Author's Note: Two chapters in one day . . . so I don't have too many updates. Enjoy.
Disclaimer: I still do not own the Hunger Games
Training Scores: - In the Number
Brutus Leartes – Head Gamemaker
"You're making this whole affair harder than necessary," came the all too familiar voice behind him.
"For whom, Mr. President," Brutus asked, turning around as custom demanded. He couldn't keep his back turned on the president, even when he entered a locked door without knocking, nor would he want to. No one in their right mind wanted their back turned to Gaius Emmanuel.
"Yourself, Brutus. Why do you resist order? Just treat them like the children they are, nothing more than numbers in the Games, until one of them comes out. Then, and only then, can they truly have an identity."
"Because, Mr. President. Everyone deserves dignity."
"And that," President Emmanuel paused "is why everyone suffers. The numbers are more manageable, Brutus. You would do yourself good to remember that."
"Manageable, yes. But, Mr. President, you wanted a show. This is more dramatic."
Killian Odell – District One
They sat together, waiting for their numbers, a number that Killian had worked all his life for, a number he would one day tell Sienna stories of, how her father had worked, trained for years in secret, without an established order, to come to be a victor.
"Killian Odell," he heard the announcer, Calpurnia Hendrix announced. "With a score of 9."
He smiled and leaned back. He could live with that.
"Saphyra Cullen, a score of 9."
"Whoo!" Saphyra hollered and the two of them high fived. They were two numbers closer to the arena.
Dane Vautier – District Two.
Sitting in front of the screen, Dane felt as though the whole world knew her secret. How could Nero and their mentors sit beside her, knowing she was a walking target?
They didn't actually know, of course. She'd told them nothing of what had conspired in front of the Gamemakers. Maybe she'd even dreamed up the entire thing.
"Nero Taplin with a score of ten." Calpurnia announced.
"Dane Vautier with a score of ten." Dane couldn't believe it! She'd outscored the rest of the Career pack. This had to be another trick, like the one in the session. Maybe she'd misheard. But no, Nero was congratulating her, despite looking a bit surprised.
"A pair of tens," Echo beamed.
Ailis Neilan - District Three
"The numbers won't mean anything," Leunam laughed out loud. "He's just trying to cause drama. Seriously, look at what he just did. He's poking the Career districts." Leunam smirked and patted Raivel on the shoulder. Even though he was her mentor, Ailis had noticed an oddly fond relationship developing between Leunam and Raivel just today. Had something happened in the training sessions? She didn't mind, not really. He probably deserved the care after everything he'd been through, being an orphan, not having anyone to care for him. Iris had taken him under her wing, certainly, in a way Ailis would have resented, but now she certainly didn't want to be upstaged by a twelve year old.
"I'm sure both of you did your best. You've been training hard," Iris encouraged.
"Raivel Aukins with a score of six." Raivel's eyes lit up and Leunam smirked.
"How did you do that?" Ailis asked. Raivel just shrugged.
"Ailis Neilan with a score of seven."
"That's one of the lowest scores so far," she faltered, twiddling the spot on her finger where the ring should have been. She still couldn't believe she'd lost it. "Only one number above Raivel's"
"Like I said, it's arbitrary. What does Brutus really know of fighting? He's an entertainer. Let him entertain," Leunam encouraged. "Besides, you only garnered a score slightly lower than the tributes in one and two. The Capitol's eyes will be on you."
District Four - Ibrahima Abdulai
"I hope your strategy ends up being more fruitful than I fear," Excelcia hissed, standing behind them on the couch. "Please make not of your former allies' scores."
Ibrahima sighed. Excelcia hadn't bothered to disguise her displeasure at his decision to sever his ties with the Career pack, but it had been the right call. Besides, one of his new allies had just shown that she could almost hold her own against the Careers. Between the four of them, they had to have a chance.
Or so he kept telling himself. He still had to wait and see what the Gamemaker thought of the others, what Freida and Candice had shown him.
