AN: Thanks to those who reviewed and read the last chapter, and welcome to all the new readers :)
I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Chapter 25
It had been the 29th of October – a Tuesday, when Lauren and Tris had met with the NSC in the Situation Room of The White House. It was now Thursday, the day that would be Tris's first real venture into the field on mission, and also Halloween by coincidence.
Tris could hardly believe so many had happened in the previous two days, their astonishing trip to The White House, with the extraordinary discoveries made regarding Jeanine Matthews and Marcus Eaton. Then the many meetings that strategy sessions that subsequently followed, including Tris telling Four that they were going after Marcus, as well as Lauren finding out that Four was Tobias Eaton.
By the end of Wednesday Tris had been thoroughly exhausted, and they were only two days into their mission. The only thing that had given her the strength to find the energy to go on was the excitement of her first venture into the field. She had and Lauren were headed out to Eaton's offices and home in Washington to plant various recording devices – known commonly as bugs – as well as placing tracking devices on anything relevant. With the U.S. Senate being in session it was a priority to have these locations under constant surveillance. They would also be bugging his home in Philadelphia, where he conducted a lot of his 'extracurricular' business.
Zeke and a team of three agents would be accompanying them, and would be staying on location, so long as Eaton remained. Their particular role in the mission was to shadow Eaton, aided by whatever information Four could give them via electronic knowledge of his whereabouts and plans in advance.
Four and his partner for the mission, an agent named Paul Tris didn't know, were also starting their work that day, getting straight onto hacking anything that they could belonging to or relating to Eaton's 'work'. They would also be monitoring the receiving end of any bugs planted by Lauren and Tris, and keeping an eye on any information that was of any use, to anyone on the case.
"Tris, did you even hear anything of what I said?" Christina asked at their breakfast table.
"What?" Tris asked dumbly.
"I asked if you were going to have time for our Halloween party tonight," Christina reiterated.
"Who's?" Tris asked.
"Man, you really have been out of it the last two days," Uriah said with a chuckle.
"The Halloween party is for the whole compound, in one of the function rooms," Marlene explained exuberantly. "I don't care how tired you are tonight. Christina and I will have a costume for you, dress you up, and we'll be partying."
"It's my first real day in the field today," Tris protested weakly.
"And an amazing party will be a great way to top off an already memorable day," Christina said firmly. "Oh, and good luck today. Can you tell us what you're doing?"
"Not really, just that it's really low risk, planting gadgets and stuff," Tris said vaguely. "Anyway, I'm about done here, so I'd better go and grab my things so Lauren and I can head out."
Tris left the dining hall, Four joining her as they left.
"You're going to be careful today, right?" he asked softly. "No deciding to accidentally trip Marcus as some sort of subtle revenge? You're going to get him, provided you follow the strategies you and Lauren have devised with the rest of us."
Tris looked a little sourly at him.
"Do you really think I'd be that stupid?" she asked. "I know what my job is, I'm not going to let Eaton recognise me on our first day of targeting him. Anonymity is part of the plan here. Well, it's always the plan in Dauntless."
"I know, I know," Four said sheepishly. "I guess I would fantasise about accidentally injuring my father if I was going to be in such close proximity to him."
"You mean you have fantasised about injuring him," Tris said lightly. "Don't worry, we're going to be completely professional on this mission, and we're going to make your Marcus pay."
"Yes we are, and we're going to leave now, if we're going to keep to our schedule," Lauren said crisply. "Zeke and the others are already in the basement car park, ready to leave for the aerodrome. He's a bit impatient to get started."
"I wish I was coming with you," Four said, drawing Tris close to him. "Be safe, I've got your back."
Tris gave him a quick kiss, the followed Lauren down the hallway, headed for to the elevator to head down to the basement.
A few footsteps away from the elevator she turned and called, "Four!"
He turned around, an eyebrow quirked inquisitively.
"There's a Halloween party tonight, and I've been roped into going, so I'll see you there when I get back," she told him, grinning. "There may be costumes involved."
"I'm looking forward to it," he called back, giving her wave as she stepped. "We should have some fun, for a change."
Tris hurried into the elevator after Lauren, the smile quickly disappearing off her face as she entered her 'mission mindset'.
"You've got everything we need?" Tris asked, gesturing at the bag Lauren carried in her hand.
