Author's Note: No guesses yet? ok on with the next chapter!

Thanks to RR for the encouraging review towards Ari...she's gonna need it

Chapter 84

Who Will Be Strong and Stand With Me?

I don't let it keep me from moving forward. Daleck is our second bomb technician and he has a better idea.

Toy stores are great for detonating pressure sensitive PODs. We keep the kids away from the 'busy' street but give them remote control cars. Heavy ones, those that aren't heavy enough we put loose gravel in to weight them down and then direct them towards areas we think have PODs.

The kids get a kick out of it and no one gets hurt.

If I could I would promote Daleck for his brainstorming. I would have never thought of using toys to remote detonate bombs so to speak. For now I just let him act smug each time a plume of acid, explosion, or column of fire goes off. We even got one that emitted a bright hot light that disintegrated the car a kid was using. It burns to look too directly at for too long.

"Radiation" Boreal says, he was originally from three but he's not mousey like Beetee or buggy eyed like Ziggy. But he's really clever when it comes to chemicals and for some reason energies, like radiation and heat. "When we get to the next safe house we should make sure you aren't hurt too badly from staring at it, it can blind, just like looking at the first ignition of an explosion."

"We'll keep that in mind" Ken says consoling the kid who lost his car, the kids feel like they are doing their part and when one loose their car they are sent back to their parents. Luke was our best runner. But now his parents get him back.

"Good job Soldier Luke" I call to him, he wipes his eyes and nods giving a salute, like they do in movies, we don't salute. I don't allow it, it shows superiority which I feel I don't deserve.

"Ari you there?" I hear in my earpiece, Ziggy sounds excited.

"Yeah Zigg as always, what's the problem?" I say taking a seat on the sidewalk, people are gathering around me looking out as to protect me. Really wish they wouldn't I get claustrophobic for one and for two if there were remote snipers they could mow down dozens of them easy.

"Where is your position?" she asks, again really happy

I crane my neck, "Jabber Street and Walkway" I reply, "why?"

"Oh! Nothing just there is someone coming up Walkway wanted to know your 'twenty' we had to search her meaning" she replies.

"'My location', its really old trucker code, only one person I know knows that, because he granfather taught it to her father who taught it to her" I smirk, "Paylor"

"She should be at your co-ordinates soon Ari" Ziggy replies, "and we did a scan just now this road is clear"

I'm up like a shot and Ken can't understand the goofy grin I have on my face, but when we hear a roar of people and Paylor leading them to us he can't help but shake his head ruefully.

My group and her group converge, as we shake hands.

"Miss me kid?" she smirks, "when the jets stopped bombing, then your little show came on couple weeks later…well we figured it was time to create that all important alliance Boggs was harping on, our streets are clear, heading our way?"

I just laugh, I must look the sight, drawn and tired and maybe even ashen because she gives me an apple from her pack, "passed a grocer, looks like capitol people don't know healthy food from convenient" she whispers in my ear, "lets walk" she gives a shrill whistle and our groups fall in behind us.

We clear another five blocks with Zigg and Paylor's tech assistant working together, we figure how to disarm most of the traps. Vivian applauds Daleck's toy idea, even giving it a go. But the kids are better at that they don't care if the cars blow up; Vivian just has fun playing with it. She is amazing with the crews even capitol people take a shine to my friend from district Eight. She is so down-to earth, and understanding.

For once Ken takes a later shift leaving Vivian and I the first watch.

"Loose anyone?" she finally says

"Three dead one injured" I reply, "Boggs is out according to Gale"

"Yeah heard thru the radio waves, you and that boy are an item? Rivaling Everdeen and Mellark if you listen to hear-say" Vivian smirks and nudges me, "don't look so serious kid you're face will stick like that, and smiles on you are much more suitable"

"Not much to smile about" I say, "innocent people dying, Snow not even trying to save his people. Coin just sending squad after squad, kids volunteering for dangerous work. Viv it doesn't make me wanna smile, it makes me wanna cry"

"Still way too serious" she smirks, "and way honest for a kid your age, I mean shouldn't you be missing your beau right about now?"

"Gale knows we have to stay on mission" I lay my head back against wall looking out at the snow falling, it had started up late in the day and it hasn't stopped, "but…"

She looks expectantly

"I do miss him, 'specially at night. But he's where he has to be for now," I add.

She nods, "let's go over our next route" she takes out her map and I take out my emitter

"if this is right we should be hitting city center midday two days from now, if we go at the same pace, but we've found if we go above ground using roofs its even faster, less likely to hit a POD."

I shake my head, "no good we have elderly and kids in our group, we have to go on foot on ground level Viv" I mutter, "but if we use the back alleys we might be able to avoid most of the traps." I draw a line that cuts between two large buildings and some apartment blocks, "and if we cut thru these building and exit on the other side"

She nods appreciatively, "I see what you're getting at" she nods again, "right we take that and we shave an hour or two, plus we can get some proper coats for your men and some warmer gear for my team" I shiver, "and maybe a parka for you 'miss district Five', winter does not agree with you" she nudges me playfully.

We stare out into the snow, "makes me think of back home in Eight, we get snow, as a kid my dad and I would hike up to the roof of our apartment and make a snowman after he came home from work" she sits on the sill of the bay window I was occupying, "what about you?"

"We didn't get much snow in Five, the rare flurry. But we got rain more often, my dad would sit with me when the storm would get really loud outside and we'd count between lightning and thunderclaps" I reply, "its been so long since I had them with me Viv, I only have one picture of them"

She sighs, "sorry, but at least you have us right? Family is family sometimes, be it blood or not"

We sit for a while.

"Viv?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks"