So my room was bugged. That's the first thought that came to my mind when Luca says I'm wanted in Command. When we get there the room is surprisingly empty except for two people, Leader Steev and Dr. Aurelius.
"Chose a seat," says Leader Steev.
I pick the chair across from Dr. Aurelius. Leader Steev skips his customary uncomfortable silence which he stopped doing around me after he realized I don't react to that tactic. If he had my mother in the room then that would be another story since there's any number of things that she could just be finding out about.
"As you know the Capitol and I have been working on a deal to secure the release of Mr. Grisson and yourself. Dr. Aurelius here believes it would be a good act of faith if you were to be released. However I still have Mr. Saddler's request that I ignore the deal for the time being. So, my question to you is what your thoughts are on the matter?"
The question catches me off guard. Dr. Aurelius and I have been discussing my release for the past couple sessions but it didn't seem like it was an option until about two seconds ago. He was being serious about wanting to know if I thought myself ready to leave. While I'm far from being all right, I'm much better than when I first got here. Dr. Aurelius said that once this was all over he'd still have a way for me to contact him if I needed to talk. Am I really ready for that?
"They're both right," I say. "In order for the other districts to even begin accepting yours, Kreg and I have to be released. Plutarch will make sure there's a live interview as soon as possible and I believe Kreg and I can look favorably on our time here. But Atlas has his reasons for wanting me underground."
Steev taps on the arm of his chair, "So I have surmised earlier. I had hoped to be informed before now on his reasons but neither Mr. Saddler or yourself have shared. But you're not the only one who can read between the lines, Miss Welkin. So I'm going to ask you once. Why do the Jabberjays want with you?"
I shrug. "They want a child from President Galba's line. It's no big secret he forced my grandmother into becoming his mistress. So there is a base to their belief that my Da is Galba's son. The same could be said for Uncle Boron."
Steev's eyes widen ever so slightly. This is exactly the type of thing that was used to blackmail Captiolists into helping the rebellion. Too bad it isn't true otherwise he might try to hold it over our family… maybe. Braden is right when he tells me I judge people too harshly.
"However it isn't true. Someone with no reason to lie to me said that all four of Falon's children are Grayson Welkin's by blood. In addition to this I have a doctor that has informed the right people that it is genetically impossible for Galba to be Uncle Boron or Da's father.
"This information isn't known among the Jabberjays. One or more within their ranks is deliberately making the others believe that I really am his granddaughter. They're the ones that tried to take me in District Three and again the night President Paylor was attacked in the Mansion."
Dr. Aurelius doesn't know this but I don't turn and look at reactions.
Leader Steev folds his hands together, "I'll admit I am very curious how you learned of their plans for you, Miss Welkin."
"Not sure if I should be proud of it, but apparently I can pass as a Capitolist fairly well. I heard it straight from one of their members at her home."
The look they both give me suggests they are grateful that I'm not their kid. My parents would ground me for the rest of my existence if they ever find that piece of information out. After the war my grandfathers said they'd lock me up for the rest of my life but that lasted a month.
"I think going after your brother or sister would be in their interest. Much less trouble," Steev says sarcastically. So he does have a sense of humor.
"Sorry to interrupt…"
I whip around to see the screen behind me flare into life. Atlas and I stare at each other in surprise for a moment before he says.
"Well this is convenient. Just the people I wanted to talk to. Called up to see if you had any new information. My informants are telling me the Jabberjays are making another move any time now so new theories will be good."
We take a few minutes to toss a few ideas around, but it's nothing that Atlas and the others hadn't already thought up.
An alarm goes off, one I don't recognize. It must be on his end.
"Hang on a moment. I've got company," says Atlas.
His tone is casual, but when he cocks his gun I know that his company is unexpected. Atlas closes his computer so I can't see what's going on behind him but I can still hear. My hands grip the arm of my chair as I hear the door being kicked in and several shots are fired.
I want to scream out his name but the sound catches on my throat. Not Atlas. Please not Atlas.
For a few agonizing minutes I wait. Images of Jeth's body fill my mind and his face is replaced by Atlas'. Squeezing my eyes shut I wait one, five, ten minutes. He's dead… he's not answering because he's dead.
Suddenly the screen is lifted and I can see Atlas again. I search him over for injuries but I can't see any. He's not acting as if he's in pain. He really is all right!
"Are you certain?" Atlas asks someone behind him.
"No, I just spent the last year and a half among those mutts so I could get insider information on what the new trends will be this autumn. And then just for giggles decided to risk my cover to warn you."
Atlas winces before turning to us, "Sorry for the interruption. Jabberjays were paying me a house call."
"How many," Steev asks before I can.
"Four. But I only had to shoot one. Thank you Carina."
"My pleasure. Didn't feel like killing you anyway."
"Carina!"
Carina appears on screen. Her face is harder, humorless, but one look at me and her normal personality peaks through her features.
"Well if it isn't the little absconder. Later you'll have to tell me how you pulled that one off. It's not easy breaking someone out of prison. And on your own too I understand." She must see the look on my face. "Oh not on public record yet?"
I mouth, no, before indicating present company. "Good to see you alive and well. So what's the big emergency?"
"Nice to see you too," she says with a quick smile but it soon goes away. "There's no way to stop this, but the Jabberjays are abducting children of prominent members of government and Capitol traitors. It's going on now. My job was to kill Atlas and take one of his nephews
but sadly Atlas put up a fight and I was only able to kill him before the rest of them escaped."
"Carina…"
Carina cuts him off, "I haven't moved up from pawn, Atlas. I'm an electrician I fix things. Phoenix has no intention of mixing the classes with one exception. My information was limited to what I was to do and where to meet up. Only the pilots have the location of where we're going and the best I can do now is to put a tracker on the blasted thing."
"So I'm supposed to play dead now?" Atlas objects.
"Who needs to remain the spy among the Jabberjays? Me. So yes, you're dead and I killed you. The others were killed because you put up a fight. Now be a good zombie and notify Nero that we are in need of his services to sell that."
Atlas makes some kind of sound that's somewhere between a growl and a snort but he does what she tells him to do.
"Hovercraft… so they're not staying in the Captiol," says Atlas. "That leaves the districts, resorts, or arenas."
My mind drifts back to the surveillance video of the breakout. Jeth is bravely staring Panthra down as he lays there dying. Panthra's cold merciless eyes bore into Jeth's as he says, "May the odds be ever in your favor… or not."
My heart stops as I come back to the present. Was his words really to Jeth or to us? That phrase was only used by the Capitolists when referring to…
"What are you thinking Vix?" Carina asks.
"Hunger Games."