The pistol had kicked back in her hand as she held onto it firmly as she had been taught. The smell of spent gun powder filled her nostrils as she listened to the single casing bounce off the concrete steps. The realization started to kick in; she had just murdered someone. Not in self defense or in the defense of others, but it had been cold blooded execution. Her emotions were devoid as she saw the matter of gore and brains splatter beneath the marine’s head. It took only a moment for the blood to flow from the body and begin snaking up her shoe to get to her skin. She watched it closely for the brief seconds the world stood still, there had been something about her ability to absorb blood that felt calming. Whether it was from the ability, or if there was a deep-rooted emotional discrepancy in her core she knew nothing about, but she welcomed the relief of her overloaded nerves that lost their respite the following moment. A secondary gunshot came from the truck. Everyone turned to see a windshield and driver side window partially painted red as Simmons casually stepped out from behind the vehicle.

She looked around to read the proverbial room, seeing a dead marine with a knife in his throat and Morrigan standing next to a dead marine with a pistol in hand. Emotions were all over the place. “What?” she finally asked to break the tension. Torvil stepped up the stairs and pulled his knife from the body, while Santiago scratched the back of his neck unsure of what to say. The thing that stood out was James staring down his daughter. Morrigan had shoved the pistol back in the small of her back as she made her way up the stairs to her father.

She stared him down as he stood stock still, everyone could now feel the tension between them. The standoff eventually had everyone standing perfectly still until James finally broke the tense silence, “Why?”

“Why what?” she snapped defensively. She could not see her father’s face, if she was honest, she was glad she could not see his expression. That did not mean she could not feel the cold judgement of his eyes. It was the same pointed judgmental stare she got from everyone else around her in her life after she had been arrested; it pissed her off. More than that, it hurt deep that her own father gave her that look.

Being done with the awkwardness of the confrontation, Torvil moved to the back of the truck and opened the rear hatch to climb in. This fight was not his, therefore he would make himself useful and find supplies. Simmons took note of what he was doing and followed suit, wanting to avoid the dramatic fallout that was bound to ensue. Leaving Santiago to awkwardly watch everything play out.

“Why did you kill that man?” her father demanded. “I taught you better than that!” anger and disappointment coating his words.

Morrigan could not keep her face from twisting in disgust. Gesturing towards the dead marine, “that man, is a fucking animal. Following the orders of a monster.”

James stepped towards his daughter and loomed over her like an authority figure rather than a father. Bending to get in her face he told her, “I did not raise you to be a killer Mori! He was disabled, you were not defending yourself!”

That pushed Morrigan over the edge. She knew she had become a killer the instant she pulled the trigger. She knew her father was right to the degree of the marine not being a threat at the moment, she could have beat him, restrained him but she was also right about the threat the marine posed alive. She thrust her hands into her father’s chest, pushing him out of her personal space. “That asshole was here to capture me.” She thrust again, “did you forget that?!” she shoved her father once more with enough force to cause him to stagger up the stairs as crimson light discharged from her arms. “Have you not been paying attention dad? These assholes will stop at nothing to get me… people are dying because of me!” she yelled at her father as an explosion happened in the far distance. She gestured toward that direction, “see!”

Morrigan was fuming, after everything that has happened, how could her father act like that? “Taylor got taken because of me and I'm not stupid enough to not realize you’re in danger too! Or mom! Even Rigo and Jen are in danger for even knowing me…” a stray tear rolled down her cheek as she berated her father. She knew he was a man of law and honor; this was something he would never agree with. She could not blame him either, however the present situation and the ever-looming threat of the Federation military has pushed her beyond the veil of moral justice. She needed to protect those she cared about, on top of staying alive.

The shock her father felt was both literal and emotional. Over 19 years they had never fought, always had each other’s backs despite the differences of opinion, but the day had proven too much for that.

Morrigan stepped over to the other marine, idly watching the blood race towards her once she was in close enough proximity. She did not notice that Santiago took notice of it as well as she knelt down to unsling the assault rifle off the body as well as confiscate additional magazines. James shook his head to come back to reality to find his daughter looting the corpse of the dead marine. “What are you doing?” he asked as she checked the sights of the rifle. It was something she had ever used before, but the same principles applied to a degree. As she stuffed what magazines she could into her pockets, she stood with the assault weapon hanging from her shoulder as she examined the weapon’s design, locating all the necessary buttons and tabs she would need. With a strained grunt she released the magazine in the gun and checked the ammo before lining it back into the gun and slamming it home. It was certainly a larger caliber than she was used to.

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She turned to face her father who had seemed to get over their argument. “They wanna hunt me like an animal and label me a terrorist? I may as well give them one. I may not know what’s next but I’m not going down without a fight.” There was a bump in the truck and a slew of Eskarii curses as Torvil hopped out of the back holding the back of his head. In his other hand held a long bag that he set down on the ground and gestured to Simmons inside. A duffle bag came flying out faster than necessary and he barely had time to brace himself to catch it. Morrigan smiled as Simmons laughed at Torvil as he gave her a dirty look. Grabbing both bags, Torvil walked over to Morrigan.

