Wastes of Space

by Darcy Town

  Calpsan shrugged. “This does not rule him out as a bodyguard, Ravil. You cannot afford to judge, that is my job.”

  She looked at his white hair. “Are you sure you are not going senile?”

  He flashed a wry grin. “Feelers do not lose their talent with age, stop being smart with me. He is the one you need.”

  Ravil raked her fingers through her hair. “Calpsan, there has to be another with less—”

  “No. Ravil, he has the skills you need and he is damaged enough not to be a problem to you in the future. He is far beneath you, Ravil. He poses no threat to you, but definitely is threatening to others that may choose to harm you.” Calpsan stood. “Short term, he is the one.”

  “Calpsan!” Tears formed in her eyes. “Do not leave me with him. I despise him, I do not trust him and I do not like him!”

  “Good! He is not meant to be your friend, Ravil. You must not trust him, you are right in that regard. He is nothing more than a thief and killer, but for now he will be your thief and killer.”

  “Calpsan.”

  He tugged her hat down over her hair and grabbed her hand. He pulled her towards the door. “Lose the tears, you’re a boy. Come. Let’s see how well he cons.” He smiled. “Another useful trait you should work on acquiring from him.”

  She rubbed her eyes. “You are leaving me to my murderer, Calpsan.”

  Calpsan ignored the comment and entered the smoke-filled room.

  Rake sat at a table against the far wall. He practiced with cards and watched them approach. “Game?”

  Calpsan threw a bill on the table. “Deal me in.”

  “The boy as well?”

  “No.”

  “All right old man.” Rake smiled. “Is the boy your luck charm then?”

  Calpsan frowned. “Luck?”

  A waitress interrupted them. Rake ordered a drink, Calpsan got one as well and ordered a water and dinner for Ravil. Rake fanned cards out. “Names for the evening?”

  Calpsan pointed to his chest. “Calpsan, the boy is Ravil.”

  Rake nodded as he scanned the room. “Mine is Rake.” A man walked in, alone and bright-eyed. Rake grinned. “Time to make money.”

  ***

  A Hunter sniffed the air on the curb in front of the airport. He pawed at the concrete with gloved hands, sensing something Wasters could not see or feel. He stood and stretched. His long copper-colored hair glowed reddish in the dying light of the sunset. He pulled it into a high ponytail as he waited.

  Two more Hunters stepped out of the airport and joined him on the sidewalk. All three males stood well over six feet tall with caramel-colored skin and lithe, androgynous bodies. They dressed alike in plain black suits, sunglasses, and black cotton gloves. The new pair bowed, their braids slipped over their shoulders. “Marx.”

  Marx smiled. “Kennedy, Lincoln. Pleased to make your acquaintance. I have heard of your successes on the Codex.”

  The two Hunters sniffed the air. The taller of the pair addressed Marx, “You have a trace?”

  Marx frowned. “Only a small trace, Lincoln. My mate Stalin had the Feeler as her prey. I tracked the Pyro, but we shared fluids enough times that I have some sense of the Feeler as well.”

  Lincoln shook out his shoulders. “I can sense the Feeler. That subspecies is my specialty.”

  Marx cleaned his glasses, peering at them with yellow feline eyes. “Good, though I killed his mate, he will be dead soon.”

  Lincoln shrugged. “I can sense Feelers dead too as long as the blood is fresh. How long ago did the Feeler’s mate die?”

  Marx stared at the sky. “When the sun was lower, not towards the setting though.”

  “Morning, they call it morning hours here.” Kennedy grabbed a snack from a vendor.

  Marx sniffed. “I find that information useless.”

  Kennedy slurped noodles. “Where is Feeler?”

  Lincoln pointed towards the north. “That direction. This city is large, this will take us time. We may lose her.”

  Marx shook his head. “She will remain with the corpse. The Navigator is weak-willed, spineless. She will be helpless with her guardians gone. She has become emotional with them. She almost came to duel me when I killed the Pyro.”

  Kennedy grinned. “A duel with a Navigator, exciting!”

  Marx frowned. “Boring, she is useless.”

  Kennedy held up his hand. “Not killing her, exciting to use restraint instead. A challenge that way, Marx!”

