All you have is fire || Oneshot
The stretcher was the first thing to come out of the hovercraft. Alma couldn't make sense of it. It was Boggs but everything was red and he wasn't okay. Boggs was always okay. Her stomach lurched so hard she lost her lunch. Her arm rested against the cool concrete wall as her mind finally connected the dots. Her instinct was to rush to the infirmary, to stay by Boggs' side, to see if he was alright.
Instinct didn't matter. As president she needed a run down of the mission. The mission report was read out to her, her mind skipped over the details, listening to what went wrong and who screwed up. Stupid Boggs, always sacrificing himself. She wasn't upset. She was angry. Angry at this stupid war. Angry at the Capitol for everything they had taken from her. Without Boggs, she had nothing.
Her eyes fell to Rory, wrapped around herself, watching as Boggs was rushed to the infirmary. Alma was her guardian. She should have been comforting her and all she could do was watch. Boggs was the glue that held their little family together. Boggs was what held her together, he always had. No one around her seemed to care about that. Alma had always had him by her side, he was her moral compass. Without him, she didn't know what she would do.
Hours later, Alma still hadn't seen him. There were reports. He'd gone into surgery to have the bullets removed. He was alive and stable, for the most part. More surgery would be needed. Each report piled on her desk and her eyes skimmed over them with indifference, she wanted to cry, she wanted to care but she had to work. Both her head commanders were out of action and a replacement needed to be found.
The war council convened to hear what Alma had to say. She reported the events with a flat tone. Captain Telfer was promoted to Commander and Leggs 1 and 2 had been promoted as well. They were no Boggs or Xena for that matter but the three would be able to handle what Alma had in mind. When she began to speak of retribution, the council went quiet. No one dare argue with her.
"I've had enough of this. They've ambushed our hovercrafts and our soldiers. We've lost commanders, citizens and even victors to the Capitol. They came to our home and tried to destroy us."
Someone tried to speak up but Alma silenced them with a glance. This wasn't just about Jedediah anymore. This was about everyone they had lost, everyone that had been lost in this war. The Capitol were gaining ground and they were losing. Something drastic had to be done. She stood, turning her back to the council.
"What is it that the Mockingjay said? If we burn, you burn with us?" She said, finally turning around to meet the eyes of her war council.
Everyone's eyes seemed to widen with understanding. It was a calm command but one full of quiet rage. If the Capitol wanted to take away the only things that mattered to her, Alma would destroy them.
"Then we burn them. Burn them all."
At first she had been scared to touch him. Scared that he was too fragile or that she would just cause him pain. It took her a day to finally take his hand, a small reassurance that he was there even if it didn't feel like he was. The doctor's assured her that he was alive and stable for the time being. For the time being. That was what made her angry. She needed an answer. A definite answer. But they didn't know if he would wake up. Alma didn't know what she would do if he didn't.
Preparations had started days ago. There had been a vote. Many opposed her plan but more agreed with her. Everyone had lost too much to just let it slide. Maybe she had done it earlier. Maybe it would have stopped this from happening. It was too late now. They had left hours ago, settling over the city and ready to drop the bombs at her command. It was a surprise attack. There was seemingly no reason for it and most people would be asleep. The Capitol wouldn't see it coming.
"Boggs, I don't know what I'm doing." She admitted quietly. It was early in the morning and the infirmary was mostly quiet so she felt safe in talking to him.
"I need to know if I'm doing the right thing but you're not here. You're not here to tell me and now I don't know." Her grip tightened on his hand, a part of him that was unscathed. A part of her was waiting. Just waiting for him to squeeze her hand back. She needed something. Anything. Just a sign that she was doing the right thing. They deserved to die. The deserved to feel some of the pain she felt.
Deep down, she knew Boggs would tell her to find another way.
"Jedediah... please. Just... just squeeze my hand. Do something." She pleaded.
Nothing happened, his hand was limp, lifeless in hers. He wasn't even there. He had always been there for her and now he wasn't. She was just lost without him.
A soldier found her minutes later, her arms folded on the bed, her chin resting on top of them.
"Madam President? We've gotten word. Everyone is in position. They are just waiting for your go ahead." She was silent, her hand squeezing Boggs one last time, a silent plea for an answer. Nothing. Nothing happened.
"Madam President, we need to know your order... Madam President?"
Alma straightened up, dropping Boggs' hand and getting to her feet to face the soldier.
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