Day 2

[Thomas Windsnip]

Thomas watched as Reese jumped out the window. No one else seemed to leave. Two new tributes seemed to have entered the armory that he wasn't as familiar with. "Hey guys, welcome to the armory. Where did you two come from- and what was it like there?"

[Dante Clavus]

"Demetri, Holly and Janet! So glad you made it out!" Dante called to the arriving tributes excitedly; jogging towards them. "You just missed Reese who took off earlier towards the south. What happened in the market?"

Gathering both of his drinking buddies together on the far side of the warehouse, Dante leaned in close.

"Hope you two have figured out where you stand in this. The only person I've managed to get a read on is someone I should be watching out for when I sleep! I kept an eye on everything that happened last night, but need to be sure we're on the same page."   Nervously glancing back toward the armory's other occupants Dante continued.

"Last night, I heard two of the tributes here mess around with the security panels on the far wall. You both know I'm pretty good at strategy hacking sometimes, but these two looked evenly matched to me. This morning though, the system remained under Peacekeeper control."    

[Holly Edison]

Holly saw Dante and broke into a run, wrapping her arms around him. "Dante! I'm so glad you made it! We didn't think we'd run into you so soon!" Letting go, she took in the other occupants of the Armory. There's a lot of people I don't know too well. 

"Hi, I'm Holly. I don't think we've really met, Thomas, is it?"

"I don't know them too well, Thomas is one of the ones you mentioned. Who is the other? We were with the group we talked about in the maintenance closet, except that Wallace joined us. I think he can be trusted. Eloise is another matter, I've grown suspicious of her. The plan is that we were heading here, then the Supply Depot then back up to the Market on Day 5 to replenish our food stock just in time. Wallace and Eloise are supposed to be grinding out food for us to redistribute upon our return. Dante, I know you're good at hacking. Why don't you take care of that? Have you managed to get any weapons yet? Demetri and I could use some. I say, I'll scavenge for food for now, I'll give it a couple goes and let you know if I think I found anything. Do you trust anyone here?"

[Thomas Windsnip]

Thomas watches as Holly and Dante embraced. Holly then turned to Thomas with introductions.

"Hi Holly, I'm Thomas. Nice to meet you... I mean under the circumstances. So you came from the market? What was that like?"

[Holly Edison]

"It isn't too bad, but then I came with friends. And the situation may have changed overnight. Not sure if it's very friendly at the moment." Holly looked around. Minerva, Janet... Don't know those two very well either.

"Wren went to the Watchtower - he's injured and was hoping to eventually hit the hospital or get some morphling if anyone there has some to spare, but if that group was looking to move they may have headed to the Market knowing we went there. Demetri and I were going to the Supply Depot next and then planning on doubling back. I looked for some food already, not too confident I got any. Let me know what you two are going to do and I'll see what needs to be covered after that. Dante, care to join us on our travels?"

[Thomas Windsnip]

Thomas scratched his head. "So if it was good and you came with friends, why leave? Which group was in control over there?"

[Holly Edison]

Holly laughed, "Well, none of us can stay in one spot forever, can we? Not if we hope to have the resources to protect ourselves. We left to get a read on how things were going elsewhere. The Peacekeepers have control of the Market. It doesn't matter who was there when we left, new people may have come since then - and we have no way of knowing who they might be or what their allegiances are."

"Everyone was forced to jump ship pretty quickly when Vester announced the lock down. If we hadn't I'm pretty sure we'd be dead... and if we don't keep moving out here we won't do any better than those left behind." They're dead, definitely. Holly thought about why she'd come here to begin with and the years of work and preparation she'd committed to being a Career. Looking around at the other tributes she couldn't help but wonder about their own families. They're dead if they're lucky. All of us tributes defecting? We'd have been killed if we stayed in the complex, but actively defying the capitol now... if they don't make examples of us I'd be shocked. Holly caught herself tearing up and propped herself against the wall. She slid down and settled in, she'd been on the move all night with Demetri and she was tired.

Before losing herself in thought, Holly whispered to her comrades, "The rebels control The Market." (Demetri/Dante)

[Demetri Messer]

Demetri confidently strode into the room, taking in his surroundings. There were many fresh faces including a bushy haired prepubescent kid, who immediately began interrogating them about the market.

"That's quite a warm welcome, Freshman." Demetri bellowed back to the bushy haired kid. "If you're gonna demand all the dirty little secrets about the market you better be willing to tell us what's going on here. How many people were hacking yesterday?"

