Wastes of Space

by Darcy Town

  Danny walked out of the kitchen. “It’s good to see you, Rake.”

  Rake grinned. “Where’s Ravil?”

  “Can’t get a hold of Oro.”

  Rake’s eyes narrowed. “Let me call him.”

  Danny handed Rake the phone. “I’m not lying, Rake. I have been calling him.”

  Rake tried anyway and waited until the message machine picked up, the voice told him the mailbox was full. Rake grimaced and snapped the phone shut. “Did you leave a message already?”

  Danny shook his head. “No, it’s been full since I tried calling earlier.”

  Rake tossed him the phone and paced. “Fuck! What the hell? They could be on the plane by now!”

  Danny sighed. “Then he will see that we called when he touches down and he’ll call us. They can catch the next flight back.”

  Rake made a face. “Fine.”

  Keto walked in and glared at him. “Go upstairs to your bed now. I told you, you are confined to quarters.”

  “I feel fine, better than fine, I feel great!” Rake danced around the foyer. “I’m light as air!”

  Katarina stepped out of her room. “Rake!”

  “Kat!” Rake ran up the stairs and swept her into a hug. He dipped her to the floor. “I need a haircut, badly. I’ve really let myself go.” He stared at his longish black hair. “I look like some sad homeless junkie that does unspeakable things to unmentionable parts of the male anatomy in back alleys.”

  Katarina pulled on his long locks. “Yeah I know.” She looked down at Keto. “I’ll put him down once I’ve cut him.”

  Rake grinned. “Ooh.”

  Katarina took his hand and pulled him into her room. She sat him down on her bed and rifled through her accessories. She pulled out shears and turned to him. “Are you done with the junk?”

  Rake eyed her scissors. “Are you going to slice me up for the truth?” He put his hands together and dropped to his knees. “I’ve been a good boy, Kat, I swear!”

  She rolled her eyes. “Rake! I’m being serious.”

  He jumped on the bed and jumped back off. “So am I. I’m better and off the tar completely. I feel wonderful, Kat! Not even any cravings! I feel like I could do anything right now!”

  “How about you sit your ass on the floor.”

  Rake dropped to his butt.

  She wrapped a towel around his shoulders, sat on her bed, and started on his hair. “Back to the old you?”

  “I don’t know, new me, old me, better me?” Rake kicked his bare legs. “I haven’t felt this good in a hell of a long time. Since the last time we flew even, it’s like I have all new blood in my veins!”

  “That’s great, Rake!”

  Rake snapped his teeth at her fingers. “I know I am.”

  She sliced the scissors at his nose. “Stop moving or I’ll get Keto to tie you to the bed.”

  “I’ve had enough of that.” Rake stared at his ankle bandages and pulled a face. “Kat, why didn’t you stop them?”

  “Stop what?”

  “Sending Ravil away. They didn’t even let me say goodbye. Did you hear about Oro’s phone?” He gestured towards the window. “She could be in Bombay already! It could be another whole day until she gets back.”

  “Rake, stop moving you’re making me screw up!” Katarina put her hands on his shoulders to steady him. “She’d be better there, you know, with Charlie.”

  He looked up at her. “You think so too?”

  “Yes.”

  “Did anyone even ask her if she wanted to leave?” He frowned. “Did she want to leave, Kat?”

  Katarina frowned. “No,” she started slowly. “But she’s a child, Rake, and it’s up to adults to make the right decisions.”

  “She’s not a baby, Kat.”

  She cut out Rake’s mint-colored chunks of hair. “Regardless, no one here is close to her age.”

  “So? Why does everyone care about that so much? We’re all different ages. Tasanee is barely in her twenties and Danny’s nearly fifty!”

  “Rake, Ravil isn’t out of her teens, if that’s even her real age, which I doubt.”

  “Still. She’d be fine here. She had been travelling with old people before, and I mean like old, Kat. You should have seen this guy. Ravil mentioned something about him aging quickly.” He twisted to look at her. “Hey, I wonder if they’re related, maybe they have an age disease or something. You know I can let Keto know, I bet he’d know all about weird stuff like that!”

