Brinus was back in the fighting ring two days later. This time, though, he had a cotton candy vape-flavored lollipop in his mouth, designed by Dr. Calnori, while Dr. Norra wrapped his feet and wrists before the fight. Brinus was excited this time. He had gone over the fight with his agent and was more confident. Brinus felt he was canceled because of what happened at this agency.
He noticed the other fighters avoiding him and gossiping and couldn’t blame them. After what happened with Casso at his agency, Thus far, 12 victims have come forward with legitimate claims, and they found a 10-year-old kid in the basement of his mansion. The agency was now considered damaged goods, and multiple companies cut ties with them.
After a few minutes, his warm-up partner approached Brinus and handed him a card. “Hey, rookie, you might wanna try this agency. They do business with me and probably would like an ex-syndicate member of the Navy on their roster. You seem decent, or I wouldn’t help you out. What do the tats mean?” He saw the fighter look at him with droopy eyes and curled lips.
Brinus took the card and handed it to Dr. Norra. “Thanks, I guess? The tattoo on my stomach of a man in a hoodie with a laptop means I am a trained burglar. This here tattoo on my left pec means I am a certified metalworker and a metallurgist. This here tattoo on my right forearm is my syndicate tattoo, with the R meaning retired and the G meaning I’m gay. The tattoo on my left forearm means I’m addicted to eye drops and cigarettes. In the syndicate, to get a cigarette tattoo, ya’ need to have a severe nicotine addiction. It’s how they mark their problem members.”
The fighter smiled and slapped his shoulder. “Maybe I will give you a participation trophy, haha. If you call that number, tell them Sokar referred you.”
Brinus offered his hand to Sokar. “Thanks, bro.”
They both shook hands as Dr. Norra wrapped his right hand and wrist.
----------------------------------------
Three hours after the encounter, his lungs were like pins and needles as his heart pounded in his ears from nerves. He ran onto the fight ring and raised his arms. Everyone cheered loudly, almost screaming. He also had a headache, and he felt his stomach rumble. Brinus noticed many more people in the stands and that the stadium was half full.
The bell sounded, and Brinus dodged to the right as his opponent punched to the left. He then made a jab for Sokar’s floating rib and realized Sokar was about to punch his abs. So, instead, he jumped aside and punched him in the side of the chest. Sokar screamed with rage as the crowd erupted in a giant wave all around the stadium, chanting Brinus over and over again. A heat haze formed around Brinus as he became more energized by the crowd, like a charging iPhone. However, his breathing was fast and shallow. His hands and feet buzzed like a bad microphone in voice chat.
Sokar grew increasingly angry as they played a game of cat and mouse, where Brinus would dodge as Sokar tried to hit him. The more Brinus engaged in this fighter’s ballerina dance, the hotter the air around him became. Every time Brinus dodged, the crowd cheered, and every time Sokar landed a near punch, the crowd booed and jeered. As the first round was called, his headache had slowly built into a full migraine. Knowing that head punches were forbidden, he decided to get this man in a chokehold.
A heat haze had formed around Brinus when he approached his trainer. Dr. Norra was preparing a mixture of a sports drink and quick-acting anti-fever medications. “Why are you so hot? Your body temperature is at 200 degrees Celsius.”
“What?!”
“We’ll discuss this later. Remember your training and let the energy flow through you.”
Brinus made a gagging sound and handed the drink back to Dr. Norra, who gave it to Brinus.
“Drink. Don’t! Get! Cocky!”
Brinus’s pupils were dilated from nerves, and his voice was more profound than normal. “Why are there so many people here?” Brinus drank his drink in one gulp, sticking out his tongue with a sour look.
Dr. Norra Patted Brinus’s head with a wet towel after putting some sealant on some cuts on his chest. Steam sizzled from Brinus’s forehead. “Probably because of you. There is the controversy with the agency; then there is your background with the syndicate and the navy. If you win, you will be famous. If you lose, well, you will be famous in other ways. I understand multiple streamers are live streaming this fight from the press box.”
Brinus smiled, showing his teeth, and the bell rang as round two was announced. This time, Brinus could see the fighter’s anger etched on every line of his face. Now the kid gloves were off, he thought to himself. Sokar came at Brinus hard and fast, almost overpowering him in seconds with a series of fast punches to his chest and stomach.
