Into Thin Air: The Forty-Second Hunger Games

Chapter 23

ATTN: HEAD GAMEMAKER TITIAN QIN

PRIVATE SESSION REPORT

THEODORA HARP AND HER LOVE MUFFIN

"That's real mature, Harley."

"I think you mean Love Muffin."

"You better get to work unless you want to get fired, secretary."

"Bully."

DISTRICT ONE MALE

NAME: ONYX SOUL

SKILLS ASSESSED: SPEARS AND DUAL KNIVES

Onyx wasted little time with the spears. He threw one expertly to show his skill and moved on to his preferred skill, dual knives. He bested our most advanced assistant quickly and showed little exertion.

STRENGTHS: Weapons, control of emotions, background

WEAKNESSES: See confidential report

ODDS: 10:1 not adjusted (CONFIDENTIAL: actual odds much lower. See report)

PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE: Anhedonia

SCORE: 10

NOTES: Apparently Onyx is some super cool spy or something. I'm not allowed to read the report, but I attached it for you.

DISTRICT ONE FEMALE

NAME: RHODA HAMILTON

SKILLS ASSESSED: SWORDS, SPEARS, FIREMAKING

Rhoda divided her time equally between the three skills. She was highly adept at both weapons. She was less skilled but skill adequate in firemaking. Her style was stylish but still functional. Also, she's totally gorgeous.

STRENGTHS: Weapons skills, extreme popularity, likely favorite of Snow

WEAKNESSES: May be seen as a target by other Careers who resent her fame

ODDS: 12:1

PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE: Healthy

SCORE: 9

NOTES: If someone hadn't gotten herself fired, she could have gotten me an autograph.

DISTRICT TWO MALE

NAME: JASON LENN

SKILLS ASSESSED: MACHETE, CAMOUFLAGE

It is clear Jason is a fighter, not a runner. He performed better with the machete and enjoyed it more than camouflage. His style is brutal and angry, but effective. He is a capable and worthy Career.

STRENGTHS: Rage, weapons skills, and physical strength

WEAKNESSES: Lack of popularity in his District due to his sister's performance, hotheadedness

ODDS: 14:1

PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE: Agression stemming from resentment over his sister

SCORE: 8

NOTES: Maybe you can make up for her.

DISTRICT TWO FEMALE

NAME: TUESDAY ERELLE

SKILLS ASSESSED: MORNINGSTARS, HALBERD

Tuesday was perhaps more interested in appearance than performance, but she still performed well. According to our combat specialist, many of her moves were ornamental, but the ones that were useful were executed well.

STRENGTHS: Weapons skills, likeability

WEAKNESSES: Weakness for flashiness, suspect motivation for volunteering, lack of bloodthirstiness

ODDS: 16:1

PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE: Tuesday is exceptionally curious

SCORE: 8

NOTES: Tuesday's child is full of grace.

DISTRICT THREE MALE

NAME: QUINTIC GRICE

SKILLS ASSESSED: DAGGER, HAND-TO-HAND, BODY LANGUAGE

Quintic showed passing skills in his weapons. He then turned to us and stared for some time at Theodora. He announced "you've been drinking" and left without explanation. We assume he was analyzing her body language. But with Theodora, "you've been drinking" is always a good guess.

STRENGTHS: Jack of all trades, unlikely to attract attacks quickly

WEAKNESSES: Mental state, lack of combat training

ODDS: 26:1

PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE: Quintic suffers from Harm OCD. His therapist has said he is responding well to treatment.

SCORE: 5

NOTES: He's boring. I got nothing.

DISTRICT THREE FEMALE

NAME: GIDGET FORD

SKILLS ASSESSED: INTELLIGENCE, KNIFE THROWING

Few Tributes ever use our intelligence testing machine. Gidget scored very highly. She was unconfident in knife throwing but performed well for someone with so little training. Her movements were hampered by her baby bump. The doctors have informed us she is expected to deliver before the Games. If she has not delivered before the day of the launch, she has been granted permission to have an induced labor.

STRENGTHS: No one wants to kill a very new mother. She is likely to attract sponsors. She will have an especially high drive to win.

WEAKNESSES: She'll be exhausted and damaged from childbirth.

ODDS: 40:1

PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE: Normal

SCORE: 7

NOTES: That ain't right.

DISTRICT FOUR MALE

NAME: SHANE DONEGAL

SKILLS ASSESSED: SHILLAYLIE... SHALAIEE... STICK

I didn't think it was possible, but Shane wreaked havoc with nothing but a stick. He smashed everything he could and sent the assistant running for cover. What he lacks in finesse he makes up for in enthusiasm. He is certainly a formidable opponent.

STRENGTHS: Smashing things

WEAKNESSES: Restraint

ODDS: 12:1

PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE: Surprisingly, nothing.