  Katarina covered his mouth. “Shh. Your jaw moving is making your hair move.” She released him and he stayed quiet. She tilted his head forward. “Those people probably were her family or something, but we’re not. I think we should see if she has family members, put her DNA into the system, see who comes up on the Directory.”

  Rake stuck his tongue out.

  Katarina sighed. “Okay, no then.”

  Rake waited until she pulled her hand away from his hair. “We are her family now.” He moved his head to the side as she directed him. “And I promised her that I would take care of her.”

  “You shouldn’t have to take care of her.”

  Rake grimaced. “Kat, you sound like Danny and Keto. Isn’t anyone on my side?”

  Katarina moved around to his front to clip his bangs. “I’m always on your side, Rake.” She stared at his hair and chopped another few spots off. “Never think I’m not.” She set her shears down and looked over his head. “I want what’s best for you.”

  Rake hugged her waist. He pressed his face into her stomach. “Thanks.”

  She brushed her hands through his hair. “Rake?”

  “Mmm?”

  Katarina touched his cheek. “What do you want her around for?”

  Rake shrugged and glanced up. “I just like her. She’s funny and opinionated and smart. We get along all right.”

  “I mean, I know you haven’t been with anyone in awhile, is that why?”

  Rake made a face. “Why does everyone think that?” He leaned his chin on her sternum. “That’s gross, she looks like a kid.”

  Katarina shook her head. “Not anymore, Rake.” She pulled him to his feet and checked him over. “You look tired.”

  “No way, I’m wide awake!” Rake grinned and kissed her cheek. “Thank you for the haircut, I’m sure I look fantastic.”

  Katarina hugged him tightly. “Rake, I know you don’t like to talk about it, but we’re friends…”

  “Of course.”

  Katarina leaned back and held onto him. “I think you need to blow off some steam so that you can think clearly.”

  Rake rolled his eyes. “See, I told Keto I wanted to party and he said no. He said I couldn’t even have beer in bed.”

  Katarina shook her head. “That’s not what I mean.” She drew him close until they were pressed together from thighs to shoulders. “I mean in other ways.”

  Rake cocked his head to the side. “Kat?”

  Katarina kissed his cheek and neck. She traced her hands along his chest through the silk kimono. “When was the last time you were with a woman?”

  Rake grabbed her wrist and swallowed, hard. “Uhm, Kat, I—”

  “Let me make you feel better, Rake.” Katarina hooked a finger in the tie around his waist and tugged. She leaned into him and drew him into a kiss. She put her hand on his shoulder and pushed him towards the bed. He fell backwards. Katarina slipped in between his legs. Only a few thin layers of clothing separated them. She reached for his dick.

  Rake made a sound of surprise and grabbed her hands. He broke the kiss. “Kat? Kat! Ah, wait!” He scooted back along the bed. “I’m fine. Really!”

  Katarina looked him up and down. “Rake, you want to spend time with an adolescent girl. How is that fine?”

  “What does that have to do with this? I—”

  Katarina kissed him. She rubbed up against his pelvis and worked at the tie around his waist. His eyes fluttered closed. He frowned and broke the kiss. “I…Kat! You’re like my big
sister! This is really weird!” He smiled. “You don’t need to do this. I’m fine! I mean it!”

  Katarina sighed. “Rake, I can feel you need something.” She rubbed up against him. “You feel ready to go, to me.”

  Rake gulped. “Sorry, I can’t help that.”

  Katarina laughed lightly. “Sorry? I’d feel terrible if I didn’t get a rise out of someone.”

  “I don’t want to be one of your johns, Kat. I’m okay. You don’t need to do this for me.” He hugged her and pushed her back gently. “I appreciate the thought, but I’m really all right.”

  Katarina gripped the blankets around him. “You wouldn’t be a john to me, Rake.”

  Rake pushed them both to sitting up. He rubbed her hands. “Kat.”

  “I love you.” Katarina leaned her head on his shoulder.

  Rake smiled. “Well, I love you too, but I’m fine, really. I’m okay.” He laughed. “Besides, Tasanee would kick my ass!”

  She looked away. “Yeah, you and me both.”

  “There, reason enough not to.” He smiled and tugged on her hair. “Hey, did anyone keep my clothes that I left behind? I know it’s been awhile.”

