A week later Iris was released from the hospital, back to almost full health. She had a few scars, and would be on medication for another few weeks, but they let her out. She didn't go to the hotel, or find her friends. Iris' first desitination was the military base in the city, storming in without premission, a soldier on her heels telling her she shouldn't be here. Her eyes scanned the large mess hall till she found the General, easily picked out by his uniform. She wasn't military but she'd grown up in the environment and knew a thing or two. Stepping up to him she dropped the stolen UN terminal at his feet.
"Iris Winters, daughter of Ghosts Kevin Winters and Katerina Winters. Friends of the late Dakota Miller. I stole this from the UN. It shows they plan to kill all civilians inside New York. Do what you wish with the information. I just want a shot at their leader, Blake."
"You have no right," one soldier stepped up and Iris threw her hand in his direction, halting him. There was a fire in her blood, just like her mother.
"I have every right," she snapped, "My parents are dead because of this man, who also has the deaths of almost the entire family of my boyfriends on his hands too. Including Dakota Miller, my best friend who passed away last week. He won't stop. He's mad, and he plays dirty. So don't tell me I don't have a right. I want to kill the bastard as much as the rest of you."
"We don't allow civilians to help in war," the general spoke calmly, handling the situation, "While I thank you for the equipment here and your knowledge, we cannot let anyone who walks in here take a gun and shoot who they like. That is not how America runs."
"Then make me a soldier," she retorted, "I'm not letting that man go on breathing."
"And I'm telling you to step down," the General looked irked at her tone, "You do not boss me around little girl. I'm sorry for your loss, but this is the militarys issue, not yours. Go home and let the adults handle this."
"I don't have a home!" she snapped, "the UN took that from me too! I will kill him one way or another."
"You will not," the General looked angry now, snapping his fingers at two soldiers who grabbed her shoulders, "I am not having some girl run into battle untrained and get my men killed. You will return to wherever you are staying and let the military do its job, or I ill put you under arrest her endangering yourself and others."
She shook the soldiers off, her nostrils flaring, "Keep the damn equipment. And keep your soldiers. I'll leave."
Turning she stalked off angrily, leaving as she said she would. She didn't make her way back to the hotel though, instead finding herself at a library, borrowing a computer. The young hacker took less than ten minutes on it before she had all the information she needed and had wiped the servers clean. Then she made her way back to the hotel, stopping at a 7-11 for a couple essentials. She was not going to sit idly and wait out the war. She found Andrew's room, to his surprise as she stormed in, and grabbed her backpack he'd been keeping, stuffing her few belongings in it.
"I'm leaving," she stated, looking none too pleased, "The military doesn't want me helping take down that asshat so I'll do it myself. Blake's going to pay for what he's done."
She tossed Andrew a phone she'd bought at a 7-11, "It's a pay as you go phone, we can keep in touch. I hacked Blake's email, found out they are sending a squadron north, into Canada because they are aiding America. They want to divide their attentions between refugees and protecting their own country, making them vulnerable and America weaker. Blake's leading it. I'll track him into Canada and kill the bastard who destroyed our lives."
The hatred ran deep within her, her face set in determination, "I'll let Collin and Nicki know I'm leaving. You should stay here, where its safe."
She turned and stormed out of the room, a part of her praying he'd chase after her. Banging on Nicki and Collin's door several doors down the hall it opened promptly to Nicki who looked weary.
"I'm leaving," she spoke loud enough for Collin to hear too further into the hotel room, "I'm tracking down Blake and putting a bullet between his eyes. He deserves to die for all that he has done. I just wanted to say goodbye."
Your support makes Blue Moon possible (Patreon)
