Hello. This is SpockSnapeStephen, the author of Panem et Circenses. First I'd like to start off with a shout out to anyone who clicked the button on to the second chapter. Thanks for staying with me. This is my first fanfic and I'm working on the voices of each character so if they don't sound right, rest assured, I will be watching a lot of Star Trek this upcoming week.
I'd like to thank SneverusSnapers for inspiring me to do my own Hunger Games-themed fanfic with the stories Gnawing Hunger and Shattered Hearts. I suggest you go check them out.
Next, I would like to say that all of these ideas are my own. I will give credit where credit is due but if you know of or have written a story like this, I assure you I haven't plagiarized. That being said, if you feel that we need to talk, go ahead and PM me or review. I will be happy to listen and work things out.
I will be doing my very best to provide you with an interesting, grammatically-correct, fun story with correct spelling and an update each week. Also, I will do my best to be in line with established canon. If you notice something, please feel free to mention it.
Finally, please review. If you don't, I don't know you're out there. This being my first story, I'd like to have some readers so spread the word.
In the words of Stephen King, dear (hopefully) Constant Reader, read on.
Uhura and two of the three security men entered a sun-lit area. The sea sparkled and the wind coming off it smelled salty, a crisp taste. If one opened one's mouth, the salt nearly landed on the tongue in solid form. Uhura stood still taking it all in. The dazzling sand sifted underneath as they made their way over to the docks. An old man's shocked gaze and a small girl's wondering one met the scouting party.
"Hello," Uhura began, "I am Lieutenant Uhura of the star ship Enterprise. We are in need of help."
The man stood up.
"I cannot help you but I can take you to someone who might," he said. The old man's eyes were as green as the beginnings of the sea behind him and the girl's were like sea foam, barely green and very pale.
"Thank you," Uhura said and her boots clicked as she made her way off the dock. She flipped her communicator's lid and spoke.
"Captain, Lieutenant Uhura. We've made contact with some people who may be able to help us."
"Hold your position Lieutenant. We'll be right there."
"Hello. I am Captain James T. Kirk of the U.S.S. Enterprise. Is it true you can help us?" Kirk put out his hand but the man ignored it.
"It depends on your definition of help. We can take you to someone who will take you to the president. Follow me."
"My name is Joseph Cresta. This is my granddaughter, Elizabeth. Annie Cresta was my sister," he said as if that made things clearer.
"I'm sorry. We are new here. We don't know your sister," explained Kirk. The man looked at them funnily.
"You're not from the Capitol? No… you don't have the accent. I should have known," he murmured.
The outskirts of a town appeared in Kirk's sights.
"I can take you no further. After the Nova Rebellion, Elizabeth and I disappeared. We would appreciate it if you didn't mention us."
"Of course," promised Kirk and the two slipped away into a grove of southern magnolia trees.
The captain reached for the fence, intending to climb over.
"Do not touch that. It is electrified," Spock informed the party.
"Gee Spock, don't you think you were cutting that a little close?" said Kirk as he snatched his hand away. Spock merely raised an eyebrow. He had told the captain as soon as he received the data from the tricorder. No harm was done; there was no need to become emotional.
"So how're we going to get over it if we can't touch it?" asked a security member.
"We could go around it," suggested another in a heavy Indian accent.
"No can do captain. The fence runs along the coast for about a hundred miles then connects back together. We can't get through," Uhura pointed out. Her short brown was swaying gently in a way that the young security ensign obviously found attractive.
"Ensign, I suggest you blast a hole in the fence with your phaser," Spock interrupted his ogling. The ensign muttered angrily and shot green-blue phaser fire at the fence. Spock did not mind the young man's insults. He was used to such a thing from others and it would be detrimental to get distracted from the task ahead.
Captain Kirk sat in the mayor of District Four's office with Spock at his side.
"If you will not tell me where you are from, truthfully, there is just one thing left for me to do: I must take you and your party to the Capitol." The mayor was frustrated and it showed plain and clear to Spock. The lack of control was horrifying, if Vulcans allowed themselves to be horrified.
"If you must."
The train ride was long and dull for the humans but Spock simply looked out the window. Any information that could be gathered was a possible advantage. The sand gradually changed to wetlands to chaparral to a different kind of sand, desert sand. The gleaming steel train stayed cool though Spock sensed the outside temperature rising. The desert wind whipped red sand across the window. Even so, Spock could see identical, evenly-spaced grey buildings that dotted the landscape. Each had a staff with two snakes winding around it on the side. Spock hypothesized what it could mean. It was obviously some kind of symbol for that area. On some of the boats back in the first state, a different symbol of a trireme was stamped. If the first state was a fishing district with a boat on its symbol and the second state was an "x" district with a caduceus on it, this state was likely to be some sort of medical or pharmaceutical producer.
All too soon, the speeding train came upon a shining city made of metal and marble with precious stones inlayed in it. Humans, or at least Spock thought they were, turned to look at the train as it passed. Nearly all of them nudged their nearest neighbor and whispered excitedly. Several of their body parts were modified but the train moved too quickly for Spock to get a good look at any of them.
