So, apparently, I suck at war strategy and planning. Max isn't incompetent, it's me not doing a good job of writing. This has been challenging for me to conceptualize and write. I originally thought I would split it into three separate stories and then decided against it. Despite my mishaps with trying to be creative, change up things, and do something different in this cannon story, I hope you like this chapter and keep reading.

Love Ya'll and Thank you for all the well wishes and positive vibes for my surgery. Until next time...


"What are you working on?" Marlene asks as she pulls out a few items to make dinner while Caleb works at the kitchen table. In the weeks since their wedding, the two had fallen into a comfortable routine as they worked out the kinks of living together but they were happy. Each morning they made love before getting up and training together. Marlene made breakfast and kissed Caleb before he headed off to work with Andrew and Marcus. She worked in the donation center and was planning her first trip to Dauntless soon under the guise of seeking donations. At night he would come home, and they would make dinner together and then curl up in bed together after making love again. It was simple and perfect, despite the knowledge of all that was looming in the city. At home, they could be themselves with each other.

"Andrew wants a report of all the initiate classes for the past 10 years, cross-referenced with the amount of Abnegation born and transfers. He says it's to petition if we need to build more housing and request more food rations from Amity"

"But…" Marlene says feeling like Caleb wasn't finished with his thought.

"I think he's looking for something else and it's all connected to what they are consorting with Erudite on"

"Maybe divergent?" That seemed to be the most logical answer based on everything Natalie had told them about what was going on.

"That's exactly what I think and I'm wondering if he's going to try and cross-reference this data with aptitude test data?"

"It would make sense, but who has access to all of that?" Marlene wonders.

"Erudite, they create the serum for the aptitude test and coordinate the testing, Abnegation just volunteers to administer the test"

Marlene comes to sit by him and looks at the papers. "What are Andrew and Marcus playing at?"

"Who is going to protect them? Dauntless? or Erudite whom they've been secretly working with for years..." Caleb offers, looking at his wife.

Marlene nods in understanding. Now that Max knew the truth that Natalie was alive and they shared a daughter who told them about her upbringing, he would never protect Marcus and Andrew.

"If they want to get back in Jeanine Matthew's good graces, what's the best way?" Caleb tells her.

"Giver her what she wants, more divergent" Marlene answers understanding what Caleb was thinking.

"I think Father and Marucs have been drugging the other council members..." Caleb says with a sigh.

"What!" Marlene practically leaps from her seat.

"Every day we have to vote on something in council meetings we serve tea. I've watched both of them. They only take theirs from their office, not what's available for all the council members. This morning I watched Father pull a vial from a locked drawer in his desk and take it to the teapots set up in the council meeting room"

"Do you think he's drugging you too?" Marlene couldn't believe her ears. She didn't think Marcus and Andrew could get more despicable than they already were but here they were.

"No, He still hasn't found a new assistant, so I've been filling the role. I take notes, bring papers and such. I don't have time to drink tea at the council meetings. I usually grab it before or after from Father's office"

"Why drug them?"

"Today, we needed to vote on Erudite needing additional resources for research and to disobey the city ordinance to conserve energy by turning lights off at night. It passed without any discussion..."

Marlene raised her eyebrows. Since the day she arrived in Abnegation, anything done in excess was frowned upon. Why would the council be in agreement with giving Erudite permission to use excess energy?

"So, the question now is what happens to Abnegation if Marcus and Andrew are trying to side with Erudite?" Marlene couldn't make sense of it.

Caleb leans back in his chair and blows out a breath. Everything that his mother knew about the Factionless and their attack indicated they would take down the factions. Marcus and Andrew were so focused on Erudite, that they had no idea the attack from the Factionless was even brewing.

"That's the question we need answered and anyway I think you look at it, the people of Abnegation are going to be left high and dry if we don't help them"


"What's on your mind?" Will asks Christina as he sees her lost in thought when he enters her apartment.