SCORE: 8

NOTES: That was... interesting.

DISTRICT FOUR FEMALE

NAME: RAIN ODESSA

SKILLS ASSESSED: HAND TO HAND, DAGGER

Rain was good and all. Way better than most people her age. But she's not as good as the other Careers. I don't know what she was thinking. She doesn't seem to, either, since she was obviously nervous.

STRENGTHS: Above average weapons skills, cuteness factor

WEAKNESSES: Youth, much stronger allies, obviously overconfident, lack of support from Four

ODDS: 20:1

PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE: Nothing

SCORE: 8

NOTES: Someone was too big for their britches

DISTRICT FIVE MALE

NAME: SLATER HEMATITE

SKILLS ASSESSED: HAND TO HAND, ARCHERY

Slater was good at both his weapons. His performance wasn't very exciting, but it got the job done. He was oddly skilled for someone not from the Career Districts.

STRENGTHS: Weapons stuff, the usual

WEAKNESSES: Boring

ODDS: 16:1

PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE: Nothing

SCORE: 8

NOTES: That's weird you're so good and all, but you're still boring.

DISTRICT FIVE FEMALE

NAME: SITA ALAYA

SKILLS ASSESSED: SNARES

Sita knew her stuff. She has been studying hard and it has paid off. It is hard to judge snares because assistants aren't the same as animals, but we account for that in our judging. She caught an assistant in her snare and held a knife to his throat.

STRENGTHS: Quick-thinking, mechanically oriented

WEAKNESSES: Lack of physical strength, lack of weapons

ODDS: 22:1

PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE: Nothing

SCORE: 7

NOTES: I don't know if it will be as easy holding a knife to a real person.

DISTRICT SIX MALE

NAME: LUCIUS PETROL

SKILLS ASSESSED: JAVELIN

Lucius was resoundingly average. He was okay at close quarters with his javelin and okay at long range. He's not great, but he's also not terrible.

STRENGTHS: Optimism, willingness to learn and adapt

WEAKNESSES: Lack of fighting skills, mediocrity

ODDS: 24:1

PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE: Nothing

SCORE: 6

NOTES: At least you're not ugly.

DISTRICT SIX MALE

NAME: FERARRI BENZ

SKILLS ASSESSED: URUMI, FIREMAKING

Ferarri was very enthusiastic about her urumi. She wasn't overboard like Shane, but she clearly enjoyed using her weapon. She was matter-of-fact about the fire and left it burning as she went back to the urumi

STRENGTHS: Confidence, average weapons skills, basic survival skills, pizzazz

WEAKNESSES: Does not know plants or how to find water, is not as strong as many Tributes

ODDS: 23:1

PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE: Extreme risk-taker

SCORE: 6

NOTES: You'll win big or lose big. No in between for you.

DISTRICT SEVEN MALE

NAME: KEYLOR HERALD

SKILLS ASSESSED: FALCHION

Keylor was not trained as much as the Careers, but he made up for it admirably. He wielded his weapon competently. His only issue was that he asked for an assistant beyond his ability. He held up well but would not have survived such a fight in the Arena.

STRENGTHS: Confident, willing to fight

WEAKNESSES: Overconfident, aggressive

ODDS: 20:1

PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE: Nothing

SCORE: 6

NOTES: I'm pretty sure that's illegal to write about a minor, Theodora.

DISTRICT SEVEN FEMALE

NAME: VIOLET ROBBINS

SKILLS ASSESSED: WEAPONS, TRAPS, SHELTERS

Violet crammed in as much as she could. She barely had time to make a shelter, but she showed a variety of other skills. She wasn't an expert in any of them but was passable in all.

STRENGTHS: Wide range of skills, unassuming nature

WEAKNESSES: Possible Bloodbath target, lack of any one solid skill

ODDS: 26:1

PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE: Nothing

SCORE: 7

NOTES: That might work. Boy wouldn't the Careers be embarrassed.

DISTRICT EIGHT MALE

NAME: EDDIN CAVITCH

SKILLS ASSESSED: WEIGHT LIFTING, KNIVES

Eddin was very impressive. He was also good with his skills. He lifted the heaviest weights and was more interested in that than in knives, which he appeared to use just to show he could if he had to.

STRENGTHS: Strength, looks, quiet, imposing

WEAKNESSES: Not bloodthirsty, hesitant to fight, large target

ODDS: 20:1

PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE: Nothing

SCORE: 6

NOTES: You're making me wish I wasn't taken. (Oh but THAT'S okay to write?)

DISTRICT EIGHT FEMALE

NAME: MARTHA LEWIS

SKILLS ASSESSED: KNIVES

Martha was better than expected with the knives. She wasn't as good as the Careers, of course, but anyone else who attacks her will be surprised.

