We Didn't Start The Fire
by FanficAllergy & RoseFyre
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Chapter Twenty: Get Me Through December
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Last Time in We Didn't Start The Fire:
If I didn't have Katniss and Gale, I'd be jealous of the two. But I found my soulmates, or rather, they found me. And I can't imagine my life without them. Despite our rocky beginning, everything we've suffered through will be worth it if I can be with them and our family in the end.
It looks like Haymitch and Effie feel the same. And I couldn't be happier for them.
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The weeks pass, each of us working on our respective projects.
About halfway through September, Prim joins us during Reflection, clearly distraught. "I hate it here," she declares before we even get a chance to ask her what's wrong.
"Why? What's happened?" Katniss asks, moving to take her sister in her arms.
"Do you know what they're doing to people?"
"What do you mean?" Gale asks, his brow furrowed.
"Transients! The ones that don't pass their loyalty tests!" she cries. "Do you know what's happening to them?"
All of us shake our heads.
"They're torturing them! Torture!" She breaks down into uncontrollable sobs.
Katniss's eyes meet ours, pleading with us to do something, say something, to soothe her little sister.
We've got nothing.
Taking a deep breath, Katniss starts to sing. A simple song. A lullaby.
Gradually, Prim begins to calm. Her breathing evens. "This place no better than the Capitol!" she whispers brokenly.
"How did you find out?" I ask, trying not to disturb my sister-in-law.
Katniss glares at me, but I shake my head. We need information and Prim's the only source we have right now. I realize I don't doubt the truth of her words at all. It somehow doesn't surprise me that Thirteen is torturing people.
The thought makes me pause.
That… does not bode well for our future with Thirteen. We need them for a revolution. No other district has the army or the training or the supplies to have even a chance at taking down the Capitol. But I'm more certain than ever that, as soon as the revolution is done, we are going to need to leave Thirteen as fast as possible.
"Thorn," Prim says after Katniss finishes another chorus of her lullaby. "The Peacekeeper from Eleven, the one with Cressida's group, the one who lost her lover, Nicola. They didn't consider her trustworthy, even though she's homosexual, and that's illegal in the districts!" She swipes at her tears with one hand. "She's got as much of a reason to run as anyone else, and just because she was a former Peacekeeper, they tortured her for it!"
"What'd they do?" Gale asks, his jaw set.
"They ran electric shocks through her body. Put her hands in water and applied electricity." Her voice becomes hard. "I've spent the last few hours treating the burns and peeling away the dead skin from her hands. It didn't matter how much Cressida pleaded or Messalla begged, it didn't matter that Lavinia and Pollux both vouched for her. All that matters is that Coin thinks there's spies in our midst and she's going to root them out, no matter what."
"There's no way I'm supporting that woman," Katniss states. "She wants our endorsement? She's not getting it."
"I agree," Gale says quickly. "I don't care who you are. Torture's never okay. If she really didn't trust Thorn that much, she should've just sent her back to the districts, washed her hands of it."
"Wouldn't that be giving her a death sentence?" I point out. "If she weren't a Capitol spy. Which she's not."
Gale shrugs. "Maybe, maybe not. But sometimes I think death would be better than this."
"What do you want us to do, Prim?" Katniss asks, stroking her sister's hair. "We tried vouching for Thorn, back when this first came up. We tried vouching for everyone who ran. Coin's too paranoid."
"Do they think Thorn's a spy now?" I ask.
Prim shakes her head. "No. That's why they're letting me treat her. Only the cleared people are allowed in the medical center."
"Where are they interrogating these supposed spies?" We need more information before we can do anything about it. I'm not sure there is anything we can do, but maybe there is.
"In one of the transient camps. Thorn didn't know which one."
"How many camps are there?"
"At least six."
I imagine six of those tent cities and I shake my head. "Do we know who's running against Coin?" I ask. That might be the key.
The four of us share a glance.
"No," Gale says. "We don't."
"Then I think it's time we find out."
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Over the next few days, we learn that there are several people vying for the position of president. A few of them make sense: General Glenn and Commander Harrison, as well as four others who I've never heard of. It's a crowded field, and while everyone is sure Coin will be one of the final two, no one is sure who her final opponent will be.
Commander Harrison drops out suddenly barely a week later. To her surprise, she's managed to become pregnant, and she's not willing to put herself through the stress of the campaign, which might jeopardize her child. It shows just how important children are considered in Thirteen.
Not long after that, several more unimpeachable transients arrive. The eight surviving Victors from District Two.
Haymitch and Effie are able to identify them easily, and unlike Thorn, the reason for their defection is quickly accepted.
The leader, Lyme Blackbourne, explains their reasoning when we're all sitting in a conference room later. "We couldn't stay in a country where people would be happy watching a child die. Justus deserved better. He was six years old and he died because no one was willing to spend money to send him a bottle of water. I don't care how noble or honorable the Capitol says the Games are, there was no honor in that death. There was no fairness. That boy did everything he could to survive, and in the end it wasn't enough."
