Cooper and TARS have just entered the wormhole on their way to Edmond's planet. As the shimmering cosmos slips past at mind boggling speeds, Cooper's eyes watch but they do not see. As Copper was able to relay the critical set of data to his daughter, Murph, so that she could solve the Gravity Equation. Murph in turn gave Cooper the critical set of data that helped unlock the equation to his heart. Having made peace with his daughter and comforted with the knowledge that his descendants would be there to see her off on her celestial journey. Cooper has had a fire lit under him and now he had to go. Cooper now feels an ache in his heart that he hasn't felt since his wife was alive. His mind's eye is focused on a certain brunette beauty who is truly alone in a strange galaxy: Amelia.
Cooper thinks of the message that was received at the station from Amelia Brand:
Endurance has reached Edmond's planet. Planet is capable of sustaining life. Doyle, Romilly, Miller, Mann and Edmonds are dead. Cooper lost, fate unknown. Moving ahead with Plan B. If anyone receives this, our new home has been found, please come...I am alone.
I have to admit that I did feel attracted to her when I first met her. Cooper thinks to himself. She did seem like a cold bitch though. Then there was the realization that Edmonds and her were in love. That was it then, my course was set, I wasn't going to pursue it any further. But in the short time that I was with her, I swore that something was starting to develop between us.
Feeling the need to focus, Cooper speaks up. "TARS. Tell me about Dr. Edmonds. What was he like?"
"He was a tall fella and a real egghead. I think the thing that attracted Dr. Brand to him was his sense of humor."
"TARS, what's your discretion setting at right now?"
"Default setting. It's at 20."
"Why would you mention Dr. Brand's attraction to him?"
"Cooper may I first ask several questions before I answer the one you just asked me?"
"Shoot Slick."
"Why have you been so quiet? Why do I detect you're vital readings being slightly depressed? Why would you be so touchy about me adding unsolicited information about Dr. Brand?"
How is he reading me like a book right now!? Cooper very calmly asks a counter question. "TARS, how is it that you are perceiving all these things about me right now?"
"Hardware and software upgrades. After you got me up and running, the crew on Cooper Station realized how much I meant to you. They went ahead and did a complete overall on my innards. So, basically I've taken a quantum leap in situational awareness which means that I am several magnitudes better at reading/understanding humans. Note that part of the cargo we stowed on board is an upgrade kit for CASE if he is still alive."
Jesus. They gave him 124 years worth of updates.
"You are concerned about Dr. Brand, aren't you?"
"Yes."
"I sense that you miss her as well."
That last question was a direct hit. Cooper starts to feel a lump rise in his throat and his eyes watering. The thoughts of Murph talking about Amelia's loneliness wash over him like a tidal wave. Cooper is speechless for what seems like an eternity.
When I detached, I felt like an archer letting the arrow loose to shoot across the heavens and find its mark. By hitting the mark, you would find the arms of your lost love and ensure the survival of our race. But before I let go, I saw it in your eyes. Something was there and if the circumstances were different, if you would of let me in, I would of seized it and never let go.
Clearing his throat, he bares his soul to a machine. "Uh-ugggnnn." Moments pass. "I thought she'd find Edmonds when she got to his planet. I thought she would be OK when she got there. It turns out that I abandoned her TARS."
"Cooper, we ran the numbers together. You saw the percentages of success for her reaching the planet both with and without you attached. Given we did not know if the two of you were the last surviving humans, you acted in a selfless manner, by detaching to face your end in the void. By doing so, you just about guaranteed her arriving at the destination. Given what was at stake, you did what had to be done."
"It still doesn't make it any easier for me to handle though. I had to do something like this when I left my kids behind."
The Ranger had cleared the wormhole. Since this next generation space craft had a fusion power source and Edmond's planet was in proximity of the wormhole, the journey would be a short several hours.
"Relax Cooper, I think she'll understand why you had to do it. Matter of fact, I think it might of earned you a couple of points towards an intergalactic booty call!"
"Ha, ha, ha...ohhhh. TARS humor sett-"
"Yeah, yeah. I'll back it down 10 points. I'm just trying to cheer you up though fella." Several moments pass. "You know she doesn't even know you're alive at this point. To her, you will truly be the like Lazarus."
"I know. Hopefully, this will cheer her up having one less ghost in her life."
Time passes and Edmonds planet comes into view. Cooper does a pass over the planet letting the Ranger's scanners take in the planet's data. Cooper sees the Endurance in orbit with all removable pods missing. TARS does an executive summary on the incoming data and presents it to Cooper.
"Looks good Slick. Looks like Dr. Edmonds found us that rock for humanity to catch its breath." Cooper thinks. Rest In Peace Edmonds.
"Cooper. I've found Dr Brand's landing site. By the look of it, the lights are on and she is home."
"TARS, start the landing sequence. Nothing fancy, just nice and easy. We got all the time in the world."
"Got it boss."
The Ranger starts its descent, Cooper wonders. Will there be anything to salvage between us? Will she be able to move beyond Edmonds? If anything, there are two things that I've wanted to see again in my life: my daughter Murph and for Amelia to smile at me again.
As the Ranger continues its descent, Cooper's spirit starts to lift.