Author's Note: I'm back!

A progress update on some of the older and younger victors.

….

Dedication

For Beetee the mind was a person's greatest asset. This was even more true for the victors. Their physical capabilities saw them leave their arenas alive, but their minds kept them living through the aftermath, staying alive despite the dangers of their status.

Coral was his friend, and her descent into dementia hurt him more than he first imagined. He knew that seeing her deterioration would affect him. Wiress knew this too. Not wanting to be at home alone without Pluto, Wiress accompanied them all to the Capitol and told Beetee that she knew he would need her support. It took one conversation with Coral for Beetee to realise his partner had been entirely right.

Coral knew entirely who he was and that they shared an enduring friendship, but so many of the pieces were missing. Memories they had shared, the fun they had in causing trouble for the Capitol were slipping away. Beetee had lost his primary confidant beyond District Three, and he could no longer share the burden of rebellion with her.

He hated restricting what he told Coral, that their conversations were now limited to more mundane matters. But it was how it had to be. Whilst he was no longer one of their leaders, Beetee was a rebel first and foremost. He knew that Coral would want to be seen in the same light and believed that somewhere within her, she knew they had made the correct choice in immediately shutting down the flow of information to her.

They spoke of life in their districts, matters they had spoken of time and time again. But Beetee found himself having to re-share memories of his home that he had already discussed with Coral. He showed her photographs to stimulate her memories and played music he knew she would like, having researched its positive impact on those living with Coral's condition.

Beetee provided Chloe with a collection of music he had shared with Coral and copies of photographs for her to use at home. He was determined that his friend would have a chance at holding onto as much of her identity as possible. She was proud to be from Four, proud to be a rebel and proud to be Beetee's friend. He knew she would want to keep that close to her as her memories faded and Beetee did not want to lose the connection he had with her.

Coral needed to be protected now in a way she did not previously. Chloe may be physically the older of the couple, but it was Coral whose lifespan had surely been shortened by her dementia diagnosis and who was now the most vulnerable. Beetee watched how Rowan had stepped up to support his former mentor. Three's man was relieved that his friend would have the support of those around her as her condition progressed.

Beetee knew that Song was worried about the impact on her own mentor. Coral's decline had shaken Chloe, but her victor had taken on a greater support role despite continuing to mentor Four's female tributes in search of a second victor and successor to her role in the Capitol.

Beetee knew that Mags had created a family out of District Four's victors and in her absence, it was clear that those bonds remained strong. They had each rallied around his dear friend and her partner in support of them both. They all knew the lengths Four's most senior victors had gone to in supporting them in their younger days and they would repay their efforts now as Chloe and Coral saw their fortunes slip away from them.

But around Beetee and his sadness over Coral, rebellion continued to brew with Three and Four remaining at the centre of the storm. He was no longer an official leader, although he remained vital to their continued operations and technological power. He had passed the leadership support mantle to Halley and Beetee often saw his younger peer in deep conversation with Finnick about matters he knew he would be informed of later.

It was an adjustment to no longer be at the heart of decision-making, but he trusted Finnick, Halley and Poppy implicitly. They trusted him too and had made clear their full support for his projects and their expansion into other areas of Capitol life.

Their leadership had not always led to welcome news, however. Despite her supervision of Cameron being an almost full-time role, Poppy had managed to recommence contact with District Thirteen. They had responded, but not in the way any of the rebel leadership wanted. They were not prepared to boost district efforts yet and did not believe they would for another five to ten years. From their perspective, the wholehearted involvement and leadership from Three and Four were insufficient. They wanted more than violence and instability from Eight and Eleven and they wanted proof of readiness and wholehearted commitment from the other districts. Poppy was not about to lie and promise what they could not give, so they would have to continue their efforts without Thirteen.

Beetee thought District Thirteen was misguided. He believed they had the capabilities but were simply securing their safety first. He could not entirely blame them either, but nor did he trust the hidden district in the way that would be required of him. Wiress did not either and he shared his thoughts with Halley, so he knew that their stance of aiming for a cautious alliance was correct. They would have to outmanoeuvre them at the end of whatever came of their efforts, but that was not going to be Beetee's job.

Due to the timeframe provided by District Thirteen, there were times when Beetee began to wonder whether he would be alive to see their revolution succeed. He knew his skillset was pivotal too and wondered how they would be able to replace his capabilities. He needed to get as much running as possible and independently of him before his health began to decline. Seeing what has happened to Coral made Beetee confront his mortality and the time he had available to him.

….

His return to the Capitol had been difficult. Cameron lost his temper at the very start of the Tribute Parade as Poppy was escorting him to their seats. Capitol fans were pawing at him and running their hands over wherever they could reach as he passed them before he snapped. Poppy heard her boy demand they let go of him and she turned to try to quash the developing conflict. But Cameron had reached out to a particularly overzealous fan and was fighting them away from him.

