CHAPTER 2

PART I

Forty-eight hours.

We'd been given just two days and two nights to get acclimated to life underground here in District Thirteen. Two days to try to remember our way around...not an easy task with dozens and dozens of levels. Most of my first full day here consisted of me getting lost and asking directions...to my assigned mess hall (or, "Dining Facility," as some of the Thirteens called it), to the hospital, and to Katniss's quarters on Level Two.

I was surprised to find that Katniss's quarters were barely larger than my own...only one additional room for three times the people. But, in deference to Buttercup, they did have a small, single window, set high up in the wall, which opened to the outside. And I soon discovered the simple joy of just sitting under that open window and breathing in the fresh air from outside the sterile, recycled confines of District Thirteen.

Besides, Katniss didn't have to concern herself too much with trying to live in such cramped quarters with her mother and sister. For, beginning that first night following her release from the hospital, she made it a point to spend her nights in my quarters on Level Twenty.

Sleeping two in a bed barely large enough for one is a challenge...but Katniss and I, our arms wrapped around each other, managed quite nicely. The biggest drawback was with her having to rise before first call in the morning, so that she could return to her own quarters to receive her temporary tattoo schedule. We tried using my scheduler only to find that it was set to respond only to me. I made a note to myself...just one more thing to speak to Henry about.

But that's for later.

I felt Katniss shift slightly, her arm tightening around me as she sighed softly in her sleep, and I reluctantly opened my eyes, focusing on the digital clock set into the wall. Five forty-seven. I let out a sigh of my own and slowly reach up to my face to move an errant strand of dark hair away from my nose. Katniss murmured softly and burrows her face against my shoulder.

"Katniss," I said, my voice a whisper.

"Uh uh," Katniss groans in response.

I touched her shoulder gently. "Time to wake up. Unless you want Medical calling your quarters in forty-five minutes?"

"Shit," Katniss grumbled. She shifts around in bed, her head turning to face me. "Good morning," she whispers.

I smiled as I brush my lips against hers. "Good morning."

Her silvery gray eyes seemed to be searching mine. "Any nightmares?"

I shook my head. "None. You?"

Her lips curled up in a small smile. "No." She sighed heavily. "I wish we could stay in bed for just a little longer."

"Me too," I replied. "But remember what we were told during the Orientation video." All new arrivals had been required to watch the Orientation video on our first full day here. That's when we were told that we had just two days to get "settled in." After that, we could expect our daily schedule to include more than meal times, orientation, and bathing times.

"I know," Katniss grumbles again, swinging her legs out of the bed. She's wearing shorts and a tank top...her ribs are still too tender for anything "physical," so for the past two nights we've done nothing more strenuous than sleep...and then bends down, scooping up her socks and coverall off the floor. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she stuffed her feet into her socks and then quickly slipped on her coverall, before sliding her feet into her boots.

I propped myself up on one elbow as I watched her lace up her boots. Katniss glances over at me, a mock scowl on her face. "Comfy?"

"Very." As if on cue, the "first call" alarm began to chime gently. I swing my own legs out of bed as Katniss stands up. On one leg I hopped over to the alarm control and shut it off before sinking back down onto the bed, fumbling around for my prosthetic leg. With two of us sharing such a narrow cot, it's been more comfortable for the both of us for me to remove my leg at night.

I slipped the prosthetic on, turning and locking it into place, as Katniss waits patiently by the door. Standing up, I walked the few paces to her, slipping my arms around her waist as we gave each other a quick hug and kiss.

"See you at breakfast," Katniss said softly before stepping through my open door, carefully sliding it shut behind her. As the door clicked into place, I step over to the scheduler, inserting my left arm, and push the button. I watched the light glow red for a few seconds before blinking green, and I remove my arm to see what is on my schedule for today.

0600 - 0700 - First Call/Wake Up - Personal Hygiene Activities

0700 - 0800 - Breakfast - Dining Facility "G"

Dining Facility "G" was my assigned Mess Hall. I ignored that. I'll go up to "A" to take my meal with Katniss, like I've done for the last two days. It was the next entry that caught my eye:

0800 - To Be Announced - Meeting with President Coin & Staff - Command Level - Conference Room "A"

I sigh softly. Break time is over. I had a feeling that, as Haymitch would say; the shit is about to get real.

