since @concealeddarkness13 found the old version I forgot I posted about my space wip characters, so I thought why not do an updated version! (still using this picrew)
Top row: Volt Powell, Skyler Dewpoint, Richard (Rick) aka SALMON unit v2
Bottom row: Warren (still no last name), Indigo Carmine, Aurora Dewpoint
Warren is almost completely different, and SALMON no longer exists, and now Skyler's mother Aurora is a little more fleshed out. (I also made the backgrounds more consistent)
Things that couldn't really translate with the picrew:
Volt's hair is multi-coloured, like a tortoiseshell cat
Skyler's eyes are a little bit shiny/silvery
Richard has some mechanical features visible on his face
Warren's hair is iridescent and is more orange to deep yellow in certain light angles
Indigo's hair is also iridescent but more opal-like with oranges and light blues
Volt: some kind of working breed of dog that gets antsy if they don't have something to do
Richard: A chill shelter mutt that doesn't seem to realize they're too big to be a lap dog. Would do that thing where they hold eggs without cracking them
Skyler: partially feral cat picked up from a dumpster somewhere. Hisses a lot at first but will eventually curl up on your lap.
Warren: purebred toy breed. The kind that's really only bred to be cute and adored by their owners as pets.
Indigo: Barn cat that's a good mouser but hunts endangered bird species instead
Aurora: One of those cats that can be purring one minute and scratching and biting you the next
tagging @concealeddarkness13 (still not 100% over what Skylar did to Holt) @ratracechronicler (Absolon and Jaden) @onmywaytobe (Logan and Margot) and @nightskywriter (Clovis) (let me know if I got something wrong about them and I’ll change it up!)
Skylar woke them all up early the next morning, all chipper excitement and smiles. It was much earlier than Skyler would have liked, but between their enthusiasm he couldn’t really be upset about it for long. As they made their way through the marsh towards the barrier, he grinned, holding his net over his shoulder as he walked. Who would have known he’d be getting out of the games not only alive, but with seven friends?
They conjured up a door in the barrier of the arena, and opened it up. The real sun made Skyler squint, but he couldn’t stop smiling. They actually did it, they’d actually gotten them out of the arena. The all of them stood, marveling at the real air, the real breeze, and the fact that they’d actually gotten out of there with their lives.
When he turned back to the arena, Skylar and Holt were still inside wrapped around each other in the kind of kiss pulled straight from the movies.
He rolled his eyes in mock irritation towards the others, a smirk creeping across his face. “You think we should get the wedding bells ringing now or—"
Skylar shoved Holt through the barrier and the door vanished.
For a moment everything froze, and then Holt started screaming. He yelled and slammed is hands against the barrier, shouting at Margot when she tried to talk to him. All Skyler could do was stare, frozen with his heart pounding in his throat.
What were they thinking? They still had their tracker in, didn’t they? The capitol was going to kill them. They didn’t have a chance. Skyler’s face wrenched and his chest tightened. They were safe, they got out, what was Skylar thinking? Why? Why?
Margot stuck Holt with something, catching him as he fell unconscious. “We have to go.” She said, a serious edge in her voice. “Now.”
Logan rushed to her side, helping her drag Holt along. She was in on it too, wasn’t she? Was this what they’d snuck away to talk about last night?
“What’s going on?” Skyler yelled, hands clenched to fists, looking at anyone for some kind of answer. “We can’t just leave them in there!”
“We have to.” Margot sounded like she didn’t like it either, but her tone was final. “If the capitol has a scapegoat to pin this on they’re less likely to come after us and our families.”
Skyler swallowed, turning back to stare at the solid barrier. Skylar wasn’t even there anymore, already vanished somewhere further into the arena. How could they? Everything was going so well. He didn’t want to leave them there, alone against the whole of the capitol. It wasn’t fair.
But Margot was right. They couldn’t stay here, and there was nothing any of them could do here to help them. Not yet. Reluctantly, he turned and followed the others away from the arena. He clenched his teeth, seething with every step. That damned weasel didn’t even give him a chance to even say goodbye. If they expected him to just let them die they were dead wrong.
But as the minutes turned to hours, it was becoming apparent that the arena wasn’t quite as close to the Capitol as they’d all assumed. The lights shone bright and glimmering against early twilight clouds, but each step didn’t seem to take them all that much closer, and it was looking more and more like they wouldn’t make it all the way that night.
