Montgomery Cannon

# Montgomery Zachariah Cannon

### Relatives

Lionel Cannon (father) Reyna Cannon (mother) Helios Cannon (brother) Liliana Cannon (sister) Everett Cannon (brother)

## Bio

Montgomery Cannon was destined for one thing: to win the Hunger Games. He had siblings who were destined for other things – being peacekeepers, marrying strategically, becoming politicians. But as the first born child of a wealthy, Peacekeeping family, his destiny was clear. He would win the Hunger Games and bring his family into the Victor’s Village.

Montgomery trained nearly from birth for this singular goal. Both of his parents were talented fighters, and he was educated young in loyalty to the Capitol and in the glory of the Games. In the Academy, he was among the top students, though rarely number one – occasionally he’d top the charts to no one’s surprise. It became quickly apparent that he would not be able to match the pure brawn of some of his classmates. However, he more than made up for the gaps with speed, stealth, and deadly accuracy with ranged weapons.

His siblings were always weaker than him – it was something he knew. But ultimately that was alright, because the Hunger Games were not their place in life. They had other tasks and strengths. People, blending in, curiosity… these were skills Monty didn’t need to perfect, and so he left them to his siblings. But fighting he could do, and he took every opportunity to do so. This was especially true with the youngest, Everett, who was slated to become a Peacekeeper. He would need fighting skills, just like Monty, and so the eldest took it upon himself to spar, fight, and roughhouse with Everett as much as he could get away with. Outside eyes might think he got away with more than he should, but the Cannon parents knew it was all towards the ultimate, good goal.

The 115th Games came, and though Montgomery was slated to wait one more Games (which would have been his final opportunity), he couldn’t resist the call of the stage. He was in top form, finally making it to the top ranking in the Academy consistently. He knew his body well and knew it couldn’t get better than this. So, to the surprise of everyone, Montgomery called out to volunteer almost before the escort had drawn the first name. It was an unintentional moment of awkwardness when his District partner Titania volunteered as well – she had been expecting to go into the Arena with her boyfriend, Abraham.

The 115th Games were played in a dark, echoing series of underground caves. They were full of dripping, poisonous stalactites, deceivingly deep pools of water, and dangerous geysers of hot steam. Muttated bats, beetles, and giant worms plagued the Arena, and the dangers of cave ins and getting trapped underwater were exceptionally high. Montgomery was in his element. His skills in archery and knives allowed him to stealthily take out no less than five competitors (six, if you count the one he wrestled with while climbing up a steep face as a hungry worm waited below) (and Montgomery did count that). He emerged an expected Victor from a fantastically watched Games.

Then life was as expected. He and his family moved into the luxurious mansions of Victor Village, his siblings courted politicians and ran for office and joined the Peacekeeper Academy. Montgomery waited for President Nerissa Snow to send her summons so that he could serve as a District 2 Mentor, but they must have gotten lost in the mail. Life was exactly as planned – until Everett volunteered. Without warning, without explanation, and without reason, the youngest Cannon launched himself into the 122nd Games. Monty watched with white knuckles and caught breath as the brother he had cared for, fought for, killed for! threw his life away. Sure, there was technically a fight, but everyone was surprised at how far he got. No one was surprised that someone else was deemed the Victor.

The perfect Cannon family was broken. On the outside, they were fine. Thrilled, even, that two members fought in the illustrious Games. So thankful for the one that came back, and forever remembering the one who did not. But internally, they were cracked like a mirror. Each of the four remaining Cannons dealt with the loss as best they could. Monty did so by losing himself in the Games. If Snow wasn’t going to summon him (yet!), he’d maintain a face around the circles. He made himself a small fortune (after a loan from his father) in betting on the Games, and quickly became a popular Sponsor. No one could tell, but he had a habit of betting against Tributes like his brother. He did well.

Then the unthinkable happened – again. Ten Games after Monty’s own Victory, a Quell was announced. “Fan Favorite Tributes from the Past!” Tributes who looked a lot like those many Victors had seen before. A boy from Ten that Monty had killed. A girl from Three that he recognized. Clones. A boy from Two who looked awfully like…

Monty bet on Everett this time.

The past several years have been an adjustment. It still feels like a dream to Montgomery, to see his little brother breathing, walking, Mentoring. That last one stung only a little, but Monty refused to cave to something as base as jealousy to his little brother. How do you react when someone so impactful dies, is brought back, and then is here, again, in the family? How does anyone do that? Sometimes Monty still can’t bring himself to say Everett’s name.

So Monty busies himself. He still is around the Tower, around the parties, and around the Capitol. He wrote a moderately successful book after winning his Games, and remains a popular TV guest, even if just to flash a smile and wave. President Snow *still* hasn’t sent him the one invite he wants, but Montgomery remains closely connected to the Games that took, and then gave back, Everett.

## The 115th Games

The 115th Games were played during the winter of year 96. They featured underground spelunking caves, with towering stalagmites, many mutts inspired by cave-dwelling animals, and a system of caves that would flood, trapping Tributes unwitting enough to get caught. For more information, see The 115th Games page.

### The Team

The Tributes from Two included Montgomery Cannon and Titania Freeson. The Mentors were Cato and Agatha Moreau. Their stylist was Yuto Lysander.

### Reaping Scandal

Montgomery caused somewhat of a scandal by Volunteering. He was only 24 at the time, and was not the Academy's sanctioned choice for the role. The two Tributes who had been officially selected were Titania Freeson and her (at the time) boyfriend, Abraham Howitzer. However, Montgomery was the first to Volunteer, leaving Abraham and Titania to race for the second Tribute place.

### Private Training and the Games

Both Tributes from Two performed well in their Private Trainings and both received a 10. They were the highest rated District partnership of their Games, with only Jetsamantha Redfin of Four matching their score. The Career pack formed quickly, though Jetsamantha was defeated during the Bloodbath. Throughout the Games, the five remaining Careers stayed loyal to each other until the final fight between Montgomery and the two Tributes from One, Iridia Bonne and Glitz Arumque.

Montgomery left the Arena with five confirmed kills, plus a sixth that he claims; Meeko Flit of District 7 fell from a sheer cliff face while he and Monty were escaping a giant man-eating worm after a fight that left Meeko's District partner and a member of the Career pack dead. Due to the low light and available camera angles, there is no way to confirm Montgomery's claims that he kicked Meeko off the cliff face and into the jaws of the worm. For some time, the official record showed five kills for Monty, but around the 123rd Games the record was quietly updated to six. Some speculate this was an attempt to lift the Cannon family's spirits after the 122nd Games.