  Marx inclined his head and smiled slightly. “Ah. Indeed yes Kennedy, I see.”

  Lincoln stared at them both. “You kill her and we die slowly and painfully.”

  Marx and Kennedy went still. “Of course,” they spoke in unison.

  Lincoln walked towards the north. “His signal weakens. He is aging rapidly, the Feeler is near death.”

  ***

  Rake finished the third game of the evening and winked at Ravil as three more tourists wandered away poorer.

  Calpsan watched him shuffle. “Why not take all of their funds?”

  “They would grow suspicious and that would not be good for business, anyone’s.” Rake jerked his head towards the bar. “They go to drink now and lose the rest of their money to the house.” He sipped on a cola and eyed Ravil. “Does the boy like soda? I can get him one for free.”

  Ravil stared at the table. Calpsan held her hand. “He prefers water.”

  Rake shrugged. “Suit yourself.” He counted money and kept an eye on the other tables. He scanned the room, his back to the wall. From his seat, he could see the door to the lower levels, the front door, and the way to the kitchens. He chewed on his straw. “No more takers, not yet at least.”

  “What do we do now?”

  “Sit and wait.” Rake picked at the food Ravil had not finished. “Food doesn’t normally go wasted around here.” He glanced at Calpsan. “How long have you been in the city?”

  “Just got here this morning.”

  Rake pushed the plate to Ravil. “Eat.” Ravil ignored him. He reached out and flicked her in the forehead. “You don’t get it. You don’t waste food around here, kid. The China Empire doesn’t exactly sustain its lowest members on handouts and kindness. You’ll be without food soon unless you brighten your sunny personality and put out.” He grinned. “Like me, flash your pearly whites.”

  Ravil glared at the table.

  He tapped her between the eyes. “Hello?” Calpsan watched emotionless. Rake flicked her forehead. “Anyone home?”

  Ravil grabbed his pointer finger. Her pink eyes flashed. “Do not touch me.”

  Rake leaned over the table. “Weird eyes.” He moved closer making her lean back.

  She looked to Calpsan, but he watched and did not stop Rake. She steeled herself. “Stop it.”

  Rake grinned. “Is that all you’ve got? ‘Stop it,’” he mimicked her voice. He sat down. “You are going to be squashed in this city, little bug.” Rake stabbed his chopstick down on a cockroach that ran across the table. He waved the still wriggling parts in her face. “Squished.” He popped the bug in his mouth and crunched down. “You’re going to get eaten, just like that. Now finish your dinner.”

  Ravil covered her mouth to keep from throwing up. She grabbed her plate of food and pulled it away from him. “You touched this.”

  “Yeah and?” Rake stuck his tongue out at her, showing her the chewed insect.

  She stared at her plate. “You are foul.”

  Rake washed the chewed bug down with soda. “I just showered, you saw me. I am clean, my monthly bath all taken care of.”

  She clenched her jaw and ate a cold noodle.

  Rake smiled. “That’s better.” He glanced over at Calpsan. “You let the kid run the show and you’ll both be starving to death soon enough.”

  Calpsan smiled grimly. “Least of our worries, besides, here for training remember.”

  Rake raised an eyebrow. “Right, right, and right. Poor place for it. This isn’t the venue to pick u
p youths, especially little white ones. That’s not what people come here for.” He kicked Ravil lightly in the leg. “So what’re you going to be? Straight whore? Pick-pocket slit your throat and run type?”

  “Is that what you are?” She threw back, her voice lilting.

  Rake grinned. “Wouldn’t you like to know.”

  “No, I wouldn’t.” Ravil stabbed at a gray and mushy vegetable. “I don’t want to know anything about you!”

  Rake slammed his hand down on hers and held onto her fingers. He waited until she looked up at him. He smiled mirthlessly. “Good, no one wants to know anything about you either, or anyone in this city Ravil, but you’re going to have to learn to fake nice better if you want to get along. Like me, I’m a stand up guy.” He grinned. “Tourists trust me. They want me, an American, to take their money—as long as I’m nice. Keep acting like a snobby ass and you’re going to get killed trying to work here.” He released her hand and went back to shuffling.

