Breaking Point Sextet IV

Tempest: The 73rd Hunger Games

Chapter One

Introduction, The Twist, and Tribute Submission Info

A/N: Hello, dear readers, and welcome, once again, to another installment in the Breaking Point Sextet, another story of another Hunger Games, this time, the 73rd. Some of you already know me and are here from my previous SYOTs, such as Paradise, Shine, and Heat. For those of you who are new readers, welcome to the club! I hope you enjoy this story, but a word of warning: to understand the larger story at play beyond just this Hunger Games, you may want to skim Paradise a bit, (as this is set in the same universe, a year later), especially the bits in italics and the chapter called "The Story of Lucy Snow". I'll give brief explanations of important events and people as we go along, but I don't know if that will do all of them justice. Of course, if you're just here for the Hunger Games, go right on ahead too. Now, on to the story…

President Cornelius Snow stood at the podium stamped with the seal of Panem, taking a moment to collect himself before addressing the assembled Capitol reporters and television cameras. Normally, the details of twists, especially ones like this, were kept secret, or told to the public in riddles, meant to be surprises for both the audience and the Tributes when they entered the Arena. This year, however, when Snow had opened the card shortly after the 72nd Hunger Games so that he could tell his Gamemakers what to prepare, he had known that, sooner or later, he would need to tell the public if the Tributes had any chance of survival. Of course, he opted for the latter option. No need to give the Tributes, especially those careers who trained for years, often futilely, too much time to prepare. Having the Tributes only know the bare minimum for their survival was, he knew, part of the fun.

His nineteen-year-old daughter, whom he had sired through taking an attractive Victor's eggs from her while she was sleeping, artificially inseminating them, implanting them in a surrogate, and then having the surrogate killed after little Lucy was delivered when the Victor in question refused his offer to make a child the normal way, Lucy Snow stood next to him, looking, as always, resplendent and beautiful in one of her custom-made dresses. He was happy that since the previous Games, Lucy had taken more than an observational interest in the Games, becoming heavily involved with the Gamemaking process. As a matter of fact, he had hardly seen her in the past year, although he took that as a sign that she was becoming an independent woman, and that could only mean that he had succeeded as a father. Lucy herself had, of course, not only been working on the Games, but had also been gathering intelligence on the growing discontent in the Districts, and stepping up Peacekeeper stationing and patrols accordingly. However, especially in the weeks directly proceeding today, the Rebels had seemed oddly silent. Usually, there was a kerfuffle once every month, some idiot spouting anti-Capitol propaganda, and there was often some unexplained disruption to, or disappearance of, Capitol operations, supplies, or personnel. However, for a month, no more than the usual crazies had come forward, and no disruptions to Capitol operations had been detected. The only thing that still troubled Lucy was the increased traffic on the Capitol's wireless, military communications network that could not be explained. Clearly, someone was using their network without telling them about it, but the technicians had been unable to figure out who it was, or even if they weren't supposed to be using the network. After several attempts to lock out the mystery attacker failed, the technicians finally just assumed that it was someone with access and their diagnostics were just malfunctioning, or perhaps the group of people using it were some secret division of the military they didn't have clearance to know about. Whatever the case, the technicians dismissed the issue only a month after it was discovered. It was still on Lucy's mind, however, upon the day before the Reaping. However, as she smoothed her dress, preparing for her father to speak, she forced herself to put it out of her mind and focus on the upcoming Games, for they promised to provide her many opportunities for fun and high entertainment.

President Snow –81- -President of Panem- -Capitol Ruler- POV

I clear my throat as I stand at the podium.

