It was Peeta's first time 'backstage' for the Games, and Effie gave him directions quickly. "VIP Lounge and Viewing Area. Dozens of screens showing way more than you'll see on television. This is where the Sponsors watch from." She gestured at dining booths with glass walls around them, one or two of them closed off, with the walls opaque. "Those booths over there are where you plead your case in private. If there's a double-cross coming, the Mentors of those involved will be in there are lot."

Peeta nodded, scanning the opulent room. He recognized a lot of these faces from the Victory parties.

Effie hooked her arm in his and pulled him along quickly. "Every District gets a private room, limited to Games officials and Prep Teams for individual Districts. You want to talk strategy where the other Mentors can't hear it, you go in here; but you can't bring any other Mentors or Sponsors. You'll be spending most of your time in the Lounge. Way better view, way better coverage, and all the Sponsors close at hand."

A chime went off, announcing the countdown had begun. "This is it."

The instant the siren went off, Johanna was moving. Stone pathways on opposite sides of her, cutting paths through the water, towards a jungle beach. Johanna wasn't the fastest swimmer, but she was younger than most of the other Tributes. Some of them could barely swim at all. Haymitch had found Mags and was hauling her from the water as she dog-paddled towards him. Eighty years old, Mags was still out of there faster than most of the deadlier Tributes.

Most of the Career Pack had taken the other side of the structure. Johanna and Finnick found each other quickly at the Cornucopia. "Nothing but weapons!?" Johanna shouted.

"Lookout!" Finnick warned.

"You should have sided with us, Mason." Enobaria snarled.

Johanna readied her axe, when Cecelia flew in from the side and hit Enobaria from behind. She wasn't armed, but she had the advantage.

"Grab more axes!" The mother shouted to Johanna. "Meet at the beach!"

"She's right. This is bad real estate!" Finnick called. "Grab what you can!"

Johanna's eyes flicked to the bow and quiver. She was better with throwing axes, but they were heavy, and the quiver had way more shots available…

"Jo, come on!" Finnick yelled, and Johanna started running; with one axe in each hand, and two more strung across her shoulderblades in a thoughtfully provided harness.

Nobody went for the bow.

The cannon went off behind them.

Peeta watched from the Mentor's room. Those that were willing to help gave him no acknowledgement whatsover, as expected. Those that were never going to be 'in on it' kept to each other. Effie was with him. She knew the people better than he did. Peeta had been working the sponsors with all his Storytelling skill, and Johanna was the recipient of medical gear and food.

"Gale taught Johanna a fair bit about finding water and edibles." Peeta told Effie. "But it's not a coincidence that the Cornucopia had nothing but weapons. They don't want it to last long enough for anyone to get hungry."

"You think they realized it's a bad move, and they're wrapping it up fast?" Effie whispered. "Haymitch…"

"I know, Effie. I'm worried too. But right now, we've got something nobody else in Panem has. A chance to help."

Cinna arrived at the door to the Mentor's Area. As part of the prep Team, he had VIP status enough to join them. It wasn't usually done, as the Stylists weren't allowed wagers on the Games; but Cinna knew some of the Sponsors by name. He came to the District Twelve booth and spoke quietly. "Tigris sent me. We flipped a coin to see who would… well…"

Peeta translated in his head. To see who would play it safe and live to fight another day, in case the plan didn't work.

"Tigris asked me to tell you that other Sponsor we were cultivating is a little leery about some of the coverage." Cinna reported. "If our team loses too many people, they may write it off."

Peeta translated in his head. The rest of the Resistance is getting worried. Aloud, he kept his voice even. "Let me speak with them."

Cinna nodded. "As it happens, this was expected. They'll be by to talk to you later tonight."

Peeta clocked that in surprise. "Really?" I'm finally going to meet the Ringmaster in this little circus.

Cinna held out a small box. "Present for you, from Tigris."

Effie looked over as he opened it. It was a gold fob watch. Peeta flipped it open, revealing a shimmering Mockingjay under the lid.

"A trend that's faded somewhat with your relationship with Johanna being confirmed." Effie observed. "But I noticed Johanna wears her Mockingjay pendant everywhere she goes. Including the Arena."

Peeta was about to answer, when he noticed the sound of yelling coming from the entrance to the VIP Lounge. He went to the door, worried, and found a Peacekeeper pinning Waxer to the wall.

"Is there a problem here?" Peeta demanded.

"This thug won't let me leave." Waxer snapped, waving furiously at the Peacekeepers that were stationed outside the Mentor's Lounge.

Peeta glared. "Cecelia and Woof are… fallen. What else is there?"

"I have my orders." The guard said flatly. "Nobody leaves."

"I'll take this to Plutarch Heavensbee." Waxer warned. "No, better yet; you take it to him. The Games are so loaded this year, I'm betting they don't want us around any cameras for longer than we need to be."

The guard made the call. Peeta and Waxer traded a look. It was a good cover, but the real reason was a secret. Everyone who was in on the secret would live longer if they were out of the Capitol. Cecelia's death had cut Waxer deeply, but it had given him an escape route.

"Mister Heavensbee agrees, sir. You're free to go." The guard said finally.

Waxer spared Peeta a look. "They killed Cecelia. Make them pay for it." He said shortly. Only the two of them knew he wasn't talking about the District Two team.

Haymitch woke with a start as Finnick gave a shout, darting back. "The Fog! The fog is poison!"

Johanna was closest to the fog, and it rolled over her leg before she could get up. She howled and tried to run, and found her leg was completely dead. The fog was spreading fast. "Run!"

Finnick scooped up Johanna quickly. Haymitch had Mags over his shoulder in an instant, and the two of them ran, with their charges; until the fog suddenly stopped, like it had hit a wall in the air.

Johanna, riding over Finnick's shoulder, got a clear look as it stopped. "What the hell is that?" She asked.

Mags gummed out something unintelligible, but it was clear she had seen it too.

The four of them slowed to a halt, Finnick and Haymitch breathing hard. "Guh." The grizzled man groaned. "I wasn't meant to have this kind of exercise. I should be at home with a bottle of grain alcohol right now."

