A/N: Thank you to everyone who reviewed the last chapter! I always appreciate your support more than I can say. Thank you also to Rosalie and BK2U, who both reviewed this chapter at different points in time. You're truly fantastic!

Chapter 14: Tris – Recruiting

Sometimes it amazes me how much this country has changed since the first time I saw it. It took an incredible amount of work, and ideas from everyone on my council, to get things to where they are today, but I think we're all very glad to have played a part in this. I know I never expected to be able to do something so worthwhile with my life.

I guess that's why I'm still afraid that we'll lose it all. That things will turn around as quickly as they did in Chicago, when Jeanine destroyed decades of peace for her own personal gain. It's all too easy to imagine some of the former NUSA families finding a way to do the same thing here, no matter how much progress Peter reports.

Still, I know we can't let that risk stop us. We have to keep moving forward.

Currently, that means finding candidates to run in the elections we'll be holding next month. I didn't expect that to be hard, since people are so anxious to help any way they can these days. But it seems that after a lifetime of being told by NUSA to mind their place, most people don't believe they're qualified to lead the government.

Margot has been struggling for the last six weeks to recruit candidates, so I'm not overly surprised when she asks me to give speeches in certain parts of the country where she's had no luck. She thinks that people will listen to me even if they don't believe her, and she's probably right about that. As Anna pointed out, they're still strongly affected by Tobias' broadcast.

So, for the first time since I took office, I find myself traveling around the country. It's an enjoyable change of pace, after spending so much time in meetings lately.

Nigel and Michelle come with me, of course, serving as my bodyguards the way they always do when I'm out in public. I find it unnecessary, personally, since I'm certainly not helpless – and since it's hard to imagine anyone trying to hurt me after Tobias' transmission. He made the entire population love me too much for that.

But I don't argue. They need the jobs, and it makes Anna feel better to have them with me.

Caleb comes too, claiming it will give him a chance to ensure everything is prepared for the elections. But I suspect he's still nervous about what happened in Morgantown and wants to make sure I stay safe. I can't decide if I should be annoyed by that or not. It seems hypocritical, with how much he's told me I shouldn't worry about that incident, but at the same time…it's nice to have my brother care about me again.

The first speech is in Stafford. The weather is even hotter than in Philadelphia, and sweat is dripping into my eyes by the time I finish. I try to describe what the different elected positions will be like, and what traits are needed for each one, and I encourage the audience to come to a follow-up session if they're willing to consider any of those jobs.

It seems to work, since more than a dozen people show up for the second session, and out of those, we end up with enough candidates for the area.

We follow the same model in Durham, Greensboro, Roanoke, and Harrisonburg, growing progressively wearier with each repetition. But even though it's tiring to be on the road, sleeping in a different place every night, there's something refreshing about seeing the excitement grow in each audience's eyes. They believe me when I tell them they can do this type of job – that they're worthy of it – and the Abnegation in me loves seeing that transition.

The drive to Greensburg is long, and we have to navigate some rough highways to get there. I haven't endured such a bumpy ride since our trip from the bomb shelter to Pittsburgh so long ago. It makes me think of Tobias, but that's hardly unusual. He passes through my thoughts a dozen times a day, between my own memories and all the reminders there are of him in the population.

But I brush the thoughts away, as I typically try to do. He made his choice when he left, and we both have to live with that. Even if it will always be hard.

We stay in a red brick building that's unlike any I've ever seen before, with a clock tower and arches and a strange sprawling design. It's pretty, in its own unique way, and I find myself wanting to take a walk after dinner, just to see the area.

Caleb comes with me, as he often does, and when Nigel and Michelle insist on following us, my private little walk turns into a party of four. But it doesn't really bother me. My bodyguards will remain just far enough away to give us privacy, and Caleb's presence might at least take my mind off my former boyfriend.

We follow the train tracks that run nearby, walking through a mix of wooded areas and low buildings. It looks nothing like Chicago, or Philadelphia for that matter.

"I wonder what it would be like to live in a place like this," I comment idly as I kick a pebble away from the train tracks. "Somewhere this small."

Caleb shrugs, his lips pursed thoughtfully. "Population-wise, Chicago is much closer to this place than it is to Philadelphia." The comparison startles me. "Though obviously Chicago used to have a larger population than it currently does, or it wouldn't have so many skyscrapers."

I nod, but it's difficult to imagine the city we grew up in ever being as crowded as Philadelphia, or filled with buildings as short as this town's.

"Do you think you'll move back there, once the new government has been elected?" I ask curiously.

Caleb considers that for a moment. "Yes, I suppose so," he finally answers. "I've stayed in touch with two of my friends from initiation. It would be good to see them again."

