Repost for minor edits: 10/19/2020
I sit up and pull up the sheet to cover myself, "What?" This was a very quick change in his attitude and it had me worried.
He looked at me with that stare he has as Four and then looked at the ground, "My mother isn't dead. She's been living with the Factionless and has kind of taken over as a leader for them."
I was stunned, "What?" It took me a minute to process what he'd said. "How do you know this?"
"I've talked to her."
"When?" I asked starting to feel angry.
"Before you came to Dauntless," he sat on the arm of the couch. "I haven't talked to her in awhile but she knows a lot about what's going on. I could talk to her again."
"You've known this for how long? And you're just now telling me?" How could he keep something like this a secret from me? He knew I was Divergent, one of the most important secrets anyone could keep here and he didn't trust me to keep this secret.
"Tris, I don't talk to her often because she left me with him. She left him because he was abusive but she left me behind. And I understand that raising me within the Factionless wasn't much of an option but leaving me with someone who beat me wasn't really an option either and that's the one she took. I don't go around really even excepting she's alive because to me that makes it worse than thinking she is dead," he stated almost angrily.
I feel my anger deflate. He has a point, "I'm sorry. I hadn't really thought of it that way. I just don't like thinking you keep secrets from me."
He shrugged, "I'm not good with the truth for a very good reason. I keep secrets because I've had too. I try not to with you but it's ingrained into me. I'll try not to do that anymore but I can't guarantee it won't happen again. Just know that I'm working on it."
I hated that I could understand his reasoning. I wanted to be angry with him but at the same time he was trained not to say anything that would give away his home life. I get out of bed and go to him. Wrapping my arms around his waist, "I understand but don't expect me not to get mad when you do."
He nodded and held me close, "That's fair."
"So how does she know what's going on," I ask.
He shrugged, "The Factionless aren't really watched that closely. Since they're just nobodies to our society they're often overlooked and go unnoticed. They're able to sneak into places and get information on things nobody else knows. Plus they see things from an outside perspective. As much as I hate to admit it she may be our best option to find out what the plans really are."
"You'll have to find a way to sneak out and that may not be possible the next three weeks," I say leading him back over to the bed.
"Yeah, I'm trying to work that out," he added getting undressed again. I realize that the reason he distanced himself from me and started gathering his clothes was his way of protecting himself. He's afraid I'm going to leave him too so he wanted to take matters into his own hands. Prepare to leave before I could kick him out.
I had to be more careful about letting him know I wasn't going anywhere.
Friday morning I came into work wearing my training uniform, with the new insignia on the shoulder patch. The new patch was a stylized phoenix rising from the Dauntless flames. Team A had a red phoenix and Team B had a blue phoenix. My collar now had two stripes on it as well. Four's had three stripes denoting that he was higher ranked.
I knew I wouldn't have time to change clothes before going to the training room that night. I looked in to see Diana wearing her uniform too so I didn't feel so out of place. Her collar had 3 stripes the same as Four's. I found out later that Eric's also had 3 stripes but Max's was 3 stripes and a star. So Eric didn't really outrank Four even if he was on the higher team.
Shelly looked at me and my uniform curiously, "You'll find out later tonight." I said before she could ask me again.
She nodded and changed the subject to questions on her taking my shift to Amity the next week.
Then at lunch Four brought me another sandwich from the dining hall and we went into the conference room. He was also wearing his training uniform and I nearly drooled over myself by how good he looked in it. He was using the excuse of going over things for that night to come see me during the day. Diana walked in at the end of our lunch and said I needed to go with her and Four for the rest of the day. We were to go down and go over non-confrontational techniques for resolving issues with Max, Eric and Four. She wanted to cover this before the candidates came in that night. I figured most of this would be lost on Max and especially Eric but we should at least try.
After Diana was done talking I looked over to see Eric nearly asleep in his chair and Max looked like he wasn't very far behind him, fine then it was up to Diana and I to sort out some of these problems. But knowing that Erudite was planning on doing something on a bigger scale, maybe they didn't care really if conflicts were resolved as long as there was just a show of something being done. I look at Four and notice him finishing up some notes on his tablet. Well at least it looked like he was paying attention.
He and I went off to a corner of the room to discuss leadership procedures and how we need to work together. I noticed he was putting his hand on my shoulder more often and while not being unprofessional he was still being friendlier. Max took notice and walked over as we were talking and asked what we were discussing. Four explained how our leadership differed from Team A's by having one less person and we had to somehow mirror that structure so when people moved up from Team B they were already used to the pecking order.