  Ravil shook with anger. She glared at him through white lashes. “I don’t want to be here, I never wanted to come here! I hate this place and I hate you.”

  Rake looked up. “I’m sorry, should I care?”

  Ravil bared her teeth. “You are slime, you are disgusting! You are a stupid Waster. Everyone here is.”

  Calpsan grabbed her arm. “Stop it, Ravil.”

  Rake smiled and shook his head. “I’m not dead, I continue to live and breathe.” He eyed the door; no one came in. “So go fuck yourself, kid. I’ll be back, gotta piss.” He scooped up the money and folded it into his jacket. He clicked the safeties off on his guns and headed towards the bathrooms.

  Calpsan eyed Ravil. “You need to remain calm, Ravil. You are steaming in your seat.”

  “I am sorry.” She ducked her head. “But everything about him offends me.”

  Calpsan smiled grimly. “You are offended because he thinks himself smarter than you and he is better suited for this place.”

  “I do not want to be well-suited for this place! That is not a compliment to him or a testament to any great skill or knowledge he possesses!” She trembled in anger. “In fact being well-suited just bespeaks of how sick he is.”

  He squeezed her wrist. “I know you are afraid, you do not need to hide it around me. You mask your fear with rage.”

  She blinked back tears and leaned on him. “I am.”

  “Then recognize that your fear is turning to anger and you’re directing all of your hate at him, Ravil. Some of it he deserves, obviously, but do not let your anger towards your situation jeopardize your safety, that comes first.”

  Ravil took a deep breath. “I am sorry I disappoint you.”

  “Ravil, you do not disappoint me, you are brave.” As Calpsan spoke he bolstered her feelings, taking the edge from her fear. “You are smart, you have survived much. You will survive this man and live on.”

  Rake stepped out of the bathroom and slid along with the music. He grabbed a whore by the waist; she laughed and let him pull her out onto the floor. He danced with her towards their table, he pinched her ass.

  Ravil scowled. “Can’t you modify him, Calpsan? Can’t you make him less foul to be around?”

  “I am running out of energy, Ravil. I cannot, not now. Besides that foulness is what helps him survive this place and will keep a healthy distance between you.” He took in her disappointed expression. “Think of it this way, you dislike him.”

  Ravil watched Rake jump up on an empty table; he dipped the Asian woman and sang to her in Mandarin. She ruffled his hair. Rake gave her a kiss on the cheek and let her go. He jumped down and headed towards their table.

  Ravil turned away. “Dislike? I hate him.”

  “All the easier it will be to cut ties when you need to.”

  “That will not be a problem!”

  He nodded. “Then focus on that and keep your wits about you. He returns.”

  Rake plopped back down in his seat. He grinned at Ravil. “What’s the prince looking so prissy and pissed off for?”

  Calpsan shrugged. “You know how they are.”

  Rake took out the money from his pocket and set it on the table. “Hey some guys like their boys prissy and sassy. Maybe you can market him that way. Get him into some heels and makeup. He’d pass for an okay looking girl with a bit of work I think.”

  Ravil set her jaw and dug her fingernails into her palm.

  Rake grinned at Ravil’s anger; it set him off for some reason. Bothering the kid was like hitting a wasp’s nest with a stick, eventually something entertaining might come of it.

  Rake opened his mouth to say something, but stopped. He watched the front door as a large group of American Empire marines stomped into the gambling house. The soldiers were dressed in combat gear and their weapons were in sight. Rake grimaced. He despised marines in general, but the ones in Bangkok were universally reviled as vicious bastards. Fucking great.

  He double-checked his guns, but kept a smile on his face. He went back to shuffling cards and looked at Calpsan. “Shall we play?”

  Calpsan’s hands trembled. He did not see the soldiers, but he didn’t need to. He sensed their feelings and intentions clearly. “We will not associate with those men.”

  Rake’s eyes flicked between Calpsan and the marines. “They’re not here for men or money, they want to drink, fuck, and beat some people up. I don’t want to play with them either, but if you refuse they’re going to take you into the alley and kill you, guaranteed, and they’ll do worse to the boy if they find him pretty enough.”

