Chapter 18

Katniss and Johanna continue with their training. The rebels have made a new form of simulation training called Simulated Street Combat (SSC) that simulates warfare that they can potentially encounter while in the Capitol. They’re filmed for media promotion while undergoing training. Things continue normally, until Peeta joins them for training. Plutarch says it’s for promotion purposes and they’re attempting to make Peeta and Katniss reunite, something that Katniss is against. Meanwhile, Johanna and Katniss are slated to take their pre-combat test. During Katniss test, she realizes that this is an attempt from the rebels to see if she’s able to follow their instructions while in the middle of battle. This goes against her instincts, but she continues to do so in order to pass. She’s sent to Command and notices that what she did is different from the others. Regardless, Bogss informs her that she’s been assigned to his squad, along with Gale and Finnick. Plutarch arrives and shows them a holographic version of the Capitol and explains that the area is full of “pod” or areas that have deadly weapons and traps.

Haymitch appears to inform Katniss that Johanna is having problems again. Her test included something that involved water, something that terrifies her, as it was part of Snow’s torture during her imprisonment at the Capitol. Katniss asks Boggs for permission to go above ground. She gathers some branches to create a token for Johanna. Johanna is happy with the gift that Katniss gave her, because it reminds her of District 7. She makes Katniss promise to go after Snow to retaliate for everything that he has done. After her visit, Katniss and the others continue training using the weapons Beetee created for them.

She gets upset when she gets told that their group will be filmed the most during the attack, something that is against her wishes as it makes it seem like everything is all for show. They head over to the Capitol in cycles and realizes that their attack will be primarily on the ground instead of aerial. Katniss memorizes a map of the streets, but she really wants a “Holo”, a special holographic map that is only issued to each team commander. It can turn into a mass suicide tool if the group becomes threatened of being captured. A pod ends up killing one of their team members, Leeg 2. A special replacement soldier is sent and everyone is shocked to find out that it’s actually Peeta. Katniss starts doubting why President Coin sent Peeta—it’s as if she wants Katniss dead.

Notes:
Another manipulation of President Coin—by filming their team, they won’t be able to focus properly on the battle.

Chapter 19

Boggs also feels angry that Coin sent Peeta out to join their squad. Katniss asks him if he thinks Coin is out to get her, in which he reluctantly says yes. Katniss asks him why he thinks so, and he admits that it’s because Coin thinks Katniss is more of a hindrance instead of an asset to their cause now because of her influence over the people. She sneaks Boggs’ Holo away. The group is now dividing themselves into sections so they can actively guard Peeta. Katniss gets annoyed that she still hasn’t been assigned by Jackson, the woman in charge of doing so. She demands to be added and the group caves in and lets her do it.

Gale tells Katniss that he wants to join her if ever she plans on going out on her own. Katniss checks in on Haymitch and he reprimands her for not being nicer to Peeta. He tells her that if the roles would be reversed, Peeta would be nice to Katniss. Soon, it was her turn to watch over Peeta. Peeta is awake and now they have a chance to talk with each other. He admits that there are still some things that he doesn’t understand. Finnick speaks up and tells him that he should just ask questions.

The next morning, Katniss and the others are back to doing stuff for filming, while Jackson and the rest continue on helping Peeta remember. Another day passes and they receive word that they’ll be going out into the streets of the Capitol to do more scenes for filming. There will be danger, but not too much. While they were donning their protective armor and gear, Peeta tells Katniss about how Darius and Lavinia, two people that Katniss knows, where tortured to death. Katniss notices that Gale is now more bent on seeking revenge than ever. Their team moves into the city to start filming and are aware that they’re required to activate two pods in order to continue on. Gale sets off the first one and everybody is relieved. Boggs calls everyone back and accidentally sets off one of the bombs, hitting him directly on the legs.

Notes:
Coin wants Peeta to distract Katniss so much that she ends up dead. Coin no longer has a use for Katniss, as she sees the young girl as a threat to her plans of dominating the whole of Panem.