PART II

Katniss and I showed up to the meeting five minutes early, not wanting to find out what would happen if we arrived late. I was surprised to see Boggs and Jackson there as well. Greetings are exchanged all around as we take our seats at the conference table.

"I wonder where Haymitch is?" Katniss simply shrugs her shoulders in response.

Precisely at eight o'clock President Coin entered the room, accompanied by Plutarch Heavensbee and Henry Elliott. She gave us both a quick, tight smile before taking her seat at the head of the table, with Plutarch seated to one side and Henry seated to the other.

"Thank you both for coming," Coin said, once again giving us the same tight smile. "I trust you are settling in well?"

"Yes, ma'am," I replied. "I only got lost once coming down here today."

"You will find it easier and easier to navigate through District Thirteen, the longer you're here." Coin examined the screen on her PADD for a moment before continuing. "Well, before we get started, do you have any questions for me?"

"Just one." I glanced over at Katniss before continuing. "Where's Haymitch Abernathy? We thought that he would be a part of this meeting as well."

"Haymitch is...indisposed," Plutarch replied, somewhat cryptically.

Katniss frowned. "He wasn't injured coming out of Twelve. So what exactly do you mean by 'indisposed?'"

"Mr. Abernathy was scheduled to be present at today's meeting," Coin explained. "However, he suffered a...medical event...yesterday evening, and is currently under physician's care."

Katniss and I shared a look. "Medical event?" What exactly does that mean? Neither of us had seen Haymitch since the day after our arrival, and all I knew for sure was that he had been quartered someplace below Level Thirty.

"Haymitch is suffering from delirium tremens," Plutarch added. "It's a condition that affects people that drink more than they should. It causes hallucinations, and, in Haymitch's case, violent reactions to those hallucinations."

"Wait a minute." Katniss leaned forwards. "Are you trying to say that Haymitch got drunk and started seeing things?"

"Not at all." Coin replied in a calm, measured voice. "Possession and consumption of alcohol is forbidden in District Thirteen. The condition that affects Mr. Abernathy is brought about during alcohol withdrawal." Coin paused and glanced down at her PADD. "It was not unexpected, considering his lengthy alcohol addiction."

"Will he be okay?" I asked, concern in my voice.

"Oh, yes," Plutarch replied, almost cheerfully. "Haymitch is a tough bird, after all...and he's under the care of some really wonderful doctors!"

"Can we see him?" I gave Katniss a surprised look. Katniss isn't the sentimental type, especially when it comes to Haymitch, and her request was almost shocking...until I realized exactly why she wanted to see him.

Haymitch represents the closest thing to a constant that Katniss has in her life. Of course, she has her mother and sister, but Haymitch was something else to her entirely. He's about the farthest thing from a father figure that a person can get, but somehow he's managed to fill a void that I don't think even she knew was there. Whether she realized it or not, Haymitch had pretty much become, in his own sarcastic way, indispensable to Katniss.

"I'm afraid that's out of the question," Coin replied. "Mr. Abernathy is receiving some very specific care, and the presence of his Tributes would only serve to agitate him further."

"I don't care," Katniss sets her jaws stubbornly. "I still want to see him."

"Katniss," Plutarch explained patiently, "Haymitch has been...violent...with the staff. His treatment is, I've been informed, at a critical stage. Once he gets past this stage, then we'll discuss a visit. Deal?"

Katniss nodded her head sullenly. She doesn't like it...for that matter, neither do I...but we have little choice in the matter. Coin looked at each of us in turn, and then she herself nods slightly.

"Well," she finally said, "perhaps now that you've received assurances that Haymitch Abernathy is in capable hands, we can now move on to the subject of this meeting...the Uprisings and the Second Rebellion." Coin turned to Plutarch. "Mr. Heavensbee?"

"Thank you, Madam President." Plutarch reached out to a small control panel set into the surface of the table and presses a button. A lighted map of Panem appears on the wall.

"Here's the current situation." Plutarch pressed another button, causing the districts to illuminate in different colors. "Full-scale uprisings in Districts Seven through Eleven. Unrest and civil disobedience in Districts Three, Five and Six. Business as usual in One, some rumblings out of Two, and nothing at all from Four...there's a complete blackout for some reason."

