Tris woke to the sound of an alarm. She sat up, expecting someone in authority to be in her room or to see someone coming to arrest her. Instead, she saw her roommate, Karen, stretching and slapping her hand on the alarm clock. "Stupid thing," Karen muttered. Tris blinked rapidly, taking in the room in the early morning light. It didn't look too different, more sterile perhaps, but it wasn't completely unfamiliar. She decided to get up and slip into the shower, testing the waters to see if everything worked.

"Please tell me you slept as well as I did," Karen said when Tris came out. "I feel like all the stress I was under during initiation just melted away last night."
Tris watched her stretch out and sit up, an expectant look on her face. "Oh, yeah. Me too."
"So, where do you think you'll place?"
Tris watched her for a moment, awed at how Karen was talking to her like she had been there all along. "I'm not really sure, actually."
Karen stood and nudged her with her shoulder as she walked past. "Me either. But it better be good." Karen let out a laugh as she shut the bathroom door.

Tris let out a loud sigh of relief and fished her bag out from underneath the mattress, slipping the earpiece into her ear when she heard Karen get in the shower. She pressed the button as instructed, and waited only a few seconds until someone answered on the other end. "Amar here. Everything okay, Tris?"

She let out a small laugh, pleased to hear a familiar voice. "Yes, thanks. Everyone get back okay?"

"Affirmative. The mission went as planned."

Tris closed her eyes, relieved that Tobias was safely back at the Bureau. "Good. So far everything is fine here, too."

"Copy. Status update scheduled in forty-eight hours."

"Oh. Yeah. Uhh, copy."

The audio cut out, and she placed the earpiece back in its little compartment. She knew it was an unscheduled call, but Tris thought it was too curt, even for Amar. It crossed her mind that David might have been around, so she pushed her feelings aside and performed the routine as she'd been taught: inhalant, hair pinned to the side, light makeup, fake eyeglasses. She saw nothing but Erudite staring back at her when she looked in the mirror. She smoothed her skirt down one last time, and gave Karen a smile when she emerged from the bathroom.

She paid close attention as they walked to the main auditorium; being there in person was far more intimidating than she had anticipated. Tris was nervous about seeing Caleb for the first time, and kept her head down when she saw Cara, knowing he could be somewhere nearby. The auditorium reminded her of the one at the Hub where the Choosing Ceremony took place each year, only this one was completely filled with a sea of blue. She followed the other initiates down to the front and took a seat in the furthest row from the stage, adjusting her glasses when they slipped.

"Annoying, aren't they?" She looked to her right to see the boy next to her smiling widely. She offered a tight smile and a single nod of her head. "You know, I don't think we've formally met. I'm Fernando."

Tris looked down at the outstretched hand in front of her. She shook it twice then pulled her hand away quickly. "Melody."

"Oh, right. Mel. I don't blame you for shortening it sometimes. I understand a thing or two about long names. And hey, you can call me Fer, if you like."

"Okay, Fer."

He gave her another wide grin before turning his attention to the boy seated on the other side of him. Tris was relieved to know the memory serum was working, but it didn't make it any less odd that they all seemed to know her while she knew so little about them. The room quieted as soon as Jeanine came in; Tris slunk down in her chair just a bit.

"Congratulations," Jeanine began, a smile crossing her face. "I can't remember the last time Erudite was blessed with such a large amount of potential. This initiation class is filled with some of the best students we have ever had." Tris saw movement in the front row; she leaned forward just enough to see Caleb sitting tall, a proud smile on his face. "Every last one of you have shown me that you have not just the knowledge but also the drive to bring this city up to its full potential. The future is here, and it begins with you."

The auditorium erupted in loud applause. Tris looked around to see the smiling faces of her new faction mates, joining them so she wouldn't stand out. She let her eyes roam, wondering just how many people were responsible for whatever was going on and how many were completely oblivious. The crowd quieted when Jeanine raised her hands. "This ceremony is short, but please, do not mistake that for how much we value you. I know all of you are eager to get your new housing assignments and job placements, and to begin your lives as official members of our faction. So from me to all of you, welcome to Erudite."

Tris stood with the others to another round of applause and walked to the stage with them, forming a line. As Jeanine started making her way down the line and shaking everyone's hands, Tris began to panic. She kept her eyes down and wiped her hands on her skirt as much as she could. When Jeanine was right next to her, she tried to remember to breathe.

