by Darcy Town
“Tasanee’s got that taken care of. Don’t worry so much, you need to have a good time too.”
She scuffed her feet on the floor. “Fine.”
Oro kicked her ankle lightly. “Smile, loosen up. If only for tonight there’s no Empire and no one chasing you. Be a girl and have a good time.”
Ravil smiled. “I’m nervous, actually. I’ve never done something like this before. I’ve never…just relaxed.”
Oro got out a flask. “Liquid courage, Ravil.”
Ravil took a swig and swallowed. She made a face, her cheeks turned pink. “Liquid fire is more like it.” She rubbed her throat. “I think I burned my taste buds off.”
“You don’t really need those anyways.” Oro took a pull off the flask. He looked back at his paper of numbers. “As soon as we’re done with the party I’m going to punch those into Rat’s computer, we’ll get your age squared away, as good as we can at least.”
Ravil stared at the numbers. “What if it says I’m ten?”
Oro grinned. “Then we pretend we never did this formula and you can name your age. Fair?”
“Yeah, fair.” She smiled at him. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Treating me like I’m not a stupid idiot.” Ravil shook her head. “You and Tasanee are the first among these Wasters not to judge by appearance.”
Oro nodded. “The others will too, once they learn about you. I mean come on, all it takes is five minutes of conversation to see that you’re not a child.”
Ravil was not as sure. “Still…I really hope I’m not ten.”
***
Kennedy licked his lips and purred. He arched his back and looked at Lincoln and Marx. “It strange.” He sniffed the air. He had been pacing for some time.
Lincoln took off his sunglasses. “Strange?”
“Blood sample similar, but not same, it changed.”
“Changed?” Marx frowned. “Like the cancer?”
Kennedy shook his head. “Wasters have twins here?”
Marx nodded. “They do.”
Kennedy smacked his lips. “Perhaps a twin of the one we look for was blood Marx found?”
Lincoln frowned. “What are the odds of that, how different is it?”
“Same to one we hunt, the Rake, but when I search…” he closed his eyes and spun in a circle. “Signal is strange, changed more from when Marx drew his sample. Sample you gave is different from one on gun from military hospital. My senses say prey has morphed again and continues to change.”
Lincoln frowned and pulled a Codex out of his jacket pocket. He keyed in search terms into the small black device. “Blood morphing—that is only seen in three races, Kennedy.” He did not look well.
Kennedy recognized his look. “Which?”
“Navigators, Hunters, and Rexos.”
“But one we seek looks like not a Rexos and we would know Hunter! It is not Navigator!”
“This is true and therefore confusing.” He added a note to his Codex. “We must capture this one, if you can track him.”
Kennedy nodded. “Hard, but I can do!”
Marx rolled to his feet. “I will take you to where he was and perhaps we may find the reason for the blood change? If it is not disease and not one of those races, then something else may be at work here.”
Lincoln nodded and closed his Codex. “Perhaps the Resistance perfected their blood masking agent.”
Marx made a face. “Bad news if that is the case.”
Lincoln shook his head. “True, but if we capture the subject we will gain much information. The Ampyr will want the Rake alive for study.”
Kennedy pouted, another one they had to let live.
Marx pointed. “I shall lead us to the whore place. Maybe Mr. Solo will still be tied to his bed.”
***
Rake stretched, touched his toes, and appraised his body. Black leather high-heeled boots up to his knees, check. Fishnet up to his hips, black leather pleated skirt covered with hand painted star charts, draped to just above his knee, check and check. He turned. Tight black boxer briefs to keep everything held together, check. Belt, reinforced, carrying bottle opener, obvious knife, and hidden knife. He tested that he could access the first two easily. He ran his fingers over his skin. Free from hair, convenient; a bare chest, always attractive. He flexed and ran his fingers over his six-pack abs. “Gorgeous.”
Black spiked leather cuffs covered his bandages, but he’d added shoulder to finger black cotton gloves, fingertips cut off for grip and flexibility. He kicked his foot over his head and leaned his leg on the wall. He double-checked the cinches and buckles on his boots. Rake smiled at his red painted nails, silver rings on each finger, except for the thumbs.
