Thank you all who took your time to read and comments and like this story. Special Thanks to Norbertsmom for her excellent beta skills. -see note at the end - I do not own the Hunger Games
The war has begun. Rye's only mission to take down the HVAC, District 5 mission was to take down the Hydroelectric Dam, Ultimately to take down the Capitol. But will all of the Plans the Rebellion has made will they be able to take down the Capitol and who will live or die after the battle is finished.
The snow intensified and the temperature plummeted as the weather advanced. In command, Madge gripped her Romeo and Juliet book. There were reports coming from all of the districts. There were heavy casualties everywhere. District 5 still had yet to take out the dam.
"Girlie, stop feeling bad for yourself and get out there and rally the troops," Haymitch said. "They need you, they don't need to hear my voice. You brought this rebellion together."
Madge nodded. She opened the book to Act One, Scene Four, "I fear, too early, for my mind misgives; Some consequence yet hanging in the stars." Romeo said this, moments before he was to meet Juliet. Just like Katniss and Peeta, they were her star-crossed lovers. Katniss for years sneaking to Peeta's window to make sure he was well. Peeta hiding a love so deep for Katniss and unable to show it because of the dictates of an uncompromising government. Yet their love found a way and just like Katniss and Peeta finding a way to be together, this war would happen in one form or another because it was written in the stars.
Nothing Madge could have done could have prevented this moment. Snow wouldn't win. She was one of many characters in the struggle for freedom, much the way her mom was a pawn for Snow. Madge loved her mother, and her death hurt, but her mother was poisoned by Snow. Her mother thought what she did was right even though her convictions were wrong.
In the book, her mother gave her before she passed it shows her family came from the Capitol. They lost money in the war and came out to district Twelve to make their fortune. Her grandfather was the original Citizen, but he died of consumption. Her mother took up the mantle, being close to her father, having met Snow himself. Her aunt who went into the Games wanted to break with the Capitol. This gave Madge solace. Her aunt paid for her convictions with her life, just like Romeo and Juliet. Madge held on tighter to her schoolbook. Haymitch was right, the troops needed her.
Haymitch gave Madge an encouraging look.
Taking a big breath, she spoke, "I'm not sure if you can hear me. My name is Madge and I'm from district twelve. We're not big, but we're fighting for our lives tonight." She closed her eyes and thought of her mother and how delusional she was, how she caused the probable death of Gale Hawthorne. Her mother took away the freedom and happiness of others just like Snow did all across Panem. Her mother wasn't the enemy, it was President Snow and his brand of oppression.
Glancing up at Haymitch she thought of Katniss and how she and Peeta fought to protect what little happiness they'd snatched. Her voice became stronger and it reflected her resolute will to win. "We've got to remember that the President and his followers are the enemies. So President Snow, if you are listening, as my friend Katniss said, if we suffer, you suffer with us."
Haymitch grinned.
Madge took a deep breath. "Let's make em' suffer for all of the beatings, the starvation, the unnecessary deaths, the Reapings, and The Hunger Games."
Madge's voice was picked up by the different districts and it was broadcast into the helmets of those who were fighting.
Peeta listened intently as he waited in the hallway to take the command center within the guardhouse. They'd encountered at least fifteen Peacekeepers since entering the guardhouse. They'd been radio silent until this moment.
Purina gave the signal for them to attack the room.
The team busted down the door to the guardhouse. When they arrived, several Peacekeepers were tied up. A lone Peacekeeper with the black band on their arm turned around.
Purina grinned behind her mask, "Corin."
"Hey sis, remember those twenty credits you owed me," the Peacekeeper said, removing her helmet revealing a short haircut and a face identical to Purina's.
Purina shook her head. "Command, the guard guardhouse is secure."
"Great, can you send some assistance," Rye's voice sounded strained.
Purina ran to the observation window. "Damn," she grunted. She removed her helmet looking at the scene before her.
At first, she saw nothing because of the snow, then there was a lull in the storm, and Purina's fingers stiffened as the battle unfolded before her. Thread was outside with a group of Peacekeepers fighting against teams two and three. She watched him take out his weapon to fire, but it jammed. The cold weather was at least interfering with Thread's use of his sidearm. The mission was in jeopardy. "Command, team two and three need assistance."
"Get your butt out here," Rye shouted. Over the radio, they could hear the sound of the weapons.
"Is the HVAC down?"
