After Cinna took some last minute measurements, Katniss took the uniform off and returned it to his closet.
"Why don't you head down to the armory? It might cheer you up a bit." So she set off to find it, which was why she was now wandering in circles.
District 13 was like a giant underground maze. She hadn't been many places except for the infirmary and her family's compartment. She had seen the dining hall once but she chose to eat her meals in her compartment where people weren't gaping at her. Today had been her first time actually walking around and she didn't like the way the soldiers straightened up when she came near. It was the same way the Peacekeepers had reacted around Peeta in 12. But she wasn't in a position of power like he had been nor did she deserve that kind of respect.
You're the Mockingjay, she had to remind herself. At least, they think you are.
"Katniss!" She whirled around, nearly falling to her knees at the sound of her name being cried by a familiar voice. Madge rushed forward to catch her and she bit her lip.
"Oh god, I'm sorry! I'm just happy to see you up and about! How are you feeling?"
"Better," she nodded. "I'm going to the armory but I have no idea where I am or where it is."
"We'll take you," Rye said, slipping his arm under hers for support. "We were just going back to our compartment for reflection."
"I don't want to take up your time."
"You're not, Katniss. Rye has been taking me to the armory for training everyday, anyway. Come with us."
"Training? What kind of training?"
"I want my girl to know how to use a blade and a gun," Rye said somberly, shooting Madge an anxious look. "I want her to know how to defend herself."
"Maybe you could even show us how to use a bow," Madge said softly.
"If I had one, I would. I'm sure my dad's bow was destroyed in 12."
"Well, let's get down there and see what we can find." She tried to straighten up as she walked between them; she didn't want them to think she was weak too.
The Victor, Beetee, she remembered, was sitting in a wheelchair when they entered. Katniss's eyes widened as she looked around at the variety of weapons they had. Could this be enough to defeat the Capitol?
"Ryen, I thought you said you and your wife couldn't make it today."
"I told him I need more training," Madge laughed. "How are you today, Beetee?"
"I think you underestimate yourself, Madge. I'm doing well, thank you. The leg is a little stiff but the doctors said I should walk again, with some physical therapy."
"What happened to you," Katniss asked abruptly. Beetee adjusted his glasses.
"District 3 was attacked, Mrs. Mellark. After the Capitol bombed your home, they attacked other districts as well. Snow is determined to squash the rebellion and will annihilate the districts to do it. I was caught in the aftermath, as my house came down on me. I was trapped under the rubble for almost two days." Madge and Rye shook their heads but Katniss was staring at something on Beetee's table.
"Is that a trident?"
"Ah," the Victor rolled backwards and picked up the weapon. "It's a special weapon I've been working on for Finnick. He volunteered for the rescue mission in the Capitol, so I wanted to have it done as soon as possible."
"Wait. Rescue mission? To save Peeta, you mean?"
"Yes. I thought you were aware that a mission had been organized."
"I know they've discussed it," she frowned. "But I didn't know people had volunteered."
"We all volunteered," Rye stepped forward. "Finnick Odair, Colonel Boggs, Gale Hawthorne, Rory Hawthorne, and me. Bing tried but we told him to stay here in case April has the baby."
"Ga- the Hawthornes volunteered?"
"Maybe we should talk about the mission at dinner. Beetee, I was hoping you could show Katniss what you've been working on." The Victor's face lit up and he nodded.
"Give me one moment. I'll be right back." He rolled off in a hurry and Katniss frowned after him.
"Special Weaponry," Rye explained. "Only certain individuals are allowed inside."
"Come with me," Madge breathed, taking Katniss's hand. "There's something you have to see." She lead her through the maze of the room, until they reached an enormous plate-glass window. Katniss's eyes widened as she leaned close, her breath leaving her. It was a replication of a meadow, with live trees and flowers, and hummingbirds flying around. Madge pulled her inside and Katniss inhaled sharply. She'd expected the air to feel muggy but it was cool and pleasant, with hummingbirds flitting all around her. It was the first time in 13 Katniss felt at peace. Madge watched her with a smile.
"I thought you'd like it here." Katniss breathed it all in and closed her eyes, her face tilted toward the ceiling. Rye joined his wife and draped his arm around her shoulders.
"Apparently, 13 has been studying their aerodynamics here for years. Forward and backward flight, and speeds up to sixty miles per hour. It's pretty incredible."
"It is," Katniss agreed.
"Think you could bring one of these down with an arrow?"
"I've never tried. Not much meat on them."
