malnosso | [Locked To Residents Only]

War.

Nobody likes it. Unless you're the guy selling weapons. As a matter of fact, we have some people like that listening right now. Hell, I was one of them myself. Good business practice, that. People never want to stop killing each other. Well, gentlemen, this world is no exception. Now I'm no fighter myself, but right now I'm one of the few people with the security clearance to contact you folks. So here I am. CJ, head of the MARS division, to call out your names for the draft to come. Now let me just get this list. One second now.

[He clears his throat and starts listing off the names for the people drafted, alphabetically by first name. This will take him awhile. So bear with him. By the time he's done, his voice is raspier than usual. There's a lengthy pause after this before he continues.]

There. That's everyone. If you didn't hear your name, then lucky you. You get to stay and avoid the upcoming battle. But for the those of you who were called out, it's time to serve your organization. Save the world. Protect the innocent. Kill the bastards who tried to kill me last week. But it's not all doom and gloom, kids. Think of this as a special opportunity. Why? Because to save the world, you won't be on this world. That's right, you're going to space. Space. For those of you who don't know what that is, it's the big black thing just above the sky. Filled with planets, the moon, and the sun. It's big. Very big. And you're about to experience it yourself.

The Commandant can't be here to deliver the news, seeing as how she's preparing for the battle herself. There was talk of doing one of those automated messages, but I told them to hell with that. I prefer the personal approach. So let me give you the details. I've attached some information here you'll find useful. Be sure to read it thoroughly before you go out there. The last thing we need is for one of you nutjobs to go out an airlock without the appropriate equipment. Trust me, you don't want to do it. There's no air out there. And without air, no one can hear you screaming and gagging. Which in my opinion, is probably a good thing. Never was a fan of hearing cries for help. Downright unsettling.

Now hold on a second while I attach a few things.

[First there's a map of the moon base. Then a map of the moon. Then there's technical details for The Liberator, the Tyr-Fighters, the space suits, weapons, and anything else that would be relevant.]

There you go. More information than you could ever want, free of charge. Now you're probably asking yourself, "How the hell do a bunch of helmet-wearing savages get their asses in space?" Good question. I have no idea. A couple of days ago they were spotted carving up a bunch of mountains. Then started taking those pieces in the sky. We figured it was an aerial assault, but before we knew it, the bastards were going into space. Without the decency of proper space equipment. The Security Forces have been trying to pick them off, but that was just the first wave. Seems like the second waves gonna be a doozie. So that's where you all come in. You're the reinforcements. All of you. In every single enclosure out there. Except you guys. You know who you are.

That means you'll be fighting with our own Security Forces. You lot will be on The Liberator, captained by Specialist Davis. Some of you may already know him already. Now you might be thinking this is a good opportunity to pick a fight and settle some scores. Well don't. You'll be outnumbered out there. If you want to get back to your cozy beds in one piece, you'll need to cooperate. Teamwork. Think of it as a good bonding experience. And a chance to make yourselves not look like a bunch of raving lunatics too dangerous to let loose. That about wraps up this briefing. Prepare to move out at 9AM, two days from now. Sarah, you can cut the feed now. Sarah? Dammit, I'll do it myself.

[Click.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Katniss. Katniss is going. Rue barely hears the other names after her dearest friend is called.

It's just another arena. It's just another game. She knew that from the start, they both did, but it's different. It's not fair.]

You can't take her. [Her voice is quiet, the sound of a child trying to keep it all together before it rises in pitch.] You can't take Katniss! You can't! You can't, you can't, you can't!

Actually I can. Part of the way things work here.

We don't want to play your games anymore! Leave her alone!

This is no game, kiddo. All of this is life or death.

[Life or death. Twenty-four deaths, one life. That was how it was. This time no one is fighting each other, but people will die. They always do in a game.

May the odds be ever in your favor.

Rue may only be twelve, but she can be angry and she can hate and right now, she hates no one more than the Malnosso. The Gamemakers. No different than Gamemakers.

Maybe Katniss can shoot another arrow at them.]

Rue.

[because there's a small girl yelling for Katniss, and even if she's only talked to her once, who else could it be]

...Rue, it will be alright. She's going to come back.

[it's meant to be comforting, but it's a bit distracted]

[She'll come back. She'll come back. Rue knows Katniss is smart, she won one game, ended the others. She can fight, she can win. And this time they have allies, they're not fighting each other. It's a different sort of game.

But. But.

Sniffle.]

It's not fair.

[her voice is just as soft in return] No, it's not.

But she's not going to be alone. [reassuring Rue? Or herself? Maybe a bit of both]

There are plenty of...us going who can look out for her.

All of you have to come back. [She knows the odds; not all of them will. It's not how it works. Who would watch if there wasn't some blood and death?

It's not a game, it's not a game, it's not a game.]

We will.

[and here she can speak with a bit more confidence, at least, even if she's wary about assuming the Malnosso's resurrecting ability is infallible]

Rue...even if something happens, we'll all come back. The Malnosso have done it before--brought people back when we thought they couldn't do it.

[she's normally not one to shy away from clear language, even in a situation like this, but right now she can't seem to form the words to explain the Malnosso have raised people from the dead.

Neither of them want to think about that being needed, right now]

I know. [Her words are quiet. She's read in the guide people coming back from the dead, but more importantly, she knows people have been brought here from the dead.]

...But even if someone can come back, they have to lose something, right? And... they still died.

[so she already know. Somehow that made it both easier and a world more difficult] I know.

And all of us going, we'll do everything in our power to keep anyone from going through that.

But if we can't...no one's going to make anyone face it alone. Not fighting or recovering. We're in this together.

...She'll be looked after.

[Jilly couldn't say she'd be the one to do it. She could try, but she'd probably be more hindrance than help to Katniss. But she knew enough about the others going with her to say it with confidence. Someone would be watching Katniss's back. That she was sure of]

Rue. Rue.

[She can be calm. For this girl. Like she did for Prim. Calm and stoic. Cold and callous. Don't let them see you cry. Don't let them know your weaknesses.]

Rue, Peeta will still be here. He'll take care of you. And I'll be back before you know it.

They can't send you again! You already won! You can't go!

[It hadn't mattered to Snow. Hadn't mattered at all that these Victors he sent to the arena had found their way into Panem's heart. Hadn't mattered that the decision was a poor one. That fire spread.

Would it be the same here? Would this draft, so soon after the Malnosso's threats, cause an uprising here? Or is the spark not yet enough?

Flatly,] I don't have a choice.

But we can have a choice here! We can run! We'll hide where they can't get us! ["They can't kill me if they can't catch me."] You don't have to go!

[It'd be more conceivable back in Panem. In District Twelve. Would the Capitol have ever found her in the woods? Not her woods. But she doesn't have the same chance here. Doesn't know these woods as well.

And she won't put the others at risk.]

If I run, I go alone. They don't want you or Peeta.

[Peeta's going to find Rue. When he does, he won't say anything at first. He'll sit, or stand, quietly with her.]

[Rue is seated on her bed, the journal open in her hands. CJ's voice comes out of the book as she listens to the list of people again and again and again.]

[Oh, Rue. You make Grune's heart hurt just listening to you.]

Rue?

[Oh, Grune. Another person on the list.]

It's not right. They can't make people go off and fight.

Oh, but it's very important. After all, we need to protect everyone.

Katniss will be all right. I know it.

...Are you going to be okay?

[She knows Grune has a great amount of power, but that was with her memories. What about now, without them?]

[Her response is immediate.]

Yes, I'll be just fine. You don't need to worry about me, either. I promise.

[Locked To Residents Only]

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