She sighs before she turns around, running her hand over her necklace and turning the pendant with her fingers. She'd spent the afternoon out at Amity with Uriah. At first, she told herself it was because she wanted to see Amity and get some fresh air after being in the compound looking at security footage. Then she told herself it was because she was interested in seeing what he and Harrison had created as a more powerful weapon. The day had been perfect. Uriah commanded respect in Amity. He and Harrison sorted out a few disagreements with fence guards that made the Amity members grateful. Uriah helped out with a few tasks with the farmers, like helping fix a broken wagon wheel before he, Christina, and Harrison drove out to an empty field and shot off the high-powered weapons that would be on the front lines of the fight.

The train ride back was a quiet conversation between the two of them, while Harrison talked to one of the shipment supervisors bringing back a load of supplies. Christina could tell Uriah was trying to hold back from touching her and it had been bothering her. It was more than just thinking he was handsome, they naturally gravitated toward each other. She couldn't deny anymore that there was something brewing between the two of them.

Will knew when Christina was quiet, she was having a hard time with what she needed to say instead of just blurting out what was on her mind.

"You can tell me Chris…"

"I care about you Will, I just…"

Will sets his backpack down in a chair and slowly walks over to her. Christina was amazing. She was brave, funny, caring, and could light up any room.

"But you're breaking up with me?"

Christina feels a tear fall down her cheek. She didn't want to hurt him, but she knew that she needed to figure things out.

"I think I need some space; I need to figure out what I want"

Will looks at her, and cups her cheek, wiping her tears away.

"Is it something I did? I with me spending some much time training in the infirmary with Hana we haven't had much time together the last month"

"No, it's me. You are wonderful Will, really, all of us on the task force have been burning the candle at both ends. The truth is I think I have feelings for someone else…"

Things with Christina were easy, but Will wasn't a fool. He saw the way Uriah looked at her and he knew Tris thought Christina and Uriah would be good together. He nods as he processes all the information. There's an awkward lingering silence before he has enough courage to ask what's on his mind.

"Did you two…"

"Oh God No!" She tells him quickly. "I just didn't feel right not telling you…and I don't want to hurt you…"

She walks over and he grabs her hand.

"I care about you too Chris so much, but I don't know what to do here"

Christina nods. There wasn't anything for him to do. She had to make a decision.

"Just give me some time…"

Will pulls her into a hug. He didn't want to let her go. He was falling in love with her, but he needed to respect her wish for space.


Natalie looks around her small home as she puts a few things into her backpack. Max was handling something but assured her he was on his way the next morning after she told him that she had evidence that was going to change everything, and she needed to get it into safe hands as soon as possible.

This had been her home for so long and she was sad to leave. Things in the last few months had been so strained as Evelyn distanced herself from Natalie, and so did the other members of the council. Other people like Emila and Grayson's mom, Elena, were as friendly as ever. Natalie felt compelled to give her a warning that morning when she saw her in the courtyard.

"Keep to yourself and don't trust any extra testing or handouts that may be coming. You can always trust Caleb and Marlene" Natalie warned.

"What's going on Natalie?" Elena asked concerned as they kept their eyes on Emila and Grayson who were running around and playing a game only they knew the rules to.

"Just be safe" Natalie didn't want to put Elena and Stephan in any danger by telling them too much. Elena had been born Factionless, but her husband Stephen was a Dauntless Born who left to take care of his father when he couldn't meet the physical requirements anymore. They were good caring people and Natalie considered them friends.

"I trust you Natalie" Elena nods.

Both look up when they hear the kids squealing with excitement as Marlene and Caleb come around the corner.

"Hey Mom" Caleb greets her with a hug after they have given Emila and Grayson the things, they had for them in their bag.

"I put some extra bread I baked this morning in her too," Marlene tells Elena as she passes her a bag.

"You two are too kind, always going out of the way for us," Elena says with a smile as she takes the bag.

