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*Don't own it but I bet we wish we all did.*
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WARNING THIS CHAPTER CAN & WILL HAVE ACTS OF DEATH, VIOLENCE, LANGUAGE DESCRIBED
YOUR OWN DESCRECTION ON WHAT YOU CAN HANDLE IS HIGHLY ADVISED
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED
Hugs
My Revenge
A Katniss Story
Chapter 10
Trials & Errors
Capitol 3 days later-Funerals
For Katniss it was the worse day of her life & the weather matched her mood. Bleak, dark & gray as she said goodbye to her Lil Duck & her mother. She will never get to see Prim love, marry or, have children. Nor having the future that she fought so hard for little sister to have. Nor will she ever know what kind of relationship her mother & her were to have, Snow took that away from her. It left her in a very dark place. It didn't help that they are televising the funerals for the whole nation to see because of their status as the Mocking Jays.
Cato explained to her that in two, they sang Danny Boy during the final march. During service Katniss sang Danny Boy solo for Cato instead of the traditional Ave Maria. This is where Cato, Brutus & Haymitch look at her with pride for when Katniss sings, she is her father's daughter. Like her father, she puts her all into every song that she sings. It was the only time it was said by all that, the country was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
From glen to glen, and down
the mountain side
The summer's gone, and all the flowers are dying
'Tis you, 'tis you must go and I must bide.
But come ye back when summer's in
the meadow
Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow
'Tis I'll be
here in sunshine or in shadow
Oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you
so.
But when he come, and
all the flowers are dying
If I am dead, as dead I well may be
You'll come
and find the place where I am lying
And kneel and say an "Ave" there for
me.
And I shall hear, thou soft you tread above me
And all my grave
will warm and sweeter be
For you will bend and tell me that you love
me
And I shall sleep in peace until you come to me.
After the service in District 12 tradition family followed behind the caskets in respect for their dead. However Katniss doctor would only allow her to walk the route from the Tribute Chapel to the hovercraft bay if they go slowly. So it fell to Cato to help his wife here. Enobaria driving the team with Johanna & Cashmere walking along side of the horses. Pole Bearers included Gale, Brutus, Haymitch, Finnick, Gloss & Rory & six of the medical team. They will be walking along either side of the Carriage. Cato will walk with Katniss behind the caskets followed by the rest of the funeral party. Haymitch, Brutus & Gale volunteered to fly the bodies home where Volunteers from home will bury them in the meadow by James Everdeen.
Also in true district 12 tradition as they walk the route to the hovercraft bay, they will send them off in song for the mourning for District 12; How great thou art.
O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands
have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power
throughout the universe displayed.
Then sings my soul, My
Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then
sings my soul, My Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou
art!
When through the woods, and forest glades I
wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down,
from lofty mountain grandeur
And
see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.
Then sings my soul, My
Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then
sings my soul, My Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou
art!
And
when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can
take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died
to take away my sin.
Then sings my soul, My
Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then
sings my soul, My Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou
art!
When Christ shall come,
with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my
heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: "My God,
how great Thou art!"
All were solemn as they arrived at the hovercraft bay the undertakers took over with the poll bearers & put the bodies on board for their final journey home. Has the three men boarded all raised their right hand in the three finger salute for mother & daughter.
The salute continued until the plane took off. Katniss & Rory were the last to put their hands down. They walked over together to Cato who was waiting for both of them to take them back to the reception that was to follow. Katniss deep within her own thoughts didn't speak and as Cato drove away he noticed then a change come over Rory.
Rory Garrick Hawthorne was never the same again.
So it didn't surprise Cato when he heard from Gale five years later that Rory died. To this day is still puzzled the coroner for he couldn't find a medical reason why the healthy 20 year old man died in his sleep. The only thing found in his hand was a locket with a picture of Rory & Prim together with a small lock of Primrose's hair within. On the back of the locket was one word- Always. But that's another story.
Two weeks later; Capitol-Trials
Today was the day that they were starting the trials of the old government for crimes against the country. Snow, his advisors, the game makers of the Capitol were finally going it. Katniss has been waiting. For years she has been waiting. Ever since they murdered her father in those mines. For Katniss she may let the rebellion mete out 'their' justice, she wants revenge. She wants to torture the man who took her Prim away. She wants him to suffer agony. She wants him after his execution to walk the face without resting in peace or, in pieces like he did to those kids all these years in the games. To Katniss only then would justice actually be served. Only then the scales of justice would be even. This worries Cato, Brutus & Haymitch but none of them can blame her.
"Guys, she going into that zone. Believe me I've been there."
"Cato your wife, is finally dealing with her fathers death. On top of it Snow murdered the rest of her family. One of which she raised as her own for the last five years while still being just a child herself. You can't blame her for wanting pay back."
