Chapter 37: Lesser of Two Evils

Disclaimer: I don't own THG.

Clove:

The inside of Command was as incredible as Cato had described. It was full of the most impressive technology Clove had seen outside of the Capitol. This was a true war room.

"Soldier Kentwell, what a pleasure to finally meet you in person."

Clove smirked at the white haired woman. "Should I be flattered that the president of Thirteen knows who I am?"

Coin smiled. She must have thought it was a pleasant expression to wear, but somehow, Clove knew it did not belong on her face.

"Please, have a seat."

The president motioned to one of the chairs attached to a large circular table.

"I 'd rather stand, actually." Clove wasn't getting a good vibe, sitting would make her feel overpowered by the stranger.

Coin gave a quick nod and immediately got to business. "I expect Soldier Hadley has been keeping you up to date on all the happenings inside Command?"

Clove refused to answer, worried that perhaps she would want to obtain evidence against him. Was it a crime to talk about the meetings?

"There won't be any punishment. In fact, I was counting on him to do so." The woman's voice was confident to a point of sounding almost like bragging.

So she can predict everything that happens. That's freaking great.

"Squad 451 lost a soldier and you thought to replace him with Peeta Mellark." Since Coin had no problem speaking of the meetings, neither did Clove.

"And that troubles you?"

"It intrigues me." Clove replied. "Mellark is unpredictable."

"Not entirely unpredictable." Coin corrected her. "His focus is on Everdeen, he wants her dead."

"But haven't you made a point of keeping her alive? She is the Mockingjay, after all. You need her for the time when this war is won." Clove hoped to force the whole story out of her, in a subtle way. Coin obviously had no interest in Katniss but making a direct accusation may not be the way to go.

The older woman grinned. "You're not as clever as you think, Clove."

With a frown, Clove thought to take a more forward approach, seeing as subtly was not working. "You aren't all that clever either. You've sent Mellark over with 451 hoping he'll snap and attack her. It isn't a well thought out plan. Everything leads back to you."

Coin moved to what appeared to be the central computer. With the press of a few buttons, the main screen lit up, displaying some scenes of 451. "You fail to see the bigger picture. A boy isn't the only weapon down there. There are pods and mutts. Capitol soldiers. Squad 451 will have to fight them and we both know, I can't guarantee their survival. Should they perish..."

Coin trailed off, finally giving Clove the time to think upon her revelations. Coin hadn't planned a single murder. She had planned a massacre.

"You're sick!" Clove couldn't hide her disgust.

It all made sense. Why 451 was being followed by cameras, why it was Katniss Everdeen and Victor Finnick Odair, why Coin had sent Peeta along for the ride. It was one big distraction and at the same time, a way to be rid of the girl on fire and her now very disposable lover.

Clove was fuming, she should have seen this coming. Because in the end, Cato had been right. At this stage of the war, what happened to Katniss and Peeta was nothing. All Coin had to do, was make sure they got an ending. And she wanted them to have a nicely dug grave. This was her show, complete with a finale.

"After the war, what will Everdeen have to do? She'll offer to back someone to be the next president. Whoever she picks will have the support of thousands." Coin told her. "If she makes the wrong choice, she'll turn this whole thing on it's head. We can't fall apart at the end."

It may have been a sensible explanation, but all Clove could hear was fear. Coin was desperate to keep her power, she was willing to betray the entire country to keep it.

Clove laughed, mocking her. "You're absolutely pathetic. Afraid of a seventeen year old girl!"

Coin wasn't insulted. "I acknowledge the danger she poses to the Panem I envision. She won't die for nothing, she'll become what the nation needs most at the moment. We need a martyr."

Clearly, Coin was convinced that her plans would be beneficial. Clove was simply appalled at her shamelessness.

"Why are you bothering to tell me?" She wondered. Clove wouldn't waste time in going out to tell everyone in Thirteen that their president was a scheming snake.

"You'll leave here and tell who, Clove? Cato? Enobaria? You've nothing to gain from that, you're a minor player around here, no one will follow." Coin stated. "But I can reward you if you prove your loyalty."

"No." Clove said sharply. "I'd rather take my chances with finding followers."