"Any speculation on what's causing the comm blackout in Four?" Boggs asked.

"None. And that's what has us worried." Plutarch rubbed his chin and lower face with his hand. "Finnick Odair is our lead with the Rebel faction in Four. Unfortunately he's had to deal with shouldering Mags' responsibilities as well, ever since her stroke last year...not to mention the problems that he's had with caring for Annie Cresta and her fragile mental state." Plutarch glanced at Coin. "Madam President, perhaps we should have sent infiltration and security teams to Four as well as to Twelve."

Coin's head shake was emphatic. "No. I made the correct decision. District Four would have been much too difficult to support logistically while conducting a clandestine op. It's too far from Thirteen, and it doesn't have the advantage that Twelve had in being located in one compact area. Finnick Odair knew the risks and accepted them, plus, he's resourceful. If anyone can evade Peacekeepers and make his way to Thirteen, it's Odair. Please continue."

Plutarch gave Coin a long look before continuing. "As you've brought up Finnick Odair, Madam President, perhaps I should update everyone on the status of the other Victors." He glanced over at Katniss and I. "I'm afraid our information is sketchy at this point. As I've said before, we have absolutely no information out of Four. The Career Victors in Districts One and Two have been making the pro-Capitol Loyalist statements that we've expected, with a few notable exceptions...namely, Gloss and Cashmere in One, and Enobaria, along with Lyme, in Two. And, I might add, Lyme has been a Rebel Victor for years. We know that she's activated her Rebel cells in Two, but that's the extent of our communication with her."

"Speculation on what's driving the silence of Gloss, Cashmere, and Enobaria?" Coin asked.

Plutarch shook his head. "None, Madam President. Perhaps they -"

"They're all whores," Katniss said softly.

Coin gave Katniss a startled look. "I beg your pardon?"

Katniss looked up at Plutarch before turning to face Coin. "Gloss, Cashmere, and Enobaria. They're all Snow's whores."

"I fail to see what -" Coin began.

"Maybe," Katniss interrupted once more, "just maybe, they've had enough. And Snow's not happy about it."

Coin stared thoughtfully at Katniss for a long moment before turning to Plutarch. "What do you think about Miss Everdeen's theory?"

Plutarch shrugged. "It has merit. And it would explain their silence. I'll see what I can find out."

Coin nodded. "Very well. Please proceed."

"We've had communication with the following Victors: Beetee Latier in District Three, Johanna Mason in Seven, Cecilia in Eight, Silky Black in Nine, and Chaff in Eleven. They, in turn, have confirmed the following Victor casualties: Wiress in Three, Blight in Seven, Woof in Eight, Cyrus Gray in Nine, and Seeder in Eleven." Plutarch paused for a moment before continuing. "Blight and Woof were killed by Rebels. The others appear to have been killed during confrontations with Peacekeepers."

"Rebels?" I asked sharply. "Are you sure?"

Plutarch nodded slowly. "Regretfully, yes. Blight and Woof were both victims of anti-Capitol mob violence...and Johanna Mason as well. Rebels in Seven torched the Victors' Village there. They said it was a symbol of the Capitol's oppression. Johanna lost her home. There have been similar attacks against Victors and their homes in Districts Five, Six, and Ten."

Katniss and I exchanged looks. From the looks of it, Victors were being targeted from both sides...Peacekeeper and Rebel alike. "This is crazy," I muttered. "From what I understand, Woof was an old man...over seventy, in fact. And you say you've been talking with Johanna in Seven and Cecilia in Eight? Does that mean that Blight and Woof were part of the Rebellion too?"

Plutarch nodded again. "Blight was. Woof...his mental state had deteriorated to the point where he could no longer function as an active member, but he'd been involved for years. Decades, even."

"Great," Katniss murmured in disgust. "Rebels are killing Rebel Victors. Peacekeepers are killing Rebel Victors. The arena is starting to sound like a safer place than the districts right now."

"Katniss, please try to understand." Plutarch paused, pinching the bridge of his nose. "We're dealing with a mob mentality here. The attacks on Victors, and the deaths of Blight and Woof, were not orchestrated by any of the organized Rebel factions. They were killed by mob violence."