"I know." as he looks at her staring out the window of the penthouse.
Katniss stares out onto to Capitol feeling that dark anger she has kept at bay for over five years. The only thing that has kept her sane, was Cato. For when the final list came out for District 2, Cato found that all his cousins & aunt was on the list. He knew why. It was Cid Stone getting his revenge on his in-laws because his ex wife finally got a back bone & actually left the bastard. It still sadden him. Seeing that sadness in him made her all the more angrier.
Then she felt it, a kick & she giggled. Cato in true first time father panic mode approaches from behind.
"Hey, what's going on?'
"She's kicking up a storm again. Her way of tell her mother to get her head out of her ass. Here give me your hand."
Cato does & his little girl doesn't disappoint has she kicks a couple of more times just for him. He gives her a big smile at this moment that they share together. He knows that life will get better. It won't be the same but it'll get better with time. However now they have to go to court for the trial.
When they arrived, Rory Hawthorne was waiting there for them. Its a three ring circus to the point that Rory was in the back, Brutus came up to Katniss right, Cato on her left with Haymitch in the front to cocoon her from the reporters & Snow's loyal supporters who hurled sneers & insults at her. Everyone takes their seats has the five panel tribune gets this trial started.
Over 100 of Snow's advisors, 67 Game Makers & 17 Head Peace Keepers from various districts were put on trial along with the former President & Cid Stone. The trial was televised for all to see. For the months that followed several of the accused were found guilty. Overall not counting Cid Stone & the former president of the 100 advisors accused 89 were found guilty. Of the 67 game makers 53 convicted. Of the 17 Head Peace Keepers all but 1 were convicted of various crimes against the nation. This included Hundreds of counts of:
*Murder
*Conspiracy in association of various crimes
*Blackmail, Victors
*Embezzlement
*Assault & Battery
*Torture on minors who were of district birth
*Grand Theft
*Human Experimentation on Minors
*Prostitution & Operating a Prostitution ring on the Victors & minor aged children who were district born.
To Cato & Katniss the only good that came out of it during the trial was the birth of their daughter, Willow Primrose Malone. Along with the actual truth on Snow's Prostitution ring(s). When Katniss talked to Cato about it, the only thing he could do was hold her as she told him everything. The District attorney was going to put her on the stand to testify about it. Cato was going to talk to the DA. This is when he got very worried for he what Katniss showed him. A bullet was given to Katniss by the coroner himself after he removed it from her father's head. She had to tell Cato everything:
""Because there was an even more seedier form of it with the underage children that was never talked about but the old government condoned it. I know this because Snow tried to 'buy' me for himself from my father when I was 11 years old. When my father refused, he was killed in a mining 'accident' a week later. With a bullet in his head.
This is why he never came to 12 again. The coroner told him, that he hid the bullet for safe keeping. Then told him come hell or, high water if he propositioned another family here, he would make sure the world knew all about his seedy dealings. The coroner told me "Keep it safe & out of 12. One day I will know when to use it to bring the truth to light."
Mom was 'gone'. My Dad was dead & I had to protect Prim. It was the only way I could protect my Prim & the other little kids there. I think that's why we received very little in amounts of what was in the Tesserae that we signed up for."
Katniss for herself thanked her lucky stars that Haymitch pulled Cato aside for that talk before the trial.
For Cato then & there received a crash course of all of Snow's dirty games by both Haymitch & Brutus. Cato never even heard that something like this ever happened in his District. Haymitch pulled him aside & gave him the whole story. Snow didn't go to loyal districts because he wanted them to keep those districts separated from the outlying districts. It scared Cato that Katniss reliving her fathers' death would be the last straw & send her early into labor. Which it did during the time that Katniss was on the stand being questioned, Katniss produced the bullet that the coroner gave to her on that fateful day.
During the cross examination they grilled her to the point that would make most men crumble but not Katniss. Even after several warnings from the judge, the defense still ruthlessly grilled her over & over again. Until the Judge, said
"ENOUGH! ! Unless you have another question instead of badgering her, this witness is excused with the apologies of the court."
Has Katniss stood up she doubled over in pain.
"Mrs. Malone when are you due?"
"A month."
The judge cleared the court as Cato picked her up & brought her into the judge's chambers. By the time the medics arrived Katniss had already delivered Willow wrapped in her Daddy's shirt & was placed on her mother's chest to keep warm. She was small but she was perfect. Has the Chief Justice was the first to congratulate a shirtless Cato as the medics were taking them to the hospital.
Two of the judges went with Brutus & Haymitch decked, the defense attorney on the spot for bringing on the early labor.