  Katarina jumped to her feet and put a smile on her face. “Pssh, yes.” She opened her closet and pulled out a few boxes. She opened one and exposed a fishnet shirt. “I have all your weird nasty shit.”

  “Nasty? That shirt is my favorite!” Rake knelt by her side and pawed through clothing. He gave her a peck on the cheek. “You’re totally hot by the way, I’m not dissing you by saying no, but with you and Sammy together…you’ve been my big sister, Kat. I just can’t, I haven’t with anyone since—”

  “I know, Rake.” Katarina nodded. “I thought I could make you feel better, maybe, like that one time.”

  “We were drunk and grieving. We both needed comfort.” He played with one of her dreadlocks. “That was then.” He set his chin on her shoulder. “I never regretted it, but—”

  “What if I need it?” Katarina pulled at a thread.

  Rake leaned back and looked into her eyes. “Are you and Tasanee broken up? Did something happen?”

  “No.” She looked away.

  “Then what’s wrong?” Rake looked concerned. “You can tell me, Kat. I can keep secrets and I give semi-okay advice.”

  Katarina shook her head and affected a cheerier attitude. “Nothing, dumbass.” She shoved him. “Get your slut clothes out of my room, I need the closet space. I swear you have more whore gear than I do.”

  Rake grabbed a box and flipped open the top. “Whatever, these are awesome!” He pulled out a silver shirt and red leather pants. “Ha! If only they had clubs in this part of town.”

  She hauled him to his feet and pushed him towards her door. “Get to bed. Keto said you should lie down.”

  “Thanks for the cut.” Rake looked at her seriously. “And if you do need to talk, please tell me. You’re always here for me. I want to be here for you too. You’re my best friend, Kat.” He kicked one of his boxes out and carried another. He looked back at her. “If I’m asleep, can you wake me up if Ravil gets back?”

  Katarina watched him cross the hall. “Sure, Rake.”

  He saluted and stepped into his room. He closed the door behind him. Katarina stepped back into her bedroom and shut her door. She sank to the floor, breaking into sobs when she hit the ground. She pressed her forehead into the floor. “Stupid! Idiot!” What was she doing? Katarina held her sides. She didn’t know anymore.

  ***

  Rake leaned against his door and looked around the room, girl clothes were scattered everywhere. He grinned and picked up a mini skirt, putting it up to his waist. “Bleh, so not my color.”

  He set his boxes down and hopped onto the bed. He threw off his black silk robe, leaving him naked. He pulled on a pair of his old boxers. He grinned and rolled onto his stomach. He hugged the pillow, sighed, and took a deep breath.

  His eyes shot open. Rake lifted himself up to his elbows and sniffed the pillow. He squeezed it with both hands and inhaled, he recognized that smell. He drove his feet into the mattress and pushed his nose into the fabric. He squeezed it tight and clawed at the stuffing. He and the pillow fell to the floor with a loud thump.

  He landed in a pile of girl clothes. He grabbed at a shirt; it smelled the same, cold, sharp. He hadn’t smelled that in years. Space. Rake growled and crawled along the ground, following the scent through the fabric.

  Keto, Danny, and Katarina threw open the door to his room. Danny stared at him. “We heard a—what the fuck are you doing, Rake?”

  Rake got onto all fours. “Where is that smell coming from?”

  Danny frowned. “What smell, Rake?”

  He got off his hands and leaned back on his heels. “The space smell! It’s coming from something!”

  Keto frowned. “Rake, how many times do we have to tell you that space doesn’t have a smell?”

  Rake stuck his tongue out at Keto. “I could smell it on the ships, and I smell it now. Why does Tasanee’s shit smell like space!” He sniffed the shirt. “It’s all over her clothes. How come you can’t smell this? It’s everywhere!” The more he inhaled, the more he could smell it. How had he missed it before?

  Katarina stared at the shirt he sniffed. “Ravil wore that yesterday.”

  Rake set it to the side. He pushed them out of the way and padded to Katarina’s room. He dove on a beanbag. “It’s here too!” He got up and ran out of the room with his nose to the air. He turned to the stairs and ran up to Danny’s room. “Danny, it’s in your room too! It’s even stronger there!”

  Rake followed his nose to the bathroom. He got on his hands and knees and followed the smell across the tile. He grabbed the garbage can and inhaled. “More!” He overturned it and dumped its contents on the floor.

