AN: I appreciate all of your reviews, follows and favourites, they mean a lot! So here is this for you lovely people :)
Chapter 17
Time passed by quickly as the recruits became immersed in the world of field missions, simulated though they were. They learned a lot as they were allowed to put into practice what they had learned in theory, as well as other skills they had been practicing for many weeks. They usually used most of their free time to practice and train in any way possible.
When Four ran into Tris outside the dining room after dinner on the Wednesday halfway through the second week of the last stage of training, he put a hand on her arm to stop her.
"Hey, wait a minute," he said quietly, no trace of emotion in his voice to indicate what he wanted to talk to her about, and in public.
Tris paused, startled out of her trance. She hadn't even noticed Four, she had been thinking too intently about a slip up she had made during her simulated mission that day with Christina. It was their final practice run, with the real test being the next day.
"Oh, hi," she said quietly.
"Walk with me?" he asked, nodded with his head towards the elevator. "We'll head for the gym, it will look harmless."
Tris nodded and they walked.
"I've barely seen you since this third stage of training started," Four said softly. "I'm worried that you'll burn yourself out before the actual test."
"Well, it is tomorrow, so it's too late now to stop me from crashing and burning," Tris said with a small smile. "I'm sorry, I wish I'd seen more of you, it's just succeeding in this last stage is important."
"I know it is, trust me I know," he said seriously. "And it's not too late to stop you from burning out. Tonight, you're not cramming, you're not training, we're going to blow off steam. Do something fun. When tomorrow morning comes you'll be refreshed and sharp and prepared."
"That actually sounds really, really good," Tris said, a slow smile spreading over her face. "What do you have in mind?"
"We haven't been up to the pool in a while," Four said in suggestion.
"Actually, I think I'd kind of just like to watch a movie," Tris said softly. "Do you mind?"
"Sure," Four agreed. "We can't watch it in a normal movie room of course, but I can project it onto the wall in my room easily enough."
"So all we have to do is sneak snacks from the kitchen and we're set?" Tris asked, eyes lit up at the thought.
"I've got enough in my mini fridge, I think," Four told her. "You're still in training gear. Do you want to change before we head up?"
"If you just lend me a soft shirt of some kind, I think I'll be fine," Tris said tentatively, feeling a little shy at her somewhat brazen suggestion. Or brazen at least for her.
"I think I can manage that," Four said with a grin. "Come on."
They reached his room with no mishaps, walking quietly through the shadows to avoid detection.
"I can't wait until we can just walk through the halls holding hands, without having to worry," Tris said wistfully.
"It won't be long now," Four said. "Trust me, I'm counting the days."
Tris gave him a tender smile, and then reached up to kiss him gently.
Four tried to deepen it, but Tris pulled back to say, "I haven't even had time to ask you about spying on Eric."
Four sighed, and stood, walking over to get shirt for Tris.
"Well, I certainly have had plenty of time to keep an eye on him, without being able to spend any time with you," he replied wryly. "Here, this is soft and pretty loose on me. It will probably be a dress on you."
Tris took the offered shirt, slipped into the en suite, and changed quickly. As she changed, she talked.
"So, I'm guessing you haven't uncovered anything, or I'd know by now," she concluded.
"Yeah, there's not much to tell," Four told her. "I've kept as close an eye on him as I can, without becoming his stalker. I tried to get into his cell and computer account, but it's even harder than I had originally thought. I've got to get in and out without leaving a trace of my being there. I'll keep trying of course, because I do think we need to try and find out what he is up to. And if we can find out I will need proof of our findings."
"It would be good if we could know who he was talking to," Tris said thoughtfully, coming out of the bathroom and settling onto Four's bed. "If I heard her voice again I'm sure I'd recognise it. Maybe I should try going through old videos of press conferences and interviews of government officials and the like. She's bound to be someone important, or she wouldn't know about us."