"You never know, you just saved some lives." Johanna coughed, trying to make her leg start working. "All the girls in District Twelve just saw it. I bet Effie is impressed."

Finnick laughed. "Ohmy, Trinket just felt someone walk on her grave."

Johanna noticed. "Finnick! You're bleeding!"

He looked down. "Yeah. Got myself with my trident when the arm went numb." He grunted as the adrenaline wore off. "Ohh, I shouldn't have been walking on it."

"The usual alliances formed quickly. The surprising part is how big the second alliance turned out. I would have thought the un-Allied Tributes would keep to their Districts. With only a few exceptions, we've almost got two equal teams here."

"Not that surprising, Ceaser. This is the first Games where the Tributes all know each other, and have experience."

"Odds were split on how that experience would play out. Some believed it would make the survival side of the Games a lot easier, and the combat side more cautious."

"If anything, the fighting has been all the more vicious. Our opening battle at the Cornucopia has an opening body count of eight. Almost a third of the field in less than an hour. And who knows what other terrors the night will bring?"

Johanna stitched up Finnick's leg and sprayed him with the healing solution. "The healing balm will probably close up the lacerations by sundown."

Finnick glanced at the sky. "Thank you, Peeta. I don't know how you sweet talked the Sponsors into that kind of gift."

"Neither do I." Johanna murmured, not smiling. But I think I can guess.

Julle smiled hungrily at Peeta as she put away her 'Donation' scanner. The Avox holding it retreated from the booth instantly, giving them privacy. "Well, that was expensive." She said, as though he didn't know it.

Peeta plastered a knowing smile on his face. "And I am very... grateful."

"Grateful enough that you'll buy a girl a drink sometime?" Julle quipped, letting her fingers trail over his arms as she went back to the rest of the Sponsors.

"We've gotta find Wiress and Beetee." Finnick said. "It's already been a day."

"They'd know to stick to the beach." Haymitch said, scanning the Arena. "There's not a lot of room to hide in this Arena."

"Johanna! HELP! AGH! Help Me!" A familiar voice screamed from the jungle.

Johanna looked up sharply. "Peeta?!"

The voice kept calling from the jungle, Peeta's voice howling for mercy; screaming for help. He kept screaming, and screaming…

Johanna was walking towards the jungle on wobbly legs; like her feet were trying to take her closer without her permission.

Then another voice. One that Johanna didn't know as well, but still recognized. "Finnick! Help me!"

Finnick lost his mind. "ANNIE?!" He was up and running.

Johanna's brain suddenly went into overdrive, and even before she'd fully put it together she had brought Finnick down from behind with a crash-tackle. "Not real! It's not real, Finnick! Don't believe them! Never believe them!"

"It's Annie! You can hear her! It's Annie!" Finnick was going completely to pieces.

"I can hear Peeta, too!" Johanna roared in his ear, loud enough to drown out the screaming for a minute. "It's not him! It's Not Either Of Them!"

And impossibly, Finnick listened. "Wh… are you sure?"

"It's a lie, Finnick. It's a mockup. We've seen them do weirder things with a lot less to work with. It's Not Them!"

Finnick clapped his hands over his ears, trembling. "Gawd, Jo…"

"I know." Johanna promised, still holding him down. "Just hold on, Finnick. Just hold on."

"We're in business." Cinna said quietly in the Private Rooms. "The Sponsor gift has been approved, delivery will be ready by tonight."

The room had been swept for bugs four times, and Peeta realized just how many of Cinna's conversations had to be coded that he did it automatically. "Here's hoping it'll help. I'd better get back to work."

"As should I." Cinna agreed. "By the way, do you know Annie Cresta well?"

Peeta froze. "Annie?"

"They just used her voice to drive Finnick into a trap." Cinna said casually. Translation: Finnick has a weakness?

Peeta paled. "Well, we both know the kinds of games they can play in the Arena. I'm sure Annie's in a safe place." Translation: Get her out of danger, right now!

Cinna looked back at the screens outside. "How sure?" Translation: Not possible at this stage.

"Well, safer than Finnick is, surely. And Johanna and Haymitch. Maybe even us. At least, with her home in Four, that's how it should be." Translation: Get her out, now! Top priority! She goes or we stay.

Cinna looked sick. "Difficult to say. But we'll know by midnight." Translation: I'll try. No promises.

Cinna headed off again, and Peeta returned to the coverage.

Haymitch came limping out of the jungle, with a small, bloody mass of feathers in his hand. "Jabberjays." He said roughly. "It wasn't them."

"Could they… I mean, Jabberjays mimic."

"No chance." Haymitch said seriously. "Peeta's our Mentor. They can't touch him until after the Games; even if they wanted to."

Johanna was silent for a long minute. "Haymitch?" She wavered.

"I know, kid. I know." He rested a hand on her shoulder.

"Even a year ago…" Johanna croaked, looking at the shattered look on Finnick's face. "Even a year ago, those Jabberjays would have been nothing to me. They would have had nobody to mimic. Not for me." She didn't say it out loud, but she didn't have to. A year ago, there was nobody I loved.

Finnick looked at Johanna. "You knew, even before… Well, before we could think about it, you knew it was fake. How?"

"He was calling for help." Johanna said darkly. "If Peeta was in there, if he was in danger; he'd be screaming for me to run. He'd be trying to protect me; no matter what he was going through. No matter what they'd do to him, he'd be trying to protect us."

"He would." Haymitch nodded. "Peeta would never tell us to run into danger. Not even to save himself."

Heavy silence. Nothing but the sound of their breathing hard.

Haymitch stood and yelled at the sky. "You people didn't learn that lesson last year!? The Prim-Mutt and Rue-Mutt weren't enough to tell you that the dead were off-limits?!"

"Peeta and Annie are alive, Haymitch." Johanna reminded him, breathing hard, voice sulphuric. "They're both alive."

"Half a second slower volunteering and it'd be Peeta in here right now." Haymitch groused. "Who's voice would he hear, with you in here with him? Prim? Rue? Even Katniss?" He looked back up. "Who would it be?!"

Effie came back into the VIP Lounge, looking sick. "I could use a drink." She said to Peeta, just a little too deliberately. It was their codeword.

