Hello, and welcome to the 202nd Annual Hunger Games: The Credence! And yes, this is an SYOT! So, let me just explain a few things, and we'll be good to go! First things first, the tribute profile you should fill out is in my profile (at the top). Please, PM me any tributes you submit. Also, please read the entire explanation of the profile, for it explains a few things that are important for you all to see.

Anyway, there's a poll in my profile that is important regarding this fan fiction, so please, if you get the chance, I would love if you would vote.

Alright, feel free to submit a tribute! And remember, you may submit as long as the story summary says SYOT: open! Thanks for reading this, and good luck if you submit a tribute.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games. Also, the 28 tributes are created by other users.

Let the 202nd Annual Hunger Games...begin! (Well, not quite, but you get the drift.)

Prelude

Jayce Estate, the Center of the Capitol

The wind whipped by the windows; Jayce could almost see it. It was a haunting wind. It sounded like it was speaking to her, but she couldn't quite make out the words. The weather was angry that night.

But Jayce didn't care about the weather. She only cared about one thing: the Hunger Games. With a bottle of champagne in one hand and her glass in another, President Jayce led the conversation. She sat on an expensive lavender couch across from the man she wanted to see: the head game-maker. "Polaris Wendington, how are you doing tonight?"

Polaris loved the President's small talk. It was one of the few quirks he found likable about her character. Another was her ruthlessness, and her mercilessness. "You know I am doing well, President. You called me here tonight? You want to…speak to me?"

"Of course I do," she said, laughing lightly. "You know what I want. You know what time of year it is…" She looked at him, the bottle of champagne still unopened and waiting to be drunk.

"The Hunger Games," he mouthed silently. She nodded at him when he answered her. Then he asked, "What are your plans this year, President?"

"Isn't that what you're for?" she asked him jokingly. It was no surprise that President Jayce enjoyed designing the theme and arena for the Hunger Games as much as a head game-maker did. Thus, she played an integral role in the creative process each year. "But I have been thinking…"

"I knew you would."

"What is something that all tributes need?"

Polaris looked at the ground squinting. He thought about her question and pondered it extremely seriously. Then, he said, "Strength. Not just physical, but also mental."

Jayce nodded at him. "That is true. But that's not what I am looking for. Of course, strength is important. We all know that! But, think about it: how many winners wouldn't have won had they not been involved in an alliance?"

Polaris shook his head.

"And…how many winners wouldn't have won had their allies betrayed them?"

"Not many…" Polaris said slowly. "So, are you talking about…"

"Trust," Jayce said flatly. "You need trust to survive in the Hunger Games. It's so ironic. That's why I love it."

"Why is it ironic?"

"People are fighting for their lives, Polaris. Would you trust one of the twenty-seven people trying to kill you? It seems so…silly. Don't you think? Shouldn't a tribute want to stay alone? Shouldn't they want to remain away from as many people as possible? You should think they would. But, they don't. And it's for the best, because some people are actually trusting. Somehow, even though they're inches away from death, they'll trust a person. And that is the epitome of the Hunger Games. That, right there, shows exactly how the tributes think. And in the end, they do know that only one of them can survive. It is…incredible."

"I…I'm sorry, President Jayce, but I…fail to see your point," Polaris said, spreading his hands as though asking a very general question to a group of people.

"This year must be about trust, more than ever," she said.

Polaris nodded and smiled. He seemed to understand. He didn't need to hear her little speech to Comprehend what she wanted. He just wanted to hear her ideas. "Then it is done. I will get to work immediately. But, I should know better. You probably have drawn up some plans. Care to share them?"

"Over some champagne?" Jayce asked, smiling as she lifted the bottle.

"Yes," Polaris answered.

He watched as the President poured them each a glass of champagne, and he graciously took his glass from her hand. He toasted it to the 202nd Hunger Games and took a sip, feeling the immediate warmth of the substance that revitalized his bones and made him feel ready to plan that year's Hunger Games.

"I want to hear your plans," he said politely.

President Jayce smiled and nodded. "I…" She paused. "I will be telling those plans to Syrus Calloway, Polaris."

"What?" he asked her, with desperation in his voice. "Syrus? But…he is not the head game-maker, President. I have been the head game-maker for the past eight years. I don't understand…please…"

She noticed his hands were shaking slightly. He noticed this, too, and tried to stop them. President Jayce smiled. "I'm sorry, Polaris. But, I think it's time the Hunger Games took on a change. The same game-maker from year to year…gets stale." She looked him directly in the eye. "I'm sorry, Polaris, but I have no more use for you. Thank you, though, for trusting me."

Polaris was shaking more rapidly now. His whole body began to contort and twist, and his face became one of pain and anguish. In a moment, his body collapsed onto the couch, and his struggling and shaking was no more. The glass of champagne in his hand lay resting on the tip of his fingers. Jayce watched it for a second; then it fell. She smiled again.

"Polaris, you are fired."

Tribute Status:

District 1 Male - taken

District 1 Female - taken

District 2 Male - taken

District 2 Female - taken

District 3 Male - taken

District 3 Female - taken

District 4 Male - taken

District 4 Female - taken

District 5 Male - taken

District 5 Female - taken

District 6 Male - taken

District 6 Female - taken

District 7 Male - taken

District 7 Female - taken

District 8 Male - taken

District 8 Female - taken

District 9 Male - taken

District 9 Female - taken

District 10 Male - taken

District 10 Female - taken

District 11 Male - taken

District 11 Female - taken

District 12 Male - taken

District 12 Female - taken

District 13 Male - taken

District 13 Female - taken

District 14 Male - taken

District 14 Female - taken