Skyler had lost a lot of blood yesterday, and the wound was still sore on his back. He refused to admit to anyone that he was exhausted, but it didn’t look like he was alone. Logan’s ankle seemed to have started bothering him again, and while Jaden’s injury didn’t seem to be as much of an issue as it was before but he’d still slowed enough to be noticeable. Clovis seemed to be hampered too, though Skyler suspected he was no stranger to pushing through injury. Even Margot and Absolon, the only two who hadn’t been seriously hurt, were slowing down. They took turns with Holt, who still hadn’t completely come back around after Margot tranquilized him.
They couldn’t stop yet though, not here. It was too open. Sure there was some tree cover, but they were sparse, young trees, and none of them really knew what was out here. Though at this rate, they wouldn’t really have a choice. At least they’d been left alone since their escape.
Floodlights flicked on from a ground vehicle camouflaged in sparse bushes, catching them all in their light. Skyler jumped, turning to face the vehicle. It was one of the capitol’s, no doubt about it. How hadn’t he noticed it before? He swallowed, glancing around at the rest of them. The racing of his heart told him to run as fast as he could, but he couldn’t. He couldn’t leave the rest of them here. They’d faced enough together to abandon them now.
He tensed, holding out the rod end of his net, and out of the corner of his eye he could see Margot do the same with her spear, passing Holt off to Logan and shielding them both. Clovis braced with the stance of a trained fighter, and Abosolon looked ready to go down swinging.
The side door opened and a woman stepped out. Blinded by the floodlights, Skyler couldn’t see much more than her silhouette of a long jacket and hair tied back. But when she signaled for the floodlights to shut off in favor of gentler headlights, his blood ran cold.
Indigo Carmine.
She gave a too-sweet capitol smile, but her eyes rested sharp on the seven of them like a hawk upon and injured rabbit. “Good evening.”
“What the Hell are you doing here?” Skyler yelled. “If you so much as touch any of us I swear I’ll—”
“Stand down Bluebird, I’m—.”
“Don’t call me that!”
“Fine,” Indigo conceded. “Stand down Dewpoint, because I’m not here to capture you.” She looked over the rest of the group. “None of you actually. That being said, there are people looking for you.”
She looked up at the darkening sky, a look of thought crossing her face. “Hmm… They’ve probably searched most of the perimeter by now. If they haven’t been here yet I doubt they’ll be long.” She paused, crossing her arms and tapping a finger against her cheek. “If they’re smart they’ll have brought some of my sprinter-wolves with them.” Indigo turned her focus back on them with a cruel grin. “Who do you think would come out on top: you, or a pack of wolves with the legs and speed of cheetahs, and a taste for human flesh?”
Skyler stole a glance at Holt, limp arms draped around Logan’s shoulders. Holt was helpless, Logan probably couldn’t run far, and even if they were all unhurt and well rested they probably wouldn’t stand a chance… At the same time though, Indigo was known to lie.
“Just thought you should know what you’re up against before I explain my offer.” The smile returned to her face, just as insincere as before. “I have a place in the capitol tucked away from prying eyes. It’s yours if you want it.”
Skyler snarled. “Sure there is. You’re just going to hand us over to whoever pays up first.”
“Believe whatever you want.” Indigo said. “But trust me, if I wanted you captured we wouldn’t be talking.”
“Sounds like something someone who wanted to kidnap us would say. Let me guess, you've got candy and puppies in the back of your van?" Absolon joked. “Give us one good reason we should believe you.”
Indigo thrust a pointing finger in the direction of the arena. “I spent months improving the jabberjays before the games. They’re the best they’ve ever been! They sound more real, they remember more sounds, they’re louder, they’re faster, they’re relentless in their harassment, they’re a masterpiece. Hell, their voices can break glass now.” She crossed her arms again. “But President Snow, you know what he said? He complained they didn’t look good anymore. They were a bit too colourful, not scary enough, a waste of time.”
She gestured to herself, a hint of anger breaking through her indifferent mask. “He even had the nerve to imply that he could find someone to replace me.” Indigo took a deep breath and faced them again, quickly regaining her composure. “Long story short I think he needs a reminder that he’s not as powerful as he thinks.”
A howl rang out somewhere in the dusk, followed by a chorus of others that sent a chill down Skyler’s spine. He swallowed, and glanced back at the others. They’d heard it too.
Indigo glanced down at her watch. “I’d give them about two minutes.” She looked up again. “I’m going to get back into the van and unlock the side doors. Feel free to join me, otherwise I suggest you start running.”
Before any of them could say anything, Indigo turned and did exactly what she said she would. The seven of them didn’t debate for long before taking her up on the offer. What other choice did they have? She’d planned it that way, hadn’t she? Waited until the last second to force their hand. Typical. Skyler held his tongue though as they loaded into the back of the van. He didn’t want to say anything that would change her mind about protecting them from whatever monster she’d created. As soon as they were alone again though, he’d make sure to warn them about her, and what kind of a person she really was.