Cato mind set was instant rage to kill Snow then & there. If looks could kill, Snow would have died on the spot.
Then it came to the sentencing phase of the trial it was swift & sure. Death at the Victors discretion by any means that the Victors saw fit. However when it came to the former President & Cid Stone the tribunal court decided something a little special based on the evidence presented to them.
"Cid Stone you stand convicted of hundreds of crimes against the nation. Including using your own nephew in who was a minor at the time in torturous human experimentation & child abuse. Since he was your chief victim, Cato Malone will be your executioner! ! (Has the court murmurs "Oh my God, Bloody Brutal Cato) Mr. Malone please step forward.
Has Cato moves to the well of the court the audience was thinking he can't be 'that' young boy. He couldn't be the Mocking Jay. The Chief Justice asked him one question:
"Cato Malone what is your form of execution?"
Knowing this was going to be asked he talked it over with Katniss & the other Victors. Cato already knew the answer when he replied in a cold steady voice:
"Death by Arena. For as Cid Stone always told me; 'What's good for the goose. Is good for the gander'. He didn't think twice when he forfeited my life so that their agent could use me by planting electronic devices into my person to rape another tribute during the games. Or to forfeit my life in the games by making the deal to make sure I did not come out of the arena with the former President. Let Mr. Stone receive a taste of what many tributes through the years have endured. However, your Honor a Victor has laid claim prior to this hearing."
"And which Victor is that Cato?"
"Victor Brutus Malone, Head Dean of District two Academy, sir. He is a Victor & by law in my District his word is law."
"Okay Victor Brutus Malone will you be willing to allow Cato to carry out the courts sentence or, shall you do it together?"
(the court murmurs loudly amongst themselves again)
Brutus replies so there is no mistake "I shall stand & carry out justice with my son."
What sealed it was when the Chief Justice sentenced the former president Cornelius Snow.
"Cornelius Snow YOU are a new breed of monster. YOU have been convicted of every crime that you were charged with. Over two thousand charges in total that I can see here. I take it you were going for a record. (as the court laughs) Any form of death would be too good for you at the executioner block. It would be considered too humane & would never balance the scales of justice. Therefore, as with Mr. Stone, the one you took so much from gets you. Mrs. Katniss Everdeen-Malone & Victor Aberthany please come forth. Has Cato helps his wife to the well the Chief Justice smiles for Katniss is holding Willow who's about three months old in her arms.
"Mrs. Malone what is your form of execution?"
Katniss hands Willow over to her father. At this point Willow cracks an eye open sighs, snuggles down ( as the court goes awww.) goes back to sleep on daddy's shoulder. Katniss answers the Judge but she put her twist on it:
"Your Honor, arena style with a twist like they did to rig the games to favor the winner that 'they' wanted year in & year out. Arena your honor, except it would be all of the convicted that were tried in this court. Put all the convicted in the arena to fight for their lives like so many children did in the past 75 years. Like they did in the Second Quarter Quell. 48 came in, only one came out (as Katniss point to Haymitch Victor of the 50th Hunger Games). But before they fight for their lives on national television for the world to see, we put the former president on a center pedestal along with Mr. Stone on a pedestal between the 'tributes' & front of the horn of the Cornucopia. Before the others fight for their lives, they have to execute FORMER PRESIDENT SNOW & CID STONE. The last man standing, gets to live in that arena for the rest of their life in exile."
"You believe this is just, Mrs. Malone."
"What's good for the goose is good for the gander, your Honor."
"Madam, how so?"
"I do not doubt my husbands' abilities nor that of any Victor. However its the best means for the crimes that they committed against this country. We're not sending their children into arena like the Capitolites did with the District born. Those whom committed no crime against this country other than being of district birth. No, we are sending in the ones who caused this mess which cost the lives of thousands.
*First, not counting Snow & Stone there are has it stands 225 CONVICTED men who are awaiting their sentence to be carried out right now.
* Second, this way the executions are public, justice will be carried out in a controlled environment & those responsible who were a part of this get a taste of what was done to so many of our children. Many of whom, never made it home.
* Third, if its meant for them to live fate will allow it. If they die, the odds were never in their favor. More important justice will be served.
The surviving Victors could be the Game Makers, the court can judge if this is justice. Either way their sentences will be carried out in a controlled environment that would serve to balance the scales of justice better. I wait your word sir."
"Victor Haymitch Aberthany what is your form of execution for Snow?"
This is what seal all of the convicted fate & made Haymitch a legend to this day.
"Your Honor, I'm with the Mocking Jay."
The Chief Justice looked at the two standing before him, then at the others on sitting on the bench with him.
"We will take a short recess & return with our final sentence for all 171 of the convicted."
