Author's Note: Merry Christmas everyone! It's Christmas Eve here and I'm trying to keep to schedule so here is the next chapter.

….

Talks

"I can't say I'm surprised. Hiding away, vying for power whilst there's a riot on the front door. People have died, there are serious injuries that the hospitals might not have the capacity to treat and that's without the problems we were facing before today. Tell me. Was I being lied to? Were my people being lied to when you said the districts would no longer be subject to one power? Was I lying to our people when I said that we were united as districts and that our victory would be for all of us?"

"Commander Paylor, so pleased you could join us. Assisted no doubt by Mr Heavensbee, who should now take his leave," Montgomery said.

"Mr Heavensbee can remain involved in these discussions as a representative of the Capitol. They are part of our nation after all. He will have knowledge that will be invaluable to us all. And I hear the plan is to gather representatives from each of the districts, is it not, General Montgomery."

"Well… of course… but in these times," Montgomery started.

"In these times I would argue it is even more important that our voices are heard. We have one chance to make something out of this country and we have fought for it. People across our districts have died for this."

"In Thirteen we have worked for years for this opportunity too. Years of secret mobilisation, quiet production, and dedicated reconnaissance. Our people have seen hardship."

"And I acknowledge that. I am sure all of us will do. But you do not get to waltz into this office and assume control and expect everyone to accept that. You must acknowledge us too. That so many of us have dedicated our lives to this day and we did not have the luxury of being hidden away. Every day has been a risk. Every single day since I was fifteen, I could have been caught. Any false step and I could have been found out, or even worse, uncovered somebody else or blown everything open. You do not get to ignore that. The districts, all of us, Thirteen included, and yes, the Capitol, have a seat at this table."

"You have all served well. And in due course, I should expect you should all be suitably rewarded. But the time comes for expertise in the most complex and delicate matters."

"Which you have simply not been involved in. I have been at Alma's side since we have arrived. I have had her ear for some time now. And Yes, Commander Paylor, I agree with you. The districts' voices must be heard," General Silver interrupted.

"Thank you, General Silver. We can agree that the districts will have their seat at the table. But do not think I've missed your attempts to stress your own suitability for the leading role. Let's be honest with each other. You both want to be President. Today I have had to reconsider my own position and where I stand. I will also put my hand up for the role and the people will get to choose. I may have been a factory labourer but that does not mean I don't know anything about people, politics, and leadership. I'm not going to play games or tricks with you, or the public. I will be honest about my intentions, and I suggest you should be too."

….

The death of two former Presidents had seen people return from hiding. Aides to Plutarch Heavensbee had made themselves known once more and quickly resumed working for their former boss, their personal safety having been secured. Associates of Dora Violet, District Four's former escort, were cautiously reaching out to members of the network that Four's victors had amassed over the years. They wanted confirmation that their friend was actually alive, to secure Annie Cresta's safe return home and to promote the interests of a district they felt close to.

Agricultural leaders, connected to the victors from Ten and Eleven were starting to meet too. Their numbers depleted, but their concerns acute. Food was going to be a problem and it could not simply be the highest levels of whatever government they now had doing all the talking.

There were conversations across the districts too. This was their first opportunity for real representation. No longer would their Mayors remain a mouthpiece for the Capitol, trying to use their discretion in the small windows of opportunity they had. In amongst the chaos, they had been told to select a representative to be present at the earliest discussions about the form of their new government, the shape of this new Panem.

In some districts this was easy. In District Three, their entire underground, rebel structure had been organised and leaders democratically elected. They had planned for this instance, the event where they got to take one of their own to the Capitol. Having been the go-between for years, their youngest victor Halley Mir was the obvious choice. She had been the link between the rebel groups across the districts and between the district itself and their Capitol sympathisers. She had been chosen for this type of role after the Seventy-Fourth Games.

The situation was similar in Six. Poppy Bryan, also their youngest victor, had been their link across the districts and the Capitol for twenty years. Despite being the centre of the transportation industry, very few of District Six's citizens had travelled and Poppy was simply the most comfortable with people from beyond their borders. She knew people from other districts, was highly regarded and understood District Six's concerns perfectly.

District Four's officiant was already in the Capitol, helping administer the huge numbers of people accessing one of the shelters hurriedly set up in the aftermath of the rebel victory. Organisation and record-keeping had long been his forte and he knew or knew of almost every citizen in Four. Likewise, Eleven's General, Lily Aswathi, successor in the role to Chaff Sumner was already in the Capitol, having led the final charge on the ground alongside Commander Paylor. Eight's rebel leader would soon bring them into the government fold.

But in other districts, it was not so obvious. Which section of District One's society would become their newest public face? The One of old would have picked one of their jewellers. Economically successful, in favour with the Capitol and the provider of many victors. But instead, the leaders of this new One chose a leader amongst the miners, their poorest, most forgotten and ignored class. However, they had found that they all had a lot in common. Their miner would show the forgotten side of District One but present concerns that were shared across the district. They all wanted safe working conditions, reasonable demands, and a desire to control what they could produce.

Districts Five, Seven and Nine simply chose one of their central rebel leaders. People long embedded in underground networks and cells of similar-minded individuals. They had led the charge against the Capitol, and they would continue to lead now that they had won.

In Two, the situation was more complex. The fighting was ongoing and there were talks they would need to have at home. But they needed someone in the Capitol who could appease both sides, someone who understood. Luckily for them, she was already well-placed for this new role. Enobaria had experience of the Capitol in spades, she had experienced the Capitol at its best and worst and had family members on both sides. Ultimately, she had been on the rebel side and publicly so. People in Two still listened to and respected their victors and they trusted that she would do a good job.

