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Post by Valeria DeMasque on Jan 15, 2016 2:23:53 GMT -6
Things were looking up for their little group. Heck, it seemed like they'd even come out of this day alive but...
"Tomorrow"
If they were successful today tomorrow would be the last for the small group known as peacebringers.
"But I promised Gwen I would find a way," she thought furiously at herself. She didn't have the luxury of giving up or self pity.
"Cal, Sydney," Val said calling over her fellow peacebringers, "I think we need to talk about...tomorrow."
She knew that Cal had someone he didn't want to abandon as well and Syndey... Sydney was a fighter and there was no way she'd just willingly roll over.
"This may be the path we've chosen but," she paused, "the more I think about it the more selfish it seems that we thought our friends would think we were such big heroes for waiting around to get shot after liberating a city."
Val frowned, "We have responsibilities to our tea...to our friends that go beyond just bringing those defenses down now."
"And we have to make sure we don't let them down," she finished with conviction as a determined grin managed to slip across her face.
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Post by Cal Mensen on Jan 15, 2016 6:14:00 GMT -6
Cal joins the two, having a seat with them. He had only really talked about this once with each of them, now seemed to be their best chance to determine their path.
"Gwen, Wren, and Thomas, and more of our friends I suspect are determined to see us live beyond tomorrow. They've each taken great risks to help us live when they didn't have to. They've fed us, stood up for and bled for us. They want us to live, but I've yet to figure out how we can help. Most are hoping on the pardon, Eloise suggested running."
He looks to them, a determined look upon his face. A small smile slips in as he remembers he isn't in this alone.
"I was prepared and still am to insure the rebels survival, even have more ways to help if need be. I'd be honored to go out swinging with each of you at my side. However, I'm open to any suggestions if you guys have any."
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Post by Sydney Gardiner on Jan 15, 2016 10:42:03 GMT -6
"I'm not really sure I ever wanted to be a hero, truthfully. I never really had the," Sydney waved her hand around aimlessly, "idea that I'd live after this was all over. But whatever happens, I'm not going anywhere. I'm going to stay put and at least see this thing through."
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Post by Valeria DeMasque on Jan 15, 2016 15:21:07 GMT -6
"What if we just skipped town with our rebel friends?" She inquired, "just let the seasoned adult fighters invade the city and we, all seven of us, lay low in the country side until this thing blows over?"
She grinned, "If we can hide from peacekeepers and airships I'm sure we could give some invading rebels the slip."
"Besides," she added, "what if the Capitol has another trick up their sleeve? We should get our rebel friends out of the city in case the defenses falling is only a temporary thing."
"Hypothetically," she mused, "we could see if we could "commandeer" that fallen hovercraft and ride it out of here but it might work better if we all just slipped out in the night."
She sighed, "Aftet today the defenses should fall if our friends in the other areas did their job. So we liberated the city. Plus we saved our friends' lives. There's nothing else to stick around for so I say we get our team of seven together and make a break for it."
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Post by Cal Mensen on Jan 15, 2016 15:45:06 GMT -6
Cal never really thought of an end game once they had succeeded at their task. He had just assumed that the invading army would be able to accommodate the survivors, keep them fed and safe. As much as the idea thrilled him, he was worried about logistics.
"I have a few concerns with that idea. If we were to take the hovercraft, what's preventing the rebellion from mistaking it for just another peacekeeper vehicle? Also, what will we do about supplies, both food and medical? It feels like most of the capital has been picked clean over the course of this week, we'd have to hope that our stamina can carry us out of the city and across something useful outside the Capital."
Cal stood up, looking over his two Peacebringer allies. He was amazed all of them had made it this far, they had truly defied the odds and their destiny. He places a hand on each of their shoulders, giving them a small smile.
"No matter what we decide, I think Val has the right idea when it comes to the group. Lets stay with the others, try our best to keep we seven alive and well. If we do nothing else, lets try and stick together. I can't imagine a future without any of you."
