Found a few embarrassing typos so I am re-uploading this chapter. No major content change just fixed a couple of typos and a sentence where Four talked too much.
Chapter 4 Tobias POV
Christina and I travel to Candor in silence. Finally, she gets it, not every moment requires running commentary. I look to her and see that ever-present pain in her eyes that has been around since Will died. I feel for her somewhat but I am more relieved that she finally stopped blaming Tris for it. I start to wonder how I would feel and refuse to continue that line of thinking. I cannot do that right now I cannot afford to upset myself, I need to focus on the mission ahead. I hate this political crap. I am trying to think of it like a mission with objectives. Like the computers I used to enjoy working on in secret at Abnegation or piecing together information in my job in intelligence. Take in the relevant information, think it through, respond accordingly. I take in the fact that it is sunset and try to consider how long this day has been.
Breaking the silence, Christina asks me; "So, what are you going to tell them."
"Everything I can," I tell her.
"And how are you going to do that?" She digs.
"I have no idea," I sigh.
Ugh. I can do this, I think to myself, it is not like I am afraid of public speaking, perks of obsessive fear landscape training. I am just not a talkative person. I am trying to think of a way to convey all of this information in as short of a speech as possible. Worst-case scenario I figured Christina is here to help me. Granted it sounds like it would be just my luck little miss motor mouth will clam up on me when I need her most. Probably best to plan for that. For the millionth time I wish Tris was here. She would know what to say. She would be able to get up there and say it with grace and poise, well, until questions broke out and she got upset at someone for being an idiot or a jerk. I smile to myself as I imagine her able to do this. She would also be able to help Christina to be useful in this mission too.
We arrive at Candor. I happen to meet Johanna right at the door. I allow her to go in first like a gentleman and greet her appropriately. She smiles but its tight lipped with suspicious eyes. We continue inside and head straight for the room where our interrogations took place I see some members Erudite heading that direction and one of the members of the Abnegation council is waiting outside. I will have to assume those are the new Erudite leaders.
We walk into the room and I see that there are 5 groups of 10 people, made up of black and white, red and yellow, grey, blue and multi colored worn clothing. They are seated as factions but are grouped strangely. Candor, Dauntless and Abnegation are near each other, but still clearly separate, near the front, Amity is seated toward the back, Factionless are also in the back but as far as they can get from the Amity. I am far too tired to look to see if Marcus is among the grey clothing, and take small notice that my mother is among the multi colored crowd. I only spare her the second glance because I am a little worried about her having been shot earlier today. When I take note of the Dauntless group, I notice there are only 7. I notice Frank, the one leader of Dauntless who was cleared of all charges and found not to have participated in selling out our faction, also the one who tried so hard to get me to join the leadership. I approach him and state "looks like you are short a few members"
He smiles and responds, "no, one is for you, the other for her," he says pointing to Christina, "and one is for Tris… Where is she?"
I release a sigh and pinch the skin between my eyes as I "To state it simply, she is outside the fence taking care of a few loose ends. I will explain the major details to everyone else at the same time. I am not looking forward to explaining all of this."
"Understandable," he nods as he continues, "I am sure you are exhausted. I hope this day can go quickly enough so that we can get back to Dauntless and let you get some rest. I cannot say I am surprised Tris has headed out to handle more danger, but I am surprised you did not go with her."
I take a moment to realize he said we will head back to Dauntless. It feels like so long ago that I slept in my own bed in a place I called my own. I look less forward to returning without Tris but I get the feeling my exhaustion will ease my suffering a bit. "Here is hoping, and yeah you will understand about that shortly," I finally respond.
Christina was close enough to hear that a seat was indicated saved for her, she still wears a look of surprise and confusion but takes a seat. She seems too tired to ask for an explanation or protest. I cannot blame her and find myself wishing I could rest too. I take a steadying breath and head to the middle of the room. The room quiets without me doing anything more than moving to the center of it. I take one more deep breath and say: "First I would like to tell you our story as to what happened when we got to the other side of the fence. I would like to give you the most important pieces of information for now. I would like to do it freely first. Once I feel I have covered the major aspects, I will submit to questions under truth serum. I would ask that for today the questions be limited to only what I talk about first. There will be time for more details, more explanation, more discussion and more truth serum some other day." I look to Jack Kang who stands up.
