunch break but you took a while to get back here. I was worried you were hurt." Said Fie, her arms still wrapped around me. I just stood there in shock from her excitement from seeing me, not returning her hug. I felt a warming sensation of relief knowing that she was ok, and had not been anywhere near the explosion sight.
Fie released me and stepped back after I had not returned her embraced. She looked shy and embarrassed as she took a step back. Her arms folded in front of her chest, closing herself off from me. She had changed out of my shirt, and was wearing a dark green tank top with light tan shorts. Her hair was pulled back into a long pony tail.
I shuffled forward a step and enveloped her into a hug of my own. I was overwhelmed by how happy I was to see her. She wasn't expecting this, but slowly wrapped her arms around me into a small hug. "I'm happy you're ok too. I was worried you were around the pod that exploded." I said into the top of her hair. A whiff of her hair filled my nose, she smelled like cherries and mint.
We released each other and stepped away just a step. Standing closer than we had before the embrace. "I made sure that we cleared the buildings before we activated the pod. The cleaning crews had all been informed that we were going to be doing some blasting but you wouldn't have been told. I...I was worried for you." I stated simply.
A smile etched across her face. "Aww, were you worried about me?" She teased.
"A little." I answered mischievously. I liked the way she teased me, it was playful and challenging. I always have loved a challenge. "Mostly I came back because I was hungry." I toyed, mock hurt registering across her face.
"I'll get you something to eat then." She said as she sauntered toward the kitchen, swaying her hips as she walked. I couldn't help but to stare at her ass as she walked away. Her shorts ended right below the bottom of her cheeks. The fabric stretched across her curves, slightly darker than her milky skin. She looked back across her shoulder beckoning me to follow. My mouth had gone slightly dry from her seductive show and I had no words to answer with. I willed my legs to move and followed her into the kitchen. A triumphant smile across her face.
She made a simple lunch, turkey sandwiches with cheese and pickles. I smiled into my bread, not telling her it was one of my new found favorites since getting out of the Seam. I had only had this simple meal a few times in District 2 as it was considered plain food that most people stayed away from. I wondered how she had access to meats when there had been no fresh food coming into the city for several months. Aside for the workers in the mansion of course.
I checked my communicator 13:28, I still had a while until I had to go until I was due back. "When do you have to go back?" Fie asked as she finished her lunch.
"Oh not for another half hour or so. Enough time for us to get to know each other a bit." I answered getting up to go and sit down on the couch. Fie cleared our plates and then came to sit next to me. She sat on the other side of the long couch, curling her legs up underneath her.
"What would you like to know?" She asked, green eyes searching my grey ones.
Looking into her eyes was like looking into the woods in the early morning of a crisp spring day. I thought I could get lost in those eyes, they reminded me of home. The reminded me of Sunday morning hunts with Katniss. Maybe that was why I wanted Fie around, she reminded me of Katniss in strange ways. They didn't actually look anything like each other but they were both incredibly strong for their size. Fie was feisty like Katniss, but playful, which Katniss never was.
Fie cleared her throat as I had taken a lot of time lost in my own thoughts, ignoring her question. "Sorry I was just thinking about what I should ask you." I responded hoping she could not see my thoughts through my eyes.
"Would it be easier if you were on top of me like last night? You didn't seem to have a hard time coming up with questions then" She smirked back.
This is what I like about her. A small flicker of heat rushing through my body as I was reminded of last night. The knife falling away from my memory. "Maybe we could arrange that." I said back. Why couldn't I come up with better responses. They flowed from her soft pink lips so easily, but mine took too much thought and all the wrong timing. I frowned to myself.
Fie adjusted herself and moved closer to the junction between the sides of the couch. She was not touching me but I could feel a current stretching across the gap begging for our skin to connect. Katniss. My subconscious hissed at me.
She put her elbow on the back of the couch and then rested her head in her hand. Looking up at me with her eyes, she looked like she was begging. I imagined momentary those eyes looking up at me from between my legs the same hungry look in them, only hungry for me. "So?" she asked.
"Umm." I had no thoughts of questions for her. Not now when my thoughts were roaming somewhere else. "During the first few days of my job, would you mind staying home while I am out? I just don't know what kind of damage we may end up doing to the cities and I really wouldn't want you to get hurt." I blurted out, the only appropriate thing I could manage.
My question took her off guard. She was expecting me to dive into her past. Not me guarding her safety. She blinked a few times then answered "Sure, I mean your presence here changes everything anyways. There are more people out and about, the chances of me being spotted are higher. So it's in my best interest to stay out of sight. I could always go exploring in the night anyways."
Her answered relieved me, I wouldn't have to worry about her being in danger. I looked down at my communicator, 14:05, "Shit." I jumped up off the couch. I had not realized time had gotten away from me. I was late.
"I got to go, I'm late." I offered as an apology for startling her.
I hurried out the door to find Collins on the other side about to knock. "Sorry Sir." I mumbled to him before quickly closing the door so he couldn't peer inside.
"MmHmm." He grunted as a response and then followed me to the line of soldiers waiting. They were trying to stifle a laugh, great, now I looked as bad as Brant.