"No. And you've never been one to kill for sport. Still, I imagine they'd be tough to catch." Katniss turned in a circle, captivated by the tranquility of the room. She couldn't imagine how something so beautiful could be in this cold underground place. It reminded her of her meadow back home, and her heart started to sting. She remembered the last time she had been there; a picnic with Peeta shortly after their toasting. It seemed like a different lifetime ago, and it seemed like a different world now. She promised herself to bring him here when they rescued him. She had no idea what they were doing to him but she imagined he had been held in a cell with solid walls and not allowed to see the light. She hoped that was all they had done to him.
"There's Beetee," Rye broke the silence and Katniss followed him and Madge out of the room. Beetee wheeled back in with a tall, black rectangular case awkwardly positioned between his footrest and his shoulder. He came to a halt and tilted it toward Katniss.
"For you."
She set the case flat on the floor and undid the latches along one side. The top opened on silent hinges. Inside the case, on a bed of crushed maroon velvet, lay a stunning black bow.
"Oh," she whispered in admiration. Rye whistled appreciatively. Katniss lifted the bow carefully into the air to admire the exquisite balance, the elegant design, and the curve of the limbs that somehow suggested the wings of a bird extended in flight. There was something else, she noticed. She pressed it against her cheek and felt the slight hum travel through the bones of her face. She had to hold very still to make sure she wasn't imagining it. No, the bow was alive in her hands, she decided.
"What's it doing?" she asked in awe.
"Saying hello," explained Beetee with a grin. "It heard your voice."
"It recognizes my voice?" her jaw dropped.
"Only your voice," he replied. "You see, they wanted me to design a bow based purely on looks. As part of your costume, you know? But I kept thinking, what a waste. I mean, what if you do need it sometime? As more than a fashion accessory? So I left the outside simple, and left the inside to my imagination. Best explained in practice, though. Want to try those out?"
"But where-"
"Target range is just over here," Rye said with a grin. Katniss looked to where he was pointing and she felt excited chills. Beetee rolled over with them, indicating arrows on the table.
"They're all color coded, Katniss. Incendiary and explosives are over here, while the regular ones are here." He pointed each of them out and Katniss ran her hands over the colored shafts.
"To deactivate your bow, you just need to tell it good night and it will go to sleep."
"Show us what you've got, Girl on Fire," Rye said, crossing his arms and smiling.
"Rye, don't patronize her," Madge scolded him.
"I'm not. I'm excited to see her shoot. Dad used to buy her squirrels and he says she hit them right through the eye every time." Katniss picked up a black arrow and gripped the bow. She could feel it coming alive in her hands and she focused on a target a hundred yards away. Rye cursed out loud when she hit the target three times in a row.
"Holy shit, the Mockingjay can shoot! Does Peeta know you are that good?"
"He hasn't really seen me shoot either," she shrugged.
"He is going to flip his shit when he sees that. That was really something, Katniss, truly. Your aim is impeccable. I doubt even my superiors in 2 could have hit those targets. Madge, honey, you should be learning from her."
"Will you show me, Katniss," Madge asked, her eyes ablaze. Beetee showed Rye where he could find more bows and arrows, and Katniss moved Madge closer to the target.
They were all in good spirits when they left the armory, Rye gushing about his amazing wife hitting the target. Madge was pink but looked pleased. Katniss imagined the training also helped her keep her mind off of her parents. She hadn't asked her about it but she knew Madge was hiding her pain. From what Prim had told her, only the people who followed Haymitch and Gale into the woods that night had survived. Most were attacked with firebombs where they stood. Katniss could hardly believe the savagery of the Capitol. Apparently the Peacekeepers had all escaped in time. She hadn't been too joyous when Prim told her that part. But she vowed to find them before the war ended. She owed them for what they had done to her husband, after all.
"Do you want us to come with you to meet Heavensbee?" Katniss glanced at Madge, who was giving her a supportive smile.
"Will you?"
"Of course," she squeezed Katniss's hand. "Rye, if you want, I can meet you later at dinner."
"I don't mind escorting you ladies."
"We need some girl time," Madge nudged her husband. "I'll see you at dinner."
"I can see I'm not wanted," he huffed and winked. "See you girls later then."
"I feel like I haven't seen you or talked to you, you know, away from other people!" Madge slipped her arm under Katniss's and they slowly made their way back upstairs.
"Rye can't leave your side."
"I know," she sighed. "I think everything that has happened has made him… extra overprotective. Like he is trying to compensate for what happened in 12 and Peeta and-" she froze, her eyes widening. "Oh Katniss, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean that."
"It's ok," she said quickly. "I'm sure Peeta's capture is hitting him pretty hard too. I imagine that's why he volunteered to go to the Capitol."
"I wanted to ask him not to go but he's his brother. I can't possibly ask him to stay behind," Madge looked apologetic. "I'm sorry this has happened, Katniss."