"Is freshman over there one of the two hackers, Dante? If it was evenly matched, and the Peacekeepers currently run the place then we know that at least one of them has to be a Peacekeeper. So if we can learn the allegiance of one of them then we can possibly figure out the other's allegiance, ya know, one of those 'more bangin for your buck' scenarios."

"And did you do any spying yesterday? Any information you can share? I discovered two allegiances yesterday so maybe we can swap some intel to save us both some time."

[Thomas Windsnip]

Thomas considered Holly. It probably was wise to move around a bit to gather a larger variety of resources. "I guess you're right. I've just always lived in the same town in the same district... Not used to being on the run"

He was then affronted by Demetri. "Hey! Just cuz I'm young doesn't mean I'm naive. I'm just trying to get information just like you! There wasn't much hacking. Only two hacked, but they were perfectly matched so it's not like we learned anything. This place was already under peacekeeper control, so it stayed that way. Now that my "dirty little secrets are out of the bag- was there much hacking in the market, Senior?"

[Demetri Messer]

This seemed to satisfy Demetri. He nodded, "All right. I believe you, Freshman. Like the Career said, the Peacekeepers have control of the market. I think two people hacked and neither were me or the Career. And the only thing you can scavenge for in the market is food. We each got some and left. There was no point in sticking around."

Then Demetri whispered to Thomas, "Also I spied on Chatty McBabyface, you know the kid who talks in EVERY conversation, and confirmed he's a rebel. Did you do any spying? If not can you tell me the names of the hackers? And who here is armed? Do you think they're dangerous?"

[Thomas Windsnip]

"That makes sense. Food is good, but you can find some here too. Probably a lot less of it though."

Thomas was confused, because Demetri kept calling Holly a career. "Hey, you're from district one, but you keep calling her a career. Were you not also a career? It seems odd that they would hand select someone from one that isn't a career. You must be somethin special."

[Holly Edison]

Having listened to the conversation, Holly was glad for the distraction and the opportunity to tease Demetri. "Oh, Demetri is something special - piss him off or look pretty enough around him and you'll find out for yourself. He's got a nickname for everyone, I wouldn't take it personally."

Holly smiled at Demetri. "Besides, he's got one of his own. Isn't that right, Demetri?"

"Anyway, his backstory is his to tell. What I'd like to know is, if two of you hacked... who were they then?"

She looked around, Dante seemed to have wandered off while she was preoccupied. Hmm.

[Dante Clavus]

Wandering back toward the group, Dante frowned as he glanced through a thick inventory packet.

"I expected there to be more supplies than just food in the market." He gestured to his clipboard. "According to this, there may be some weapons unaccounted for along the northern armory lockers."

"You two seem to have figured out each other, leaving me a mystery to you both." Dante sighed, knowing the risk he was about to take.

Better to learn now and adapt, than later and waste time.

"Minerva and Thomas were the hackers last night, so one or both of them are an undercover peacekeeper...like me." 

[Holly Edison]

"Yeah, there's food and a decent amount - but that's it. Which is why we had to move. There's always going to be food elsewhere. No point fighting in a big pile over it. Your odds are higher if you go elsewhere anyway. Plus, there's more interesting stuff lying around!"

"Dante, you signed on as our ally, that piece of paper is probably still sitting on the table back in the Loading Docks bearing witness to our friendship. I don't care if you're a Peacekeeper, and as long as you're not on their team - we don't have any issue. Don't hack, don't work against us. Your job description doesn't define you unless you say it does. And don't be surprised if I keep an eye on you for a little while. But with that said... I hope you're on our side and this isn't just a conversation meant to allow us to part ways amicably. Is it?"

[Demetri Messer]

“I’m no career,” Demetri explained. “I killed my brother and they couldn’t make a prison that could hold me, so they must have sent me here as a death sentence. And the Career’s right. You piss me off and I’ll slaughter you with no remorse. I like you so far, Freshman. You’re honest and willing to work with people. But if you try and attack me or hack against me, I swear I will drop all else to follow and attack you every day.”

“Career, I’ll spy on the Other One that’s not Freshman. So don’t spy on the Freshman. Hopefully he’s scared enough anyway. And if I successfully find out Other One then we possibly save ourselves the trouble of spying on Freshman later. I’m for sure going to pick up the assault rifle. And I think the handgun is worthless to us (since it’s just as effective as an unarmed attack and we already have a big attack bonus). What’s your plan?”

[Thomas Windsnip]

Thomas was intrigued to hear more about Demetri's life before the games.