As soon as they closed the doors behind them, the driver drove them away and Indigo turned around in her seat to face them.
“Good choice. I usually introduce myself as Ursa Major, but given that I know all your names it only seems fair I let you call me Indigo. May as well get comfortable, we’re about an hour out.”
This’ll be the last installment for me—It’s been a blast working with all of you guys! :D
###
It was almost noon by the time they got all the way to district 8. Skyler brought the hovercraft straight home to one of the landing pads linked to the workshop behind the house. He could see Volt through the windshield, looking up from working on some mechanical part as he powered it down.
He could barely get out of the hovercraft fast enough, throwing the door open and jumping out onto the concrete. He stumbled as he landed, but quickly got his legs back under him and ran until he crashed into Volt almost hard enough to knock her over. He threw his arms around her and she quickly did the same, dropping one when Skyler winced at pain in his back. Instead, she ran her hand through his hair, holding him close enough to hear the way her breath caught in her throat.
“I,” She finally took a shaky breath. “I can’t believe you’re alive.” She swallowed and rested her head on his shoulder. “You’re alive. You’re alive.”
Skyler nodded with a choked mmhmm. He closed his eyes and cried, loud, wet and breathless. It hadn’t been real, not until now. Not until he was home, and Volt was here and he was safe. He was safe. It was going to be okay. Everything was going to be alright now.
After what was simultaneously an eternity and not nearly long enough, Volt gently drew back. She dried Skyler’s face with her sleeve and took a deep breath. She looked like she must have had a million questions as she finally looked up from him to the capitol ship and everyone watching from the wide open hovercraft door. Her eyes rested on Skylar, and something seemed to click.
“I made allies.” Skyler glanced back at the rest of them. Clovis wasn’t there, probably gone to gather his own loved ones. “Like you said.”
“You sure did.”
He waved them over and started to introduce each of them to Volt, though it occurred to him about halfway through that she probably already knew their names from watching the games. She greeted each of them individually, nonetheless, shaking hands and exchanging polite hellos. When they were done, she stepped back beside Skyler.
“You’re on the run now, aren’t you?” She paused as he, and some of the others nodded, her expression going serious. “Alright.”
Skyler watched as she seemed to think. He hadn’t thought this far ahead himself, amazed enough to just get out of the capitol in one piece.
Volt took a deep breath and nodded once. “Okay. I’ll refuel the ship, disable as many tracking systems as I can, and in the meantime, Skyler,” She turned to him, voice firm. “Do you remember where the emergency supplies are?”
He nodded, grateful that she appeared to have a plan.
“Good. Take your friends and load it, and as much food and anything else we’ll need as you can.” She looked back at the rest of them, locking her eyes with Skylar’s. “If I could ask a favor of you, Skylar, my partner, Warren, is at work right now. They’re a clerk at city hall, and they usually take lunch across the street in the park.” She checked her watch. “In about ten minutes.” She looked back up. “They would probably recognize you from the broadcasts and so be more likely to believe you. I’d understand if you didn’t want to take that risk though, and I can do it myself if you aren’t comfortable with going, but it would cost us time.”
Skylar thought for a moment. “How far away is city hall?”
“Ten minute walk, 15 at most.” Volt answered. “And if you don’t return in half an hour I’ll come looking for you, peacekeepers be damned.”
They agreed, listening closely as Volt described Warren down to what they’d worn out of the house that morning, then they and Holt were gone.
Volt rested her hand on Skyler’s shoulder as she started towards the ship. “I need you to hang in there just a little longer Sky, can you do that?”
He nodded, eyes swimming again as she hurried the rest of the way towards the hovercraft. Then he took a deep breath and turned to the rest of them to call them over, but the were already at his side. That just sent him into a whole new set of tears on it’s own, and there was nothing he could do about it, and his instructions on where everything was in the house came out as little more than whimpering, but no one really seemed to mind.
Clovis came rushing back with a small group of people Skyler hadn’t met before right as Volt finished up with the hovercraft’s configuration and Margot helped Logan load the last of what they would need into the cargo space. Not long after, Skylar and Holt returned, a confused and terrified Warren trailing behind. They froze when they saw Skyler, staring with wide eyes, but looked up when Volt shouted for all of them to get on the ship.
Warren didn’t move, glancing between the ship and Skyler with a look like a lost dog running along a dark highway, and didn’t resist when he took them by the wrist and dragged them into the hovercraft. If they were to wait for Warren to make up their mind no one would be going anywhere until dusk at least, and Skyler figured that if they changed their mind they wouldn’t hold a grudge over being kidnapped.
