It was months that passed after that that went uneventful. The occasional rumour of rebellion in the districts was nothing more than that. There was no proof that anybody was ready to fight. Things seemed to be dying down, going back to what we'd call normal. Then there was the riots across two separate districts just a few weeks away from the victory tour. President Coin still said it wasn't enough, that we needed something special before we act. This is despite what both Boggs and I were saying when we voiced our opinions.
It's a few days after the first of the riots in District Eleven have started and first thing we wake up to is Plutarch Heavensbee vid calling from the Capitol. He too agreed this was our chance.
"One girl is not enough to inspire a nation!" Coin argues.
"Madam President, Katniss Everdeen is more than just a girl. She is a symbol." States Plutarch calmly. "If she can incite the people to riot against the Capitol, she can inspire them to fight."
"And how would we do it?" Coin asks much calmer. "Like you said, Snow is watching her every move and is already planning on dealing with her. We'd never get close enough."
"You worry yourself too much, President Coin." Plutarch laughs. "I've already thought this through, many times and i have a plan."
"Then share it and don't keep wasting our time." She demands harshly.
I'll tell you what. Since being assigned as her bodyguard or whatever i am, i've noticed how she isn't as nice and approachable as she first seems when you meet her. Though i think her heart is in the right place, something just doesn't ring right.
"I've been appointed as Head Gamemaker. With the Quarter Quell coming up it's our chance to make a statement." Plutarch is smiling wildly.
"I'm not interested in the Hunger Games, Plutarch." Coin sighs.
"Ah but that is my plan, madam President." He still doesn't let his smile falter. "Quarter Quells are special, therefore they demand something truly incredible." The smile grew somehow. "I'm thinking we put Katniss back into the games."
I'm not sure how much of a plan that is, not one that will work in our favour at least. Odds are she goes back, Snow will make sure she doesn't return. Be it through the other tributes killing her off or some contraption invented by the Capitol.
"How would you do that?" Boggs asks, looking just as skeptical as my thoughts are.
"Simple." Plutarch chuckles. "All the tributes in the Quarter Quell will be reaped from the current pool of victors. Katniss is District Twelves only female victor, she'll go back in and we work to get her out and show that this is the time for rebellion."
That sounds even worse. The majority of the victors are power houses. The careers' first move would be to hunt down Katniss Everdeen and slaughter her. Not to mention this also throws Johanna back in the face of danger, she's District Sevens only female victor. Just as Blight is our only male. They'll both know they're going back in before a Reaping even takes place.
"Won't the other victors pose a threat to Everdeen?" Boggs asks Plutarch the question on my mind.
"They would, but the majority of them have many reasons to hate the Capitol." Plutarch began counting on his fingers. "Finnick Odair, Haymitch Abernathy, Johanna Mason and Peeta Mellark are the main names that come to mind."
I could definitely defend that saying as far as Johanna goes. Maybe even Finnick, i mean, i know how Snow makes him sell his body and if he refuses threatens to hurt Annie Cresta, another victor from four. Then again i also know Haymitch lost somebody he cared about because of Snow. Peeta is an obvious ally, because of Katniss.
"If we get them on board, we can form an alliance to keep Katniss alive and get her out."
"They won't be enough to defend her against the likes of Brutus, and the majority of the career victors are just as well built as him." Coin points it out.
I take my chance to speak once i think i see what Plutarch has in his plan. "It won't just be them. I know for a fact Blight will follow Johanna, whoever she's with so is he. I'd imagine it's the same with Finnick and the other victors from four."
"Exactly." Plutarch nods at me and smiles.
"If we were to lose her, the "Mockingjay" as you call her then everything we'll have planned will be for nought. It's too risky, Plutarch."
"Madam President this may be the only opportunity we get to do this." Plutarch finally stops smiling. "If Snow wins this time, nobody will ever find the courage to rise up against him. You know that. Taking risks is the only way we will ever know if Panem can truly be different."
I'm thankful this guy knows how to stir your emotions with words, otherwise i doubt President Coin would ever agree to this plan.
"I won't push you for an answer President Coin." Plutarch stands up. "There's more Capitol deserters arriving in thirteen. Hear what they have to say about our Mockingjay, then tell me you don't think this can work."
