AN: Hello readers long time no update, I know! I Am So Very Sorry For The Delay! As you can see I haven't given up on this story, so please don't give up on me! I now have a new computer my old one crashed, and I lost everything on it. Just my luck XP"I had to restart this chapter while battling a mean case of writers block. I know where I want to go with this story it's just getting there that has become a challenge. Thank you, to those of you who have stuck around and I will try to do better, by you, and this story. Now at long last, back to the story…
Chapter 37: Message Sent, Message Received.
Zafrina explains how the message will be sent as we join Senna.
"We are sending the signal to a switch board in D13's Communication Center. There is a set of unlit buttons that once connected them with someone in D12. We will flash the message across during a time when our people are in control of the board. It may take sending the message a couple of times before anyone notices the transmission. Once they see us and are able to transcribe it, we should receive a reply right away."
We reached our destination where Senna was already hard at work. We all stood transfixed for a moment, hypnotized by the rhythmic movements her hands were making. If you read the message while listening to the tapping sound, it resembled a symphony that was being skillfully conducted by Senna.
Imagine putting a beat to the tapping and reading the message at the same time. Tap, tap, pause, tap, tap, pause, tap, tap, tap, pause, tap, tap, tap…
'Mayor, Victor, Minor's son, A Friend to both, please hear what our songbird has sung.'… STOP
'Witness proof our hero is alive and well. Not a criminal that was being held.'… STOP
'If you watch the new moon phase from the rocky remains, you'll finally know all the lies they've laid.'… STOP
I noticed how the message was in code. Not a hard one to break but, enough to know that not everyone will understand.
Mayor/Carlisle, Victor/Rosalie, Minor's son/Jacob, Friend to both/Alice, please listen to our songbird/refers to the mockingjay therefore/me.
I'm not the criminal they claim me to be, nor am I being held prisoner any longer.
We'll be contacting them during the next new moon. Were they will be able to hear and see me tell my story therefore, discrediting the Capitol's fabricated ones.
I also noticed that not everything that needed said was in the message. Like the satellite being used and the fact that it keeps sending the signal through the national broadcast. I figured Zafrina has a reason for all of this. Just as I finish that thought Edward asks,
"How will they know that we plan on using a satellite to contact them and that we are having problems with the signals?"
Seems I'm not the only one who noticed. It amazes me how in sync we are.
"We will be sending them a package with a device and explanation about the problems we've been having. We are hoping that by having matching devices with matching frequencies we might reduce the risk of the signal being intercepted. This is the first contact we've tried to make since leaving the Capitol. They will be on high alert once they receive it and will begin looking for any further contact we might try making. They will know the package is from us thanks to this message and the stamp of a mockingjay on it." Zefrina answered.
This explained much of what concerned us and so we stood watching Senna work. She spent the next hour repeating the message over and over again, leaving a 5 minute gap between each one. Allowing their contacts time to copy, translate, and compose a reply between each retransmission.
After sending the message about a dozen times we finally got a reply. We all breathed a sigh of relief even before Senna could translate.
'Guardians of the songbird stay safe, many enemies lay in the wake'…STOP
'Truth and justice must prevail, there are too many already laid false trails'…STOP
'An audience anxiously awaits a performance that's sure to be something great '… STOP
The message was a mixed blessing. They knew I was alive and that many of the accusations being made were untrue, they are willing to hear my side of things. However too many stories are being made up and no one knows which leads to follow. Meaning some believed the lies and we now have new enemies.
"This we can work with." Zafrina says with conviction.
"Do you wish to send another message?" Senna asks.
Zafrina considers this for a minute before answering.
"No too risky someone from 13 might notice. Both sides will be watching now, we will not send anything else unless there is an emergency, I'm sure they will do the same."
Senna nods and starts packing up whatever wasn't needed any longer. Kachiri silently entered the room a minute later. Once again Zafrina took command and started barking orders.
"Now that we have successfully made contact, we need to send the package right away. I want to be gone before trouble comes knocking at the door. All of you need to pack up provisions and be ready to move.
"We haven't found Demetri's weapons room yet, once you're all packed I want everyone to search for it. Check every nook and cranny in this place, I want it found. We are going to need all the help we can get, in order to get out of D2.
"Any questions?" she asked only pausing for a brief moment, "Good now get to work. Bella, Edward, do you need any assistance in packing?"
"I know what we'll need. We're good." I reply.
"Of course your up for the challenge little mockingjay. You truly were born for this moment."