He ran his hands through his hair. His black locks were disheveled and free except for three pink barrettes, old plastic from the always-fashionable nineteen eighties of his childhood. His ears were sore where Katarina had pierced them with silver studs; she’d pierced his left eyebrow with a small barbell too. Temporary glitter star tattoos were distributed randomly on his chest, one for his cheek, a few for his back, compliments of Tasanee. Mascara yes, eyeliner yes, anything else no, lipstick only came off anyways, especially when drinking. He adjusted the leather collar around his neck, no leash. He wasn’t drunk enough and no one had earned it, yet.
Rake was a soldier in drag, a pilot with four-inch heels that put him above six foot five. He licked his teeth, straight, white, and even, bright in the darkness of his room. He practiced strutting, no tilts, no stumbles, just the right amount of ass shaking. He jumped and touched the ceiling; he came down perfectly, the metal toes of the boots clicked on the floor. He twisted his back and cracked his spine. He turned to his closed bedroom door and took a deep breath. “Ready, set, a-go.”
He threw open his door. “You can start the fun now. Gimme something tasty!”
Evgeniy threw him a beer. He gave Rake a once over. “Rake, you are back.”
Rake bowed and sauntered out into the hall, rolling from hip to hip. His skirt hung dangerously low. He cracked open the beer. “Upstairs?”
“Everyone so far.”
“Why aren’t you?”
Evgeniy grinned. “My date.” He gestured to Betty. She hopped up the stairs with two of her girls in tow. The three women gave Rake a kiss, adding lipstick to the rest of his attire. Betty tweaked his nipple. “Nice to see you on your feet.”
“All thanks to you.” Rake gave her a peck on the cheek and looked downstairs.
A group of people arrived and milled around the landing with no direction. Ravil and Oro hid among them at the back of the crowd.
Rake leaned on the banister. “Fuckers, upstairs! Being late just means you miss more.” He smacked his ass. “Especially this.”
Some in the group looked up and whistled. Rake pirouetted on his heels and jerked his thumb upstairs. He glided towards the fifth floor. “Follow me.”
Ravil watched him go. She sagged into Oro.
Oro laughed. “Told you he was a bit different.”
Ravil’s cheeks flushed, she bit her lip. “Does he often wander around in girl clothes?”
“Only when he’s feeling especially fun. Does that bother you?”
Ravil shook her head. It really didn’t, in fact she rather liked it, a lot. “No, it’s fine and none of my concern anyway.”
Oro grabbed her hand. “Come on, snowflake. Let’s get up there before you melt.” Beers were passed around. He grabbed one and handed it to Ravil. “Cheers.” Bass shook the walls, but it was coming from upstairs, not from next door. Oro grinned. “Fuck off, Ravers. Theo’s working tonight.”
“Who’s that?”
“My hot sexy older man.” Oro pushed through the crowd and they took the stairs two at a time. They passed the second, third, and fourth floors all empty. The fifth only had one door. The door was propped open, the darkness inside broken by intermittent colored lights, flashing in time with music that was near deafening. Ra
ke hung out by the doorway greeting people with kisses to their cheeks or other available anatomy. Ravil balked, this close he was going to recognize her.
Someone grabbed Rake by his belt and pulled him into the dark, he followed grinning. Ravil let out the breath she’d been holding in. Oro pushed her. “Once inside you can lighten up, it’ll be dark. I’ll keep an eye out for the others. You just need to dance and keep your eyes on your pilot.”
“Yeah.”
Oro grabbed her wrist and pulled her inside. The floor was one large room, the far wall let in moonlight through floor to ceiling windows. A door led out to a narrow deck, and people stood outside to get fresh air, smoke, and watch the party through the glass. Plush couches and chairs lined the rest of the walls along with tables for food, the bar, and the DJ’s area. Everything else was dance floor and everyone was dancing.
Rake strutted through the crowd, hips rocking with the music. He knocked bottles with nearly everyone he passed. He’d lost count of how many people had kissed him on his cheeks or chest, he didn’t care, he just loved the attention, fed off it.