"Let's move on," Coin said impatiently. "Miss Everdeen...Mr. Mellark. Rest assured that your safety is a top priority. I'll be blunt. Neither of you is worth anything to the Rebellion dead."

Was that supposed to make us feel better? "Well, that's reassuring," Katniss muttered sarcastically.

Coin pointedly ignored her as she turned toward Boggs. "Colonel?"

Boggs, nodding, stood up. "Thank you, Madam President." He pressed a button in a control panel similar to the one Plutarch had been using earlier. The map display changed colors again. "Here's the military situation. The districts in red are in full-scale Uprisings. Simply put, it's active combat between Rebel factions and Peacekeepers, with the attendant loss of life and damage to property. The districts in yellow are not in full Uprising mode...yet. Strikes, work stoppages, and public demonstrations are the order of the day in these places. As a result, curfews are being brutally enforced, arrests are commonplace, and public executions have been taking place every day since the Reaping Rebellion."

"Executions?" I asked. "What are people being executed for?"

Boggs looked grim. "Breaking curfew, assembling in groups of more than three people, being suspected agitators...things like that. The youngest person executed thus far has been an eleven-year-old boy in District Six, out after curfew."

"Eleven?" Katniss gasped in dismay. "This has been confirmed?"

Boggs turned to face Katniss. "It was televised by the Capitol."

Katniss looked stricken as she turned to me. "It's my fault. If we hadn't started this -"

"Stop right there!" Coin's voice was quiet, yet commanding at the same time. "Miss Everdeen, nothing that's happening in the rest of Panem right now is 'your fault.' Nor is it Mr. Mellark's fault. The blame is on one person, and one person alone...Coriolanus Snow. And there will be an accounting someday...I can promise you both that."

Katniss said nothing in response, but her unchanged expression told me that Coin's words had little to no effect on her. Katniss blamed herself for every atrocity that the Capitol is committing against the districts. I reached under the table and find her hand with my own and gave it a reassuring squeeze, getting a sidelong glance and a small smile in return.

Boggs was speaking again. "- situation in those districts is precarious right now." He glanced up at the colored map. "The problem right now is that each district in uprising is fighting their own battles. We haven't been able to effectively coordinate efforts, nor have we been able to offer direct support. Right now the situation in Districts Seven through Eleven is in doubt."

"What's that mean?" I asked. "'In doubt?'"

"In layman's terms," Boggs replied gravely, "it means that, as of right now, we're losing."

PART III

I listlessly pushed the remains of my lunch around on my tray. I glanced over at Katniss to see that she's doing pretty much the same thing. The briefings that we've been listening to all morning had effectively killed our appetites.

We're eating in a Dining Facility located on the same level as Command. It's virtually identical to the other mess halls that I've seen here in Thirteen, except that this one was somewhat smaller. After all, Command is a "working" level...no one actually lived down here...so the noise and bustle of the "living level" mess halls was missing here.

"Power outages," Katniss muttered. "Defective computers. Trains breaking down. Is this how Coin expects to fight this war? By depending on power plant workers, and computer technicians, and train engineers to disrupt life in the Capitol?"

"There's fighting going on in five districts, Katniss," I pointed out. "Like Boggs said, Districts Three, Five and Six obviously feel like they can't join the fight right now, so they're contributing in the only way that they can."

"Shit! Peeta, weren't you listening? We're losing!" Katniss dropped her fork onto the tray with a clatter. "And we can't afford to -" Her voice trailed off and her eyes widen in surprise as she stared toward the double doors that mark the entrance to the mess hall.

"Oh, Snow," Katniss breathed as I spun around in my chair. Coming through the double doors was a single file of about thirty or so people, all identically dressed in jet-black coveralls, similar to the standard military-style uniforms worn here in Thirteen, with one notable exception. Each coverall had the letter "C" stenciled on the left breast pocket, with a larger "C" centered on the back.

Six soldiers were escorting the group, each armed with a pistol belted securely around their waists. I spotted a woman in the middle of the line that I recognized instantly, even though a dark gray scarf covered her head. Even without the garish clothing and outrageously colored wigs, I would have recognize the upright chin, squared shoulders, and short, precise gait to her walk anywhere.

