I haven't talked to anyone in about twelve hours. I can't talk to Lauren alone, because she would take it as a wrong sign, and I can't talk to Tris since I am still going through with the whole "I'm-not-talking-to-you-since-you-have-to-talk-to- me," thing. It hasn't been going well. Apparently she doesn't care what I do.

Not socializing with anyone and just thinking to myself reminds me of the time before the new initiates came to Dauntless. I was always a part of the shadows, each day flying past with me in my thinking place near the chasm.

Thinking of strategy helps the time pass, but it is hard when people around you chatter, so I leave the barracks and head for a steamy shower. The water hits me with a cold shock at first, but it becomes warmer. I think of a way to bring to groups together. The factionless and the Dauntless are similar to each other, so it means that they might understand one another. The factionless on our side means our number of soldiers more than double. But no one here will hear of my ideas, unless they trust me enough to lead them, something I don't deserve to do. They think I am a coward, and they're right. But I have to make it seem like I'm not anymore, that I've changed, that my worst nightmare doesn't bother me. I have to rise to the challenge.

So I make a decision right there. The next time someone calls me a coward, I will show them up. I will not let the words they see become real.

I'll gain some more Dauntless morale back, as well as stopping anyone from teasing me again. It'll be like killing two birds with one stone.

That doesn't stop my stomach from twisting at the thought.

"Quiet down everyone!" says Jack, and everyone hushes, anxious for what their truthful leader has to say. I find it funny how the leader of Candor didn't tell his faction what happened right away. He decided to wait until he got all his facts where straight, and that he got all the witnesses points of the story. Although Candor is one of my least favorite factions, I can't say I don't like the idea of everyone being open to one another. Although, the meaning of Candor has changed, like the rest of the factions. Candor was built to symbolize honesty to one another with issues, and debating over a solution that can fit all. Now, the Candor are just annoying, thinking they can trash talk while everyone else takes it.

"I know many of you are confused and shaken by what happened yesterday. I have heard many reports from a variety of perspectives, and have gotten a sense of what is straightforward and what requires more investigation." Jack says, scanning the crowd. His stare stops when his gaze is on me. "What seems to me to require more investigation is the Divergent."

I don't like the way Jack reffered to us, like we are a science prject gone wrong. It seems so Erudite, and I wonder wha side Jack is really on. "If you are one of the Divergent, please step forward so that we can hear from you."

I am proud to be Divergent. I've always known that, ever since I found out what it meant, even though it was mixed with the fear of being caught. Being Divergent means we can see life in a variety of colors, and that we don't follow one narrow path, lead by a leader.

Being Divergent means I am free of control; that I make my own decisions. So I don't feel shame as I walk forward, with my chin held high. Why should I? Because I am not considered normal? Because I am different?

Once I arrive at the front, I see who else is up front. Tris and I, of course, but there is no Uriah. I try not to frown at him from the crowd. His reluctance to come down is probably because of Shauna, or even Lynn. There are a few Candor, and...

"You, Marcus?" Jack asks.

I groan inwardly. Of all people.

"Yes. I understand that you are concerned-that you all are concerned. You had never heard of the Divergent a week ago., and now all that you know is that they are immune to something to which you are unsusceptible, and that is a frightening thing." I want to punch him. He understands nothing, it is all an act. "But I can assure you that there is nothing to be afraid of, as far as we are concerned."

I look at the people in front of us, and I almost yell in frustration. They all seem understanding, comforted. Do they not remember my confession during the truth serum? I look at the Divergent who came forward, at Tris. Something in me sinks as I realize she looks the same way.

"It seems clear to me that we were attacked so the that the Erudite could find the Divergent. Do you know why that is?" He asks.

"No, I do not. Perhaps their intention was merely to identify us. It seems like useful information to have, if they intended to use their simulations again."

I want to disagree with him, but I can't. I've grown up having to agree to everything he said. I had no choice, unless I wanted a battlefield on my back.

"That was not their intention." Tris says, as if that were the stupidest idea she ever heard. I can't help but smile at her tone. She's still herself, speaking her ideas openly. "They wanted to kill us. They've been killing us since before any of this happened."

It appears she has talked to Tori.

"That sounds very much like a conspiracy theory. What reason would the Erudite have to kill you?" Jack says, disbelieving.

That is something not even I know yet.

"I..." Tris says, her voice starting to trail off.

"Obviously we don't know, but there are nearly a dozen mysterious deaths recorded among the Dauntless from the past six years, and there is a correlation between those people and irregular aptitude test results or initiation simulation results."