All rise as the Judges leave murmuring within the court about this twist of events. Has Willow, Cato & Brutus met them half way Katniss looks at Cato.
"Did I do right Cato? By the looks of ..."
Cato stops her with a kiss.
"Quit doubting yourself Fire Girl. If anybody should be calling for their heads its you, Johanna & Haymitch. Snow murdered your family. Now its up to them to see it."
"3, 2 , 1.. WAAAHHHH!"
"Okay Miss Willow. Okay I know the drill. Room service." Has Katniss takes Willow from Cato for a diaper change & feeding. After Katniss leaves with Willow the two older men look at Cato.
"Room Service?"
Cato tells them the same thing his Fire Girl told him when Willow was a week old:
"Think about it from Willow's point of view."
The more they thought about it the funnier it was to them as they both looked at Cato & bust out laughing.
30 minutes later:
Willow is now being held by Daddy while being fed in case Katniss gets called up again with Haymitch. Everyone rises has the judges return to the court room. Instead of calling Katniss & Haymitch back up to the well they call Brutus & Cato back up. Cato hands Willow over to Katniss as he stands & walks with Brutus up to the bench. At this point the judge has his hand over the mic has he is talking to Cato & Brutus;
"If we go with your wife's idea Cato it may make you look weak. Are you sure?"
"Katniss wants all the Victors safe. It won't make me weak since she told me what she was going to say long before this trial started. This is her way of doing it within the realms of the court. It make sense. I wished I would've thought of it."
All of a sudden in the quiet of the court:
"BBUURRPPPP! !"
All look at Haymitch who shakes his head & point to Willow as Katniss looks at her daughter.
"Willow? Really, geez." As Willow smiles to claim it & you see a few people hold back the laughter.
"Brutus are you going to claim Victor Status if we go with Mrs. Malone?"
"No. I have my reasons."
The Judge nods & has the return to their seats. Once seated, the two convicted men are ordered to stand.
"Cid Stone & Cornelius Snow being convicts of too many crimes to count. However the reason why, we took a recess was to see if it was legal to award you the punishment you both so richly deserve. Therefore the other 225 others who were sentenced to death by any means a Victor deem necessary is vacated.
*ALL 225 will face off in a Death Match in the Arena for a total of three arenas being used. With each arena having a total of 75. However before THEY START their third arena game, YOU BOTH will be on a center pedestal to fight for your lives in the SAME ARENA against them, FIRST! !
*Should you beat all 75 of them, you two will face off in a DEATH MATCH between each other. It may not be perfect yet, THIS IS THE JUSTICE THE TWO OF YOU DESERVE!
Said match is to take place one month from today to be televised for all to see, where the Victors will be YOUR Game Makers, the court will monitor these games to make sure justice is delivered. Bailiff get these men out of my court! !-We are adjourned."
As everybody leaves they are in shocked. Later when the Mocking Jays were interview by Caesar he asked why:
"I wanted them to know & feel what each Tribute went through before they were sent to their deaths each & every year. Where innocent children were sent in, a shell of a person came out. They all of them need to feel what each tribute felt before their deaths."
"What about the Prostitution ring? What can you tell us about it?"
"If the Capitolites were 'interested' in a certain Victor's company, Snow would threaten their families lives & sell them into prostitution to keep their families alive. That's right Caesar, Prostitution! If you refused like Johanna Mason & Haymitch Aberthany did your families & friends were slaughtered in front of them until they either complied or, had no one left. Though it never was brought up in conversation in my District, it was well known on what Snow was doing & condoned by the Head Peace Keepers."
"How do you know about it Katniss?"
It was a Bombshell that came out in the trial about some of the district children who were sold before they even went into an arena or were of 'reaping' age. Yet I don't think it prepared the country for what Katniss was about to say:
"Because there was an even more seedier form of it with the underage children that was never talked about but the old government condoned it. I know this because Snow tried to 'buy' me for himself from my father when I was 11 years old. When my father refused, he was killed in a mining 'accident' a week later. With a bullet in his head." It was in front of the nation that, she showed Caesar during the interview. This bullet was given to Katniss by the coroner himself after he removed it from her father's head.
After the initial shock what Katniss said about the 'real' President Snow came out, the subject was changed & the interview concluded.
Now the fun of rebuilding the country begins to have a untied Panem. Yet Katniss knows in a month a new set of games are going to begin. For in Panem's history books the country will be united for all & not just the few. In the books this will be the 75th arena would be the last arenas. The difference, instead of children going in, criminals are going in and no one will be coming out.
***Sorry had the numbers wrong on the convicted. it wasn't 169, it was 225. So I adjusted for three waves of 75 with the last 75 getting to execute Cid & Snow. It's my little twist for the story.***