Jennifer nodded, standing to cross the room to the side table where she kept a kettle with tea in it. She brought over the kettle and a pair of cups, wordlessly offering Cassandra a cup as she set about telling the tale.

"Over a century ago, our planet was nearly destroyed. From the ashes of that destruction, the nation of Panem was founded. Unfortunately some of our citizens decided to start another war. After a brutal and violent struggle, the rebels of the districts were defeated, and as a reminder of their insubordination and the folly of war, the Capitol enacted laws which mandate the Hunger Games." She paused, adding sugar to her cup. "Recently, it was decided that reaping native born Tributes was a waste of our precious human resources, so our scientists developed a method of reaping Tributes from other worlds."