The Sterling Nightingale ⟷ Finnick Odair/OC

Breathing in an entire galaxy

Chapter Forty Three | Breathing in an entire galaxy

"That part he played – the mask he wore...in order to throw dust in everybody's eyes. And all for the sheer sport and devilry, of course! Saving men, women, and children from death, as other men destroy and kill animals for the excitement, the love of the thing." Emma Orczy, The Scarlet Pimpernel

Sil's message regarding the planned attack on District 13 puts the entire place in an uproar. President Coin is apparently not the type to idle around waiting for something to happen, because before the day even comes to an end, she's begun preparing.

As workers scuttle around carrying supplies down to the lower levels of the district, Finnick and the other Victors are called to Coin's office. As to the reason for the impromptu meeting, no one knows. Finnick hadn't seen the President since he had barged into her office several weeks previous, demanding answers. He hasn't exactly gone out of his way to see her since then. He still hasn't quite come to terms with the fact that the woman he's fallen in love with is apparently the greatest spy in Panem, and being around Coin and her pretentious smiles makes him feel like an idiot for not realizing it sooner.

Regardless, the Victors make their way to Coin's office early the next morning, stopping at Haymitch's door and dragging him out of bed before continuing on. The older Victor is grumpy this morning and Finnick knows it's because of the lack of alcohol in 13. Haymitch looks absolutely terrible. Finnick can't blame him too much, even though he secretly thinks it's probably better this way – Haymitch is going to kill himself from alcohol poisoning one of these days. The greater part of him knows that it's all just a crutch though. As a Victor, he understands what kinds of nightmares Haymitch suffers from, and he feels pity toward the older man who is suddenly being forced to meet those nightmares head on.

They knock on Coin's door and enter when she gives her permission. The metal office is just the same as it had been the first time Finnick saw it. Cold, colorless, and stark. Coin raises her head when their group steps inside, and gestures to the gleaming metal table at the center of the room. She waits until they're all seated before she rises from her desk to address them.

"I called you all here for one reason," she says, and steps toward them with an expressionless face. Her eyes are just as cold as the rest of the room, and her silver hair and outfit perfectly matches the décor. It's a little jarring.

She takes a look at all of them and pauses. Besides Finnick, there's Haymitch, Annie, Johanna, and Katniss. Five Victors, including Plutarch, who has apparently become some sort of liaison between them and the rest of District 13. Coin gazes at each of them in turn before saying, "War is coming, and it won't happen here in District 13."

Her ominous words make Finnick shift in his chair. He glances over at Haymitch and they exchange a cautious look.

"You mean 13 is going to wage war on the Capitol," Haymitch inputs, seeing through Coin's words without batting an eye. Her meaning had been clear enough, and it is after all the next course of action. If they wait for the Capitol to attack them, then they won't have the upper hand. The Capitol fights dirty, and 13 would just be stuck in the ground with no chance of defending itself.

Coin takes a seat in the chair at the end of the table and crosses her hands on top of the metal surface. "I do. The Nightingale's warning will hopefully be unnecessary. I want our troops infiltrating the Capitol before they have a chance to launch an attack."

Plutarch clears his throat and pips in, "We've decided it would be best to launch our own attack. While the Capitol is distracted, we'll have soldiers infiltrating their walls and getting into position. They won't expect it."