The Right Time

The Command is a large room in the lower levels of District 13 and serves as the headquarters for the rebellion's strategic tasks, not only in times of need. Plutarch says that the President has rarely left this area since the beginning of the war, moving her office to one of the adjoining rooms. Command has an almost square base and is paved with various monitors, control boards and flashing lights.

Everywhere people sit and stare at the information that the screens provide them with. Their hunched bodies, squinted eyes, and focused gaze make Haymitch feel like not even pulling a bomb could tear them out of their attention bubble. A paradox when you think about the fact that at this very moment a hail of bombs is raining down on us. The high-ranking soldiers, hand-picked by Coin herself, are definitely aware of the attack, yet seem oblivious to it.

Each of them is dressed in a gray uniform, with several stars on their shoulders denoting their rank within the army. Every single person in this District is dressed in gray from head to toe. Haymitch's mind wanders to Effie and he tries to imagine her reaction if she could see what he's seeing. She would probably widen her eyes and a high pitched, disbelieving note would escape her lips. Then she would disapprovingly shake her head and loudly demand for whoever is responsible for this mess. He can imagine the scenario perfectly.

Haymitch's hands tremble as he watches Coin's staff sit in front of their modern screens, shouting the bomb damage feedback to their supervisor in sharp, strained voices. As if it were that hard to read values off a screen.

Haymitch avoids thinking about Effie. Most of the time he manages to push her out of his mind. But on days like this he can't get her big, frightened, blue eyes out of his head. After the interview with Effie and Peeta, a cold silence had dominated Command for a long moment. A dozen faces had stared at the white tiles, at the blood spatters. Effie's scream had pierced his bones. Coin had been there, wrapping her long bony fingers tensely around a cup. The look on her face had been unfathomable. No emotion had been reflected in her gray eyes. Haymitch wonders if she feels any emotions at all. He's seen her often enough because he's not an insignificant member of the strategy department, and he's rarely been able to read emotion on her face.

He can't believe District 13 could keep to itself for so long. They've eluded the Capitol for 75 years. The Capitol knew of their survival since the Districts' defeat during the Dark War, but did not consider another attack due to their abundance of ammunition, bombs, and hovercrafts. They hid in a huge bunker for 75 years, kept silent and watched the rest of the country go to hell. How the Hunger Games brought their brothers and sisters to their knees. He would never forget the look on the faces of the residents of District 13 when they first saw Katniss. The thought that they had been watched from afar all these years and that they knew everything about you made him uneasy. The thought that they had been hiding all these years, ignoring the suffering of the other Districts, ignited a hot rage within him. District 13 has tons of resources. Food, shelter and even a functioning health system. Everything could have gone differently.

Of course, he knows that an uncontrolled and unexpected attack by District 13 would never have resulted in this rebellion. They should have attacked shortly after the war ended to have any real chance of a free Panem. Anything else, any attack at a later date, would have been tantamount to suicide. With each year that had passed since the Dark Days, the Capitol had grown a little stronger. They had slowly but surely re-armed. This tactic was the only chance left to the rebellion.

When Haymitch closes his eyes and thinks back to all the suffering in District 12, he gets sick. The things he has encountered since birth, what he has seen and what others have been through makes his throat tight. Hunger. Death from hunger. Hunger Games. Floggings. Executions. The arena. One could have saved so many lives.

His family's eyes are burning on the inside of his eyelids. Since he ran out of alcohol to hold back the dreams, he's encountered his familiar demons every night again. They all get executed in front of him and he tries everything to save them but is always too late. Sometimes it's a burning house. Sometimes it's Peacekeepers who put bullets in their heads. But the core of the dream always remains the same. They stare at him wide-eyed, calling his name and begging for help. For a long time, he didn't even think he still knew what his family looked like. His mother, his brother, his girl.

Effie finds a way into his dreams more and more often. For some reason, she always ends up being executed along with his family, ending up dead in his arms. From time to time the faces of her parents mix into the action. When he wakes up, he often feels so crushed with all the guilt on his shoulders that he just lies back in bed hoping for relief from a stroke or heart attack. He doesn't know how much longer he can keep up with this. His entire life is nothing but a play of suffering, death and pain.