  The others reached the doorway and stared at him with a mix of confusion and shock. Danny shook his head. “Rake, what the hell is wrong with you?”

  “Nothing!” He ripped a garbage bag open.

  Danny looked to Keto. “Could he be having a, what is it, nasal hallucination?”

  “Olfactory hallucination.” Keto rubbed his neck. “I haven’t heard of it from this medication, but you said he could smell Lara when she looked dead?”

  Danny nodded. “Yeah.”

  Keto sighed. “Then I wouldn’t be surprised if he is.”

  Danny watched Rake pick through garbage. “Any possibility we can switch him to a different medication?”

  “Not without the possibility he will get addicted to that.”

  Katarina pushed past them. She dropped into a crouch at Rake’s side. “Rake? Are you feeling okay?”

  Rake shoved his hand into the garbage, mostly discarded shampoo and soap bottles. He pulled out a lock of white hair. He held it up to his nose and inhaled. He leaned back against the wall and looked at what he held. “What is this?”

  Katarina stared. “Ravil’s hair.”

  Rake smiled. “Ravil’s hair smells like space? Awesome, why?”

  Keto crouched down on his other side. “Rake, we think you’re hallucinating again because of the medicine you’re on.”

  Rake looked up. “I don’t feel like it, this is different.” He cupped the hair. “I cut Ravil’s hair. Why’s it long again?”

  Danny closed his eyes. “Rake, we told you. She’s changed since you left.”

  Rake stood up. “Is that why you kicked her out? Because she’s weird? Growing hair fast isn’t a reason to be prejudiced. She can’t help that you know. Her guardian-dad aged fast too, he went from being like forty to seventy in a few hours. Then he died.”

  Everyone stared at him.

  Rake looked between them. “It’s true…”

  Danny pointed. “Rake, go to your room and lay down now.”

  “But—”

  “Rake, go to your room.”

  Rake made a face. “Yes, sir.”

  Danny held his hand out. “Drop the hair.”

  Rake
put his fist to his chest. “No.”

  “Rake.” Danny pointed to the ground. “Drop it.”

  “I don’t want to.” Rake covered his fist with his other hand. “I want it.”

  Keto’s lip curled up. “You want a piece of her hair? Rake, all you’re doing is showing us how fucked up you are about this girl.”

  Rake glared at him. “It smells good! What’s wrong with liking the way something smells? There’s nothing wrong with that!”

  Katarina picked up another piece of hair and smelled it. “It smells like Danny’s shampoo, that’s it. Why don’t you take the shampoo bottle instead?”

  “No.” Rake shook his head. “It’s more than that.”

  Keto took a deep breath. “Rake, you’re—”

  “Don’t.” Danny grabbed Keto’s arm. He looked at Rake. “Keep the hair. Just go to bed and lay down. Take the medicine Keto gives you and stay in bed. Got it?”

  Rake nodded. “Roger that, sir.” He grinned at Keto and stepped past them. Katarina went with him to make sure he actually went back to his room.

  Danny frowned. “He’s acting like a teenager again.”

  Keto glared. “Her age.”

  Danny flicked off the lights to his bathroom. “Ravil’s not even here, Keto. What if this is just him now.”

  Keto shrugged and followed him into the bedroom. “Then we get him into therapy.”

  “Therapy? Yes, I’ll just call the doctor in the next house. I think they call him Dr. Noise. I bet he can see Rake just before they start their rave.” Danny went red in the face. “There are no fucking therapists in this city!”

  Keto was unfazed. “Then we put him on something stronger to realign his personality. We don’t even have to let him know, we can add it to the medicine he’s already taking.”

  “Absolutely not.” Danny shook his head. “No more drugs. They tried that after Lara died, you were up in US Liberty at the time, but it was bad. It was like he was already dead, he had no emotion left. I’d rather him injecting junk again.”

  Keto nodded. “You know him better than I do.”

  Danny stared at the pictures on his wall. “If it weren’t for the girl’s age I’d be thrilled right now, Keto, fucking thrilled. He was always strange and eccentric. Sniffing hair, fuck, you remember when he used to sniff ships and spacesuits. The only difference is the object of his affection.”