A large building made mostly out of glass rose up in front of the train in a spiral shape. Like a shell, Spock noted. It sparkled in the rainbow light, a giant prism hanging in the square separating light into arcs of color. Not that Spock noticed its beauty.
His communicator beeped.
"Spock, where are you?" It was Dr. McCoy.
"We are on a train going to the center of the nation. We are all unharmed," Spock replied calmly in contrast to the doctor's fiery words.
"Get me Jim."
"I'm here Bones."
"What is going on? You left to do some scouting and now Spock tells me you're on your way to the Capitol! We've set up tents and formed a sort of camp but people want reassurance, and their captain."
Spock glanced at the captain. His normally light face was heavy. It was difficult for humans to be strong leaders in situations like this. On more than one occasion, Spock remembered, he had considered taking control himself. Spock quickly dismissed those thoughts. There were more logical ways to proceed as a Starfleet captain but Jim was the captain of the Enterprise.
"I don't know what's going on Bones. I'll contact you when I've got an idea of our predicament. Just tell the crew that we've gone for help. Hopefully we'll get some. Kirk out." He turned to Spock, preparing to say something before he shook his head and turned away.
Kirk sighed. "What's your assessment Spock?" Spock considered his words carefully.
"The ship is in poor condition; however, its hull and other main parts have not been damaged. If they were, we could not lift off safely. The crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise is mostly unharmed. Several personnel do need medical attention. The crew has formed a camp and we are on our way to secure assistance. For now, we are in the best condition possible. Looking ahead, our survival depends on the compliance of President Flint," Spock summarized.
"That you Spock." Captain Kirk sounded a bit out of sorts.
"Is there anything else you need assistance with?" inquired Spock. Kirk looked at him.
"Do you ever get the feeling that something bad is going to happen? Someone is going to die for example? Or you're walking right into a trap?"
"A non-specific fear? No Captain, never."
"Thank you Spock."
It was just night when the group of seven was marched up to the cloudy pink mansion with rubies and garnets creating complex swirls on the sides. In white moonstone, the image of a rose was carved above the two sets of double doors. Ensign Pavel Chekov realized that the shapes made by gemstones were also roses. Inscribed just below the white moonstone rose, words in hard, glinting onyx said 'PANEM ET CIRCENSES.'
"Bread and circuses," murmured Captain Kirk. Chekov looked at the mansion dismissively; the Peterhof Palace in Saint Petersburg was much more impressive. The guards poked Chekov forward.
"No need to shove," muttered Ensign Pavel in a thick accent the guard couldn't make out.
"You and you." A guard pointed to Chekov and Kirk.
"You will be granted an audience with President Flint. No weapons."
Me? Chekov mouthed. Kirk glanced at Chekov, Spock, and then jerked his head, motioning for the ensign.
Chekov was highly unsure of this. Mr. Spock should be going along, he thought, Not me! But Chekov did what his captain bade him to do and handed over his phaser.
They were led to a plain-looking wooden door that had a rose carved where a peephole should be.
The guard in charge rapped once.
"Come in." The voice was distinctly female.
"Welcome to Panem." President Flint was tall and straight. Her hair was a coppery color with shades ranging from red-copper to brown-copper to blond-copper but what was most striking were her eyes. One was a dark, deep plum color, so dark it nearly looked black. The other was. A dead black. Not even evil or shiny like the inscribed words outside.
Dead.
President Flint noticed Chekov staring and smiled.
"I'm wery, wery sorry. I didn't mean-"
"That's alright," she said gently. Her words were all staccato like they were hot on her tongue except for the soothing "s"s, which were a lot longer than they needed to be.
"I was in an unfortunate accident awhile back. But that's not important. I have brought you a long ways away. Who are you? What are you doing here?" In addition to having a strange accent, President Flint's voice was soothing.
"We are from a different planet. Out ship, much like one of your trains, takes us from place to place. Except it crashed due to an unknown cause. We come seeking help and shelter. We have four hundred thirty crewmembers that need somewhere to sleep and we have some that need medical attention that our doctor can no longer provide. My chief engineer may need some… supplies of yours to get the ship running again." Captain Kirk always spoke as if he were skiing down the Caucasus Mountains. He would pause and then the words would come down rapidly. No one had a hard time understanding him!
"Panem would be happy to help. I will order for trains to bring your people to the Capitol. You and your crew are welcome here. Our districts will supply anything you need: food, metals, power, engineers, anything. You need it, you ask for it. For now, your party will stay in my mansion. The East Wing will be yours. I will have Avoxes bring you fresh clothing. Is there anything else you need Captain?" inquired President Flint.
There was something about the president that Chekov didn't like. Call him prejudiced but the thing that made Chekov uneasy was her eye. It seemed dead but it moved just like any normal eye. A tingle went down Chekov's spine and he was grateful when Captain Kirk broke the silence.
"No. Thank you."
"Panem extends its warmest greetings. May the odds be ever in your favor."
Chekov shivered once more.