The best of us was gone. Steel and I faced the same decision and reached opposite conclusions. She was from a different time, and back then, it sounded like there was something worth respecting in Panem. She was stronger than me. They couldn't change her. They never would have been able to use her for their ends. They removed a threat when they killed her. If people like her remained in Panem, they wouldn't be able to stay the way they were. If she'd gone into politics instead of security, they never would have arisen.
After they washed the blood off me and changed my clothes, I was summoned to a debriefing with Titian and the other Gamemakers. I sat at the foot of a black marble table laden with all sorts of treats and luxuries that made me sick just to look at. Peridot was next to me, and it was wonderful to have someone who actually cared. Naturally, Titian was the first to speak.
"I'm sure we're all very pleased to welcome Rhoda to our team," he said, and the others murmured their agreement. I recognized Theodora and some of the others from my private session. Caesar was there as well, looking very overwhelmed by the stature of the people around him.
"Now it's time to discuss your prize. As the winner of the Patriot Games, you will be joining the other Victors and undertaking similar duties. However, as your path to Victory is unconventional, so shall your position. The events of the Patriot Games are strictly confidential. You are forbidden to disclose their nature, anything that happened during them, or the identities and fates of your competitors. The story given to the public is merely that we resurrected you because of public opinion and as recognition for your civic-mindedness and patriotism. It is for this reason that we have included Mr. Flickerman. He has been given clearance in order that he may ensure that the media keeps to the corrected version of the story.
"As for your duties, they will be twofold. You may continue your modeling work and take up residence in the Victor's Village. Each year, you will come to the Capitol along with the other Victors. There, in recognition of your unique talents, you will serve as head stylist for all the Tributes. You will assist them in superficial matters such as cosmetics, posing, proper angles, and playing to the crowd. In addition, you will serve as substitute mentor for the unfortunately incompetent District Nine until the possibly, likely very distant, day they can replace you. I'm sure you look forward to it as much as we do," he finished.
"Of course. I'm very grateful," I said, smiling modestly. I had another advantage over Steel. Models were masters of fake emotion. It had always been my life's work, and now it always would.
I was nervous my first time meeting the other Victors. As far as they knew, I was a poser who couldn't hack it and got resurrected for looking pretty. I was the runt of the Victors. But when I bumped into Hyden as Peridot and I were on the way to a pre-Games meeting, he looked at me sympathetically.
"Oh, hey Rhoda. That was pretty hardcore. Nice," he said, and he went on ahead of us. I looked at Peridot in confusion. She smiled.
"Titian said you weren't supposed to talk about the Games. He didn't say nothing about me." I blanched, so she went on. "Don't worry, I only told the Career Victors. They know what side their bread is buttered on. I didn't want them thinking my mentee was a wimp. I have a reputation."
I saw a lot of Panem as a Victor, even more than I saw as a model. I saw the forests of Seven and the mountains of Twelve. It was a beautiful country, full of variety and majesty. There was nothing good I could say about the government anymore, but they couldn't spoil that. And not everyone in Panem approved of them. Steel certainly didn't, and I'd seen plenty more rebellious Tributes over the years. They always died, but they kept coming. In Steel's time, there was something worth fighting for, and some of it still remained. Panemians were resourceful, inventive, friendly, and tragically hardy. The Capitol wasn't the entirety of the nation. As the next Games approached, I found something of my old patriotism creeping back. Not for the tyrants that terrorized the nation, but for the nation that kept going in spite of them.
Aw yeah, I got this finished before my sister got home and I would have had to wait until after Christmas. That was even more fun than I expected. I think I'll do something like this for a normal SYOT. I'm also glad Steel got some development. She's pretty cool. But of course the main event is Rhoda. The pair from Nine better be ready to run.