"Yes, it's all as it was when I finalised it with the tech. department at the end of the day yesterday," Lauren answered. "On the plane we can go over who will plant each bug, and where."
"And I have the bag filled with our disguises," Tris replied. "How appropriate."
"Yes, it's almost the perfect Halloween mission," Lauren said dryly. "I've always wanted a black bob for a day. Maybe I'll use it tonight for the party and go as Cleopatra."
"You'd make a smoking Cleopatra," Zeke said, as they reached him in the basement car park. "Though I don't know what it has to do with today's venture."
"Our disguises," Lauren said shortly. "Let's get going."
They headed for the aerodrome, boarded the plane.
Tris and Lauren used the first fifteen minutes of their short flight to go over the devices and the intended use for each bug.
The last fifteen minutes of the flight were spent in Tris and Lauren altering their appearances with the afore mentioned disguises. As a part of their need for anonymity, they intended to alter their appearances for any trip into the field that might put them in direct contact with Senator Eaton. They didn't want him, or his bodyguards, to start getting suspicious if they saw them too often.
Additionally, on this trip, they were posing as a journalist and photographer doing a feature piece on the congressman, thus gaining access to his home and office. They were dressed as reporters, with fake identification to that effect.
Tris was Candice Abrahams and Lauren was Audrey Sommers.
"Your own mothers wouldn't recognise you," Zeke declared in satisfaction. "Nice glasses, Tris. Four and Four eyes, you two are the perfect pair now."
Tris smiled a fake, sweet smile at him and turned to Lauren.
"Okay, so I've got the enormous, professional camera ready and plenty of bugs are in the case," Tris said. "Anything else to add?"
"Nope, we're ready," Lauren declared, as they stepped off the plane that had now landed at Andrew's. "You know, auburn hair suits you Tris."
"I'll keep that in mind, if I ever feel like parting with my natural colour," Tris said with a smile. "I can't say I'd ever get use to that black bob though, Lauren."
"Please, it's Audrey," Lauren said, joking around a little.
"Yes, we should get into character," Tris agreed. "You've got your notepad full of questions, recorder at the ready?"
"Definitely," Lauren said firmly. "Posing as reporters was a brilliant brainwave of yours. Four fixing the senator's schedule to fit us in at a moment's notice was very useful too."
"That's why we're the perfect pair," Tris said, with a pointed, triumphant look at Zeke.
Their mini mission went off without a hitch, both Tris and Lauren quite enjoying the roles they were playing, excepting the fact that they were posing as reporters who were looking to cover a positive angle of Marcus Eaton. On the plus side, their 'article' would never hit the press. The only information they would be supplying to the press on Eaton would be in the form of damning evidence collected and supplied to the NSC.
"Man, his Chief of Staff was such a sleazeball," Lauren grouched as they got into their car after leaving Eaton's Washington residence. "Seriously, I need to take a shower, or go swimming in disinfectant."
"Well, that pencil skirt does draw attention to your butt," Tris pointed out, grinning.
"I hate being the peppy, flirty reporter," Lauren griped. "Why did you get to be the sort-of-hot, nerdy photographer?"
"Because Four is an imposing guy who wanted to make sure no other guy would check me out?" Tris suggested.
"Too bad, your figure is still hot, no guy is going to be immune," Lauren pointed out. "And yes Four, we know you can hear everything we're saying. Go stick your head in a bucket of cold water."
"Well, that was successful, overall, I thought," Tris said, returning to more serious conversation. "I do feel back for knocking over that vase though."
"Well, no harm done, you covered very well," Lauren said. "Your camera case was very bulky, after all."
"Is the Capitol always as busy as that?" Tris asked.
"Well, as you know, The Senate is in session, so the Senators, all their staffs, and the people who staff the buildings, are all pretty much there at the moment," Lauren replied. "I mean, we were only in the Dirksen Building, there are hell of a lot of other buildings, all full of people too. It's actually quite handy for us, for blending in, when there are so many other people around."
They boarded the plane together, having left Zeke and his team back in DC. They would be keeping tabs on the senator until Lauren and Tris deemed it no longer necessary. This would either because they had enough evidence, or because Four had enough electronic surveillance to not require man power to monitor Eaton.