Peeta led her over to one of the private booths and put up the Privacy Screens. He reached into his pocket and hit Johanna's Jammer. "What's the word?"

"We can't get in touch with anyone from Four." Effie said seriously. "I don't know these people as well as Cinna, but it looks like the local Resistance Cell was busted."

Peeta felt his heart start to race. "Annie?"

"Still in Victor's Village; but there's no way to get her out. They were getting ready to strike at Midnight, like we planned; but apparently their prep got noticed..."

Peeta pinched the bridge of his nose. "It's starting to come apart, Effie." He said softly. "Finish your drink fast, and then talk to Cinna... See how hard it would be to get our own escape Hovercraft to make a pickup."

"I can already tell you, they'll say no." Effie warned him, ordering a drink from the wall panel.

"Well, that's my job." Peeta said, and switched off the Jammer. "I gotta get back out there."

The alliance sat on the beach for a long time, trying to shake off the screaming nerves. Finnick was shaking. Mags was holding him. Johanna wasn't as certain as she'd acted around Finnick, and she was handling it by keeping her 'mask' on tighter than ever, talking baby names with Haymitch.

Haymitch wasn't liking the desperate way she clung to the lie. "Johanna..."

"I know, it seems like bad luck to say it out loud, given that we're in an Arena." Johanna said to him. "But just so you know, even if we don't make it, Peeta will likely have a kid one day. Boy or girl, they will see this show one day, and ask about 'uncle Haymitch'."

Haymitch twitched hard at that. "Geez. If I'd know someone would call me 'uncle Haymitch' one day, I think I'd have quite drinking ages ago."

Johanna laughed. All of a sudden, they weren't pretending. "I never wanted kids, you know. When Peeta came along, I still didn't." She winced, not acting at all. "Peeta deserves kids, Haymitch. He'd be such a great dad." She suddenly remembered herself, and the cameras. "I hope... I hope one day he gets his chance with someone who loves him as much as we do." And she folded both arms over her stomach, bowing over her middle protectively. The little speech seemed perfectly genuine, because she really did mean every word. Peeta said the best lies are ones that don't involve any lies at all.

And then they heard the familiar chimes of a Sponsor Gift coming down.

There were actually tears on a few people's faces in the VIP Lounge. Johanna's emotional declaration had reached them, despite themselves. Peeta felt their eyes on him, and he turned away, heading to the Private Room. Nobody would disturb him for a good few minutes.

Finnick was closest, counting out the portions of bread. "Twenty four portions." He said, glancing at Mags. "They didn't send any District Four bread this time."

Johanna sat up straighter, suddenly worried; trying not to let it show. District Four is out? "Too bad." She said roughly. "I'm craving salt."

Peeta had heard of people 'praying' before. It was in a few books he'd found in his Victor's Village home. He didn't know what a 'Church' was, beyond the fact that there hadn't been one since the Dark Days. It seemed fairly straight forward. You pour your heart out to the universe, and see if the Universe responded. For Jo. For Haymitch. For Annie. For Finnick. For Prim. For Rue. For Katniss. For Gale. For their families, and the chances we take with their lives. Their souls cry out for justice... And it's on me to provide some? I don't know how. How much heartbreak can people live through at eighteen? Please, for Finnick, let this one small part of the plan be flexible...

And then, as if to answer; the door to his Private Room opened. Cinna was in the doorway. Peeta felt his heart stop when he saw who had come in with him. "Mister Heavensbee." He said guardedly, standing up. "This is somewhat of a frightening honor. I hope all is well?"

Plutarch came in and flipped open his watch. There was a Mockingjay symbol within.

Peeta didn't react, but it was only because his brain had ceased to function. He was certain his brain had exploded spontaneously, and there was a buzzing in his ears so loud that he assumed he was feeling the exploded brains melting out his ears…

"Surprised?" Plutarch grinned. "You should know, the booth isn't wired. I'm the guy who decides whether or not to do that, and this room is secure."

Peeta still said nothing. Say some words, Mellark. Any words will do.

Plutarch looked at him sideways and mistook his brainlock for inscrutability. "Johanna mentioned your poker face was hopeless. I think she underestimated you."

Peeta swallowed. "Let's hope Snow does the same."

"Cinna has told me of your request that Annie Cresta be added to the Rescue List."

Peeta gestured at the screen. "Every time we lose a Victor, the list of people that need to escape Capitol Reach grows shorter. Finnick needs Annie to be alive, plain and simple."

"Not simple at all. We're a cell group. When this starts, the war will be on. The more we spend on tonight, the less we'll have to take on the Capitol with. We only have the one Hovercraft… Peeta, travel between the Districts is tightly controlled. The aircraft are all monitored. One of them breaks from its flightplan for us, and it's a race. They break from pattern a lot sooner to get families and they'll be waiting for it here."

"They know about Annie. They know why Finnick would run into the fire at the sound of her screaming." Peeta said again. "Leaving her in their reach is a death sentence; for her and for Finnick."

"Peeta, once the Hovercraft deviates from flightplan, we're busted." Plutarch said seriously. "The Capitol has defences against aircraft. We can't get any of the families out by air. Not if we want to get our people out of the Arena too." Plutarch said seriously. "The goal was to have local resistance cells get the families out, your own included. District Four is... not set up for it. There's almost nobody there beyond Finnick and Mags."

"Finnick was hoping Annie's 'status' might make the Capitol overlook her." Peeta countered. "But that's over now. They know, Mister Heavensbee!"

"The plan is already committed." Plutarch insisted. "If the hovercraft takes a detour, it won't get twenty feet into Capitol Airspace. We get Annie out, we lose everyone else."

"We don't get her out, we lose Finnick. If there's nobody left in Four that can do it, then we have to!" Peeta didn't accept the obstacle. His brain couldn't process it. Intellectually, he knew this was what it was like in a Resistance. There was a reason he hadn't been told who his allies were. "What will the Hovercraft actually do?"

"The original plan was to sneak onto the hovercraft from an Airbase in Three and play dumb until they have to hit the Arena for our own Rescue. What you've asked will involve it leaving long before that-"

"What if we could shut down the anti-air defences in the Capitol? Or at least rig them not to track our own craft?" Peeta said swiftly. He'd made the connection automatically; and his brain was racing to make it doable.

