"This way, please." Xersius said as they approached the main doors of the training center.
"Shouldn't the Gamemaker be in the Training Center?" Wiress asked puzzling over why they were leaving the facility.
"He does what pleases President Snow, Mrs. Tesla." Xersius answered as he hailed a taxi and handed the driver a slip of paper. After a short drive, they arrived at the Presidential Mansion. "I will wait for you here."
The Teslas were silent as they were checked in by the secret service agents. "Don't worry, they won't harm us. Their children wouldn't like that." A cold voice said as a guard picked up her metal detector wand to begin a body scan on Beetee.
"Yes, Mr. President." The guard said before standing at attention at her station. The Teslas followed President Snow down the hallway.
"I wonder," He began without turning around. "How are your children enjoying the Capitol?"
"They enjoy seeing the inventions here, sir." Beetee replied. "Noah talked about the touchscreens in the training center for fifteen minutes before I got him to talk about his training exercises."
"And how about your daughter?" Stopping, President Snow turned around to face Wiress. "She is two years older than you were when you lived here."
"She - she is training hard, sir." Wiress managed as her eyes met President Snow's. "She is a determined smart young lady." Her voice was even. "And so is my son."
"I see." President Snow opened the door to a meeting room. "They are here, Gamemaker. You know my orders." As the door latched, the tall man in a tailored suit and pants turned around from gazing out the window. Seneca Crane looked into the face of a woman he had met when she was a young inventor and her protector who was her husband.
"Hello, Wiress. Mr. Beetee Tesla." He said softly, attempting to keep his voice steady even as he saw pain flash across Wiress' large eyes.
"Good evening, Crane." Beetee said evenly resisting the urge to crush the Gamemaker's hand as he shook it firmly. He knew with the right grip and torque, he could break the man's wrist causing him to double over where it would be easy for him to push him into the table at such an angle that the lip would hit his neck or give him a leverage point in which to break his neck. This was the man that had designed the arena Beetee's children would enter, and who held their fate in his hands.
"Your children are lovely." Wiress could hear the sincerity in Seneca's voice.
"I'm sure every year 24 youth coming to compete in your Games is a lovely sight." Beetee spat before a small hand lay on his shoulder. One warning look from a certain pair of large eyes subdued him. "Thank you, Gamemaker." He finished simply.
"You wish the odds -" Wiress began searching Seneca's face. Ever so slightly, he gave a small nod.
"Your children know how to assemble circuitry and wires?"
"Of course." Wiress replied wondering why he would ask.
"And your children can run?" Swallowing, Beetee nodded as his throat tightened imagining the horrors known as mutts chasing after his children.
"President Snow has advised me on this: One and Two will go for your children first."
"No -" Wiress gasped before falling to her knees. "Please - no - "
"It was I who pleaded with him to warn you." Senaca's voice dropped to a whisper as he knelt by Wiress and Beetee who was kneeling on the floor with his arms around his wife. "Tell your children this: Look where they stand. They could be standing on victory."
"They could be standing on victory." Beetee said slowly in the cab back. "Wire - Wire, what do you think -" Shaking her head, Wiress continued humming and whispering to herself under her breath.
"Not - yet -" Wordlessly, the Teslas exited the cab and entered the elevator. Gasping, Wiress grasped Beetee's hands as they ascended the elevator.
"Wiress - Wire - sweetie, what's wrong?" Beetee asked as Wiress began trembling. Gently pulling her into the district suite, he took her hands in his. "Wiress, sweetie, what is it?" Tears streamed down his eyes as he stared at his wife who seemed paralyzed by her own thoughts.
"Mine - mine -" She gasped.
"Our children yes -" Holding Wiress, Beetee attempted to calm her down. "I know, sweetie."
"Mine - Beetee - mine -" Suddenly Beetee gasped putting the pieces of his wife's thoughts together.
"The mines around the cornucopia." Beetee gasped before Wiress wraped him in a hug sobbing.
"Mama? Stelle, she's crying, c'mon!" A small voice called before two sets of smaller arms encircled Beetee and Wiress as Wiress sobs began subsiding.
"What happened?" Estelle asked shakily. "What happened to mom?"
"She just figured out how to get you two home."