father didn’t believe it was a power, but you’ve always been lucky, even as an infant.” Her eyes narrowed. “Your wounds are closing up really fast, why? I thought you didn’t have enhanced healing?”
“She doesn’t,” Galactic Gargoyle said from my other side.
I rolled my head over and reached out towards him.
He dropped to his knees in the mud and took my hand in his, shifting to his human form as he did.
“Explain this then,” Mom said.
“She was coated in Transistor’s blood before the fight started. Maybe he has it, and it went into her wounds,” Hurricane said, thankfully leaving off the nanobot part.
I sat up and immediately backed away from my mother who had a vial out with a scraping tool in her hand. “No,” I snapped.
She sighed. “Just one sample.”
“No.”
Dad walked over and set his hand on her shoulder. “Leave the girl alone. She’s just won a very difficult battle.” He looked at me, smiled, and said, “Good job, Violet.”
Tears sprang to my eyes instantly. Even after all these years, it felt so good to receive his validation.
“Where’s Transistor?” I asked.
“Here,” he said and dropped from the sky and landed in front of me.
“The research?” Dad asked.
“Destroyed,” Transistor said with a nod. “Every last piece—physical and electronic.”
I raised my free hand and pointed in the direction Alfred lay. “Alfred.”
“How are you?” he asked. “The droid can wait.”
“Apparently, your blood healed me,” I said.
His eyes widened. “Oh. I’ll have to do some tests on you tonight to make sure it didn’t do anything else.”
“Kinky,” I said with a smirk.
Even though my wounds were healed, I was still exhausted.
“Wait! You let him run tests on your blood?” Mom screeched.
“He isn’t a villain,” I said.
“Which is why we would like to offer you a position,” the Director of the Association said from a bullhorn in a helicopter above us.
Mom and Dad tensed beside me.
We watched the helicopter land and the Director, along with two suited people and a few heroes and medics, walked to us.
It was amusing to watch the Director in her suit and high heels walk across the muddy field, but she acted like she was walking across concrete.
Transistor’s eyes narrowed as she approached and his mouth set into a grim line. “What type of position?” Transistor asked.
“You are a hero and the only reason you left was because of the Genetics Director’s illegal activities, condoned by the previous Director, correct?” she asked.
“Mostly true,” he mumbled.
She smiled. “Then, I would like to offer you a position with us as a hero.”
Transistor looked at me, and I shrugged. “It’s your choice.”
“It would make it easier for us all to spend time together,” Hurricane said.
“And you could keep an eye on her easier,” Vortex added.
Medics tended to their wounds while we talked.
“I’ll consider it,” Transistor finally said. “But I want everything in writing to ensure you are not trying to pull one over on me.”
The Director looked over at my parents. “This is your one-time pass. You two have caused so much trouble for me over the years that I want to take you in. However, I realize you are only here because of your relationship to the now deceased Doc Creation. You may leave tonight, but if we see you again, we will bring you in for your crimes.”
Mom scoffed and flipped her hair over her shoulder. “You’ll try, Sheena.”
“Sheena?” I asked, my mouth dropped open. I looked from her to Transistor and then back. “Oh. Oh!”
Sheena was Transistor’s ex-wife. But he had said she was a villain…
“Normally, you would be in trouble for taking matters into your own hands, but I’m going to overlook today. However, you better fly straight, Violet Strike. I won’t stand for vigilantism in my Association. If you find something, you come to me with it and I will deal with it accordingly,” Sheena said.
“We didn’t know if you were involved or not,” I said. “And I would rather not be made to disappear if I found something illegal going on in the Association that was being covered up.”
She laughed. “You are quite honest. I can see why Tyson likes you.” She looked over at my parents. “Why haven’t you left yet?”
Dad knelt down next to me and set his hand on my shoulder. “This is goodbye, Violet.”
I nodded. “I know.”
“Treat her right,” Mom told the guys. “She’s more special than you know.” She winked at me and then they disappeared into the night.
“I need a shower,” I said as I stood. “I am coated in