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Post by Valeria DeMasque on Jan 15, 2016 16:17:00 GMT -6
"I think you're right about the hovercraft," she replied, "but that doesn't count out escaping on foot."
Val frowned, "all I know is that we can't stick around here very long when the walls fall hoping that Millie checks her email..."
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Post by Holly Edison on Jan 15, 2016 17:35:14 GMT -6
Holly was thrilled to have helped bring down the hovercraft overhead, once the celebrations had died down she caught the conversation taking place between the Peacebringers.
I cannot believe this.
"Have we all been living different lives for the past week? Were you not paraded out on camera and broadcast to the entire nation with me? All of us are known. All of us are potentially suspected Peacekeepers. The games weren't aired like normal. There's no way we've been watched this whole time. No one coming in to take the Capital know which of us are on which team. Only that some of us are in the Capital's pocket."
Holly looked at each of them frustrated almost beyond words. She took a deep breath and continued.
"Running is not an option. You will look guilty. You will have fewer options of proving what you've done for this world. And in the chaos that's sure to come, I'm not sure even some Rebels will make it out alive... If you think you can simply slip off in anonymity you're living a fantasy. Your best chances are with us. If we have to run and stand between you and a firing squad we all will. But you run? No one can help you, and everyone knows who you are out there. Don't be naive. Think."
Holly shook her head and sat down. The adrenaline had worn off and she was suddenly exhausted by the thought of the challenges still to come.
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Post by Cal Mensen on Jan 15, 2016 17:48:42 GMT -6
At first, Cal was a bit annoyed that Holly jumped in. But that quickly turned to relief as she laid out her logic. He walked over to her, putting a hand on her arm, a small smile on his face.
"We're long past the days where everyone goes off and does whatever strikes them. Try to understand, we've been thinking about this the whole time and this was our first chance to throw ideas on the table. It's going to be chaos when those walls come down, trying to leave no stone unturned."
He takes a seat next to her, allowing themselves to lean on one another.
" You're right though, running would not make us look good. And I think we're all on the same page that we stick together as a group. Amazing work on the Hovercraft, by the way. You and Val are making the rest of us look bad." He gives her a wink.
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Post by Wren Hartwood on Jan 15, 2016 17:52:29 GMT -6
Wren popped his head into the room.
"Hey. Leany McCuddles Face. We're gonna play some cards in the waiting room. We have all day to worry about the pardon, and your impending doom. Come play."
Wren ran out of the room.
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Post by Cal Mensen on Jan 15, 2016 17:56:23 GMT -6
Cal looks up at Wren's impromptu invitation, looking between the gathered tributes. He finally settles his eyes on Val and shrugs.
"I think he was talking to you."
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Post by Valeria DeMasque on Jan 15, 2016 17:57:31 GMT -6
Holly had edged her way into what was the only haven for the three doomed peacekeepers but then she never seemed to be comfortable if she wasn't planning.
"Whatever," she thought to herself, "now it was only a matter of time until the others came over as well."
Val sighed, "look for all we know the training days broadcasts informed everybody with a TV who was a peacekeeper and who was a rebel. I mean the viewers at home, and by that logic the invading rebels, might know EXACTLY which ones of us are peacekeepers and they WOULDN'T have seen everything we did to help them."
"So more likely than not," she finished, "invading rebels would shoot us on sight to save their tribute heroes"
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Post by Holly Edison on Jan 15, 2016 18:05:02 GMT -6
Holly smiled at Cal's words briefly before scowling at Val.
"Valeria, that's a hell of an assumption. Yes, people might know who was playing each role. But you can't base your actions on what people might know. If they do know, staying with us gives you credibility more than running would. And if they don't know we can also explain that. Either way, running makes you look bad. I realize you want to live, and you want Gwen to live. All of us. But do you really think if they intend to shoot you on sight and they know who you are getting five or hell, five hundred miles away would change that? Your only hope is to be around people who can vouch for you. Even if it means with their lives."