"How?" Plutarch was stunned at the audacity.

Before Peeta could answer, Cinna tapped at the door. "Your team found Chaff, Wiress and Beetee."

Peeta nodded. "Cinna, find Effie. Tell her I need a really potent sleeping pill that will dissolve in liquor."

"We thought it was water, but it turned out to be blood. We've been stumbling around in circles for an hour… When Blight hit the forcefield." Chaff reported. "Johanna, I'm sorry."

"Tick-tock. Tick-tock." Wiress mumbled constantly, eyes roving around and around the beach, full of energy. "Mice ran up the clock!"

Johanna took the news hard, but didn't let it show. "He wasn't much, but he was from Seven."

"Tick-tock! Tick-tock! Tick-tock!"

Mags took Wiress in hand, leading her to the beach; scrubbing her clean in the water.

"What's with her?" Haymitch asked Beetee quietly.

"Wiress' brain works at a speed I can't match." Beetee admitted. "She gets answers before I know what the question is. But that genius comes at a cost of… Well, it's an interface problem. I know she's onto something, but I don't know what. It's like she talks in associative memory; like everything is metaphor. Stress and trauma make it worse."

"Well, this should be a breeze, then." Finnick commented darkly.

"You have freshwater?" Beetee asked hopefully.

"We do." Johanna agreed. "And bread."

Beetee knew the code. "Bread?"

Haymitch acted like he was doing math. "We got given twenty four portions. The more of us there are, the further it has to spread."

Peeta left the Mentor lounge and went to the VIP Viewing Area. All the wealthy and powerful were glued to their screens. The excitement that Effie had told him about was not present. There was instead an undercurrent of something far more violent. Several of the people in this room had made their names by taking advantage of one favored Victor or another, and now they were watching those prized trophies fight again.

Most of them were so focused on the screens that they didn't even notice Peeta slipping into a booth with glass privacy walls. There was a hatch in the wall that would provide anything he could order at the push of a button.

He wasn't alone for long. "Well." Julle said, running a hand through her unnatural red hair. "This was a surprising invitation. You need something else so soon?"

"There are so many ways to respond to that." Peeta said lightly. "I did owe you a drink; and I figured... why wait?" Where is Effie?!

Julle slipped into the booth next to Peeta and hit a button. The glass walls turned totally opaque; making them invisible and alone.

"It's a clock!" Beetee suddenly realized. "That's what she's saying! Look at the beach, then draw a line to the Cornucopia! Twelve wedges!"

"The lightning. It struck in the middle of the night. Twelve times." Haymitch nodded. "I thought it was because of the Twelve Districts… A new attack every hour, going clockwise."

"So the safest place is on the beach, where the wedges are narrowest." Johanna summed up. "The Careers must have figured that out by now; even if they don't know the clock part."

"Then we might want to move." Haymitch agreed. "We're coming up on the hour now, and this wedge-"

"Urk!" Chaff shouted.

Johanna spun. Enobaria had emerged from beneath the still waters, and sliced Chaff's throat from behind without anyone knowing they were there. Johanna came up with her last axe, throwing it end over end. Enobaria was faster, and back under the water.

Haymitch let out a roar as Finnick dove into the water with his trident; giving chase. Brutus and Gloss emerged from the jungle in the same moment, swords flashing. Haymitch threw himself at Brutus; when Johanna heard a rumble through her feet. "GUYS!" She shouted as loud as she could. "TEN O'CLOCK!"

The Career Pack didn't know what that meant and turned to look in the direction indicated, distracting them from the battle. But the rest of her allies knew. She wasn't warning about the direction. She was telling them the time.

From within the jungle, racing down a narrow section of the Arena, growing more and more narrow as it came towards the centre… was a huge tidal wave.

Johanna and Beetee were closest to the edges of the Ten O'Clock wedge, and went across the beach. Haymitch went for the other side, and Brutus was caught by the wave. Finnick was already in the water, below the surface, and nobody could tell where they were.

And the cannon went off as a Hovercraft came to collect Chaff.

Johanna watched the wave spread through the water, and started running down the nearest stone path towards the Cornucopia island. She needed to replace her weapons.

Finnick came up coughing, climbing his way up. Johanna ran to him. "You're alive!" She laughed. "What happened to Enobaria?"

"I was an inch away from getting her when the water suddenly went the other way like someone pulled the rug out from under me." Finnick coughed. "What was it?"

"A tidal wave. That's the ten o'clock attack." Johanna reported. "Where's Mags?!"

"She found a direction the Careers couldn't follow." Finnick pointed. The old lady was easily dog-paddling her way through the wedge of water, motoring steadily to the Cornucopia. Finnick started limping towards the weapons. "Gotta find the others."

"Last I saw, they were in the eleven o'clock section." Johanna reported. "I don't know where the Career Pack-"

"We're here!" Haymitch barked, running up another stone path. Beetee and Wiress were with him. "The Careers split when the wave hit. It was a hit and run."

"Get used to that." Johanna nodded. "The Careers only ever ally with each other. For once, they're outnumbered by people who aren't helpless."

"They know the jungle is the most dangerous part of the Arena." Haymitch scowled. "If we have to go looking under every bush in the Arena to find them… To say nothing of trying to stay ahead of the clock the entire time..."

Beetee was looking over the Cornucopia, and came up with a thick spool of wire. "Ha!" He exulted. "I know how to take out the Career Pack."

Johanna was still focused on Haymitch. She felt that twist in her chest again. It was the first time she'd felt it without Peeta, and this time she recognized it. It was empathy. "I'm sorry about Chaff."

Haymitch shook his head. "I can't even… They already got the body, and…" He shook his head harder. "I can't feel it yet. Let's hear the plan, Beetee. Tell us so that I won't think about how I need a drink so bad I'm almost willing to try seawater."

"Another drink?" Peeta pushed a button and another cocktail slid out of the wall into their private little hiding place. It was Julle's third, so she hadn't noticed he was barely touching his first. "I'm told that you were very nearly my date to the Presidential Manor Victory Tour Celebration." He said.

