DISCLAIMER: HG characters do not belong to me.
Chapter 97-The Plan
Katniss was moved to a secure location in District 13, she was informed Paylor was moved to a secure location as well but was not told where. She demanded that Hazelle, Posy, and Haymitch come with her. And she somehow manages to let Posy and Hazelle bring Harper with them. The Capitol had sent word to District 4 to acquire Rory, but found out that he was currently on a fishing boat out in the ocean and would not be returning to land for another two weeks. Paylor had arranged extra security to be ready when the boat arrived back.
She tried to keep her composure as she continuously tried to answer Hazelle's questions about the Jay Killers and what she knew. Katniss tried to ease her worries by saying the Capitol was just taking extra pre-caution and that perhaps Gale's squad just lost communication with the base. She could tell Hazelle wasn't buying it.
Vick arrived about an hour after they did, Katniss joining them all in a group hug, Posy openly crying. Katniss doesn't know how she has been able to hold it together in front of the Hawthorne's, especially since she has been so emotional over the last few weeks, the effects of pregnancy kicking in, along with the physical symptoms. She thinks she is able to remain calm because ever since she has known them, she has been a caretaker to them, sharing the role with Gale again all these years later despite their time apart.
They are taken to a military hotel, Posy and Hazelle sharing one room and Vick and Katniss getting smaller rooms beside theirs. Haymitch's room down the hall. The four of them try to pass the time by watching TV, no longer voicing their fears about Gale. The minutes drag by as Katniss waits. Two hours later, she excuses herself and goes down the hall to Haymitch's room needing a change of scenery. She sees bottles of alcohol out as he sits in his chair.
"Have you heard anything" Katniss asks already knowing the answer.
"You know you would be the first to know sweetheart" he says.
"I can't stand just sitting here."
"We just have to stay hopeful that nothing has happened to them."
She nods her head and looks at what he is drinking, noticing her glance he says, "Want some?"
"No" she quickly declines, almost too quickly.
"Okay" he says confused.
In order not to raise suspicion she says, "I just want a clear head."
"It might help take the edge off."
"I can't get drunk in front of Gale's family." That response pacifies him.
A half hour later while still in Haymitch's room the phone rings, Haymitch quickly getting up and answering.
"Okay…..okay" he says and hangs up.
She looks at him with anticipation as he says, "We are to go to control room B next door."
She contemplates bringing the Hawthorne's, but decides it is best if it is just her and Haymitch, not knowing what they are being summoned for.
They quickly walk across the street to the military building and are escorted to the control room by a guard. Once in the control room they see the General for District 13 waiting. A large screen is in the room with Heavensbee's face appearing on screen.
"The Capitol received a video from District 10. You may want to prepare yourself" Heavensbee says and before Katniss can say anything the screen changes and a less quality image appears. A middle aged man says, "We have your soldiers, they are all alive. At least for now. If you don't give us the mockingjay and let us speak to Paylor, all of your soldiers will die. Consider this your warning."
The man turns the camera around and Gale appears on the screen. Katniss gasps in horror. He is chained to a pole, shirtless, his hands bound. His back is covered in blood and wounds, lacerated from what she guesses can only be a whip.
The middle aged man goes over to him and takes out his whip and begins striking him. She hears Gale try to stifle his screams, shutting his eyes forcefully and gritting his teeth. Katniss begins crying, unable to keep herself composed any longer. Haymitch comes over and puts his arm around her in comfort.
The man continues whipping Gale until he passes out from the pain. Once the man sees Gale is unconscious he goes over and looks into the camera as he says, "Cooperate or next time he dies" and the feed cuts off.
Heavensbee comes back on the screen and says, "It looks like they are in the compound. We have a plan."
"You need to rescue him….now!" Katniss screams through her sobs.
"Listen to our plan first" Heavensbee says patiently.
"It's me they want" Katniss says, her fear turning to intense anger.
"We are going to have the President go to District 10; that should satisfy them for a little while. The plan is to lure some of them out of the compound to speak to her."
"They won't fall for it" Haymitch says, his arm still around Katniss in a protective manner.
"Some of them will have to come out. And we are well aware that they will be on guard. We have a…..secret weapon to use."
"What secret weapon?" Haymtich shouts, angry that he was being kept out of the loop.
"We have-developed technology that will allow some of the soldiers to slip into the compound without being seen."
"How? I've seen the layout of the compound from the outside. The only way in is the front door" Haymitch says confused.