"No, Katniss is going to blow it up."
"Can she do that?" Purina asked.
"Why not? She blew up one of the sheds out there," Corin said.
"In the dark, she did that in the dark?" Purina sounded disbelieving.
"Katniss is a crack shot Purina," Peeta said. "You know she shoots animals straight in the eyes."
"Where is Gale?" Purina said.
"I don't know. I haven't heard him over the radio," Corin said.
"If Katniss is alone and my brother needs help we've got to get out there," Peeta said.
Purina looked behind her at Peeta. She didn't want to send Peeta out there; he was the youngest, but he also was a good fighter and strong. She'd seen him flip a guard over his back and throw him clear to a snow mound five feet away. "Rain, and Kristen, you stay here with Corin. The rest of you come with me. Corin, you're in charge."
As they ran outside, the lights flickered. Then suddenly they were plunged into pitch darkness and the fighting ceased. Those on the ground activated the emergency visibility sticks built within their uniforms, those with the rebellion had green. The Peacekeepers had yellow. The Peacekeepers who were with the rebellion turned on their green ones.
The total darkness activated the night vision in their helmet visors. The storm momentarily intensified. Everyone stopped moving, looking for shelter. The roaring sound of wind and snow blocked all other sounds. An eerie silence descended as the hum of electricity died. With no lights, darkness encased the surroundings; it was as if the dark sky above coiled, waiting to strike with frozen ferocity. The wind grew stronger and the air became colder. The snowfall diminished, but the temperature continued to drop.
In command, the backup generator roared to life. All of the computers came back online.
"We need an update!" Madge exclaimed.
"We need to make sure the outage wasn't because of the storm, that it was because the hydroelectric dam was taken down."
All eyes turned to Madge who now sat at the control. "District Five, this Madge Undersee from District Twelve. Can you hear us?"
No response.
Silence reigned in command. Madge once more pressed the controls of the radio, desperately trying to confirm if the hydroelectric dam was blown up. "District Five this is Madge Undersee from District Twelve, please come in."
"This is District Five, the dam is down. I repeat the dam is down…and our district has taken out the Peacekeepers."
"They did it," Madge announced.
Cheers erupted in the room.
"Get on the horn, kids. Tell District Three and Six to attack the Capitol," Haymitch said. Immediately those in the room scrambled to do as he said. "Madge let our team know what is going on."
The intensity of the storm created a lull in the battle.
"District Five did it!" Madge's voice came over loud and clear through their helmets. "The Capitol is down and without power."
There was a chorus of cheers from all of the rebels listening. They were a step closer to liberty. Without electricity, the rebels in the Capitol could gain access to the Presidential Palace and capture President Snow. They were going to take over the main transportation hubs and other important spots that would aid in crippling the city. It would also allow for hovercrafts filled with rebels to land in the city.
Suddenly a gurgle was heard in the distance as the generators kicked in. The lamps crackled and hissed as they flickered back on. The dim lights illuminated the blizzard.
"Let's give 'em hell!" Purina shouted, giving the signal for them to move forward.
Peeta rushed forward. He wondered how he would be able to find Katniss. Knowing how she was prone to act first. He didn't doubt she was somewhere in the fray aiming at the HVAC. As they pushed on, they heard a whistling sound before a large moan filled the air followed shortly by a large explosion. The force was so grand it rocked everyone, some were thrown off their feet. Fire spewed from the back of the bunker where Rye and his team had been trying to take out the HVAC.
Peeta got back up to run; he had to find his brother. No doubt Rye would be in the middle of that bedlam. Purina shouted orders as the sounds of shots being fired filled the air.
The barrack shook when the HVAC blew up. Rye ran and leaped out of the way as the ball of fire shot into the back of the barracks. His helmet registered the heat when it licked his uniform. He and his team crawled on their knees, looking for an exit. The smoke was thick; switching to radar was no good. The radar in their helmets was built to register heat in the cold environment, but as the temperature inside of the building intensified, team two was blindly seeking an exit.
"TEAM TWO DOWN! NEED ASSISTANCE!" He cried, but there was no response.
Outside the battle raged.
Katniss ran back to her original spot. When she shot the arrow there were no signs of movement around the HVAC. She hoped Rye had gotten his team out of there. She was glad no one was paying attention to her movements. Though it would have been easier if Gale was here. They could work in tandem.
When she was settled back into her blanket on the snow mound she saw Thread.