"He's alive, Madge. I know he is."
"Of course he is. And he will come back to you soon." Madge lead her up to Cinna's apartment and knocked.
"I'm not sure where Heavensbee wants you to go but if Cinna is helping you-" she trailed off as Chase yanked the door open. Katniss could immediately see that it was a bad time. Chase's hair was standing on end as if he had been pulling at it and Cinna's eyes were red. But both men forced on a smile when they saw Katniss.
"Hi Katniss. It's good to see you up and about."
"That's what everyone says," she nodded toward Madge. "How are you doing, Chase?"
"Hanging in there. Um, I'd better go. My schedule says reflection… whatever that means," he held up his hand and showed them the schedule written over his wrist.
"It means some time to be alone and think," Cinna said behind him. "You've been here a month, babe, and you still don't understand reflection?"
"Time to be alone. Joy," Chase said under his breath. "I'd better get to it then. See you all." Katniss frowned after Chase while Madge's eyes darted around the corridor, uncertain as to where she should be looking.
"Um… what was that all about," Katniss asked Cinna.
"Oh nothing to worry about. Are you meeting with Plutarch about your propo video?"
"I guess so. I wasn't sure where to go."
"I can show you. I'll bring the suit so he can see the final product."
They followed him upstairs, towards the room Katniss had been in that morning. But they bypassed it and entered what seemed like a soundstage. Plutarch raised both hands in the air as a greeting.
"Mrs. Mellark and Mrs. Mellark! Welcome, ladies. Thank you for escorting them, Cinna. You are welcome to stay if you would like."
"I would just like to hear your ideas about Katniss's makeup and prep. I can pass it all on to Chase as well."
"Excellent. We will actually start filming tomorrow so let's all meet here at say, 10 am? How do you like the suit, Katniss?"
"It's amazing," she said, shooting Cinna a smile.
"Wonderful. Is that it, then?"
"I wanted you to see the final product," Cinna held the mockingjay outfit up for Plutarch to see.
"Truly spectacular, Cinna. You are very talented, indeed."
"Thank you sir."
"Well. Katniss, you will have one line tomorrow. If you would like to memorize it tonight, we will test it out with all of the effects tomorrow. The lighting, the smoke, the costume…. Everything." She nodded and accepted the sheet of paper from him. One line. It shouldn't be too hard.
Suddenly, everyone started running from the stage and Plutarch spun around.
"What's happening? What's going on?"
"Refugees spotted on the border," a soldier cried over his shoulder. "District 8, most likely."
"I thought District 8 was wiped out," Plutarch said under his breath.
"I'm sure there were survivors," Cinna said stiffly. Katniss rested a hand on his shoulder and he squeezed it.
"I didn't think Madame Coin was too keen on accepting more refugees."
"Where else would they go," Katniss asked angrily.
"Well you're right of course, Katniss, I just hope we can provide enough resources here. The new President Snow is fighting this rebellion with everything he has."
"What do you mean?" Katniss had not heard nor asked about the Capitol's response to the rebel forces. She hadn't even cared to know about the changes in the Capitol administration. As far as she was concerned, Caius Snow was no better than his father and nothing good could happen during his time in office.
"Panem's new president is power-hungry and blood-thirsty," Plutarch said with a frown. "He is slaughtering districts left and right if they do not agree to follow him. He even publicly executed several of his board members for objecting to his being in office. They protested that Aurelia Snow is the chosen successor and Caius has no claim to the position. After their execution, the rest of the board signed an agreement to serve and support the new president."
"He's blackmailing the whole country," Cinna shook his head.
"Worse that that, he's barely giving them a choice and murdering them if they choose incorrectly. The last President at least pretended to care for his country. Caius only cares about power and he will destroy Panem if he continues like this. When I say destroy, I mean literally. Exactly what happened to the other countries in the past, that is what awaits Panem."
"We have to stop this," Katniss whispered.
"Well that's where you come in. Our Mockingjay. I will see you tomorrow, bright and early, ready to film!" Plutarch clapped her shoulder and hurried off. Cinna sighed and clutched the uniform to his chest.
"Cinna...what if I can't do it?" He turned to her and she stared at the ground.
"The fate of the country is literally resting on my shoulders. It's not just my district. Not just my husband or sister or my neighbors in the Seam… it's the whole country. The rest of the world. What if I can't save them?"
"Katniss… you have to. I know you don't want the pressure but you heard what Plutarch said. We can't let him wipe Panem off the map like the past leaders of the world did."
"But how can I stop him?"
