Okay. Okay. This I could work with. “We all know how bad it is on Earth and that the company doesn’t really give a shit about us down there. I shouldn’t say anything about it since we all know that they’re watching us—waiting for the chance to exploit us a little more—but it’s not like my job here can get much worse.” I shrugged. “On Earth, Santiago and I were part of the ABQ Crew. SpaceTech called us a gang or vigilantes, but really we just looked out for those who needed help in our community. I believe that if we’re not happy with how our lives are going, it’s up to each and every one of us to change. To make a difference. Our motto was Survivors Together, because only together will we overcome the hell that SpaceTech has brought into our lives.”

Doing something that had meaning would offset my stupid job. It balanced things out. “I used to teach martial arts on Earth. I’d be happy do the same here for anyone who wants to learn. I don’t have much time off, but whenever I do, I’ll be in here. Ready to teach whoever wants to learn. Don’t worry about experience level. We’ll do everything in one big group. All you have to do is show up.”

“What about me?” Ahiga’s deep rumble made me laugh.

“Seriously. You want me to train you? Aren’t you Elite IAF? Don’t you know, like, twenty forms of martial arts?”

“Yes, I’m Elite and, yes, I’ve been trained in many forms and types of fighting. But I want you to spar with me. Now.”

I’d never sparred with anyone as well trained as Ahiga. “Why are you even here? I don’t see any other officers in the gym.”

“Ahiga and me go way back,” Santiago said. “Ran into him last time he was here. Not a lot has changed since then.”

“Aside from him being a highly decorated officer and you being a criminal working off a sentence?”

“Eh.” He grinned. “Technicalities. But he comes to hang with me. I’m way better than the rest of those stuffy officer types.”

Ahiga strode up to the ring and shoved his massive body through the ropes. “Come on.”

I glanced around the room and spotted Matthew standing in the doorway. I looked back at Ahiga, and he nodded.

“Don’t let him stop you.”

“You sure?”

Ahiga stepped closer to me. “Yes.” His voice was barely more than a whisper. “If he sees a little about what you are, then I think he might be more forthcoming. We need information.”

“Okay.” I stepped back from Ahiga. He was big. Probably bigger than anyone I’d ever fought. He’d move slower, but he was trained. So that could come out in a wash.