All of their faces are set and some of them are nodding in agreement. The District Two Victors are united. The most loyal people of the most loyal district aren't happy with the Capitol. That's a big change, and it bodes well for our rebellion.
Lyme shakes her head. "If one person had been willing to spend one thousand coin, he would've lived. But no." She motions to her group. "All of us had to sit there and take turns watching him die."
I think about what she said, and realize we had it easy. We only had to see Justus's misery for a couple of hours. They watched him die for three and a half days.
"So why did you run now?" Coin asks. "Does all of District Two feel the same way?"
"You're really asking if Two's ready to rebel. The answer's yes. They're not quite there yet, but Two wants justice for Justus."
Justice for Justus.
We need to use that phrase in our next propo. That little boy from Two is just as much a symbol of the rebellion as the Mockingjay or Mayor Undersee. I glance over and notice Coin's calculating expression. She sees it too. I'm grateful Justus's family isn't here. They'd be pushed to the forefront and touted as the new Mockingjays, and there'd be no way for us to save them and Madge from the same fate.
I glance at my spouses and see that they've come to the same conclusion. Even though none of us wanted this, not really, we don't want to burden someone else with it either.
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The day after I turn eighteen, we're awakened by the sound of klaxons.
"What's going on?" Gale asks sleepily.
"Probably another drill," Katniss says, going to collect a startled and screaming Rain.
These drills have been a monthly occurrence since we came, and they're almost second nature by now. We head to our safe zone, I don't know how many floors down, and wait for the all clear.
We don't have to wait long before it sounds, but before we can go back to our quarters, James finds us. "You're needed in Conference Room A."
"What about Rain?" Katniss asks.
"If you must, you can bring the child with you," James sighs.
I think mostly because of James's annoyed tone, Katniss actually does.
When we get to Conference Room A, we find several people waiting for us. Haymitch smiles at us, as does General Glenn. Fulvia waves us over and introduces us to one of the newcomers, a stocky man with a reddish face. He looks familiar, but it's not until Fulvia introduces us that I make the connection. "Katniss, Peeta, Gale, I'd like you to meet my mentor and our inside man, Plutarch Heavensbee."
Plutarch smiles at us, an expression of genuine pleasure on his face. "I've heard so much about you, I'm honored to finally get the chance to meet you."
"You're the one who designed the Quell Arena, right?" Katniss bounces Rain in her arms. Her tone is deliberately monotone, a sure sign she's trying to keep her emotions in order. I wonder what about this man has set her off so much.
"Regrettably, yes," he admits with a sigh. "I designed the clock itself. However, the majority of the traps and decisions were made by Seneca Crane. I wanted to try to give the tributes a fighting chance. I knew, so long as I made a few sections non-lethal, that they'd have a chance." He shakes his head. "It's horrible what happened to those children. Simply horrible."
He's telling the truth. I can tell he feels genuine regret about their deaths.
"So why are you here?" Gale asks.
"Honestly, I've run out of things to do, and I felt my knowledge and information of what's taken place is of more value here, now," Plutarch explains. "But don't worry, we'll still be able to get information. I made sure to leave several operatives in place to relay important information back to us, so that we'll get the most up-to-date information. Besides, I come bearing gifts."
Katniss raises her eyebrows. "Oh?"
"Plutarch's brought us a top-of-the-line Capitol hovercraft, along with two Capitol media technicians, as well as the layout of several defenses and traps around key districts, and the real death toll from the flu," Fulvia says.
"The flu's not over," Plutarch tells us. "As much as the Capitol wishes it were. Why, right before I left, I heard of a few new cases in District Three. And Capitolites themselves are still feeling the effects." There's a hint of excitement in his tone as he relays the news. "They engineered a vaccine quickly, but they weren't quite fast enough. Not to mention, the damned thing's mutated. Even Snow himself's been hit, or at least his family has." He smiles, looking around the room, letting us take in that tidbit of information. "His granddaughter, Hippolyta, had a particularly nasty case."
There's a pleased expression on the President's face. I understand that she hates Snow. We all do. But to take pleasure in the suffering of a little girl seems exceptionally cruel.
"It happened in April," Plutarch continues, unaware of my observations, "around the time of the Quell announcement. The poor girl's lucky she survived; if she'd been anyone other than Snow's granddaughter, she wouldn't have."
"Anything else?" Coin asks, leaning forward in her chair.
"The Peacekeeper Corps has been hit especially hard. It's not common knowledge, but one of their mountain training camps was decimated. Approximately one out of every three recruits died." There's several gasps from people around the room. "Naturally, Snow doesn't want this knowledge getting out, but as soon as I found out, I knew I had to find a way to inform you."
Coin sits back, tapping her fingers together. "This could be the break we've been waiting for. With his shock troops down, it won't take much, assuming the districts do their part."
