Axel Murray grabbed his comm device and put on a bit of soothing classical music to calm his nerves. Outside of his dressing room, the crowd roared in anticipation. Loud rock music echoed throughout the arena complex, hyping up the spectators. Not that they needed it. They were plenty hyped up already, considering what was at stake today.

Before he shut off the screen, Axel’s eyes landed on the notifications he’d received. Most were simple messages of good luck from fans, but one stood out. It was from Mr Williams, Rose’s father.

Mr Williams: Make sure you win today, boy. My daughter doesn’t deserve to be saddled with a loser.

Axel almost growled when he read the message. The old miser’s probably hoping I lose, so he has an excuse to break us up. Not that he needs one.

From the moment they’d met, Mr Williams made it clear that Axel wasn’t good enough for his daughter. That he’d never be good enough. Axel didn’t care. Rose loved him, and that’s all that mattered.

But what if she doesn’t? he thought. What if she decides she can do better?

Axel’s heart pounded. Would Rose leave him if he lost? No, surely not. But her parents would push her to—

No. Axel shook his head. No. She hasn’t listened to their complaints before. Why would she start now?

Because before you had prospects, his mind answered. You had potential. Lose this fight, and you’re nobody.

Axel’s chest tightened, his head spun, and his stomach churned. This was all too much. He couldn’t cope. He couldn’t take it.

A loud buzzer echoed around the room. It was time to go.

It’s too soon, Axel thought. I can’t fight like this. I don’t have a chance—

His comm device pinged as another notification popped up.

Rose ♥️: You can do it. I know you can.

Just like that, Axel’s fears melted away. Rose believed in him. It didn’t matter what her father thought, what anyone thought. As long as he had her, he could accomplish anything.

As he crossed the room, Axel went about his usual pre-fight ritual. He checked that his blaster pistols were primed and loaded and his jet boots fully charged. He tightened the straps on his ragtag jumble of body armour and ensured his shield generator was operational. Everything had to be perfect. If he lost today, his dream would be dead. His future with Rose. Everything he’d worked so hard for. It would all turn to dust.

No, Axel thought. No good thinking like that. I have to focus. He needed to be sharp if he wanted to win this next fight. His opponent was older and more experienced. He would need to bring his A-game to have any chance of securing victory.

Slipping his helmet on, Axel stepped into his ready room. The doors slammed shut, leaving him in what amounted to a large metallic coffin, dimly lit by red LEDs.

‘CITIZENS OF HADES STATION, WELCOME TO THE ARENA,’ came a booming voice from inside the stadium itself, the announcer. ‘DO WE HAVE A TREAT FOR YOU TODAY? ON ONE SIDE STANDS A VETERAN OF OUR SPORT, “SPRINGY” JACK CLAYTON. AND LINING UP AGAINST HIM IS THE YOUNG ROOKIE, WHOSE TONGUE STINGS AS BADLY AS HIS BLASTER BOLTS. ONLY 22 YEARS OLD, AXEL “THE HORNET” MURRAAAYYYY.’

Axel tried his best to zone the voice out, focussing all his attention on the red light in front of him. When it turned green and the doors slid open, it was go time. He needed to focus. He needed to be ready. But the announcer wasn’t making that easy.

‘NEED I REMIND YOU, CITIZENS, THAT THIS IS NO ORDINARY FIGHT? THE WINNER OF TODAY’S BOUT WILL NOT ONLY HAVE THEIR DEBT PAID BY THE GALACTIC GLADIATOR FEDERATION AND BE FREE TO LEAVE THIS STATION, BUT THEY WILL ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEEK THEIR FORTUNE IN THE MAJOR LEAGUES. THE LOSER, MEANWHILE, WILL BE DOOMED TO STAY HERE IN IGNOMINY.’

Great, Axel thought. Just what I need. Another reminder of what’s at stake. Thanks.

Deciding he needed to get out of his head, Axel reached into a hidden nook, took out a flask filled with whiskey, and drank down a swig. Just a little one. Enough to take the edge off his nerves but not impair his judgement. It didn’t help.

‘BUT ENOUGH OF THIS. YOU DIDN’T COME HERE TO HEAR ME TALK. YOU CAME TO SEE BLOOD AND DESTRUCTIOOOOOON. LET US BEGIN!’

As soon as the announcer’s voice faded, the light turned green, and the doors slid open. Axel shot through, taking in the scene. The basic outline of the arena was the same as always; a great dome surrounded on all sides by spectators. Even the roof had seats, one of the benefits of living in a space station with artificial gravity. However, the interior changed for every fight. It could be anything from a simple flat stage to a demonic jungle gym of platforms and debris. Occasionally, the arena designers did away with the floor completely, turning the arena into a giant sphere for aerial battles.

