It was 8:00 am and the daily briefing was in its second hour in Special Defense's large conference room. Much of the meeting was spent discussing various weapons and tactics, however, today's focus was on Katniss Everdeen aka The Mockingjay's progress. Dr. Aurelius had finished summarizing his weekly evaluation for the group, distilling as much of the psychology and neurology down to every day language as possible. After expressing his concerns, President Coin launched into a cross-examination. It was at that point that Beetee and Wiress had opened their notebooks and began writing in them. Sensing President Coin's concerned glances in their direction, Boggs decided to speak up. "Teslas?" Boggs asked looking intently at the inventing duo sitting opposite of him once Coin had completed her questioning.
Beetee and I quite agree that the Mockingjay should be filmed as soon as possible. Wiress began through the mechanized voice emitting from her tablet. We were discussing timing her propos using a CG background or a green screen –
"In essance, you would have her in the studio with a so-called green screen where we will later add computer generated footage taken from feeds we have been receiving from rebel hovercrafts." Beetee finished looking up from his and Wiress' notebook.
"Very good." Coin said, though her face remained stern. "Please tell me why that would be necessary."
"Yes, Madame President. It is necessary because depicting Katniss in action will be consistent with how many in the rebellion view her. That is how the other victors view her." President Coin nodded. "It would give us flexibility with her scenes for filming as well as keep her in a secured environment which is what you wish." Beetee explained.
"Well, her first propo is being filmed at 930." President Coin responded. "You will be working with the camera crew."
"Cress, have her stand over there. Ok, little bro, get some stills!" Castor called as his twin brother gave him a thumbs-up sign from the other side of the platform where Katniss stood. Pollux squinted into the viewfinder of his XLR camera before taking some shots. Wiress looked sympathetically into Katniss' eyes as Katniss sighed before giving a smile to the cameras.
"Tilt your head a bit to the left." Cressida instructed while signing after Pollux had signed something. "Now hold for one…. Two… three…"
"Ok, guys, take a break while we pull up your photos on Photoshop." Beetee directed the camera crew.
"Can we see them as you pull them up and edit?" Cressida asked.
"That's fine." Wiress replied. Once Cressida and her crew set their gear off to the side of the filming studio, Katniss' prep team pulled her back to their makeshift remake room.
"The lighting is weird here." Cressida pointed out. "I think all of them are like that."
"We can change the lighting a bit –" Beetee began before Wiress shook her head. "Hon, that's what this program is designed for."
"No, we should get it with the actual light first –" Wiress began as Castor and Pollux nodded their assent. Pulling out her notebook, Wiress began sketching the placement of the lights and different scaffolding for the lights and backdrops. Beckoning the camera crew over, she began pointing out things.
"Ok, we can get the tech set up to change some of that." Castor explained. "Resume in about two hours?" Everyone nodded.
Finally, everyone was ready for The Mockingjay's first propo. Predictably, gasps filled the room as she walked onstage. Her outfit and weapons commanded attention. Staring into the cameras, she recited her lines. "And that, ladies and gentlemen is how you lose a revolution." Haymitch responded.
"Unscripted." Beetee said after the meeting where a unanimous decision was made to send Katniss out into the field. Wiress nodded. "But we have less to control!" He said irritatedly as the Teslas relaxed in their room. "What if something happens to the camera crew? What if something causes the digital files to be corrupted?"
"That is a risk –" Wiress began before Beetee opened his mouth. "But not to –" Wiress paused. "But not to is to not see her at her best." Staring hard at Beetee, she continued. "That's what we need."
"You knew this." Beetee began slowly as Wiress nodded. "From the moment we were editing her still pictures." Another nod. "Why didn't you speak up?"
"They have to see. You cannot be forced." Wiress began. "By anyone –" Pausing, she looked around the compartment. "You just have to fight. To be free." Suddenly, she stood up from her position sitting on the bed next to Beetee.
"Hon?" Beetee asked.
"A spot – I didn't notice –" Opening the dresser next to the bed, Wiress pulled out the first article of fabric she could find. "Oh hush!" She admonished Beetee who was sitting on the bed protesting about the use of his tighty whities.
"Oh –" Wiress gasped as she saw the reflective surface of the speck on the wall. Rubbing it with Beetee's pants, she shrugged and tossed them into the laundry basket a second before the room was plunged into darkness. "I thought it was a bug." Wiress giggled as she returned to bed.
"Is it lights out already?" Beetee asked.
"I requested – we worked hard, dear." Wiress whispered tiredly as she slid into bed next to her husband. Smiling, she slid her hand down the leg of Beetee's pajama pants.
"Hey!" Beetee yelped. "I thought you were tired!"
"Mood lighting." Wiress breathed before Beetee's face grew warm.
The next morning, Beetee woke up feeling physically quite content. Cuddling with his wife, he enjoyed the peaceful moments of the early morning. However, he was dismayed that it was only 4:45 am. Lights on for the Teslas wasn't for another fifteen minutes. As his eyes adjusted to the dark, he could make out a faint blinking from the 'bug there' on the wall. While Beetee recovered from their moments of passion, Wiress was able to whisper to him under his heavy breathing. There's a camera installed here. And Katniss is being controlled. Beetee, District Thirteen is not free.
A/N: Another short chapter, but this introduces a bit of a twist. Again, we will still follow Mockingjay, but get a different perspective. Wiress, being the perceptive genius she is, understands more about the revolution than most people realize.