I gather my coat and make sure to lock the door behind me, Mr. Hackett, Gran's neighbor and the victor of the 20th Hunger Games, waves to me from his garden. "Where're you going?"

"They want me in the Capitol for a few days."

He nods. "All right. I'll watch your granny's house like I always do. Might as well do it one more time for old time's sake. Do you know when you'll be back?"

I look to the Peacekeeper, not really sure when I'll be back, and also not sure if I'd even be allowed to say if I was. The Peacekeeper clears his throat, "She should be back by Sunday, Sir. Just a short trip no more than four days."

"Sheesh. By the heavens, times have changed. Back in my day they hardly let us into the city, 'cept for when the Games were on. Now they make you live there more than they do here."

the peacekeeper stiffens. "It's a privilege to be invited to the Capitol, sir. Any one of us would be lucky to pass through their gates."

Mr. Hackett laughs. "You've never been there have you, dear boy? Oh, there's no denying the city is pretty. I can't say I don't have a penchant for extravagance. But the people—"

"—Okay, alright Mr. Hackett. We have to go now, it has been so lovely talking to you, and I will see you when I'm back on Sunday." I loop my arm around the Peacekeeper and practically drag him away before Mr. Hackett has the chance to dig himself into an even deeper hole, or worse, just a shallow one in his garden.

I whisper to the Peacekeeper, "He's old and senile don't mind him or anything he says for that matter he's not...all there."

The frustration on the Peacekeepers face gives way to understanding. I'd be willing to bet any Peacekeeper raised in 2 would give one of their precious victors the benefit of the doubt until they were blue in the face. Besides, it'd be preposterous for someone who helped found the Academy to be anti-Capitol now wouldn't it?

We take the underground subway from the city centre and into the Nut, the same route that the Peacekeepers take before and after each shift. Being in the tunnels after having explored quite a bit of the routes underneath the Tribute Tower, it's not hard to see that here in Panem, we've clearly got a thing for secret underground passageways.

I'm led up to the communications floor near the top of the base—I assume at the top at least because of how long we spent going up in the elevator. We finally reached our destination: a room with walls made of jagged rock and reinforced steel beams with several high-tech-looking radar systems and airwave monitors. Several Peacekeepers already stand around a glowing blue table and turn to stare at me when me and my escort appear in the door frame.

the one standing at the head of the table makes his way over to me and extends his hand for me to shake. "Miss Jones good to meet you, my name is Colonel Rex Anthony, but you can just call me Colonel."

I purse my lips and nod, how very generous of him. But good to know what type of person he is. Saying the wrong thing in front of a Peacekeeper is a great way to get reported.

He introduces me to some of the other people around the table. I only recognize one, he's maybe five or six years older than me and he used to be a student at the Academy, but it doesn't really click into place until his name until it's given to me: Officer Aleksander Ast. He was good. Really good. But he was smart enough to realize that once Enobaria was announced as the pick for the girls, he didn't really stand much of a chance and withdrew his name as the pick for the boys.

Those Games were his last year of eligibility so lots of students, even the ones in my year—even me—made fun of him for missing out on his chance at the Games. The jokes on some of those kids though because they're dead. Or they're me and they're traumatized. So I guess Aleksander is the one who got the last laugh.

Although I'm not sure how much of the laughing type he is. It's no wonder he's here now because his brain is clearly good at taking a step back  and assessing the situation.

"I've tried to gather some of my best intelligence men to help you, the ones that wouldn't be starstruck anyways, this is who we're stuck with," says the Colonel. "Three of my covert tactical men will be going with you to the Capitol, the rest of us in this room are here to help you with your briefing and planning."

"If all goes according to plan you should arrive at the Capitol Deleguarta Train Station at 1900 hours Central-Western time. There you'll meet with two Capitol-based Peacekeepers. One of them will be in plain clothes disguised as an assistant. If anyone asks, they were sent by your manager, Plutarch Heavansbee, to help you get ready for an appearance. The rest will be in uniform and part of your escort. Any questions so far?"

"No, Sir."

"Good moving on. You'll be escorted to the grand casino hotel and up into room 2233 where you'll meet with another civilian agent who's undercover as a stylist, you'll know which one they are because she'll tell you the code phrase, 'sometimes I really do feel like an elephant'."

I smirked slightly. "Well, there's no chance anyone's accidentally saying that."