Today’s configuration was definitely towards the crazier end of the scale. A wide array of floating metallic wreckage filled the arena, resembling the aftermath of a ship battle. Axel saw this coming. Mobility was key in both his and Springy Jack’s fighting styles. This type of arena would give the crowd the biggest show. The Galactic Gladiator Federation, or GGF, as they were known, loved nothing more than pleasing the crowd.

While Axel had his jet books, Springy Jack used a pair of repulsor boots instead. They were less versatile as they needed a surface to launch from, but they were much, much faster. That meant—

Oh shit. Axel jerked to the side as Jack hurtled past him, the tip of his laser sword crackling against Axel’s armour. That was Jack’s tactic. It was always his tactic. Get in close and batter his opponent with a greatsword made of pure, searing energy. One or two direct hits from that thing and Axel would be done. He knew that. He should have been ready. He shouldn’t have spent so long gawking at the arena.

Stay focussed, Axel thought. Stay calm. You’ve got this. Don’t let the pressure get to you. He maxed out the thrusters on his boots and flew back towards the arena’s centre, firing a few shots at Jack as he went. They had little effect. Jack’s more powerful repulsor boots meant he could wear thicker, stronger armour and carry a more powerful shield generator. Axel’s old pistols couldn’t hope to overcome that level of defence anytime soon. Luckily, he’d blown his life savings on a couple of new toys that just might. But he couldn’t use them yet. For now, he just had to stay alive.

‘AND IT’S A FAST START. THE YOUNG AXEL MURRAY IS ALREADY ON THE ROPES,’ the announcer said.

Jack reached the force field that separated the gladiators from the spectators and used it to launch himself towards Axel again. But this time, Axel was ready. He pirouetted neatly to the side and fired a few shots at Jack’s back.

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It only took a few seconds for him to realise his mistake. This time, Jack didn’t fly to the edge of the arena. Instead, he landed feet-first on a large chunk of debris and used it as a launchpad. He’d never been aiming for Axel at all.

I need to move. Now. Axel tried to gain altitude fast and get out of the way. He failed.

Jack slammed his greatsword straight into Axel’s chest, sending the younger man spinning through the air and straight into a jagged metal plate. The impact drove the air from his lungs. Another hit like that, and the fight would be over.

Axel wouldn’t die, of course. Popular gladiators were far too valuable for the GGF to let them go that easily. No. Inside his suit was a sophisticated sensor array that would teleport him to the infirmary if it sensed critical damage incoming. But if that happened, Axel would lose the fight. He’d lose everything. He couldn’t let that happen. He wouldn’t let that happen.

Axel spiralled away, trying desperately to get some distance from Jack. For the next thirty seconds or so, all he did was dodge as the greatsword came at him again and again. He tuned out the crowd’s roar, even the announcer’s booming voice. The only thing that mattered to him was avoiding that sword.

He took a few more glancing blows but managed to avoid another direct hit. Luckily, while his older opponent was bigger, stronger, and better equipped, Axel was lithe and agile. Over time, he became more attuned to Jack’s attack patterns. His reactions grew sharper and dodges faster. He started to fight back. A few shots here and there. None did much damage to Jack’s shield on their own, but, added together, they began to tell.

He wasn’t sure if it was the turning of the tide or a delayed rush from the whiskey, but Axel felt a newfound surge of confidence. Each time he dodged, he threw one of his trademark jibes at Jack alongside a hail of shots.

‘Come on, Jack, is that all you’ve got?’

‘Too slow.’

‘Try again.’

‘You know, maybe you should just let me win? An old man like you, you’d never make it on the Tour.’

As he reeled from the verbal blows, the swordsman’s slashes and thrusts became jerkier and less precise.

This fight’s as good as mine.

After a few minutes of Axel’s steady blasting, Jack’s shield finally crackled and flared as it strained to maintain itself. But Jack wasn’t done quite yet. He hadn’t become a veteran of the arena without picking up a few tricks of his own.

Fiddling with the controls on the hilt of his sword, he re-calibrated the dials, changing the blade and expanding it until it resembled an enormous, broad-edged bat more than a sword. There was no way Axel was dodging that thing. If he wanted to win, he had to do some serious damage, and fast. It was time to try out his new toys.

In a complete change of tactics, Axel stopped retreating from Jack’s assault. Instead, he maxed out his thrusters and aimed directly for his opponent’s head, activating his gauntlets as he flew. Crackling energy rippled over them.

Seeing this, Jack tried to bring his sword-bat down on Axel’s head, but with no luck. In its new configuration, his weapon was too slow and unwieldy. Before Jack’s swing was even halfway complete, Axel’s fist connected with his jaw. Jack vanished. The crowd roared. Axel had won.

