Three Powers

Now that Katniss is here, she must have agreed to offer herself as President Coin's Mockingjay, and right now, she's here because she couldn't have any contact with him.

It benefits Jacob to have strong soldiers, and even better, trained ones. The casualties would be fewer, and victories would be led even without his presence. But besides her presence in the war, the things that Squad 451 does are of no use to Jacob since his orb does it better than anyone else.

Coin's right-hand person, who was among the present, wasn't a problem for now, but the others might be, as one of them might be seeking his life. In the original story, President Coin made sure that Katniss would die at the hands of Peeta, as she ordered him to join Squad 451.

As long as President Coin keeps providing him with weapons and soldiers, he will ensure victories in the wars, and when the time comes, he will take that viper's life.

"I am the commanding officer of Squad 451, Boggs." Boggs, who had the same appearance that Jacob vaguely remembered, extended his hand.

"Did District 13 send you?" Jacob asked as he looked Boggs in the eyes. He couldn't detect lies, but he could form his own judgments, and that's what he relied on.

"[Creating profiles of subjects that concern the master, analyzing at any moment to visualize any threat!]"

Jacob's intelligent assistant was already working. This made him feel much more at ease, at least.

"Katniss, help the wounded. I need to talk to Boggs alone." Jacob said after pointing to Enobaria, who was helping the injured board the hovercrafts.

Boggs, who was near Jacob, looked at all the mutant corpses around them, and his body froze. They shouldn't have survived if they were attacked with this firepower.

Brutus, who had arrived by Jacob's side, held a weapon and looked at the soldiers sent from District 13. He knew that at least the higher-ups in that place might have other plans, so it may not be beneficial to fully trust these people unless Jacob tells him otherwise.

"I'll take care of the others, Brutus." Jacob said after walking away.

"I've taken it upon myself," Brutus had changed a lot in this war, committed in a way that no one could have imagined.

"I never thought they would go this far. I was surprised when I found out they had taken four districts in less than 24 hours. That kind of progress was something even President Coin admired." Boggs praised Jacob's work as he looked at all those mutant corpses.

"Boggs, right? From what I've seen, you were ordered to protect Katniss for her respective propaganda." Jacob murmured after stopping a few meters away from the others.

"How do you know?" Boggs broke into a cold sweat. He didn't understand. Neither he nor President Coin knew how Jacob Barber had managed to escape the Games, take control of the hovercrafts, and even send a message to District 13.

Jacob smiled, looked at Boggs, and said, "I know a lot more than you can imagine, sir. Did the president order you something else that you're not aware of?"

Boggs now understood Jacob's point; he was testing them, and he wanted to know if he should protect himself from them or not. "There's nothing more than that. I was ordered to protect Katniss, who is the face of this revolution. She was until you led the uprising."

"No, I don't want you to go there. I don't need any protection. In fact, Mr. Boggs, I'll tell you a secret as a sign of our trust..." Jacob let out a sigh and said, "I don't have much time left to live. This illness was detected in me when I won the Hunger Games alongside Katniss. They gave me a few more years of life before falling into a deep sleep."

Jacob lied; he wanted to win Boggs' heart since he was a good man who even defied President Coin in the original story when she expressed her desire to kill Katniss.

But even so, he didn't know how much time he would have once the war ended, let alone if he would live to see a new dawn in Panem. What will happen when he dies or completes the missions offered by the intelligent orb? He doesn't remember asking that question or having that answer. In fact, right now, returning to his world wasn't his strongest desire.

One year and a little more in this world had created a new life for him. He had people who truly mattered to him and whom he wanted to protect. Returning is not what he wants to do right now.

"So, you..." Boggs froze upon hearing those words. He couldn't believe that with the technological level of the Capitol, they couldn't find a cure for Jacob's illness. No, when Boggs thought about it, he realized that the Capitol might not be interested in curing Jacob.

"District 13 has good doctors and decent technology. We could do something about it, so that's not a problem..." Boggs saw the sincerity in Jacob's eyes and knew he wasn't lying.

"I don't need them, Boggs. From the beginning, I saw Katniss as the new governor of Panem. That's something that not only I want to see, but also the majority of those who get to know her a little."

As he said this, Jacob looked at Boggs and said, "I will lead this war, and you and Squad 451 will take care of the future ruler of Panem, someone who lived in the poorest lands of this world, participated in the Hunger Games, and ignited the desire for rebellion."

"Don't worry, I'll take care of that even without you mentioning it." Boggs now respected Jacob. This young man was a true warrior.

"Winning this war is easier than everyone imagines. President Coin is probably thinking about leading Panem once we win the war, but I still doubt her judgment to be the ruler of Panem. Having a leader similar to President Snow, no, worse than him, would put us back in the same starting point."

Jacob looked at Boggs and said, "The new leader of Panem must have lived through hell, survived it, and understand the needs of each district, just as Katniss does."

"I understand..." Boggs didn't have much to say. He really didn't know what he should say in this situation.

"The Capitol can bombard any district if they set their minds to it. We have vast forests in District 11 and 12, and they should be fortifying improvised bunkers to defend ourselves from any attack." Jacob signaled to Katniss, who occasionally glanced in his direction.

"Today, we have struck President Snow's face on many occasions. It's time to give the people of the Capitol and the peacekeepers fighting a lost war an option." Jacob said with a cold gaze, "From the moment we are born, we must choose a side. Now there should be three... maybe two, depending on fate."

Boggs knew that Jacob was truly a formidable man. He knew everything that was happening around him even without being present. He sensed that Jacob knew about the dire state of District 13. When someone is ill, their first priority is to find a cure, but Jacob knew that District 13 didn't have the capabilities he needed.

Without saying it directly, Jacob had revealed that there are three powers vying to lead their own destiny: the Capitol, the rebels, and President Coin of District 13. What role would Boggs take this time? Without a doubt, that's something Jacob wants to know.