As Four was talking he put his hand on my back while pointing out an outline on the tablet. Discussing what the chain of command should be and how it should be organized.
Max stared at us with a knowing look but we both kept it to business so he didn't have a chance to discuss it further. He made a few suggestions to resolve an issue and then walked away.
I walked away to stretch out because it was about time that the candidates started showing up. I didn't know what was happening tonight for sure but I figured warming up and maybe getting in a short jog would at least get me ready for whatever. Plus it would be good for the candidates to see the leadership training to let them understand what they were getting themselves into.
As I started jogging around the perimeter of the huge room Eric came up beside me to jog along. This was ridiculous because my short legs wouldn't be able to keep up with him. He looked over at me and gave me that creepy grin of his, "So, Tris, you think Four can handle the pressure of leadership. He never seemed to want to take it on before. And you two fighting until recently seems to be an issue. I'm sure we could find a way to reorganize of you wanted to change to better leadership. We could work a lot closer together."
I keep staring ahead even though I can see him out of the corner of my eye. I had to word my answer carefully. I didn't want him to get angry and get vindictive but I needed to keep my space from him, "I have no problem with Four's leadership at this time. Since he seems to have learned to respect my abilities, we should work fine together. As for reorganizing I think that's a not a great idea considering we're just getting started. Max's idea is working fine for now."
Eric turned around and started running backwards in front of me with a look bordering on anger, "Well, if you change your mind, let me know. We'd make a great team." Then he turned around and took off at a faster pace. I thought I was going to be sick. I glance over to where Four is standing with Max and Diana. He glanced at me with a tight jaw. He had seen the encounter but couldn't do anything about it because he was tied up. That was probably a good thing after he wanted to kill Eric before.
I was making my second loop and Four had joined me by the time the candidates started coming in. As soon as they saw me, Four and Eric running they started warming up. That's why they were candidates. They observed the situation and acted accordingly. They didn't need to be given orders to know what to do; they followed leadership until told otherwise.
I saw Will, Christina, Zeke and Uriah look at my uniform patch, and I could tell they wanted to come talk to me. I shook my head to make sure they knew I couldn't discuss this with them. They had to be part of the group and not my friends for awhile.
Max got everyone's attention and pulled us in, one person on the list was missing and Max was told that he was in the hospital ward with a broken leg. He had landed wrong jumping from the train so wouldn't be able to make it. Max nodded, "Well that sucks, but we have to go on without him. He can have another chance when we have an opening again." He then outlined the project that we were working on and that the, now 29, candidates would compete for 15 spots. The process of elimination would be over 3 weeks, and this was just brought up today. After the first week we would knock it down to 25 candidates, the second week would narrow it down to 20, and the third would bring us down to 15.
Max had brought up that people would fight it out if they didn't narrow it down each week. Anybody who didn't make it this time would have another chance when openings became available. After he outlined how the training would go and that if anyone wanted to drop out, now would be the time. One female candidate raised her hand, "Sir, I won't be able to participate at this time. I just found out I'm pregnant."
Max in a rare moment of being nice, smiled, "Well, congratulations, another Dauntless coming into the world." Everyone clapped and laughed at her embarrassment. "The next time we have openings you'll be on the candidate list again. But don't say anything to anybody about this today. We want to make the announcement tonight at Dinner. You're dismissed."
"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir." She said as she left the room. And then there were 28.
"For the rest of you, the next three weeks you will sit together in the dining hall. You will wear your training uniform every day at work before coming here. You will show pride that you were chosen to be a candidate for this team. And you will hold yourselves to a higher set of standards. These teams are on call 24/7 for any problem that might arise in the city. So no getting drunk and stupid on off times. Team B will be called in as backup for Team A or when there is more than one problem going on. After we have Team B assembled, once a week, on Monday's, you will be required to wear your uniform and sit as a group. The rest of the week is yours. You will be expected to be in the training room at least 3 days of the week for a workout. Once a month we will have group training to work on team skills. This is an honor and it will come with perks but it's an honor that has to be continually earned. If you can't make workouts or other training you may be dropped from the team. Do you understand?"
"Yes sir," the group said in unison.
By this time Team A members had come in the room and were standing up against the wall. Max pointed to them and said, "These are Team A members, headed up by myself, Eric in 2nd command and Diana in 3rd as well as liaison to the other factions. But you will report directly to Four as 1st in command of Team B and Tris as 2nd and also working as liaison. Over the next three weeks we will ALL be evaluating you to see who actually gets to be on Team B."
