Author's Note: Return of Paylor, if only briefly. I know a bunch of you want Ari to go all "kill bill" on these people but she's non-violent by nature, she just likes to act tough…most of the time :P
Thanks go to my reviewers! JB, EWD and DAK
Chapter 56
Reunion
It takes another couple days but we are ordered to take her to Eight. It's the calmest at the moment and we are going midday.
Boggs gives me a gun and I holster it. Gale and Katniss have gone to get weapons from Beetee.
"Ready for this?" Boggs asks as he and Ken are getting armor on.
"Well at least I'll get to see Vivian again" I explain, "other than that no"
Plutarch was concerned that he would loose us both and had talked with Coin on leaving me behind as a failsafe if the unthinkable happened. She refused stating I was one of the better soldiers they had.
Something tells me she's lying thru her teeth about that. I don't argue, I don't like it but I don't argue.
Ken and I head for the hangar, Maverick is waiting for us. He isn't going sadly, not in the way that I want him in danger but we'd always had each other's backs.
"You be careful" he looks at me, "no stupid stunts"
"Try not to" I say and hug him.
"Ken make sure she doesn't" Mav looks at my friend
"I'll try but I'm on Katniss' detail so we will have to see" he nods to me and boards. Katniss comes with Boggs. Gale boarded as I said bye to Mav, so we head off.
Plutarch goes on about his plan if the rebellion wins. About a republic, not a monarchy. I tune him out.
I rub where the poison capsule rests in a small pocket on my cuff. I really wish I had argued against having a nightlock capsule but Boggs insisted before getting Katniss. In any case…if I get captured death won't be my goal.
"Hey" Gale says, he stands beside me as we watch the world fly by under the aircraft, "what you thinkin'?"
"Hoping that Vivian is okay, wishing I didn't have this nightlock tablet in my shirtsleeve and thinking how pompous Plutarch is in thinking Coin will let this republic thing happen if we win" I reply
"Anything else?" he says
"You're always in my thoughts Gale, but they don't want to hear that from my mouth" I tell him
"Plutarch why can't we use these two in the propos?" Fulvia whines seeing Gale and I turn, him to return to his seat and me to mine, "I mean they don't even need make-up, and her hair in that perky ponytail, I mean they could start a riot on their own!"
Plutarch clears his throat at his assistant's insisting, "Katniss is our mokingjay Fulvia, Ariana is-"
"A guard" I finish his sentence, "nothing more or less"
Fulvia sulks after that.
We land and a jeep comes to pick us up, I remember last year coming in on my motorcycle. Now the place is in ruins, some of the factories look on the verge of crumbling, some look like they are being reinforced.
"Ms Sparrow?" a soldier in dark royal blue says.
Everyone clears their throats and looks at me, I step forward.
"Ah excellent Commander Paylor was hoping you'd come with them" he smiles and ushers me to his side as the others follow.
"Lexis!" Vivian sees me enter their hospital. I hate the idea someone has posted a big red 'H' outside, it's a target waiting to happen.
I wave and she comes over, she has soot on her face and her eyes are sparkling with power. She is a little worse for wear though, she's been injured already and I know she does not like that gun slung on her back. She stops and gives me a quick hug and shakes my hand, "I have a second in command now, sorry your position is filled" she jokes.
"Viv I'm only here on guard detail but can we talk?" I look at her concerned
"Sure let's just meet this crew Coin has sent" she follows me to the others.
Katniss looks on the verge to run and Gale looks like he needs to give her a pep talk or something. Plutarch comes over and extends his hand.
"We brought medical supplies" he smiles, "and the Mokingjay herself has come to visit!" he says with a flourish.
Some of the wounded seem to perk up. Vivian and I are non pelussed at this but she motions the rest to enter and check on the wounded.
The cameras keep Katniss in picture as she goes from bed to bed while Vivian and I talk quietly.
"We have to move the wounded away from here" I say, "who's idea was it to post where your hospital was?"
"Give you two guesses, you'll only need one" she answers, Murdock.