"I'm surprised they told you." Julle commented, taking the drink in large sips.

"I asked." Peeta said smoothly. "That night of the Angel's Light Launch, Tigris was so quick to get between us when you came over; I was curious, so I asked around about you."

Julle smiled a bit. "Really? What did they say?"

"Enough that I would have kicked in the extra hundred credits myself if I'd known." Peeta tried for seductive. Johanna had given him enough 'come hither' looks that he could keep one on his face, even as his stomach turned over.

"Thought you had someone already." Julle commented.

"And you're wearing a wedding ring. But that night, I didn't have anyone except Tigris."

"Little surprised she didn't snack on you afterward." Julle chuckled. "Ahh, handsome; it would have been a fun night. My job is very high stress; and my entire social circle is so vapid, including my husband. None of them have a clue what a real job is like."

"Or the consequences of making a bad choice?" Peeta countered. "I can see why you like Victors."

"You're the only people who know how hard it is to be like me." Julle sighed, slugging back the rest of the drink and ordering another. "Sometimes, a girl just needs to switch it all off, go crazy, lose herself in something way more fun than missile guidance and radar ranges…"

"Or an Arena." Peeta murmured. "I know exactly what you mean." His voice hitched a little as he felt Julle's bare toes under the table, creeping up his leg.

It was like he could hear Johanna's voice, talking him through it. Keep eye contact just a little too long, let your eyes linger at her lips; let her draw conclusions. Sometimes it sounded like Finnick's voice instead. Don't think of Johanna. Don't even think of yourself. Because you aren't you for this. You are not here right now.

"You wanna go someplace?" Julle asked, eyes a little glassy from the drink.

Forgive me, Jo. "I thought you'd never ask."

Effie came to the VIP Lounge, trying to hide how stricken she was. "Where is he?" She whispered.

Cinna tilted his chin towards one of the booths, the glass walls opaque. They could barely see the two figures within, no details of what they were doing.

"I couldn't get it." She said to Cinna. "I tried playing the 'For a Victor' card, and I was told that the 'supply' is closed for the Duration. Apparently the Morphlings tried to get hooked up inside the Arena, and their Mentor is now in custody..."

"The Morphlings are dead. They were camouflaged as expected; and were getting withdrawal shakes bad enough that those Monkey-Mutts finally noticed them."

Effie was wringing her hands crazily. "I couldn't get the dose. I don't even know what Peeta wants it for, but my first mission is a failure."

At that moment, the privacy screen around the booth vanished. Julle was leading the way towards the doors, swaying on her heels a bit, pulling Peeta along by his collar. Peeta was able to send one glance towards Effie, who had to shake her head mournfully.

Peeta took it pretty well, or at least it didn't show on his face; as Julle pulled him towards the elevators.

Everyone else in the room pretended not to notice.

"You know the worst part?" She said to Cinna quietly. "He's not the only Mentor I've seen leave this lounge with a wealthy Sponsor. I've been Escort for a dozen Games, and there's always at least one former Victor willing to do anything in the name of keeping their Tributes alive a little longer."

Cinna nodded. He'd noticed too.

Effie looked sick. "How did I not see it, all this time?"

Cinna shushed her, giving her a tight hug. She leaned into it happily. As an Escort, she was a symbol of the Games in Twelve. As a citizen of Twelve, she was a joke to the Capitol. Nobody had hugged Effie in years; and it nearly made her cry to think of what was happening upstairs while someone offered her comfort.

"Exciting stuff, Hunger Games Fans! After losing Chaff, the Victor's Alliance has come up with a plan that could end the Alliance Match. Claudius, what are the chances of it working?"

"To be honest, we don't know. We've seen some Tributes try and turn the technical aspects of the Arena to their advantage. Ironically, whenever such a tactic came up, Beetee is the one we'd invite onto the show to walk us through it."

"Beetee won his games by setting a similar trap using the mines from his Arena. Looks like he's trying to do the same here."

"That's why the Weapons included some technical tools. This year's Quell isn't just an All Star Match, it's also a Celebration of previous Games. We wanted to see how the history would play out."

"Does that extend to the Alliances formed? Some of these Tributes have known each other for years."

"Exactly, Ceaser. You can see how that manifests in the Arena. The Victor's Pack, as we've come to call them, is the largest Alliance ever formed. But if this plan works, they'll be the only ones left in the Arena. After that, expect a free-for-all."

"Which means whoever takes the cable to the beach might have the best shot of avoiding the ensuing bloodbath."

"I have to take the cable." Haymitch said seriously to Johanna.

"You're in no shape for it." Johanna said seriously. "The Detox is starting to get to you. Your hands haven't stopped shaking for three hours and the only reason you haven't puked your guts out is because you haven't eaten either."

"Jo, we both know when this thing goes down, it's gonna be messy. The Careers are in the jungle. They see one of us with the spool of wire, they're not going to wait long. They'll kill first and figure it out later."

"All the more reason it should be me. I've got a better chance of going unseen."

To the cameras, it was a debate of who would risk facing the next battle. The real reason was known only to the Alliance. Beetee's plan to bring the forcefield down was dangerous. There was a real chance of getting killed by the electrical blast; and an equally good chance of being missed by the escape craft.

And all that comes after another three hours in the Arena that you can literally set your watch by. Johanna thought. "I'll flip you for it."

"You got a coin?" Haymitch was surprised. "Because I-ACK!"

Instantly, Haymitch had been flipped over her shoulder, and Johanna's boot was on his throat. "You wanna go two out of three, Old Man?"

"Peeta taught you that." He groused, getting to his feet.

"Peeta loves having me as his wrestling partner." She drawled.

Cinna had the decency not to ask, as Peeta came back to the Sponsors' VIP lounge. The look on the teenager's face said he was feeling dirty. "Y'know, Peeta… You've been on duty since the Games started. You must be exhausted."

"The Arena does not lend itself to a few hours off." Peeta reminded him. "A quick meal is the best I could do."

"True." Cinna said casually. "I can send you some help in a few hours? You'd be able to rest, at least for a little while. They figured out the clock. After midnight, they'll be relatively safe."

