"Welcome in!" Plutarch greeted Finnick and Mags enthusiastically as Martin opened the door. Mags smiled as she held onto Finnick's elbow. "Martin made us some scallops and shrimp for appetizers. Pity that pickings from your district are slim. Why, we only get two kinds of shrimp in restaruants now."
"Oh pity." Beetee muttered to Wiress who suppressed a laugh. Finnick waved to the Teslas who were sitting on the couch. "Hey, Finnick!" Beetee called as their fellow Victors entered the living room. Finnick helped Mags sit and offered her a pillow and blanket.
"I can turn the thermostat up if you'd like – Martin?" Nodding, Martin went to the wall and adjusted the digital thermostat.
"You do realize that is also voice activated –" Wiress began.
"In case your Avox is occupied with other duties when you wish to adjust the room temperature." Beetee finished. Plutarch nodded as he flopped into his easy chair smiling at Martin who brought the appetizers to the coffee table.
"The scramblers are on for two weeks straight, so feel free to speak freely." Beetee commented as an introduction.
"Well, I suppose you got my magazine?" Finnick asked Wiress who promptly blushed. Mags rolled her eyes and smacked the young man. "But Nana, I thought people in District Three would like the picture! Oh, and the secret ink was from a whole school of squid that Nana caught." Mags smiled.
"So you still fish –" Wiress began before the eighty-year old victor nodded enthusiastically.
"Nana can catch anything with a hook which she can make out of anything." Finnick commented endearingly. "Speaking of, most of the fishermen are rebelling. We have some loyalists in the specialty seafood processing plants, but most everyone's on our side."
"Four is a Career district. How are the youth?" Plutarch asked.
"Well, we don't always have volunteers like One and Two. But most kids saw the Games for what they are when Katniss held the berries out. Everyone did."
"Where is Four as far as –" Wiress began before gesturing to the others in the room.
"As far as the other victors and connections with the Capitol?" Beetee finished.
"Well, Nana and I are it. I've been visiting some other sympathizers. Of course, I'm always coming here. Nana and I came here a lot after her stroke for her therapy, so we were able to make connections." The TV beeped indicating another broadcast.
"Here we are with Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark! They have just two short more days in the Capitol before they return to District Twelve!" Ceasar Templesmith announced as Katniss and Peeta entered a ballroom to a wildly cheering crowd. "Miss Everdeen, how do you like meeting the Capitol citizens who sponsored your time in the arena?"
"Oh –" Katniss replied breathlessly as she clung tightly to Peeta's arm. "I'm so grateful they saved my Peeta – and I – allowing us to be together!" The crowd sighed as Katniss smiled. Wiress noted her smile didn't quite reach her eyes. The four Victors watched the broadcast with Beetee and Wiress taking notes on Katniss and Peeta's interactions. Soon it was time for dinner. They sat around Plutarch's dining room table as plates of lobster, swordfish, and shrimp made their rounds.
"She is playing along very well –" Wiress began as the group nodded. "When will we get to meet her?" '
"When you mentor, of course."
"Plutarch, man, you're forgetting about the Victors' reunion dinner and shin-dig later!" Plutarch shook his head as Finnick groaned. "Aw, man! I even had the best prank planned for Johanna!" Mags tutted and slapped Finnick's arm.
"So they know." Beetee asked worriedly. "The Victors are uniting?"
"No, they don't realize how many victors will soon be openly rebelling. However, we - the Capitol leadership realizes Victors stand the best chance of leading a rebellion. Snow doesn't want to take any chances. Actually, it was my idea." The table fell silent except for Finnick who was chewing a piece of shrimp rather loudly. "If they don't know the Victors are communicating, they won't see it coming."
"So, this is it then?" Beetee surmised. "Something will happen during the Quarter Quell." Plutarch leaned back in his chair and smiled as the four Victors exchanged glances. Mags raised her eyebrows as Finnick leaned in closer. The Teslas squeezed each other's clasped hands and looked at Plutarch with a mixture of apprehension and curiosity.
"Yes. Something will happen during the Quarter Quell. That is why I invited you all here. Beetee, Wiress, Finnick and Mags, you are integral players in this game of rebellion. Plus, the arena is designed to give Three and Four an advantage."
"Water and machines? I thought those generally don't mix." Finnick said before shuddering. "Does that mean – are Wiress and Beetee's tributes supposed to electrocute the lot that are swimming in water?"
"Can't give it away. Even to the resistance." Plutarch replied shaking his head.