As soon as he got inside, Skyler counted heads and shut the door. The engines came to life and he could feel the hovercraft taking off beneath him, far smoother than when he’d done it in the capitol. He glanced at the others, already starting to mingle with the ones Clovis brought with him, before turning back to Warren.
They stared down at him, still seeming to be in disbelief over, well, everything. “You should be dead.”
Skyler scrunched his face, and Warren’s eyes widened again.
“No no no, not like that! I don’t mean it like that!” They ran a nervous hand through their hair. “I just, I, you died.” Their eyes wandered to the rest of them. “All of you died. I filed your death certificate myself.”
“Well I’m not.” Skyler grumbled. “Sorry for the paperwork.”
Their shoulders fell and they smiled, opening their arms in invitation, and Skyler leaned for the hug. It was far more gentle than Volt’s, nothing that would have given Absolon a fit over what was left of his wound.
“Hey,” they spoke unusually softly. “I’m glad you’re okay Skyler.”
Skyler swallowed and took a jittery breath, cursing how he couldn’t seem to go a solid minute without bawling. This only seemed to further spook Warren, and it occurred to him that they’d probably never seen him cry.
They carefully pulled away. “You look exhausted.”
He nodded, and Warren shrugged off his jacket. They draped it over his shoulders.
“Go sleep, I’m sure we can talk later.”
Right. Skyler drifted away from Warren and the rest of the group, but didn’t bother making it all the way into one of the little rooms before settling down right on the floor and curling up under Warren’s jacket. He could still hear the others, talking, introducing themselves to Warren, and Clovis’ friends. It was going to be okay, finally, somehow. It probably wasn’t going to be easy, but the combination of everyone in this hovercraft, and the others they’d be picking up in the other districts, it would be enough. They’d figure something out, and it didn’t really matter where they ended up, as long as they were safe.
Skyler closed his eyes, and before long the hum of the hovercraft’s engine and the conversation in the cabin lulled him to sleep.
tagging @concealeddarkness13 @onmywaytobe @nightskywriter and @ratracechronicler (let me know if you’d like to change anything!)
(Also: Heads up for swearing in this one)
The party was a lot. People everywhere, music playing loud, more food and drinks than he’d ever seen in one place… It was almost too much to take in. How Rat and Absolon were able to immediately jump into their roles as party-goers, he had no idea, and couldn’t help but be just a little jealous. Soon enough though, he started to loosen up. It had been almost eight years since he’d lived in the capitol, speaking and acting like anyone else on this rooftop, but with a little effort he managed the right mannerisms and intonations. Well, besides the swearing and general prickliness whenever someone said something he didn’t like. Which given the crowd, was quite often.
Those bold enough to ask him to dance anyway though seemed to find it charming. Before long he’d had a handful of invitations to return home for the night and a small collection of phone numbers in his pocket.
He didn’t notice Rat come up to him until she clasped him on the shoulder with a sneaky grin. “I could make some very persistent telemarketers very happy with those.”
Skyler dropped the slips of paper into her hand. “Knock yourself out.”
She pocketed the numbers and disappeared back into the crowd, plucking something shiny from someone’s purse as she went.
The sun had all but set now, lights shining bright on the rooftop and drowning out any hint of stars. Skyler swallowed. It probably wouldn’t be long now. Absolon had spread the word the Indigo placed the tracker, and Jaden looked to be almost done with Skylar’s shock device. Skyler picked up what looked like some kind of overly fancy lemon tart from one of the tables and looked back out at the crowd.
Best bet to land the hovercraft would probably be square in the middle of the dance floor. The string lights didn’t look nearly strong enough to cause much trouble. He took a bite of the tart and squinted up at the darkening sky. Other hovercrafts circled, no doubt monitoring from above. He swallowed. He hadn’t expected so many of them up there, and he didn’t know how fast any one of them might have been, or if any of them carried anything that could down their own hovercraft.
Out of the corner of his eye he noticed Clovis approaching. Neither looked at each other as he stopped beside him and snagged four chocolate covered strawberries.
“Jaden hacked the dog and he’s almost done with Skylar.” Clovis spoke in a whisper.
Skyler pretended to ignore him as he went for another lemon tart. “I want to land in the middle of the dance floor.”
“I’ll let Margot and Logan know.”
He left, passing by the two of them on his way to continue chatting with a group of older ladies on the dance floor, delivering the strawberries to each of them with a friendly smile. Skyler watched for a moment before his eyes wandered to Indigo. She stood up near Snow’s table, laughing with someone he didn’t recognize. Funny. Part of him didn’t realize that she actually knew how to laugh, but he didn’t linger on the thought long. It as probably about time he started to track down Holt anyway.