With that said she gives me a knowing smile and off she went to send the package and prepare for our upcoming departure.
Edward took my hand and gives it a light squeeze, "Shall we?"
"We shall." I retort then add, "I think there is a storage room over here."
I pull him in the direction I think the storage room is. He stops me before I open the door.
"You truly are incredible, love. Thank you, for saving me and loving me and just being you."
"Oh Edward, you make it easy to love you and of course I saved you. You are my better half I couldn't very well leave you behind, now could I."
He crashes his lips onto mine. This kiss is different, it was filled with passion, lust, and it felt like he wanted to consume all of me. In that moment I was lost in need.
"Enough with the lovie-dovie stuff and make with the packing." Senna calls for somewhere in the house.
We reluctantly pull apart, both of us gasping for air. Then we chuckled at being caught yet again. I turned and opened the door.
I was correct it was the storage room. Once inside Edward volunteered to look for some backpacks. He figured I'd be better at finding everything else we might need. I was scavenging for anything we might need.
This caused a moment of reminiscence. I was always the one to scavenge when Jake and I went hunting. He said I was very perceptive and could find things he would overlook. I could also spot a rabbit or squirrel from 40 yards away, and shoot it with just as much precision. I never realized I would one day look back on that time with a sort of fondness.
The irony is not lost on me. I thought I had it rough back then, taking care of my mother and sister. Now I held the future of Panem in the palms of my hands. It wasn't just a matter of putting food on the table anymore, it was a matter of providing a life worth living. I wasn't just breaking a few rules, I was trying to cause a revolution.
To think, a dirty little nobody from the Seam causing such a ruckus, gaining the attention of a nation. For simply trying to protect her sister from certain death and trying to do what was right…
I didn't want glory or fame, wealth or comfort, none of that really appealed to me. Taking care of those I love was my only goal and look where that has led. My only hope is if I somehow survive all this that once everything settles down I'll be able to melt into the background once again.
Shaking my head to clear out these thoughts so I can focus on the task at hand I begin looking for anything we may need while on the run. Edward had found a couple of packs while I was lost in thought and was gathering anything else that might be of use next to them.
I'll have to go through everything later when I pack what we need up. So I just began to add to the quickly growing pile. With the both of us working in a comfortable silence, we made quick work of our assigned task.
Edward was across the room from me when he froze. So in tuned with each other I automatically looked over to see what had caused his sudden halt of movement. He looked at me with a hint of wonder in his eyes. He moved everything that was near the wall where he was standing. I crossed the room to see what had him so intrigued. As if reading my mind he started explaining himself.
"There are some perks to being the mayor's son. There's a mandatory conference in the Capitol every couple years, were political leaders from each district attend. A few years back they were allowed to bring a companion. My mom was ill so dad brought me."
While he was explaining he was running his hands over the wall.
"District 1's mayor also brought his son. The kid was snooty, acted like a know it all jerk. He bragged about how much better life was in his district, and how they were superior to all the other districts. He droned on and on about all the treasures of his district possessed and how they had all sorts of secret ways of protect these treasures. I knew most of what he was saying was made up but, I figured he might have some useful information so I probed. Nothing he had to say was of use and I began to giving up on gaining any real insight. He must have sensed he was losing his audience and he had to pull out the show stopper."
Edward paused in movement and story as a large smile spread across, he sobers before continuing.
"He probably didn't know how top secret or how vital the information he had was. If he had I'm sure he wouldn't have told me what he knew. Reflecting back if the Capital found out what he told me it would be a death sentence for him."
He shakes his head as if to clear that train of thought, as I watch as Edward's hand seems to disappear into the wall, once he was elbow deep his arms stopped it's decent.
"It's a Holographic Image-Camouflaged Safe or Hics for short. They use them in District 1 for storing the jewels and other riches they produce there. There is a rumor that the kings have a hidden room in the castle. It's for if they are ever under attack, they can hide like the coward they are. I bet they're using this system to keep it hidden."
Edward turned his arm and the wall seemed to blink in and out of focus. After a few more seconds a door appeared that wasn't there before.
"Want to guess where Demetri stores his most prized possessions." he says while smirking at me, then called for Zafrina.
Edward cautiously opens the door, light jumps to life at the movement, and so did the action around us.
AN: And there we have it folks the long awaited chapter 37, worth the wait? Please leave a review, let me know what you're thinking. Does anyone think I should have a banner made for this and the first story? If so does anyone know someone who designs them? PM or review to let me know. Until the next chapter I bid you farewell.