"As is the point, Miss Jones." I want to narrow my eyes and tell him that's why I made the joke in the first place, but humor isn't exactly a grizzled Peacekeepers known strong suit. Although I do look around the table and see that my joke has at least caused a few of the men to have to hold back grins.

"From there you'll be picked up by another Capitol agent disguised as your date for the evening. He'll further inform you on the description and nature of your target or targets, and the nature of your playing field. Although adapting to new playing fields is one of your strengths, I'm sure."

"As long as it's not a giant dusty arena again I think I'll be good." I clear my throat and add, "Colonel."

"Right, well, any questions Miss Jones, or any of my people going on this mission for that matter?"

I have a million questions though I'm not sure the Colonel would be helpful in answering any of them. Telling us only what's going to happen prior to whatever event we're being paraded off to feels like entering a tube to take you up to an arena while you have no idea what kind of terrain and dangerous horrors await you. 

But it's not me who speaks up with the question. it's Officer Ast. "And what are we supposed to do Sir?"

"Stay with the victor until someone inside the mission tells you not to."

Much to my surprise, Aleksander Ast nearly scoffs. "I really don't like flying in blind to a situation, Colonel. I'd like to know more about what is expected of us when we arrive."

"Like I said Officer, further details will be provided to you once you connect with the agents in the Capitol. This is a highly compartmentalized operation. No single person, save whoever is at the top, knows exactly what every piece is doing."

I find it interesting to note that the Colonel clearly has no idea who's running this mission. Something that I have over him perhaps? Even if it's someone else doling out the work, it's clearly Plutarch at the top of this ladder. But the Colonel thinks he's only my manager.

Wanting to take the heat off of Aleksander who's currently being singled out, I decide to open my mouth, "So you had me come all the way here to tell me that I'm going to get on a train, and then I'm going to get off the train and go to a hotel?"

The Colonel looks like he wants to yell but realizes it's me who asked him the question and not one of his subordinates and makes sure his voice is steady and calm, "I must confess as far as I'm aware the reason we needed to bring you here is that you cannot be seen interacting with these Peacekeepers in public. Public space include the train which, as you know, is monitored and the material surrounding this mission is far above the clearance of any basic surveillance monitoring officer."

"Alright, so it's a meet and greet." I can tell my words are getting under the skin of the Colonel in a completely fun and exciting way yet in a way I know I'll get in trouble for. Though now that I think about it, the Capitol's probably not going to kill me from mouthing off to a Colonel as long as I complete whatever weird task they've put me up to.

The Colonel shakes his head clearly biting his tongue and says, "You're all dismissed. My Peacekeepers who are departing for the Capitol, please proceed to the locker and gear rooms where you'll be given your equipment. And if our victor would please go with them, I don't want her hanging around here."

I give him a mock salute, "Duly noted, Colonel," before I turn to leave with the three Peacekeepers coming with me.

Once we're down the hall and we're a far distance away from the Colonel's briefing room, Officer Ast speaks up. "I thought being a victor meant you got an out from Peacekeeping."

His words feel like a test somehow so I try to answer accordingly. "Rules change all the time Officer, better learn to keep up."

I know my answer has landed when a small smirk cracks across his face. "You can say that again." He turns to the other two Peacekeepers, "This is Officer Felix," he says motioning to the blonde one, "and this is Officer Pius," he says as he points to the one with black coily hair. "And I'm Officer Aleksander, but you can drop the Officer part. Just in case you forgot after our little...meet and greet."

"Thank you. And you all can just call me Octavia, I really hate when people call me Miss Jones. Makes me think of my mother."

"Ouch. Looks like someone else here has mommy problems," chuckles Pius. "Glad to know I'm not the only one."

I laugh at his candor. For a Peacekeeper, he certainly comes off as genuine. That's probably got something to do with why they picked him. I imagine his personality would go over well with the Capitolians.

He continues as we march down the halls. "It's the classic story really. Mom forces boy into an academy. Boy decides he'd rather be a peacekeeper than a tribute. Mom tells boy she'll disown him if he doesn't volunteer. Mom follows through, and boy ends up here."

I blink in disbelief. "That's a pretty impressive...summary." He clearly didn't go to the Academy because based on his age I'd recognize him, but one of the ones on the outskirts and likely continued into a peacekeeper training school in his older teen years.