Haymitch's mind wanders back to the people in front of his eyes. When he first learned of the existence of District 13, he didn't believe a word of it from Fulvia Cardew, Plutarch's assistant. He had dismissed it as a bad joke until Plutarch had shown him some convincing evidence. After that, there was no reason not to join the rebel movement that had sprung up in the middle of the 60s Hunger Games decade.

There had nothing been left for him to lose. His family had been dead for almost fifteen years and he hadn't had anyone he cared about. He hadn't had anyone for the Capitol to hurt. He had been willing to give his life for the rebellion. Nothing had held him in this world. Until the face of rebellion appeared in his District.

Plutarch enters the room and Haymitch shakes off the trance. The former Gamemaker nods and joins him. Haymitch has been waiting for the end of a special inner circle meeting to speak with Plutarch. "The inner staff meeting is over," says Plutarch, rubbing his temple. His eyes look tired. The lack of sleep and coffee bothers him. "It's not yet the right time for Coin to save the tributes. She wants to keep waiting, so the issue was postponed."

Haymitch feels the urge to destroy something. He whips his head around and stares at Plutarch with an angry look in his eyes. "You can't be serious," he growls, clenching his hands into fists. How should he explain that to Katniss? She's crouching down in the bunker waiting for his report. "But she still remembers that the rescue operation was part of her deal with Katniss, right? Or does the lack of oxygen already influence her brain?"

Plutarch sighs and sits down in one of the uncomfortable chairs that stand around the edge of Command and are rarely used. He's probably the only one using them. For being from the Capitol, he doesn't seem very picky to Haymitch. "She knows and she will keep her promise, I can assure you of that," Plutarch tries to explain and leans against the wall with half-closed eyelids.

"She's doing it on purpose, it's part of her fucking plan," Haymitch hisses, pointing at the door Plutarch emerged from a few minutes ago. "She wants to delay the rescue as much as possible so she can continue to control Katniss. Once Peeta gets here she won't be holding the girl anymore!"

"Haymitch ..." Plutarch doesn't know what to say. The more the war progresses, the more unbearable the discussions he has to have with the former victor. They both once stood on two different sides, but the rebellion changed everything.

Haymitch shrugs off the words Plutarch doesn't utter. It's not difficult for him to ignore the strange looks of Coin's employees. They know him and the discussions he now has to have with Plutarch on an almost daily basis. He is the only one who can provide the children with the necessary information, the only one who can help shape the rebels' strategy in their interests. He knows he's not supposed to share any of the information he gets here, but everyone knows that he's doing it anyways and so far no one has tried to stop him.

The trembling in his hands increases. Lately he can hardly control it. When he started sobering up, he couldn't even hold a fork. He hadn't eaten for days because he simply refused to be fed by the nursing staff. He still refuses most of the help that is offered to him here. As soon as the doctors in charge allowed him to leave the rehabilitation facility, he packed his things and moved into an ordinary block of flats. God, what would he do for a drink ...

Plutarch begins to report on the rest of the meeting, as he usually does. Haymitch never asks, but much like Effie, the former Gamemaker just seems to feel the urge to keep talking. Even if it's just to keep the conversation going.

The end of the attack is pulled back. Just when they think it's the last wave, the hovercrafts return with another load of bombs. But that doesn't change the fact that they don't know where to drop the explosives. There is hardly any damage and if, it's only on the surface. The Capitol only has the old maps of District 13, and things seem to have changed in the last 75 years. The strategy is still to wait and sit out.

As Plutarch finishes his exposition, Haymitch nods to him briefly, pats his shoulder in thanks, and then leaves headquarters. He has to see to the children. Katniss and Finnick are getting worse and worse. At least once a day, usually when Coin's visage goes to his head, he visits them down in the bunker.

Katniss has completely withdrawn into herself. Since seeing the interview, she has barely spoken and never strayed too far from Prim. The young girl seems to be the only thing keeping her from going crazy. And the fact of the matter is, no one knows how Peeta is doing right now. The interview was his last sign of life. Just like Effie's.

Gale's family is also there and when Hazelle isn't available or just too tired, Prim takes care of the little Hawthornes. Haymitch often wonders what would have happened if Katniss hadn't volunteered for her. She is incredibly mature for her age. Katniss told him that she is studying to be a doctor here. In the arena, those skills wouldn't have been of much use to her. She probably would have died at the cornucopia, as did most of the tributes before her. The rebellion would probably never have started.