What is the point? You haven't trusted me or liked me since the Watchtower. Maybe I shouldn't bother anymore.
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Post by Valeria DeMasque on Jan 15, 2016 18:35:23 GMT -6
Val paused, "it's true...that running might make us look guiltier."
She sighed loudly as the futility of their situation sank in.
"Well then I guess," she said staring off at nothing, "our best bet is just to lay down on the ground with our hands above our heads at the feet of our rebel friends when the troops come pouring in."
Val directed her gaze back at the others around her, "they may be riled up enough to shoot peacekeepers but...they wouldn't shoot surrendering, prone, kids no matter who they are."
"I mean they're not monsters," she scoffed.
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Post by Cal Mensen on Jan 15, 2016 18:42:46 GMT -6
Cal nods at the exchanged conversation.
"Just people, fighting for something they desperately believe in, like us. Communication is our best chance at having this worked out. Wren's still trying to get a hold of Millie, who's probably the greatest vouch we could get. But, having us be prone and non-threatening could help us in the short term. It's not the most... dignified of positions, but I'd rather have a chance at living rather than to die due to my pride."
He looks between Val and Holly, picking up on some unfinished business. That would be there's to bring up though, and digging up old skeletons may just turn this triumphant day into one filled with disappointment.
"If it helps, I have plenty of alternative ideas, but I'm sure they're all bad at this point." Cal looks to Val and smiles, remembering back to training.
"Remember back in that simulated arena when we ended up entrenched on the opposite sides of the mountain, and didn't realize it until the very end? I can't say I was a very good strategist back then, but I think both of us were damn good at bringing people together."
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Post by Cal Mensen on Jan 16, 2016 10:07:52 GMT -6
All this discussion of what will happen when the rebels come got Cal thinking about how this will all end. They've come up with some ideas of how to try and convey the Peacebringers' innocence, but so far its just considerations. He feels like they're missing something important, his last sentence striking a chord in his head.
Bringing people together... Bringing people...to...get..her..out of here!
Cal bolts up onto his feet, for once he may have thought of a good plan.
"Guys... we need a flag. If the rebels come storming in, they'd be cautious of every major building, not knowing who has control of it. If we could make a flag, have it strung up across the Hospital building, we could mark the place as safe. The trick is, what do we write on it, and how..."
He begins giggling, building into full laughing. He's not sure if he's finally snapped or if everything just clicks!
"Millie! The Phoenix Accord! If there's even a chance she'd be part of the invading force, a rescue effort even, she could recognize a Phoenix symbol. That could be our ticket out of here, and we have everything we need to do it here! A large bedsheet for the flag canvas! Blood from the hovercraft crash!"
Cal realizes that last statement was a bit morbid, but feels it was necessary. He takes a deep breath, trying to calm himself.
"I realize I'm suggesting we paint a literal red flag on us, could very well draw the wrong attention from the remaining Peacekeepers. But I feel we need to do this, its our best shot at grabbing friendly attention too. Please, does any of this make sense?"
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Post by Wren Hartwood on Jan 16, 2016 11:37:18 GMT -6
Wren nodded slowly at Cal's suggestion. "...that could work! I just hope either Millie or the incoming rebels understand what it means..." Wren dragged a sheet from a nearby patient room, ran to the hovercraft, and got his hands dirty. He hated the thought of blood, but what else could they use? The hospital was running out of supplies, and red would certainly stand out. He found a type of brush that might have been used for iodine, and got to work. He tried his best not to puke as he placed the brush into a bullet wound of a peacekeeper aboard the craft. After a while, he returned to the main waiting room. "Alright guys. If you like it, I'll go hang it. If you want to try something different, hate the flag idea altogether, or want to make a different one, speak up." Wren held up the flag. It was crude, but maybe it'd be good enough... Phoenix FlagOOC: Just to reiterate, we don't even know Millie can see this board. But, we have to try, right?
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Post by Wren Hartwood on Jan 16, 2016 12:39:31 GMT -6
Sorry, guys. I'm surrendering...
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