"Congratulations, initiate." Tris looked up to see Jeanine's head cocked to the side. She held completely still as Jeanine studied her: Tris swore she could hear every second as it ticked by, until Jeanine lowered her eyes, tapping on the tablet in her hand. "You are Melody, correct?" Tris could only nod as Jeanine tapped some more. "I don't bother to learn most of our transfers' names until they are full members. I'm sure you can understand that it would be counterproductive to learn them sooner."

Tris didn't respond until Jeanine lifted her head, looking down her nose at her. "Y-yes. I understand." Jeanine stared at her for just a moment longer before shaking her hand and moving on.

Tris felt lightheaded, both from holding her breath and from the burst of adrenaline that came when Jeanine was no longer standing in front of her.

"She's a little intimidating, isn't she?" Fernando whispered, leaning closer to her. "And kind of a bitch. I realize not everyone is scientist material, but she could at least have learned your names." Tris let out a small laugh; she was too nervous to notice that Jeanine didn't know any of the other transfers names either. Caleb, of course, seemed to be the only exception. "I say don't worry about it. Probably feels like it's her way of asserting her authority or something."

Tris hoped he was right. "Thanks, Fernando." He nudged her with his shoulder, and gave her a grin and a wink.

Tobias was livid as he paced back and forth in the small security room. "Calm down," Amar said slowly. "It's not that big of a deal."

"Not that big of a deal?" Tobias spun to face him, hurt and anger flashing in his eyes. "She was face to face with Jeanine. And she knew. She looked at her far too long."

"She did not," Amar stated flatly. "You have no way of knowing."

"Yes, I do."

Tobias sat roughly in his chair, watching Tris wait with the other people in Erudite as their names were called. They normally didn't pull feed from the city into the security room, but Tobias knew he wouldn't be able to keep calm with everyone crowding around him, trying to get a better view of the screens. One by one he watched the initiates choose a job, the crowd cheering each choice. He wasn't surprised when Caleb was called first, choosing a position in their small council; he was being groomed to become the next leader of Erudite. Cara went second, choosing genetics, with just one other person called before Tris. He held his breath when she stood.

"Melody Wright?" The man handed her a tablet when she nodded, and for a moment she panicked; the Bureau hadn't informed her what she should do if the option they wanted for her wasn't there. She was mildly surprised when she saw offers that dealt with working in the labs. She mulled it over for a moment, wondering just what the Bureau did with her scores, when the job title caught her eye.

"Archivist."

The man looked at her for a moment. "You sure? With these scores, the possibilities are almost endless for you. You could do better."

"I'm sure."

The man shrugged his shoulders and entered her information. "Housing will be assigned as soon as everyone finishes. There are several different floors for housing, so you'll be placed based on your choice. In the meantime, you can pack your stuff and meet with the others in Hall C. The information will be posted there."

Tris thanked him and left, getting lost only once before finding her way back to her room. She packed quickly while she was alone, unsure when Karen would show up. She triple-checked that she had everything, feeling underneath the mattress again even though the small bag was the first thing she had grabbed. She stood there for a moment, trying to recall where Hall C was, when Karen finally walked in.

"Oh, hey. I'm glad you waited. What job did you choose?"

"Archivist."

"Really? Won't that be, like, boring?" Tris scrunched her nose. "Oh, right. You won't have to interact with people so much! Eh, seems like a good choice for you, though. You'll probably have fun sticking your nose in books all day long."

Tris watched Karen pack for a moment before speaking up, remembering she needed at least one friend while she was in Erudite. "What did you choose?"

"Nursing. It's what my mom does, and I already know a lot of stuff, so it seemed pretty logical. Besides, my test scores weren't as high as I had hoped. I thought I'd like to try my hand at chemistry, maybe. Make some fancy vaccines or something, but this is fine, too." She disappeared into the bathroom for a moment before coming out with her things. "Well, I think that's everything. Ready?" Tris nodded and followed her out the door.

Caleb was already in Hall C when they arrived. Karen immediately walked over to his group, while Tris slowed her strides and headed to sit by herself. She looked around, putting the names she learned to the faces, when she caught sight of Fernando. He motioned for her to join him; she bit her lip for a moment before standing. She stood by him, vaguely listening to the conversations of her faction mates. It took her only a few minutes to figure out they had naturally separated themselves into two groups: one for those who chose the more important jobs, and the one that she was in.

"What job did you choose?" she asked Fernando.

"Electrical," he said flatly. "I know it's not as glamorous as the biologists or the doctors, but somebody has to keep this place running." He flashed his familiar grin. "And I'll get to tinker with all the leftovers. It's all I really want to do, anyway."