With that Plutarch cuts off the vid call from his end and leaves the three of us sat in silence. Just a quick glance over to Boggs and i know he likes the sound of this plan. A glance to Coin however and i'm not even sure what she thinks anymore.
"Ethan." She says. "Go to the hangars and wait for these Capitol deserters. Bring them here the moment they arrive."
"Of course." I get up out of the chair i was sat in and head for the door. Boggs and Coin start discussing and planning as i leave.
In the hangar the engineers are all running about pushing heavy carts full of scrap metal and broken hovercraft parts, shouting to one another to hurry and get them to the smelters. In the centre though is a newly landed hovercraft, i can tell by the warmth radiating around it off the engines. Hansen is stood at the foot of the hovercraft as the bridge lowers, waiting to go inside and check everything is in order. I jog over and stand beside him.
The bridge hits the floor and after smiling to acknowledge me Hansen goes on board with his clipboard in hand. I lose interest in what he's doing when i see four new faces get out of their seats and walk down the bridge towards me. One is a woman, with blonde hair shaven on one side and a tattoo of green vines running down the side of her face and neck. The other three are men. One is short and tanned, his head shaven and piercings everywhere. Another is fairly tall, with orange hair and a fluffy orange beard. The final guy has dark hair and a beard, he's stocky and looks similar to the red headed one.
As the women stops before me i say. "You're the deserters Plutarch mentioned?"
She looks down at her clothes and chuckles. "Does the dress give it away?"
All those bright colours and shapes on her outfit, yeah i guess the dress would give it away if i didn't already know wouldn't it.
Smiling she holds out her hand and says. "I'm Cressida. This is Messalla." She points at the tanned male with the piercings. "That there is Castor." Then at the dark haired one with the beard.
The two men walk over and shake my hand saying hello and how they're glad to be here.
"What about him?" I ask pointing to the red head.
Castor is the one to answer. "This is my brother, Pollux."
Pollux walks over smiling and offers out his hand. I take it and smile back. "Nice to meet you."
I feel a little insulted when he doesn't say anything to me, he just continues smiling.
"He can't answer you with words." Cressida sighs. "Courtesy of Snow, Pollux here is an Avox."
An Avox? I suppose that explains a lot. Mainly it gives me an idea on exactly why the brothers opted to leave the Capitol, their home, and join us here District Thirteen.
"I'm sorry to hear that." I say to Pollux. "But we'll make Snow pay for it."
Pollux is smiling, but it's the reaction of the others that catches my attention. They all act as though they'd heard something as close to music to their ears.
Cressida looks between her friends and says to me. "So you're doing it?"
"Doing what?" I ask looking between them all.
"Rebellion?" Messalla steps forward.
If only that were true. "If it were up to me, yeah we would be. But until President Coin says otherwise, i'm afraid not."
The look on their faces is suggesting that they're questioning their decision to come here. I don't want that. These four, even if i've only met them just now, see the same chance to fight as i do, as Boggs and Plutarch do. If Coin see's this then she'll know Katniss Everdeen is our only opportunity to change Panem forever or die trying. Either way it's like what Plutarch said, we may never get another chance if Snow puts Everdeen down.
"Speaking of which. The President asked that i bring you to her immediately." I fling my head in the direction of the elevator.
Cressida nods. "Lead the way..." She looks at me waiting for a name.
"Ethan." I say.
"Ethan." She smiles.
"This way." I start walking, the four of them follow me.
I actually chuckle to myself as we step in the elevator, gaining a strange look from everyone but Pollux. I just find it strange, how almost three years ago this was me in their position and Boggs in mine. A reminder of how far i've come from that skinny, beaten nineteen year old that stood in this elevator wishing he was dead in some respect. Now i've never wanted to be alive so much in my life.
When we stop on the ground floor, we all step out of the elevator and i lead them towards Coin's office. Cressida walks just at my side and the others walk together in line behind.
"If you don't mind me asking, your surname, it's Mayne right?" Cressida asks as we reach the corridor that leads to the office.
"It is." I nod.
It's also - in a way - Dugald, my real fathers surname. Though i've gone by Mayne my whole life up to now, so i'll stick by that until i die.
"Why do you ask?" I'm curious enough to question.
"I watched you die during the seventy first Hunger Games." She says it quietly, despite almost everyone who matters in Thirteen knowing the truth. I forgot she has just arrived here.