A shout caught his attention, and Skyler quickly realized he wouldn’t have to look very hard. Holt stood with his hand clenched in a fist as a well dressed man fell to the floor. In seconds, Clovis and Absolon were by his side, ganging up on him for what Holt told them he said about Skylar.
Skyler clenched his teeth in anger, but as much as he also wanted to join in beating the shit out of that asshole, they had to go. He tapped him on the shoulder and turned towards the door. “Lets go.”
He nodded, and the two of them slipped into the stairwell. It wasn’t as fancy as the elevator, but chances were lower anyone would notice their escape, especially not with the full on brawl breaking out on the roof. Their footsteps echoed as they hurried down the stairs, neither daring to speak a word until they’d rushed to where the hovercraft was waiting for them. Just as promised, the door was unlocked and the place was theirs.
Skyler’s heart raced as he led Holt towards their craft and directed them to help slide the door open. He hoped he didn’t notice how much he trembled as he hopped up into the ship, electing not to waste time lowering the ramp.
He turned back to help haul Holt inside before starting to make his way to the front. “We just have to get this craft up in the air and crash that party.”
Holt worked on shutting the door them. “Are you okay? Are you nervous?”
So he had noticed. Skyler paused, and let out a nervous laugh. “I’m the one everyone’s counting on for our escape. It’s hard not to be nervous.” Considering all the ways he alone could get them all killed if he messed anything up. “I’m sorry.”
He decided now wasn’t the best time to reveal he’d never actually pulled off a maneuver as complicated as this one was all on his own and that he was about to break almost every flight rule Volt had ever taught him to follow.
“It makes sense. It’s fine to be nervous.” Holt sounded so sure, and Skyler couldn’t help but be comforted at least a little bit. Until a booming voice from the mansion came muffled through the walls of the hovercraft. “We probably should get going, though.”
He nodded and slipped into the cockpit. Yesterday he’d gone and adjusted everything for his height, since it turned out that the average capitol pilot was noticeable taller. He took a deep breath and started flipping switches and adjusting settings to power up the hovercraft, muttering the checklist under his breath as he went. It hummed to life, lights glowing on the control panel and flickering on along the outside of the ship. Skyler turned those ones off. Any other day Volt would have had his head for that, but she didn’t have to know he’d flown a hovercraft with no lights at night.
Skyler double checked the system, took a deep breath, threw on the radio headset and brought the hovercraft up and out. It responded wonderfully.
The path was clear as they shot up to the roof of the mansion. Margot and Logan had cleared a spot just big enough to land. Perfect. Ignoring the shaking in his arms, he pushed the control wheel down, dialed back the power in the engines and set it down only a little harder than he would have liked.
Dead ahead through the windshield, a video of Snow put together to make him out to be a fool played, and the president in question couldn’t do much but glare as Skylar and the rest of them ran towards the open door of the hovercraft.
The mutt bounded towards him at the head table, and Skyler could see Indigo duck her head just in time for it to leap, clearing her back and slamming fangs-first into President Snow. He crumpled and his staff rushing to his side as soon as Absolon called the dog back. Indigo barely hid her laughter, twisting around in her chair to face the hovercraft. She met his eyes through the windshield with an expression that almost looked like pride.
“Clear!”
Someone called out from the back and Skyler wasted no time ramping up the thrust to the engines and sending the hovercraft shooting up, scattering anything not bolted down to the rooftop in it’s wake.
“Unknown Hovercraft, land immediately.”
He turned around and pressed the button to respond. “This is Unknown Hovercraft. Go fuck yourself.”
Volt would not have been happy with that radio call.
“Unknown Hovercraft I repeat: land immediately or you will be shot down.”
So those other crafts were weaponized after all. “This is Unknown Hovercraft. I repeat: go fuck yourself.”
He gripped the controls and pushed, sending the hovercraft into a drop, plummeting between buildings and stopping a just short of the roads below before flying forwards, darting down any street wide enough to accommodate them as he put distance between their hovercraft and the president’s mansion. This low to the ground it wasn’t likely they’d show up on radar, and with all exterior lights off they could hide between the buildings like a bird through the trees.
Skyler swallowed. If he managed not to crash straight into a building anyway. He probably should have told everyone in the back to put on seat belts or hold on until they got out of the city, but they’d probably figured that out by now.