A vague feeling of unease spreads through me at that admission. I know that not everyone in Erudite was evil – or even supported Jeanine – but given what Caleb did to me while he was there, it's hard to be comfortable with the idea of him talking with those friends.

He apparently notices my discomfort. "Don't worry," he says softly. "They were my friends before Jeanine drugged me. They didn't like what she made me do."

I don't answer.

Sighing, Caleb adds, "I imagine it's a little like how Dauntless was. By the time we were initiates, Erudite had wandered from its ideals. Its leaders took it in the wrong direction, even before Jeanine, though she obviously made things a lot worse." He gives me a sad look. "But there was a good basis to the faction once, and I caught glimpses of that when I was there."

The words hit home. I remember feeling as if I lived in two versions of Dauntless at the same time: the one that believed in ordinary acts of bravery and celebrated freedom, and the one that forced initiates to beat each other and promoted savagery. It's easy to imagine the same kind of divide within Erudite.

"My friends say it's very different now," Caleb continues. "More like its old values. I'd be interested in seeing that."

For some reason, my aptitude test from so long ago comes to mind, and I remember that I had as much of an affinity for Erudite as my brother. Maybe, if that faction weren't so deeply associated with horror in my mind, I'd consider living there, too. But as it is, I know I never will.

We're interrupted by the sound of a loud horn bellowing through the air, and I glance up to see a freight train approaching.

"That's the same line we took from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia last year," Caleb comments, raising his voice to make himself heard over the rumbling that is fast approaching.

I watch for a long moment, remembering that ride. It's associated with Marcus and death and pain, but what really stands out the most is the way Tobias attacked his father for hurting me. It was as if something deep inside him finally snapped, and he couldn't tolerate the man who abused him any longer. I shouldn't be surprised that I was his breaking point.

Stepping away from the train tracks, I sigh deeply, frustrated with the memory – and with myself. I should never have allowed Marcus to come on that trip with us. It put far too much strain on Tobias, and ultimately, that's why we're no longer together.

But it's impossible to know how things would have gone if he hadn't been there. The reality is that Tobias delivered exactly the message this country needed to hear, and he probably wouldn't have done that if he hadn't felt so guilty for hitting me. And I certainly wouldn't have sent that message if I'd been the one to give the broadcast.

Turning back to the building where we're staying, I sigh again. However much I may hate it personally, maybe things turned out just the way they should have.

It's early afternoon when we walk to where I'll be giving my speech, on the steps in front of a beautiful old gray stone building. The street has already been cordoned off by security forces in order to keep cars out, and I watch as the audience gathers, filling the road in front of me and stretching off to the sides. It's a good-sized crowd.

As my eyes scan them, I pause on someone familiar dressed in a police uniform. It takes me a second to process who she is. Lauren. Margot must have brought in extra security from Pittsburgh for my speech. I suppose that makes sense, given how close we are to Morgantown, where the riot occurred just a few weeks ago.

That incident still bothers me, despite Anna and Caleb's reassurances. We've been working for eight months to eradicate all the serum and broadcasting equipment that NUSA had, and to capture the former leaders and their allies. We shouldn't have missed an operation of that size.

But I don't let it distract me. Instead, I listen as Margot introduces me, as she's done every time so far, and then I begin talking into the microphone. The speech has become routine by now, and I pause automatically at all the right points to let the audience absorb what I'm saying. They're even kind enough to laugh at the few jokes I include, though I know they're not very funny. I still struggle with humor.

I'm at the point of describing the follow-up session when the noise stops me. It's been eight months since I've heard gunshots, but it's impossible not to recognize the sound. It drills into every nerve in my body, causing adrenaline to surge though me instantly.

The crowd screams in a mixture of panic and confusion as they begin simultaneously running toward safety and seeking to protect each other. Through the milling forms, I see the security guards scanning the area rapidly, looking for the shooter. I have a slight height advantage from my position on the stone steps, and for a moment, I stand still, using it to search as well.

Caleb literally knocks the thought away when he crashes into me. He pushes me roughly behind a large pillar and down to the stone landing, covering me with his body to keep me safe. Around him, I can just make out the forms of Nigel and Michelle standing between us and the threat, their guns drawn and their bodies tense.

My heart is racing, and all I can think is that Caleb is guarding me the way Tobias did in the Candor headquarters so long ago. But this time, I'm not incapacitated with fear.

"Everyone, drop to the ground!" I shout through the microphone that I'm still wearing. There's no guarantee that approach will keep them safe, but it's got to be better than trampling each other. And it should make it easier for the police to spot the shooter.