"A lot of people assume they did." I shrug. "But i'm not dead am I."
"Clearly not." She chuckles. "I'm curious as to why and how."
We reach Coin's office, just in time too. "It's a long story." Is the last thing i say to Cressida before opening the door and leading them inside. "Madam President."
Coin stands up from the meeting table, a smile on her face and walks over to us.
"Ethan, i take these are the deserters." Her eyes flash between me and the others.
"They are President Coin." I turn sideways and point at each of them as i say. "This is Cressida, Castor, Messalla and Pollux."
"A pleasure to meet you all." Coin shakes the hands of each of them and then invites them to sit down around the table.
I remain stood up behind where they're seated, putting my foot against the wall so i can push myself away faster if needed. But it won't be. These people aren't here to attack us, i know it.
"So, Plutarch Heavensbee tells me you're all here in support of Katniss Everdeen?" Coin puts her hands together.
Cressida is the one to speak up, confirming she's the leader of the four of them. "We are. She showed the Capitol, showed Snow, that they don't control anybody."
"That she did." Coin nods. "But President Snow won't let her get away with it."
"We know that." Cressida sighs. "But if the rebels, if you, were able to get Katniss to District Thirteen and put her at the head of a rebellion, the whole of Panem will follow and rise up to overthrow the Capitol."
President Coin doesn't say anything, only continues to watch as Cressida's eyes burn with admiration as she speaks of Everdeen.
"I've heard people talk, we all have." Cressida looks between her three friends. "Even those who claim loyalty to Snow and the Capitol admire the girl on fire beyond normal means. She convinced us to leave the Capitol and fight to change Panem rather than sitting back and hoping somebody else will do it for us."
I hope Coin is listening, i mean really listening, to what Cressida is saying to her hear, because it's not just these four who feel this way.
"If one act of rebellion from her can break the system we all lived by." Cressida sits forward, that spark in her eyes yet again. "Then she could lead us to victory over the Capitol with the right support. Your support, Madam President."
It's a pretty good sign when Coin sits in a quiet debate with herself and then nods her head with a genuine smile on her face - a rare sight.
"Thank you for telling me this." She says and then stands up. "I will think on what you have said to me. For now, allow me to welcome you to District Thirteen. My assistant Boggs will show you around and explain what will be expected of you in the days to come."
Cressida and the others also stand up and bow their heads. "Thank you, it's an honour to be here." Says Cressida.
At that moment in time Boggs walks in the room and salutes President Coin before telling the others to follow him. I go to follow them but i'm stopped by President Coin placing a hand on my shoulder from behind me.
"Stay. I want to ask you something Ethan." She says then walks me over to the table and tells me to sit down.
I do as she asks and wait for her to sit down in the chair in front of me.
"What do you think of this talk about Everdeen?" She asks. "I want you to be honest with me."
"Honestly." I sigh. "I think this is the best chance we're ever going to get. After seeing the effect she's had just by pulling out those berries, i agree with Cressida. We make her the face of a rebellion and others will follow simply because she is a symbol that the Capitol can be defied."
Coin is silent for a moment as she takes in my opinion. She then sighs and says. "And Plutarch's plan? You do realise this would put many in danger? Including Blight and your friend Johanna Mason?"
"I know." I hate admitting that actually. "But i'm confident that Plutarch will aim to get as many victors out as possible."
"I suppose." She nods.
I know she can sense my own uncertainty and disliking of that part of the plan. How even though i will accept it for the greater good of things, it still bothers me that it will require throwing someone i care about in the firing line. But i keep telling myself things must play out this way. Besides, i know Johanna will take up the fight if the opportunity is given to her, she's lost too much to Snow to stay out of it. Not to mention if all works well Johanna could be here in Thirteen. It scares me, thinking of what I'd say to her when she realises I'm not dead, but It'd be nice to just see her in person one time before she lets me know she hates me because I'm related to HIM.
Without another word President Coin begins typing on the holographic keyboard that appears on the table before her. Moments later - on the screen in front of us - Plutarch appears, sitting at his desk grinning as always.
"President Coin." He bows his head.
"Alright Plutarch." Coin sits forward and after a deep breath says. "District Thirteen is onboard."