When Districts Collide

Chapter 8: Tobias

"Where were you two yesterday?" Theo asked me as I came down alone for breakfast. Wren wasn't up yet.

"Leadership duties. You know it well. We were out at Amity." I lied bitterly. He was jealous, though had he been in my place, there would have been nothing at the airport to make him feel that way.

"What could Amity possibly want with Dauntless matters?"

"They just wanted to make sure their farms were protected. From the Capitol." I replied tersely.

"Why wouldn't they be?"

"You never know with the Capitol. Xavier just might be watching the Victors."

"You really think he would be watching us? What does it have to do with Amity?"

"They're the farthest ones from the inner city. They see more than we do on the edge. I don't know if Xavier is watching anyone in particular, but he sure isn't like he used to be. He is not an honest man; he learned to lie, to slander others. How else would he be head Gamemaker? Might be a good one for them, but not a good one for us."

"So Amity was scared of the Capitol? Since when is Amity scared?" That was a good question. They took their serum in the bread, so they would be peaceable. I guess that didn't really equate to not being scared, though.

"Since they're not Dauntless enough to face their fears. They just get happy and high off of their bread." I said flatly. "I'm sorry if you don't believe me, but it's the truth. Ask Wren if you're still unsure." Playing that card was the only way to get him off me, but I felt bad for doing it. "She'll tell you the same thing I did."

"I believe you, Tobias. It just seemed strange that Amity would have a problem, out of everyone." He backed down, finally.

I clapped him on the shoulder and half smiled. "We've all got problems. I'm going to go eat. Have a good day at work."

"You too." he stepped around me and exited.

I sat down after grabbing a muffin and started listening in on conversations I might have wanted to join. It ended up being Mels and Adam, strangely enough. I didn't bother announcing my attention switch to them, instead just leaning over and finding out what they were arguing about.

"I just don't understand why they want Victors to go back to the Capitol. Or for that matter, go around and take fun tours of the cities, rubbing the win in their faces." Mels debated.

"Mels, this is the first time I actually won something."

"Don't give me that."

"Besides you," he flashed a grin. No wonder everyone else hated him. "I've never won anything important, or been special. So in four months, let me have some fun, okay?"

"Fine. But I don't agree with what the Capitol is doing. It doesn't bring us together, it creates envy and dismantles ties." Finally someone who agreed with us.

"They've done it for years. It's just a custom. Don't think too hard on it." I added in, making my presence known to them.

"I just don't think it's a good one. If we're all trying to keep peace, even Peter," she whispered to me across the table, "Then it's not a good idea, it never has been, to shove the Victors in the losers' faces."

"I'm with you. But do you think that a few people could argue that point to the Capitol? Especially since it's only our first win. We're still children to them. It would make us look ungrateful to them. Just be happy that Capitol kids participate too, they never used to, so I've always heard."

"They didn't?"

"Used to be full entertainment. Bets, gambling, parties."

She snorted. "What's changed?"

"Now they have their own kids to take care of. Another reason why they don't like us. Three of our tributes came back, and none of theirs made it. How weird is that?"

"But that's because they were all from Dauntless."

"The Capitol kids are trained to fight too. What does that tell you about the programs?"

"Dauntless is better." She concluded.

"And how horrible, that three kids from a 'child' district have a better program than one of the Capitol."

"I see."

"I'm going to go. Think about it. But don't do anything brash without my permission." I smiled and left them back to bickering, going to the head office.

It used to be Max's office, when he was here. Now, all the leaders share it. But it had a video monitor that I needed to contact Jada. I hadn't spoken to him for a while. Right now, we had a lot going on, and not too many people on the inside. Luckily, he was with me, so I could get what I needed from Capitol information. He was huge now that his tributes won. Everyone was wearing Dauntless colours, and the Capitol, although still bright, never looked so dark.

"Jada." the video monitor showed the connection.

"Tobias. How are the factions?"

"How is the Capitol?"

"Not too well, I suppose, but better than ever. Although the civilians cannot wait for the tour, the head Gamemaker seems to be contacting the president more often for some reason."

"How do you know this?"

"See, I went in to do a fitting for Plutarch. But he canceled at the last minute, when I showed up. So he had me wait in the parlor, right outside the meeting room, to reschedule. Well, I heard three voices. One being his. Another being Xavier's. And a third one. I'm not sure who, I had never heard it before."

"Did you catch what his name was?"

"No, but I caught what he looked like. Black hair, innocent looking, and wearing all black-"

"Why was Peter at the Capitol?"

"Peter. So he is working with Xavier."

"Yes, but for what?"

"All I caught was something about Chicago, Victors, and Divergent."

Shit. What if they were discovered? More than that, Peter was working with the Erudite, meaning they were working with the Capitol. It was more interconnected than I thought. We had to be more careful, and we needed to spend more time working with our own experiments.