"I like your thinking," Four said, impressed. "You really belong here, you know. I don't have any doubt about that, and I know you'll prove it in your test."
Tris smiled warmly at him, appreciating his words.
He sat down next to her on the bed and pulled her into his arms.
"So, you want to watch that movie?" he asked softly.
She did, and soon they were set up, snuggled together, fully clothed, and laying on the top of his bed covers.
A little way into the movie Tris said tentatively, "Four?"
He paused the movie. "Yes?"
"Is it okay if I call you Tobias?" she asked softly.
"You're the only person I would ever want to call me Tobias," he told her, cupping her face. "But only when we're together, for obvious reasons."
"I'd like that," she said gently.
"I would too," he said, leaning in to kiss her.
Before long their movie was very much forgotten about, and they were completely wrapped up in each other.
The next morning Tris woke up in her own bed, having returned to it about midnight, following her evening with Four.
It had taken her a little while to get to sleep, as she was filled with nervous excitement about her final Dauntless test. When she did fall asleep it was a deep, restful sleep, and she awoke quite refreshed, and rather exhilarated when the alarm went off.
She and Christina dressed quite quickly, but thoroughly, making sure they had a complete, serviceable uniform on.
Christina braided Tris's hair, a regular habit by now, and they headed to breakfast.
After breakfast they met up on level eighteen, as they had been instructed the night before.
Eric and Four were waiting for them.
The floor was divided into four, large segments, completely sectioned off from one another.
"There will be four tests running at one time," Eric announced. "I shouldn't have to say that means one to each room, but I will, for you simpletons, who will no doubt be cut when this is all over."
"Each test will take no longer than four hours," Four continued. "Your individual mission will take no longer than that to complete – that is the way it is designed. In the simulation it may seem like anywhere from a day to a week passes, but in reality, it will be no more than three hours. Trust your instincts, use your knowledge, have no fear, be brave and decisive. You are Dauntless."
"There are sixteen of you in total," Eric told them. "So, eight will be tested today and eight tomorrow. Four either side of lunch each day. You will be watched through close circuit TV and assessed in this manner. You will be marked by instructors and senior agents here, as well as from other branches."
"The tests will be done in the order in which you are currently ranked, meaning, the top four ranked recruits will begin their tests in 5 minutes," Four explained. "The rest of you can wait on the seats at the back of the room. Once you have completed your test, you cannot speak with the recruits who have not tested. So, any untested recruits will have the pleasure of camping out here tonight, under the supervision of several instructors."
Well, I guess there are some perks to going first, Tris thought wryly.
Five minutes later Tris had received her case file and had walked into the first room, where her simulated mission was to take place.
She was wearing a vest, similar to the one she had worn in capture the flag, which would register any enemy fire that hit her. This one was smaller though, and went under her training gear, like a bullet proof vest.
In her hand was a case file, and as soon as she was in her room she opened the file up straight away.
Royce, Owen
Age: 48
Description: Tall, white male. Short light brown hair. Light brown eyes. 6'0". Large scar running from wrist to elbow on the left forearm.
Crime: Royce is under observation as the financier to a gun smuggling operation, running guns to South America. Professionally, Royce is in senior management in a large technology company, which is what he hides behind.
Objective: Find proof of Royce's financial involvement, and then apprehend him for arrest.
Tris read the file in complete, marking the name of the company he worked for, where he lived, where he owned properties and who he regularly associated with.
In the mission simulation room there was a function, similar to Google Maps, that allowed the recruits to view anywhere on the earth by satellite, then drop into that area. Essentially, the entire earth had been simulated into a video game, which recruits were the video game player.
Tris got to work quickly, visiting Royce's home, office, holiday homes, using technology to copy incriminating information.
As soon as she had built a substantial case against him it was time to apprehend him.
Tris tracked his cell phone, and to her dismay, found that he was in the middle Gulf of Mexico.
The ocean.