Every muscle in his body tensed as he ducked through unfamiliar streets. Ground warnings blared through the cockpit, the warning light flashing only half as quickly as his heartbeat. If it weren’t for the threat of being found he would have slowed down, but they couldn’t get caught or it was all over. Every time a dark shape moved above them in the corner of his eye he darted into another street, more than once coming painfully close to clipping glass windows, close enough to see people staring at the hovercraft with disbelief. His arms shook and his knuckles went white the further out they went, buildings getting lower and lower further form the city center, forcing the craft nearer and nearer to the ground.
He dropped to just barely a metre between the roads and the bottom of the hovercraft. Houses and streetlights flew by on either side of the cockpit window, almost eye level with citizens rushing out of his way in shock. More warnings and more cautions joined the constant scream of the ground warning. Skyler could only imagine what the rest of them in the back must be thinking.
Hopefully they weren’t looking out the windows.
If he didn’t crash before they got out of the capitol Volt was going to kill him herself if she found out he’d flown so low, weaving in and out of increasingly narrow streets. But they were close now, closer with every second to the edge of the city with only the mountains between them and freedom.
What if that’s where they were waiting for them? Right along that mountain ridge. Skyler dared a quick glance up at the dark slopes. He’d be vulnerable, climbing to go over them, easy to see. Easy to shoot down without worrying about carnage landing on any important part of the city.
He veered down a bigger street until it met the train tracks. He pointed the craft towards the tunnel through the mountains and sped along the straight path towards the mouth. The train left for Robin’s district only yesterday. It wouldn’t be back to the capitol for at least a couple days.
Skyler guided the hovercraft straight into the middle of the tunnel. Everything went dark besides the glow of the instrument panel. He didn’t dare look away from the indicators. The tunnel was long, it was narrow, but it was perfectly straight. If he could keep it level, keep it from even the smallest roll left or right, they’d be out in the longest few seconds of his life.
The hovercraft shot out of the tunnel and he immediately pulled into a sharp climb. As soon as he was high enough, he accelerated as fast is it would go. The engines roared to life with the sudden increase in power before settling into an efficient hum. Trees and terrain turned to a blur as the lights grew weaker and weaker behind them.
Slowly, Skyler leaned back in his seat. Tension eased from his shoulders, and his grip on the control column relaxed. No sign of pursuit. No warnings or beeping from the control panel. No threats through the radio.
Stars started to show in the night sky, no longer smothered by the capitol’s lights. They swam in Skyler’s vision as tears welled up in his eyes, sliding hot down his cheeks. He rubbed his face with the cuff of his sleeve. The capitol, the hunger games, everything was behind them now. It didn’t feel real.
But the cheers in the hovercraft behind him were 100% real. So were the jeers towards the capitol and tired laughter. Finally out of danger, Skyler reached for the PA mic and turned it on.
“Is everyone here?” Hopefully they were because he was reluctant to turn around and go back. Probably should have asked that before they left the roof. Oops.
Absolon responded, shouted through the cabin. “Yes, everyone’s here. Thanks”
Skyler grinned. “Glad everyone got on! I was worried I would leave someone behind, but when I heard the doors close, I took off.” He laughed, probably too close to the audio receiver as he held it to his face. “Good job on a successful heist, everyone!
It sounded like Skylar said something in protest, but it quickly broke down to tears. In the back he could hear the others doing their best to comfort them, sharing stories, until they started to sound a little less upset.
“So,” he leaned into the receiver again. “when can I come back there and slap Skylar?”
They laughed, and Skyler smiled. The all of them must have moved a little closer to the flight deck, and he could hear what they were saying better now.
“…what about all of our families?”
This time he just twisted around in his seat and raised his voice instead of going for the intercom. “I’m going to be heading to everyone’s places to get family and friends.” He glanced back through the windshield. All clear. “I just need to stop and get Volt first, since she’ll help me pilot the hovercraft.” By the time they got into the districts he would be well in need of a relief pilot.
The others kept talking, but Skyler slowly tuned them out as he turned back around. This was the closest he’d really been alone since the arena. He glanced down at the map display. Still a decent ways to go to district 8. He yawned, for the first time realizing just how tired he was after all that. After barely sleeping in the capitol, sleeping even less in the arena, getting through the party and completing the most stressful flight of his life. He wouldn’t blame the others for taking the chance to get some rest before they landed, but he would have to wait until Volt could take over.
Skyler stretched his legs out as far as they would go without bumping the controls. Maybe he’d ask Absolon to sit with him later to keep him awake, since it didn’t look like he’d be able to sleep for at least a couple weeks anyway.
Skyler had barely slept last night, knowing that the games were about to start but standing on his podium now he felt wide awake. His legs trembled and everything seemed to big, too real. It was really happening. This was the real thing.