Eyeing her, he saw that she shed the rags she had worn and acquired herself a better weapon. He smirked, “now you're looking the part young Swyn’wyr.” He set the bags down and opened the duffle bag to produce a utility vest that included armor plating. She gave him an amused smile as she unslung the rifle and set it down to put the vest on. Now she could put all the spare magazines in proper places.

As she did so, Simmons came out of the truck with her own duffle bag which made Morrigan chuckle as her father and his partner turned to look at her. Simmons had her helmet back on, but Morrigan imagined the elated smile the woman wore. “I’ve got goodies!” she said with excitement. Santiago groaned as her father looked between her and his daughter repeatedly. It was Santiago’s turn to stand judgmentally. “What? Don’t give me that look! I know what you’re thinking and it’s not nice. Besides it was his idea. Said it was payment for our assistance!” she rattled off as she giggled. Santiago turned to Torvil who heard and merely shrugged at the lieutenant.

James finally started chuckling, “my wife is certainly right about you Jen.” His words caught her attention as she strode over to Morrigan to make sure she was set up properly.

Morrigan even looked up as Simmons replied, “oh? And what’s Helen been saying about me?”

“That you’re like the crazy aunt Morrigan picks up all her bad habits from.” He said with a laugh.

“Aww that's so sweet!” she replied as she raised her hand to Morrigan for a high five. Morrigan laughed as well as she gave her the loud clapping sound she was looking for.

James’s phone buzzed in his pocket. The number he saw he recognized as he fished it out and looked at the message. “Ah damn it.”

Morrigan's mood snapped back to reality as she looked at her father again. “What is it?”

“Your mother, apparently the agency has sidelined her. Says to also be careful about the commander. Apparently, the colonel of theirs has far more reach than he should… apparently Taylor’s parents will be staying with us as well and wants to know if I found you or not.”

Her heart skipped a beat when he said “mother” but instantly relaxed at the rest of the message. She was thankful her mom was taking care of Scott and Samantha. “You need to go dad.” She said sternly.

Simmons, Santiago and her father looked at her in confusion. She sighed as Torvil started dragging the dead marine towards the back of the truck after searching the rest of the body. “We appreciate your help, but you’ve been away from your posts long enough and it’s a miracle your boss hasn’t been looking for you, but things are obviously getting dangerous now. I’m not risking you any more than what was necessary.”

Jen placed her hands on her hips, “and who the hell decided you get to determine when we’re done?” Morrigan expected protests of course.

“Right now. Torvil has the right idea, we need to get rid of the bodies and the truck. If you truly want to help, we need you to do that. Then I need you to try and keep everyone you can safe…” she looked between the two officers who were extended family to her, then to her father. She frowned as sadness brushed over her mind at the turning point, but she knew deep in her heart that they were better off doing their real job than helping her escape. “This city needs you and as much as I want you to come with, they’re more important than I am. I know you don’t agree but it’s time I do this on my own. We don’t know what will happen or where I will go but wherever it is I will let you know as soon as I’m there.”

Everyone looked at each other, Santiago shrugged unable to find a counterargument as he turned to James, “I hate to admit it… but our Little Clarke is right. Eventually we’ll do more harm than good to her. We can at least head back and assess the situation and try to figure out what else can be done to help.” Morrigan gave the lieutenant a small smile of appreciation for his input.

Simmons socked Morrigan in the arm which drew attention to her now pseudo-aunt. “Don’t get your ass shot off now, we’ll be waiting to hear from you.” Morrigan gave her a single arm hug as she laughed.

Santiago was busy helping Torvil with packing up the bodies as her father stepped forward. It still felt awkward after their recent disagreement, but she was not entirely sure if it was the argument, or the impending departure that held the tentative feelings surrounding them. She looked down at her feet as she moved the rifle over her shoulder into a more comfortable position. “So…” she stammered at the ground. Her head shot up when her father let out an amused snort. “What?” she asked with scrutiny.

James approached his daughter and removed his helmet to reveal a sad yet appreciative smile. “Even as you grow up and become a strong and independent woman, you still manage to be my adorably awkward little girl,” he told her as he ran his hand through her hair. She gave him a soft smile, sad but appreciative.

“Thanks Dad… make sure you take care of mom and tell her not to worry. Torvil will make sure I make it out.”

James smirked as he eyed the Eskarii. He may have had the initial thought of hating the man and thinking he was an asshole, but over the last couple hours he deemed Torvil tolerable at the least and quite competent. “I will, and you make sure you take care of yourself. As much as I disagree with you about this, as any father should… but I can see the wisdom in your decision…” he sighed as he looked to the dark night sky. He gave her his full attention again after a moment to get his mind in order. “Nothing I can say or do could express how proud I am of you Mori.”

She sniffed away tears before thrusting herself into her father’s chest, wrapping her arms around his body armor and squeezing as hard as she could. She knew it would not be forever, but this goodbye was way too hard to risk anything. Life had taken an unknown turn for her and the future was too chaotic to predict.