Brinus fell to the ground in a break fall, slapping his hands on the padded floor and keeping his head up. He put his feet up, keeping Sokar just out of his guard. The intense fighting strained his lungs and heart. Sokar spent two minutes trying to get past Brinus’s feet and legs. The crowd went as silent as a North Pole winter. Brinus was sweating and desperately trying to control his rapid and shallow breathing.
Brinus took advantage of a moment of weakness. Sokar hyperventilated like a wounded animal and was covered head to toe in sweat. Brian put his foot to hook under his opponent’s knee and his other foot to hook under the heel, throwing him onto the ground.
Sokar attempted to put Brinus in his guard; however, Brinus jumped on top of his chest too quickly, and a soft popping sound could be heard as Sokar yelled and cussed. Brinus then tried to grab Sokar’s arm, and Sokar began bucking like a wild bull. Brinus lost focus as his head throbbed and his stomach cramped. Brinus was thrown onto his back, and Sokar grabbed his leg. He locked onto it and wouldn’t let go. Brinus yelled, and the judge declared Sokar the victor.
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Immediately, the crowd screamed insults and booed, with someone throwing their drink at Sokar as Brinus was escorted out of the ring.
Brinus was in the locker room, dressing in his military uniform, twenty minutes after the fight. He had on steel-toed boots and uniform pants and was shirtless. Running a dermal regenerator over the last cut on his chest, He had his gym bag in his right hand and his medical vape in his mouth. There was a no-smoking sign under the door at the locker room entrance and another in the bathroom, but Brinus didn’t care. The need to smoke overpowered his judgment. The first thing he would do when he got back to the ship was try to get his medication adjusted.
As he walked out, two streamers approached Brinus and started live streaming. “Here is the loser of the Sokar-Brinus match. Say hi, everyone!” They both snickered, and one of them laughed.
Brinus flashed his teeth and blew nic vapor into the camera they set up in the hallway outside of the locker room. One of the streamers asked, “Tell me, what are your thoughts on the fight?” They both snickered again.
Brinus was almost certain they were trolling him. He could tell they thought what their viewers were saying in their live chat was funny.
Looking at them both blankly, using facial yoga to hide his irritation, he said with an edge in his voice, “Are y’all trolling me?”
They both laughed hysterically, packed up the camera, and left.
Brinus thought that was weird but continued walking down the hall and into the loading dock. As he stepped onto the street to the bus stop, a boy and his father looked at Brinus, pointed at him, and laughed.
He put his medical vape back into his pocket and decided to see what the media said about him. Pulling out his triquarter, he entered his name into the search bar.
The Pedo By-Proxy of District 12 loses the match. Did this play a role? Was the first headline.
The next headline: Smokestack Helios Loses First Real Match! What is to blame?
The next headline is Steamroll Sokar Triumphs over Smokestack Helios. Could this be the reason? Click to find out! There was a picture of Casso at his bail hearing in court on another planet.
The headlines went on from there. He decided to get a taxi instead of riding the bus to the hotel. He dialed the number for a cab with his microchip, advertised on the stadium banner, as he put on his uniform shirt.
On his way back, the taxi driver didn’t say a word and kept looking at Brinus until he said, “You look familiar.”
Brinus looked at the driver. “I’m just a soldier.”
“Ain’t ya’ the Duke of District of 12?”
Brinus nodded
“You got married to some big-shot CEO’s son, right? Your marriage was all over the political streamer’s scene. They talked about it for a week.”
Brinus showed his wedding ring. It was a tungsten, iridium, and cobalt alloy ring with the engraving Married Forever. He was relieved that the cab driver didn’t watch the fights. Personally, he just wanted to escape public scrutiny.
“Fer the record, I don’t put much stock in the clickbait sites.”
He laughed with nervous excitement. “Oh, so you do watch the fights?” Brinus reached into his pocket and began twirling his medical vape between his fingers. He felt the ridicule about to ensue, so he braced himself.