  Calpsan’s grip on Ravil was like steel. “You do not lie. They have an ill intent about them.”

  “Yeah.” Rake nodded. “They’re marines, American Empire ones at that, in Bangkok, the No-Law District, haven for serial killers.” He looked at Ravil. “Drug users, pimps, prostitutes, thieves, and fools that want to commit suicide. Which are you?”

  Ravil tugged on Calpsan’s sleeve. “I want to leave now, Calpsan. Please.”

  Calpsan glanced at Rake. “What do you suggest we do?”

  “Sit very still and do not give them reason to notice you. They will attack if provoked, so don’t provoke them.”

  “And if they seek a fight regardless?” Under his hat, Calpsan’s hair went completely white. “What then?”

  “Run like hell and wait for no one.” Rake kept his eyes on his cards as the marines spread out. “Kid, fix your fucking pants or you’ll run two steps and fall on your face.” His eyes darted up to Calpsan as Ravil ducked to check her pants. “If blood is what they really want, then people are going to die tonight, so try not to make it you or me.”

  “Agreed.” Calpsan nodded.

  Ravil rolled up the ends of her pants frantically. The fabric caught on her boots as she pulled. Rake hissed. “Go faster and stop looking afraid! Even I want to hit you.”

  Ravil held back tears. “Stop being—”

  “Being what?” Rake leaned over the table. “Mean? A jerk? A con? No one is here to help you, boy. No one will care if you end up dead, except maybe your pimp, and then it’s only because you were worth some money.” Ravil flashed a smile at the marines that stepped up. “Game?”

  The first looked him over. “A white dealer?”

  “Not just that, real American, born and bred, not a colonist.” Rake fanned out his cards. “Louisiana, deep south.”

  The first smiled. “This place must feel right at home for you then.”

  Rake wiped the sweat from his brow. “Perfect weather! Just grand.”

  Another marine came up. “I hate this place.”

  Rake kept his smile. “Disgusting, trash, refugees begging for food, everyone dirty. You guys look like you’re just in from the base. Any news from home?”

  The first marine sat down next to Ravil and pushed her over. Rake watched them and shuffled his cards. A group of five marines forced their way into the lower levels; another group harassed a card table, while a few others kept their eyes on the kitchen staf
f and patrons. Rake brought his eyes back to the table.

  The marine eyed him. “Election time soon, but that’s it.”

  “Oh.” Rake held back distaste. “Anyone running this time?”

  “President Arvrington, again.” The marine cracked his knuckles and took off his coat, showing two guns at each hip with safeties on.

  Rake nodded. “No surprise there.”

  Two more marines sat down at the table. Calpsan moved back, gazing towards the exit. Rake watched him, examined how he moved next to Ravil, their glances and mannerisms. He looked back at the marines. “What game would you like to play?” A scream came up from the basement, high and female. Rake winced. “Gentlemen?”

  The marines grinned at him; the first leaned towards Rake. “One that doesn’t involve you cheating us out of money.”

  “Cheat?” Rake looked hurt. “I would never cheat an honest American out of their money, not me, never.”

  Another marine hung over the table and watched him shuffle cards. “You look familiar.”

  Rake kept his eyes on the cards. “I just have one of those faces.”

  “No you guys.” The marine nudged his buddies. “Doesn’t he look familiar?”

  Rake swallowed. Calpsan looked over and frowned at Rake. The first marine glared at the old man. “What are you looking at?”

  Calpsan ducked his head. “Just seeing if I recognized him as well.”

  The others looked over at him. “Where are you from, your accent is strange?”

  Calpsan made his face blank. “England.”

  They poked at Ravil. “Him too?”

  “Yes.” Calpsan wrapped his arms around Ravil. “My son is from England as well.”

  More screams came from down the hall. Rake took a deep breath and set his cards down. “Do you gentlemen want to play?”

  The soldiers looked from Calpsan to Rake. The first smiled slowly. “Not really.”

  Rake shifted in his seat; this was what he feared it was then. They wanted to start something. Time to act smart and get the fuck out. He saluted. “Well I am off then. It has been a wonderful evening. Go America!” He got up from the table.

  A marine reached out and grabbed his wrist. “Don’t think so.”