"People of Panem," I begin my address. "Every year, we are reminded of the betrayal, so many years ago, of the glorious Capitol by the traitorous Districts when we celebrate the Hunger Games. Our forefathers, in their infinite wisdom, devised the Hunger Games so that the Districts will never forget the pain and suffering their traitorous actions brought on the good citizens of the Capitol. They not only devised the Hunger Games, but they devised a system by which every Hunger Games would be made different, to show a different side of the many-faceted pain that the Capitol experienced. Last year, our Tributes were reminded that the brave soldiers of the Capitol had to face the loss of the ones they loved and the things they held dearest while fighting against those they used to call their brothers. The year previously, our Tributes were reminded of the bravery of the Capitol soldiers. This year, our Tributes will be reminded of the soldiers who endured horrible conditions in the Districts to attempt to bring and keep peace. I have, in my hand, the card which details the change to this year's Hunger Games. I will now read from the card. It says:

To remind the Districts that Capitol soldiers and citizens were forced to live in bomb shelters and the basements of their homes during the bombings of the Capitol, the Arena will again be modified from its normal, Panem-like condition. A series of tunnels will be constructed underneath the Arena, which will be the Tribute's main habitat, as the surface of the Arena will be rendered uninhabitable by Tempest-force winds for twenty-two out of twenty-four hours of the day. The only times the surface shall be made habitable are during the hours of dawn and dusk, which shall be from five am and pm to six am and pm respectively."

I look up from the card, although I did not need to look down, having long ago memorized it. "I believe that this twist, dreamed up by our forefathers many years ago, shall provide a good reminder to the Districts of the reasons that traitorous actions such as theirs should never be repeated. I know that tomorrow is Reaping day, and for those children who are Reaping age, I have only this to say: May the Odds Be Ever In Your Favor. Thank you." I walk offstage to the myriad voices of news reporters shouting questions and the flashing of cameras.

Kayne Lytch –D10V- -15- POV

I sit on the couch with Kylie, clutching her hand tightly.

"Kayne?" She asks me. I look at her.

"Sorry, Kylie. Just… you know this always makes me worried," I say. "I mean… you, now Jose… you could both be Reaped."

"I know, Kayne, I know," she says. She looks at me, her beautiful brown eyes boring into mine. "But don't worry about it, okay? There's nothing you can do, even if we do get Reaped. And I'm sure we won't. I'm sixteen already. Just two years after this. Okay?"

"Okay," I say, still worried. How could I not be worried about her? I love her, she's my fiancee for goodness sake.

"I know just the thing to take your mind off it," she says.

"Oh, what's that?" I ask.

She gives me that smile. The same smile she gave me before she pushed me off a roof. Then she leans forward and kisses me, pushing me backward onto the couch.

Athena Feere –D11V- -20- POV

I look over at Alix once the President finishes speaking.

"Another year," I say. "I'm just glad that Alia is eighteen now."

He smiles at me. "Me too. Me too. She's becoming quite the young woman."

"Yes, she is," I say, considering my little sister, now living with her boyfriend and planning to marry him if all goes well once I get back from the Games. My other little sister, Ainsley, is sixteen now, and she doesn't have any romantic relationships right now, although she did just break up with a boy, and I think she's crushing on a girl, but I'm not quite sure. Either way, she'll be moving out of the large Victor's house in a couple of years. And then it'll just be Alix and me. And then, we think, we'll finally have kids of our own. Of course, I consider, that's if this… whatever it is I've gotten myself into with Emma O'Neill, Kayne Lytch, and Miria Wallace doesn't come to a head first. And if it does, I'll probably be too busy fighting to have kids. Maybe, if something does happen before then, we can win whatever fight we get ourselves into quick enough that I can still have kids after. In fact, that might be better, having kids in a world without Reapings. That's presuming that we win, of course. I sigh and snuggle into Alix's bare chest.

"We have the day off," I say.

"So? We have every day off," Alix says, although I know he knows what I mean. He just likes to tease me.

"So, that means we can lie in bed all day long," I say, kissing his chest and moving up to his neck, and then his lips. "All day long." He kisses me back as I roll on top of him.

Miria "Ria" Wallace –17- -D6V- POV

Wow. My first year as a Mentor and this is what I get. That Arena sounds… interesting. I would bet that the Gamemakers are going to trap those tunnels, which won't be good for my Tributes, whoever they are. Of course, the Tributes themselves could also trap the tunnels, providing themselves with an advantage… I sigh, standing up out of bed and stretching. This house is big, too big for just one person. Even if living by myself has certain perks, it's also a bit lonely. I had asked my parents to move in with me, but they didn't, saying that I needed to be more independent, and now that I've won the Hunger Games, I'm an adult and should act like one. I walk down to the kitchen to make breakfast, and, as I put on a pan of water for some poached eggs, pick up the phone and call my best friend, Rose. After a few rings, she picks up.