Once on the plane, Tris pulled her wig off in one quick motion, shaking out her own hair in relief. She then took off the glasses she had been wearing, and started to feel much more like herself, than Candace Abrahams.
Lauren had likewise been returning herself to her normal appearance.
"So, once we get back we should have just enough time to write up a report from today and check in with Four and see what we're getting from the bugs already," Lauren declared. "Then, I believe I heard you say that you're Halloween party bound?"
"Yep, Marlene and Christina have promised, or threatened, to dress me up and drag me along," Tris said with a grimace.
"Tris, what we do is important, and I know this case is particularly important to you, but it's also important to take a break, and relax, or you will burn out quickly from stress," Lauren kindly warned. "So, it's good to enjoy an evening such as this one. The 'bad guys' will always be waiting in the morning."
Yeah, but I have to try and find out what the Deputy NSA is planning with that weasel Eric in my spare time, Tris thought tensely.
"I'll try," Tris said aloud.
"Try?" Lauren said with a scoff. "You will, and it shouldn't be too hard. I've seen Four's abs, you know."
Tris blushed and busied herself with making a few notes on her cell phone.
Back at the compound Tris and Lauren headed straight up to their assigned office to make the necessary reports from their day in the field. Four was already there, monitoring the feed from the bugs they had planted, as well as working on hacking Marcus and compiling evidence from what files he had retrieved.
"I've got to meet with Paul," Four said, standing. "I'll leave this computer open, with these programs open. The room is secure, and I'll be looking at them first thing tomorrow. I'll see you both at the party."
"You don't want to meet me and go together?" Tris asked, a little confused.
"I just assumed your stylists would be taking you, kicking and screaming the whole way," Four said with a grin.
Tris glared at him, and Lauren watched on in amusement.
"Which is why I will come and rescue you just before six," Four said brightly, saving himself neatly.
"It's a date," Tris said with a smile. "You're more than welcome to save me from those too earlier than six, just as a by the way."
"I'll see you at six," Four reiterated over his shoulder as he left the room.
Lauren and Tris returned to what they were working on, typing away busily.
"Good work today, you're doing really well," Lauren said to Tris as they finished up. "Especially, because of what you know about, you know, about the senator's family, and all."
"Well, I just pretended that he is just part of the mission, not someone I want to cause severe bodily harm to," Tris said lightly. "Which is pretty much what I'm probably going to be doing in five minutes when Marlene and Christina descend and try to make me look like I'm going to the opening ceremony of The Hunger Games."
Lauren laughed, and then said "So, you said, 'it's a date' to Four? Did you mean he should bring flowers?"
"Oh gosh, I didn't even really realise I'd said date," Tris exclaimed. "I suppose it is, if we're going to a party. I've never had anyone give me flowers, you know."
"Then he should definitely bring you flowers," Lauren said firmly.
"Where's he going to get them from, at this notice, without knowing I want flowers?" Tris asked with a resigned chuckle. "Another time. So, what does this party even entail? Is it a full blown party? All I know is that it's in one of the function rooms."
"It is actually a proper party, there's a committee that organises a few functions here a year, sometimes we even have functions where agents from other compounds are invited. Anyway, we're pretty in to Halloween here, so we go all out," Lauren explained. "So, we have a big compound-wide party every year, with costumes, food, decorations, alcohol, and music – the works. That's why we start at six, there's plenty to eat and drink there, no need for a meal beforehand. It's a really fun night."
"If you like that kind of thing," Tris said morosely.
Lauren laughed and said, "I think you might surprise yourself and have a good time. I'll see you there."
They parted ways and Tris headed back to her room to take a shower before Marlene and Christina arrived to dress her up suitably. They hadn't even told her what she was going as, just to have showered by ten past five.
Marlene and Christina were sitting on her bed, already arrayed in their costumes, when she came out of her bathroom, showered and wrapped in a towel, chattering, a garment bag lying on the bed, as well as a couple of cosmetic bags.
"So, tell me, what am I going as?" Tris asked in amusement.
"Well, we'd considered Wonder Woman, but decided it was too cliché," Marlene said, looking completely spectacular in her Catwoman costume, complete with intricate eye makeup. "Then we considered Red Riding Hood, but decided it was too 'little girly'."
"Then we ran through all of the sexy/slutty options, you know, school girl, nurse, policewoman," Christina added fiendishly. "But don't worry, you're safe."
