Chapter 6:

How was I going to cheat? And who cares if I do? The Careers technically aren't supposed to train for the Games beforehand. This is the Hunger Games; there are no rules.

I thought. I think I know how to do it.

I went out into the living room. In the corner of the room there was a small console that allows people to look up information from the digital network database of the Capitol. I knew that there was surveillance in the room, but I knew that there wasn't any directly against the wall from the console, so I sat down and turned the control panel and the screen to the wall so that what I was doing could not be seen. I acted very casual and nonchalant. I opened up the 'Main File Directory' and I began searching for something useful. What I needed was a connection to an outside link.

I began tapping many panels with all of my fingers very quickly in a logical sequence of the code of the computer. For your average expert computer programer this would be difficult, but for me personally this was not too difficult. I found the Capitol's Digital Network search engine, broke through the encryption of several servers, and then found the security system for this building. I went into the training center surveillance and very cleverly covering my tracks while I hacked into the computer system I put the surveillance on a continuous loop so that the surveillance would not know what I was doing.

After another hour of very hard brainwork and computer hacking I managed to tap into the Gamemakers database of their control room for the Hunger Games. I was very careful to let my search of their database go unnoticed. I opened up their file directory and there was the jackpot. I found a map of the arena. The arena this year will be an abandoned ruined city. There are over a hundred abandoned ruined cities scattered across the continent, though the Capitol has little use for them, insufficient resources to rebuild them or fix them up, and insufficient numbers of people to repopulate them. According to the history books that I memorized, the cities were destroyed during the world's population decimation during the last World War 200 years ago.

The Gamemakers database on their new arena said that animals within the city would be limited to birds and small rodents.

Plants within the arena would be limited to ivy-covered buildings, weeds in the cracks of the concrete, and a few parks neglected to the point of overgrowth. The Gamemakers were going to have the ruined buildings have running water, but no electricity. Some muttations of wolves and lions will be released into the arena at certain times by the Gamemakers during their boring moments to make the boring more exciting. As for materials and minerals, the ruined city is a colossal storehouse of abandoned broken junk.

After I had read that last part I was excited. An arena loaded to capacity with abandoned junk; I will be in my element, I will be given the home field advantage. I just might be able to pull this off. I imagined that this would be a significantly less expensive arena to build, as the ruined city has abandoned sewers, subways, and underground parkades that would need only slight modifications for arena catacombs.

With my photographic memory I memorized the map of the arena, all of the Gamemakers preselected features, the location of the cornucopia, Gamemaker's traps, etc. I then closed up my computer-hack with a few more rapid taps of the keys to cover my tracks. The Gamemakers computer security systems would never know that I was there.

The next morning I was back in training. I focused on the physical. I did that all day.

Then the next day, we all were at breakfast, Sora was giving me some last minute advice.

"Okay, today is the day that you can show the Gamemakers all your skills that you don't want the other tributes to know. The higher the training score the better the chance I can get you sponsors. Though as I said before, get a low score and you can keep the Career Pack off your back."

"Thanks. I will keep thinking and make my decision by my private session." I told her.

Sora scrutinized me with curiosity.

"Are you nervous?" Sora asked.

"Nope. Just impatient. I'm eager to get into the arena." I said matter of factly.

"You scare me." said Sora seriously. "You are going to win. I'm sure of it."

Her last statement was in a disappointed tone of voice.

"You sound disappointed?" I said, curious of what she was thinking. "Isn't me winning the whole point of you mentoring me?"

She looked at me and paused for a moment before answering as though she was afraid of her next words.

"I think you made a big mistake volunteering." she said.

I frowned in confusion.

"But you just said that you were sure I was going to win?" I said, curious of the contradiction.

"This is not something that we broadcast," said Sora in a serious voice, "but most Hunger Games Victors are not in their right minds again after they win their Games. You see, when you're in the arena and you're face to face with another tribute that wants to live, they know that they got to kill you, and when you take your weapon or your bare hands or whatever method to kill, and you choke them or stab them in the heart...and you watch the life drain out of them in that moment!..." she paused, the look on her face as though she was remembering something horrible. "You are never quite the same. You live with that person's blood on your hands for the rest of your life, and then when you get home... the nightmares start of the memory of what you had to do."

"I think I get what you're saying." I reassured her. "But I can't think about that, I need the prize money for my sister."

