CHAPTER 18

FOUR POV

I have been working in leadership for eighteen months now. My role involves compound security and computer security. Compound security is easy, make sure the control room is running efficiently and that we have enough guards to patrol Dauntless. Computer security has been a different story. When I was given the role we didn't have any security. Our computers where open to the whole of the city. Anyone could access our files.

I have been working closely with Lauren who is part of our technical staff here at Dauntless. She also helps train the initiates. She has been able to design a program that tells me every user who has accessed any Dauntless records. She also designed a program that now protects all Dauntless computer files from unauthorised access. Basically unless you have a Dauntless password and you are a member of Dauntless you cannot access information on the Dauntless computers.

I have daily alerts come through to me telling me who has tried to access the files. A lot of the time it is just Erudite kids trying to hack our system for fun. Jeanine Matthews has been is a spin ever since the new protocols were put in place. She thinks she should be able to access our members fear simulations and landscapes data because she designed the serum. If there is one person I don't want looking at my files it would be her, so if I don't want her looking at my files then no other member deserves to have her look at their files.

I am sitting at my computer when the daily alert list comes through. There is only one name on the alert and when I read the name I freeze. What the hell does he want with Dauntless? I get up from my desk and walk out of my office and into dad's office.

"We need to talk," I say.

"What's up?"

"We have a problem with Marcus Eaton," I say.

"What sort of problem?" dad asks.

"He is trying to get into the Dauntless computer files. I had Lauren set up a programme to alert me whenever someone tries to get into our system. He tried to get into the system yesterday."

"Leave it with me; I don't want you anywhere near him if possible."

"But what if he knows?" I ask.

"I don't know how he could. I will need to talk to Jack over at Candor and I think I will pay Marcus a visit. See what he is really up to. I should have put a bullet in his head when I had the chance," dad says. "Don't worry about it. I will get this sorted out."

I walk out of dads office and go back to work. I know dad will do everything in his power to keep my secrets for me. I have always known that eventually I would need to face Marcus. It's just that every time I think of him I turn back into that scared little nine year old that he almost killed.

MAX POV

I get off the train and make my way to the Merciless Mart and make my way up to Jack Kang's office.

"Max good to see you, how have you been?"

"Good Jack, you?"

"Well thank you for asking. What can I help you with today?" he asks.

"Marcus Eaton," I say.

"Oh, what do you need to know?"

"We have proof that he has been trying to get into the Dauntless computer system. I don't know why but I wanted to see if he had been trying to get any information about members from you," I say.

"This is about Four isn't it?" he asks. I just nod. "He came here trying to get information just after Four's Choosing Ceremony. I told him I couldn't give any information out, that we have privacy policies. I asked him why he would be concerned about a Dauntless-born initiate who had stayed in his own faction. He didn't answer he just walked out. I thought he would just give up."

"I suppose I've been waiting for this day. Is there anything he could do if he did find out the truth?"

"Max every document concerning Evelyn and Tobias Eaton are locked away. He can't get to them. The files also contain the statement from Evelyn that he inflicted the injuries on her and Tobias and we also have photos and the doctor's report of those injuries. If he tried anything I would have him thrown in jail and I would personally throw away the key. Four is an adult now; he chose which faction he wanted to be in. Marcus can't come near him. And as far as any one is concerned Evelyn and Tobias Eaton are dead."

"Thanks Jack. I just needed to know," I say. "Can I get a copy of Evelyn's statement?"

"I still don't understand why you didn't just kill him that day. It would have been a lot simpler," Jack says. "I'll just go and get that statement copied."

"I've been asking myself the same question Jack," I say.

"We may have bigger problems Max," Jack says.

"What do you mean?"

"Jeanine Matthews. She is trying to do some sort of testing on the factionless. I don't know the exact details but I have been informed that she has been trying to offer food and other basic necessities to anyone who will let her do tests on them. The problem is once they go in for testing no one sees them again. Have you heard anything?"

"No I haven't but I know someone who might be able to tell me what is going on. I will let you know what I find out. Thanks for your help Jack, I'll be in contact."

I walk out of Jack's office and I now have to put Evelyn on my to do list for the day. I know she has been leading the factionless for awhile now. She tried to get in contact with Four just after he became a Dauntless member. He didn't want anything to do with her but I convinced him to go see her. It did not end well. She wanted to recruit him; she wanted him to leave Dauntless and to live with her. She tried to tell him that the factionless were going to take over the city and that he could help her lead the way.

After that meeting we started to make a few changes at Dauntless. We set up a new housing development within the Dauntless compound for older members. We had so many abandoned buildings to choose from that we were able to set up a small set of shops and housing where it was all easily accessible for the ageing members. We were also able to get funds from the government for the project as we weren't sending our members to factionless. So we had funds and food supply that Abnegation used to help the factionless redirected to Dauntless. I knew this would piss Evelyn off and it meant that she would have less of an army to go against us. We also invited members that had left to be factionless back into the Dauntless compound. Most decided to come back and it meant more funds were taken away from feeding Evelyn's little army of trouble makers.