My own eyes widened in surprise as Katniss breathes, "Effie. Effie Trinket."

Katniss leapt to her feet so quickly that her chair toppled over. "Effie!" She practically shouted. "Effie!"

Effie turned at the sound of her name and spots Katniss hurtling towards her. "Katniss?" Katniss virtually collided with Effie, wrapping her arms around our Escort's neck even as I'm rising to my feet. I saw the guard nearest Effie move forward as Effie returns Katniss's embrace, dropping one hand to an object on his pistol belt.

"Back in line, miss," the guard ordered Effie. His voice was stern but lacked any of the measured cruelty that we've always known from our dealings with many of the Peacekeepers in District Twelve.

Katniss turned toward the guard just as I reached her and Effie. "She's with us," Katniss practically snapped.

The guard ignored Katniss. "Miss Trinket," he repeated, "please get back in line. You know the rules."

"Excuse me." I stepped between the guard and Katniss, who, I could see, was about to say or do something that Plutarch would term "unfortunate." Katniss was still clinging to Effie. "We know this woman. And, like Katniss said, she's with us."

The guard glanced at me while pulling the object from his belt at the same time. "I know who you are. And I'm asking that you don't interfere."

"I'm not interfering," I pointed out calmly. I turned towards Katniss and Effie. "Hello, Effie," I said with a smile.

"Hello, Peeta," Effie replied automatically. Behind Effie, the others in line shifted uncomfortably as another guard strides toward us.

I recognized the other guard instantly. "Leeg! Am I glad to see you!"

The blonde woman stopped a step or two from us. "You're Peeta Mellark and Katniss Everdeen, from Twelve." It was a statement, not a question.

I frowned in confusion. Why is she acting like she doesn't know us? "Come on, Leeg," I heard Katniss say, "you know us!"

"Katniss," Effie warned, "she isn't the same -"

"You know my sister," the guard explained. "She was with you in Twelve, as part of the infiltration team."

I remembered Leeg speaking of a twin sister, but it's disconcerting to actually meet a twin for the first time. Twins had been a rarity in District Twelve...in fact I can't remember ever seeing any identical twin siblings there at all. Leeg had been the youngest and most approachable Thirteen that had been part of the infiltration team...I can only hope that her sister shared her temperament.

"She spoke of us to you, then," I said hopefully.

The blonde woman nodded. "Oh, yes." She turned to the guard. "You can stand down, Soldier...and secure your stunner. I doubt if it will be needed."

"Yes, Corporal," the guard muttered, as he slid the object back into the holster on his belt.

Corporal Leeg turned back toward us. "Now, as far as Miss Trinket being 'with you,' I'm afraid that she must stay with the group during meal times. However, you may join her at her table, if you wish."

"We do wish," Katniss said coldly. I noticed that she's still clutching Effie's arm.

Corporal Leeg smiled for the first time. "Fine. Let me get everyone through the serving line. You can join your friend once I have them all seated. Fair enough?"

"Fair enough," I replied with a nod.

"Conditioning?" Katniss asked, surprise in her voice.

"That's what they call it," Effie replied softly, the bitterness evident in her voice. "Ever since our arrival in this dungeon. They confiscated our clothing and gave us this -" she pointed to her black coverall "- to wear." Effie sliced off a piece of processed meat, spearing it with her fork, and popped it in her mouth, chewing delicately. "Another word that they use is 're-education.' Well! I, for one, am quite well educated already! And I don't need to see pictures of starving children in District Eight, or holo-videos of floggings in District Ten!" Effie dropped her knife and fork and dabbed at her eyes with her napkin. "I find such things to be quite distressing!"

"That's the idea," a woman's voice said from behind us. I turned to see Corporal Leeg, her hands clasped behind her back, walking slowly between the rows of tables. "It's supposed to upset you. It's supposed to make you Capitolites think!"

"Of course," a new voice chimed in, "because, as we all know, us Capitolites are incapable of thinking for ourselves." The sarcastic tone was not lost on any of us, and I found myself suppressing a smile.

"Doctor," Corporal Leeg said, with infinite patience, "your resistance is only making things harder on you." She eyed the other Capitolites seated at the table, her face set in a stern mask. The only other one that I recognized was the woman from the Tribute Train that Haymitch had referred to as "Duchess." The rest were Train Attendants or employees of the District Twelve Capitol Liaison office.