The rest of the tributes circled the cornucopia full of anything Skyler could ever need. But it didn’t matter. Running straight for it was certain death. Besides, he’d managed to keep the multi-tool Volt gave him. His stylist likely knew he had it—he had to have seen it when he was putting on the arena jumpsuit—but for some reason or another hadn’t told anyone about it. Made him feel a little bit worse about biting him that first day.
Focus. He swallowed and forced his head up, scanning the rest of the tributes. He could pick out Skylar on one end of the cornucopia, and Holt—he was pretty sure that was actually his name this time—on the other. But he had no idea who else it was that they might have talked to about their plan. He had no idea who the other hacker they told him about might have been. For all he knew it could be anyone, but he wasn’t ready to take that risk.
The cannon blasted and the games begun.
Skyler half-jumped, half-fell off his podium, his heart stuck in his throat. People moved everywhere in front of him as some rushed the center and others fled to the surrounding trees. He froze, staring wide-eyed at the chaos in front of him a moment longer before turning and running away, scooping up what looked like a butterfly net on the outskirts of the clearing. It was better than nothing.
Already cannon shots rang out through the air, only urging Skyler to run faster, twigs and foliage whipping him as he fled. At least twice he tripped and fell to the muddy ground. That would probably hurt later, but now all he thought about was running, as fast as he could, as far as he could, until he could barely breathe and had to stop.
He braced himself against a nearby tree, gasping for air. Hopefully he’d gotten far enough to buy himself some time to try and figure himself out. He glanced down at the net in his hand. It looked sturdy enough to deal a painful enough blow if he had to use it, but he could probably try his hand at catching fish or small animals with it too. If he had to survive by eating minnows and bugs then so be it.
The forest around him was quiet, almost peaceful, so he started to explore. It was warm, not as bad under the tree cover as it was in the clearing. There certainly seemed to be plenty of insects to catch, crawling on trees and flittering through the air. May as well start now.
It took him a few tries, but eventually he managed to catch what he guessed was probably a beetle as it flew by. No idea what kind it was, or if it really was a beetle, but it didn’t look poisonous. He crushed it’s head with the pliers of his tool, hoping that it was dead when it stopped moving. It didn’t look very good, but he was going to get hungry sooner or later and his jumpsuit had pockets so he might as well catch what he could now.
Who knows how long later, and Skyler was looking for what would be his fourteenth bug when a twig snapped behind him. He whirled, gripping his net, but it was just Skylar.
They laughed. “A butterfly net? Nice!”
He lowered the net, starting to relax. Skylar’s casual tone and confident demeanor were contagious, and he had to admit he was glad to see a familiar face.
“You’re here for my answer?” They nodded, and he thought for a moment. “So, you really think that you’ll be able to help me escape? Would you be able to get me a hovercraft too?”
Their smile didn’t fade as they replied. “I should be able to get us all out, as long as I stay alive for that. I’m not so sure about the hovercraft, but I’ll discuss it with the other hacker. So, would you like to join?”
Skyler hesitated. Without the hovercraft, part of him worried it would be a hard sell for him to convince whatever group they were pulling together to not leave him behind. What would they need him for otherwise? He got the sense that both them and Holt were probably smarter than him, and the other hacker was probably clever too.
But at the same time, he also got the sense that neither of them seemed to be fighters. Maybe they were vulnerable, though surviving the bloodbath had to count for something. Either way, what choice did he really have?
He nodded. “If it means I have more of a chance of surviving, then yes, I’ll join.”
Indigo led the way from the parking garage into the elevator, letting them all in first to take her place by the doors as they closed. “I have to admit watching all of your tribute interviews was the most entertaining thing I’ve seen in a long time.” She pressed a button and the elevator started to rise with a gentle hum. “I wasn’t planning to attend the show this year, but I ended up changing my mind and it was well worth the price of admission.”
She turned to face them, leaning against the elevator wall. Skyler stared down at the floor, all but glaring a hole into the tile as his blood boiled. The stupid elevator was too small. He clenched his fists, fingernails digging into his palms.
“You could just feel the tension almost from the start, and how Cesar seemed more and more flustered as the show went on, though he’s a good actor I’ll give him that.” Indigo laughed, then gestured towards Jaden. “Then you came on stage, and now that was a show. I’ll admit for a moment there you even had me a bit worried.” She smiled. “If that’s the kind of thing you’re capable of and ever want to make some money, I can think of more than a few things I could use you for.”
Skyler snapped his head up, anger flaring hot under his skin. “Don’t you dare!”
Indigo shrugged. “Or not.” She paused as the door dinged and slid open to a short hallway. With a quick wave of her arm she led the way out. “But anyway, you should have seen the post-interview party. Let’s just say our friend Cesar had a rough night.” She drew a key from her pocket and unlocked the door at the end of the hall, pushing it open and leading the way inside.