"Then why not choose something in technology?" another boy asked. Kevin, Tris thought to herself, as she tried to place his face.

"Too much research and not enough hands-on work." Fernando shrugged. "Besides, I don't mind it."

"Yeah, well, I'm stuck assisting one of those asshats over there."

Tris scrunched her eyebrows at Kevin. "I don't understand. Why is that so bad?"

"Oh yeah, you're a transfer," Kevin said, looking down his nose at her. "Have you listened to how they treat their assistants in the labs? We're there to help them out, but really they act like we're just a hindrance to their 'creative process'," Kevin huffed, before adding, "I mean, really. Who do they think they are? They're not better than us just because they're more qualified for all the desirable jobs. You know how it goes: all of the hard work, none of the credit."

"Then why did you choose it?"

The group of seven people all focused on Tris. She wanted to hold her head high, tell Kevin that he had nobody to blame but himself for where he chose to end up. But instead, she shrank in on herself as he stared down at her, ducking her head and shying away as he spoke. "Because, when you're deemed not smart enough, there aren't always options available to you."

Kevin walked away while Tris looked at Fernando. He shrugged and turned to the girl next to him; Tris chalked Kevin's behavior up to jealousy. She let her eyes wander until they focused on Caleb. He seemed like a completely different person than the one she had grown up with: laughing, smiling, completely outgoing. He touched Cara with ease, and Tris wondered if she ever really knew her brother at all.

Their housing assignments came quickly; it was no surprise to learn she would be housed separately from her brother, since he was Erudite's prodigy and she was only an archivist. She walked with Fernando and took the elevator to her floor, their units only one door away from each other. "I'll see you at dinner!" he called out, and Tris nodded, deciding he wouldn't be the worst friend to have.

The inside was larger than any living space she had ever been in. There was a sitting area with a small table and a few plush chairs surrounding it, a nice kitchen with stools nestled under the counter, and a bedroom with a large bed and its own bathroom. Her favorite thing, though, was the small room that opened up just off the entryway. It was lined with wall-to-wall shelving that was filled with various books and papers, and had a small desk in the middle. She ran her fingers over the books, pulling a few out to flip through them, wondering if there was more information held here than at the Bureau.

She took her time putting her things away, and hid the small bag underneath her mattress again. While she didn't anticipate anyone coming into her room, she didn't want to leave it just lying around. Just as she finished, there was a knock on the door.

"Hello," a man said from behind a cart when she answered it. "Melody Wright?"

"Yes."

"I'm Norman, and I have your things."

Tris stood aside and let him in. The cart was covered in various objects which he began looking through, stopping to consult a tablet every few minutes. "Okay, archivist: one tablet, one laptop, one access card." He made Tris stand against a wall and took her picture. She watched as a small photo of herself then appeared on the tablet in front of him. Norman tapped it a few times before putting a plastic card in a small box. It made noise for a minute before popping open; it had her name, picture and a number on it. He took her thumb and pressed it to a black pad, then to the back of the card, creating a print. He handed her a wipe to clean the ink, then pressed her thumb to a small, circular button on the tablet.

"Okay, all of your identification is in order. This card gives you access to any place you are allowed to go, like the library or the archives. It has your picture and your identification number on it, too, so make sure you memorize it just in case you forget it or lose it. If you're requested in one of the labs, your card will be given access for that day only. Just swipe it and let the scanner read your thumbprint, as with everywhere else. It also stores your credits, so you can use it for any extra purchases as well. Try to keep it with you at all times. You'll need it more often than not. Now this," he said, handing her the tablet, "Is your personal tablet. Unlike the ones in the library, it won't work without your fingerprint. You have both this and the computer, so you can work on whichever one is your preference, either here or somewhere else, or you can simply use it for your own purposes."

He entered some things on his tablet before turning it to face her. "Now, the last piece is a non-disclosure agreement. Working with the scientists or leaders will give you access to information that isn't meant for everyone. It's all standard, but feel free to look it over." Tris leaned forward, her eyes scanning the very thorough contract. It was explicitly clear that she was to discuss her work with no one: not a spouse, family, or otherwise. She was unsurprised to see the threat of jail time coupled with the threat of being made factionless if she failed to follow the rules. She pretended to take everything in, nodding her head every so often until enough time had passed.

"Perfect. Now just place your thumbprint here to verify I gave you everything on the list and that you received and read the proper paperwork." Tris reached out and placed her thumb on the little pad. "Huh," he said, tapping the screen again. "Your print isn't on file." Tris felt her palms begin to get sweaty. She looked around her room, wondering if there was anything heavy enough to hit him over the head with if she needed to escape.