Tris could only assume that he was on his private yacht, 'entertaining' as he was known to have done. It was suspected that he even used his own yacht to move around some of the firearms at times.
Tris took a deep breath and took a moment to compose herself. Of course Dauntless had designed a mission that would make her face her biggest fear in order to complete it.
Well, she was Tris Prior, she was Dauntless, the ocean would not conquer her. She was in control.
Tris transported herself to the nearest port to Royce's coordinates in the Gulf, hired a fast boat and with the help of a navigation app on her cell phone, headed for Royce's yacht.
Tris had several weapons on her, two different handguns and a knife, as well as a couple of pairs of handcuffs.
Royce's yacht had not moved in the time since Tris had traced his location, so she concluded he was definitely 'entertaining', and probably not moving any firearms.
As Tris drew closer, the problem of approaching the yacht silently grew larger.
When the yacht came into sight she cut out her motor.
Her stomach rolled a little as the boat moved up and down with the chop of the waves.
It's not real, it's not real, she thought over and over again. I have to get to Royce.
Tris looked down at the ocean and quickly decided against swimming, she needed not to wet her weapons and gadgets if at all possible.
Instead, she decided to start up her boat again, and move in, a cover story at the ready. She would pretend to have been sent out by the Coast Guard, or something.
Tris brazenly moved her boat right up against Royce's yacht, secured it, and lightly and quickly boarded the other vessel.
She walked silently, a hand on the firearm in her hip holster.
No one had appeared at her presence on the boat, but she could hear music from below deck, and concluded Royce and his companion or companions were down there.
She just hoped she didn't catch anyone in flagrante, that was something she really did not want to see. She figured it wasn't out of the question though, Dauntless probably somehow knew she was a little hesitant when it came to intimacy. Still, she wasn't going to let anything get in her way.
Tris thought it odd that the captain of the ship had not at least noticed her arrival, but concluded that he must also be below deck, and his hearing compromised by the music. Of course, there was a possibility that Royce was captaining his own yacht, but Tris doubted it, owing to precedence and the nature of the voyage.
Tris found the opened to the below deck region, and quietly stepped into the open hole and began to silently descend the stairs.
With every step the music grew louder.
At the base of the stairs Tris peaked around the pole at the end of the stairway to see Royce, dancing with two women, who could only be described as call girls, or strippers.
They were clothed, to some degree, which was comforting for Tris, and she moved on to the more pressing matter. How to apprehend Royce. She decided to worry about the two women after she had Royce. The captain of the boat, if there was one, would also have to wait.
Tris stepped out, into plain view of the dancing trio, her gun drawn and called, "Hands in the air where I can see them."
They looked up, surprised.
"Now," Tris barked.
The music was loud and impeding, so Tris shot the stereo to eliminate the sound, and let Royce know she meant business.
Royce and his two companions stopped still, their hands in the air in a moment.
"Don't move," Tris ordered. "Ladies, I want you to stand up against that wall with your faces to the wall and your hands behind your back. Royce, don't move, or I'll shoot you."
Tris kept her gun trained on Royce as the two women moved.
"Is there anyone else on board?" Tris asked Royce.
"No, I drove the yacht," Royce said sullenly.
Tris nodded and tried to decide what to do. She doubted that either of the women would attack her, but she could never be sure. It didn't matter so much if they ran off, they had no where to go. She just needed to secure Royce.
Tris began to approach Royce, her gun never moving from where she had it trained on him.
When she was right near him she said, "Okay, we're going to head to that wall near the stairs, and I'm going to follow you, with this gun against your back. You try to fight or run away and I'll shoot you."
Tris didn't want to have to shoot him, she was supposed to bring him in alive if at all possible.
Once he was up against the wall she reached for a set of cuffs to secure him, but he chose that moment to swiftly jab an elbow backwards into Tris's face.
Blinded by the pain he took a chance to turn and run, punching her in the stomach on his way.
