I never gave much thought to a change of rules. Things changed all the time here in dauntless. So in those two weeks before the annual choosing ceremony, when all the Dauntless leaders were called to a meeting with Erudite, I didn't think much of it. Dauntless breeds on obedience and with such a strong pact with Erudite there were no questions asked. Jeanine talked of all these plans she had that we would be implementing throughout the two week training of the initiates. As a well reputed leader I had full intentions of showing these new initiates what Dauntless were all about.

One new rule that did surprise me was that now people were going to start being cut from Dauntless. That was strange; no one in my training class was cut. It seemed like a very cut throat ideal, but then again it'll sort out the true dauntless and the wannabes. Whatever Jeanine had planned, I was sure that it was in the right mind. That was how I always remembered it…

Jeanine also talked about how she had changed the stimulation serum. I couldn't really follow all the technical and biological bullshit she went on and on about. Supposedly it was to make it easier to catch divergents. Good, I thought to myself. No use for them in our world anyways. I was impressed my Jeanine's scientist for improving the serum. Maybe if I could catch the most divergents within this new training group I could move up in Dauntless to a higher position.

All these ideas of promotions and recognition swam through my mind as I leaned against the ledge on top of the deserted building. The train would be here any second now with all the new initiates. Four and I were making bets this morning on what faction transfers would end up getting cut. I wouldn't be able to tell until I saw them. Still together we played out these ridiculous scenarios of new ways to train them to push them ever harder, it was all in twisted fun.

Soon enough the rambling metal came as the train whizzed by. Like popcorn all the new people jumped off the train landing harshly onto the top of the graveled building. The dauntless born landed cat like on their feet, they were naturals. I easily recognized all of them, I wasn't worried about them in the slightest.

Let's see, a few Candor, a Couple Erudite, no Amity (that was no surprise), and what…a abnegation? What was she doing here? Just like abnegation would, she blended in blandly with her surroundings in her ugly, gray tattered gown. She looked like the biggest stiff as I've ever seen. She didn't have a prayer.

"Alright listen up," I called out over them as the dauntless born gathered before me once I climbed onto the ledge. Shakily the transfers pulled themselves up and gathered towards me, "I'm Eric. I'm one of your leaders, if you want to enter Dauntless, this is the way in."

The transfers looked around curiously, as if they didn't believe me. I smirked at their cowardice, "And if you don't have the guts to jump, then you don't belong in Dauntless."

"Is there water at the bottom or something?" a kid from Candor asked.

"I guess you'll find out," I said glancing around noticing the nervous look on the stiff's face, "or not."

A murmur went through the small crowd of initiates. This was going to be difficult, silently I began wondering if cutting people was going to work out at all. So far from what I could tell there wouldn't be anyone left to join Dauntless.

"Someone's gotta go first," I said impatiently, "who's if going to be?"

A small quiet voice in the back called out, "me."

I stared in disbelief bit didn't show it on my face as the stiff called out saying she'd go first. Still, in giving her the benefit of the doubt I hopped off the ledge and let her climb up. She was slow at it, holding on defensively with her hands and was wobbling in the wind. When she had finally gained her balance, she glanced at me. I indicated for her to go, she stood looking over the ledge and began pulling off her thick ugly jacket letting it call to the floor.

"Yea stiff take it off," the same Candor called out, "put it back on."

Asshole, I thought to myself as some in the crowd chuckled. There was no way this girl had any sort of a woman's body under all those tattered clothes, a dark part of my mind thought to myself as I glanced at her up and down.

"Today initiate," I said irritated in waiting for her.

To my surprise she jumped and let herself fall…and she didn't even scream.

Luckily, I only had to see the initiates in. Four, the unlucky bastard was the one taking them on a tour of their new home. I had to report back to Max, the real leader of Dauntless. I still had some paperwork bullshit to fill out before training started bright and early tomorrow morning. I made my way through the iron pathways to the reserved section for leaders only. A smug part of me took pride that I was allowed in this past few months and Four wasn't. He still had some groveling and ladder climbing before he could get to where I was.

"Hey Max," I called outside his office rapping on the door lightly, "it's me."

"Come on in," his deep voice called as I entered.

"More paperwork?" I asked sternly folding my hands behind my back.

"Yes sir," Max said looking flustered. My paperwork was nothing compared to his, all forms and shit from Jeanine. He had many things spread across his desk and handed me a manila folder.

"Sit down son," he invited me while handing me a pen, "you can go ahead a finish them up here. I gotta send them all back soon anyways."

"Thank you sir," I replied graciously taking the pen and opened up the folder.

"How do the new initiates look?" He asked not even looking at me as he scrawled through his papers.

"Pathetic," I said bluntly and he and I shared the same chuckle.

"Well I'm sure you can fix that easy enough," Max nodded confidently.

"Thank you," I repeated mechanically.

"Not that you need much help really," Max went on to say, "You've got an impressive record for training some of the best initiates in the last few years."

I smirked again.

"But this year I need you to step it up," Max began to press putting down his pen and watching me intently, "Jeanine has got my balls in an iron vice about cracking down on these initiates."

I didn't question why even though I wanted to, I knew better, "If there's a weak link in any of them I'll find it."

"Good, I need a good strong team," Max said with a similar smirk, "Erudite wants to strengthen the relationship between our two factions but we all gotta start with the initiates."

"I won't let you down," I promised his sternly.

"I have no doubt about you," he replied getting up and sat in the edge of his desk in front of me, "I know how ambitious you are here. I read over your application for that elite team that Jeanine is trying to put together, it's very impressive. I don't know what she had planned for them, but now she's asking for a reference from me about each of the Dauntless members who applied."

Would it be too much to ask for a good polished reference from Max? No, I couldn't. Max was an honorable man and so would I, if he felt I deserved it I would take it with pride.

"I prepared to give a good reference for you," Max said confidently, "you're young, brave, strong, ambitious and you understand the core of Dauntless values."

"It's an honor sir," I replied happily, "really, thank you."

"You show me what you can do with these new initiates. You know the new rules, you know where we're looking for," Max said now placing on his big hands on my shoulders, "do me proud son."

"Yes sir," I promised to him and to myself.

"Good," Max said nodding, "now let's get to dinner, I hungry as hell."

I nodded and followed behind him, all the new initiates would be joining us for dinner now. Max typically said something to them, sort of encouraging words to make them feel all nice. But the real work, my work, started tomorrow. Up the highest ledge, up above everyone I stood proud and tall. Very few people ever got to sit up here with Max and some of the higher up leaders. I worked my ass off to get up here. Down on the floor I could see Four…sitting with the pathetic new initiates, talking with them? Funny, I never thought Four would allow himself to talk to them with how smug her can be like me.

"Initiates," Max bellowed out, "stand."

The hall went mostly quiet, as the new members all stood.

"You have chosen to join the warrior faction tasked with the defense of this city and all its inhabitants," Max began boldly, "we believe in ordinary acts of bravery and the courage that rises on person to stand up for another. Respect that. Do us proud."

The typical applause rose from everyone, I rolled my eyes and the members of Dauntless raised the initiates making them crowd surf amongst themselves. I needed a burger and a beer.