Christina looked at me wide eyed. I could see the wheels turning and she couldn't make heads or tails of it all.
After the long speech Max looked at his watch, "Okay, well, our first part of training will be to announce you to your fellow Dauntless at supper. We'll go down in orderly fashion and assemble at the reserved tables. Remember you are trying to become a part of an Elite group of Dauntless and you will conduct yourselves as such. Prove to us you want to be here. After supper we will have a basic workout with a refresher on hand to hand combat. Then you will be released to go home and be back at 05:00 hours in the morning."
Max, Eric and Diana started out the door with Team A following in military lines behind them. Four and I followed them out with two lines behind us ordered by age oldest to youngest. I thought that after we start ranking them they probably should be lined up behind us by rank, but for now respect to the older members was fine. We jogged down to the dining room but slowed to a walk as we entered.
When we walked into the dining hall and marched to the front of the room the usual noise in the room died to an eerie silence. The only thing you could hear was the rhythm of boots hitting the ground. Once we were all seated Max stood up and addressed the group of dauntless in the room. Not everyone was here of course but news would spread quickly after this.
"Let me have your attention. We have a couple of announcements to make. The first announcement is of the formation of the Dauntless Elite Teams." After Max explained what was going on and introduced Team A members, he showed the score board with names on it in alphabetical order. "These are our current candidates for Team B. These candidates were invited to Elite training for their devotion to continue their training and their dedication to their jobs here in Dauntless. This list will be narrowed down over the next three weeks. Good luck, Candidates."
There was a cheer from the Dining Hall and Max let it continue for a little bit then held his hand up for quiet, "there is another announcement we need to make. We have an official name change to make." Max walked over to where I sat and Four grinned at me. Max motioned for me to rise, "Tris, can you stand up please." I slowly stand with heat rushing up in my face, "Tris redid her Fear Landscape last night and she is proof that with hard work and perseverance you can overcome almost any obstacle or any background. Tris now has the second least amount of fears. So she will now be known as Six, and she and Four are heading up Team B."
I hear the cheers and the chanting of my new name around me. Oh this really wasn't good. I didn't need to be this far out in this society. The more visible I was the bigger the chance they would find out what I was. I catch Tori's eye and see she isn't smiling and cheering like the rest. We both know that this isn't a good idea but I have to pretend to be happy. I look at Max, "Thank you."
Max nods gravely noticing that I seemed to be off, "It's rare we give a new name to someone. Respect it."
"Yes, sir. I'm just overwhelmed. Thank you, sir," He nodded again with that explanation, and seemed to be satisfied.
I feel a hand on my shoulder and turn to see Four has stood up and is smiling down at me as people keep chanting. I have to think for a second of how I should handle that. I know we are trying to change our relationship in other people's eyes but would Six allow him to get away with this kind of sudden change after what he did to Tris. I shrug out from under his hand and sit back down so that we could all start eating. He gives me a confused look but doesn't say anything.
Once supper was over we went back to the training room and had a short refresher about hand to hand combat. Since it was our team, Four and I were in charge of instruction. It also built up our leadership but sometimes Eric would step in I think to just make both of us miserable. He always had a point to make but I think he looked for reasons to step in. It was frustrating especially when Four and I were still feeling tension from supper. Only when I put Four to the floor for the second time did Max stop us for the night and dismissed the candidates.
Max looked at Four and myself, "Are you two going to be able to do this? I thought you were getting over whatever issues you were having?"
"I'm fine." I say quickly.
Four looked at me and then back at Max, "It's fine. The candidates need to know not to underestimate her and apparently I needed a reminder, too." He added throwing his jacket back on and heading out the door.
Christina was waiting for me as I left the training room, and she stepped up to me. "I know we have to be distant right now for professionalism but I have one thing to say. Don't you dare go easy on me; I want people to know I earned this spot."
I looked her in the eye, "You're too good of a friend to insult like that."
She nodded and walked away and I see her meet up with Will down the hallway. Max and Eric were the last to leave the training room and I see that Max heard the exchange. "Now if you could just get through to Four like that we would be okay."
Eric came up beside me and wrapped an arm around my shoulders like we were the best of buddies. It took everything I had not to shrug him off. It would only make him hang on more. He leans down to my ear, "Remember what I said, SIX, anytime you're ready to be on my team I'll make it happen."
I find a way to sneak out from under his arm, "I'm okay with what I have right now. But I'm done for the night. See you in the morning."