The post-arena cooldown was always the most surreal for Will. Being in front of that crowd—what could be the last real society left in the world—and being their hero was a feeling that was beyond description for Will. He was a god inside of that arena. They all ate out of the palm of his hand each and every second that he existed inside of that fighting pit. They were rapt with attention the entire time, with all of their adoring eyes on him. Tonight was no different than any other night, really. The only difference was that Branch had trotted out that hotshot Hollywood star as a special guest and gave Will the chance to tear him down a few notches in front of everyone. He couldn't help but feel the sting of losing out on his retirement because of some sort of showcase to some rich fella, but Branch owed him. He'd be good for it. He hoped.

He sat in Branch's private lounge on the top floor, relaxing on a lounge chair out by the pool that overlooked the wasteland, a contrast if there ever was one. Back when there were other buildings around and the general insanity that was Las Vegas still existed, he imagined that it was quite a view. Now, instead, it was simply looking out on the vast nothingness that existed beyond those walls. There really wasn't much left for him out there, which hit him every time that he was up there at the top of the world in Branch's personal oasis. Jenna and Vera sat on each side of him, a standard part of his post-fight festivities, while Branch approached him wearing a pair of board shorts and mirrored sunglasses, even though it was night.

"What a show out there, my old friend," Branch beamed.

"Thanks, innit? I thought we really showed up that Gabriel fella," he replied.

"Yes, well," Branch scratched his chin, "ladies, would you mind giving us some space?"

"C'mon Jenna," Vera picked herself up, tossing Jenna a towel to cover herself up with. Jenna was in a two piece, her golden body a more subtle hue of blue in the dim moonlight while Vera was just in her usual clothes, looking as uncomfortable up there as she always was. "Let's go get something to eat."

"Alright," Jenna leaned over Will and planted a kiss on his cheek, his eyes stuck on her tits that were looking to burst out of her top. "We'll be over there if you need us, champ."

"Aight," Will said, slapping Jenna's ass while she walked off, her letting out a playful squeal.

"I do love to watch them leave," Branch commented.

"What? Oh, yeah, they are quite something."

"Just like your performance was out there tonight. Actually, I'd go as far as to say it was masterful."

"Masterful, eh?" William took another swig of his beer, the bottle sweating in his hands. "I guess it was, huh?"

"Truly."

"What about that Gabriel fella? He looked mighty buggered."

"Well, he was," Branch said. "He was quite upset by the whole thing, but you played your part quite well."

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"That was what you wanted, I thought?"

"Yes," he said. "I wanted to take him down a few pegs. There is a very fragile balance here within Branch Tower, and someone like Gabriel could easily upset the balance. You know the type; the liberal do-gooder that used to go on Larry King to talk about saving the children in Africa. The type always crusading for humanity while living as lavish of a life as the rest. People rally behind that, but there is no room for that in our new world, is there?"

"From what I seen? No place at all. Things are fucked e'nuff as it is."

"Right. I'll freely admit that not everything here is fair. I mean, look, you and I are up here enjoying the pool, some drinks and food while there are people in this very tower who are going hungry down in the cellars. Those people are waiting for work, for us to build them housing, or waiting for their chance to ascend via a chance in the arena. If we were to share everything evenly, well, none of us would survive."

"I guess not, no," he said. It made sense, sure, but there was still something nagging at him from the inside, usually in Vera's voice warning him about Branch.

"We are the exceptional. We are the few. We are the people that humanity needs to survive this unfortunate world that we live in. We can worry about everyone else later. You see that, don't you?"

"I s'pose so," William took another swig. "Just never thought of it that way, I s'pose."

"Living like this doesn't make us wrong, it simply makes us smarter than—"

"I wonder if this is how other madmen in history rationalized their insanity," a voice broke through. Will looked up and saw Gabriel, still in his gear from the arena that night.

"Why Mr. Gabriel, how nice of you to join us," Branch offered him up a big smile. "We were just discussing politics here."

He replied with a grunt.

"So I'm assuming that you disagree?"

"Uh huh," Gabriel replied.

"Well fuck," William said. "Maybe we should all live in your prissy lil' wonderworld, but this is reality, mate."

A smile washed across Gabriel's face, Will feeling his blood boiling. What kind of asshole gets brought in from the wasteland and disrespects the man in charge? Branch's place was the only refuge from the outside world, and this guy was being treated like royalty. Even got his retirement delayed.

"I don't care how you justify this, humanity deserves better."

"But you do care oh so much, don't you, Mr. Gabriel?"

"This is the fuckin' apocalypse, mate," Will said.

"But not humanity."

"This is humanity," Branch said. "You don't have to approve or disapprove of it. That isn't for you."

He kept silent, Will followed his eyes as he scanned the room, from beautiful woman to beautiful woman, to the booze, the food and the few men scattered about.

"Think of it as a test. One to see where you fit in our society, of course," Branch said. "Although I'm not quite sure how that worked out."

Gabriel just let out a laugh.

"What do you think, Mr. Farrington?" Branch turned back towards Will.

"Ain't much of a fit, if I say so."

"So what do we do about this, then? Do we continue letting Mr. Gabriel live among us, the few, the proud and the contributing? Or do we make him earn his living?"

"You know," Will scratched at his beard, "if I still gotta earn my way, I don't see why not."

"Some oasis wonderland," Gabriel added.

"Whatever you think is inconsequential," Branch said. "The benefit of running the only game in town is that I call the shots, Mr. Gabriel. I'll... give you some time to think this over."

"Fuck it," Gabriel stormed off, leaving William sitting next to Branch, who was casually sipping on his drink.

"That went better than expected," he said.

"Oh?"

"We wanted this to happen, because we want him to have to prove himself in the arena."

"Oh," Will said, feeling a bit more comfortable with the whole situation. Branch did have a plan. "Do you think that he can?"

"Possibly," Branch said, the amusement plastered on his face. "It would be quite sporting if he could and it all led up to a meeting between the two of you, but if not then just as well."