"Amar?" He spun in his chair to see Matthew standing in the doorway. He looked nervous, and it immediately put Amar on edge. "I need to talk with you. It's about Four and… George."

Amar took in a sharp breath. George had just returned yesterday, looking at Amar as if he didn't even know him. "My shift is over in an hour."

"I'll meet you at your place," Matthew said, leaving Amar to wonder how he knew where he lived.

Amar paced back and forth in his kitchen until there was a knock on the door. He smiled tightly at Matthew as he stepped aside and let him in, offering him a glass of water before they both sat at the table together. "This isn't easy to tell you," Matthew started, "But you are someone Four respects, and this does concern you." Amar raised an eyebrow as Matthew pulled a tablet from his bag and slid it across the table. Amar picked it up, flipping through the pages of reports. It took him some time to start registering that the reports were from the cities that had been shut down, places George had been visiting. He did a double-take when he realized the reports all had the same outcome: they all had a high success rate of healed genes.

"What the…" Amar wasn't sure how to phrase the questions he had forming inside his head.

"We're being lied to," Matthew explained. "By David, by the Bureau, by everyone. These experiments weren't shut down because they failed, they were shut down because they succeeded."

Amar kept going through the information. The dates, the cities — some were before George began his new position, but there were many after. Even though Amar's suspicions had been raised, it still hurt to have proof that George was a part of the lie. "Okay…" he said slowly, looking up at Matthew. "What now?"

"I think we need to get to Four."

Tobias gawked at the small screen outside of his cell, trying to decide if he was really seeing his father, or if he was simply imagining it. He rubbed his eyes, still crusted with sleep, and looked again: Tris was definitely being thrown over Marcus's shoulder. Tobias could feel his heart rate rising, the panic setting in as he wondered what his father was doing taking Tris from her cell. He held his breath when they left, his patience wearing thin while he waited for the facial recognition software to pick her up on another camera. Minutes passed with no change, and he feared the worst when the cameras failed to pick her up. There was a flash of movement that sparked hope, but it was only an Erudite looking into the cell. Tobias continued to wait for what felt like an eternity, but the camera never shifted. Tris was somewhere, with Marcus, and he had no idea how he was going to get out and find her.

"Hey!" he yelled out, hoping someone would hear him, take pity and give him something he could latch onto, but there was no one around. He lay down on the floor and stared at the ceiling, thinking, planning out how he would get a gun the next time they came to let him shower. Tobias didn't care if he got shot, nor did he care if he was killed trying. All he knew was that he had to get out. He had to find her, and he had to make David pay for everything he had done.

He glanced at the tablet often, unsure if he was relieved or disappointed that it hadn't changed. He let himself lose it for a moment, accepting that he might not be able to get out. That he might never find her or see her again. Tobias hadn't really cried since his mother died, yet in the few months he had spent with Tris, his emotions had gotten the better of him more than once. At first, he had been alarmed that she had that kind of power over him; Tobias had never thought he would know what it meant to truly love, to give all of himself over to someone else with no questions asked. But now that he did know, it was one of the few decisions he didn't regret in his entire eighteen years. He loved Tris, and he would do anything for her.

At first he didn't notice the approaching footsteps as he lay there, too numb to think of anything other than his loss. But they became louder, hurried, and he stood, flattening himself against the wall, hoping to take advantage of whoever was coming.

"We have less than five minutes, so don't fuck around and no questions." Tobias nodded, frozen in place for only a split second before leaving the cell and hurrying down the hallway after Amar. "Shit is going downhill fast. The Dauntless are moving, more than likely to target Abnegation. Jeanine has gone off the grid. Marcus has been visiting Erudite—"

"I know. He took Tris," Tobias said.

"What? How? Never mind. We're doing this together. I have a few more on our side, but we've gotta be quick about it, and not second-guess anything. Are you ready?"

"You really have to ask?"

Amar smirked over his shoulder as he approached an intersection. He stopped and let out a whistle, and the same whistle was returned a second later. They rounded the corner to see Ruby standing there, a grin on her face. "Oh, how I've missed that sourpuss face," she said, winking at Tobias and tossing him a vest. As he slipped it on, she set down a bag and opened it to reveal an array of guns and ammo, as well as a few medical supplies. "I'll do my best to cover for you. Ben should be tripping the emergency beacon any second now. That should buy you a couple minutes of confusion to slip out undetected, but Neil will be running interference on the camera system as best as he can, just in case."

"Neil?" Tobias asked, surprised.