"Thank you," says Pius brightly, and in that moment I decide, against my better judgment, that I like this peacekeeper. I like Pius. It makes me wonder how he ever became a peacekeeper in the first place with his bright and cheery attitude.

Felix takes a few quick steps to catch up to the both of us. "If you like summaries then the best way I can sum up the people in this building to you is that 50 percent of this building wishes they were you, and the other 50 percent pretend they wish they were you but in reality really wanted to go nowhere near the Games."

"And which 50 are you?"

"Depends on the day. The money would be nice."

I take a deep breath. "Fair enough."

We enter what must be their equipment and storage room because the walls are lined with tactical helmets, jumpsuits, bulletproof vests, and all sorts of weapons. Aleksander sharply inhales as he examines his choices. "Shit. You know, knowing more about the mission would be really helpful right about now."

Pius chuckles. "You heard the Colonel, Aleksander. It's about adaptability."

Felix loads several small handheld guns into his belts—ones that my mind instantly places as easy to smuggle into places they're not supposed to be— and several tiny communication devices into his pockets. "We're going into the Capitol, we're going to be in close confined quarters riddled with civilians so pack accordingly."

Aleksander nods and follows Felix's suggestion, though I notice he opts for stun weapons and non-lethal options. Some sort of pacifist? Maybe. Though I can't for the life of me think why a pacifist would ever join the Peacekeepers. Or maybe he's just better than Felix at predicting what weapons he'll need, despite the fact that he was complaining earlier. I also like to complain, but I always get the job done, so maybe he's more like me than I thought. "He didn't pick us you know," says Aleksander out of the blue, for only me to hear as Felix in Pius chat away about what they had for lunch.

"What do you mean?" I ask, not sure what he's referring to.

"He didn't pick us for the mission. I overheard the transmission he received this afternoon, someone else picked us. they gave him the names of us three."

I cross my hands over my chest and nod. "So, he likes to pull rank and takes credit for other people's ideas. Sounds about right."

Aleksander smiles. "Yeah but imagine you're the one stuck working with him every day."

"Well, think of this as a nice little getaway from him. Plus a bit of danger, but it comes with the occupation."

Aleksander finishes clasping together some of the straps on his tactical gear. "Part of mine yeah, but what I don't understand is how you're not pissed off but they're making you work a district job when that's supposed to be part of the deal of you winning. Hell, I know guys who volunteered just so they wouldn't have to become Peacekeepers."

It's true. being a victor is supposed to exempt you from ever having to work a district job. Chaff out in 11 doesn't have to go work in the fields anymore, Haymitch doesn't have to go to the mines. That's the deal. But I'm learning that just like the Academy, the Capitol has its way of making you volunteer for things that you don't want to do.

"I love my country, I'd do anything for it."

"Is that the official response?" How anyone so intelligent, someone who sees through the propaganda bullshit—or at least some of it—trained in the Academy and became a Peacekeeper I'll never know. The whole bunch of them, maybe besides Pius, seem so out of the norm.

I have the urge to ask him all about what made him not want to volunteer when he was the pick for the Games. I want to ask him what made him wake up and realize it wasn't worth it. Instead, I settle simply on, "It is."

The rest of the boys finish loading up and we make our way towards the subway at the bottom of the Nut that will take us into the city square. I think I'm being put through some sort of hazing because they insist we take the stairs the entire way down. Needless to say, I make sure to give them a run for their money but I'm also very grumpy once I reach the bottom. I hate cardio.

The train arrives about 10 minutes ahead of schedule and we board. Much to my surprise they've given us the train that they use for transporting the tributes from 2 to the Games and victors on their Victory Tour. I didn't think they'd have me keep using the luxurious cars outside of official Games appearances.

The Peacekeeper crew looks around at the opulent decor in lush velvet furniture in awe. "I am definitely one of the 50 percent today," says Pius under his breath.

"We'll go check in with the conductor, ma'am," says Aleksander. "Please meet us back here in the main compartment about 5 minutes before we arrive so we can figure out an exit strategy if there are any crowds reported at the station."

I nod and scurry off to my compartment that I used during my Victory Tour. The train has obviously been fitted since the last time I rode on it. They've detached some of the other compartments that contained the bedrooms of the other victors, most likely to give us some more speed and to save on costs, making the train only about a third as long as it usually is.