"Exactly, our soldiers will slip in while some of them come out."
"Huh?" Haymitch says. Katniss remains silent, her head beginning to spin trying to process what Heavensbee is saying.
"They can remain hidden. Invisible."
"What?" Haymitch says in disbelief.
"We have been working on technology that can make someone appear invisible. It was….highly classified. Even Commander Hawthorne didn't know about it."
"How long have you had it?" Haymitch asks.
"We've been working on it for almost ten years, ever since the President took office. We found the archives showing the early development Snow's scientists were working on. We continued having some of these scientists keep working on it. These scientists were forced to work for Snow, most of them are from District 3."
Katniss continues to remain silent. She is in disbelief that Paylor would continue research the Capitol started. She wonders what else Paylor's scientists are up to.
"So it works?" Haymitch asks snapping Katniss back to attention.
"For the most part yes."
"For the most part?" Katniss shouts, finally wanting to speak.
"The technology isn't completely ready, there's still some-glitches."
"Like?" Haymitch asks.
"A person can flicker in and out."
"Is there a special suit someone wears or something?" Haymitch continuing to ask the questions Katniss cannot voice for the tears started flowing again. She knows if the technology is faulty and the soldiers are caught, Gale and his soldiers could be killed in retaliation.
"It is a suit yes. A full body suit, covering the head, hands, and feet."
"How many will be going in?" Katniss manages to ask.
"We have a team of eight."
"I'm going with them" Katniss says.
"No" Heavensbee says, staring at Katniss stone cold.
"Katniss-"Haymitch turns to her and before he can finish she says, "I need to be there."
"Katniss-you are not a soldier. It is too dangerous to have you in the compound" Heavensbee says in a softer tone.
"I could be used…..as a distraction."
"We already have that, the President meeting Jasper and some of his followers just as they demanded."
"They also demanded that she hand me over to them."
"They will know it is a trap if we do that."
"Put me in a suit then."
"We can't risk you holding the squad back. These soldiers are specifically trained for fast moving combat."
His blunt words sting. She knows he is referring to what happened in the wild territory when she joined Gale's squad in saving Marlon. How she was slower than the rest of them, how she wasn't 18 anymore. She no longer had the endurance the trained soldiers did. And she was pregnant now on top of it though she knew no one in the Capitol could know. For who knows what they would do with her if they found out. But she knew for sure she would not be able to be anywhere near Gale.
Seeing the look of hurt on her face Haymitch interjects and says, "If the suit is what makes them appear invisible, how are they supposed to carry weapons?" Or get all of them out of there unnoticed?"
"They can fit small handguns under their suit. That's all they will be able to carry. We also have small bombs for them that can go in their pockets. As for getting everyone out, the plan is for them to either take down or detain the people in there and then turn the invisibility off. They will need to move quickly but we plan to have them get in and get out. Hence-no room for any hold ups."
"You don't even know how many people are in there" Katniss shouts, angered that he keeps implying she is too much of a risk to help save Gale.
"You're right-we don't. That's why they have to move as quickly as possible. We are making them memorize the layout of the rooms and halls Beetee's hidden camera was able to send back to the Capitol when it was working."
"And if they are overpowered?" Haymitch asks.
"They can radio for help and we will blow the door open and send more soldiers in. We will have hovercrafts nearby waiting."
"Why don't you just do that to being with? Katniss demands.
"We will not risk Commander Hawthorne and the others being killed if we just go in there guns a blazing."
Katniss knows he is right but can't stand the thought of Gale being chained up for another second. "When does this group leave" she asks.
"We have sent word to the compound that the President would like to speak to Jasper, we are sending the hovercrafts in when we hear back."
She wants to scream at him to take action now, but she restrains herself because she knows she has to be on her best behavior if she wants Heavensbee to agree to her next request.
"Can I be on one of the hovercrafts nearby?" Haymitch and I?"
"No-you will stay in District 13. Both of you."
"Please?" Katniss pleads, not caring that she sounds pathetic begging him. "I need to be near him."
"I'm sorry but it is too dangerous, something could go wrong. We will send for you when Commander Hawthorne and his squad are taken to the Capitol."
Heavensbee then shuts off the communication feed and the screen goes black.
"Haymitch you have to get them to at least let me come on the nearby hovercraft" Katniss says frantically.
