30 Worlds: Megaforce, Episode X: "Five Factions"
CHAPTER TWO
The new Dauntless initiates—including William and Sofia—were led to a wall near the crumbling remains of one of Old Chicago's elevated train tracks, or the "El." A young man approached them. "My name is Tobias, but you may call me 'Four,'" the man said. "I am in charge of the training of new initiates who were born in other Factions. Your training will officially begin now."
Four gestured to the train station on the tracks high above them. "We of Dauntless believe in harnessing our courage in whatever ways we can," Four continued. "Your first test in this is to use any means other than the old stair system to get up to that train station above us. I will instruct you further once you arrive."
Four then took his position at the base of the wall and shot up the wall. William shot a concerned look at Sofia before he took position at the wall's base. Suddenly, a thought came into his mind. It was of one of the training programs he used on the Enterprise holodecks. "Of course!" William said.
"What is it, William?" Sofia asked. "This is just like 'The Wall!'" William said. "Oh! Of course—same height and everything!" Sofia said.
William smiled at Sofia again, then turned his attention back to the base of the wall. In his mind's eye, the concrete wall he stood in front of became the ersatz cliff face used in the program. William began to climb, Sofia hot on his heels.
Finally, William and Sofia approached the top of the wall at virtually the same time. Four was smiling broadly. "Edwards, Winter, well done," he said. "For members born in other factions, you are sure physically fit."
"Thank you, Four," William said. "When our abilities were not required by our original Faction duties, we wanted to keep physically fit to be ready for anything we were needed to do."
"Indeed, William," Sofia said. "Well, no matter what, you two will most likely be a perfect fit for Dauntless," Four said.
Half an hour later, the remaining Faction transfers were at the top of the wall. William and Sofia could hear a rumbling from far away on the track. "We of Dauntless use the El trains to reach our living and training compound, known as the Pit," Four said.
As the train approached the place where Four and the transfers were waiting, Four crouched. Then, as the train began to pass where the transfers stood, Four burst into a run. Just before Four would have jumped off the train platform, however, he leaped and grabbed onto one of the handrails on the train's surface.
William turned to the other transfers. "Let's do it," he said before he too began to run. As William grabbed onto a handrail, he could hear Sofia's body thump onto the train's hull behind him. Then, once he had regained his balance, William pried the doors open with one hand while retaining a hold on the handrail with his other hand.
Finally, William thrust his entire body into the compartment, hitting the floor in a roll. "Textbook entry there, William," Four said.
"Thanks," William said, gulping down his breaths. "That was a rush. And you do this every day?" "When we use the trains, yes," Four said. "You know, you remind me of Tris. You'll meet her once we get back to the Pit."
You remind me of Tris echoed in William's mind. "More than you may know, Four," William thought. The doors into the compartment opened and Sofia burst in. "What did I miss?" Sofia said.
William shared a smile with Four. "Just a spot of instructor/initiate bonding," William said. "I see," Sofia said.
Meanwhile, back on the Enterprise, Raquel Blue exited the turbolift into the C.I.C. Zenon turned and saw her. "Hey, Rocky," Zenon said. "Hey there yourself, Zenon," Rocky said. "Any word from William or any of the other members of the away team?"
"Not yet," Zenon said. "If the briefing files are accurate, the Dauntless initiates should have arrived at the Pit—the Dauntless compound—by now."
"All right," Rocky said. "I'm taking over now. Go get some rest." "All right," Zenon said. She nodded at Rocky then stepped into the turbolift, its doors closing behind her.
Ship's Log, DDV Enterprise, Mission Day 1,130, Raquel Blue recording.
We are holding position in Earth orbit in the Unaligned World of Divergent, awaiting word on the away team's progress in the location and protection of the Divergent Key, Beatrice "Tris" Prior. We should hear back from someone before local sundown.
William stood in front of a mirror, admiring how he looked in his new Dauntless outfit. "Looking good," a voice behind him said.
William turned and saw Sofia. William was taken aback, seeing Sofia in her own midriff-baring Dauntless clothes. "You look amazing yourself, Sofia," William said.
A voice from outside the room called out, "Edwards! Winter! Report to the training room!" William looked at Sofia. "I guess that's our cue," William said.
In the central training room, William and Sofia joined the other initiates. "Edwards, step forward," Four said. William nodded, then stepped up to where Four and a familiar face waited. "Edwards, this is Beatrice Prior. You will be her target in a knife-throwing demonstration. Take your place."
Four gestured to a nearby target that was pockmarked with hundreds of previous impact holes. William nodded, then stood in front of the target's bulls-eye. "During training and initiation, you must withstand being placed in front of a person wielding a weapon without blinking or showing any fear whatsoever," Four said. "Begin."
Tris pulled a knife from the sheath at her waist and threw it at a point just past William's left cheek. He could feel a slight grazing of the blade as it sunk into the target's surface. However, he did not blink. "Well done, Edwards. Keep that up, and you'll do well," Four said approvingly.
"Thanks again, Four," William said. "Go ahead and go to the Infirmary to get that looked at," Four said, gesturing to the cut on William's cheek. "Tris, show him there."
"Of course," Tris said. "Follow me." Tris gestured for William to follow her.
::TBC::
