"They took all of them - my husband, my sons -" A woman whispered through her tears. Wiress put a comforting arm around her. Sniffles were heard around the dimly lit shed where 100 factory managers were meeting with the Teslas. They knew the Capitol's demand for their products combined with the Capitol's refusal to supply the District with funds to improve the factories produced a dangerous work environment. Two weeks after the Factory Four inferno, a fire had torn through a floor of another factory killing 70 workers and injuring 50 more.
"Yes, That is why we are fighting -" Trailing off, Wiress' brain was gripped with the memory of seeing Factory Four ablaze with her daughter inside.
"The Capitol thinks it can have our way with us." Beetee said in a low voice cold with fury. "We will show them."
"If they want us to increase our TV production, we will, but at their peril." One manager spoke up. "They will find their precious flatscreens will suddenly have lower resolution."
"But won't that just make them want more?" Someone else asked concerned. "I mean, we're just fueling their consumption."
"Yes, but we will then say we are doing what we can. That making these screens at a faster rate lowers the quality. They won't know." One of the other inventors in District Three commented.
"Step one." Beetee began. "Substandard work. Step two, we make things our own way. Step three, we insist this district is run our own way."
"How long?" The woman who lost her entire family in the factory inferno six months ago asked. "More so-called accidents will happen. How long?"
"I don't know, but we must try something -" Wiress paused as she heard the sound of sirens indicating Peacekeepers were patrolling the streets.
"We must leave according to our procedure." Beetee said. People began leaving in small groups or leaving the shed individually at seemingly random times. Soon Wiress and Beetee were the last ones in the room. Looking around the shed housing supplies to make computers, they wrapped each other in a hug.
"Beetee, we musn't give up." Wiress whispered.
"I know, Wiress, baby, but this seems so daunting." He whispered. "I just want our children to be free."
"I know. Me too." Wiress sighed. "I fight to show them they don't have a hold on me. Not all the way." Nodding, Beetee held his wife closer.
"Your determination gives me courage to keep going. It always has." He whispered. They made their way home and found the house locked, kitchen appliances turned off, and everything in order. From the darkness of their children's rooms, Beetee assumed they were asleep.
"NOAH TERRIMAX TESLA!" Beetee yelped as he felt something slimy on his feet as he slipped them into his slippers by his side of the bed.
"Dad! It's a harmless polymer -" Noah explained appearing in the doorway of his parents' bedroom.
"Yes, but it's an unpleasant surprise -" Wiress began before giving her son a curious look. "How did you learn -"
"In school." Noah explained. "We were learning about plastics."
"Yes, but how did you -" Before Wiress could finish her sentence, her son darted down the hallway. She could hear him taking the stairs to the workroom two at a time. She and her husband followed their son and saw him open the door to the Tesla workroom.
"STELLE! PUT THE STUFF AWAY!" He hollered.
"NOAH! DON'T YELL! WE'LL GET IN TROUBLE!" Shaking his head at Estelle's admonishment, Beetee motioned for his wife to follow him as they investigated their children's antics.
"Estelle Wendy Tesla and Noah Terrimax Tesla, what do we have here?" Estelle gulped though her father's voice remained calm and conversational. Exchanging guilty looks, the kids continued rinsing out the beakers and tubes from their chemistry set.
"We didn't use any heating elements." Estelle explained hoping to appease her parents.
"Bed." Wiress said firmly before giving each child a quick pinch on the cheek. "Now."
"We'll clean it, I promise!" Noah pleaded.
"No. We will." Beetee said. "This shed is off limits to you two for a week." Estelle and Noah groaned as their father held up a padlock where he or Wiress could place the key and lock it with a combination. After a swat on the rear with a heavy engineering manual, Wiress sent them upstairs.
"I think the kids notice that we're out -" Wiress began before she climbed into bed.
"Late?" Beetee asked as they resumed their nighttime routine. "I know, hon. I think their little prank was a way to get back at us, I suppose." He sighed. "Wire, we have to change things. For them."
"I know." Wiress replied. "I know what the Capitol can do -" Sighing she allowed her husband to wrap her in a hug. "This is a start."
"Yes." Beetee agreed. "And we strengthen each other as we work to change things."