Haymitch looks from Katniss to Prim, then sweeps to the Hawthornes. They are all sleeping. Posy, Hazelle's youngest, lies in Prim's lap. No sign of Gale. District 13 made him a model soldier. He has worked his way up the ranks very quickly and spends most of his time up with Coin in Command. Haymitch can see that Katniss doesn't like it. Her clear dislike of the President is no secret and only seems to be growing stronger with each passing day.

Finnick doesn't seem that upset by the whole rebellion. At least on the surface. Most of the time he is busy with his knots. He's also given Katniss a thread to keep her busy, which Haymitch is grateful for because he has no idea how to keep the girl from going insane. Finnick sleeps a few beds away from Katniss, and when he comes over to check on the situation, he mostly talks about Annie and how the Capitol must scare her terribly.

"The Capitol would never torture an unstable person like her, right Haymitch?" the boy asks, looking at him with his big green eyes. He is no longer the charming, ebullient victor the Capitol admired.

Haymitch remembers first meeting Finnick in the Capitol a year after his victory. At first, he thought he was a bit of a playboy, but his close association with Mags gave him a leap of faith. Building a friendship with him had been a breeze given his humor, open banter, and friendly nature. Watching what the Capitol did to Finnick even before he came of age hadn't been child's play. He had felt an obligation to the boy from the start. Kind of like a father ...

Of course, he denies Finnick's question, if only for the simple reason of reassuring him. And a tiny bit of tension actually seems to ease off his shoulders. But Haymitch would certainly not tell him the truth in this situation. Everything here is too tricky. This rebellion challenges each and every one of them and makes them tremble every day. Each of them has experienced enough bad things. How could Haymitch tell him the truth? He can hardly cope with the truth himself. Because a regime that sends innocent children to their deaths year after year certainly doesn't stop at tormenting a mentally ill woman.

oOo

Normalcy returns to District 13 so quickly after the attack ends that Haymitch has to pause more than once to wonder if it actually happened or if his drained brain was just playing tricks on him. The people here have been drilled and prepared for this rebellion for years. When he looks at them while the food is being served, they seem just as cold to him as Coin does. Nothing can throw them off course. Each of them is part of something bigger. Each of them has learned to subordinate their personal interests. And because they're all a perfect unit, a perfect army of perfect soldiers, they do just that. It makes Haymitch uneasy.

It's less than 24 hours before President Coin orders another propo. She wants the Capitol to know that District 13 defied their bombs with no casualties. It feels like a showdown between Snow and Coin. Show no weakness, the opponent must be intimidated. But sooner or later one of them will collapse and fail. For the sake of all of them, Haymitch hopes it won't be Coin, even though he couldn't care less for the woman.

The announcement of the propos only increases Haymitch's anger. Katniss doesn't even get a full day to rest. He only has to look her in the face to know how exhausted she is. Dark circles lie under her eyes and even if Cressida's team has applied several layers of powder, the tired expression in her eyes cannot be overlooked.

It's this expression that frightens him. The exhaustion in her eyes runs much deeper than simply lack of sleep. Her hands tremble, her lips murmur silent words, and when she thinks no one is paying attention to her, she slips into a kind of trance. The girl is shattered and Haymitch doesn't know how to help her under the circumstances Coin dictates. Peeta's interview was the last straw. She's at the limit of what she can endure. Haymitch fears that any small event will throw her completely off course.

The small camera crew moves to the surface of the District. Since the last elevator was temporarily out of service because of the bombs, they have to cover the last distance between themselves and the sky by stairs. Haymitch is bringing up the rear and has put as much distance between himself and the rest of the group as can be without a suspicious eye. He's not entirely trusted in District 13 because of his rehabilitation.

Cressida and her disciples lead the way, Plutarch in tow. The cameramen walk in front of the young woman, who is standing next to Katniss, going over a pre-written text with her again. You only have to blink in Katniss' direction to see that she's not paying attention. A dark veil lies over her eyes. She has drifted off again.

Finnick walks a few steps in front of Haymitch and balances playfully over the edges of the stairs. Being allowed to surface cheered him up a bit. The constant concern for Annie has given way to an almost happy expression. He turns on the last landing and grins down at Haymitch, who is forcing himself up the last few steps, panting. The grin lights up and transforms his face. "Come on, old man."