"I agree with Miss Trinket," the Doctor sniffed. "The only thing that subjecting us to that continuing horror show does is cause us to lose our appetites. It's not 'resistance,' Corporal...it's disgust! And if you people would just stop and think for one minute about what the Capitol would do to us if we were somehow liberated..."

"We've heard it all before, Doctor," Corporal Leeg replied stiffly.

"Wait a minute," I said, turning to Effie. "What's he talking about, Effie?"

"If...if one or more of us managed to escape, or was liberated by Peacekeepers," Effie replied in a soft voice, "chances are, we would most likely be imprisoned by the Capitol as potential security risks...that is, if we weren't summarily executed on the spot."

Executed? Imprisoned? "They would do that?" I didn't even attempt to keep the astonishment out of my voice.

"Did you ever wonder, young man," the Doctor replied, "why there is almost no fraternization between Capitol officials and district residents?" He didn't wait for me to respond. "Well, I'll tell you. The Capitol has always been very careful to cultivate the image that we are somehow superior to you district people. In fact, if a Capitol citizen was observed getting too 'close' to a district resident, he or she would be immediately transferred to another post...or taken back to the Capitol for 'retraining' if the authorities believed that the 'contamination' was too great."

"It's true, Peeta," Effie added. "The only exceptions were those of us working for the Games...Escorts, Stylists, and Prep Teams. We were expected to bond with our Tributes."

"Yes, but...executions?" I sputtered. Katniss said nothing, but the horrified look on her face spoke volumes. She's imagining the same thing that I was...Effie, kneeling, hands bound, while a Peacekeeper puts a bullet into the back of her head.

"Think about it, young Victor," the Doctor continued. "We...all of us -" he indicated the other Capitolites in the mess hall "- have, in the eyes of the government, been contaminated beyond measure. We've witnessed an Uprising, we've been shot at, and we've seen District Twelve bombed into smoking rubble. We've also seen countless acts of selflessness and courage displayed by the very people that we've always been taught to be inferior to us."

His voice dropped as he stared down at his tray. "How can anyone have seen what we've witnessed over the last few days and truly say that they have not been changed?"

Corporal Leeg was obviously unmoved by the Doctor's words. "Be that as it may, Doctor, but the people you need to convince are not sitting in front of you. And, until you are no longer deemed a threat -"

"Threat," Effie repeated bitterly. "As if I can be a threat to anyone while wearing this!" She held up her left leg and pulled the cuff of her coverall trousers up her calf, revealing a metal shackle. A green light was glowing softly on one side of the shackle.

"What the fuck is that?" Katniss whispered.

"It's an ankle tracker," Corporal Leeg replied, almost angrily. "It alerts us if a confinee wanders out of their designated area."

"Oh, Corporal," the Doctor admonished gently, "it does so much more than that! You see, Victors, this device emits a beeping sound and causes a tingling sensation in the leg if we get within three meters of our set boundaries. And if we should cross that boundary it hits us with a strong electrical charge, stunning us long enough for security to arrive."

I glanced once more at Effie's leg before turning back to Corporal Leeg, who regarded me coolly for a moment. "It's a standard restraint device that we use here in Thirteen. In this manner, we don't have to waste valuable space on confinement facilities."

"And it's quite effective," the Doctor added dryly. "If you need proof, you only need to ask your friend Cinna."

Katniss's eyes narrowed at the mention of Cinna's name and she whirled back around to face Corporal Leeg. "What about Cinna? Where is he? I haven't seen him at all since arriving here!"

"There was an incident last night," Leeg explained reluctantly. "Cinna and the others on his team were involved. They were taken to another place."

"What 'incident?' What other place?" Katniss demanded angrily.

Corporal Leeg glanced at Katniss's forearm for a moment, reading her daily schedule. "I don't have that information. Perhaps you should ask President Coin when you return to your meeting with her following the noon meal."

"I intend to do just that!" Katniss snapped.

I have a strong feeling that Haymitch's saying about the "shit getting real" was about to come true once Katniss and I returned to the meeting.