Haymtich looks over at District 13's General who was still in the room and says, "I'm sorry sweetheart but I can't help you" and then turns and silently mouths the words "We will talk in my room" while his back his turned from the General.
Katniss gives Haymitch a look letting him know she understood and both of them leave to head back to Haymitch's room.
Once inside Haymitch says, "Katniss, I think it best if you stay here. I don't think this plan of theirs is going to go as smoothly as they think it will."
"All the more reason I have to be there Haymitch."
"Look-I don't want to bring up the past but during the war you didn't demand to go when Peeta was rescued. I know this is different but-you didn't complain when Coin's soldiers went to retrieve Peeta on their own."
Katniss understands why he would bring up with happened with Peeta. Not being able to tell him she needed to be close to Gale because she was terrified of losing him and raising their baby by herself she instead says, "I think my being there will help keep all of them alive. During the war, Snow would have killed all of us, he had no motive to keep us alive. The Jay Killers, they need a bargaining chip….me."
"Or it could backfire and they kill Gale and the others if they have you in their possession."
She pauses, not thinking about it from that angle.
"I better go talk to Gale's family" she says and turns to leave, frustrated that she feels helpless while Gale continues to suffer.
"Katniss wait" Haymitch says grabbing her arm to stop her. She stops and turns to look at him while he says, "I will try to talk to Paylor for you okay?"
"Thanks Haymitch" she says appreciatively.
Katniss somehow manages to pull herself together when she tells the Hawthorne's what she saw on the video. Posy breaks down in tears again while Hazelle and Vick comfort her.
"Let me see it" Hazelle says to Katniss.
"You don't want to see it" she says back.
"I want to see my son" Hazelle says in a cold manner.
Taken aback by her tone, Katniss says "I will have to ask the Capitol."
"Thank you" Hazelle says curtly.
Nausea suddenly overcoming her, Katniss loses her patience and says angrily "You do know that I asked to go with them during the rescue, they won't let me."
"Because they know Gale will risk his own life to make sure you are alright" Hazelle says bitterly.
"Stop it! Both of you. Please don't fight" Posy screams startling Hazelle and Katniss.
Katniss walks over to Posy and embraces her. "I'm sorry. I'm just….I'm so scared" and Katniss begins crying, finally letting it all out in front of them.
Hazelle comes over to Katniss and says, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said what I did. I don't know how I'll be handle it if anything happens to him. Gale has always taken care of us" Hazelle says the tears beginning to flow from her eyes as well.
"We will get him back" Katniss says fiercely.
"When are they going in?" Vick asks. He had remained suspiciously quiet the entire time.
"Whenever they hear back from Jasper."
"That could take hours! They could be torturing him as we speak" Vick says angrily.
"I know."
"We have to do something….now" he says looking at Hazelle.
"Vick-we have to trust Mr. Heavensbee and the President" Hazelle says gently putting a hand on his shoulder. He shrugs her hand off and turns to Katniss and says, "You made a lot of demands when we were in District 13. Demand to Paylor to do something now."
"Vick-things were different then. Coin needed me. I was in a position to make demands. I'm not now."
"But-"
"Vick, that's enough. Katniss is doing everything she can." Hazelle says harshly.
Suddenly getting the feeling she is going to vomit. She shifts quickly and says, "I uh-need to go lie down. My head is throbbing."
Sensing that something was wrong by her sudden change in demeanor Hazelle says, "Katniss, are you alright?"
"Yeah I'm just….I need to take a nap" and she quickly excuses herself and goes back to her room, bringing Harper with her. The minute the door is closed she vomits up what little was left in her stomach into the trashcan.
Once finished she wipes the sweat off her forehand and leans back up. She knows she should have told Hazelle, Posy and Vick about the baby, but she can't. Still wanting to keep her pregnancy a secret. She knows it is selfish but she doesn't care.
She lies down on the bed and cries herself to sleep. Harper protectively watching over her.
Gale wakes up in excruciating pain. His wounds from the lashes exposed to the cold air. He is alone again and is still tied up. Too weak to move, he puts his head back down and closes his eyes. He tries to tell himself that help is on the way. Too much time had passed since he last had communication with the Capitol. He knows he just needs to hang on.
He hopes Katniss doesn't do anything reckless for he was in no position to help her right now. She needs to focus on taking care of the baby and not putting too much stress on herself. He knows it is just wishful thinking.
Suddenly he hears a loud noise. A noise he recognizes as a gun-shot.
