There was something to be said for quiet. Existing within your own mind in a time and place with no other noise. Coop’s small spacecraft was a prize from one of his first big victories in the arena, when he’d dismantled Zeke, a tough little zondian. That was the beginning of his ascent, and one of those moments where it was possible to pinpoint his descent into misery. Sam being by his side made it easier to avoid jacking into the stimnet and losing himself, even if there was a magnetic pull, an itch he needed to scratch. She’d never broached the topic with him like his uncle did, but it remained unspoken that Coop needed to get that under control and avoid it.

TAKASHI’s response to the regen tank was a simple “thanks” and nothing more, Coop understanding it was a risky move, but his way of giving back and attempting to absolve himself of the guilt of once again bailing on Ushinatta. They lived by their own code there, and as much as Coop wanted to be like them, his life took a different turn and if he belonged anywhere, it was back in the arena. Fighting was in his blood and not something he was willing to walk away from, or retire to a life of blood and guts on the station.

“We’ve got a few offers already,” she said.

“Offers for what?” He didn’t need to ask, but was lost in thought and blurted it out, regardless.

“Fights, obviously.”

“Oh, wow. So you’re already in contact with Tuup,” he said. “That’s good. I wasn’t expecting anything so soon.”

“I’m not gonna lie to you, the money on most of these isn’t great.”

“How bad are we talking?” This is what he was worried about. His uncle was an asshole, but knew how to negotiate a deal. Or at least did, back when Coop was on top. This wasn’t Sam’s fault, but he couldn’t help but wonder what Regis would dig up for him.

“Fight in the backwoods of Ogden against the Sluglord Vella?”

“Are you fucking with me?” He turned to her to see a wry smile, although he still didn’t know if she was serious or not. “You’re fucking with me.”

“No, that’s an actual offer.” She turned her screen toward him.

“For fuck’s sake,” he said. “I’ve fallen that far?”

“Sorry, babe. That’s the best offer out of them, although...”

“Although, what?” He hated to be left hanging like that.

“Look, you aren’t gonna like this. Not even a little, so I’m not showing you.”

“Is the money better? Is it a better venue? Tell me.”

“It’s maybe a better venue, I’m not sure what you’ll say about it other than you dislike it.”

“More than fucking Ogden?”

“That’s... up to you. The pay is better.”

“Fine, I’ll bite,” he said. “How much better?”

“Double.”

“Then fucking hell, why aren’t we jumping on that one?”

“Because it’s on Luna.”

“Oh for fuck’s sake.” Anger welled up and crashed through his body in the form of his fist hitting the dashboard. “Not fucking Luna!”

“Right. That’s why I didn’t bother with it.”

“Okay, fine. Wait. Wait,” he said. “Before we turn this down, who is it?”

“You already said you don’t want to fight on Luna, so—”

“Just tell me already!”

“Robert Burns,” she said.

“Who the fuck is Robert Burns?”

“He’s... from Luna,” Sam said. “You trained with him.”

“There were like twenty people training there.” His agitation levels were only rising further. Perhaps he should’ve listened to her and not pushed on this. “Which one was Robert Burns?”

“Big guy, bulging muscles, blonde spiky hair with a square face? Eyebrows were so blonde it looked like he didn’t have any, remember?”

“Oh fuck that guy,” he said. “I’m not afraid of some big bastard.”

“I know you’re not, but I still think this is a mistake.”

“The mistake would be for me not to flatten him. If this is what I need to do to get back into the mix, so be it. The money is fine, I’ll go back to Luna and crush his roided out ass.”

“Cooper, please,” she said. “Can we just drop this? I know Ogden is a shit hole, but wasn’t this always your thing? Fighting aliens?”

“Yeah! I smash fucking aliens,” he said. “But if I gotta smash a few people, you know I’m game for it. That’ll show Regis, that asshole.”

“Don’t you understand? That’s why I’m not telling you not to do this, Coop. Because of Regis.”

“Yeah, yeah, I get it,” he said. “You don’t want me fixating on my asshole uncle or trying to impress him or—”

“Listen to me, Cooper! Your uncle is managing him. He’s gonna be in his corner for this fight.”

That hit him like a zondian headbutt. Subconsciously, Cooper knew his uncle had a vested interest in those Luna losers, but never thought he’d try to arrange for a fight between one of those dickheads and Cooper. Swelling inside him was a range of emotions he hadn’t experienced in ages; from rage to sorrow and everything in between. Cooper picked up the stimnet nodes and paused, turning to Sam.

“Take the fight.” That was all he could muster before fixing the nodes to his temples and pulling the lenses over his eyes, sinking into the familiarity of the stimnet overwhelming him.