"He's alive?" Katniss muttered to herself. That man was harder to kill than a cockroach. She had to get rid of him. She aimed for Thread when a second explosion rocked the packed snow beneath her feet sending her flying backward.
She got up and climbed back up in time to see the bunker had caught fire. The fire illuminated a rebel with the leather band on his arm running toward the burning bunker. No doubt it was Peeta looking for his brother.
"PEETA!" She yelled watching him from her post. What he didn't see was the Peacekeeper who was chasing him with his weapon drawn. "NO," she screamed.
Nocking her arrow, she fired at the Peacekeeper. The arrow sliced through his neck.
Katniss forgot about her post and ran down the embankment of snow hill toward Peeta. She wasn't going to lose Peeta like she lost Gale. The thick smoke and snow blinded her as she ran. Katniss removed her helmet. Then she saw a Peacekeeper lift his gun and point it at a rebel who she thought had her leather band tied at the wrist. He was being pinned down by another Peacekeeper.
"Peeta!" Katniss quickly nocked another arrow and swiftly shot at the Peacekeeper who had his weapon aimed at Peeta. Just as the loud pop from his handheld weapon sounded knocking Peeta to the down, the arrow sliced through the Peacekeeper's chest. He turned his head surprised before collapsing onto the ground.
"PEETA," Katniss yelled, reaching him.
She was trying to remove his helmet when she heard a click before she felt the cold muzzle of a Peacekeeper's weapon on her forehead. Her eyes glanced up to see Thread maliciously grinning down at her.
Katniss scowled. She should have felt fear but she was not going to give him the satisfaction.
He raised an eyebrow. His finger squeezed the trigger. Katniss thought she would have regrets, but she didn't. Especially when it came to Peeta. She wasn't ashamed that she stalked him, even though she will never admit it to anyone.
She sat up straight, looking into Thread's eyes, waiting for the shot, but it never came. Thread was tackled to the ground. She saw the red hair poking out from beneath his helmet. "Darius," Katniss whispered.
The two men rolled on the ground. Thread's yellow emergency visibility sticks built within his uniform distinguished him from Darius' green. The weapon discharged and Darius went limp. Katniss grabbed her bow quickly and nocked an arrow. Thread pushed Darius' body off of him before standing. Katniss knelt on the cold ground and let her arrow fly. It flew straight into Thread's eye.
Thread swayed momentarily. The tail of the arrow jutted out of his eye socket. The snow flew around him wrapping him in a coat of white before he crumpled to the cold ground.
Turning her attention back to Peeta, Katniss removed his helmet. He was breathing shallowly. She blinked in shock. The blond boy staring up at her was not Peeta. "Keegan?"
"Sorry," Keegan spouted. "My girl also gave me a leather strap just like Peeta's."
Katniss wanted to laugh from the delirium. She saw a movement from the corner of her eyes. Her hands quickly lifted her bow, and she pointed it at the Peacekeeper. She breathed out as she noticed the black band tied around his arm. He ran to Darius and knelt beside him. Turning around she focused on Keegan. "Where are you shot?"
"Left side."
"Okay let's get you to help." Katniss stood, slipped on her helmet, and helped Keegan get to the guardhouse where she knew he would be safe there. "We've got wounded headed to the guardhouse."
When she arrived a woman that looked like Purina was bringing in Darius' body. Katniss's gut clenched at the thought of another one of her friends dying.
Keegan lost consciousness and he collapsed, bringing her down with him. Removing her helmet she checked to make sure he had a pulse.
"Katniss," Rain called.
"Can we get the bleeding to stop?"
"Hazelle's here with your mom," Rain said, waiving two others over to help him.
"How?"
"They popped up here out of nowhere. I'm glad because most of the injured are ending up here."
"I've got to find Peeta," Katniss muttered, putting on her helmet before leaving.
"Good luck," Rain said.
In command, Madge paced back and forth. They only had ten to fifteen minutes tops before the weather would become too dangerous and she would have to give the command to retreat.
By now, all districts except for District One, the Capitol, and their home district were freed.
"District One has won the battle."
Madge closed her eyes.
"We're almost there girlie," Haymitch said.
"It's just us and the Capitol," Madge swallowed.
"District Two has deployed troops to the Capitol."
Madge nodded.
"What's wrong?"
"What if we fail?" Madge said. "The Capitol still isn't down."