"Actually I don't think that you do get it just yet... because I'm not finished!" she said in a firm tone. "The guilt of your fellow tributes blood on your hands, the horrible things you had to witness in the arena, and then the nightmares! And then having to mentor tribute after tribute year after year who are doomed to die in the arena with little to no chance of winning! Once you are given your big mansion in the victors village and are being smothered in money, some tributes say that they may be able to live with that. But there is a price that you must pay for winning!"

She leaned in close to me and whispered very carefully below the audio recording of the surveillance in the room.

"President Carson is evil!" she spoke in a serious grave voice. "He is a psychopath and a sadist! He is prone to violent behavior while being incapable of feeling or remorse! And he hates victors! He hates victors with a passion and a vengeance! I don't know a single Victor that hasn't suffered at his hand simply for winning the Games. Remember when I told you that Neil's family had been killed 2 months after he won his Games. And he's not the only victor who lost their family for winning."

"What about you?" I asked. "Your family is still alive."

"Yes, but I still paid a price." she explained. "President Carson wanted something else from me. He left my family alone but he requested of me... my body."

I widened my eyes in surprise.

"Does that mean what I think it means?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

"Yes it does." said Sora with at tone of hopeless resignation. "It means exactly what you think it means."

We looked at each other in contemplation.

"I was not the only one. There are a lot of wealthy men here in the Capitol that think of me as a very attractive woman, and they would go to President Carson and pay him a lot of money for his assistance to arrange a...'private romantic meeting' with myself and themself. And I had to pretend that I liked it and make it convincing. I did it because I knew what the consequences would be if I didn't. But that's not the worst of it, that was not the worst thing that I had to decide. President Carson told me that as punishment for winning the Games he would simply temper the death of someone close to me. Rather than a close family member of mine dying, I could choose a friend or distant acquaintance to die in my family's place."

I was horrified at the idea of it.

"And he told me that if I didn't and if I chose to sacrifice my own life then he would kill all of my friends and my family. The lesser of two evils was for me to pick one mild acquaintance. Don't get me wrong, it was not easy, and I didn't come to the decision lightly, but by one's own point of view their own family is more important than everyone else. So I did it."

She paused and allowed me to take in the full measure of the situation.

"Tell me now Beetee, how many people would you horribly sacrifice in order to save your sister's life?!"

Of course I knew the answer.

"So you understand now Beetee, if you win the Games, President Carson will ask for something from you in return for your victory, and if you don't have something really good to offer him then he will kill your sister himself!"

I was speechless by the facts! I felt stuck now, what was I supposed to do?

"If you are so determined to save your sister then you will think of something. Now, I believe that it is time for training and good luck in your private session."

I spent that morning in training with the rest of the tributes and then it was time for our private sessions. We would start with the District 1 boy and end with the District 12 girl, so that means that I would be fifth in line. I waited a little over an hour when finally they called me.

I had been thinking about how I was going to play this, either impress the sponsors with a high score, or keep the Careers off my back. With my knowledge of the local flora and fauna I'm pretty sure that plenty of the weeds that would be growing out of the cracks in the concrete of the ruined city would have nutritional value, and I could probably catch a few birds and rodents to eat at the same time. I could survive on my own without sponsors, and the junk in the city would provide me with any tools or equipment that I would need to make. A few parts from an old car engine here, some wires from a downed power line there; I could make just about anything. I guess that I should make the Careers not fear me.

I walked into the gymnasium. Some of the Gamemakers seemed to be drinking and indulging themselves in a small feast but they didn't look completely intoxicated or bored yet. I wonder how it is for the District 11 and District 12 tributes during their private sessions. The Gamemakers are all tired out and probably have their attention wandering by that point. No wonder District 11 and 12 never win.

Alright, time to deliberately botch my score. I went over to the sword fighting station and picked up a sword. I requested to spar with a trainer I deliberately lost the sword fight but I made it look like I was trying. I tried to describe the uses of certain plants and then deliberately gave the wrong answers. The Gamemakers were watching me while holding clipboards, frowned in disappointment, shook their heads, and then began scribbling on the paper. I picked up the throwing knives, with my hand-eye-coordination I could hit the bull's-eye every time if I wanted but I deliberately aimed for the outer edge of the outer ring. I tried wrestling, and lost. Eventually my 15 minutes were up and the Gamemakers told me to stop and that I was dismissed.

When I got back to the third floor, Neil of all people spoke to me.

"So, how did it go?" Neil asked.

"That is between me and my mentor." I told him.

I then walked over to Sora.

"I aimed for a low score to hide from everyone else my true abilities." I told her quietly.

Sora patted me on the shoulder.

"Then that should make the Careers not interested in you. But I will still look into sponsors."