I have reached the Abnegation sector and now I am off to visit Marcus. I have to remember to keep my cool while talking to him. Just looking at him makes me want to punch him. Whenever we have a meeting with the other faction leaders I always send someone else, I can't stand being in the same room as him and I would never dream of sending Four.

I reach Marcus's office and I knock and walk in. I'm not waiting for welcomes today. I'm not in the mood.

"Max so good to see you," Marcus says.

"No need to be pleasant Marcus. This isn't a social call," I say. "We have reports that you have been trying to access Dauntless computer files. Why is this?"

"I think you must be mistaken Max. I don't have any reason to access Dauntless files," he says. I can see he is lying and I'm not even Candor. It is written all over his face.

"I think you are mistaken Marcus. We have a program that tells us exactly who is trying to look at our system. Now is there another Marcus Eaton we don't know about that could be accessing our files?"

He just stares blankly at me. "Would you like something to drink Max?"

Just what I need, he is trying to change the subject. "No thank you Marcus," I say. "Now this is just a friendly warning, we take it very seriously at Dauntless when unauthorised persons try to access our files. We will not tolerate such behaviour even if you are a leader of another faction. So make sure you keep away from Dauntless and our computer system."

"Sounds like you are trying to hide something Max," Marcus says. I know he is a master manipulator, Evelyn told me stories of his manipulation not only of her but the people of Abnegation. I really regret not killing him now.

"Marcus there have been reports of factionless going missing. Some are saying that Erudite are behind it. Have you heard anything?" I need to change the subject and seeing that Abnegation have the most to do with the factionless it won't hurt asking.

"No haven't heard anything Max. I will let you know if I hear anything," he says. He definitely knows something. He was too quick to answer.

"Well we are going to be starting up some patrols in the area. You may want to tell the factionless that we are only doing it for their safety. We don't intend to harass them in anyway."

"I'll let the people who are working with the factionless know so that they can spread the word," he says.

"Great, thank you for your time Marcus," I say. I walk out the door as quick as I can. Now I have to go and deal with Evelyn. I haven't seen her since she left. I was hoping I would never have to deal with her again.

p/b

I get to the factionless part of town that I know where Evelyn has been living. I made Four tell me where she was. I make my way into the warehouse where she is staying. I get a lot of stares but no one is trying to stop me.

"Max, I never thought I would see you in this part of town," she says.

"Evelyn, how are you?"

"I'm well. What are you doing here?" she asks.

"I've gotten a report that you're having some trouble with Erudite? I thought it was best I come down and find out what is happening first hand," I say. I can't believe that her first question wasn't about how her kids are. But then she left them without looking back so I shouldn't really be surprised.

"Why would you care?"

"This isn't about us Evelyn. This is about people being taken and not returning again. If that is the case then I think this is a concern for everyone. If Jeanine is taking factionless how long do you think it will be until she starts trying to take faction members?"

"There have been people disappearing but I don't have any details that I can give."

"Well it might be a good idea to start getting some details. I need to know what is going on, I don't trust Jeanine and her band of scientist buddies. So find out what you can."

"Why should I help you? You have been taking resources from us and giving them to Dauntless. So explain to be what the benefit of helping you will get me?"

"It's always about you isn't it Evelyn. This isn't about you; this is about people who may be getting used as lab rats for that woman. The more factionless that are taken, the more resources will be taken from helping the factionless. If your numbers start dropping from this it will mean that Abnegation will give you even less. There are going to be extra Dauntless patrols in the factionless area, so let your friends know. We aren't here to hurt them; we are trying to protect them."

"I will try and find out any information that I can. I will be in contact."

"We have another problem," I say. "Marcus has been trying to get into the Dauntless computer system. I think he may have found out about Four."

"That's impossible. You fixed that. He thinks we are dead," she says.

"We had an incident at Fours' Choosing Ceremony," I say.

"What type of incident?" she asks. As if she cares, she will only be thinking of herself. I might not like Evelyn but I can understand the fear this may bring her.

"When Four chose Marcus saw him and fainted," I say. "When he was questioned later he said he couldn't remember anything. He claimed it had been extremely hot in the room and that was what made him faint. I'm starting to think that he was lying."

"Well lying is something that Marcus is very good at. I learnt that the hard way. What are you going to do about it?" she asks.

"I've talked to Marcus, I confronted him. Of course he gave nothing away but I will have him watched, see if I can find out what he is up too."

Evelyn nods. She isn't going to give away much either. I know I can't trust her. I will just have to wait and see if she gives me the information I want on Jeanine Matthews. I doubt she will she is too selfish. She will only help if she thinks there is something in it for her.

"It's was good seeing you Evelyn," I say. As I start to walk out I turn and say, "by the way both your children are doing well." I walk out of the warehouse, I don't wait for a response and I am not going to give her any more information than I have about her kids. Not that I think of her as their mother now. But I really just wanted to try and hurt her for what she did to those kids.