XIV. HAZARDOUS MISSIONS

THE LAUNCH

MERLOT MONTAGUE, DISTRICT 1 MALE (18)

Merlot was excited.

Years, months, days had been counted down.

And through it all Merlot had been exasperated, because really how long did it take for a few years to go by?

And now, the Capitol was all about uniforms. There'd been one during training, and there was one even now.

Merlot's stylist, a woman named Hue, pulled him aside for some final words of advice. Like Merlot she knew how to work the crowd, and had specifically told the District 1 boy that him placing first in the popularity rankings worked well to her advantage. She owed him, then.

"So, just go in there and do what you usually do," Hue's voice was breezy, "win."

"Twenty seconds until launch."

Merlot grinned, hi-fiving Hue.

"It'll be easy."

He didn't panic as the tube's walls shut on him. Hue waved, shouting out one last word of advice, "Don't let the other Careers get the best of you!"

Eh, they wouldn't. He'd stick around until there was one left, then kill the other in their sleep. Then again, while he wasn't attached, the Careers were a dysfunctional bunch and though often annoying were pretty sweet, if malicious at times.

He'd also meant what he said about Angelo being cute.

"Launching now."

HESTIA MCLEARSON, DISTRICT 2 FEMALE (18)

Hestia was anxious.

Yes, she'd been qualified for this by Emmaline. Then she'd be requalified by the Capitol predicting her first. But it wasn't enough for the District 2 girl. She had a thirst to prove herself from years and years of her father,

The anxiety was definitely getting the best of her, she thought as she studied herself in the reflection of the tube she had yet to board. The borderline eating disorder too, since she'd had little to eat since boarding the train. Maybe it would serve her well in the Games, but the constant ache of an empty stomach was too much sometimes.

Lux and Tempest, compared to her, were beautiful, and they sure as heck didn't need to go on constant diets, which only made Hestia feel even worse. Yeah, Hestia had been told her weight was fine, but it wasn't by her. Nothing so large in error would she ignore. Ever.

She knew she was pathetic enough to lose, and in the end Hestia knew that was what would come back to bite her. The thought of losing in itself was foreign but beyond unnerving, basically a concept she didn't want to explore in her mind.

Refocusing herself, Hestia took a deep breath in, shutting her eyes.

"One minute until launch," a robotic voice sounded. Hestia's stylist, Alexandre, had left to give her some final moments to center her thoughts, which Hestia now realized she was doing just the opposite of.

Was she freaking herself out? Probably.

But she needed to address her flaws, which she knew she had too many of.

I warned you. I said you couldn't win.

Too bad you didn't listen.

Hestia didn't know if it was time or not, but she numbly stepped into the tube, feeling suffocated as the glass closing in around her made the space seem even tighter than before.

Just be prepared for your failure.

"Launching now."

TESLA MILLER, DISTRICT 3 MALE (15)

Tesla was cocky.

He was ready, was allied with the strongest tributes in the Games (other than himself), and ready to take some kids down! He and the Careers had strategized and planned, and Hestia had suggested Tesla go for the first kill as they'd back him up. Whether the Careers knew their stupid plan was set up for him to bring in the sponsors was to be determined, but Tesla was pretty sure it wasn't. After all, nobody would ever go behind his back and plot against him.

If they did, he'd easily find out, and he'd kill them. They wouldn't resist because Tesla was far better than any of the Careers could ever be.

It was just a fact, like how the sky was blue.

Then again, the arena sky might not be blue when he got there.

Tesla wanted to achieve record time with his victory. A four-day victory would be best, because the Capitol would still want some drama. He'd let his allies have their fun, volunteer to take watch, then kill them all.

It was a flawless plan.

But first, the bloodbath.

Tesla readied himself, trying to pull in all his excitement. He was planning to go for one of the boys since they were often viewed as the stronger prey and if he killed one of them all of the sponsors would be lining up to- well, sponsor him.

He pictured himself in the hovercraft coming back, having won a crown.

His plate began to rise, and he grinned, barely holding in his excitement.

It's time.

"Launching now."

TEMPEST TRINIDAD, DISTRICT 4 FEMALE (18)

Tempest was poised.

She'd trained for this for years, but it all came down to this moment. The moment where the gong rang, the moment where she'd know whether she'd live to see another day. Tempest prided herself in being able to keep her wits about herself, and was hoping she wouldn't lose control of them when she got into the arena.

There was so much at stake, and the tension was higher than ever. But she knew what she'd signed up for- that tension would only go up within the next few days.

Tempest's stylist, Orlanda, gave her a grin. "You'll do great, Miss Trinidad." Her voice was like an eel- just as sleek and smooth that almost made Tempest feel sick.

"Thank you," her voice came out strangely high-pitched, much higher than its normal sound. However, Orlanda didn't seem to notice.

To be fair, Tempest didn't blame herself for losing faith in herself. It was bound to happen sometime, so having it happen at the launch made sense, even if it was slightly irritating.