Peeta translated in his head. 'Our Allies get here at midnight. Be ready.' Aloud, he shook Cinna's hand, slipping Julle's Access Card over to him. "Thanks for all your help."

Cinna took the card, and quietly put it away. "I should be back in two hours. Just a catnap."

That's how long it'll take him to get the card copied. Peeta translated. "Good. I'll appreciate the moral support." I need a shower. I need to shower for a million years.

"With less than an hour to go until the Midnight Lightning Strike, the Great Alliance is dividing forces. Johanna Mason and Finnick Odair are heading for the beach, choosing stealth over power. Tell us honestly, Claudius, is this a bad move on their part?"

"Mason can be quite subtle, in her way. But the cable, much less so. It's going to run the entire length of the Twelve O'Clock Wedge, and if Brutus trips on it, he only has to follow it directly to her and Odair. The real question is, what happens when the Lightning hits? If it works, the Career Pack will be gone; and the Alliance is over. I wouldn't want to have either Mason or Odair at my back when that happens; and both of them surely know it."

Peeta was back in the Mentor's Lounge, shaking hands with Sponsors. Effie had sent in the bread during his absence; telling them when to be ready. Julle's access codes were the final missing piece to get the Hovercraft in.

He noticed Julle at the door to the VIP Section, waving frantically for his attention. Steeling himself, he came to the door. "Something wrong?"

Julle was in a panic. "My Access Card. When I woke up, I couldn't find it! Peeta, I can't let that thing outta my sight, and if anyone finds out it's gone… The Penalty for losing one is… bad."

"Okay, relax." Peeta told her softly. "Aside from you and me, was there anyone in the room?"

"Nobody. Not even an Avox. I've looked everywhere, Peeta!"

"It'll be okay." He promised. "I'll help you look; but right now, my Tributes need some looking after too. You've been following the coverage? They have a plan that'll be done by midnight. If they need something before then, I have to be here. After midnight, I'll come back to the room and help you look. But it'll probably show up by then."

As scared as she was, Julle's face shifted, just a tiny bit. Somewhere in that adrenaline-soaked brain, she'd made a connection.

Mistake. Peeta thought. I said too much about when the card will be returned. She'll work it out!

"Wait." Peeta said suddenly. "I just heard that the way it must have sounded. 'I'll be back in the bedroom around midnight'?" He relaxed into an easy grin. "This is for real, right? It's not some way to get me somewhere private again, once everyone's turned in for the night?"

Her momentary paranoia derailed, Julle let out a bark of sick laughter. "No, Peeta; this is for real."

"Okay. So I'll be by. Don't stress. Nobody's going to come looking for that card before you find it."

"I have the night shift. Someone will notice if I don't scan in!" Julle insisted after him.

Peeta was already back in the Mentor's Lounge. His eyes flicked to the clock constantly. The Forcefield would come down at Midnight, which meant they had to be on the Hovercraft before that…

He could see the holes in the plan now. Nothing but flaws.

Effie appeared at his elbow. "How are we doing?"

"Be ready." He mumbled to her.

The Arena had been fully dark for hours. They had no clock, except for the Arena around them. Whatever was happening in the Eleven O'Clock wedge, it had already started, and killed someone, though the didn't know who yet.

Haymitch had been trying to count down the hour in his head. But his brain was jumping around from the DT's; and he couldn't keep it straight.

Wiress sat up with a shout. "Tick Tock!"

"We can't wait any more." Beetee agreed, and grasped the cable, producing a knife.

Finnick froze. "The cable's broken."

Johanna spoke, for the benefit of the cameras. "Well, I guess the Alliance is too."

And she pounced on him from behind with her axe.

"OH! And Johanna Mason takes us all by surprise again! Playing helpless and weak in her first Games secured the Victory. Looks like the old tricks still work best!"

"What interests me is how long this was planned. Haymitch and Beetee are two of the oldest contestants left, and Mason and Odair were the popular favorites. Sending them away into the Jungle, ready to take on each other was a brilliant strategy!"

"It had me fooled, Ceaser! Haymitch and Beetee won their games by outsmarting their opponents. Looks like everyone's sticking with their strengths this year. Let's see that pounce again in slow motion!"

"Oh no you don't! Not until the fight is done. Looks like Finnick's managed to survive her first strike."

"Now. While the cameras are off us." Beetee said urgently, wrapping the cable around his spear."

"Do it fast!" Haymitch urged.

Beetee jabbed the spear against the forcefield wall… and the shock threw him hard against the tree. The spear flew almost ten feet.

Haymitch dove on his fallen friend. "Beetee?"

"Bad! Bad!" Wiress clapped her hands together. "ZAP!"

"Zap. Yeah, we got that." Haymitch agreed, checking Beetee. "I got a pulse, but it's very weak."

Finnick came running into the clearing, gasping. "What happened?"

"The Forcefield zapped him." Haymitch reported. "Where's Johanna?"

"The Careers aren't on the Beach anymore. They're searching the jungle." Finnick reported, blood running down his arm. "Johanna promised to make it interesting enough to keep their focus."

"Oh, and it's chaos in the Arena! What looked like a showdown between Finnick and Johanna was suddenly interrupted by Brutus and Enobaira! The two Champions are now chasing Johanna through the jungle. As you can see from the Infrared cameras, it looks like Johanna Mason is trying to lead them into one of the Jungle Traps! I promise, Hunger Gamers; we're not going to miss a moment of this!"

Peeta ran with Plutarch, Cinna and Effie fell into step behind them. "How long?" He asked as they ran.

"The Games are getting to the pointy-end now. They'll wonder where I am more than any of you." Plutarch said, as though he had all the time in the world. "Say goodbye to the Capitol, gang."

"Wait, what about Portia?" Peeta asked, looking around.

"No." Cinna shook his head. "Not part of the cell."

"But they'll…" Peeta swallowed it. There would be reprisals. On Portia. On Julle. On their families. On anyone who spoke twice to any of them during their stay in the Capitol.

Johanna and Finnick. Haymitch and Chaff. Most people like us make an effort to avoid family and friends outside the Victor's Circle.

Julle, going crazy with worry, ran back to her bedroom, ready to tear up the carpet if she had to.

