Chapter 10. Smoke
Haymitch dropped the man's dead body after a few seconds and curled his hands into fists, shaking in anger. However, he didn't say a word; he just turned his head away from the group pointedly.
"... we need to go to 12. Please," Katniss looked at Mistral, her eyes pleading.
Mistral looked back to Katniss before forcing herself to a sit. "Katniss... we can't. Our squad is too small and it looks like more than just I got injured..."
Katniss chewed on her bottom lip."Please, Mistral. My sister... she's a talented medic. She's good. 12 is so much closer than Bonum. You guys can stay in the hovercraft. Please, if there are more... they could die."
The soldier sighed as she mounted her gun on her back. "It's not my decision. Lt. Zephyr is the one you need to convince..."
Katniss pressed her lips together before sighing and nodding, instantly running down the hill to Lt. Zephyr without another word. On the field, Lt. Zephyr watched almost hopelessly as his fellow squad members attempted to stop the blood from escaping one of their fallen member's leg. His gaze turned towards Katniss, being on high alert now for even the subtlest of movement. Katniss glanced at the squad members on the ground before clearing her throat. "Lt. Zephyr, I have a question, sir."
"Make it quick, we need to be heading to the craft soon."
"I wanted to ask if we could stop by District 12 before going back to Bonum."
His eyebrows shot up so high that they disappeared under his hood. "Out of the question."
"Please, sir. It's so close, much closer than Bonum. There's an uprising, my sister... she's a healer, a very talented healer. She can help these people sooner."
"That may be, but we cannot risk being seen more than we already have been. It's entirely too risky and we don't have the proper permissions and our numbers have decreased too drastically, especially to enter into a hostile environment."
"You can stay in the hovercraft. All of you, I'm not asking for your assistance, only a ride there. Please, she's only 13..."
"If the craft was spotted in Panem soil already that they sent their soldiers after us then we most certainly cannot get any closer. My answer stays a firm no."
"Fine!" she snapped, spinning around and turning to walk back up the hill. "I'll walk there."
"You will do no such thing!" he declared as he reached out, grasping her shoulder. "You are still on trial under Bonum jurisdiction and not to be let out of our sights."
She spun on him suddenly when he touched her, shoving at his chest. "I'm going there, damn it! And you and your stupid rules aren't going to stop me!"
He stumbled only slightly before bringing his gun up, aiming it towards her. She held her arms out. "Go ahead! You might as well because I'm not getting on that damn hovercraft with you unless it's heading for my home in District 12, you bastard!"
"We will head to the hovercraft and review all we've learned from this attack. If we can contact President Pyrrhus, then we will see if we have permission to infiltrate."
"THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH!"
"It's that or I fire and drag you back to the craft, Everdeen. You're choice."
Katniss stared at him, fire in her eyes with her fists clenched. "Fine. But if he says no, I'm leaving. I'm not going back there without my sister."
"Walk. We're regrouping and heading to the craft now."
The entire journey back to the craft took almost twice as long as the walk there, due to the injured. Amur had to carry the injured Mistral which slowed him down quite a bit. Unfortunately, the other soldier who was bleeding from the leg also had a bullet wound in his back and bled to death before they could get out of sight from District 13.
Once on board, Lt. Zephyr immediately gave the orders to his remaining soldiers to keep a close eye on all exits of the craft. As they ran off, the leader made his way to the control room without even so much as a glance at Katniss.
Katniss, however, was not known for either her patience nor her tact. She followed Lt. Zephyr closely. "Are you going to talk with your President?"
"Our telecommunications device is in the control room, calm yourself."
"Don't tell me to calm myself," she narrowed her eyes, keeping pace next to him. "I'm coming with you."
"Fine, but remain silent or you will be removed," he warned as he opened the doors. Inside wasn't as large as you would expect for such a large ship, being really only comfortable enough for four people. Lt. Zephyr sat down in a chair in the front center of the area before dialing a few numbers into the buttons panel.
Katniss stood behind him and crossed her arms. "You better explain the situation correctly."
"Hush," he barked before the window of the ship was immediately replaced by television noise briefly until the President's face appeared.
"Lt. Zephyr, your report on the situation?"
"It's as the girl said. District 13 has been flattened and none of our radioactive tracking devices picked up any signs of nuclear weaponry," Lt. Zephyr began his report. "However, the situation turned grim. Panem sent their soldiers after us whom were apparently on their way to travel to Everdeen's home region to deal with an uprising. They were instructed to cut us off and only myself as well as four of my squad remains."
The stone cold look on the President's face was almost chilling. "I see. That is unfortunate. Please hurry your travels back so you can file the full report to myself and the council."
"I intend to. However, there is a problem. Mistral has been shot and is bleeding profusely from the thigh. If we do not get her medical attention quickly, I fear for the worse."
For the first time since meeting with Katniss, Pyrrhus's eyes showed a hint of emotion. Concern. "I see. But if you cannot make the trip back to Bonum in time, I see no other options."