Skyler hesitated in the doorway, his heart starting to pound and legs starting to feel shaky. The elevator had been hard enough, and now she was trying to lead him through a door that could be locked. He wanted to run, and he wanted to hide, but there was nowhere for him to go. He hung back as Margot led the way in, carrying a half-woken Holt. Nausea knotted in his gut and he had to take a long, deep breath before working up the nerve to step inside after the others. They wouldn’t let anything happen to him, and he didn’t need Indigo to know that he was still afraid of her.
It seemed like she hadn’t waited for him, already showing them around the flat.
“Feel free to use whatever you like,” Indigo gestured around at the space. “The TV works, kitchen works, but I’ve left the contact information for one of my assistants. If you want to order instead of cooking, let him know and he’ll sort it out. Just be nice to him” She shot a look at Skyler. “And don’t bite him again, please, I don’t want to have to give him hazard pay.”
Skyler crossed his arms. “If I’d known he was one of yours I would have bitten him harder.”
Indigo ignored him. “I’ll leave my own contact too, and a set of keys on the counter. Let me know if you need anything and I’ll see what I can do, but I have a meeting soon so we can talk later.”
She made her way back to the door, reaching for the handle, but seemed to remember something. “By the way,” She turned around to face them all again. “I’m sure Skyler will tell you some things about me that are less than flattering, and it will probably all be true. However,” her smile vanished, replaced by a cold stare. “If anything happens to me, my subordinates will notice, and within twenty-four hours you can expect retaliation against your families. If we don’t know who they are, then your districts instead.” She held her stare a moment longer before the smile returned to her lips. “Goodnight.”
Tagging @concealeddarkness13 @onmywaytobe @nightskywriter and @ratracechronicler
(Also me? finishing a scene while it’s still light out instead of in the middle of the night? Must be a miracle)
That morning there was an announcement of a feast at the cornucopia, which there was no way in hell Skyler was going to try and get in on. But other tributes might not feel the same, and he hoped that meant that the rest of the marsh would be safer, with fewer potential enemies around for at least a few hours. The night before, Skylar had walked him through which buttons to press and all that to get control of the cameras scattered all around the arena, and today he set out to widen the camera free zone around their camp.
When he found his first camera tucked away in a tree he tried the way they’d showed him at first, but quickly decided that it was faster to just rip the whole thing out of the tree, unscrew the plates protecting the more delicate internal systems and just kind of crush the whole thing.
The heat of the marsh was definitely starting to get old though, and he was starting to hope it would rain, but it didn’t look like that would be happening anytime soon. Not that it mattered much; if all went well they could be out of here by tomorrow.
Skyler turned his focus back on the next camera he’d found, hidden as part of a big red flower. It was much easier to get free than the one crammed into the tree, and he quickly got to unscrewing the shiny panels at the back. Leave it to the capitol to insist on having even the metal casing of a camera to be all polished up. It was almost like a mirror at this point, a hazy reflection of his own face and the leaves behind him on it’s surface.
A figure appeared behind him on the reflection only a split second before a knife plunged into his back.
He staggered forward, panic overriding the pain in as he fled. But it wasn’t long before he had to gasp for breath and the ground seemed to spin under his feet. How far was he from the camp? He gagged, catching himself against a spindly tree. He could barely breathe, pain radiating from his back with every breath. He had to lean against trees and rocks as he dragged himself in what he hoped was the direction of the camp.
Skyler’s legs gave out and he fell, slamming into the dirt. He struggled to find a grip on the ground to get back up, but his arms shook and he couldn’t do it. He couldn’t get up. Tears blurred his vision further. He didn’t want to die. He wanted to go home.
Someone ran up to him, grabbing hold of one of his arms. Skyler snarled and wrenched his arm away, swiping blindly, frantically, at the attacker. If he was going to die he sure as hell wasn’t going to make it easy. He closed his hand around the grip of his multi-tool to ram the screwdriver into whoever’d come to pick him off, but froze when he spoke.
“Hey!” It was Logan’s voice. “It’s me!”
This time he didn’t resist when Logan helped him to stand, doing his best to support him as they stumbled the rest of the way back to the camp. Logan called out for help when they got closer to the clearing. Skyler was only vaguely aware of the others as they came to help, everything turning to a blur as someone, probably Absolon, treated the injury. It dawned on him that he was actually going to be okay. No one had tried to finish him off, they hadn’t left him to die… He was safe here. They’d all be out of here soon, and everything was going to be okay. He’d have to thank Skylar later when they all got out, for approaching him in the training center that day.