She had to break up the confrontation and soon found both Linden and Blight trying to wrestle her victor from the now-shaken Capitol crowds. Cameron sat for the remainder of the Parade between Poppy and Linden, who each kept a hand firmly on his shoulders. Poppy noted that both Fern and Johanna looked on edge and ready to intervene the second Cameron showed any further signs of anger.

The only saving grace from the publicity nightmare was that the Capitol was completely put off buying Cameron. They saw him as volatile and violent, a frightening prospect for all apart from the most curious. Victors' Affairs put an end to any requests from prospective buyers at the fringes of high society. They did not want a publicity disaster. Victors were to be quieter figures, their celebrity fading further each year. An attack on a Capitol buyer was something they wanted to avoid. They could buy into the theme of district savages, but they would risk exposing their entire operation surrounding the sale of the victors. That was to take place quietly, they never intended to stop it entirely.

The difficulties continued the moment Six's latest boy, Cameron's first tribute, was hanged by Amethyst. He launched himself away from Poppy, casting her aside and towards the District One station in a rage, driving past the efforts of Ossian, Finnick and Noah and throwing himself past Halley and Orion. He met Brutus' shoulders before pushing him aside as Peeta reached him and managed to wrestle Cameron to the floor.

Cameron struggled and almost managed to overturn them so he could overpower Peeta, but Twelve's victor had remained strong. He kept control of Six's young victor and maintained his position over him, pressing him to the floor and holding his hands behind his back.

The Mentors' Centre fell quiet, the only sounds being District One's victors surrounding Aria. Cameron remained on the floor, his shouting gradually falling silent as he realised a further struggle against Peeta would not work in his favour.

"Stay there," Brutus firmly told Peeta. "Wait until he's totally calm." Noticing Katniss' approach and her concern for her husband, Brutus continued, "Girl, just stay back. Let's not risk another outburst. Peeta is fine."

Further, painful moments of near silence followed before Poppy approached Cameron and sat alongside him. It did not go unnoticed that her approach was followed by Linden and Blight who remained nearby.

"It's okay, Cameron," she started.

"He's dead," Cameron spat.

"They nearly all die. You're the only one who hasn't. This is it, my boy. Year after year. You're allowed a meltdown, most of us have one in the first year. But none of this is personal between us in here, remember what I told you."

"Her tribute hanged my boy. He tortured the others!"

"I know. I can't say I'm happy about it. But unfortunately, I've seen worse, and Aria is my friend. None of this changes that."

Cameron sighed, resigned to Poppy's words. He lay on the floor for several more minutes, with Peeta still over him, before trying to stand up once more.

"He's good, Peeta," Poppy said. "Thank you."

The moment ended with Brutus calling from across the room, "Boy! You'll be coming to the gym with us later. A good brawl will get that rage out of you!"

"I'll be going too," Peeta added, to confirm to Cameron that he ought to join them.

….

Among the excitement of Amethyst Erdene's victory, Finnick, Halley and Poppy found the time to meet privately. It was not uncommon to see the victors moving in and around private rooms in many of the Capitol's social clubs and being Finnick, club owners remained desperate to secure his custom.

He took his co-leaders to his favoured club where their privacy and security could be guaranteed and together, they began to work on what they hoped would be the final phase towards their victory.

"It's a longer timeframe than we would have liked but we push on," Finnick said.

"If it is faster, will Thirteen move?" Halley asked her friend.

"My contact said that would depend on whether they believed prospects were entirely in our favour. Thirteen will not put themselves in danger or risk destruction."

"We are not asking for their destruction, only their assistance, which they are more than capable of providing."

"I know, Finnick. I made that very clear. But my contact was equally resolute."

"Anything on aerial support?"

"If they are convinced of our success, support will be provided. I could not get numbers or an estimation of their capacity. They can reach Four, however."

"We will need them," Halley said. "We will go first on the west, and it will leave us exposed."

"Is there a way we can arrange our own?" Finnick said, looking at Poppy.

"Six does not deal with military capabilities. We make the skeletons of the vehicles, and they are fitted out in Two. I can talk to Lyme. But then it's a matter of diversion and distraction. It will be difficult to build military aircraft in the middle of Six."

"Even if they are assembled in Two, can you bring them back?" Halley asked.

"That might be easier," Poppy agreed. "I can deal with timetabling. I know how that works. It would just be a matter of ensuring the right trains with the right vehicles get lost and then found in Six. I will need to maintain my influence. I am working on that now."

"You mean there are people who aren't behind you?" Finnick asked.

"As I get older, fewer people are willing to follow me just because I'm me."

"Cameron?"

Poppy shook her head, "Everyone will have seen what happened this year. He looks unstable. People are scared of him at home. I am working on securing his mother, however, and have made good progress. People genuinely like her. She can be relatable in places I can't."

"There's a way forward," Finnick said. "Securing aerial defences is a priority. Where is Beetee at?"