"How are the chips?"

"No one's needed to use them."

"No, I wouldn't suppose so, but what about their abilities? Didn't you say they grew stronger?"

"When in the right environment, yes."

"So is Wren working with them?"

"I would suppose so." I paused to think. That made sense, the chip would improve her ability to think, and 'switch' faction mindsets. It would be able to make her Erudite in less than a minute. "We've been going to a place to work." I didn't want to risk being caught, so I was very vague. "She's been Erudite. More so than I've seen anywhere else."

"You might want to show her what you've been doing."

"When that time comes, I will."

"Soon. What with the other Erudite?"

"They're working on a new fear simulation."

"For the Dauntless?"

"No. A wireless one. One that can be used outside the landscape. We're trying to match it."

"How so?"

"Antidote. Make it before they do." That was good enough. He nodded his head.

"I wish I could talk more, but I must be going. Off for the final fitting for the president before Cali's big wedding."

"What? Why are you doing Cali's wedding?"

"She made a bit of a transformation, you could say. Doesn't trust her own stylist. And she invited the Plutarch. He seems to be ambivalent about the entire thing, but leaning to our side. Thank God."

"So he's going to her wedding which is...when?"

"In about three weeks. I can bring you as a plus one, since I'm sure Wren is bringing Theo as hers. It would be my pleasure."

"Who else will be there?"

"Adam, Wren of course, you, me, the President, and most of her friends and family. And Aeryn's family. It'll be a small thing in Annapolis, although Plutarch wanted her to have a Capitol wedding."

"Sounds good, but I might have to decline."

"Why so?"

"I don't know if Theo would want me there, and I hardly know Cali."

"Yes, but Tobias, I think you're missing the point. You'll be able to talk to Plutarch."

"But what could he do to help? What if he doesn't believe me?"

"We show him. He'll believe Wren."

"I'll go." I nodded at the screen. I would make time.

"Good. I'll have to leave you, my pager is buzzing. See you in three weeks. Get a suit!" he reverted back to his Capitol guise as the screen went black. I would have to reach him later, at a better time for all of us, Wren included.

I walked out of the video office with today's tasks, which were going to all of the other factions and then going to the schools. It was just a monthly check up on inter-faction safety, but maybe we could get some information out of it too. This had to work, otherwise we would be left in the dark, and I wouldn't be able to fill Jada in. But maybe we should have included Theo in it before he went on his own investigation.

"Four?" I heard a knock on the door from the bird girl herself.

"It's open." I stood with the papers in the main room.

She walked in and sat down, prompting me to as well. "I have information that I forgot to share with you."

"What do you mean? From where?"

"The night before I left, when I was staying in Theo's room, Peter was in there before me. Theo was blaming him for the schedules."

"And?" If Peter was going into Erudite against my will as a leader, he could be tried.

"He didn't deny making the changes. He just said it was for the greater education."

"So he deliberately disobeys the Faction itself in order to support another faction? We can try him on that, you know."

"Can we?"

"If Isaac agrees, then yes, we can."

"We have to do something. Now."

"I can't promise that." I shook my head.

"What do you mean?"

I folded my hands on the table. "Today we have to go across all the factions and pick up as much information as possible. We're going in for a monthly safety check anyway. Next, we have to talk to Jada about what we found. I called him today and we're going to all talk tonight. Then we have to go back to the airport for more tests. I want to modify the chip even more, maybe teach you to make a simulation. Then, we go to Cali's wedding. You're taking Theo. Jada is taking me. Plutarch is going to be there, and we're going to share all this information with him. After that, we have to come back, make a decision about Peter, and try him. Then you go on the Victor's tour, and I'll be looking over the Faction. We have an extensive schedule, and only we three can know about it. You, me, and Jada. I'm sorry for him, and I know you are too, but we can't include Theo."

"I don't want to. He needs to be kept from this." That sounded a lot like Tris when she kept secrets from me.

"You're not panicking."

"I'm distracted by work." she sat up straighter.

"You're also not with Theo."

"I'm with you."

"You're completely fine with not telling him about this and lying to his face." I quizzed her harder. She didn't break.

"It's for his own good." That practically came out of Tris' mouth, her own words.

"You're not getting back together so you can keep this from him."

"I need to protect him." she stared me down. "Tell me Tris didn't do that for you."

"How else would I know what you're doing?" I laughed shortly. "Are you sure? If he does find out-"

"That won't happen. You just said-"

"I know what I said, but if it does happen, he's not going to like it."

"It's for the greater good."

"You are so reckless. So selfless. Maybe you are Abnegation." It was like I was talking to her. Not quite a mirror image, but a replication of her attitude.