I did my research, after Amar's death. It is then that I realize the lightening

"While that is intriguing, correlation does not constitute evidence."

I jolt, wanting to rip his head off, and fast. He has to face the facts, and the fact is is that he is in denial, and refuses to believe that the factions are corrupt.

"A Dauntless leader shot a Candor child in the head. Did you get report of that?" Tris says as outraged as I am. "Did it seem 'worthy of investigation'?"

"In fact I did," Jack says oblivious to sarcasm. The poor fool. "And shooting a child in cold blood is a terrible crime that cannot go unpunished." Then why is he considered a clean slate? I want to shout, but he continues his speech.

"Fortunately, we have the perpetrator in custody and will be able to put him on trial." A trial that will be unfair. "However, we must keep in mind that the Dauntless soldiers did not give any evidence of wanting to harm the majority of us, or they would have killed us while we were unconscious."

Yes. Let's write them a thank you card that says, "You came in here and knocked us all with a simulation that might take our free will at any time you please, but thanks for not killing us!"

Everyone mutters in protests. I hear a few swears in there as well, and I have to agree.

"Their peaceful invasion suggests to me that it may be possible to negotiate a peace treaty with the Erudite and the other Dauntless. So I will arrange a meeting with Jeanine Matthews to discuss that possibility as soon as possible."

"Their invasion wasn't peaceful," Tris spits at him, and I grin again. I like how Tris treats him like they are equals, one not higher than the other, status wise. "Just because they didn't shoot you all in the head doesn't mean their intentions are somehow honorable. Why do you think they came here? Just to run through your hallways, knock you unconscious, and leave?"

"I assume they came here for people like you. And while I'm concerned for your safety," I never thought I'd here a Candor lie. "I don't think we can attack them just because they wanted to kill a fraction of our population."

I am bothered by the fact that Jack doesn't care about the Divergent, like our death is merely the equivalent to the death of a wasp. It is probably why he hasn't punished Eric yet. What if that "fraction" of a population included him? I feel murderous rage toward him.

"Killing you is not the worst thing they can do to you. Controlling you is,"

I might have disagreed with her a few weeks ago, but after Jeanine injected me with whatever was in that syringe, I couldn't agree with her more.

"Oh? And how will they manage that?" He says, mockingly, like her words are hysterical.

"They shot you with needles. Needles full of simulation transmitters. Simulations control you. That's how." Talking to Jack like he's a child. Let's see how he likes a taste of his own medicine.

"We know how simulation work. The transmitter is not a permanent implant. If they intended to control us, they would have done it right away."

Of course he is too stupid to understand that they are waiting for the perfect time.

"But-" Starts Tris, but is cut off by Jack.

"I know you have been through a lot of stress, Tris and that you have done a great service to your faction and to Abnegation. But I think your traumatic experience may have compromised your ability to be completely objective. I can't launch an attack based on a little girl's speculation."

I know Tris wouldn't like that, but I myself have also wondered if it's true, if she is making choice of of prejudice. But she is not a little girl who breaks down when something bad happens. Jack is wrong about that.

I already have the urge to kill him, and at least now I know I am not the only one. The others watching us from the crowd look just as upset as her and I. They trust her judgement, I realize. Is that good or bad? If she has this effect on the faction then she can help me bring two groups together, but I know she doesn't agree with joining the factionless, not yet anyway. It is like we are on two different sides, Tris and I.

But for now, we agree on the same thing: "You don't make our decisions for us, Kang." Shouts of agreement from my faction. You can always trust the Dauntless for backup.

"You are not the leader of our faction!" Someone says. It sounds like Uriah.

"That is true." Jack says calmly. "If you want to, you can feel free to storm the Erudite compound by yourselves. But you will do so without our support, and may I remind you, you are greatly outnumbered and unprepared."

As much as it pains me, he is right. We have no chance against the opposing side, even if we did have Candor's support. The Candor are not trained in combat, they do not know how to fight.

But the factionless do. I don't like to rely on anyone, but if the loyal Dauntless want to live, we need the people we have ignored for years.

"I thought so. Very well." Jack says giddily. I'm sure I can find a rock to throw at his groin. "I will contact Jeanine Matthews and see if we can negotiate a peace. Any objections?"

He is like Marcus. He asks questions when he knows he has the upper hand, and when there is no other option.

Jack Kang is an enemy to watch out for in the future.

Sorry it took so long!

But I did it! I also changed the covers to the stories in Four's Pov...

AND to everyone who has voted, commented, or even just took the time to read, I just want to .