Four was up early the next morning anticipating the long day ahead of him. He knew the initiates would be here the next day and he needed to get a lot of things prepared. Jared and Zeke had already agreed to take over whatever shifts they could in the control room and would train a substitute for any shifts they couldn't cover. Four began his day with his typical workout. First he ran the streets of the city, passing by where the crowds would gather very soon with nervous 16 year olds. He was so glad to have that part of his life over.

As he jogged through the downtown area he noticed quite a few factionless gathering and made a mental note to discuss that with Max. When he reached the pier, he looped over one more block and headed back to the compound. Just as he predicted, the lines were already forming outside the school building. He noticed all the doors had kids milling around except Dauntless but then again the train didn't come for another 10 minutes. He slowed down to observe the Abnegation line, the swarm of grey kids trying not to get noticed. All except one, she was turned looking at the direction of the train. She caught his eyes for a second and then turned back around when another boy in grey grabbed her shoulder. 'Never sway from our faction's expectations,' Four thought as he continued to run.

When he returned to the compound, he entered the training room to practice sparing. He hung the punching bag from the hook and began to slowly practice all his combat moves taught to him by Amar. Slow at first but then speeding up, Four became a blur as he attacked the bag. When he slowed, his body was covered in a sheen of sweat. He removed his shirt and grabbed the guns from the cabinet. He set up targets in various places around the room and dodged, rolled, and shot his way through the landscape he set up. He was just rearranging it for a second round when Lauren entered the room. "I thought I heard shooting. You never stop do you? You are like a machine." She smiled at him and he knew if he gave it a chance, she would love to have something more than a training relationship but he just wasn't up for it. The past few weeks he was slowly coming to a conclusion he needed to leave. He loved Dauntless and all it taught him in self-defense but he still didn't feel like he belonged here. He vowed to himself after this round of initiates he was going to leave, become factionless.

"I just figure I better get all the rust off before the newbies come," Four said as he put his shirt back on. Lauren laughed at that comment, "As if any rust could even form. Aren't you here almost every day?" Four just smirked and began to rearrange the room to its normal placement. "What do you think the spread will be tomorrow?" Lauren asked. "A few Candor, a few Erudite, maybe an Amity," Four answered. Every year they placed wagers on how many defectors they would get. "No Abnegation. No family or friends wanting to join you?" Lauren was one of the few people who knew he came from Abnegation as she was in his initiate class. With his stern attitude and impressive physical endurance no one would believe he wasn't from Dauntless. "I doubt it, why would anyone choose this over a life of self-sacrificing?" Lauren laughed loudly as she cleaned the knives. "Why are you getting those out?" Four asked. "Eric said they were a part of training this year, all trainees need to learn how to throw them." "Ugh, I can't imagine why."

After they finished setting everything up, they headed out to each get their dorm ready. "I heard Zeke is having a party tonight. You going?" "Of course, Zeke would kill me if I didn't come protect him from the crazy girls who are after him." Lauren stepped a little closer as she walked out the door, "Maybe I'll see you there then." She gave him a coy smile and headed out, leaving Four thinking of a way to let her down easy.

That night, Four had way too much to drink for it being the night before the initiates were coming. He stumbled out of Zeke's apartment and headed back to his own. As he made his way, he became aware of footsteps behind him. He whipped around expecting it to be Lauren trying one last time to come back to his apartment with him but unfortunately it was much worse. It was Eric.

"Four, can I have a word?" He stepped into a side hallway and Four tried to clear his head as much as possible. "I see you are enjoying yourself. Don't you think that's a little unprofessional seeing as you are leading the initiate group tomorrow?" Four laughed, maybe a little too loudly, at Eric's use of the word professional with studs all over his face. "I will be ready for tomorrow Eric, don't worry." He remembered what a pain in his ass Eric was during their own initiation and it seems Eric has never gotten over the fact that Four was always better than him.

"Well, just a warning, I am going to be much more invested in this year's training than previous leaders have been. I want to make sure it is done correctly." Four gritted his teeth and kept himself from saying something he would regret. He knew what this meant, Eric was going to dictate how these initiates would be trained and that drove him crazy, which explained the knives. "Sounds good, it will be good for them to see one of their leaders involved." With that Four turned on his heel and walked away and into his apartment to sleep off this mental daze he was in.

"Any time now, " Lauren said. They had been waiting for 20 minutes for the initiates to arrive. "Where did you sneak off to last night? I looked for you when I left but couldn't find you." "Eric had to discuss training with me, I guess he is going to be more involved than previous leaders, whatever that means." Lauren's face showed the same concern that Four's did last night. "My thoughts exactly." Four turned to listen for the train as they waited by the net.

After another 5 minutes, they could hear it rumbling toward the compound. "What faction will jump first?" "Dauntless of course, " Lauren said. She moved into position as they heard the first cries of jumpers off the train. Four then heard Max's voice in the distance but can't make out what he's saying. Any time now the first jumper would hit the net. Sure enough, everyone got quiet and then he saw a figure dropping toward him. The body bounced into the net as Lauren and he reached up to grab her. They both exchanged very surprised looks when they saw grey clothing coming toward them in the net. Four grabbed a hold of her, noticing how small she was, and set her on the ground. "Thank you," comes quietly from behind him. Of course Lauren can't keep her opinion to herself. "Can't believe it, a stiff." Four sternly looks at her, knowing full well what it means to transfer out of that faction. "There's a reason why she left Lauren." He gives her a knowing look and she shuts up. He turns his attention to the girl, again noticing her small frame, sadly that probably won't last long here. "What's your name?"

"Ummm" "Think about it, you can't change it after this." "Tris."

He turns to the room where Dauntless always gather to welcome the new comers. "Tris, first jumper!" As he turns back, he notices something in her eyes he didn't see before; determination, hunger, and fire. Maybe this small stiff would make it here after all, with a little help of course.

"Welcome to Dauntless."