"I think that sounds reasonable enough for today, you certainly look like you have already had a very long very rough day," Jack states loud enough for the room to hear. I give him a look that I hope 'conveys gee thanks for the compliment but also thanks for agreeing.' He smirks back at me and continues, "is everyone else in agreement that this sounds reasonable?" He takes in the nods or verbal indications of assent. I note that there are a few glares but no one speaks up otherwise to disagree. I feel a miniscule amount of tension drain out of my body, clearly the worry that I would be here all night has abated, but the rest of the tension that I have to do this by myself certainly remains. I roll my shoulders to loosen the tension and take one more deep breath and begin. I put on my instructor face and voice so that the room can hear me. I also think it helps me get my thoughts out clearer. I also want to be a bit of my "scary instructor self" so they don't interrupt or ask too many questions.
"Outside the fence about a half a day walk is what they call a camo wall. I will explain in detail about that another day. There is a point on that journey where the land and sky are red and sickly looking, so I will advise that no one go wandering out there unprotected. Once we reached the camo wall, a portion of it dissipated and revealed people." I pause as I hear everyone gasp. "They picked us up and took us to a place they called O'Hare airport. Again more details on this later." I say the last bit a little more sternly as I see confusion on their faces and a few Erudite begin to whisper amongst themselves. The crowd settles at my stern warning. "We were decontaminated and take in for assessment. We were given these tattoos on our wrists." I show the underside of my arm, I know they cannot see the details well from their vantage point but it is clear they can still see it. "we then watch a program on the history of the war. It turns out that long ago, people had the technology to change the DNA in their babies to get desired traits and to rid of less desired traits. That is what lead to us being defined by one trait. They call those who are Divergent, or not Divergent enough," I snarl the last but quickly regain my composure, "'Damaged,' Tris is what they called 'Pure'" The murmuring starts again which I settle with an animated sigh and a glare. "It turns out there is a whole outside world. There is a small community outside of O'Hare, called "the fringe." The people at O'Hare call themselves the Bureau for Genetic Welfare They kidnap children from the fringe; wipe their memories with that same orange serum as we were attacked with here." More murmuring this time a glare won't do it. "Hey!" I shout, "I have not only had a long day, but I have been fighting for my life since the day of the Abnegation attack and I'm beyond patience. Now if you don't mind, I would like to get through this quickly and get some rest you can talk amongst yourselves when I am done!" Jack gives me a raised eyebrow of judgement at my outburst to which I shrug. He returns a smile as the room quiets and I continue.
"It was the leader at O'Hare who tried to wipe the memories of every citizen of Chicago with the orange serum gas that you saw earlier today. O'Hare and the fringe aren't the only people out there. There is also a place called Providence. I have not been there, you will have to ask Tris about that. Apparently, they have a council that decides things about this city, again I am not clear on the specifics. Tris is out there now dealing with the leader at O'Hare who sees us as nothing more than an experiment he controls to do with as he pleases and the council that seems to have the power to decide our fate as well."
I hear an Erudite member say "Experiment?" a little louder than they probably intended.
"Right" I say, nodding at the guilty Erudite. "I got a little ahead of myself. So, O'Hare is mostly run down and rebuilt quite like Chicago. Except for the leader's office, which is very nice. They have much more advanced technology than we have here including a flying vehicle and pods that they use for surveillance on this city. Chicago was built as an experiment to see if they could create more "Pure" people. Clearly, the hunt for Divergent got out of hand and the leader there decided that the best option was essentially a reset. To wipe everyone's memories and place us all back into factions." The murmurs of the crowd increase to a dull roar and become overwhelming. I opt to go take a seat on the other side of the room by myself for a moment while they regroup and decide on questions.