The District 4 girl stepped into her tube, fingers fiddling anxiously.

"Launching now."

AYLA MAXWELL, DISTRICT 5 FEMALE (15)

Ayla was calm.

Not really calm, but her exterior never gave away what was behind the mask with Ayla. Even one of her forced smiles could be bought by even the most distrusting tributes in the center- enter Demeter.

The District 9 girl made Ayla feel in a way she'd never felt before, but she couldn't help reminding herself that only one made it out.

So many fake people, in just a few days.

But Brock and Ella and even her father were all waiting back home for the girl they'd known their whole lives. It hadn't been brave to volunteer, Ayla reflected, more like her just naturally taking control. Even though she was younger, she considered herself the mentor of the family. It wasn't taking power, it was a natural instinct.

Brock could probably get on without her, Ayla mused. But not without Ella. Which had prompted her to volunteer. She knew they loved her, but they didn't need her.

Hopefully she wasn't right, and it was just self-pity she was making herself feel for getting into such a tight spot.

She'd be lying if she said she regretted it though.

If I win, at least I'll have some good stories to tell.

"Launching now."

AUDELIA GLIDDEN, DISTRICT 6 FEMALE (16)

Audi was frightened.

She'd never expected to be doing this- though what outer district kid would? Audi had thought that on the morning of the launch, she'd be back home with her dad and Pilot. Her dad could've had some early-morning appointment, so he'd be off doing it, Audi would be doing something with Pilot, and everything would be just as normal as it usually was.

Well, normal for the Gliddens anyway.

It still felt surreal, but Audi had to accept it.

"Thirty seconds until launch."

She didn't want to panic, but was on the verge of it. Where was all of her confidence she'd had with the boy from 3 when she needed it?

Audi smiled wryly, despite the situation.

Twenty seconds.

Avven had told her he was going into the Cornucopia, and she was worried for him, but they'd agreed to temporarily split up and then find each other again.

If they both survived, Audi thought darkly.

Then again, there was a chance they could. Avven was going for camouflage paint, food and water, as well as tech materials Audi hoped to get her hands on.

Her expertise with tech would come in handy, especially if she was able to build a surveillance drone to watch over them. If the Careers came, the District 6 pair would have a head start on their enemies. And if Avven's camouflage worked, they could hide long enough, even though Audi and Avven agreed there was no fun in that.

She took her place in her tube as the robotic voice counted down for ten seconds.

I can do this.

"Launching now."

ASPEN MEREDITH, DISTRICT 7 FEMALE (16)

Aspen was regretful.

She hadn't been able to tell Euan she was too busy for romance. Aspen wasn't used to people having crushes on her, of all people.

The Jones triplets had told her she could do it, and so had her family.

But that came at the cost of an innocent boy who had done nothing but devote himself to Aspen.

Her mom being a musician, it was in Aspen's blood to not ignore the irresistible strings of a violin begging to be played. Her token was a carving of a violin. Music was something Aspen could find herself in, something that the girl who couldn't speak finally could find her words in.

Unfortunately, there weren't going to be many violins she could pick up and play when she got into the arena.

Thirty seconds until launch.

Aspen's heartbeat quickened, and she clenched her palms.

Once she launched, there'd be no going back. Maybe she could run right now, hide out for the rest of the Games, and when they found her (she knew they would eventually) they'd make her into an Avox. It wouldn't hurt, and enslavement was better than death.

She could run.

She could run right now, and escape this whole mess.

But deep down, Aspen knew that was a terrible idea.

Plus, Euan had dedicated himself to protecting her and if she ran off he'd try to help her too. That would only end in his death too, and Aspen didn't know if she could stand that.

Ten seconds until launch.

Aspen made her way to the glass tube, sucking in a sharp breath when it closed in around her. The walls were moving in to strangle her, trying to take away her life-

And then the tube rose.

She was able to breathe, which was a relief, but now she was entering worse territory.

The Games.

She was mute, which meant she wouldn't ever be able to scream.

Was it cruel enough for the Capitol yet?

"Launching now."

LINTEUM ARK, DISTRICT 8 MALE (15)

Lint was scared.

He didn't want this to be the end, but by looking at things by a realistic approach, the Gamemakers thought he wouldn't make it more than two steps into their psychopathic Games.

He knew they didn't mean to kill off the kids in the Games, and thought it wouldn't impact the kids's families, and Linteum didn't blame them for it. Even for him, it was hard to care about things that didn't happen personally.

But he didn't want to do this.

His parents had cared about him so much, had doted on him like the best parents ever, even though they often both worked double jobs to afford for everything. This made Linteum feel guilty- maybe if they hadn't had him, they could live a much happier life. The thought alone was so dangerously, intoxicatingly frightening- that yet some more people in the world could've been better off without him.

"Thirty seconds until launch."

