ME: Reaping time!
Numerous Peacekeepers who made up District Two's Garrison were gathered in an enlisted mess hall, Lieutenants Domitius and Fisher being two of them.
Why?
Mandatory television programming in the form of President Coriolanus Snow reading the card for the Third Quarter Quell.
The seventy-six year old man spoke regarding the Dark Days, the justification of the Games as a result to punish the Districts, and the Quarter Quells-a special game occurring every twenty-five year anniversary to make fresh the memory of those killed by the Rebellion.
"On the twenty-fifth anniversary," Snow went on, "as a reminder to the rebels that their children were dying because of their choice to initiate violence, every District was made to hold an election and vote on the Tributes who would represent it." Historians throughout Panem would later reflect on the First Quarter Quell after the Second Rebellion and regard it as the ultimate perversion of the ideals of both of the great North American democracies, the United States of America and Canada.
"On the fiftieth anniversary, as a reminder that two rebels died for each Capitol citizen, every District was required to send twice as many Tributes."
Enobaria growled while Laura ran a hand through her blonde hair. It was the Games from which Haymitch Abernathy emerged not as a corpse but as a Victor.
"And now we honor our Third Quarter Quell," the white-haired President said, opening the envelope marked 75. "On the seventy-fifth anniversary, as a reminder to the rebels that even the strongest among them cannot overcome the power of the Capitol, the male and female Tributes will be reaped from the existing pool of Victors."
Enobaria smiled before glancing into her friend's ocean blue eyes. "Just who is the one female Victor in District Twelve, Laura?"
"Katniss Everdeen," she replied. "Oh, there's no way she and her fiancé will return back to Twelve now. One, Two and Four all have superior candidates-I doubt they've been sitting around like a Capitolite, Enobaria."
Soon it was the day of the Reaping, and the two young women headed to the Officers' Mess for breakfast. Head Peacekeeper Remus Thread, the twin brother of Romulus Thread, stopped them.
"Lieutenant Domitius, is it?" He asked.
"Yes, sir," Enobaria replied instantly, pleased that she had the attention of a superior officer.
"Your unit's on guard duty for the Justice Building today," Remus went on. "I want you providing security for the reaping, you're the best platoon commander in all of Two."
"Sir, yes, sir!" Said Enobaria. "As you ordered, sir! And thank you the compliment, sir, I appreciate it."
"You're welcome, Lieutenant," the older man replied. "And my condolences regarding your family. Your little sister Clove has to be one of the bravest Tributes I've known-were it not for her, my niece would've been in the Games. Thankfully she and Cato shall be avenged in the Quell."
The Reaping produced Enobaria's namesake and Brutus. Their colleagues wished them good luck, while the two Victors-turned-Quell-Tributes put on a good show for the cameras. The District Escort, a man who was respected for his lack of conspicuous hedonism, nodded and cheered with approval.
Enobaria had Laura take over and met the female Victor.
"I want to thank you for mentoring Clove, ma'am," she said. "It's an honor to meet the brave and great woman I was named after."
"The honor's mine, Lieutenant," the older Enobaria replied. "I volunteered when I was eighteen-she did it at fifteen! Your little sister was courage personified and on legs!"
The First Lieutenant smiled as she returned to base with her subordinates. True, it was sad to see Victors fight each other to the death instead of enjoying life and making use of their hard-earned winnings, but it was a small price to pay to see Clove's death avenged. That night Enobaria slept with a smile on her face.