I hop onto the bed and don't bother to get underneath the covers knowing that even if I do fall asleep, I won't be able to stay asleep for long. But instead of sleeping I spend the ride staring up at the ceiling thinking about how Gran has only been gone a week and they're already whisking me off to the Capitol again. Plutarch clearly wasted no time cashing in Snow's favor.

Anxiety begins to bubble up in me as I think about how frequently this kind of trip is going to happen. Are they going to call me every single week? Will I be in the Capitol more than I am home? What are they going to make me do?

I find myself reviewing the day so far in my mind over and over again. I want to beat myself up for how easily I slipped into place with the Peacekeepers. For how easily my mind was sucked back into wanting to have a conversation about the Academy. For how easily I allowed myself to discuss the Games.

A voice in the back of my head tells me that Finnick wouldn't like the person I was earlier today, and suddenly I feel all the held-back shame about my deal come forward. I'd repressed it all because I'd been dealing with Gran. but now that I'm on my way to the Capitol I have to face the truth. I made a deal with President Snow. I am helping the people I hate. I am helping the people who are hurting Finnick.

So what does that make me? Just as bad as them? Or worse because the betrayal is much closer to home.

I can only hope there will be some kind of moral spin with catching whatever Capitiolian and has decided to piss off President Snow this time, just like there was with the money laundering woman who turned out to be one of Finnick's buyers.

Just as promised, as I notice the Capitol rapidly growing in size out my window, I make my way back to the main compartment to meet with the Peacekeepers.

Aleksander comes up with a very basic plan to meet with my 'assistant' and their peacekeeper before proceeding to the car waiting for us that will take us to the Grand Casino Hotel.

There's a crowd waiting for me when we arrive but it's much smaller than any crowd I've ever seen gathered on the platform before, probably to do with the fact that this is not a Games-related event.

A Capitol with bright, bubblegum pink hair and matching tinted skin waits by a car with a uniformed peacekeeper beside her, jumping to wave to me over the crowd.

"Hello, Octavia," she shouts in a singsong-y voice. "My name is Crysana and I will be your personal assistant for your trip here in the Capitol!"

"Oh," is all I manage out. she's rather... convincing for a Peacekeeper in plain clothes. Not at all what I expected. But she certainly blends in. I can tell I'm not the only one having these thoughts because both Aleksander and Pius look extremely confused as well despite their best attempts to hide it. Felix on the other hand looks overjoyed at meeting the bright bubbly woman, maybe because he's found someone who seemingly can finally keep up with him in that department.

We tuck into the black car and the peacekeeper with Crysana gets into the driver seat and pulls away from the curb. Crysana starts to go on about the event will be attending, and her enthusiasm has me questioning if somehow we've gotten into the wrong car, but I do my best to listen because this is the most information I've gotten about this night so far.

She tells me that we're going to an event hosted at the convention centre attached to the casino. One where several people involved in the Capitol media will be attending. Filmmakers, TV producers, writers, radio hosts, journalists, and the like will be the main type of attendee. She says I received an invitation on behalf of Panem TV executives because they're interested in me hosting a series of commercials on the network.

"Does that mean there'll be other victors there?" I ask, wanting to know if there's going to be any friendly faces in the crowd.

"Not that I'm aware of. There was a rumor that Cashmere and Gloss were in the running and might be making an appearance, but as of right now neither of them have arrived in the Capitol."

I don't say it out loud because my time alone on the train has given me some of my self-restraint back, but I can't help but think they had much rather talk to the Capitolians than them.

There's more of a crowd outside of the roundabout at the casino's hotel, which Crysana promptly informs me is called a porte-cochère, but we manage to get past them quite quickly because the hotel staff have roped off a walking path for arriving cars.

We enter a hotel room it's much less high up and fancy than the one Finnick and I stayed in not that long ago, but it's still nicer and more spacious than anything you'd ever see in the districts. Inside waiting for us, much to my surprise, are three stylists. They take me into the hotel room's bedroom and the peacekeepers and Crysana wait in the living room.

They get to work beating my face with skin care products and makeup to erase the week of crying and hard labour off of my face. I didn't realize how terrible I looked until they sat me in front of the magnifying mirror. Their snippy comments don't really help either, and it's not hard to tell at the news of my grandmother's passing is so out of mind from Capitol news cycle because they don't even mention it.