PART IV

"Welcome back." Plutarch stood up from his place at the conference table as orderlies cleared away the remnants of a meal. "We would have joined you at lunch, but we had some other issues to discuss." He gave us a quick smile. "It's what's known as a 'working lunch.' I trust you were able to find the Command level Dining Facility?"

Katniss ignored Plutarch's pleasantries. She leaned forward, the palms of her hands flat against the table, and glared at President Coin. "Where are Cinna and my Prep Team?"

Coin gazed calmly back at Katniss. "I beg your pardon?"

"Cinna...my Stylist...and Venia, Flavius, and Octavia...my Prep Team. Where are they?" Katniss demanded.

Coin glanced uncertainly at Plutarch. "Why do you ask, Katniss?" Plutarch asked.

"We saw Effie at lunch today," Katniss replied flatly. "Along with the Doctor and the other Capitolites that came along with us. They were under heavy guard and were all wearing some sort of shock shackle on their legs. The Doctor told us that something happened with Cinna and the others last night, and I want to know where they are!"

"Miss Everdeen." Coin spoke carefully, choosing each word deliberately. "The security of District Thirteen is my responsibility. We didn't expect the influx of Capitol citizens...all of whom must be considered as security threats until they are cleared. And, whether you understand it or not, a state of war exists between the Capitol and us. And until we are satisfied that all Capitol citizens have been properly conditioned, these security measures will remain in place."

"What about Plutarch?" Katniss glanced up at the former Assistant Head Gamemaker, her voice trembling with barely controlled anger. "He's a Capitolite! Why isn't he locked up with the others?"

"Mr. Heavensbee has been an integral member of the Rebellion for many years, as is your film crew, now lead by Resident Director Messalla," Coin explained calmly. "There was no need to further question his loyalties...or those of Messalla, Castor, or Pollux."

"And they all worked with Cinna in planning for the Rebellion!" Katniss glared at Plutarch. "So why is Cinna suddenly considered disloyal to the cause?"

"The decision to include your Prep Team was made at the last minute," Plutarch explained. "And only under the condition that they undergo re-education upon their arrival here." Plutarch paused for a moment. "In truth, Cinna wouldn't leave without your Prep Team. Neither would Portia, for that matter...although that point is rather moot now. Cinna was concerned over the repercussions that they would face from Snow if they were left behind."

"Answer the question, Plutarch!" Katniss snapped.

Plutarch glanced at Coin, who shrugs. "Tell her."

"Very well, Madam President," Plutarch replied, before turning back toward Katniss. "Out of loyalty to his people, Cinna insisted on remaining with the Prep Team, even through their conditioning and re-education. There was an incident last night. Apparently Octavia tried to sneak back into the Command Dining Facility and was stunned when she went out of bounds. Cinna and the others were taken into custody when they objected to her arrest and attempted to interfere."

"And just when were you planning on telling us all this?" Katniss's voice trembled with anger.

"It wasn't relevant to our meeting today," Coin replied smoothly. "You needed to be brought up to date on the state of the Rebellion, and this afternoon was to be discussion on the role that you and Mr. Mellark are to perform to further the cause."

"Not relevant?" I asked in amazement. "You've got our Escort locked up and Katniss's Stylist, along with her Prep Team, arrested for...what the hell were they arrested for?"

"Octavia was attempting to steal food," Boggs replied. I glanced over at him in surprise. This was the first he'd spoken since our return from lunch. "Plus, she was out of bounds. The others were obstructing our security detail."

"Well, I think that's all pretty fucking relevant," Katniss said, sarcasm dripping from her voice. "And, just exactly what is the 'role' that you expect Peeta and I to 'perform?'"

"You're the Mockingjay, Katniss," Plutarch explained patiently. "I thought that you understood all this. You and Peeta are the faces of the Rebellion. We're planning on recording some propaganda pieces...propos...for broadcast in the districts, and the Capitol as well, if possible, as inspiration to the Rebel forces throughout Panem."

"And you need us to cooperate in order to get these 'propos' recorded?" I asked.

"I was given to understand that your cooperation was already assured," Coin replied tightly.

"I want them released," Katniss insisted flatly. "Effie...Cinna...my Prep Team. All of them. Now."

