Rewinding the feed I start at the part where Vixen escapes the Throne Room. What happened before that will wait until after she's safe. At first she looks like she's coming to the Control Room, but then she stops and abruptly changes directions.
"Smart fox," says Grandfather.
What do you mean? I type on the screen.
"I mean that was at the same time Phoenix's attempted coup. At the very least she would've been recaptured if she came here."
Oh, I type. At least one of us is thinking about these things.
Knowing there's only two ways she can go, I pull up both cameras. And then I see him, Justinian Burks. There's no way to warn her as she crashes right into him. The two of them stare at the other while I wait to see what will happen.
Grandfather stares at the screen calmly, "All right boy, show me your true allegiances."
"You all right," Justinian asks.
"Yeah," Vixen replies hesitantly.
He holds his hand out to her, "Well, come on."
Both of us stare at the screen when Vixen immediately reaches up and takes his hand. There she goes again dispelling doubt about a person I've been wondering for months about. When did she decide he was an ally because the Gamemakers were still deciding that one for me.
"Well that was unexpected," laughs Grandfather. "Did you know about this?"
I shake my head.
"Never mind that. They're heading for the maze." He reaches over me and types in a few controls. "With any luck they'll be stuck in there until this thing is over."
He then shows me how to end the simulation for when Thirteen is in control of that part of the castle. While he does that, Vixen and Justinian run into the maze and the simulation begins. I know this because the computer tells me it has, but the camera screens are blank.
What happened? I ask.
"I don't know"
"Good evening, Rookie," a voice on the computer says playfully.
"What the-"
Falon Dawnson appears on screen in costume. "Hear ye, hear ye. Her Majesty, Queen Messalina, has declared that because of your absence this last trip that you are hereby sentenced to figure out my new code before you can enjoy watching me solve yet another set of your simulations. Enjoy."
The screen goes back to the main display.
Grandfather slams the desk, "Blast it, Falon, your granddaughter doesn't have time for your games!"
"Passwords… really Rookie," Falon's voice taunts. "Try again."
"You're on," he growls. His fingers hit the keyboard with such fury that I take a step back. Never before have I seen him with such an obsessed expression. If Vixen weren't in life and death peril I might've found it amusing that a woman who's been dead for two decades can get so easily under his skin because not many have achieved the feat.
While he does this I check the other monitors. District Thirteen presses forward against the Peacekeepers ducking behind statues and pillars. If I still liked the Hunger Games this might be really thrilling. But I'm not thrilled, I'm a nervous wreck. I know Phoenix and he won't give up on Vixen not when she's this close.
How many minutes go by, I don't know. But eventually a red light flickers indicating someone is on the outside wall. Switching cameras, I find Vixen climbing down. Shaking my Grandfather's shoulder I try to point out the screen.
He glances at the screen for a second and then does a double take. "Now that's cheating."
My blood turns to ice when Vixen loses her grip.
"I'm coming!"
Vixen let's go completely and I fear I'm watching her fall to her death. But then she lands, rather dramatically, on the balcony. Justinian lands next to her a heartbeat later and checks on her. It's the same shoulder that I saw that ugly bruise on her earlier.
Oh Vixen what were you thinking coming here? I think.
They don't break for long before he wraps an arm around her and leads her into the room. The doors fly open and an entire squad of Peacekeepers storms the room. In an instant, they force them apart and subdue them.
Grandfather swears. "Keep on them."
I take his seat and start following them. I switch screens wondering if it's possible Thirteen could intercept. They're in the courtyard, but there's a small group a little further ahead. What I wouldn't give for a few traps to take down the Peacekeepers.
"And now we see why it was a good idea to replace the elevators when I said to," Grandfather rants as more Peacekeepers enter an elevator to join Phoenix. And I agree. All the elevators here are manual. There's no way to stop them.
Find Phoenix. That's where they'll be taking Vixen. If I know where they're going, I can let Thirteen know where to concentrate their efforts instead of going on a wild fox chase… wait did I really just think that?
There's no quick way to find him so I go back to the Throne Room and follow his actions. Smiling when I see him holding his nose, I fast forward until I find out he's hiding down in the dungeons. How appropriate.
A majority of the Peacekeepers start running down random hallways while small pockets retreat to Phoenix's positions. They're trying to distract them. Not if I tell Thirteen where to find them first.
"I'm sorry, Aurelia."
I whip around just in time to see the door close the rest of the way and hear the unmistakable 'thunk' of the lock moving into place. Abandoning the computer I fly to the door and try to open it but it doesn't budge.
Open this door right now, I try to shout.
But he doesn't unlock the door. Rushing over to the computer I start typing in commands to open the door but nothing works. It's a standard no technology involved lock that can only be opened from the other side. Why on the other side? I don't know. All I know is that I'm trapped. Getting back up I bang on the door over and over again.
If Vixen dies I'll never forgive you!