Star Squad, Haymitch wants to vomit when Coin called them that. He knows why the woman approved of the mission. He can feel it in his bones but since Boggs is going with them, he does not want to spoil it yet. Victors are a threat to Coin's administration. They are more popular and frankly, the whole rebellion will go to shit if they want it to be. People will instantly back out if they wanted it that way and Coin knows that. The woman is like Snow's twin sister. They think alike. Birds of the same color is one must say. She would want them all gone in a heartbeat but she's not going to do it so bluntly because that would risk destroying her image to the people. She's supposed to be the savior. It's the same card Snow played during the first rebellion. Look how that one turned out.
He and Chaff shared a look and he knows his best friend is thinking of the same thing. They've been playing the game for far too long to know the drills. By the looks of other Victors, he can see that they can sense it too. They wanted to go because they want the war to end. It's not going to happen by hiding under a mountain and fighting Snow with propagandas. It's obvious Coin is not going to make the first move even though Snow already bombed Thirteen so it's up to them to take matters into their own hands.
Persuading Two to join them was easier than they thought. All it took is for Enobaria to do the talking and the mayor immediately sided with her. She's right. Two is done with the Capitol's oppression. With their armory and their support, they have what they need to storm the Capitol. The only thing blocking their path is the Nut. They planned on taking the Nut along with the district mayor and proceeded with bombing but leaving the entrance open for the workers who will escape the avalanche. It worked.
Workers came out of the tunnel with a few soldiers loyal to Snow. Just as Katniss pleaded with them to join the rebellion, one soldier shot her which prompted the workers to turn against their soldiers and killed them right there.
"You're an idiot", Haymitch grumbled when he saw that her Mockingjay outfit is bulletproof.
He silently send his thanks to Cinna in heaven for his creation. Otherwise, Katniss would have been dead already.
"Thanks", the girl responded and got back on her feet.
The Squad proceeded to the Capitol who was surprisingly empty.
"What in the world?" Chaff muttered.
Streets of the Capitol have never been empty before. They've seen the city for years and silent is not a word to describe it and yet the Capitol now looks like a ghost town. Everyone is gone.
"Where is everybody?" Katniss asked.
Johanna scoffed. Obviously, she does not care for the people of the Capitol, except for one. She and Haymitch looked at one another in an understanding. They plan to find Effie. That's their goal.
Their question as to the purpose of a deserted Capitol was answered when traps started to unveil in front of them.
"Look at that! Welcome to the 76th Hunger Games people!" Johanna announced.
Finnick can only smile and shake his head in amusement. There's nothing really to do because they're in there now.
Snow really put an effort in setting those traps all over the city. He knows they're coming for him and he took measures. They lost their soldiers first until Boggs was the last one of them helping the Victors. They took sanctuary from one of the buildings to rest.
"This is not fun anymore. I hate games", Finnick grumbled under his breath.
Chaff laughed at him before tossing a bottle of water his way. With the other soldiers gone and their signal is blocked by the building, Haymitch took the opportunity to grill Boggs.
"So, did your dear president want us dead in front of the camera or behind the camera so the people will not see who exactly is the enemy here?" he asked.
The other Victors tensed. Boggs turned to him with a frown before giving up the pretense.
"You're not the only who got target on your back", Haymitch waited for him to continue, "Alma is quite determined. You already know that. She's not afraid to do whatever it takes to achieve her goals and to eliminate those who are in her way", the commander answered.
"You mean us?" Enobaria followed up with a growl.
"Victors are the only people in Panem more popular and more powerful than her right now. Snow is going down. That's for sure and if she's to become president of Panem, the only threat to her administration is you. Of course, it does not help that you oppose her so openly…especially you", Boggs turned to Haymitch, "She cannot risk doing anything about Victors though so, that's what brought us here", he answered.
It's no secret that Haymitch has been opposing Coin since he got out of rehab. Military listened to him because of his brain and that didn't sit well with Coin. She's a control freak. She does not like being undermined by the others. She wants to be able to control the Victors…and Katniss.
"So, are you here to kill us then?" Chaff asked.
There's a dangerous tone in his voice. Johanna is gripping her axe tightly, ready to strike if Boggs makes one bad move.
"I am here because I know too much and I sided with the Mockingjay. Told you, you weren't the only ones with target on your backs", Boggs answered.
They proceeded to navigate the Capitol which Snow turned into a game arena. When they found themselves underground, Haymitch regretted taking that route.
"We need to get out of here now", he growled.
The others felt the urgency in his voice which made them follow. His instinct proven him right when mutts appeared out of nowhere and started chasing after them. They ran with all their might, shot a couple but those creatures are not from nature. They're Snow's nasty experiments. Boggs went down first. Johanna got a bad scratch on her arm but the girl is running high in adrenaline. Chaff is also wounded but nothing he cannot handle.