Katniss, yet again failing in following orders, sensed Pyrrhus's concern. She cleared her throat again. "My sister is a healer, President. She can help Mistral if we stop by District 12. It's much closer than Bonum."
"District 12? Was that not where the soldiers were being sent before intercepting your squad?" the President eyed her. Lt. Zephyr turned, giving Katniss an immediate glare.
Katniss gave Zephyr a look before looking back at Pyrrhus's image. "It was. There's a current uprising there, but I can get her."
"Flying the craft there would be dangerous. Too much so. If Panem discovers your presence, it will be disasterous."
"Sir, if I may," Lt. Zephyr turned back to him. "Flying in on our Bonum craft is indeed risky. However, we have a Panem craft currently still in good condition and nearby."
"This sounds more like a rescue mission than a medical emergency."
"It's both," Katniss admitted firmly. "And I'm afraid I can't leave without my sister in all good conscience."
"This mission sounds extremely risky for the small number of squad you have remaining, Lt. Zephyr."
"I can manage. Especially if we have the disguise as Panem soldiers."
Katniss fell quiet, glancing at Lt. Zephyr. She had been prepared to have to fight the man on every issue, and instead, he was helping her. The President stared at the two for a long time before nodding. "Only under the disguise. do not show your Bonum craft and leave your uniforms off."
"Thank you, sir," Lt. Zephyr nodded to the President before the window returned to normal. He turned his head back towards Katniss. "Now wasn't this a better alternative than being shot?"
Katniss's cheeks turned slightly pink but she lifted her chin slightly, defiantly. "Yes. Thank you."
"It will be a half hour to the Panem craft then an hour to District 12. Prepare everybody," he said before pressing a few buttons and switches as the craft began to rise. Katniss nodded once before quickly exiting the control room and sprinting down the hallway to where everyone had gathered.
The time Lt. Zephyr had estimated was spot on. In the time it took to collect the Panem hovercraft the Victors had escaped on and close in towards District 12, Lt. Zephyr's report on Mistral's condition was beginning to become more and more true. Her fellow soldiers had attempted to stop the blood from continuing, but their medic of the squad had died in the crossfire and none were trained how to properly remedy the situation. The anxious Victors and the squad from Bonum brought Mistral into what was formerly the Victor's meeting room, laying her on the table. Mistral bit her lip hard, still attempting to stop herself from screaming out in pain as she crossed her arms over her face.
"This isn't looking very good," Amur noted as the soldiers removed Mistral's long coat, the inside stained with blood and her pant leg dripping.
"She'll be fine," Katniss said quietly, determined, turning her eyes slightly away from the woman on the table.
The craft shook slightly with turbulence before shooting back in the direction towards District 12. It would take another hour to travel there, plus an unknown amount of time to find and bring back Prim to the ship. With the rate Mistral was bleeding out, it seemed they would either just make it or just miss it. Katniss's concern for the woman in agony on the table was overshadowed, suddenly, by the intense worry for her sister and the anger toward the Capitol. She silently walked over to the window in the room, watching the trees darting past as they flew.
The next hour seemed to drag on forever before District 12 began to come into view. Smoke was rising into the sky from its buildings and the flicker of a variety of fires lit up the twilight sky. Katniss gripped the windowsill tightly, staring towards her home. She turned, heading quickly for the door, anxious to get out and to District 12 as fast as she could. Gale's eyes turned to the window almost the instant she left it. However, when he saw the fires and smoke, he did not move. His eyes stayed wide and fixed on the District, his fists clenching slightly.
The craft flew until it was directly above the District's center. The three soldiers who remained, and had now abandoned their coats to attempt fitting in more, followed behind Katniss. One carried a rope ladder while another turned the camera on his helmet on. The third reached his hand out, gripping the latch on the door and looking to Katniss. With his spare hand, he handed her a gun identical to the one he had slung over his shoulder. "We've been instructed to go on your command."
Katniss barely glanced at the man. Her eyes were focused, angry. She just took the gun and held it tightly before nodding. "We'll begin in the center. Move out toward the Seam, where it looks like there's the most fire. I need you to search for both a small blond girl and a mother with three small dark haired children. If you see them, bring them immediately back. I'll go check my house in Victor's Village and the school. Got it?"
"We can't linger long," the man warned. "Also those descriptions are vague and we cannot afford to split up."
"I'll lead you towards the Seam," Gale's voice came from behind Katniss as he walked down the hallway. "One go with me and two go with Katniss."
Katniss paused, finally turning her eyes from the door to look at Gale. She furrowed her eyebrows, wanting to object, but then she settled on just pressing her lips together. "Fine. Be careful."
"You too. We'll be in and out as fast as possible and meet back on the craft. And you," he turned his head towards the soldier with the camera. "Keep close to her."
His voice was very authoritative, laced with determination. Between the gun fight at District 13 and now the break in to District 12, his focus had returned as the want to prove himself became a need. The lead soldier nodded as the cameraman handed Gale a gun for himself. All turned toward the door as the latch was pulled and thrust outward. The rope dropped down towards the smoky ground below, granting them entrance to the chaos.