"Well, I guess I don't get to wear the Great Gatsby look, seeing as you've got that covered," Tris commented, looking admiringly at Christina's Roaring 20s inspired costume, her hair and jewellery styled accordingly with her sparkling black fringe dress. "What's in the bag?"
Marlene obligingly opened the bag with a flourish, and she and Christina grinned at Tris's reaction, very pleased with themselves.
"Now, sit down, because we have to work quickly to turn you into something that belongs in this dress," Christina said commandingly.
"I don't think there's enough time in the world for that, if you want my mind to be prepared, along with my appearance, that is," Tris grumbled, sitting down and submitting to their wishes.
Forty minutes later she was ready, Marlene and Christina headed off and leaving her to wait for Four.
A knock sounded on the door a couple of minutes later, and Four stood there, wearing a suit and carrying a bouquet of blood red roses.
Four took in her appearance, visibly stunned.
"Is my girlfriend here?" he asked jokingly.
Tris gave him a dirty look, before realising he was carrying flowers.
"You got me flowers?" Tris asked surprised, and then immediately suspicious. "Did Lauren say something?"
"She may have mentioned something, and I may have rushed out to grab these," Four said sheepishly. "But I'm glad she did, because this kind of is our first proper date, and you certainly deserve flowers, especially looking like that."
"Thank you," Tris said, a little blush colouring her bronzed cheeks. "I feel kind of stupid, dressed like this."
"You're stunning," Four said, stepping inside and giving her a firm kiss.
"I made a joke to Lauren as we were leaving the office," Tris said, as they stepped out into the hall a couple of minutes later. "I said getting ready would be like being in made ready for The Hunger Games opening ceremony. Little did I know that was what was basically going to be happening."
"You're the most stunning Katniss Everdeen I've ever seen," Four said, taking her hand in his.
"And what are you exactly, guy-dressed-in-a-suit?" Tris said, amused, and happy to try to deflect his compliment.
"I'm just that, I suppose, but I think you can just consider me your Peeta Mellark," Four said, grinning. "I was told by Marlene to wear a suit, so I am."
"Yes, they would have been intending for you to be my Peeta," Tris said, smiling.
"Personally, I think we're cooler than them, I mean, we're secret agents," Four said, pulling her to him as they traveled down in the elevator.
"You're sure I don't look too over the top?" Tris asked, as they stepped out of the elevator.
"You look great, and there will definitely be people there wearing more elaborate costumes than you," Four reassured her, giving her appearance another long perusal.
Tris was dressed in a floor length gown, of an elaborate black and red feathered pattern creation, trimmed with real feathers, featuring an intricate neckline, much like the dress Katniss wore to the Victor's Ball in Catching Fire. A black pair of stilettos could be seen when she walked, the slit in the dress showing them off neatly.
Marlene and Christina told her they'd been raiding the disguise room, which apparently doubled as costume room at Halloween, and had seen the dress, and had been inspired to use it to dress Tris as Katniss. The disguise room was apparently extensively stocked, for the use of any agent, for any mission they might need a disguise for, ranging from formal evening gowns for formal events to tropical tourist outfits for missions in exotic locations.
"You should probably mention to Marlene and Christina that you're impressed," Tris said. "I probably wasn't quite appreciative enough, so one of us should be. The bun combined with the intricate braids is rather impressive."
"I thought the flame inspired stuff on your eyes was rather cool," Four said. "How did they do that?"
"I don't know, my eyes were closed," Tris said with a giggle. "So, I guess the room with the loud music is our destination?"
"It is, and we're going to have fun," Four said firmly. "Just you wait, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised, I know I was. Plus, there is always an enormous quantity of chocolate cake on hand."
"Well, it definitely can't be too bad then," Tris allowed with a grin, and they stepped into the function room, Tris with her mind open to the possibility of an enjoyable evening, and a brief respite from the current stress of her work and life. Tonight, she was the girl on fire.
AN: Thanks for reading! I decided not to actually write their activities in the field in full for this chapter, just the before and after - I felt it was enough :)
I agonised over choosing the Halloween costumes, so I hope you all like them!
Please review and let me know if you'd like the next chapter to contain the Halloween party! (The chapter is written, but I can include the Halloween party if enough people want it :) )