"Yeah. It's almost like you made a few friends here over the years." He shot Ruby a look, and she rolled her eyes.

"Train is the last confirmed location," Amar said. "She's with her mother and brother, that Cara girl… and your father."

"What the hell is he doing mixed up in all of this?" Tobias asked.

"No idea. Cameras picked up the brother escorting him out of Erudite before. Maybe he asked for help?"

Tobias snorted derisively. Marcus selflessly helping anyone without benefit to himself was the last thing that would happen. It made him worry that there was some hidden benefit to taking Tris. "Where's the train heading?" he asked.

"Taking the scenic route around the city. They'll pass Dauntless and the factionless sector before getting to Abnegation."

"Train doesn't stop in Abnegation," he commented. "They'll get off in factionless."

"Good thing we were heading there anyway."

The lights turned off, the emergency beacons indicating that the building had lost power. "Go get 'em, tiger!" Ruby yelled as he and Amar took off. The underground was fairly empty during the day, but that didn't stop them from running into a few people. Most of them didn't give them a second glance, thanks to the power outage; they assumed they were running to take up a post. Amar grabbed a set of keys and opened up a van, yelling for Tobias to hide in the back. They were out of the building before the power was restored, and Tobias held his breath when they reached the gate checkpoint.

He could hear their soft murmurs, and even a laugh or two as Amar chatted with whoever was working the gate. After a few moments the van began to move, and Tobias let out a relieved sigh. They had made it out of the compound.

"What did you tell him?" he asked as he climbed into the passenger seat.

"That David needed me to go out and check the transformers around the edge of the fence."

"There aren't any transformers around the edge of the fence," Tobias said, his mouth turning up on one side.

"Yeah, but who's going to question their superior officer?"

The drive was a long one, made longer by the desire to know what was happening and the desire to get to Tris and make sure she was okay. He stopped himself once or twice from yelling at Amar when he slowed down, forgetting for a moment that he, too, was risking everything for her.

"What made you change your mind?" Tobias asked.

"Hmm?"

"You're not exactly a rule breaker, Amar."

Amar shrugged. "Sometimes things change."

Tobias didn't want to press the subject, but he needed information; being locked up had left him out of the loop. "Matthew found something, didn't he?"

Amar sighed. "It's no fun learning everything you believed in is a lie."

Amar filled Tobias in on how Matthew had come to him, laying out all the information he had hacked out of David's — and subsequently George's — communications. Every last thing they knew about the outside world was a lie; keeping it a secret had only served to keep David in some sort of power. Coupled with everything that had started happening in the city, Amar and Matthew had decided they couldn't wait while things fell apart even further, and Tobias became the first thing on their minds.

"I wish I could say I was surprised," Tobias said, after letting it all sink in. "But now that you've said it out loud, it all makes perfect sense." He gave Amar a small smile. "I gotta say, I'm impressed."

"What? You didn't think I had it in me?"

"To break the rules?" Tobias chuckled. "I'll admit, I've questioned your unwavering loyalty sometimes. But I think I always knew it was in there, buried deep down or something."

The corner of Amar's mouth lifted. "Sometimes you just have to play the game. I think you know that pretty well."

Tobias nodded with a newfound appreciation for his friend. "How did you get everything set up so quickly?"

"I keep telling you this, but you have actual friends who are more than willing to stick their necks out for you."

"Right. And I guess the knowledge that everything's gone to shit had nothing to do with it?"

"Not at all."

Tobias checked the time in the van, cursing that he didn't have his watch. He knew it was too risky, that they could track him if it were on, but he felt like a part of him was missing. He did the math in his head, figuring Tris would already be in Abnegation by now.

"You can't go in guns blazing," Amar said, glancing at him. "We have to make a plan and stick to it."

"The plan is to get Tris. I don't care about anything other than that."

Inside the tunnel, the lights flicked on just far enough ahead of them as they drove, making it feel as never-ending as always. Tobias flexed his hands, itching to get into the city; she was so close he could almost feel her. He opened the door before the van came to a complete stop, and headed to the back to gather every weapon he could fit on him while Amar pulled a tablet out of a side pocket. Tobias watched impatiently as he checked for updates on the city before they went in. Tobias grew nervous as Amar went completely still, his eyes glued to the tablet. He dragged his eyes slowly up until they met Tobias's.

"What?" he asked nervously. Amar turned the screen, unsure of how to put into words what he was watching. The Dauntless were marching in formation, their guns raised and their faces blank. They mercilessly shot any Abnegation who stood in their way, even those who had their hands up in surrender. Tobias was both scared and furious that this was happening, and that Tris was somewhere in the middle of it. Amar finally shut the video off when a group of small children were gunned down as they tried to run away.

