Chapter Twenty-One

Tobias:

"Remind me again why we're walking into a death trap." Indigo whined from his seat on the plane for what felt like the millionth time.

"This is nothing you haven't done before, Indigo. Now can it or I'll throw you out with the parachute after you." Dawson snapped, rubbing his forehead. We were all crowded into a fighter plane on our way to the Fringe to "scout and protect" which was just a nice way of saying that we're going to go and show our faces so that the people know that someone is fighting for them.

"You throw me and then you'll have to come after me."

"Hence, the parachute." Dawson enunciated. Over the intercom someone announced that we were landing. "Finally," he muttered to me. "I can pin the little shit onto someone else."

I laughed. "Pick someone you hate."

"I can't even give him to someone I hate, that would make me feel horrible."

"What if something just miraculously blew up? What would happen then?"

"That could be arranged." Dawson sounded pleased.

The plane touched down with a rocky bounce, gradually coming to a stop. I sat back, clutching the seat handles tightly. After all the things with height that they made me do, I'm still terrified. Dawson clasps my shoulder, "It'll be fine." He detaches himself from his seat and stands up, stretching his long arms behind his head. "Everyone, clear out and follow me." He leads the way out of the plane, a trail of depressed teenagers following him. I guess killing wasn't something these kids for fun around here.

The Fringe was still gloomy and upsetting, as it was the last time I was here. Kids with starved bodies hid when we walked by and parents closed their shutters, trying to keep us out. The sight of this place reminded me of the factonless sector back in Chicago. Just being here, I wanted to do whatever I could to help, even if that meant to fight a war. These people needed us. All of us.

Dawson took out a bullhorn and yelled into it. "People of the Fringe, we are the Royal Army. We have come to help. We bring food and medicine. You have our ultimate promise that we will not harm you." He put down the bullhorn and looked at me. "It's the best thing we can do, for now at least. Come on, let's get to work."

The guns began going off two hours later. I held a little girl, Annie, close to me, trying to protect her from what the Black Hawks were serving out. Annie cried into my shoulder and I held her tighter. I looked around frantically for Tris. I didn't want her to get hurt in the raid. I spotted her running towards me, Dawson following close behind. He was yelling something about getting the royals onto a plane and getting out of here. Not a chance. I ran towards them, dogging bullets and covering Annie's head.

"What the hell are you doing Tobias? I have orders to get you out."

"Yes, but I'm also your best shot. Face it, you need me."

Scarlett ran past me, stopping to hold on to Dawson's arm. "Scar, take this little girl and get out of here. We'll cover you." Scarlett nodded, taking Annie from me. We watched as she boarded a plane safely. Dawson loaded his gun. "Let's roll."

Tris and I followed him into the heart of the Fringe, where there were more people who needed to be protected. Shots rang out all around us, but getting through was nearly impossible. Dawson reached for a radio that was attached to his armor. "This is the Captain of the Royal Guard. I need a full arial view of my surroundings."

We waited and nothing happened. At least until...

"I command you three to get the hell out of there."

Vivian.

"I would if I knew what was going on in our sector."

"Take a right and go down that ally way. The crowd isn't as thick there." We listened, racing down a deserted ally. "Good. Now go left."

We listened to Vivian as she directed our way out of this, following every order she gave us. Then, "Behind you!"

I turned fastest, firing my gun. Luckily the boy was faster. Larkin rolled out of the way, faster than I could, missing the bullet by inches.

"Larkin?" Tris asked in shock.

"Beatrice."

"What are you doing here?"

"I just need to know one thing: is she okay?"

The radio crackled. "Larkin?"

"Hello Vivian." Larkin smiled weakly.

"I take it that you've recovered."

"I'm out of line on my left side, but we can't be choosy." He took a deep breath. "Vivian, I am so sorry."

A long pause. "I know." A deeper breath. "But I can't be around you."

"You don't know how happy I am to hear that you're putting yourself first. I understand and I'll make it so you never have to see me again. I'll vanish without a trace. But Vivian?"

"Yes Larkin?"

"I love you."

And that was it. Larkin rang three shots into the air. Then ran off. An unspoken promise between us.

"What was Vivian doing on the intercom?" Tris asks, clutching my hand from across me.

"Queen training. Vivian has to learn to make military choices."

"But that's your job."

"Not unless someone issues an order for me. Vivian had to learn how to issue orders."

"Will she do that often?"

"Probably not. Vivian isn't war thirsty so she'll leave them to me."

The plane touched down again and the doors opened. The three of us piled out and walked into the palace. I grabbed Tris' hand and held it tightly. The back entrance, the one we were all used to by now, looked the same as ever. Except the black and brown mass that occupied the couch in the hall. Dawson laughed, crouching beside Vivian. He gently brushed her brunette curls from her face, revealing strong Vivian in a very vulnerable state.

"I'll get her off to bed." Dawson says, gently swinging Vivian into his arms. I bent and kissed her forehead as Dawson carried her past us. Once Dawson had retreated down the hall, I looked down at Tris and kissed her. I felt her hand tangle in my now shaggy hair and I pulled her closer. "Come on," I told her, taking her hand and pulling her down the hall. "Let's go to bed."