"Is there a back door?" I ask and she nods, "I'll take the mobile ones to a more secure building we might be able to get some of the heavier wounded out too"
Vivian is watching Katniss, "what is she like Sparrow, or should I say Crane?" she smirks at me, "one of the calls Boggs and I had he told me who you really are, I'm almost hurt you didn't trust me. But then again we were strangers in a diner"
"Is it still there?" I ask, that old beaten up diner
"First thing to get destroyed" she says, "but this Katniss…"
"Vivian don't get me started I'll never stop" I sigh, "she'd be capable if I was tutoring her, but as it stands I have nothing to do with her, just making sure she doesn't get killed"
"That's what I thought" she nods
Katniss had gone from cot to bed to stretcher to the worn floor talking to people. Reassuring them and greeting them then she leaves after publicly saying her goodbyes. They head out, I stick behind.
"Okay people anyone able bodied I want you to take the person on your left help them to the back exit" I say, Paylor nods just before she leaves to follow Katniss' crew out.
I have a couple soldiers help in ushering people to the neighboring warehouse. It's the best we can do, some people aren't going to make it out, I try and make sure the kids and their parents get over first and go back for more.
'Ariana get out now!' Haymitch bellows into my earpiece, 'the raid hasn't stopped!'
Not gonna happen I think to myself and continue to helped the wounded to safety.
The next moments are much like when District Twelve was hit. Only no dying friend in my arms, no one gets shot in the head and the panic seems more distant.
Some people refuse to leave, elderly couples who say they are done for anyway, families who have lost too many and will stay with their loved ones. It breaks my heart but I get the rest moving as the first bombs are heard.
Haymitch is barking in my earpiece as I get everyone settled. I go to one of the guards, "find a way to spread the message that the medical area has moved" I tell him, "do not put a target on this building, that red 'H' is a targeting for the airships, they will destroy it"
"Yes mam" he nods and heads off. We hear guns going off and people crying.
'Ariana where are you?!' Haymitch is snarling in my ear, 'the others are heading for a bunker, you're supposed to be with them! Boggs says you ain't MOVE!'
I touch my earpiece, "I will after the raid is over." I say, "right now I'm with the wounded"
"you're still in the hospital!' he shouts and I remove my ear piece just as the bombs hit where we were.
I get blown back and I hit the floor where some of the more able bodied make sure I'm not hurt.
'GET TO THE SHIP!' I can hear Haymitch even without the plastic thing in my ear
I look around a bit dazed and the other soldier helps me, up, "we got it from here mam" he pauses, "thanks"
I run for it, my boots are better made than what the soldiers have, I had made a point of getting a solid pair in the capitol two years ago for winter wear.
I had taken a back road and Gale and the others had gone back to the hospital. Apparently the idea of people suffering had given Katniss inspiration and she had given an excellent slogan.
I get to the aircraft first and Haymitch is on me almost immediately.
"You and her are menaces!" he yells
"Glad to see you too!" I say to him, "next time we go to a district can we not go to one where they indicate a hospital? Remind me to find a guy names Murdock when this is over, they lost maybe a hundred wounded, they could have lost a lot more"
"They…what?" he looks confused and a bit comical. I had interrupted a tirade
"I moved the able bodied to an nearby local, you didn't tell me to say exactly where I was" I smirk
"You!" He swings but I block him and our faces try and stay serious but we break into chuckles, "you're insane!" he smirks at me
"If two more say that it will be true" I reply
"Ariana!" I hear and Gale wraps me in a hug from behind, I feel a tear hit my head as he wraps me safely in his arms, "they said you were still at the hospital! I thought!"
"I was, next door, we moved it" I tell him, "Paylor will not let that happen again"
"So the patients?" Katniss looks at me, it's the first time she has acknowledged me since this exercise began
"More are safe, some people refused to move, or were too injured. Sad to say" I reply
She looks slightly better at hearing that but not by much. She's banged up, there is a cut on her leg and she seems a bit bewildered. I motion Gale to go to her and she passes out as her head hits his lap.