STRENGTHS: Knives, probably underestimated

WEAKNESSES: Not imposing, will be targeted by Careers

ODDS: 24:1

PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE: Nothing

SCORE: 7

NOTES: Eight is weird. Why do we need a whole District for fabric? What even does "textiles" mean? Why not just say "fabric"?

DISTRICT NINE MALE

NAME: CAINE KARPOS

SKILLS ASSESSED: SURVIVAL SKILLS

Caine took a conservative approach. He built a shelter and identified plants. His plant knowledge would suffice in an outdoor Arena. He was unable to finish his shelter in time because he built it too large.

STRENGTHS: Survival, ambition

WEAKNESSES: Ambition, possible arrogance, no weapons skills

PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE: Nothing

ODDS: 24:1

SCORE: 5

NOTES: If you hadn't built a mansion you might have gotten done.

DISTRICT NINE FEMALE

NAME: TILLIA RAVEN

SKILLS ASSESSED: KNIVES

Tillia was a piece of work. She slaughtered a bunch of dummies until they looked like a tornado went through the session room. Then she placed the scraps in a pot and announced that they were soup.

STRENGTHS: Ferocity, lack of scruples, enthusiasm

WEAKNESSES: Overconfidece, extremely bizarre reason for volunteering, instability

ODDS: 48:1

PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE: The doctors say nothing, but I'm pretty sure they're wrong

SCORE: 9

NOTES: Y'all creep me out so I gave you a high score so the Careers would kill you.

DISTRICT TEN MALE

NAMES: SOMA KELARCK

SKILLS ASSESSED: WEAVING

Soma was okay at weaving. He didn't seem to know what he was doing and kept looking at the assistants for guidance. He kept weaving until time ran out. He kept staring at the assistants' feet.

STRENGTHS: Weaving

WEAKNESSES: Not weaving

ODDS: 60:1

PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE: Pervasive development disorder not otherwise specifided (PD-NSS)

NOTES: That's almost as bad as the pregnant girl.

DISTRICT TEN FEMALE

NAME: BRIAR HAMPTON

SKILLS ASSESSED: CLEAVERS

Cleavers are an odd choice. It's hard to imagine killing someone with a cleaver unless they're standing still. I wouldn't want to get close to Briar, though. Those cleavers mean business.

STRENGTHS: Cleavers, optimistic nature

WEAKNESSES: Long-range fighting, slender frame

ODDS: 30:1

PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE: Nothing

SCORE: 5

NOTES: At least you'll have fun before you die.

DISTRICT ELEVEN MALE

NAME: KUMA SWAIN

SKILLS ASSESSED: EDIBLE PLANTS, MACHETE

Kuma showed impressive memory skills identifying the plants. His machete skills were admirable but he would not be able to fight a Career.

STRENGTHS: Well-rounded, able to survive in most environments

WEAKNESSES: May be targeted by the Careers as a threat

ODDS: 18:1

PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE: Nothing

SCORE: 7

NOTES: I like you. You seem nice.

DISTRICT ELEVEN FEMALE

NAME: LILY WHITE

SKILLS ASSESSED: RUNNING

Lily was average in running. It was somewhat impressive considering her lackluster frame that she could run that fast, though. She wisely focused on short distances, no doubt thinking of the Bloodbath.

STRENGTHS: Running, doesn't pick fights

WEAKNESSES: Not strong, no weapons, easy target

ODDS: 36:1

PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE: Nothing

SCORE: 5

NOTES: Wait, who's the Eleven female again?

DISTRICT TWELVE MALE

NAME: GREY EAMON ARDEN

SKILLS ASSESSED: HAND TO HAND, SURVIVAL

Grey is clearly taking a defensive approach. His combat skills focused on avoiding and retreating. He was more interested in survival skills, indicating he wants to outlast, not outfight.

STRENGTHS: Conservative strategy, well-rounded skills, realistic

WEAKNESSES: Possible Career target, lack of ferocity

ODDS: 18:1

PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE: Nothing

SCORE: 9

NOTES: Maybe should have pulled back a bit. The Careers will be angry.

DISTRICT TWELVE FEMALE

NAME: ALLECIA CALLISON

SKILLS ASSESSED: RONDEL

Allecia was what one would expect from a 12-year-old. She had spirit and she did her best, but it was nothing to be scared of. Some opponents may think twice if they do not want to risk injury. She can't win, but she might make it not worth it.

STRENGTHS: Moderate weapons skills, cuteness factor

WEAKNESSES: Small, young, inexperienced, easy target

ODDS: 40:1

PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE: Nothing

SCORE: 5

NOTES: I always did like an underdog.

FROM: STAR SECRETARY HARLEQUIN MARCEA AND HER MEAN BOSS THEODORA HARP

"Real mature."

"Meanie."