As much as I don't want to, I suddenly feel thankful to the Peacekeeper boys for not saying anything about my appearance. Though in District 2, appearance is usually the last thing on anyone's mind.

With all the rude pokes in jabs at my current state of appearance, it's hard to tell which one of them is supposed to be on my side. Or at least the one I'm supposed to be working with. I decided to try and prompt one of them into giving the code word by encouraging conversation. "So, what kind of dress are you going to squeeze me into today?"

"We have a lovely daring look for you today. It's an all-leather dress, straight from the finest cows in District 10," says the man with the aquamarine-coloured eyebrows.

I resist the urge to tell them it sounds like the ugliest fucking dress I've ever heard of in my life because they're going to turn me into some sort of vacuum-sealed sex symbol, but the stylist with an intricate silvery butterfly tattoo down her arm speaks up before I can. Probably for the best. "It's actually quite tasteful. It's not one of those tight-fitting things they put you in sometimes. And the best part is it has pockets! If I remember correctly you told one of the fashion magazines how much you loved dresses with pockets."

"I do have a weakness for dresses with pockets." What can I say? Being from 2 I like practical things and dresses with pockets are one of them.

"Ah, see," says the tattooed stylist. "Sometimes I feel like an elephant, you know with my good memory and all."

So she's the one who's working with us. I'm almost surprised, but then I remember the Colonel specifically said the stylist would be a civilian agent, so she makes much more sense than Crysana at least.

One of the other stylists rudely whisperers something about the tattooed stylist sometimes looking like an elephant and I have to resist the urge throat chop both of them so they'll finally shut up.

But the tattooed stylist simply ignores them and carries on with her work. I find out—because I wasn't really listening the first time when they introduced themselves, a tendency I've picked up with stylists—but she has or rather lovely name: Poppy.

I ask Poppy to be the one to zip me into the dress because my distaste for the other two has grown immensely. She turns out to be right about the dress. It's nowhere near as gaudy and racy as I thought it'd be. Rather, it's only tight in the bodice out of necessity to hold up the rest of the strapless dress, but a small frilled edge spills over the top of the dress covering some of the tightness in my chest area. And the best part is that it does indeed have pockets.

I thank her and she shakes her head. "Don't worry about it. Now if you have any wardrobe malfunctions or need me to fix your hair or makeup just come find me at the party and let me know."

I nod, knowing that these touch-ups are a great excuse to pass along any information to her and vice versa. "And feel free to let me know if I'm looking a little bit... worn," I say. "I'm not very good at spotting it yet."

"I've got you girl," she says as she tosses me a wink.

We join the rest of the group including the stylists that I sent out in the living room, only to find them flirting and fawning over the Peacekeepers from 2, especially Aleksander, who looks incredibly uncomfortable.

I want to go and save them, knowing how vicious and brutal Capitolians can be in their pursuit of someone they're infatuated with, but remember but I'm not allowed to talk to them in public.

"Ah, alright darling you look absolutely beautiful," says Crysana, drawing the attention in the room onto me. "Now your date for the event should be here any minute. We'll see you down there as long as they let you out of the VIP section."

"Wait there's a separate—" A knock on the door interrupts me and it feels like my heart sinks. This is all really happening. My heart pounds in my chest and colours start to form in front of my eyes. I take a deep breath and move to open the door. When I open it, the game will be on. My working for Snow will be real.

Apparently sensing my hesitation, Aleksander moves to open the door for me, luckily something that wouldn't be uncharacteristic of a peacekeeper escort to do.

The door swings open and I take in the sight of the person in front of me who knocked on the door and feel my anxiety spike as soon as I see their face.

This is going to be a long night.

--------------

That's all for this chapter folks! Next chapter find out who is the final person who's going to be a paort of this mission, and, more importantly, what exactly Octavia is going to be expected to do.

This chapter was a lot of new info and people, but this is going to be an important part of Octavia's life going forward. As y'all can see, some of that Octavia sass is starting to grow in, and she's starting to get more similar to how she acts in Act II. I'm trying to make it a slow progression through her character development where she becomes more outwardly sassy and outspoken, since a person who's a top student at the Academy, no matter how cocky, is going to have a problem with talking back to authority. Anyways, that's all! A short author's note this time!

Here's the thing Gran Sadie sacrificed her life for, the chapterly memes (sorry not sorry):