Eric's Blood

Ch. 13

"Quiet down, Everyone!" Jack Kang lifted his hand making everyone go silent.

I am standing with Tobias but not Tris, they must still be at an awkward impasse in their relationship. I know they love each other, but there has been so much stress with everything it is no surprise really. Specifically, with Tris keeping something so important from Tobias.

"I know many of you are confused and shaken by what happened yesterday. I have heard many reports from a variety of perspectives, and have gotten a sense for what is straightforward and what requires more investigation. What seems to me to require more investigation is the Divergent."

I feel Justin squeeze my hand and offer him a smile.

"If you are Divergent please step forward so that we can hear from you."

My heart rate picks up a notch at the request. Tobias is the first to move, Tris is next and a few Candor. I look over at Justin and release his hand before following Tobias up to the front. The shock of the situation is not lost on me and neither is the irony of seeing Marcus make his way up to join us.

"You, Marcus?" Jack Kang's voice is as shocked as my own expression, but none more than Tobias, though he outwardly isn't showing it only in his eyes can you see it.

"Yes, I understand that you are concerned-that you all are concerned. You had never heard of the Divergent a week ago, and now all that you know is that they are immune to something to which you are susceptible, and that is a frightening thing. But I can assure you that there is nothing to be afraid of, as far as we are concerned."

Dang, I hate to admit it, but Marcus can be quite eloquent when he wants to be.

"It seems to me that we were attacked so that the Erudite could find the Divergent. Do you know why that is?" Jack Kang questions.

"No, I do not." Marcus replies. "Perhaps their intention was merely to identify us. It seems like useful information to have, if they intend to use their simulations again."

"That was not their intention." Tris suddenly blurted out. "They wanted to kill us. They've been killing us since before any of this happened."

"That sounds like a conspiracy theory," Jack seamlessly responses. "What reason would the Erudite have to kill you?"

"I-"

"Obviously we don't know." Tobias interrupts Tris, "but there are nearly a dozen mysterious deaths recorded among the Dauntless from the past six years and there is a correlation between those people and the irregular aptitude test results or initiation simulation results."

Jack shakes his head. "While that is intriguing, correlation does not constitute evidence."

"A Dauntless leader shot a Candor child in the head." Tris snapped out.

I pale at the thought of my brother. Eric shot a Candor boy, one too young to even make a choice on his faction, too young to even start having to worry about the process. It was wrong.

"Did you get a report of that? Did it seem worthy of investigation?"

"In fact, I did and shooting a child in cold blood is a terrible crime that cannot go unpunished. Fortunately, we have the perpetrator in custody and will be able to put him on trial. However, we must keep in mind that the Dauntless soldiers did not give any evidence of wanting to harm most us, or they would have killed us while we were unconscious."

It is hard to miss the irritated murmurs floating around the room. It isn't wise for Jack Kang to make enemies currently.

"Their peaceful invasion suggests to me that it may be possible to negotiate a peace treaty with the Erudite and the other Dauntless, so I will arrange a meeting with Jeanine Matthews to discuss that possibility as soon as possible."

Is he insane? There is no way he can not be planning on turning over ever Divergent to her, even those in his own faction. The coward.

"Their invasion wasn't peaceful," Tris Screams. I see Tobias smiling at her outburst. "Just because they didn't shoot you in the head doesn't mean their intentions were somehow honorable. Why do you think they came here? Just to run through your hallways, knock you unconscious, and leave?

"I assume they came here for people like you, and while I am concerned for your safety, I don't think we can attack them just because they wanted to kill a fraction of our population."

Sometimes I really hate being right about people, I hope his Candor members are listening to what he is truly saying.

"Killing you is not the worst thing they can do to you, controlling you is."

Tris really is on a role, she could make a great leader one day. Jack's lips curl up in amusement.

"Oh, and how will they manage that?" he questions.

Tobias pushes past me slightly and a step up to be behind him as he makes his way to the center. We must show some form of solidarity.

"They shoot you with needles, needles full of simulation transmitters. Simulations control you that's how." Tobias explains.

"We know how simulations work; the transmitters are not permeant. If they intended to control us, they would have done it right away." Jack retaliates.

"But- "

"I know you have been under a lot of stress, Tris." He says quietly, "and that you have done a great service to your faction and to Abnegation, but I think your traumatic experience may have compromised your ability to be completely objective. I can't launch an attack based on a little girl's speculation."

My eyes widen at what he just said. I look to Tobias to Tris. She is standing stone still. My blood boils how dare he how dare the coward. I see Tobias about to speak but I beat him to it.

"You son of coward. How dare you, you would give up members of your own faction to save your sorry ass and your pathetic position."

Tobias places his hand on my shoulder.

"You don't make our decisions for us, Kang." Tobias spits out in disgust.

The Dauntless in the room start shouting their agreements.

"You are not the leader of our Faction." I yell out among the shouts.

Jack waits till the screams die down enough to be heard. "That is true. If you want to you can feel free to storm the Erudite compound by yourselves, but you will do so without our support, and may I remind you, you are greatly outnumbered and unprepared."

I hate to admit it but he is right we don't have the proper numbers to go after the enemeies as we stand now.

"I thought so, very well. I will contact Jeannie Matthews and see if we can negotiate a peace. Any objections?"

We need to come up with something and fast.