"It's just the two of us," he commented. "And they're more than likely killing whatever is in their way."

"We'll be fine," Tobias said, his voice firm. He had to believe what he was saying, otherwise he wouldn't get through it.

Amar took a deep breath and nodded, handing Tobias an earpiece and a spare watch. "It's not yours, but if something happens…" Tobias put it on without a word, understanding the implications of what Amar had just said: if he were to be killed, they would have a way to track and retrieve his body. They were quiet as they walked through the tunnels, Amar looking for constant updates.

"They did get off in factionless," he said, just as they reached the doorway. Tobias was thankful that there were people in the Bureau who were willing to help them, willing to risk their own safety to make sure they were as prepared as possible. "There isn't any information after that, though."

Tobias turned on the scanner to see three bodies on the other side of the wall. He eyed Amar, who pulled a gun as a precaution, and he did the same. Opening the door and pushing the shelving aside, he took in the room and its occupants, blinking a few times to make sure his eyes weren't playing tricks on him. "Tris?" he whispered, crouching down next to her sleeping form. He looked over his shoulder at Caleb, who was shielding Cara.

"W-who are you?" Caleb stammered. Four stood up, Caleb stepping further back into Cara when he reached his full height.

"The boy from the sim," Cara answered. Caleb's eyes raked over him once.

"I'm Amar, and this is Four. So, what happened?" Amar interrupted, shooting Tobias a look — this wasn't the time to puff out chests. "How did you get here?"

"She led us here, after…" Caleb went silent as he looked down.

Cara stepped out from behind him and introduced herself before thoroughly detailing all that had transpired, including their escape, Tris's mental state, and Natalie's death. Tobias was crouched near Tris the entire time, his anger steadily rising. Marcus had helped her escape, but for what reason? There was always an ulterior motive where Marcus was concerned, and now there was the added guilt of his father having killed Tris's mother. Tobias knew things would never be the same between them, but he pushed aside his own fears and worries, and roused Tris.

At first she looked at him like she didn't know him. Like she didn't remember everything they had said and done in their time together. But then she reached a hand out and gently caressed his face, taking in every last detail of him before bursting into tears and clawing at him to pull him as close as she could. Tobias wrapped his arms around her and stroked her hair, whispering that she was safe, and that he wouldn't let anything else happen to her.

"My mom," she suddenly said, clamoring to stand, her arms thrashing as Tobias's grip tightened around her. "I have to get to her! I have to help her!"

"Tris… you can't."

She stilled in his arms as realization washed over her. The tears came harder as he held her, her body shaking with grief. Tris had been right there, and she hadn't been able to save her own mother. She was a coward who had run instead of fighting. Her eyes lifted to see her brother standing nervously in the corner. "You," she seethed. "This is all your fault! You let her die!"

She was surprisingly hard to control as she launched herself at Caleb. He flinched, turning away from her as Tobias held on. Tris channeled the hurt and the anger of everything that had happened at Caleb. Tobias had half a mind to let her go, to let her get it all out. After her movements slowed, her anger spent, Amar stepped in between the two groups.

"I know you're hurting," he said calmly, "But we need to go. We need to get out of here in case the Bureau decides the city is lost."

"Lost?" Cara asked. "Bureau? Is it too much to ask that we be filled in on what's going on and where you'll be taking us?" Amar shook his head and gave them the most basic information. They both looked skeptically at each other, but Caleb knew it had to be true. Tris was proof enough of that.

"And now with Abnegation under attack—"

"Abnegation." Tris looked up at Tobias; her eyes were pleading as she spoke. "My father."

Tobias took a deep breath in and nodded, even though he had no idea how he would find Andrew. "Let's get back first, formulate a plan—"

"No." She shook her head rapidly. "There's no time. They're going to kill them all."

"Tris, I understand, but–"
"No, you don't!" She collapsed a little into his arms, the guilt and the pain of everything consuming her.

"I can stop it." The three of them turned their heads towards Caleb. He took a tentative step forward, and cleared his throat. "It's a program that's controlling them. In the serum that Beatrice's simulation testing helped us perfect, there's a transmitter." Tris shot Caleb a look, and he stepped back. "The, umm, the transmission can be interrupted, and the Dauntless would stop."

"How?" Amar asked.