"Hi, Ria," she says. "Hehe, stop! I'm talking to Ria!"

"Ben there?" I ask the obvious question.

"Sorry, yes. He just came over. What are you calling about?" She asks.

"Just wanted to see how you're doing," I say. "Day before the Reaping and all that."

"Well, since I can't be picked again, feeling pretty good," she says. "Thank you again, Ria."

"It's been a year, you don't need to thank me," I say. "But you're welcome."

"How are you doing?" Rose asks, concern evident in her voice. "This is your first year as a mentor."

"Yeah, I know," I say. "Honestly, I'm a bit worried. I mean, even if I do the best I can do, there's no guarantee that even one of them will make it out of the Bloodbath, much less home alive. And even if the very best scenario for me and them happens, it's still only one of them coming home. And twenty-three other people, including their partner, are still dead."

Rose sighs. "I know, Ria. It's… it must be hard. I'm sorry, I really am. For everything. Look, all I can say is try not to get too attached, okay? They'll probably die, so do your best, but don't blame yourself if they do. Okay?"

"Sounds good," I say. "I agree. Let's just hope I can do it."

I hear laughing and tickling noises in the background. "Hey, I'll let you go. Meet me for lunch?"

"Sure," she says. "Bye, Ria."

"Bye, Rose," I say. Then she hangs up the phone and I go back to the lonely task of preparing two poached eggs.

A/N: Yeesh, that was the longest story opener I've written! I hope you guys enjoyed it though! So, for new readers, Athena was the Victor of the 70th Hunger Games, after she and her ally, Sofie, were the only two people left. Sofie was wounded and sacrificed herself for Athena. To fulfill Sofie's dying wish, Athena finished and published Sofie's book, Heat, the 70th Hunger Games. Kayne was the Victor of the 71st Games, after an ally and a girl he barely knew, who had lost her love in the Games, sacrificed themselves so that he could go back and have a good life with his young self (he was thirteen at the time) and Kylie Mino, his now-fiancee. Miria "Ria" Wallace was the Victor of the 72nd Games, after surviving on her own for a while, she made it to the top three. The other two boys in the top three were both damaged from their experiences, and, seeing that she had the most chance at a normal life (both had also, in one way or another, lost their loves), sacrificed themselves for her. Okay, now that you're all caught up… this is still an SYOT, and I need Tributes! The form is down below and on my profile, as are the rules! I look forward to seeing your wonderful Tributes!

Name:

Age:

District:

Appearance (basic stuff like hair color, eye color, hair length, and style):

Detailed Appearance (optional) (stuff like scars, height, weight, etc.):

Personality (Please, be detailed. A list is fine, but a list of interesting traits, ie. funny, witty, charming, mysterious, not: bubbly, kind, good at making friends. Paragraphs are great too.):

Backstory:

Friends:

Family:

Boyfriend/Girlfriend/Person they have a crush on:

Reaped/Volunteered:

If Reaped, reaction:

If Volunteered, why?

Physical strengths:

Mental strengths:

Physical weaknesses (Min 2.):

Mental Weaknesses (Min 2.):

Open to Allies:

Open to In-game romance:

Chariot Outfit (Optional, but it'll suck if I do it. Check out the Chariot Rides chapter from Heat and Shine to see what horrors you will get):

Interview Outfit (Optional, but it'll be bland if I do it.):

Anything else:

Bloodbath (will say if we have too many, Y/N):

Note: Some of this form is borrowed from others because I liked the questions. I hope nobody minds. :) I think the unique parts mostly come from InfintyBook.

Rules: Be creative! You may submit up to three Tributes. If you reserve a spot, please submit a Tribute within 48 hours of the reservation, or the spot will go up for grabs again. If you don't think you can do that, tell me when you make your reservation, and I'll give you an extension. If something comes up, that's fine, just tell me, and I'll give you an extension. Have fun! Also, if you're on the mobile app and PM me your Tribute, please leave a review saying that you've PM'd them to me, as I don't check the app very much. Thanks!

See all of you, and your Tributes, soon! – JStar14H