Marlene feels her heart warm. They say their goodbyes and make their way to Natalie's home.

"What's going on Mom?" Caleb asks, seeing her bag packed on the bed.

"It's time for me to leave sweetheart"

Caleb nods and goes to give his mother a hug. He knew this day was coming. As much as he would miss seeing her often, it was more important for her to be safe. Max would protect her.

"When will we see you again?" Marlene asks, giving her a hug after Caleb pulls away.

"I don't know, but Tris and Max will let you know. I need you two to listen. Things are about to get dicey. Erudite is starting to test the factionless for divergent. As soon as they have created more divergent soldiers, they will attack Abnegation first." Natalie explains as she fills them in on her conversation with Cara.

Caleb grabs Marlene's hand and she squeezes it tight as they listen.

"You two need to be ready to get as many people as you can through the perimeter Dauntless has set up"

"Mom…I'm on the council now, I feel like I have to tell them…" Caleb says after processing all of the information.

Natalie sighs and walks to the sink and leans against it for a second. She hated Andrew Prior with all her being, but she knew her son was right.

"Yes, you do…but be careful, I wouldn't let him know everything…"

Marlene looks at Caleb and then at Natalie, as much as they want Marcus and Andrew to pay, they all know they have to do the right thing.


"Where were they picked up?" Max asks as he and Tobias make their way to the holding cells inside Dauntless.

"Just outside the northwest section," Tobias tells him. Max had started rotating one patrol each shift to cover areas that weren't normally patrolled, making sure to keep the rotation changing to catch either Erudite or the Factionless.

"I want Christina down here now," Max says as they wind their way through the hallway and then open up the interrogation room.

"Already sent for her and Ms. Hana and Will have the body they were trying to dump to examine it"

It only takes another 10 minutes for Christina to join them along with Amar, Zeke, and Harrison. They strategize for a few minutes and then Harrison brings in the first prisoner to the integration room. Amar, Zeke, Tobias, and Max go into an adjoining room.

"Seems like you and your friend have gotten into a little trouble"

The man doesn't say anything. Max observes that he is not factionless even though he is dressed in an Amity red shirt and black Dauntless jeans. His hair was cut and neatly trimmed.

"It was an argument between some Factionless that got out of hand. Dauntless doesn't need to be involved. Since when do you care about random Factionless disagreements"

Christina watches the way the man's leg shifts as he talks. It was his tell. She took a longer look at him. He didn't look like he was Factionless.

"What kind of disagreement?" Christina asks moving slowly to stand in front of the man.

He narrows his eyes at her "He stole from me, and took the only food rations I had"

Christina simply nods her head and looks at the mirror.

"She knows he's lying" Amar comments on the other side of the mirror.

"Has the other one said anything?" Max asks and Amar shakes his head.

"This one seems committed to his lie" Tobias murmurs.

"We'll keep working until one of them cracks, if anyone can crack them it's Christina" Amar adds.

"Amar, update Harrison and keep them locked up. Four, I want you and Tris to go and scout out what you can…see if you can pick up anything. Tris knows the Factionless section well now; she can help you navigate. Get out as fast as you can if something doesn't feel right"

"Yes sir, Understood"

"I've got to handle something; I want a full report after the other one is interviewed on my desk first thing in the morning"

Tobias heads to grab Tris. He could tell Max knew something else but now wasn't the time to ask.


"My father and Marcus are coming for dinner, so you know what that means" Caleb announces when he walks through the door and gives Marlene a kiss.

"Thanks for the heads up, glad I haven't started cooking yet" She giggles.

Marlene was feeling more confident with her cooking skills since she and Caleb had been married. She usually took the lead on cooking during the week and Caleb on the weekends. They knew they had to stick to traditional Abnegation cooking when they had visitors, but Marlene loved being able to be creative in the kitchen when it was just the two of them.