"We'll win. The people of the Capitol aren't like the people in the districts. They depend on the districts for everything. They're like helpless children. With the forcefield down, the only other defense they have is around the palace."
"You should know, you've been there."
"If we can get to Snow, the Palace will fall," Haymitch said listening to Katniss cry out for Peeta. He frowned, "Damn."
"What's wrong?" Madge asked.
"Katniss has left her post."
"But…" Madge said. "That means we're losing the battle."
"Katniss," Haymitch barked.
Katniss's voice faded.
"Katniss, get back to your post." Haymitch waited.
The only news coming in was from District One and the Capitol.
"Can't she hear me?" Haymitch asked.
"The storm is intensifying. Also, the explosion has short-circuited our ability to communicate with the teams."
Madge and Haymitch glanced at each other. If there was no way to talk to the troops on the ground, there was no way to know how the battle was going.
"Find a way to fix it," Madge ordered.
"On it." the tech said.
It was imperative that they be able to communicate to the team to seek shelter.
Outside the storm intensified. The wind howled and the temperature dropped once more. Katniss glanced at her timer. They had to win and they only had a small window in which to do it. As she moved away from the guardhouse she saw another body being brought in. She neared them to observe.
Katniss's eyes searched the man's wrists. It wasn't Peeta. Grateful, she headed toward the flaming bunker, through the blustery storm. The popping sound of the weapons as they were fired became louder as she neared.
"Peeta if you can hear me, please tell me where you are," Katniss said, hoping he would reply. It was getting harder to see. She used the flames as a guide. Peacekeepers were trying to get into the other barrack for safety as the tide of the war was changing on them. The number of Peacekeepers was dwindling. The Peacekeepers who switched sides were helping turn the tide.
As she ran, she was tackled to the ground. The Peacekeeper who tackled her grunted. They raised their hand up to strike her helmet. Katniss recalled the lesson Peeta taught her. She shifted her leg up and connected with the man's groin area. The man yelled and fell off her. Katniss sprung up and ran. A flash of the yellow emergency visibility sticks caught her eye. A group of Peacekeepers was making their way to where the assault vehicles were kept. Taking one of her explosive arrows she aimed and shot the building as they went inside.
Just as the building exploded, she felt someone rushing at her from behind, seeing the yellow let her know it was another Peacekeeper. Katniss quickly turned and shot an arrow, quickly bringing down the assailant. She kept moving toward the last known location where she'd seen Peeta. The snow was falling harder.
Katniss neared the bunker. Taking off her helmet she screamed, "Peeta." She looked around on the ground hoping he wasn't one of the dead bodies there.
"Katniss," Peeta coughed from the inside.
"Where are you?" She couldn't help the panic in her voice. Hearing Peeta was in the burning building caused her blood to freeze. Without a second thought, she put her helmet back on and ran inside the building. About halfway in she saw Peeta dragging another rebel.
"In the building," Peeta coughed. "I'm looking for Rye."
"PEETA," she shouted.
"Help me with my brother," Peeta cried.
Katniss ran toward them. The building was hot but the suit must have been flame retardant as the gauge on her helmet displayed the temperature. She slipped her arm around Rye's shoulder and helped Peeta get his brother's limp body out. They were walking out when the door to the building collapsed. Katniss saw Cressida and her crew there recording them. The snow was now coming down slanted. The fire was starting to burn out because of the thick wet snow.
Once outside, several men grabbed Rye and sat him on the ground. Peeta kneeled down and removed Rye's helmet. Rye coughed but he looked gray. His breath was shallow, and his body shook. "He needs medical attention."
"Peeta, we've got to get to safety," Katniss said.
"We've got to make it to the second bunker," Cressida said.
"But they're still fighting," a rebel Peacekeeper said.
Katniss glanced at Cressida, "I've got to do something." Grabbing a flaming stick she ran out into the fray. She tore off her helmet. "HOLD!"
The fighting stopped.
"Quick, record!" Cressida said.
"We should transmit this," Castor said.
"Can we?" Cressida asked.
"No harm in trying."
In command, the tech yelled, "We have a transmission coming in!"
Everyone turned to the monitor and they all saw Katniss standing in the middle holding a piece of burning wreckage.
"We have to transmit whatever Katniss says to the districts and to the Capitol," Madge said.
"Get Beetee on the horn," Haymitch said.
"Yes sir," the tech said. "I have Beetee."
