Tobias
**1 week before the attack**
"So we're looking for a dude?" Zeke asks, sitting across from my desk in the control room.
"We, Tris and I, believe so," I nod.
"Okay, well I'll be sure to double surveillance for half the city," he answers sarcastically.
"I know it's not much help," I shrug, "but that's all we could find."
"I think we can narrow it down a little more."
"Using what?" I question.
"Common sense," he rolls his eyes dramatically. "They have knowledge of where all the cameras are and they know their way around Dauntless pretty well. The footage was recovered from different locations at different times. If the person only worked here, they wouldn't be all over the compound at different times. I think we're looking for someone that not only works here, but lives here, too. And I think that we're probably looking for someone that transfered in the last five years."
"Why five years? And why a transfer?" My brows furrow.
"Think about it," he pauses, "we were initiates roughly 3 years ago now. At that time, Dauntless wasn't quite what it was when the war started. Changes were still being made. Many of the original Dauntless, myself included, are taught the difference between courage and brutality. We're taught to stick up for ourselves, our family and our friends, but we're taught that bullying is cowardice. Whoever our guy is, he's a bully. He's experienced enough to know his way around pretty well, but he shows enough brutality to suggest that he's been influenced by the Dauntless values that Max and Eric were putting into place."
"You're a genius, Zeke," I say incredulously. "I never would have thought of any of that."
"I'm surprised Tris didn't," he says.
"She's been a little...upset lately," I admit.
"If I was her, I would be, too."
"So we need to check transfer records going back five years," I say.
"I would," he nods his head. "And I'd help you, but I don't have much privacy out there."
"I'm gonna work on getting you an office," I say. "You should have one."
"Doesn't really matter to me," he shrugs. "Just wish I could help."
He walks out if my office and I immediately begin pulling up the records of male transfers going back 5 years. I don't even really know what I'm looking for. Violent acts would probably only be documented if they happened in another faction. None of the incidents that happen in Dauntless get documented because reporting attacks and violence was looked at as cowardice. It's harder now, as well, because some of the people in these records may have died in the war, and others may have chosen to leave Dauntless. When we began rebuilding the city and making the new rules, no one sifted through the old records and labeled people as deceased or documented if they chose to work and live in another "faction." The choosing ceremony is when we all are to make our jobs and locations official. That is going to be a nightmare in itself to plan. Some of that responsibility falls onto my shoulders because I'm Tobias Eaton. Jack and Johanna treat me like I'm a leader as well.
I decide to start with the males that transfered from 5 years ago. Some of them I know, others I don't and I'll have to do some extensive research to track them down. Once I have a list of all of them, I filter them for a history of violent acts in their previous faction. Luckily for me, that list is a lot smaller than the original one. Unfortunately for me, a previous history of violence doesn't mean that they're behind what's going on right now. Nevertheless, I decide to start with them. I send the list to Jack and Johanna asking if they know or work with any of these people. Unfortunately, none of the names are familiar to them.
That's when I think of Amar. Amar was in charge of training the transfers before he died and I took over. He would have trained all of these people. I immediately lock up my office and leave the control room. I'm not sure exactly where Amar spends his time these days, but my best chance of finding him is to go to the pit.
"Have you seen Amar?" I ask Shauna as I pass her by.
"Nope, can't say that I have, sorry."
I ask a few more people, but no luck. Then I see George.
"George!" I yell to get his attention.
"Hey, Four," he smiles and walks over to me. "What's up?"
"Have you seen Amar?"
"I think he's at his apartment right now."
"Do you know where it is? He never told me where he chose to live."
"I'll take you there."
I follow George through the Pit and up to the Pire. We wander through the winding paths before we turn down a hallway and come to a secluded apartment.
"Here it is," George gestures towards the door.
"Thanks," I shake his hand and then he wanders back towards the Pit.
I knock on the door and wait, but after a few minutes there's still no answer.
"Amar?" I say as I knock again.
"Four?" He finally calls back.
"Yeah, I need to talk to you."
Seconds layer the door opens and he ushers me inside. I explain what's happening and what I need him to do.
"I don't know much about them anymore," he shakes his head a little. "But I'll look at what you've got"
"That's all I ask. Thank you," I say as I pull out the files.
"Of the ones that I even vaguely remember," he says after a few minutes, "none of them stick out to me in anyway."
"None that were overly aggressive or had a problem with authority?"
"No," he shakes his head. "Why don't you just wait until the Choosing Ceremony? They'll all be in one room and you can talk to them and decide who you think you need to do more research on."
"I don't know if we can wait that long," I sigh. "They've already tried to get Tris and as much as I try, I don't know that I'll be there every second to protect her."
"Four, what makes you think that girl needs you to protect her?" He asks. "Look at all she's done."
"I know that," I nod. "I do. But she's been through a lot and I don't know that she's mentally prepared to face another attacker. She's already uneasy as it is."
"I understand that. But you need to realize that she may not have a choice in the matter, and you may not either."
It's been a while since I've had to deal with self-esteem problems, but as I leave Amar's I feel completely defeated. He's right. Like he always was. But I can't accept that. I can't lose her again, especially not when I can do something to protect her. I can't stand by and do nothing and just wait. I have to find these people before the Choosing Ceremony.