Someone stopped him in the dark. The man held a Tequila bottle and shot glass, he gave Rake a once over and waggled a lime at him. Rake grabbed the lime from him and held it in his lips. The shot holder poured a shot, licked Rake’s chest, eliciting a number of whistles from those nearby. Rake raised an eyebrow and put on a smile as the man sprinkled salt on his chest. The man licked the salt off, took the shot, and kissed Rake for the lime.
Rake licked his lips and saluted to those nearby. “Hello to you too!” He got his ass grabbed and pinched as he worked his way through the party. He spotted Katarina easily; she stood out, nearly as tall as he was with platforms on. He danced through the crowd and bumped her with his hips.
Katarina turned and wrapped an arm around his waist. “What can I get you?”
“Nothing.” Rake took her hand. He brought her close. He turned his back to her and threw his hands in the air, matching the dancers around him. He rocked side to side with the beat. Katarina laughed in his ear. She matched and kept her arms around his waist.
Rake grinned and bent his knees to sink down in a twist. He stood, sliding up her side. He put his arm behind him and set it against the small of her back. Euphoria was inset in his skin and bones. This was what he loved, moving, being close to people without actually being intimate. He turned in her arms, holding onto her shoulder with one hand. He rested his forehead on hers. “Katarina.”
“Rake.” Katarina dropped back and let him catch her. She rolled up into his arms.
His head bobbed with the beat, his eyes nearly closed. He shouted over the music, “Did Danny and Keto actually show, or are they hiding in Danny’s room playing cards again?”
Katarina spun him around. “They’re hanging out by the food, not dancing. They’re just talking.”
He eyed the long tables. “Oh they’re asking for it.”
She pinched his chest. “Go get ‘em.”
Rake winked at her and danced his way to the start of the tables. He eyed the surface. Someone had left the center empty of food and drinks, convenient. He stepped back and leapt up. He got a rise out the crowd; those dancing nearby cheered him on. He bowed to the crowd and then curtsied for show. He flashed everyone a grin and gave a quick glance to Theo.
Theo gave him the thumbs up and changed the song. Rake cocked his head, his mouth an O of surprise. The crowd laughed. The line of tables formed a perfect catwalk towards the end where Keto and Danny sat. Tasanee had set it up that way with Theo. This wasn’t the first time Rake had danced on tables for a crowd. He took an experimental step in his heels, then another.
He waved at Danny and Keto at the other end. Keto glared, Danny laughed. Rake finished his beer and set it down slowly. He rolled up to standing, sauntered down the table, dancing backwards, and forwards as the music dictated. He moved with the song, half dance, and half stomp walk.
Rake sashayed with a body meant for sex and pleasure. He ran a painted nail from his lips to his hips. He fingered his belt to a round of catcalls and a chant of, “Take it off!” He waggled his finger at the crowd, not yet; no one had been good enough. He smiled, languid, and blew a kiss.
From where she watched, Ravil was entranced, her mouth slightly ajar. She cocked her head to the side as his pelvis gyrated. She wiped sweat from her brow.
Rake dropped to his knees before Keto and Danny. He gave them a Gimme Gimme with his hands. Danny gave him his half-empty beer. Rake took a swig and smiled at Danny. He eyed Keto and swallowed.
Rake handed his beer back to Danny. He got on all fours and crawled up to Keto. Keto tried to get up out of his seat. Katarina pushed him back down and pulled the chair out to give Rake access.
Rake slid off the table into Keto’s lap, he pressed his body into Keto’s. He grabbed the shocked African by the cheeks and planted a kiss right on his lips. Rake hooked a leg over Keto’s chair and danced up close. Keto tried to push him off; Danny grabbed his wrist and kept him pinned.
Ravil coughed up her beer. Oro laughed at her expression. “It’s called a lap dance.”
“You’re sure he’s not into guys?” She jumped to get a better look at what was Rake was doing to Keto, now it was thrusting his pelvis at Keto’s face, with the beat of course.
“Rake is fucking with him, both as a thank you and a fuck you for keeping him tied to the bed for two days. It’s just in fun.”
Ravil nodded slowly. Oro took the beer out of her hands and drew her close. “Move little one, to the beat, like so.” He put his hands on her hips and forced her to go with the other dancers. “Copy what you see.”
Ravil moved her hips back and forth, hands in the air, then at her sides. The bass shook her bones making it easy to follow. She smiled, eyes going half-lidded, this was fun.