***

With cheers still echoing in his ears, the triumphant Axel strolled back into his dressing room. Grinning beneath his helmet, he saw her waiting for him. Rose. His wonderful, beautiful, extraordinary girlfriend. The love of his life. He knew they were destined to be together from the moment he’d first seen her.

It was the day of the Emperor’s silver jubilee. Rose was celebrating with her parents at a street party in one of Hades Station’s broad avenues. She wore the same type of simple jumpsuit as everyone else on the station, but on her, it seemed different somehow. To Axel’s eyes, it looked more like a ball gown. In fact, with her glossy black hair and broad, beaming smile, she reminded him of a princess straight from the pages of a storybook.

They didn’t get much time to talk that day, since her father didn’t like the idea of his precious daughter spending time with a scruffy boy from the orphanage. But Rose didn’t care about that. She always looked beyond people’s outer shells and into the person beneath. She was the most charitable, insightful, and amazing person Axel had ever met. He got her comm details, and the two went on their first date later that week. They never looked back.

Striding forward, Axel wrapped her up in a warm embrace, and she melted into his arms. After whirling her around in celebration, Axel put Rose down, took off his helmet, and kissed her.

‘We did it,’ he said. ‘We actually did it. I’m going to join the Galactic Tour.’

Rose beamed at him. ‘I’m so proud of you. You’re going to be the best gladiator in the history of the Empire.’

‘I couldn’t have done it without you. And soon, once I’ve made enough money, you can join me. We’ll see the stars together, Rose, just like we always dreamed.’

Axel let his mind wander. It had always been his dream to get out and see the galaxy, and as soon as he met Rose, she appeared in that dream beside him. Now, it was about to become a reality.

He grinned at her. ‘Think of the places we can visit once we’re free of this cage.’

But his smile faded as he noticed Rose tucking a few loose strands of hair behind her ears. She only did that when she had something on her mind.

Axel frowned. ‘You’re nervous. Why?’

‘No, I’m not,’ Rose said, laughing. ‘I’m just tired, is all. You know that watching you fight always stresses me out.’

That all sounded perfectly reasonable, but Axel knew she was lying. She wouldn’t meet his eyes, and her foot tapped a gentle rhythm against the floor. He placed a hand on her arm. ‘Talk to me. Tell me what’s wrong.’

Rose shook her head. ‘It’s nothing.’

Axel just gave her a flat look.

‘Really, it’s nothing,’ she protested.

‘Rose…’

She shook her head again, harder this time. ‘No. This is a happy day. It’s your day. You’ve worked for this for so long. It’s not the time to talk about troubles.’

‘Please, tell me,’ Axel said, a twinge of unease quivering in his stomach. He hated seeing her like this.

She hesitated, wringing her hands and glancing from side to side like an animal searching for an escape. Finally, her shoulders slumped. ‘You better sit down.’

Obediently, Axel perched himself on the edge of a chair, eyes filled with concern.

Rose took a deep breath. ‘I didn’t want to do this today, and I want you to know that it doesn’t change anything about our plan. Remember that.’ She paused, biting her lip and fidgeting with the zipper on her jumpsuit. ‘I’m… I’m…’

‘You’re what?’

‘I’m pregnant.’ The words came out like water flowing through a burst dam.

Axel didn’t say a word. He didn’t move an inch. He just sat there, staring into space.

It was Rose’s turn to place a hand on his arm. ‘Axel, are you okay? Talk to me, please.’

Axel blinked and wobbled his head a bit, as if waking from a dream. ‘Huh? Oh yeah. Yeah, I’m okay.’ Yet still, he didn’t move.

‘This doesn’t change anything,’ Rose said again.

That, at last, got Axel to move. He snapped his head around to glare at her. ‘What? Of course it does.’

‘No, Axel—’

He sprang to his feet. ‘I’m not having my child born on this station. They’re going to be born out there. They’re going to breathe fresh air, not this stagnant recycled garbage we’ve grown up on.’

‘No. Absolutely not,’ Rose said, almost squaring up to him. ‘We need to stick to the plan. I won’t risk everything you’ve worked so hard for.’

Axel scoffed. ‘Don’t you see? I didn’t do all of that for myself. I did it for us. I’m not going to leave you and our child alone, not for a single day.’

Rose’s expression softened a little hearing this, but still, she held back, eyeing him warily. ‘What are you going to do?’

‘I’m going to the Apollo Corporation offices,’ Axel said, striding to the door. ‘If I’m leaving, you’re coming with me.’

‘Are you insane? They’ll never accept that. Please, you can’t sacrifice everything. I can wait. Our child can wait.’

‘No. You can’t. They can’t. I’m doing this.’

Turning away from Rose, Axel strode out of the door. He didn’t care what she said. He knew what it was like to grow up without a father; his child wouldn’t share that experience. From the day they were born, Axel would be there for them, no matter what it cost.