It pained Coop to admit it, but Regis being back in the mix was comforting. Not that Sam wasn’t up to the task of helping him with his career, but Regis had been there from the beginning and his lapse hurt more than he was willing to admit. Coop was sitting backwards on the toilet in the cramped bathroom in their rented room in Ushinatta while Sam worked away at the wounds on his back, alternating between applying numbing gel, stitching him shut and following it up with a sealant. Definitely a far cry from the life of relative glamor that came with fighting for the fight league and their expensive regen tanks.

“This is madness. You both know that,” Regis said, pacing around outside the room. “I can have a regen tank here in twenty minutes.”

“There’s no regen tanks on Ushinatta,” Coop said.

“Of course not,” Regis scoffed. “A bunch of backwards assholes, the whole lot of them here. Psychopaths that think scars make them tougher. You want to end up like TAKASHI with a mechanical leg?”

“He kicked me with that leg a few times, uncle. It hurt like hell.”

“And it’s illegal in the league!” Regis shouted. “Get this through your thick skull! You fuck that eye up again and they need to do a synthetic one. You think that goes over well? That’s the end of your run, kid.”

“Regis!” Sam shouted. “Enough of this. I didn’t call you here to argue. Let me at least finish stitching him up.”

“You do that, I’m calling in a favor, I’ll have a tank here in no time.”

Those good feelings about his uncle were difficult to hold on to in times like this. He appreciated his uncle’s concern and that Sam could stuff her disdain for him long enough to call him and invite him to the fight. Coop understood why Sam disliked Regis and found it difficult to disagree with her. Regis was an asshole and self-serving at best. Still, Regis was his uncle and the only family he’d ever known. Even if he refused to listen or be reasonable.

“Uncle, Sam invited you here out of the goodness of her heart,” Coop said. “A goodness neither of us can understand sometimes. Please refrain from being an asshole for a few minutes.”

“I’m looking out for you! Why doesn’t anyone see that? I came out here to this shit hole of a station to see you fight. I’m supporting you and now I’m trying to get you healed up so we can get the hell off of this floating pile of junk and back into the action.”

“Back into what action?” Coop was exhausted, coming down from the high of the fight and wasn’t in the mood for his uncle and his cryptic nonsense. “You mean trying to sell myself to those assholes again? Or back to Luna to train with your boys? Fuck that.”

“Look, I know you disagree with that,” he said. “I’m not getting any younger. I can’t do this all the time, kid. You don’t need me, you’re a grown man making his own decisions. Clearly. If I were managing you, there’s no way you’d be here, drowning your sorrows in these masochistic, bloody brawls or simmering in your stimnets like you do.”

“I ain’t touched the stimnet in ages now.” That was another thing he grew tired of explaining to his uncle, who didn’t understand Coop’s mood swings or need to unwind. “Tell ‘em, Sam.”

“Yeah, we’ve been too busy for that.”

“No shit?” Regis said. “Well, you’ve been good for one thing, then, Sam.”

“Oh fuck off already!” Coop exploded. “I’m tired of you treating us like this! She’s done more for me than you could ever dream of. She’s not doing this for herself like you are, uncle! This is all about you, all about you making money and turning your profits.”

“Fine, you want me gone? I’m fucking gone,” he said. “It was a mistake coming here. Good luck with your little groupie here. Keep the regen tank I ordered for you as a parting gift. I don’t give a shit. Rot here for all I care.”

Sam crossed her arms and was ready to boil over, watching while Regis stomped out of the room. They remained in silence for a few moments, the air thick and Coop unsure if he should run after him or let him go. Something about this felt more permanent, like the bond between the two was precarious enough and this was a breaking point.

“I’m sorry he’s like this,” Coop said.

“It’s not your fault. I’m sorry I even called the miserable prick. Shows me what I get for trying to do the right thing.”

“No, it’s not your fault. Not at all.” Coop rubbed her shoulder. “He’s the one who’s miserable. I’ve always been the only person in his life. Even then, he couldn’t see beyond himself. Regis is just a miserable prick and takes it out on everyone. I appreciate the gesture, you’re always trying.”

“Truth be told, I wanted his help, too,” she admitted.

“With what?”

“This whole management thing. He has more connections than I do. This place means something to you and you can take care of it, but if you want another fight in the league? I don’t know who to talk to, what to do, I just...”

“Don’t worry about it. I have a contract with them. Just call up Tuup and say I’m ready for another fight. Doesn’t matter the fight. Anything.”

“Are you ready?” she asked.

“As ready as I’ll ever be.” Although his shoulders ached and muscles burned and there would be fresh scars on his body, Coop got more than he ever imagined out of his trip to Ushinatta. “Although, there’s one thing I still want to do.”

“What’s that?”

“Leave my little gift to Ushinatta. If they’ll want it or not, is another story altogether, but Regis has a regen tank coming? Just send it right to the fighting pit, see if they can use it.”

“Let me go down to the dock, I think I can arrange that.”

“Of course, you’re my manager.”

Coop watched while she departed and pulled up his console, sending a quick message to TAKASHI.

You're gonna hate me, but enjoy.