We grabbed our guns and walked out, hitting Amity first. I didn't think they would have any information, but we were able to sneak some bread and some actual serum from them while they weren't looking. That was one faction down, and three to go.

"Nothing new there, huh?" Wren said as we got on the train again.

"Is there anything new with Amity? They're the most placid faction."

"Of course they are. What does this serum do?"

"Increase of the reward center, basically gets you high."

"Cool!"

"Hm. Not actually. Tris was so annoying when they sedated her with it."

"I wanna try some."

"No, you're not." I had to finally take it away from her before she got a taste. "Anyway, we're here."

"Abnegation?"

"That's the next one." she was about as comfortable as I was here.

We walked through the small gates to the compound, finding Evelyn's house. I already knew where it was, of course, but she was tentative to go in, being the leader's humble abode. I knocked on the door and the woman answered it.

"Tobias, what brings you around today? Who is this? Wren? Congratulations for winning." she bowed her head in true Abnegation fashion.

"Monthly safety check. What's been going on? Any concerns?" I walked into her house, my old home, and sat on the couch. Wren shyly sat next to me, sort of leaning into me. I hadn't told her about Evelyn yet, but she could sense my discomfort about the whole situation.

"Well, there hasn't been any trouble here. There wouldn't be. Can I get you something? Tea?"

"No, that'll be alright. We didn't just come for the safety check."

"What about the serum?" Wren whispered to me.

"Serum? As in the memory serum? What do you need with that?" Evelyn asked.

"Oh, we already have theirs. Wait, how do we already have theirs?"

"Here's the part where we learn more information." I turned to her, looking at Evelyn to help me out.

She started. "Each faction has a serum that is used. Well, not all of them are used. The Dauntless as you know harvest the simulation serum. That's the one used for the fear landscapes. The Amity uses peace serum, hidden in their bread, to achieve amiability. That's why no one fights."

"Unless you don't like bread." I referred to Tris' and my time there.

"Right. The Candor have their truth serum, used for initiation so you spill your secrets. Tobias can tell you all about that."

"Tris and I were under interrogation, we let it known that we were Divergent. Our biggest secret. Well, mine. Hers was killing Will, which is when I actually found out she did it."
"Surprise." she said softly, listening intently.

"Anyway, Abnegation were in charge of the memory serum-"

"Which is made by the Fringe and given to the Abnegation. Not Erudite technology or even Abnegation technology."

"Yes, and finally, the Erudite and the Fringe have control over the death serum."

"I'm guessing it's used for death, right?"

"Right. So what is your need for all of the serums, and this information?" she looked at me.

"Well," Wren started.

"Hold on, is this place private? Like absolutely private?"

"Er, no. Wait, come on, I can show you somewhere that is."

We walked out of the house, and strolled past Tris' house. We knocked on the door and asked Caleb to come out. He obliged and shook my hand, and bowed in respect to Wren. We asked him if he had time to come with us for a few minutes, and when he agreed, we left the faction and went to the factionless.

"They still hold my office there." She explained to me. "I still have control there and it's the most private place here. No one cares about the factionless."

"What do you mean, your office?" Wren asked. She hadn't been too involved in the war, especially to know my mother. I took her hand to brace her for the blow.

"Tobias, you haven't told her?"

"I was waiting until the right moment." Same excuse I used for Tris. "My mother is the leader of Abnegation. But she was also the leader of the factionless, and in turn that sprung the Allegiant force and so on. She didn't cause the war, she wanted the Divergents safe."

"And you were a part of this?"

"I was a double agent. But when the time came, I supported peace. And so did she, I found out. She taught me about the faction system, that's how I know what I do. She helped me to learn a lot of things, and she chose me. If it were losing her memory or losing the war, she chose me."

"Okay." was all she said.

We walked through the sector of dirt and bad housing to the cleanest place, my mother's office. Once we walked in, we were able to take a seat and we looked around at each other. No one spoke. I knew I would have to.

"Caleb, this is Wren." I started with the introductions. "She's a fellow leader. We need your help. Especially with the Erudite."

He leaned forward, interested. "What can I do?"

"Introduce us to the labs. Sneak us into them today. It's a safety evaluation day, so we can go in Erudite, but we need help from the inside. And you know them pretty well."

"I can do that. But what do you need?"

"Are you aware that Peter is helping the Erudite, that school schedules include psychology in order to 'teach about Divergence' and that they are making a fear simulation serum that goes mobile?"

"No. I wasn't aware."

"Neither were we until about five days ago."

"So you want to test the serum in an empty lab or what?"

"We were hoping to get our hands on that, and a few computer programs."

"I'll try to get you in. I'm not sure if they'll recognise me."

"That's why we have extra clothing here." Evelyn cut in. "We have Erudite pants and shirts. Sometimes it's good to be factionless." she smiled.