“I do when they get into a big fight. They really pushed the match between you and Sokar after that interview with Terra went live. She uses AI to write her articles but is a good interviewer. I like her interviews. Of course, there was that controversy between your agency and Casso. Poor kids. At least they will get help.” After a few seconds, the conversation died off.
As the cab driver drove down the street into the downtown area, Brinus saw how ugly and plain the buildings were. He knew that the Terrans had rejected General AI and Civic AI, so they didn’t have self-driving cars like most of the galaxy. Parts of Earth's society that survived the crisis were technologically stuck in the late 90s and early 2000s but with hybrid-electric cars and fusion power plants. Culturally, though, they advanced into the 22nd century with some significant generational trauma.
“What do ya’ think of our planet? I recognize your uniform as a Navy uniform. You’re what? A midshipman? I can tell by your ribbons on your shirt.”
Brinus smiled and felt flattered. “Yes, sir. You know your ranks. Did ya’ serve?” He wanted to know if he was in the car with a veteran.
The cab driver laughed and said, “When the Navy came and saved our planet, they were heroes. I have been a Confederate Naval history buff ever since. Shouldn’t you be wearing an undershirt?”
Brinus smiled and said, “I choose not to.” He felt at ease in the taxi.
The taxi driver turned the corner and pulled up to the hotel.
“I understand you have a fight tomorrow.”
“It is against Tailor the Sailor.”
The driver laughed as he exited the taxi and opened Brinus’s door. “I will pray for you.”
Brinus felt nervous and wondered how bad this Tailor person was as a fighter.
He came into his hotel room and saw Marci waiting for him. With her was Brinus’s agent.
“What the hell happened?” Asked Archer.
Marci entered Brinus’s face and yelled, “I might ask the same question! Did you see your interview on the Borgan Brothers live stream?!”
Brinus was used to people getting into his face and screaming, so he just stood at attention and then said to his mother in a blank tone, I know they were trollin’ duchess, ma’am.”
Archer put his hand in his face and laughed. “You’re being ridiculed in the media. I knew something like this would happen.”
Marci put her hands on her hip and blew up like a balloon in a hot rage. “What the fuck, Brinus?! Why?! And call me Mom.”
“Why, what, madam duchess?”
Marci looked at Brinus with an open mouth and a wide-eyed look. “Are you that stupid?! And how many times do I need to tell you to call me mom?!”
Brinus continued to stand at attention and look forward. “I lost a high-profile fight. I blew vapor into a streamer’s camera and allowed a blogger to interview me. Like, is there something I am missing, madam duchess?”
Marci realized Brinus didn’t do anything. Archer continued laughing. “What’s funny!?”
“Nothing. I’ve been canceled.”
Marci scowled and then yelled, “Get out! Now!”
Archer left the room and doubled over in hysterical laughter.
Marci closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Now, what we have to do is manage the fallout. Do you have anyone who can help?”
Brinus produced the card Sokar gave him. “Sokar gave me this card. It is his agent.”
“Anyone will be better than that furry,” she snarled in complete disgust while snatching the card out of his hand.
Marci pulled out her tirquarter and began dialing the number. The agent picked up. “Hello,” said a woman’s voice.
“This is the duchess of district twelve. I am the first lady of the admiralty calling on behalf of my son, Brinus Helios. I believe Sokar gave my son this number.”
“Sokar said you would be calling; he spoke highly of your son as a fighter.”
Marci felt flattered but then redirected the conversation. “Will you take him on as a client?”
There were a few seconds of silence, and then she said, “I will! I have to do some research to manage his media fallout for a few days, but I will meet with you on his ship in five days. My fee is 33% of his earnings. I will send you a copy of my TOS and contract over your triquarter frequency tonight. I believe the time on your planet will be 7 p.m. CST on your planet in your planet’s time zone. See you in five days if you and Brinus sign.”
“Excellent.”
After the call terminated, she looked at Brinus. “I won’t always be here to bail you out, so learning to deal with the press is essential. You’re lucky the war is slowing down into a stalemate, or I wouldn’t ’ve been able to help. I booked a room at the Ritz downtown if you wanna talk.” Marci kissed Brinus on the forehead and left.
Brinus felt awkward. He had never had a parental figure before, so he didn’t know how to interpret the love from his mother.