Then he turned to Holly. "I guess I'm just confused as to why one would not want to hack. Sure there's risk of getting hurt, or revealing your allegiance, but isn't it the noble thing to do for your team?" But what did he know, he was just a kid. Maybe these older tributes understood something he didn't.

[Minerva Umber]

"No, I understand what you're saying Thomas, but it's not that simple. Anyone who hacks is essentially setting themselves up as a target. I can see why they wouldn't want to do that, allegiance or not."

Minerva looked around, trying to make eye contact at everyone in the room... this wasn't exactly her cup of tea. "I personally think that the games are different now. We might all have a chance of making it out here alive. It's not the Hunger Games anymore, there may not be only one person making it out. I think that if we play our cards right, regardless of allegiance... we may be able to survive." She looked over at Demitri, "Imagine that, real freedom, not being in prison or under the Capital's thumb."

"I think we need to plan some sort of action, instead of waiting for our fate to meet us."

[Holly Edison]

"Exactly, if everyone works together we all have a better chance. Hell, two of us surviving this is better than one victor." Holly looked at Thomas. Just a kid? Not anymore, man. "You're free to make your own choices, but if you want to survive you'll join the rebel tributes. That means if you're a Peacekeeper, you don't hack." Holly sat back down and waited for any response from the group.

"I don't think I have a prayer of finding food. I told Dante I wouldn't be above keeping an eye on him. I think I should spy on him and see what he has managed to find so far, I don't love the idea but IF he turns on us or has guns and wants to pretend he doesn't... I want to know. He kept one secret, I just want to be sure. I'm not great at spying, but I'll give it a shot - I only have one left today. If you have any energy left, I'd still appreciate if you could try for the gun, if only to keep it out of others hands - and it does provide a bonus. I probably won't be able to get it on my own. What do you think?"

[Minerva Umber]

"True, Dante may have been right, hacking might not be our priority now unless we want to get into a war." Establishing friendships, and garnering supplies is probably the most useful to us. I'm not claiming to be a leader, so if anyone here wants to take charge... please do. I'm better at chess than I am at fighting."

"Thomas, I think we worked together in training well. I don't know what's going on in the Capital, but we need friends. I think you and I are a good start. Watch each other's backs?"

[Demetri Messer]

A pretty new face entered the conversation. Demetri looked her up and down and nodded approvingly. "So you like a guy who takes charge, Sweet Cheeks? I'll take charge then," said Demetri with a smirk. "Career and I are taking this location. I'm picking up the Assault Rifle, so if anyone hacks against us I will use every bullet to light you up like a Christmas tree. I bet that would leave you feeling pretty 'noble,' huh Freshman?"

"One of us will have to hack. If you hack I'll pick up the handgun. But if you don't have any actions left then I have to hack instead. Let me know."

[Holly Edison]

"Don't worry, if you don't piss him off he won't touch you. There isn't a shade of gray to him. But he's right, we're taking the Armory." Holly looked at everyone in the room. "Any issues with that?"

"I have +2 Scavenge, and +0 Hack/Tactics. If you beat me on Hacking, I will scavenge the gun."

[Thomas Windsnip]

Thomas considered Holly's words. He was free to do whatever he wanted. No abusive aunt and uncle around to force him to do anything he didn't want to do. "I think I see what you're saying. If your team is in control, don't hack?"

Demetri the. Threatened Thomas. "Take all the weapons you want. When you say you're taking the armory- what exactly do you mean by that- hacking for the tributes?" Thomas was trying to keep up, but his eighth grade education wasn't serving him well.

[Demetri Messer]

"That's right, Freshman," said Demetri. "Just to make it perfectly clear: If any Peacekeepers hack tonight, you'll be dead tomorrow. And if you're going to attack, you better kill both me and the Career in one swoop, cuz you're not going to get a second shot at it."

I have -1 Hack, +2 Scavenge. So it makes more sense if you hack and I grab the gun.

[Holly Edison]

"Alright, alright calm down. There's no reason we can't all get along. Try to play nice for now, Demetri." Holly turned to Minerva, "Does that work for you?"

"I tried. Very, very unsuccessfully. Fell right on my face. I think you need to try to hack in after all and I'll live without the gun. Maybe Dante is on our side and will share.

"Dante, are you joining us? Or is this going to be a goodbye?"

[Thomas Windsnip]

Thomas was okay with this. Maybe Demetri and Holly could take him under their wings and show him the ropes to this rebellion. "Hey man, you just do what you gotta do and I'll make sure to stay out of your way!" Thomas was prepared to follow orders, he'd always been a bit of a push-over.

"So, what did you guys do before you were sent here?"