"Out of the question," Coin replies flatly. She turned to Henry. "Find out who ordered the confinees fed while the Victors were using the same Dining Facility, and have them report to Colonel Boggs for 'counseling.'"

"Yes, ma'am," Henry replied softly, tapping on his PADD.

Katniss was practically shaking with anger. I stood up, placing my hand on her shoulder. "Plutarch, the Doctor told us that all of the Capitol citizens would be either imprisoned or executed outright if they were to fall back under Capitol control. Is this true?"

Plutarch nodded. "The Capitol has always been concerned about 'district contamination.' Something like this...yes. Absolutely."

"If that's the case," Boggs slowly said, "then it means that all of the Capitol citizens, as well as the Rebel Peacekeepers, are basically stateless. They don't belong anywhere."

"What about the Rebel Peacekeepers?" I asked Boggs. I just now realized that I didn't see either Darius or Purnia during lunch, nor have I seen them since arriving in Thirteen.

Boggs glanced at Coin, who waved her hand in the air resignedly. "Go ahead, Colonel."

"Yes, Madam President," he replied. Turning back to us, he explained, "The Rebel Peacekeepers, along with Silenus Festuca, are being examined by Special Intelligence. Their clearance process is, from all reports, going well."

"Why Festuca?" I asked.

Boggs looked at me, his gaze steady. "He's a former Peacekeeper, and also from District Two."

"Colonel?" Jackson spoke for the first time today. "Sir, I fought beside Darius Potter, as well as Festuca and Purnia. They are just as committed to this as we are."

"I made that decision, Lieutenant," Coin said coldly. "For the good of District Thirteen."

"President Coin," Katniss said, her voice tightly controlled, "These people are my friends. You say that you made the decisions to lock them up. Well, I can make decisions as well." Katniss paused and took a deep breath. "If you want my cooperation, you will release them from confinement. Once they are released, I will be your 'Mockingjay.' That's my promise to you. I will give you my full cooperation. But only after they're released."

President Coin's lips compressed into a thin, angry line. I turned to face Coin. "I'm with Katniss, ma'am," I said respectfully. "What she said goes for me as well."

Coin rose slowly to her feet. "This meeting is adjourned until zero eight hundred tomorrow morning. Until then, Miss Everdeen...Mr. Mellark...you are to limit yourselves to your quarters and to your assigned Dining Facility." She smiled humorlessly. "That would be your 'own' quarters, Miss Everdeen." She turned to Plutarch and Boggs. "Gentlemen, please come with me...and you as well, Soldier Elliott. Lieutenant Jackson, please escort our Victors back to their quarters."

Katniss, Jackson and I watched as Coin and the others strode out of the conference room. After they were gone, Jackson turned to Katniss. "You have a real talent for pissing people off, Everdeen," she said with a rueful grin.

"Well, do you think what she's doing is right?" Katniss replied defensively.

"That's not for me to decide," Jackson said softly. "Come on. I gotta get you back home. And, Katniss -" Katniss turned toward Jackson "- stay in your own quarters tonight. President Coin wasn't making a suggestion."

"And what if I don't?" Katniss asked defiantly as we made our way toward a nearby bank of elevators.

"Then," Jackson replied slowly, "I think you'll be able to spend a lot of time with your Capitol friends...with a stunner clamped around your leg. You may be the Mockingjay, but President Coin won't hesitate to remind you that she's in charge here...not you."

Neither Katniss nor I said anything more on the elevator ride to the living levels. When the elevator stopped on Level Twenty, Katniss grabbed me as the doors slide open, kisses me deeply, and whispers, "Remember the last person that told us that we couldn't see each other."

I watched the doors slide shut as the elevator resumed its climb. Oh, yes. I remember very well. President Coriolanus Snow had issued the same edict to me almost a year ago. And, as I walked to my quarters, one thought remained uppermost in my mind.

Coin will do whatever it takes to show us that she's in charge here. WHATEVER it takes.

And I felt real fear grip my belly. Not for me.

The fear I felt was for Katniss Everdeen, who, by her very nature, has a real problem buckling under authority figures. And Coin was definitely an authority figure. And, if Coin and Katniss butt heads, Coin will most certainly win.

And, if Coin wins, that means that Katniss loses...and the stakes will most likely be her life.

And that is a price that I'm not prepared to pay.