But when she made it to her room, she found the access card peeking out of the pocket of her jacket. A jacket she'd searched about three hundred times.

She gripped the card in her hand, turning it over carefully, making connections. It had reappeared. It had turned up. Just like Peeta said it would.

She looked at her TV, showing the Games, and Johanna leading her pursuers on a chase. She had passed three opportunities to stand and fight.

"Ohno." Julle whispered, and she started running.

"I think we underestimated the voltage of the Forcefield." Finnick said. "And we've got minutes, maybe; before we hit midnight. Any ideas?"

"Only one plan left. We gotta force the cable to stick." Haymitch picked up the spear. "I'll time it as close as I can."

Finnick paled. "W-wait! Johanna's not back yet!"

"Well unless you can keep the cameras off us, or delay the lightning…" Haymitch was squaring up to the forcefield.

"Tick tock! Ticktoktick!" Wiress was losing it, clutching at Beetee's motionless body.

"Get back." Haymitch said forcefully. "Drag them clear if you can. This is about to be a bad place to be."

Finnick was about to dive back into the jungle looking for Johanna, when he suddenly realized what that meant and looked back. "Wait… How are you going to get the spear to stick?"

"The spear was repelled. I plan on giving it nowhere to go." Haymitch got closer to the forcefield, and put the blunt end of the spear against his belly, leaning his body forward. "Beetee proved it won't stay in place for long, so I gotta time it right."

Finnick ran closer. "No! Haymitch, nobody could survive that kind of voltage!"

"YOU THINK I DON'T KNOW THAT!?" Haymitch erupted.

"It looks like Johanna Mason has managed to elude her pursuers. She's heading to rendezvous with the rest of her Alliance. Claudius, is this a good move?"

"Depends on what she does when she gets there. If she's checking whoever's left, it's smart. If she goes running to her Allies, she may find the alliance has broken by then."

"We go now to… What the heck is Haymitch doing?"

"Maybe we should invite Plutarch up here and see if he can walk us through what's happening."

"Haymitch, it doesn't have to be you!"

"Yeah, it does. And we both know it." Haymitch groused. "Hell, I got enough booze coming out of my pores from the detox that I'm mostly flammable as it is."

"Haymitch!" The Cannon went off, and Finnick turned back to the jungle. "Johanna!" He called desperately.

Haymitch was pulling the cable as far along the edge of the forcefield as he could; away from Beetee and Wiress. "Go! If only to get clear! Be back fast!"

The sky above started to rumble.

Midnight.

"Ohgod, Haymitch. Good luck!" Finnick grated and dove back into the jungle, searching for Johanna. Mags took a half a heartbeat to cup Haymitch's face in her hands, giving him a soft kiss goodbye; before she ran to Wiress and Beetee, trying to pull them slowly away from the tree.

The guards were searching the control room, then the VIP Lounge, then the Mentor's Lounge. First Ceaser asked, then Julle, then a lot more Peacekeepers started boiling into the backstage areas of the Arena.

The Mentors were nowhere to be found.

Haymitch gripped the spear, one eye on the sky. His timing would have to be good. "Effie." He rasped to the sky. "We promised we'd get our kids home. I got them this far. You gotta get them the rest of the way. Sorry to leave you with it." He drove the spear forward, using his whole body to press it forward. "Good luck, Storyteller!"

And the lightning roared down like a sledgehammer.

The only windows in the Hovercraft were the main viewports. None of them knew what was going on in the passenger section, or the cockpit. But they didn't need to know. When the hatch opened in the floor, Plutarch worked the grapnel, reaching down to the ground. Peeta tried to see past the wind and smoke that filled the cabin through the hatch.

"Grab them!" Plutarch ordered as the claw came back up, with Beetee in its grip. Peeta and Effie wrestled Beetee free, and the claw dropped back down for another one.

Peeta came around to stand as close to the controls as he could, looking at the targeting screen. "Johanna?! Finnick!?"

"Not there." He said tersely.

Peeta went a little crazy. "Well, where are they?!" He demanded. "They were given trackers! Find them!"

"Peeta!" Effie called over him. "Johanna cut her tracker out. So that we didn't have to worry about-"

The claw came back up with Mags clinging to the cable with both hands, standing on the mechanism itself. In the metal jaws was Wiress, who was out-cold, twitching uncontrollably. Peeta helped wrestle her free and tried to wake her; as Effie helped Mags down. "Wiress! Where's Johanna?!"

The woman was drooling, eyes rolled back. Peeta wasn't sure which would be worse, letting her sleep, or trying to wake her. He spun to Mags. "Mags, where are they?!"

The old woman had tears in her eyes, pointing to the jungle. Her skin was a deathly grey.

The hatch opened to the cockpit. "Let's go! Let's go!" The pilot shouted.

"Time's up!" The pilot yelled. "We've got other hovercraft closing in!"

"We don't have everyone!" Peeta shouted.

The claw came back up again, with Haymitch in its grip. He wasn't moving.

The pilot was already working the controls. "This is NOT a test, people! Gotta go now!"

"NO!" Peeta shouted and Effie tackled him to keep him from diving out the hatch himself. The hatch closed; but the door to the cockpit was open, and Peeta ran to look outside.

The Capitol was in uproar. The Arena was breached, belching flame and smoke. There were mutts and deadly fog pouring out, as the soldiers and peacekeepers rushed to try and keep anything from escaping, the Capitol's death-devices slaughtering any who tried to get inside on foot. The fireworks from the celebrations outside were going off at street-level, the crowds running hysterically as lights and flame and noise scattered in ever growing circles.

It was bedlam; and nobody paid much attention to the lone Hovercraft that was flying away from the Arena, instead of towards it. Peeta stayed, staring at the chaos for what felt like an eternity. Did I really do this?

"We're clear." The pilot reported.

"Keep scanning." Said another voice from the tactical radar. "Tell Base we're on our way back, and we're light on the packages."

A voice that Peeta recognized. "Katniss?!"

The soldier at the tactical display turned and pulled her facemask back. Sure enough, with a new military haircut and wearing a full uniform, it was Katniss Everdeen. "Found a way to pay you back at last." She grinned. "I wish I had a picture of your face."