"Ibrahima Abdulai with a score of eight." He smiled. His years of training had paid off. Once he returned to District four he would have to thank the old military captain he had trained under.
"It's still not a twelve," Excelcia hissed under her breath.
"No one has gotten a twelve!" Mags snapped, clearly losing her patience with Excelcia. "Not since you."
"Precisely," Excelcia retorted.
"Freida Vasey with a score of seven." Calpurnia announced and Ibrahima smiled.
"It's a countdown," Ibrahim joked. Mags and Freida both giggled. Excelcia simply crossed her arms, silently.
Altair Ellion - District Five
She finally felt alone. In front of the screen, escaping as the numbers of the other tributes came and went, it didn't matter. It certainly didn't feel as though Allorea was beside her or as though Ebba was sitting, smiling encouragingly only a few seats away.
No, she didn't even feel as though Elric was beside her. He had been politely keeping his distance, probably planning his own victory, seeing how he could stack things in his own favor.
She was alone, with just a guitar pick in her pocket as she awaited her rating.
"Elric Trace with a score of six." As she expected, Elric didn't respond at all, simply nodded his head in acknowledgement as Ebba gave him a thumbs up.
"Altiar Ellion with a score of six." That was enough, Altair reflected as the room remained silent.
Tavia Peri – District Six
Tavia glanced nervously at Joran as the announcer cleared her throat to announce their district. She was more nervous now than she had been before the Gamemakers and Joran's constant movement didn't help the situation.
"Would you please hold still," she whispered as Jayanti's picture flashed across the screen.
"Jayanti Haeok with a score of two." Beside her Jayanti barely reacted. Tavia ignored him as her own face shown on the television.
"Tavia Peri with a score of six." She breathed a sigh of relief. At least one of District Six's tributes could hold their own. She would just have to put up with him in the arena, but with Tanner by her side as he had promised to be that would be easier, at least for a while.
Bailey Therms – District Seven
"Do we have to watch the rest of it after they've finished with us?" Bailey asked. Her head was already beginning to ache after seeing so many sixes, sevens, eights, nines and tens flash across the screen. She didn't even want to see her own score, but knew she shouldn't say that aloud.
She also didn't want to see the other tributes, the tributes that would soon have to die if either she or Raivel were going to come home. She'd seen enough faces of the dead in the past couple of days to last her a very long time.
"It would behoove you to analyze the competition," Jonas replied. "Certainly considering your circumstances, it would be detrimental to ignore the outer districts."
"That's enough, Jonas. She can go if she wants to," Aeden popped up, his voice sounding defeated.
"Is that the advice you've imparted on all of your tributes? Seek comfort in your final days. Impeccable, Aedan," Jonas scorned.
"Jonas Tanner with a score of nine." Calpurnia's voice interrupted their bantering.
"Well done, Jonas," Aeden congratulated him. He sounded genuine; Bailey wondered how her mentor managed his sincerity. Surely he had to be tiring of Jonas's constant superiority complex.
"Bailey Thermes with a score of four." Bailey sighed. It was the second lowest score so far, only beaten by the boy from 6.
"The scores are a poor reflection of your potential in the Games. A four isn't as bad as you might think," Aeden encouraged.
"I think I'll stay for the rest of the Reapings," Bailey replied, settling in.
Margery Kelta - District Eight
"Remember, training scores aren't everything; they're the Capitol's way of quantifying your worth," Wolf had reminded them before the scoring had begun. Now all four of them sat there, just waiting.
Margery didn't believe him; to her, getting the right score was the first step to winning. Too high and she'd be targeted as a threat, too low and both her allies might turn on her. Elric had already scored a six, the same as his district partner and she'd still have to wait for Marune's score.
"Leoric Hughes with a score of eight. " One of the highest so far.
"Congratulations," Margery turned to Leoric, who just shrugged. Everyone's eyes were already on him, why not show off?
"Margery Kelta with a score of five."