"I got them to come to dinner by saying that I needed to have a private meeting with them away from the office. They think I want to pitch a plan about donations or something"

"Understood" Marlene tells him before giving him another quick kiss to hurry and start dinner. She blows out a breath as she looks at her ingredients and gets started. She had no idea how Marcus and Andrew would react to the news that Abnegation needed to prepare for an attack.

Caleb makes sure that everything in the house is in its proper place, taking extra care to put things the way his father would like them. This was the first time since they had been married that Andrew had come over and Caleb felt a nervous energy flowing through him.

Marlene takes a minute after getting the soup on the stove and walks over to her husband.

"Hey, you, okay?" she asks, noticing Caleb is obsessively cleaning the kitchen table.

"Yeah, you would think since I see him every day at work, I wouldn't be this nervous" He admits.

"I'm right here with you, he won't hurt you ever again" Marlene encourages and wraps her arms around him. He gives her a kiss on the forehead.

"Tell me how I can help you finish dinner," He asks after a few minutes of embracing.

She made him feel calmer, stronger, and confident in a way he never had before he met her. Marlene smiles and nods and instructs him on how to help her. An hour and a half later, Marlene is putting the place settings on the table when the knock comes at the door.

"Father, Marcus, welcome, please come in," Caleb says stepping aside after he opens the door.

"Thank you, Caleb, Marlene it is good to see you again," Andrew says politely walking into the house. Marlene doesn't miss how his eyes sweep the room.

"Thank you for joining us" Marlene replies bowing her head. "Hello Marcus, please come in"

Marlene ushers them to the table and brings out the serving dishes and Calebs gives the blessing over the food once everyone is seated.

"Caleb, I think you did an excellent job in selecting a wife," Marcus says after taking a few bites of his food. "This meal is delicious"

"Thank you," Marlene says softly, and she tries not to visibly shudder. There was something about Andrew and especially Marcus that made her skin crawl.

"It is quite good. it does seem a bit…in excess" Andrew remarks looking at all the ingredients in the potato soup.

"It's actually left-over ingredients from the last week that would have gone bad" Marlene informs him.

"We try to limit our food waste and Marlene has been great at finding creative ways to use things we would have normally thrown out" Caleb points out. It was Natalie who taught them how to make this soup and Marlene had done a great job of making it her own as she experimented.

"That sounds like something others could benefit from, wasting food is self-serving Andrew" Marcus reminds him.

Andrew clears his throat and Marlene can tell Caleb stiffens. His father wouldn't take kindly to being corrected. Marlene senses his discomfort and places a hand over his knee under the table.

"Andrew and I are here at your request Caleb, what pressing matter required this private meeting?" Marcus asks.

Marlene places a hand on Caleb's knee, and he sits up straighter.

"We were passing out supplies in the Factionless section and overheard something that concerned us…"

Marcus and Andrew look at each other briefly, not trying to give anything away.

"Erudite are working with the Factionless and they are planning to attack Abnegation"

"And you think this information is credible," Andrew asks narrowing his eyes.

"Yes, we do" Marlene challenges back and she doesn't flinch despite the nasty looks that Marcus and Andrew give her.

"We need to speak to Dauntless; people are going to die if we don't do something" Caleb follows up.

Marcus rolls his tongue over his teeth formulating his thoughts before speaking. "Andrew and I will take this information into consideration"

"I need not remind you that your discretion at this time is necessary," Andrew says tightly.

"Of course," Caleb agrees.

Marcus and Andrew leave not long after that and Marlene lets out a breath when Caleb closes the door.

"Do you think they believe us?" Marlene asks as Caleb walks toward her rubbing the back of his neck. She could see the stress still on his face.

"I don't know, I just don't want them to make any connection about Mom"

"We had to say something" Marlene reassures him as she wraps her arms around him.

"Yeah, we did...but will they actually put Abnegation first is what we need to figure out"

Caleb tights his arms around his wife. His gut was telling them Marcus and Andrew were only going to look out for themselves.