"Don't worry, I got it." Plutarch promised, holding up a camera that Peeta didn't know he had.

Peeta was blinking rapidly, totally blown away, unable to choose which thought to say aloud first. "You're safe." He settled on at last.

Katniss rose from her seat and gave him a tight hug. "Good to see you too, Storyteller." Her nose twitched. "How do you smell like perfume?" She said without thinking. "Do guys wear it in the Capitol?"

Peeta realized he still smelled like Julle, and wanted to throw up.

Katniss knew she'd said something wrong, but didn't know what, changing the subject quickly. She led him by the hand to the rear of the hovercraft. "I got something for you."

The rear compartment opened, and Peeta found Cinna was hunched over a few familiar faces. "They're in shock. The blast must have knocked them all flat."

Peeta clocked the room quickly. Wiress and Beetee; still out cold. Cinna was tending to them. Haymitch was dead, the scorch marks around his face and hands were too obvious to be anything but fatal. Effie was cradling his head in her lap, sobbing silently as she pulled a sheet over his face. And at the far side of the bay, was Annie Cresta; totally catatonic, though Peeta couldn't tell if it was a result of medication, or something deeper. Mags was sitting with her, mumbling and crooning.

Katniss read his mind. "We had to snatch them up fast; flying under the radar." She reported. "Games coverage told us who was still standing, and… Well, most of the Victors have little family left; no guesses as to why."

"My family?" Peeta couldn't help but ask.

"I don't know. My information on Twelve stops the moment I crossed that fence for the last time." Katniss admitted. "If you were in on the plan, I'm sure Gale was."

"He was. His cell group was supposed to be ready, but I have no idea if he made it." Peeta admitted. "What about others? Wiress and Beetee had no family. Neither did Haymitch or Chaff… Cecelia had a whole tribe."

"Every time that cannon went off, the local Resistance cells had fewer reasons to stick their necks out." Katniss admitted. "The ones we could still go to save were rounded up before we got there. I heard some chatter on the radio that said the Civic Defence Chief wanted all of them rounded up immediately, even before we got to Capitol Airspace."

"Julle." Peeta sighed. "She was onto us."

Katniss didn't know who that was, but pushed on. "By the time we got to Four, Annie was... We didn't dare land, so… she saw a Hovercraft suddenly appear over her, lowering a hook…"

"Just like they do for Dead Tributes in the Arena." Peeta sighed.

"She saw the hook coming for her and just… Shut down. Just ran away and hid somewhere in her brain." Katniss sighed. "We can relate, right?"

"Right." Peeta said grimly. "You came and got her out?"

"According to Command, it was the price of your cooperation." Katniss nodded. "Mind if I ask why?"

"Finnick's in love with her." Peeta said quietly.

Katniss' eyes went wide, and she looked back at the waifish blonde. "That preening peacock? A Capitol full of rich and powerful suitors; and he's in love with the mad girl from home?"

Peeta gave her the saddest smile she'd ever seen. "The heart wants what it wants." He scrubbed a hand over his face. "We failed. We had a plan to get the Tributes and their families out, and we nearly lost everyone. We got three. Four if you include Annie. Out of fifteen."

"Mission failure." Katniss agreed. "But we got you, Storyteller. It's not nothing." She looked sick for a second. "I'm sorry we couldn't get Johanna out."

"She's alive. She has to be." Peeta said seriously. "And she'll stay that way, as long as we're free. As long as Snow thinks he can use her to catch the rest of us in some way, she'll stay that way. For Johanna, survival is enough. It's everything."

Katniss was looking into his eyes with disturbing certainty. "Not everything. Not anymore."

AN: Thus ends my AU version of Catching Fire. I will be continuing through Mockingjay. I told you Katniss would have a part to play; even without the Capitol's attention on her any longer.

Reasoning for this Chapter: Katniss left before our Team started training. Johanna's signature weapon is an Axe. Finnick's was a Trident. Haymitch's was a bottle; and even in his original Games, his winning weapon was the force-field. The bow was there, but nobody could use it. Maybe Gale would have tried to teach them, but since Peeta never tried using a bow in the Canon, it stood to reason Gale taught them other things as a priority.

In the movies, Beetee tried to drive the cable from the tree into the forcefield; and was repelled. In the canon, Katniss finished it by winding the cable around her Arrow. Without that, someone had to force the barrier down the hard way; and Haymitch was the only one there. But in the interim, Haymitch allowed for Mags to be saved, as Finnick didn't have to outrun the fog with both Mags, and Peeta on his back. Haymitch being in the Arena also gave them Chaff, so when ambushed at the beach, there was a bigger target than Wiress.

Also, Peeta's capture was the major plot point of the third book. With Peeta out of the Arena, and without the Mockingjay and her bow, the Revolution starts with a tactical defeat instead of a win.

As to the subject of Julle... For all that he regrets losing, Peeta's been living a charmed life. He got through an Arena without killing anyone. He got rented out to Tigris and talked his way out of it; and Johanna meant he didn't go back in the Arena, or get sold off again. Peeta needed a crucible of his own. Something he couldn't talk his way around. Nobody came through this series with clean hands, and it was time for Peeta to be in the same fight as the rest of them. This was his moral compromise for the war effort. It won't be the last, now that the war has begun.

This chapter also needed to address the matter of Annie Cresta. In the Canon, Annie's relationship with Finnick was not public knowledge, and yet they used the Jabberjays to taunt Finnick. So someone knew. I was never able to reconcile this paradox: If the Capitol knew, why didn't Finnick get her out? And if they didn't know, why did they mimic her voice? I had already made the 'secret' nature of their connection a part of the Fic; so I made it a major plot point for the 'escape'.

For that matter, in the Canon, Katniss and Gale were the only ones to get other people out; thanks to Gale's actions in Twelve. If this was a plan the Victors were in on, they'd surely make some provision for their own families. Most of them didn't have any left. One or two of them had several. The Canon stuck exclusively to Katniss' POV, and she wasn't in on it; so I had to invent another way. In this version, the local Cell Groups would get their families out. Since Annie was captured in the Canon, I needed a reason for District Four to fail in that effort; so that Peeta would have to save her himself.