Pluto Solaris has been plunged into darkness, just as each tribute is.

The new batch of tributes has only resulted in the resurfacing of memories he'd tried to put behind himself over the last few months, during the developing of a Games of sickness- just as he feels every time he thinks of her. It is a brewing, aching pain in his stomach, a sour taste in his parched mouth as he takes his old seat where he'd watched each tribute last year display their skills.

And it had all been with Paella right beside him.

Her chair still rests just next to his, peering out over the darkened Training Center. Though the thin stretch of platform he watches from bustles with lively sponsors and less important Gamemakers, the room remains strangely empty, her presence an overwhelming absence. He still remembers how she'd snapped at him the first- and last- time they'd reviewed the tributes... how much he'd despised her then. Yet now he wishes they'd gotten along better, that they would have had more time together before the few weeks with the tributes in the arena had expired. Drearily, he meanders over to the chair, trying not to glance over at the foreboding chair, reminding him of memories he'd rather not lose himself in.

But Pluto's mind snaps out of all thoughts of his former colleague as he realizes her chair isn't empty.

"So," Gorgeous smiles playfully, leaning over onto the arm of the chair. "Who are you liking so far, dearest? I've found a few tributes that are just gorgeous. Like me!" A chorus of giggles pours from her mouth, and Pluto turns his head away as to avoid eye contact with the Vice Gamemaker, certain his revulsion is obvious. Though he'd never thought he'd have grown fond of Paella in the beginning last year, he's almost certain Gorgeous Lasse will earn no affection from him. A seventy, maybe eighty-year-old woman with an attitude like hers and a lack of evidence that she'll help him in any way whatsoever? At least Paella had some good plans from the start, even if she'd shot down all of his ideas. Pluto's not half convinced the President didn't hire Gorgeous due to her flirtatious ways.

"Oh, cum on... me like President Necare did last night ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)," she pouts, sticking her bottom lip out as her voice sinks to a sultry whisper. He watches from the corner of his eye with vague anxiety. "You've got to like somebody here!"

To be truthful, he's barely given anyone a second glance yet. To be truthful, he wouldn't even have told her if he had.

To be truthful, she gives the chair more (ST)Diseases than those in the arena.

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    Welcome, everyone, to Author Games: Panemdemic! We are so delighted to be hosting these games, and just want to thank you all again for joining! Anyways, let's get down to business.

THE TASK:

Your tribute is called into the Training Center, where they'll be performing their set of skills for the Gamemakers, as it the typical matter of course. Yet, the area they'd seen while going through their two days of preparation has been altered dramatically- from the moment you step through that door, there's obviously something off. The room is pitch black, endless darkness greeting you as the door shuts automatically. Perhaps you try to escape- you'll quickly discover it's locked behind you. Your eyes partially adjust to the gloom, and you begin to make out a dim light in the distance- just under where the place where the Gamemakers would have sat to observe is situated, though your spacial awareness may be compromised in such a dark space. As much as you may dread it, some force or another will drive you towards the light, which you'll soon find gleams from a beeping machine- a number flashing across the screen, a line darting up each second. But that's not the most interesting thing, or what truly catches your eye- no, that's the bed.

The bed, which you'll quickly discover holds a person. Their breaths are raspy and irregular, and little is visible of them save the shadow of the lump you can make out among the sheets. However, from the vitals displayed on the screen- most of you will understand, or be able to figure it out- and the physical impediments, it's apparent that the person you've chanced upon is sick.

Suddenly, a sharp beeping will come from the monitor, and you'll realize the number displayed on the screen has gone black. This is where we'll really be looking for your tribute's response to something going wrong and what they choose to do with the person. Do they try to find something to save them with? Do they simply put them out of their misery? This is completely up to you, but please try to keep it relevant to your tribute and what their response would be. Our only requirement is that you must touch the tribute in some way, shape, or form.

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Word Count Maximum: 2000

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Due Date:

EST: Monday, 12 December 2016, 19:00pm

CST: Monday, 12 December 2016, 18:00pm

MST: Monday, 12 December 2016, 17:00pm

PST: Monday, 12 December 2016, 16:00pm

GMT: Tuesday, 13 December 2016, 00:00am

UTC+8: Tuesday, 13 December 2016, 8:00am

AEST: Tuesday, 13 December 2016, 10:00am

If your time zone has not been listed or you have difficulties converting, alert us and it will be added.

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Deaths/Ballots:

Deaths: None, as the games have not begun yet.

Ballots: 1

Further Explanation (Not Just For Beginners): Ballots are something you award to tributes whom you want to kill without them knowing/stating in your entry. These tributes can be competitors or people you just want out of the games. On odd numbered tasks, ballots will count towards ballot rankings, which will determine certain bonuses/challenges tributes in the rankings will receive. On even numbered tasks, ballots will subtract half a point from the selected tribute's writing score, and challenges will not be received that task.

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Bonuses:

First Entry: +0.5 points

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Formatting:

Please state the task("Task #_" or "Task Title"), your tribute's name, and your wattpad username in the subject line of your entries email. The entry should go in the email body. Ballots(and deaths in future tasks) belong at the bottom of the email after some sort of page break, such as the one below.

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Good luck on your first task, everyone! Write well, because your performance this task and the next one will both be factored in to determine sponsorships. Despite that this task will not eliminate any tributes, you should still put in your best effort. If you have any other questions, feel free to PM us or comment down below.