Alma Coin
Primrose "Prim" Everdeen, 13 yrs. Position: District Thirteen. Importance to war: Sister of Mockingjay, cared for deeply. Notes: Though underage, wants to be on front line. Information provided by:
We all have our symbolic holo-stamps – Beetee Sen's is a computer, Plutarch's is a video camera. Fulvia's is a makeup brush. A mockingjay and a stethoscope are in the space. The stethoscope is Charlena, the mother, the healer. This mockingjay I've never seen before. This person hasn't given us any information otherwise. But it's not exactly hard to guess.
Katniss.
I sigh and lean back. Katniss. Long ago – well, just two years – katniss was only a plant that we sometimes got to eat. Now…just the chant of "Katniss" is enough to move a country.
I sigh again and click.
Gale Hawthorne, 19 yrs. Position: Capitol. Importance to war: Soldier, sharpshooter, possible lover to Mockingjay. Notes: Designed several bombs, is a strategic genius, has quite a temper. Information provided by:
The two holo-stamps are an arrow with a lit bomb instead of an arrowhead and a computer. Hawthorne and Beetee.
The word Mockingjay is linked in blue, like it was on Prim Everdeen's page. I click on it. The page reloads, flickers, and takes me to a screen that says ARE YOU ALMA COIN?
I type yes.
PLEASE INPUT YOUR PASSWORD, ALMA COIN.
I frown, but put in my password. The screen glows.
YOU ARE ABOUT TO VIEW SECURE INFORMATION.
Two buttons at the bottom. Proceed and cancel.
What in the world?
Proceed.
Two windows open.
Katniss "Mockingjay" Everdeen, 17 yrs. Position: Capitol. Importance to war: Soldier. Not to mention that she's the freaking Mockingjay! Can control crowds just by speaking. Has power over country. People will listen to her. Excellent shooter. Notes: Our greatest asset, but very slippery. Anger at Snow is driving her. Granted immunity to captured victors. Watch out for Katniss Everdeen. Information provided by:
Several stamps. Plutarch's, Boggs's, even mine. I contributed the "freaking" part.
The second window. I forgot about it. I open it.
Peeta Rye Mellark, 18 yrs. Position: Capitol. Importance to war: Is Mockingjay's current lover, helped stir things up, good with words. Used to have almost as much power as her, and still holds on to a little. His appearance was known to start a Capitol riot. Notes: Has been hijacked. Cannot remember who he is at certain moments. Extremely volatile. Will attack anyone from his past. Anger at Snow and remnants of love drive him. Information provided by:
A cake, a big 50, and a video camera. The boy, Haymitch, and Plutarch. Funny. The boy provided information on himself.
Primrose Everdeen
"Mother dear," I say, pacing around our tiny room, "you have to at least let me ask."
"Prim…" She sounds sad, tired. "Your sister's out there. I can't lose all three of you."
I know who she's adding to us two. Our father.
I assure her, "I'm just healing them. I won't die."
Alma Coin
I go back, reread Primrose Everdeen's profile. Wants to be on front line. Cared for deeply.
Something hardens. Go to Katniss's page.
Very slippery. Anger at Snow is driving her.
This isn't me. I know this. Alma Coin, President of District Thirteen, wouldn't kill a hardly teenage girl to gain her sister.
But Alma Coin, future President of Panem, will.
Primrose Everdeen
"Fine, darling, go. But that president is very strict…she won't let you."
"It's probably exactly what Katniss wants. For me to be there. C'mon. I'm going to be saving lives. Just be a little enthusiastic about this, Mother!"
Alma Coin
I press the button.
"What do you wish, Miss Coin?"
"Call Primrose Everdeen."
"It will be done."
I smile. The voice is one of the generals, Nola. Nola is very punctual. Primrose will be here soon.
Primrose Everdeen
"May I come in?"
The voice is soft and hard at the same time. A gentle voice used to being obeyed.
"Just one moment, ma'am." I stuff Buttercup out the window, cross to the door and fling it open.
"Are you Charlena Everdeen?"
"No. That's my mother."
"Is she here?"
"Yes."
"Please bring her."
"I'm here," Mother says, coming up. "What is it?"
The woman – a brunette with her hair in a no-nonsense bun and no makeup – frowns and looks between us. "You look remarkably similar."
"What is it?" Mother repeats.
"May Primrose come to meet with the president?"
She asks it, but I know it's a command. I silently will Mother not to refuse.
"She may."
Yes!
"All right," the woman says. Something glitters in her endless black eyes.
I go with her.
Alma Coin
Primrose is a pretty young thing, a blonde with wide eyes the color of morning glories. Two curls bounce on either side of her face.
This thinking does you no good, Hardhearted Controlling Powerful Strong President Alma Coin says. Do not spare her. Think only for your cause!
I sniff. "Primrose, I have heard you want to be in the war."
A look of astonishment flits over her face. She tenses. Nola does too, but they both relax.
"Yes, ma'am. Please call me Prim."
Polite, too, Nice Alma thinks.
Shut up. Keep this up and power will never be yours, says Hardhearted Controlling Powerful Strong President Alma Coin.
"What skills do you have that would be useful on the front?"
I mean to let her go with anything, but she surprises me.
"I can heal."
A simple sentence, and the plan begins to form. Flickering behind my eyes, I see the pieces beginning to fit together. I'll need a hovercraft…cameras…and especially one of Hawthorne's double-exploding bombs.
Primrose Everdeen
I can hardly believe Coin let me by!
I'm getting to know the silent woman beside me. Her name is Nola Cenza. Her skin is deeply tanned because she used to live in District Four. She's a general.
Nola is friendly in the way Katniss and Madge are – were. Quiet, but not mean. Soft, but not shy.
We reach the dressing room. Mother opens her arms and says, "One last hug before you grow up."
Alma Coin
She's suited up in white, and ready to go. I've sent the orders. Plutarch doesn't know. I've picked up the camera idea.
"You'll just look for the injured innocent," Nola says. Even Nola doesn't know. She's too friendly with Primrose now. Nola will oppose me, and that can't happen.
"Yes."
"Parachute into them." She points at a swarm of rebel medics on the edge of City Circle.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Go!"
Primrose jumps, and the white parachute emblazoned with a glittering primrose opens. We gave everyone their own stamps when they entered Thirteen. They're used everywhere, even if the people themselves don't know.
Goodbye, Primrose.
Primrose Everdeen
I fall in.
"You?" a young man and woman say at once. The man says, "Aren't you the Mockingjay's sister?"
I humph. I love my sister a lot, but she doesn't define me.
"My name is Primrose."
"You're thirteen!"
"President Coin gave me special permission to be here." I give them the slip that Coin said would get me by. Their eyes widen, and they wave me on.
Alma Coin
I put on the suit. I must look presentable.
Primrose Everdeen
I'm led into City Circle.
Alma Coin
We launch the hovercraft. I watch its progress.
Primrose Everdeen
A hovercraft with a Capitol seal appears above us.
Alma Coin
And…drop!
Primrose Everdeen
Bombs fall.
Alma Coin
They explode the first time. I spot the Mockingjay on a pole.
Primrose Everdeen
We sweep in. I'm horrified by the children's plight, but this is my new job.
I whip off my coat, revealing the ducktail. If Katniss could see…
Alma Coin
If the Mockingjay sees her…
Primrose Everdeen
"Prim!"
It's so faint. So faint. But I know that voice anywhere.
I turn. Smile. "Katniss!" I mouth.
Alma Coin
The bombs go off.