The former Mayor's clerk was chosen by the people of Ten. As President Snow tightened his grasp over Panem in a desperate attempt to quash the rebellion, he removed Ten's Mayor over his supposed sympathies to the rebels and replaced him with one of the ultra-loyalists who controlled much of the district's farmland. But the old Mayor's staff remained, and his clerk, Isabella Perez, carefully placed herself in her new boss's inner circle. She became his connection across the different communities across Ten and was able to use her position to forewarn leaders and influence Mayoral decisions, mitigating some of the worst excesses wherever she could. There was much she did not like, but she quickly figured out what would have to be tolerated and what she was able to influence. She was regarded as honest, straight-talking and had a mind for reading whatever books and official communications she could find.

Finally, Gale Hawthorne was already in the Capitol. Haymitch was busy with the troubles of his young victors and the surviving population from Twelve trusted Hawthorne more than they did him. So, the young man who led as many people as he could out of Twelve's burning wreckage would be their first official voice in the Capitol in decades.

….

The representatives were gathering in the former Cabinet meeting room. General Montgomery had already placed himself at the head of the table whilst General Silver was working the room, talking to the distinct groups that were already forming. They could not decide on a sole representative from Thirteen and from the perspective of a continuation of the previous, albeit short-lived, administration, nobody seemed to mind two representatives too much.

Annie Cresta remained in the room, waiting until Four's official representative arrived whilst the informal conversations began. He had decided to fulfil the remainder of his shift in the shelter and the victor was left in the room feeling uncertain and overwhelmed. She found herself accosted by General Silver, eagerly trying to put forward his ideas and dismiss those of General Montgomery, then talking to an equally uncertain Enobaria and ultimately, Kersey Paylor, once Enobaria had stepped aside.

It was an interesting dynamic. Those who knew each other naturally gravitated towards their associates, leaving those drafted in from their districts in a hurry to also bunch together. One's miner, rebel leaders from Nine, Five, Seven and Isabella from Ten were already discussing their priorities in safe working conditions, food production and powering the areas of the country still left in darkness.

Obvious to all was the bond between the victors. Halley and Poppy entered the room together, evidently delighted at their reunion, remained in conversation with each other, distracted Annie with some lighter discussion, and watched the interactions between the others. They were comfortable in the Capitol, dealing with people they had not previously met and knew how to conduct themselves in complicated matters. They were soon joined by Kersey Paylor and confirmed the safety of Cecelia's husband, children, and their fellow victor Cotton, with Paylor leaving them under the protection of some of her most loyal men back in Eight and the two victors being able to relay his activity on their network. Being from urban districts, there were concerns that they all shared, and the conversation soon turned to their plans for their homes.

Upon the arrival of Four's official representative, formal discussions were able to begin, but it was clear that whilst there were common goals and ideals, disagreements would disrupt progress. Firstly, there was a dispute as to who would chair the meeting and the exact nature of Plutarch Heavensbee's involvement as the Capitol's representative. Ultimately, to resolve the issue of minuting the meeting, Beetee Latier was drawn in on the promise he would make no material contributions or try to pull any extra favours for his district.

There had been a reluctant acceptance that General Silver would chair the meeting, with him having the most up to date knowledge of current affairs. But it was Kersey Paylor who made the first noteworthy contribution.

"We need to inform the people of what is happening. They have no idea who their leaders are, there is fighting in Two as a result of the instability and the situation in Eight and, I believe in Eleven too, could deteriorate if there are no assurances of who is in charge."

"But we cannot simply announce that we, whatever we are, are now in power. I heard mentions of elections? We need to be forthcoming about that," Isabella Perez replied.

"I agree. This arrangement can only be transitionary, and we need a system and a date for elections. We should at least address the public with a date for elections. Is there any way we can have the infrastructure ready within, say, four weeks?"

Halley quickly stepped in, "As Beetee here is unable to make substantial contributions to this discussion, it is my understanding that the identification system, the one used at reapings is still active. All adults are on a linked system. That way we can find out who votes, and we make sure they only vote once. Of course, the population now may be very different in some areas but the people who are here should be on the database. Hawthorne, does this work for Twelve?"

"I believe all of our identities were processed in Thirteen. We should be able to vote from there if the systems can work together," Halley nodded and Paylor looked relieved.

"We have enough to work with. We set the date for a Presidential election four weeks from today," Paylor said.

"Four weeks? This is a time of crisis. We cannot be diverting time and resources to elections when they are not necessary right now. We need simple, strong leadership to guide the nation through this difficult time, not confusion caused by politics which people across the country will be unfamiliar with."

"And I suppose you wish to provide that leadership, Montgomery? When will you deem elections necessary? When will people have a good enough understanding of politics for you?" Halley asked.

"Let's not get into a prolonged argument. We need to speak to the people tonight, we cannot let confusion go on any longer than we can avoid. Let's vote now. Elections four weeks today or later on? Show of hands. A simple majority will work, it's more say than we have had in decades," Isabella said.

Only General Montgomery did not raise his hand. The result was clear.

"Decided. Elections four weeks from today, to be announced tonight. I propose that Commander Paylor makes the announcement. The whole country is familiar with you, they have heard you speak before. Announce the elections and let people know there will be some semblance of organisation."

Nobody disagreed and it was soon decided that Isabella Perez, with support from Halley, Plutarch and input from Beetee and advisers from Thirteen, experienced in meticulous organisation and logistics, would lead on the preparations for the elections. Each district representative would have a role to play in administering the vote on election day and assisting with preparations at home.

Paylor and both representatives from Thirteen had wisely ruled themselves out of planning the elections beyond minimal, behind the scenes logistical support on the day. They had each made clear their intentions to stand as a candidate for the presidency.

With that, a disgruntled General Montgomery called for a short break before they would prepare Kersey Paylor's announcement to the nation and continue with these earliest talks.