"Go up there!" Haymitch barked and started slashing mutts.
One by one they went up the pipe helping him with shooting the creatures.
"Haymitch! Come on!" Chaff yelled from above.
There's too many of them and for a moment, he realized that he may not make it to Effie. Regret hits him hard. She will never even know he tried…he tried to get to her, to save her. She will never know how much he loves her.
"Stop being so stubborn and climb up!" Enobaria grabbed him literally by the collar of his clothes and dragged him up the pipe.
Chaff, Johanna, and Finnick are now fending the animals below.
"Go up there, old man!" Johanna barked and despite Chaff's desire to protest, he's not going to last long down there.
He's only going to be a liability for them so he did as told and climbed up.
"Jo! Finnick! Get your asses up here!" Haymitch yelled.
More mutts are coming and soon, it will be overwhelming for all of them.
"Finnick, let's go!" the girl said.
The boy flashed her a his wolfish grin before agreeing with her. As they backed away, Finnick grabbed Johanna by the collar and the waistband of her pants and threw her straight to Haymitch and Chaff. The move caught all of them off-guard that it took them a second to realize Finnick was left down there. They heard more shots before the boy started screaming.
"Finnick!" Johanna screamed but Chaff and Enobaria held her back because she will definitely jump back there to get him or kill him herself.
"Fuck!" Haymitch tried to shoot the mutts that got the boy but there's too many.
He met the boy's eyes and despite the pain he's under, he managed to smile at him before turning to Katniss.
"Katniss! Do it!" he yelled in agony.
Haymitch turned to the girl who is hesitating but did as asked. She took out the Holo map Boggs left her, detonated it and then threw it below to kill the mutts and spare Finnick from a slow and painful death.
Tigris had gave them a shelter so they can treat their wounds and recover from what happened at the tunnel. Johanna is still shocked from Finnick's death while Chaff is cursing nonstop. Katniss is quiet too.
The stylist updated them at what's going on in the Capitol while they're busy staying alive from the traps set around the city. Snow has invited children and other Capitol citizen to the gates of the Presidential Mansion to act as his human shield. He knows that the rebels will not drop a bomb on a bunch of children.
"I'm going to kill Snow", Katniss announced.
She sounded so casual the way she said that. Of course, they know that's what she wanted to do the minute he suggested going to the Capitol. The things that happened during their journey only strengthened that desire of her.
"Don't be greedy, girl. Learn to share", Haymitch muttered.
"I want to put my axe in his guts", Johanna mentioned while staring at her beloved axe.
"I'll settle for couple of punches on his face, maybe few kicks too", Chaff chipped in.
Beating Snow up is a mercy in their books. He had done so many monstrous things and killed so many children in that games of his.
"I'm killing Snow and you're getting Effie back", Katniss suddenly said, directed to Haymitch.
Tigris stiffened for a moment before turning her attention to him as well.
"Effie Trinket? She's here in the Capitol?" the stylist asked in disbelief.
"Yeah…in prison", Johanna answered with a scoff.
They never told Katniss about their plan in getting Effie out of prison but the girl has always been observant and until now, she still feels guilty for not putting her escort on her list.
"I can't leave you on your own to storm the Mansion, sweetheart", Haymitch said.
Children always come first, his words echoed in Johanna. He was right. Effie said the same thing back when they're sharing a cell. No matter how stupid it is, Effie and Haymitch will put them first than themselves.
"You go get Trinket. I'll make sure your bird stays alive", she then said.
Katniss stared at her in disbelief. They're never closed and after Johanna's imprisonment, she resented her even more.
"I'll stay with Katniss too. You have my word to keep her and Mason breathing", Enobaria seconded.
Just staring at Katniss, Johanna, and Enobaria is already making Haymitch in awe. Who knew those three will agree on something?
"I'm going with you, just so you know. Can't let you go run to your death on your own. That's fucking lonely", Chaff said.
Haymitch smirked and hugged his best friend.
"Thanks, man", he whispered.
"Don't worry. We'll get your girl…and don't fucking tell me she's not your girl or I will shoot you myself", Chaff snapped and that made them laughed.
Katniss, who's never been oblivious to their relationship, found it touching that Haymitch would risk everything including his life just to find Effie. She's doing the same thing too. She's marching on possibly her death to kill Snow for what he did to Peeta, to Twelve, and to thousands of children he murdered. A lot of people already died for her, protecting her, believing in her. She's not going to take from Haymitch his chance to get Effie back.
"Alright…if one of you die on us, we'll bring you back just so I can kill you again", he said to the three women.
Enobaria and Johanna both rolled their eyes around, not believing a word he just said.
"You're not going to find Effie in Capitol prison", they all turned to Tigris, "I heard from a friend within the Mansion that one of Snow's secret agents took fancy of one of the prisoners and moved her to the Center. If Effie is really here in the Capitol, it's going to be her", she informed them.