Perhaps it works, because another volley of shots rings out. This time, there are clearly multiple guns involved. I wince when I hear my bodyguards firing, their weapons close enough to blast through my eardrums.

"Get them inside!" Michelle shouts, and suddenly Nigel is pulling Caleb off me and shoving him toward the building.

I begin to rise, too, but Nigel stops me for a second, his fingers finding the microphone that I'm still wearing, yanking it from me, and throwing it hard away from us. The screech of feedback splits the air, painfully loud.

"Don't want the shooter to know where you go," he explains shortly as he pushes me after my brother, following closely behind and using his body to shield me.

It's difficult not to resist. It goes against all my instincts from both Dauntless and Abnegation to leave these people behind, in danger, while I run for my life. But at the same time, I'm undoubtedly the target, and that means that my presence is probably just increasing their risk.

So, I force myself to move toward the doors, staying low and dodging from side to side to make it harder to shoot me. Nigel sticks with me, still shielding me, while Michelle covers our escape.

I hear her cry of pain as we enter the building, but when I try to turn to see what happened, Nigel just shoves me forward, using his body to block my view – and undoubtedly any bullets that might follow me.

"We have to help her," I start, panicked, but Nigel doesn't even pause.

"No," he says firmly, his voice the most commanding I've ever heard it. "Our job is to keep you safe. You don't stop for us!"

The words rankle, but by now Caleb is pulling at me from the front while Nigel pushes me from behind, and there's no choice but to keep moving.

We make our way into the large lobby of the building, our footsteps echoing off the dark marble tile that covers the floor and walls. It's probably a government building, judging by the handful of sleeping areas that are set up for homeless people to use, but it looks to be deserted right now. Something about it bothers me.

Nigel stops, his large hand on my shoulder forcing me to stop with him, as he surveys the room quickly. His other hand is extended, with his gun ready to fire, while he checks to make sure the path ahead is clear.

Apparently, he decides there's more risk from ahead than behind right now, because he gives a tense, "Follow me," before taking the lead. Before I can respond, Caleb switches positions with him, guarding my back as he places a hand on my shoulder to keep me moving. It makes me want to scream with frustration, being sandwiched between them as if I'm a helpless child, but I hold my tongue. If I resist, it will just slow us all down, and that will only increase their danger.

So, I continue forward. Something is still nagging at me – some thought trying to find its way forward through the rush of events. But I don't know what it is, and there's no time to stop and figure it out.

We're halfway across the lobby when two men rush into the room from a hallway on the left. It's difficult to see them around Nigel's large frame, but I can tell that they're wearing the same type of uniform as Lauren – and that they're holding guns out in front of them as they race forward, looking around rapidly.

They slide to a halt in front of us, aiming their guns at Nigel while he aims at them as they all assess the situation.

"Pittsburgh PD," one of them says abruptly, apparently identifying himself. His gaze roams our group, pausing when he catches a glimpse of me peering out from behind Nigel. His eyes widen.

"Go down the way we came," he says quickly, jerking his head to the hallway they just emerged from. "There's a room there where she'll be safe."

Nigel stares for another second before nodding slowly. He moves forward hesitantly while the other two move just as uncertainly around him toward the doors. It's a strange dance of distrust.

Caleb pushes me forward, following after Nigel toward the hallway the others indicated, but I turn my head, looking after the Pittsburgh officers. I can still hear shouting and gunfire leaking into the building from outside, and the sound churns through my mind.

It solidifies the thought that has been nagging at me.

There is too much gunfire for this to be a single shooter. And if there are multiple attackers, it would make no sense for them to all be outside, not when they knew I'd be standing in front of a building that I could retreat into. It's much more likely that their goal was to drive me in here, where they must have allies waiting….

"Stop," I say urgently, but the gunshot echoes so loudly through the room that I'm sure no one hears my voice.

Nigel's head whips forward, specks of blood flying through the air around him as he crashes to the floor, face-first, making no attempt to catch himself. I know he's gone even before I see the dark liquid spreading through his hair, but for a moment, time freezes, and all I can do is stare at him. At the body of yet another person who died for me.

Caleb is turning toward the men who just passed us, his arms out as he tries to shield me behind him. Under his right arm, I can see that they're only a few feet away, and they're both pointing their guns directly at him.

One of them smiles, a vicious grin that reminds me far too much of Eric. His eyes find mine as he says, "Do exactly as you're told, or your brother dies, too."

A/N: Sorry about the cliffhanger. As I mentioned before, I'm going to try very hard to update twice a week throughout the current action sequence, so I don't keep you waiting too long. In the meantime, please take a moment to leave a review. Those always motivate me to post quickly! :-)