I went into the living room and sat down on the couch. I requested to one of the avox servers to bring me some hot tea and I tried to soothe my nerves. My mind was on my sister. I have to do something!? What will President Carson want from me? Why does he hate Victors? My guess is, he hates the Districts for rebelling 35 years ago, and the Victors bring to much honor and glory to the Districts, and he wants the people of the Districts to permanently suffer including the Victors. Maybe he wants the Victors to suffer even more than the rest? From Panem's more recent history in the last four decades, President Carson was not President at the end of the war. The President that year had been a much more reasonable and fair man. In fact, the first few years after the war, the Hunger Games were the worst the Districts suffered, but on a day to day basis the President gave orders that were strictly enforced to the Peacekeepers to leave the people alone as long as they were trying to be good. But then Abraham Carson became President and then the Peacekeepers were given permission to act cruelly for fun. And then as Sora told me, the Victors suffered.

What am I going to do? Will all of this be worth it if President Carson just kills Lori when I win? No, I have to at least try.

Barbie arrived back shortly after that.

"So, how did it go?" Neil asked.

"I did the best I could to show my skills hoping to get a good score to impress the sponsors."

Nelly Electra then walked into the room after hearing what we have both said.

"Well then, let us hope for the best for the both of you, and lunch was over just a little while ago so let's get ready for 'afternoon tea'." Nelly said excitedly.

A selection of refreshing beverages along with desserts were then brought in.

It was shortly after dinner when the television came on and it was time for the training scores.

We all went to the living room where we took our seats on the couches and the television then came on. 24 year old television star Caesar Flickerman then began to read out the training scores.

"Ladies and gentlemen." said Caesar addressing the nation. "It is now time to announce the Training Scores for the Participants of this year's Hunger Games. For the past three days the Gamemakers have performed very careful evaluation of each and every tribute.

"For those viewers who don't know; A tribute's Training Score is based on their ability to fight, their strength, their height, their weight, their ability to survive in difficult conditions, etc. They are graded on a score of 1 through 12. 12 meaning that they are master survivalist and unbeatable fighter. And 0 meaning they can not fight and have no survival skills.

"A reminder for the benefit of the final statistics, a score of 12 is no guarantee that the tribute will win, it is merely an evaluation of how well they did today during their private sessions with the Gamemakers.

"And now let's begin. From District 1, Rubius Morson, with a score of 8.

"From District 1, Aurora Indi, with a score of 8."

The average score for District 1 is usually 8 or 9, so no surprise there.

"From District 2, Buzz Vandermon, with a score of 10.

"From District 2, Xena Forman, with a score of 10."

District 2 tributes usually get 9 or 10. An 11 is rare but not unheard of, but from what I know no one has ever got a 12 before.

Now it was my turn.

"From District 3, Beetee Latier, with a score of 3."

"Beetee, what happened?" said Barbie in surprise. "You should have got a high score easily."

"I just sort of lost my focus in the gym." I lied.

She looked at me quizzically.

"From District 3, Barbie Nettel, with a score of 7." said Caesar.

"Not as bad as most in a regular year." claimed Neil. "I can work with that for sponsors."

"From District 4," continued Caesar, "John Green, with a score of 9.

"From District 4, Annabel Ivy, with a score of 8."

The District 4 tributes usually have a prior alliance with the District 1 and 2 tributes. I guess all the fishing and swimming must make them strong.

"From District 5, Hugo Carlynn, with a score of 5.

"From District 5, Rena Zola, with a score of 4.

"From District 6, Sasha Quinn, with a score of 6.

"From District 6, Holly Prue, with a score of 5.

"From District 7, Richie Rovi, with a score of 8.

"From District 7, Charley Curt, with a score of 5.

"From District 8, Zebulon Woody, with a score of 5.

"From District 8, Sabein Frits, with a score of 3.

"From District 9, Clifford Cristoff, with a score of 7.

"From District 9, Makenzie Zackery, with a score of 9.

"From District 10, Leland Geraint, with a score of 3.

"From District 10, Cleo Ricola, with a score of 5.

"From District 11, Clyde Lennon, with a score of 5.

"From District 11, Caroline Bean, with a score of 6.

"From District 12, Peter Wolofon, with a score of 8.

"And finally, from District 12, Macy Keen, with a score of 3. And that is the resulting scores of our tributes training efforts. Please tune in for the tributes TV Interviews in the evening the day after tomorrow. Good night everybody!"

Author's note: It was probably pointless, but I couldn't help myself, decided to give all the tributes names.
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