Violet wasn’t cleared to train the next day or the day after that despite her expectations that her body would heal itself quickly. In fact, she wasn’t allowed to leave the medical wing at all. The rumor mill sprung leaks about an unsanctioned hazing and reprimands to be handed out if culprits were ever found, but Violet held no real expectation of finding out who was responsible for the attack.

Trace was the best witness and source of information, but she’d only seen several people leaving Violet’s room and they were all wearing masks.

“All set,” the nurse said, removing the needle from Violet’s arm. “Last sample, I promise.” Her eyes rolled back toward the ceiling as if she were doing some mental calculations, and then she added: “For the next few days anyway…I’m sure we’ll want to follow up and make sure the radiation poisoning continues to dissipate.”

Violet opened her mouth to respond and then closed it immediately as another wave of nausea swept over her. It was unlikely anything was left in her stomach to purge, she’d been throwing up almost every waking hour on the hour for the last several days, but she motioned for the trash can next to the bed all the same. Better safe than covered in stomach acid soaked hospital garbs.

At first, she’d been disappointed and then worried something was deathly wrong when she’d woken the next morning and her body was still broken and bruised. She’d only been her new self for a few months, but already in the short time, she’d gotten used to, and taken quite a liking, to her body’s new found ability to heal quickly and lift heavy shit and move faster than a professional athlete who’d been juiced to the gills.

The worry that her body had changed again, reverting back to her normal, pre-tainted Forget Me//Not days, hung over her like a cloud, but eventually it started to fade as her anxiety was tempered by her reasoning. If she was poisoned with something that would otherwise be fatal to most people, then it would, in theory, take her much longer to heal than usual as her body dealt with the most lethal threat first.

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Despite the gravity of radiation poisoning, after a few days in bed, Violet felt mostly fine. Well, not fine compared to the last few months, but fine like she might have felt before the transformation if she’d been savagely beaten and then received three days worth of medical treatment for that beating. Like that.

“At any rate, you’re cleared for active duty,” the nurse said, handing her the trash can. She held up a stern finger pointed in Violet’s face. “But take it easy. What you’ve been through would have killed a normal trainee. With an advantage like that I could see why someone has it out for you…”

Violet balked at the nurse’s statement and the concern that spiked through her emotions must have showed on her face because the nurse quickly apologized.

“Sorry, just thinking out loud, you know? Here,” the nurse depressed a pneumatic syringe on the side of her neck, “this should help with the nausea. Wears off after about eight hours, but by that time, you shouldn’t be experiencing any more nausea. If you are, I’ll want to know immediately, ok?”

Violet felt a surge of energy as the nausea immediately lifted. She felt something else, too. Hunger.

Her stomach growled loudly and she couldn’t help but laugh.

“That’s a good sign,” the nurse said. “But don’t over do it at the mess hall. You’re digestive system may not be ready to jump right back into your normal diet. Try to start with some fruits and vegetables and go from there. Now, if you’ll lift your shirt up?”

The nurse started disconnecting the sensors from Violet’s temple and torso and then directed Violet’s attention to the bedside chair which held a set of clothes. “What you came here in was destroyed during initial treatment, so I had someone bring you replacements. They should be in your size. Once you change, you’re free to go.”

The nurse left to give Violet some privacy, but stopped at the doorway and turned back with a sympathetic smile on her face. “I mean this in the best possible way, but I hope I don’t see you again, Violet Weaver.”

Violet returned the smile. “Believe me, the feeling is mutual.”