She wondered how a simulated being had caused her such pain, but didn't even bother to dwell on the technical side of simulated missions.
Tris quickly picked up the gun she had dropped and followed him after only a couple of seconds delay.
He had raced up the stairs and onto the deck.
"Hands in the air," Tris shouted, her gun on him as he stood next to the edge of the deck, apparently poised to jump.
He didn't put his hands in the air, so Tris made a difficult choice, and put a bullet in his shoulder.
Temporarily debilitating, but by no means fatal – just a flesh wound.
He let out a cry of pain and Tris rushed on him, kneeing him in the groin for good measure. He was big and she was small, she needed as much advantage over him as she cuffed him and secured him.
Ten minutes later Tris had safely secured all the passengers of the boat and had just put in a call to Dauntless headquarters to let them know she had apprehended her target and that she was brining him in, along with two extras.
The moment she received a confirmation message from headquarters the lights came on and she was just in a room, her simulation test room.
Tris blinked, adjusting to returning to reality.
She saw the door marked 'Exit' and headed toward it to leave.
She found Four waiting for her. He was alone.
"Congratulations," he said evenly, his eyes shining with pride, betraying his true feelings. "You are the first to finish. Two hours and fifty two minutes. Plenty of time to spare."
"I was first?" Tris said in wonder.
"Your time is first for now," Four replied. "Your score will be added to it to get a total, but I would guess you've put yourself in a good spot."
"Will I see you later?" Tris asked quietly.
"No, I have to be on duty here," Four said. "You'd better go now. Relax a bit. By the time I see you next you'll probably already be a full agent."
Tris grinned, he squeezed her hand tenderly, and she left, heading down the stairs at the back end of the level.
Tris headed to the dining hall, hoping to eat her weight in chocolate cake while she waited for the three other recruits from her round to appear. Well, she was waiting for Uriah and Lynn at least. She didn't really care about seeing Peter. Actually, she didn't want to see Peter at all.
As she waited she ate, and not only chocolate cake, and gradually other agents trickled in, including Uriah, then Peter, then Marlene.
"How long have you been waiting?" Uriah asked.
"Oh, only about half an hour," Tris said casually.
"Oh only, right," Uriah scoffed. "I thought I was fast. Hardly anyone does their mission in less than three hours. You're freaky!"
Tris grinned.
Peter had turned up 5 minutes after Uriah, and Marlene 7 minutes after him.
"Please tell me we're not going to let him hang out with us until his minions arrive," Marlene said when she was sitting with them, throwing a dirty look at Peter.
"I was thinking we'd find a dark room, so I certainly hope he won't be there," Uriah said with a suggestive waggle of eyebrows.
Marlene smothered a giggle and then kicked Uriah audibly under the table.
"We're going to hang out together, the three of us, and do something fun," Marlene said firmly.
"We could still do that in a dark room," Uriah said fiendishly.
Tris threw a French fry at him.
"How about poker?" Tris suggested suddenly.
"I like poker," Marlene agreed.
"Yeah, strip poker," Uriah said enthusiastically.
"No, just poker, in one of the movie rooms," Tris decided.
"Yeah, we can like sort of camp out in there, and the others can join us when they finish, we can like play a marathon game of poker, or other games," Marlene concluded. "Will and Lynn will be this afternoon's testing lot, so they'll be out by dinner."
"I think Christina might even be in that lot too," Tris added.
So it was decided, and they soon settled into their waiting game. Friday evening seemed a long way away.
AN: So, I really enjoyed writing this chapter! I hope you enjoyed it :) I'll post again in the next couple of days, after 10 or so reviews :)
(Also, I thought the movie was coming out March 20, for some reason haha, so I'll do another update soon, then save a few to lead up until April 10.)
(P.S. - Just realised that April 10 is the release date for my country :( USA does get it earlier - March 21. So, I'll do an update before that release, an update before the UK release - April 4 - and before April 10.)