Arena 12 - The Spaceport

[etcircenses]

As usual the Tributes are woken up early for the start of the arena, leaving the Tribute Centre before dawn. A few hours ride in a hovercraft delivers them to their destination where their excited prep teams will outfit them in skintight suits that are colour coordinated by District (D1 is White, D2 is Red, D3 is Orange, D4 is Aqua, D5 is Purple, D6 is Pink, D7 is Light Green, D8 is Blue, D9 is Yellow, D10 is Dark Green, D11 is Lavender, and D12 is Black) over which they will be put into what is instantly identifiable as a spacesuit, complete with oxygen tank and helmet before being loaded into the tubes.

They rise up into what appears to be outer space and immediately upon emerging from the tubes Tributes will find themselves floating upwards with a length of rope the only thing holding them to their podiums. The countdown crackles out from speakers built into each Tributes helmet.

20

19

18…

The Cornucopia sits in the middle of a dusty crater with buildings surrounding it, made up of a number of chained down cases and cubes in limited numbers. Cubes which sharp-eyed Tributes will note look like they fit into the slots beside the doors that lead into the spaceport.

8

7

6…

The mirrored visors of the uniformly white spacesuits make it impossible to tell friend from foe. Tributes fighting for goods will have to risk harming their friends but the alternative, floating off into space or suffocating when their oxygen runs out, leaves them little choice.

3

2

1…

The gong rings out and the countdown’s voice announces, “the Arena is now open” before the line goes dead. The Games have begun.

Comments

[burningdaylight]

Nick’s not only responsive, he’s forming sentences as coherently as ever -- and Clem’s joyful relief is echoed in the way Luke lets out the breath he had been clutching so fiercely in his lungs, the knots in his shoulders loosening inch by inch.

“You’re alive,” Luke emphasizes with a tone that leaves no room for any diminishment of the fact. Nasty as Nick’s hand looks, all bubbled up with blisters like batter on a griddle, it’s far better to see him in pain but alive than the alternative. This they could actually attempt to treat granted that they found the necessary supplies.

“Jesus Christ…” Hushed incredulity. He shakes his head as the events of the last few minutes wash over him, his pulse still pulsing wildly in his throat. “That shock knocked the breath right out a' you... thought it might a’ stopped your heart. It wasn't lookin' too good for a while.”

There’s a shift of his jaw and a pained, worried knit to his brow, his lips pressing tight just a moment. And it's all the emotion he’s allowing himself - all that he can - before he swallows away the thickness in his throat and blinks his eyes clearer. “How’s the rest a' you doin'? If you start hurtin' pretty bad while we're on the move, jus' say somethin', okay? We'll figure somethin' out."

[smarterthanthem]

Clementine doesn't think he's got anything to apologise for, he's alive and that's enough. None of them can be prepared for what they're going to find in here from the start, the Capitol makes it that way, wants them to be surprised and taken off-guard so they die in the most entertaining ways possible. It's not Nick's fault that he didn't expect to get electrocuted and then jumped on by some horrible muttation.

"I'm glad you're alive." she says, adding her own voice to what Luke said. "We can probably stay here a little longer if you need to."

A little longer but not too long. They have no food, no water and Clementine is willing to bet those resources in the arena are probably finite. If they don't hurry up and find some the other Tributes might take them first and going out that way sounds worse than any of her other deaths.

It's not a death she wants for her friends, either.

[fuckitall]

For now, he'd add. But saying shit like that doesn't help anything. Instead he attempts a chuckle, though another cough escapes instead. "Yeah, I can't believe it either."

Something about the shock tells him that the Gamemakers could've made it stronger, but they only needed him just barely, dead to let those mutts get to him. Assholes, all of them. There isn't much they can do about it now. They're doing even less just sitting here and Nick isn't going to let the group slow down on his account.

"I'll be fine," he tells them both, moving to stand while ignoring the brief dizzy spell he just got. "Could use some medicine if there are any."

But he can move, and that's what matters.

[burningdaylight]

To no surprise, Luke and Clementine share the same line of thought. As much as he’d let Nick rest a half hour longer at the very least, they’d be increasingly hard-pressed to find shelter, food, water, and supplies -- and with only one survivor destined to emerge victorious he can’t see any of it being available to a great extent or for very long. Time was siding against them and every second that slipped away only stacked the odds higher against them.

Keeping to a room with one of the exits blocked off wasn't the safest either, he muses. There's no knowing who - or what - might enter from the other side.

“Okay y’all,” He looks between Nick and Clem, seeking their attention, their agreement. It comes as a relief when he doesn’t have to urge Nick to his feet prematurely – though he does eye him, prepared to steady him if need be. “Keep your eyes open for anythin’ that seems like it could be useful - we'll probably have to get creative here. We’re lookin’ for food, water, better weapons, an’ medical supplies. Someplace to rest would be nice.” Then, to Nick: “We'll see if we can find somethin' for that burn.”

[smarterthanthem]

Clementine stands up as Nick does, her hands half-raised like she could catch him if he started to fall. People like them, people who had gone through what they had, they learned how to push past what other people wouldn't as a matter of survival. That doesn't mean Clem doesn't still worry for him.

"Yeah. Okay." she turns her head and looks at Luke, nodding. "Let's keep moving."

Turning round she picks up a piece of metal from the floor, it's as good a weapon as she'll get for now. "There has to be something around here."

Maybe if they're lucky there'll be sponsor gifts soon, she thinks, not yet realising that there'll be none of that in this arena. Until then they just had to keep moving.