Plutarch nods. "So you can see, a lot's been going on."
"I'll expect a full briefing from you on my desk as soon as possible."
"Of course, Madam President. It'll be my pleasure."
Coin looks at him. "Those technicians you brought. Do you think they can break into the Capitol's feeds?"
"Of course they can."
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They can't.
Plutarch's technicians have the same success that Coin's do, which is to say none. Every time we manage to hack our way in, President Snow's there to greet us. And every time, at Coin's order, the techs immediately close the connection.
Part of me wishes they wouldn't. As much as Snow could learn from us, we could learn quite a bit from him.
Plutarch agrees with me. From his experience of working with President Snow, he feels that Snow tends to give away information when he's gloating.
I have to admit, even though he was a Gamemaker, I like the man. He sees the big picture and is open to ideas, even if they contradict his own.
I've been working with him closely on propaganda. He likes my designs, and he's behind my Justice for Justus campaign. "You've got a real flair for the dramatic, Peeta," he tells me. "You'd make a great politician someday."
"I have no interest in being a politician," I tell him.
"Ah, well, seems a waste," he says with a sad shake of his head. "People like you. They like that wholesome baker boy act you put on."
"It's not an act."
"I'm not saying it is. I'm just saying you know how to appeal to the crowds. It's an important skill to have."
"Thank you, sir."
"No, no problem. Thank you." He looks around the room, at the organized chaos. "I'm sorry I wasn't around to help more."
"Everybody knows that," I say. "No one doubts your sincerity."
Plutarch reaches out, placing a warm hand on my shoulder. "You don't know how happy it makes me to hear you say that."
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By the end of November, the election has settled to a contest between Georges Glenn and Alma Coin. I prefer Glenn, but I feel torn once the two select their running mates. Georges Glenn, perhaps in an attempt to earn the transient vote, picks Lyme Blackbourne as his running mate. Alma Coin, perhaps doing the same, chooses Plutarch Heavensbee for hers.
For the first time since Plutarch arrived, I'm torn about the man. I like him, but I'm not entirely happy with him for throwing in with Coin. I want to ask him why he accepted her offer, but I don't want my feelings about Coin to get back to her.
Katniss doesn't like him, never has, but she's distrustful of all newcomers, especially those from the Capitol. And, she says, she's leery about his involvement in the Games. She likes General Glenn, the man has been consistently open and honest with us. And Katniss feels like she owes him for supporting us against Coin when we first arrived.
Gale doesn't mind Plutarch, but he prefers Lyme. She's blunt and a little rough around the edges, but deep down she cares about people. As soon as she prioritized the kid, Justus, over anything else, she earned my husband's respect.
So the three of us like different people for different reasons. The one thing we're all on the same page about is how much we don't want Coin.
So even though I like Plutarch, I'm leaning towards voting for Georges Glenn. Of course, the election's not until January, so it's possible something could happen that could change my mind.
At Plutarch's suggestion, we've been having brainstorming meetings with Thirteen's leadership starting in late November. Most of the time, we don't accomplish much. Until we can break in, we're still stuck in a holding pattern. But at least it feels like we're doing something.
At one of those meetings, General Glenn suggests finding one of the Capitol's relay stations, but Plutarch quickly shuts that down. "Communication doesn't go back to the Capitol, it only comes from."
"Then how do they communicate home?" the red-faced man asks.
"Radios."
"I propose we can make a radio announcement," Katniss says.
Plutarch shakes his head. "Not enough of the people in the districts have radios. You have to admit, it's kind of an obscure technology. Although I will say it was quite ingenious to use what you had." He regards those assembled around the conference table. "No, we need this to be widespread, public, impossible to miss, so everyone everywhere can see our message. That way the Capitol can't try to hide it or bury it under a stream of propaganda."
"It would be perfect if we could do this on New Year's Day," Effie suggests. "Bring in the new year with a new Mockingjay and a new purpose."
"You're right, Ms. Trinket," Coin says. "It would be the perfect time. The question is how." She does not sound happy with her technicians or their continuous failure to overcome the Capitol's protections.
"You know, you guys are goin' about this all wrong," Haymitch growls from where he's slouching in the corner. "What you need is you need the man who designed the Capitol's system to get you in. None of you know jack about any of that crap, but I know who does. And that's who you guys need."
"Who's that?" Coin asks, her eyes intent.
"Beetee Latier."
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AN:
Written: 9/26/15
Revised: 11/13/15
Revised 2: 11/15/15
The title of this chapter comes from the song "Get Me Through December" by Alison Krause. Because this really fits for the "Time Passes" chapter.
Things We Randomized:
- Whether Snow's granddaughter got sick and if she survived.
We're going to be skipping updating next week due to the Thanksgiving Holiday in the United States. RoseFyre will actually be visiting FanficAllergy during that time and it's likely that we're going to be very busy doing all the things!
Thanks for reading! Let us know what you think! And if you want us to keep publishing on this site.