Caleb reached into his pocket, scrunched his eyebrows, then reached into the other one. He patted himself down, spinning in place and looking all around. "I… I must have dropped it when…"

Tobias huffed impatiently as he watched Caleb pat himself down for the third time. "What is it?"

"It is a drive. It has a kill program on it that Cara and I wrote after we learned… Look, all we have to do is plug it into any computer and it will find the source code and destroy it."

"Where did you last have it?"

"When we... uhh…" His eyes flicked over to Tris briefly. "When we got off the train."

Though it was hard for him to still feel connected to the city, Tobias knew that without intervening it would surely be reset. A lot of innocent people would lose their memories because of the actions of a few, not to mention the ones who had already lost their lives. He turned to Amar, who gave him an encouraging nod. "Okay, then you three are going to go with Amar. He'll get you someplace safe while I get the drive and stop it."

"No," Tris pleaded, her fingernails digging into his arm. "Don't leave me."

Tobias felt his chest constrict. He closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them to steadily meet her gaze. "I'll be back before you know it," he said, trying to reassure her. He covered her hand with his, squeezing lightly. "And I'll find Andrew, too," he whispered. Tris bit her lip and nodded as Tobias lifted her hand and pulled her against him. From what he could see, and from what Caleb and Cara had said, Tris was in worse shape than she was letting on. He knew she would keep a strong façade in front of everyone, but he couldn't help but wonder what she would be like behind closed doors. If she would still be the same strong person he fell in love with, or if she would be broken beyond repair. He kissed her on top of her head, knowing that he really didn't care which version of her he got so long as she was safe in his arms.

Amar gently took her arm and led her through the doorway. She looked back at Tobias only once; she looked smaller somehow, but the soft smile she gave him made it feel like everything was going to be fine. Cara pulled up next to him, inspecting him as though he were under one of her microscopes. "Any computer will do. They're all linked. It should take no longer than a minute to destroy the program and interrupt the transmission. I assume you know where to find a computer and how to properly fit the drive into it?"

"I think I can manage," Tobias answered dryly. Her eyes narrowed before she gave him a curt nod and walked through the door.

Tobias reached out and snagged Caleb before he could slip by. He winced at the tight grip on his arm, but didn't fight as Tobias dragged him closer. "Where is Marcus?" His voice was low, menacing. Caleb refused to look him in the eye, offering a shrug as a response. Tobias scoffed. "Trust me. You aren't doing him any favors by protecting him. He—"

"He saved us," Caleb interrupted. "I asked for help and he came through. We only escaped because of him."

"Bullshit," Tobias spat. "He was the scapegoat you needed because you were too afraid to do it yourself. Tell me, what did trusting him get your family, exactly?"

He watched Caleb's face drop. Tobias knew it was a low blow, but he wasn't about to thank Marcus for saving Tris while simultaneously destroying her life. Caleb glanced at him, then out to the hallway where his sister was waiting for him. "He hit her," he mumbled. "She tried to get in between him and our mother, but he just…" Caleb lifted a hand as he stared off, lowering it after a moment. Tobias clenched his jaw, his anger steadily rising. "I just… panicked. I didn't…"

Tobias let go of his arm and watched him shuffle out into the tunnel. He knew he was trying to find a way to explain what happened and maybe was even trying to apologize. Tobias couldn't exactly blame Caleb for not intervening in his mother's struggle with Marcus. He knew from his own terrifying experiences the strength of that violent monster, the danger and futility of trying to stop him. Caleb wasn't the real enemy, at least not at that moment. He would have to live with what he had done, and it would be up to Tris to decide whether she could forgive him or not. Tobias shifted his eyes to see her huddled against Amar, eyes wide and face blank: it killed him to know everything she had been through.

"I'll come back as soon as they're settled," Amar said pointing to the watch on Tobias's arm. "You know what to do if there's trouble." Tobias nodded and walked up to the shelving unit, pushing it back into place.

He cautiously opened the door and walked out onto the street, the sound of gunfire and screams surrounding him. Abnegation wasn't far, but it wasn't close enough to be so loud, either; he wondered if the Abnegation were actually running into factionless to hide instead of laying down and dying. He jogged towards the train tracks, taking the path that Tris's group would have taken, keeping his eyes open for a blue drive lying on the ground. He saw movement, drew his gun and spun around, only to find someone clothed in black aiming a gun directly at his head.

A/N:

Just a little reminder, this story has 37 chapters, so that means we only have more 7 to go. I know it seems like this can't possibly wrap in that amount of time, but I assure you, it does. A lot can happen in roughly 30k words!

As always, thank you for your reviews!