"All projects are ongoing. Further upgrades to household devices are planned and approved. We will be able to control all new models of television produced in Three within the next five years. The health data is ours, we just need time to fully evaluate it before I report back. Signal defence upgrades are fully functioning. Mutts will be the next step."

Finnick smiled, "Dependable as always. How is Orion fitting in?"

"He is finding his place. He's a builder. My bunker is getting an extension, and the Village will be adapted for when the time comes shall we say."

"I am pleased he has found a way in. Will he be reliable?"

"We trust him," Halley confirmed.

….

Eleven's victors watched the events of the Eighty-Eighth Games pass them by. Marshall's boy met a horrible end, but he managed it with the dignity that Seeder had now come to expect of him. Despite Chaff's influence, Marshall was calmer and the more measured of the pair. He knew instinctively when to keep quiet and when to go on the attack. His tribute's death, as messy as it was, was not the occasion and nor was the target right.

He too had been allowed to fade. The arrival of President Elda marked the end of Marshall's time 'spying' on Chaff and Seeder. The new president did not want to maintain any connection with the victors. Unlike Snow, he had no interest in them or their activities.

But in doing so, he had underestimated Marshall, just as he had the other victors. It was true that they had lost out on inside access to the president, but Lyme had worked her way in and could let them know what she knew, albeit President Elda was smarter than Snow in those respects. He gave away less and kept a business-like distance between them in meetings. Lyme had to talk to Plutarch Heavensbee to get most of her information.

In District Eleven, however, they carried on regardless. Lyme could provide insider knowledge whilst they boosted their home's readiness for the inevitable war. They had brought Eleven back from the precipice, along with the Capitol's crackdown, but they were not going to dampen their district's spirits.

Marshall, it seemed, at least to Seeder, had taken some of her talents with diplomacy, negotiation and familiarity with their people and combined it with the brazenness of Chaff's approach which so often worried her. But Marshall, unlike his mentor, appeared to know when to stop.

Orchard's former business was safe in his hands, albeit so much of this was led by Marshall's very capable mother who held the fort whilst her son engaged in other business to help Eleven. Through some of his family's less-than-above-board connections, it seemed that Marshall knew how to obtain weapons and was in the process of carefully purchasing what he could and storing them in secret.

The profit Orchard's business turned was being sensibly reinvested and drawings were taken when appropriate to fund their efforts. Chaff may still be one of their military leaders, should the time come, but Marshall was poised to take on a similar role. Whilst calmer than the older victor, Marshall was not afraid of a fight. Seeder knew that he trained with Chaff regularly and that his education from his mentor was likely spilling over into Chaff's long-held knowledge about how to breach the security of the peacekeeper barracks.

Seeder often worried that the pair of them would have to take on too much. She was not getting any younger and she had started to step back from the reins in the Capitol. She did not wish to maintain her prominent position in the fashion that Maria and Gem had done. She would be a quiet, solid source of support when required, but her leadership was focused on Eleven and finding a replacement where it mattered the most. There were other unifying figures in the Mentors' Centre but there was nobody who her people trusted quite as much with matters they did not wish to bring to peacekeeper attention.

She had to face the fact that she may not be around to see tensions escalate once more and turn into war. Somebody else would need to be poised for leadership and diplomacy and Seeder's first thought as to her successor was Marshall. But she knew she could be asking too much of him. She did not know how he would split his time between being the fighter he was and the diplomat he was becoming. She had taken on responsibilities before she had turned thirty and their youngest victor may have to do the same to ensure the continuity of their efforts at home.

Seeder was of the generation of victors who saw the benefits of using their status to help their homes. Whilst they did not all engage in the same way; they broke new ground for years of victors to come. Seeder was concerned with ensuring that the connection with Eleven was not lost in amongst Chaff's plans, battalions in waiting and his desire to drive out peacekeeper brutality. There needed to be a peacemaker, a calm negotiator in her absence and Marshall with his victor-given access to the entire district, was the best candidate.

They were going to have to train their victor to elevate his role. Coral's decline had put this further into focus for Seeder. Four's woman was the victor of the Games before hers and the proximity had put Seeder's own mortality into focus. She had worked for the good of her people for decades and there would be a time when that would end. If rebellion had not come to them by then, someone else would have to take control.

Her role was important. People trusted her to resolve problems peacefully and without resorting to the peacekeepers and that could not be underestimated in Eleven. Plans would have to be put in place and Seeder realised she would need to focus on their youngest victor. She had let him grow and develop but now she would need to take a more active role to ensure continuity.

In making the role of a victor so involved, it seemed that Seeder had always created work for herself. Whilst other rich members of Panem's society could retire, Seeder would not be afforded that luxury, not that it was something she particularly desired. Her position remained dangerous, and it would not do to lose focus. But there would come a time when Eleven's efforts would have to operate without her. It would not be fitting of her dedication to her home to leave them lacking when they would need someone to guide them. Whilst she hoped she had several more years left, leaving her home in good stead would be her final act of dedication to them.