"You better watch what you say, Odair," Haymitch growls, but it's an empty threat and they both know it. As Boggs, one of Coin's soldiers, and Gale pry open the door to a flood of light, Haymitch thinks back to their last night together in the Capitol.

They had all been in high spirits, joking and reminiscing about the last years of the Hunger Games together. He can hear Chaff's booming laughter in his ears like he's standing right next to him. Chaff is dead. Mags is dead. Effie and Johanna are gone. From his old group, only Finnick remains.

Haymitch gives him a sideways glance and tries to recall the old Finnick. Little, amused, cheeky Finnick Odair. The sixteen-year-old victor from District 4, who had the Capitol at his feet from day one. Or was it the other way around? A less attractive appearance would have saved him a lot of trouble. But Haymitch won't let that happen to the boy again. Now that Mags is gone, it's his job to take care of him. Just like he does for Katniss and Peeta. Or tries.

One after the other they step out into the open. The area around the door is destroyed, so they immediately trample over the rubble to make room for the rest. Haymitch feels the tension even before he sees the debris in front of him. The others around him freeze. In a wide hollow, maybe ten yards in front of them, white roses dot the area. Their blossoms reflect off the sunlight, dazzling his eyes. The sweet smell makes him nauseous, and he immediately thinks of Snow.

Pollux and Cressida take an unsteady step towards the roses, not sure if their eyes are deceiving them. Katniss awakens from her paralysis. "Don't touch them!" she yells. "These are for me."

Everyone but Haymitch and Finnick look at her in confusion. The two victors are very familiar with white roses, they know what they mean and who they come from. The plants manage to bring Katniss back to reality and she tells the others what's going on with them. They listen to the whole thing and Cressida finally nods, considering whether they want to include the roses in the picture.

Now that the adrenaline rush has worn off and the wave of amazement has subsided, it's clear that the roses will be Katniss's last straw. When Cressida asks her to position herself, she looks back and forth between herself and Pollux in complete confusion. "What exactly do you want from me again?"

"Just a few words that show that you're alive and still have a fighting spirit," says the young director.

Katniss nods and gets ready, but when the camera starts filming her face goes blank. Her gray eyes lock onto the camera lens, but she's obviously forgotten her text. Haymitch sighs. He and Finnick are still standing in the small area in front of the door, neither of them wanting to get any closer to the roses. Even from this distance, you can see Katniss's hands opening and closing.

Katniss and Cressida exchange a few words, she dabs the girl's forehead with a handkerchief. Then she resumes her old position and Pollux raises the camera. Cressida tries to get Katniss back on topic with a few opening sentences and asks about her recent experiences.

"We were so deep down this time that there was no real danger. District Thirteen is fine and I …" Katniss's voice cracks and her eyes look so lost that Haymitch's stomach tightens painfully.

Further attempts by Cressida bring nothing. The more she tries to get Katniss to say more, the more she falters. Even Plutarch, who is really only there to oversee everything, struggles to find a few words. It's no use. Her breathing slows, she turns her head as if the light is too bright for her, she rests her hands on her thighs as if she has just run a marathon and is out of breath now. Then she starts to cry.

Haymitch and Finnick lunge forward, momentarily forgetting their disgust at the roses. The rocks beneath them give way and they almost slide down the slope. Haymitch reaches the girl first, pushing past the small group that has gathered uncertainly around her. He touches her shoulders. Katniss must have known it's him because she hugs him almost immediately. Her sobs only get bigger.

"What's the matter with her?" Plutarch asks in an uncertain voice.

"She has finally understood how Snow is using Peeta," Finnick explains, and a collective sigh erupts from the crowd.

Haymitch can barely contain his anger at their lack of empathy. He's never been a man of great emotions, but he knows exactly what she's going through. He pats her back as she continues to press against him, a pained expression on his face. His eyes wander to Plutarch and darken.

The former Gamemaker immediately nods. He turns on his heel and then leaves the scene with Boggs. Haymitch is glad that it takes no more communication to get his message across to Plutarch. They both know what the next step is now. Coin can no longer postpone the topic. Katniss has had enough. Now is the right time to keep the promise.

The victors must be rescued.

Sorry for posting late but I'm very sick. It's not getting any better unfortunately. Hope to see you next week.

Skyllen