"Haymitch," Beetee said.
"I need you to pump this live broadcast throughout the districts and into the Capitol."
"I can do that, patch the message through me."
In the middle of the battlefield, Katniss stood heaving. "IN LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES THE WEATHER IS GOING TO GET SO DANGEROUS THAT IT CAN KILL US. IF YOU WANT TO KILL ME, TAKE YOUR SHOT." Katniss's breath came out in puffs. "I'M DONE KILLING. I'M TIRED OF HAVING TO LIVE WITH HATE. HATE LED TO SNOW'S CAPITOL CREATING THIS WEATHER. HATE LED TO YOU COMING HERE TO HURT WOMEN AND CHILDREN." She peered out into the snow. She could see the yellow and green lights flickering in the snow."
"DO YOU WANT TO KEEP THE OLD WAYS SO BADLY THAT YOU'RE WILLING TO DIE FOR THE CAPITOL IN SUCH A CRUEL WAY! THE CAPITOL RUN BY SNOW IS THE ENEMY."
Katniss paused and looked around.
"THE CAPITOL DOESN'T CARE ABOUT US. BUT TONIGHT WE CAN STOP THE CYCLE OF HATE AND HELP EACH OTHER. WE CAN GRAB OUR WOUNDED AND HEAL THEM AND SHOW OUR NATION, THAT WE ARE ONE PANEM. NOT DIVIDED BY HATE THE CAPITOL HAS INSTILLED IN US."
"SNOW'S REGIME HAS US ALL IMPRISONED BY EITHER FEAR, HATE, OR POVERTY. EVEN YOU PEACEKEEPERS ARE IMPRISONED. HE MAKES YOU SIGN UP FOR 20 YEARS OF SERVICE TO A DICTATOR THAT DOESN'T CARE IF YOU LIVE OR DIE. I'M NOT BETTER THAN YOU. I JUST WANT TO LIVE. BUT I WANT TO LIVE IN FREEDOM." The cold was hurting her ears. "IF YOU WANT TO LIVE, PUT YOUR WEAPONS DOWN AND CHOSE FREEDOM."
In command, they watched as one by one the Peacekeepers with their glowing yellow emergency suits came out of the snow with their hands in the air. One of them shouted, "WE WANT TO LIVE!"
Katniss extended her hand in A peaceful offering. "Let's get as many people to the second bunker before it's too late."
"We've got provisions and first aid there," one of the Peacekeepers with the green emergency visibility stick said. He picked up Rye and threw him over his shoulder. Peeta put Rye's helmet back on him.
"Hang in there," Peeta whispered to his brother. He then turned to Katniss and hugged her, before putting her helmet back on.
The transmission ended. Madge turned to Haymitch. "We won."
"We still have to take the Capitol, but they have seen this and hopefully this will help us."
Together, Katniss and Peeta along with the other rebels and the Peacekeepers set to pick up as many wounded and bring them to the second bunker.
The weather was getting worse by the minute.
"We've got to go," Katniss said, pointing to the bunker.
They made a human chain and slowly made their way to the second bunker. Once inside the safety of the old building, Katniss ran to Peeta. His arms went around her. He smelled of fire, smoke, and soot, but underneath it all, she could smell his sweet cinnamon and dill scent. Her body shook with relief. It didn't look good for his brother. Katniss's small hand at the small of his back brought him out of his thoughts on Rye.
Rye's body was rushed further into the bunker into a side room.
"Katniss," Hazelle said.
"Where's my mom?"
"I don't know; we were separated. I made it here with some of the people who are helping. There was another group that fell behind." Hazelle said, upon seeing Katniss's face fall. "I'm sorry, Katniss."
"I'm sorry about Gale," Katniss whispered.
"Thank you, I have to go tend to the wounded. Why don't you and Peeta find a bunk and settle down."
Katniss nodded and walked away with Peeta.
Cressida filmed it all. She had great footage to share with the nation, even if they were not yet emancipated from underfoot of the Capitol, they would use the footage of Katniss shooting Thread and all the sacrifices made along the way to inspire and to call for freedom.
Outside, the wind blew and snow fell thickly. Across Panem, families huddled around small fireplaces waiting to hear of their loved ones, wanting to know if tomorrow would be kinder.
Question Should Gale Die? Let me know Norbertsmom and I have been arguing and I thought since you guys just as important in this process let me know what you feel?