"You forget who you're speaking to, soldier." She emphasized the word as though it would degrade Clove. "I'm president of Thirteen, the head of this government. You and you're lot are all here because I allow you to stay. Victor Enobaria is here under temporary protection, but that can end as soon as I say the word. Same goes for you. I can't know what information you revealed while you were held in the Capitol. How many deaths came as a result of that?"

Clove scoffed. "None."

Coin ignored her response. "I can try you for treason and you'll have no case to defend yourself with. And Cato, he's still a soldier. Squad 451 could always use a little more manpower. Lyme, she's got the backing of my army down in Two. But accidents can be made to happen."

With every threat, her resolve to expose Coin's plan weakened. She had told Clove about the plan with Squad 451 only to display her power and influence over the minds of the people.

Something very Snow-like, really. Looks like we'll never be free of people like him.

"What do you want me to do, that you have to resort to threatening everyone I care for?" Clove's voice was barely a whisper at this point, the initial shock made her incapable of proper fury.

Coin reached for what looked like a chunky watch, black and completely lacking in style.

"This is a communicuff. Used to keep in touch while in combat, it links back here, the Command center." Coin admired the creation.

"You want me to take a spot in the squad?" Clove was confused. Maybe Coin intended to kill her.

"I'm offering you a promotion." Coin clarified. "You lead your own squad and I can assure you, you're loved ones will live through this war."

Clove shook her head, having found a flaw. "You already have two people out of your reach." Lyme was in Two and Finnick already at the Capitol.

"I can bring back Lyme, if that's the problem." Coin replied.

"I want you call Finnick back." If not her her sake, then for Annie's. She needed him and Clove didn't want to see the moment when someone told her Finnick would not be coming back. Annie deserved better.

Coin sighed in irritation. "That I can't do. I've made my choice regarding everyone on 451. But what hurts more, losing one person or losing them all?"

Clove grit her teeth in pure frustration and ire. Her hands were suddenly too, empty. She longed for the cool feeling of steel between her fingers. Her knives would have been handy, Coin would have been dead in a second. That awful woman didn't understand, Clove would be responsible for someone's death no matter what choice she made.

Who? Who would she condemn? For the greater good, something had to be done. And Clove made her choice because it was one that had to be made.

"Where do I lead this squad?"

Coin wasn't surprised by the decision. "You'll have a team of ten, Soldier Hadley will be part of that group. Make him your second in Command if it'll make things easier. Johanna Mason should be recovered by now, she'll have to join you. Beetee has a game plan, be at Special Weaponry tomorrow morning, before your first team meeting. You leave the day after tomorrow."

"Where exactly are we going?" Clove repeated her question.

"You'll like this part." Coin said. "You're going to the Presidential Mansion. I want Coriolanus Snow in district Thirteen's custody, alive."

Clove couldn't enjoy the mission she had been assigned. She had traded people's lives for it. Finnick and Annie would be no more than a casualty. Johanna would know grief once again. Peeta Mellark, who was the most victimized of them all, would forever remain a victim.

This is war and people die. It's so natural.

And there was always the chance that someone on 451 had uncovered the plot. Boggs wasn't Coin's right hand man for nothing, he was likely to have seen through the ploy. Katniss wasn't as dense as Clove had liked to think, perhaps she too, had caught on. Clove truly wished they had, it would save them. But she would not use this to direct any threats at Coin, there was no need to push her to do something even more drastic.

"Is that all?" Clove was eager to be away from the tyrant. Having to be so submissive had her stomach in knots.

"It is. Congratulations, Commander." Her congratulations were only a cruel jeer.

Clove brushed off the false praise, quickly making her way out of Command. One day, everyone would open their eyes and see that Coin was no different from Snow. And then, they'd all be going after her. Until then, Clove would have to suck it up and live with the shame her actions brought.

I always wondered, if Katniss's team was never meant to get Snow, who did? So I came up with the answer; for the purposes of this fic, it will be Clove. Coin is all about the politics, and she needs a system that will favor her as a leader. She thinks Katniss will side with someone else, should there be another candidate. Clove is right about Boggs and Katniss knowing, and Coin realizes they do. But it's not like the Squad can go back to thirteen and announce it, they're stranded out there.

Anyway, thank you all so much for reading and do remember to leave a review! :)