Their love for him and his for them couldn't be in vain, but then again they said the Games changed you. If the Games changed Linteum, he wasn't sure if he could live with the price.

But if it meant returning to his family, he would be willing to do whatever it took.

Well, unless you counted hurting other people.

Lint couldn't ever hurt a fly.

He couldn't go into this. Just couldn't. There was so much more for him to do.

At least they could've given him more time with his parents and Opus.

Opus would've been better in his spot, Linteum reflected. He remembered her reassuring smile to him the day of the reaping, and he'd believed her. Believed his name wouldn't be pulled out of thousands. It wasn't unreasonable.

"Ten seconds until launch."

Wait.

Did this mean he couldn't trust Opus now?

He had to, Lint decided. He couldn't lose everything he had faith in.

Then he'd lose everything.

"Launching now."

LEON KNOX, DISTRICT 9 MALE (17)

Leon was determined.

He could win it if he tried- and had to make it to Jules.

All of the kids he taught needed his tutoring as well. He knew almost nobody would willingly volunteer to take his place as a teacher. If he died, he wouldn't get to impact lives anymore. Leon loved what he did- to see smiles light up, to have kids learn information they never would've without him gave him a sense of purpose.

"Twenty seconds until launch."

Leon studied his sister's hair tie, fiddling with it absentmindedly.

It was now or never.

Leon stepped into the tube, watching his reflection as the glass closed.

His stylist gave him a grin and a thumbs-up, shaking back gold ringlets.

"Launching now."

REYENA JENSEN, DISTRICT 10 FEMALE (13)

Reyena was cold.

Not mentally, like actually cold. And the arena outfit was much less stylish than any outfit they'd made her wear, which was saying a lot- unless you counted the pink dress at the interviews she'd loved- and though it was custom fitted to her size, the material was thin and the air conditioners in the launch room were on full blast. She'd thought she'd get some warmth before her eventual victory, considering she was going into an arena that'd most likely be freezing or basically District 10 in the summer, depending on how nice the Gamemakers had been feeling when they built it, but noooooo.

Shivering slightly, Reyena had no trouble stepping into the tube.

"Thirty seconds until launch."

She'd requested her stylist give her some moments to herself, but now the District 10 girl was feeling antsy. Why had nobody told her the launch took so long?

Time ticked by, feeling like centuries, as Reyena Jensen finally began to feel her plate ascend.

She wasn't grinning, no, it would be foolish to be happy, and the anticipation turned her stomach.

Just a minute now.

"Launching now."

BAILEY BREAMON, DISTRICT 11 "MALE" (17)

Bailey was apologetic.

They knew that at the end of the day, Reyena would probably be caught in the tide of bloodbaths and be taken out by a hopefully merciful Career.

Hopefully.

That was the catch.

If they kept going, maybe Bailey could make it to the end. They had an eight in training, which didn't make them hopeless. They also were predicted eighth overall, which was only the seventh loser in a field of twenty-three.

Maybe they could move up that list.

But they knew that for that, Artemis and Reyena would have to be dead. Reyena was a weak link in the Games, and Artemis? Bailey wasn't so sure. They still didn't know what was going on with their friend.

And they doubted Artemis would ever tell them.

It all hinged on the bloodbath, Bailey reflected. If his allies went down, he'd fly solo for the rest of the Games in their honor.

"Ten seconds until launch."

Bailey's stylist, Alvar, gave them an encouraging nod.

So they stepped into the tubes.

Inhaling sharply as the walls closed in on them, they hoped they could do this.

"Launching now."

TRISTAN SOL, DISTRICT 12 MALE (15)

Tristan was nervous.

As he should be- 12 hadn't had a victor in almost forty years, and that victor had vanished. So that left him with a Capitol employed mentor who didn't know anything. Peri and Tristan had both tried to make the best of it, but their mentor's obliviousness just got to be too much at the end.

So here he was in his tube, mentor and stylist both having left for pre-Games parties- wasn't there a rule against that? Didn't you have to be there for your tributes?

"Forty five seconds until launch."

He imagined the Careers being excited for this and felt sick to his stomach. The chances were stacked against his alliance- five people and at least one of them would die. Even though he'd been one of the main founders of it, Tristan felt like the odd one out. Lyana and Aspen relied on each other for speech, Peri was the cheerleader, and Euan was basically their leader.

Ironically, Aspen seemed to think the same way as him, though Euan tailed her like… Tristan didn't know. The fact of the matter was their alliance would disintegrate without its members, though Tristan wasn't sure if it would.

Peri disagreed. "You're essential to the group," she'd declared before the launch, and now they were in different rooms, launching to their deaths- no, to the Games.

He couldn't give up hope just yet.

There was a chance he could win. They'd predicted him nineteenth, which wasn't last.

He could get home to his family.

There was always a chance.

"Launching now."

—

A/N

Shorter chapter today because it's the launch. Anyways, I'll post the alliances with the bloodbath, which I'll see you soon for!