"You're just going to have to go down to the main desk and put your print in again. You're the third transfer today that this has happened to. Must be some bug that needs to be sorted out," Norman said, idly tapping on his screen. "Here, just sign your name instead." Tris took the little stick he held out, quickly adjusting the first line to resemble an 'M' before scrawling out the rest. "Perfect. Since you haven't been to the archives yet, I'll send a map to your tablet. Any questions?"

"Umm, no?"

"Good," he said, tapping on the screen again. "Map is sent. Victoria will be waiting for you. You can discuss schedules and responsibilities when you get there."

Tris nodded and opened the door for Norman; he thanked her and headed down the hallway. She took a moment for herself to process everything that was happening and all the emotions she was feeling. She checked the map she was sent, clipped her new badge on, and set out to meet Victoria.

The archives were housed in a different building. Tris liked having the opportunity to be outside every day, and liked it even more when she saw that the building she was going to be working in was rife with enormous windows. "You're late," an older woman with wiry gray hair said without looking up. "Are you Melody?"

"Yes," Tris said, realizing just how fast information spread in Erudite. "I came down as soon as I was assigned my things."

"I will not tolerate tardiness. Is that clear?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

Tris stood there and stared, trying to keep her irritation to herself. Victoria ignored her, keeping her face buried in an older book. Tris waited for a while before finally speaking up. "Is there something I can do?"

"Well it's about time you asked," Victoria said snidely. Tris could feel the pressure in her jaw as she clenched it. "First and foremost, you will do everything exactly as I say. There are to be no improvisations, no shortcuts, and no backtalk. Are we clear?" Tris agreed, albeit reluctantly. "Good. Our time here is mostly spent transferring and indexing records. We also, on occasion, follow some of the other members around, recording tests and their results, or documenting major discoveries for future generations. Our history depends on us, and it is our duty to make sure it is accurate."

"Is it just us?" Tris looked at the vast expanse of books surrounding her.

"No. Collin is out covering you lot being initiated." Victoria narrowed her eyes. "You're a transfer, aren't you?" Tris nodded. "Of course you are. Well, come on. You have a lot to learn."

They spent the entire day going over the various programs used to transfer and index their history and information. It was tedious work, but it was also helpful, she thought. If she wanted to look up information on shoes, a simple search would give her endless data, including references to everything from different shoe styles to how shoes are made to how to make your own. She had no idea Erudite collected so much information. By the end of the day, she was exhausted. She had met Collin at some point, she recalled, though she wasn't sure if she'd be able to pick him out of a crowd.

"Hey," she heard as she waited in line in the cafeteria.

"Oh, hey Fer," she said, waving a weak greeting as she looked behind her. "How was your day?"

"Oh, you know, informative." He smiled. "Yours?"

"Tiring, oddly enough. Who knew looking at books and staring at a screen all day could be so exhausting?"

She sat quietly with Fernando, watching the segregation occurring in the cafeteria as those with the more desirable jobs once again distanced themselves from those who chose the more tedious occupations. She couldn't help but compare it to the Bureau, and wondered what these people would think if they knew the truth: that they would all be considered 'undesirables'.

She excused herself when she was done, turning down Fernando's invitation to hang out in the library. The stress and nervousness she had endured all day had worn her out, and all she wanted to do was sleep. Tris changed her mind halfway home and ran a bath as soon as she walked in. She relaxed in the steaming water, running things over in her head and then laughed to herself. With as much thinking as she was doing, she actually fit right in. Tris was dozing lightly when a memory startled her fully awake.

She scrambled out of the tub, drying and dressing quickly. Tris picked up her tablet and opened it, finding the program that would allow her to send a message. The blank screen illuminated her face as she thought about what to say, tears filling her eyes as she imagined her mother's reaction to learning she was still alive. Her hands hovered for a moment before realization caused her to shut the program down; she couldn't send it, at least not from her own tablet. Whatever device she sent the message from would need to be destroyed. She crawled into bed, drifting off to sleep as she tried to figure out how to get a message to her mother.

A/N:

I can't believe tomorrow is Christmas. I hope all of you have a fantastic holiday, get lots of goodies, and eat all the cookies haha.

And I totally forgot to mention this last chapter, but this story has passed 400 reviews, and that is just beyond awesome. Every review is appreciated, so thank you very much for taking the time to leave them.

Happy holidays guys! See you all next Tuesday!