"Yes, but there is always a twist –" Wiress began before tears welled up in her eyes recalling her first mentoring experience and the four tributes she and Beetee lost. "If we have two more or four more kids –"
"Snow won't be playing with the numbers this time." Plutarch pointed out. "We still have 24 launch pads. I don't know what he will do." The Victors noticed a flash of worry cross Plutarch's face. "I usually know what he'll do."
"Water." Wiress whispered gazing at the pitcher of water near Beetee's plate.
"You have a full glass, dear." Beetee pointed out. Wiress shook her head.
"Water. How will we – " Beetee followed her gaze to Finnick and Mags.
"How will we teach our kids to swim?" Beetee asked.
"Good question." Finnick pointed out. "Do you two know how? To swim?" He suppressed a look of shock when the two inventors shook their heads. Finnick's earliest childhood memories were of splashing in the ocean of District Four. "Well, then, it's about time Mags and I use our guest passes to the First Avenue Athletic Club! I'll teach you two." He laughed as Beetee and Wiress exchanged glances. "Oh c'mon, it will be a blast! Look, I know we all are working on the revolution here, but I want you guys to have some fun too."
Around 11:00 am, Wiress smiled at Mags as she allowed the older woman to take her elbow. They walked along the spongy floor of the women's locker room of the 1st Avenue Athletic Club. Though Wiress knew the foam would absorb the water, she walked slowly so Mags didn't slip. "There she is! Hey, Nana!" Finnick waved at Mags who smiled. Finnick walked over and took Mags' arm. "You did great." He said gratefully to Wiress. She smiled and adjusted the straps of her multi-colored striped one piece bathing suit. She waved at Beetee who was wearing dark brown swim trunks. Both pieces were purchased at a nearby athletic wear shop as Wiress and Beetee never had the need to own swimwear. Mags wore her sea-green one piece bathing suit with a bit of a ruffly skirt at the bottom. The three older swimmers' gear stood in contrast to Finnick's attire - or lack therof.
Finnick waved and cheered as the Regal Ladies' Aqua Aerobics class began warming up in a roped off area of the shallow end of the pool. Swinging his hips, he showed off his bright red low-cut speedo. "Helllooooooo, ladies, working out, are we?" Walking to accentuate his muscles, he smiled at the group. "Hello Gina, nice eyebrow job, Larrissa, I didn't recognize you! Facial lift, dear? Marlena! Lovely orange hair! Hellooo, Athenia, I didn't forgot about you!" Catching the instructor's eye, he winked as she stared at him open mouthed and speechless. "Mind if Nana joins you girls?" Walking Mags to the pool, he watched as she plopped into the water and paddled toward the group. "Have fun with the young ladies, Nana!"
"So - we just -" Wiress and Beetee stared at the large pool of water. The exercise class was in the shallow end leaving the lap lanes and the diving area free.
"Here." Finnick handed each of them a kick-board. "Meet ya near the diving board. I'm going to warm up." With that, he strutted to the diving board and jumped off doing an impressive series of somersaults in the air before surfacing and doing a backflip. After doing a few barrel-rolls, he swam the length of the pool using various strokes.
"We should just -" Wiress began before jumping into the water. Gasping, she surfaced and grabbed her board. "Come, my Beetee." Looking around, Beetee jumped into the water and came up sputtering. After grasping his board and wiping the water from his glasses, he looked at Finnick who was treading water in the deep end.
"C'mon, nerds!" Finnick called. Wiress grasped her board and lifted her feet toward the surface of the water. She found that she was floating on her stomach. Moving her feet and one of her arms, she was able to make her way toward Finnick. Beetee followed suit.
"So, obviously, swimming horizontally gives you surface area on the water -" Beetee began as he slowly made his way toward Finnick.
"Float on your stomachs guys, that's it. Wiress has it." Now, put your boards up here. Hold onto the wall, stretch out, and kick!"
After a few minutes, Wiress was able to at least doggie paddle a few paces before using her board. Beetee took a little more time, but caught on. They used a lane to paddle back and forth while Finnick swam in an adjacent lane. After an hour, Mags finished with her class. Wiress and Beetee tried to ignore her quiet chuckling as they splashed around in their lanes.
"Alright gang, let's not overdo it our first day. Come back tomorrow?" Finnick asked as he popped over to the Teslas' lane. Clutching their kickboards, they nodded gratefully. "Oh man, hanging out with you guys is going to be fun!"