Tasanee found them and bounced into Ravil. “Ravil sandwich!”
“I’m dying of heat, Tasanee!” Ravil grabbed onto her. “Everyone else barely wears anything.”
“One way to fix that.” Tasanee unzipped Ravil’s jacket and tossed it to the wall along with her gloves. “You’re in the dark so its fine. You see that bluish light though, that’s a black light, do not go under it at all, you’ll light up.”
“Thanks.” Ravil adjusted her tube top. Her arms were free, her midriff bare. She rolled her flat stomach,
Tasanee grinned. “Look at you go!”
Ravil looked back at Rake. He’d moved on to dancing in the crowd, his body up against men and women she didn’t recognize. “Is he drunk?”
“Rake? No.” Tasanee grinned. “That’s just Rake. Got to get back to Kat or she’ll come find me.” She disappeared in the crowd.
Oro turned Ravil and jumped as the music changed. He grabbed her hands and made her jump with him. “Fun?”
Ravil hopped in place. “Yeah but tiring!”
Oro jerked his head to the couches. “Just let me know when you want to chill.”
“Okay!” Ravil looked around. “Who are all of these people, Oro?”
Oro waved his hand. “All space dropouts. A few pilots, lots of mechanics, engineers, that sort of thing, people we grew up with in the Corps.”
Ravil nodded and watched Rake; he jumped along with everyone else. She noticed he didn’t look at anyone in particular, he didn’t seem to care whom he was dancing with. Girls ran painted fingernails along his chest, his back. Strangers groped him more than once. She frowned. “Oro?”
Oro grabbed her waist and danced them both back towards the windows and away from the black light. “Yeah, doll?”
Ravil leaned against a windowpane. “Does Rake have a girlfriend?”
Oro followed her eyes. “No.” He looked back down at her. “Not since Lara.”
“Lara?”
“His first…only girlfriend. You’ve seen the scar on his leg, the big one?” Ravil nodded. Oro lost his smile. “She was murdered and he nearly was too. As far as I can tell he hasn’t been with anyone si
nce and that was geez ten years ago.”
Euphoria drained out of her body. “Oh.” She fingered the necklace Rake had given her.
Oro nodded towards Rake. “That’s as close as Rake gets to being intimate now. The kisses and all that, it doesn’t mean anything to him, it’s the same as hugging or saying hello. We call him tease for a reason, Ravil.”
“Okay.” She rested against the glass.
Oro looked up. “Shit.” He grabbed Ravil and dove back into the crowd as Rake and Evgeniy moved towards the wall of windows.
Rake laughed and finished his beer. He sighed and took a deep breath. He smelled it, her, space. His pupils dilated and he turned his head towards the spot Ravil and Oro had occupied. He joined the dancing crowd and navigated through it, being kissed and kissing as he moved. The smell grew stronger, pervasive.
Rake broke through the block of people to where Ravil and Oro had stood. Her handprint was still on the glass. Rake stared at it, frowning. He touched the mark and drew his hand back; the spot shone silver and faded.
Hands wrapped around his waist and pulled him back into the crowd. He grinned and grabbed a partner at random, moving to the beat together. An insistent push brought him towards the center of the room, metal poles stood from ceiling to floor. Rake laughed. “They’re still here!”
Katarina and Tasanee hung around one. “Of course they are!”
Rake eyed Katarina. “Have you been practicing?”
“No, but neither have you.”
He scoffed. “You have no idea what I’ve been up to, Kat.” He hooked one leg around the nearest pole and twisted around to a round of cheers and catcalls. He gyrated up against the metal and gave her a once over. “See.”
Katarina rolled her eyes and jumped up, bracing her arms on the pole. She hooked upside down and kicked a leg out, using the other to wrap around the pole. She dropped down to her feet. Tasanee whistled.
Rake bit his lip. “Kat, I think you’ve been lying.” He jumped up on the pole and went around it, just holding on with his hands. He came to a stop and slid to the floor, his muscles working to make it look easy and boneless. A few people stuffed cash in his belt. He hugged right up against the metal and grinned at Tasanee. “Rat, is Kat a liar?”