A/N: KTstoriesandstuff is BAAAACK! Coming to you live as... Mrs. KTstoriesandstuff! :) Thank you all for following as I took a bit of a hiatus from Fanfiction!
"There they are," Wiress whispered as she locked her eyes on pictures of Noah and Estelle on the main screen in the computer and engineering room in Command watching the computer engineers work to broadcast their propo to the districts of Panem. Reaching for Beetee's hand, she gave it a comforting squeeze as the camera zoomed in on his pain filled face during a part of the propo when he spoke about Noah.
"Yes, they're strong. Like you, hon." Beetee whispered wrapping Wiress in a hug. Tears came to his eyes as his wife tucked her head under his chin.
"And you - brave. For your projects."
"I have to." Beetee whispered as his heart clenched in fury. "For our children."
"Mr. and Mrs. Tesla, the rebels are responding well to your propo." Boggs said gently as he entered the room and approached the two inventors holding each other while thinking about and grieving for their children. "Command gathered its first report as the broadcast aired and immediately after. Your propo spurred rebels in District Six and District Ten to take more strongholds. We saw an increase in riots in Districts One and Two after the propo featuring Noah creating his trap."
"Thank you." Wiress whispered as she took the general's hand. "We are getting stronger."
"Teslas, we're getting pushback from the Capitol broadcasting system." One of the lead programmers called.
"I'll pull up the schematics of the network –" Wiress explained as she faced the computer monitors at Beetee's station. Knowing that his wife would monitor their progress, Beetee made his way around the room directing the engineers. A nod or a wave of Wiress' hand let him know whether the rebels were maintaining or regaining control of the broadcast.
Beetee, they wish to send an outgoing broadcast – Wiress announced using her tablet just as President Coin entered the room.
"Halt the broadcast of the propos. The Capitol is sending us information."
"Yes, Madame President." Beetee replied before he returned to his desk. The room went silent as the seal of Panem flashed across the main screen. Peeta Mellark was once again being interviewed by Ceasar Flickerman. He looked healthier, but the Teslas and the other engineers saw the pain in his eyes and uneasiness in his stance as warnings. Something wasn't right. Wiress picked up her notebook and began taking notes on the broadcast.
"Is Katniss –" Wiress asked worriedly.
"In Command with Coin and the others." Beetee explained. Clenching and unclenching his fingers, he looked into Caeser's smug face as he interviewed the hurting Victor – the hurting 17-year-old boy. "Damn Capitol – hurting this boy and taking our children –"
"Beetee –" Wiress whispered knowing her husband's next move. Using the computer at her station, she sent a message to all the engineers. Soon snippets of propos overrode the Capitol's broadcast. "Yes." She whispered as Beetee at the main control station typing furiously. "You're fighting them, my love."
Beetee let go and signaled the engineers to stop their hacks when he couldn't get past the firewalls of the Capitol broadcast. He knew he had to let the Capitol think they won this particular broadcast skirmish. More ominously, he noted the military's satelite communications had picked up closer to District Thirteen. Quickly, he sent an email to Boggs before sending an encrypted message to all the engineers to back up their computers to servers in bunkers several stories below their current location.
"Love, do you think –" Wiress whispered worriedly as she opened the desk drawer and pulled out the evacuation procedure notebook that was in every room in Special Defense.
"And you. Dead by midnight." Peeta managed to choke out before all chaos broke in on the broadcast.
"They're coming." Beetee announced. "Standby for orders from Command." A second later, the door opened and Boggs surveyed the room with a grim expression.
"We're commencing a Level Five alert." He announced before a shrill alarm went off.
"Load up your flash drives, any manuals or any documents, take them and there will be places to store them. Do not attempt to remove any monitors or hardware –"
"Beetee!" Wiress rasped at the top of her voice as she grabbed the handles of his wheelchair to steer him toward the door.
"Hon, I can power this with my controls!" Beetee yelped as his wife pushed him toward the front of the room.
"But you didn't charge the motor or system - "
"For an hour!"
"Yes, but they have generators down there, Wiress, I can charge my chair in the bunkers."
"Yes, but in case of a total outage –" Wiress protested.
"Wiress, I want to make sure the room is properly evacuated!" Beetee yelped as his wife insisted on pushing him toward the door.
"We got it, Victor Tesla." A soldier-engineer responded chuckling. "Your wife wants to make sure you are properly evacuated."
"Yes, and we have to find an elevator for you!" Even as Beetee sighed in exasperation, his heart warmed knowing his wife wanted to protect him at all costs. He only wished he had the physical capabilities to do the same for her.
"Over here!" Boggs called. "The Mockingjay is leading citizens down the stairs. C'mon, Teslas!"
They settled in a barracks type environment with the other engineers. "We're not next to the Hawthornes –" Wiress began after a lull in the bombing.
"Well, we know Gale and Katniss made it. They went after Prim." Beetee pointed out.
"I'll ask if they need –" Wiress replied getting out of bed. She paused as Beetee threw back the covers.
"I'll check on them too. I need to stretch my legs." Humming a soft tune, Wiress walked with her husband to where the Hawthornes were staying.
"Miz Tesla!" Posy gasped quietly as she wiggled in her mother's arms.
"Hi, sweetie." Wiress whispered stroking the girl's hair. "How are you?"
"Those bombs are loud." Posy whispered before sucking her thumb. Wiress nodded sympathetically.
"You have your mama and brothers to protect you, ok? And Beetee and I are with the computer people, but we can visit." Wiress smiled at Beetee who was talking to Gale's younger brothers. They were on the bottom bunk across from their mother and Posy.
"I grabbed all our bags." Vic explained. "Rory carried Posy so Mama didn't have to worry. But I carried down everything." Beetee smiled.
"You're a strong guy, bud." He chuckled. "You too, Rory. You boys are both very brave." Beetee looked over at Gale who was scowling on the top bunk. "Hey, what's going on, Gale?" He asked gently.
"Katniss can't tell me a damn thing but she's talkin' with Finnick yonder 'bout somethin.'" Beetee nodded.
"They spent a lot of time in the hospital, and they're both worried about fellow victors in the hospital." Beetee explained. "But you've been her confidant for a while, I gather." Gale nodded. "Hey, if you need to chat or anything, come by the engineering barracks." Gale nodded. Beetee turned around to find Wiress humming a song to Posy while stroking her hair. After Posy had fallen asleep. Wiress hummed a tune to the younger Hawthorne boys as she covered them with a blanket.
"You took good care of them, hon." Beetee whispered. "Now let's get some sleep. We'll watch out for eachother no matter how long we're down here." Wiress nodded as they turned in for the time being.
"And no matter how long we're here, I will help you fight. And I will fight too. We will still win."