Margery breathed a sigh of relief. She may have found the perfect balance after all. After all, no one else had scored a five. She was in a league of her own.
"Nice job, both of you," Wolf declared, his voice full of pride. He high fived them both as Cassius stood in the corner, smirking in his usual creepy manner.
Brody Punter - District Nine
So far his bro-lliance was scoring pretty well, Brody reflected. Well, besides Jayanti, but every alliance had their weak link. He was there because Ridge had insisted. That wouldn't matter once they got to the Games.
Brody sat back, crossing his arms behind his head as the Calpurnia said his name.
"Brody Punter with a score of seven."
"Yes!" Brody exclaimed, elated.
"Shh," Haspereek scolded, intent on the television. Why did she care so much about the other tributes? She was supposed to be his mentor after all.
"Candice Graham with a score of four."
"Well done, both of you," she conceded as the screen passed on to district 10.
"Yeah, well done, bro," he congratulated Candice, even granting her a high five. He could do that much, at least, even if she was a little girl.
Mobie Calp – District Ten
Steric stared unspeaking at the scene. Ever since the individual sessions she had been sullen, an air of fury radiating off her. Mobie didn't know why. Was she disappointed by his performance? Maybe, just maybe he could score high enough to impress her, to convince her he still had a chance.
"Mobie Calp with a score of four." Mobie nodded. It wasn't spectacular, but it certainly wasn't a one. Steric turned to him and smiled, ever so slightly.
"Nina Quivers, a score of one." Nina didn't respond. She was curled up in her usual unresponsive fetal position on the couch beside Steric.
"Nina?" Mobie questioned.
"Just leave her be," Steric said, ushering him out of the room.
Marune Xantone – District Eleven
This was pointless, Marune reflected, her eyes avoiding the screen. She didn't care what the Capitol thought of her or of the other tributes. She only knew one thing: she was getting out alive and everyone else was her enemy, regardless of their training score.
"Ridge Therne with a score of seven." Ridge beamed, seeming thoroughly pleased with himself.
"Well done, Ridge," the old man encouraged.
"Marune Xantone with a score of two." Esthelrir shot her a glance, but Marune just shrugged.
"Did you really just blow them off?" Ridge asked. "This isn't a game, Marune. These people are deciding if you live."
"You still haven't figured it out," Marune countered. Only she decided what would happen. She'd soon prove their numbers wrong.
Gloria Leeper - District Twelve
"Remember, numbers don't mean anything," Aphrodite whispered encouragingly. Gloria knew it was a lie. She was ready to be one of the lowest. She had barely watched the 11 districts before her, but now that it came to twelve, she had to pay attention.
"Tanner Amori with a score of eight." Tanner beamed with pride. No surprise there, Gloria figured. One look at the 18 year old and everything he'd done in training and she wasn't surprised he'd done well. "Congratulations," she said.
"Thank you," Tanner replied courteously before their attention returned to the screen.
"Gloria Leeper with a score of four."
"Well done, both of you," Aphrodite encouraged. "Now it's just the interviews tomorrow and then you're on your way."
Gloria tried to smile. If only "on your way" meant on their way to anything else, she reflected.
Brutus Laertes – Head Gamemaker
"Sir, do you mind if I make an observation?" Epucka asked.
"I do enjoy critiques," Brutus replied, swiveling in his chair. He was done for the night, so he could take a bit of criticism.
"How did you score them?"
"How do you think I did it, Puck?"
The girl contemplated for a moment. "Short of closing your eyes and picking a random number I have no idea."
"And neither will anyone else."
"But sir, the mentors were all there, they've seen the same things you have. Don't you think some of them will take issue with your choices?"
Brutus smiled. The girl was certainly sharp, but she was a politician.
"Puck, if there's one thing I want you to learn, it is this: there is a potential violence in every choice." He looked intently at the girl for a moment, wondering if she understood.
"Yet in the number I do know but one
That unassailable holds on his rank,
Unshaked of motion."