CHAPTER 19

MARCUS POV

I walk into Erudite and I am sure I am being followed. I am positive that Max has had someone following me ever since he came to visit. I am going to have to be careful with what I do from now on. Once I have had this meeting with Jeanine I am going to have to find a new way to contact her.

"Marcus how are you?" Jeanine asks.

"I'm well Jeanine, how are you?" I ask back. I still find it hard; even after all these years, to deflect the questioning about myself. If I hadn't been so politically motivated I would never have chosen Abnegation. I like the world to revolve around me. I like to tell people about me. But being Abnegation I'm not supposed to want those things.

"Fine Marcus, what can I help you with today?" she says.

"I had a visit from Max two days ago. I am sure he is having me followed. He knows that I have been trying to get into the Dauntless files. You told me that they didn't have a secure security system on their computers. You told me I would be able to get any information I wanted. What am I supposed to do now? I need answers Jeanine."

"I offered you my help Marcus and you turned it down. The offer still stands. Let me test on your members and I will get you the information you want."

"Max knows you are testing on the factionless. He asked me if I knew anything. What do you think is going to happen if Abnegation members turn up missing? How will I explain that? And how are you going to get me the information I want? They will know if you are in their system, they will find out."

"I have my ways to find out the information Marcus. No one is going to care that a few factionless have gone missing. I can guarantee you that I will give you your members back after I have finished with them. Tell them it is selfless to want to help science; they fall for that line every time you have used it in the past when you wanted to get your own way. Well this is exactly the same; it is a means to an end."

"You get me the information and then and only then will I give you the people you want," I say. I need this information; I am desperate to know if Four is Tobias. I will not stop looking until I get the truth. I know I am right about this. I know I am. "I have been trying to get this information for over a year, you better deliver it to me. There will be repercussions if you don't," I threaten her with.

"Marcus I think our time is up for today. I don't think threatening me is the way to go about this. It is your choice but I think you need to work out why you really want this information. The truth will not set you free, as they say; I think it is more likely to put a noose around your neck. But we shall see."

I leave Jeanine's office and make my way back to Abnegation. I know I have just made a deal with the devil. I am just going to have to find a way to outsmart her.

MAX POV

Seeing Evelyn again was harder than I thought it would be. Not that I look at her the way I once did. But for the fact that she doesn't care a stitch about her children. They are both so amazing in my eyes. Yes Four was always getting himself into some sort of trouble in Dauntless as a kid, but he has stepped up since being in leadership. He is respected in Dauntless and has made me extremely proud.

Charlie she is a lot less trouble than Four ever was but we haven't hit her teenage years yet. I am sure she will cause me just as much trouble as her brother did. Although I do have to laugh at the trouble Four has got himself into at times. He and Zeke have kept the whole of Dauntless on their toes for years and even now they still have a lot of fun. I think that's part of the reason he is respected here, he knows how to party and he knows when to work hard. Plus he is probably the best fighter we have.

I have been extremely lucky with both Four and Charlie. I just hope that Jed is as easy as they were. Jed is our youngest and he turned one last week. He has started walking and loves the freedom it gives him. I can see him wandering the halls of Dauntless in the very near future. He will probably be like Four and find his own little hiding places. I can imagine him going missing for hours and his mother tearing her hair out in worry. The thought makes me laugh.

I am sitting in the board room waiting for the other leaders to arrive. I have had to call an emergency meeting so that we can talk about our computer system and moving the guards from the fence back into the factionless section.

"Thank you for all being here for this meeting. I know we don't often have to do this but I have come across some information that we need to deal with as a group. Firstly we have had unauthorised people from other factions trying to get into our computer systems," I say.

"Why would anyone want our information?" Sam asks. She is the only female leader we have at the moment.

"I don't think it matters why they are trying to get in. I think we should be finding ways to keep them out," I say.

"Do you think that is necessary Max? What kind of threat could they be anyway?" Bob asks.

"I think that we should try to put a stop to this," Shane says. "Four you're in charge of our computer systems. What do we need to do?"

"I have been working with Lauren from technical services and that is how we found out that someone was trying to enter our system. Although they didn't get through I am sure there are smarter people who could probably get into any system we created. I think we should take all personal files and initiate testing off our main computer system. Put it on a standalone system that can only be accessed by leaders, their support staff and trainers. It will mean additional computers and it will take a few weeks to set up but it will provide us extra security," Four says.

"Is this really necessary?" Tony asks.

"We are having trouble in the factionless area with Erudite, which I'll explain more about soon. We have had a faction leader from another faction trying to break into our computer system. I think it would be better to be safe than sorry at this stage," I say.

"Fine just get it done then," says Tony.

"Okay, well Four take the necessary staff you and Lauren will need and get it done as quickly as you can. You don't have long until the next batch of initiates are here, so you will need to sort this out quickly. It will also be a good test run for how the system works when the initiates do get here. Although I'm sure Jeanine is going to chuck up a stink when she can't access the files whenever she wants," I say.

"Now we need to look at what is happening in the factionless sectors. I have found out recently that Erudite are taking people from factionless with offers of extra food and clothing. The problem is they aren't coming back. I want to take half the guards off the fence and put them in the factionless areas," I say. "We haven't had any problems around the fence and Amity has their own guards. So I think we could put our guards to better use inside the city."

"I think that's a good idea Max. Can you follow through with the details and have the manager of patrols work out a new schedule. Make sure they keep Eric out at the fence though. He is enough trouble when he is in the compound if he was to work with the factionless we would have him in the compound more often and nobody wants that. Plus he would probably start trouble rather than break it up," Shane says.

I'm glad he mentioned Eric. Shane hates the guy probably more than Four does. Jeanine Matthews wanted Shane to put him into leadership. But after the fight with Four and the bet was made about the fight he had to go to the fence for guard duty. Every few months Jeanine is on Shane's back trying to convince him that he should put him into leadership. I have no idea why but having her try and manipulate Dauntless like that is always worrying.

"Now if there is nothing else," Shane says. "I have an announcement. I have decided that I am going to be stepping down as Leader of Dauntless. I have asked Max to take over my role. I will stay on until initiation is over. Hopefully we will find someone who can take my place from the new batch of recruits. After that I will stay on in an advisory role until the new leader is competent to help you all lead this faction."

"Well I think that deserves a drink," I say. "Let's have an early mark and go down to Dauntless Nights for a cold one. I'm sure they won't refuse their leaders coming in early for a drink." With that we all make out way down to Dauntless Nights to celebrate Shane's impending retirement.

Thank you everyone for your awesome reviews, and for following my story.

Only one more sleep until Beatrice chooses! (Finally, you are all saying!)

But does she choose Dauntless?