"You show the districts that we have power in numbers. They're afraid right now but someone needs to convince them to stand up to the Capitol. You're that person, Katniss." She shook her head and Madge stepped forward.
"Cinna's right, Katniss. I know you don't think you can do it but I have always respected you. A lot of people have. You're strong and brave and you can make people listen to you." She squeezed her hand and Katniss raised her eyes to her friend's.
"Well I'd better memorize this one line they've given me. Um, Cinna, do you want to join us for dinner tonight?"
"I'd love to but I told Chase we could eat together at his assigned table."
"Oh," Katniss tried to hide her surprise. "That's great! I thought… I was worried that… something had happened."
"We're fine," he said dismissively but she didn't miss the worried look in his eyes. He cleared his throat and gripped the uniform to his chest. "I'll just return this to my closet before dinner. And I'll see you here in the morning."
"I'll be here."
"Are you joining us for dinner tonight, Katniss?" Madge asked excitedly as they made their way back towards Cinna's compartment.
"I told Rye I would. I don't think it's a good idea though."
"Don't even worry about her," Madge shook her head. "She's been a witch to everybody. Even Bing can't cheer her up at this point. I really don't know what's going on with her."
"Her youngest son has been captured. Don't you think that would have an effect on her," Cinna asked lightly.
"If you knew Mrs. Mellark, you wouldn't have to ask that question," Madge said darkly. "She has always hated Peeta. Even when we were kids, she was awful to him. There were days when he, Delly, and I would be playing together and she would come out and drag him inside, her fingernails cutting him up! We were 6! She was yelling that he had work to do but what could a 6 year old do in a bakery?"
"Sounds to me like he dodged a bullet, being taken to District 2 to train as a peacekeeper. He got away from her."
"Even so, she likes you and April," Katniss muttered. "You're good, respectable Merchant women for her sons. More than she hates Peeta, she hate that he married someone from the Seam."
"Seam and Merchant? Does class really matter in 12?"
"It's gotten better over the years but yes, it was horrible. People from the Seam couldn't use the same restrooms as Merchants and for awhile, they were taught separately. The Capitol didn't want to taint the Merchant class. Only about twenty years ago, the rules became more lax and people didn't mind so much. Classes weren't segregated anymore. Marriages between classes weren't illegal anymore. Times have changed but if you look around the cafeteria you'll still see some Merchants edging away from Seam people."
"Wasn't your father from the Seam, Katniss?"
"He was. My mom was exiled from the Merchant side of town. Her own family refused to see her. All because she married a Seam man."
"Well, I suppose Peeta doesn't much care for the class differences," Cinna gave her a smile. "He said he's wanted to marry you since he was five."
"Peeta's never cared for the rules when Katniss is involved," Madge grinned.
"Yeah and look where that got him," Katniss replied somberly. "The Capitol's prisoner." Cinna and Madge were quiet. They reached Cinna's compartment and she sighed.
"I'll see you two later."
"Please come to dinner, Katniss," Madge pleaded. "Everyone wants to see you."
"Save seats for Mom, Prim, and me," she nodded, already walking off to her own floor. Cinna and Madge exchanged looks before letting themselves into their respective compartments.
There was a heavy knock at the door and the President's pen paused on the document.
"Enter," he said with an irritated sigh. The door creaked open and Snow grimaced. How had his father tolerated that squeaking? He made a mental note to call maintenance to take care of it.
"Antonius," he leaned back in his seat and threw the pen down. "Come in."
"Good day, Mr. President."
"I trust you come with news of the prisoner?"
"I do indeed, sir."
"And? I trust it is good news?" The Minister played with his hands in his lap.
"He is… indifferent to her. She has been taking care of him and it is clear that he will survive his injuries but he doesn't show any affection towards her. She feeds him memories but he does not react." Snow's face darkened and Antonius shrank back in his seat.
"Is she sticking to the story? Has someone confirmed she is doing as we asked?"
"She still wears the earpiece and she hasn't strayed. She fears for her child's life."
"Good. As she should. He does not believe it is his?"
"She hasn't yet told him she's pregnant, sir." Snow crossed his arms and turned to face the window.
"That's the next thing we do then. And has he mentioned her?"
"Not since the tracker-jacker attack, sir. We haven't heard him say her name in weeks."
"That's something at least. Perhaps it's time to up the stakes a little." Antonius's brow furrowed.
"Sir?"
"Get him into my office, Antoinus. I think it's time for the new Head Peacekeeper General to be awarded a mission."
Guys, I'm so sorry for the wait! My mom's surgery went well (thank you for all the sweet messages I've gotten!) but I've been super busy taking care of her and getting caught up at work! Hope you enjoy, and have a great week!
XOXOX
