*The Capitol: Several Days Ago*

"You did well out there Katniss," I tell her over another dinner. "And considering how smoothly things have been going lately and how cooperative you've been, I'd say another concession is in order."

"What kind of concession?"

I simply shake my head and smile. "Now, now. That's to be a surprise."

Things have indeed been going quite smoothly.

The first interview managed to demoralize some of the rebels. Not enough to make a discernible impact yet, but a good start so far. I have a good feeling that the recent footage of Katniss will add upon that good fortune.

More importantly have been the constant strategic gains being made recently, even without the assistance of that blasted commander from Central. And neither Two nor Twelve show any signs of restlessness.

To top things off, construction of the Fort East is nearing completion. Once finished, it should give us a foothold to launch a direct campaign against Thirteen.

Also, ever since she and her mother have been working at Panem Medical Center, Primrose has been keeping her mouth shut. The return of her cat seems to have improved her disposition vastly as well.

All in all, I can't complain.

Without warning, my projector comes to life.

"What's this now?" I haven't authorized any broadcasts recently.

However, instead of the Capitol seal, it's Thirteen's with the mockingjay motif superimposed over it.

So the rebels have finally managed to break in. Probably with Beetee's help.

Of course, the video starts off with Plutarch Heavensbee introducing himself and dramatically summarizing the events leading up the Rebellion. That bloviating gamemaker has always been obsessed with theatrics. I see leaving the Capitol has not changed him one bit.

After Plutarch has finished with his pontificating, the footage cuts to Cressida Fowler, which explains where she went. Fowler was a high profile journalist and one of the most respected in Panem. The Capitol was actually rocked by scandal for a while when she and several of her co-workers disappeared without a trace. Naturally, Katniss' and Mellarks' Victory Tour pushed that out of everybody's mind; such is the fickleness of Capitol attention spans.

In any case, I have little doubt as to who the main speaker will be.

Katniss gasps when Peeta Mellark is finally introduced; most likely since she has not seen any sign of him for weeks, but also probably because of the physical state he's in. No doubt this was actually shot not very long after our interview went out, but it's clear that the short amount of time between his escape and the arrival to District Thirteen has not been good to him.

"Mr. President," Ferrier, my communications specialist, calls in over the speaker, "what do you want me to do?"

"Nothing for now," I say with an amused smile. "But on my signal, cut the broadcast."

Mellark's describing what it's like to be in the arena. Normally, I would have them shut it off by now, but I decide to let it keep going a bit. The citizens of the Capitol are enthralled by such things, and I might as well give them some entertainment. Once things start veering into dangerous territory, I'll easily have the broadcast shut down.

Which seems right about now as it looks like he about to get into the subject of the relationship; some uncomfortable truths may surface as to why it was a sham.

"Alright, this has gone long enough. End it."

The image flickers as my technicians work to bring down the broadcast. At any moment now, it should shut off.

Any moment now…

Nothing's happening.

I frown at the image.

"Mr. Ferrier, I am still seeing it running. Are you or are you not shutting it down?"

"Um, sir… we can't."

Any lingering amusement slips away pretty quickly. Especially since it's has just been flat out mentioned that I threatened Katniss.

"What?" I demand through clenched teeth.

"We are trying the best we can!" That idiot of a technician is practically squeaking.

"Then try harder! We have the most updated infrastructure in this nation and a team of skilled specialists. They have a single aging victor. Are you honestly telling me you can't stop this broadcast?" By now, the boy is actually going into the subject of the war, which is as far past unacceptable as we can get.

"They seem to have several redundancies in place. We take one safeguard out, and there are several more replace it. They may even have some proxies here in the Capitol."

"Take as many out as you can then! You supposedly have a brain; use it! Is there no other option?"

"There is shutting down the grid, but you know what that will entail."

Dammit…

So now I have to sit here, impotent, and watch as this child attempts to undermine me.

By the time the interview has concluded, Mellark is screaming for the district to focus all their energy towards beating the Capitol. Then it ends with Plutarch's typical flair.

I get up, walk to the liquor table, pour myself a straight glass of Scotch, down the drink, and then I hurl the tumbler against the wall. The crystal shatters into a multitude of fragments, causing my dinner guests to jump.

With that single interview, Peeta Mellark managed to make the false relationship sympathetic and allying with District Thirteen the lesser evil. Worse, he managed to do all of this without uttering a single lie.

I should have killed the damn sentimental fool in the very beginning! If he would've died before Crane made that idiotic decision to allow two tributes, then Katniss, had she won, would've just been another victor.

However, I was so focused on her and those berries that I ignored the boy that made that action possible. The boy who willingly stoked those embers of discontent into flames of rebellion, while keeping himself in the Mockingjay's shadow. Hell, Katniss wouldn't have cast such a large shadow if it weren't for his actions. The declaration of love, the willingness to let himself die at the revoking of the rule change, the gift to the District Eleven, the lie about the marriage and the baby…

The only two other characters that approached his ability in crafting Katniss into the "Mockingjay" were Rue and Cinna. The former's martyrdom was unfortunately inevitable, and latter has been taken care of. But now that option is off the table as well. I just had to make the damn promise with Katniss that I wouldn't specifically target Mellark for death. I may be a lot of things, but I'm not an oathbreaker. The best I can hope for is him getting killed off early on in the war before he becomes true martyr material.

Looking over, I see that the Everdeens are looking at me quite fearfully. So, I take a moment to take a few deep breaths, as I straighten my collar and smooth back my hair, before addressing them.

"I'm sorry you all had to see me lose my composure like that. Don't worry, Katniss, my promise still stands. Now if you excuse me, I have some business to attend to. All of you are free to go."

None of them say anything as they leave, other than the usual pleasantries of thanking me for the dinner, though now Primrose is looking particularly smug.

After the door shuts, I bring the footage back up and pause it to glare at Mellark's frozen face.

So you finally managed to step into this arena. Well then, Mr. Mellark… Game on.

Game on.